#I'm sure Cath would have still shown up

[fallenrocket]

#OurFlagMeansDeadloch Watch Party - Episode 8

(crossposted from my Twitter)

Before I start, I really hope we don't get a last-minute twist where James is the killer. Can you imagine if he was just pretending to be incompetent to sabotage the investigation? His villainsplaining would be *insufferable*.

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Second, I'm manifesting Abby suckerpunching James in the finale and then exclaiming, "Ma'ams, did you see that? I did a punch!"

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"Go color-code your Birkenstocks or some shit"--'cause it's not enough to just take Dulcie off the case. Gotta throw in some "clever" homophobia too.

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Okay, "emotional truffle pig" is a great descriptor for Cath. Props to Nadiyah!

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"Where would I have the time to murder? If I had free time, I would take my kid to the pool, not kill her fucking dad." Go, Sharelle!

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"Darlings, I'll get you out of here, I won't rest until it happens!" says Margaret as her scurries out the door.

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When the convenience store owner stops to help a customer while Dulcie and Eddie are getting to get information on the bus, you can actually see Eddie's soul leaving her body.

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"He's taken them up into the hills."

"Like The Sound of Music."

"Yeah, sure."

lol, I love it!

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"Ugh, I muscle-memory drove myself back to Deadloch! Sorry, guys." omg, Sven, I've been there!

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I like that this show takes the OFMD approach of, "It's okay when racists/colonizers die."

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And there's the big twist! Yikes, poor Eddie--you think she had issues getting close to people *before*???

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"James, I'm talking to Skye. Let women have the floor, mate!" omg, I can't with this guy's ultra-considerate "let's unpack toxic masculinity" spiel when he's kidnapped a bunch of dudes to murder them. He's evil, but he's hilarious!

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"I don't have to do all this murder!"

"Yeah, everyone knows that, mate! Everyone knows that except for fucking you!"

lol, these two are taking me *out*!

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I like that we're shown how killing predatory men is still a product of his misogyny, that notion that women are so helpless and brainwashed by the patriarchy that they "need" a man to step in and do what needs to be done to liberate them.

It has a thematic ring with Miranda asking why Margaret gets to decide who "deserves" what in an earlier episode, which is very fitting.

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"Attention all units: the men are not on the bus. Repeat, the men are *not* on the bus." lol, that timing is just *chef's kiss*.

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"So Collins, were you always into women, or was it something you had to work on, like a muscle?" hee!

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Ah, bless Abby, walking down the street with her new bangs, eating a sandwich, off to meet up with her forensic Edward Teach a.k.a. Kate. Lovely ending for her!

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lol, and we end on one final mixed-up name from Eddie! It reminds me of when the Kraken crew were telling Stede that Ed retired and Archie just mumbled, "Yeah, got tired."

[mahal-5o]

After some time to reflect on the ending, I regret letting myself get so angry, particularly at Lenkov.

Was it a great ending? Not really. But it wasn't supposed to be. This was clearly supposed to be a season finale and not a series finale. From what I understand, it was right at the last minute CBS decided to end the show. There wasn't much they could have changed to make it a true ending.

Is it OOC that Steve would leave his home and his ohana and Danny after so many years of friendship and support? Arguably yes, but Alex was leaving the show, so short of killing Steve off, they had to write him leaving. They didn't give Danny an ending because it wasn't supposed to be an ending. This was supposed to be a farewell to Steve, not the show.

Over 95% of this episode is a damn loveletter to Steve's and Danny's friendship. This whole season was. Whether this makes me delusional or not, I honestly think if Lenkov knew it was the end much sooner, he wouldn't have ended it this way. We would have had the guys sitting in those chairs by the beach bickering at each other.

[mochiiikko]

Lying Is Surviving, Literally

I.

Anne followed Cathy's actions, tugging on her own choker. Anne didn't understand, she never saw Cathy without a choker, or atleast a scarf. Just something that covered their neck. She geussed they probably had a wound there from their time with Thomas that they didn't want shown. But still, it seemed weird.

Anne herself, god damn even Kate, could be seen without anything covering their scars. And everyone in the house knew of Cathy's trauma with Thomas. And there were definitely incidents with physical abuse at some point, and with Anne's personal expierence, she didn't blame Cathy for covering it up. But she knew something wasn't right.

"Annie?" Anne was snapped out of her thoughts as she looked back at the person she raised, only to not know anything about them now. "Are you okay?" Cathy asked. "Yeah. I'm fine darling. Just thinking." Anne smiled softly, explaining without giving to much away. "About what?" Cathy seemed to grow more curious. Anne stayed silent and debated whether to tell Cathy. "Nothing, what are you reading?" She smiled as Cathy's eyes lit up. "It's called to kill a mocking bird!" Anne smiled, her plan seemed succesful.

It was always easy to change the subject with Cathy.

II.

Catalina wasn't sure of what had woken her. But the cries from upstairs were enough to get her out of bed, luckily it wasn't Anne. No they shared a room so couldn't have been Anne, she was still sleeping beside her anyways.

She looked into Kate's room as soon as she got upstairs, but the fifth queen was sleeping peacefully. When she opened the door to the room Anna and Jane shared both were sleeping as well. And the last person left was Cathy.

She stormed into their room to find Cathy on the floor crying their eyes out. "Oh baby." She walked over and sat beside the last queen. "Are you okay to touch?" She asked, knowing to ask for permission after Cathy gave Anna a blue eye when she tried to hug them after a nightmare. Cathy shook their head. "That's okay queride, wanna talk about it?" Catalina had to stop herself from still reaching out to shaking survivor. Cathy shook their head, a little more frantically. "Alright, talk when you're ready. Want to sleep with me and Anne?" This time Cathy nodded, laying on the floor for a bit longer.

Catalina helped Cathy up and led them to her bedroom. "You okay to touch now?" Catalina tucked both of them in, trying her best to not disturb Anne. This time Cathy nodded and immediatly Catalina held her as close as possible. "Goodnight mija."

III.

"I can't get anything out of them." Catalina slammed her hands on the table. "It's like they don't want to talk to me." She huffed placing her head in her hands. "They do, maybe they just need some time to talk." Jane smiled caressing Catalina's arm. "But Jane this isn't the only time they've acted like this. It's happened before and they never came to me. I'm worried for them. I don't know what to do." Catalina's words grew frustrated as she fall back onto the couch.

"I can try bust it out of them." Anna said. "But i'm the one supposed to help!-" Catalina squeaked out "Lina, i can get them to talk to you." Anna smiled when Catalina's expression softened. "I just want to know what's wrong Anna."

"I know Lina. I know." And like that Anna rushed up the stairs, determined to get Cathy to talk.

"Catherine!" Anna yelled knocking on their door, Anna was many things but not a fool, she was dealing with Cathy the door was definutely locked. "Go away madrina." Came from inside. "It's not Lina. It's Anna." She heard a thud. "Well i don't want to talk to you either."

"Cathy please. I need to talk with you. You'll get some coffee from me." A click. The door opened slightly. "4 cups." Cathy said. "4 cups." Anna agreed. Cathy opened the door, letting Anna in. "Cathy. You've been distant lately. And don't fight it, i heard your screams at night. Spill the beans." Anna said sitting down on the bed. Cathy sat at their desk. "I'm sorry... It's just nightmares about Thomas." Cathy said. "Well, i want you to come to us when you have those. And you're not a burden, i promise. Now can you go tell Lina? She's worried sick." Anna said. "Yeah, of course."

IV.

A knock on the door snapped Cathy out of their work. "Come in." They turned too the door and smiled when seeing Kate. "I had a nightmare." Kate muttered. "Want to talk about it?" Cathy asked. Kate nodded and walked to the bed.

"What was it about darling?" Cathy asked, sitting beside Kate. "My beheading." Kate responded. Of course, of course it was her beheading. And of course she'd come to Cathy about it. "Was it you know..bloody?" Cathy asked. "No. I woke up as the man swung the axe. I didn't see my head flying." Kate chuckled. "It's the first time i woke up before the crowds cheers." Kate said, tearing up.

"Oh Kathryn." Cathy hugged the pink queen who started crying. "They didn't have the right to clap when you died. That was wrong, you never deserved to die." Cathy carresed Kate's back, they felt her tears soak her shirt but it didn't matter. "I've got you." Cathy held Kate extra close after that. "You're safe in my arms Kathryn." Kate let out a teary laugh. "It feels weird having you say my full name. Knowing we have the same name." Kate giggled and Cathy couldn't help but laugh too.

"Yeah, i get it." Kate let her hands wander Cathy's back and neck, elicting giggles from the blue queen. "You were nearly beheaded to weren't you?" Kate asked. Cathy grew tense and Kate stopped her hands. "Yeah. Nearly." Cathy said trying relax again. "Sorry." Kate said letting herself fall on the bed. "It's fine." Cathy smiled.

"Can i sleep here...?" Kate sat up, staring at Cathy with hopeful eyes. "Yeah of course." The last queen tucked the both of them in, their earlier work forgotten. "Thanks cath." Kate hugged the older who smiled.

"No problem."

The flinch of pain when Kate had touched Cathy's neck was long forgotten as the two fell asleep.

V.

Jane had taken notes of Cathy's behaviour. Her suspiscion had started when she noticed Cathy's obnoxious obsession with chokers. It had gotten bigger when they practically begged to have a choker added to their costume. So this is where she was now. Trying to find as much information as possible about Cathy.

All the websites said the same thing: after Henry's death she got married to Thomas Seymour. She died of child bed fever. And nothing else.

The article's all mentioned a daughter. But never did Parr speak of having a child.

Her eyes shot from article to article. till she saw something different. "Catherine Parr's beheading? Well i knew they were nearly beheaded, we all know that but. They didn't actually get beheaded... right?" Jane whispered to herself. Though she still clicked on the article, just to make sure.

As she read through it she started to tear up. Everything started to make sense, the collection of chokers, the screaming at night, the bizarre amount of scratching at their neck and the pure terror which was so similair to that of Anne and Kate. Cathy had lied about surviving.

She took the laptop and stormed out of the room, she wanted to hear the answers from Parr's own mouth.

"Cathy you lied to our faces!" Jane ran down stairs, laptop in hand, looking as if she could start crying at any second. "What? I would never!" Cathy seemed confused.

"You lied to me! You lied to us!" Jane shoved the laptop into Cathy's hands. The last queen fidgeted with their choker as they read what Jane had found. The other queens, who had been in the kitchen discussing the show, came to see what the comotion was about.

"Mija? What's wrong?" Catalina rushed to her godchild. "I'm so sorry." Was the only thing that left their mouth as sobs started coming out. "You're so! So!" Jane couldn't find the right words after her discovery. "Idiotic." Catalina deadpanned having read the article. Jane nodded. Catalina stood up and towered over the younger.

"Would you guys mind filling us in?" Anna came into the living room, followed by the other two. Jane took the laptop from Cathy's lap and handed it to the three clueless women.

They read through it while Jane and Catalina kept staring at Cathy, waiting for them to say something. "Liebling." Anna seemed to be the first to finish reading as she gave Anne the laptop and rushed to the 'survivor'. "Is this true?" She asked sitting on the table in front of Cathy.

Cathy nodded before hiding their face in their hands. "Why didn't you tell us?" Anne asked looking up from the screen. Cathy only shrugged. Kate slided by her cousin and took the shocked last wife into her arms. "'M sorry Cath." Kate muttered.

"What? I- i'm the one supposed to say sorry." Cathy tried squirming out of Kate's grasp, feeling they didn't deserve the hug. "Kiddo.... i-" Anna started before tearing up herself and hugging the sixth wife. "You could have told us you know." Jane sighed taking Cathy's hand in her own.

Anne moved through the mess of people and took Cathy's other hand. "I'm sorry if you felt like you couldn't tell us." She said pressing a motherly kiss on Cathy's knuckles. "I'm sorry i didn't-" They cried into Anne's shirt. "Why didn't you?" Jane asked. "I don't- i'm sorry- it's just-" Cathy couldn't figure out what to say. "Mija-" Catalina looked at the others questionably. They all got the message and stepped aside. The missing space was filled with the first queen within seconds.

"Calm down querida. I'm sorry you felt like you had to keep this all in. That must have been awful." Catalina rubbed the youngers back, twirling their curls with her other hand.

Cathy sobbed into their godmothers shirt. "It-it was! It was awful."

"Yeah i bet so." Catalina cooed, a soft smile on her face. The others looked at the scene with concern and relief. Catalina sat her godchild on her lap and the others took their earlier places. "Do you want to talk about it?" Anna asked. Cathy considered before shaking their head.

"That's understandable. Just-. Just know we love you." This time Cathy nodded. Anne stared at the choker Cathy had on. "Take that ridiciously uncomfortable thing off. It's made of some harsh material and i really reccomend not wearing it. Ever." She struggled with it before taking it off. Catalina stared at the now obvious scar on Cathy's neck.

She carressed it, careful not to hurt Cathy in the process. "You're safe here darling." She muttered. "I know." Cathy answered. "I'm sorry i didn't tell you."

"It's fine." Kate said softly. "I get it."

"Divorced beheaded died survived beheaded beheaded doesn't really sound nice." Jane joked causing the others to laugh.

"Now... group hug?" Anna asked. "Sounds perfect." Catalina helped Cathy stand up. Before pulling Anne and Jane with her. Anna pulled Kate in the hug, no one said anything when Cathy was gently moved to the center. Immediatly becoming invisible to any on looker as the much taller queens surrouneded her.

The queens had ended up on Cathy's bed fighting for space. Cathy laughed the moment they came in to the room. "Are you kidding me?" They giggled. "We thought you needed some comfort." Jane chuckled.

Cathy laughed. "You sleep on the couch there's no space left." Anna smirked playfully. "Excuse you? This is my room." Cathy retorded jumping onto the edge of the bed. "There's six of us on a two person bed now." Kate said putting her phone down.

"Yeah it's a two person bed Cathy. With who do you sleep?" Anne teased with a smirk. "If you're suggesting that i have a girlfriend. Then you're wrong. I'm completely single and have never, atleast in this life, slept with someone." Cathy smiled. "It's just more space for me." They giggled. "Why do they get a two person bed when i'm left with a one person bed!" Kate screamed, though far from angry.

"You're much less worthy then me." Cathy teased sitting beside their giggling godmother. "Why you little-!" Kate got off the bed and took Cathy with her, who squealed as they were taken off the bed.

The remaining laughed. Anna joining in with the banter herself.

The others had finally settled down. They'd moved the matress from Jane and Anna's room and the one from Catalina and Anne into Cathy's room. Anna and Jane were sleeping togheter. The beheaded cousins decided to sleep togheter as well, though Anne wanted to sleep with Catalina as well. The last two remaining were whispering to each other. They didn't have a specific topic to talk about so it was all silly nothing.

"Don't kill each other!"

Catalina stared at Cathy's neck, more specifically the scar on there. "Can i touch it?" She asked looking into her godchilds eyes. Cathy nodded, though Catalina nearly didn't see it with how dark it was.

She gently carresed the scar, again making sure to not hurt the younger. "I'm so sorry that happened Mi vida." She whispered. "It's fine. There's nothing we can do about it now." Cathy sighed. "Does it hurt?" Catalina asked. "Sometimes. Mostly after a nightmare." Cathy answered this time sighing in content.

"I would have told you it's just-" Catalina shushed the last wife. "I get it. You were the last wife of his. You felt you needed to be strong." Cathy nodded, sobbing into Catalina's hoodie. "I'm sorry pup." Catalina muttered pressing a kiss to Cathy's forehead. Cathy let out a choked laugh.

"Pup?" That's new." Catalina giggled. "Thought it fit you." Both laughed this time. "I like it." Cathy smiled.