#The Triumph of Evil

[historyhermann]

Spy x Family Season 2 Spoiler-Filled Review

Spy x Family is an action spy comedy based on Tatsuya Endo's manga. It is directed and written by Takahiro Harada. The first season aired in two cours / parts from April to December 2022. Kazuhiro Furuhashi directed and wrote that season. Wit Studio and CloverWorks produce this series. The latter studio is known for Akebi's Sailor Uniform, My Dress-Up Darling, In the Heart of Kunoichi Tsubaki, and Bocchi the Rock!. The former studio produced Attack on Titan's first three seasons. As a warning, there will be discussion of blood, violence, death, murder, and other mature themes.

Spy x Family focuses on three people staying together as a family unit, each for their own reasons. Twilight (voiced by Takuya Eguchi) receives the top-secret mission, Operation Strix, from the Westphalia intelligence agency (otherwise known as WISE). They want to stop war from breaking out between the East and West by investigating reactionary political leader Donovan Desmond. Twilight lives in Berlint as a psychiatrist named Loid Forger. He's the patriarch of a mock family including himself, his wife, Yor Forger née Briar (voiced by Saori Hayami), and his adopted daughter, Anya (voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki). He's unaware that Yor is secretly an assassin named Thorn Princess or that Anya is a telepath. They all live together, hiding their true identities from one another.

The first episode of this season, episode twenty-six, re-introduces viewers to the characters. This includes Bond (voiced by Kenichirō Matsuda), who can see the future, akin to Garnet's future-vision in Steven Universe. The opening is more aberrant and cartoony, differing from those for the two cours /parts of season one. I like the openings of those cours much better. This season opening gives the impression that this season will be wild and out of control. That somewhat pans out.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and my personal WordPress blog. This was the sixty-sixth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on February 7, 2024.

There's no doubt that this season is more centered on female characters, especially Yor, than previous episodes. Surely, Anya has received a huge spotlight, leading to the nomination of her character as a "must protect at all costs" character during the Crunchyroll's Anime Awards this year. Anya's voice actor was also nominated for another award. However, Yor hasn't received as much of a spotlight. This season changes that. The season's first episode involves Yor and Loid going on a date after he notices her foul mood. In reality, a "bad person" shot her in the butt, while she was working as an assassin, and it hurts badly. Adding to the comedy, Anya and "Scruffy Head" (also called Franky), follow them.

This episode shows Yor and Anya's inner strength. For instance, Anya uses her telepathic powers to stop someone who wants to kill Yor. She makes a bomb out of peanuts, telling the assassin to go back to his normal life. Yor eats a poisonous blowfish but survives because she has a built-up immunity to poisons. As a result, she enjoys her time with Loid and wants to go out on more dates with him. The next day, Loid has no idea what's wrong. In reality, the medicine/poison has worn off and she feels terrible again, making him lament that he doesn't understand women. From the get-go, it was clear that Yor would get "her due" this season.

Spy x Family episodes after this focus on male characters. Bond figures out a way to stay alive. Damian Desmond (voiced by Natsumi Fujiwara) goes on a field trip with his classmates, and an instructor named Mr. Green (voiced by Hiroshi Shirokuma), to the wilderness. The latter resembled a scene from Laid-Back Camp, and reminded me of my days in Boy Scouts, including a trip to the Adirondacks. The twenty-eighth episode focuses on an operation against Franklin, who distributed underground newspapers, and spotlighted secret police officer Yuri Briar (voiced by Kensho Ono). Although he has been shown as harsh, Yuri tried to be compassionate. He agreed to give Franklin's father financial aid.

This series doesn't attempt to portray Yuri's work comedically. Rather, its shown negatively. Historically, both sides in the Cold War developed secret police forces. They were tasked with preventing the other side from overthrowing their government. Austin Murphy wrote in The Triumph of Evil: The Reality of the USA's Cold War Victory that East German secret police were tasked with protecting "government leaders and buildings...uncovering plots to overthrow the government, collecting information...and spying in the West." He described how political repression and secret police actions in Eastern Europe were exaggerated by the U.S. government and mainstream press. In this series, it does not go against this perception. The idea the East is "bad" and the West is "good" is ingrained in the plot. In this series, the Eastern secret police are brutal agents of repression, engaging in surveillance and harsh interrogation.

Yuri is determined to track down Twilight. He is not aware that Twilight is married to his sister, Yor, as Loid. Even so, he is angry at Loid, due to his obsession with his sister. Anya dislikes him. Otherwise, there's a scenario from an episode of the in-series show, Bondman. Bondman creates a harem of eight women. He declares he'll make all these women like him. Fissures form. Some women are angry at not getting enough attention from him and the harem breaks apart. After Anya asks him about it, Loid rejects Bondman's actions, which echo polyamorous relationships. He say that Bondman was only being "gentlemanly" and hints that he doesn't like the idea of relationships with multiple people. I would say it is more about respecting other people rather than a statement against polyamory and favoring monogamous relationships.

I'd forgotten how many slice-of-life moments are in Spy x Family before an arc which compromises almost half the season. Anya rides on a silly polar bear machine. Loid realizes he doesn't understand the children's minds. Anya is determined to get legendary pastries from the Eden College pastry chef. Perhaps hinting at the future, Anya cries in front of Damian. He loses the game of Old Maid, as a result. She gets a macron, following her failed efforts to be a "cool liar" and almost being exposed for being a mind-reader.

One of my favorite slice-of-life moments is where Franky Franklin (voiced by Hiroyuki Yoshino) and Yor work together to find a cat named Kopi. Kacey (voiced by Marie Ôi), a girl who works at a nearby cafe, owns the cat. This scene artfully combines combination of humor, technology, and action. Franky develops cat-shaped listening devices which cats destroy, and a device which shoots out catnip pheromones, which work too well. In the end, Franky is disappointed. Kacey has a partner named Mark. Yor is glad she helped Franky. This fades away when she's called into a room to answer a call from her boss-of-sorts. She learns about another assassin mission.

Episodes 30-34, and part of 35, comprise the cruise liner arc. It is perhaps one of the best Spy x Family arcs due to the focus on Yor, something severely lacking in the series up to this point. Apart from episode 26, Yor had been treated as a secondary character among the protagonists. This echoed Oshi no Ko. That series centers around the perspective of Aquamarine "Aqua" Hoshino. Female perspectives are downplayed. Some critics raised the same issue about Helluva Boss.

The latter is curious. Hazbin Hotel, also created by Vivienne Medrano, centers on female characters. This raises the question as to why more wasn't done in Helluva Boss. Medrano defended this decision in a Twitter thread. She said "Hazbin has always had a heavier emphasis on women led stories, so Helluva has steered more towards male-led stories." She added even with such storytelling, she still loved female characters in the series.

Coming back to Spy x Family, the arc started off strong. Yor meets her aforementioned boss-of-sorts, known as the Shopkeeper (voiced by Junichi Suwabe). She receives her mission: protecting someone seeking asylum in the East. Her mission is complicated when she learns that Anya and Loid have tickets on the same luxury cruise ship, the Princess Lorelei. It is in-character for Anya to be excited for the cruise and then be disappointed once she entered the living quarters.

Yor protects Olka (voiced by Aya Endō), her son Gram (voiced by Marie Ôi), and Olka's husband, Zeb (voiced by Shinya Takahashi). Olka and Zeb have shared wartime experiences. Olka gave Zeb a piece of bread when he was starving which brought them closer together. Assassins threaten Yor and her clients. Some even bug the entire vessel.

The episode that follows involves Yor fighting off an assassin, masquerading as someone providing room service. She;s assisted by Matthew McMahon (voiced by Kenyū Horiuchi), the director. Loid notices wiretaps and tries to avoid suspicious characters. At the same time, there's a substory between Loid and Anya. She tries to ensure that assassins don't try to kill or attack Yor and attempts to distract Loid. In the process, Yor and the Director use brutal tactics to defend their clients (Olka, her husband, and son). This includes Yor killing someone with a button and another with her hand strength, while the Director throws an assassin into the water.

The thirty-second, thirty-third, and thirty-fourth episodes of Spy x Family give more depth to Yor. This mixes with Franky realizing that he can "pick up" women with Bond and Anya continuing to distract Loid in one way or another. In the process, she ends up enjoying mini-golf, going on roller-skates, attending a play, and so on, rather than thinking about helping Yor. She realizes that she is worrying Loid and notes that she misses Yor. In response, Loid says he will leave a message to let them know when Yor is free.

These episodes feature some of the most brutal fights for Yor, which she wins. Anya assists her. She convinces people that Yor is only a circus performer. As a result, assassin becomes distracted and Yor leaves victorious. She kills other assassins through various means. Blood, violence, murder, and death in this episode make clear that this series is for adults.

Yor's battles against assassins is some of the best action sequences in the entire series. The flowing animation fits well with the music and voice acting, all while she begins to question what she is fighting for. At one point, she gets cornered. She contemplates what would happen if she died. She remembers why she took on the job as assassin: to protect the simple life of her brother, Yuri. To fulfill that mission, she vows to "thoroughly clean" the world and ensure Loid acknowledges her.

She doesn't give up. Using her strong kick, she lurches the enemy assassin backward and kills him. This episode, the thirty-fourth in the series, is shorter than others. It provides appropriate context for Yuri becoming sick that his sister isn't around. As he drinks terrible herbal tea, he remembers when Yor went to extreme lengths so he would feel better. This led to determination to make the world gentler for her. This goal echoes what she is trying to accomplish as an assassin.

The thirty-fourth episode of Spy x Family is the final one entirely focused on this arc. The stakes are higher than before. Yor is determined to defend Olka and her family, who were formerly part of the Mafia, and attempting to defect. The fireworks distracts everyone from the bloody battle. Anya unknowingly saves all the passengers by giving hints to Loid and finding Yor's weapon. Loid disarms the bombs on board, one of which unintentionally kills two assassins.

Yor is unsure how her weapon got there, not aware that Anya is her unstated accomplice. But, she's glad that her fight is over. Loid hints at possible tensions to come: a group of miscreants attempt to destroy the vessel using bombs resembling those from the West. They hope war will break out, again, causing weapons sales to skyrocket. Loid's quick thinking, and clues from Anya, ensure that all the bombs are found and disarmed. One bomb causes two extremists to be knocked into the water and be eaten by sharks.

Yor's victory not only benefits the Garden, the "extremist terrorist group" she is part of, but Olka. She thanks Yor and hopes that her family, some day, can have true peace. Yor gets permission to meet with Loid and Anya. Loid is tired and annoyed he put his family aside. Yor does medical care on herself. The arc doesn't end until the next episode, in which they them relax on Resort Island. Yor attempts to hide her injuries, even while they go snorkeling, go to a cafe, ride a tandem bike, ride a zip-line, ride hoses, build sand castles, or do spelunking. Through all of this, they enjoy themselves. After everything they have been through in Spy x Family up to this point, it is only right they get to relax.

After Yor and Anya conk out, Loid carries them both in a double princess carry. Following this, they return home, and Bond greets them. Loid tells his boss about what happened on the cruise ship, noting that some suspicious people were aboard. His boss reveals that the State Security Service is covering up what happened and says they will keep an eye on Ostanian "extremists." Funny enough, Loid says that after everything Anya put him through, he has had enough vacations. He describes it as more backbreaking than his usual missions, making clear the challenges of being a parent (albeit of an adopted child).

Although this arc is enjoyable, I'm doubtful there will be another Yor-centered arc in Spy x Family. In the second half of the episode, which ended the arc, Yor attempts to give her co-workers skeleton keychains, an idea they are lukewarm to. Loid prepares the apartment for Yuri's arrival. Anya attempts to brag about her cruise ship visit. However, this is a magnificent failure. This is a "normal thing" for students at this elite private school. Everyone makes fun of her. She attempts to lie about it but this does not work. They all commiserate, with Loid, Yuri, and Yor absurdly telling Anya that liars are terrible, even though they are all lying. Anya responds, saying that lying is too much work and that she isn't going to do it anymore.

Following the end of this arc, there are stories which focus on two female characters: Becky Blackbell (voiced by Emiri Katō) and Nightfall / Fiona Frost (voiced by Ayane Sakura). For the first of these characters, Becky attempts to use "lessons" she learned from Berlint in Love to express her "love" for Loid. It's an expression of her privileged mindset. Whether this obsession is a stand-in for fans who like Loid or male anime characters, I'm not sure.

A possible second cour / part of this season, could expand upon her assistant, who Loid remarked carries herself like a soldier. It is typical for Becky to think that Loid is acting sweet toward her, when he is being nice only because he sees her as a good source of information, knowing that the Blackbell family runs an arms manufacturing business. They are "masters of war" as Bob Dylan once described such people. Of all of them, Yor realizes that Becky is happy to meet Loid, who is wary of Becky.

The episode has some of the worst misunderstandings I've seen in a while. Yor jumps to the wild conclusion that she put alcohol in Becky's drink, not realizing that Becky is fawning over Loid, and rushes her to the hospital. Becky ends up clearing everything up. But, Yor isn't angry with her. She appreciates that Loid is loved. She tells Becky that Loid chose her because she is strong. This leads to another misunderstanding, on Becky's part: that Loid prefers strong women.

She tries to use a hammer to hit a pan, and ring a bell, a common game used to test someone's strength. This is another failure for Becky because the hammer is too heavy. Yor uses it, gets first place, and breaks the machine, because she can't control her strength. Becky realizes that she isn't a match for Yor and offers to become her apprentice. Yor happily agrees.

For the first time in the season, Nightfall appears. She's still deeply in love with Loid. The Handler / Sylvia Sherwood (voiced by Yūko Kaida) warns her to not push herself too hard. Her missions are aptly interspliced with Loid and his family on vacation. She perfectly executes all the missions that Loid would have been tasked with if he wasn't on the cruise ship.

Once again, she plays the role of the romantic interloper. She's determined to take the role of Loid's wife, wanting to achieve "complete victory," even going through intense training. After Loid returns, she tries to ask if Operation Strix has changed and he tells her no. He does not tell her what happened on the cruise ship. She is overjoyed to receive a gift from Loid. He gave it to her in appreciation for all the hard work she did while he was gone. Although she doesn't know that, she skips happily.

In some ways, Nightfall shares a similar obsession to Yor's brother, Yuri. She isn't the most sympathetic, considering the fact she wants to split apart the burgeoning romance between Yor and Loid, by claiming Loid as her "prize." In reality, Loid has no feelings for her whatsoever. He only sees her as a diligent and skilled agent. Undoubtedly, she is dedicated. She works hard for the same goals as Loid. It remains to be seen if he will shatter her love for him.

The final episode of this Spy x Family cour centers on Bond. He tries to use his future-vision for good, causing problems at first, at least until he runs into a burning building and saves a pug dog named Daisy, with the help of Loid. Both escape and stop the man who set the fire. It is revealed that Bond is actually very skinny. His fur makes him look more puffy.

Loid is proud of Bond, although annoyed he bit the arsonist in the wrong place (the leg rather than the arm). He says the top priority is making Bond feel he is part of the Forgers, with his training taking a back seat. He promises to bring him to a dog park the next day. Later, Anya gives him and Bond fake Stella starts. Loid wants Anya to get real Stellas.

The episode ends with Damian studying and getting in a pillow fight with his dorm mates, Becky posing with her dog and trying on new clothes, Yuri eating his sister's terrible cooking in which he sprays blood, Nightfall practicing her shooting with Loid's photo in the middle, and the Forgers having a nice meal together. It says "see you next Mission" at the end. This episode is the last one for a while. The next cour is reportedly coming in October of this year. The movie, Spy x Family Code: White, released in Japanese theaters last year. It will release in theaters, and on streaming services (like Crunchyroll) sometime this year. A date has not been announced.

It is worth noting that manga artist Tatsuya Endo, who created the original Spy x Family series (for which this anime adaptation is based) has worked on manga series since 2000. While this has, primarily, included one-shots such as Blade of the Moon Princess and I Spy, there has also been serialized stories such as the action-thriller, Tista. He has been created as an illustrator for three books. Spy x Family is the first of his manga to receive an anime adaptation.

Endo is said to create well thought-out characters. Some say he writes stories which indicate negative or positive shifts in psychological states of characters. This translates into this anime. Anya, Loid, and Yor are more than they seem on the surface. Each one is trying to hide their true identities, either as a telepath, spy, or assassin. This is partially what drew them all together, and keeps them as a family, with each of them acting the part. As Jaques, an exiled noble, famously stated in William Shakespeare's 1516 pastoral comedy, As You Like It, "all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players."

(K)now_Name, a J-pop music group, composed the show's music. Comprised of three vocalists, seven composers, and one illustrator, (K)now_Name also produced opening and ending themes for Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Sakura Quest, Fairy Gone, and Dorohedoro. The group did the theme song of Quiz RPG: The World of Mystic Wiz too. The music in this series earned the series some nominations, for various songs, in the recent anime awards hosted by Crunchyroll.

The English dub and Japanese voice actors enhance these aspects. Takuya Eguchi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Saori Hayami, and Kenichirō Matsuda, who voice the four protagonists, are emblematic of this. Eguhi voiced Kazuya Kujo in Gosick, Julius Euclius in Re:Zero, and Byakudanji Tsubaki in My Master Has No Tail. Tanezaki voiced Mizore Yoroizuka in Sound! Euphonium Season 2, Rio Futaba in Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, Sajuna Inui in My Dress-Up Darling, Eiko Kikuchi in Shine Post, Gyokuyō in The Apothecary Diaries, Serina Yoshida in The Dangers in My Heart, and Iroha Inukai / Cure Friendy in Wonderful PreCure! (currently airing).

In addition, Hayami voiced Chizuka Nishikigi in Whispered Words, Mylene Certon in Bodacious Space Pirates, Midori Aoyama in Is the Order a Rabbit?, Yuzuki Shiraishi in A Place Further than the Universe, and Viola Cadaverini in Ace Attorney. She also voiced Maria Campbell in My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Ruby Rose in RWBY: Ice Queendom, Inori in Shy, and Charlotte Evans in I'm Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness.

Matsuda voiced characters in Pluto, Tearmoon Empire, and Chainsaw Man. Hiroyuki Yoshino, Yūko Kaida, Kazuhiro Yamaji, Natsumi Fujiwara, Emiri Katō, Kensho Ono, Ayane Sakura, Umeka Shōji, Manaka Iwami, and Junichi Suwabe are just as talented. Yoshino voiced Masaaki Ohyama in Azumanga Daioh, Shakti in Carole & Tuesday, and Jaron Fate in Metallic Rouge (currently airing). Kaida voiced Minako Tsukiyama in Maria Watches Over Us, Amane Ootori in Strawberry Panic!, Nanette in Emma: A Victorian Romance, Sakura Muroi in Stars Align, Seira Amawashi in Birdie Wing, and Flare in The Executioner and Her Way of Life. Adding to this, Yamaji, Shoji, and Iwami voice many characters across anime.

Ono voiced Mikazuki Subaru in My Roommate is a Cat and Fujiwara voiced Yozora in the absurdist Too Cute Crisis. Katō voiced Himari Uehara in BanG Dream! seasons two and three. At the same time, Sakura voiced Alisa Ayase in Love Live! School Idol Project, Natsumi Koshigaya in Non Non Biyori, Cocoa Hoto in Is the Order a Rabbit?, Ran Mitake in BanG Dream!, and Kurei in Do it Yourself!!. Iwami has many roles under her belt, as of late. This includes Akane Kurokawa in Oshi no Ko, Euphyllia Magenta in The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Kokona Ōtori in World Dai Star, and Sakuna Memoir in The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess. 

Presently, English dubs for most second season episodes are on Crunchyroll, but not on Disney+ (with Hulu Bundle) or Hulu as of yet. I plan to watch the dubbed episodes like I did with season one. Although I enjoyed watching this series, I wish the cruise ship arc had been longer. More episodes focusing on female characters, particularly Yor, would be great.

For that reason, and the fact the story too easily falls into the East (bad) / West (good) dichotomy, I am rating the story section lower than in my first season review. In that review, I was far too charitable when it came to storytelling issues. While saying this, I look forward to what the second season and film has to bring. I hope for more stories centered on female characters, like Yor, Anya, Becky, and Nightfall, in the future.

Spy x Family is streaming on Hulu, Disney+ (with Hulu Bundle), and Crunchyroll. Misordered episodes can be purchased on Prime Video. Also, you can order the Blu-ray or DVD for the series from the Crunchyroll Store.

© 2023-2024 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[ineffablerainstorm]

So this just happened… 😂

[klaufir]

quick PSA before pride month ends

[artemis-pendragon]

Yes it would be fucking hysterical if Crowley left the angel and demon """wrestling""" statue in his flat for Shax to find but imagine he shoved it in the back seat of the Bentley with the plants when he moved out. He just forgets about it until Azi is helping him move the plants into the shop and is SWEATING trying to block it from sight because what the FUCK. Hilarious. 10/10 would watch Crowley fight for his life trying to explain that No, angel, they're WRESTLING see they're FIGHTING no I don't know why the artist chose that pose I didn't have anything to do with it I SWEAR. Can we please move on now and never speak of this again.

[burningcheese-merchant]

I think redemption Spice needs to beat yandare Spice to death, as a treat. Might actualy be cathartic for him.

That would be the fucking best, honestly 😭 Reformed Burning Spice, after all of that time and hard work atoning for whatever sins he could, trying to find a new way forward as a different man, finally earning back his place in society; facing off against his shadow, his doppelganger, this demon wearing his face like a mask and his skin like a coat, this monster that has hurt and killed so many that is now sneering at him and calling him soft and weak for allowing himself to feel and be a real person again

You don't even have to make this ship-related necessarily, just have the Burning Spice who climbed his way out of the abyss VS the Burning Spice who jumped in head first and let the former, with all of his newfound experiences and perspective on life and the solace he learned to find within himself and others, achieve victory. Let this be his greatest and final act of redemption: slaying the man he used to be. Let good triumph over evil, as it can, as it should, and as it must. Let Damned Spice (gonna call him that while it's VS Reformed Spice) be brought to heel - not by Golden Cheese this time, but by someone so much worse: himself. Let his pride and bloodlust be his downfall, for neither can stand against humility and proper discipline. Let the face of ultimate defeat be the one he sees in his reflection - except while his own eyes burn with hatred and his own mouth is twisted into an ugly snarl, Reformed Spice's face is calm, cool, every breath and movement measured, his eyes alight only with righteous determination.

When Damned Spice is beat, Reformed Spice offers him one more chance to stop and turn back. People were willing to take him in and push him to start over, it was only fair that he pay that sentiment forward and let his other self have the option, as well. But he says no. Of course he does. Once a destroyer, always a destroyer. If there was ever a chance to help him, it's been gone a long time, and he didn't go looking for it for one reason only: he doesn't care anymore. He regrets ever caring in the first place. Life is meaningless, all that is fun and fair is destruction. What a shame that this fool that shares his name and likeness lost sight of that ultimate truth. He welcomes his defeat, he welcomes his death. It'll be the last worthwhile thing his inferior counterpart ever does.

Damned Spice is smiling when that axe comes bearing down on his head. He's smiling as he feels it sink into his neck, carving through his flesh, rending it from bone and then slicing through the bone, too. His body slumps forward, his head hits the ground with a thud. Still wearing that hideous devil's grin. He died as he lived, as he always wanted to live and as he always wanted to die: an unrepentant monster.

Reformed Spice is... not happy, but not sad. He feels... peaceful. Finally, he can claim freedom from his past. His demons have at last been bested. Perhaps he cannot undo what he did. Perhaps there are sins he can never truly be forgiven for. Perhaps there will always be blood staining the tapestry of his life, no matter what he does to wash it out. But how the rest of it is woven is up to him, and he has earned the wisdom and strength of character needed to make better choices. Now he can continue forward, into an uncertain but nevertheless brighter future, leaving the darkness behind without looking back. Had the tables been turned, the other Burning Spice would've done the same, anyway.

🔥 Absolute fucking cinema 🔥

(To properly address Reformed Spice VS Yandere Spice: what man wouldn't want to beat the shit out of the guy that's been constantly harassing his wife? That disrespected her boundaries and her personhood in such a vile, inexcusable way? Death is too good for Yandere Spice, but it's all Reformed Spice feels like offering him. The Devil can take care of the rest.)

[writingsinashes]

[anetherealpoetess]

shoutout to robert aramayo's blistering agony at elrond having to kiss galadriel. it's not possible to hate that moment more than he did but i sure am doing my best.

[robbyykeene]

Cannot lie the writing for zara compared to axel bothered me. Of course the female antagonist is like that. It’s not that I like her, I struggle to connect with characters introduced late, but she’s such an example of misogynistic writing it’s unbelievable, we’re in 2025. Which is why im not cheering for her “the bitch had it coming” ending either. Axel was written with more respect

Yeah, the entire Zara stuff is just…bizarre. And misogynistic, obviously, but like. They have her sexually assault Robby—because to be clear, that’s what that was—but then narratively play it off as cheating. And if not full-blown cheating given the whole “we were on a break” argument, it’s at least clear they wanted us to think this was Robby’s mistake. So then to set Zara up as this ultimate villain that deserves to have her teeth knocked out by Tory just doesn’t make any sense. Like, shouldn’t she be mad at Robby? If all Zara did was have a consensual night with a guy she liked, why does that make her the pinnacle of evil? Because she dared to be a woman with sexual desires?

And like, if part 2 and 3 had come out at the same time, I think I actually would have believed they wanted us to think Zara assaulted Robby. If Hayden and the writers had never made those comments, given how Zara is framed in this season and both Tory and Robby’s reaction to her, I honestly think I would’ve believed they had intentionally written it as Robby being taken advantage of. But we know that’s not the case.

And I know a lot of people like Axel and feel for him, and that’s fair. But like you I struggle to connect with the characters introduced later (sorry Devon, it’s nothing personal) and Axel in particular irks me. This is a guy who developed a little crush on Sam and proceeded to get territorial over her try and claim some fucked up sense of ownership over her, starting shit with Miguel that directly led to the brawl, and all because she was just like. Sort of nice to him. And I get it, he’s had it rough, but any person who has experienced that kind of thing before knows it’s not innocent and it’s not cute and its not sympathetic even if they have an evil abusive sensei. It’s just scary, point blank. And pretty dehumanizing to boot. So to have him be the one that gets his mini little redemption (after already shattering Robby’s knee)….like okay lol.

[fictionadventurer]

Wait a minute.

Jod doesn't know KB survived.

He thinks a child died trying to stop him.

I don't believe that he "didn't want anyone to get hurt", because someone who truly wanted that would have, like, taken a shipload of credits rather than try to enslave the whole planet. I believe that he was even willing to hurt the kids if necessary--I fully believe he would have killed Fern in that fight if she hadn't yielded.

But I also think he didn't want to kill Fern unless absolutely necessary. And I fully believe the horror on his face when he saw the crash.

He was willing to do anything to ensure his own survival. Because he thinks that's how the galaxy works.

And he believes he watched a child sacrifice her life for other people. Because she was fighting him.

Even for him, that's gotta hurt.

[otomes-and-tears]

*grip you by the shoulder* I need your analysis of the relationship between vesper and Keir-

Pretty please 💗

! CHAPTER TWO SPOILERS !

I think the most interesting aspect of Keir and Vesper's relationship is how, despite the circumstances that brought them together, Keir treats Vesper with a surprising level of respect and openness. It’s not something you’d expect in a dynamic like theirs, especially in a setting like the marketplace, where trusting someone—anyone—can be a massive liability.

Vesper is a big liability, after all. Even if they're being blackmailed, even if the reason Keir picks them is because they're disposable, but show promise, it's still a risky decision that doesn't only put his life at risk, but potentially the people in the mouse hole, which he deeply cares about! But the still puts some level of trust in them. Vesper's followed, sure, but he feeds and houses them. He indulges them in banter, lets them poke fun at him even if he complains about how annoying it all is, And most importantly, he answers their questions.

In a place where no one shows their real face, where people don’t even share their real names, information is currency. It’s survival. But he lets Vesper in, just a little. He tells them about himself, about life underground, and makes sure they know enough to stay safe. Even when he withholds things, like the origins of the Ichor, it’s a difficult choice made for a reason.

I think that has a lot to do with, not only his feelings for Vesper, but the community he's surrounded by and how much those values have shaped him. Both his pursuit of doing good or at the very least as good as he can to help as many people as possible and his inherent kindness. As much as Keir insists he isn't a good man, I think it's really fucking clear that he has a strong moral compass, and most of all, a strong will to keep vulnerable, outcasts safe. He goes above and beyond for that goal, and all his actions are informed by that desire to take care of his community.

Vesper is now a part of his community, for better or for worse, and therefore he extends to them the same level of care and respect he'd show to the others. I think one of the things that really struck me was how we get to see the people in the mouse hole, and most importantly, Keir's inner circle, warming up to Vesper! They include them in their day-to-day chores and welcome them relatively quickly. They're all keeping an eye out for the ichor they oh so desperately need, because in a lot of ways, Vesper is just like them. Another outcast, another person in desperate need of that support and community. I like to think that maybe Keir saw that in them too.

They might not fully realise the weight of it, seeing as how the marketplace's culture differs from the surface's, but Keir is painfully aware of all of this all along.

I think especially of the scene where Vesper opens up about their condition. It's a pivotal moment. In a place like the marketplace, that kind of information falling into the wrong hands could be downright catastrophic. But it's easy for them to open up about it, to show Keir that level of trust. This information exposes their fragility, their desperation. And most of all, they're exposing it to their blackmailer. It would be so easy for Keir to turn this show of trust against them, it's easy ammo. But he doesn't. He listens, he empathises.

I think that's the point where things really shift for them. It's a little moment but I think it's so important to shape how their subsequent relationship, and most of all, I think it's what makes his betrayal by keeping the truth about lunar ichor even more painful to Vesper.

[deuce-t-agere]

Snow White my beloved

[ami-ven]

Heartsick

That's the word that keeps coming to mind to describe how I feel. I live in a country that elected an open fascist and is celebrating it. They weren't fooled, they weren't tricked, they voted for him *because* he's going to hurt people, *because* he's going to take away all of our rights, *because* his hate and cruelty is a reflection of them.

And I... I really thought we were better. Maybe not good, but good enough to look out for one another. That people were generally good, and would rather help someone than hurt them.

It hurts to be wrong. Physically hurts, when I think about what other Americans gave away. To think about all the more vulnerable people who will die because of their greed and stupidity.

I don't think we should despair, but I think we need to be clear-headed about what's coming, about how bad it's going to be and what we're willing and/or able to do.

There are still good people in America. If this election showed how few of us there are, it just means that we need to be kinder to each other.

[ineffablerainstorm]

Imagine you just got a promotion. You are very excited, because you have been waiting for this for years and years. For the new position you are transferred to London and move into a very fancy company apartment in Mayfair.

Only to get there and find mail piling up on the doorstep, all the previous tenant’s weird furniture still there and this thing in the hallway:

Shax *on the phone with Crowley*: "So if the hot water isn't working which button do you have to press? And also: WHY IS THERE A STATUE OF YOU AND AZIRAPHALE DOING IT IN THE BLOODY HALLWAY?

Crowley: "It's art. Evil triumphing over good, actually."

Shax: "Are you kidding me? They are naked."

Crowley: "They are wrestling."

Shax: "Get that thing out of my flat. NOW!"

Crowley: "Nope." *hangs up*

[theladyhibiscus]

[elixtxstabxr]

𝕃𝕠𝕠𝕜, 𝕀 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕡𝕦𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦'𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕪 𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕖. 𝕄𝕪 𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕖. 𝕊𝕠, 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕠𝕟, 𝕨𝕖 𝕕𝕠 𝕚𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕪, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕘𝕠𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥?

elixtxstabxr A private, independent, mutuals-only RP blog for Elliot Stabler. Based off of Law & Order | Headcanons | Character Development - penned by Sah.

Mutuals-Only Interaction – This blog is private and exclusive to mutuals. I will only write with those I am mutually following.

Activity Level – This is not my only blog, so my presence here will vary. Expect medium to low activity.

Mature Content – Due to the nature of this blog, it is rated mature. I will not engage in roleplays with anyone under 18. The mun is 30+, and while there may be verses of a younger Natalia in the Red Room or training, those verses will still have her at 18 years old.

Writing Style – This is a multi-para to novella blog that uses gifs and semi-formatted text. However, you are not required to do the same. Posts can range from one-liners to novella responses.

Respect & Conduct – Hate of any kind is not tolerated. Please be respectful in all interactions.

i. Bio. ii. Verses iii. The Law. iv. Meme Tag. v. Tag Navigation.

I've been writing in this RPC for over 17 years, and I've finally given myself a chance to give a few of my favorite characters a fighting shot and their own light to shine in. So there are no promises, only hopes of discovering insight into these muses of mine.

This is a side blog, so follow-backs will be from another account

Blog Roll: - Natalia Romanova | @romxnvaxtalie (WIP) (Main Blog) - Frank Castle | @frxnkscxstlex (WIP) - The Asset | @thexassxt (WIP)

This RP blog is a WIP, but please message me to discuss moving forward!

UPDATED: 2025-02-18

[nando161mando]

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.