#I mean I know a network tv show would never

[novellaqueen]

very late to the game on person of interest but these two guys want to fuck right?

[0-therw-0-rldly]

I’ll preface this by saying I’m not really a shipper. I just enjoy canon couples on TV Series/films.

Terms I’d like B*ddies to remove from their vocabulary because they don’t know how to use them correctly:

Media literacy: For a group that uses this term a lot you sure do misinterpret everything in this show.

Queerbaiting: Going to expand on this one. A show that’s already been pre established for having queer characters simply cannot queerbait.

Ship baiting: While sometimes you can argue that they could be doing that, that’s only if you look at the show in a very biased manner. You might think this is the case but the general audience doesn’t think the way you do.

Ship war: This isn’t a one tree hill situation where there was Team Brooke Vs. Team Peyton where the middle guy (Lucas Scott) had canonically been with both women. This is people not understanding fanon vs. canon and not being able to just watch the show. It’s like playing quarterback on Madden and thinking you could be better than Patrick Mahomes.

Plot device: everything’s a plot device. Move tf on.

Predator: You sound like crazy MAGA supporters calling everything regarding the LGBTQIA+ community as predatory. Sit down.

Co-parenting: I know this is a big one and discourse was brought up during the hiatus. Oliver and Ryan have loosely mentioned this years ago but it was never to be taken this seriously. Do y’all even know what co-parenting is or are you that big of a donut? Buck is someone who loves his best friend deeply and by extension, his kid too. Him taking care of him frequently does not make him a co-parent. Maybe he is a parental or uncle figure, but he isn’t a co-parent. Also, I swear y’all need to learn how a will works. He is a GODPARENT, not a GUARDIAN. Stfu.

Hag: This especially applies to women, but to say that someone 25-30+ is a hag for still being in fandoms or enjoying tv shows/films is inherently misogynistic. Men are never held to this much criticism for enjoying fictional media, but women aren’t allowed to?

Queer Coding: people of the same sex “looking at each other”, hugging, or having intimate moments all together doesn’t make them queer coded. It could mean that they just love each other that deeply platonically. While representation is amazing and just because you interpret a character as queer coded (just like my ship baiting comment) doesn’t mean others interpret it that way as well. In addition, network TV has stipulations, and also actors are allowed to decline storylines. Ryan has mentioned his character is heterosexual an abundance of times which means (at least for now) that he isn’t willing to go for this storyline.

Dead naming: Y’all construing the fact that Buck wants people like coworkers and some of his former love interests, to saying Evan is his dead name is inherently transphobic because do you even understand what a dead name is? Evan Buckley is shown as being fine with being called Evan by both Tommy and his sister. I’m pretty sure some of his love interests have called him Evan as well.

Fetishizing: You guys saw two hot guys who “looked at each other” and for 6 seasons have wanted nothing but to see those two make out with each other. Those of us who enjoy Tevan saw Buck giddy at the thought of Tommy and have wanted domestic fluff for them since.

Anything to do with racism, homophobia, and misogyny: I’ve seen the way you guys have conveniently weaponized Henren and by extension Aisha/Tracie when you didn’t get the Ryan/Oliver interview, don’t try to act like you’re morally superior. Not to mention wanting a canonically gay man to die in a show and not even holding those who use your ship name to write CSA fics accountable because you’re petty and want to throw hissy fits. Anyone looking at your comments as an outsider would think you’re homophobes and yes queer people can be homophobic.

I do hope you can expand your vocabulary. 🤍

[glossglamour]

Full Robert Sean Leonard 'House'-a-palooza Interview: "As we know, I’m straight, but yeah, it’s like, homina homina homina."

May 01 2006 | By Maureen Ryan

Do you watch the show much?

"I can't watch it. I mean, Hugh doesn't watch it because he's anal and … eight years old. [laughs] And by the way, I don’t buy it, I think he does watch it.

“I watched in the first year. We live in New York and [my fiancé] was in California] and she likes it because I’m on it. But then she left, she had to come back to New York, and what are you going to do? The idea of me watching myself on TV, alone in Santa Monica, was just about... just short of, like, a bottle of Maker’s Mark and a shotgun away from shooting myself. [much laughter]  So I haven’t watched it all season. But when I have watched it, I’ve been mildly confused and Hugh is appropriately grumpy."

I have this theory that a lot of my favorite shows aren’t even about what they’re supposed to be about -- they have to be set in a hospital or police station or outer space or whatever because the network can market that, but they’re secretly not even about that. Like, “House” is really about ethics and morality.

“Yeah, sure, I think that’s true.”

But you can’t pitch that show to the network. “Hey, we have this great show that examines personal morality!"

“‘It’s based on “A View from the Bridge.”’

Right! They’re really going to for that.

“Yeah. [laughs] I think it’s good, and when it’s right, when the show works, the mystery works. It has a Sherlock Holmes-ian feel to it, and you do kind of want to know what’s wrong with [the patients]. And it is interesting, the turns and twists that get you there. And there’s always a little bit of character-driven fun stuff in between, of who these people are and how they affect each other. And that’s it at its best. And I guess that could be true of any show.

“It’s tricky, you’ve got a lead character [who’s different from the TV norm] and you’ve got to be careful because those characters can be one-note. He’s the cranky guy, he’s the Australian guy, I’m the friend in one or two scenes a week. You just have to be careful, and I think we are, we have a really great team of writers. And the numbers are building, people are watching.”

So this two-parter on May 2 and 3, I think the unofficial subtitle is the “Festival of Foreman.” I guess they’re his Emmy episodes, and that’s fine. But you’re hardly in them, what’s up with that?

“Honestly, I’m okay. I don’t want an Emmy. This is what I want -- I know exactly what I want. I did play with a guy named Skip Sudduth, ‘The Iceman Cometh,’ seven years ago. I saw him five years later, and I said, ‘Geez, Skip, where have you been? I don’t see you at readings anymore.’ He said, ‘I’ve been on “Third Watch.”’ It sounded familiar but I’d never seen it. He said, ‘I’ve been doing it for five years.’ I said, ‘Holy crap!’ And he was back doing theater. That’s my dream.

“And it’s happening. I walk down the street and people say, ‘Where are you?’ and I say, ‘I’m on this show called “House.”’ My friend Lewis Black [from 'The Daily Show'] said, ‘What is it called? “Head”?’

“I’m okay. I’ve never been happier than where my career is now. And I don’t want it to change necessarily. Money’s good, and I’m glad I’m getting that, and I’m putting it away for later in life when I do more Tom Stoppard plays at Lincoln Center and make no money. But really, I’m great. I don’t mind working two days a week.

“Because those other guys, the Scooby gang, or the Mod Squad -- they are at that studio for 16 hours a day saying ‘tachycardia, lupus, blablahdeblah.’ Honestly, I’d kill myself if  had to do those scenes for that long. I’m very happy with the size of my role, I don’t want it to get any bigger. I’m happy.”

So we won’t see the very special “House” episode where Dr. Wilson almost dies?

“That might be how I get off the show.” [laughs]

Well, you could die and come back as a ghost. Then it would be the “House Whisperer.”

“Yeah [laughs]. The hair makeup people were saying one day, ‘Oh, I love those scenes with you and Hugh, there should be more of that.’ And I’m like, ‘Shhh! Don’t say that!’ I’m the luckiest man in Hollywood. I work only with Hugh, pretty much, who’s great. And I work two days a week.”

Do you fly back and forth to New York then?

"No, not really. They don’t let me because they need me around, the schedule changes so much. I’m going to try to get away with that a little more [in the upcoming season]. Now that [my fiancé] is here, I really will kill myself if I’m out there as much as I was last year, without her.”

So five days a week you’re doing what – Botox injections? Going to the mall? Watching “Maury”?

“Rob Lowe once said the secret to being an actor in L.A. is sleeping as late as you possibly can and going to be as early as possible. I remember him saying, ‘I recommend pajamas by 4:30 p.m.’”

What’s interesting about this show is that they’re taken something that could be a very formulaic procedural and quite often turn it on its head.

“I didn’t know anything about TV, I’d never done [a TV show], but I now know very well that there are procedurals and character-driven shows. ‘Law & Order’ is a procedural and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is a character-driven show. The test [as to which category a show is in], someone once said to me, which I thought was hysterical, is this question: Did Sam Waterston sleep with [the assistant DA] on ‘Law & Order’? If the answer is ‘I don’t give a [hoot], I want to know the next element of the case,’ then it’s a procedural.

“Our show is weirdly, and there must be precedent for this, but it’s weirdly equally both. I think it’s very much a procedural, and without that sick patient every week, we wouldn’t work. And without the character stuff it wouldn’t work. And weirdly, people do care if House sleeps with one of our characters, and also care equally what’s wrong with this person and how they’re going to solve the case.”

I guess I like the character stuff better, but you’re right, it probably wouldn’t work without the suspense of the weekly case and somebody being critically ill.

“No, I think you need that. I think the echoes of Sherlock Holmes are too strong. The original idea of the show was House and Wilson, like Holmes and Watson. But it got away from that, and his team is Watson, if you want to be technical about it.

“I’m more like … the only way I’ve found to define it, and it’s so pretentious that it makes me want to jump out a window, is like King Lear’s fool. I’m like the only one who tells him the truth. And [Wilson] has nothing to lose. I don’t work for him and he doesn’t work for me. I’m the only character who chooses to be with him as opposed to being there because of a job. And because of that I have the freedom to tell him what I think. Not that Cuddy holds back much.”

I think her role is to say, "No! Bad House!"

“Have you talked to Lisa Edelstein [who plays Cuddy]? She’s so great. This Japanese woman once said to her, ‘You on “ER”!’ And she said, ‘I have been on “ER,” but now I’m on “House.”’ And [the woman says] ‘Oh yes, “House.” You say, “No, you don’t!”’ Every time we do the table read, I burst into laughter at some point, because there is the voice of that woman in my head, ‘You say “No, you don’t!”’ That’s the entire definition of Lisa’s character. Not completely, but we laugh [about it]. We have the same dilemma. We’re on this show that we’re … kind of on. Crew members say, ‘How long have you been on the show?’ ‘Uh, since the pilot.’ They really don’t know what we’re doing there.”

So in terms of the other stuff going on in your career, that’s going well, all the theater stuff?

“I’ve achieved everything I wanted to do. When I was growing up, I wanted to be Kevin Kline, Sam Waterston. I grew up watching the Public Theater and Shakespeare in the park and Marion Seldes. I mean, I may as well be gay.”

I’m not entirely sure you’re not.

[laughs] “But the thing is, I got it [i.e. his goals]. I’ve done 14 Broadway shows and got a Tony award, and now I’m making money and no one even really knows. I’m getting away with murder. If I come back to New York in two years and nothing’s changed, I’ll be thrilled. All I really want to do is [act in] plays, play with my dog, have kids. My desires are pretty simple. I don’t really want to do movies anymore. I’m pretty tired of camera acting.”

Why are you tired of camera acting? Is it the repetition of it?

“No, no, quite the opposite. We don’t rehearse enough. We do scenes where people barely know their lines, where people just about know their lines. In theater, you do it so many times and you get so familiar that then you can actually start having fun with it. And I really miss that feeling.

“It’s true of films too. I don’t know. I think I’m fine on film, but … I have walked offstage and thought, ‘Wow, no one has done that better. People may have done it as well, but not better.' I’ve actually had that feeling after ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night,’ or a Shaw play or whatever. I’ve never felt that way with film. I always feel like, ‘Boy, Donald Sutherland would have done that a lot better.’ [laughs] I just don’t think it’s what I do best. I think I’m fine, but there are people who are eerily good at it. In all humility, of which I have none [laughs], that’s how I feel about my work on stage. I really do feel that I’m gifted at it.”

Just to change gears completely, what happens in the finale?

“Well, I think the finale is a bit of a cliffhanger. Something very exciting happens. It’s extremely exciting and freaky and I think it’s great. I can’t say what it is. You end this season very curious about how the next season is going to start. It’s a great final show and a big cliffhanger.”

So it seems like Hugh Laurie is so disparaging of his own talents. But he’s so good as House.

“Some people ask me, ‘Oh, why does Wilson want to hang out with House so much?’ and I’m like, ‘You idiot.’ [laughs] House is designed to be attractive! He’s brilliant, he’s self-deprecating, he has a limp. But yeah, Hugh hates himself and he’s very funny about it.  There’s no better combination in my book. Like Lewis Black.”

But as an acting partner, he’s good to work with?

“Oh yeah. The thing is, with this part, Hugh has a huge obstacle he has to deal with, having an American accent. His problem isn’t our problem. We as the audience don’t have that problem, because what he doesn’t know is that he does it perfectly. But of course he doesn’t hear that. That’s why he can’t watch the show.

“When you’re doing an accent, you don’t feel like you’re interesting in the role. Even if everyone around is telling you that you are. And to be in a play is one thing, but to be on TV show that runs for years, I don’t know how he’s going to do it. To be that hard on yourself and be that disappointed in your own work. But as I said, and underline this four times, he’s wrong.”

And then he obviously hates when anyone calls him a sex symbol. You read his quotes when people ask him about that stuff and you can feel the embarrassment rising off the page.

“Yeah, he hates that stuff. And even more than the ‘sexy’ stuff, he hates the ‘you’re brilliant’ stuff. Of course there’s a part of him that likes him, there’s a part of all of us that likes that. [But him being hard on his performance], it’s not false vanity.

“I think Hugh does work he’s proud of and does work he thinks is good, I’m just not sure it’ll ever be this [show]. Having an accent… acting is letting go and forgetting yourself, it’s the opposite of ego. It’s flying away and getting away from yourself and forgetting. And when you’re doing an accent, it’s virtually impossible to do that.

“It’s hard when you're in a play, doing the same lines, the same way for eight months. Hugh learns 72 new lines a day and has to put an American accent on them. It really is an actor’s nightmare. I’ve done [with accents] Brian Friel plays, Martin Sherman plays, Tom Stoppard plays, and maybe five months into it you have a night where you kind of feel OK and kind of forget the accent and let go and let the scene happen. To have a strange accent in your mouth while playing a role, and then be judged for it, that’s hard stuff.

“And can I tell you, when you have dinner with Hugh Laurie [speaking in his real accent]… I miss that voice.”

Yeah. He called me once directly for an interview. I was expecting the publicist to put him through, but it was just that voice on the phone. I was sort of thrown for a minute.

“As we know, I’m straight, but yeah, it’s like, homina homina homina.” [laughs]

---- [source (part 2)] | part 1 | part 3 ---

it took me two hours to track this interview down. it might be the longest one he's ever done. first i tracked it down to tumblr pages posting about it with no source please stop doing that. then i found a short youtube video of laurie saying "homina homina" on an snl skit i think and someone in the comments mentioned the site where the rsl interview was posted. however the site wouldn't let me in, i guess they took it down so i headed to archive dot org. i didn't have a specific link though so that didn't really work out either. then for nearly an hour i tried a wide range of word combinations on google until i stumbled upon a livejournal page of rpf hugh laurie/rsl fanfic. SOMEONE tysm karaokegal posted the exact link i was looking for in the comments. quick trip to the wayback machine and here you go!

i should be on those ethical hacking competition things

[chevelleneech]

Ody3 revolving around Tristan, not Avery…?

I cannot explain how desperately I need the Doctor Odyssey love triangle to throuple to be have been presented as Max and Tristan fighting over Avery, leading to a threesome, only to ultimately end up as Max and Avery realizing they don’t work without Tristan.

Not that I want him to be an after thought, but right now things are sort of framed as Tristan getting a taste of what he’s wanted after all these years, as well as Max and Avery falling into each other really early on insinuating they’re meant to be.

So I want to see them trying to figure things out, which includes a misunderstanding of all feelings involved, leading to Tristan walking away thinking Max and Avery are better suited as a couple, and them believing Tristan saying he just wanted sex from them. Thus they convince themselves a throuple was never an option, only for their relationship to start stumbling, because without the thought of Tristan bounding around the corner or leaping between them in bed unannounced… it’s not the same. Their spark isn’t there, because even just the thought of, “How/when are we going to tell Tristan?” gave them that extra bite.

Because Max is the life-worn one who is a bit more methodical, yet is naturally curious, while Avery is quite cynical and likes to know where she’s headed. Tristan, however, for as serious and rude as he can be, is the rebellious burst of light both of them are clearly drawn to.

So while I know a traditional love triangle or even throuples tends to be because the woman nabbed the hearts of both men, which is what happened with Ody3, I just really really want it to give a little twist. Center the character who is obviously insecure in his place with both of them, and who so clearly wants both of their approval. Tristan wants Avery and Max, they wrote it so blatantly, but he doesn’t (didn’t) know he wants Max too, because his focus was on the fact that Max showed up and managed to get Avery right away.

Having the pairing that instantly clicked, realize they need that third person would so good. It would also add to the beauty of how and why Tristan and Avery not even so much as hooking prior to meeting Max made sense, because they needed their third person. It would also mean none of the duos work without their third, which I don’t think has ever happened on network tv. A throuple that works as a throuple, because coupling them off simply doesn’t.

Lastly, I stand by the fact that their cast chemistry was intentional. No way they wrote Ody3 this questionably on paper, and cast three actors who sizzle on screen together, yet nothing is meant to come of it. A throuple is the only thing that makes sense, regardless of my wish for the above.

[bengiyo]

I’ve just finished my rewatch of Go Ahead, a cdrama you will probably never watch because it’s het and mostly about family trauma. But it’s one of my all time favs and one of the best things about it is the strong found family theme—it’s essentially about three broken families and how they join together as one to support each other. It got me thinking about my fav found family narratives, and especially those that are explicitly queer, because there’s often added life or death stakes in those stories. What are your favorite found family stories in queer media?

This is an interesting question, and I think you qualified appropriately right away by bringing up the life or death stakes of this kind of narrative. I think I want to make a distinction between "finding your people" and "found family" because I think these things often get blurred in romance stories.

Favorite Queer Found Family Stories

For me, a good found family story has to be about the found family component of it. Romance can be a significant portion of the story, but the primary driving relationships need to be about the queers being each other's primary network. I think estrangement from your bio family is a critical component, because knowing you are all each other has is a big part of it.

POSE (2018-2021)

It's really impossible to establish what found family looks like without referring to a show about ballroom culture in NYC in the 90s. We were dying. We were being abandoned. The houses gave people a place to be and a sense of purpose. These kids called their leaders Mother for a reason. Every single queer character in this show was saved by another character in this show before going onto save another character in this show. No show has ever done it like POSE.

Despite their fighting and bickering, Elektra saved Blanca. Blanca would go on to form her own house and provide shelter and support for multiple kids. There is a desperation to queer found family for me that makes it so important. Pray Tell's final choices still resonate with me to this day.

Queer as Folk (2000-2005)

We remember all of the fucking in this show, but this is another show where the queers are their primary support network. Their families aren't really there for them. Justin is kicked out of the house and lives with Debbie for a while, and is nursed by his community after being bashed. Michael and Ben adopt Hunter. Brian donates for Lindsey and Melanie. Debbie housed Brian in the past. Emmett's family disowned him, so his friends are all he's got. The community rallies constantly to protect each other.

Part of what makes this show so special as found family, like with POSE, is how often these folks piss each other off and get into huge fights. They fall out repeatedly in this show over fundamental disagreements that are not easily solved. Some of those fights are ugly in a way only people who know you best can hurt you.

The Fosters (2013-2018)

There's no way I'm not including my favorite TV lesbians of all time raising all them kids on this post. These two public servants found each other, made the difficult choices to be together, and keep expanding their family with more fosters and adoptees over time because there's always more love to go around. This show tackled how important it is to be able to call people family, and what it means for that to be a choice over an obligation. These two always found a way to make it work for their complex family and gave a budding queer the space to grow and be a brat of a teenager after saving him from having the shit beaten out of him for wearing a dress.

Sense8 (2015-2018)

From the directors of The Matrix (1999) and the creator of Babylon 5 (1993-1998), few shows are as queer as Sense8. Eight strangers suddenly become connected to each other and cannot turn it off. Half of them are queer in some way, and it's about their adaptation to each other and looking out for each other as they're literally being hunted. This is one of my favorite sci-fi concepts of all time, and I love the way their relationships outside of their cluster play into their dynamics.

She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat (2022- )

This is a recent favorite for this, particularly because of Season 2. In Season 1, we know that Nomoto puts a distance between herself and her family because of the pressure to become a wife. In season 2, we learn that Kasuga has severed ties with her family because of the expectation that she surrender her own life to take care of her family. When she tells Nomoto this, Nomoto gets angry on Kasuga's behalf and they decide to commit to living together. They are also building their community around them, and I better see everyone in their new apartment in season 3.

Gameboys 2 (2022)

So much of what's going wrong for Gav in this season is that he doesn't feel connected to the rest of his bio family after his grandmother passed, and he's desperately holding onto all of the friendships he has because he's so lonely. It's why he's still close with both of his exes (Pearl and Terrence), and why he won't let them go. Also, he's falling apart and Pearl is the one making sure his bills get paid on time.

The Shape of Water (2017)

Shout out to my man Doug Jones for always playing creatures that everyone is attracted to. The way this movie is so much about undesirables choosing to love each other and saving each other. Go watch it if you haven't. This film is not about a sexual awakening. It's about loving inside of a white capitalist structure.

Not Queer But Good

Shout outs for my faves. Some have queer characters in them, but aren't inherently or explicitly queer.

The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

No one did it like them. A bunch of aging women living together and making the most of their lives still resonates almost 40 years later.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

All of these kids are estranged from their families, and are building out something that works over the course of the show.

The Good Place (2016-2020)

I really love that this is a show about people who didn't get it together in life getting it together in the afterlife because they decided to work together, and then to care about each other. When you're literally being tortured by devils, you're all you've got.

What Doesn't Fit?

This is where things can get a little bit wiggly, but why I want to draw a line on this. I think that shows about queer friendship are important, but I also think that there's a difference between "we are all we've got" and "these people are the most important to me." So we end up with shows like the following.

Noah's Arc (2005-2006)

I often call this the Black answer to Queer as Folk, but I don't think it had time to fully-develop the found family themes in a way that QaF did with its much-longer runtime. Noah and his friends are super codependent and absolutely there for each other, but I don't think the absence of their families is explicitly attributed to their queerness but rather a byproduct of the focus on their gay life dynamics in LA. I love this show dearly, but there isn't a desperation to this that belies the family angst necessary for found family.

For The Boys (2021)

In many ways a spiritual successor to Noah's Arc, this show falls into the same place. The friend trio at the core of this is the most important relationship in their lives, but this show doesn't have the necessary found family angst.

What about QL?

For me, the biggest problem with doing found family in QL is that the primary genre is romance. These shows prioritize the way these relationships will turn romantic in a way that detracts from the found family component even when it's present. Also, because QL focuses so hard on coming of age plotlines, there's an element more of "finding your people" that supercedes any found family dynamics.

I Promised You the Moon (2021) is a good example of this. The primary drama of this show is about the romance between Teh and Oh-aew and the complications they face once they leave Phuket. Oh finds his people there and blossoms from it, but this is a story about how he and Teh can't get over each other.

As much as I love What Did You Eat Yesterday? (2019- ), the only real component of that is in Wataru's character. Kenji gets along with his mom and sisters, and Shiro is working on repairing the relationship with his family the entire time.

With Thai BL especially, I feel like they're big on friend groups, but not as big on found family. New Siwaj loves big friend groups that love each other, evinced by Love Sick (2014-2015), Make It Right (2016-2017), Until We Meet Again (2019), EN of Love (202), My Only 12% (2022), etc. He's done some great work in the space with queer friends, but not really queer found family.

Cheewin, a former collaborator of New's, also loves friend groups that have each other's backs. Probably his best example of that is Secret Crush On You (2022) with that friend quartet. The closest I think he came to found family was Uea in Bed Friend.

Another example that comes close is the unit that forms on their road trip in The End of the World With You (2023). I often think about this group of queers and the kid they adopted screaming to the heavens that they want to live.

Something I love, but which doesn't count for me is Our Dining Table (2023). There are powerful family dynamics here, but like in WDYEY they're adding Yutaka to their family and Yutaka reconciles with his adoptive family. I don't generally think that adding a romantic partner to your family counts as found family. Besides, Yutaka has a stable job and housing.

Final Thoughts

For me, the stakes are pretty high with queer found family, and it really needs to have a queer basis for me to feel strongly about it. Going back to their bio family is not an option, and often times the terms we use for traditional relationships don't always fit properly (yet another reason why Unknown got so much right). I don't think it's queer found family when they're students in college whose families just aren't around because they're paying for their kids to go to school. Finding your queer community as an adult is a huge part of growing up, but a queer found family is there for the really ugly and desperate parts of existence that your friends might not see.

[immaturityofthomasastruc]

#23: “The Miraculous Ladybug Movie May Give You What You Want, but My Show Gives You What You Actually Need! You Don’t Work in Television, so You Wouldn’t Understand.”

I've been running this blog for almost three years at this point, and I've seen Astruc talk trash about various things while claiming his show is better, like Winx Club, Paw Patrol, Pokemon, and Pixar as a whole. I never thought I'd see Astruc act like his show was better than a movie based on his show though.

For those who don't know (and you'd be forgiven, seeing how Astruc has barely talked about it on his Twitter), there was recently a movie that hit theaters based on Miraculous Ladybug called Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie. Supposedly, it's meant to be a retelling of how Marinette and Adrien met as civilians and as heroes. While I haven't seen it, it seems to be getting good reception, with some saying it's better than the show it's based on.

Of course, Astruc had something to say about this.

Okay, I sort of get what he's trying to say here. It's hard to compare the experience of watching an hour and a half long movie and a TV show with five seasons under its belt, but at the same time, the way Astruc phrased it still made it seem like he was trying to say the show was the better option because it “gives you what you need”. Nobody was expecting the Love Square to be resolved in a few episodes. Most people at least wanted more stories about the two to be told that don't involve constant padding. Astruc also acts like the Love Square is the only draw for the series instead of, oh, I don't know, the superhero action? You're really telling me they couldn't have tried focusing more on that after resolving the Love Square? I'm just saying, if The Office can continue after Jim and Pam got together, you can at least try to actually write other stories after the Love Square becomes canon.

One user in particular had some things to say in response to Astruc's claims, and you can guess how well Astruc took that.

Again, nobody is saying that working in television is all sunshine and rainbows, Astruc, but just because someone isn't familiar with dealing with network constraints and test audiences, it doesn't mean that they're unable to provide any meaningful criticism.

Also, Astruc is once again using a psychology term, in this case, the Dunning-Kruger Effect, to act like he's smarter than the critics. This man took psychology as an elective in college, didn't he?

But then again, this is coming from someone who doesn't think constructive criticism is a real thing.

Funny how he once again acts like anything that isn't positive feedback of his show is delusional, isn't it?

Eventually, this devolved into Astruc posting a little tangent about how fandoms have only gotten more toxic, which would have been a decent point... it if didn't come after all the things he said about fans not being able to criticize his show.

Again, there's nothing wrong with what he's trying to say here, but it feels less like a critique of how fans have become more toxic with the advent of the internet, and more like he's complaining about how mean people have been to him lately.

And, of course, this led to the usual fare of people calling out Astruc for his close mindedness, and Astruc once again saying how people aren't allowed to criticize his show in any way that isn't blind praise.

And here's the thing. We're still not done yet. This little tangent only warranted more comments about how Astruc handles criticism, only this time, it's also about calling out the people who think they can do a better job handling the show.

First, do you mind giving us an example of what kind of constraints you have to deal with, Astruc? We all know that TV executives suck, but I think we'd have more of a reason to understand your struggles if you actually explained some things that needed to be changed because of executive meddling.

Second, nobody wants a beach episode, Astruc, especially after that one issue of the comic you're choosing to ignore. We just want a more consistent story that doesn't rely on endlessly padding out the Love Square.

And finally, did you just say you have to be French if you want to rewrite Miraculous Ladybug? What does being French have to do with any of this? I remember seeing a little tweet a few years ago suggesting you would be a good choice to write a Superman story, but last time I checked, you aren't American.

Let's review in case you got lost. Someone tweeted that they thought the Miraculous Ladybug movie did a better job at the story it set out to tell than the Miraculous Ladybug TV show, Astruc tried to explain how his show is still good in its own way while justifying how long it's been going on for, he ranted and raved at fans for daring to criticize his team's writing before going on a tangent about how the internet has made people more hostile over the years, and when people still weren't happy with him, he claimed that you could only criticize or rewrite the show if you're an experienced French TV writer like him.

So just keep that in mind, fanfic writers. Unless you're French and have experience writing for television, you don't have a chance in hell to successfully write your own version of Miraculous Ladybug.

[starillusion13]

Did you have fun?

Pairing: Hongjoong × f!reader x Seonghwa

Genre: Mafia, Yandere(slight) , SMUT W.C: 3.1k Warnings: killing someone( not imp. he was disturbing me), blood, blindfold, vibrator, possessiveness, handcuffs, blind play(?), orgasm denial, overstimulation, oral(f rec.) [I dont think anything more needed]

Network: @cultofdionysusnet @k-vanity

Request from: @disneylover1998

[Reblogs and Reviews are always appreciated. Thank you for reading and have a nice day ahead. Please always take care of yourself everyone.]

I really don’t know what’s going in here.the person just texted me and helped my imaginations go wild and now am here with this fic💀

MINORS DONT INTERACT UNDER THE CUE! 🔞

*under the cue*

“Leave my hand.”

“Girl, let’s have fun. Why are you fighting against me? Just let it be easy and let’s go.”

You tried to pull your hand again but it’s all in vain when his iron grip on your wrist and also, he be pulling you towards the back exit. You are cursing yourself for the infinite time and as why you came to this club today. If you were at home then you might have been chilling and watching some drams on TV while waiting for your busy boys. But no. You have to be a rebellious and go against their rules and thought to sneak out of the house even when you know how much punishment you are going to get for such act. You love those punishments sometimes but never in a while you thought yourself being getting into such problem where you are currently into. If you were not drunk then atleast you would have tried to fight him, you mean a punch or a kick might be but your brain cant handle how to put the pieces together. Dumb you.

He has almost dragged you to the passage for the exit way and you are currently begging mentally for someone familiar to approach and rescue you from the situation, it really doesn’t matter if they inform to your boys afterwards, the main thing is to get away from this shithead who has got balls to touch you or even dared to drag you along with him. Tears flowing down your heavy mascara and eyeliner decorated eyes, it was supposed to highlight the eyes during the whole night not making a mess and make the tears more prominent in black.

“Haven’t you heard what she said, Leave her hand.”

Wait. Why this voice is familiar? I mean….Oh oh He is here. Don’t tell me if I turn around, I have to face a devil right now. You shut your eyes and take a heavy breath and then you noticed how the man holding your hand has stopped and annoyingly turns around. You are also turned around because of his harsh movements but you are not willing to open your eyes to face the reality. I mean you wanted to be saved but not by KIM HONGJOONG!

“Why does it matter to you mister? Go find another chick for the night. This one is for mine.”

And then that maniac laugh. The well damn laugh which he always shows to his enemies before he welcomes them to Hell of a ride and now this man is going to say Hello to the Living Devils.

“Chick?”

His gaze travels over your body and his jaw clenched on how revealing your dress is and you are wearing it when they are not around with you and moreover this dirty hag is holding your hand. HOLDING HIS GIRL’S HAND. You know this man is dead for sure but maybe you are equally dead.

“Yeah yeah. These girls are really fun to spend night with and who knows maybe keeping them to myself and then I can bring money through her and-“

You can hear the choking sound which makes your eyes flutter open when you can feel someone snatches you away from the grip but now you are under a familiar hold but honestly this hold is tighter and rough. The man is choking on his own blood as someone has slit his throat and then you can see who is holding you. Well, PARK SEONGHWA with fire in his eyes and a bloody sharp pocket knife in his other hand.

“He was talking too much.”

“Well done.”

Hm. Thanks. You wanted to say this but you just gulp on seeing the same raging eyes of hongjoong like the other. They both are furious and you are well aware of the fact that they don’t appreciate when someone else touch you other than them, they don’t appreciate their gang members also. Hongjoong called his men to clean the mess up and do everything possible to make the people shut up who has witnessed the scene. Now what about you!

“So, my dear Y/N. Can we know why are you here?”

“Hwa….I was…I just wanted to have fun.”

“Fun? Did you have that? Without us?”

No Hongjoong. Please stop asking me like this. With a god damn sinister smile resting on his face and eyes daring your trembling figure to speak more. You can confront seonghwa but not him, you don’t know why but he is always the one who can make anyone speak up the truth or make them agree with him even on a lie.

“n-no.”

“Of course you cant have fun without us, sweetheart.”

“I want to go home.”

“So do we.”

Well, a tensed atmosphere inside the whole car ride after Seonghwa literally dragged you outside from the club towards the car. His grip was harsh than that man and a thought came across your mind. Would have been better if that man took you with him? Maybe in the midway he would have become unconscious and you would have been freed. Atleast you wont have to be in the situation s you are currently in. You slapped yourself for this and they glanced at you for your weird behaviour. Not a single one spoke a word to you and you were thankful that you didn’t have to stutter anymore.

You are strong and you can fight for yourself but not when these two men are in their angry mode on. You literally fear them but also deep down like their clenched jaws, raging eyes and heavy breaths when pissed off. You smiled to yourself on this thought but quickly regained your composure. On reaching your house, you quickly got down the car and almost run towards the door. Entering the hall, you can see it empty because during the night, no maids and servants are allowed to the private portions of the mansion unless they are called. You took a turn towards the right for the stairs to quickly run towards the room and lock the door and wait for the next day to face them with a clear head.

“Where do you think you are going?”

My room. The only safe place that seems to protect me from both of you. I don’t want to die right now. Dumb you have to smile at them right now to which they raised their eyebrows.

“I need to take a quick shower as I spilled drink on myself previously.”

Saying this, you excused yourself from their intense gaze and as soon as you are behind the closed doors, you released a deep breath which you didn’t know was holding all these times. Slipping out of your mini body hugging dress, you went into the shower. You can feel the alcohol exhaustion leaving your body a bit and getting relaxed under the cold waters and your lavender shampoo scent. You spent inside the shower longer than usual because you can find yourself drifting into so many thoughts at the moment. Maybe you danced in the club a bit too hard that your body is so much exhausted. Cleaning yourself, you wrapped the towel around you before exiting the bathroom. Oh gosh! Why is it so dark? You are sure you left the lights on before going into the shower. Then maybe power supply cut off or a thief? But the windows are closed and the doors are closed? Thief coming from the door even that in a mafia’s mansion?

How ironic!

Your slow footsteps towards the door come to a halt when you feel arms wrapped around you from behind and you parted your mouth to shout when a palm pressed to your lips to make you shut. Your eyes went wide in horror.

“Do you want to call us baby?”

Damn. What are they doing in your room? Aren’t they supposed to be in their room and busy with their works and all and moreover aren’t they angry with you?

“J-joong?....What are you doing here?”

“Why? Were you planning to go somewhere again?” The voice from your front ask you.

“No no, I thought you were busy or something.”

“Do you want us to be busy so that you can think all the bullshits and then act on your own like always?”

“No.”

Atleast let me wear some clothes before scolding me. The view is becoming clear when seonghwa turns on the neon lights in the room. Now you can see both of them are in their tees and jeans atleast well covered unlike you who is fully exposed just covered with a towel.

You feel warm sloppy kisses all over your shoulders and neck and Hongjoong is smelling you in between and teasingly grazing his teeth over your soft skin. You moan against his hold and then when you noticed some familiar things kept on the bedside table. They are not thinking to do what you are guessing right?

Your view got blocked when seonghwa comes in front of you and holds your face in his hand, looking dangerously yet has a softness in them, just for you. Your toes curls under his touch and your knees feel weak under his gaze and also when the man behind you is kissing all over your exposed skin like a hungry creature. Seonghwa attach his lips to you, you can smell the alcohol as soon his lips pressed to you and your one hand holding Hongjoong’s hand holding the towel over your belly and the other one holding seonghwa’s hand caressing your cheeks. The kiss is more addictive and you are getting drunk more than a drink could make you feel it. Teeth biting down the lips to explore each other more, licking the teeth with tongue, exploring inside the mouth and your mind going in daze.

Retreating himself from you he went to the bed and roll over his tee exposing his abs which are always showcased for you. Hongjoong stops his abuse on your skin and pull you towards the foot of the bed. Your back of the knees hitting the bed and him standing in front of you, hands holding the secured knot of the towel. His other hand moved towards your chest and pushed you backwards. Your back hits the soft matress and then you can see your towel hanging in his raised hands. Alarmingly, your hands come closer to hide your exposed body but that was not to their liking as Seonghwa’s hands pulled your hands apart and you can feel metals clasped to your wrists and attached them to your head board. Handcuffs?

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing. Just you can see this towel was blocking my view and I don’t like when something becomes a restriction in the path of my desires.”

A warm hand caress your cheeks to get your attention and you can see the devilish smile painted on his face.

“You said you didn’t have fun so we should make it up right?”

“Uh oh that…no no…it’s okay…I did have fun…a little?”

 “A little?”

You pressed your feet on the bed to pressure down to lift up your body but Hongjoong pressed your knees down and settle himself between your legs. He also removes his shirt and then rest his palms over your knees. You can feel the tingling sensation in your lower belly but you know you are getting nothing if you behave like a brat right now as they are already pissed off with your earlier deeds. You can feel another set of hands moving across your chest and flicking the already hard nipples in between making your breath heavy and moan out his name.

“Seonghwa….”

“Hm? Do you need something?”

“Yes…I need you…I need both of you.”

“I don’t think so.”

“why? No no. I really need you.”

Seonghwa look towards Hongjoong and they silently communicate in between them and their nod indicates that they agreed on something. On what? Your anticipating eyes following their movements. Seonghwa grabs a cloth and damn that’s a blindfold. Before you can protest to it, he put over your eyes and let you to rely on your other senses from now. A hot breath tingling near your ear and lips gazing hovering it and licking the earlobe.

“Lets begin the fun now.”

You can feel hands lingering over your exposed thigh and your legs are moved more apart to stretch you out, hands gripping your inner knees. You can feel something cold touching your thighs and gliding up to your heat. You squirm under the touch but you are hold still by the strong grip. The cold thing stopped teasingly on your clit and it got pressed down there. A jolt spread across your body when the vibrator starts abusing your clit.

“Hongjoong..Joong”

Nobody answered you.

“Joong….Hwa…seonghwa…Hongjoong…”

“You need to guess who is this baby?”

Who? Isnt Hongjoong between your legs? You can feel someone teasing your entrance with the fingers, parting your folds and spreading your arousal around it. Another hand massaging the breast and pinching the nipples. You can feel shuffling in between your legs and when you tried to close your legs, it got stopped and stretched out more. You are already squirming under their touches. Mouths taking in the tits and covering it with their saliva and sucking it and biting around it and hands teasing your entrance. You can feel someone peppering kisses all over your inside thighs and sucking them in between and other sucking your chest and throat and jaw and licking them with juicy kisses. When you feel someone just licks a long strip of your arousal, your back arcs and then you can feel the knot building in your stomach which can burst down any moment.

“Ahhh!”

“Who is it baby?”

How am I supposed to know? Both of their voices are coming from the same place and you know they are making you to guess them but how are you supposed to guess when your whole body is shaking for it about to release.

“Joong?”

“Are you asking us?”

“no..no…It’s Joong…”

A harsh slap hit your folds which getting you the climax sooner. They can feel your movements and are sure that you are about to cum. The burning sensation indicating that you have answered it wrong.

“Hwa..Its you…”

“Where is the fun here? When its not Joong then its obvious that it will be Hwa unless you are thinking about someone else fucking you.”

“No. No. I’m sorry. Please.”

“Please what?”

“I need to cum. Please please.”

When you were just near to climax, the feelings got ripped away from your whole body as the vibrator stopped and you were forced still against the body so that you cant move anymore.

“No no no why?”

“Why?”

“I was going to-“

“cum? But we don’t want you to cum until you are guessing it right.”

“How am I supposed to guess when you literally fuck me the same way and you both are…rough.”

“Rough?”

“Please.”

They remove your blindfold and you your eyes squint from the releasing of the tight blinding fold and you see Seonghwa smirking down at you from between your legs and Hongjoong standing beside your head with blindfold in his hand which he soon throws it on the floor.

You don’t know what they are doing but you are excited to know their next moves. The vibrator turns on again and you close your eyes in the sensation as your body is reacting fast to get to the climax. Hongjoong leans down to kiss you and damn his kiss is rough and like a beast he is devouring on you, hands abusing your swollen breasts. You feel a slap on your thigh and then you can see the dark expression on the other man because of the lack of attention. Your eyes following how he bends down, his iron grip still on your thighs, leaving behind the marks. His muscles flexing while devouring your heat. The two men eating you out, one above and one down there. If they continue like this, they might suck out your life at this point. You are squirming under their hold. The familiar knot building up again and this time you are desperate for your release, your head thrown backward, body arching, giving more access to Hongjoong to leave his markings. Seonghwa still abusing your clit with his tongue and one added finger hitting your G-spot and you know you will fall apart soon. Whwn you tried to close your eyes, Hongjoong gripped your jaw and harshly made you face him.

“Eyes on him baby.”

Your moans getting lost in Hongjoong’s mouth and you cant think of anything else other than the desperation to release. You are just about to hit the high when again everything stops.

Every lingering touch, abusing, sucking and the damn vibrator was turned off. Tears roll down your eyes and you cry out, whimpering and trying to close your legs in the exhaustion of getting ripped away of the heat.

“whyyyyy?”

“Are you really asking this?” Seonghwa asks you as if he doesn’t know how irritated you are right now. Well he is lowkey liking the fact somehow.

“Okay Seonghwa lets see if she can hold her cum until we say her to let go. If she goes along with us then we can think to let her come. Yeah?”

“I think that’s something fun.”

Seonghwa’s hands start rubbing your heat with the vibrator setting in a low level and you can feel yourself overstimulated and these slow movements are making you more frustrated. You are trying to focus on the movements in your heat and giving deaf ear to everything in your surroundings.

“Eyes on me or I am going to stop here.”

You somewhat managed to make an eye contact with him but its getting too much and tears falling down your cheeks.

“Too much Hwa…please…its too much…”

“Should I stop? I think you had too much fun.”

“NO!” “Hwa. She is saying no, then what about now?”

“Did you have fun?” well this damn question.

“No no no no.”

“Hold it in or you are not going to cum.”

That’s how you know, its going to be a long night until they are satisfied with their punishment but that’s fine. You are again going to sneak out if these are going to be the punishment nights for you disobeying them.

______________________________________________________________

DONT PISS OFF MY DEVILS! HIHIHIHI HIHIHIHI!

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Taglist: @mymoodwriting @justhere4kpop @vvshere @anyamaris @yeoobin @icchyi @jwnghyuns @piratequeen-queenofgames @dinonuguaegi @oreharuuu @eriny123

[perma taglist! open: dm/reply/send ask to be in it]

[takiki16]

White Collar rewatch has hit 1x09, the boiler room scam episode, and you know? I kind of wish they hadn’t used the “I don’t like guns…never said I couldn’t *use* them” trope for Neal.

Neal doesn’t like guns. It’s one of the first things we learn about him. In all of the past scams and cons he’s run, all the former associates we meet, this one thing is reinforced: Neal is fundamentally not a violent person. It makes him more interesting! In a world where even Mozzie acknowledges that you sometimes need violence to back your word up, Neal Caffrey steadfastly refuses to use guns even when they would MAKE SENSE to have for someone in his position! Even just as a prop! It’s one of the unexplored facets of his character that I wish the show had dug into a little more - WHY Neal is perfectly fine with all sorts of other behavior, but violence disturbs him deeply enough that he avoids it even when it would be a material and even morally viable help!

So WHY DO WE NEED THE “DOESN’T MEAN I CAN’T USE ‘EM” TROPE?!?!

The uses of that trope, at least at this network TV level, are usually for characters who are already proficient in OTHER “less lethal” or at least more cinematic types of violence. Off the top of my head, Eliot Spencer and Oliver Queen. It *makes sense* for characters who get paired with this trope to already BE essentially violent characters. Their refusal to use firearms represents a compromise between their Angsty Backstory where they were trained to be a human killing machine and their current efforts to be Better People, etc etc etc. Using a firearm represents an extreme personal compromise, usually the life of a character dear to them. The trope HAS WEIGHT that way. We get a demonstration of badassery, a character struggle moment, and a hint about backstory and this character’s personal ethos and choices.

But NONE of that makes much sense for Neal Caffrey, except as an incredibly weak retcon tie-in for the bio dad arc, which you all already know I got complaints about. Neal is not only opposed to violence, he is shown at later points to be kind of actively bad at it! His whole gentleman thief schtick gets a boost bc he is COMPETENT AND GENIUS ENOUGH to work around his personal objection to violence and be a hugely successful criminal anyway! He doesn’t NEED the badass points of Secret Gun-Fu Competency, nor does he ever actually USE this alleged secret competency EVER AGAIN ON THE SHOW. The moment doesn’t lead to any deeper exploration of why Neal KNOWS about guns yet refuses to USE them.

All the moment really proves is that the show runners were unwilling to let Pretty Matt Bomer be even slightly incompetent at any single thing, so they made him a Cool Gun Batman for a single scene and then forgot about it. Which makes me tear my hair out bc they didn’t even NEED TO DO THAT. Neal is good enough with his hands and eyes that they could justifiably have passed two bullseyes off as luck on his part, with a few secret nervous shots of his face before and after - it would create tension! They could have HAD NEAL MISS THE SHOT, bc no character is perfect at EVERYTHING or they just get boring. Missing the shot then remaining One Of The Lads anyway would let him reinforce his con man skills. There were lots of ways to play that scene off without making Neal a Secret Gun Batman, and I wish even one of them had been used.

Anyway I’m going to binge this whole thing again bc my life choices are excellent.

[perseidlion]

I think I've figured out WTF is going on with Netflix, MAX, D+, Amazon, etc... cancelling TONS of shows. I mean, aside from the obvious greed and corporate mismanagement.

Those of you who are old like me remember that network TV used to have this thing called pilot season. It still exists in a limited form for networks, but it used to be the way all TV worked.

Back in the day, there'd be maybe 1-5 episodes of a show that would be aired (remember this was the era of 22 episode seasons). If the show was successful, they'd air the rest of the season. If it wasn't, it would be axed and disappear. Sometimes shows would be given half a season to do well, and then would be replaced with something called a mid-season replacement - basically an understudy of that show in case it underperformed/failed.

First season orders on streaming are the new pilot season. But instead of only a couple episodes airing, they dump the whole thing on their streamer to let it sink or swim. Unlike the days of cable TV where timeslots were limited, streamers can just chuck the full thing up there for extra content.

Sometimes I think they've already decided to not renew a show before it ever gets out there. Maybe their streaming data tells them the audience profile won't give them the big dollars. But it gave them something new to talk about and put in front of people even if they never intended to support it or give it another season. And the numbers were enough to at least make the production costs back, so why not?

This is deeply cynical and very corporate. But I think that's what the streamers are now. The unbridled creativity and investment of stories from peak/early streaming has been replaced with cold hard data.

And it's killing stories. It's killing faith in streamers. At least with the old pilot season model, you'd know a show was getting axed within a few weeks. Not months after you'd invested in a whole series arc.

Not always, but often when a show made it through pilot season, it would end up with a 2 season order, sometimes 3. You'd also know when a show was getting renewed because shows only really premiered in the fall and the winter. There wouldn't be all this waiting and watching for a renewal or cancellation that could come down at any time.

I'm not saying this was overall a better system. But at least people didn't get invested in stories as much and then have them taken away. There are obvious exceptions to this, of course (Firefly being the most famous) but I think that's why we're seeing such a graveyard of shows right now.

[randomfoggytiger]

What do you think was wrong with Carter that he used the show to deal with his own issues? I mean, did he really think that platonic coworkers behave this way? Had he ever had a real job? That relationship would have been an HR headache.

HR: ok. Mulder. Again, you cannot stand that close to your female coworker. That can be sexual harrassment. You are making the other agents uncomfortable.

Mulder: how close is too close?

HR: Geez, agent, it's Wednesday and this is your second meeting this week. Do not call your coworkers in the middle of the night if it's not an emergency. Business hours are 9-5.

Mulder:Then why do we have these cell phones? What do you classify as an emergency?

HR:Twice today! I don't get paid enough to deal with Mulder load. Do not touch other agents! Keep your hands to yourself. And, I didn't think this needs to be said, but you cannot stare at Scully. Don't stare at anyone. From here on, you must keep at least an arm's distance personal space between you, Scully, anyone! YOUR ARM LENGTH! I have provided this laminated sheet of Mulder Dont's for you to keep on your person. Please review and follow them.

Mulder: is Gazing considered staring?

HR: get out!

XDDDDD

(But how can he stay away from Scully, HR Man, when she was the first one to jump him??)

Oh, Chris 100% knew that Mulder and Scully weren't strictly platonic: he started the show by comparing them to a (then) famous will-they-won't-they couple; and admitted, years in:

Interviewer: When you first explained Scully and Mulder to FOX, was it a point of sale that this was going to be purely working relationship, no love interest.

CC: I wanted it to be that way from the get-go, although I did want there to be sort of an underlying tension between the two of them because my feeling is when you put two smart people, a man and a woman, in a room, I don’t care whether or not they’re passionate about their life and their work, you’re going to get sexual tension out of that naturally.

Interviewer: How important is the sexual tension between the characters?

CC: I never wanted them to jump in the sack together because it was uninteresting to me. To me, the most sexual relationships are often the ones that are never realized, consummated or even spoken about. So I wanted this to be two smart people who work together, who happen to get along very well. Through their shared passion in their work, there is a natural chemical sexual tension that comes out of that, that doesn’t ever have to be spoken about, but it works.

(I wrote a meta based on his chronological interviews-- and how he buried the romantic lead under a false umbrella of platonic-- here. All the answers to CC's psyche can be found there. >:DDDD But in short: he had tropes he liked; and he wrote only those.)

Chris (later) admitted, over and over, that he'd planned for Mulder and Scully to get together at the end of the show. To this day, he claims to know what the last scene of The X-Files would be-- and I'd bet that last scene involves a chaste, romantic kiss. Unfortunately, he blew the kiss card during Season 7 (which was supposed to be the last season.) Still, hope flamed eternal; and he and Spotnitz successfully baited the network into another go around after Millennium and all things (before Requiem, if I recall.) Then, he was left with a floundering, "Now what?"

Ironically, he did have the happy ending and final kiss scene: Existence (which wasn't originally planned-- because of course not, that'd be admitting the show was actually over.) And Existence would have been it, if Gillian hadn't accepted a nice check for Season 9.

My opinion? I think Chris thought (thinks) the show will be over once they kiss-- and, to be fair, I've been catching up on a lot of fans/reviewers/reactions to famous 90s tv will-they-won't-they; and all of them concur: most people lose interest, and those shows sink in quality, after the couples finally kiss. I don't think it has to be that way, of course; but the broader audience has to become engaged again some other way, which is tricky.

Ultimately, CC signed his own death warrant because he just couldn't let the show end-- wouldn't let them pan out on one last, happy shot together-- despite many opportunities to do so. And, without another trick up his sleeve, viewership declined; and the original run of the show ended on a latent, struggling note. You could argue the same for IWTB and the Revival.

Those are my thoughts, anyway¬.

[shaniacsboogara]

i think a lot of things i agree with are already being said about watcher tv, so instead of focusing on those, i'm going to try to highlight things i think need to be reiterated or haven't been discussed enough.

first of all, i've been a fan of watcher's content for a long time. i followed shane and ryan over to the network after unsolved ended, and since then have made a TON of incredible friends and memories because of their shows. to anyone at watcher reading this, i really hope you're doing alright. thank you for everything you've done to foster this incredible community. and to anyone here in tumblr who's followed me for my watcher content or to any of my mutuals, i hope you're doing as well as you can. drink some water, get outside, and make sure you're getting enough sleep. this has been a rough time for a lot of us, and understandably so.

obviously, watcher tv is a massive change, and everyone who feels upset or disappointed is extremely valid in feeling that way. however, the calibre of hate being sent to the watcher crew is kind of horrific. yes, this could turn out to be a bad business decision for them, but that does make them evil morally bankrupt capitalists who never actually cared about their fanbase in the first place??? honestly, i think this type of commentary is doing a disservice to everyone who's trying to discuss this situation from a genuine analytical standpoint. not only that, but these are real people??? sure, they're on the internet and have probably had people send hate comments their way before, but as a community there are so many more productive things we could be doing instead of tearing down the folks over at watcher.

it is disheartening for content you've enjoyed to suddenly be locked behind a paywall, especially if it's not something you'll be able to afford. i've seen a lot of people emphasizing that artists should be compensated for their art, and i think that definitely applies here, but that doesn't mean people don't have a right to be upset. the fandom community we've built here on tumblr is incredible, it's brought so many people together and overall been so positive, fun, and welcoming to be a part of, so it's understandable that a change threatening the stability of that fanspace would make people upset. i'm not happy about the possibility of the watcher fandom dissipating after this announcement, but i think it's highly likely. watcher TV has created a divide in the fandom, and no matter what it looks like after this is over, it won't be the same. what's going to happen when most people can't access watcher content anymore??? no matter what happens, being in this fandom was absolutely incredible while it lasted.

what's my overall take on the situation??? i don't know how this will turn out for them, i'm not sure the announcement was carried out in the best way (it was hyped up in a way i don't think it should've been, a slower lead up to this could've made it more digestible), i'm sad that a lot of people won't be able to enjoy content that used to mean so much to them, but if this is a business move they think they need to make, then think i understand that. i'm no business expert, i have no idea how this will work out, but i'm absolutely not manifesting their downfall. i think it's very important to discuss this in a civil manner, to critique and analyze the effects of this situation on both the community and the company, but letting that turn into blatant hate and threats to watcher employees is WAY TOO FAR.

these are just some of my thoughts. if you want me to clarify anything or know my thoughts on specific aspects of this situation, please don't be afraid to ask!!! my only request is that this post doesn't turn into a vessel for hating on anyone, whether that be watcher or anyone posting about the situation.

[aesethewitch]

Learning to Cook Like a Witch: The Absolute Beginning

So, you're looking to dip your toes into kitchen witchery, but you have zero experience cooking. Or, maybe you have experience that's not so great or that wasn't informative. Or, maybe you just don't know where to start, because no one ever taught you how to cook.

Great! Cooking can be intimidating to even approach when you're not used to it. I'm lucky in that I grew up cooking with my family and had the chance to take several cooking-based classes in high school. Not everyone has that sort of opportunity, so I'd like to pass on my experience to others!

(Note that you definitely don't need to be the best cook in the world to be a kitchen witch. No one's perfect! But it's okay to want to improve your skills, too.)

If you want to learn to cook, the first step is to familiarize yourself with the basic terms, measurements, and tools you'll be working with. Start with the following:

Learn the names and uses of the tools in your kitchen (for example, spatulas for spreading frosting vs. spatulas for flipping burgers)

Measurement conversions (how many teaspoons in a tablespoon, how many tablespoons in a cup, etc.)

Familiarize yourself with commonly used measurement phrases such as "dash" and "pinch," and learn exactly what they mean by that

Abbreviations for measurements (teaspoon = tsp = t, tablespoon = tbsp = T, etc.)

Various cooking terminology and the difference between terms, such as the difference between mixing, creaming, folding, and emulsifying

Read recipes and look up words you're not familiar with

Knife safety! Learn how to hold a knife properly and cut things without risking your fingers, and also learn how to keep your knives sharp. Remember, a sharp knife is a safe knife!

Once you've got knife safety down, learn how to cut an onion - dice, chop, and slice your way to delicious victory!

Learn fire, oven, and stovetop safety!

Familiarize yourself with what's in your spice cabinet; taste things if you've never had them, and look up common recipe usages for them

Learn about the Maillard reaction (this is what turns meat brown!)

Familiarize yourself with common substitutions, such as for cornstarch, buttermilk, and shortening/lard

Start with simple recipes; many chefs say you should start with omelets, white sauce, and homemade stock, and I tend to agree. Learning just these three things teaches a number of techniques that translate to a hundred other recipes!

Eat more food! Try new flavors, experiment with dishes from restaurants, ask questions about what's in what you're eating. Sample dishes and spice combinations from other cultures. Smell things before you eat them. Think about the flavors and how they're working together.

Watch videos from cooks on YouTube, or watch cooking tv shows! Honestly, Alton Brown's Good Eats was a foundational influence for me as a child, and I cut my teeth on Food Network. YouTube-wise, try Basics with Babish!

Pick a recipe you think looks good or that you've had before and just make it! Simple as that, just follow the recipe. Get the ingredients, follow the steps, eat the food!

Not everything you make is going to be good. And that's fine! Learn what went wrong and why. Figure out what tastes good and what doesn't. Let other people try your food and give you honest feedback. If you think your taste buds are biased or not "good enough," having someone else tell you "this needs more salt" or "this is really balanced" or "this would go nicely over rice instead of potatoes" is powerful.

Remember that you're learning. Look things up. Fuck up a recipe. Burn something. Realize you're missing an ingredient and figure out a substitute last minute. Leave something out, put something else in. Taste, taste, taste. Taste everything. Every time you put something in or complete a step, taste it. So long as it's not going to be a health hazard (such as with raw meat), taste it.

Take your time with it. Cooking is a skill that's earned over time via trial and error. Know that you're not alone in your worry and struggle. Millions of home cooks have stood where you stand, spoon in hand and apron tied tight. Practice, practice, practice.

Once you understand cooking by itself, you can more easily incorporate magic and weave spells into your meals, which I'll cover in another post, since this one is already quite long.

Happy cooking! 🍳🌿

If you enjoy my posts or would like to support my blog, consider throwing a couple dollars in my tip jar! ✨

[dinossaurz]

Somethings really wrong

Masterlist

Pairing: Idol!Mingi; ballerina!reader; female!reader

Genre: College au, idol au, romance, slow burn, suggestive content, MDNI

Synopsis: what if you switch bodies with your favorite idol?

Warnings: age gap (6 years difference. She's 19 and he's 25), fluff, angst if you squint, suggestive content, mean Mingi. More warnings in the chapters.

Characters: Female reader, Mingi, Hongjoong, Jongho is cited, Wooyoung, Seraphine (the best friend).

WC: 1.249

Networks: @mirohs-aurora-society @k-labels

Taglist is open

@bethelighthalazia

Chapter 1

Mingi

I'm a well told lie.

While on stage, practicing everything I worked hard the last two years, since I was just a trainee until I debuted, no one could ever imagine that behind my features, there's someone broken.

We are used to look to our idols and imagine how their lives are perfect.

They're all wrong.

There are moments that not even the music is capable to enter out guts and push all the pain out; everything is just a mess of senseless strings with rehearsed phrases.

We're now in the local TV, an well known ambient, but it sounded wrong that moment. My new MV just released and the news were full of compliments and impressive numbers. It was my solo debut, where I would start my journey without Ateez, where everything began.

Amongst all atiny euphoria, between claps and screams, I felt my heart heavy. Singing the song _Turbulence_ is like taking all my once buried moments, principally the last time I fought with my father, and all mean words thrown with no regret.

_I hope you accept your son died to you_

While I think about that, my mind was in the past, the last days my mother passed in the hospital, she was so fragile that I could think that her bones would tear apart if I didn't hold her properly.

"Be patient with your father, his love language is different"

I laughed dryly.

"How many love languages exists?"

"It depends on your point of view." she wet her dry lips and forced a smile. "There are people who have difficulty of showing affection and there's some people that are capable to show it just with their eyes"

The light shift brought me back to the TV show, where I was wearing a black pair of clothes, projected to sustain big black wings. That song have been one of the greatest Ateez's successes and even two years later, it was still the favorite.

I force a smile, giving my best, remembering that there are many people who cares and lead us to where we are today. Not like steps, but like outstretched hands to pull us up.

Each phrase I sing has a part of me held, principally the ones that kept all the fights. The way people connect their voices, kept me aware of why I had chosen that life.

The music is my way to express myself where I usually don't put in words. A soft silence to my wounds that never healed properly.

When the lights turned off and the screams were louder than ever, Wooyoung put his arm around my shoulders and said something I'm used to listen after all concerts.

"Hyung, good job"

He's like a brother to me, more than the others.

I followed them through the door to a corridor with many similar doors, but my manager stopped me, putting his hand in my shoulder.

"We need to talk"

Normally, when this kind of conversation happens, it never were about schedules or something related to my career.

I followed him to an office. The couch looked almost untouched, and if I smelled properly, it still has it leather smell.

My manager, Dohwa, has approximately thirty two years; his personal life was unknown to me, just like to the other members. We didn't know if he has children, wife or if he have any other profession than... manager.

He rises his eyes to the roof, as if looking to proper words in it's details.

"Your father called me." he said, making me frown.

"We don't have nothing to talk about that." I used my normal tone. Even if I'm younger than him, I've always treated him informally.

"I have no idea of what happened between you and him, but Mingi..." he scratched his nape, sighing. "he's your father."

"I don't consider a father the man who wanted to screw his own family." I murmured, taking off part of my clothing, staying just with a black shirt.

"It was all a misunderstood, you just need to apologize him." he insisted.

I sighed.

"You have no idea of what you're talking about." I said, leaving the office.

He didn't followed me.

Great.

I walked through the large corridor, looking inside door by door, until I founded a temporary plate, Ateez written on it.

Hongjoong was the first to see me, wearing his normal clothes: pants, dark shades with long sleeve shirt and buttons.

"Mingi, we..." Wooyoung stopped his words when he saw me wearing my hoodie. "Where are you going?"

Wooyoung just seen like a dumb, but he isn't; he could read my expression better than anyone.

"See you later" was everything he said.

My challenge now were found the exit of this place. The corridors were almost the same, just like a maze, and not even one door has a signal. The only way to guide myself were the stairs. I finally founded the entrance, just as large as a hotel lobby.

Photographers and some journalists punched each other in the entrance just to get a good angle and to not lost the opportunity to corner the members like rats in a trap.

Even if I rise my hood and runs a bit faster with my head low, my hair color would probably be seen, so with my body pressed against the wall, I searched the place with my eyes, trying to find the exit.

An employee passed by me, and looked at me, surprised.

"Where's the back exit?" I asked in a low tone, expecting a simple answer.

He just pointed another door, it doesn't looked like the door I was searching, but it should be the door that would guide me to the right one.

I fastened my steps and pushed the door with a green sign. A whiff of cold air fanned my face. Heavy clouds painted the sky, making it look dark and gray, rain drops fallen to my face when I continued my track, listening some pebbles against my boots.

I had no idea where I was going.

I just knew I needed somewhere to go, somewhere I could breath and ease my mind for a moment. I knew Dohwa's intentions weren't meant to hurt me, and being related to my father made it easier for him to keep in contact with him, even if I changed my number frequently.

I was running away simply because I didn't wanted to live that hell all again.

I didn't know how long I kept walking, but the wind and the pain in my ankle made me stop. There were a house right in front of me, it looked like were lost in time, the painting in the walls was tearing apart, revealing the original red color. In the entrance, had a wooden door, partially covered by the nature to the windows. The windows, in colorful stained glass, forming a siren draw in a lonely wall, broken by its corners. The rust and mold smell made me hold my breath for a moment.

I had no choice; at any moment it would start raining and I wasn't willing to receive it, because a cold would made the CEO go crazy.

I passed through the yellow stripe and went through the garden. My boots made a fun noise in the puddles. I pushed the front door, and it opened with no difficulty. Even if the place were dark and cold, I had no option if not waiting the rain.

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

And finally Feeny gives him a huge hug. And Eric smiles. Thank you Mr. Feeny. Thank you for everything. -Danielle

This is amazing to me to watch. Because I'm like, oh my gosh. The end of season three was Eric not getting into college, right? Like that getting that letter and that dramatic. And then the beginning of the season is you on the road trip and that your whole storyline about whether you're gonna stay there. I mean, you were like carrying the show at this point. Did you, did you know that?...we've talked about this like off mic, but like, it is crazy to me how much I thought that we were like small parts of the TV show. Also, in retrospect, I'm like, we were the stars of a network television show and we were carrying. I never thought that. If you had asked me two years ago, like, were you on Boy Meets World? Like yeah, I was a small part I was one of the, you know, I had some good scenes, I had some good episodes, but now I'm like, no we were like, a huge, like you and I were carrying so much of this part. -Rider

Also you guys  worked together a lot. -Danielle

All the time. My God. We were together all the time. -Will

Actually, I actually don't think we worked together that much. But like we've all, we've been, all Eric and Shawn have been alternating the emotional arc of aeasons and multi episodes and it's just like, it's mind boggling to me. Because, you know, I think it was because partly because you and I were splitting the duties, you would have a whole week where you wouldn't be doing anything. I would've a week where I wouldn't be doing anything. And so in our minds, we just thought of it as like, it's Ben's show. Yeah. We're just kind of here to show up and do an episode. -Rider

I've got one about myself this week. Like that's how I would always look like at it. Eric's got a decent part this week. That's always what it was. It was never oh I've got the arc of the season.  Like that never came into my head. So Yeah. Very strange. Also, I have to say, when Feeny and Eric hugged, I welled up a little bit. My robot heart melted and I felt human emotion. I didn't like it. -Will

[starman-john-tracy]

Fifteen, randomly selected, rapid fire questions! 🔥

Favourite board game?

What was your major in college?

Night owl or morning lark?

What never fails to make you laugh?

Would you ever sky dive?

Do you have any tattoos?

Cannonball into a pool or dip a toe first?

Do you have your own Netflix account or do you use someone else’s?

Do you know how to perform a magic trick?

Coffee or tea?

How many pull ups can you do in a row?

How many redheads are you friends with?

What type of milk do you put in your cereal?

What’s a cause that’s important to you?

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

"You sure are curious." John tilts his head, that classic Tracy grin sliding into place - he quite likes a good, complicated set of communications, and even if this is an interview in disguise, at least he gets to give it from his Space Station.

"My favourite board game is Scrabble," He decides, mostly because he always wins and the Tracys are nothing if not competitive, John included. "Though the boys enforce a strict English-only rule on me, which seems a little unfair when they let Kayo use Malaysian words." That doesn't mean he can't get them with British English though. Once, he almost had Gordon trying to fist fight him over the word knackered, and he'd been made to call Parker to confirm it was, in fact, a real thing.

"College? Well, I did an Astrophysics and Laser Communications double major at Harvard." John folds both arms across his chest and lets himself just float as he answers. "With a two-semester placement over in Oxford, England. That was where I first properly met the Lady Penelope."

John's Father had been friends with her Father since long before Jeff even went to space, so John's known Penny since she was a little girl with blond curly pigtails and mud on her expensive skirts. As soon as John had arrived in England she'd decided that she could simply not stand for him to remain the only billy-no-mates at Oxford, and that they were to be firm friends - whether that's what he wanted or not.

"Time doesn't work quite as nights and mornings when you're in space." John shrugs, "But I've racked up enough late nights on the telescope back home that the answer to that is probably night owl."

"What makes me laugh...?" He has to actually think about this one. "I'd say my brothers, Gordon in particular, but I'm worried that will only insight him more..."

"As for sky diving, it wouldn't be the first time." John's shoulders roll through a shrug, "You don't become a pilot, let alone an astronaut without practising for emergency ejections."

John reveals that he has no tattoos, would always rather dip a toe into the pool first to check how cold it is, and that he has perhaps-not-entierly-legal global access to every TV station and film network in the globe at his fingertips, so why would he need a Netflix account?

"Sometimes, being up here on Thunderbird Five feels like a magic trick." He confesses, a little more softly, "Humans? In space? With nothing but sheet metal, borosilicate and their own ingenuity to support them?" He shakes his head - even after all these years he can't get over it, "Absolute magic."

As for tea or coffee, John, unlike the rest of his brothers, is, absurdly, more of a tea drinker. Which, really, is all Lady Penelope's fault and likely part of her grand scheme to make him into a civilised human she can hang out with. She'd started it early - inviting the bedraggled science student to sit with her as she took her early morning tea; English Breakfast with dainty biscuits and continental pastries that even he couldn't resist. John had started joining her regularly, and then, pretty soon he'd renounced coffee entirely and turned to the British side of hot beverages.

Penelope had been so proud to have converted him.

She sends loose leaf up to space twice a month.

"I've never counted how many pull-ups I can do in a row," John shrugs, never as much of a show-off in the gym as some of his brothers, "Enough, I suppose? This isn't- You're not trying to see if I'm fit for rescues, are you? Because I can assure you I'm perfectly competent." His brothers and Brains keep such a strict eye on his diet and exercise regimes that it's hard to be anything but.

John laughs at the redhead question, and he cards his fingers backwards through the curl of his own ginger forelock.

"None, I suppose, unless my Grandma counts? I've seen pictures of her in her youth with hair as bright as mine." He's got several saved in the holo-album he takes out when it's just a little too lonely up on Five. "I think Eos would be a red-head too," He adds, "If she had a choice in the matter."

"Hmm. Cereal is hard to come by on Thunderbird Five." John thinks for a moment, "Crumbs and floating liquids can be exceptionally dangerous to the sensitive machinery up here. Most of what I eat is pre-packaged, nutritionally sound spacefood, designed by Brains." And it tastes like wet cardboard, "I had to fight hard to get them to put me in a bagel toaster."

"As for a cause that's important to me... International Rescue seems too obvious." John laughs, "But Tracy Industries make an awful lot of donations to worthy causes, don't you worry."

"I guess the best piece of advice I've ever received was from my Mom. I asked her once, sometime around the start of high school. I got, uh, picked on a lot, by the other kids, and was generally a bit of a weird science nerd." He laughs uncomfortably, "So I asked her if she had any advice and she just looked at me, ever so seriously, and said 'Take a deep breath.'" John's countenance cracks a little, "Just that. Not calm down or relax, or you're overreacting, or quit being dramatic. Just 'take a deep breath'. In this world," He adds, teeth catching on his bottom lip, "I think you have to be kind, and above all very patient with people." John's quite proud to take after his Mom in that respect, "...Plus it's pretty handy for the job."

[lol-jackles]

I could see Jared taking another show after an SPN mini series. He's worked hard, earned his success, and has a good manager. But I could also see him producing shows while taking classes at UT. (I know men judge themselves by their career choices, but he's already won on that front. Plus he really does love his kids enough to just chill and work in ATX with the local bigshots.) Either way I'd be proud of him, because it will be a choice not desperation pushing.

Everything you say can happen. While I’m of the belief that the acting bug never leaves you, I also believed Jared doesn’t want to take on another lead role on a long running tv series. Nonetheless he would accept another lead role if offered. Unemployment is lifestyle for 99% of the actors and why they have many side gigs for the inevitable lean years in between acting gigs. Jared’s 20+ consecutive years as a working actor and the leading man is the exception to the rule.  

Jared's career has been triple blessed: lead actor on a syndicated broadcast tv show that will reap residuals for years, convention circuits that doubles his salary, and filming Walker in his own hometown. Plus he had at least 2 holding deals, meaning he was shortlisted by networks. Remember this?

Jared has a reliable brand that is sellable to the mainstream audience. Producers are looking to put proverbial ‘asses in the seats’ to watch the content, this means producers demand that casting directors focus on actors that they feel will bring their already established fan base. Finally, he is credited for creating a working set with an enviable reputation of being a good place to work (X). This puts Jared in good stead with producers who tend to prioritize reliability. Hollywood is just as much about reputation as performance.