#Succession Season 4 Episode 10 Review

[niobiumao3]

So like...

I really did NOT like Phee being absent for the Pabu invasion, that felt so fucking not great :( And so much of these episodes was SO GOOD.

Cross and Omega's argument! Pheeeeee my beloved!! Wrecker saving Gonky (called it on he saw the charges, grabbed Gonky and RAN).

But here's the thing, the Tech Tells on CX-2 are VERY strong at this point, except, we have 4 entire episodes in which to reveal how he became a Clone X when Crosshair didn't while ALSO not apparently remembering anything (Soap Opera Amnesia from the fall? Conditioning so bad his brain broke? did he make himself forget??) and then to reveal him AND fix this.

I don't see how that is getting done in 4 episodes in any GOOD way, one of which at a minimum involves the Juggernaut heist. In my estimation that's not enough narrative space to do this except Super Mario speedrun memory hacks with frame placement style stuff ala the power of Omega's love and like, that is simply not a compelling plot to me. Maybe they can pull it off, I dunno. It worked with Cross because it was spread over 5 months of in-story time, and we SAW the development in an entire episode dedicated to that. Are we getting that here? I just doubt that.

At least a couple casual viewers have commented it doesn't seem likely CX-2 is Tech now because, yeah, 4 episodes left and how does he not know anything? Amnesia so he forgets and has to remember? This is a classically disLIKED plot point from soap operas. So from a not-obsessively-examining-the-man's-every-motion POV it seems less likely, not more, due to the season rollout and current status heading into the back third.

From my POV, I feel like the tells are SO heavy. Placements on Pabu, 'domiciles', etc. But the show's writing is so very Occam's Razor that I don't see how Clone X Tech behaving like this makes literally ANY sense aside from a narrative which is a pale echo of Crosshair's merged onto an amnesia plot and and then cut brutally short.

The reviewer reactions DEFINITELY sounded like we get a Tech reveal somewhere in 10-14, for sure. Just, not clear on what kind.

But man I don't want Shifty Thrifting Crosshair Arc: Tech Version. Just. Do Not Want. Here's hoping they have found some way to do it well/right, if that's indeed where this goes.

My personal prefs are:

Tech is actually IN one of those CX conditioning pods, refusing to submit, clinging to his sanity

Tech is the partial-success m-count transfer subject and was such a problem Hemlock put him in isolation, having realized he made a huge mistake in giving this man even a LITTLE additional Force sensitivity

Tech will pop up out of the ground ala Gandalf in 12-14.

[agentnico]

Agatha All Along - season 1 (2024) review

Down down, down the road, down the Witches Road…

Plot: A spell-bound Agatha Harkness regains freedom thanks to a teen's help. Intrigued by his plea, she embarks on the Witches' Road trials to reclaim her powers and discover the teen's motivations.

I’m not going to waffle about my complaints with the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I’ve already rambled on a substantial amount in my previous reviews regarding this subject matter, so let’s leave it at the fact that my opinion and thoughts have not changed. That being said, WandaVision was one of the few enjoyable projects in the post-Endgame MCU era, as it had that original and unique flavour with messing with different television formats, and additionally was interesting in how that show explored the effects of trauma and grief. Naturally due to its success, Disney being Disney and Marvel being Marvel meant a sequel or a spin-off was inevitable. In this case it’s Agatha Harkness, who was played with a lot of funky energy by Kathryn Hahn in WandaVision. As enjoyable as she was, I never considered her to need her own show. I guess really anyone can get their own Disney+ series these days!

Kathryn Hahn is the primary reason to watch Agatha All Along. She’s as enjoyable as ever, cackling and wincing her way through each episode, and it was entertaining to constantly question her moral code, if she’s a villain or if she was turning to the good side. Hahn is great, and I am so glad she’s getting the recognition snd good roles now. As for other cast members, they are okay. Joe Locke as the teen came off a little pretentious, and Patti LuPone was the only witch I actually cared about. Aubrey Plaza as the mysterious Rio ends up being exactly what you expect her to be, and though Plaza nails the sarcasm, it’s nothing you haven’t seen her do before.

In regard to the series’ style, it’s really campy. The trailers in my opinion promised more horror aspects which were not present in the final product, but my main complaint is with the show’s look. It feels cheap. From the costumes to the sets, the whole thing is reminiscent of a CW or SyFy show, and you can tell Disney is probably tightening their budgets following the backlash of recent releases. But with something like Marvel you still expect to see something of visually interesting style, especially as they are sourcing a lot of narratives from comics and graphic novels, which one would assume would inspire more colourful and memorable set pieces. Unfortunately this show doesn’t offer any of that. The best you get is some rip-off witch costumes from other Disney projects, which I felt was more so for Disney to show-off how much Hollywood they own.

As for the narrative, for the most part this show is dull. It’s a very repetitive concept where in every episode our witches take on yet another trial, and though some trials do stand out more than others (episode 7 where a character time-jumps using tarot cards was particularly memorable) as a combined package it meant that catching up every week with a new episode was at times a chore. The other infuriating factor was the endless foreshadowing. This show consistently would bash you over the head with clues of what’s to come, but the clues were so predictable that when the reveals finally did pay-off they were not surprising even remotely. Reminded me a little of that Walk Hard segment where the kid says “ain’t nothing bad gonna happen today” only for him to get spliced in two 5 minutes later.

Superhero fatigue is real everyone! It’s happening! I’m kidding of course, I’m still holding out hope that Marvel and DC will get back to their former glory, but evidently there is still a long ways to go. Agatha All Along didn’t do it for me, however I do admit that Witches Road song is a banger and has been stuck in my head ever since!

Overall score: 4/10

[zacki0gaming]

The PCC Comic + HOPE Series Are Masterpieces? (Absolutely Not!)

Before I Start

This is going to contain Major Spoilers, Disturbing Topics, Etc (You have been warned).

Greetings everyone! I am continuously providing reviews of both continuations of the episodes and ranting. Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to express my thoughts on the comic titled "Pink Corruption Continued" or PCC for short (which is canon btw) and the HOPE series. If I must briefly describe these two, I must say that it felt more like it was "another waste of my fucking time".

The content, more often than not, felt like I was listening to a fanfiction OC fetish that I could typically find on websites, such as Wattpad or Archive Of Our Own.

This is generally insulting in this franchise that it does an incredible successful endeavor to make me feel miserable. The HOPE series felt very empty and the PCC comic NEVER tries to make it feel "canon" and I wasn't even satisfied to the "slightest" on how this entire current 23 page comic went.

In advance of offering my critique, I would like to acknowledge a noteworthy statement that was shared by a YouTuber named "Upper Echelon," which I wholeheartedly concur with: "Human beings can be manipulated through cheap and shallow tricks." Within storytelling, whether it be in a game, novel, or other media format, individuals can be emotionally manipulated and misled by poorly-written narratives. Regrettably, creators may intentionally introduce characters who are supposed to be perceived by the audience as cool and instantly likable. Yet... Objectively speaking, this approach offers characters that are often somewhat forced into the storyline without adequate development or proper characterization. This can be interpreted as an "act of manipulation" towards the audience to forcefully evoke sympathy for these characters. Remember this because this almost happened twice for me with one of ArtofSoup's OC characters when I initially read the PCC comic for the first time that I'm going to talk about later on.

Here is what I'm going to do here before starting reviewing the entire comic:

Firstly, I'm going to explain the drama, controversaries, and the old cancellations to the best of my ability from what I can remember.

Next, about the comic, I'm going to be explaining all of the characters I've seen having ages changed, the canon ships, etc.

Thirdly, I'll be discussing additional screenshots of potential ideas that were supposedly going to be incorporated into the comic that were from discord.

Fourthly, I will be starting reviewing the entire comic by dividing the pages into 4 separate categories: Pages 1 -5 (First), Page 6-9 (Second), Page 10 - 15 (Third), and Page 16-23 (Final).,

Fifthly, I'm going to be actually discussing the "HOPE" series too because why not.

And finally, I'm going to give off my final conclusion for all of this.

Drama, Controversaries, & Old Cancellations

I can confidently say that this entire franchise's downfall is well-deserved in my opinion.

For the sake of brevity, I will succinctly address the Pink Corruption Drama because this will go down in my opinion, the most stupidest and hypocritical drawn-out drama I have ever seen in my life... All of this started because of disgusting pornographic fanart from Brittany's sister, Brea...

It is repulsive, nonsensical, and ironically hypocritical. If you want even further context on this, I will be providing links to videos, etc about the drama and allegations itself. I'm not joking, some of you people don't realize how DEEP this rabbit hole goes...

To clarify, the Pink Corruption Series used to reach its peak back in 2019 to early 2020, specifically talking about the amount of views Season 1, Episode 3 has on Brea's channel. 3.1 million views... (Probably only because the JSAB game was very popular back at this time). However, Brittany's sister, Brea, uploaded several videos discussing canceling the series but, I couldn't remember the main reason why.

This action here was the beginning of "the downfall of the entire fanchise of the Pink Corruption Series". This also most likely caused the drastic decline in viewership for the series, going from receiving millions of views to approximately 10,000 or more views in the subsequent months.

In early 2020, with insights from Bubby Aurora's "Telling My Tale" google document, the "drama," or "great schism" as some call it, began in early 2020. Brittany's sister, Brea, had been writing pornographic fanfiction for the series and constantly showed it to Brittany. This made Brittany so uncomfortable that she felt compelled to cancel the series.

In early 2020, the infamous drama, or "great schism" as some call it, began. The catalyst for this event can be traced back to insights gained from Bubby Aurora's Google document titled "Telling My Tale." At the heart of the conflict was Brittany's sister, Brea, who had been making pornographic fanfiction for the series and continuously showed it to Brittany. This caused significant discomfort for Brittany, leading her to make the difficult decision to cancel the series. (Keep this in open mind later on).

At the time, ArtofSoup and Brittany used to be friends at this time period, but I didn't fully understand what was happening behind the scenes. Because of this friendship, Brittany Robinson gave her permission and consent for ArtofSoup to continue the series in the form of a web-comic. Ecstatically, ArtofSoup began writing their comic, "Pink Corruption Continued." (I'll explain the events surrounding this in more detail after discussing the current topic.)

However, things started to fall apart when Brittany supposedly cut off contact, shit talked ArtofSoup behind their back, and continued to create episodes (that were non-canon, NOT CANON)... Without their consent... This eventually led Brittany Robinson to intentionally create the "Non-Canon Continuation of the Pink Corruption Series" on youtube, "Season 1, Episode 6 to recent". Due to this happening, Brittany Robinson started to blatantly steal ideas from ArtofSoup's work into the non-canon continuation, which infuriated ArtofSoup.

The most important links I can possibly provide for this:

Telling My Tale - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VcQcbdEQwRxJPiWgI8BZFwj8d0GtmjzC0R3ASOSzrls/edit "Telling My Tale" is a document drafted by a user named "Bubby Aurora / Mzoyagon." It recounts both her personal experiences within the fandom and people who she used to be friends with such as the current creator of the series, “ArtOfSoup” (formerly known as (Quadragon, ItzFriday). It also deals with other disturbing and horrible topics she encounters such as grooming, stalking, spying, doxxing, etc. ArtofSoup also traumatized her since she was 12 years old at that time because of it.

Lucas' Lies - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ci_EhXiI6pndj1g-T3Kfy-YgwBd0UVgD was a Google Drive that was established by "ArtOfSoup," formerly known as "Quadragon" and "ItzFriday," the current creator of "The Pink Corruption Series." The contents of the account included inadvertent conversations between Brittany's sister, Brea and ArtOfSoup, and allegedly stole ideas derived from both Brittany and Brea without their consent. Moreover, tons of screenshots and proof about it, showing Brittany Robinson lying behind ArtOfSoup’s back. 

Reasons why LucasTheDubber shouldn't upload on BreaBear Jone's channel - https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sr33b0 This was one I found from a website I've never seen before on the Internet called, "TwitLonger". It was created by a user named, "RPG_Animator_Mi" for reasons of Brittany's sister, Brea just trying to suck in all of the attention and money they can, and using Brittany herself as a vacuum. The list that he created has 7 here, some are possible evidence that Breabear is directing Lucas and some are things that are definitely wrong. However, all of these links in the list aren't going to be accessible to you all.

Pink Corruption Youtube is in DANGER - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXP-EGwa63A This Youtube video revolves about two things, Identity impersonation and copyright infringement related issues. This was because of Brittany's sister, Brea, "who is alleged to have posed as her sister, Brittany in order to issue copyright strikes against fan videos of The Pink Corruption series from other Youtubers, whom are in the fanbase". The issue happened with the removal of translated versions, including "Russian", of content from the series. From the video itself, the situation escalated when a favored Youtuber within the community, known as "Heck Island" (whoever remembers this person), faced the termination of their YouTube channel due to repeated copyright strikes. Notably, these strikes were attributed to her sister, Brea alleged to be impersonating Brittany Robinson. The videos that were listed on Heck Island's channel were taken down because, "they were just regular memes videos".

Furthermore, remember what I said on why this is also comes off hypocritical too? Well... I would consider Brittany Robinson, a fucking hypocrite herself because of this. According to the "My Channel Intro 2022!" Video on Brittany Robinson's channel, toward the end of the video, this is where I initially see Brittany comes to "her sister's defense against long-term bullying because of the people harassing her online". Moreoever, she expresses a zero-tolerance policy toward negative commentary regarding her sister, which she will go to lengths of blocking you "if you say something bad about her sister", possibly for the ones about her being a groomer.

Brittany coming to her sister's defense over this shit is absolutely unacceptable. However, the gravity of the situation cannot be understated because IT'S... STILL... FUCKED... UP!!!

I could talk even further about Brittany's hypocrisy. Remember what I said about how the drama originally started back in early 2020 because of Brea shoehorning her Pink Corruption pornographic work into Brittany's face? Well... I have a screenshot of Brittany Robinson, "calling her sister's disgusting Pink Corruption work, "Cute" with a heart emote".

I can prove this further when "Pipythecat205" says in this response on the Pink Corruption discord that "Lucas just doesn't seem to care". Yet, Pipy... Is right... Brittany Robinson doesn't give a shit ALL THIS TIME and still supports her sister from this.

The Drama's Central Query So let me tell you yall something... If Brittany Robinson does actually love and care about sister, actively defends her over online harassment from other people, and has recently developed a tolerance for her sister's contentious disgusting contributions to the "Pink Corruption" series—the catalyst for the drama. What the fuck... was the legitmate point of this all happening in the first place then...???

Final Verdict On The Drama, Controversaries, & The Old Cancellations

Overall, perspectively speaking, Brittany Robinson is a straight-up hypocrite, a fake friend, and perhaps a disgusting individual. She went from being ham-fisting crude pornographic depictions of the Pink Corruption Series by Brea. Into terrible lengths to allegedly steal ideas without that person's consent for her non-canon continuation, false relationships, block people on Youtube (probably the ones, who know about the drama), and for some unknown reason, "likes Brea's content now"...

Her sister wanted to shove porn art of fanfiction TPC crap up to Brittany's face, abusing the copyright system to take down TPC Fan videos from other Youtubers who watched this series, etc.

This entire drama is remarkably atrocious in a tumultuous and regrettable manner. Brittany Robinson and her sister, Brea wanted to deliberately cause their downfall of the entire series in the most disingenuous, hypocritical, and ridiculous way. And they succeeded at it...

I'm finally done talking about this shit... I know there's more to discuss, but I've decided to focus on the most important points here in the entire drama. There were more videos about the drama itself, but unfortunately, the ones I used to watch have been already removed from YouTube.

Character Ages

After finally discussing what I know about the Drama, now we discuss the age changes made by ArtofSoup themselves. In one of the current creator's posts on the canon wiki, I had to scroll down to find the canon ages post. According to the post, it is quite clear that ArtofSoup changed the caretakers' ages.

The Caretakers' ages before being changed: (Pretty much confirmed from Brittany Robinson's old twitter account)

Pyrare - 1000+

Pentellow - 24

Iris - 25

Cube - 19

The Caretakers' ages after being changed from the current creator, ArtofSoup:

Pyrare - 45

Pentellow - 20

Iris - 21

Cube - 16-17

Please keep this in mind, because I’ll bring this up again later to provide more context by combining this with the canon ships, including the other characters as well. Now, here are the other characters whose ages have been changed:

Dub - ? (I don't know why he's age has a question mark because Brittany Robinson confirmed that all monster shapes have longevity for being 1000+ years old)

Ajaceare - 19

George - 22

Challenge - 19 (soon 20)

Teroblast - 22

Sitbnite - 15

It is likely that ArtofSoup knew about the previous ages for the Caretakers and then changed their ages for the continuation. Also, an issue with this is that the is is clear that there is a minor lore change I noticed ArtofSoup made... It was to the species' lore. They removed the monster shapes' ability for longevity, giving them instead a normal lifespan like normal shapes.

The Ships

Now we're gonna talk about the canon ships. According to the canon wiki's posts, I found a screenshot of at some point on Youtube, ArtofSoup (Formerly known as QuadragonX on their channel's name), confirmed at least 6 ships. Let me briefly state my thoughts about these ships.

Dub x Cuda (Barracuda) - I don't see a lot of people talking about this ship, also I don't have anything to say about this.

Cintagon x Circumsphere - One of those type of ships that I generally feel so confused on why people shipped these two in the first place because clearly there hasn't been any potential romantic tension between these two.

Cube x Lythorus - I don't ship these two because I see their relationship perfectly working as "childhood best friends".

Ajaceare x George - George has a fucking wife and children since Season 1, Episode 1...

Pentellow x Iris - I'm not going to explain this insufferably generic lovey-dovey couple ship...

Squadril x Marcle - I don't see a lot of people talking about this ship but, I ship it nonetheless.

I'm starting to feel like I don't have a huge taste in romance anymore. It's still fine. :/

Anyway, if we combine the age changing and the ships together, ArtofSoup made it feel disconcerting and perhaps disgusting because of two ships on the list. The ones I'm talking about on this list is, Ajaceare x Geroge and Cube x Lythrous ship. Before you all start talking shit, none of this has to do with me being a homophobe or anything, let me please explain why...

Ajaceare x George Ship

Let's first talk about Ajaceare x George ship. Considering that this ship isn't even close to being decently popular, since Season 1, Episode 1, it has been pretty much confirmed that Lythorus was talking with George himself before he turned into a corrupt. He had a "martial family with a wife, son, and a daughter".

We don't know how old Geroge was before the comic came out besides being confirmed 22 by only the current creator, not Brittany herself. In light of this, it seems that the current creator, ArtofSoup, wanted George to "secretly divorced his family, thereby opting to pursue a romantic relationship with an unattractive cyclops female monster cube". Crazy, right?

Cube x Lythorus Ship

Now we'll talk about Cube x Lythorus ship. I generally feel like they wanted Cube to be shipped with a character like I said about Lythorus's entire characterization in my Season 1, Episode 2 rant "who is so incredibly forgettable in the series that was left in a coffin for about 6 years by now, and a cardboard cutout leader who shows a level of incompetency for not having any reinforcements". But wait... Here's what I found out...

I could pretty much say that Brittany Robinson confirmed the caretakers' ages, including Cube being 19 years on her old twitter account before it was taken down. In all 31 states, a minor is referred to as someone under the age of 18. So basically, I thankfully got a screenshot of Brittany Robinson confirming that Lythrous is actually 20 years old from a QnA on her channel before it was taken down because of the recent short cancellation of her non-canon continuation of the series. We can pretty much agree that Lythorus was this old before the comic and the drama came out.

So theoretically, what I'm trying to say here: ArtofSoup never confirmed Lythrous's age being changed on their canon age post on the wiki. So, if I'm possibly correct on this and ArtofSoup likely knowing about the caretakers' previous ages, they would be changing Cube's age from being 19 to a minor (a 16-17 year old) just for him to be shipped with a fully grown adult (a 20 year old flower) in the canon continuation. If that's the case, then we have a damn problem here guys because it is a 5-4 age gap... Might as well have to give Cube a different main love interest than in the comic...

Sexualities

Also, I found a screenshot of the characters' sexualities for the canon. I don't have a lot to say about this. :/

Final Verdict for the canon ships & sexualities, and characters' ages being changed

None of this has to do with the characters' sexual orientations or anything like that. Overall, what I'm saying about this is that the current creator, ArtofSoup, wanted characters like George, who has been canonically married with a loving family since Season 1, Episode 1, to be in love with Ajaceare, and changing up the lore for the monster shapes just for them to be get rid of the ability of longevity. Furthermore, ArtofSoup could also potentially involve changing characters' ages into minors so that they can be shipped with fully grown adult characters like I said for Cube and Lythorus. I can't say for sure whether this is the case, because I don't have much evidence to support it. But it's possible based on what I've covered up.

Potential Lore Changes

Despite my previous discussion about Monster Shapes losing their ability to have longevity, I found another screenshot that has happened since 2022. These were possibly future ideas for the canon continuation itself for the current creator to use if that's the case.

So technically, they are 9 here and let me tell you something. Some of these feel uninteresting or pretty weird. Although I do find some that are potentially good for the comic.

The idea of granting the Tree of Life the power to send prophetic dreams to shapes, offering glimpses into their future, is an intriguing concept that adds supernatural abilities to the trees themselves. However, on the other hand, I find this other idea for the Tree of Life to be quite ridiculous. Having the Tree of Life become bored and cause all sorts of mischief for its own entertainment feels completely out of character. I generally don't like the idea of the Tree of Life having potentially negative motives, as it doesn't make sense to me.

Making LGBTQ+ jokes that confuse some other shapes like I don't care about this...

Also, having Heroes such as Cyan, who is canonically a 0 years powerful childlike being start cussing, especially saying the world "fuck" while improperly maturing is just pretty uncomfortable... Imagine seeing Cube hear his hero start cussing while in his sudden mature state... Like, these heroes are so precious to be starting to swear tbh...

Let's FINALLY Discuss This Comic Now!

Front Cover

First off, we get a simple, yet terrible front cover. Just look at this shit...

I can already tell that the current creator is a "straight-up Iris simp" who made Iris "the pretend main lead of him being the only one to fight Dub in this front cover" instead of including the other caretakers and heroes with him. I'm getting sick of tired of these people having this sort of "Iris Simp Fetish", trying to make Iris act as if he's the coolest character and should've been the main protagonist of the series because very clearly he's definitely not in my opinion...

Second, it seemed like the current creator, ArtofSoup implemented some kind of dumb Iris vs. Dub fanart that they found somewhere on the internet for the front cover instead. (I know it's the creator's digital artwork but, come on...)

Anyway, now let's talk about the pages. (I'm not going to be discussing a lot here due to it feeling short because of the length of these pages).

Pages 1-5

On the first page, the story continues after the opening scene of Season 1, Episode 6 left off, as it originally shows Cube losing his grip from his grabbing claw while trying to stop Cyan from searching Ajaceare while he was in his sudden mature form once again.

On page 2, as the trio (Cube, Cintagon, and Iris) continues to plummet to the ground, Iris says that he can't teleport while falling, and even if he could, it likely wouldn't help save him and the others. (Well, I don't understand this part about why Iris can't teleport while falling. Perhaps ArtofSoup was trying to establish a "weakness" here for Iris's teleportation ability, but it feels very vague to me).

While this part was still ongoing, I'm not fucking joking, this was so unexpected that this happened in "THE SECOND PAGE"!! One of ArtofSoup's OC characters named, "Challenge" came out of nowhere alongside Orange because he randomly found this dude?!

On page 3, Orange screamed out Iris's name as he noticed him with Cube and Cintagon still plummeting toward the ground. Challenge quickly came up with a plan with Orange to split up so they could catch more of them. Challenge and Orange then starts zooming down toward the trio to save them.

On page 4, when Challenge grabs Cube's hands, (He does the 200 pound joke like how Lythorus did in Season 1, Episode 2 toward Cube. This reference right now for me is cheap, amateurish, and not funny at all and it's only there to be this perhaps stupid exaggeration for Cube to be called FAT) due to Challenge carrying Cube from his hands. Wow ArtofSoup, I don't think it's the best time to be doing this right about now.

On page 5, this is where the entire pacing goes all over the place... It abruptly skips ahead to Squadril, who is suddenly captured by Dub and Flower Corrupts.(In a confusing turn of events, I was... Being showcased a fucking completely new and seemingly OC character - a random inverted triangle—whom Orange somehow met at some point in page 2. And now, this story then abruptly shifts to Squadril's perspective, where we find him being held captive at Dub's base with no explanation... What...?)

Dub, who was satisfied by Cyan being out of the way for his future plans. (I swear to fucking god... I hate this plot device that this series gave Cyan. Cyan's sudden mature form "ISN'T DOING ANYTHING FOR CYAN'S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!! IT'S ONLY THERE TO BE A "FRUSTRATING NUISANCE" TOWARD THE OTHER CHARACTERS, ESPECIALLY HIS CARETAKER, CUBE THAT'S IT!!") Oh my god...

BTW, CYAN WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN FOR THE REST OF THE COMIC...

Behind Dub, two corrupted flowers called him by "Boss" show Squadril being held captive all of a sudden. Squadril then tells them to back off as he won't surrender to them. This won't help Squadril as Dub then corrupts him in the process.

Alright, so... not off to a good start for me. The first five pages already have pacing issues, with OC characters randomly appearing and a touch of overused comedic references from the canon episodes that aren't funny at all for the dish. What a disgusting meal...

Pages 6 - 9

On page 6, we see Dub still processing on fixing Squadril while turning him into a corrupt. While fixing him, Dub screamed out George's name, wanting to know where George was. George was seen presumably hiding and (starts to be the only mouthless flower corrupt showing emotion...) Answer me anyone... WHERE THE HELL did this development come from???

On page 7, Cube and Iris were safely landed back down to the ground with the help of Challenge and Orange while Cintagon completely landed onto a tree branch from impact (Hey Orange, why can't you use your telekinesis on Cintagon too???). Iris then says nice work to his hero, Orange. (Lets pause here...)

Major Issue: Iris's Entire Characterization Being Changed

From a post I found out about Page 7 from the current creator, one of the information about this page is that ("Iris has more emotion than just "smug").

I actually have more evidence to go along with this which is from the Halloween Comic, ArtofSoup created on DeviantArt.

From the Halloween comic itself, Iris does a prank on Cube by using pink paint to disguise himself to make Cube think that he got infected. After Cube found out that Iris was pranking him, he didn't find this funny (Iris... Your sense of humor will always fucking suck bro to this day... Get a life dude...). Iris even "actually apologizes to Cube from the prank", which is so weird for me because of his sudden change of character.

You really think that Iris was this kind and friendly enough from the way Brittany portrayed it, who has fucked up demeanors? THINK AGAIN FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIP!!!

Overall, this also implies that ArtofSoup also made Iris's personality more apologetic and nicer now. So... takes a sip of cold coke You're telling me that your making Iris's whole characterization and personality more mellow and likable now all of a sudden without even giving him any sort of meaningful character development for him to be acting this way...??? Bruh...

THIS WAS NOT EARNED!!!

Btw, that Halloween short comic just basically shows just like I said, how fucking pathetic Iris's sense of humor is toward the other characters.

Back To The Comic

Back to Page 7, Challenge, Iris, and Orange notice Poly Village unknowingly being destroyed that being up with pink flames coming out of the burned houses from some unknown corrupt. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN THIS COMIC?!?! DID AN FUCKING DRAGON BURN THE ENTIRE VILLAGE DOWN????

On page 8, we get to introduce another OC character.... (where the hell are these characters even coming from, bro...) that comes out of nowhere. He's name is, "Teroblast", an old friend of Challenge and this MF looks like a self-insert of the current creator, ArtofSoup's QuadragonX's profile picture on the wiki into this bitch.

Am I wrong?

Anyway, while Purpex is never to be seen (like we care where she is at this point), Marcle was crying on the ground because of Squadril getting kidnapped. Teroblast was about to comfort her until he noticed Challenge with the others. With an awkward gesture, Challenge acknowledged Teroblast's presence by placing a hand on the back of his head.

On page 9, Teroblast asserts that he has not seen him since his brother's death. This statement concludes with Challenge exclaiming "ENOUGH!", which shocks Teroblast. Ok first off, let's talk about what happened here...

Question Time Imagine this scenario: You unexpectedly run into an old friend you haven't seen in ages. They are delighted to see you, but out of the blue, they start sharing very personal information immediately that you'd rather not discuss in your current situation. I want to generally hear your thoughts about this in the comment section...

I would've punched Teroblast in the face for that...

From what I'm seeing him pages 6-9, Poly Village gets burned and destroyed with no explanation to just let it happen for the sake of the plot's progression, more OC characters coming out of no where that looks like an almost self-insert of the current creator.

Page 10 - 15

On page 10, Challenge believes Teroblast doesn't understand. He explains that he and his unknown brother were very close until Dub abducted him. Judging by the appearance of the unknown shape next to Challenge, it is implied that his brother is Barracuda himself. But, who knows if that's the case...

On page 11, Teroblast expresses sympathy for Challenge, who is grieving the loss of his brother. Challenge weeps, and Teroblast speaks his name.

Here's the main issue with this: remember what I said earlier on, before I started explaining the comic, about how creators may intentionally introduce characters who make the audience instantly love and find them cool, but who are objectively blinded by them not being well-written characters? Reflecting on this comic, I nearly felt sympathy for Challenge and his predicament. However, I just... Still don't care about him because he was very unexpectedly introduced into the story in a very non-linear approach.

Secondly, Teroblast... Why the hell are you bringing up something so personal out of your fucking mouth to piss Challenge off and make him cry afterward, despite already knowing about his brother's death then...? Let's have Teroblast be aware of Challenge's brother's passing without making it a big issue, and then immediately use it as a cheap trick to try and sympathize with Challenge's situation.

On page 12, this is where I die in laughter... After Dub finishes corrupting Squadril, he turns into this very clever and calculated henchman (Hedrilateral, his name)😂😂, as he comes up with this plan for Dub to disguise as a flower. (Lets pause here).

So you're telling me that Squadril's character gets immediately thrown out of the window because I barely fucking know anything about this magician's life, just for him to become a "henchman corrupt for Dub" for god knows how long?! 😂😂

On page 13, Dub showcases a new ability for him to shapeshift into a gray flower, like the one from the video game itself.

On page 14, Dub senses victory drawing closer. He envisions a restored Cubic and a corrupted Iris, believing that Paradise will be his. (Just to keep you guys the heads up, Iris's corrupted counterpart's name is just "Corrupted Iris"...)

On page 15, Iris notices Stibnite and alerts Teroblast, Challenge, and Citren that they have a problem. Teroblast shouts to Stibnite that he has five seconds to leave, or he will take action. However, someone intervenes and advises Teroblast not to do that.

Overall for pages 10-15, the portrayal of Challenge's emotional turmoil as a result of his brother's demise, coupled with Teroblast's subsequent apology, was so poorly-done and was clearly contrived, seemingly inserted from the current creator, ArtofSoup with the intent to elect sympathy for the Challenge's character. Additionally, Squadril's entire characterization gets his ass cheeks smacked out of the window, just for him to become a "fucking henchman corrupt" for Dub...

Pages 16 - 23

On page 16, Stibnite displays his hatred for Sabrepulse and the four caretakers. Before seeing a shield, he immediately senses that something is wrong. He notices the purple dome that was created by Iris and Orange that contains Lycanthropy inside the seal from the Lycanthropy fight since Season 1, Episode 4. Wait...

So basically what's going on here is that, ArtofSoup wanted to insert another OC character coming out of the blue. Furthermore, I thought Dub was going to send "a group of corrupts to save Lycanthropy from what he said in Season 1, Episode 5", not some bat-like creature that randomly finds it out in Poly Forest. Another minor plot change that nobody notices...

On page 17, Stibnite approaches the seal. Inside is Lycanthropy, who appears to be undergoing a purification process within the seal, which is transforming him back into his pure counterpart, Lythorus. Lycanthropy and Lythorus begged anyone to save them until Stibnite saved Lycanthropy's life from purification inside the seal by summoning a bomb attack to explode the seal. (Lets pause here).

About this page, the seal that Iris and Orange created here for Lycanthropy since Season 1, Episode 4 was another way to purify corrupts. It is shown that Lycanthropy is being weakened by the seal's power, proceedingly turning him back into Lythorus, but at a slow rate. However, at the same time, looking back at Lycanthropy's entire character, you could barely give a fuck about him because he has little to nothing to do in this series...

On page 18, Challenge uses some sort of new ability or something (possibly a clairvoyance power, I don't fucking know). Meanwhile, Lycanthropy thanks an embarrassed for Sitbnite for stopping the purification and destroying the shield, though the former thinks the latter overdid it. FINALLY, Pentellow shows up and accidentally snaps a branch, Lythorus notices her, and the situation gets ugly for Pentellow.

WHERE THE FUCK WAS SHE AT???

On page 19, Pentellow gets worried about how she can't win against Lycanthropy. Challenge runs off-screen to search for Sibinite as Cube chases after him, while Tsavorite, who pops out of no where and somehow, starts to use some new ability to sense or call Cube (I don't know). Tsavorite starts saving Pentellow's life from Lycanthropy, as Tsavorite tells Pentellow and Cube to rush off, while Tsavorite and presumably Challenge stop Lythorus.

On page 20, Pentellow tells Cube that they need to go without a second thought, with Cube being clueless about what's going on (how about explaining to him while still running). Lycanthropy was about to launch a spiked ball at Pentellow and Cube when Challenge stopped the attack by using a weapon by using his prismatic ears, then threatening Lycanthropy to stop. (Let's pause here).

What follows here everyone is going to be the most blatant heroic sacrifice I've ever seen...

On page 21, Cube realizes that Challenge got infected by The Pink Corruption via his prismatic ears. Cube informs him, but Challenge already knows, and he says that although "pyramid monster shapes are resistant to The Pink Corruption Virus" Slams hand so hard on computer desk in disbelief WHAAAAAT?!

I THOUGHT THE CARETAKERS WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT WERE GIVEN THIS ABILITY!!! THIS FURRY PYRARE WANNABE MOTHERFUCKER IS NOT A "CARETAKER"!!! GTFO WITH THIS SHIT!!!

With tears in his eyes, Challenge warns Cube that he has been too cautious. He asks Cube to convey his farewell to his father (how the fuck will Cube know anything about your father if you never told him his name to him...) before succumbing to corruption. His final words to Cube were a single, urgent command: "Run!"

On page 22, while Cube, Tsavorite, and Pentellow are running away (and we never learn what happened to Orange, Iris, Gold, and Pyrare), Challenge confronts Lycanthropy, declaring that he won't allow him to harm our virus-stopping team. Lycanthropy responds by saying that he has already achieved victory, but Challenge is confused and asks what he means.

On my gosh, we are at the final stretch of the comic everyone!

On page 23, Teroblast shows up and is forced to watch Challenge being corrupted. Teroblast and Challenge are both shedding tears, with Challenge trying to say he loves him (Don't tell Teroblast that you love him after he bursts out very sudden personal information about your brother's death), before the virus fully controls him. Challenge suddenly becomes infuriated, as he screams in agony turning him into a corrupt.

You know what, I wanna talk about this dude, Challenge...

Challenge's Entire Characterization

Undoubtedly, even though it's been 23 pages, Challenge is the most forced OC character I have encountered over my years in web-based content. He was so forced here in such a highly incongruous manner, that Challenge wants to be incorporated into the comic to play a pseudo-protagonistic role, which is absolute shit. Furthermore, the current creator, ArtofSoup, wanted so hard to manipulate my emotions by invoking sympathy towards Challenge situation - specifically about his brother's loss, as it is clearly shown from pages 9-11.

ArtofSoup wanted her OC fanfic fantasy to have Challenge to be the most broken character in the entire fucking series. I will explain why:

It is implied that Challenge has the ability to "see into the future".

Every Pyramid Monster Pyramid like Challenge are resistant to the Pink Corruption (even though, the caretakers only possess this power).

He can fly.

If Challenge had been introduced much later in the story, in a more linear approach, it would have been a lot better.

In all honesty, this wouldn't help right now, because I couldn't care less towards Challenge's selfless heroic act, leading to him becoming a corrupted shape since Page 23. Overall, he is poorly-written, who has been seemingly shoehorned so hard into the story with very little consideration for contextual fluidity or compelling characterization, is contrived, distracting, and is too overpowered.

Other OC Characterers

This also goes along with ArtofSoup's other OC characters such as Teroblast and Sibtinite...

Final Verdict On For The PCC Comic

Cons

Narratively, ArtofSoup wanted to ham-fist shit such as different story's direction, changing characterization without proper development, minor lore & plot changes, etc to make it feel so unappreciated, miserable, and unsatisfying to me. It happened because to make the entire comic feel like it has "OC Fanfiction Fetish Fantasy Syndrome" from the current creator, ArtofSoup. They tried to deceive me by deliberately using "forced sympathy tricks" to desperately make me care about their OC characters in the cheapest way as possible, particularly Challenge and Teroblast (mostly for Challenge) cause IT DEFINITELY SHOWS. The pacing is already all over the place in the story's progression over the span of the preceding 23 pages. The Caretakers and Heroes should've been in a different area in Paradise by now searching for more groups besides wasting their time tagging along with these fucking OC characters (that almost look like self-inserts) for the PAST 23 PAGES!!!

Pros

Despite the amount of issues in comic, story and writing-wise, I would like to acknowledge some commendable elements. For starters, the story's tone achieves a more serious tenor (from the look of the direction), while not trying to be cheesily lighthearted, like from the earlier episodes of the series. Furthermore, character designs such as Teroblast's are aesthetically pleasing, knowing that it is assuming that the canon continuation was going to add more characters with improved designs.

Score

In summarizing my evaluation of the PCC Comic, I assign it a score of 4 out of 10 (Below-average). Starting with your sister shoving that disgusting pornographic fan-art cake in your face for dessert, and ending with the transfer of ownership of your project—with your full consent��to another individual, whom you badmouthed behind their back all this time, all of this led to a lackluster fanmade series derived from the "Pink Corruption Series," specifically the "Hope" series (that I'm going to be talking about next). Finally, giving me an actual pretty bad continuation in the form of a web-comic that "never tried to make it feel canon to begin with", to shove even more cake ONTO MY FUCKING FACE NEXT with OC fanfiction fetish toppings on it.

Hope Series

Now we can finally talk about the "Hope" series... The Hope Series is a discontinued fanmade series, based on the web-series, "The Pink Corruption Series" after Brittany Robinson gave her consent and permission for the Pink Corruption series to ArtofSoup.

Most of all, just like the pilot episode from The Pink Corruption Series, this pilot episode is not good...

So Let's Discuss This Episode

Beginning Part

In this episode, the scene opens on a stormy night, with Cube singing as he sits on a rock. He receives a call from his triangle chest from his brother, "Cubical". (Lets Pause Here).

Do you want to know the main reason why Cube has a brother? It's probably because we feel so bad that Cube doesn't know anything about his biological family. I don't mind Brittany taking away the generic childhood best friend trope, but this doesn't help the fact that I wasn't even invested into Cubical's character.

In a conversation between Cubical and Cube, Cubical asks Cube about his whereabouts and mentions that he has been searching for him. Cube responds by telling Cubical not to look for him and explains that he "needed some fresh air anyway". (It is evident here that Cube has a bit of an attitude here toward his brother).

After hanging up his brother, Cube continued walking until he heard a baby crying. He found Cyan, whose wing was caught on a tree branch. Cube rescued him and decided to take him home.

For some unknown reason, I don't know why Cyan is out here this windy and rainy at this late at night, while getting stuck in a tree...

While Cube was singing to Cyan, Cubical, who had been searching for him, spotted his umbrella on the ground and picked it up, looking worried. He then found Cube and hugged him. Cube stated that Cubical didn't need to search for him. Cubical was startled when he heard Cyan and quickly moved back. Cube explained how he had found Cyan, and Cubical agreed to let Cube take Cyan home. (Cube and Cubical's relationship kind of fucking sucks tbh).

Overall, the beginning part of HOPE episode 1 was pretty boring, with nothing interesting happening. Notwithstanding, the interactions between Cube and Cyan were moderately charming, though not particularly noteworthy, Cube and Cubical's relationship is already somewhat bad and cliched. Moreover, having Cyan randomly come out of no where just to get the rest of the plot going was never explained...

Back To The Episode

Middle Part

Later, while they are eating, Cyan shoots a beam from his chest, acting like a projector, showing Pyrahedron (we fucking "replace" Pyrare with this guy now...), who explains that Cube is now the fourth caretaker of the Tree or Life and that he has one day to reach the tree and seal the monster. (Lets Pause Because I Think I Can Talk About This Right Here).

Major Issue: Cube's Entire Characterization Being Changed

I think it's a good idea to make a comparison from the pilot episode from TPC with the HOPE series.

You can clearly tell from Cube's character and personality in the HOPE series that it's "completely changed" and I find it very disagreeable. From Season 1, Episode 1, Cube was fairly apathetic about his role as one of the Caretakers and his position as the hero, Cyan. This was evident from Cube's dereliction of his duties as a caretaker, which occurred twice in the pilot episode.

The first was forgetting to assist his hero Cyan in sealing away Dub, seeing Cube questions Cyan on why he has to come along as well.

The second one was forgetting to give Cyan his name (most likely by accident).

In a metaphorical sense, Cube's pronounced apathy towards his caretaker responsibilities, evident since the first episode of Season 1, serves as a reflection of his demeanor characterized by timidity and nervousness. Seeing him throughout the series occasionally questions Cyan or the companions, the other caretakers and heroes about why he has to perform these challenging or significant tasks. Nonetheless, despite his reservations, Cube still greatly assumes his role and together with his hero, Cyan, unintentionally semi-completes their mission on sealing Dub (even though it ended in chaos toward the conclusion of that episode).

(This image right here perfectly explains what I'm saying.)

In contrast, in the HOPE series, Cube's persona went from being a shy and somewhat introverted shape, which clearly shows signs of self-doubt and uncertainty about his role as a caretaker at times throughout the TPC series. And turned him into a much more easygoing and composed personality, who has a bit of an attitude toward his brother's overprotective tendencies and doesn't seem to be bothered or anything in the slightest about being chosen in his caretaker's role. Although recognizably simpler, this marked shift in character causes me severe dissatisfaction, as I perceive Cube's character in TPC to be superior...

About the way Cube gets chosen as the 4th Caretaker of the Tree of Life here, he was chosen so damn unexpectedly, after receiving a call from Pyrahedron (I don't know how the fuck did Pyrahedron get Cyan's phone number), without giving any indication as to why he was chosen for this role. Cube never expressed any concerns or questions about this, like how his TPC counterpart legitimately did toward TPC Cyan in the pilot episode. All of this happened because "he fucking "randomly" found Cyan, who inexplicably showed up out of no where to initially be stuck in a tree and gets taken care of by Cube just to get the rest of HOPE's main plot going".

Overall, I already dislike Cube's character here. This fucking disrespects how Cube's entire characterization was established in the TPC series.

Back To The Episode

Gold pops up and interrupts the call, while being happy (Gold's character gets ruined here too...). After Pyrahedron hangs up, Cube says he will go to the Tree of Life. Cubical asks how he is okay with all of this. Cube replies that he wasn't until he saw Gold on the call and realized that he looked similar to Cyan (Are you only giving out the main reason why you were chosen was just because of your fucking appearance looked identical to Cyan here...) He thinks Pyrahedron was serious and decides to head out in the morning.

The next morning, as Cube gets ready to head out, Cubical asks if he's really ready to do this. (OH MY FUCKING GO... You know what, I might as well talk about Cubical here...)

Cubical's Entire Characterization

I don't have a lot to say here so, I will keep it brief. If I have to describe him here, Cubical serves as a "clear replacement for Cube's childhood best friend, Lythorus". Despite being a caring brother to Cube, objectively, his character comes across as goddamn irksome due to his overprotective nature, constantly fretting over Cube's safety throughout the entire pilot episode, like shut up, bro...

Back To The Episode

Btw, despite giving Cube a brother, STILL DON'T HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SHOW PARENTS!!! WTF!!!

Cubical reminds Cube about his previous encounter with Dub. Cube gets a flashback of Dub shooting a laser beam, presumably toward one of his eyes. Cube reminds his brother that he survived the incident and that he will survive.

So you're telling me that before Cube was chosen, he encountered Dub before and was attacked by him, which we can all agree that Cube gotten "infected", right? So how come CUBE HASN'T TURNED INTO A CORRUPT LET?!

Subsequently, Cube requests that Cubical cease his concerns. While initially agreeing, Cubical persuades him to at least consume a meal before departing with Cyan, which Cube acquiesces to.

An hour later, Cube traverses the terrain clutching Cyan who slumbers soundly. Suddenly, a hazy figure zips past him. He glances back but discerns nothing. Progressing towards a huge pink lake, looking shocked. Unable to wade through the water, he ponders over how to circumvent his predicament.

Ketches approached Cube and asked if he needed help crossing the water to reach the Tree of Life. Cube gratefully accepted and thanked him. Ketches introduced himself and explained that he had helped all the caretakers before Cube as well. He invited Cube to hop aboard.

During their voyage, Cube acquaints himself with Ketches and inquires about the other Caretakers. Ketches identifies them as Iris, Pentellow, and Pyrahedron and clarifies that Iris and Pentellow have been unaccounted for since Cyan's birth. (You know what, looking back on Pyrahedron, I wouldn't mind having different caretaker characters because I could care less about Iris and Pentellow returning here...). However, Cube expresses his hope that their disappearance is unrelated to Dub. Ketches concurs, and they eventually arrive at the Tree of Life.

End Part

After dropping Cube off at the Tree of Life, Ketches expresses his gratitude, while cautioning Cube. He says that it looks like a clear path, but there could be someone clandestinely lurking about. Cube acknowledges Ketches' advice and proceeds towards the Tree of Life.

Before I talk about what happens next, I'm not joking, the rest of this conclusion is more "hilariously bad" than the TPC pilot episode's conclusion. 😂😂😂

Issue: Laughably Bad Conclusion That Ended On The Most Biggest Discontinued Cliffhangers I've Ever Seen In This Entire TPC Universe

Suddenly, a group a flower children showed up (they are fucking corrupts btw, who popped out of fucking no where). One of them "viciously assaults Cube by uppercutting him physically as a corrupt that caused him to disembody his body from his dead flying upward into the air". 😂😂😂 I burst out laughing because of this... How come Cube hasn't even turned into Cubic yet after getting blasted by Dub from his previous encounter with him and now an uppercut (that was so strong by the way) from an infected flower child?!

Cube firmly declares his refusal to engage in combat with children, even those tainted by corruption. (ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! THEY ARE CORRUPTS CUBE, DEFEND YOURSELF?! 😂😂😂) However, one of the children warns that, despite their own unwillingness to fight, Cube will still face dire consequences from the flower group. (WHAT?! THEN WHY DID ONE OF YOU LITTLE BRATS START ATTACKING CUBE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO FIGHT HIM THEN?!)

Following this, one of the child corrupt flowers, pulls out a damn gong out of her ass that causes the sky and the Tree of Life to adopt a pink and black hue. Heli's fleeting appearance is observed, before taking flight. In the ensuing commotion, Dub emerges, and the episode concludes. (JESUS WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?! 😂😂😂)

Final Verdict For HOPE Series

Cons

After laughing so hard after HOPE's pilot episode conclusion, it's time to give my final verdict on this. It is so unappealing and boring than its predecessor, TPC (despite my unfavorable opinion about the latter).

From a narrative standpoint, Episode 1 presents a poorly-written script, replete with subpar pacing, characters such as Cube, who has his personality and characterization disrespectfully changed, minor inconsistencies, and an utterly hilariously bad conclusion that is more worse than the TPC's pilot episode.

Not to mention, upon me discovering a restored video of the Hope series's intro, HOPE's worldbuilding looks like in a nutshell, if The Pink Corruption Series's worldbuilding was overly simplistic and generic that will make you go...

Me: Bro...

And, take all of the elements out of what a JSAB world looks like...

Pros

Episode 1 doesn't have a lot of pros besides character designs being improved (also, Cube's hat looks ugly as shit btw).

Score

My appraisal for the show, taking into account its single episode, would be like the PCC comic, 4 out of 10 (Below-average). The HOPE series, in my perspective, appears to be an unproductive utilization of my time. Going from giving your consent and permission to someone else just to make another typical underwhelming web-series on Youtube that failed to impress me.

Right after, when Brittany Robinson - the show's former creator - discontinued HOPE and instead embarked on the Non-Canon Continuation of the TPC series, this is where her writing skills showed their "true colors" due to how unbelievably bad it was in my opinion. It was because I knew something was up with the writing since the pilot episode that was going to eventually decline later on.

Final conclusion for ALL OF THIS!

So... What's the problem here between these two works? The biggiest main issues between them were the "amount of changes" that felt so insulting to me. It includes narrative shortcomings and quality, poor characterization that were disrespectfully changed or without proper development, ineffective worldbuilding that takes away what a JSAB world actually looks like, and try to perceived manipulative tactics emotionally toward me that were employed from the PCC comic for Challenge and Teroblast haphazardly, that was distracting and unnecessary, etc.

The Entire Pink Corruption Drama is the most pointlessly disingenuous drama I have ever seen in my life from what I've analyzed to the best of my ability. All of this because from the distasteful and objectionable pornographic artwork associated with the TPC series from Brittany's sister, Brea.

If I were to amalgamate both the PCC comic and the HOPE series, my rating would be a modest 3.5 out of 10 (slightly below average). My perception is that ArtofSoup and Brittany Robinson have lost their touch for me regarding the series as a whole. While there is much to criticize, I will refrain from doing so at present. However, I cannot help but feel melancholy because the PCC comic and the HOPE series does "an incredible job to make me feel straight up miserable in my gaming chair" and it shows, it ABSOULTELY SHOWS FOR ME!

Thank you to everyone who read this...

[scooby-review]

Every Scooby Doo Where are You Episode Ranked

Perfect!; Great!; Good!; Okay!; Meh!; Bad! 

25. A Tiki Scare is no Fair

24. Scooby's Night with a Frozen Fright

23. Decoy for a Dognapper

22. Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf

21. Mystery Mask Mix Up

20. Nowhere to Hyde

19. Mine Your Own Business

18. What a Night for a Knight

17. Bedlam in Big Top

16. What the Hex Going On?

15. Which Witch is Which?

14. Never Ape an Ape Man

13. Scooby Doo and a Mummy Too

12. Don't Fool with a Phantom

11. A Clue for Scooby Doo

10. A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts

9. Haunted House Hang Up

8. Spooky Space Kook

7. Jeepers it's the Creeper

6. A Night of Fright is no Delight

5. That's Snow Ghost

4. The Backstage Rage

3. Foul Play in Funland

2. Go Away Ghost Ship

1. Hassle in the Castle

Where are You will always be one of the most fondly thought of Scooby Series by proxy of coming first. With such a simple yet captivating storyline it's also no shock that this series spun into a 55 year long franchise (happy belated anniversary also!). Because despite all these factors working in the series' credit, it's also so popular because it's great!

I had a great time watching most of these episodes! I think so much of the series success came down to the inspirations it took from what came before it, most notably The Archies, the group of teenagers with an animal mascot was the biggest inspiration, and originally the gang were also going to be in a band. This cast is half of the drive of the show, and sure, Fred and Daphne wouldn't grow into less of cookie cutter characters for a little while, but I love them nevertheless! Meanwhile the other three characters are so distinctive already, they make their presence known, and honestly, this is one of my favourite renditions of Scooby as a character. He hasn't become too much of a mascot yet, his iconicity hasn't turned the character into an overzealous near parody of himself, that also is great sure, but here I especially loved how he was written.

Of course, the other half of the show's success comes down to the monsters. These creatures are what makes or breaks an episode, they are the objective, the wall, and the endless rotation of foils for the gang. As mentioned in my previous post, they're great, and they can often make or break an episode, with many of my least favourite episodes housing my least favourite villains.

Finally, I want to touch on the backgrounds, which ooze with gothic style, they are another factor in keeping the show so popular, in carrying the tone and themes of the show, pulling deep into the gothic origins of horror and tamer universal monster movies.

Both the episodes and series as a whole keeps to a nice length that never over stays its welcome. The series is a joy to watch, even with a slight dip in quality when we reach the second season. Where are You is great!

Reviews for every episode can be found on my blog! Thank you for reading :)

Onto The New Scooby Doo Movies next!

Previous: Ranking Every Where are You Villain

Next: The New Scooby Doo Movies Season 1 Episodes 1 - 4

[wyvolf]

I personally think the fallout tv show was pretty good, 7/10 personally. Wild what they’re doing to the Brotherhood of Steel but I guess over time with certain leaders in charge it do be like that. But at least they’re not transphobic*. Massive spoilers under the cut. You’ve been warned.

Yes! A canonical trans character, now def not the only one but Dane (they/them) felt very natural to be there. I personally headcanon them as trans masc nonbinary as I thought they were originally a trans man (bc by god do we need more trans men rep). Their identity wasn’t a trophy or “rep for rep points with the queer’s”. Hell didn’t even know there were gonna be canonical queer characters in it.

I also think their friendship with Maximus is pretty cool. Wished some more scenes with them but I get it, the story was following like? Four - five protagonists. So ehhh hope we get to see more in a hopeful season 2 which oh boy.

Now… idk but I feel like with what happened towards the end and the reveals. The Sole Survivor (Nate/Nora, player character of fallout 4) kind of…? Ruins their purpose felt like them being unique. The only actual survivor but I guess it makes sense the big players pre-war would make more cryogenic chambers for them. Unlike vault 111, vault 31 was more successful.

I think the adaptation in general was one of the better video game to movie/show adaptations. I think there was a lot of care put into it, sure Bethesda is Bethesda and even if they miss the mark it’s obvious that they care… at least a little bit to make a good chunk of people enjoy it.

Season 2… I hope they do it justice. FNV is obviously the most beloved out of the entire franchise. But nonetheless I am keen to see where the story goes. Hope we get to see some deathclaws, the ever unchanged coyote (reject mutation), nightstalkers (I think they’d be the coolest), of course the cazador.

Not gonna go on the actors performance or anything as I’m not an actor, the only drama class I really did was in primary school years ago. They did what worked for the characters I think, sure more could be desired but hey beggars can’t be choosers.

Not an official review of the episodes or anything just my rambled thoughts.

[johnnyraine]

Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1988) - Review - 7/10

Spoilers!!!

Season 1 (1-26): 6/10

I don't recall much, but I do remember that I was addicted to this season.

Season 2 (27-54): 8/10

The first three episodes are boring but once the politicians in the FPA show their corruption/incompetence again, I start liking it.

As this series continues, I find myself being more pissed yet understanding of Yang Wenli's refusal to start a military dictatorship of his own. I also understand that in a META sense that would be boring, what with Reinhard von Lohengramm already striving for power in the Galactic Empire.

I am happy that Yang and Greenhill got married, I very much appreciate a successful relationship in this show.

Season 3 (55-86): 6/10

Three seasons in and I have noticed that the first few episodes of the last two seasons are boring, before being good again. Julian's history episodes are some of the boring ones, but sometimes I like the historical knowledge given.

I actually slammed my godsdamn desk. I fucking called bullshit when Yang got a black and white portrait, I called bullshit when Julian called out to him. Why? Because the narrator dodn't show up.

Then he did. And he announced Yang'd death, 83 episodes in.

I'm actually crying as I write this.

This season is only pretty good. It had rocky moments of boredom, but also exhilarating highs.

Season 4 (87-110): 7/10

I unironically started caring again only at episode 89 with the whole, Reinhard & Mariendorf romance plot. I am happy that they have finally gotten married, and with an heir on the way!

I really just want someone to have a happy ending. Reuntal's fucking dead and I really think everyone's got the Earch Cult on their mind, but more on the backburner despite the riots, manipulations, and assassination of Wang Yenli that they did.

I get it, but still.

Reinhard is just fucked as a person. Every time he wants to fight, he almost immediately becomes bedridden with a fever.

I am glad with the Terraism people to be dead and gone. As far as we've been told at the end anyway.

Damn shame for Reinhard to go out, but yeah. Both geniuses are gone and the story ends.

I am teary-eyed to have finished the show and it it was a wonderful and beautiful ending.

[angevon]

podcasts I'm listening to (and not)

In 2023, I began to listen to lots of podcasts during my daily commute. Here’s a list of the ones currently in my queue. I’ve found I tend to prefer fun stories and comedy.

Murphy’s Inc. - this is about a company that owns a Time Machine and uses it to go back in time to find items for wealthy clients. The first season they’re trying to find an amulet owned by Erik the Red. My main complaint is the characters don’t seem to like each other much which detracts from the overall vibe, but it seems wholesome overall  and I'm enjoying it.

Mission to Zyxx - a sci-fi story about a misfit team going on diplomatic missions to weird planets. It's improv and there’s a big focus on special guests for each episode which never lands or works for me personally, but I love the main cast and their interactions continue to be entertaining even in season 4 where I'm at now.

No Such Thing As a Fish - a comedy podcast where people from qi.com talk about fun facts they learned during research for their other shows. 

The Mansfield Mysteries - a high-class mom and daughter duo solve murder mysteries among the upper crust of their hometown. There is a focus on distinct character voices which is hit or miss tbh.

Welcome to Night Vale - my favorite podcast of the bunch. It’s difficult to explain Night Vale, you kind of have to experience it. Essentially, a radio host talks about the news in Night Vale, but it’s always things we would consider unusual. Like, a sentient glowing cloud going over the town and dropping dead animals all over everything. A football player at the high school grew a second head. Things like that. The storytelling is well done, and the stories develop so naturally, it’s very fun to listen to it all play out. And the music direction is wonderful too. 

Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet - a comedy podcast where the hosts find funny reviews to read in a dramatic way. Just mindless fun.

Stellar Firma - A comedy sci-fi about a firm that designs and builds planets for wealthy clients. It stars Trexel Geistman, who is a self-absorbed drunk who never comes to work on time, and his long-suffering assistant, clone David 7. David 7's survival depends on the success of their designs but Trexel always has horrible and outlandish ideas. So it's kind of about how David 7 slowly grows into the role and begins to manipulate Trexel into doing better. ...Kind of.

Inn Between - short episodes about a team of adventurers, and, well, their adventures in a fantasy world. I normally don't enjoy 4th wall breakage but here it's harmless fun. I like Betty the most.

Hey Riddle Riddle - a trio of comedians go through riddle books and come up with better answers and make fun of the riddles

DUST: Chrysalis - after the apocalypse caused by an alien invasion, only one human survives. He manages to combine himself with machinery with one goal: revenge.

Mysterious Universe - two guys talk about conspiracy theories and paranormal experiences. Captivating storytelling more than anything, whether any of it's true or not never crosses my mind tbh

Finished listening to!

EOS 10 - wonderful podcast, it has a rough start but I really enjoyed it. It's about a newbie doctor assigned to space station EOS 10 and the quirky cast of characters he meets there. It does have an overarching plot but the focus is mostly the rapport between the characters, they really work well together.

The protagonist reminds me of Pleck in Mission to Zyxx and his boss reminds me of Trexel in Stellar Firma. 

 Here are some I've dropped and why.

Sidequesting - I really loved this one! It features an ace wanderer in a fantasy world, helping people whenever they can, and has a lot of queer rep. But the last few episodes in my queue focused too hard on crossovers with other podcasts and made them... not fun... so I lost interest. 

Wolf359 - This one's popular and often recommended to anyone looking for sci fi. Eiffel was really funny and plot-building was an enjoyable slow burn. However, about half-way through it dropped all the humor for total seriousness which is not what I listened to this for, so I dropped it. 

Radiation World - I just didn't like it.

Hello From The Magic Tavern - something rubbed me the wrong way in this one, even though one of the characters is the creator of Hey Riddle Riddle. I think it might've been one-too-many improv podcasts and I was tired of the format after Zyxx. I may return to this at some point, maybe when I finish Zyxx.

Pod to Pluto - while it wasn't bad or anything, my heart goes out too much to the protagonist for me to enjoy it. 

The Mysterious Secrets of Uncle Bertie's Botanarium - the protagonist is an asshole and that's the point, but there was dismemberment humor in ep 2 and I just can't.

The Amelia Project - love the idea (an organization that you pay to fake your death in a dramatic way) but it's already 4th wall breaking in episode 9 I guess they're already out of ideas ... ?😅

ARS Paradoxica - too overdramatic, the dialogue where person a says something, person b repeats it as a question, person a repeats it again, it's just too boring!!! I wish podcasts would Stop Doing That. Wolf359 did it a lot too which is another reason I don't feel bad dropping it.

Rabbits - it's meant to be interactive and I'm way too lazy for that. I listen to these while driving, you know?

Ghosts in the Burbs - not bad, but it was pandering so blatantly to suburban moms that I could not relate at all 😂

[ashadowstreak]

What are your thoughts on each MLP season and how would you rank them?

Hmm, well I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately and while this is probably subject to change in the future, this is my current ranking from WORST to BEST:

9. Season 6 - Undoubtedly the show's lowest point for me, I despised Starlight's character and most of the episodes were boring/forgettable. Its only saving grace was that it had my favorite episode in the whole series: The Saddle Row Review.

8. Season 7 - Basically just a slightly better season 6.

7. Season 8 - School is boring and I don't like the new students.

6. Season 9 - School is still boring and I don't like the new students but some of the last episodes of the series were absolutely amazing.

5. Season 3 - Okay now we're getting into the better half. Basically I just don't like that this season is half the length of every other season, I literally either hate or love every episode in this one so it's split right down the middle with no in-betweens, and the finale should've been a two-parter.

4. Season 1 - The OG season, the one that started it all. It's so quaint compared to every other season that came after it and without it being what it was I doubt the online fandom would have even taken off like it did. It set so many standards and it's unbelievable how much success the show brought in, but it's well deserved.

3. Season 2 - Shocker, this is usually most people's favorite, and while I cannot deny it has some great episodes (and was basically the season airing when the fandom exploded), the other two above it are just more enjoyable for me.

2. Season 5 - This used to be my #1, but it's still great. I love the new stories that it tells, Starlight as a villain was actually fun and interesting, most of the episodes that tie into previous seasons were super satisfying, the 100th episode is an amazing love letter and I don't care about any of the negative criticism it gets, there's just so much to love about this one.

Season 4 - This isn't just my favorite because it was the season that was airing when I got into the show; I love the overarching storyline and the fact that the series basically had like 10 episodes that were all interlinked along with the shared journal that the characters used to reflect, Derpy came back, the season finale was jaw-dropping, plus this season having most of the best songs the series ever got (Hearts, Bats, Generosity, Glass of Water, the entire Pinkie Pride episode, and You'll Play Your Part). Rainbow Rocks also happened during this season which was the best EQG movie too. I just love season 4 so much.

[zalrb]

Succession 4.06

So an anon asked me to review Succession the way I do OTH/Skins/TVD etc so let's try it out.

I never thought I'd ever feel nostalgic seeing Logan's face

"Good to see you, dad" and the video is paused on this face?

this show is so fucking good.

3. *Succession theme song plays* me:

4. Is this how billionaires flirt?

5. Lol, really, Shiv, the guy who possibly sends frozen blood to an ex? Come on.

6. I mean he's Alexander Skarsgard but still.

7. I wonder what it must be like for him to not be the tallest person on set considering he's 6'4 and Nicholas Braun is 6'7.

8. "BOYS, you're not good at this." She speaks the truth, Kendall and Roman, this is fucking bush league.

9. You are not. serious. people.

10. Kendall's outrageous demand to build a mock house overnight reminds me of this boss I had who would want to switch up where we would do events the day of the event and we had to be like, we can't just ... change it, there are permits and licences we need...

11. "Tom Wambsgans, finally made me feel something." I have to say I do quite like toxic flirty tomshiv.

12. "Can I just say … it’s kind of hard to make houses seem like tech because we’ve had houses for a while…" COUSIN GREG.

13. "Oh my God, you're fired." ROMAN.

14. "I'm not crazy about, you know, dying." "Yeah, it's bullshit." That is indeed my vibe.

15. This scene with Roman and Gerri is breaking my heart, he yearns for her respect so badly.

16. Kieran better win all the fucking emmys.

17. Oh their expressions, my god.

why are they doing this to me?

18. GIVE. KIERAN. THE EMMYS.

19. "Fuck off, you fired Gerri. Shiv's godmother, Gerri??" Oh, I thought Shiv was being facetious when she called Gerri her godmother, I didn't think she actually was her godmother??

20. "grumble quote grumble quote" I fucking love Kendall. He's terrible but oh my god, the dialogue.

21. I know on this blog there's a lot of discussion about how Shiv isn't my favourite, but let's talk about the skilful bit of acting Sarah did in this scene, man, the various emotions she goes through?

22. I do find this scene with Tom to be interesting though because Shiv looks at him like she's seeing who he is for the first time

and I wonder if it's because he's finally talking about wanting money and liking money or if it's because she realizes he can be acerbic and mean-spirited and basically communicate in a way she communicates with everyone else in her world and she's intrigued.

23. "It's enough to make you lose your faith in capitalism." KENDALL.

24. Kendall has taken kind of a backseat this season compared to Roman and Shiv but man, Jeremy's acting, his expression of complete abandonment when Roman backs out?

25. As someone who does like Ken, I'm glad his speech went well and the other shoe didn't at least drop in this episode. I was like he got a mini win and I'm happy.

26. Shiv was pretty diabolical this episode with the two of them, though.

27. Roman replaying that manipulated Logan's video over and over, about how he always gets it wrong, MY HEART.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, March 29 - PART TWO

BUFFY: (smiles) Hey! SCOTT: Hey, Buffy! Uh, Faith has been telling me tall tales. BUFFY: (smiles big) She's funny. (takes her arm) And she's leaving. We have to go. SCOTT: (disappointed) Oh... FAITH: Bye. Buffy pulls her away and down the hall.

~~Faith, Hope and Trick~~

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: [Buffy comics art panels created by Georges Jeanty] via g33k_gal (various, worksafe)

Artwork: [Let's watch shark boy and lava girl. buffy x willow] by pzyii (Buffy/Willow worksafe)

Artwork: Good times by isevery0nehereverystoned (Anya, Faith, Tara, worksafe)

Icons: [Sarah Michelle Gellar icons] like/reblog by brolasuite (worksafe)

Gifset: {Xander&Spike} by starryeyesxx (Xander/Spike, worksafe)

Gifset: there's my girl :) by redcheekdays (Star Trek Voyager parallels, Buffy, Faith, worksafe)

Gifset: Levitating by Dua Lipa by andremichaux (Willow/Tara, worksafe)

Gifset: The Worst of the Worst: IMDB’s 10 Worst Ranked Episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer by clarkgriffon (ensemble, worksafe)

Fanvid: buffy & angel | hits different by lostlcve

Fanvid: Cordelia Chase | Long Story Short by 1SnoWhiteQueen1

Fanvid: vampire with a soul | ats + btvs by Moriah McInerney

[Reviews & Recaps]

BTVS/Angel Rewatch Chronicles: Seasons 4/1, Part One [The Freshman to Wild at Heart] by QualifiedApathetic

BTVS/Angel Rewatch Chronicles: Seasons 4/1, Part Two [Sense & Sensitivity to Somnambulist] by QualifiedApathetic

Anyone go to the Buffy comedy show in London last night? by Prudent-Memory-6129

Season 6 gets better and better after every rewatch by Kindofaddictedtotv

PODCAST: 1.12 Prophecy Girl by Once More: A Rewatch Podcast

PODCAST: Buffy S7E1: Lessons by Booze & Buffy

[Recs & In Search Of]

ISO: FrenchButHygienic seeks Angel-BtVS [similar] vibe shows

[Community Announcements]

Round one of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer tournament has started by bestepisode

[Fandom Discussions]

buffy summers is aro/ace i think but you guys aren't ready for that conversation yet by starlit1daydream

... Angel is cursed to never experience true happiness?? by spikes-left-eyebrow

buffy the vampire slayer gif makers are truly the best at their craft because how are you producing gifs at a higher quality... by mikaelson-hope

[He has a soul parallels gifset.] Buffy the Vampire Slayer | 7.18 and Angel | 5.02 by andremichaux

What do you think Spike would have done with the Gem of Amara had he been successful? by sushibananawater

Who needs enemies when your friends are assholes [Revelations and other eps] by J_n_Space

the body as the worst episode to watch + grief by Kindly_Ad2280

Show me your Worst, best, saddest/hated, btvs episodes. I’ll go first by melaniemoth13

POLL: What episode worked best as a series finale? [S5 The Gift vs S7 Chosen] by nessaaldarion

Episode(s) of Buffy or ATS that would make a great movie? by PristineSituation498

Only reasons of why Angel takes over Wolfram&Hart? by Commercial-Sink8444

You know what makes Willow and Tara's relationship more tragic...? by Belthezare

Best Willow Tara moments! by Slayerette444

Favorite bit of continuity by BiggTS

Spike and Joyce having cocoa with mini marshmallows is such a brilliant scene. by Soulless--Plague

Confusion about Fool For Love [Spike as narrator] by Slayerette444

Ruined episode [Conversations with Dead People and Joyce and The First in S7] by Full-Dome

Is anyone else bothered by this plot hole? [ghost Joyce and The First and Dawn] by mvandemar

Non-fiction books about Buffy? by Lillydragon9

POLL: "Buffy is not at any point even remotely similar to Faith" [and discussion] by sadhungryandvirgin

Should Angel feel remorse? by Aracoth

Angel's worst look? by _behindthewheel_

after finishing the series [ATS], I fucking hated what they did to Gunn and Wesley by b3_k1nd_rw1nd

the [ATS] finale was seen as divisive cause the "big battle" was not portrayed, thats surprising as hell to me. by b3_k1nd_rw1nd

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PODCAST: [James Marsters] 02 - Clowns, Nudity, and the Red Planet via dontkillspike

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[mrcowboydeanwinchester]

I posted 7,639 times in 2022

That's 6,724 more posts than 2021!

1,859 posts created (24%)

5,780 posts reblogged (76%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@mrcowboydeanwinchester

@girlbossdean

@queerstudiesnatural

@lesbianjoannaharvelle

I tagged 7,235 of my posts in 2022

Only 5% of my posts had no tags

#spn - 1,824 posts

#ola.txt - 1,431 posts

#dean winchester - 964 posts

#destiel - 520 posts

#tali tag 🌿 - 413 posts

#jo harvelle - 386 posts

#castiel - 319 posts

#sapphicnatural - 304 posts

#spn art - 285 posts

#ola answers - 282 posts

Longest Tag: 74 characters

#tim. god 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

the way that in the trap dean says "i hope you can hear me. i hope you can hear me." this man has spent his whole life loving cas silently. loving cas in the dark quiet corners of his soul no one can find, not even himself. and then. in that moment. he gets down on his knees and begs for cas to hear him. thinking they may never find each other thinking they're about to die he confesses out loud what he has kept quiet for a decade.

960 notes - Posted November 5, 2022

#4

i love turning on an episode of supernatural and watching jensen act his little jussy out tears in his eyes praying on his knees all in one take while jared blinks at rapid intervals and misha does a silly voice

1,045 notes - Posted October 18, 2022

#3

you have to understand dean doesn't realise he's denying himself what he wants anymore like to him that's just how things Are. he can't have cas he can't stop hunting he can't get better he can't have time to himself it's not even a question, he doesn't even register them as wants because he just thinks he Can't Have Them and then what's the point of wanting them at all

1,207 notes - Posted August 10, 2022

#2

early seasons sam is just that bit spoiled and i think that is just a feat in itself on dean's behalf. he managed to raise a kid in a motel room off of macaroni cheese and second hand clothes but he sacrificed enough that sam still grew to be spoiled and petty. that s1 dynamic where sam has absolutely no clue about any of the shit dean went through is actually so so important because it shows just how stupidly good dean was at putting on a front of normality and protecting his brother. not only has dean been performing his whole life he's been performing parenthood his whole life and it was a success. dean's performances didn't start as self protection they started in the same way a mother performs to their child that everything is okay as the world falls to pieces around them. as s12 says, it's not fair and dean can't do it, but sam's spoiled s1 nature is a sign of how successful dean actually was

1,972 notes - Posted July 8, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

and is bisexual misha collins in the room with us right now?

2,544 notes - Posted April 25, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[eschercaine]

I posted 436 times in 2022

That's 219 more posts than 2021!

274 posts created (63%)

162 posts reblogged (37%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@fuckyeahlabynight

@twisted-shipper

@fromtheboundlesssea

@ravenfan1242

@top5series

I tagged 434 of my posts in 2022

#house of the dragon - 241 posts

#hotd - 240 posts

#rhaenyra targaryen - 172 posts

#daemon x rhaenyra - 153 posts

#rhaenyra x daemon - 153 posts

#daemon targaryen - 152 posts

#daemyra - 150 posts

#hotd spoilers - 92 posts

#alicent hightower - 47 posts

#reblog - 38 posts

Longest Tag: 135 characters

#and the thing is it's so widespread that i can't feasibly avoid it or else i would hardly follow anyone at all and that's no fun either

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Remember what Alicent told Aegon in episode 6?

If Rhaenyra comes into power, your very life could be forfeit. Aemond’s as well. She could move to cut off any challenge to her succession.

Alicent’s been consumed by paranoia because she feared that Rhaenyra will kill her children if she become queen, that’s why she usurped her throne. And then the first thing that happens in the first season is Alicent’s own adult son murdering Lucerys, a 14 year old boy.

If anything, Rhaenyra’s the one who should be more afraid. Because while she was the princess, Alicent is the queen; who’s making Rhaenyra’s life hell for 10 years just to humiliate her, hence why she moved to Dragonstone.

Rhaenyra tried to keep the peace, like her father once did, even after the greens steal her throne, but they forced her hand.

The greens drew the first blood, not the blacks.

1,912 notes - Posted October 27, 2022

#4

Upgrade, my ass.

The lake rushed up with terrible speed. Then Daemon Targaryen, who had never fastened his riding chains, stood in his saddle. He leapt from his dragon to Aemond’s and in his hand was Dark Sister, the Valyrian sword of Aegon’s sister-queen, Visenya. As Aemond One-Eye looked up in terror, Daemon ripped off his nephew’s helm and drove the sword down into his one remaining eye so hard, the point came out the back of the young prince’s throat. — Oberyn Martell, Histories & Lore: The Dance of Dragons

1,961 notes - Posted October 7, 2022

#3

I CACKLED— OH MY GOD. 🤣

2,161 notes - Posted October 10, 2022

#2

Next episode preview:

#𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 🖤🐉

By the way, I haven’t watched episode 6 because it wasn’t released yet in my country.

2,322 notes - Posted September 26, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Okay, Alicent. The last shred of sympathy I have for you is GONE. Yes, Alicent is a victim of her father’s abuse but she is now doing the abuse herself.

Rhaenyra just gave birth in this scene yet Alicent only cares about her own agenda; to humiliate Rhaenyra by forcing the princess to present the child to her in a fragile state. Why not see the child for herself? Jeez. Rhaenyra didn’t do this kind of thing to Alicent while she was pregnant with Aegon nor Helaena nor her other children.

I like that Laenor is there for Rhaenyra, but I wish Daemon was there to punch Alicent in the face or raise some hell. Seriously.

3,330 notes - Posted September 21, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[animanightmate]

Source here.

[Image description: a series of 15 tweets from Peter Clines (@PeterClines). text follows:

1. I’ve seen a few folks discusing the latest slate of Netflix cancellations, and I thought “hey, this is the internet—I should share MY thoughts.”

So let me tell you what I think’s going on with streaming shows right now. But first... a little history.

2. Back in ye olden broadcast times, creative folks in television made a lot of their money on the back end—what publishing folks now call the long tail. Sure you got paid for that episode, but you also got paid the first time the network aired it. And also...

3. ...when it got replayed later in the season (reruns!). And the big dream was syndication, when you’d make non-stop money. Okay, not tons of it, but with syndication those pennies could add up.

These are residuals. Actors get ‘em. And writers. And directors. Even the crew.

4. Yeah, IATSE crew members got residuals. The biggest ones, really (which tends to come as a shock to many folks). That’s why they had that amazing healthcare plan for so many years. It was funded by their residuals.

5. So anyway back around 2006-ish, many folks noticed their residual checks were shrinking. A lot. Because episodes weren’t getting rerun. And things weren’t going into syndication.

Why not?

Because the studios were streaming them instead. Miss an episode? Watch it online!

6. “Hang on,” said the creative folks. “Where’s our cut?”

“You don’t get a cut,” said the studios. “Check your contracts. Nothing about the internet in there.”

“Well let’s put it into the contracts.”

“Hahahahaaaa. No.”

And thus we had the Writers Guild (WGA) strike of 2007-2008.

7. Much has been said about this. Some of it by me (intrepid entertainment journalist at the time). The WGA struck to get new streaming terms put into contracts. The actors (SAG) and directors (DGA) supported them almost immediately.

IATSE... didn’t. That’s a whole ‘nother story.

8. Anyway the strike was overall successful and new terms became standard for streaming residuals.

With one catch. And I think that catch—that concession—is what’s shaping a lot of streaming decisions right now.

9. Y’see, in negotiations the studios kept *insisting* they weren’t sure streaming would make money. Even though, for example, NBC was going to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and saying they expected to make one billion in online revenue that year.

10. They insisted the creative folks agree to a "free window.” For a set number of days, a network can stream a show and not pay ANY residuals. This would let them recoup costs in the uncertain world of the internet. Once the window's past, residuals would flow at the agreed rates.

11. The window? Twenty-four days for new shows, seventeen for established shows.

Networks can stream a brand new show for three and a half weeks and pocket every single cent of revenue they earn from it.

Does this timeframe sound a bit familiar?

12. D’you ever wonder why on so many network sites, they’d show you the latest episode, maybe the previous three... but then you have to sign up and pay?

It’s so they don’t have to pay residuals. As long as you’re watching in that 24 day window, they don’t have to share a penny.

13. Sounds like a model that would really benefit from you binging a lot of episodes in the first week or two, doesn’t it? And a show people don’t binge immediately would cost the studio money, because they’d have to start paying out residuals.

14. (and as a side note-- keeping a bunch of older shows online? That also means paying residuals. Better to remove them from your service. It saves you money)

15. I think this is what’s driving so many studio decisions right now in regards to streaming. They've gotten used to not paying residuals to the creative folks and they want to keep it that way. That’s why popular, well-reviewed shows get cancelled (or removed from services).

End image description.]

[starlight-time-machine]

Week in Review

09/08/2024 – 09/14/2024

Sunday

Week 31 of missing Cipher Academy

Undead Unluck…change…growth…wagh…

Ichi the Witch mid. Don’t get me wrong, the art is gorgeous – I love all of the character designs and the creature designs especially, but the writing is a little lacking for me. I hate the constant switching between the serious fantasy setting and the goofy comedy hijinks and reactions. The two aren’t integrated with each other at all, and I really would’ve rather preferred they play it straight with the serious tone throughout. I also don’t care for Ichi – I think I really hate when they give the main character some weird mantra/code to live by as a replacement for giving them an actual personality and like, complex and well-round motives. You literally know how they’ll react to most situations already, so I don’t feel any real need to keep reading. My final gripe is something that I know comes with the territory as a Shounen Jump manga, but I’m kind of tired of “prodigy boy enters field previously dominated by women” narratives. Just let me read about the women instead.

Monday – Saturday

Just gonna cut to the chase and tell you that I got sick this week so I couldn’t do much of anything. I rewatched Succession season 4 episode 3 and 10 somewhere in there and cried like a baby, but I don’t even remember what day that was.

[crowdvscritic]

round up // MAY 24

Who cares what the calendar says? Ryan Gosling has declared summer is officially here! 

Between longevity of the “Beavis and Butt-Head” Saturday Night Live sketch I shared last month, his extremely fun red carpet appearances, and the wonderfully fun The Fall Guy,  he’s been everywhere, and I have no complaints about it. 

But The Fall Guy and the other new releases in this Round Up aren’t the last summer movies to look forward to. I stopped by KMOV to preview some of the movies I’m most excited for this summer, including a star-studded rom-com set in the ‘60s, a legacy sequel action spectacular, a mystery starring a recent Best Actress nominee, and a prequel for a genre I rarely like. Let’s take on the summer as Ryan Gosling commands in The Fall Guy: “Jean-Claude, attaqué!” 

May Crowd-Pleasers

1. The Fall Guy (2024)

Most movies go to great pains to hide their seams, but not The Fall Guy. And who needs to when a behind-the-seams look can be so fun? Summer 2024 is starting off with a bang because it’s a blast both as an action-adventure and as a romantic comedy, making it one of the easiest movies to recommend to just about anyone. Read my full review for ZekeFilm or watch out my review for KMOV. Crowd: 10/10 // Critic: 8/10

2. John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA (2024)

It’s not hyperbole to say I adored this weird and wonderful talk show experiment. Experts on palm trees and coyotes did most of the talking, Bill Hader and Pete Davidson couldn’t stop giggling, and John Mulaney kept asking about what kinds of cars people drive. Only a handful of clips have been added online from this live six-episode series…

"The Map of Los Angeles"

"Reverse Borat"

"Oh, Hello Manson Tour"

"Nepo Babies"

…but if Mulaney ever decides to resurrect his late night format of taking calls, discussing non-urgent topics, and creating sketch comedy with his friends and seismologists, I’d watch it every night.

3. IF (2024)

Not everything about the logic of IF hangs together, but one of the beauties of an original world is not being encumbered by mythology and continuity. IF is about dreaming big, and it’s for kids and families who want to be dazzled by a story imaginative in every sense of the word. Read my full review for ZekeFilm. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8/10

4. SNL Round Up

That’s a wrap on season 49! These sketches will be holding me over till the Saturday Night Live’s golden jubilee begins in the fall: 

“Teeny Tiny Statement Pin” (4618 with Dua Lipa)

“OBGYN” (4618)

“Hot Ones with Beyoncé 2” (4619 with Maya Rudolph)

“Weekend Update: A Woman Who Insists She's Not Mad” (4619)

“Monologue” (4620 with Jake Gyllenhaal)

“Dad Has a Cookie” (4620)

“Fast Fashion Ad” (4620)

“NYPD Press Conference” (4620)

And if you're still laughing at "Beavis and Butt-Head" from Ryan Gosling's episode last month, don't miss these behind-the-scenes articles about the viral fave:

“Heidi Gardner Couldn’t Prepare for What She Saw,” Vulture.com (2024)

“Ryan Gosling’s Viral Beavis and Butt-Head Skit Was 5 Years in the Making,” gizmodo.com (2024)

5. Zillow Gone Wild (2024-)

@ZillowGoneWild has been one of my best Instagram follows for years, so you know I’m all in on the HGTV series. Can you live inside a former missile silo? Did you know a real-life house inspired the dwarfs’ cottage in Snow White? How would you renovate a 17,000 square-foot church to make it a home? Host Jack McBrayer is stopping by the craziest Zillow listings (and more than once in my hometown of St. Louis), which you can imagine inspires hilarious commentary along the way.

MORE MAY CROWD-PLEASERS // Olivia Rodrigo’s bonus tracks on GUTS (spilled) (2024) are five more album-worthy pop-punk bangers and folksy bops // Even though I find puppets unsettling, the Prime rom-com Música (2024) is proof Camila Mendes has the “it” factor and writer/actor/director/musician Rudy Mancuso should direct a full-blown musical // Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) is the least successful of the modern Apes franchise, but I’m still in on this dystopian adventure world // It’s a shame Rutherford Falls (2021-22) was cancelled just as it was finding its groove in Mike Schur’s canon with its big ideas like The Good Place, its small town cast of characters like Parks and Recreation, and its problematic lead like The Office // Angela Lansbury time travels to the Antebellum South in a mystery with thorny issues still relevant today in Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man (2001)

May Critic Picks

1. The Way We Were (1973)

After a longer-than-planned hiatus, SO IT’S A SHOW? has returned! We’re breaking our typical mold in our seventh and final season (much like the seventh season of Gilmore Girls—IYKYK), and after a quick catch up in ep. 137 (though not without plenty of discussion of what the Palladinos are working on right now and a new Gilmore children’s book), we dig into our newest pop culture reference. In ep. 138, we’re discussing the the ‘70s weepy The Way We Were, which features a Palladino-esque heroine, Robert Redford in a cable knit sweater, heartache, laugher, and Communism all in one neat package! We discuss the cultural changes in parenting since then, why the Gilmores reference this movie several times in the series, and yes, Robert Redford in that cable knit sweater. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

2. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1817)

Jane Austen—you ever heard of her? She’s pretty good! Though it always takes me a minute to get into the rhythm of her writing, her characters and plotting never disappoint. This romantic comedy focuses on lovers separated by society reuniting almost a decade later, and as always, their story is funny and swoon-worthy.

3. Audrey Hepburn in Paris by Meghan Friedlander (2024)

I have admired Audrey Hepburn as a performer, fashion icon, work-life balance enthusiast, and humanitarian since I was 15, and the creator of Rare Audrey Hepburn has captured the beauty of each of those roles in her first book. With a journalistic attention to detail, Meghan Friedlander reports on the sets, theaters, and fashion houses Hepburn graced during her frequent visits to France. This book is both a unique biography and a gorgeous coffee table book that fans of Hepburn, fashion, and film history won’t want to miss.

4. Thelma & Louise (1991)

Kyla and I also chatted about the crime classic Thelma & Louise on SO IT’S A SHOW?. What does this movie have to say about female friendships? What did we think of THAT ending? And is Rory totally a Thelma? We discuss that and more in ep. 139. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

5. Good Reads

Recently I’ve been reading and thinking about…

The movies…

“Ryan Gosling’s Best Co-stars Are His Jackets,” Vulture.com (2024)

"The Power of the Planet of the Apes,” NYTimes.com (2024)

“‘Mum Knew What Was Going On’: Brigitte Höss on Living at Auschwitz, in the Zone of Interest Family,” TheGuardian.com (2024)

Men and women…

"Trying to Decipher a Man’s Mind? Now There’s a Name for That,” WashingtonPost.com (2024)

“Why Your Big Sister Resents You,” NYTimes.com (2024)

“Executive Women Are Wearing Sequins to Work. ‘I Made the Decision to Be Seen,’ WSJ.com (2024) 

“The Menstrual Mood Disorder You’ve Never Heard About,” TIME.com (2024)

“Scientists Calculated the Energy Needed to Carry a Baby. Shocker: It’s a Lot,” NYTimes.com (2024)

“Australian State Appoints Official for ‘Men’s Behavior Change’ as Outcry Over Violence Against Women Grows,” CNN.com (2024)

America…

“How America Got Mean,” TheAtlantic.com (2023)

“Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out,” TheAtlantic.com (2024)

“A Map of Which States People Want to Stay In, Move To, or Leave,” AtlasObscura.com (2024)

“How to Be Less Busy and More Happy,” TheAtlantic.com (2024)

“America’s Best Decade, According to Data,” WashingtonPost.com (2024)

Asia…

“China’s Age of Malaise,” NewYorker.com (2023)

“How China Miscalculated Its Way to a Baby Bust,” WSJ.com (2024)

“China Is Pressing Women to Have More Babies. Many Are Saying No,” WSJ.com (2024) 

“Overworked South Koreans Unwind With Pet Rocks—‘Like Talking to Your Dog,’” WSJ.com (2024)

“The Land That Doesn’t Need Ozempic,” TIME.com (2024) 

The Internet…

“Our Entire Society Is Becoming Addicted to Sports Gambling,” NewRepublic.com (2024)

“Hold Your Clapbacks,” ChristianityToday.com (2024)

“Stop Filming Yourself at the Gym Already,” WSJ.com (2024)

“Is Uber Strangling the Restaurant Business?,” insights.som.yale.edu (2024) 

MORE MAY CRITIC PICKS // The Moulin Rouge! National Tour finds new ways to update my beloved musical // Like all Douglas Sirk films, Magnificent Obsession (1954) looks incredible // Sofia Coppola and Celine Song chatted on the A24 podcast, and they spoke to my soul // Amy (2015) is making everyone wonder why Back to Black was ever made (keep reading for more on that new biopic) // Born to Kill (1947) is an underrated film noir // Caroline Polachek’s album Desire, I Want To Turn Into You (2024) is scratching the Imogen Heap itch I’ve had for awhile now // The scandals Ryan Gosling and George Clooney are caught up in The Ides of March (2011) already feel quaint, but I’m still thinking about days later

Also in May…

Young Woman and the Sea is a little choppy, but it’s good pick for family movie night. Read my full review for ZekeFilm.

I watched my worst movie of the year so far, the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black. Read my full review for ZekeFilm or watch my review on KMOV.

Photo credits: Zillow Gone Wild, Persuasion, Audrey Hepburn, Good Reads. All others IMDb.com.

[aimersproduction]

How to Make a Web Series: A Filmmaker’s Guide in 10 Steps

If you’re a new filmmaker or film student who has made a short film and now wants to create a feature film or TV series, it’s a tough journey. You need connections, persistence, and proof of your skills in writing, producing, and directing. A good next step could be creating a web series.

Here’s how you can start:

Come up with a Strong Idea: Think of a concept that can be expanded into 4 to 12 short episodes.

Write an Episode Outline: Create a summary for each episode, including a brief description (logline) of what happens in it.

Write Episode Scripts: Develop the scripts for each episode. These can be short, ranging from 1 to 10 pages (each page roughly equals one minute of screen time).

This web series will help you showcase your talents and can be a stepping stone towards making a feature film or TV series.

Important Pre-Production Elements.

Budgeting

Estimate Costs: List all potential expenses, including equipment, locations, cast, crew, and post-production.

Create a Budget Plan: Allocate funds to each category and keep some extra for unexpected costs.

Casting

Create Character Profiles: Write detailed descriptions of each character.

Hold Auditions: Advertise casting calls, review applications, and hold auditions to find the right actors.

Finding Locations

Scout Locations: Identify places that match your script’s settings.

Get Permissions: Contact property owners or local authorities to get permission to film.

Hiring Crew

Identify Key Roles: Determine what crew members you need, such as a director of photography, sound technician, and production assistants.

Recruit Crew: Reach out to professionals or students who can fill these roles.

Garnering Gear

List Equipment Needs: Identify all the gear you need, like cameras, lights, and microphones.

Source Equipment: Rent or borrow equipment from rental houses, friends, or film schools.

Scheduling

Create a Shooting Schedule: Plan when and where each scene will be filmed.

Coordinate with Cast and Crew: Ensure everyone is available on the scheduled dates and times.

By focusing on these pre-production elements, you’ll set a solid foundation for your web series.

Coming Up with an Idea

Just like with feature films and short films, having a strong, unique, and engaging idea is crucial for the success of your web series. A compelling concept and interesting story will keep your audience engaged and make your series stand out.

Crafting great stories can be challenging, but one effective way to avoid clichés is to write stories that are personal and have a clear identity. Drawing from your own experiences can make your narrative more authentic and relatable. For example, if you want to create a comedy series, think about the funny moments in your own life. Consider how you can expand these moments into a season’s worth of short episodes that are both personal and widely relatable. This approach ensures that your content feels genuine and can connect with your audience on a deeper level.

When crafting your story, try to avoid common clichés. Reviewing lists of clichés, such as those discussed in previous articles on CareersInFilm.com, can help you identify and steer clear of predictable plotlines. Unique and fresh perspectives will make your series more interesting and engaging for viewers.

Consider how your story can appeal to a broad audience. Even if your narrative is deeply personal, incorporating universal themes like love, friendship, and conflict can help it resonate with more people. Alternatively, you might target a niche audience with specific interests or experiences that align with your story. This approach can help build a dedicated fanbase who appreciates your vision and relates to your content.

By focusing on personal, unique stories and considering your audience, you’ll be better equipped to create a web series that stands out and captivates viewers.

The Logline

Once you have a seminal idea — a story that you not only want to tell but feel you need to tell — the first step is fleshing out your logline, followed by a webisode outline.

A strong logline clearly and impactfully illustrates your web series in a straightforward, no-nonsense way. For instance, consider the web series “Her Story,” which is succinctly described as a six-episode series about two transgender women exploring love and dating while living in Los Angeles. Another example is “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis,” which is summed up as a mock-interview series where Zach Galifianakis interviews real celebrities in the most absurd and awkward way possible, mimicking a public access TV show. Similarly, “The Line” captures the essence of fans of a fictitious movie called FutureSpace who get in line 11 days before the film opens and interact with various off-beat and nerdy characters, all competing to be the first to see the movie.

A strong logline serves as your elevator pitch, allowing you to clearly and quickly articulate what your web series is about. This is crucial when communicating your vision to cast, crew, locations, potential investors, producers, directors, and editors. Moreover, it ensures that everyone involved has a clear understanding of the project’s core idea.

In addition to writing a series logline, you will also need to write a logline for each episode. This helps maintain a clear focus for every episode, ensuring each one contributes meaningfully to the overall story.

By crafting precise and compelling loglines, you create a solid foundation for your web series, making it easier to pitch your concept and engage others in your project.

The Outline

When starting out, don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s wise to start with a manageable goal, such as a 4 to 6-episode season with episodes lasting 3 to 5 minutes each. This approach ensures you create enough material that could potentially be repackaged into a pilot episode for television.

For each episode or webisode, flesh out the content with 3 to 5 sentences that describe what it will be about, including characters, setting, and plot. Keep these descriptions concise and avoid over-writing. Each brief paragraph should show the development and cohesiveness of the entire series so that everyone — from executives to cast — understands the overall story arc.

For example, in a comic book-themed series I pitched years ago called “Store Front Super Heroes,” I provided succinct descriptions that outlined the characters, the setting of a quirky comic book store, and the episodic plots involving the humorous misadventures of everyday people who think they have superpowers.

Studying successful series’ outlines can provide valuable insights. Researching these examples will help you understand how to structure your own series effectively. Here’s a fantastic resource for studying successful series outlines, which can guide you in crafting your own.

Script Writing

When writing your web series script, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the screenplay format. Remember that setting, characters, and plot are the basic structure you should always keep in mind. If you need a refresher, here’s an example from a web series I wrote called “Sexcommunicated,” about a 20-year veteran priest who leaves the priesthood and starts dating in Los Angeles:

FADE IN: EXT. SMALL HOME — NIGHT [SETTING] It’s a two-story, modest home in a quiet Los Angeles suburb. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN — NIGHT Various pots of steaming food percolate on the stove. The hands of DAVIN’s father reach in — one holding a spoon and the other holding a bowl. His name is FERGUS. FERGUS [CHARACTER] (proudly) I hope you enjoy this. I started it this morning for me and your mom, but there’s plenty for all of us. CUT TO: THE KITCHEN TABLE DAVIN sits there looking at his father as his father places the bowl in front of DAVIN. DAVIN Thanks, dad. FERGUS calls out to DAVIN’s mother. FERGUS Shauna! Quit messing with that toilet and come down here. Dinner’s ready. Fergus plops down in his seat. FOOTSTEPS can be heard coming down the stairs. SHAUNA, DAVIN’s mom (60s), walks into the kitchen and stops. She has a plunger in one hand as she puts her hands on her hips. SHAUNA (to DAVIN) What’s this shit I hear about what happened at church this morning? You yelled at that Lisa Burk girl — made a whole scene in front of Miriam Mahoney! [PLOT] Davin is wide-eyed. DAVIN How in the hell could you possibly know that? SHAUNA Oh, I have my sources. Fergus is just about to eat a spoonful of stew. FERGUS Miriam posted it on Facebook. DAVIN That old woman is on Facebook??? Shauna sits down. SHAUNA Oh son, everyone is online today. DAVIN I’m not.

When writing your web series script, remember that each page, when formatted correctly like above, equals approximately one minute of screen time. This can vary depending on how much description you include and if you have stunts or action sequences, but the general rule of thumb is one page equals one minute.

Therefore, if you write three pages, you have a three-minute episode. Try to avoid excessive description in your script, making it as bare-bones as possible. Focus on essential description and dialogue and try to avoid narration, as it can be seen as a cop-out and often leads to more telling than showing.

Finally, each episode — whether one minute, three minutes, five minutes, or ten minutes — should end on a cliffhanger that bridges one episode to the next. Since you’re writing a series, each episode should tell a story arc that connects, forming a complete story from beginning to end.

Budgeting for Your Web Series

Producing or directing a web series requires funding, as it’s almost impossible to create one without financial support. Film students have an advantage, often relying on classmates and school-provided gear to bring their series to life.

In smaller markets, such as the Midwest, filmmakers may be more willing to work for free to showcase their skills online and potentially attract future paid opportunities. However, in major film industry hubs like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, and Atlanta, it’s harder to find crew and cast willing to work for free.

Paying your crew, even if it’s just minimum wage, is beneficial for building long-term relationships based on trust and appreciation. If each episode of your web series is character-driven and not heavy on location or effects, you could produce each episode for around $1,000. This is why creating 4 episodes with a clear beginning, middle, and end is often more feasible than attempting 10 episodes.

For example, a budget of $4,000 is more manageable than $10,000. In fact, it may be best to start by creating a 3-minute pilot episode. This serves as a sample that can help you raise funds through crowdfunding or attract studio investors who see potential for your project on platforms like YouTube, Amazon, or Hulu.

By carefully budgeting and starting with a pilot episode, you can build momentum for your web series and increase your chances of securing the funding needed to bring your vision to life.

Casting Your Web Series

Casting is a crucial aspect of bringing your web series to life, as the actors you choose will play a significant role in realizing your vision. Bad acting can detract from your script and undermine your entire project, so it’s essential to find talented performers who can embody their characters convincingly.

When casting for a web series, it’s important to select actors who can commit to the entire series. Unlike short films, web series require actors to be available for multiple shoot dates across several episodes. Ensure that your cast members can accommodate these scheduling demands.

Hold auditions in a professional setting, such as a classroom, boardroom, or office. Avoid hosting auditions in your living room, as it can make potential cast members feel uncomfortable. Look for actors who can emote with sincerity and charisma, and who embody their character in appearance, mannerisms, and body language.

Provide potential cast members with a sample page of action and dialogue from your script, and ask them to prepare a short monologue for the audition. Sometimes, casting decisions are based more on the actor’s monologue performance than their reading of the script page, as they’ve had more time to rehearse and showcase their skills.

Record the auditions whenever possible. This allows you to review and analyze the performances more thoroughly, uncovering nuances that may not have been apparent during the live audition.

When referring to those auditioning, use the term “actors” to encompass individuals of all genders and ages. Treat actors as artists and professionals, respecting their craft and dedication to the project.

Here are some resources to find actors for your web series:

Casting websites like backstage.com, mandy.com, actorsaccess.com, and craigslist.com are excellent platforms to discover talented and passionate actors.

Local playhouses often have stage actors who are eager to transition into screen acting. Post casting calls on their bulletin boards or attend their productions to connect with potential talent.

Utilize social media platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to watch other short films, sketches, and casting reels. These platforms can serve as valuable resources for discovering emerging talent.

By utilizing these resources and following these tips, you can assemble a talented and dedicated cast for your web series, elevating the quality of your production and enhancing the audience’s viewing experience.

Finding Locations for Your Web Series

Locations in your web series serve not only as backdrops but also as characters that enhance the overall performance. It’s essential to find locations that align with the style, tone, and theme of your series, as they contribute significantly to the atmosphere and storytelling.

Here are some ways to find suitable locations:

1. Friends, Family, and Personal Connections:

Depending on the scope of your web series, consider utilizing locations owned by people you know, including yourself. Your apartment, a friend’s restaurant, or a family member’s house could be perfect for your story. Tap into your network to access locations for free or at a reduced cost, saving you money in the production budget.

2. Peerspace.com:

Peerspace is a valuable online platform that offers a wide range of locations available for rent from private owners. From homes to restaurants to stages, Peerspace provides various options for your web series. Simply type in your location and desired criteria, browse through the listings, and contact owners to negotiate a deal.

3. Airbnb.com:

Airbnb is another resource for finding potential filming locations. Many homeowners list their properties on Airbnb for short-term rentals, offering reasonable prices for filmmakers. However, it’s crucial to communicate transparently with the property owners about your intentions to shoot a web series to ensure they are comfortable with the arrangement.

4. Film Location Sites:

Platforms like LocationsHub.com specialize in connecting filmmakers with suitable filming locations. While there may be fees associated with these locations, they offer a wide range of options and provide detailed information to help you make informed decisions.

5. Local Film Commissions:

Researching your local film commissions can lead you to Location Managers and available locations in your area. These commissions often have databases of potential filming locations and can provide assistance in securing permits and navigating local regulations. Fees for locations may vary, so it’s essential to inquire about costs upfront.

By exploring these avenues and leveraging personal connections, online platforms, and local resources, you can find the perfect locations to bring your web series to life while staying within your budget and enhancing the overall quality of your production.

Getting Permission for Filming Locations

Securing permission to film at various locations is crucial for legal and safe filmmaking, but the rules and regulations vary depending on the jurisdiction. In Los Angeles, working closely with Film LA is essential for obtaining permits and ensuring compliance with local laws. However, this often comes with a cost, with base location fees starting at $650 for up to 10 locations.

To avoid the risk of shutdowns by local authorities, especially when filming in residential areas or on public streets, it’s imperative to secure permits from your local film office. This process may also require coordination with the police, particularly if filming in public places. Start the permitting process at least two weeks before your first shoot date to allow ample time for approval.

While the costs associated with permits can be significant, especially for low-budget productions, cutting corners can lead to legal issues and disruptions during filming. Private locations with no need for street parking may offer a workaround, but it’s essential to research all filming laws and regulations in your area beforehand.

Ultimately, investing time and resources into obtaining proper permits and permissions is crucial for a smooth and legally compliant production process. It ensures the safety of your cast and crew, prevents potential disruptions, and mitigates the risk of legal consequences down the line.

Success Stories: From Web Series to Television

Producing a well-executed web series can serve as a stepping stone to television, as demonstrated by several successful examples:

Children’s Hospital:

Created by comedian and actor Rob Corddry, this off-beat and eccentric series started online before transitioning to television. Originally consisting of 10 episodes in 2008, it eventually ran for 5 seasons on Adult Swim.

I Ship It:

This series, which follows roommates Ella and Tim as they start a band inspired by fandom culture, began airing on The CW Seed before transitioning to television on The CW. The show’s journey from online to TV demonstrates the potential for web series to gain recognition and expand their audience.

Broad City:

Initially airing online, Broad City gained popularity and caught the attention of comedian Amy Poehler, who helped bring it to Comedy Central. The series went on to enjoy critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base during its run on television.

Producing or directing a web series allows creators to showcase their ability to craft long-form content beyond traditional short films. While short films have their place, a successful web series can demonstrate a creator’s storytelling prowess and production skills on a larger scale.

Moreover, a well-received web series can attract the attention of established actors and industry executives, potentially opening doors to new opportunities and elevating a creator’s career to the next level.

Depending on where you are in your career development, a web series could be the ideal next step to showcase your talent, build your portfolio, and potentially transition to television or other larger platforms. With the right concept, execution, and dedication, a web series has the potential to be a significant milestone in a filmmaker’s journey.

Conclusion

In the world of filmmaking, a well-produced web series can serve as a powerful catalyst for success, paving the way to television and beyond. Through the lens of various success stories like “Children’s Hospital,” “I Ship It,” and “Broad City,” we’ve seen how web series have transitioned from online platforms to mainstream television, attracting audiences and garnering critical acclaim along the way.

Producing or directing a web series offers filmmakers a unique opportunity to showcase their storytelling abilities and production skills in long-form content. While short films have their merits, a successful web series demonstrates a creator’s capacity to engage audiences over multiple episodes, providing a platform to explore characters, narratives, and themes in greater depth.

Furthermore, the journey from web series to television underscores the potential for online content to catch the attention of established actors, industry executives, and networks, leading to new opportunities and career advancements.

From crafting compelling loglines and episode outlines to securing funding, casting talent, scouting locations, and navigating the complexities of permits and permissions, the process of creating a web series is both challenging and rewarding. However, with dedication, creativity, and perseverance, filmmakers can bring their vision to life and captivate audiences across digital platforms.

Whether you’re a budding filmmaker or a seasoned professional, a web series may offer a promising avenue to showcase your talent, build your portfolio, and propel your career forward. As you embark on your journey, remember the lessons learned from successful web series and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of digital storytelling.

Original source: contxtart.in