#I want a sense of recognition on the og personality but also make them different still

[tinapaysmp]

Mythland Pearl

Aight, see I decided not to have Mythland Pearl be plainly Red Pearl/5am Pearl obviously.

Now, I love me my swap AUs ever since I discovered Reverse Falls back in the mid-2010s. But, this is Empires s1 so a part of me really wants to be very particular about some of my decisions for this.

So for the swap au I'm trying to have it that they have their typical personality, but it's also them being shaped and affected by their surroundings.

For example:

OG e!Pearl DOES NOT like the blood sheep. But in this AU her family, her house (House of Moon), has been devout followers of the blood sheep.

So, originally my thought was she was not too fond of her family's religion. She wants to make some changes to Mythland. Especially in my world building where Mythland as an empire has quite the reputation and the blood sheep wasn't helping. But then I remembered her reaction during the first time Xornot revealed himself after the End battle.

See the blood sheep lore has two different accounts. One was that it's actually one of Mythland's historical tyrants that was turned into a sheep by a guild of mages. Which I would take as more of a folk legend.

The other one, I find far more interesting and is located within the church, which I'm taking as practically their gospel.

The blood sheep to Mythland Pearl is a wounded soul (technically spirit) . The sheep were animals that no longer felt importance after the Mythlanders focused on other animals as their nation grew.

So Pearl here doesn't really heavily worship them nor fear them, but desires to heal their ache (A little reference to OG e!Pearl wanting to cure Xornot). She grew up with the story of the blood sheep feeling rage against humanity for forgetting about them.

There's still a lot to consider regarding this though. I do want it that Xornot was still trying to tempt her to the dark side.

In my hcs/worldbuilding, to Mythland you're not allowed to show weakness. Fear and power is what rules the populous. The people fear the blood sheep. Their rulers secure their power through might. They are an empire worth fearing. Very different from Helianthia. These are the philosophies and histories that OG e!Sausage grew up with and this would be the same stuff Myth!Pearl would grow up with as well.

She's compassionate, she's ready for a fight (big or small, even if it meant war), but she hates the idea of being seen as weak. Helianthian Pearl is compassionate, ready for a fight, and she's not bothered showing the she stumbled.

[macncherries]

by the way, id like to thank everyone for all of the love on this; especially in regards to praising the body types here.

i work really hard generally, but especially on this, to portray characters I like in different lights than what the original media can give them. due to the manga creation process, and most definitely animation process, things are simplified. i have a worm in my brain that tells me to do the opposite, to extreme amounts. thank you all for indulging my schizo-posting. but more importantly, thank you to everyone who recognizes themselves or others in the body types here.

more below the cut, im going to ramble a lot.

my detail interest mostly applies to faces, as you can see, but Laios is very special to me. He has a BMI of 26, which by all technicality is "overweight". which is crazy to me because in his character art that literally serves the purpose of depicting his body type, he is nowhere near overweight.

you can obviously see hes more well-fed than other characters, but he has virtually no fat or muscle definition (other than those pecs, holy SHIT Kui. GAW DAMN.) anyways, my point here, is that if he's overweight, (which he should be, food is yummy :3) (and you know his whole characters purpose is to consume) then he should look adjacent to what his environment necessitates of him. i.e. he has a big appetite, has the motivation to consume a lot of things, has quite a bit of strength (but not so much as to out-do other races), and fights monsters daily. This says to me his body much match these circumstances.

im not dissing Kui for this decision, by the way. I think everyone has different interpretations of Laios, and what Kui puts out is definitely by all means canon. I try to apply circumstance, context and nuance to the existing canon. Its not me overwriting it entirely. Its the "parent" media after all, I've just taken it and made a sibling/child. I hope that makes sense.

anyways. a few comments on my OG post I want to highlight, cuz they mean a lot to me

thank you...... this means a lot... i want people to look like people, as silly as that is to say. Im really glad I seem to be (?) succeeding. I sometimes with my artstyle was a little bit more realism based, but its kind of difficult to find a balance. I don't know if what I do now is considered "semi realism" but I do want my bodies to look completely realistic. I gave them both scars, and yet I haven't had top surgery yet either. Im glad that you're able to see yourself nonetheless. I am a White Man so I do not feel comfortable identifying with Kabru too heavily (appearance-wise) but I am also slightly underweight, and generally have dark features, so I like to think his body type is also realistic. I'm really, really thankful for this comment. I don't know that I'm putting it into words very well, because its something I struggle with, but I do appreciate it.

just so you know, i read this comment in my notifications while I was at work, and genuinely started to tear up. I am very very happy to hear it. You already have a comment of mine stating this, but I really do appreciate it. Especially the line about seeing these bodies at waterparks. I know its not your intention, but it makes me happy to think about because it means the person with said body isn't ashamed of it; to be out in public and whatnot. Also, Man Studies is a dutifully coined term. i love it. I'm happy to have heard it. I draw men a lot, actually pretty much only men, admittedly. So I work extra hard on them. Thank you for the recognition, professor

anyways, i have news. this ref/HC sheet has some new editions coming to it. along with a google doc of all of the research/notes I've done while re-reading the manga. mmm... autism... she is a beaut. if you're wondering how I have this much time on my hands, its because I'm doing all of this while I'm at work. Autism-diving helps my 40 hour work week go by faster. so I'm glad you're all enjoying that.

no one gets it. this is waht autism does to a mf. welcome to macncherries schizo-posting :(

[canonicallyanxious]

Omg excitring times. David/Matteo and Kieu My/Fatou obvs!!

i reblogged this ask meme as a poorly veiled excuse to write essays about fictional relationships so thank u for indulging me <333

[i am so irritating so i'm adding in a cut sorry in advance for how word vomity i get over characters who aren't real ksdjfnsdkfnsd]

For context: send me a ship and I will say if I ship it or don't ship it and answer some questions about it etc. etc.

David/Matteo - ship it

[do I ship davenzi or did following this story irreversibly change the course of my life? who can say]

1. What made you ship it?

This is kind of an interesting question because I feel like due to the fact that I was extremely attached to evak and og skam s3 back in the early times of the skamverse heyday I was kind of unfairly predisposed to enjoy most evak variations (i mean i did watch skamfr s3 and enjoyed most of it up until the last few episodes if that says anything about that lol), that said davenzi feel distinctly different to me from evak, for many reasons despite sharing similar story beats. like Matteo was... idk such a lonely version of Isak?? So much more detached from his surroundings and sort of just floating through life (how he basically stumbled into the relationship with Sara is an example that comes to mind), so much more obviously yearning not to be.

and i think a big part of what drew me to these two at the beginning is i think they did such a good job of setting a different tone in a way that fits these characters and their story so well. i feel like david had a similar sort of loneliness to Matteo, in a very guarded sort of way, and i think that's part of what drew them to each other - when they meet eyes in the absolutely iconic heaven by blaze scene (will never fucking forget when that clip dropped btw. it was like 4 or 5 in the morning or whatever my time and the confirmation that beanie boy was ger!Even was fucking euphoric and we didn't even know beanie boy's NAME and i've never experienced a rush like watching that shit drop in real time i swear) i feel like there's this sense of recognition, almost like kindred spirits or something?? like here is a person who might intrinsically understand who i am and what i'm going through and i don't even have to say a thing (like Matteo's line in ep 7 to Sara, i think deep down this is the heart of what he's been wanting this whole time)

i loved also that because matteo was a lot more detached in some ways his story was more about him reclaiming agency in his own life and actually reaching for the things he wanted, and in that sense David challenged and pushed him in the way he needed (and vice versa for David in terms of letting himself actually be vulnerable around someone). That first conversation, the very guarded push and pull, david's challenge to matteo's "i thought you could make a wish" with "it's just an eyelash" and then crucially asking him what he would wish for anyway, and then finally at the end when matteo pulls a smile out of him and it's so amazing partly because it feels so earned - yeah i was gone from the start sdkjfsdnkfjsdf

2. What are your favorite things about the ship?

WOW WHERE TO EVEN BEGIN. like legitimately this is so hard to answer ksdjfnksdjfnds but i guess one thing that comes to mind is how well-balanced they are in terms of their personal character arcs and how they help each other grow, like i said i think that manifests in David pushing Matteo to actively fight for what he wants and Matteo helping David to be vulnerable by being so open and trusting himself and i just think that's good writing yo! i love also that they're both such fucking gremlins but in such different ways, we love couples that love to have fun with (and at lol) each other! also not to be that bitch but i love that it's a love story centering a trans character and we got to see that character experience love and joy and self-acceptance so completely. it might be silly but i'm not joking when i said seeing that happen for David who is such a well-realized character in his own right helped me tremendously in finding comfort in my own identity.

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

God hell if i know what counts as a popular or an unpopular opinion for anything at any given time but i guess what i will say is that i remember when dr s3 was dropping i got, like, unreasonably annoyed at people who were like "oh so matteo is Even and david is Isak actually!" i mean looking back now i can't blame them because the parallels are there, they are literally an adaptation of this story and of course people are going to try to find connections where they can, but aside from the fact that matteo and david are pretty different characters from Even and Isak at the time it sort of felt like it was, like, playing down david's agency in the story? or reducing even and isak's own roles in their story to the active versus the passive one?? idk if that makes sense skdjfhnsdkjfs i just think it's kind of reductive to say the story was a role reversal just because Matteo was more assertive than Isak in some places but maybe i'm just being sensitive ksdjfhnsdjkfsdjk

on a lighter note again idk if this is an unpopular opinion, this is really just my own personal headcanon honestly but in my mind davenzi are one of two relationships in the entire skamverse i can see lasting after high school (the other one is Amira/Mohammed, what can i say i'm a druck stan through and through), like with most other couples i'm invested in i can see them being more on and off or like breaking up and getting back together a few years down the line or even just like splitting amicably and remembering the times they had together with deep fondness (idk how obvious it is but i'm not a huge believer in the longevity of high school relationships as much as I love my skamverse ships), with davenzi though idk i'd put bets on them being the real deal babey call me biased but i won't apologize for it

Kieu My/Fatou - ship it [it feels silly to even type this like of course i ship Kieu My and Fatou, I have eyes and breath in my lungs, who do you think i am]

1. What made you ship it?

actual physical proof i have been clowning since week 1:

lol but in all seriousness in season 5 i thought there was totally potential there as one of the relatively rare instances in the skamverse that a relationship has had significant development across multiple seasons (i don't count most noorhells in my brain sue me) and some already pretty compelling themes established about authenticity and such with the huge caveat that their story had to show Kieu My as a real and flawed person versus the idealized version Fatou had of her (which it did!!! and it gave me rights!!!!) but i think i was pretty cautious up until the first clip of season 6 when Kieu My and Fatou walk home and they talk about axolotls and Kieu My rides Fatou's skateboard and tripped and fell and theiR HANDS CAUGHT like they hadn't talked much objectively speaking but from the moment i knew they Had Hands i was fully 100% on board ride or die until the end (i'm sorry that i'm gay but there's nothing i can do about it)

another part of the season that i can pinpoint as a real turning point for me was the end of episode 5 - particularly Fatou telling Kieu My that she's good. Like i think up until then i was still kind of like "hmmm it depends on where they go from here" esp after the end of ep 4 but like getting more of Kieu My's side of things, seeing the way these two characters both put so much pressure on themselves (and how those aspects of their character arcs push and pull with each other), Kieu My's earnest attempts to connect with Fatou in such stark contrast to her Ice Queen persona, Fatou's attempts to shut her out before realizing she just didn't want to do that and running after her to kiss her on her doorstep, man. that shit Hit u know.

2. What are your favorite things about the ship?

I hate this question ksdjfnsdjkfnsdkjfs it'S SO HARD but here are some things that come to mind:

I have mentioned this before but i think the character work of this season is SO good and imo a big part of that is the way that their insecurities push and pull against each other and how that sort of pushes them into confronting those insecurities. like the conflict that comes from Kieu My's struggles to be vulnerable because of her past experiences of being abandoned when people saw her beyond her party girl ice queen persona versus Fatou's fears and insecurities surrounding being stupid and therefore not good enough? Chef's kiss! Ten out of ten! We love to see them accept themselves by accepting each other!

there's this line at the end of ep 10 where Kieu My says "I think if you were like me we would still be alone swimming around somewhere in the universe" and almost a full year later this line still makes me feel INSANE like this is it! this is their entire relationship stripped down to its bare essentials! like genuinely this one line makes me feel so many things i have to list it as its own thing i simply must

I love love love that their story was given the focus and attention of a full season, i love that they were afforded so much time and care and attention, i love that they got so many moments to just be with each other and that those moments were portrayed with such intimacy and tenderness, i love that they got care and attention and development BEFORE their season and even after their season, i love that two queer girls of color got this but also their story was about SO MUCH MORE than their identities, it just means the fucking world to me okay idk how else to say it

On a sillier note: i love that Kieu My's peace offering at the end of ep 5 was to bring Fatou banh xeo because her mom is a "really good cook". having just come back from the holidays with my parents wherein they asked me what i wanted to eat and the first thing i said was "mom's banh xeo", Kieu My you are SO FUCKING VALID. but also food as their love language as like a general thing is really really good, i'm a huge fan

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Man idk what's popular and what's not??? At the time that the season was airing i felt like the season was judged pretty harshly [and somewhat unfairly so in some cases imo], when despite its problems i feel that there is also so much good it brings to the table that deserves to be acknowledged, but idk what the general consensus about the season is anymore so who can say. also i'm not super into the idea of jealousy with these two but i don't think that's like specific to kieutou i'm just not a big fan of jealousy as a source of romantic tension in general

[evakuality]

Mia, episode seven

Sorry, don’t read this if you like Mia.  I am not a fan of hers in this episode.

1.  Ugh.  I do not like that there is no recognition here of the conversation with Kiki.  I don’t get it - if you’re going to have that conversation and make it feel like a wrench for Mia to ‘give up’ Alex, why not address it properly?  Even if this comes up again later, I dislike that when she arrived there was no discussion about the Kiki thing, and now it’s all about sex with no recognition that she is now literally lying and going behind Kiki’s back.  Worse, it was Mia who told Kiki she would do whatever it took to keep her friendship, so she lied about that too.  I’m really disappointed in where this went.  She didn’t have to tell Kiki she would give Alex up - they were having a really honest conversation and she could just have said ‘I fell for him even though I know I shouldn’t’ and I don’t understand why they made that choice.  I don’t remember the og on this at all so I don’t know if they got it from there, but even if it is in there, they could have chosen to not have Mia deliberately and specifically lie to Kiki’s face and then act like she has no compunction about it at all.

2.  Okay so they’re finally talking about Kiki, but Mia dismisses that with ‘it’s not about Kiki’ and ‘I already talked to her’?  When that conversation literally ended differently, and now she’s lying to both Alex and Kiki?  Yeah, this isn’t doing it for me at all.  And to think, I actually did like Mia before this.  But the end of the last episode and the start of this one has really revised my feelings on her.  It’s not just Alex who’s being a dick in this situation.  I also don’t like that we’re supposed to be feeling sorry for Alex here because he has ‘problems with his parents’.  I know, assuming this is like the og, that there is a deeper thing here with the sister, but even so.  How on earth can they have a relationship when it’s based on lies and hating each other’s family circumstances?  I still don’t understand what they see in each other.  If it’s only sex, then there are SO many more people out there and nothing so far has sold me that either of them genuinely likes the other as a person.

3.  And yet another clip with Mia knowing she’s being an asshole and choosing not to address it.  I know she has this need to be in control and I know she’s doing something that’s for her for once and that’s probably both exhilarating and scary, but ugh.  The amount of lies is really building up.  Most of the other couples in our little world have communication issues etc, and many are hiding things, but actually lying on purpose like this isn’t as common and Mia is just casually throwing them out there like it’s easy.  Also ‘why me?’ ‘because you know who I am’ - ummmm, no she doesn’t Alex.  You’re literally hiding stuff from her as well!!  Unless you mean, she knows you’re an asshole and gives you the time of day anyway?  Plus, it’s not believable - Alex clearly started stalking/pursuing/gaslighting her well before she showed that she ‘knew’ him.    Like it’s nice that they’re trying to ‘communicate’ here, but if they’re just going to keep lying it’s not actually going to help.

4.  I get what they’re going for with this little bubble the two of them are in.  But Mia literally is avoiding her life and the more time she spends not connecting with her friends, the more likely they are to be concerned.  This bubble can’t last and I dislike that this whole thing is built on such a fragile and unbelievable base for them as they pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist.  It’s strange that I’m okay with it with Matteo and David and their fake vs real thing, but I think it’s because the issues are different and there were no specific promises to other people not to connect.  Keeping things private is different from lying outright.  Plus, neither Matteo nor David was an actual asshole and I still don’t believe that Alex isn’t the guy he showed through 1.5 seasons, and the one who was so awful to Kiki.  

5.  And of course, as expected, Kiki finds out when she’s trying to do something nice for Mia.  And of course she’s now more hurt than she was before.  So, now Mia thinks ‘I can’t do this to Kiki’?  Not a few days ago when Kiki was vulnerable and open with her?  No, it has to be now after she made things 500% worse.  It’s funny - I don’t usually find myself in a situation where I dislike the PoV character in these shows.  But here I am.  I actually dislike Mia in this episode.  I can usually get where a character is coming from even when I can see them totally stuffing up, but here she’s made conscious and deliberate choices and I don’t have any sympathy that they’ve come back to bite her.  I usually have some sympathy for the struggles, but not today.

6.  I know, from things that I’ve seen around, what this bunch of all-caps texts from Alex are about.  But again, Mia has no reason to know and respond the way she does.  It might have helped if we knew ahead of time what is going on with him, even if it was mentioned casually before maybe.  But instead, we have her jumping to her feet and rushing off to him for no real reason.  This is, again, the big problem Druck always has - pacing and making the story beats believable as an entirety rather than as discrete clips.  Even looking at the time for this episode - we had the entire build up and destruction of their relationship within the space of half an episode and now less than a minute later it’s all back on because of this panic attack.  It’s too fast, no time to breathe.  Skam and its offshoots always work best when things are allowed to develop organically and at a pace that isn’t this rushed.  The clip format is half to blame for this, but even with that it should be possible to develop this whole thing at an easier pace that builds tension and makes sense.

7.  Pacing, pacing, pacing.  Ugh.  Just this episode Mia explained why she’s not ready for sex, and now when Alex is or has been in a vulnerable state, she’s all ‘hey you know what would be a great idea?  Sex’  Why does all this stuff all have to be in one episode?  Why did we need so much of Alex being an asshole at the start of the season only to cram so much of the important relationship development stuff into one short episode?  I know they had to cut it down from the og (thank goodness, that one was far too long), but there are ways they could have done it while letting all these plotpoints breathe a bit.  It’s too crammed into one episode when it didn’t have to be.

8.  Yes Hanna, express this stuff for me: ‘all this happened in the last 3 days?’ Exactly.  Also this scene proves once again why Mia and Hanna should be a thing.  They have real, genuine conversations in which no-one ends up feeling belittled.  And they have great chemistry.  Seriously, Mia should have looked in this direction.  But honestly, in terms of pacing, Kiki finding out at the end of this episode and then this whole part being the focus of the next one would work better.  This whole business with Carlos is cute and all, and his advice is actually pretty decent, but again it’s all so rushed.  Again, I know this was released clip by clip and so the format is a bit different, but it should probably also work in an episodic format.  I feel like I’ve lived 3 episodes all in one go and now we have the other girls showing up and being disapproving as well; it’s too much.

9.  I don’t like that two episodes in a row (and after such a LOT in this one) we have a ‘Mia trying to be open with Kiki’ scene.  This excuse ‘I wanted to protect you’ is unkind and we already saw on more than one occasion how Mia protecting Kiki was a bad thing for Mia.  Also ‘I didn’t understand that it’s something serious between Alex and me’ is such a huge problem for me.  She literally lied to Kiki’s face and then went to Alex immediately afterwards.  So either she did know how serious it was or she didn’t really care that much and didn’t need to go back to him at all.  This is so frustrating because we’re supposed to accept all of this at face value when actually on any sort of consideration it doesn’t hold up.  So even though Kiki’s little speech is really good and does highlight all the issues I have with Mia, unfortunately a) I already disliked her because of it and b) because it’s all so rushed, I don’t care about any of it.  Except Kiki.  Which, considering how awful and racist etc she has been is a huge feat.  And effectively, Kiki has moved herself aside and allowed Mia to have Alex if she wants.  All of this in one episode!  

Basically I did not enjoy this episode, there was too much crammed into it (I have this same issue with some of Nora’s in s5, and it is one of the biggest issues I often have with Druck compared to the og) and so while Kiki’s speech should have been a turning point allowing us to see a way into Mia’s future, I am actually left disliking our main character and not all that inclined to watch the rest of the season.  

[whatadaze]

shan writes another long ass post no one asked for: 

so unless you’ve been living under a rock, you MIGHT have heard about skam nl + its recent decision to remove the geoblock on its youtube videos. if you have never watched skam nl or am on the fence about it pLS PLS PLS keep reading okay!? PLEASE 

I’m not the best at articulating my thoughts and suck at writing but i’ll try my best so PLS read :-) 

1. THE CAST

skamnl’s girl squad has a WOC playing noora (liv), a bisexual chris (janna), the least problematic vilde (engel), an AMAZING eva (isa), and even though their sana (imaan) could only be in the show for one season PLEASE do not let that deter you from watching. the actress left due to personal reasons and they left her character’s storyline open ended so if there ever was a chance for the actress to return, she could! i know there are many people who want a sana season with muslim representation but skam nl introduces another character, esra, who is also a muslim woc and FUCKING AMAZING. that aside, the cast members have great chemistry with one another. the way the characters interact + talk feel so real and genuine, largely because of the fact that the cast members are very close irl. one thing that i love about skamnl is the way they portray the friendships within the girl squad. i’d even go as far a saying that they are the best girl squad (even surpassing og) because they are so open and honest with one another + actually TALK to each other when problems occur. i don’t want to get too into specifics because you just need to watch the show but UGH i love how the show promotes POSITIVE girl/girl friendships without all that unnecessary catty drama we usually see in teen shows. 

2. THE WRITING + PRODUCTION 

so season 1 follows isa (eva) and i’m not going to lie, season 1 was always the season i didn’t care for as much but i was drawn to isa from the very first clip. she is just SO relatable and i would’ve loved to have watched a show with a main character like her when i was a teen. the dialogue feels so raw and real—the writing isn’t cringey or sound forced/straight from a script. and let me tell you, the PRODUCTION IS OFF THE CHARTS. skamnl has a unique way of telling its story through eVERYTHING. what the camera chooses to focus on, what colors are included in the scene, the song they choose for certain scenes, EVERYTHING has a purpose and i love when people analyze clips because it just shows how genius the skamnl team really is. they all work so hard on this show and it’s truly a shame that they don’t get the recognition they deserve. 

3. THE SOUNDTRACK

i’m not sure how it is with other remakes, but the spotify playlist for skamnl gets updated after each episode and that will tell you how long an episode will be. it’s actually one of my favorite parts of the show—waiting for the next group of songs to drop, listening to them, and trying to figure out what might happen in the next clips. they have introduced so many songs that i listen to on the regular from all over the world. in season 1, they had a song by kpop group TWICE and as a korean person myself, i was s h o o k when that happened! if you love music and discovering new songs, you’d love what skamnl has to offer because their soundtrack is A++++++ 

4. THE CHEMISTRY 

i touched on this in my point 1 but i just need to delve a bit more into it. so i mentioned that the cast members hang out outside of filming and they are genuinely all good friends. this makes their acting feel more genuine and real, their dialogue sounds more natural, and as a viewer, you really feel like a fly on the wall when you watch the show. it feels like you’re watching a real group of friends hanging out, going through typical problems you might be facing yourself, and for those of you who aren’t in high school, watching them really takes you back to your own high school days. i always get this warm, nostalgic feeling i just can’t really explain whenever i watch season 1. 

right now, it’s liv’s season and i know that many people who watch skam+remakes don’t like william or noora/william or think it’s just a season where two het couples making out all the time but IT’S NOT. first of all, season 2 has so many important themes that people (especially teen girls) need to be aware of: sexual assault, eating disorders, relationships, and like season 1, touches on the importance of friendship. also, noah IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE LEAST PROBLEMATIC WILLIAM. you just have to watch to understand but I PROMISE YOU you will not be disappointed. i have talked to so many people who HATED william and now they hate themselves for loving noah so much. not to mention, zoe (liv) + monk’s (noah) chemistry is INSANE. these two dorks are friends irl and in order to prepare for their season, they spent a lot of time getting to know each other and building a relationship so that their interactions on screen feel more natural. the cast just goes above and beyond to deliver an authentic performance and it FUCKING SHOWS

5. THE FANDOM 

this will be the last thing i touch on + may be the most controversial so pls don’t hate lol :-) one positive thing about skamnl being underrated is the small fan base. i’ve gotten pretty familiar with the regular group of people who frequently post in the tags and they are some of the sweetest and talented people i know. it may sound cheesy as hell, but the people in this fandom feel like a small family + i LOVE THAT. there’s no drama, there’s no hate, and we all just love discussing the show, promoting the show, and freaking out over clip drops, hiatuses, social media posts, and sharing theories. the fan base is one of the main reasons i enjoy watching skamnl so much, and i’d say it’s the least problematic as well. and that’s not me saying other remake fandoms are toxic or horrible, because for the most part, THEY AREN’T. i enjoy watching other remakes as well + am familiar with people in those fandoms as well but the environment seen in the skamnl fandom is just so.......different. i’ve developed genuine friendships with people from all over the world through this show and i think that’s just SO amazing. we’re small, but we’re a warm, inviting bunch and would love to have more and more people join us! 

SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW? 

skamnl has removed its geoblock from all their youtube videos which is how they gather data on viewership and all that so it’s SUPER important that if you decide to watch this show, you do it through their official youtube channel. the clips are usually subbed within 30 minutes of being dropped by the amazing @skamdutch team, social media posts are translated within 15 minutes, BASICALLY waiting for translations has never been a problem okay? they are released super fast so don’t let the waiting deter you. 

i personally love watching it the first time without subs and use that time to freak out and let all my excitement out of my system + once the subs are released, i watch it again and actually pay attention LOLOL 

but anyway, i know a lot of people didn’t want to watch skamnl because it was geoblocked so if that was your excuse, you LITERALLY have no excuse now. and we don’t know how long this will be going on for but i have a feeling they will block it again soon so THE TIME IS NOW. the cast have spoken out about it, the production team have spoken about it, so go go go and watch it!!! 

even if you can only watch one or two clips a day, do it! anything and everything helps at this point! this show deserves to have its season 3 and many many more in the future. 

ok all of this probably didn’t make any sense because like i mentioned before i suck at writing and articulating my thoughts BUT if you actually read all of this then THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU and please click HERE for a surprise.

byeeeeeeeeeee

love, shan

me after writing this post: 

[ultraclops]

Semi-live Blogging: Return of the Mao Mao Episodes

Before we start, is it just me or is the animation like 10x smoother than it usually is? Also like I said with Nakey, there’s a lot more good expressions too!

Lucky Ducky Mug

Adorabat drinks from sippy cup like baby

"What, Mao Mao's ridiculous mug?" says Badgerclops, holding a cheap plastic big gulp cup he probably got from the grocery store.

How did Adorabat not notice the Lucky Ducky sticker on the Aerocycle

"Don't touch it" (Badgerclops proceeds to slam the table to move it) Ah Badgerclops, ever the contrarian

I'M SORRY DID MAO MAO BLOW THE ROOF OFF OF HQ BY SCREAMING

I love the way Mao says "PROFESSIONAAAL SILENCEEE"

Badgerclops trying to make his mouth disappear and failing made me scream with laughter

Are they seriously reducing Ratarang to 'the funny lil Italian guy'? C’mon guys you’re better than this

Wait why do they think Kevin is Adorabat?? They've seen Adorabat multiple times?? "But they're both blue!" You FOOL Kevin is TEAL there's a difference

Everybody gangsta til Mao Mao's ears start speaking morse code

They're doing surprisingly good silent but it's probably not gonna be that way very long.

Thank you, Lucky Ducky Mug, for catering to my niche interest in characters with neon outlines on black backgrounds.

Mao Mao thinking: Normal thoughts

Badgerclops thinking: Musical-esque singing

Adorabat thinking: Literally just heavy metal

The Sweetypies seriously think they're just playing a really intense game of charades huh,,,

(Mao jabs BC in the stomach with the fire net) HAHA GET REKT

The scene with Badgerclops trying to give Mao Mao Penny's mug is the funniest shit in the world I couldn't stop laughing...or maybe I'm just sleep-deprived

So the Sky Pirates are so similar compared to the Sheriff's Dept. that they can think perfectly in sync? That's cool

SKY PIRATES SONG SKY PIRATES SONG

Why is Snugglemagne throwing a random tea party & why did he only invite the Sheriff's Dept.

Yep there goes the plan. Both of their plans.

Am I going crazy or did the skin on Mao Mao's mouth tear apart like it was sewn shut?! Also yay they're talking again

"It's not gonna stop charging, so I'm just gonna let it explooode..." Mood

"What about the mega laser tube made by mega Losers?" Fsfhkfh

Hey, everyone learned something new from this experience! Are the Sky Pirates gonna try that Hive Mind tactic from now on?

Awww, they fixed his mug with gold - GOD DAMN IT I KNEW THERE WAS A CATCH!!

Lonely Kid

(Sighs) ...I said (SIGHS)

"I literally can't relate to that problem at all." says Badgerclops, who joined a gang because he wanted people to like him.

Shin just dropped off Mao Mao at a summer camp and expected him to make friends? Why does this feel like the plot of Camp Camp

I'm sorry the Mao clan has a freaking PARTY AERO-BUS??

NOO GERALDINE

That BGM is DEFINITELY an extended version of "I Love You, Mao Mao" and I want the lyrics NOW

So Bao was literally just a stray that Mao took home?? Would make sense as to why he wasn't trained

I have a feeling the Flimborg is some sort of sacred being the townspeople worship for some reason

How in the hell did Mao tie that guy up and why didn't he bother to untie him

HOW'D HE SET THE ROCKS ON FIRE USING PAINT

"And then you become frien-" "BEES. IN THE EYES."

"Everyone knows bees are our friends!" "Uh, actually, they were wasps." "Friends to no-one!" Usually I'd agree with BC, but I read an article about someone befriending a wasp and her babies so.

So the Mao clan's just known as the "Golden Cat Family Up The Hill?" Huh. I thought they’d have more recognition, especially since Shin says he went to that same summer camp at the beginning.

Man those kids are jackasses

"Say hi to your mommy!" "I would if she was here..." Excuse me wHAT

Noo don't cry baby boi - tHEN BAO JUST TACKLES HIM ASFHDKDL

"Go away! I don't feel like laughing right now!"

Look. You can see the EXACT point Mao developed his adult personality

I know Mao Mao means well but that is gonna go terribly wrong.

"I AM A HERO! I WILL BE LOVED!!" Okay first of all OUCH, second of all THAT IS PAIN

This monster empty, YEET

Awww it was just a sweet little puppy-ish monster...and it was his BIRTHDAY

"Hi, Aunt Gloria!" (Pulls out pitchfork) BETRAYAL

He didn't feel bad about ruining the festival because he made a friend doing it I 💞💞💝💝💗💗

Thanks for that 'different times' comment cuz I don't want kids thinking being beat is normal.

"Just like you found me...and I'm your best friend!" Tbh I thought she was gonna say 'Me and Badgerclops' & that would make a lot more sense

Why are they fighting over who's his best friend they're obviously BOTH his best friends

I'm sorry did Badgerclops just call Adorabat a "little mutant"?? ARE THE SWEETYPIES MUTANTS??

Awww his friends love him sm...and he feels so loved too...💓💓💗💗💕💕

Try Hard

No one gives a shit about Pinky being kidnapped lol

"K for Copyright Infringement"

"You'll never be like me!" Oof a little harsh maybe?

"You've gotta learn to be your own kind of hero, in your own special way!" So THAT'S where it's from

"You just gotta...try hard." Hey, title drop!

Ngl the moment Mao Mao said "Badgerclops take the shot" I immediately thought of The Confession 3 by TomSka

"Up in a tree, little old me, about to do something...UGLY..." 7-year-old me sniping people on Halo 3 like

Why is he shooting them with gelatin tho? ...oh. Oh THAT'S why.

Tbh if I didn't have subtitles on I would've thought BC was saying "beep boop"

This badger and cat empty, YEET

Adorabat walking into the Skyship with only a walkie-talkie is giving me some sort of vibes...OH, Silent Hill! Or Tattletail

WHOOP HIS ASS SWEETIE

"Mao Mao would hide the body!" Very unsubtle there, wonder how it got past censors

"Ratarang, say something!" "Pasketti?" "THAT'S THE BRAT!"

Wait a sec, they can just use Badgerclops' arm to power the ship? Why didn't they try that in CapturedClops?

"Good thing my head is in here cuz I'm a-scared of heights!" Ramaraffe. Whose whole schtick is making herself taller. Is acrophobic?

"Because she's Sheriff's Department, that's how! >:3" "Also y'all tend to be pretty incompetent >X/"

Why does she keep trying to use the elevator when she can fly? Nvm she climbed up Badgerclops' arm

"Ooooh I'm also hereeee"

"JERK BUTT"

Why is the Omega Field just a bunch of broken glass? And why doesn't she just step around it?

"I can fly!" "She can fly!" "SHE FORGOT?!" Ooh that's why

"You're the best thing to ever happen to a bat like me." 💝💝💕💕💓💓

Wait she's talking through the walkie-talkie and her molts are there but she isn't there where is she?

Oh she was freeing the other two from the gelatin. No wonder Mao Mao almost threw up, it was bug flavored.

GET HIS ASS, HONEY!! ADORASLAP!!

I hope that 'Nah' means Adorabat's realized she needs to be herself instead of her just rejecting her individuality like I think it is.

Scared Of Puppets

Oh, so this takes place after Sleeper Sofa! Praying it's a fix-it episode...

"DISCARD ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T BRING YOU JOY!!" Fuckin Marie Kondo up in here

Oh no PTSD flashbacks. He's scared of them cuz one's head landed on his lap as a kid? Understandable have a nice day.

Who tf collapsed into a sobbing heap on the floor then leaps back up and insists they're fine? Mao Mao, apparently.

Hairless ape? Is that what they call humans or are they something different in general?

"TAKE ALL MY MONEY!!" What did BC want an antique puppet for if he had no idea Mao was scared of them...

Mr. Din Dandalib!

"I...(eye twitch) love him too..."

IM SORRY DID HE FUCKING THROW UP OUT OF FEAR...holy SHIT

If I scared my friend and they threw up I would simply never do that again. RIP to Badgerclops but I'm different

(Badgerclops makes concrete blocks around the pothole) "Why didn't you just fill in the pothole??" "I AM TRYING MY BEST!!"

"I SIGNED YOUR DUMB CAST, NOW LEAVE!!"

...Illegal house plants? ...like marijua-

That was literally just that one video where a guy knocked out another guy in a mask jumping out of a trash can...

So it's a CPR class...AND a hair-styling class? How

I stg the moment Badgerclops walked in the door I knew he was carrying Mr. Din Danalin I SWEAR

"You're 10." "BUT I'M 6??" JFC Shin doesn't know his own son's age AND is partially responsible for his pupaphobia. And I called it on Mao Mao being six in the flashbacks

OH WIG

Can someone take the footage of the Annex exploding and add the ReviewTechUSA intro over it please

"How many Adult Learning Annexes have to be destroyed before you admit you're scared of puppets?!" is extremely funny without context

(Mao punches the wall cuz hes mad at himself for being scared) Kinkinkinkinki

How does one forget to drink milk

Oh shit the scene from the promo...

Yay he's starting to feel less scared - wait NVM it JUST STARTED TALKING??

OG SGUTVKC FGCJ OG SHKR OF DJCN JKKKKK

Oh it was just a dream - er, nightmare. FIRST NIGHTMARE SEQUENCE OF THE SERIES!

"I just gotta get my socks on...wait, I wear socks, right?" Dud e you wear NOTHING BUT A BELT...

"I KNEW SELLING THOSE HAIRLESS APE DOLLS WOULD ATTRACT DARK FORCES"

"There’s a lot of pu-" "PUBLIC DANGER"

Those puppets are alive I stg

"I'M A BIG BOI..."

Awwww she said what he told her at the beginning of the episode!

"I'M AFRAID OF PUPPETS" TITLE DROP YET AGAIN

Adorabat takes after Badgerclops sometimes I swear

Oooh shit sequel hook - oh NVM it was Badgerclops voice acting - NVM Mao Mao passed out. Dang

The Perfect Couple

Watermelon time babyyy

TRANSFORMATION TIME BABYYYY

Ah so he wanted to perfectly cut a watermelon in half, that's why he got so many?

"I need (counts on fingers) 600 more watermelons!" glad to see I'm not the only one who counts on my fingers

Why would Penny and Benny need 600 watermelons for their wedding? Also I called it on Penny & Benny being the couple

Mao Mao has to officiate the wedding? I thought priests did that

Please don’t throw up again Mao Mao

"I WILL BUY YOU A BAG TO HOLD YOUR STUFF..."

"A nondescript sack!!" Dude he just taking out the trash...

Nvm its just laundry

"I WILL TURN THIS BUSH AROUND"

Oh so THAT'S what Ramaraffe thought Kevin was Adorabat

"Why don't you buy me cake and do my laundry?" Are you implying you wanna marry Mao Mao, Badgerclops 👀

I lov Mao Mao's faces in this scene he legit looks like a bishouen anime protagonist

Nvm no transformation it's just his wedding outfit

Why did they invite Orangusnake and Boss Hosstritch to the wedding tho? What about when they hid in their moving truck and used their electricity - wait Badgerclops technically did that last one, nvm

Wait THEY DIDN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER BEFORE THE WEDDING?? What a perfect couple huh

Is Mao Mao having hallucinations just gonna be a regular thing now....

IS PENNY SERIOUSLY GONNA MARRY ORANGUSNAKE OUT OF SPITE ASFSDGFUK

Why did Mao Mao say "melons" in a Spanish accent I'm scared

"They're both terrible, so what does it matter if they get hitched or not?" They're definitely gonna change their minds now

"She lied because she wanted to protect his feelings! And he lied because he couldn't bear to hurt her!" Isn't that just the plot of The Truth Stinks?

OH SHIT HE CUT ORANGUSNAKE IN HALF HOLY FUCK

He made Orangusnake officiate the wedding as punishment lol

Why are they,,,stepping on the watermelons?? Damn right Badgerclops I'd cry over that too

"What's, uh, your credit score like?" "850. Why, is that good?" "It's perfect..." HE WANTS TO MARRY MAO MAO NOW ASDFHKL

[soul-heart-and-beyond]

Negaduck Headcanons! (Pt.1)

This is probably the most ambitious that I will get with exploring a character like this. Not only because I really like Negaduck (More than I talk about him. I generally do this with a lot of characters because you guys got your thing, and I don’t want to damage that character for you because of my portrayal or showing you all with my love for them. Yeah, I hold my feelings back, but I have good reason for that.), but because with all of the weird fluidity his story and character has backing it up. 

This isn’t going to be like the definitive version of him, I’m not sure if there will ever be one, but this is just how I see him and want to explore some of the less thought about concepts with him. There’s been stuff about him doing things because of NegaGosalyn or NegaMorgana, but this one’s going to be different. Consider this just a rework to make him more... realistic? (Sounds like a terrible idea since he doesn’t seem to work well with that, but just give me a moment.) At this point, I just want to share or project some things that could work once given good thought and consistency to his background.

I might have to split this into parts like the others since this one’s gonna be preeety long.

The best place to start off is with the concept of the Negaverse in general, which is supposedly everything nearly turned upside down compared to the common universe (I guess Primeverse but it’s hard to say honestly?) we see, the Disney Afternoon universe. Given that, heroes are villains, villains are heroes, ordinary people are grunts or the street trash would actually be good people, or dead, that too. It’s a place where evil or bad prevails over good, and while the good does stay strong, so does the evil that maintains the universe. Maybe it’s a boring concept, but to me at least (Though that doesn’t instantly make it good because I like it.), it allows for more interesting debates on morality, what doing the right thing is, and how should consequences work. It’s a glimpse into a world dominated by bad and the good thing there is to be bad, do bad, instead of being good and to do good like it is over in the regular DA (Disney Afternoon) universe. I wanted to touch upon this with Nega Fenton and eventually other counterparts of the muses I have, but since this whole guy is that concept personified, might as well do it with the one that started the whole mess.

Granted, Negaduck’s first appearance in the show is Just Us Justice Ducks, it kind of just skimmed over who he was an just got to the point of him being a villain, something that can really confuse others as most villains usually have an origin story to them or are already pre-established in the world before the hero does. It does give some mystery as to who he was, but since his origin of becoming Negaduck, of even finding the cake that had a dimensional rift inside of it and allowing for him to traverse from dimension to dimension. However, since there never was an episode to explore that and the comics were close to getting to his origin, it seems like he does have some potential to explore several avenues depending on circumstances. 

It could be like a situation where he lost NegaGosalyn (And while that seems more likely for Darkwarrior Duck to happen and we see she’s alive in Life, The Negaverse, and Everything, you can chalk it up to this being the mallard that was in the Negaverse, not the common verse, he could turn this way, so that’s an option.), or where he loses NegaMorgana like it was going to be seen before the comic got cut (Similar circumstance to NegaGosalyn, but it also wouldn’t feel right given that he doesn’t seem to have an attachment to common universe’s Morgana, while Darkwing felt empathy to NegaGosalyn. Sure, you can say that when Negaduck was trying to get Gosalyn to be his little partner during the latest comic run of Darkwing Duck, the Jailbreak one [Orange is the New Purple?], but that could have been some remnant of Paddywhack, you know, that interdimensional demon that did show interest in her in the show?) 

Anyway, it just doesn’t seem likely for him to lash out at everyone when NegaMorgana dies or disappears, and the same for Gosalyn since in the show he knows she’s alive, and just doesn’t seem to bother with her much anymore. She’s like a gem that’s lost it’s luster, a used up toy, something that he barely comes back to anymore. And if it’s because he lost her due to a custody battle, it wouldn’t make sense since the Friendly Four explain it upfront that he is Gosalyn’s carefaker, her parental figure, her father. Not only that, but he had to have been doing this this for a while since Darkwing Duck was Darkwing for some time before he met Gosalyn. Of course, he was a minor vigilante, but after meeting Gosalyn, Launchpad, Taurus Bulba and his henchmen, he did get more recognition from there on. Given the idea of somewhat polar opposite universes, it would mean that Negaduck was Negaduck before meeting NegaLaunchpad and NegaGosalyn and ultimately his first encounter with NegaTaurus Bulba.

Another point to address is Negaduck’s real name. You can think of his name as just Negaduck or Jim Starling, Jim Sterling, but for me and this rp blog, the OG Negaduck is Drake Mallard. For everyone else in the Negaverse to go by the same name and respond to that name like their common universe counterpart, and for Negaduck to be the exception? Doesn’t really make sense, and given how he is an evil Darkwing Duck, it only makes sense for him to be Drake Mallard. There have been other series and franchises to do this sort of thing where the character would actually be different like Owlman to Batman from DC Comics. Owlman from Earth 3 isn’t Bruce Wayne, and some characters like Superwoman of Earth 3 is actually Lois Lane. It works there but that’s because it fits that franchise. To fit Disney’s, Negaduck would most likely be Drake Mallard. 

Given that, it is safe to say that his life obviously is not like Darkwing Duck Drake’s as his whole universe is built around the concept of being bad is actually good. So his experiences with his childhood of him being bullied, clowned on, getting wrecked in high school for the first half of it were out of him just being overall bad at being bad. He did some nice things here and there, got punished or bullied for it, and still somewhat had want to do it again. Though over time, and especially around his junior year of high school, the general consensus or the norm of being bad finally clicked. He’d done it before several times, yes. It was what he was being taught at school, besides other useful things that would be needed later on in life. Pretty much, he snapped after being ridiculed for his soft personality, and out of defiance, was willing to kill everyone there. He didn’t get to take out everyone, but he did for the first time fully embrace how good it was to be terrible, to kill, the satisfaction of getting what he wanted or most of it. That day, he was forever changed, and ready to create some mass carnage and despair for his own personal enjoyment.

Knowing that his little prototype outfit for the event where he was ridiculed from wasn’t exactly going to make him look menacing, he sketched up some drafts as to what he would really want for himself to be seen as. Some had overly large fedoras, others had torn clothing, and some had on so much black, belts, and zippers that it just seemed too silly. Eventually, he would come out with his well known attire, and also acquired some orange-scarlet contact lenses to complete his change from Drake Mallard, the one cerulean-eyed wimp that couldn’t do much and was seen as a nobody by society. Instead, he was going to be remembered, he was going to feared, and he was going to be the one thing people worry about most. After all, being remembered was the only thing of value in life, and those that were remembered were the nasty, vile, ruthless, terrible, and just plain malevolent people. They were great because they brought forth a force of fear and anxiety with them, and he was going to be the next one.

After that, Negaduck would out in the streets of St. Canard, terrorizing the people, stealing money and valuables away from banks, stores, and factories, all of the while trying not to get on the radar of some of the superheroes that would clearly want to stop a low level villain like him. After all, he had no powers, was considered barely above a common grunt, but that was to give them a false sense of security. Whenever he wasn’t constantly planning his heists, having “fun” with the civilians, or just doing evil, despicable stuff just for the fun of it, the thrill it gave him, he was furthering him study of different martial arts, techniques, and overall strategies. Sure, the opponents he managed to rack in against their own free will weren’t nothing much but living body bags for him to test out his moves on and not much else, but whatever he could memorize, the real test would come when he was out in the field. With that, he gained some more firepower and artillery so he could slowly increase his status to the well known criminal overworld. 

It wasn’t too long that his face became somewhat well know around St. Canard, and by this point, he was bathing in that recognition, that glory, of being noticed as a menace to society. Of course, he’d have to scram whenever some of the hero chumps like Megawatt (Mega Megavolt) and Harlequin ( Nega Quackerjack), but he was doing better, getting better at being such a blight on the planet. Though his feats before meeting a certain girl and guy on a fated day were small, they were elevated to new heights afterwards. On another casual routine of giving the police a hard time, he saw some goons trying to take some sweet looking young duckling. She just looked so perfect in the sense of the ways on how he could ruin her day, make her cry, the works, and with that in mind, he went and fetched her from those men, but not before dusting off his knuckles on them. Yet he could feel something unusual about this girl as she seemed to appreciate him “saving” her from the strangers. Whatever they planned to do with her wasn’t going ot be nearly as bad as what he had, but she seemed to be somewhat thrilled at how cool and badass he was taking those guys out. It was... kind of charming to see someone actually compliment him out of genuine interest instead of fear.

While driving the young girl back to his home on his customized motorcycle, he wondered if he should indulge himself by keeping this little one around, to show them the ropes, and eventually see them become about as bad as he was? No one was going to be worse than him, but he was fine with them being second place onward. He was only worthy of number one. But as he continued to think about it, it started to seem like he was getting soft. Some of those small traces of Drake Mallard were trying to crawl their way out of what he was, and he couldn’t let that happen. He was no longer that person and definitely didn’t want to be associated with that name. It was by now the girl had asked him his name, and he responded with only, “Negaduck.”. After all, she didn’t need to know much else about him, and certainly nothing of his past life. Once arriving at his home, he let her off of his vehicle and they entered the house and took a break from all of the action that waited outside. Negaduck then decided to ask this girl for her name in return, and learning that it was Gosalyn, he kept that in mind so he could call her by that name. 

For a while they talked about different subjects, like what the other was going to do, and for Negaduck his case was simple, just continue destroying and tearing stuff up, while Gosalyn, she seemed to not really have a set goal in life or after their meeting. This came as a good opportunity for him to propose making her his protege so she could actually get on by in the world, though she’d probably have to ditch the cutesy looking garments she had on. He was astounded to see how quickly she accepted, though it seemed to have been influenced by her not having any parents or adult figures to take care of her. It did tick him off with the potential idea that she might be just putting up with what she could get at the moment, but given how her innocence seemed, it could be that she was just relieved to have someone to take care of her. He’d file in some adoption papers in the morning, but he’d have to know what orphanage she was from. With some more talk to continue on that note, he got the answer he was looking for, and a little more, some information about someone trying to take her, but for what reason? She thought the guys that he knocked out earlier had something to do with this person, and it seemed like a time slot just opened up on his schedule to go ruin this person’s day, or perhaps their life. 

Now that he had some time to relax and get a better understanding of what happened to Gosalyn, Negaduck took her along with him since she would know who he was talking about. Zooming through the streets and past the other vehicles that were in the way, the villain was still assessing himself. Why was he doing all of this besides pleasure? It’s not like the guy Gosalyn knew was going to get him any more famous, but he was wrong, as there were some of the same guys he let live and more on motorcycles with guns, ready to fire and probably willing to kill too. Now this was some action he’d been waiting for, the cops wouldn’t give him this type of attention. Drifting a bit and holding his fedora with one hand to make sure it wouldn’t blow off of his head, Drake grinned out of excitement as he continued to drive, but now he could get some better information out of these goons. Pulling off some close quarters saves and near fatal stunts, the two were able to make it out of the chase with one or two fellas still in pursuit. That was good. It meant his competition would be rough.

(End of Part 1!)

[flying-elliska]

The transformation of Lucas Lallemant pt 1 : Hell Week.

Skam OG S3  can be more or less divided in three acts, and this is even more obvious in Skam France, which has a more...dramatic style of storytelling, let’s say. Act I : Lucas meets Eliott, struggles with his internalized homophobia, develops feelings, ends with Eliott’s apparent betrayal. Act II : Lucas is isolated, struggles, finally comes out to his friends and to the world, Eliott and Lucas reunite. Act III is what’s yet to come, the revelation of Eliott’s MI, possibly elements related to Lucas’ parents and religion, and the resolution. 

I want to take a look at Act II as a unit and the essential character developpment that takes place within it, starting from the disastrous party scene at the end of Vendredi 19h21 and ending with the paint scene in Vendredi 18h34, because this is really where we can see Lucas’s arc pivot, as he is left alone to confront himself, and the nuance with which it was done is incredible in terms of storytelling. 

Fair warning, it’s going to be a long one. 

Vendredi 19h21 : Fête de trop 

It has been pointed out by many that, whereas Isak and Martino punched into bushes and garbage cans during this scene, Lucas hurts himself until his knuckles are bloody. He’s angry at the world for sure, getting in a fight with his friends, but it’s ultimately himself he blames - for having feelings, for caring, for thinking he had a chance with Eliott, for being attracted to a boy, for wanting a family that supports him, for wanting to be loved. Chloe possibly outing him by yelling Lucas is gay in a crowd, Arthur joking about his family, Eliott kissing a girl - it brings all his worst pains and fears to a head, and things he’s been repressing for the longest time just boil over, in the shape of rage and inarticulate despair. He punches his hand into the wall because he cannot speak, cannot think, cannot do anything else. It’s violence and self-harm as a symptom of powerlessness. The look on his face at the end I read as him being totally overwhelmed.

 In the background the song talks about partying to pretend to be alright - but emptiness and chaos catch on eventually. It’s ironic in a sense because the singer is talking about glitter and kissing boys in public, things Lucas very much shies away from, but in the end the result is the same, loneliness and alienation. The association of the two brings up very old themes in queer culture, specifically things gay men have had to deal with - feeling adrift, disconnected from family and people and feelings, internalized hatred, self-harm, feeling like you have nowhere to go, putting on a happy face even when you’re spiralling out, partying as a substitute for connection, and what happens when the facade breaks. At the same time, the drop after excess can have a revelatory effect. 

Even if it’s painful, this scene is necessary and kickstarts the part of his journey where he is facing his fears on his own. The hurt is a recognition of what is happening to him and how important it is. 

Lundi 08h52 : Scared but doing it anyway

That's the definition of courage.  With his bandaged hand and the slow opening, as he puts his hoodie up, he looks like a boxer stepping into the ring. Lighting is at its most overcast, blue-tinted, dark and depressing. This clip is heartbreaking, bringing Lucas's worst fears to the light. Being mocked and ostracized, turned into a vulgar joke, having been played for a fool. 

Fear number one. He sees his friends laughing at him. Lucas is a character with huge abandonment issues, understandably. As his familial situation went sideways and his sense of self was put in turmoil, he’s relied on the normalcy of his friendgroup to keep him afloat, going to great lengths to preserve their view of him - even declaring love to a girl he feels nothing for. Them laughing would feel like the ground disappearing under his feet. 

Fear number two. We can see Alex mimicking a blowjob. Through his rant to Mika about dick shaped confetti or his reaction to “Krindr” dick picks, we can see that he seems to be uneasy when it comes to the overly sexual way the gay community is often presented. And homophobic jokes and behavior tends to be overly sexual too, reducing gayness to a series of sexual acts presented as disgusting, instead of the whole love, identity and culture aspects (not that there is anything wrong with gay sexuality in itself, but when it’s reduced to only that, it would be understandable he has issues with it, especially for a teenager who’s just discovering things, belying the cliché that all men are naturally horndogs.) He's afraid of his intimate feelings and process of discovery becoming a vulgar joke, that’s very understandable. 

Fear number three. Eliott looking at him smugly. Basically confirming that he’s a player,  that this very special connection they had, something that allowed Lucas to open up and be vulnerable and artistic and bold, and muse about alternate universes and play the piano and feel comfortable enough to be happy kissing another boy - was a lie. Eliott doesn’t care and now he’s able to be on the side of the bullies because to him - like the cliché “bisexuality” Lucas had in mind talking to the girls - his attraction to boys is just a fun side piece, he can just go back to his girlfriend afterwards, whereas Lucas can’t. He’s “stuck being gay” and he’s failed at maintaing a straight façade. 

To close it off, there’s Chloé, fulfilling the narrative purpose of a ticking clock and a reminder of Lucas’ failure at straightness and imminent outing. This of course, is not really happening, but this paranoia is very typical of being a closeted queer person, of constantly having to wonder who is going to love you anyway and who is going to reject you because even when your people are mostly liberal and tolerant, there is no way to really know because of how deep homophobia is rooted in our society (see my meta about French humor). It really is Schodinger’s unconditional love. 

And then there’s Daphné. This is the first of several ‘tonal breaks’ in this arc, in which the angst is cut with moments of levity, randomness and wacky jokes that seem a little out of place but do serve a purpose narratively and in terms of themes. In this one, she goes out of her way to praise Lucas’ masculinity. It wouldn’t surprise me she already heard rumors, going from the alarmed look on her face, and wants to reassure Lucas he is still a man in her eyes. Daphné is an interesting character to do this. Because she has little brain to mouth filter, she tends to say stupid things and offend people, but at the same time, she can break through people’s walls and isolation - the foyer, meant to bring different people together, is a symbol of this. She’s a key representative of Skam’s central theme of people being flawed, able to learn, and of -trying and reaching out, even with mixed results, being a super important thing. Therefore, it’s interesting she’s the first to reach Lucas in this difficult phase, and this will happen again later. At the same time her words about defenseless women needing a strong man is a reminder of the overwhelming clichés about gender roles that make Lucas’ life so difficult. 

Lundi 14h03 : Ennemies and Allies

Chloe's threat of outing Lucas whenever she wants gives the whole episode a feeling of urgency. She is extremely hurt and he can’t catch her, either physically or symbolically. She’s a loose cannon, and her holding Lucas’ outing hostage as revenge feels very violent. It's not clear that anybody knows yet, but she could take Lucas's choice from him any time now. His harsh and terrified words (”I’m not a f*g”) illustrate the level of denial he is trying to stay in as it’s slipping away from him, the powerlessness he feels. The scene taking place in PE class with people throwing balls at one person standing in a goal reinforces the overal symbolism of being put on the spot. 

On the opposite side, Yann's reminder of support sets up what happens later. He wants to be there for Lucas, but he’s also been hurt by his silence. He doesn’t want the squad to be Lucas’ punching ball if he can’t verbalize. 

Mardi 13h08 : Miscommunication. 

Eliott is trying to make a joke about the time they met and he couldn’t chose what to get from the vending machine ; Lucas interprets it as him saying he wants both Lucas and his gf, and he responds harshly. Lucas is pretty much standing up for himself here, as painful as it is. He signals to Eliott he's not game to just forgive and forget, to do as if what happens didn't matter. Him alluding to a choice that Eliott needs to make - there's still a sliver of hope there though, as agonizing as it seems.

Lucas not finding a place to sit and leaving the canteen represents his worst fears about coming out - being left alone. It’s a classic high school story trope, not knowing at which table to sit, eg. not fitting in anywhere, so he chooses not to feed himself. (Again, hurting himself). 

Mercredi 13h37 : Sorting through your old shit

This moment of levity after the heavy angst serves as a reminder that life, whether you are ready for it or not, goes on. It’s also the second time that the show subverts horror tropes - first in the first kiss scene for romantic purposes, here for comedic purposes with the creepy dolls everywhere and the guy with an axe. The theme is that things that look scary at first often aren’t, and can even bring unexpected gifts. The overall scene doesn’t have much impact on the plot, but it can symbolize several things - the need to do away with the messy things of the past (like all the shit in the shop and internalized homophobia), giving things that are still useful a new place where they can be better appreciated (the couch is a metaphor for Lucas being gay lmao), the difficulty of dealing with grief and your baggage alone and the need for outside help (like the shopkeeper who can’t get rid of his brother’s things), the importance of playfulness and unexpected gifts (table football). 

The girls opening up about their dating woes puts Lucas’ struggles in the larger context of teenage boys being trash, normalizing what he goes through. On the other hand, again, Daphne’s comments and Imane’s joke show that the girl squad have their own problems with gender clichés. Manon denouncing them marks her as a safe place for Lucas, as well as her going through the deeper kind of turmoil of love troubles. 

Lundi 01h48 : In the abyss

The scene is dark and drenched in blue light, giving it an oceanic, almost submarine vibe. This is Skam taking full advantage of its real time format, showing the story at a time where viewers are very likely to be in the same state of exhaustion and half-consciousness as the characters. 

Even though he doesn't show it much, Lucas is a deeply caring character. He's just been extremely burned out, possibly by his family situation, and what happened with Eliott. And yet, it's still there. We can see it here in how he comforts Manon, trying to be stoic, but it's getting to him in the end. Compassion is often much easier to extend to others than to yourself. He might punish himself for feeling too much, but he would never do that to Manon. 

This scene is, to me, the most pivotal moment of the season yet along with the piano scene : they're moments where we see Lucas's soul come to the surface. And as vulnerability is key to the plot, those moments of openness really move things along. The piano scene was Lucas letting out his more passionate, artistic, sensitive side ; this moment is more raw and ugly, about what lies beneath the anger, the despair of caring too much. And yet there is beauty and relief in owning it. In this particular context the shell of anger Lucas protects himself with is meaningless - it’s just the utter loneliness of the night and two people who are broken and lost. Manon is also from a broken home of sorts, she’s also been given a lot of reasons to give up on love. The fact that they’re able to share this intimacy of letting themselves feel like that, at a moment where words are beyond them, is however a sign that they’re not giving up. They’re feeling the feelings, as painful as it is, and they have a witness. It’s beautiful. 

Vendredi 09h14 : Exhaustion

Lucas's body is basically close to giving up on him. He can front all he wants, but he's still only human. So he goes to see the school nurse for insomnia. He thinks maybe if he can solve the physical problem, maybe get pills, he can go back to being tough and pretending nothing is wrong. The nurse’s answer - not exposing himself to any screens or blue light before sleeping - is laughably unadapted to his problems, which in turn makes the idea that Lucas can solve his problems this way ridiculous as well.

The nurse is a mess - is she cheating on her actual husband there ? Why is she talking about her (murder)fantasies to a student ? Teacher’s back acne ? She illustrates that adults still have problems (again, normalizing what Lucas goes through) and that life in general is messy and you need people on your side who can be there even though you are going through ugly, difficult things. Lucas cannot talk to her, they’re not on the same wavelength at all, but there’s still someone he can talk to. The medecine is not pills, it’s human support and trust. 

Vendredi 17h05 : Trust issues 

This clip is very painful to watch. 

First Eliott’s drawing. At this point in the story it feels like a cruel joke. This guy played him, and now he’s talking about destiny ? Lucas really bought into the whole Polaris thing, we could see he was starving for a real connection, and maybe he thinks Eliott is using that against him, tugging on the heartstrings like a true artsy fuckboi. At the same time, the loneliness that emanates from the drawing is heartbreaking for us, who know what’s up with Eliott. 

Lucas decides to go talk to Yann. That’s his destiny. I thought he was going to walk up to Eliott for a moment, the filming is deliberately ambiguous, but no. In a way, he’s choosing himself, deciding to bring stability to his life by opening up to the guy who’s been his main support system for years : Yann. And he lays it all on the table - his problems with his family, his insomnia, the mess with Chloe, the difficulty talking, having a crush of sorts for Yann, falling in love with Eliott. He’s so brave. He banks on his ability to trust Yann, he wants to believe he’ll be there for him. He’s finally coming out to someone on his own terms, with clear words. 

It doesn’t work. Now, I never believed Yann was homophobic - his face only shuts down when Lucas starts talking about all the people who already know. But after Lucas’ slow, painful journey towards opening up, it feels like a bucket of ice water in the face. However, it is thematically appropriate. 

This story arc tries to balance two concepts very delicately : on one side, as a teenager it’s important to realize that you’re not as alone as you think, not alone struggling. On the other hand, both internalized homophobia and French culture’s latent homophobia (that makes people do shitty things even though they’re not homophobic at heart, without realizing it) make this process of teenage alienation vs self discovery and acceptance, a thousand times more painful than it needs to be. Ending the episode on this note signifies that the struggle is real, that however brave you might be, sometimes the world is going to try and slap you down anyway. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there, but for Lucas, this is the bottom of the pit. As his instagram post says ‘god needs your lifeboat as an ashtray’. Sometimes your best efforts mean nothing. This seems like a very pessimistic and cruel conclusion but I believe it’s an important beat in the story, recognizing that sometimes things go wrong through no fault of your own. It’s the system that is to blame, that has not given the tools to Yann to react properly and for the both of them to communicate better and for Lucas to accept who he is and not hurt people around him in order to hide. They’ve gone the road of validation over comfort and I think it’s a very interesting choice. (Even though I can also understand people who needed a more positive message and were hurt by this). But like a lot of queer people, I’ve had my share of half-botched coming outs and it’s important to show how you come back from that. 

...

So in a nutshell : this week, we bear witness to the slow death of Lucas’ tough, uncaring, player straight guy facade. His feelings have reached a boiling point, and he can’t ignore them any longer, it’s taking a toll on his body and isolating him from his friends. The moments of levity serve to dedramatize and normalize what Lucas goes through, encouraging him to reach out, while at the same time, the show takes his pain and fear seriously, by showing the minute toll it takes on his health and the less than ideal reaction of the people around him. However, through it all, he finds the courage to keep facing his feelings and opening up. He is staring his worst fears in the face - abandonment, ostracization, having his feelings used against him - and he still manages to choose trust. Eliott might have been a catalyst, but in the end he chooses to do what’s right for himself. He talks, even though it’s almost a moment of symbolic death, but the transformation can take root from there. Honesty is grueling sometimes, but it’s still necessary.  It’s better than letting the lie ruin your health and your relationship, better than hurting yourself in an attempt to push down the truth, better than violent powerlessness or night time devastation. Lucas is so good at wearing a mask, but how he reacts in this crisis is revelatory of his own deepest need for change and love. 

In short, I love this character with the intensity of a thousand suns and even though it's super painful I love that we got to go on this journey with him.

Thank you for reading this monster of a post, and see you next time for pt 2 : Acceptance ! 

[ducktales-wco-oo]

(I’m finally watching OG Ducktales... Okay, I’m watching the episodes with Fenton. XD I was curious to see how he is in that show, and I just... He’s so different... yet similar... It’s only the second episode and he’s been called a dunderhead, idiot, birdbrain, etc... :’D Yeah, he’s screwed up a lot. But he’s trying his best. lol I’m just imagining how he’d fit into the 2017 canon because of the blatant changes I’ve noticed. Like, he is a smol bean... but in other ways than my fluffy son. Not to mention, perhaps not to the same degree?)

(I’ve noticed that while 2017!Fenton’s main goal is helping others (he also wants to prove himself, but that is a side effect of his insecurities and even stems from his initial goal) OG!Fenton puts a lot of emphasis on making something of himself. Of moving up in the world, getting more, and receiving recognition for what he does. Helping others is a bonus to the fact that now he gets to be a ‘metal somebody’. The order of their goals seem to be reversed. For example, when Scrooge's gold was being washed away, OG!Fenton’s concern was that he’d lose his job and have to return to a dull life of literal bean-counting. While 2017!Fenton would have been more concerned with retrieving the gold for Mr. McDuck.)

(But OG!Fenton’s desires don’t make him less empathetic than 2017!Fenton. They reflect the differences in their lives. While Fenton had M’Ma to support him, OG!Fenton’s Ma’ma is... less nurturing. With the complete lack of attention he receives at home, his personal life, and at his old job (he was the best employee and his boss didn’t even remember his name) It makes sense he’d be desperate for it and focused on a new life. A better life. 2017!Fenton was raised by a policewoman with a strong sense of justice. Of course, he is going to admire her and what she stands for. Helping others and keeping them safe is a pivotal part of what he thinks is important. Duckburg and its citizens are going to be prioritized above himself.)

(Anyways... These are just some things that I noticed... and now rambled about. :’D ) 

[nctdreamsquad]

NCT OT18 Ranking

      Hello there! For a while now I have been thinking about NCT and its concept as a whole and watching how it has progressed since debut in 2016. While thinking about I noticed a lot of irregularities (heh…) between members and how it has affected how the boys and the entire group is perceived by the public. Of course, that has been done by how SM promotes them and how they individually value each members’ talents. So, I thought it would be interesting to see with the content that we have at hand, how each member ranks in terms of importance to least importance for SM.

      I decided that to have an accurate ranking it would need to be based on different factors. Certain members might have more advantages when it comes to a certain field but disadvantages compared to another member in a specific field. The categories are line distribution (how often they sing/rap on the discography), screen time (how often are they shown in MVs or in the photo album), and benefits (who gets to do solo schedules whether that be MCing/Songs/etc.). I will take the 3 different rankings of each category and then average each boys rank to find their proper place.

     Also, certain members like Jaemin & Jungwoo I projected more of where I thought they will be in the future, seeing as they haven’t been here as long cause of Nana’s injury and Jungwoo only coming in this past year. Of course, this is my opinion and how I think SM views each boy and if we have different thoughts that is completely fine. Whether we agree or not on this subject, I would love to hear other peoples’ thoughts and discuss.

*Little add-on: The boys are ranked from 1-18 but there might be bigger or smaller gaps of how much SM values them between each ranking. (Which I will try to inform you when I believe that happens.)

Most Important

1.    Mark

I don’t think this will come to anyone’s surprise that Mark is the most important member in NCT (in SM’s eyes). It is evident in how he has been in every unit since NCT’s debut in April of 2016. Mark always has had a large number of lines in whatever song he is in (title/non-title + unit). He has been able to have his raps and compositions that he wrote published in every album (except for the Japanese album). He has been able to promote individually on variety shows (music related vs. pure variety). It is very obvious that Mark is one of SM’s favorites in general when it comes to all SM groups but especially in NCT.

2.    Taeyong

Taeyong’s ranking is very similar to Mark’s, in fact, the very small margin that makes up the difference between 1st and 2nd place is that I think SM personally likes Mark more. Taeyong is also privileged in that he gets lots of lines in songs, screen time, multiple SM Station songs, and other solo schedules. However, I get the feeling that SM views Taeyong as a person that they employed and someone who makes a good idol whereas Mark seems to be a little more integrated into part of the “family” aspect.

3.    Doyoung

Doyoung is the first member where the advantages and favoritism gap is slightly wider from him and Taeyong. He still has a lot of benefits compared to the boys lower down the ranking but I do believe SM sees Doyoung as most useful when it comes to MCing and being a spokesperson. An integral part of NCT but not the first name they want you to think about when you think of the group. This might sound a little rude, however, another reason why I think Doyoung is higher up in the rank is that SM likes to have people who will listen to them and won’t rebel and Doyoung fits that very well. For example, if something unfair happens to one of the boys I’m sure that Yuta or Johnny will be more likely to speak out about it than Doyoung would be.  

4.    Jaehyun

Honestly, I think Jaehyun lucked out when it came to getting his position in NCT. I love Jaehyun and his voice is one of my favorites but, although he’s consistent, there is a member who excels more than him in every category. Vocal (Taeil, Haechan, Kun), Rap (Taeyong, Mark, Jaemin), Dance (Ten, Yuta, Jisung), or Variety (Johnny, Haechan, Renjun). However, the fact that his voice sounds very different from other members helped him stand out more. Also, he fits the “boy next door” concept very well and I think that’s another reason why SM likes to give him more focus than other members.

5.    Ten

Now, I know that Ten’s place is NCT is rather open-ended seeing as the only NCT songs he has been in is 7th Sense/BDS. However, I think it’s obvious that SM does like Ten and values his talents so much so that he has gotten 2 solo songs. Not only that, but both songs came out at almost the same time a year apart which usually means that SM planned it to hype people up even more. Also, Ten has had continuous activities in South Korea and Thailand. I do think that his injury may have caused a pushback with him promoting in a unit or doing more NCT related activities. However, I do strongly think that Ten will be in NCT China and will play an important member in their success. Also, with the dancing capability and performance talent that Ten has there’s no way that SM can keep him locked up forever.  

6.    Jisung

You might be a little surprised that I placed Jisung so high up in the ranking and if I had made this post months ago I would also not agree with my decision. However, with the addition of “GO” and especially with the release of the “We Go Up” album I can see the path that SM are putting Jisung on. From the beginning, I could tell that Jisung was going to be important when it came to MVs and playing a main role in them but with the lack of lines that he had, I thought it would be much more “visual” based. I was proven wrong with him getting to go on solo schedules like “Why Not?” and “Dancing High” + the fair amount of lines he is now getting in the recent Dream album. I will say that of the members I have listed so far, Jisung and Ten are the two that I am completely fine with getting more individual shine/recognition and will wholly support as they’re a few of the most talented boys in NCT (not just talking about their dancing). He still is extremely young and has a lot to learn and experience but I can already see that Jisung is going to be a wonderful person and performer in the future.

7.    Haechan

Haechan is the last member that I will place in a more advantageous position before the favoritism gap widens a lot more. I do want to start off by saying that Haechan does have more privileges than others below but mainly when he’s in Dream, otherwise he’s kind of at the lower middle of the group. As you will see how I ranked each member individually in each category below later, Haechan was very much saved by the amount of lines + screen time he gets in Dream. I don’t think SM uses him as well as they could when it comes to 127 and I still don’t understand why he hasn’t been in a NCT U song yet (I WANT THE OG 7TH SENSE WITH HYUCK IN IT). Haechan is another member that I believe to be incredibly talented and I hope that he gets what he deserves and stays amazing.

8.    Yukhei

Precious Yukhei. I was honestly surprised and am still awed at the amount of media attention SM is letting him have by going on different variety shows. He’s a newer addition but of the time he has spent in NCT so far, I think Xuxi is in a comfortable position. I do think SM will rely more on his personality than his performance abilities to bring in fans, however, he’s the only rapper we have for NCT China at this moment so that bodes well for him. It’s a little early to say but I’m confident that Yukhei will be a prevalent member in the whole of NCT and popular in NCT China.

9.    Jaemin

FINALLY! We finally have NaNa back and it has been so great to see him with the other dreamies. It was obvious from the beginning that Jaemin was supposed to be an important member in Dream (after Markhyuck) but his back injury put him out of the running. I think SM tried to fill the void by splitting what would have been Jaemin’s parts to Renjun/Jeno/Chenle. However, now that he is back we can see that SM is steadily placing him in the center position when it comes to dancing & screen time. The “We Go Up” album has been very gracious towards NaNa & Jisung and I think it will be common to see more and more of them in future comebacks.

10. Taeil

Moon Taeil, a much needed but highly underappreciated voice in NCT 127. I think Taeil benefitted more back in the SMROOKIES days with his solo song and the early beginning of NCT’s timeline. It was during Limitless era that we can see SM pushed Taeil into singing the high bridges notes and flashy rifts during the last chorus. While the more main vocal parts that he used to sing got handed off to Doyoung. Which I find interesting since Doyoung and Taeil have eerily similar voices but (IMO) Taeil has the richer color in his voice while Doyoung can sound a little flat sometimes. Although I would like Taeil to have more singing parts + screen time, I do think he’s lucky in the fact that he is a part of NCT 127 from the beginning. Whereas Jeno, Jaemin, and Jisung are kind of in a weird place where they obviously can’t be put in 127 after they graduated from Dream but SM most likely won’t make another Seoul Unit until they have established other units in separate countries.

11. Jeno

I would say that Jeno is the younger version of Jaehyun for Dream. Jaehyun is definitely more capable and talented (at this point in time) than Jeno. As I stated before, I think Jeno benefitted from Jaemin not being in Dream because what would have been NaNa’s screen time went to Jeno. SM tried to make up for lack of lines with him being able to be a MC on The Show and giving him good amounts of screen time in M/Vs. However, out of Triple J, I am most worried about Jeno’s future and gaining a spot in a new unit. 127 is getting bigger now that there are 10 members and I don’t think SM will be added anymore. So unless there’s a new Korean unit (which wouldn’t really make sense since we already have 3ish units) Jeno should try to learn a new language and hope for a spot in a foreign unit.

12. Jungwoo

I believe that the middle area of being important to NCT + SM started with Haechan and ends with Jungwoo. My summary of Jungwoo is the most theoretical because of how recently he was added to NCT, but I do feel confident in his ranking. It seems that he trained longer and with most of the OG members (Hyungs + Korean Dreamies) but didn’t make the first cut so he had to wait for the next opening. However, I think that SM is leaning towards giving him a fair amount of lines and with him being added to 127 I think that is very telling of what they think of him. I will say that Jungwoo is highly competitive and it’s obvious that he works very hard to be included so I wouldn’t be surprised if SM rewards him for that whereas Kun or Yuta could do the same thing but I don’t think it would work out as well for them.

13. Chenle

I would say that Chenle is similar to Taeil in the sense that they are both incredibly talented when it comes to singing but aren’t used enough for what they can do. Chenle does get a good amount of lines that show off his abilities but the parts are usually repeats of what Haechan has already sung, therefore giving the illusion that Chenle is good but not as great as Haechan. He’s obviously not SM’s golden child in S. Korea but I am certain that with the introduction of NCT China he will be an important member. Chenle had already started off his singing career in China before joining NCT so it would make sense to build off his existing fanbase in his home country.

14. Yuta

Nakamoto Yuta. I always feel so frustrated when I think about Yuta’s position in NCT. He’s proven to be extremely versatile by having the ability to sing, rap, and dance well. His variety and charisma skills are endearing and overall he’s a nice boy. Unfortunately, something happened that ensured Yuta would always be unheard and unseen. I’m not sure if Yuta was a prime candidate for an important position and then a new boy came along that SM liked better or if they have always disliked Yuta. It’s obvious by the lack of lines and screen time that they don’t think he’s necessary to grab in new fans. Which is interesting since he is their ONLY Japanese member (as of right now) that they have and if they want to promote in Japan PROPERLY (not that 127 Japan ish) then they should invest time/attention on him. I worry for Yuta’s future as SM has no plans to debut a Japan unit (that we know of) and he’s just stuck in 127, while other foreign members will likely have more opportunities in their home countries. We don’t really have any say in what SM does and who they promote but please support our takoyaki prince who deserves the world, Nakamoto Yuta.

15. Renjun

I personally didn’t think that Renjun was going to be so low on the list but after going through the separate categories it seems to be that way. He has always had a consistent amount of lines in the Dreamie songs but I have noticed that SM loves to not give him screen time. Ironically, it is very similar to what SM does to Yixing in EXO’s M/Vs + live performances. When Renjun is singing his part, it is very common for the M/V to switch to another member doing something or show a specific object related to the plot, but not showing the member who is singing? It’s the same with live performances when it’s his turn to sing the cameramen will start shooting a wide angle of the whole group or pan to another member and it really ticks me off. Renjun will obviously be put into the China unit but with the probable addition of Xiaojun, Hendery, and Yang Yang it decreases his chance of getting a main position. Which is unfair since he and the other China line members have been working longer in NCT than the new three. I’m not pitting the new and old members against each other but I do think seniority should come into play a little bit.

16. Johnny

No one is surprised that Johnny is almost at the bottom of the list for how important SM thinks they are to NCT. I remember being SO EXCITED when I found out that Johnny was added to 127. He was finally going to have his chance to shine and then I watched the Limitless MV… It’s obvious now that SM added him because of how insistent fans were getting at Johnny not having debut yet. After the Cherry Bomb album came out it was pretty solidified that SM was not going to use Johnny as well as they could for NCT’s sound + image. Honestly, if Johnny wasn’t so outgoing and willing to look like a fool for the camera then we would never have gotten NCT Night Night and all the other silly memes we have of Jonathan. He is very much underappreciated and for his sake, I hope he gets put into a foreign unit because I know he is open-minded and will work hard to succeed.

17. Kun

There’s not a whole lot to say about Kun (not that I wouldn’t love to endlessly chat about this precious bun). He’s hasn’t been on SM’s radar for S.Korea but more like bait for the fans who want a Chinese Unit but have to wait indefinitely for it. Thankfully, it is confirmed that we will have NCT China and I know that Kun is capable of being a leader + main vocal material. Also, I think his personality would work well on Chinese variety + talk shows so if SM isn’t a complete idiot they will promote NCT’s Mama well.

18. WinWin

Last and most certainly least in SM’S eyes is our lovely Dong Sicheng. I honestly don’t know what SM had in mind when they decided to debut WinWin in 127. It’s not that I don’t love him, cause I do, but they literally have never used him for ANYTHING in NCT. The only lines he has ever had are always layered/harmonized with another member’s voice, he is never dancing in the center (even though his position is technically a dancer), and for how pretty they say he is they don’t give him any solo screen time. Touch was literally unbelievable because of how much focus Sicheng got in the MV and the live performance. It still does not make up for how much BS he has to go through with being in a group where he has nothing to do. Going back to why SM debut him if they wanted China Unit bait they could have just used Kun seeing as they would probably let him sing more than Sicheng’s nonexistent lines. The worst part is that even if he gets a decent role in the Chinese Unit, he still has to endure 127 for the rest of his idol life (if they don’t take him out and focus him in other units, which I think would be better for him). I adore his relationships with the other 127 members and in NCT in general but I want something more for Sicheng, somewhere he can really shine.

Least Important

 Here are the categories that I used to make the final ranking.

Line Distribution:

*This is done by units so NCT U, 127, Dream…

Ø Main Vocal/Rappers (Has many lines whether it be Title/Non-Title + what unit they’re in)

-         Mark

-         Taeyong

-         Doyoung

-         Jaehyun

Ø Lead Vocal/Rappers (Fair amount of lines, usually used in bridges of songs)

-         Haechan

-         Taeil

-         Renjun

-         Chenle

-         Jaemin

Ø Sub Vocal/Rappers (Small amount of lines, usually the transition parts or repeats)

-         Ten

-         Jeno

-         Jungwoo

-         Jisung

-         Yuta

-         Yukhei

Ø Vocal/Rappers (Almost no lines whatsoever; usually will be ad-libs or harmonized/layered)

-         Johnny

-         Kun

-         WinWin

Screen Time:

*Mainly based on MVs, but also incorporating solo/duo magazine shoots, photo albums

Ø Face of the Group (Lots of screen time, supposed to be an important member in the group)

-         Taeyong

-         Mark

-         Ten

-         Jisung

-         Jaemin

Ø  (Members who consistently get screen time/solo shots)

-         Doyoung

-         Jaehyun

-         Haechan

-         Jeno

-         Jungwoo

-         Yukhei

Ø Obligatory (Is a member of the group so they need to be shown, usually in more group shots)

-         Chenle

-         Taeil

-         Yuta

-         Renjun

-         Johnny

-         WinWin

-         Kun

Benefits:

*Based on writing/composing for NCT music, Songs outside of NCT, MCing, Variety Shows, general freedom to pursue what they desire

Ø Unlimited (SM picks/asks them first if they want a project, usually is able to try new things)

-         Mark

-         Taeyong

-         Doyoung

-         Yukhei

-         Jisung

Ø Limited (Does the projects that SM gives them, might be able to try out something they like)

-         Ten

-         Jaehyun

-         Johnny

-         Taeil

-         Jeno

-         WinWin

-         Yuta

-         Jungwoo

-         Jaemin

-         Chenle

Ø Restricted (Is not given outside projects, will likely be looked over for projects, only in NCT schedules)

-         Haechan

-         Kun

-         Renjun

     Now as a wrap up to this exceedingly long post, I just want to say I am not trying to pit the members up against each other. I am not trying to put the boys’ fans up against each other either. I just wanted to show (IMO) what each member’s career as an idol has been like so far and whether SM has played a positive or negative role in it. I just want fans of NCT to be aware that you can have your faves in the group but their members (that they care about deeply) might not have the same successes and as easy of a time. Furthermore, support all units AND all members of NCT.

[nightimedreamersworld]

Hello, I usually lack the eloquence to make additions on posts like this, even though I have opinions™. But I wanted to add some things to this post, hope that's okay. (Also in reference to the OG post, linked above)

1 - no one has any obligation to promote your stuff.

I'm not gonna lie, it's nice when bigger creators boost my stuff, but it's not something I expect, and people shouldn't, either. Everyone has lives outside of fandom - people work, and they have families, and life is a busy thing in general. Sometimes, getting on social media can be overwhelming, on top of that.

No one is capable - in all senses of the word - of seeing every single thing every single person posts. Algorithms don't help that, either. And even Big name fans are just human; no one here is a robot. (... I think.)

So, it's nice to see my posts getting circulation, when I happen to post or reblog on the right time. But it's not something I expect - not even from my friends. It doesn't mean I don't matter, or that I'm being ignored, or or or. Maybe people just didn't see the post for a bunch of possible reasons.

That takes me to my next point, which is:

2 - being "successful" is as much about talent as it is about luck.

There are a lot of people in the Fandom who don't get the recognition they deserve - that's TRUE, and we should try to change that, but the thing is: there's a lot of content being produced here. Even with all the promotion, and all the effort, it's impossible to cover everything.

Sometimes, you post a thing and it takes off, for whatever reason - you post at the right time, and the right people see and reblog it, and it gets a bunch of notes and kudos and hits in a short period of time. It's luck: a set of the right circumstances coming together to form a perfect storm.

And it doesn't happen often. Sometimes, after it happens once, it becomes easier - you are seen, and so the "way up" becomes a clearer path. Sometimes, that doesn't happen. Who knows? It's unpredictable.

3 - people are friends

Again - these people are human. At the end of the day, you might agree with me here- one of these tired fans might prefer to read one of their friend's works instead of reading someone else's. Because these people are familiar to each other, and they talk and comfort each other, and know each other. After all, the main point of fandom is making friends.

I know there was talk of elitism, but here goes some shocking news for you: Big name fans exist in every fandom. It's not "elitism", they're just a group of people who happen to have a lot of exposure. You know, those people everyone has heard about, those people everyone knows. And guess what? They're just people. Not godlike beings holding the secret to fame and immortality.

They're just living their Fandom life as is everyone else. Sure, they have a lot of followers and their work gets a lot of exposure - that's where the "Big name" thing come from.

At the end of the day, their experience isn't much different from yours, apart from the fact that more people see them. They also struggle with insecurities and blocks and personal problems that keep them from creating. They engage with each other more because they know each other for a long time - some of these people have been here for 3, 4 years.

I understand how it may look like a closed group, but it is not. The server is literally public - you can ask anyone a link to get in there!

4 - exposure does not equal interaction

Sometimes, even with a lot of exposure, a work still won't take off. It doesn't depend only on the promoting part, it also depends on the people who consume it. That's, again, unpredictable. And also... How can I say? Out of people's control.

You literally can't control how people will receive your work.

And lastly:

5 - you curate your own fandom experience

There are lots of events happening all the time in this fandom. Most of them are open to everyone. As @fight-surrender pointed out, there are exchanges and big bangs and fests. And the best part: anyone can start one!

Big name fans do not own monopoly on events - and they aren't, in fact, in charge of all of them, though they do help spread word when events happen. That's important. However, if you've got the patience and time to organize an event, that's great!! Go ahead, no one will stop you! In fact, chances are a lot of people are ready to encourage you and engage in these events.

Also, you choose the content you want to see, and the people you interact with. There's someone out there who will be your friend - who will cheer you on and laugh with you and check up on you when you log out for some days. But really, you can't expect to fit immediately into a big group like this and instantly become best friends with the BNFs.

(sometimes it happens, idk. Sometimes people click. But again - it's not a constant.)

A few reminders before I fall asleep with the phone on my face:

1 - people can cheer you on even if they don't read your work.

2 - BNFs are just human, and in all honesty, it's not like they owe you anything.

3 - there's someone out there who will click with you. Look for your people. Don't be afraid to reach out.

4 - don't expect to become instantly famous- actually, SCRATCH THAT. Don't expect to be famous at all. Just enjoy your experience in fandom and create things because you like them - don't let yourself be limited by "popularity potential". This is a tricky one, I KNOW, but if you base your creative drive on the feedback you want to get (you deserve, even) at some point you'll just... Stop. Don't let that happen.

I know it's difficult and discouraging to see the big people getting all the praise while you feel invisible - i know. But don't let that feeling define you. Create because you love it. Create because you love it.

That way, your creation doesn't depend on anyone or anything else but you. It's difficult to keep away feelings of jealousy. My god, do i know that. But we need to try. We need to keep going for ourselves, not for anyone else.

Because we love this book and these characters and the stories we tell through them. That's why where together in this fadom.

That's all, folks. If you read all this, here's a golden star 🌟 for enduring my rambling. Sorry for the typos (there must be a lot of them)

The Carry On Fandom Does Not Have an Elitism Problem.

I’m writing this in response to this post that I saw today by @theobliviouswriter. I saw it this morning and it pissed me off. I decided not to engage, see if it spreads. Word on the street is it’s spreading and it reeks of the discourse that rocked this fandom a few months ago. The one that had so many of us  questioning our work and whether or not we belong here. It was awful and I don’t want to see that happen again.

This fandom has been nothing but kind, welcoming, and supportive to me. Yeah, there are cliques. Yeah there are occasional minor squabbles. It’s a big group of unique people. We are all not gonna see eye to eye. But in the end we’re all here because we love the Carry On Universe. Because it’s fun to find some people to geek out with on this stuff. However, I certainly don’t expect them all to like me. 

If I’m reading this correctly, OP is upset because they didn’t get into a zine.  Because I’m working towards launching a writing career outside this fandom, I know a thing or two about magazines in general. There’s a process, you submit your work and they may or may not select it for publication. You will get rejected. Almost every time. Someday, if you work hard, hone your craft, and pick the right publication, and get lucky, they might pick you. I imagine fandom zines are similar, they’re trying to publish something sellable. If I submit my work the the New Yorker, and get rejected, I’m pretty sure they’re still not gonna publish me even if I go out and launch a social media campaign about why I didn’t get published. Ok I get it, this is a fanzine, not the New Yorker…

Did you ask for feedback as to why you didn’t get in? Was it a writing issue? Not what they had in mind? Maybe they just didn’t have enough space and it was a difficult decision. Maybe your work is truly exemplary and the admins of all the zines have beef. Take it up with them individually, don’t make blanket statements against the whole fandom. 

I’m not a “top producer,” or “head honcho,” but I’m friends with many of them and they are lovely, lovely people. I don’t expect them to rb my work just because they’re my friends. Half the time, they don’t even see it due to the algorithms, I have stopped taking it personally.  

I’m lucky if my work gets more than 20 likes. There have been times when I’ve been more popular, it ebbs and flows. I don’t have time to keep up with posting material as often as you need to to get more visibility. I get it, I’ve made my peace with it. I know views are subject to Tumblr algorithms, the whims of the crowd, the fact that it’s not art, the time time of day, and so many more unknowns. If I make a few people happy with what I write, that’s great. It’s not easy to keep going when you see the artists and the big writers getting hundreds and thousands of likes, I get it. But it’s fine. There are still people out there who like my stuff and I choose to be happy about that.

Do it because you’re honing your craft. Because it makes you happy. Make friends in the fandom, support each other, find joy in what you do. There are plenty of ways to get involved without needing to apply: Carry On Countdown, COTTA, exchanges, prompt challenges, etc. 

Sowing discord and looking for someone to blame isn’t going to accomplish anything but bad vibes and hurt feelings. 

[theliberaltony]

via Politics – FiveThirtyEight

Welcome to FiveThirtyEight’s weekly politics chat. The transcript below has been lightly edited.

sarahf (Sarah Frostenson, politics editor): It’s hard to believe it’s been a month, but the Democratic primary debates are baaack. And on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, 20 candidates (10 each night) will take the stage, with one potentially big new showdown (Elizabeth Warren vs. Bernie Sanders) on the first night and one big rematch (Kamala Harris vs. Joe Biden) on the second night.

For reference, here’s Tuesday’s lineup: Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Beto O’Rourke, Amy Klobuchar, Marianne Williamson, John Delaney, John Hickenlooper, Tim Ryan, Steve Bullock.

And Wednesday’s: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Andrew Yang, Julián Castro, Tulsi Gabbard, Michael Bennet, Jay Inslee, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bill de Blasio.

So yes, let’s talk about the lineups and matchups, but first let’s also take a step back to talk about the role of primary debates — how do they change the race?

nrakich (Nathaniel Rakich, elections analyst): I think it’s clear that debates can change the race. But the effects might be fleeting, as after one debate the race might move in one direction while subsequent debates might push things in a different direction.

natesilver (Nate Silver, editor in chief): Debates also tend to ramp up in importance as the campaign goes along. It might feel like we’ve been covering this race forever. But we’re still in the rather early stages, as far as voters are concerned.

julia_azari (Julia Azari, political science professor at Marquette University and FiveThirtyEight contributor): I think I might have a slightly different take on this than Nate. My sense, based on the research, is that the debates will produce diminishing returns as opinions become solidified, but that might apply more for minor candidates than for contention between major ones like Harris and Biden. (Though there’s still a notable big name-recognition gap between the two.)

nrakich: I’m with Julia on this one. In 2016, the first Democratic primary debate had the highest ratings.

natesilver: But in some sense, the purpose of these early, very-inclusive debates is to see if any of the minor candidates can break through. Which didn’t really happen after the Miami debates, although you could argue the case for Castro I guess.

sarahf: Castro was interesting. His favorability numbers shot up, but he didn’t really see as much of a swing in support, or at least that is what we found in our poll with Morning Consult.

nrakich: But Castro is a great example of someone for whom the debates could build on each other to increase his support. He got people’s attention in the first debate; maybe, with another good moment this week, he’ll start to get their support. Or at least get enough backing to clear the third-debate thresholds.

natesilver: I’m skeptical that Castro is likely to break through. I mean, shouldn’t we take the opposite lesson from the first debates, in fact? That you can have a good debate and it doesn’t help you break through because the top of the field is pretty entrenched?

nrakich: We didn’t say he was likely to, though — just that the possibility existed.

He’s already at 130,000 donors, the threshold for the third debate, in large part due to his first debate performance.

natesilver: I guess I’m just saying that I think people are maybe underestimating how much voters like the top-tier candidates when they say they expect a middle-tier candidate to break out.

julia_azari: What we’ve seen so far leaves me questioning whether the top tier is really open to newcomers at this point. I think there’s contention over who will be in that second tier of candidates who meet the requirements for the fall debates, but most of those candidates won’t come close to winning the nomination.

sarahf: Or maybe even making the next debate!

This might be the last time we see many of these candidates on stage because September’s qualifying thresholds will be difficult for them to meet. (Candidates must have at least 2 percent support in four recent qualifying polls1 and 130,000 unique donors.2)

natesilver: There are a lot of middle-tier candidates, so what are the odds that at least one of them will break into the top tier at some point in the race? Maybe fairly high. Let’s say it’s 60 percent, just to make a number up. But that 60 percent is divided between a lot of different candidates.

sarahf: OK, so as to this top-tier vs. middle-tier debate …

Let’s look at night one and unpack some of the dynamics there. As a reminder, night one includes: Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, O’Rourke, Klobuchar, Williamson, Delaney, Hickenlooper, Ryan, Bullock.

So given the lineup, there’s potential that some of the more moderate candidates — say, Buttigieg, O’Rourke and Klobuchar — maybe try to position themselves against Warren or Sanders, right? And that can maybe help them break through to the top tier? Or at least make the top tier look less fixed?

julia_azari: Yeah, “Can a middle-tier candidate move up?” seems like the unofficial slogan of night one.

sarahf: More so than night two?

julia_azari: I think so. But I reserve the right to flip-flop if one of you convinces me.

nrakich: Agreed, and in fact I’d pay even closer attention to the lower-tier candidates: Hickenlooper, Ryan, Bullock, Delaney. They know that this is their last chance to make a splash before the third debate’s stricter thresholds. And they all have little love for Sanders’s socialism/Warren’s progressivism.

I think they will lash out pretty hard.

julia_azari: And, in fact, I might convince myself to flip-flop because of the timing. If Buttigieg, O’Rourke or Klobuchar has a strong performance (say, on the level of Castro last time) and emerges as the official Biden Alternative for the Heartland Moderate (or whatever, don’t @ me), I think there’s still a strong chance that something else happens on night two that overshadows it.

nrakich: I also think the potential for Sanders-Warren fireworks is overrated. Despite their ideological similarities, they aren’t really competing for the same bloc of voters. Warren supporters are more likely to be higher-income or have a college degree, while Sanders’s support is more working-class.

natesilver: I strongly disagree with Rakich on the Sanders-Warren lanes thing!

sarahf:

nrakich:

natesilver:

sarahf: Finally, the two in-house Nathaniels fighting!

julia_azari: I’m just here for the ratio.

natesilver: But OK, I don’t think looking at the characteristics of Sanders’s current voters is the right way to go about it.

Because he’s lost a shit-ton of support since his last presidential run.

Roughly two-thirds of his supporters from 2016 have gone to other candidates. We know that because he got more than 40 percent of the vote then and is now polling in the mid-teens.

And a lot of those voters probably went to Warren.

Probably some went to Buttigieg, Biden, etc. too.

nrakich: Indeed — according to an Emerson poll conducted earlier this month, 25 percent of Sanders’s 2016 voters still support him, but 20 percent now support Biden, 15 percent support Warren, and 9 percent support Harris.

natesilver: I’m just saying, Sanders has already lost a lot of the voters that he was gonna lose to Warren. Maybe he lost most of them at the start of the cycle and then a few more as she’s gradually gained ground. The voters who are still with Sanders now might be fairly lukewarm on Warren, but that reflects a type of selection bias: They’re the ones who haven’t defected to Warren yet.

nrakich: I take your question, Nate.

And I agree with you generally that Sanders needs to go on the attack more. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he will. Especially when he and Warren are reportedly good friends.

natesilver: Friends, schmends, people are trying to WIN THE PRESIDENCY!!!!

sarahf: And what does that mean for the debate? Does Sanders have an incentive to go hard on Warren?

natesilver: Sanders probably — maybe definitely — needs some of Warren’s current voters to have a shot at the nomination. It doesn’t necessarily mean he needs to go after her, though, which could fairly easily backfire.

His staff, at times, has seemed a little prickly about Warren. Maybe they thought it was Sanders’s turn — he was the second-place finisher last time, after all. But she’s the one who seems to have momentum and whose chances the media is taking more seriously.

But, again, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good look for Sanders to go after her. I’m not sure what he’d even say, exactly.

He has, at times, tried to emphasize his electability vis-a-vis Warren, a strategy that I think is a bit dubious.

nrakich: I feel like that won’t win him a lot of friends among people who already don’t like the way he treated the last woman he faced in a primary.

natesilver: He has sometimes tried to act like he was the OG Democratic Socialist and she’s stepping on his turf, which I don’t think is a particularly compelling message either.

julia_azari: One thing I want to note about Warren and Sanders is how we (media, voters, everyone) understand what goes on within parties in a nomination contest. Because you essentially have two people competing who have somewhat different approaches to their shared ideological lane. So is this competition about candidates and their personalities? Or is it about which approach gets to bear the standard for the economically left wing of the party? It’s kind of remarkable that we’re seeing public contestation at this level — not just between factions but within them.

nrakich: I definitely think it’s a competition of personalities, not ideologies. I think a lot of elites who support Warren really don’t like Sanders because of his “revolution” rhetoric and somewhat ornery personality.

sarahf: What are some other dynamics we expect on night one? Do we think, tactically speaking, it makes sense for the other candidates to position themselves against the front-runners, i.e. Warren and Sanders?

natesilver: I think it makes sense for Klobuchar to push back against them.

nrakich: Yeah, I think it makes a lot of sense for the moderates like Klobuchar, Hickenlooper and Delaney to set themselves up as a foil against Sanders or Warren.

julia_azari: The smart move for Klobuchar-O’Rourke-Buttigieg is to try to emerge as the leader of that pack. I think, if we conceptualize the nomination as a process of coalition-building, there’s potential for Klobuchar to build on her status as a woman, a Midwesterner and a pragmatic candidate. But the staff stuff may have sunk her, I don’t know.

natesilver: Klobuchar might actually have a shot at the nomination. I’m not sure I care what Delaney does though.

nrakich: DeLaNeY sHoUlD bE aT cEnTeR sTaGe

(Nate, did I do that right?)

natesilver: I don’t think you can troll effectively with Delaney.

It’s not like Yang or Williamson, where there’s something inherently trollish about their candidacies.

sarahf: And Steve Bullock, while I don’t think he has a shot at winning the nomination, could still be an interesting addition. At the very least, he wasn’t in the first debate, so voters won’t have heard him make his case yet.

nrakich: Yes, Bullock is a strong candidate on paper: two-term governor of a red state, and he has some institutional support in Iowa. Unlike some of the other lower-tier candidates, you can see a path to the nomination for him, however faintly.

But I would guess that virtually no one has heard words come out of his mouth, so this week will be big for him.

julia_azari: Bullock also has anti-establishment cred from being excluded from the first debate. Will anyone care? I don’t know. As someone writing about party legitimacy, I’m way into watching that unfold.

natesilver: Overall, the moderates would rather be on the stage against Biden, no?

nrakich: Yeah, I think so, Nate, but with Sanders, they’ll still have material to work with.

sarahf: Is the idea here it’s better to be on a stage where you can show what you have in common with someone who’s polling better than you? Rather than showing how you’re different?

julia_azari: Yeah, I think this debate might be a good test of whether it’s good for these kinds of candidates to be on a stage with the front-runner in their “lane” or if it’s better to go up against the front-runner not in their “lane” to establish themselves as the main alternative.

nrakich: I think it’s just because you can make the most effective attack on Biden in person (as Harris showed), and if it lands, you’re likely to be the beneficiary.

natesilver: I think a lot of the moderates need Biden to implode to have a shot, so you’d rather just be on the stage with him so that you can benefit directly from him imploding. It’s harder if you have to count on a parlay of you doing well in one debate and then Biden doing poorly in the other debate but somehow none of the candidates from the other debate get credit for dismantling Biden.

sarahf: OK, on to night two!

Reminder, the stage is: Biden, Harris, Booker, Yang, Castro, Gabbard, Bennet, Inslee, Gillibrand, de Blasio.

nrakich: All of the nonwhite candidates are debating on this night. I find this fascinating.

Also, Biden sharing the stage with them is fascinating.

Harris and Booker in particular have shown that they are eager to attack Biden on racial-justice issues.

sarahf: Right, and we’ve got the potential for a rematch on our hands. What are the non-probabilistic odds, you think, that Harris and Biden spar again?

nrakich: High.

And I think Biden will be readier for it. (Or at least he should be — he has no excuse now.)

natesilver: I think Harris-Biden Round 2 is fairly likely to be the headline that emerges, yeah.

sarahf: My bet is that Booker joins the headline, largely because, as Nathaniel mentioned earlier, he’s also taken Biden to task on issues of race.

Booker also is a pretty strong debater, I think.

natesilver: Could Harris, in theory, rely on Booker to be the more aggressive one and try to remain a bit above the fray?

I’m not saying it’s a good strategy or a bad strategy, but it’s one she could consider.

Biden is still very popular with Democrats and she doesn’t necessarily want to alienate his voters.

julia_azari: I think that’s definitely a possibility and a strategy she could consider. The dilemma with tackling Biden’s record on race is that candidates may want to do it as long as something like reparations isn’t pinned to them when the general election rolls around. Not saying this is right or wrong morally or strategically, but I do think it’s a calculation.

And to some degree, I think that’s sorta the larger dilemma of this primary (I’m really liking the word “dilemma” today, leaning into it) — how does one compete fiercely in this kind of field without alienating the supporters of other candidates?

sarahf: And as we’ve talked about before, if Biden were to falter, both Harris and Booker have some chance of benefiting from supporters switching to them instead. So it will be a fine balance between weakening Biden while not alienating his base too much.

nrakich: FWIW, I think Harris’s attack in the first debate was excellent precisely because it conveyed respect to Biden while also totally destroying him.

sarahf: Yeah, she even started her attack by saying how much she respected Biden.

natesilver: Ohhhh I don’t really think it conveyed much respect.

I mean, it wasn’t out of bounds.

But saying you respect someone as a rhetorical strategy is only loosely correlated with actually conveying respect.

julia_azari: I’m not sure about the respect thing either.

But I think it was a great piece of political theater, and there’s some evidence that debates are good for changing people’s impressions of how viable or electable a candidate is. Harris perhaps helped people envision her on a debate stage with Trump.

nrakich: I have no idea if Harris actually respects Biden, but it’s about how people interpret it, and I think she managed to land a devastating attack in a way that didn’t come off as mean. So I don’t think it alienated anyone but the most diehard Biden fans who think he is above reproach.

Harris’s unfavorable rating went up just 1.4 points after the debate, according to our tracking poll, so few voters seemed put off by her approach.

sarahf: OK, let’s wrap. Top line, what will you be looking for on Tuesday and Wednesday?

nrakich: It’s kind of a boring answer, but I’ll again be looking to see if any of the middle- or lower-tier candidates have a moment that earns them a burst in support. Otherwise, it’s going to be the same old cast of characters on the September stage, and you’ll probably see multiple people drop out. (Note: That may happen anyway.)

natesilver: I’d be interested in if O’Rourke, Buttigieg and/or Klobuchar explicitly play to the center.

Klobuchar seemed reluctant to do that in the first debate.

julia_azari: The four things I’ll be looking for are: 1) movement among top-tier candidates; 2) the porousness of the top tier, i.e. can anyone else get into it; 3) who is competing against whom (e.g. what “lanes” emerge); and 4) what issues emerge as the ones that will define the primary race?

Because how the candidates link themselves to and prioritize issues might give us a sense of how fault lines will emerge as the primary season progresses.

[placebonut]

So I finished FFVII: Remake and I have thoughts! Need to record my first impression before I read what everyone else thinks and potentially have my opinion warped beyond recognition! 

Overall, I enjoyed it. But maybe a “re-imagining” is a better description, as it looks like it’s shaping up to be a new story. I’ll need to play it again to fully understand all that wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff, though. FF games tend to get a bit abstract and confusing for me toward the end, so that’s not a criticism, just my reality lol.

Highlights:

+ Wedge lives! Apparently Biggs, too, but I have different thoughts about that… Even though they’re essentially the same, Wedge happened before knowing what the Whispers are, and that capital ‘D’ Destiny is fighting to stay on track by smothering all potential divergents, so it was a nice little surprise for me that Wedge survives. I’m even satisfied with how it happened. Like, he’s in the middle of sector 7 when the plate falls, but just through sheer luck gets knocked into a secret underground lab, which I now get to explore? Cool!

+ Johnny lol. No longer “childhood friend”, but still very entertaining. Though that scene where Cloud straight-up intends to execute him while he’s bound and blindfolded is a bit… Uh? I feel like it was supposed to be telling me something about Cloud’s character, but doesn’t really seem consistent. He’s got an attitude, and is very often moody and rude to people’s faces, but that moment is next level cold. That scene also implies that Avalanche aren’t killing all of the Shinra troopers they fight. I’ll just accept “fantasy” as the explanation for how they manage that!

+ Cloud being recognised in Shinra tower. Though does the Kunsel name-drop mean that some of Crisis Core canon will be included? I mean, they basically did a frame-by-frame reanimation of Zack’s last stand, but he doesn’t have the CC scar so I assume no Angeal. Lots to unpack, but I just enjoyed the moment. It makes sense that someone would remember him!

+ I think Madame M’s main role is to replace the .. violation? that Cloud experiences in the OG Honey Bee Inn. She’s still pretty much forcing him to have that hand massage, but at least he just hates that he likes it, rather than being actually super uncomfortable in a hot tub full of strange men. I feel like they steered away from the old homophobic humour and instead embraced some fun, gender non-conforming characters. I’m very straight and cis though, so maybe there’s nuance I missed. No named Shinra employees in the private HB rooms though?

+ Tifa!! I don’t think they’ve actually made changes to her character, but you just get so much more time with her, and I’m able to love her in a way I never really did in OG. My OG first impression was that she was needy, and annoyingly timid at the worse times. Obviously she gets a lot of character growth, but I could never shake that initial impatience I had with her, and the rivalry with Aeris (who the game clearly pushes you to like) just left me with a criminal under-appreciation for her. Remake Tifa is a goddess! Her voice actor is great, which definitely helps. Her empathy, compassion, and generosity are showcased really well in lots of scenes, but she’s still such a badass! I love how she’s always the one to catch Cloud when he’s falling off of something, but my absolute favourite moment is when she steps out of the mist to offer Aerith her hand, “we found you”/”I guess you did..” Had me clutching my chest.

+ The immediate friendship between the girls is sooooo nice compared to the competition they pose for each other in the OG. Even as early as the sewers, when they’ve only just met. Maybe it’ll come later, but I kinda don’t even feel like Tifa expresses all that much romantic interest in Cloud. She’s not jealous of Aerith, and while it’s clear she worries about him and cares what he thinks, she’s certainly not hopelessly in love with him… At least not yet.

+ Voice actors did a better job than I expected tbh. Some awkward attempts to mimic Japanese vocalisations, but that’s always a problem with anime dubs. Hojo’s last scream of laughter really solidified the ‘crazy scientist’ bit. Barret was way funnier and less cringey than I thought he’d be. Marlene is cute as a button! Aerith is a bit high and breathy, but the pitch actually makes her probably the easiest to understand since the background music always seems a bit too loud when they’re talking. Cloud, Barret, but especially Sephiroth, I really struggled in parts to understand. I think Sephiroth was even murmuring things in that final battle, probably just related to his special attacks since all important dialogue had subtitles, but I’m sure I could hear his voice but could understand literally nothing!

+ Music and graphics, obvs. Man, everyone and everything is just so dang pretty!

Didn’t like, or maybe just didn’t understand?

- Sephiroth. I employed some real mental gymnastics to explain to myself what I was seeing, and I mostly succeeded until the very end. Okay, so like, his first appearances I rationalised as being PTSD hallucinations or something. Also, in a real-world sense, I read somewhere that the OG director used the movie Jaws as inspiration for how they introduce him slowly, showing only the destruction he leaves behind to create tension, but it’s 20 years later and he’s an icon in video game and anime culture, they can’t play the same tricks and expect the same result. This game only features the initial Midgar part of the story which he wasn’t originally featured in, so gotta find a way to give the fans some service. Alright, that makes sense, I can accept that.

But then it became clear he’s using the clones to actually communicate with Cloud…. huh. Well, okay, I guess there’s no reason why he couldn’t have always been able to do that. He’s much more interested in Cloud than I think he should be at this point, but if he’s trying to organise Reunion, and I suppose Cloud is the only one resisting, I can make it work: if he’s aware of the clones, then he’s aware of Cloud. It makes no less sense that he’s always been able to connect with them, than him suddenly being able to out of nowhere or only deciding to start at a plot-convenient moment. I always assumed it was Cloud’s proximity to Jenova that triggered the whole series of events in Shinra Tower. That she, and by extension Sephiroth, “wake up” while he’s there. But if Sephiroth has actually been conscious the entire time, maybe Cloud just showed him exactly where to find her, so he’s coming to get her. It’s complicated, but I think I follow.

I don’t know why he’s on the other side of the Destiny storm, though. Really, why was he even there? Is he working with or against the Whispers? And I can’t make sense of his invitation for Cloud to join him. Join him in what? Reunion, still? Sephiroth’s OG plan can benefit only Sephiroth, so what is he even offering? I’m going to have to play it again and pay closer attention to what he says. I did like Aerith standing up to him. One of my favourite OG lines, “the future isn’t just yours!” is reflected nicely. Also, “screw him!”

- Roche. Whyyy? Track record for inventing new SOLDIERs isn’t good, just leave it alone!

- Biggs lives. So, we only witness him waking up after everything has gone down, which is why I reacted differently to his survival than Wedge’s. Basically, it doesn’t make sense. First of all, physically, for him to have survived all that fire and falling. Secondly, it seems to contradict what we know about the Whispers: they interfere when the characters are at risk of taking a path they don’t want, ie. different from OG storyline. Why wouldn’t they have done something? If they’re powerful enough to revive Barret because “it wasn’t his time”, and injure Jessie so Cloud has to join the Reactor 5 bombing mission, surely they could quietly kill off somebody who is “supposed” to die, especially if he’s already most of the way there. So then it’s really Wedge they should have killed off! He’s where the chain begins: I assume he’s the one who finds Biggs and brings him back to Elmyra, since Biggs never would have known who she was, and Wedge only knows after surviving the plate fall. Does having defeated the Harbinger Whisper mean that not only future changes are possible, but past? Anyway, it’s all a bit convoluted, and tbh feels a bit cheap, too. Why not bring back Jessie, while we’re at it? Their OG deaths had a motivational impact on Barret and co., and also drives home the evil of Shinra for the player, who might not have cared that much about unnamed deaths, however plentiful. It makes the plate fall a more personal tragedy, since we’ve spent time with these characters.

- Low-key disappointed I didn’t get to see Avalanche’s secret hideout underneath Seventh Heaven.. But at least I got to play some darts.

[safriel]

here’s an update. a copy and paste of a message I sent @/femmic

message me or comment on this post if you need clarification.

also apologies to my followers for spamming you with this post.

-like from my understanding gender is not a social construct but if I’m wrong then I’m wrong and that’s that.

most of the links were just for a broad understanding of trans people and were for the og person who reblogged my post.

culture and experience is a big thing in how brains function and can definitely change a lot in the brain. this is mostly because of brain plasticity, so basically how the brain changes as it grows. but this isn’t the only way brains are affected by sex, as sex changes in the brain appear both before culture impact and after the brain is done maturing. if that makes sense.

from my understanding and what I was taught in school/college gender is the expression and identity you show onto the world, but some people further put the point in that “social roles” affect gender, but they do still say it is the person’s “identification” so it cannot fully be up to social roles and therefore can’t be completely a social construct. which is why in my post I used the tree metaphor (sorry I use lots of metaphors). parts can be socially constructed.

so for brain structure, there’s differences in regard to sex. and it’s seen that trans people will have these differences as in a trans man will have the closer structure of a male brain. specifically off the top of my head I know the hypothalamus and thalamus size, and the nucleus of the hypothalamus. it’s larger in males.

and I also want to add that even tho I say this, i am aware there is no actual “gendered brain” or “female/male brain”. the entire brain is not different, just parts.

I also know there is a study with rats and putting male rats into female rat roles/environment and they are unable to do the tasks the same way and are stressed in the hippocampus region. I can try to find the link tomorrow if you’d like it. I think that study also goes into how men handle stress verses women. again it’s up to how the brains handle situations and compute them based on testosterone estrogen and other hormones. there’s different hormonal levels in males and females and that affects how the brain works. (also by that I do Not mean women are hormonal or crazy or anything like that. hopefully it doesn’t sound that way. just that it actually makes them better at problem solving and recognition of emotion. males can exhibit these same behaviors and it doesn’t make women lesser).

brains also age differently based on sex. women have asymmetrical reduction.

as for behavior, there’s different tests and studies showing women scoring higher in areas of speech and men higher in math, but stuff like that I don’t usually link because they’re reviewing those studies and since they aren’t solid on the info neither am I. also in MANY areas men are generally treated better in math class and given more help than girls because of a sexist standard of girls not being able to do math. so I usually don’t trust them enough to use. but I’m including that Incase you come across it.

after I made the post and reblogs I did see new articles and studies showing that behavioral differences are not shown to be lower differences in men and women, so in the morning I will go back and correct that (it’s late here now), but the brain structure is still different and still affects processing. most likely those differences were reported before because of cultured society like you mentioned before, but it wasn’t those behaviors (it was morality, puzzles, and perception).

however there is a study I went over last week in class about motor skills so I will go back and review that to see if it’s like, understandable or biased based on stereotyping or education like the math thing.

anyways so some of the things I said were not explained well so here is a correction. I did say “behavioral” differences a lot, because that is what I have been taught, but by doing my own research I’ve seen that it’s less common than a thought. however there are still hormonal and structural differences lining up with someone’s gender versus their sex. Also the reason I even brought up behaviors is because trans men exibhit typical behavior of men and trans women vice versa. because they’re men and women.

that one’s goin in the cringe comp! fuck terfs!