#TBT S3 SPOILERS

[arabella-strange]

lololol shoutout to #NBCBlindspot — even after all this time

[cliquestitsandicks]

Tracking Kat

Episode 1: Kat is mourning the end of her relationship with Adena. It has been 5 weeks since the breakup in Paris. She's still looking at old pictures of them and posted one. She still hasn't sent Adena's equipment to her, even though Adena has been texting her asking for it. By the end of the episode, she's admitted to (in order) Alex, Patrick, and Jane & Sutton that she is not okay. She is still sad about the end of her relationship. Alex tells her "you're so hard on yourself. You got your heart broken. There's no expiration date on heartbreak. You move on when you're ready to move on and when you *are* ready, you will find someone amazing. Someone who will never leave." Then Patrick is an entitled, invasive dick. She told her girls she wasn't ready for it to be real yet and that's why she hadn't told them... but she broke down in front of them. She'd finally accepted it was over. End of the episode, she makes an instagram post exposing her vulnerability to the world and packs up Adena's things for good.

Episode 2: Kat injects Jane for fertility treatment. She is very familiar with Jane's reproductive system at this point - best friends. She learns the Wild Susan, a club Adena took her to that became a safe space she frequents and which happens to be 1 of only TWO lesbian bars in the city, is closing. She learns the only reason it's happening is because developers want to gentrify the neighborhood. We learn Kat has a lawyer (not sure how that may come up later) that she met through the #BeReal campaign. Anyway, Kat throws a queer prom as a fundraiser to help save the Wild Susan. It ultimately fails because $42,000 in one night from poor people is a bit much. But it was a valiant effort and, as Kat learns, the gentrifiers were well aware of its impossibility. This episode is leading up to her political career. "I've been so into my feelings lately, it feels really good to challenge my energy into something that really matters". I am so proud of Kat. In Season 1, I would have worried she was avoiding her feelings, but the writers made a big deal of showing she's done the exact opposite of that in the prior episode.

Episode 3: Kat has been researching councilman Reynolds and he's a total piece of shit - helping gentrifiers, cutting funding to parks, and voting against paid maternity leave. She's fired up. Our girl is P A S S I O N A T E & informed! We meet the councilwoman for whom she plans to volunteer and her campaign manager, Tia. Tia's a tiny, bubbly boss with natural hair and a bright smile and we see Kat brighten up. We later learn she and Kat have more in common, both being NYU grads (actually overlapping while there) and both brilliant. Tia, however, is not from a wealthy and connected background. In their initial meeting, Kat tells Tia "I'm just looking for something to channel my rage and depression". Kat enlists her besties to help get the councilwoman to unseat problematic Reynolds. Sutton clearly sees something between Kat and Tia because she does a friend's background check (checking the social media) and tells Kat she looks very single to which Kat responds "it really doesn't matter because I'm still getting over Adena" and Jane seems skeptical of Kat's protestations with her silent smirk. We learn Kat has really soft lips. Kat is the voice of reason for Alex, being the first one to acknowledge the hypersexual "dangerous" Black man depiction that will likely be projected onto him if he admits he is the man in his friend's story. Then we see her naturally command the crowd at the rally. Again, I am so proud of Kat. She isn't holding back when she knows she should speak up. She's taking control of her narrative. She's fighting for what's right in a constructive manner. And now Tia, who has way more experience with this than Kat, is recommending she run for office.

Episode 4: We start the episode with Kat describing what would be her district and job description to her best friends. She's looking excited about the potential to do something that matters and really help people. In her conversation with the Toby (?. don't know, don't care), we get to see more of Tia being supportive of Kat and Kat being confronted with whether she's motivated to actually run or just wants someone to beat Reynolds. We learn Kat had an abortion in 2013 when she was 20 AS IS HER GOTDAMN RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S HER BODY, but it's something she's felt some sort of shame/concern over seeing as nobody close to her knew about it. Then, and this is so great, after telling her friends she has the conversation with Tia. Tia shares that she's had one as well and completely understands not wanting it to be public knowledge, but in sharing her experience educates Kat on yet another way vulnerable people are having their rights stripped, this time through manipulation and "crisis centers" that shouldn't exist. Tia remains supportive and doesn't pressure Kat at all with her decision. "I am by your side if they come for you, but you gotta do what's right for you". When we get that great speech from Jacqueline we see Kat being moved my the statement that you'll never know what you're capable of if you don't take a leap faith to face challenges that frighten you, then you'll never know what you're capable of. [i'd like to pause right now to say Jacqueline is fucking wonderful and i love her like my white auntie. also Sutton needed to hear that again just as much as Kat and i really appreciate this entire moment.] When Kat leaves Jacqueline's celebration, she passes by one of those "crisis centers" Tia told her about and decides to use her voice to help others. "I like to think of myself as a pretty strong, empowered, forward-thinking, open-minded woman. But, up until now, I haven't been able to talk about my abortion. If me putting myself out there helps even one woman to feel less alone, less ashamed, and less guilty then it's worth it." And just like us, dear Tia is blown away. She actually exhales a breath she didn't know she was holding and biiiiiiiitch (!!!! excitedly). and then they're dancing! This is the episode, upon rewatch, when i recognize how often Tia touches Kat unnecessarily.

Episode 5: Kat's entire recap includes Tia, ending with Sutton saying "she seems to be very single". Her very first scene, Tia is complimenting her walking out of some campaigning event we later learn was a Town Hall. Can we just talk about Kat's blazer for a second? First of all, i want it. Second, how did they find something so perfectly her? It's colorful but still semi-professional, fun, but still about her business. Heart-eye inducing. ok. So the next time we see Kat, she and Tia (whose last name they finally mention as Clayton) are reviewing campaign platform and doing debate prep at Kat's apartment. Tia's complimenting Kat almost continuously at this point. Clearly she's impressed, borderline gushing. and Kat tries to brush it off. Tia's not letting her. And there's this moment when Tia forces herself to break eye contact with her (around 5:40 of the episode). The show tells us Kat still hasn't dated since Adena, but Sutton brings up the "stupid smile" she gets whenever Tia's mentioned. She's making better decisions than Patrick and her being compared to Patrick is lowkey happening a lot. I'm starting to wonder if they're setting up Kat taking over digital if she doesn't win the campaign. Ok, the song choice as they pan to Kat and Tia... "I never normally check my phone 10 times in a minute. I'm not the girl to be kept on hold 10 miles from the finish." Again, Tia is very touchy with Kat, never anything inappropriate of course, but the hand is always on the back or the arm. and their interaction is just.. lovely. I squeal. it's so cute. they're so comfortable. Kat invites Tia to the dinner BEFORE (i got the timing on that mixed up before) Tia says she's "a boring straight girl" [the test determined that was a LIE... nah, my good sis Tia is dealing with some internalized homophobia which is no joking matter, but we don't learn that until the next episode]. Apparently, Kat can cook now? So she just liked Adena's food better i guess? idk... anyway. I get why some of the things Tia said can be taken as flirting, but i still believe that you accept what someone says is their sexuality until they say otherwise. yes, that's even when they're saying things like "when i see what i want, i go for it" and "Annndd she can cook. it's hot" and looking at you like that. Kat telling Jane to apologize because he's her boss and she got suuuper disrespectful and would absolutely deserve getting fired makes me proud. She's the mature friend now. She's the one with a level head on her shoulders. Kat finally makes her feelings known to Tia, but this is after Tia has already stated she's straight. Tia reiterates that this is a professional relationship and apologizes for Kat getting the wrong idea. I'm reminded of when Alex Danvers told Maggie Sawyer she was into her and she was rejected... but in that example i was floored and heartbroken for Alex because ugh, i just didn't see that coming. With this, however, it felt like Tia was clear in her words even if it shocked the hell out of me what the words were. So i didn't feel heartbroken for Kat. I thought... tbh... she brought it on herself for refusing to respect Tia's "no", however soft it was. But the writers did let us know it wasn't over with the music selection... Kat looking at "You and Tia make a great team :)" as "I'll go to war for you" plays.

Episode 6: All the emails have been released and Kat has no worries at all about that because she's a professional. And we get to see her be a boss addressing the entire group. Patrick isn't there this episode (YAY for our sanity!) and i think Kat being a boss so often when Patrick isn't around is intentional. When we see Tia, she says last night is forgotten but she thinks it's a bad idea to remain Kat's campaign manager... which is clearly a hard rejection. One can argue that it's too harsh for someone merely admitting they were into you. But it's just as easy to argue that it's appropriate after telling someone, very clearly, that you are not into them romantically and them ignoring that and saying that you were flirting with them on this date they never called a date before you were already there?? so i'm not mad at it. At the end of the episode, we find out that Tia was rejecting herself, not Kat. Turns out, Ms. Tia Clayton has known she's attracted to women since she was in high school, but she "didn't want to want it". Tia is so TINY AND ANXIOUS ABOUT HER SEXUALITY AND MANY OF US HAVE BEEN THERE. But... and i say this in jest... for someone who is really trying not to be out in the open with her gay, she sure was comfortable kissing Kat all outdoors for anyone to see. My good sis is smitten. I'm excited for the story. Again with the music during their scenes though... "I cannot fallll in love with youuuuu. I cannot feeeeel this way so soon, so soon." Also, my girlfriend and I have watched the gifset of the kiss over the phone and swooned (we live in different states for now). This episode, we also got the flashbacks (i missed Lauren so much). Kat's got red streaks in her hair, is a friend to strangers, has regrettable sex with men who taste like pickles, and is cute as a button. She also called Jacqueline "Mama Jackie" and that's it; that's her name now.

[pseudofaker]

Aisha Dee rocking the fro while filming the TBT finale at the arsenal contemporary art museum (from joanna coles’ instagram story)

[fightknife-moved]

anyway, the difference between s1 with klaus in the car and diego being all “my body is a temple” vs s3 with allison and him going “check the glovebox” … the sixties were not kind to these kids and it hurts my heart.

[spudsim]

i present my island penumbra shitpost... a loving reslice of AnimatedJames’ (no longer on the internet as far as I know) old brony music video: A Tropical Octav3 Animation, in a Penumbra Podcast flavor.  I’m really excited to be part of a fandom again and I am all CAUGHT Up at least with the Junoverse! Chicks dig... giant robots.  Anyway, the brony fandom was really the last one I was really invested in, and that was a long time ago. And tiny robots too.

(This animation is based on one from another creator, (AnimatedJames) and features an excerpt from a song by Coconeru on youtube. This video’s only purpose is love for those who inspired it, and if either James or Neru contacts me asking to remove it, I will.)

[bruisedconscience]

Guillermo… how DO you know what vampire p!ss tastes like????

[pseudofaker]

I don’t think adena ever gets to see them and this makes me sad. 😭

Boo’s gettin dem braids out

Did Adena even get to see em?

[starfiresupernova]

Pretty sure that line about Alex being under-utilized at Scarlet was a subtle jab at us asking for Alex to get more screentime lol

[politicalprocrastinator]

I love that the bold type is one if the few mainstream shows talking about body positivity. But it does concern me that their "real women" are the main cast, whom are all incredibly thin, and Paige, who never gives her own opinions on body positivity. It just rubs me the wrong way a bit that this show's discussion of body positivity revolves around very thin women embracing their insecurities and not focusing on the experiences of fat women that kickstarted the movement and face the brunt of the abuse on behalf of the movement

[blednose]

honestly thinkin abt re-writing bits of season 3 because :)))))

[virucides-blog]

st spoilers

[pseudofaker]

Aisha Dee, Meghann Fahy and Katie Stevens teasing the finale (from katie’s instagram and the TBT instagram story)

[the-rainbow-ships]

I SAID STAN TUMBLR DO YOU KNOW THIS FUCKING SONG

[josiae-a]

“ you don’t have to tell me anything, we can just sit here. ” hope

some  meme  from  here ,   always  accepting.  

“  thanks,  hope. ”  she  speaks  softly,  giving  the  tribrid  a  delicate  smile  as  she  moves  to  a  laying  position.   ever  since  she  put  her  siphon  power  back  into  the  coin,  she’s  been  non-stop  thinking  about  if  it  was  a  good  idea.  doing  magic  again  was  nice  and  she  had  missed  it  but  was  she  ready ?   “ i  would  be  open  to  cuddling,  though.  if  you ---  wanted  to. ” 

[multifandomaddictedfangirl]

What I really appreciated is that Alex doesn’t realise his (past or present) actions were/are sexist until someone calls him out. He genuinely thought there was nothing wrong with the way he had treated or was treating the women he was flirting with. He didn’t even see himself as a pushy guy (and neither did the viewers!). We all fell for that “good feminist social justice warior” image, without wondering if something was wrong. Not until a woman makes him see his behaviour. And that shows how internalised sexism and patriarchal thoughts and beliefs are - which is real.

Shout out to The Bold Type for showing that even a cinnamon roll like Alex Crawford can learn a lesson about consent.

[blaqpanther]

Here's my annoyance with TBT right now outside of S2 itself; clearly, the show does not mind us knowing that Jane chooses Pinstripe. Dan has been included in cast photos since S3 started shooting that TBT IG has liked, while Luca has been nowhere near Montreal. But they can't say if Nikohl is coming back. Why does one spoiler not bother you but the other does?

There could be any number of reasons. Perhaps contract negotiations??? Perhaps not. Maybe Nikohl is on the fence? They'd need to know by a certain point right? Bc they are still writing the season but time is flying by. Maybe she has already informed them she won't return or won't come back except for one ep so Kat can get some closure? Maybe the show wants to wait for the fandom to calm tf down after the finale before they drop the bomb? Maybe everything is all great and Nikohl will be in the second half and they want to announce it closer to the premiere date in order to drum up excitement?