#The first time I watched this episode I literally forgot he existed. that was in my pre-fanfic days obviously lmao

[cerealmonster15]

my hxh experience is also very confusing bc i started watching it like 2+ years ago at my partners apartment, but then i think we stopped for a bit / we moved around a bit, and kinda just never got back to it. then a while after we moved in with each other wayyyy later we eventually picked it back up and then this time in dub form bc it's easier for me to focus if i dont have to try and read everything quick enough and also see whats happening jfkldshg so it was like

sub version watched up through like halfway through york new auction arc or whatever

[2+ YEAR LONG GAP???]

picking right back up exactly in the midway spot where we left off, now in dub, i cannot remember Jack Shit and have to keep asking my partner [who has seen/read it before] what's going on and who everyone is every 5 seconds. there are so many characters and i remembered like 6 of them at best fdhjvlksjldhg. killua's grandpa and dad showed up like an episode or 2 after we picked it back up and i was like who are these guys. where did they come from. tbh being told who they were didnt help bc i still didnt understand why or how they were there dfshjfghjgf

[bagheerita]

Honestly? No. I don't.

The one thing that's always bugged me about this episode is that I've seen it 4 times now and I still don't buy this dude. I'm still waiting for him to say, oh never mind I'm actually the decoy, the guy you really want is over there. No shade on the actor because I feel like he was told to play it a certain way, but like... the vibe I get is "I wandered in off the street and I know everything because the director gave me his annotated script, not because I actually possess any skills whatsoever." I suppose that's not helped by the "fade to black, pick up a few days later" so we never actually see Julian put any of that information to use.

[xf-cases-solved]

i am aware that this is likely not a new take at all, and i'm not like, claiming it as mine, but i never had the chance to have this opinion (or hear other ppl have this opinion) on a public forum before, so i just want to take this opportunity to say to another person, possibly for the first time with the exception of mb my mother, who is no longer here to agree with me, that "existence" came out when i was 8 years old, i watched it live, and literally the day i watched it i remember thinking to myself "why did they have a boy named william? they should have had a girl named samantha. OF COURSE they should have had a girl named samantha," like it felt so obvious to me

and tho i couldn't rly articulate it this clearly at the time, my little muddy 8 year old thought process was that the entire story of the xfiles starts with samantha, right? mulder has his beliefs bc samantha was taken; he says so in the very first episode. the whole reason he even thinks aliens are real to begin with is bc of samantha. the person he spent his whole life searching for was samantha. he MET SCULLY bc of samantha. samantha is the thread that ties the whole story together, so then how beautiful--how narratively perfect--would it have been to tie THEIR story--their love story (bc xfiles is, at the end of the day, a love story, fight me) up with a bow, where the beginning starts with samantha getting lost, and then ends with samantha there in their arms, finally found, just in a different iteration. (instead of naming the baby after mulder's dad who he doesn't even like? or scully's dad. or scully's brother. or mulder's middle name, which is after his father ik, but still, why are there so many fucking williams??)

like, imagine it. rly sit there and take a moment to imagine how the end scene in "existence" would have gone if mulder had said, "what are you going to name her," and scully had said, "samantha"

not only does it get the "ding ding ding, you're the dad!" point across, but how fucking Touched would mulder have been to have the woman he loves--the PERSON he loves--more than anything on earth honor the sister who took up so much of his soul for so long? who always will take up part of his soul, just in a healthier way. it would be scully saying, "we know she's gone from this world now, but she's not gone from our hearts" emphasis on OUR hearts, bc mulder's pain is scully's pain; mulder's quests are scully's quests. she never met her sister-in-law (they're married, fight me), and will never have the chance, but by naming their child after her, she would be saying, "i love her anyway. i love her because you love her, and because anyone you love deserves my love as well, bc we are intertwined at our core. our fundamental values, our suffering, our joy, it is felt in us both concurrently, bc i am your person, and you are mine, and together we made a whole other person who is a literal representation of our combined selves, and we are going to call her SAMANTHA, bc that little girl you watched get stolen from you however many decades ago has been the pillar that has kept us going as a team for the last eight years"

or maybe it would have been even simpler than that. maybe she would just be saying, "your sister is IMPORTANT, mulder, even in death, and her memory isn't held only by you. it is unrelenting, and preserved forever in our child"

i wanted that scene. i wanted to feel the heaviness of mulder's grief mixed with his elation and gratitude and love. i appreciate william for who he was in the scheme of things, but that moment in the bedroom, with their baby between them, shouldn't have been lessened for me bc they chose a name that made me pause and go "his dad was named william? oh yeah! forgot about that guy, it's been a few YEARS since we saw much of him, and what we did see of him wasn't like... awesome. but sure, name your baby that ig, if you must"

that scene should have hit so much harder, and if that baby had been a samantha? it could have hit like nothing ever has, and for all the mishaps that show took after that (and there were MANY), i think the thing i will always have the most resentment for is the fact that i felt robbed of something that would have meant so much to me as a viewer who had followed their journey from the start (or, well, almost start. i was born the year it came out, so i didn't start watching until 1998, when my brain came online, but i'd seen the past stuff at least)

anyway! that's all to say, 8 year old me was salty as hell about that, and ykno what? she was RIGHT and should have been able to say it. but, again, 2001, 8 years old, not old enough to participate in fandom, so that thought has just festered and rotted away in my brain like a piece of old, putrid meat. but! finally i can give my 8 year old self some catharsis by letting her bitch and bitch and bitch to her heart's content about how "existence" should have been the series finale, and how that baby should have been a girl named samantha, and how i climbed onto that hill 23 years ago, and how i will die there with my heels dug down deep

ty, internet, for coming to my extremely overdue tedtalk. somewhere in the past there is a small child (who definitely shouldn't have been allowed to watch xfiles as young as she did, but what can you do?) finally has a weight off of her chest. it's just a tv show, and in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter, but also, it's a tv show that i grew up with in my formative and unfortunately very traumatic years, and it genuinely feels like a loved one who has always been there to comfort me, and so yeah, it doesn't "matter," but the truth is, it Matters so incredibly much

that's all

-diz

[laquiet]

So... I forced my friend into watching Stranger Things (pt. 3)

Hey, I'm back! Just posting the other half of my friends reaction for s3. If you didn't see the other post, here's part 2

4. About Billy and the mindflayed)

"THIS BILLY COMES STRAIGH FROM HELL" "WHY DOESN'T HE DIE ALREADY?"

A few moments later, by the last episode:

"HE DIED?" "HE DIED😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭" "BILLY YOU DESERVED TO LIVE😭😭😭😭" "I KNOW I SAID THAT THEY HAD TO KILL YOU BUT YOU WERE ALREADY TURNING BACK TO NORMAL😭😭😭"

Furthermore, she thought the mindflayed people literally exploding into dead meat were gross.

5. She forgot Holly existed, and remembered that this season lol

When Holly noticed the trees were moving:

"Holly, the only one with coherent worries" "But really, I've never pictured Mike as an older brother. He has young sibling vibes" "Never mind I almost wrote Mike Byers instead of Mike Wheeler"

To that I replied, "Well, he really does spend more time at Will's house than his own🤡." Then she said that Mike's and Will's name is similar and that Mike Byers and Will Wheeler sounds better???? I really did not understand, but it was a funny moment.

6. She thought Hopper was alive since the very moment he "died"

I didn't have to say a word, she just saw it and thought "Hmm, guess he lived". The post credit scene just proved that for her.

"I'm gonna tell ya, now I think Hopper really didn't die"

7. Final thoughts about the season:

"Dude... First I got really mad with Mike for not genuinely apologizing to Will, I was sad that Billy really had to die, and very upset that Hopper died." "But I have this suspicion [that Hopper survived], but maybe it's just me reading into things that aren't there." "AND THEY [The Byers and El] MOVED😭😭😭😭" "And Mileven is back, right? That's sad news for me"

She loved s3, but criticized the fact that the writers didn't give Will more protagonism. In fact, she got incredulous. We discussed a lot about that, and we both agree that Will's traumas should get more addressed and he got really sidetracked after episode 3, being turned into a plot device only, it seemed.

She criticized that Mike didn't have much of a storyline besides his relationship with El (especially since his fight with will was forgotten)

She also tought El and Mike were both immature to have a healthy relationship, and got very annoyed everytime they kissed or talked lol

After all of that, we went straight into s4! So... stay tuned

You know what, I give up on making her wait. The poor girl really wants to see more about Stranger Things community here on Tumblr lol.

[yesimwriting]

hello! I was hoping for a Joel miller imagine where the reader gets hit on in a bar when she’s dating Joel and he sees this and confronts the guy and hits him because he’s aggressive and is all protective over the reader!

I love your writing and this would be amazing thank you xx

A/n first joel request,, slay

update: watched the new episode, bill and frank, still crying 

i feel like this gives post outbreak joel a little more bc of the physical protectiveness,, but i can't remember if there's much/any descriptions of like literal bars in the QZ,, i've only watched the show and i don't remember seeing details,, like ik there's alc/pills available, but actual bars??

idk it's possible i've missed it or forgot bc i have terrible memory

so enjoy my 'makeshift' bar concept as i try my best to deviate from canon as much as possible

not to shamelessly self promo,, but if you like this fic i have another joel fic with what i feel like is a more developed version of this dynamic (bc it’s longer and more internal monologue centered) here and i’m making a part 2 for it so if you like these vibes and want something similar, it’s there, it exists :) 

----

You're staring again, and trying your hardest to convince yourself that you're not. It's more than pointless, it's bordering on ridiculous.

Joel Miller is not some fleeting crush that’d fit somebody in grade school better than it’d fit you. Not anymore. You know what you are. You've had a talk. The kind of talk that you didn't think existed anymore in this world.

It wasn't exactly the rom-com 'what are we', but after a man Joel was dealing with got a little too friendly, it led to an argument. One you didn't fully understand, especially since Tess practically lived by his side.

Don't pretend, you might come off as all innocent, but you're too smart to be that naive. Men like that only have one intention.

And that had rightfully infuriated you, because after weeks of lingering touches that could be justified with a few words but never were and all the goddamn looks, he had no right to lecture you about another man's intentions with you. His intentions don't matter because that has no affect on me and who I am. Why the fuck does it even matter?

Why does it matter? It had been this subtle scoff of a response that made you take a step back. That made your back brush against the wall of his apartment. Because I don't want other men like that lookin' at you, let alone speaking to you.

The world stopped spinning on its axis and all the air preparing to leave your lungs was trapped with no where to go. Too many implications. 'Other men like that', the inclusion of himself in men that had those intentions. Maybe even more importantly, the implication that he’s some sort of exception.

 Even more deafening, your response: Well maybe I wouldn't speak to them if you didn't entertain ev--

The rest of your sentence, whatever it would have been, was lost to his mouth on yours. A snapping of tension that took its time fizzling down to something less consuming. Something that allowed you both to talk enough to make it clear that Joel was yours and you were his.

It wasn't a magical snapping into place like it might have been in a world without the outbreak. In some ways, it added a new layer of hesitance, and in other ways it propelled you forward. There are growing pains with anything new, and the whole relationship thing is definitely new to you. Especially in this world.

If only you could get past staring. Maybe after Joel secures the whiskey-bourbon-hybrid whatever they're passing as alcohol these days from a less than trustworthy trading contact, you'll get buzzed enough to graduate to handholding, or at the very least, you'll be able to do something besides sit there.

You're starting to feel insane. How is making out easier than the small things? Maybe the setting is more at fault here than you. In the outside world, any form of attachment could easily be twisted into weakness. It’s likely best that you keep some distance from Joel here, especially with the way other men keep looking over at the two of you. 

It’s not like you’re never awkward about the little things when confined safely between the walls of Joel’s place, that’s slowly but surely starting to feel like it’s at least partially yours, as well. But the way you get in public is something else entirely. It’s probably for the best. There are already too many eyes on you. 

Like the guy with red hair that glints oddly in the yellow light of the stranger’s building. He’s swaying slightly, a dark looking glass in his hand that he’s yet to release in the entire time you’ve been here. Every time one of his friends leaves him, his gaze returns to yours. 

Your skin crawls each time, but you keep your expression as stoic as possible. Joel’s getting better at trusting you, better at letting you serve as a sort of backup in the way that Tess usually would. You know that if it came down to it, the man that keeps looking at you wouldn’t be an actual issue, and you know Tess wouldn’t let it get to her. 

Ugh. Another thing you want to get yourself to stop doing. Comparison. It’s ugly and so insignificant. Tess didn’t exactly welcome you with open arms when you first showed up, but you get that. And eventually she warmed a little. You think she’d still trade you for a few ration cards, but she doesn’t hate you. She’s, at the very least, no longer skeptical of you. The other day you caught her hiding a smile over a joke you made.

But it’s hard not to compare. They were the closest thing either of them had to a support system for years before you showed up, and you know that they’ve been together casually. Always casual. Joel stressed that part, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to know, especially now. 

You bury the thoughts the way you often do and turn your attention back to Joel. Back to staring. At least you’re consistent.

A man peaks out of the closet that seems to be the source of all the alcohol. He gestures vaguely in your direction. “That’s us,” Joel says, voice flat, “Wait here, I’ll be back.” 

Nodding as if to dismiss your own thoughts, you beg your mind to not create imaginary problems by reading into him telling you to stay. He’s walking a few feet away to get some boxes, it’s not the rejection insecurity is making it out to be. “I’ll hold down the fort, keep away trouble.” 

Joel blinks, turning his head in your direction briefly. The corner of his mouth turns up slightly, which is more of a reaction than he likes to give when in these kinds of places. He shifts his hand casually, his fingers brushing against yours briefly as he stands. The gesture is small but immediately dislodges the lump in your chest. 

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” It’s little more than a whisper, but there’s something hidden beneath the roughness of his tone. A pinch of lighthearted humor that’s only visible to you. 

It eases you even further. Joel turns away, moving behind the long table serving as a sort of bar counter. You tap your fingers against the surface without much thought, taking a second to absorb the easiness of it all. It’s rare that getting anything require so little. You don’t think anything’s ever come as easy as sitting on an uncomfortable bar stool. 

“So...” You blink, posture straightening as your eyes flit to the source of the sound. “Guard dog finally left you alone, princess?” 

Okay. Ew. Of course it’s the guy that’s been staring you down since you first sat down. You have to fight to not let your nose wrinkle. There’s no good in reacting, in escalating the situation. “Not a guard dog.” 

You hope that it’ll be enough to show that you’re not interested. “Aw, not feelin’ too friendly, baby.” Ew. You’re torn between cussing him out or actually punching him. Neither is an actual option. Places like these are a minefield and you refuse to be the one to set off a series of explosions. “Maybe you’ll cheer up after a drink, could get you one.” 

Turning your head, you take a breath before replying. “I have enough friends.” The stranger is clearly apart of a group. You don’t know if you could call them all friends, you’re not sure there’s enough casual trust in the world left for genuine friend groups. But they’re at least acquaintances, or work associates, or maybe they met here, equally inebriated enough to accept each other. It doesn’t matter, the point is they were chatting up a storm before he decided to wander over here and bother you. “And it looks like you do, too.” 

“Fine,” he relents too quickly, “Let’s not be friends, then.” His hand shoots forward, landing firmly--and disgustingly--on your waist. “Let’s be something else.” 

You’re unsure if you’re more repulsed by his hand on you or how terrible that line was. Your own hand clasps his, pushing and pulling in an attempt to create a space. He’s relentless, even when your nails start clawing at him. “If you want to keep your hand, I suggest getting off of me.” 

He blinks at your threat and then grins, flashing a smile that’s missing teeth. And then he laughs. A cold chuckle that makes its way beneath your skin. “God, I like them feisty.” 

Shoving your fingers under his, you manage to pry him off of you. Your foot moves, heels smashing into his toes as subtly as possible. “And I like them when they know how to fuck off.” 

His smile broadens, a cynical undertone to the look that makes it worse than before. “Oh, darling,” his hand finds your arm, tugging you forward, “You’re gonna pay for that.” 

“Pay for what?” Relief washes through you before you’ve even fully registered the familiar, even timber of Joel’s voice. He’s speaking in a lower tone than usual, an icy rage that you can feel in your bones and it’s not even directed at you. “Touching what’s not yours, ‘cause you’re the only one doing that.” 

There’s probably something you should say. A subtle warning to not go beyond scaring off the man that is clearly incapable of respecting a woman’s autonomy outside of another man’s claim over her. To not take it too far because it’s not worth it. Because you have it under control. Relatively.

Instead, you’re silent as the man releases you. He takes his time assessing Joel. The stranger is physically smaller and Joel does have that edge that only comes from someone that’s lost enough to be dangerous to anyone threatening what’s left. 

The man holds his hands up in defense, his glass sitting precariously between his thumb and pointer finger. “Easy, man.” You don’t even have to look at Joel to know that that was the wrong thing to say. “I didn’t mean any harm, if you set the price right, I’d be--” 

The rest of the proposition is taken care of by Joel’s fist connecting with the man’s jaw. You hear the audible crack before your mind can make the connection between Joel’s quick movement and the man’s silence. 

Holy shit. Joel didn’t just throw a punch, he threw a punch meant to shatter bone. He barely glances at you, and you’re too focused on the fact that Joel’s standing there, completely fine like he didn’t exert enough force to knock over a grown man. You blink as Joel extends the arm he’s been using to hold the small case. 

You’re too shocked to do more than take the box. The implication of why he’d hand you the box while still standing there doesn’t settle until Joel’s throwing another punch. Each hit is more committed than the last, even when the stranger’s knees give in and he collapses. 

Yeah, there’s definitely something you should say. Now. Like right now. You’d never ask him to hit anybody once, let alone do whatever he’s doing now. But words like ‘stop’ and ‘okay, think he gets it’ all jam themselves so far down your throat, you wouldn’t be able to pry them out with a wrench. 

All you can do is watch. It’s the kind of morbid fascination that reminds you of what it felt like to drive a little slower when passing a car wreck. You’re rooted in place by a realization that’s always been there at the back of your mind, an implied awareness. Joel’s more than just prone to violence when he needs to be. He’s angry. 

It should scare you. Terrify you. Your stillness should be some byproduct of that. But it’s not. Joe’s not a danger to you, he’s a danger for you. 

It’s a level of protectiveness you never thought you’d experience. Your chest feels warm. You hope you’re not messed up enough to consider this some grand display of love. However, there’s a vulnerability in the violence you can’t deny. You’re in a public place, the kind of morally questionable people that are far from above exploiting vulnerability. And yet here he is, announcing an undeniable attachment. 

Joel finishes, chest heaving and hands still curled into fists. The low light makes the thin layer of sweat on his skin seem like he’s practically glowing. His knuckles are already evidently split and swirling in distinct shades of blue and red. You’re mesmerized. 

“You can’t do that shit here.” 

That’s it. The only reprimand. In the world of before, he would have gotten the cops called on him. He would have gone to jail. 

Joel looks up, mumbles something under his breath that sounds suspiciously close to fuck off. He then looks at you, gestures with a tilt of his head for you to follow, and walks forward. 

You try not to think of what it must look like when you follow, quickening your steps to get closer to him after you’re out of focus. When you reach the door, Joel pulls it open with one hand and reaches for your fingers with the other. 

----

The way your eyebrows draw together when you’re examining an injury is different than the way they pull together for anything else. It’s too focused to be concerned and too concerned to be focused. 

Joel could stare at that expression for longer than he’d ever admit to. He could concentrate on that little line above your forehead and forget about everything else. “I’m fine,” he mutters, knowing that there’s no real point. You’ll do what you’re going to do when it comes to these kinds of things.

You nod absentmindedly, another small sign that you’re not as here as you normally odd. “It’d be awfully sad if you died of something as small as non-fungal infection.” 

He swallows, minding that look behind your eye. Things are still normal, you’ve yet to show any sign of rejection. He kept your fingers locked practically the entire way here and you let him. Never pulled away. 

It’s not like he needs to apologize. Joel did nothing wrong. He even gave you a minute to handle the situation, but the man was relentless. The kind of asshole that takes advantage of a world with little order to prey on women. Joel would do it again. And again. And again. There are no regrets there.

You’re not naive. You know what you signed up for when you accepted him. He’s never hid that from you. That doesn’t change the fact that you’ve always had a pension for forgiveness, a pinch of empathy the world hasn’t managed to snuff. 

“You’re dramatic, anyone ever tell you that?” 

A touch of a smile pulls on the corner of your mouth. “Hm. Think I’ve heard that once or twice from this one guy. Dark hair, dark eyes, cute, but not really my type.” 

Joel smiles, a partial laugh escaping him. “Really?” 

Turning over his hand with a gentleness he still finds difficult to understand, you press a quick kiss to his palm. You move back into your previous position so quickly it almost feels bashful. “I think you know the answer.” You flip his hand so that his knuckles face you again and go back to cleaning them. “You know, you didn’t have to...I wouldn’t have ever asked you to do that.” 

Joel can’t help his partial smile at that. Like there was ever any doubt. “I know,” he manages, “You’re not that.” 

It takes a second for you to understand what he’s implying. That you’re not like him. Yes, you get mad and you have nothing against putting people in their place, but you don’t like hurting people. Your lips part awkwardly, like you want to say he’s not that either, but you can’t. He just proved it to the both of you. 

“Nothing wrong with being like that,” you say, all too casual, “So don’t say it like it’s this big thing.” There is no end to the level of understanding you offer him. He doesn’t deserve it, he never will. “And you’re not like that in the way you mean. That asshole was, you’re not.” 

Joel lets out a low breath. Of course, even this you’d find a way to reframe. “You’d think so.” 

“I’m right.” It’s a quick reply, and the exact kind of response he expected. “You’re not a shitty person just because you beat up some guy or any of the reasons you’re thinking. New world, new morals. Accept it.” 

Your lips pull together into what’s almost a pout in your determination. Always so sure when it comes to him. “Mhm,” he breathes, watching your surprise at his compliancy. You know something’s coming, but not what. Your awareness does little to help you when Joel twists your hand in his pushes you back against the couch. “And what about you?” 

He hasn’t grabbed your hands yet, but you stay still, eyes trained on him. “I am a lot meaner than you think I am.” 

He tilts his head down to hide his amused expression. Your version of mean is fighting back. “You want to prove it?”

[lavandaea]

*inhales deeply*

There's spoilers ahead so, yeah, be careful.

This weekend episodes have actually broken my soul.

He didn't even need his feelings to be reciprocate, HE JUST WANTED TO BE WITH HER.

Dear writers, some things to ask, why so much screen time to second male lead? Why create such chemistry? Such backstory? (Spoiler alert: that will make us sympathize with the supposed villain) To just fuck*ing rip his heart out and pulverize it like Grandma with the cow bones, yes, just like that.

Let me get this straight, after having been raised in an environment of violence, pain and God knows what else for God knows how long, he falls in love. He experiences ✨feelings✨ ,he puts all his trust in her like never before, he shares his past and then he gets betrayed.

I swear I never seen someone cry so with so much meaning, feeling, with so much back there.

We made progress for the last (at least) five episodes TO JUST END IT IN A SINGLE ONE.

This could have been handled a lot better in a lot of ways and about a lot of topics that I could actually write an essay.

Let's begin the the main leads.

So, in order to have some sort of feeling about ML and FL loving eachother you need to put screen time ON them. Yeah, they support eachother, they have known far before Si Oh, they are funny and a lot of things more. They even kissed and very passionately, wow.

Just one thing, Why didn't I even blink during that scene but found myself hitting the pillow and blushing when Si Oh did such mundane things as taking her home, opening doors for her, fixing her purse, hair, looking at her with those "I love you" eyes,👏feeling👏guilty👏about👏making👏her👏uncomfortable👏 with👏his👏feelings👏for👏her HELLO??, WAVING HER BACK WHILE HE WATCHED HER GO, SMILE EVERY DAMN TIME HE SAW HER?

I´ll tell you why. Because I know, thanks to you, that Si Oh was experiencing for the very first time what it's like to have human interaction that doesn't involve violence or having to be wary of everything and everyone all the time.

Even after having lived a life of shit, even after still living a life of absolute shit he still wanted to be connect, to be happy, to make her happy, to love and be loved. Moreover, I couldn't help just to feel happy for him, sad, angry, fucking rageous (not more than him, obviously).

Meanwhile, I barely know Hee Sik aka the male lead.

I remember seeing his mother once and I think that's what I understood about his private life. Sorry, I forgot about his deceased brother, that could have been a good topic to develop if it wasn't just mentioned once somewhere in the sixth chapter and left there to rot. Other than that, I know he is a cop, loves his cops friends and loves Nam Soon, also he is really loyal and good person.

Nice👍, very nice. But that's not personality or backstory, that's a job and some general traits everyone should have to live in a society and have a job where you usually do the teamwork thingy.

So, what else??

Or does the man just exist for his job and girlfriend?

It is just I simply don't understand it, you create a seriously complex character that has all kinds of potential and you want us to root for...Yeah, no. He literally could be an extra with how little and simple information we receive about him.

Even Shi Oh had some time to box being a drug dealer and full time whipped for her.

I'm just saying that you want me to suddenly dislike someone you took a considerable amount of time explaining but I have to like this good guy because you just pointed at him 👉🧍, and said, "here's the good guy, please love him"

Sorry, I cant do that.

If you haven't noticed, you just made a character I fell obliged to sympathize.

If you wanted to make him evil and hot you should have just made him evil and hot.

It worked just as well with Jang Han Seok from Vincenzo.

Not have him have "REDEMPTION" written all over him just to go with "Actually, no. He has no chance. 😃". It is for lack of a better term, frustrating. (Pointless)

Instead, maybe you should have dedicated that screen time for the construction of the main leads relationship.

Oh, yes. Another thing since we are talking about the matter.

ML and FL relationship progress got weaker and weaker since she had started to spy on Si Oh. And then one episode it was like "Oh, yeah, forgot to tell you, they are actually dating by now" Bom, a kiss. If I need a kiss to know they are in love, there's something going on back there. If a great amount of people are rooting for a couple that is not the main one, something is going on there.

Something lacking.

Scenes of them in love: well acted, nice, cute, cool, okay. But it is like picking a random romance book and start reading it ten chapters ahead, they are in love, but how did this happen??? Last time I check, they were in a friends-catching-fealings-zone.

Where's their development?

I know where is it. In the fake relationship, that it was being used just to turn Si Oh into a complete monster with probably not chance of going back.

"You have suffered a lot, yeah, I see. Anyway here's more pain. Suffer more and go cause some trouble because if not, there's, apparently, no plot"

Nice job.

I have been saying this and I will say it again, kdrama writers/directors are not ready for traumatized villains. They are afraid of them.

[notafragilething]

9-1-1 Rewatch: 1x01 Pilot

Today begins the start of my rewatch and omg, they're all babies in this. Most of what this post is going to include is me rambling, making random connections and just sharing my stream of thoughts. Hopefully you enjoy. These are roughly in order of how they happened but I may go back and add details.

Buck's a kinky fuck boy with a heart of Gold. Literally the first real scene we have that focuses on Buck is him stealing a firetruck to have semi-public sex with a girl (whose name he doesn't even know) in it. Something that happens TWICE this episode. I'm glad he grows out of the fuck boy portion of this but not his love for kinky sex. This episode also has the scene that instantly made him my favorite: him running to the ambulance with the premature baby. Oliver is just really good at doing so much with his facial expressions and body language.

Bobby and Religion: Watching Bobby trying to talk the jumper down by explaining to her that everyone who has survived immediately regretted the decision just has so many more layers now that I know what Bobby was planning at this point in time.

Chimney: Seeing him dating someone that isn't Maddie is just weird and I don't like it. I honestly forgot this whole girlfriend even existed.

Athena: God she's fucking hot and badass and I'm obsessed.

Abbey: I didn't mind her the first time I watched this but now that I know how her storyline ends she kinda bugged me this time around.

Overall thoughts: This was actually a pretty solid episode. I liked the calls, even if none of them involved a fire, and I still love how they established Buck, Bobby and Athena in this one.

[starsoftheeye]

TMagP 17 Reaction

Pre-Episode

I've discovered that acting disinterested literally makes the episodes show up earlier on my youtube account, so I've gotta play mindgames on this app every thursday to get to see the episodes less than half an hour after they release lol

Pre-Statement

Ah Celia is back on her bullshit

Wait did she just nearly get ran over???

I feel bad for laughing at her but her only reaction being "Oh for gods sake" is super funny to me how long has she been doing this

oh hi sam

oh god she missed their date :[

something tells me a habit is going to be made of this, especially considering she literally cannot help it

"it really wasn't" yeah no wonder you nearly became roadkill

theyre so cute i love them

ooh shes mad

Statement

"catalyst" huh, have we heard that before or is this the first time

pfft not the interviewer getting read to shreds

wild theory before i keep going, based on the title "saved copy" and the "identity crisis", "existential horror", "temporal distortion" and "captivity" tags, im going to assume that this person going to therapys having the details of their life copied somewhere for something to replicate and replace them, and the doctors gonna attempt to get rid of them but obviously it didnt work. either that or the guy outside the office does something

as someone whos never done meditation before this is not encouraging me to start

ah office spaces, the worst of cosmic horror

wait did they get teleported or something

tbf if my taxi driver started driving completely the wrong way i'd assume the worst and start "exchanging words" too

oh my god was i right

wait is this copy based on their therapy, a version of themselves with no problems whatsoever? and is this gonna be a "there can only be one" type scenario?

oh wait no i forgot siblings exist

wait nvm them having the same name is weird

"dates and times" so this is where the temporal distortion comes in ig

yup

i'm sticking with the "rich-darrien is a copy trying to assimilate into og-darriens life" theory for now

yeah because thats not normal darrien, even if youre related no-one looks completely identical apart from glasses, teeth colour and a lack of a beer-gut

do they both think the other is the copy, or does sharron just not know?

oh god what is he hiding

does he beat up a real person every time hes upset

of course it was his father that makes sense

oh my god the sound design

oh my god he's the one who assimilated thats so cool

good for sharron i hope shes doing okay

off-topic but i love the way the voices get more real as the statement goes on then go back to their more robotic tone at the end

Post-Statement

as a celia fan i am eating well this week jeez

celia my dear what do you mean by that "not exactly the same though, it is?" girlie what have you done what are you hidinggg

alice!

who was playing the music in the background there?

as someones whos computing department in school consists of keyboard with never-before-discovered types of bacteria wedged between the keys thats valid

alice dyer i love you so much

ah the dyhard is dyharding

ah yes the mutual "i'm traumatised and i know you are too but i don't like you enough to give details on mine or ask about yours so we'll just sit and suffer in silence til the ice somehow breaks" dynamic

also colin mention woohoo i love the scottish man

the computer start up noise and power down noise at the beginning and end of every episode kind of makes me think that someone is watching all of this (maybe us, or more likely someone in-universe)

anyway that was fun, i'm doing this late but this was a nice way to spend my first proper off-day since finishing all my exams

[theerurishipper]

I'm still so disappointed how season 4 handled Ladynoir and just settled it on "Ladybug owes Chat nothing and can't be asked to uphold basic respect when it doesn't benefit her or she just doesn't want to"

Like Wishmaker. There was no reason for the show to "settle" the problem of how badly Adrien's home life affects him in this particular akuma and makes him extra vulnerable by going "Chat has to learn that his life doesn't matter in akumas". The akuma very obviously hit home for him and he was also open to her about how much him not remembering any childhood dream bothers him but all the show episode did was having Ladybug go "I bet you just forgot, it doesn't matter because I said so <3 now go and stay all alone in hand-to-hand combat with the akuma since I decided that u have no problems in your life <3"

The entire season the excuse is either "Ladybug is the leader not his nanny" or "he's not telling her it's bothering him!" but here we had an episode where all Marinette had to do was for once listen to what he's saying and not just tell Chat Noir his problem doesn't exist and he has to just stop behaving like there is one because she doesn't like the thought of Chat having a life at all apparently.

I see no purpose in sugarcoating it. That was shit leadership once again only concerned about what she wants and then abandoning Chat on the battle field, after just telling him his problem doesn't exist and for her the topic is over. It's so frustrating that the show never ever went back to fixing that. It's just settled as her being flawless because she smiled and him being awful and having to learn the lesson to never ever bother Ladybug again with his life.

Those are just awful messages for leadership and partnership. Marinette doesn't need to know that Chat has an abusive home life to just listen for once in this damn partnership. He was more than open about how much it was bothering him, she was just written to disregard him anyway bc "she doesn't know"

Well, she certainly never tried listening either or acting like Chat exists at all as a civilian person the moment it requires effort or adjustments not being made for HER comfort.

How hard it is to not have Ladybug disregard everything about Chat Noir all the time and not have the show then claim it's GOOD FEMINIST leadership and can't be criticized bc girl?

You're so right anon. Honestly, I didn't actually mind Wishmaker on its own all too much. You know, it's understandable that Ladybug wouldn't be able to pick up on the fact that Chat Noir is being really vulnerable right now, and she's just trying to tease him/banter with him. For that reason, I didn't think too much of that scene before. I was very slightly uneasy about the way she just did not listen to him and take his concerns seriously, but I really did think it was unfair to blame her for not being able to pick up on his insecurities and to blame her for not being able to immediately offer him support. And I still do think that, but only to a little extent. Way, way less than when I first watched the episode.

Because I watched her unintentionally make light of Adrien's struggle in hopes that the show would, at some point in the future, have her actually understand and support him in a meaningful way. I felt like judging her based on this one scene where it's quite understandable that she wasn't able to support him the way he needs wasn't reasonable. But after the bullshit of the Season 5 finale, I've since become a lot less charitable to that scene. Because that scene doesn't seem like it was meant to show us that Ladybug didn't understand Chat Noir and that she would soon like I had originally assumed. That's literally just their whole dynamic now. Episodes like Kuro Neko which had Adrien learn not to inconvenience Ladybug with his emotions retroactively make that scene in Wishmaker seem bad. Because it pretty much confirms that all Adrien can ever expect in terms of emotional support from Ladybug is a few quips about him overreacting and another round of her not truly trying to listen to him, i.e., what happened in Wishmaker.

And I get that Adrien isn't open about his struggles. I do get that it is unfair to expect Marinette to instantly know exactly what he's going through if he doesn't vocalize it. But the fact remains that a part of the reason he isn't communicating with her is because she really has become more unapproachable. She's flipping out, she's having others outside of their duo learn things he doesn't get to know... doesn't paint a picture of someone who he might want to share his struggles with.

And honestly, she doesn't consider him much at all, not if it inconveniences her. All these elaborate plans to protect herself from Shadow Moth, and not a thought spared to Chat Noir. A whole plan to trick him into revealing his identity, not a thought spared to Chat Noir. All the secrets and lies, not a thought spared to Chat Noir. I get it, she's stressed and tired and traumatized, and I sympathize, but it's still poor leadership. Like, the entire end to the Ladynoir conflict of Season 4 happened by Adrien learning that he shouldn't bother her by asking for help and that he's not allowed to do so.

Honestly, he does so much emotional labor for her, and she barely returns the favor. If he has an issue, it's an inconvenience for her. It's so unequal at this point, and Season 5 only made it worse. Whenever Adrien needs something in the way of emotional support from Marinette, she is never made to give it to him. For a damning example, we spend Destruction, the episode where Adrien is so horrified about Cataclysming Monarch dealing with how awful Marinette feels about that having happened. She is never available to support him the way he does for her. He's just left to deal with his issues on his own, and if something goes wrong, then fuck him I guess, because Ladybug doesn't deserve to be inconvenienced by considering the safety and well-being of her supposed partner.

I'm sorry if this seems too harsh. I'm sorry if this seems like I'm being too nitpicky or too critical. At some point, I probably would have said this was too harsh too. But damn it, they really just went ahead and said that Adrien doesn't matter, and I have a lot of thoughts on that, none of which are good.

Thank you for your ask!

[chirpsythismorning]

Lets talk about Appendix #7

I won't be the first (nor the last) to admit that I’ve only ever paid super close attention to the Russia scenes during my major s4 rewatches (like 4x total). Those just don’t tend to be the scenes I rewatch looking for Easter eggs as regularly as I do with others. Though, I can say confidently now that this will not be the case anymore.

As I’ve said recently, the scenes that come off as unnecessary filler, are likely the ones hiding something deeper underneath the surface. Otherwise, why put any time into scenes that have no importance, beyond just to fill the running time? Especially in s4 when the episodes were really long and they could have easily cut out scenes if they weren't that important to the overall plot.

The reason they do this is because they can rest comfortably knowing that a vast majority of the audience will overlook these scenes, even call them pointless and boring (and they can laugh knowing they couldn't be more wrong). A vast majority of fans felt that way about the Russia plot, but even the Cali plot had a decent amount of viewers saying they were worthless all season with no importance to the overall story. And we all know that wasn’t actually the case. And so why would that be any different for the Russia plot?

And this scene right here, which I completely forgot existed (so pardon me if someone has talked about this before, because I've never seen any discourse on it), I only just remembered existed because of the Piggyback script dropping for the Emmy's.

I just want to preface that I'm being so so serious right now when I say this scene is very incriminating for Mike. Even down to the way it ends. It’s bad.

And by bad I mean holy shit they are sick for potentially hiding the truth in plain sight.

For context, in this scene, Yuri represents Mike & let’s say Dmitri represents the skeptical majority, who have been confused by Mike’s behavior for the last two seasons.

A lot to unpack here.

But first I want to give a disclaimer that Yuri is not literally Mike, nor are ALL of Yuri’s scenes meant to be about Mike.

It just so happens that Mike has a unique trend of his POV being missing from the overarching narrative. And how they play with that sometimes, is by strategically displaying his POV through other characters.

You might think I'm crazy, but this has happened quite a bit. The most well recognized example of this would be with Hopper at the end of s3 with the letter.

A less well known example would be with Argyle in s4. Again not all the time, but there are a couple specific moments that come to mind, where it feels like they are hinting at Mike’s inner feelings, by having Argyle display things Mike cannot express to the audience yet.

I always thought it was weird they decided to put Mike and Argyle in almost identical hats in the airport scene. Though, it makes a lot more sense when you see Argyle call him a shitty knock off, only to watch the whole group walking through the airport, with Mike to the left of El and Argyle to the left of Will.

Mike may be standing beside El with them looking like a happy couple, but he’s actually distracted and hyperfocused on Will. And so how they reference that, is by placing Argyle standing close beside Will, sort of mirroring the blocking of Mike and El. In Argyle’s case, he is not putting on a fake smile, instead he looks almost emotionless about what's unfolding. The blocking there definitely feels intentional, as it could be the writers way of showing us where Mike's head is truly at, aka focused on Will.

The other major example I can think of (there's not too many from what I've seen, but these two definitely stand out) is at the end of s4 when the boys arrive at Nina to rescue El. We've talked about how the explosion behind Mike as he was looking between El and Will, is representative of the extreme mix of emotions he is feeling at that moment. But no one has ever talked about Argyle's reaction in that scene. Knowing what the explosion represents, I think we should consider what Argyle’s reaction to the explosion itself might represent as well.

First, Argyle interferes with the Milkvan reunion, standing in the frame behind Mike, with his hands on his head looking at the fire blazing with stress.

But it gets even more dramatic than that, when El and Will are hugging, that's when Argyle really starts freaking out, OH SHIT AW SHIT, pacing back and forth.

By doing stuff like this, they can hide hidden meanings. It also just makes it a whole lot easier to come up with ideas for scenes. Because when they have a big component that is underneath the surface, they can build anything around that, as opposed to coming up with a bunch of ideas fresh on the spot, without any reason for it.

Which is why, tbh whenever I hear someone say it's not that deep, when referring to basic filming techniques of playing with POV, I'm just sitting there thinking, do these people not know how much easier it is for artists, when it is that deep? It’s sooo much easier (and gratifying).

But back to this scene with Yuri and Dmitri.

Yuri seems to be doing a lot also while doing very little reminds me a lot of Mike's method of boyfriendism at the start of 4x02. He brings El flowers, he's got a whole inspired Cali fit, he's feening happiness the whole time, holding her hand and skating together. He's basically giving off this vibe that he's going above and beyond, when really, we know that despite all those little things, he's not doing the one thing El wants him to do, which is to say I love you.

This scene in the piggyback script initially stood out to me because of the word stalling. And this is because whenever I talk about Mike’s behavior in s3, but especially in s4, with him repeatedly putting off saying I love you to El numerous timed, I often use the word stalling to describe it.

In his letters, he avoids it. In the flowers, he avoids it on the note. When she confronts him during their fight, he deflects, and makes a point to struggle using the word care instead. Even when she's literally crying he still can't muster it. When she's getting taken by the cops, he still doesn't think to say it, even now when things are so bad and it might have given her at least some comfort. When they're separated Mike, gets reassurance from Will that he can just say it to her when they reunite, though Mike doesn't look too excited about saying it. Then not even a day later (during the Letter to Willy scene), Mike tells Will he didn't know what to say to El, even though we all know it only would have only required those 3 famous words... And then him and El are reuniting and he still doesn't say it. And then they're in surfer boy and they get interrupted, but tbh the lead up to it felt super disingenuous anyways, with him looking like he was about to say something out of obligation and not because he wanted to say it. And then the literal moment that she is choking, he stalls, until Will encourages him, and then even still then, they make a point to put dramatic beat right before, and only THEN is that when Mike finally says it.! (And all of that isn’t even including the stalling he does in s3).

Basically, Mike is the king of stalling, but especially in s4 and the Piggyback specifically, bc stalling is what has led to this grand moment of Mike quite literally having no option to stall anymore.

And so stalling being used in this conversation with Yuri and Dmitri instantly peaked my interest. I barely remembered the scene from the show and yet the instant I did, I just knew what was about to go down was something related to Mike, that we wouldn't otherwise get insight on bc we don't have his POV right now.

In contrast to the episode, the script has Yuri admitting to stalling. He doesn't seem to have remorse about it at first, he actually seems kind of like he's willing to admit it because it's the truth. Then we get a Ronald Reagan mention from Yuri, followed by him spitting with disgust, which was not included in the final cut... still sort of an off moment, considering the very few Reagan mentions we've gotten in the series, it's been through the presidential campaign sign in front of the Wheeler's house in s2 most.

But now, this is where it starts to get a little scary in terms of what Mike could be thinking. I don't know how I feel about it because it's a scary concept.

You saw it with your own eyes. You know it to be true. And yet you continue to play tricks.

This could mean one of two things, or maybe even a mix of both...

It could mean that Mike knows El doesn't need him despite her begging for him to say the words I love you (he saw it with his own eyes?), but he isn't willing to accept it. He knows his feelings deep down will never change (he doesn’t love El), making his and El's separation inevitable (also reminds me of the suicide mission comment from Yuri...). He is fixated on this idea of her needing him and if not, losing her all together, instead of what El was actually upset about, which was not being loved.

Or it could (also) mean Mike understood Will in the van. He saw it with his own eyes aka the painting, he knew it was apparently for a girl Will liked, but it ended up actually being for him. And he seemed very happy about this as a revelation, up until Will mentioned it was actually from El. Not only that, but what followed was Will monologuing about feelings that matched closer to what Mike and Will had went through over the past year, not him and El. And so Mike realizes in this moment that Will does return his feelings for him, but he isn't willing to confront it aka he chooses to play tricks instead. He saw Will crying, yet he didn't confront it nor comfort him, and I think it’s at the very least bc Will crying that hard would have definitely caused Mike to start crying himself.

I also want to add that I think supports this sort of unraveling of Mike having different assumptions about the painting at different times. Because it appears in the hospital scene with Max, based on the blocking of Will, Mike, and El according to the painting on the wall in the background, that before this moment, he may very well have assumed the painting was from Will. But upon finding out El saving Max was a miracle, the painting shifts and is suddenly behind El.

I think that’s the main issue with deciding definitely one way or another how Mike interprets what’s going down. Because arguably, his feelings about the situation could actually be evolving based on the events around him unfolding.

Now let’s move on to the Peanut Butter Smuggler line. They use this to sort of make a reference to a past version of Yuri who was revered, and irrefutably considered a hero by many’ aka the mainstream ‘I miss s1-2 Mike Wheeler’ core.

And last but definitely, almost certainly not least, they show us Yuri reaching in his coat's inner chest pocket, to pull out the reason for the issue that was causing the stalling…

And that in the context of lettergate and even pocketgate, is pretty insane.

I also noticed a lot of scenes end with 'as...' in the scripts, as it's sort of their way to emulate the smooth transitions between scenes in words. While the scene directly after this is of Max and Lucas, the scene directly after that is Mike and El in Surfer Boy, right before they eat the pineapple pizza.

'Uncertain as...' Uncertain as who?!?!?! Max uncertain about the plan she herself insisted they do? Perhaps. Or what about Mike who is very much uncertain in all of his stalling glory, not even two scenes later, after they literally just acknowledged Yuri's stalling…

A lot of the pieces are there for this to play out, so I don't really think it's a reach anymore when you really start to add it all up.

Letter to Willy is a major proof that this is important. Although Mike ‘We’ve had it this whole time’ Wheeler was referring to a pen in that moment, the pen also came from secret hero agent man’s pocket, with the number (answer) being hidden inside, and with Mike’s shirt being off in that scene, though still in the frame in the right corner.

And then there’s the whole transition from Mike in Hawkins to the mailmain in Lenora in 4x01, DONT you worry Mrs Byers, it’s coming!!

If you want to know what I think personally. I don't know....

I do feel like what would make it super easy for everyone to figure out what's going on with Mike, is for us to finally read a letter from him, and with it ending with love Mike... Like it would just be that easy. Literally all of the contents could even be written off as a friend missing his friend platonically and really struggling bc he can't reach him, with him opening up about things that we already suspected, but that he hasn't said out loud. And then by simply ending it with love Mike, the case would be closed.

It would also perhaps explain Mike's inablity to write love to El in their letters. You’d think there had to have been something that made him overthink not doing that in the first place? And arguably, him having done it for Will when he tried to write a letter(s) to him, only to end it with love, followed by panicking and making the choice to never write Will a letter and instead focus on sending them to El (bc she’s his gf) it sort of starts to add up.

I also think I have a theory for when this letter will come into play in s5.

In the flashback of Suzie getting her computer taken by her dad, the last shot is of her night stand, which has a letter from Dustin, with a watch laying on top of it, also accompanied by an alarm clock that reads 5:02… I think it’s possible we could get lettergate being addressed as early as the second episode of s5. And with all the time/clock imagery surrounding it, there’s a good chance the cliffhanger of that episode could send us straight to the time jump…

Just a theory for now based on a lot of piling evidence. But it’s all very incriminating for Mike…

[the-ghost-bracket]

Cole propaganda:

"my guy literally DIED and no one talked about it. He was a ghost for 2 seasons and a special and the angst of all of it is INSANE. Definitely hits hard for the fandom even"

"He turned into a ghost and then his friends forgot he existed"

"He is my blorbo bleebus and he broke the rules of staying in the haunted temple and got turned into a ghost for it, he literally starts to fade away and thinks his friends forgot about him, eventually he turns human again but has a rift to the afterlife on his forehead that gives him awful nightmares and pain"

"he’s amazing. gets flanderized in later seasons but is clearly gay throughout. has homoerotic tension with jay for most to all of seasons 3 and 4. he was brave enough to come out to his dad onscreen. he Fucking Died in one of the s5 episodes they fucking Killed him but a bitch never dies"

"In S5: Possession, Cole was turned into a ghost because he got trapped in a haunted house. He keeps forgetting he’s a ghost throughout the entire season, lol. In S6: Skybound, he’s pretty much mastered being a ghost. Unfortunately he doesn’t get much screen time this season. But then he has a whole special about him! Where he turns back into a human. RIP ghost Cole, you were amazing."

"Cole was a cool ghost, and the fact that he, afraid of ghosts and all that scary stuff, got turned into a ghost was kinda funny (sad, sure, but also ironic, yk?). Also he got a cool scar after he got unghostified. That should count for something."

"this is a personal thing but I watched ninjago as a kid back when it only had like. 3 seasons. and I got back into it on a whim and randomly searched it up on ao3. and like the first piece I came across had Cole as a ghost and I was like ‘wow that’s a cool au’ and then another piece had the same thing so I looked it up and discovered Cole actually canonically became a ghost and promptly lost my shit. he’s not a ghost anymore but he has a cool scar (though only sometimes since consistency is nonexistent in ninjago lmao)"

"Cole was only a ghost for a short while, but it definitely effected who he was and made his character arc have a bit of spice"

"i love him your honor. he got turned into a ghost in the 5th season and thats one of his best character arcs and really solidified middle school me's attachment to him after the coming out episode. hes not a ghost anymore but hes still immensely attached to death and the underworld (there are a bunch of analyses about it) a lot of the time directly due to his time as a ghost"

"Cole is so good he just wants to hold hands and eat cake but he couldn't do that when he was a ghost :("

[storiesofsvu]

Thursday Funday!

IM SO FUCKING READY. Sometimes I do wish that rita appearances weren’t like.. advertised. I really do want an episode where I am fully not prepared and she just waltzes on screen with no warning. Like.. I’d die…

Okay, what a cold opening that was, creepy and obsessive and I like it.

“just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should.” Accurate.

I both like and hate the way AI is brought into shows now, like it’s being showcased as something that’s not great most of the time but it’s also just scary the shit they come up with that it does/can do and that stresses me out man. Its fucking terrible.

Jfc the height difference between shaw & the lieutenant LOL she so smol.

Why does olivia always look SO much better on the OTHER law and order shows except for her own.. like… cmon guys, do better

Okay the last time a captain used a rape kit dna to find a perp olivia SCREAMED in her face LOL.  But also yes this is a VERY big issue that will make victims not move forward or get kits done. But also WHY isn’t there a SEPARATE and PRIVATE database for rape kits to be a part of??!!

FUCK

(yes rita just showed up)

Oh she is BACK baby. Oh god… this is giving me theories and so many ideas of not only the gap in time that she’s been on the show (aka in court) and the drastic different physical appearance. Oh man. Oh fuck. This is gonna be my only thought all fucking weekend. Why must I go to work?!

Oh sweet jesus fuck. The delivery of the line “someone who has been *raped* before” from rita made me feel things deep in my soul (and they are things that only confirm/further my thoughts, woof) (not to mention further comments from olivia, oh god there is SO MUCH SUBTEXT HERE!) (gifs & my theories to come later this weekend!!)

We are SO BACK.

LIKE, the little quips, the head tilts, eyebrow raises, ugh YES. The acting/characterization is exactly how it should be and SPOT on.  First suit was meh, second suit was fucking fire (and pretty similar to one of the ones she wore in 25 acts). I don’t want this to be over. PLS let her come back more often.

Also this episode is honestly super good plot and writing and pacing wise so I’m here for it.

I honestly REALLY do enjoy that mothership is basically Nolan getting a strip torn off of him by women he works with every week LOL

Olivia PLEASE. If it was casey who’d gotten that guilty verdict you would’ve come in screaming. Nolan deserves it.

Rita’s suits are giving very presidential and I am here for it.

Tbh I really hoped the girl would get off but I was also very certain that wasn’t going to happen.

Why is it over already? I need more. I need so much more LOL.

Svu time…

Guys for a solid hour there I fully forgot Velasco existed. Like.. Joe who? I only know Ms Calhoun.

I’m like.. 99% sure he’s not gonna be in tonights ep LOL. Who ever would have thought of a day where I was more into OG than SVU lol

Not just a judge but a *federal* judge. Well fuck.

OP! there he is!

Yeah this is one of those super fucked up situations. I lowkey called it from the start when she said “why do you remember more about my childhood than I do?” esp when she’s the younger sister. Trauma= memory loss.

Not me sitting here going “man I really wish there was more cop/investigation in this episode” cause like, I am lowkey bored and wanted more Velasco and kate content. When 97% of the time I’m yelling “MORE COURTROOM” lolololol. This was Scanavino’s time to shine.

Bruno looking fine af though

God this shit is so fucked up.

Shoutout to peter for killin in this episode. Glad they finally gave him something to work with.

I WILL say that I do miss the courtroom sass, from ALL the lawyers. Like, a lot of people focus in on Barba being the sassy one but like, literally all the ada’s have the same if not more sass. Ms Alex “you can have a toothbrush” Cabot. Ms Casey “you’ve just got funky sperm” Novak. Do I even need to quote something from SONYA?? (ugh man I miss her, maybe I’ll watch some old svu after this…) And I’m not saying Carisi lacks this, cause he’s got it, especially in the older seasons when he was a cop. The writing is just lacking nowadays. Give them more personality PLEASE.

VERY heavy Olivia focus tonight, especially between both shows.

Still feels weird to have 4 hours of l&o cut down to only 2. Like.. what am I supposed to do now with the rest of my evening? It’s only 8? I’m just gonna sit  here in silence and fixate about rita for 9458504540549i4923 hours…

[elfhunk]

justice for q force & high guardian spice

i was yelling on the bad bird website and i forgot i can also yell here now so i want to yell about the completely embarrassing legacy that we, the collective royal we, all of us hooligans on the internet, cursed high guardian spice and q force with.

this is for two reasons:

i think the way our cultural forums decided to burn these shows stake because we did not personally like them extremely sucked, especially if you were a queer person in those industries watching it happen, especially if you were one of the many queer people working on these shows.

they were just genuinely super funny if you gave them a chance and didn't prescribe preconceived notions of what good queer animation is supposed to be.

the cosmos is compelling me to yell about this. so i am. you cannot stop me.

so, both of these shows were burdened with a press cycle basically yelling at everyone from the hills, okay! hey! the new gay show is here! if you're gay you should like it!

anyone familiar with how media works should already be going like "aw geeze" if you weren't there for this in real time, but the resulting shitshow was heard round twitter, tumblr, youtube, and probably other places i don't use as much.

instead of cheering on these underdogs and politely recommending people give them a shot, or just politely stating if they were or were not to our tastes, it became like... a cool fad among posters on all platforms to explain why these shows were actively intrinsically, irreparably bad!

when the shows were perfectly fine, with some mediocre lows but overall high highs!

q force, for every softball joke about lesbian uhauls makes five more genuinely hysterically specific jokes while treating its cast with a huge degree of respect. if you did not get these jokes, that's fine, but lines like "call me miss congeniality honey cause i'm a femme top with a gun" and the entire endgame of eurovision hosted by a small european nation whose economy is based entirely around christmas (twink's favorite holiday from harry potter) live forever in my mind. it was a stupid little adult comedy, but the characters talked like me and my friends. characters like twink especially, was allowed to be funny and silly while still respected by the people around him. i cannot express to you how rare it is to find stories where a flamboyant drag queen twink is given his degree of nuance and development.

on the other hand, high guardian spice was doomed from the outset, but we all jumped at blood in the water instead of letting it exist as it was. it takes no research effort to learn that high guardian spice was yanked around through development hell for years and very clearly had no time or money to make their original pitch a reality.

i'm the first person to admit high guardian spice is, put kindly, a complete mess, but it's a mess with an unbelievable amount of heart and charm if you just engage with it organically instead of making fun of every little production error. i cannot stress enough how little time or money they had to make this thing. it was straight up unethical.

and despite that production hell... it was funny? high guardian spice was straight up just way funnier than most cartoons lately if you just engaged with the jokes as jokes and got the hate-watch stick out from under you. the character chemistry was super compelling, the voice performances had that bee & puppycat amateur charm, and it was a viewing experience so genuinely enjoyable my friends and i have literally watched it like three times from to back.

so, this completely mediocre and janky western anime should've just fallen by the wayside right? nope! it became political baby! it became about wokeness ruining animation, and we all participated in that narrative because we thought that one scene where a character says he's transgender very bluntly was awkward!

the way that everyone, mostly without watching more than ten minutes of the first episode, decided to jump on a hate train spearheaded by 4chan to completely destroy the show's chance at survival was... quite frankly? pretty embarrassing! it was genuinely super awful to watch otherwise reasonable members of our community to act so callously because something was... cringe? annoying? even if high guardian spice was as bad as everyone was saying it was, this kind of behavior is kind of straight up cruel if you took a second to listen for the cacophony of dogwhistling and the way that the cast & crew of the show was being spoken about.

as these things go, it became an easy way to punch down and earn some sweet engagement by posting jokes you thought sucked or where budgets and production timelines faltered.

it was really stupid. i am not asking for an apology for these shows, but i am asking that you give them a chance if you previously avoided them or otherwise bounced off. if you don't like them, that's okay, i don't care. i just want these works by queer writers, artists, and actors to... actually get to exist on its own terms, instead of being swept up into a cruel and pointless circus of engagement farming.

because you know what the industry takeaway extremely is going to be moving forward? guess people hate this, let's make sure future products for this market receive less time and funding.

if they do get made? gotta make sure they completely avoid all of the meatier and mainstream alienating subject matters both shows genuinely got into if you gave them the time of day.

every time the next gay movie or television show comes out in this online fandom space i have my eyes peeled for the kind of buffoonery that we subjected q force and high guardian spice to because they had the gall to make queer cartoons that were not for everyone.

they were specific, they were weird, and they were rough around the edges. and they've stuck with me because of that.

so far, it does not feel great to see media with non-threateningly nothing representation where characters peck each other on the lips briefly and wave a flag but otherwise never engage with each other, their identities, or their communities, and have everyone praise it because it didn't dare say anything specific enough to alienate anyone.

i would rather not connect with a gay character in a movie or cartoon because they just weren't the type of character or story i connect with... instead of not connecting with a gay character because there was nothing there to connect with in the first place!

okay i'm done i love you goodbye.

[lampochkaart]

9 and 65!

65.) What’s Your Option On The Danganronpa 3 Anime?

Hi!! Sorry for taking so long to answer😅

I answered 9 here. As for 65... Short answer: I didn't really like it

I started writing this, but then I decided to actually rewatch it, since I only saw it once and it was 2 years ago. But my opinion actually didn't change at all.

Buckle up, I'm writing another long post where I complain about things

❗Obviously spoilers for the DR3 anime and DR1 and DR2 games below

I'm mostly talking about how I felt the first time when I was watching it.

I watched Future Arc first and then Despair Arc, even though you're supposted to watch them at the same time: 1 episode from Future, then 1 from Despair etc. And then the final episode (Hope Arc). But still. I kinda think it was better that way.

Because while I was watching future arc for the first time, I started get interested and even kinda liking it. The concept of forbidden action is cool, it was interesting to watch and discover why people were dying in the night. THAT SCENE WITH MAKOTO SEEING EVERYBODY WHO DIED. It was such a powerful scene. AND ALSO RYOTA!! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH HE'S THE BEST CHARACTER IN THE ANIME!!

I was starting watch this anime thinking I won't care about it but then slowly began liking it. I thought "Hey, maybe it's not that bad!" But then I got to the despair arc... Honestly I was so dissapointed with it.

I have many complains, so I'm not even sure where to begin. I'll start with the thing that felt to me the most weird. The fact that their talent were far more like superpowers. I feel like in the games, even though there were some moments where the talents were more exaggeratedly powerful, in general they were still more like skills. And in the anime it's much more of a low level superpower.

I don't think there's a better example of that than Nagito's luck. Even though luck isn't really a skill or a talent, it was still something pretty grounded. In the game while his luck was impressive and played a big role, it was still, well... luck. A chance of things going like that was small but it's still very much possible. But in the anime it's more like something actually very supernatural, sometimes even comedically ridiculous.

But it wasn't just Nagito. Akane fucking run down the building wall. There might be more examples that I forgot, but those are the ones that felt the weirdest to me.

Speaking about weird. There are some moments that are very minor and exist pretty much just for laugh but they still bother me. Because they just don't work in this setting and in this story.

Like that moment where Kazuichi is hit by a truck and was pretty much fine (he was bandaged but he could move fine so he probably didn't even break any bones and also didn't appear to be in a lot of pain). You can't just let a character get hit by a truck for a ten second gag in a story where another character died from the same thing. You just can't do this.

Or a moment when Nekomaru literally blew up the wall by shitting really hard. This is just a short stupid joke, but here's the thing. You can't make this joke in a story where one of the major plot points was that students were locked inside the school and couldn't escape. The very same school that this guy just blew up the wall of.

Same thing with them blowing up the wall in their class. If the walls were so easily brocken, THH would've gone very differently.

The thing is, whenever you create a story, you always establish some sort of limits and stakes. And if the story has already established them you can't ignore them without a very good reason and explaination. ESPECIALLY just for a short joke. It's just plain bad writing.

Also I wanna mention the scene with the dog licking some potion and suddenly becoming giant. Because it's so stupid. Yes, Danganronpa was never that realistic, it has some moments that are over exaggerated for coolness or comedy. But this moment is still just looks weird and illogical with no reason.

While we're on a subject of weird unnecessary moments. This time the problem is not the scene being illogical, but the scene being unnecessary and questionably appropriate. I cannot not mention this stupid fucking moment from episode 2 of despair ark. You know, the one with the sex potion or whatever. It literally doesn't have ANY plot relevance and does not have any reason to exist other than for fanservice. Anything that it could possibly in any way serve for the narrative could be achieved differently.

This specific scene was the reason why I was hesitant about watching this anime at all. But thankfully it's relatively short. And also, knowing about the existance of this scene was probably good since seeing it if I didn't expect it would've been much worse for me.

Oh, and also Mikan's fanservice cg moments. If I'm not mistaken there were only two moments like that in the game, both in Ch.1. One to establish that it's something that can happen, and one as an actual plot point. I don't think there were those type of moments after that. But in the anime they gave us two more. Without any reason. Just as a call back to the game, like "haha look that's our silly old Mikan! that's just what she does! isn't it so funny?"

There were other fanservice moments with Mikan, but I'm not even gonna bring them up.

I also wasn't thrilled about some weird characterisation. The mild example is Mahiru — a confident outgoing girl that suddenly became timid and quiet. Maybe people thought that her personality in game was annoying, but I don't think that it's right to remove those core aspects of her personality to make her "better". She just feels like a different character to me. Maybe they did this so that she and her friend weren't too alike, but why not make it the other way around? Sato could ne more timid and Mahiru would've stayed protective. I really don't know why that did they cange Mahiru's personality.

And also maybe Nagito. I'm not calling myself a Nagito expert, I didn't thoroughly analize him. I don't know what about him in the anime throws me off, but something doesn't feel right with his behaviour. And also his classmates' reaction to him is sometimes more intence than it should be. Like, yeah, he was kinda weird, but until a certain point not too much. Like, that would be appropriate reaction to Ch.2 Nagito, but in the anime until he blew up a gym he was just a weird guy in a class of other weirdos.

But those are my minor complains. Whatever, it's not that big of a deal, I'm just nitpicking. But who's characterisation I actually HATE is Mukuro. She was normal in THH. She was actually even kinda cool in THH. And, I didn't read the novel with her, but from what I know, ij the novel she's also not like she's in the anime. So why WHY THE FUCK is she like this in the anime. I don't get why they made her like this. And I hate it so much. I have no love for anime Mukuro. I don't like her, never did and never will.

Anime Junko is also a little off. Like, she does have her other personalities, that appear sometimes, but most of the time she's just this cheery bitchy supermodel type. And this kinda... flattens her, I guess? Like, I feel like this kinda removes part of her charm and makes her less interesting. I'm not an expert about her either, but, again, for some reason with her it also feels like something is missing. But, well, maybe it's just me.

But I think the most disappointing things in the anime (specifically despair arc) for me were disappointing plot decisions. Namely, brainwashing.

Yes. I'm comparing the anime to the game again. Because in the game it kinda more like Junko masterfully manipulated them. Like she found a way to get all class 77 on her side by manipulating them and appealing to each of them individually, finding specific ways to influence them. And in the anime they were just forsed to watch a video that brainwashed them into worshiping despair. Because the ultimate talents are superpowers and can hypnotize people apparently.

I think that this might've been done to make the production of the anime cheaper and faster, because then there's no need think and show how Junko targets individual weaknesses and knows exactly how to make people bend to her will. From the production point of view it was probably easier to go with the despair video plot. But still, to me it was just disapointing. It would've been so cool to closely and efficiently see Junko's abilities to analize people to use their weaknesses against them.

Another thing I want to mention is something about Ryota and his arc. The problem that I have with Ryota's arc resolution is that one of his main points to Makoto was that "normal" people, who are not "special" like him, can't stand a chance. Those great tragedies and disasters are more powerful than them. And the first person I thought could've get through to him would've been Hajime. He could've made the point about how he's literally a regular person. He's not a hero. He doesn't even have talent. And yet he still pushed through and proved to himself and to his friends that things can get better. And they can get better too. They can rip their futute out of despair's claws and make their own choices.

And also that Hajime knows more than anyone that trying to create artificial hope is a really bad idea. That playing god is also a recipe for a disaster. Hajime experienced those things first hand, so he should've been able to convince Ryota to stop.

That's what I expected to happen. But instead everyone basically just told Mitarai that they all fucked up and did awful things, so he shouldn't just blame himself, and that everything will be okay. Of course I'm simplifying and exaggerating, but the point still stands. I expected more emphasis on how normal weak people still have hope. And more point on how people already tried to create artificial hope and that ended in disaster. That final confrontation with Ryota was fine but it just could've been much better.

And that's why I'm so salty and why this post is so unbearably long, and I'm just complaining and complaining. It's because this anime could've been really good! There were very interesing concepts and plot hooks that could've been used. But the potential wasn't used, and instead we got a bunch of weird scenes and plot decisions and a quick brainwashing with the video.

Also I found the ending kinda weird. Like, how everyone is celebrating their victory like everything is finally over. But is it really? The most stressful part of rescuing the people trapped in a Future Foundation office and stopping Mitarai from broadcasting the video is over. But those were the personal conflicts of that group of characters. Most people didn't even know about those things happening and the danger that threatened them. The Future Foundation still has a lot of work. The consecuences of the Tragedy are still in play, are they not? Am I just nitpicking? Or did I miss some bit of dialogue, where they say the world is already healing fine on it's own? Like, genuinely, did I miss it?

And the very last thing that I'll complain is rebuilding of a new Hopes Peak Academy. Sigh. Makoto, baby, why on earth you decided that this would be a good idea. Haven't you learn anything. Didn't you realise that the whole concept of separating people to "talented" and "not talented" is really bad. Don't you think people would not be very happy about recreation of a school that literally started an apocalypse.

I didn't even pay much attention to this when I was watching the first time, but after I saw people pointing this out I was like. Yeah. That really is a terrible decision.

I could complain more about other things, but this post is already long enough and I don't want to just endlessly complain about everything. Hopefully, I didn't forget anything I wanted to mention. I want to finish this on a more positive note, so here's brief summary of the things that I did like.

As I mentioned in the beginning, I kinda liked the future arc. I mostly enjoyed it, it was interesting. The character were also mostly pretty interesing. But Ryota is special. He's the best character in this whole anime. I would kill for him.

And the scene with Mokoto seeing his dead classmates... It's so fucked up, but it's so powerful. He's been through a lot. And I'm glad that the consequences of this are acknowledged. And yet, even after all this he still tries to stay positive and kind. God, I love Makoto...

It was also nice to see a little bit of a normal life in Hopes Peak. To just see the kids goofing around without the immediate threat of death and suspicions. But it was equally cool to see Hopes Peak darker side. Especially things with the reserve course.

Also, while I kinda prefer Chiaki to be just an AI created by Chihiro, still, real person Chiaki is also nice, I like her.

Anyway, thank you for your ask! I was taking way too long to answer, but I hope my long rant was kinda interesting😅

[xerith-42]

Some notes on Xavier

Pretty sure he's only mentioned by name in episode 72, so I just got screenshots of everything mentioned about Xavier in that episode.

Just so that way we're all working with the same information when we start characterizing him.

Let's just address... the elephant in the room. The fact that Xavier is now the third, maybe fourth if you truly believe Enki was in love with her (I don't), male divine warrior who's acted in a lets say questionable way because of their feelings about her. Which, while a depressing reflection of their descendants in a strange and twisted sense, is just really bad. Like. It's bad.

Yeah Araphel tried to kill her but they're still soulmates, and Esmund probably got obsessive or overprotected, and he and Enki both nearly killed Araphel after his jealousy drove him insane. But this? Establishing an entire elite set of guards just to stop normal people from talking to her? To determine whether they were worthy of bothering her? Even if Irene agreed to this, hell even if she suggested it, that's just. So many layers of not okay.

It's no wonder I forgot Xavier existed until I got an Aphblr, I didn't want to remember that!! No wonder they just retconned him out of existence, holy fuck. Uh. So. What do we do with that?

The obvious answer is just change the context behind the Jury and it's creation entirely. How do we do that? Wellll--

This is the part where I hijack the post to push my Irene and Xavier being childhood friends to lovers agenda. Because I think that would be amazing. Because it would be amazing. Xavier having a private look at Irene that none of the Divine Warriors had because he's the only one who knew her before she got the relic. He knew what she was like because she was barely an adult when the relic found her, and they'd grown up next to each other for seventeen years before that.

Xavier very much started to crush on Irene at a young age, but I imagine a mix of insecurity, comphet (which does exist in the mcd universe), toxic masculinity that he hadn't deconstructed yet, and a general sort of subservience to Irene made it so he never quite fessed up. He was very obvious and Irene knew at some point, but he didn't say it directly for a long time.

But what's important is that Xavier was there. He was there for everything. When Irene first set out on her journey to find other relics and those worthy of them, he went right alongside her to keep her safe. He was raised to believe a man should protect his woman and he's gonna god damn do it. He saw when she discovered both the good and the bad, and even the ugly sides of living with a relic. They both saw the tragedy of the world they lived in and did everything they could to stop it.

He saw as she met every one of the Divine. As she fell in love with Araphel. As he fell back. As Esmund fell in love. As Menphia fell in love. He watched as so many foolish guards did the same thing he ha done. And he never felt much jealousy. Even if he never directly confessed, Irene let him down gently. At the time she thought she just wasn't capable of love, and he was okay with that. Xavier was content to spend the rest of his life loving Irene to death in any way she allowed.

And when others fell in love, he was barely even surprised. How could they not love her? She was worth giving your entire life to before she became a literal angel. He never felt jealousy because he could always empathize, and be there when she more likely than not rejected them. He was always there for her in a way distinctly non-romantic because he realized early into their travels that she was going to need it.

Xavier always just wanted to support Irene in any way he could. He tried not to put her on a pedestal. He failed sometimes, but he tried his hardest to remember that Irene was truly just another human woman that chose to keep him at her side. That's what mattered more than anything. He was always what she needed him to be. When she needed a shoulder to cry on, he was there. When she needed a friend to drink with, he was there.

And when she needed someone to protect her when one of her closest friends, the only love of her life turned against her, he was there. He protected her. But he knew he couldn't forever. He knew that whatever solution Kul'zak was cooking up wasn't going to last forever if they weren't willing to kill him. They needed Esmund's help to do it, and he'd never agree to it. So, before he even knew what the plan was, Xavier set up a fail safe.

Xavier and Irene were 100% raised with the mentality of "hope for the best, prepare for the worst."

That fail safe was the Jury of Nine. He and Esmund had already started the Guard Academy, he just decided that the best of the best overall would get the chance to be evaluated by him. If they passed the vibe check, they got to join him as a guard of Irene. He hand picked each original member of the Jury, spent extensive time with all of them making sure that they all not only were good fighters, but worked well together.

He had seen in real time perhaps what the rest of the world hadn't. He saw the Divine start to tear each other apart. He couldn't let that happen again. So he made sure that conflicts were resolved quickly, and if he felt that two Jury members were incompatible, he would decide which of them brought more to the table and had a more reasonable argument for why they should stay.

Xavier still gets to be a little morally corrupt because he's literally making these people make court cases for why they should keep their job, but that's what happens when you want to guard a near demi-god. Just comes with the territory. Maybe don't be petty assholes and this won't be a problem.

While the Jury remains today, this aspect, along with many other of Xavier became lost to time. After the war of the Divine, Xavier sort of... fell into the background. He stayed out of the public, spent most of his time with the Jury or Irene, and in his final years, he just disappeared. No regard for his legacy. No regard for any friends he left behind.

Because he'd just been left by the only real friend he ever had.

[alicepao13]

Hudson and Rex S02E11 - Rex Machina

Fun pun. Even better because deus ex machina is an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel, and that happens often in this show.

Literally all crime show procedurals have done the "car kills human" one way or another. So, again, we're not looking to reinvent the wheel here. We're looking for a fun episode. Which it was, mostly the parts with Terabyte which I thought was a clever invention from whoever wrote the script.

Terabyte's first appearance!

How dare you.

This is a ridiculous idea. It just begs to be vandalized.

Rex's interactions with all the robotic parts is hilarious. I can only imagine what dogs think about all these things. Judging by their reactions on the roomba vacuum cleaners, not good things.

Being on bad terms with your daughter because you're a trucker and she's about to revolutionize the car industry and maybe your job won't exist by the time you retire is... completely stupid. Yes, any other trucker would have the right to feel threatened but her own father?

Dude, you parked in the middle of the street.

Sarah has already adopted Terabyte.

I live for Rex's jealousy.

Stop being so cute.

"Hoomans, if you don't get that thing away from me..."

Well, up until that moment, I had not realized that the one sided-glass in that interrogation room can also become... two-sided? Also, fun scene.

Charlie and Sarah walking their dogs.

I completely forgot it was Sarah that named him Terabyte!

"He looks like a terabyte". What precisely does a terabyte, a measure of counting digital data storage, look like?

Rex: Damnit, Terabyte is going to blow this case wide open. I have to step up my game.

Sarah: [about Terabyte] It's a he, not an it. Charlie: *sending silent signals to Jesse to just go with it*

Charlie: Good job, Terabyte. Rex: OH HE DID NOT! I'll make it look like an accident.

I love subtitles.

Sarah: Where's Terabyte? Jesse: Charging. Rex: He's in here! And I'm smelling fried circuits!

I concur.

I love the justification of, "I blackmailed a company and murdered a person when my ex got involved into an unrelated to said company motorcycle accident which left him paralyzed, because self-driving cars are ruining my hometown which is solely dependent on the driving industry". I don't think automation made you a shitty person, you were always one. Also, I'm not sure if that stands medically, but it's implied that if they hadn't gone to the trouble of staging this to seem like the car's fault, he might not have had permanent damage to his spine. So, she traded his legs for 10k per month.

lol they're opening the plant in Axtonville, a town where everyone is a trucker? Are truckers and plant workers interchangeable?

I actually dislike the pro "our company cares" endings they sometimes do. This isn't the first one.

"That's right, bitches. Despite Jesse's best efforts to murder me, I'm back."

Might happen sooner than you think.

Definitely not. I'm going to be watching Rex adaptations forever.

"No, we're not friends now. It's a 'keep your enemies close' thing."

I was glad to see Terabyte in later episodes. Although I don't think he ever moved again. I think at some point Rex probably had enough and ripped his circuits to shreds. The damage was irreparable. Everyone was sad. Rex wasn't.