#a bit hard for me to personally to accept the premise of the story and world right now

[4giorno]

rage quitting for the night bc i was lucky enough to get an S character but it was someone ugly from the SAME GROUP as von lycaon 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[hamliet]

the notion that bnha is pro authoritarianism or social hierarchies is nonsensical not to mention acting like being pro cop is bad

Err... BNHA is pretty pro-authoritarian. I actually find it pretty disturbing. And that's even if the story turns out with the League alive at the end.

As for being pro-cop--cops are human individuals, yes. But people have in recent years in multiple countries (including Japan, by the way) protested against cops being used as tools to maintain social hierarchies wherein people who are not part of that hierarchy suffer for daring to want to be treated as human beings. When I say I'm anti-cop, I'm not saying I hate anyone on the basis of being a cop. But I am saying that the ways in which the police force are used in many countries does societal harm. Critical thinking, yo.

Honestly I feel like this whole story (BNHA) and fans reactions throughout (especially when compared to other stories) demonstrate how people are not using critical thinking. And that can have real world consequences, though it doesn't have to.

I just find it weird that people are okay with a story where the ruling class is always right and always wins. Like... how have they not? I mean, even stories that end up suggesting the ruling class isn't entirely wrong or show flaws in rebellions generally don't go hard on the authoritarianism. But Horikoshi... is doing this.

The whole thing is so weird to me personally, too, because Horikoshi's wishy-washy framing and switches in coding generally seem to be the result of him caring, deeply, what his audience thinks and feels. Too much, really, but it also seems like he genuinely doesn't want to hurt people. Except this ending--even if Tenko does reappear as New Character and saves the League--is the exact opposite. (If Tenko doesn't reappear, then everything I'm about to say is multiplied by a thousand.)

It's catering to mean-spiritedness, and while I do understand fiction isn't reality, the side he's catering to now is making the argument that fictional crimes are real crimes and thus must meet real penalties.

I can play this game too.

If people are gonna make those arguments, I'm going to say they're the problem and the reason we have wars, genocides, assaults, and more.

If you ever want a cycle of violence/abuse to stop, someone has to accept that they've taken the last punch. Not keep going until the other side is WIPED OUT.

If you equate justice with equalizing losses, then you are enacting Dazai from BSD's statement on justice: justice is a weapon. You can never heal by it.

If you want to heal, you have to stop fighting and bandage wounds. And maybe you are too injured to do the bandaging. That's okay. But someone else can, and if you try to stop them on the premise of "but no one bandaged my wounds" you're a bitter person who makes the world a worser place.

If you say a tragedy is the story, sure. But you have to set up tragedies from the start. See, Attack on Titan, which's ending I love. It began with someone crying and an ominous message to the future. You don't set up your first chapter with "this is the story of how I become the greatest hero!" spend 200+ chapters criticizing hero society and have the hero fail at the goal he'd been repeating for 200 chapters in the end and join hero society and still think you wrote a story that delivered in what you promised. You failed.

Either you wrote a tragedy and are trying to pass it off as a happy story (see how well that works usually) or your understanding of a happy story is pretty much just fascist propaganda. And yes, BNHA does have fascist themes at this point. Way more than AoT ever did. But they have smiles and cute frog girls so it's not nearly as dangerous, right? (sarcastic).

The thing is, this is where the lack of critical thinking comes in. While I've seen people talk a bit about how BNHA seems like copaganda, it's taking things much, much further than other stories usually do and into territory where I'm frankly disturbed.

Yes, BNHA started out as a clever critique of hero society and of the very idea it's now seeming to uphold: that the human instinct (which is universal in real life to) to idolize people leads to a lack of humanity for those who do not have those traits we idolize, whether their fault or not, and for people to become villains in response. But not only has it failed to deliver on this premise by upholding society (hey, Naruto and to a degree Tokyo Ghoul also failed to completely change society), it's gone so far as to endorse what it previously criticized.

It's more akin to Game of Thrones Season 8 upholding racism, sexism, and classism, than it is to Naruto or Tokyo Ghoul. GoT ended with a joke about prioritizing brothels being open, as if the misogyny was actually a good thing and not what caused a lot of the problems. There's no critical lens here. It's just like "hey, there was no point in struggling. Monarchies that abuse women, rah rah, let's go!"

BNHA seems to be going a similar route. Deku's murder of Shigaraki, Ochaco's crying over Toga, the way Shouto reaches out to Touya--it's sad, but not framed as something the audience should see as a wrong done on behalf of heroes. In fact, the heroes are not criticized at all. Frickin' Edgeshot, whom no one cares about, is fine. All of them are fine. Their statuses are generally fine, too, except maybe Enji's and even then he's not like going to face the fate of the League and die alone. His family still supports him. Hawks is completely fine and framed positively. His regret over Twice is pure lipservice. Deku really did just need to kill Shigaraki, and all his "I want to save" spiel, much like Ochaco's, is for naught. He just needed to learn to grow up and get in line.

Even if Tenko comes back, and even if Deku like... somehow knew this would happen via vestiges or whatnot (let's be real, he will if this is the case), and the message is just that society isn't ready to move forward, but at least they can live, then... I don't know, y'all. That's still depressing. I don't see how Deku is a hero for that, much less the greatest number one hero. He decided to be a hero at the cost of his own integrity, and if this was a gritty story about the realistic struggle of living in a capitalistic society where ethics are always compromised that would make sense, but... it's not. Even until the final battle, the characters were endorsing idealism.

At the very least, Horikoshi didn't deliver on his promise in the first chapter. At the very worst, he's endorsing fascist ideals.

Like, I'm sorry, but "kill this person for the good of society," the violent upholding of oppressive societal hierarchies, the importance of being a cop hero and the way the military hero brutalities are worshipped, the way heroes are lauded and everyone who doesn't get in line with this is punished, went from being criticized to being endorsed. Those are all central elements of fascism.

The little guy deserves to lose, but, but Deku is the little guy, so it can't be! Except it can be. Because it's actually pretty common irl even to trot out examples of people like Candace Owens to be like "hey, you can't possibly say Republicans are racist!"

And don't you dare say "but Japanese culture makes it unreasonable to expect a non retributive justice!" The Japanese people are not a monolith. Not to mention... Naruto, Bungou Stray Dogs, Monster, Hunter x Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho, Mawaru Penguindrum, Oshi no Ko, Dragon Ball, Attack on Titan, and Tokyo Ghoul all say hi.

I hated the TG ending, and still hate it, but I'm not going to say that it upheld the CCG as right all along because it didn't. BNHA thus far is doing that with hero society. And even if the answer is for the League be revived and to leave society or whatever, then how can we be happy Deku is a part of this society? How can we root for him, or his classmates? Is he going to work from the inside to change it? Why wasn't that emphasized beforehand as a theme or struggle?

tl;dr Horikoshi has cooked his story no matter what he does now, and I don't think it's salvageable. Either way it has themes that are disturbing especially considering real world events across the globe, and that people should be more aware of instead of focusing solely on stories that have fascism and monsters in them but don't uphold it.

[italianpersonwithashippersheart]

I have no thoughts on Twins and 7 Days Before Valentaine because I DNF the first and I am binging the last one. That said many people on my dash that are watching 7 Days Before Valentaine felt bad for Q more then they felt bad about Sunshine.

For Last Twilight I am mad at it but for reasons unlreated to Mhok and Day's fight. And for the Sign, I think I half agree with you, that said it doesn't bother me nor take me out of the story for me personally.

What I did want to say is I don't think that Pit Babe was trying to make us believe Charlie is really dead. The preview basically forshadow it, plus we know Charlie and Alan had a plan, I just don't think it was going for a surpise he is alive thing.

I think the reasons it happen like that is two folds, 1 it happened that way in the novel and they have made some changes to details and plot points but they are definately keeping as much of the original structure they can. And 2 shows do sometimes focus on one character first then the next episode see what was happening with the other character, the first two episdoes of My School President did that as well.

Also I would argue that this episode cutting between Babe being devasted and Charlie's secret plan would have undercutted the emotional moments Babe was having. This way Babe's emotions had time to breath and sit with the audience.

Obviously this is just my opinion.

You know what is really bothering me about these last couple of days in Thai BL land?

Yes there were a lot of tears, but none of them were mine. (the exception being cherry magic. that sequence of Karan taking care of Achi and then being heartbroken. My heart wasn't ready)

These are my personal and maybe unpopular opinions so just let me explain. Spoilers galore as usual. We had some heavy episodes this week. Starting with 7 days before valentine and ending with the sign.

7 Days Before Valentine Look, was it heartbreaking? Sure. Did I feel sorry for Sunshine? Nope. Not even a little. Because for 8 episodes we've seen a selfish, self centered human being make a mess of the world without an ounce of remorse. Just picking people off one by one for his own selfish desires. So even if this episode was actually good, because he finally confronted his selfishness, I was watching wearing a big neon sign saying - you had it coming... the world's smallest violin etc... Also we know he's not actually gone so. (this is the recurring theme of the week btw)

Pit Babe I mean Pavel did a great job and this show is doing a great job at showing men being vulnerable and crying. But let's be real. Charlie is not really dead. We know that. Omegaverse or not, this is Thai bl and we don't play that here.

So the idea to leave the audience in the dark is an attempt at a cliffhanger but ultimately void of any real suspense. If the audience were to be let in on the plan, I'm sure there is one, then we could've felt Babe's suffering in a more profound way. Because, in my opinion, that would be more powerful. We could've seen both sides of this and felt bad for both of them. What's the point of leaving us in the dark? Am I suppose to gasp next week when Charlie appears? When what will actually happen will be that as soon as we know Charlie is alive we will get angry at him for making the person he loves suffer and next at Babe because they will get right back to the papa and mamma talk before the I'm sorry leaves Charlie's lips.

Twins I mean, there wasn't really a lot of suffering left to be had here. I was the only one suffering due to the fact that this show really waited until the last episode to make Sprite come clean. And to top it of, making First feel even more like a door mat by forgiving Sprite so fast. What a waste.

Last Twilight I've already said my peace about this show a couple of times. I did feel Mhok's pain. Him alone crying outside the house was heartbreaking. But the problem is how it happened. Idiotic. The catharsis didn't have the time to actually be cathartic for Mhok. The noble break up was not noble. So in the end I cannot emotionally connect to any of this. They threw Mhok's nightmare in there in case we'd forgotten about his baggage, or maybe because they had, so that sudden confession of Mhok had diminished impact as it was followed by the break up which of course is the real heartbreak I guess.

The Sign What is up with the editing of this show?

I already said somewhere last week that I thought the editing of the rescue was terrible because it was not done as to invoke any emotional impact. The same happens this week.

What the hell was that cut after Phaya woke up? We had like 15 seconds of them looking at each other and Phaya reaching out before they cut to Dr ican'tkeepupwiththenamesatthispoint and then to the police story line that let's be honest, it's taking space from everything else that's more interesting and it's not giving us anything of value in return. Stop putting everything but kitchen sink into shows if you can't manage it properly. If you don't have space for these stories to breathe and give me something I'm missing in the main story lines. Look I love that Phaya got up from his hospital bed and immediately went for it, but I mean what am I suppose to feel about it? The show is not letting us settle into any one emotional state long enough to feel anything at all.

And, I'm really asking. Is anyone at all interested in the police investigation? You can have a police investigation as backdrop to a story. But if you're also gonna take it upon yourself to have this massive mythological, past and present lives star crossed lovers story, then something's gotta give. Maybe just make it a case that doesn't also span generations and brings secrets and lies along for the ride.

I'm so mad at Thai bl at the moment. Not you Cherry Magic, you are my precious ray of sunshine in the middle of all this rain. Please be good till the end.

[Thank you @twig-tea for being my proofreader. You're the best. 💜]

[usergreenpixel]

JACOBIN FICTION CONVENTION MEETING 37: CHÉVALIER (2022)

1. The Introduction

Well, hello there, Citizens! I’m back and I hope you missed me! Sorry for the multiple delays and all, but luckily I’m back at it now!!!

Okay, so this movie has been on my radar ever since it got announced. A story featuring a real Black man who lived during Frev? Sign me up! This has excellent potential and also, to my knowledge, at least a partially Black crew so we get more representation of marginalized groups in crews and on the screen!

At least, those were my thoughts before I actually watched the movie, but we’ll get to whether it was a good media piece later.

I found the movie on Russian language streaming websites, but it’s available on Amazon Prime and Disney Plus for those who would like to watch the original English version.

This review is dedicated to @idieonthishill , @vivelareine (who has a review that unpacks the movie from a historical pov and is welcome to add to the review 😊), @theravenclawrevolutionary , @sansculottides , @citizentaleo , @saintjustitude , @avergehistoryenjoyer , @lanterne and @jenxiez .

Okay, let the Jacobin Fiction Convention reopen!

2. The Summary

The movie tells a story of a real man, Joseph Bologne aka Chévalier de Saint-Georges. Recognized son of a white French nobleman and an enslaved black woman, Bologne must navigate the cutthroat world of the Parisian high society, dealing with racism and trying to reconcile his “white” upbringing with his African roots.

Sounds interesting, but let’s see how the premise was handled.

3. The Story

The Introduction scene - a musical duel between Mozart and Bologne, was actually quite good in my opinion. So were the other beginning scenes of kid Bologne growing up in France as an aristocrat and being bullied by his white peers, plus his father telling him not to let society break him.

These scenes establish quite well that Bologne has to carve out a place for himself among French nobility and make a lot of effort to get even a hint of acceptance. Sounds like a nice setup, right? Well, unfortunately at times Bologne in the movie doesn’t seem to have much agency at all.

For example, his title is granted to him by Marie-Antoinette basically on a whim, handed to him on a silver platter because the queen was impressed by his fencing skills, which in my opinion isn’t enough to show a character who has to work hard to be accepted. I think it would’ve been better if Bologne had at least several impressive fencing performances to prove himself and show more of his skills.

On the flip side, there are characters who have a bit too much agency. For example, in the story it’s Marie Antoinette who is calling all the shots and giving all the orders in France, even though Louis is alive and well. It’s definitely jarring to see how people say “by the order of the queen” when the king should be the one mentioned instead.

I didn’t care much for the love triangle storyline, but it’s my own personal preference and also the fact that it, like many parts of the story, isn’t all that nuanced. So yeah, very bland and boring.

Yes, Citizens, unfortunately nuance has officially left the chat, especially when it comes to the main character. See, at first Bologne doesn’t give a shit about poverty and famine plaguing France. He is enjoying his cushy life and his friendship with the queen of France instead. However, you know what makes him join the Jacobins? A fucking PERSONAL FALLING OUT WITH THE QUEEN. Not promises of abolishing slavery or granting rights to black people, not his own ideals… Just fucking pettiness!

It would have been much better if he didn’t have a falling out with Marie Antoinette and signed up for fighting with the Republicans because he genuinely wanted to do what was right, not due to personal beef. Especially since that was why he joined Frev in reality – the real Bologne made a choice to do the right thing simply because it seemed to be the right thing to him. Not out of petty desire to get back at the queen.

Also, the conflict between Bologne and his mother about how he is acting “too white”… eeeehh. To me it felt very anachronistic but maybe I’m wrong and there is more nuance missing because EVERYONE at court had to carry themselves in a certain way to make it. If you couldn’t do it, you were socially FUCKED. Besides, Nanon (the mother) and her friends crack really mean jokes about Bologne being “too white”, which is… well, an INTERESTING way to endear him to his mother’s culture…

The movie is juggling admittedly anachronistic theme about black culture, anti-slavery message, court drama and love triangles… and the juggling is done quite sloppily too, I’m afraid.

Also, just to illustrate how inaccurate this movie is, the events of 1789 are shown happening in 1776 for some reason, which shows just how much the creators didn’t give a shit about research.

Moving on.

4. The Characters

I really didn’t care for Bologne to be honest. He shows selfishness and pettiness, doesn’t have enough agency in the story and is also very inconsistent. After falling out with Marie Antoinette, he claims he defended her, which… he didn’t! At least it’s not shown in the movie! What the fuck happened to “show, don’t tell”?! Also, his incredible talents aren’t really shown in the way they could’ve been, more on that in the soundtrack section. A missed opportunity, really.

Nanon, Bologne’s mother, is a real embodiment of the themes of slavery and trauma present in the the movie. She merely exists to push him to embrace his African heritage and to remind him that he will never be truly accepted by other nobles. I honestly wish there was more to her character, because she ends up being little more than a walking theme embodiment.

Marie Antoinette here is a capricious, fair weather friend. She CLAIMS to support Bologne, but does it in indirect ways out of fear that nobles wouldn’t appreciate her openly backing a black man. Even though she is an absolute monarch so she can afford to show her support more openly. Actions speak louder than words, and she is clearly not a true ally of Bologne.

Marie Joséphe, Bologne’s love interest, is a woman trapped in a miserable marriage and yearning to act in Bologne’s operas. While I do sympathize with her, I believe that there really isn’t much depth to her either. We just don’t learn much about her. This is becoming a common theme…

Also, just as a side note while we’re talking about characters, many white characters in the movie are shown as mere flat caricatures. I can understand why, but, again, this doesn’t show nuance as in reality, while Bologne definitely had to deal with racism, he was not only accepted, but adored as a celebrity, but we don’t see that reflected in the attitudes of other people towards him. Because apparently the brains of the spectators will implode when they see nuance in a modern movie, it seems.

5. The Setting

Personally I wasn’t that impressed by the costumes or the settings. I’ve seen much better ones. Nothing bad, but nothing outstanding either.

6. The Soundtrack

Where the fuck is actual music from that time period?! Where is music by Bologne himself?! It’s a fucking missed opportunity and I don’t know what prevented the creators from including the music written by the MAIN DAMN CHARACTER into a biopic about him. A shame that they missed yet another opportunity.

7. The Conclusion

Honestly… I can’t say much when it comes to what this movie is fucking about. The story is bland, lacks nuance, doesn’t follow basic historical facts and is pulled in a million directions.

For a movie about an obscure figure, it doesn’t show much of the things Bologne was known for and at times even strips him of agency. We need to have better POC representation, because this is just not it.

The movie is mediocre, bland and forgettable. Don’t waste your time on it.

With that, I declare today’s meeting of the Jacobin Fiction Convention to be over. Thank you for your patience and support during this hiatus of mine.

Stay tuned and stay safe!

Love,

Citizen Green Pixel

[kpchrs]

I think between shippers (and this is me saying this, an outsider to both ships) there’s Def the nagging voice saying “Coriolanus sucks irl” in everyone’s mind

So that’s Def a part of the civility in my opinion. Like why fight when the main guy in your ship is the worst guy alive. Bonding moment IG lol

LMFAO You are so right, Anon. Bonding moment for real. As some people in the post's comment said, "we both share the toxic blond" and also "we're trauma-bonded".

But I think it's not really a nagging voice. We all know Coriolanus Snow fucking SUCKS. If you compile all of my thoughts about him from everywhere, the majority is me clowning on him actually. I want to do violence to him.

It's funny, and I'm sorry for the out of topic, but this...wish makes me fantasising about a "Coriolanus Snow & Conscience!Reader" Crack AU. I've told some of my friends but just for fun I will tell a little bit here:

Okay, the premise is right in Chapter 1, we the readers/the fans whatever you wanna call us, get inside his head and it's up to us to try to put him on a good(?) path. (Emphasis on TRY.) Or actually, it's just an excuse or catharsis for us, especially me, to clown him in his head tho, because his thoughts are so deranged, yeah? It will be fun to mock him, tease him, and "scold" him, and we will bicker a lot, and he can't do aaanything about it.

So it's like this (below has some real excerpt of Chapter 1 of the book [page 3-4] but switched to present tense):

This morning he went to her room at daybreak, only to find both his cousin and the shirt missing. Not a good sign. [...] He thinks of people putting a price on her. With her long, pointed nose and skinny body, Tigris is no great beauty, but she has a sweetness, a vulnerability that invites ab-- NOOOOOOOOO! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT YOUR OWN COUSIN?! The voice -- scream -- comes out of nowhere and echoes very near in his ears (inside him?). To say it surprises Coriolanus is an understatement. Grabbing on air, he fails to stop himself from slipping and falling on his bottom.

Lol.

I'm not sure I want to write it because writing, even more in English, is daunting, but it's really fun to think about. It will be on the Snowbaird route, though. I imagine we will follow his love story with Lucy Gray, but I think...we will unfortunately fight over her.

LOOK! At Lucy Gray's arrival, The Voice screeches annoyingly loud in his head. It's my girl! Even after weeks, Coriolanus still hasn't decided if The Voice is a crazy part of him or an entirely separate entity somehow attached to his mind. However, the possessive term it used tugs the wrong string deep in his chest. Whether it makes sense or not, he hisses at it, 'She's not your girl.' The brief silence that follows is the most peace he gets these recent days. Oh shit, you are jealous. 'I am not.' You totally are. Just like with Billy Taupe. C'mon, I'm inside your head. I know. 'I am not.' Listen, Coryo-- 'Stop calling me that.' --just accept that Lucy Gray is everyone's girl, okay? She's my girl. She's not really just yours. 'Who in the Gem of Panem is everyone? Who even are you?' I can't tell you that. It's against the rules. 'What rules?!' Uh-uh, still can't tell. Give it up already, Coryo. Coriolanus is losing his mind. He has had a talking creature inside his head for weeks and it is just now he truly feels he is losing his mind.

Lol. Writing is hard, huh. Okay, I'm not sure this is categorised as a character & reader fic now that I used third person, not second person pov, but eh xD

I'm willing to talk about it more though, if anyone is interested!

Thank you for the ask and the space to bullshit, Anon!

[evilpenguinrika]

Fuck sorry no okay I thought of something more for my Hosie Jujutsu Kaisen AU

ok ok ok so Mikaelson family are like infamous. So I think in this AU, it would make sense if they're part of the Big Three Families (like Gojo clan, Kamo clan, Zen'in clan).

The other family that would be part of the BTF would I think be the Gemini Coven (I think I'll leave them as that name instead of like idfk listen I only watched LGCS and TO bear with me here I'm so sorry) as that is the only logical thing in my mind (also, I have decided that everyone in the Gemini Coven's Domain Expansion is called Prison World--because again, iirc they're the only ones on the show that can create a prison world so it would make sense--but like each of their Prison World Domain would be different/represents the person themselves. So like Josie's Domain Expansion: Prison World would maybe have something to do with school library/studying to reflect her character from LGCS or IDK I didn't think THAT far ahead other than everyone in the Gemini Coven's Domain Expansion is called Prison World)

For the third family that's part of the Big Three Families, I think it'd be interesting if it was Malivore.

We didn't get a lot about Malivore in LGCS other than he's just a goopy goop that wipes out a creature's existence if they fall into him. So I think if I were to just make Malivore into just. A guy or more like, a powerful family (I've already made some Malivore lore for my Hosie Omegaverse fic that I haven't touched in a while) would help me figure out a better way to write this apparent Hosie JJK AU fic that I've decided I will now hyperfixate on. And it would be nice to rope in other characters and figure their story out and their relationship to the main premise of why I'm writing out this long-ass ramble about a niche AU/crossover lmao (like maybe Landon and Rafael get accepted into Jujutsu High after they experienced some deep shit with curses--kinda similar to how they got brought to Salvatore school. Landon, like in the show, doesn't know he's actually from the Malivore family and discovers this along the way with Hope and the twins and Super Squad and oh man if this supposed one-shot AU fic becomes a series I will punt myself into the sun)

And I think it would help me figure out even MORE on how to turn this AU into a Hosie thing.

Originally I was wondering--because of age--Hope would be a 3rd year while Josie and Lizzie would be 1st years, but I wanted Hope and the twins to be more of like a team. I don't know I'll try and figure this bit out. But I think maybe they knew each other when they were younger and ofc Josie has a crush on Hope since childhood because of how cool and pretty Hope is and as they grew up, that childhood crush turns into like full on Josie is pining mad hard for Hope.

Oh yeah, so, Hope would 100% without a doubt be a Special-Grade Sorcerer to reflect her Tribrid status. it just makes sense.

The twins, because I've decided that they do have curse energy but it's so fucking faint that it feels as though they don't... Maybe they'd be 1st or 2nd-Grade Sorcerers. I'll have to go back and read up on the different Grades (or maybe use this as an excuse to rewatch JJK teehee)

Anyways, sorry, back to the Hosie wow I'm sorry I am rambling anyway

So yeah, I think it's a "they fell first but they fell harder" thing. Though I do want to bring in the canon fact that Hope had a crush on Josie in her teens into this AU somehow. I mean maybe she still does. Maybe Josie continues to crush on Hope and sees how amazing of a sorcerer she is and wants to get stronger as a sorcerer so she can feel worthy to stand beside Hope and fight alongside her.

Hope probably develops a crush on Josie when Josie comforts Hope and is there for her when something happened to the Mikaelson family--or more specifically Hope's parents, leaving her an orphan. Hope appreciates Josie's warmth and kindness and maybe notices her more now (kinda also like in the show, ESPECIALLY the "quiet things heard" episode. like Hope being hyperaware and perceptive with/about Josie in that quiet way and secretly looking out for her is hella cute).

The brain bees are ruminating. I'm gonna have to really plan this out properly if I'm going to make this AU work

hopefully this will just be a one-shot fanfic but you know what. wouldn' be surprised if I end up making a whole multi-chapter fic for this.

[trulybetty]

Sunday | Week In Review VI

A bit of a slow week this week - nothing much really happened. Got some writing done, announced some things I'm working on and worked on my TBR list. Odd week as my notifications just disappeared and felt a little disconnected. Things seem to be back on track *fingers crossed* - so lets get on with this weeks review...

Truly Betty Updates This Week…

Strings Part V Mood Board

Salt Water Soft Launch

Autumnal Offerings

Fics I Enjoyed This Week…

How Good It Is (Benny Miller) by @wildemaven Fully on the Benny train, this scratched the itch this week with this delightfully wonderful piece of fluff with a delightful touch of spice and I can't wait to get more insights to this couple's relationship.

A Safe Haven Drabble (Joel Miller) by @darkroastjoel You don’t have to have read the series to appreciate the angst in this small little drabble that packs a punch. Explores Joel’s feelings on the impending arrival of Tommy’s child with the grief of missing Sarah and it manages to do it all in less than 600 words beautifully. 

Your Hand In Mine (Joel Miller) by @thelightsandtheroses This is a great opening to a new series and it's such a great opening premise that will have you wanting to find out what happens next and in eager anticipation of what is to come next.

Open Mic Night (Marcus Pike) by @secretelephanttattoo No denying it anymore, I’m ankle-deep in this Pike Puddle and this is an excellent example of what keeps me content with damp *ahem* feet… Are you one of those who forgot it's canon that Marcus was a part of a band? This one-shot is here to remind you with a bang!

Clouds (Joel Miller) by @softlyspector This is incredibly soft with a few hard edges - allusions to events from TLOU2, but no spoilers and no golfing. Highly recommend a read of this.

Little Monsters (Dieter Bravo) by @chronically-ghosted Dad Dieter was not the trope I thought I needed, but here we are and I can’t get enough. This is all what I picture Dieter as a father being like. This is equal parts fluff with equal parts spice which makes for a delightful read! 

For the Night (Agent Ortega) by @ladamedusoif I think the pilot hit the web for all of a couple of hours before we were blessed with this delight. As far as I am concerned this is what the pilot should have been, it’s deliciously raunchy and I may have read it several times. 

Delta Landscaping | Chapter 5 (Triple Frontier Boys) by @rhoorl I don’t know if I still have words for my thots feelings on this update to this series. So please accept this gif and go get caught up, and if you've not read it? What are you waiting for?

Spinning in the Rain (Frankie Morales) by @frenchiereading This is like the best kind of fluff, it's atmospheric, it's indulgent, it's sweet and it's Frankie - what more can you ask for? Oh, and it's based off a song that I already adored and this makes for one to go back to for re-read.

All I Need (Frankie Morales) by @frenchiereading Mel has such a way with these perfect snippets of fluff and romance that make your heart swell and this is another example of this. I can't do it justice, you just need to read it to experience it!

Exposed (Ezra) by @maggiemayhemnj This was a delightful debut and a great read that flowed just as well as Ezra's poetic prose, which Maggie manages to capture perfectly. If you are a fan of Prospect and Ezra, you will not be disappointed!

Personal Day (Marcus Pike) by @sin-djarin If I'm staying in the puddle, I'm going to make sure it's in good company with fanfics like this one! If Marcus Pike is going to ask me to come back to bed for five more minutes, who am I to deny the man?

Shared Breaths | Chapter 9 (Frankie Morales) by @frenchiereading It's a triple header here for @frenchiereading! The slow burn of the first eight chapters pays off with a bang here and, it does not disappoint! If you're late to the game like I am on this excellent story, I very much recommend jumping in because it does not disappoint!

Posts I Enjoyed This Week…

The thots were truly alive and well on this Narcos gifset. I don't think the image of this post is burned into the back of my eyelids. Also, might have prompted some non-Narcos writing somewhere in the WIP pile...

Thoughts on the contents of the Delta Landscaping Yelp page? We got you here!

@goodwithcheese's book recommendations! I'm off this week and hoping to get some reading done between parental activities.

Things I’ve Enjoyed This Week…

I got four episodes deep on Wrestlers, a Netflix original docu-series on OVW, a Wrestling farm out of Florida that was once where the WWE sent its superstars to cut their teeth before making their debut. I once upon a time was a big WWE fan, so this has been an interesting watch. I'd recommend it too even if you're not a wrestling fan as there are some interesting stories from both those who run it and those who live it.

This Week’s Song…

On a N'Sync kick this week with the rumours that they're going to be reuniting for more than just the Trolls 3 soundtrack/movie. I will be feral if the rumour of a reunion tour materializes!

Happy Sunday all! Here's to a great week ahead!

B 💕 x

[rebelrebelwrites]

Another week, another…

Fic Friday! ❤️ Weekly Fic Recs

Let’s dive in.

This week’s recs are…

As always, please mind the tags on any recommended story for your own personal preferences.

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The Classic You’ve Heard Of But Somehow Haven’t Read Yet: Like Calls Unto Like by Elahrairah_Inle

What you need to know going in:

Oof, this fic. If you haven’t been reading it, where you been, fam? It’s been a while since it’s been updated, but don’t let that deter you — this S1 continuation begins with Gal and Hal in Eregion pre-reveal, then progresses to a full-blown post-S1 epic that is just that: epic. In addition to a spellbinding narrative, steamy AF smut, and captivating characterization, the thing that strikes me most about this fic is the love and care the author clearly takes with the plot. It’s intricately woven, and I am SO excited to see where they take it. This is a fic that’s worth waiting for, however long that may be.

WIP, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr and AO3.

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The AU You Need to Immerse Yourself In Because, Well, Wow: a dust like thine by @mortaltempless

What you need to know going in:

Agh! Recently completed, and I’m still basking in this fic’s beauty and perfect execution. (Also, be prepared to see mortaltemples on this list a few times; everything I’ve read of theirs has been 🤌.) This fic follows a BatB-style fairytale premise in the First Age, with Galadriel bargaining with Sauron for her brother Finrod’s life: he can have her, instead, as long as he’ll also help her overthrow Thingol in Doriath. The resulting story is thrilling in its pace and intensity — every moment builds and crests so that you’re constantly on the edge of your seat with the dynamic set between these two, which sees a very measured but mercurial Sauron and a very lovably impetuous Galadriel who has zero qualms making herself… we’ll say at home in Sauron’s fortress. I don’t want to say too much more for fear of spoilers, so just go read it/bookmark it. You won’t regret it.

Complete, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author here on Tumblr and on AO3.

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The Complete But Never Forgotten Masterpiece: the nameless by @bimmyou

What you need to know going in:

35k words, one chapter. Folks, I was intrigued, to say the least, when I stumbled upon this lengthy one-shot — reason being, I’ve become more of a minimalist as a writer/reader in recent years, so that WC made me curious, and I admit, initially a bit hesitant. Let me tell you… every. Single. Word. Was. Incredible. Absolutely not one wasted in this stellar masterpiece; I think I said in my comment something to the effect of Tolkien not being able to do it better, and I meant it. Before I spend too much more time waxing poetic about how absolutely incredible this one-shot is, I’ll give you the long and short of it: it charts Sauron and Galadriel’s story through to the Third Age after they meet on the Sundering Seas, and the care and consideration given to their characters, to the tragedy of them and all of Middle Earth as a result, is nothing short of harrowing, and spectacular.

Complete, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr, Twitter, and AO3.

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The WIP That Will Wreck You (In the Best Way): dig up the bones (but leave the soul alone) by @wyrd-syster

What you need to know going in:

Listen, it’s so damn hard not to start every summary with an embarrassing noise of both delight and anguish because every story/the talent in this fandom is incredible? I’ll stop wasting words with my nonsense and get on with it: Post-S1, in which Galadriel accepts Sauron’s proposal, and takes up the mantle of his Queen with a ferocity and strength of will you just don’t see in most fics, and it’s glorious. The expansion of orc culture and overall world-building in this is sublime, and even heartbreaking in the unflinching view it takes, always at the pitch perfect moment. The battle for dominance between Gal and Sauron in this, for me, may be my favorite so far I’ve read. It’s breathtaking. And did I mention that the smut and sweeping narrative is also stellar? Well there you go.

WIP, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr and AO3.

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The Can’t Stop Consuming No Matter What Time It Is Fic: a man is a god in ruins by eye_of_a_cat

What you need to know going in:

This is another case where you can expect to see this author’s works recommended more than once, but I believe it was a man is a god in ruins (and the larger series) that I fell in love with first. As stated, this 5-chapter completed fic is part of a larger series where the author explores different ways for Sauron’s identity to be revealed, and I urge you to read the entire series as well, but this specific story takes the opposite approach: the one time Sauron successfully maintains the guise of Halbrand. I don’t want to give too much away apart from that, so the rest I’ll say is that the sense of foreboding this fic builds is terrific, and masterfully done. Coupled with undeniable romance, scorching smut, and a series of twists and turns that will make your heart palpitate hard, you will be riveted the entire time, and blown away by the end. That I promise.

Complete, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Twitter and AO3.

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🤩🤩🤩

Me at all these fics:

Don't see your story on this list yet? Keyword: yet. Please don't fret! I can only recommend so many each week, but I am always looking for more stuff to read, share, and generally shower with love, so please feel free to reply with your own fics or your personal faves. I have plenty more to recommend... ❤️

Until next week!

[gummybugg]

i keep seeing you post about the mice come out at night but i still don't know what it's about

As a joke I was going to put "even I don't know what it's about" but that won't due since I began writing it yesterday hehehe! There's no excuse not to give a serious answer!

It's a wip still in its baby stages, but I can give it all I got for a solid rundown! ✨️ (btw it's very scarcely mentioned in my pinned post, but I can elaborate a bit more)

So strap onto your seat belt and grab an unalcoholic beverage because I'm about to go on an incoherent ramble about mice, men, ghosts, and cajun culture:

Also, there is an intersection between Cajun culture and queerness. They are both things Morgana is ashamed of. He wants to fit in, get rid of his "embarrassing" accent, and just live his life under wraps. But that's kind of impossible when he finds a family of ghosts haunting his home. Through the tragic telling of their deaths, they help Morgana realize that he must cherish what little time he has to live and to live his life unabashedly. And keep telling stories. Be the person younger You needed. Don't hide yourself/don't be embarrassed. You're not living life for others, but for yourself. Stop appealing to those in charge. Do what makes you happy and you will find your company.

Morgana is a closeted trans guy living in Louisiana who drops out of college because it makes him depressed af. He needs a change, so he decides to move out into this conveniently affordable haunted home with what little funds he has left until he can make a living. But it's a *haunted* house (you know, typical spooky Louisiana lore), and he must find a balance between the spirits and finding meaning in his life.

It's a coming of age story but lowkey the plot of a Christmas Carol if you turn your head 90 degrees and squint really hard. Like the ghosts go "Morgana stop being an idiot and just live your life already" but he's like "but everyone will hate me and ill probably die or something" and they go "then it's a win-win for us."

We also get featured scenes/themes such as: Morgana's clown-core clairvoyant sibling Tooth, who can actually see what tf is going on (Morgana can't, he didn't get the ghost-seeing genes); a gay ghost wedding between the two father figure ghosts (Addison and Vincent); found footage of a broken household (relatable things); sibling power; gender euphoria; funny trans moments such as a pun about "dead names" (come on, it's FUNNY); acceptance; and found family.

For now, though, the story is on hold until I can get a better understanding of it and the direction I want to take it. I'm also writing it now, but yeah! Thank you for asking, this really helps me get a better picture of this project!

I plan to expand upon the Cajun culture as it is the entire reason I began this project (to not let the culture fade away). Culture, along with identity, go hand in hand with how we should be proud of our backgrounds instead of shy away from it to conform. Go and learn about those before you, and you will feel less alone instead of brooding in your college dorm, counting down the days until graduation!!

I think this sums up the premise, but I can keep going if there are any questions. I am always eager to share about my stories!

I have huge aspirations for this (and many of my other projects), as I plan on implementing many forms of media into this story (if the stars align and this takes off). Such as photographs, audio files, journal entries, blah blah. I was also thinking of being fancy and dropping a few lines of poetry/literature that inspired this story at the start of each section if this story goes anywhere.

But yeah, so thanks a lot for the ask! I really appreciate it :')

[seabreezeraincloud]

So I recently watched through all the major StarKid shows that are available on YouTube and decided to rank them from least favorite to favorite. This was really hard because most of them are just so good in their own way, but I did my best.

12. Me and My Dick

Yeah, this one wasn't for me. It definitely has heart, and I like the message of accepting both love and lust as normal and healthy aspects of attraction, but the whole premise was just too juvenile for me to really get past, personally.

11. ANI: A Parody

I had this really sinking feeling when I realized that the characters weren't going to be singing any of the songs. I can respect experimenting with the medium, but it felt less like a musical and more like a movie with licensed music that just happened to be performed on a stage. The plot also felt like a lot of nothing, and while the comedy writing was pretty good like any StarKid production, it wasn't enough to make up for it.

10. A Very Potter Sequel

The Potter musicals are pretty low on this list because I just don't have the nostalgia for them, but even with that in mind, I was a little disappointed with this after the first one. It's still good; it just couldn't "recapture the magic", so to speak. It goes on for too long, and Umbridge and Lucius, while they do get a few laughs, just can't compare to how iconic Voldemort was in the first one. Draco was easily the best part of this show for me.

9. Holy Musical B@man!

Even watching this in a time where I'm growing sick to death of superheroes and even superhero parodies, it's a pretty solidly fun show. Good jokes, good songs, good performances. I probably would've enjoyed it more back in my Mainstream Nerd Culture phase that I went through shortly after this came out, but it's still pretty good.

8. A Very Potter Senior Year

A definite improvement over AVPS. Voldemort is back, and while he doesn't live up to his presence in the first one, he's still pretty great. I'm not sure why this recording is a performance at a con with the actors holding the scripts, but it didn't bother me at all. In fact, it kinda added to the charm. And I'll admit - even though I don't have any nostalgia for these shows - I kinda got a little teary-eyed towards the end.

7. A Very Potter Musical

Even with all the hype behind it, I honestly didn't have very high expectations for this show, but it ended up being lot better than I thought it would be. There's just something so...pure about it. For the group's first production, it's a really good start. Voldemort and his dynamic with Quirrell was amazing.

6. Starship

This one is just really cute and fun. Those first few minutes in I already just had a big smile on my face. The puppetry and sets were really pleasing to look at, and as usual, the songs were great - probably among my favorites. I also love how Little Mermaid-coded the story is. Bug is just such a Little Guy.

(If I had a nickel for every time I got really attached to a character named "Bug" played by a StarKid cast member, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice in one year, right?)

5. The Trail to Oregon

Peak StarKid silliness. It's hilarious, the songs are bangers, and it's all around just a great time. It kinda loses me near the end with all the fart noises, which is what knocks it down a bit, but most of it is such a blast.

4. Firebringer

I don't really have much of a reason as to why I put this show here other than that I guess I just really vibe with it. It has good music and humor like any StarKid show, but I also really appreciate how it's a female-centric story with some sapphic representation, even if it definitely could've been fleshed out better.

3. Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier

This is absolutely the best parody musical from StarKid's lineup, no contest. I may be biased because of how much of a Disney Person I am, but I love all the little references and nods (although the whole "2D department" thing just makes me sad, come on Disney, I am still angrily tapping my foot). It's not only a fun parody, but a really clever and heartfelt one too.

2. Black Friday

So when I first watched this back in 2020, I liked it, but I was a little disappointed in it compared to its predecessor. However, watching it again after some time has passed...it still has its flaws that I could go on about, but its strengths far outweigh them. I was debating on whether I wanted to put it this high because I don't necessarily think it's better than, say, Twisted, but as a Hatchetfield fan, I just simply like it more. It's a really impressive production, and it's grown on me a lot.

1. The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals

This is the first StarKid musical I ever saw, and it's still my favorite. Do I even need to explain myself? It's just a great concept with a great execution. S-tier, 10/10, no notes.

[lipzlipzlipz]

5 books and 5 fics

@waxwing-saint made me do it

I always have a hard time making lists, especially lists of favorites because there are far too many to remember, and I had to set a rule for myself to narrow it down. Pick things that stayed with me. That’s it. So, these are the ones that made me think or feel or put me in a weeklong introspective funk.

Books

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield. My most recently finished read. Both @sosh022 and @waxwing-saint recommended this to me and it’s been years since any book has hit me as hard as this one did. The love, the frustration, the inevitability, every page felt so real. Some days I managed a whopping 30 pages but most days it was 2-8. The words were just too good to let them fly by without holding onto them for a little while.

Just Kids by Patti Smith. I’ve been a fan of her music since I was a kid so when I picked up this memoir I was only familiar with that and her poetry. It’s a story of her youth and friendship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe, and her writing is so compelling that her reminiscences filled my head and heart as only a poet could. Highly recommend even if you don’t know her music.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I bought this the year it was published and I would read it at least once a year for years afterwards. When the movie came out, I couldn’t see it, and I still haven’t seen it, even though I think this year might finally be when I do. The story is just too close to me.

There There by Tommy Orange. Stories about clashing identities, of being a part of two worlds and also neither, are always very interesting to me. And this one was just so visceral in its anger and sadness, it swallowed me up.

Nightshift by Kiare Ladner. Ok I’m cheating a bit here since I haven’t finished it yet, and I don’t normally recommend books I haven’t finished, but this book makes me squirm and I need others to squirm with me. Have you ever met someone and became instantly obsessed with being their friend (and maybe more) and when you did, you got caught up with that feeling that you’re finally being true to yourself but maybe also molding yourself into someone you’re not? That’s this book. And it’s a drama so the discomfort and stakes feel higher. I have no idea how it’s going to end, but I’m probably going to do more squirming and cringing in self-recognition along the way.

Fics

i’ll take the desert, you take the coast by @searidings. Supercorp. I absolutely adore this fic, I love all of searidings’ fics, but this one blew me away when it was first posted and it still does. I love a Lena that holds a post-reveal grudge. I love that she holds onto it for so long. It’s beautiful and sad and angry and I reread it every few months.

Vertigo by Yoshiyuki_Ly. Fleurmione. This fic inspires strong feelings in people, and given the ending, I can understand why. Fleur is a Slytherin and she’s got major childhood trauma and her characterization is colder and harder than we’ve ever seen her. But the hesitant romance that builds with Hermione is so sweet and real, it’s one of my favorites. There’s also a sequel on ffn if you’re interested.

Falling Towards Something (It Might Just Be You) by @thewaywedo33. Fleurmione. Another take on a darker/grey Fleur. A bit angsty, character driven, and you’ll have so many questions about what’s going on in the wider world, but all that really matters is that this Fleur can’t stay away from Hermione even though they’re not really on the same side, and I love their gradual acceptance of it, until it all comes to a head and choices have to be made.

Personal Jesus by @perfectly--random. Fleurmione. A non-magical AU that hits you in the gut and I won’t say anymore because it’s just that good. Wonderful angst.

The Arctic Station by @foragewrites. Supercorp. One of my favorite Supercorp premises is post-reveal angst and eventual reconciliation, and this fic does it so well, all couched in a stranded/survival story. It’s amazing.

~~~

Because I limited myself to completed fics, I left out some really great ones. Danse Avec la Vie (fleurmione) by Sosh_022/@sosh022, Once In A Lifetime (Sansaery) by MsCFH/ @hell-much and We court our own Captivity / than Thrones more great and innocent; (Sansaery) by heart_nouveau. Danse and Once In A Lifetime are in progress so my list will probably change when they finish.

Whew that was tough. If you’re reading this, go on and give it a try. One person I’ll call out is @sleepingontheway. 😊

[ariel-seagull-wings]

TOP 10 CHARACTERS FROM MUPPETS TONIGHT

@softlytowardthesun​ @goodanswerfoxmonster​ @thealmightyemprex​ @amalthea9​ @princesssarisa​ @the-blue-fairie​ @themousefromfantasyland​ @moonbeamelf​ @angelixgutz​

If you're a human being, take a break from the race Take a load off your feet, wipe the load off your face Got a lot to do and we do it for you Everybody take your place Muppets tonight! You're gonna see something better Tonight's the night! You're gonna live with the memories We got a show for you Guaranteed brand new Here come the muppets tonight! [whistling] We got a show for you Guaranteed brand-new Here come the muppets Here come the muppets Here come the muppets tonight!! This was the opening theme of Muppets Tonight, a TV series featuring The Muppets that originally ran from 1996 to 1998, initially as part of ABC's TGIF (A two-hour friday night block of family sitcoms hosted by the various stars of the shows,  often supplemented with animation, running skits, and short gags) that would later hop to Disney Channel. An update of the premise of The Muppet Show, changing the setting from a theater to television studio, it featured the Muppets producing a television variety show with the help  of the episode's guest star.

It wasn’t popular as its predecessour show, and the view of its overall quality remains divisive among Muppet fans.

Personally, after finishing its twenty two episodes, I can see that it was a flawed series, with references that are so specific to the nineties that quickly become dated, and some poorly aged sexist and fatphobic jokes that are cringe inducing.

But I also appreciate the charm and genuine hearth putted into the episodes, specially when it camed to writing the characters, some who camed from previous Muppet movies and specials, others who were created specifically for the show and would even appear in later Muppet movies, specials, comics and shows.

And today, I shall present the ranking of my favorite characters from this underrated part of the franchise.

10º Andy and Randy Pig

First introduced performing alongside Miss Piggy in the Three Little Pigs segment of the direct to VHS film Muppet Classic Theater, these two brothers were retconed as Miss Piggy’s nephews who she called to work on the studio. Originally nobody would dare asking anything from them, because of how dumb they are, but slowly they become accepted as part of the group, going between trying to work (and failing) in the technical department to even writing and performing in sketches. 

They often tried their best, until they would admit that “This job is too hard”, but were always there to keep providing mistakes that could give the audience a good chunk of laugh.

Both WITH them, and AT their expense.

09º Dr. Phil Van Neuter

This mad scientist was written as a shoutout to horror anthology hosts, presenting, alongside his hunchbacked creature servant and brother-in-law Mulch, the sketch series “Tales from the Vet”, wich were short horror comedy stories staring animals.

A few episodes later, his segments were last limited to the horror comedy stories, and he had moments like telling how he fell in love with his wife Composta Heap while singing “She Blinded me with Science”, having a videotape of himself getting drunk with eggnog to the audience by Mulch, and paying homage to Dr Frankenstein (whom he says is his great uncle) by trying to ressurect an apparently dead Arsenio Hall.

He is one of the Muppets who leans the most on his dark side, while also knowing how to be a fun performer, wich makes this energetic maniac specially fun to watch.

08º Johnny Fiama

An italian american lounge singer and restaurateur who tries to be a hit with young women, but only gets popular with the old ladies (specially his mom), Johnny Fiama, while overall calm and rarely the starter of a fight, is still a bit of a diva, arrogant and oblivious to how he can be a botter to other people around him.

But he is not really a villain (unless you fear the fact that his surname, besides meaning “Flame”, is also an anagram for “Mafia”), and is clear that he is still an artist who enjoys what he does and can even have some moments of human vulnerability, like when he gets nervous about seeing his idol Tony Bennet.

This moments of vulnerability of the diva mixed with obliviousness are what make him a very interesting character.

07º Sal Minella

The loud chimpanzee who serves as Johnny Fiama’s bodyguard and assistant. Originally, his puppet was the naked chimpanzee who sanged one verse of the Muppet Treasure Island movie opening song “Shiver my Timbers” (The devil himself would have to call them scum). One day, when the puppeteers were working on designing the characters for Muppets Tonight, Bill Barreta was rehearsing singing with the Johnny Fiama puppet, while the other puppeteers were still talking between themselves, not paying attention. So Brian Henson tooked the naked chimpanzee and screamed to everybody to shup and listen to Johnny Fiama, and so Sal Minella was born, receiving a redesign that included a yellow suit by Jane Gootnick. Whereas Johnny Fiama is oblivious and has a laydown attitude to life, Sal Minella is more perceptive of his surroundings and more proactive to solve problems, most of the time agressively, but others with gentleness, like when he takes correspondence courses to become an osteophath and acupuncturist to help treat the physical problems of other characters (with mixed resulcts). 

Often Sal Minella will be on the receiving end of a beating or a lightining. But he will stop at nothing to land a hand to help other people. Specially Johnny Fiama.

06º Big Mean Carl

A voracious monsters who cares for nothing else than eathing wathever is in front of him (be it actual cooked food, a sapient living being, or a machine), Big Mean Carl lands several roles troughout the series, be it playing a Big Mean Bunny who eats cute rabbits and pups when the contestant gets an answer wrong at the game show Swift Wits, a psychic who predicts he will eat you, making bubbles come out of his head after eating Bill the Bubble Guy, smashing talking pumpkins, or eating the tape machine, all the while treating what he did as a big performance that he would always finish with a big “Thank you” to the audiences.

Was he good, or was he bad? He probably would say that he didn’t care. 

The only thing that mattered to Carl was that he was always hungry.

05º Seymour the Elephant

The character with the big behind. Seymour started working operating the studio’s elevator, before becoming a cook in the Commissary. His biggest dream was to become part of the performers. 

Alongside his partner Pepe, he would come up with numbers like telling jokes, a stunt of whipping up a cigar and a cooking show.

And no matter how many times those numbers failed, Seymour would still persist with the dreams of stardom.

He had an innocence and sweetness that never felt forced or manipulative, wich was a nice contrast to other characters who were more cunning or violent.

04º Pepe the King Prawn

Nowadays a part of the main cast alongside the classic characters who originated in The Muppet Show, few people know that Pepe started in Muppets Tonight. 

Like Seymour, Pepe also started working operating the studio elevator and ended as a cook in the Commissary, while dreaming to become an actual performer in the show.

At first they tried a vaudeville number with variations of the same song:

I'm Seymour... 'I'm Pepe... 'We're two of a kind. 'I'm a little bit forward, 'And I've got a big behind.

And telling pun related jokes, before dropping that completely to get counsel with the guest stars about what numbers they could come up with.

To contrast with Seymour’s innocence, Pepe was more of a cunning rogue who acted as the brain in their plans. Whereas he could get angry and condescending at the staff or the audience when the numbers failed, he was always patient with Seymour, never  venting his frustrations at him, clearly extablishing that the two had a genuine relationship based on trust, loyalty and friendship, and it was nice to see that in these early days, Pepe was dreaming of stardom not only for himself and based only in being rich and famous, but that it was also a dream that he wanted to make real for a friend and out of love for the stage, wich is one of the excential characteristics of a Muppet.

03º Clifford

Originally a bass player for the Muppet bands Solid Foam and The Electric Mayhem, Clifford received from Kermit (performer and producer) the duty of hosting the show since no one else wanted the job. 

His first reaction was fainting while still holding the phone. But rather than run away, he accepted the challenge.

When Clifford became the host of the show, his attitude changed greatly. Whereas in his previous appearances, he was cool and laid-back, being the host made him uptight and irritable, essentially putting him in Kermit's shoes.To be fair, when you're the host of a series filled with crazy characters and situations that would drive anyone up a wall, how else would you feel doing your job?

In the seventeenth episode where the guest was Dennis Quaid, Clifford experienced a whole ark of feeling insecure and tought of giving up on being the host to search another job, before his friends reassured that he had value for them and was needed to help things get on their feet.

And so, the catfish continued his work, bringing with him a great sense of resilience that was to be admired.

02º Rizzo the Rat

I may be cheating since Rizzo first appeared with the classic cast of characters in the 1984 film The Muppets Take Manhattan, but he was reinvented enough to be a part of the main cast in Muppets Tonight and besides, when hasn’t anyone cheated on top ten lists?

Anyway, when he first appeared in the movies and specials, Rizzo was more the character who rided along for the free food while ocasionally providing fun snarky commentary. Then he was promoted to performer and co-host in the direct to VHS movie Muppet Classic Theater, and them he received the important role of Production assistant, who assisted the gang of Muppets Tonight in search of giving a good time to the guest stars and keeping good ratings for the show, besides getting in despair alongside Clifford when they had to deal with a backstage crisis.

He becamed a more proactive and helpfull team member, all the while keeping his snarky and street smart personality and also trolling his friends with some pranks.

That is a great example of a subtle character ark that doesn’t need to be on focus, while the core excense of the personality is intact.

And my number one character from Muppets Tonight is...

01º Bobo the Bear

A more fotorealistic looking Muppet bear, recicling a puppet from The Muppets Take Manhattan, Bobo started as the bumbling security guard who tooked orders too literary, before being developed into a complex character who, while bumbling in some situations, could be very competent in others, sometimes doing small scams to take food from Rizzo, other times making sarcastic jokes with Clifford, impressing Sam the Eagle when articulating an opinion about economy and politics in the “Eagle’s Nest” sketch and specially showing a great sense of empathy and kind hearth when seeing Clifford facing his emotional crisis, leading the gang to ask him to stay.

Besides working as the security guard, Bobo would also perform in the sketches “Fairyland P.D”, wich was a police procedural parody in the scenario of fairy tales and nursery rhymes that he stared alongside Clifford, and “The Real World: Muppets”, a parody of the reality show “The Real World” where he was confined in a house with Clifford, Rizzo the Rat, Bill the Bubble Guy and the goth lady Darci.

His best moment was in the episode guest staring the model Cindy Crawford. There, Bobo falls in love with Cindy after literary being hit by Cupid’s arrow. Unsure of what to say, he first tries to get help from Rizzo. After this fails, Bobo decides to follow his instincts, jumps into a musical number that Cindy was doing with Kermit, and howls the bear mating sound, wich makes Cindy give a chance to a romance with the bear.

A sweet romantic dreamer, emotionally inteligent, cunning, wild and bumbling, Bobo started as a simple one note joke, but, slowly and unexpectedly, becamed a charming tridimensional character.

And that is why he is my favorite character in Muppets Tonight.

[popculturebuffet]

Next up, favorite character from the Adult Swim originals from 2013 -15 : Newsreaders, Hot Package, Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories, Mr. Pickles, Rick and Morty (aka their most iconic cartoon original in the 2010s), King Star King, Decker, Black Jesus, The Jack and Triumph Show, and Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter? Mike Tyson Mysteries excluded since we already covered that in the Warner Bros Animation ask.

Okay so as usual what I haven't seen up top: Newsreaders, Hot Package, Decker (Though I have watched some of it's sister show on Cinema), King Star King The Jack and Triumph Show and Neon Joe. (Though I did WANT to see tha tone)

Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories: I checked out an episode or two but coudln't get into it. I wasn't into horror at the time, so that didn't exactly help but even then it feels a bit too long for Tim and Eric's own good. Mr Pickles; Is garbage. I only saw bits but it was ugly , mean spirited and as someone already not a fan of the michigan j frog bit, I didn't want to see it done over an entire series.

Rick and Morty: WUBALUBADUBDUB. It's a hard choice but i'd go with mr meeseeks LOOK AT ME. Just such a good concept. As for the show itself, first off.. fuck Justin Roiland. It was a shame to find out someone this talented was such an asshole but fuck em. Unlike Dan Harmon he did not take responsiblity for his actions and become a better person after doing something incredibly shitty.

Now with that elephant out of the room I liked Rick and Morty at first... a high concept show that SEEMED like a status quo show, but wasn't, with fantastic animation, a great cast and lots of good ideas. But as the show went on... I started tuning out, eventually ending with season 4 part 1. I didn't like how the show stuck to it's status quo to it's detriment, or got creepier with Summer being thrown into sex stuff with grown men despite being stuck as a teenager, and the slut dragon episode. My attempt to come back ended when I ran into an episode where morty and summer had an incest baby they named Naruto and refuse to just.. render non canon.

The series also kinda disappeared up it's own ass with Vindicators 3 feeling like one long angry screed against marvel.. and while i've come to accept the mcu has issues and has DEIFNTELY degraded since, it felt less like a genuine parody and more like Dan Harmon yelling at a genre he didn't like. The show lost that spark and if it's regained it good for them. But I just can't go back. And the fact I can't go back to a show with Keith David as a guest star every season really says something.

Black Jesus: I liked this show and wish i't'd lasted longer. IT's a solid show with a fun premise of a man who may or may not be jesus hustling with his friends. Trailer Park Boys Meets Boondocks.. literally with the creators of both teaming up for a solid cult classic.

[detectivereads]

Usotoki Rhetoric by Ritsu Miyako

5/5

This post is for fan entertainment, I’m not being paid.

Hi everyone,

I finally got a copy of Usotoki Rhetoric, I love the premise of this manga.

Our main character Kanoko Urabe, in the being of the manga she is living her hometown which at the time was clear why she was leaving, the only thing that was said that her power is the cause of this.

So right off the bat, we got our mysterious main character which already got me hooked. I like stories that just ooze mysteries.

As Kanoko gets to the new town, we get to see her power when people talk. Kanoko can hear when someone lies. Being new in town would definitely help, with being new in town she won’t get tricked by kind-looking faces.

Now I like this part of this series because the power is a double edge sword, however I do find it odd that the main character who has a power like this is compelled to tell people that person A is lying.

As we see throughout the manga, having a power like this made growing up with this power hard for not only her but her family as well.

Now our next character and our male lead Sowa Iwai, who is a down on his luck detective. From when I first read this manga, I thought he was shady but once I did read the manga and looked back at him, he is a great guy.

Once Sowa met Kanoko and he understands her abilities, he understands or at least gleams the idea that Kanoko doesn’t really like her powers and that it’s a bit of a sore subject. Respectfully he offers her a job at his detective agency to help him solve cases, which she accepts (new in town and a person is offering her a room and a job).

Now the cases they tackle in the first volume are some good ones, missing person cases, theft and blackmailing and fake kidnapping (when you are reading the chapter you’ll understand).

I have read a little more online and I love this series, the time setting 1926 was an amazing choice to set this story in, the clothes the beautiful kimonos and suits and dress they all looked so gorgeous, the feeling: reading some of the chapters I did get some somber feelings for some of the characters.

Now looking at this I am unsure if it’s going to be a romance where both Sowa and Kanoko will end up getting together, but I wouldn’t to upset about that the two of them are a wonderful together.

If you are looking for a manga series that is set in 1926 Japan detective series this manga is the manga for you. 

[hotchfiles]

Honestly your take on ,,dark“ fiction is interesting but I feel like there is no circumstance and no coping mechanism that would excuse minor x adult smut.

there is also a difference between exploring dark themes and romanticizing them.

Fiction affects reality, always has and always will and just because someone might use fanfiction as a coping mechanism doesn‘t mean it’s healthy or excuses anything.

If you write sa/noncon or abuse or whatever you deserve to be publicly called out if you romanticize it and especially if you don‘t give warnings.

As a victim of grooming and sa when I see someone writing about these topics and publish (!!) it as if it‘s something usual as a recipe it‘s disrespectful, especially if you aren’t a victim yourself.

i totally understand your point! that’s why i said one of the things we must take in consideration is that the fact we want to write something doesn’t mean other people have to be comfortable with it

i have hard limits myself, romanticization of nazism, slavery, real incest, age gaps when the older has known the younger since they were a child

i also have flexible limits, i don’t mind reading noncon when it’s part of a bigger story and it makes sense and it’s not romanticized, i’ve read a young snow x reader one that had noncon as a plot point and it was honestly so good, it wasn’t hot or anything, it was sad and agonizing and reader only found out what was happened to her by the ending so it wasn’t graphic (graphic noncon is one of my hard limits)

i do think fiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum but i also think fiction is a way to safely explore darker themes, and it all boils down to how you do it and why you do it

i used professor!remus as an example on that post exactly because it is my most problematic plot, reader is 17 and smitten, and the thing is, she is smitten because it’s remus, because remus is fictional so he’s perfect, if a 17 old girl told me she was pinning after her teacher and he was accepting her advances i would immediately tell the headmaster

the thing is, and its why i dont write and post anything of the sort, im 27 so i fully know how to separate fiction from reality and what my limits are and aren’t in both, but my audience isnt made of all people that feel like that and i do try to respect my audience fully

like i said before, content like that needs to be heavily warned, and if you don’t give warnings about it, it gives the impression that you don’t think it’s a problematic theme, and i do think thats an issue, if you write it, know its problematic, warn people about it so they won’t read it if it affects them, i think it’s fine, because it shows you know how to separate fiction from reality and that you respect the boundaries of your readers

i think lolita (the book) is a good example of that, lolita is written from the creep’s pov, so it’s written as a romance, people might empathize with him if they read it without any warnings or media literacy, but it’s not a romance, it’s the story of a creepy man going after a child and blaming her for it, when you read the book already knowing that, the experience is completely different

what i do find a bit problematic is how common some tropes are, and in that i can understand and support talking about how problematic it is (which is why i commented that we as writers have to know and show that we know that type of content wouldnt be okay irl): how often reader is “innocent” and inexperienced, the use of femininity as something fragile, the infantilization of grown women—and it bothers me more when is written not as a kink reserved for sex, but as the whole premise of the relationship

i’m usually very “extreme” on my opinions, but fiction writing dark themes is one of the topics i have a lot of thoughts, i debate on it a lot and i have different perspectives depending on the theme and how it is written

i personally prefer writing dark themes in other ways (i write about death and suicide a lot, one of my fics will deal not only with suicide but with the unfortunately common and widely known SA of young boys in the catholic church) but i know that the way i write it might make people uncomfortable even if it isn’t sexual/smut, and i wouldn’t get mad at people for that

that post was more of a vent as i debated with myself about it and not a hard truth i will hold on forever

[andersdruv]

Okay. Okay.

I truly love all these three. Xena: Warrior Princess was a breath of fresh air in my late teens, a show that was intense, silly, grim, and had a central relationship to die for (as the characters themselves did, repeatedly (they got better)). Revolutionary Girl Utena was a show that starts out as a quirky genderbent "prince"-in-school story and then turns the premise on its head so many times, and gets dark and scary while still keeping the focus on a hero who will do anything to attempt to save the one who suffers. Avatar: The Legend of Korra is such a cool sequel to The Last Airbender both with personalities, technology, and politics. It's Avatar a bit more grown up and more complex.

Xena is such a jock, albeit a broody one. She revels in her physical abilities, she's cocky when up against powerful opponents, and she can perform feats above and beyond those of the many, many warriors and warlords around her. She's a force of nature and can get a stubborn singlemindedness to go beyond all limits of her strength, like when she protects Gabrielle in One Against An Army.

She's the epitome of the cool outsider to Gabrielle who starts following her out of the sense that she is someone who can show you how to go your own way. At the same time she's desperate to change, to do good, and finds the inspiration to do that in her plucky tag-along turned sidekick turned partner. She is strong, and funny, and protective, and learns to accept herself one staggering step at a time.

Utena is the prototypical jock: good at sports (extremely good at sports, as all the school sports clubs are desperate for her to join), passionate and impossible to dissuade from her goals. She sees a girl being treated poorly and despite being thrown into the weirdest duelling game ever she chooses the path of helping that girl. But she's far from perfect, in a very jock-like manner!

She thinks that becoming the substitute to an abusive "boyfriend" is enough, that the binary makes sense as long as she can be on the other side of it, that a prince can save the princess by pure heart and drive. To be fair, that is also what everyone in her world also thinks.

But like Xena, she is capable of learning a different way, despite being the stubborn and reckless hero that I love so very much. (not mentioned here: also often accused of being dumb as a brick, but really it's more oblivious to certain things we can all be blind to and bad at reading some social cues)

Korra is a jock superstar. She's the Avatar, the most admired person in all the four nations, she's a sports star, and has never met a problem she couldn't bicep her way out of. Until she comes to Republic City and politics, adult villains, and relationships all come crashing down on her. I got very annoyed at Legend of Korra because I felt that it didn't do her character justice.

As I wrote above for Xena and Utena, a big part of them is that they learn, they change. And a lot changes for Korra during the course of the first few seasons but the large lessons generally don't stick. So she keeps being a stereotypical jock well after the world around her has changed, and that bothered me. Because she's cool, and physically accomplished, and she tries so very hard but it's never enough because the problems she faces, political, personal, and metaphysical, are such that punching them doesn't work in the long run. Yet it felt that the show creators were pushing for that to work, and thus Korra felt like she was treading water for quite a while (which she can, because she's a physical marvel).

Luckily the show faces up to that in the final season, and Korra becomes a Better Jock, and gets together with the Coolest Girlfriend. But it was a long time coming. She's so cool though!

LGBTQ Jock Showdown Finale!