#NEXT MYSTERY FILES EP

[shaniacsboogara]

i would love to see shane madej's theories regarding the fnaf lore. give that man a corkboard immediately.

[rosenkranz-isnt-dead]

I simply must know your least favorite XF episode, and also the most aesthetic ep.

okay the answer to your first question is getting very long so I'll put it under the cut, and as for the second one: I've thought about it and decided that it's Gender Bender. I'm not particularly fond of the episode, I've only ever watched it once, but the Aesthetic there is top notch, thank you mr Rob Bowman

(yes these are all from Gender Bender)

well alright! so as you know I haven't seen *all* of it so I'm 100% sure there are much worse episodes later on, and before too, but En Ami just pissed me off really bad. it's far from the only txf episode to piss me off, but something about it makes my skin crawl. people always praise the x files for not sexualizing Scully, and while it's mostly true, it's not always the case, as for example in En Ami. her wearing that black dress which doesn't leave much for imagination to appease the smoking man (or his mysterious "friend") is not very hashtag #feminism. when the smoking man undresses scully in her sleep (did he drug her? I don't remember but seems probable) and she wakes up in bed wearing pajamas, and even after that she does not leave?? y'know, Dana Scully, MD, who's been violated on multiple occasions before? but no, she trusts him to share the Ultimate Cure For Every Disease with her, or whatever it was, I only watched it once. sure, let's all trust the smoking man, it's always worked so well. and Mulder! doesn't have a key to her apartment! even though it was established early on that they just casually break into each other's places like once a week. and of course the smoker lied, but it's apparently news to Scully, who "saw something in his eyes". fuck OFF! the only thing this episode is good for is comparing it to All Things, where Mulder leans over the sleeping Scully and fixes her hair, like the smoker does in En Ami, but unlike the cancer man, what Mulder does next is he covers her with a blanket and leaves her be. y'know, because he's not a creep. ANYWAY! i just generally have a problem with the episodes where Scully gets violated/is taken advantage of, even when it's played for laughs, like in Small Potatoes. oof! that was good. I never get the chance to properly be a hater, so thank you for this!

[hemlockesprings]

HALLO from Norway, my partner and I love Going...Going...Gone! and were hoping there was somewhere like Bandcamp where we could pay for your music so that we could download it (we're old farts who love local files) :P

Hello hello hello 🥰💕 So glad you liked the EP!

I have not posted on BandCamp as of yet, and I can't promise in the near future I will (I dunno how it works w/contracts and stufffff), but let me ask around!

Fun fact that I just remembered: This is technically my second EP release! I released an EP on BandCamp (I genuinely forgot what the EP was called) under a different name (I think I remember the name I had before 'hemlocke springs', but I hope it NEVERrr comes to light)!

.............I only made 50 cents off it LOL!

But someone out there has the OG file of a song I want to put on my next project (and they PAID 50 cents for it). I genuinely wonder who that person was/is (but also hope they never reveal themselves --- love a shroud of mystery)! Okay, ramble over! 😭💕🔒

[waywardmillennial]

Woo! It's been a crazy week with Watcher stuff that I just want to put it all in one place (blame my neurodivergent brain) but I've tried not to make it super spoilery

-Ryan and Shane's appearance on The Rookie! Loved that it was more than a one line cameo and it was fun to see them playing themselves on a big network show with all the official Ghost Files stuff that we know and love!

-Ryan's livestream of The Rookie was another delight!

-The return of Road Files (and Shane Files lol - I wonder if the selfie stick will be there all season long)

-Get Scared Live stream that was so chaotic and fun (as expected) and I'm happy knowing it'll lead to more live events soon!

-Like Ghost Files Debriefs soon to be broadcast live on WTV!! It'll be great to see their banter unedited while they argue about ghosts

-Drink To That continues to delight and I love Steven so much. Also with that show we've gotten teases for Ghost Files Alone: Together (GF Alone Electric Boogaloo) and more Too Many Spirits soon! (I'm guessing DTT Mystery Files ep next? Then maybe DTT Travel Season? which should lead into their other news...)

-The Travel Season videos have moved to a new channel and even though we haven't had an official announcement I'm already subscribed and can't wait to see what's happening with more food content with the travel boys!!!!

I love that they're putting so much work into the streamer and promoting it on their socials, and I'm proud of them for continuing to try new things like live streams and bonus shows, to make the quality of the streamer even better! <3

[tasty-littl-snack]

Hey lil question: I was scrolling the shyan tag and saw an ask on your blog that referred to ryan and shane having some kinda fight after/during their investigation of Waverly Hills on Ghost Files. I hadn’t heard this story before so I wondered what the OG source for that info is. Just for science and the ethics code of ghost hunting’s sake ofc 🫠 Not doubting just ravenously curious!

(The ask and the post it spins off from in question)

Oh yeah sure no problem. Some of these anecdotes are now lost to time because their patreon is now gone so no easy way to see the sources but, this one has three sources including one from Shane Madej himself.

Before the streamer and up to June this year they had a patreon and the bonus content on there for higher tiers was one of the crew doing audio commentary on the episode (think dvd commentaries where people share behind the scenes). Sometimes to incentivize people to see what is available on higher tiers they posted some of Shane's commentaries for all paying patrons. In 2022 they also had the sick and unrealistic shedule of posting Ghost files ep every week, so Ryan was busy and couldn't do it for the first ep. Therefore Shane did that even tho his only working on the show was being there brainstorming for how the boonker would look like (off-topic but here is a fun interview of them comparing this to furnishing a house together wtf) and editing the ghost files outro so the music is as haunting as it is. Since the commentary was created as a watchalong (I listened to it as a podcast bc I find Shane's voice great to listen to, but that's just me), at the end of it he goes into explaining why he didn't tell Ryan where the walkie was. (according to him he asked the crew beforehand and they didn't say he couldn't do it). So when we see Ryan being angry you can hear Shane say "He's genuinely mad here by the way, and I meant it when I said it's good to be a ghost hunter but internally I was like "Is Ryan mad at me? yknow". In that commentary we also hear Shane's impression of their car drive from Waverly and while Shane tries to talk, Ryan is answering him in short phrases. He was also mad at him the next morning apparently, but I guess they made up. So that's the primary source for that, and I swear I heard a snippet on this on tumblr, or maybe some people posting about it back in the day but I couldn't find it (if someone has it then feel free to share that snippet).

The second source that I have that this happened is Hinsdale House Debrief (Ghost Files season 2 finale), (around 23.30 with the 'solo investigation' part of the video) when someone asks Lizzie if she'd go on a solo and she admits that a location like Waverly would be out of the question, and so Ryan is like "Now imagine if your pal didn't tell you where the walkie is and you have to do the solo investigation for an hour" so like a year maybe two after this we can see that he still remembers this and while Lizzie and Shane say "You chose this life" Ryan is somewhat upset about it. Lizzie then says "He didn't talk to Shane after this for like a week" and since she is their coworker and has to deal with them I find that really fascinating.

Third source is this Really no Really podcast interview with Ryan and Shane, (Around 23,00 minutes in, segments: the relationship and the first episode) when they ask them about their relationship and then they go into recounting the whole thing again (here Shane once again makes the impression of Ryan being mad at him in the drive back). In general I reccomend watching this ep because they are really cute together and you get to see them interact with mr Jason Alexander who is a fan of them and it's really cool to see.

Also if you have the streamer, in Mystery Files bloopers Ryan also explains why he did the blob prank on Shane, and it was to get back at him for the walkie thing from Waverly so I think this is really their one serious fight that they will allude to for the rest of their friendship.

Thank you for asking, hope it clears things up a bit <3

(also I'm sorry for clogging the shyan tag I just sometimes remember to tag things and sometimes I don't so random asks end up in the search)

[shinecrystalmoon]

𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐲

(This is my first time writing a theory, so I'm sorry if you guys don't understand some things)

I saw this on bilibili and time for me to go through these😃 (source)

Let's look at the 1st photo:

First let's look at our main trio,

In the left side, there are footprints near Qiao ling's photo and a red crosshair. Is someone targeting her? We know she got Li Tianxi's power in s2. Does somebody know it and is after Qiao ling. Maybe Liu Xiao. Maybe he knows how to take powers and Li tianchen is with him, and he wants to steal her power...

In the Bridon Arc, we saw Qiao ling in a pool of blood, and Vein killed her, right? So someone (Liu Xiao) has stolen her power.

Next, Cheng Xiaoshi is placed in the middle, in the spotlight...

About Lu Guang, his photo is placed on top of film tapes in negative. The memories?... Those film tapes contain the same picture of Cheng Xiaoshi. Yeah Lu Guang already knows death is unavoidable and Cheng Xiaoshi's life can't be saved.

Now let's look at other things:

In the 1st photo,

The case folder, labeled top secret. You can see there are some words written on it. Like lyrics, poems.

" ɪ ᴀᴍ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴩᴇᴏᴩʟᴇ.... ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴜɴ. ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜱʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ᴋɪʟʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀꜰʟʏ..... ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴏᴜᴛᴛᴀ ꜱᴡᴀʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴍʏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴀᴛ ʙᴜᴛ ɪ.... ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʏᴍᴩʜᴏɴʏ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ.... ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴡ ᴛɪᴅᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴩ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇᴀ"

(Those dotted spaces are the words that i couldn't identify. If anyone knows them please comment)

I don't know about the first sentence. But about 'this butterfly' i think it's the butterfly effect and from Lu Guang's words.

And 'swallow truth..' I'm guessing it's Xia Fei's words. Like he couldn't accept that Vein was suddenly dead, yeah i think this fits perfectly with this line.

And 'the symphony', this gives me the idea of Liu Xiao's ability... He can hear heartbeats.

And the last line, i don't know about it. But I'm guessing like it's, something or someone is connected to something.

Now about the Bridon poststamp in blue colour with number 5 on it: i don't know but, will the main trio go to bridon in the future? And i did search up things on the number 5 in chinese numerology. In chinese, 5 is considered as five elements and also considered a lucky number. But it also has negative impacts.

Now from my pov, i think it means 5 chances, 5 failures. In the last ep of the bridon arc, after Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang got out of the police station, lu guang said 'it's that last time'. I think he might have travelled back into time 5 times. And it was the last chance.

And that small paper on the file, i think something's gonna happen in October 2025. New album, music video.....or a new trailer (oh how i wish it is🥺)

Now let's look into the 2nd photo in the above images: the red strings are connected to the cassette tape, and it's labelled music demo, playlist-original. But it's also tapped unsolved. And the cassette could contain hidden audio, clues, intercepted comms. That cassette either contains music or hidden messages.

And beside the cassette tape, there's a fingerprint mark on a paper in a plastic cover pinned by the red string. And there are some kind of pills inside, i don't know. But i think it might be Lu Guang's fingerprint since it's pinned right below Lu Guang's photo.

Now, let's go to the next image:

Very... Intresting🧐

Xia Fei's photo is labelled 'TOP SECRET'. Is it connected to his mysterious disappearance in the ep6 of the bridon arc? Or the time when Cheng Xiaoshi possessed Wang Qing and we got to see Xia Fei in the school. Why was he in there, does he have some kind of superpowers?

Next Vein. There's a red crosshair close to his photo like Qiao ling's. Is he being targeted? We know Vein is considered dead but he's mysteriously alive, and Jae lee the new character knows it. So is Jae lee is the one who's searching for Vein or somebody else...

And there's another plastic cover with pills next to Liu Xiao's photo. Are they pills or something else. What exactly are those pills? Also his photo is placed over a film tape. I can't identify the images though. But I'm sure it's related to him.

On the left side there's some kind of boarding pass near Xia Fei's photo. So his disappearance is because he went to another country. So he's safe somewhere in the world, right? And there's this time on it, 4.20pm and 1.30am. Could it be a secret code? Or is there some meaning behind them? Or is it airing time of album/music video?

There is also a 3 on the boarding pass. In chinese, 3 means- to live, life, positive outcomes and new beginnings. So I'm hoping there will be good, positive things happen in s3✨

And there is a date- FEB.06.2024. Okay....Can somebody tell what's on this day. Did something happen on this day?

Next the cassette tape. So we're getting 2 new music videos? One about the main trio and another about the bridon trio. Ahhh I'm so excited.

Then there is an identity card. Vein's maybe since it's placed below Vein's photo.

Next there's a note- 'Don't trust him?? Or her?'

Who is 'him?' Liu Xiao? In the Bridon Arc's opening, there are black and white books on the shelf behind Liu Xiao and by decoding them we got 'dont trust him'. So the 'him' here is Liu Xiao. And who is 'her?' Wang Qing? Cheng Xiaoshi's mother? Or someone else?

Next there is an image of Liu Xiao in the movie theater from ep6 of the bridon arc. And it's labelled 'REWIND<<'. What does that mean. Do i have to rewatch the ep6 or the whole brion arc again, sure I'd love to. But the end scene of that movie said 'the mastermind hasn't shown up yet.' I'm pretty sure it's Liu Xiao. And I'm suspicious of those lines on the screen. Are those secret codes?

There's a hand print on the paper beside that image, Liu Xiao's right? And why's there a red circle below the pinky finger?

Again I'm sorry if you don't understand some things. I did my best to write. And there's still some things that i don't understand.

And i want to know what you guys think? I want to know your theories and opinions. Please comment it below

[love-brianna]

- mysterious man -

pt.3 pt.4 pt.5

rapper!rafe & singer!reader meet at the grammys

warnings: mentions of stalking

authors note: i’m in love with this !!

word count: 2.2k i’m improving 😛😘

The restaurant was the kind of place where time seemed to slow down. A hidden gem in the hills, perched above the city with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the skyline. The waiters wore black ties and crisp white shirts. The lighting was soft, golden. No paparazzi, no fans—just the quiet hum of conversation, silverware clinking against porcelain, and soft jazz pouring from invisible speakers.

Rafe was already seated when you arrived.

He stood as you approached the table, pulling your chair out for you with a gentleman’s grace that felt out of sync with his tough exterior. He wore a fitted charcoal jacket over a plain white tee, his buzzed hair even shorter than last time. Still, those piercing blue eyes were the same—sharp, unreadable, electric.

“You look…” His eyes trailed over you. “Unreal.”

You smiled, brushing off the compliment with a shy glance at the menu.

They brought wine. You talked music.

Your second album. His new EP. How pain made better verses. How silence was sometimes louder than lyrics. There was something easy about it, like the words knew where to go without trying.

“I like how you write,” he said. “Even your throwaway lines hit like confessions.”

You raised a brow. “Throwaway lines?”

He smirked. “You know—the ones you don’t expect people to care about. The quiet bars. They say the most.”

His voice dipped when he spoke, thoughtful and deliberate. You found yourself leaning in without realizing it, your cheek resting in your palm as you watched him explain how he wrote choruses backward or how he recorded freestyles in the middle of the night when he couldn’t sleep.

Then you shifted the subject—lighthearted now, curious.

Favorite movies. Least favorite foods. Worst fashion decisions. The kind of questions you didn’t ask during interviews. The kind that made a person real.

“Pineapple on pizza?” you teased.

“Hell yes. And if you say no, this might be our last dinner.”

You laughed. “I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”

He chuckled too, then leaned back, eyes flickering with amusement. “You always do that.”

“Do what?”

“You laugh when you’re unsure what to say next.”

You blinked. “Do I?”

He nodded. “Yeah. You did it during your Tiny Desk set too. Right before the second verse of ‘Half a Lie.’”

Your smile froze slightly.

“I… never released that set.”

A beat.

Rafe didn’t flinch. “Oh. I must’ve seen a clip or something.”

You wanted to ask more, but the server appeared like a ghost, pouring wine and listing dessert options you barely heard. You filed the moment away like a weird dream—uneasy, fleeting.

You shook it off.

Because the night had been good. Really good.

When he walked you to your car, you hugged him goodbye. He smelled like cedarwood and danger.

“Thanks for dinner,” you said, voice low, heart fluttering.

He met your eyes. “Thanks for showing up.”

You exchanged numbers that night—officially. And after you drove away, you replayed everything in your head.

Every laugh.

Every glance.

Every time he looked at you like he already knew you.

little did you know..

ONE MONTH LATER

It had been four weeks since the fancy diner. Four weeks of late-night texts, of voice notes at 2AM, of you sending him demos and him responding with voice memos of freestyle verses.

Four weeks of… something that felt like more.

The came the invite.

“Come through. I want to show you something.”

The address was for a recording studio downtown. You almost didn’t go—but curiosity won.

When you stepped inside, you found him seated at the board again, backlit by neon glow. This studio was nothing like the cozy one you imagined. It was industrial. Sharp angles. Black leather. Metal. LED strips that lit the floor in red.

Still, there was something intimate about it.“Hey,” he said without turning around. “Lock the door behind you.”

You did.

Rafe hit play.

The beat dropped—haunting, slow, something heavy pulsing underneath. Then came his voice. But this wasn’t like the freestyles or snippets he’d sent. This was controlled. Obsessed over. Polished.

And the lyrics, they were about you. 

So unmistakably about you.

Saw you in silver, but the shine was a lie

Drowning in limelight, but I kept you dry

You smile for them, but you never smile right

Cause I know the real you, the you they can’t find.

Your stomach fluttered—but not the good kind. The words were flattering, poetic—but too precise. You had said some of those things only to Sofia.

In passing.

In private.

And yet… here they were. In a verse.

The song ended.

You sat in the silence.

“What did you think?” he asked, finally looking at you.

“I think it’s… beautiful. Intense.” You hesitated. “Some of the lines felt really personal.”

He nodded, lips twitching into something close to a smile. “They are.”

You wet your lips. “How’d you know some of that stuff?”

A pause. One breath too long.

“I guess I just listen harder than most.”

You forced a laugh. “Clearly.”

He stood, grabbing a flash drive from the desk. “I made you a copy.”

You took it, fingertips brushing his.

“Thanks.”

There was a moment then. One you couldn’t quite define. His gaze lingered longer than it should. The studio air felt thinner. You wondered if he could hear your heart pounding.

You were halfway to the door when Rafe stopped you.

“There’s one more,” he said, reaching for the console again. “I wasn’t sure if I was gonna play it for you, but…” he glanced over his shoulder, the edge of a smirk playing at his lips, “you’ll recognize it.”

You paused, every instinct telling you to make an excuse, to go. But your curiosity—your stupid, stubborn curiosity—anchored you in place.

“Okay,” you said softly.

The beat faded in. Slower than the last track. Dreamlike. Like something underwater.

Then his voice poured through the speakers—velvety, careful.

But the first line?

I keep all your secrets in a melody

Even the ones you whisper when you’re half asleep.

Your blood turned to ice.

You didn’t move.

Your breath hitched so slightly, he probably didn’t even notice.

Except he did. Of course he did.

“You said that line once. Half-asleep in the car, remember?” he said casually, not even looking at you now. “Said it would make a good hook.”

You didn’t remember saying that.

Because you never did.

You had written that lyric last week. Alone. In your apartment. At 3:47 AM. With your phone off and no one around.

You never texted it.

Never recorded it.

Never spoke it out loud.

Except maybe… maybe you had mumbled it to yourself. Maybe.

But how the hell would he know it?

Your face flushed hot, then cold. Palms clammy. Your legs felt numb, but you laughed—because you had to. “Right. I forgot,” you said, voice too high, too fake. “I do that. Talk to myself when I’m tired.”

He turned to look at you then, head tilted slightly, eyes narrowing like he was reading your heartbeat.

You smiled. Pulled your bag up on your shoulder. “I should really go though. My manager’s gonna kill me if I don’t get some sleep.”

He stared at you a beat too long.

Then he smiled—slow and easy. “Of course. Text me when you get home.”

You nodded and got out of there faster than you meant to, heels clicking against the polished floor, heart thudding so loud it drowned out everything else.

LATER THAT NIGHT

You barely remembered the drive home.

By the time you shut your apartment door behind you, your hands were shaking. You didn’t take your shoes off. You didn’t grab a drink. You just walked straight to your room, phone already in hand.

You didn’t even hesitate.

You dialed Sofia.

It was late, but she answered on the second ring, voice groggy. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I need to tell you something,” you said, your voice flat. “And I need you to not freak out.”

That woke her up fast. “Okay. Talk.”

You told her everything. The dinner. The flash drive. The song with the lyric. Her sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line gave you no comfort.

“Wait—back up. You never told anyone that line?”

“Not a soul,” you said. “I didn’t even write it down. It was in my head.”

Sofia went quiet for a second. Then: “Okay. Okay. That’s… no. That’s messed up.”

“I tried to play it cool. I smiled. I laughed. But Sofia, my heart—” you pressed a trembling hand to your chest, “it hasn’t stopped racing since I left.”

Another pause. Then, Sofia’s voice hardened. “You need to stop seeing him.”

“I know,” you whispered.

“I’m gonna look into him. Rafe. Whatever his real name is. No offense, but rappers don’t just magically show up three times at your biggest career moments and happen to know your unreleased lyrics.”

“I didn’t even think of that,” you said, your voice cracking.

“He knew too much from the start,” she muttered. “First the interview quotes, then the demos, now the lyric. Girl, this is some You on Netflix level stalker type shit.”

You let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know what’s real right now.”

Sofia was already moving. You could hear the click of her laptop, the fast tapping of keys. “I’ll find out. I promise. Just… lock your doors tonight.”

LATER

That night, you lay in bed with the lights off, eyes wide open.

Your mind kept circling back to the lyric.

Even the ones you whisper when you’re half asleep.

How would he have heard it?

You didn’t want to believe the answer.

But deep in your gut, you knew the truth: he was listening.

To everything.

And whatever he wanted from you—he wasn’t done.

Not even close.

navigation | masterlist | taglist

[drunkkenobi]

Well. This is the weirdest one of these I’ve ever made.

I’m not going to rehash the wank from the Watcher TV announcement. You all know what happened. I am standing by my assertion that this streaming platform is the only way they’re going to stay afloat because YouTube is just not the place for them or anyone else making videos that aren’t just of one person in their house. (nothing against those folks, it’s just a completely different business model)

Anyway.

First up, here’s how Mystery Files season 2 did. It did well, with each ep hitting a million fairly quickly, but it didn’t do as well as season 1. Not significantly worse, just not as high. (two weeks after season 1 ended, the average per episode was 1.854 and for s2 it’s at 1.194million) Of course, the two weeks since season 2 ended have been fucking insane so it’s impossible to say how much of that is a factor.

I will say that views between last week and this week are down overall, but that’s expected. If someone has paid for the streamer and you want to rewatch Ghost Files or whatever, you’re going to watch it ad-free on the app you pay for and not YouTube for the most part. Also it’s very possible people are just not rewatching stuff right now for their own personal reasons, which is fine. I also just don’t think it’s something to worry about.

For better or worse, the Goodbye YouTube video is the best opening weekend Watcher has ever had (and will have?) on YouTube.

Watcher lost around 100k subscribers over The Announcement but, again, if people are paying them directly now then this is kind of a non-factor. For posterity, they’re at 2.84 million subscribers today.

I’m not sure what else to say this time, tbh! It felt like a good time to make one of these with MF season 2 being over but YouTube viewcounts are just…not going to be important anymore for Watcher so there’s not much to say about them. Finding out that a million views only nets between $10-30k has been very eye-opening to me about how piddly the revenue from YouTube is for a production studio like Watcher. The shows they want to make just cost more than they can make off of there. It’s that simple. No one has to like that fact, but that is the heart of all this.

Also, with all of that being said, I think my time as a spreadsheet gremlin is coming to a close. I’m going to keep up with it for a few more weeks and probably do one last round-up for every single video’s views, but with Watcher moving away from YouTube as a business model, there’s little reason to keep up with these. I’ve been making these updates less this year anyway because of a job change and I was losing my steam for it a bit too, so the timing feels right. Like I said, this won’t be my last viewcount post, but maybe second-to-last? And who knows, maybe I’ll check in when Ghost Files premieres but the counts will mean so much less now that the videos will premiere with a month delay from the streamer. We’ll just have to wait and see how the wind blows on this.

Thank you all, as always, for reading, reblogging, replying, liking these posts. Y’all are the reason I’ve kept up with it for four years (and my own nosiness but having encouragement helps!). And don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll have some other spreadsheets to share in the future of Watcher fandom. (I have…so many) So, until next time, thanks again. ❤️

[kdramalands]

year-end drama recommendation

2. Brush Up Life (2023)

10 eps, 55 min each

At the age of 33, Kondo Asami suddenly dies in a car accident. Immediately after the hit, she shows up in a white room, void of anything besides a desk and a clerk sitting at it. We learn that it's some kind of an in-between place for reincarnation purposes, weirdly reminiscent of a real life mundane visit at the City Hall, but this time it's a room with a clerk of the afterlife that keeps on filing the documents and guiding lost souls onto their next step.

See, our main character doesn't really regret anything she did, but there's one thing that keeps bugging her. She finds out that her next reincarnation is supposed to be a giant anteater in Southeaster Guatemala, because, apparently, she didn't earn that many "kindness points" during her lifetime to deserve anything better. Kondo realizes that she doesn't want to spend her next life on ant munching, and asks if there is anything she can do at this point. Well, no, not really. You can redo your life from scratch as Kondo Asami though, if you'd like to. Just enter the door on the right. If she has an opportunity to fix things and maybe get another chance at reincarnation after she redoes this life, to bump up those points to get a human reincarnation next, how could she not take that offer? But it's not that simple, it never is.

This drama was pure insanity, and I mean that in a good way. If I could compare it to anything, it would be probably Groundhog Day, but stretched from one day to years. The way those 10 episodes encapsulated the feeling of that movie with the similar nature and a unique spin should be studied. The comedic nature of it significantly lightened serious topics and lifted some of the weight that comes with death, tragedies, and (as abstract as those are) never ending hopeless time loops. It was genuinely so funny, I think I could watch Asami figuring her life for the nth time again and again and again, and... I won't spoil that much.

Brush Up Life is like a gift that keeps on giving. At the surface level, it shows us a pretty straightforward objective for the main character, but it only takes a second to realise that it's not that straight after all. This simple concept blooms into a beautiful and touching story, heart-warming like a bowl of steaming hot soup on a cold day. This jdrama wields the tools it has in store so skilfully with a precise timing, showing us intricately constructed story about determination and friendship, with the hint of mystery and foreshadowing. Truly, there are so many carefully planted elements that are coming back to kick you in the ass in the most hilarious way when you least expect them, you will feel the reward of paying attention and engaging with the story.

Part 1 || Part 3 || Part 4

[yohangaontdj]

The Devil Judge Rewatch Ep 6 (Part 1)

This time round, the rewatch will be in chronological order, according to the episode. Cause there's too many things I want to talk about.

And I have to start with - 'What in the world are you thinking, Yohan!'

Driving your car right into a sea of deserted containers, all alone. And just because of a mysterious letter you had received.

You're just as bad as Soohyun in not calling for backup.

And when a car had blasted its headlights on you and about to run you down. Shouldn't you be jumping out of the way and not stand there looking cool and like you can handle it.

Only to get whacked in the back of your head.

Though I have to say that you looked pretty hot handcuffed o a chair.

And Gaon should have seen it instead of being fast asleep.

Then he wouldn't have make that remark about you being with your girlfriend, when Elijah had woken him up.

And here we have Elijah worrying about Yohan.

And carrying the same teddy bear that she had from the church fire.

Though I wonder if it was the same. Cause I know from experience that a soft toy can't last that long without going grey and limp and flat.

Makes me wonder if Yohan had managed to find the same manufacturer and got the exact same teddy bear produced.

And I suspect that Elijah knew it wasn't the same teddy bear as the one she first had. Cause the smell wouldn't be the same. Not unless Yohan went so far as to get the very same smell reproduced.

And here we have Gaon trying to comfort Elijah.

I love how he had made sure Elijah wouldn't scald her hand. Offering her the handle of the mug first, while he himself held onto the hot part.

Then listening to Elijah talk about how cold and impossibly large the house was. And how she had hacked into Yohan's computer, just for fun at age 12. Only to find a hidden file about cancelling the donation Isaac had made. And so, concluded that Yohan had her parents murdered.

Now we have a flashback to Yohan's past and the relationship he had with Sunah.

Which turned out to be toxic. Starting with Sunah betraying Yohan in what I suspect is an attempt to protect herself.

She had been stealing from the Kang household and now that it seemed the thefts had been noticed. She had decided to sacrifice Yohan in order to save herself.

And Yohan had heard everything.

This isn't the only thing Sunah had done wrong to Yohan. And which I will have to continue in the next post as I've reached the 10-photo limit placed by Tumblr.

To find Part 2, look here.

[nedxnancy]

Last Nancy Drew Mystery Stories episode! (Back to the Files for the next one.)

[catharsisxf]

TXF Pocket Buddies Summer Surprise questionnaire

1. Tell us about your relationship to The X-Files. This could be about how you got into the show in the first place, what it means to you, or anything else you’d like to share.

I started watching in 1994 (Darkness Falls) and immediately became obsessed. I sought out other X-Philes in college and had a weekly watch party in my dorm room. I love the vibes and the mystery in the show but what kept me coming back week after week was the relationship. The love and mutual respect they had for each other even from the beginning really hooked me.

2. Tell us about your favorite things! Favorite characters, ships, scenes, seasons, arcs, etc.

 I love both M & S but personally resonated w/ S from the beginning especially as a scientist and Catholic. I totally wanted to be her! Favorite season is 5. Favorite episode is Bad Blood but I could probably list a dozen others that are also favorites. I particularly live for any MSR moments.

3. Now what are your least favorite things?

Diana is just the worst. Not a big fan of Doggett or Reyes but there’s nothing really wrong with them either.

4. Tell us where you fall on the following scales:

SPICE SCALE - Salt only – no spice at all please! i.e., general audience rating. - Black pepper – a hint of spice. i.e., teen rating. - Chili pepper – there’s a bit of a kick! i.e., mature rating. - Habanero – definitely spicy, but most spice lovers can handle it. i.e., explicit rating. - Ghost pepper – only for the spiciest of spice lovers. i.e., VERY explicit/kink rating.

ANGST SCALE - Pale blue sky – no angst, all fluff! - Aquamarine – a little bit of angst, maybe some yearning, nothing too heartbreaking. e.g., the various scenes in Mulder’s hallway. - Cascade ocean wave – a moderate amount of angst, e.g. Pusher or Wetwired. Happy ending included. - Sapphire tears – pain slut. Angst with a happy or bittersweet ending. e.g. abduction arcs, cancer arc. - Catastrophic blues – literally why. Lots of angst with some devastation for dessert, e.g. cancer arc but Scully dies at the end, season 8 and Mulder dies.

I enjoy all levels of spice up to about Habanero (explicit but nothing too kinky). I’m a Pale Blue Sky thru Cascade Ocean Wave on the angst scale but I tend to handle angst better in visual rather than written formats.

5. What’s on your X-Files playlist? e.g. a character playlist, MSR playlist, etc.

Ugh...I suck at this question! If you really want some songs from me please send an Ask and I'll try to come up with a few.

6. What are some of your favorite quotes and/or lyrics that you associate with TXF?

Saw this on tumblr a while back and it stuck w/ me: “One day I’ll wake up at 3 in the morning. I won’t be alone, I won’t text or call you. I won’t miss you or want to cry. Because one day when I wake up at 3 in the morning you’ll be laying next to me and not 3 miles away.”

7. What are some of your favorite tropes? Are there any you avoid?

I love One Bed, Pretend Relationship/Married, and recently got into AUs. Oh, and I love revival-era MSR. Middle-aged M & S are just so enjoyable to me. I avoid heavy angst, non-con, whump and major character death. I also don’t care for /Other unless it’s in the past or a misunderstanding.

8. What is your favorite color or color scheme? These can be specific colors or general categories, e.g. jewel tones, cool colors

I love purple and most jewel tones.

9. Share the links to some gifsets/edits that you love and tell your secret admirer why (e.g. do you like the layout? The coloring? The quote that they used? Typography? Simplicity? Parallels?). These can be X-Files/MSR or other fandoms.

Gifset #1 - Love the quote and the typography and the FEELINGS

Gifset #2 - Very dramatic coloring and Revelations is a low-key favorite ep of mine

Giftset #3 - Love everything: the coloring, typography, the quotes and scene choices. Beautiful!

Giftset #4 - Parallels!!

[tvrundownusa]

tvrundown USA 2025.05.21

Wednesday, May 21st:

(exclusive): Nine Puzzles (hulu, Korean detective mystery, all first 6 eps), Real Men (netflix, Italian comedy, all 8 eps), Newly Rich, Newly Poor (netflix, Colombian rom-com 2025 reboot, all 62 eps), Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark (netflix, competition, all 10 eps)

(streaming weekly): Carême (apple+), Government Cheese (apple+, penultimate), The Studio (apple+, season 1 finale), Nine Perfect Strangers (hulu, season 2 opener, first 2 eps), The Cleaner (BritBox, season 3 finale), "Rhythm + Flow: Poland" (netflix, next 3 eps, semi-final), Everybody's Live with John Mulaney (netflix, live in late primetime)

(hour 1): Chicago Med (NBC, season 10 finale), Sullivan's Crossing (theCW), Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (ABC), Survivor (CBS, 3hrs), MasterChef (FOX, competition season 15 "Dynamic Duos" opener)

(hour 2): Chicago Fire (NBC, season 13 finale), Sherlock & Daughter (theCW), House of Payne (BET) / . / Assisted Living (BET), Expedition Files (DSC, season 2 finale), Jeopardy! Masters (ABC), Survivor (CBS, contd, +2hrs), Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service (FOX, restaurant reality premiere)

(hour 3): Chicago P.D. (NBC, season 12 finale), Survivor (CBS, contd, season 48 finale), Ms. Pat Settles It (BET) / . / The Ms. Pat Show (BET)

(hour 4 - latenight): Go Big Or Go Home (BET, 60mins), "In the Kitchen" with Harry Hamlin (IFC|AMC+)

[tasty-littl-snack]

how do you feel about them leaning into the horror genre in the future of watcher? i've been chatting to people who still support them after that podcast episode came out, and mostly people are disappointed with that decision, as am i. idk, i feel like i'm too old to enjoy paranormal horror and what attracts me to watcher most are their other shows, i'm less interested in seeing more horror content from them (the podcast also seems to be going in that direction)

Very good question, I hope you don't mind the answer being very long and going into details that not many people care about.

The TLDR version would be to tell Watcher that you feel like this. Tell them that you're here for your favorite shows that aren't the files. They seem to listen to the feedback, and I noticed in the comments of that podcast ep that many people feel like you. (Top 5 beatdown being the dark horse of a favorite show for some, Many Puppet History fans wanting to keep the professor on watcher despite the spooky pivot. I think they will listen to that because this episode opened up the discussion of what people really want, so we'll see.)

Also important thing is that if you're on the streamer then nothing will change. Steven's shows will be uploaded there, and Puppet History will air in January. My guess is that they want to see how it preforms to decide what to do with it later, but now that they started to even upload podcast eps ad-free I think everything will still be on the streamer. So if you're the subscriber to that then not much will change.

If you also want my personal feelings then they are that WWW is their best show, along with Travel season, and I still think those are the best shows that watcher has. Besides Ghost Files which I also really like so if I'm getting more ghost files in 2025 and it will be as good as season 3 then I have more positive feelings towards the change into spooky content.

But I'm a dedicated fan who signed up for the streamer, and I still think that goodbye youtube video is not that bad and is a fun making watcher finale. My opinion doesn't allign with majority of watcherinas, and I don't have all the facts. This is pure speculation based on what happened before but I'm also sometimes wrong so don't take this too seriously I just love being analytical about how people think.

And the facts are that Mystery files and Ghost files are their best preforming shows.

And also that the content they're makng is content that they want to make. I think that is a detail that flew over people's head, they are listening to the audience but they also lean into their little niches of interests. If there are videos that they don't want to make then they simply will not. (Rip MF debrief)

You can see that many casual fans are there for Ghost Files with the criticism for the streamer being "They only make 6 eps a year I'm not paying for that". For most people watcher is synonymous with the files and it's those people who bring in views and therefore money. (I'm not a youtube expert but I believe if you have sponsors in an episode then you're like "This video will get x many views, and thus a precentage of that are potential clients"). I think this is why some sponsored videos are pinned in the channel, and this is why travel season spicy ep has more views than the rest of the season, it was pinned there for some weeks, before their next sponsored video appeared. The fact that people are there for GF also shows by some people saying "I subscribed just for that", or most telling when the trailer dropped suddenly many people were in the comments on watcher tv sharing their enthusiasm.

Also if we look at the channel in 2023 compared to 2022, we can already see a very slow shift towards the spooky content.

(In bold are what counts as spooky shows, in italics shows that got over 1M views as of writing this post)

In 2022 their slate was:

Top 5 Beatdown -> Worth A Shot -> Eat like Me -> Berry Boy's one off -> Are you scared -> Too Many Spirits -> Pretty Historic -> Dish Granted -> Ghost Files + Debrief -> Puppet History -> Making Watcher

Out of these shows, only Ghost files, Are you Scared and Puppet History got more than 1M views (as of writing this post) and some episodes of top 5 betadown depending on the topic I suppose.

In 2023 the shows that premiered were:

Top 5 beatdown -> Are you scared + Survival Mode (same week) -> Too Many Spirits + Worth a Shot (aired wednesdays) -> Mystery Files -> GF one off -> Puppet History -> Ghost files + debrief (alternating weeks) -> top 5 specials -> Santa TMS -> Making Watcher.

Versus in 2024:

Survival Mode+ Top 5 beatdown (same week) -> Mystery Files -> Streamer announcement -> Survival Mode s3 -> Travel Season + Are you scared 3 eps in -> WWW + TMS one off -> Jokerfied TMS -> Are you scared one off -> Ghost files + Debrief (alternating weeks) + Are you Scared x Rusty quill collab (the lost tapes).

I marked the shows considered spooky in bold to show you that the slow increase of them happened over the last three years, and that even if they premiere their "variety" shows that are not considered spooky they still need a spooky show to equal out the views. The simple truth is that shows without Ryan and Shane doing spooky stuff don't get the views even if they are beloved by some watcherinas.

Now what is the spooky content they're leaning towards? Let's see what they're saying.

"More Ghost files, More Mystery Files, more episodes of those and Are you scared, and also Ghost Files Alone which is not a series yet but one-off for now."

They're "doubling down" on making them which is also something they wanted to do, but perhaps didn't know how. I think this is an opportunity for them to see what works (And as Katie Leblanc said, it's also easier for their crew to not go from editing one show and then a whole different show. We know how much effort ghost files required so I think if they focus their energies into making the files verse then they're gonna be better for that. It is better to have one good show instead of many cheaper ones. My hope is that they know what they're doing in that regard, because if they're going to lower the quality of Ghost files to make more of the episodes then that's not something I'm interested in. But I don't think they will go that far)

As for the food shows going for another channel, this is sadly the reality of youtube. Just like the thumbnails for ghost files s3 on Youtube are Very Clickbaity, so is the almighty algorythm, not liking the variety that watcher produces. What do you mean one week you can have long hour video and the other only half hour? Why only one month is there food stuff, and the other some spooky stuff? This might be confusing to new audiences but also to youtube algho which is like "Produce more of the same thing, always". This is a thing that every youtuber talks about sooner or later, and why every youtuber has a second channel for more experimental stuff. Food and Spooky content doesn't mix well, so if watcher wants to make a second channel for food I do think it's for the best. Steven's shows deserve to be watched by people who like them, not hatebombed (and we can all agree that Travel Season got the short end of the stick this year. As much as I love that show, it wasn't fun to go into comments and see people disliking what they're seeing.)

I think also this is the basis on which they're making that pivot, and in the end this decision doesn't surprise me. They already made a separate travel season instagram account, to give a chance for fans to have something more fun, so I think this was a decision they came to quickly. Perhaps they wanted to see how everything performs, and had to wait half a year to see how things are. I think the reason they waited with announcing this change is because they had to have a plan and see what would work. As much as I think they should make a separate more concise way to announce the changes (I doubt many fans even know of the podcast ep, or were listening to the end), aside from their own feelings about it they had to come up with a plan on how to go from here. I also think that they haven't decided what to do until the end. Shane mentions that Puppet History MIGHT go somewhere else IF it doesn't fit. Those are hypotheticals, and nothing is set in stone. This is why I think it's important to let them know what you feel about their content going forward.

I also think the strategy of them going into more spooky content is underway in small ways we don't notice. Besides the slow increase in shows, this explains the bfu collab (follow us on watcher for more of the ghost hunts), even if Ryan admitted that they wanted to do this for a long time, and the crossover with a tv show that focuses on ghost files. So they are doing this but in the end it is more content for us.

As for Pod Watcher leaning into the spooky things.... well this is pod watcher and it's about what's airing on watcher. Their last episodes are themed like this because ghost files is airing, so they keep with the theme. I'm very interested to see how they will change the content once something else will be airing. Also they are film buffs and like scary movies. So no wonder they talk about horror films, that is their interest and they talk about "whatever is on our mind every week".

Lastly I also think that it's fine to not like or vibe with the change if you feel like that. People change, content changes, our interest comes and goes. Just because you were a fan of watcher in 2020 doesn't mean you have to like everything they do in 2025. I'm myself not sure how much this will remain my main interest, if I will be here for the next five years or maybe decide that the changes are bad and I've outgrown their content in the next half year. (I highly doubt it because it doesn't feel like it for now and I am excited to see where they go from here.) If it's a good idea or not, remains to be seen, but none of us have a crystal ball and can now in December 2024 say that this is good idea or ultimately bad. There are some people who think that the pivot is a great idea, and the nature of creators is that they want to evolve and grow and change. It seems that their goal is to make what people want to see and reach new audiences by making their most popular shows, and at the end of the day they are a business and need to make money from this. If they feel like this is what's gonna work then I can only believe that they know what they're doing.

I hope this makes sense and that it explains some things for you, thanks for asking :D

[vector-art-bundles]

Discover the Magic of the Geometric Moth Tattoo Design

In the ever-evolving landscape of tattoo art, the Geometric Moth Tattoo Design has emerged as a compelling choice for those seeking a blend of symbolism and modern aesthetics. This article explores the enchanting world of moths, the beauty of geometric designs, and how our Cosmic Moth Tattoo Design can elevate your artistic expression.

The Enigmatic Moth: Symbolism in Art

Moths are often overlooked in the realm of art, yet they carry profound meanings. Traditionally, they symbolize transformation, intuition, and the quest for light. Their nocturnal nature connects them to the mysteries of the night, representing personal growth and resilience. In tattoos, moths serve as powerful reminders of the journeys we undertake and the light we seek amid darkness.

The Appeal of Geometric Tattoos

Geometric tattoos stand out for their clean lines and precision. Incorporating shapes such as triangles, circles, and polygons, these designs create a visual harmony that captivates the eye. The balance of angles and curves in geometric art not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also allows for a range of interpretations. This contemporary style appeals to both minimalists and those who appreciate intricate details, making it a versatile choice for any tattoo enthusiast.

Unveiling the Cosmic Moth Tattoo Design

Our Cosmic Moth Tattoo Design is a stunning representation of both moth symbolism and geometric artistry. This unique piece combines bold black lines with intricate cosmic elements, such as stars and celestial patterns, creating a captivating visual experience. The contrast between the sharp geometry and soft cosmic details makes this design a standout choice for tattoos, as well as other creative applications.

Features of the Cosmic Moth Tattoo Design:

Striking Geometric Aesthetic: The design features bold, clean lines that make it a modern classic.

Symbolic Cosmic Motifs: The inclusion of celestial elements adds layers of meaning, representing the moth's connection to the universe.

Versatile for Multiple Applications: Ideal for tattoos, apparel, home decor, and merchandise, making it suitable for various creative endeavors.

Optimized Vector Files: Available in multiple formats (Svg, Ai, Eps, Png, Jpeg, Pdf), ensuring high-quality prints and easy integration into your projects.

Creative Possibilities

The Cosmic Moth Tattoo Design is not limited to skin art; it offers endless possibilities for creativity. Whether you're designing a unique clothing line, creating eye-catching wall art, or producing custom merchandise, this design serves as an excellent foundation for various projects. Its versatility makes it a valuable addition to any artist's toolkit, inspiring fresh interpretations and innovative uses.

The Geometric Moth Tattoo Design invites you to explore the beauty of transformation and cosmic energy through modern artistry. With its captivating symbolism and versatile applications, this design is perfect for anyone looking to make a statement. Embrace the enchanting qualities of the moth and elevate your creative projects with our Cosmic Moth Tattoo Design.

Unlock your artistic potential today and let the Cosmic Moth Tattoo Design inspire your next masterpiece!

[freedombeginsathome]

Mass Effect The "Series" S01 | Ep.19 Geth Incursions (Loyalty II)

In the midst of a growing threat in the Armstrong Cluster of the Skyllian Verge, Commander Shepard and her team embark on a mission to neutralize the small outposts established by the geth. The urgency is palpable, knowing that if left unchecked, these outposts could lead to a full-scale invasion.

As they travel from world to world, Shepard and her team encounter fierce resistance from the geth, defending their installations with a determination that hints at a deeper purpose. Amid the battles, Shepard stumbles upon a perplexing discovery—a video transmission of a quarian singing a heartfelt folk song, being sent directly to geth space. The implications of this communication leave Shepard puzzled. Is it a subtle threat or a sign of unexpected affiliation between the geth and the quarians?

The journey takes Shepard to a disturbing site—a base filled with human husks, grotesque remnants of once-living humans turned into monstrous abominations. A chilling realization dawns upon Shepard: were these humans the first subjects of twisted experiments that would later be replicated on Eden Prime? The discovery intensifies the sense of urgency to thwart the geth's plans before more innocents suffer.

Throughout the mission, Shepard's team acts as a cohesive unit, working in sync to dismantle the geth outposts and dismantle their communications arrays. The cooperation between the crew members further strengthens the bond of trust and camaraderie.

While eliminating the last outpost, Shepard stumbles upon data files pertaining to the evolution and consciousness of the geth. Recognizing the importance of this information, Shepard entrusts it to Tali, who is on her Pilgrimage seeking a gift to bring back to the Flotilla. This act of trust and inclusion deepens Tali's respect and admiration for Shepard, solidifying their bond as friends and allies.

As the mission comes to a close, Shepard reflects on the complexities of the situation. The enigmatic video transmission and the shocking experiments raise more questions than answers. One thing is clear: the geth are evolving and have deeper motives than previously anticipated. As they return to the Normandy, the crew prepares for the next challenge, knowing that the galaxy is full of mysteries and dangers yet to be explored.