#a wild hayden has appeared

[go-see-a-starwar]

The Chosen One has taken over the Empire State Building [x]

[dogshit-enchantment]

God I love Fields of Mistria. The game itself is beautiful and lovely but the thing that's rly selling me is the sheer amount of quality of life improvements compared to other farming games. On the new day screen it'll tell you what big events are happening but it'll also tell you birthdays??? Incredible. Stardew Valley I always forgot birthdays. And for items you can donate it'll show a little check mark on the hud when you hover over an item whether or not an item can be donated and if it already has been. No longer will I sell things I need to donate or worry that I haven't donated it before selling. Also the fact that I can change my characters appearance/name/pronouns/farm name at any point????? Holy shit game changer!!!!!!!!!

Fields of Mistria is quickly becoming a top tier game to me it's in early access it's 14$ please play it if u like stardew valley or animal crossing you'll love it I promise

(also the fact that you don't lose items if u die in the mines you just get a time penalty??? Amazing. I feel it's a perfectly fair punishment to getting sloppy. Also if u pass out in the wild cuz too late u just lose time. Again, perfectly valid punishment. I hate that stardew costs u time and money and items if u pass out/die)

I think my literal only complaint is that on steam deck I can't find the button to quick tab between A and B inventory slots but that's such a nothing burger (and it works if u tap the screen so it's Rly not that big of a deal)

And I think this is one of the first times I've played a dating sim where I'm struggling to decide who to date. Like usually I find My Type and just stick with them but this game all the characters feel so lively and full of personality it's actually so hard to decide (I'm torn between Balor, Eiland, March, and Hayden)

[kanzakurawrites]

Descendants Character List Part Two: VK's

Once again, a lot of characters so I apologize in advance. This is everyone born before the first Descendants movie. Characters who appear in the movies are not mentioned here.

Anastasia Tremaine & The Baker:

Anthony (Canon) - First mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. Technically, his father is unknown. Protective over his sister, mother, and Dizzy. 16

Liana (OC) - She's prone to getting sick and has trouble breathing, Anastasia believes she has asthma. 14.

Captain Hook:

Harriet (Canon) - Mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. Took the mother role for her siblings and is perpetually tired. 19

Calista Jane "CJ" (Canon) - First seen in Wicked World. A wild card and a pirate at heart. 14.

Claude Frollo:

Cedric Frollo (OC) - Would risk his life for his sister. 19

Claudine Frollo (Canon) - Mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. 17

Clayton:

Warren (OC) - 19

Caleb (OC) - 19. No, he is not twins with Warren.

Wyatt (OC) - 18

Clay (Canon) - 17. First mentioned in the books. Does not get along with his brothers.

Dr. Facilier:

"Freddie" Francesca (Canon) - First seen in Wicked World. I gave her the full name Francesca. 16

Drizella Tremaine:

All OC's excluding Desiree, though it is canon that there are Evil Step-Granddaughters

Delaney - Has no idea who her father is, and is apart of Cedric's crew. 19

Danielle - 17

Devyn - She joined Uma's crew to escape her grandmother. 15.

Desiree - Canonically on Uma's pirate crew. I just gave her parents. Her father is Gaston. 14

Darcy - Was the twin to Diana. She passed away when she was 8 after an illness passed over the Isle.

Diana - Was the younger twin to Darcy, once she realized she was older than her sister. 13

Delilah - 13. Was born a few weeks before Darcy and Diana's first birthday.

Gaston:

Probably had many children running around the Isle. Girls who he hasn't claimed.

Gloria (OC) - Gaston only claimed her as she's one of the oldest children on the Isle. Laurette's daughter. Gloria helped to raise Gil. 19

Gaston Jr. (Canon) - First mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. Older twin to Gaston the Third. Mother is Claudette. 17

Gaston the Third (Canon) - First mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. Younger twin to Gaston Jr. Mother is Claudette. 17

Galina (OC) - Another daughter of an Isle woman, but this woman didn't try to get Gaston to claim Galina, and he never did. None of her siblings know of her existence. 15

Ginger (OC) - Her mother is an Isle woman who hoped that giving her a 'G' name would make Gaston claim her. This did not happen, but Giana and Gil found her and have tried to help her survive. 14

Giana (OC) - One of the few who Gaston has claimed, only so she can work in the house. Daughter of Laurette. 14.

Geneva (OC) - Claudette's daughter. She convinced Gaston to claim her. 7

Gabrielle (OC) - Daughter of Paulette. She was born deaf. Gloria took over caring for her after Paulette decided she no longer wanted to care for her. Gil is close with her. 4

Governor Ratcliffe:

James (OC) - 19

"Rick" Richard (Canon) - Mentioned in the books, I gave him the full name Richard. 18

Andrew (OC) - 13

Hades & Persephone:

"Hadie" Hayden (Canon) - Mentioned in Return to the Isle of the Lost. Technically, his canon mother has never been mentioned. 23

Morgana:

(All oc's)

Marina - 19. Her mother resents her, as Marina was her first-born yet looks nothing like her. Marina has two children herself, Saga (F, 3) and Zale (M, 1), and doesn't live with her mother. Instead, she, and Morten moved to the pirate village, with Mar eventually joining them.

Morten - 18. Also doesn't have a good relationship with his mother, but has a stronger call to the sea than he lets on. Has a child, Fisher (M, 1 month).

Morgan - 17. Looks the most like Morgana, all the way to having a greenish hue to her skin and white hair with pale pink. But her mother has put unrealistic pressure on her, and she wants to be free.

Mar - 16. Has a little girl named Neri (9 months)

Maxwell - 14

Marie - 13. Her mother tends to pass the younger four off to her to take care of.

Marnie - 12. She and Marie are nine months apart, and she helps Marie with the younger kids.

Murray - 11

Marko - 11

Marley - 9

Monika - 7

Makael - 4

Muireann - 3

Murchadh - 1

Meltem - 2 months

Mother Gothel:

Ginny Gothel (Canon) - Mentioned in the Isle of the Lost books. Friends with Diego de Vil. Might not actually be Mother Gothel's child. 15

Queen & King of Hearts:

Jacks (OC) - 18.

Scarlett (OC) - I suggest you run. 16

Spade (OC) - 14

Smee:

Sammy Smee (Canon) - Mentioned in the books. 18

The Stabbingtons:

Name: Sideburns and Patchy. All kids are OC's

Sean - Son of Sideburns. 18

Sadie - Daughter of Patchy. 18

Saul - Son of Patchy. 17

Sarah - Daughter of Sideburns. 17

Simon - Son of Sideburns. 15.

Yzma:

Zevon (Canon) - Seen in Wicked World. 17

Yzla (Canon) - Mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. 15.

Others:

Ophelia (OC) - The daughter of Monseuior D'Arque. 17

"Shy" Shyrailym - The daughter of Shan Yu. 17

Jonas (Canon) - One of the pirates in Uma's crew. 17

Big Murph (Canon) - Son of a pirate on Captain Hook's crew. 16

Hendrik (OC) - The son of the hunter from Snow White. 16

Diego de Vil (Canon) - First mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. Cruella's nephew. Friends with Ginny Gothel. 16.

"Hermie" Hermione Bing (Canon) - Mentioned in the books, I gave her the full name Hermione. Her dream is to escape her father's circus. 16.

Mad Maddy (Canon) - First mentioned in Return to the Isle of the Lost. Madam Mim's granddaughter. 16.

Bonny (Canon) - A pirate in Uma's crew. 15

Gonzo (Canon) - A pirate in Uma's crew. 15

Jade (Canon) - Mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. Daughter of Nasira, and is Jafar's niece. 15

Le Fou Deux (Canon) - Son of Le Fou and mentioned in the books. 15.

Eddie (Canon) - Son of Edgar, mentioned in the books. 14

Raina (OC) - Daughter of Rasputin. She does not have magic like her father, and is friends with Claudine. 14.

Reza (Canon) - First mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. He's the son of the former royal astronomer of Agrabah and Carlos' rival. 13

"Harry" Harold (Canon) - Son of Horace, one of Carlos' minions. First mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. 13

"Jase" Jason (Canon) - Son of Jasper, one of Carlos' minions. First mentioned in The Isle of the Lost. 13

Mable (OC) - One of Mad Maddy's sisters. 13

Arya (OC) - Daughter of the Hunter from Snow White, and Hendrik's little sister. 11

Hopefully this wasn't too chaotic, but this is also definitely not everyone on the Isle. If you have questions about any of the kids, feel free to ask! And if you have a suggestion for a villain with kids, I'd love to hear it.

[queen-of-mandalore]

Em’s Star Wars Rewatch part 27

The Clone Wars #25 - Mortis

3x15: Overlords

This is such an interesting concept.

Rewatching this after watching the Ahsoka series has made me so hyped.

I love the character design of the daughter and the son.

Ahsoka’s older self in the vision is such a good design, it’s a shame they didn’t go with it for Rebels and live action.

Ahsoka is so loyal to Anakin. The way she defends him and believes in him. The way she reacted to the vision warning her of Anakin’s dark side reminded me of how she reacted to Maul talking about Anakin in season 7.

Bless Obi-Wan for telling Anakin to save Ahsoka over him. We need more Ahsoka and Obi-Wan moments.

The visuals are so good. I love how it changes from day to night when Anakin fights the daughter and son.

3x16: Altar of Mortis

The animators managed to perfectly capture the look of pure terror Ewan gives Hayden in AotC. Obi-Wan suffering through Anakin’s flying will never not be funny.

‘I thought you didn’t see it!’

Dark side Ahsoka is so cool and actually pretty terrifying. Also the idea of making Anakin kill her is super dark.

Anakin has no brain cells. He just runs into action with no plan.

Obi-Wan awkwardly walking into a family argument.

I don’t know what’s going on half the time during these episodes but I’m having a great time.

3x17: Ghosts of Mortis

I love mechanic Ahsoka. It makes sense that she knows how to fix a ship- it’s a useful skill to know and with Anakin as her master she was always going to be taught how to fix things.

I do love the three of them together, they have such a great dynamic.

Qui-Gon giving cryptic unhelpful advice

The scene where the Son shows Anakin the future and the Darth Vader mask appears and the imperial march plays - poetic cinema. It’s iconic and I get chills seeing it.

The foreshadowing of Mustafar with him surrounded by lava.

Unlike other dark side users we come across, Anakin never joins the dark side out of greed. It’s always to prevent suffering (either to save Padme or in this case to prevent the awful things he would later do) and bring peace. I think part of the tragedy of Anakin is that he always had good intentions but followed the wrong path.

I find it funny how the Father is like: go to this super dark place to find out who you are, and then when Alain finds out who he really is and what he’ll do, he’s like ‘oh shit oops’ and makes him forget the whole thing.

It’s interesting to me that when Anakin joins the Son, Obi-Wan immediately says they need to ‘save’ him. Whereas when he joins Sidious in RotS he has more of a mind set to stop him, believing Anakin is gone.

Obi-Wan: ‘I need you to disable the ship!’ Ahsoka: ‘but I have just finished putting it back together!!!’ 😂

These three have had a wild few days.

This was such an interesting arc and shows how George and the creators were not afraid to do something different. I’m sure a lot of it went over kids’ (the main target audience) heads but they did it anyway because it was the story they wanted to tell.

[residentdormouse]

Jubilantly Jiving with 'J' Words Tag

And so it continues in another edition of Mouse and @mrsmungus tackle the dictionary...

My words were: Just, Jeans, Joy, Jerk and June (or July, or January!!)

The swing of these words from massively abundant to non-existent is wild to me. Downright surprising in some cases.

You words are: Kick, Kiss, Key, Kind/Kindness, Know/Knowledge

Anybody Feel Free to Jump In - Open Tag!

Just

(Admission: I am bad with this word. Everything I write has 'just' in it, and I have to go back and take them out when I can. Even with that Spiral has 451 instances and Diving has 824. I just picked a scene I liked, and had no problem finding it somewhere in there.)

His thoughts were interrupted, as Laufey broke back in to address Flagg. "So, what is all this that you got going on here?" Gestures were over done as he indicated at Flagg’s appearance. "Oh, you can't think that's it, do you? That's the look? We. Chose. This? Oh, honey...." While Flagg remained calm, Lloyd felt the familiar prickle in his skin that told him to back away. To leave right now. Danger. "It's not that it's bad, cause I mean, look at what we're working with, right? But still, it's not what it could be, y'know?" There was a raised brow, but when no further comment came, Lloyd let out the breath he was holding. Another card flipped. More chips thrown in. "No. Nope, nope. I can’t. I just… Here." Setting down his cards, Laufey stood up and walked over to Flagg. "Just hear me out. All you'd need is a little… updating." Purple fingertips met deliberately coiffed hair and gave a tussle. "See? Look at that! Better already. Doesn't he look better?" Lloyd could only stammer a bit of nonsense before Laufey turned back. "Speechless. See he knows you look better too." A quick smile, and it was back to the table, like it was nothing. Another chip to the pot. "Oh, raise that up sweetheart. Danke. Hey Toby! Round of green fairies on me!"

Jeans

(Did you know there were only seven of these? Seven! And none of them in relation to Flagg. The man has a jean jacket over a jean button up shirt with a pair of jeans! I've already matched all instances in Diving in one sentence...Fail.)

Hayden threw on a sweater and some fuzzy pj pants quickly before padding out to the entry. Stu stood there, but his demeanor was much more somber than usual. “Hey there, Hayden…” “Hey Stu, what’s up?” He gave a half smile, “We didn’t want to bother you yesterday, with everything, but people are talking... We can’t just sit on this, and with the meeting tonight… we need everybody on the same page.” Glen rounded the corner from the bedroom into the kitchen, at least taking the time to throw on a nice sweater and normal jeans. "Hey, East Texas. Bit early, isn't it?" Stu gave a light chuckle, "Nah, you're sleeping in, old timer." "Yeah, okay, screw you too, Texas."

Joy

She let out a laugh, and a new pause entered between them, one that Nick was not used to. One that felt like it came with a magnetic pull. There were a handful of times he registered this feeling. The last one still left a bitter taste in his mouth. A kiss between strangers. An unfamiliar and primal longing from a lifetime of loneliness that took hold of his senses before personalities were known. Before he realized just who he was involving himself with.

(Only even balance of the bunch 😂)

The second of a few cartridges was singled out and snatched up. In a quick movement, she swapped out the games and placed the device back on the bed. With a bashful smile, she moved to sit next to him, and he found himself scooting over gently to allow her more room. “It does a world of good. Believe me. When my last external fried, and I couldn’t pull anything back… Aww man, those zombies, they didn’t stand a chance in hell. Slaughter, I tell you.”

He shook the thought away and broke the moment to grab his notebook.

‘I don’t exactly know what I’m doing.’

The phrase had multiple meanings, but she, thankfully, stuck to the obvious one. Her eyebrows raised in a playful manner, and a smirk that couldn’t begin to contain an overwhelming amount of joy played out on her features.

“Well, THAT I can help with.”

Jerk

(It seemed like a good one until I realized most of them were for beef jerky 🤦‍♀️. Two total once that was filtered out.)

Grabbing the creature's shoulders, he forcefully jerked it from its seated position, snapping the ties that bound it in the process. Once at full height, Flagg slammed its back against the trunk with a thud. ”...not playing very nice, Walter.” ”Oh, I can play very nice, when I see a reason to.” His grip loosened as he took a step backwards. ”So it would be advisable to show me why I should.” Taking a moment to straighten out its clothes, brush off the dirt, the creature looked back up at the pair of them. “He wants you back at your position.” “Is that so?” Silence. She was growing tired of this. “Who's he?" And as the question left her lips, the image hit her. Unlike the others before, this came with a force that she was unprepared for. The bright burst of red blinding her vision as a tall structure came to view, constant pulses of crimson emanating from the balcony at the top. Eyes staring back at her in the distance. Only eyes. Constantly watching.

June / July / January

(Only one between both. Makes picking easy. Good thing I move the time of year to the book version and not the 2020 version or this would be zero 😬.)

Stu took over driving after lunch for obvious reasons, and they had continued on down the highway. The mood continued to improve now that everything was laid out between them. Better or worse, they were in this together. Everything was running smooth up until they ran across a note spray painted on the nearby billboard:

Route 89 - Going to the Stovington Vermont CDC facility. Harold Emery Lauder Frances Goldsmith July 4th "Hey, hey look." Stu started pointing towards the side of the road, and gave her a small whack on the shoulder from his place in the back, once again loosing 'shutgun' position. "You need to knock that off, Redman…" Reprimanding him while forcibly biting back a smile negated all seriousness implied with the request. Regardless, she glanced where he indicated, noticing two bikes sitting by some trees. "Two bikes, two names. Today's date..." Shoulder shrug, eyebrows raised. Classic Glen.

[greensparty]

Stuff I’m Looking Forward to in August

We are now deep into the Summer. No holidays this month, but here is what’s on my radar:

Movies:

Dreamin' Wild

This musical biopic is about brothers recording an album in the 70s and then the album finally gets discovered thirty years later. There’s a lot of musicians who have had similar experiences (Death comes to mind) but this is based on Donnie Emerson and his family. Opens 8/4.

Strays  

Alright, I admit a bunch of celebrities voicing dogs didn’t have me at first, but I’m looking forward to it because it’s directed by Josh Greenbaum, director of one of my favorite documentaries of the last decade Too Funny to Fail and the trailer got me laughing. Opening 8/18.

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah

Adam Sandler has been on a roll lately and in his newest starring / producing vehicle, his actual wife and daughters co-star in this bat mitzvah comedy. Netflix premiere on 8/25.

Music:

Neil Young Chrome Dreams

Recorded from 1974 to 1977, this Neil Young album was never released. In 2007, he released the sequel to the widely bootlegged album. Excited to see it’s official release on 8/11 (review coming soon).

Aerosmith Greatest Hits 

In 1980, Aerosmith released their Greatest Hits album filled with 10 hits from the 70s. It is one of their biggest selling releases (12 times platinum). It was re-issued in 1997 with more tracks. There have been other compilations since then, but this new deluxe edition of 44 tracks is coinciding with their upcoming farewell tour. Album drops 8/18 (review coming soon).

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros Live at Acton Hall 

Recorded on Nov. 15, 2002, this benefit concert was one of the final live appearances of Joe Strummer before his death on Dec. 22, 2002. Especially noteworthy about this concert is that Strummer was joined onstage for some songs by his old Clash bandmate Mick Jones. In 2012, there was a Record Store Day release of this, but this marks the first official release on vinyl and CD and remastered. Album drops 8/18 (review coming soon).

Alice Cooper Road

Call this my Summer of Alice Cooper: in June I got to review his super group Hollywood Vampires’ live album, then I got to cover the re-releases of School’s Out and Killer, and just last week I saw Hollywood Vampires live in Boston. Now the King of Shock Rock is back with his 22nd solo album, dropping 8/23 (review coming soon).

TV:

Ahsoka

Rosario Dawson stole some scenes as Ahsoka Tano on The Mandalorian. Now the character is getting her own limited series taking place post-Episode 6 around the time of Mandalorian. Disney + premiere on 8/23

Conventions:

FAN EXPO Boston 

The annual Boston comic con hits the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Good news is that even with the WGA and SAG strikes, celebrities can attend and sign and even do some panels (as long as it’s not about struck work). This year’s guests include Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Hayden Christiensen, Jason Lee, Peter Weller, Robin Wright and more. The fun happens from 8/4 to 8/6.

[snowlessknitter]

The Masked Singer: S12 E7 (Group C Debut/Who Are You? Fest)

It’s time to meet our final group of Masked Singers, and since the judges used their “Ding Dong Keep it On” bell last week on Goo 🤮 (which I thought was the right choice so far), only one singer from this group will ultimately reach the Quarterfinals.

I have not watched any Sneak Peek videos from this group. As always, I post these before watching any unmaskings, so don’t take these as spoilers. These are solely my guesses based on the clues and what I know about the celebrities these could be. I am posting on a slight delay from the live broadcast.

Royal Knight 🗡️ 🛡️: Their Masked Ambassador is Savannah Chrisley (“Afghan Hound 🐩”). We see a glass slipper and a red dragon. Perhaps they have a real-life Cinderella story? She’s seen fighting the dragon with a TV remote, which tells me they became famous on TV. Seen with a megaphone reading “The T”. “The tea” is a slang term originating from African American Vernacular English that means “gossip”. “Spilling the tea” means “spreading gossip”. I wonder if she was also the subject of a lot of tabloid headlines? Wants to give “main character energy”. Sounds like she may be a country singer, possibly has their own reality show. The bonus clue: a sweatshirt reading “Ready to Sleigh”. Says she’s ready to sleigh/slay the competition. My first thought was Jessie James Decker. The judges had some good guesses as well (Lily James, Ashley Tisdale, Hayden Panettiere). But I’m sticking with Jessie James Decker for now.

Sherlock Hound 🕵️‍♂️ 🐶: Their Masked Ambassador is Barry Zito (“Rhino 🦏”). A Diamond record (sold 10 million copies of a single or album), is a musician and into rock music. Has apparently jammed with Barry Zito. I’d seen some on social media suggesting Scott Stapp from Creed (who recently reunited about a year ago after many years apart, where three of them performed as Alter Bridge with Miles Kennedy on lead vocals). The bonus clue: a shirt reading “#1 Hit”. Creed did have a #1 hit with “With Arms Wide Open”. Creed was huge in the early 2000s, and along with Nickelback was one of the last pure rock bands to have a #1 hit on the Hot 100. The voice is the only thing keeping me from going full in on Scott Stapp, but…he might be trying to disguise his singing voice, because his singing voice is incredibly distinct, and we saw with Natalie Imbruglia just last week (she disguised her speaking voice so that no one could pick up on her Australian accent). He sings in a much lower tone than he talks in (his speaking voice is normal tenor, but he sings in full baritone, in a similar tone to Eddie Vedder). So, I think I’m going with Scott Stapp from Creed, but I’m only at about 75-80% sure at the moment.

Ice King 🧊 🤴: Their Masked Ambassadors are Hanson (“Russian Dolls 🪆”). Has sold out stadiums around the world. Took a long hiatus from performing. A passport. Apparently Hanson helped them get their start. I’m guessing he’s a pop singer from the late ‘90s or early 2000s, but I’m not immediately recognizing the voice. The bonus clue: a hoodie reading “Drop the Fire Beat”. I am honestly stumped on this one. I’m gonna throw out Skrillex, but that is an extremely wild guess.

Macaron 🥮: Their Masked Ambassador is Willie Robertson (“Mallard 🦆”). We see dolphins and a picture of AnnaSophia Robb. She might be the one unmasked tonight. She’s okay, but her voice isn’t that great. The bonus clue: a t-shirt reading “Unstoppable, Blooming All Year Long”. I honestly think that this is Willie Robertson’s daughter, Sadie Robertson. She appeared on Duck Dynasty and also competed on Dancing with the Stars.

Strawberry Shortcake 🍓 🍰: Their Masked Ambassador is Hayley Orrantia (“Ringmaster 🎪”). A plush cat. Opened an iconic festival. I think this could be Hayley’s co-star from The Goldbergs, AJ Michalka. The bonus clue: a t-shirt reading “Break a Leg”. So she’s definitely more known as an actress. I’m sticking with AJ Michalka for now.

[chrisryanspeaks]

Joe Goddard Releases ‘Harmonics’: A Fusion of Intuition and Empathy in Dance Music

Joe Goddard has been exploring the interplay between intuition and creation. Over the past few years, the UK producer, songwriter, and notable figure in dance and indie music has focused on separating his conscious thoughts from his music-making process, aiming to create a more instinctive and empathetic approach to his work. The culmination of this exploration is his third solo album, “Harmonics,” slated for release on July 12. The album spans 14 tracks that blend elements of UK garage, house, hip-hop, pop, and disco. Goddard collaborates with a diverse group of artists, allowing each to shine within his musical universe. Notable contributions include Eno Williams of Ibibio Sound Machine on the afro-house track “Progress,” UK rapper Oranje on the boom-bap inspired “When Love’s Out of Fashion,” and former Wild Beasts frontman Hayden Thorpe on the house track “Summon.” Hot Chip bandmates Alexis Taylor and Al Doyle feature on “Heal Your Mind,” a reflective half-step ballad, among other guest appearances from artists like Tom McFarland of Jungle, Bronx singer Fiorious, Guinean vocalist Falle Nioke, and UK jazz musician Alabaster DePlume. Today, Goddard released the opening track of “Harmonics,” “Moments Die,” featuring the lush vocals of Brooklyn artist Barrie. The track, inspired by a remix project with Barrie, showcases the ethereal synergy between their talents. Goddard’s lyrical inspiration for the track comes from John Berger’s “And Our Faces, My Heart, Brief as Photos.” The accompanying music video, directed by Nathan Castiel, was filmed in New York and Hastings and serves as a visual meditation on the song’s themes. Goddard also highlights his solo work on tracks like “Follow Me,” reflecting his more introspective side. His approach to collaboration on the album emphasizes respect and openness, allowing for a fluid exchange of creative energies without dominating the direction. “Harmonics” derives its name from Goddard’s desire to produce an inclusive, empathetic, and harmonious collection of music. The album seeks to celebrate the deeper, spiritual connections in music, contrasting with the aggressive divisions often seen in the world today. It promises a celebration of compassion, collaboration, and creativity, resonating with the soulful essence that Goddard admires in his favorite genres like soul, funk, house, and garage. Read the full article

[audiofuzz]

Joe Goddard Releases ‘Harmonics’: A Fusion of Intuition and Empathy in Dance Music

Joe Goddard has been exploring the interplay between intuition and creation. Over the past few years, the UK producer, songwriter, and notable figure in dance and indie music has focused on separating his conscious thoughts from his music-making process, aiming to create a more instinctive and empathetic approach to his work. The culmination of this exploration is his third solo album, “Harmonics,” slated for release on July 12. The album spans 14 tracks that blend elements of UK garage, house, hip-hop, pop, and disco. Goddard collaborates with a diverse group of artists, allowing each to shine within his musical universe. Notable contributions include Eno Williams of Ibibio Sound Machine on the afro-house track “Progress,” UK rapper Oranje on the boom-bap inspired “When Love’s Out of Fashion,” and former Wild Beasts frontman Hayden Thorpe on the house track “Summon.” Hot Chip bandmates Alexis Taylor and Al Doyle feature on “Heal Your Mind,” a reflective half-step ballad, among other guest appearances from artists like Tom McFarland of Jungle, Bronx singer Fiorious, Guinean vocalist Falle Nioke, and UK jazz musician Alabaster DePlume. Today, Goddard released the opening track of “Harmonics,” “Moments Die,” featuring the lush vocals of Brooklyn artist Barrie. The track, inspired by a remix project with Barrie, showcases the ethereal synergy between their talents. Goddard’s lyrical inspiration for the track comes from John Berger’s “And Our Faces, My Heart, Brief as Photos.” The accompanying music video, directed by Nathan Castiel, was filmed in New York and Hastings and serves as a visual meditation on the song’s themes. Goddard also highlights his solo work on tracks like “Follow Me,” reflecting his more introspective side. His approach to collaboration on the album emphasizes respect and openness, allowing for a fluid exchange of creative energies without dominating the direction. “Harmonics” derives its name from Goddard’s desire to produce an inclusive, empathetic, and harmonious collection of music. The album seeks to celebrate the deeper, spiritual connections in music, contrasting with the aggressive divisions often seen in the world today. It promises a celebration of compassion, collaboration, and creativity, resonating with the soulful essence that Goddard admires in his favorite genres like soul, funk, house, and garage. Read the full article

[burdenedreverence]

Appearance

            “People say I stand out, for one reason or another. “

A bronze skinned westerner, Hayden very much appears like he belongs in the backwoods of a western nation. With black hair that seems to usually be combed with a right parting, his hair has often grown wild enough to go to his chin. His clean-shaven face, when he can actually shave, is known for growing facial hair quickly. It is only out of habit that he remains clean shaven, wishing to appear at least somewhat professional. It also helps him to blend in, as a large beard might stand out. Sharp eyes seemed to hold emerald, green irises in the brightest lights, and in the darkness without light they appear a deep forest color. A strong jawline and nose emphasized his natural masculine features.

When it comes to his body, he follows a mesomorph design. He stands at a flat six foot, six inches tall making him among the larger men in his native world. No doubt from his ancestry, being born in the mountains. The large frame is further enhanced by the fact he is extremely well built and toned for his size, coming from his constant training. A strict regime followed by a natural inclination to muscle growth leaves the man having a classic physique.

When it comes to clothing, Hayden prefers to wear his Shinigami robes in a loose manner, one might assume like a Gi. Despite its growing tattered and well-worn over the years, it is clear he holds the garbs in high esteem.

[burdenedreverance]

Appearance

            “People say I stand out, for one reason or another. “

A bronze skinned westerner, Hayden very much appears like he belongs in the backwoods of a western nation. With black hair that seems to usually be combed with a right parting, his hair has often grown wild enough to go to his chin. His clean-shaven face, when he can actually shave, is known for growing facial hair quickly. It is only out of habit that he remains clean shaven, wishing to appear at least somewhat professional. It also helps him to blend in, as a large beard might stand out. Sharp eyes seemed to hold emerald, green irises in the brightest lights, and in the darkness without light they appear a deep forest color. A strong jawline and nose emphasized his natural masculine features.

When it comes to his body, he follows a mesomorph design. He stands at a flat six foot, six inches tall making him among the larger men in his native world. No doubt from his ancestry, being born in the mountains. The large frame is further enhanced by the fact he is extremely well built and toned for his size, coming from his constant training. A strict regime followed by a natural inclination to muscle growth leaves the man having a classic physique.

When it comes to clothing, Hayden prefers to wear his Shinigami robes in a loose manner, one might assume like a Gi. Despite its growing tattered and well-worn over the years, it is clear he holds the garbs in high esteem.

[mistressofspiesxenia]

Victoria giving the option to let MC be in an open marriage with her is so huge. I love her so much. Of course I said no though, we’re exclusive.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

"A Half-Built Garden": Ruthanna Emrys's stunning First Contact novel.

A Half-Built Garden (published today) is Ruthanna Emrys’s new novel, a spectacular first-contact novel about complicated utopias and networked conflict — it’s a wild ride, and a perfect example of one of the smartest structural analyses of science fiction I ever heard:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250210982/ahalfbuiltgarden

I got this analysis from my editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden, nearly 20 years ago, when he was giving me his editorial notes on my debut novel Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, and it’s shaped everything I’ve written since. Patrick explained to me that an sf novel is like a piece of clockwork with two gears: there’s a small, quickly spinning, high-torque gear (the protagonist), and a huge, slow-moving gear that it propels (the world).

The protagonist is a microcosm for the world, and their job is to spin around and around, until they propel the world through a single full revolution, giving us a complete, 360° view of the social speculation embodied by the world.

One of the ways that an sf novel can go wrong is to have a mismatch between the protagonist and the world: if the protagonist gear isn’t a good microcosm for the world, the teeth on that gear won’t mesh with the huge world-gear, and the world’s turning will be jittery and incomplete.

This is an incredibly useful critical insight for planning or improving sf novels: if something doesn’t seem to be gelling, ask yourself whether the world and the protagonist are sufficiently self-similar — and ask yourself whether a different character, one who is a better microcosm of the world, should be promoted to protagonist.

This is a uniquely stfnal literary convention, subtly and importantly different from other conceptions of what makes a good protagonist, like “a protagonist is the character with the most to lose” or “the protagonist is the character who is changed the most by the story.”

As noted, Half-Built has a perfect match between the protagonist and the world. The world of Half-Built is a complicated utopia, one in which a century of incredibly hard, smart work has carried us through the climate emergency, to the point where it’s possible to believe that, over time, we will stabilize our relationship with the only planet in the known universe capable of sustaining our species.

This stabilization came about as the result of a radical restructuring of society around networked “watershed” societies, organized around the watersheds of the world’s mighty rivers. These watershed societies are as transnational as their rivers, and each society is a semiautonomous part of a global federation that allocates carbon, shares intelligence, and deliberates among one another.

The deliberative technology in Half-Built is marvellous to read about, a beautiful stfnal dramatization of some of the most interesting ideas about ecological decision-making. The watersheds use “dandelion networks” to decide how to govern themselves: these are huge, democratically accountable, transparent, machine-learning-filtered message boards.

Users open threads on the subjects of the day, post comments on them, argue, learn, and vote, but with the volume managed by algorithms that (unlike, say, Facebook’s) are trusted by and accountable to the people who use them.

Among the entities in these threads are machine-learning systems who post on behalf of ecosystems, speaking for trees and bacteria and soil and rivers, turning sensor data and historical trends into narratives and points of view that are part of the debate. It’s an idea that’s been posited for real-world ecosystem management, and that has appeared in other sf, like Karl Schroeder’s Stealing Worlds:

https://memex.craphound.com/2019/06/18/karl-schroeders-stealing-worlds-visionary-science-fiction-of-a-way-through-the-climate-and-inequality-crises/

The people of the dandelion networks use neural interfaces to sense their environments, literally feeling it when an ecological process is running smoothly — or going off the rails — and these same sensory augmentations are used to understand the tenor of their networked debates, as well.

The protagonist who is the microcosm for this world is Judy Wallach-Stevens, a member of the Chesapeake Bay network whose life is dedicated to living with and caring for the Potomac. Judy and her partner and their newborn are part of a big, blended, queer family that includes another couple and their child, all organized around the Chesapeake and the Potomac.

One night, Judy is summoned to check out an anomalous sensor reading in the bay — and finds herself making first contact with an alien spaceship that has touched down just around the corner from her home. She wakes up the network and starts posting threads looking for advice — and is pressed into service as humanity’s first diplomatic envoy to the Ringers, an interspecies federation of two alien races that has come to Earth to save us.

The Ringer civilization was formed when the “plains people” found the “tree people” and saved them from the seemingly inevitable fate of technological species: to poison their planets with badly understood, badly managed industrial processes, driving themselves to extinction.

The Ringers have solved this problem by transcending the need for planets — whose complexity makes them intrinsically unsuitable for stable civilizations — deconstructing whole solar systems and turning them into vast, star-girding rings. Determined to save other races from extinction, they’ve embarked pon faster-than-light voyages that have always arrived too late, happening upon planets whose intelligent races have all died, drowned in their own waste.

For the Ringers, finding the Earth — which they learned about in advance by studying our leaky radio and TV broadcasts — is the vindication of that long-run project. Finally, they’ve arrived in time to save another species from slow suicide, and they can’t wait to yank all humanity off the planet and relocate us to one of their Rings, joining their interspecies federation and taking our place in the stars.

For the watershed networks — and Judy, especially — this is abhorrent idea. It echoes the ideology of the networks’ sworn enemies, the corporations who lost the great power-struggle that birthed the networks and were exiled to “aislands” — AI-powered, artificial islands run by corporate ideology.

What’s more, the corporations are eager to cut a deal with the Ringers, and bring their doctrine of limitless expansion to the infinite universe. Between the networks and the corporations are the world’s creaking old national governments, embodied by envoys from NASA, form whom the Ringers’ arrival is the culmination of their life’s work.

The action that unfolds — skullduggery, espionage, interstellar travel, cyberwar, interspecies coupling, betrayal, nobility and all the rest — is set against the backdrop of the badly damaged, slowly recovering planet, whose unpredictable and violent climate can be spun to vindicate the Ringers, the corporations, or the networks.

Judy makes such a good microcosm for this scenario. The healing, sickened Earth is a complicated utopia: it’s both terrifyingly fragile and beautifully hopeful. This Earth isn’t a utopia because we’ve solved its problems — it’s a utopia because we’ve recognized those problems and committed ourselves to addressing them:

https://locusmag.com/2022/07/cory-doctorow-the-swerve/

Judy, meanwhile, copes with an anxiety disorder the way the watersheds cope with thousand-year storms: understanding them as forces she must weather, not end. Judy’s complicated family relations need the kind of hard work — and deliver the same kind of deep rewards — as the Ringers promise to humanity. There are countless more correspondences like these, and they make for a deeply satisfying method to lay out Emrys’s complicated social speculation and theories of change.

This is a wildly exciting novel, a wildly imaginative one, a beautifully wrought one. It’s deeply touching and profoundly hopeful. It is a profoundly science-fiction type of sf novel, one where worldbuilding and character work together to depict a future that illuminates the present.

[Image ID: The Macmillan cover art for Ruthanna Emrys's 'A Half-Built Garden.]

[princeescaluswords]

It’s All Happened Before, Hasn’t It?

I believe one of the key motifs in the Teen Wolf series is recursion: everything that is happening now has happened before and will happen again.   We see characters sharing similar traits appear repeatedly: Derek is succeeded by Scott is succeeded by Liam.   Similar relationships also appear repeatedly: Derek and Paige become Scott and Allison become Liam and Hayden; or, alternatively, Rhys and Noshiko become Scott and Kira.

The villains are created and recreated in cycles: acts of violence lead to more violence, revenge leads to more revenge.   For example, Deucalion’s murder by Monroe comes from Monroe being taught by Gerard which she accepts because Monroe was savaged by the Beast which was only able to resurrected by the Doctors due to the sacrifice at the Nemeton which had to be done to stop Jennifer who was brutally assaulted by Kali on Deucalion’s orders which he gave in order to form his perfect pack because Gerard blinded him in revenge for the biting and suicide of Alexander Argent.   Each time violence occurs, victims become villains when respond with more violence.  There’s a reason that Peter and Kate, the villains of Season 1 are the villains of Season 4.  There’s a reason that the conflict between the Nogitsune and Noshiko is echoed, not only by the kumicho from Chris’s and Katashi’s flashback, but also by the deadly struggle between Marie-Jeanne and Sebastian.   It’s why the production emphasized the Wild Hunt erases entire towns again and again, and why they have Douglas obsessed with trying to restart World War II.

Indeed, Teen Wolf’s actual symbolism is filled with recursion: the spiral of revenge, the Triskeles, the Nemeton rings (the McCall pack symbol), the Alpha Pack symbol, the kanji for “self,” and the Ouroboros.   These are all symbols that use repetition.   There are also more subtle examples of shared experiences: the way every banshee on the show (Lorraine, Meredith, Lydia) is confronted by the misguided diagnoses of mental illness; the way that each season has a central mystery; the importance of generational rituals such as the Senior Scribe celebration or the forging of the Argent’s bullets.   There’s even the repeated presence of water during crucial moments.

It is easy to see the parallelism in the production, but what was the motive behind it?  My takes is that Teen Wolf is more than just a show about werewolves.  While there are werewolves, but it’s also about friendship, and it’s about surviving trauma.   Last but not least, in my opinion, Teen Wolf is about growing up.  Every character is different, but they – like we all do – have to confront some realities while making the transition between childhood and adulthood

We find out our parents are neither omnipotent angels nor demons – they’re just fallible people.

We find that relationships, to a greater or less extent, are transitory.    They will change no matter how much we don’t want them to do so.

We will not get everything you want out of life.  We will be forced to do things we don’t want to do, if we wish to remain good people.

The world is not fair.  We can do everything right and still lose. 

This is pretty standard fare for a bildungsroman, but there is an added element that gives Teen Wolf a twist that doesn’t make it completely cliché.   It emphasizes the shared nature of these experiences between people and argues that this is a source of strength not boredom.  A friends group that loves, trusts, and communicates with each other will be more successful than those who try to go it alone.  After all, what’s a pack for?  

I think a key way of looking at it can be drawn from this exchange in The Fox and the Wolf (3x21). 

Ken: Sometimes, history does repeat itself, Scott.

Scott: Only if you don’t learn.

Ken: But sometimes, even then, fate conspires against you.

One of the tensions in the show is the pull between internal decision-making and external influences; no matter how much they learn, that doesn’t mean they’re going to win.  Scott McCall may – in the eyes of the production – have the principles and compassion that makes him a True Alpha, but external forces are still going to have an effect.  This is a key part of growing up.    Throughout the show, Scott is able to resist what he can change and accept what he cannot primarily because of the presence of his pack, which make their members stronger.   He provides them with leadership – not through removing their choice but by giving them the strength to move forward – and they provide him with insight, because they’re all going through the same things together.   

Stiles is able to help Scott with his panic attack in Lunatic (1x08) because he’s been through it before, and Scott is able to help Stiles come to the conclusion that he has to tell his dad in Currents (3x08) for the same reason.    Derek can help Scott when he’s feeling overwhelmed by his alpha responsibilities in I.E.D. (4x05) because he’s experienced it before, and Scott can help Derek see past his guilt over what happened to Jackson in Party Guessed (2x09).   Hayden can point out the flaw in Liam’s hero-worship of Scott in Lie Ability (5x16)  by pointing out that dying can have negative effects, while Liam can show Hayden the benefits of the McCall pack in A Credible Threat (5x17) by his belief in them.   Stiles helps Lydia come to terms with being a banshee; Lydia helps Kira.   It doesn’t always work, because while Lydia fails to do the same for Tracy, she still handled it better than her mother because of her shared experiences. 

Recursion, it seems, doesn’t have to be all bad.    Teen Wolf employs recursion not because the writers were uncreative but because they wanted to show the universality of experience in order to argue that the different outcomes are dependent on different responses to those experiences and not “destiny.”   Scott wasn’t shaped to be a True Alpha through a set of experiences unique and individual to him; he wasn’t set up by the universe to be ‘better’ than everyone else.   When faced with the same situations, he made different choices through the lens of other’s experiences, both positive and negative.    Just like everyone has the chance to when they grow up.

[hepaidattention]

things I want/dream to see if Teen Wolf ever came back in any form (movie, spin off, s7, etc)

1) Allison back from the dead. Lets be honest here, its a supernatural show. Bringing Allison back from the dead, even if it was like an alternate reality version of her, would not be a difficult task and I would love to see a whole movie or spin off where she just appears and it brings everyone back to Beacon Hills to understand how she rose from the dead.

2) This came from Dylan O’Brien’s vision of future Stiles - but Stiles becomes the sheriff of Beacon Hills after working with the FBI for so many years, and now he helps the pack with the weekly supernatural dilemmas in his jeep that he just straps a cop light to the top of. 

3) Lydia lives in Beacon Hills with Stiles now, but she is a retired scientist who helped discover some cure to some kind of rare disease, and now she lives in Beacon Hills as a remote mathematician for the government in her spare time. She mainly helps Stiles solve crimes though since she always knows when a death is coming, and does her banshee duties with the pack.

4)  Malia and Kira are together. I just really feel like that was a solid relationship that never turned into anything and could have. I feel like Malia and Kira had more chemistry than Malia/Scott and Kira/Scott combined. 

5) Theo and Liam aren’t admittedly dating, but they spend all their time together and often go off on wild missions. They find new werewolves without packs and bring them to Beacon Hills to join the McCall pack, so sometimes they’re gone for weeks on end. Everyone knows they’re basically together but they just don’t say it aloud. They’re always there when the pack needs them though, Liam still basically being Scott and Stiles’ son, and Theo and Stiles hating each other though they lowkey got over it a long time ago.

6) Melissa and Argent didn’t work out, Argent’s been gone for years and they can’t seem to find him once they all find out that Allison has made an appearance. Melissa is still single, but her and Noah spend a lot of their time together, basically acting like a married couple without the intimacy part. They get teased a lot.

7) Noah Stilinski is retired as the sheriff since his son took his place, but he still helps the pack with anything they need and is always there to help support Stiles in his investigations. Stiles goes to him a lot when he’s hit a dead end in a case.

8) Hayden, Mason, and Corey are all off doing life somewhere else, but when something big happens they’re always on Scott’s speed dial. They’re always there for their pack. But just like Scott, Stiles and Lydia, they need to go live their lives somewhere else for a little while.

9) Scott is the local veterinarian now. He took over Deaton’s clinic, but Deaton’s still around. He usually is around teaching Stiles the occasional tricks of magic. 

10) They focus more on Stiles’ ability for magic. They set up things like he would be the new Emissary for the pack but then just swept it under the rug. It would make sense for Stiles to have those kinds of abilities or at least access to it. We saw him perform some kind of magic with the mountain ash, and he survived the magic of a kitsune inside him and survived the bizarre magic of sorts from the Wild Hunt. I’m not saying make him a wizard, but exploring those possibilities would be interesting. Even if in the end he decides he doesn’t want to. Him being the sheriff would give him even more opportunity to be a mediator in all things supernatural of the town. 

11) New werewolves that Scott, Stiles, Lydia, Liam, Theo, Malia, Kira, everyone have to parent. But like a lot of them. Hunters have been killing off their alphas and now they’re alone. They’re all new and confused and living at the McCall house and everyone's trying to keep them from killing each other while also trying to teach them to be werewolves and its just pure and Stiles makes a lot of jokes about parenthood. 

12) Stiles to be confirmed bisexual, however I think he should be married to Lydia. I’ve thought about all the other options and they’d just be annoying. If they were engaged we’d have to see a cheesy wedding (which I wouldn’t be against, as long as they do it right), them still dating makes absolutely no sense, and they’ve been through way too much for them not to end up together. Like they’re literally each others emotional tethers. They were put through too much drama, they just need to be married and have some cute moments on the side while they’re just a solid crime solving, werewolf babysitting duo. I know shows are capable of it, Teen Wolf was already really good with Stydia in not making every scene about them and their relationship. They can put relationship drama with Scott and new alive Allison, or the new werewolves, or Theo and Liam. Obviously they can have their married couple fights and their normal ups and downs, but honestly it would be best to just keep them generally happy. Let them be the Lily and Marshall and Scott and Allison be the Barney/Ted and Robin. 

13) Kira’s a history teacher at Beacon Hills and Malia’s the new coach. However, Coach never really retired, so him and Malia are just co-Coaches. They would make a hilarious duo and I just want to see them yelling at each other as well as teaming up to yell at the kids. Malia and Kira working together is what starts to spark their relationship. Sooner or later Kira becomes principle, but only when the principle quits and Kira’s the only one willing to take the job. 

this is it for now. I didn’t even get into Isaac, Derek or Peter! when I think of more I’ll make a part 2. 

[undertheinfluencerd]

https://ift.tt/2X2MXow #

After making her screen debut in 1989, Sandra Oh has enjoyed a remarkable career in both film and television. Although the versatile talent and 12-time Emmy nominated actress is best known for her iconic roles as Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy and Eve Polastri on Killing Eve, Oh has also worked with some of the finest movie directors, including Alexander Payne, Steven Soderbergh, Mina Shum, John Cameron Mitchell, and more.

RELATED: Killing Eve – 10 Best Quotes From The Show

As fans continue to enjoy Oh’s new hit Netflix sitcom The Chair, it’s worth recollecting her best movie moments for those who want to see more of the talented actress on the big screen.

10 Defendor (2009): 6.8

Peter Stebbings’ dark offbeat superhero comedy Defendor stars Oh as Dr. Ellen Park, a psychiatrist who gives hilarious facial and verbal reactions to the outlandish story relayed to her by Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson), an ordinary man moonlighting as a vigilante crime fighter.

Cut from the same genre-bucking, irreverent cloth as James Gunn’s Super, once Arthur confesses his secret life to Dr. Park, she convinces the judge to go easy on him and allow him to continue his heroic activity. When tragedy strikes, Oh shows how much heartfelt pathos she can portray by attending a touching ceremony for her patient.

9 Under The Tuscan Sun (2003): 6.8

Written and directed by the late Audrey Wells, Under the Tuscan Sun is a delightfully uplifting rom-com about Frances (Diane Lane), a writer who ups and leaves her life in San Francisco to live in Tuscany after discovering her husband’s infidelity. Oh plays Patti, Frances’ best friend who encourages her to travel to Italy.

RELATED: Sandra Oh – 10 Best Roles, Ranked (According To Rotten Tomatoes)

In addition to the gorgeous locations, breezy tone, and rich cinematography, Oh adds complexity to the story as Patti, a lesbian expecting a child even after her lover Grace (Kate Walsh) has left her. It’s Patti’s visit to Tuscany when she’s nine months pregnant that helps Frances find the courage to pursue true love despite the painful past.

8 Double Happiness (1994): 7.0

Oh made her feature film debut in Mina Shum’s must-see coming-of-age tale Double Happiness, in which she plays the lead role of Chinese-Canadian Jade Li. The intensely personal semiautobiographical drama shows how divided Jade is between her traditional Chinese upbringing and her modern Canadian lifestyle.

With a natural performance by Oh matched with the authentic, well-observed writing of Shum, the movie is a universally relatable tale of a person grappling with their own identity while trying to appease the expectations of loved ones. In her first film performance, Oh won the Genie Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, proving what a titanic talent she has been from the start.

7 Rabbit Hole (2010): 7.0

John Cameron Mitchell’s Rabbit Hole is a bruising account of a family dealing with the death of a young child at the hands of a teenage driver. Nicole Kidman gives a memorable and towering performance as Becca, a mournful mother who begins to find solace by interacting with Jason (Miles Teller), the driver who accidentally took her son’s life.

Although she has a smaller supporting role, Oh plays Gabby, a fellow grieving parent who helps Howie (Aaron Eckhart) deal with his loss at the group therapy sessions he and Becca attend. With profound empathy for Howie, she becomes instrumental in his healing process.

6 Meditation Park (2017): 7.1

Twenty-three years after working with Mina Shum for the first time, Oh reunited with the filmmaker for the sweet-natured drama Meditation Park in 2017. The story concerns Maria Wang (Pei-Pei Cheng), an aging woman in the throes of an existential crisis upon suspecting her husband’s infidelity. Oh plays Maria’s daughter Ava, a mother of two who encourages Maria to reconcile with her estranged brother ahead of his wedding and break free from her husband’s hold.

RELATED: Asian-American Movies to Watch If You Loved Crazy Rich Asians

As another trenchant glimpse at the immigrant experience and a statement about the importance of women finding their own voice, Shum’s film is tender, touching, and triumphant.

5 Hard Candy (2005): 7.1

David Slade’s Hard Candy is a deeply unnerving glimpse at a predatory pedophile (Patrick Wilson) getting his just deserts when a teenager (Elliot Page) tricks, traps, and tortures him in his apartment. Oh plays the man’s neighbor, Judy Tokuda, admitting she only took the role due to her working relationship with Page, a fellow Canadian she worked with on Wilby Wonderful the year prior.

With most of the action set inside the inescapable apartment, the visceral terror of the violence that Hayley (Page) exacts on Jeff (Wilson) is met by the suffocating sense of claustrophobia, making for a really upsetting experience. However, the hugely satisfying conclusion helps atone for the squeamish and uncomfortable moments of carnage.

4 Last Night (1998): 7.2

The most unheralded of Oh’s top films happens to be Last Night, a mordant pitch-black comedy about the impending apocalypse and the rag-tag band of Canadians with differing views on how to react. With the end of the world set to strike at midnight, Sandra (Oh) tries to make it out of her stranded position in Toronto and reunite with her husband, Duncan (David Cronenberg). One bad thing after another ensues.

Weird, wild, and ultimately winning, Last Night boasts writer/director Don McKellar’s signature brand of dark humor and anarchic energy. As such, the film has become an unforgettable cult classic among those who’ve seen it.

3 Raya And The Last Dragon (2021): 7.4

With great respect and honor for the rich historical traditions of Southeast Asia, Raya and the Last Dragon is one of Disney’s most beloved recent animated movies. Sandra Oh lends her voice to the commanding role of Virana, the Fang chieftess and mother of Raya’s main rival, Namaari (Gemma Chan).

RELATED: Raya And The Last Dragon – What The Voice Actors Look Like In Real Life

With a moving story, spellbinding animation, and characters never before seen, Raya and the Last Dragon continue to soar in the hearts and minds of viewers.

2 Sideways (2004): 7.5

Directed by her then-husband Alexander Payne, Oh demonstrated her hilarious comedic chops in the indie darling Sideways, a character study of a failing writer at an existential crossroads. The boozy road trip follows Miles (Paul Giamatti), an uptight novelist, and his lecherous pal Jack (Thomas Hayden Church), as they hit Santa Barbara wine country on a tasting tour.

Praised for its excellent performances and light tonal touch between comedy and drama, Oh gives a standout turn as Stephanie, a cool sommelier who has a steamy love affair with Jack (whom she does not know has a fiancee). When she finds out, she goes absolutely ballistic in one of the movie’s funniest moments. The story is so sharply penned that it won an Oscar for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay.

1 The Red Violin (1998): 7.6

Despite playing a bit role as Madame Ming in the fifth and final chapter of The Red Violin, the ambitious epic ranks among Sandra Oh’s most well-received movie to date. The film traces a famed 17th-century Violin from its creation in Italy to its auction in modern-day Montreal, and all that the instrument endured in creating some of the most beautiful music the world has ever heard.

Praised for its sumptuous set decorations and costume designs, Oscar-winning original music, intelligent story, and a throwback style of filmmaking that calls to mind the grand epics of the past, the resonance of The Red Violin is still felt today.

NEXT: Steven Spielberg’s 10 Best Historical Epics

#marvel #avengers #marvelcomics #spiderman #mcu #ironman #comics #captainamerica #thor #avengersendgame #marvelstudios #xmen #dc #marveluniverse #art #cosplay #tomholland #hulk #disney #comicbooks #dccomics #peterparker #tonystark #blackwidow #marvellegends #endgame #deadpool #marvelcinematicuniverse #loki #bhfyp

The post Sandra Oh’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked (According To IMDb) appeared first on undertheinfluencerd.net.

#entertainment, screenrant #tumblr #aesthetic #like #love #tumblrgirl #follow #instagram #photography #instagood #likeforlikes #s #likes #art #cute #o #girl #followforfollowback #a #tumblrboy #grunge #fashion #photooftheday #tiktok #l #photo #sad #k #frases #f #bhfyp