#all they changed was done beautifully and fits perfectly in the characters storyline

[sincerity--extreme]

When Ellie kissed Riley, as soon as she stepped away she looked so scared, almost terrified she had fucked up, you can tell just by looking at her and hearing that little "I'm sorry" she quickly said when Riley didn't showed any reactions at first, but then Riley finally says "For what?" And the fucking relief in Ellie's face, her eyes starting to shine again her posture immediately became more confident and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, I played the dlc so I knew what was coming but still, it was so well done, so amazing and I'll remember that and talk about it for the rest of my life

[p4ndawrites]

Office Love

Tag: Kenma fluff, NB reader, mention of a female reader (Kuroo's fiancee), shy and awkward reader and Kenma.

Hope you enjoy!

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Kenma watched the newest member of his team nearly walk into the door, making him laugh softly. They were indeed somewhat strange, but that made it all the more intriguing to learn more about them. How someone could be amazing at game designing and a walking disaster a few seconds later intrigued him. Not to mention the fact that they struggled to say a word to him during their interview but could immediately rant about the newest season of MHA when he mentioned that he had been late to a meeting due to binge-watching the said anime. It was a cute idea that they were so timid yet brightened at any mention of one of their interests, and boy did it make him want to know more about the strange game designer.

Also maybe it was the fact that they had been so similar that it hadn't been funny. Anime and games had been his world since well, forever really. I mean volleyball had been an interesting thing to do but he had partially done it for Kuroo so it couldn't compete. He had always been the quiet geek with his pudding-like hair and obsession with cats so it was refreshing when he met someone who reminded him of the person he used to be in high school. Not that he changed a bit. Nope, his lack of dating and his friend circle other than the volleyball players could testify to that.

He watched as they groaned, hand securing the newest model figurine that they had created for the launch of their new Otome game. They had been trying to branch out of their usual action and sport-themed games by trying a new type of game consisting of love and a storyline which had taken his gaming company to a new level. Them being the head of designs had been spectacular, the characters highlighting a boyish charm that went along with the tragic love story themed around one's high-school experience. The boys had managed to fit the storyline, each showing their hidden charms but what made him raise an eyebrow when he checked the designs was the shy geek who oddly resembled the pudding head himself. Not to mention that they had openly said Sora Hizashi (his assigned name) had been their favorite character because of his adorable yet neutral personality. One that doesn't express emotions as openly as others and is adorable when confused about certain emotions that he could not understand. I mean did they even try to hide who they based the lovely character on? No, no they most certainly did not.

He smiled slightly before flopping back down on his chair as he stared off into space. How long had they been working for him now? A year? A year and a half? Gosh had it been that long, he truly wondered. To some, it would seem like they weren't all that special but to him, they had been so beautifully and perfectly them that he had managed to develop feelings for them. He had been tired of the dates Kuroo had set him up on, how everyone he'd been on a date with had never been honest with their true intentions but them, they couldn't lie to save their lives and it sure was adorable.

I mean it had been obvious that the anime-obsessed designer had a thing for their boss. The thought itself brought a grin on his face with a shake of his head as he thought of the not-so-subtle things they did to make sure that he was always happy and the slight change of plans that would happen when he seemed on the edge of passing out. How he never came into the office without there being coffee on his desk or how he always received a homemade meal around lunchtime after the time he had almost fainted because of his unhealthy eating habits. How he would receive little deserts and sweets when they went to purchase some for themselves, the shy smile when they mentioned that they had 'purchased too much' or 'thought he would like it' never failed to make his heart flutter. Each and everything thing they did had a purpose and he knew that the reason for all the deserts was because he mentioned how much he loved sweet things recently.

"Oh wow I'm shocked Kenma, are you smiling?" The voice of his best friend echoed in the room making him groan as he sat up straight. There stood the rooster, a smug smile settling across his lips as he all but knew what the pudding head had been thinking of.

"Why are you back so soon?" He asked boredly making Kuroo feign a look of hurt at his bestie. "I came back and this is how you treat me, you're so mean to me Kyanma!"

Kenma sighed before rubbing his temples as he could feel a headache coming soon. The bedhead had supposedly left Japan for what should have been a month as he traveled the world with his beloved Chibi-chan but now here he was, annoying the poor male.

"But to answer your question, my soon-to-be in-laws had thrown a birthday party for her so we came back for that. We're leaving the day after tomorrow." He said before grabbing the lollipop on the desk and quickly removing the wrapper before plopping it in his mouth. "I thought I'd come visit you to see how you're doing with your love problem but I see there's little to no progress on the situation" He sighed dramatically making Kenma roll his eyes.

"It's not that simple Kuroo"

"But it is. Ask them out like how I did with F/N!"

"Firstly F/N asked you out and secondly, you should understand since you were just as much a chicken as I was." The bedhead groaned slightly as he noticed how instead of taking his lovely advice to heart, he decided to target him instead.

"Well the point is you need a plus one for my wedding in two months or else F/N will kill you" Kenma gulped making Kuroo grin "And you know how feisty my chibi-chan is~"

"Fine but how should I ask them?"

" With a lovely 'Hey I like you let's date!"

"This is why f/n did it instead of you you wannabe rooster."

"Shush just do it gosh or should I call chibi-chan?"

"N-no fine, I'll do it..."

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Y/N smiled gently at the awkward male in front of them as he stood stiffly beside their desk.

"What can I help you with Kozume-san?"

"Uhm well, I bought this for you?" He rubbed his neck sheepishly before showing the bouquet of roses behind him. White, red, and pink mixed beautifully as they stared at the adorable mini bear attached to the ribbon of the bouquet.

"Oh wow... there beautiful" They glanced up at him as their eyes sparkled making his ears turn pink "Thank you Kozume-san"

"Kenma..."

"Hmm?"

"Kenma is fine. You can just call me Kenma" He spoke softly as he shifted uncomfortably before clearing his throat "Uhm... I-I wanted to ask if you're free this Saturday"

"Yes, I am. Is there something you need for work then?"

"No no. I just... wanted to take you out on a date. That's if you'd want to go out with me"

Y/N's face lit up as he felt his face gradually get warmer making him look down. How dare they be so adorable without trying to be? They're going to be the death of him.

"I would love to!" They smiled making him smile softly in return.

"Okay then I'll text you the details and I'll pick you up on Saturday."

"Yep, it's a date!"

Kenma smiled one more time before turning around and walking to the room as he all but glowed. Not that they were any different to him as he looked back at them to see them glancing softly at the bouquet in front of them. A date.

He had been lucky enough to get a date with the person of his dreams and he couldn't be more thrilled.

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copyright © p4ndawrites

Do not steal work or repost as your own

[munsons-maiden]

I already said this in the notes of one of your asks and stuff but I thought in case other people haven’t thought of this!

Everything you’ve said is so right, and I definitely think if he came back as a villain it would be about saving him since that’s the only way it would have repercussions for everyone and not just Dustin. It would absolutely be the Kas theory though. I mean with marketing Eddie as a main character after only giving him one season? Even Billy had 2 seasons. They wouldn’t repeat Billy’s storyline with Eddie, I still think the Duffers are better writers than that cause they would be very very lazy, so he’d have to be saved and over power the control. The emphasis on Dustin saying in the end Eddie was always Eddie, I think is super important to the fact that Eddie, even when flayed, would not be lost and would be so strong and do what Billy (and even Will) could not do within themselves alone and that’s beat the mind flayer/Vecnas control fully. Killing him again would also be too lazy and I still think the government would easily be able to clear his name, they’ve done it all before with other characters and it’s a fantasy show there are literally no limits. And hoppers back to put the pressure on them for him and Eddie. And let’s face it, with all the damage that has and will happen in season 5, everyone’s gonna either be dying or be leaving Hawkins after the big show climax I think lol

Also I’d just like to add to all the Eddie comes back as a villain/Kas theory stuff, I think them showing us El can stop and reverse death is really really important. Vecna is the same as El, and having two deaths prevented, one by the good side and one by the bad side, is actually one of the times where bringing people back to life in a story is NOT cheap and a really cool story choice. Parallels baby*~*~* it would make for a GREAT season theme. Cause Eddie’s death is just as cheap as Max’s NOT death if they’re alone as two separate things. But having El bring Max back and Vecna bring Eddie back? That beautiful kind of parallel? That gives Eddie a longer and better storyline, and puts more emphasis on the whole El/Vecna rivalry too. And having Eddie turn on Vecna because evil doesn’t win, and because Eddie will always be Eddie.

ALL. OF. THIS.

The Kas theory is the most plausible one - although I think every one of my followers already knows I'm talking about "Vecna resurrecting Eddie and flaying him" when I say Kas theory; which means it will definitely be about saving him like they did with Will in ST2. I wouldn't want them to bring him back as anything else but the sweet, kind, gentle Eddie I/we fell in love with - and I don't think they would bring him back if it wasn't for saving him. And who could do that better than his pal Dustin? It would so beautifully fit the narrative if Eddie, who told Dustin to promise him never to change, would have changed - only for Dustin to help Eddie get rid of Vecna's control. I can imagine it to go like this - Eddie flayed and used by Vecna as his puppet in the first half of the season until a confrontation with Dustin makes him reach his breaking point, he frees himself of Vecna's control and joins the Hawkins Heroes for the second half and final battle.

Absolutely - clearing his name would be easy with Owens' people and Hopper on board; they knew all along it wasn't Eddie and that was the reason why I was sure they'd be clearing his name by the end of ST4. It's so obvious how to do it.

"Cause Eddie’s death is just as cheap as Max’s NOT death if they’re alone as two separate things. But having El bring Max back and Vecna bring Eddie back? That beautiful kind of parallel? That gives Eddie a longer and better storyline, and puts more emphasis on the whole El/Vecna rivalry too. And having Eddie turn on Vecna because evil doesn’t win, and because Eddie will always be Eddie." YES. The duality would also perfectly underline the struggle El has been dealing with especially in ST1 and ST2, seeing herself as a monster - her bringing Max back vs Vecna bringing Eddie back, one for love and one for hate and yet Eddie's love will beat the hatred in Vecna's heart...that's the Good Stuff right there.

There are so many things which would only make sense if they went down that route: the marketing of Eddie as addition to the main cast, all the PR afterwards, the Kas symbolism tied to him (especially the spiked shield), the parallels between Eddie and Will (mainly the song playing when they die in the UD "When it's cold I'd like to die" + Wayne wearing the same jacket Jonathan did while pinning Will's Missing poster while Wayne is pinning Eddie's missing poster), Eddie as the Dungeon Master...and Eddie himself, who's been one of if not THE kindest character in the show, never portrayed as anything else but pure of heart (which is why I know the only way for him to ever become a "villain" would be via being flayed).

If they were planning to bring Eddie back all along, I'm convinced they'll go down this route.

If they didn't plan to bring him back...this route is still perfect and none of us would ever know whether it was coincidence they left the door open three inches or not. I can't tell which one it'll be but it's so EASY to bring Eddie back because there's a hole gaping in the ST5 plotline and we know they won't bring in any new characters so Vecna needs someone to do the dirty work until he's recovered from the attack and Eddie's body in the UD isn't even cold yet, just like Max's wasn't.

Bringing Eddie back would be logical, from a narrative viewpoint - and it would raise the stakes of the story to have Vecna use Eddie as his puppet because the OG cast, especially Dustin, would take care not to hurt him.

And my final point, sorry about repeating myself but this needs to be in here: the Duffers already said Eddie's death would have "huge repercussions for all survivors" - not Dustin, but all survivors. And this is the only way I could think of for that to come into fruition.

Completely agree with all your points, dear.

[ein-zhell]

Ranking of Kings appreciation and the amount of tears I can shockingly produce per episode

Not to scare you note: This anime will emotionally beat you up, heal you, make you happy and feel safe, and then beat you up again.

Ranking of Kings (王様ランキング, Ōsama Rankingu) is an on-going anime that I watched after seeing the review of The Prout Brothers on YouTube. Thanks to them, I was able to witness its glory not too late and board the hype train. Ranking of Kings is a shounen fantasy story that tackles about a courageous young prince named, Bojji. Because of preconceived notions around his deafness and lack of physical prowess, he must overcome a world that fails to see his worth. The animation is *chef kiss* beautiful, they remind me of kid’s book illustrations which effectively captivates the audience of all ages. They are now my icon and if I had a kid, I’d let them watch this instead of i-don’t-want-to-mention-kids-shows-today. I can guarantee its understandability, due to their body languages, how their vocal expression changes, facial expressions, great backstories, and their simple dialogues. It didn’t even make me look back 10 seconds ago and stare what they just said out of confusion. I understood them well and kept watching without any skips which I shamefully do to most of the animes I used to follow. I can’t. They are too good that I am starting to run out of words to type and I need them to reach specifically at 750- help.

Okay let's talk about the opening and ending songs they used for the whole 21 episodes available right now

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They are absolutely gorgeous. They deserve a cat.

The first opening tells you the beginning of Bojji’s story, that feeling which is lively and comparable to a ball of sunshine. The OP would bring you in a good mood as if were still 7 and watching this on Sunday morning with a bowl of cereal on your lap. It is like a fresh breeze of air that rarely comes across your face, you relax with it. The music will make you think that this is a happy light-hearted adventure tale with no eye fluids secreting scenes out of nowhere. Be prepared. The ED is a lullaby with lyrics I would cry for, I haven’t look at them until now and they trigger what I need in my life- a companion for life. Let me quote that, “If you’re weak, let me show you my weakness too. And if you pretend you’re strong, I’ll hold your weakness in my arms”. But I am mad because I just realized how their names were a pun, anagrams and homophones, for example, Hilling and Healing, Desha and Hades, then Bojji and Bocchi (which meant lonely). They are too brilliant this should be illegal.

And I am not done yet, we still have OP2 and ED2 to talk about. Hadaka no Yuusha by Vaundy is what made Ranking of Kings- ANIME. The transitions of the animation fit perfectly to the song, the sudden surge of power to every nerve of your body, on how the events have turned and how mysteries began to unfold. I am dumbfounded. At this point, I am telling you to give this a try and be one of us. Me trying not to make it sound like a cult. Lastly, Flare by millet is the song that screams “This is it! The character is overcoming his hardships, we are nearing to our ending!” I think it’s the parade like instruments in the background which gave it off. It’s like a celebration, a coming-of-age party, something that we should be anticipating.

Enough fangirling to songs, the biggest feat in this blog is the storyline of Ranking of Kings. But first, as to the amount of tears I produced per episode, I would say, generous. A generous amount of tears had been shed where I thought would only last for the first 2 episodes but was wrong. Dead wrong. I cried every other episode, and I am tired of it but not for the show. I watched them non-stop, one after another because it is so interesting! And I can’t do anything how to stop those persistent tears because they kept reminding me how helpless I am although not mute or deaf like Bojji. Hey, I did not expect the plot and the characters are beautifully written and portrayed. Its hate-love kind of thing, you’ll hate them first then love them that it stresses you out.

I love their backstories and how a person can change so much by the environment they live in. I witnessed how some people can be selfish for their beliefs, for what they think is right, and for someone they treasure dearly. Ranking of Kings depicted what humanity is, how beautiful and cruel, kind and vindictive, tenacious and pathetic we can be. It is a hell of a ride, a rollercoaster of emotions. The story clearly did not only focus to Bojji, but to everyone he came across with- they are as important as him and had their own share of struggles in life. This is what made me fall in love and appreciate the series so much. They do not feel rushed and is so sincere for the viewers. Look, Bojji came from a giant’s family and because of circumstances, he is small and physically weak. He can’t even carry a hand size of a stone and made the people constantly worry for him. Yet, he was able to overcome all of those despite the disadvantages- and every time he feels overwhelmed, he had someone by his side to encourage and toughen him up. I think I should stop before I ended up spoiling the series. *sad noises*

Anyways, thank you for reading. I can't believe you made it this far with me confusing the heck out of you (weak English and explanation skills), I will be leaving a piece of statement I found while scrolling the comment section on YouTube…

“Bojji makes me smile and make me cry without even saying a word. What a character”

xoxo

[dreamsofthescreen]

How Godard Broke Our Hearts in Le Mepris - Analysis & Review

The 1963 classic French-Italian drama serves as a masterclass in impactful filmmaking

Brigitte Bardot & Michel Piccoli in ‘Le Mepris’

Expert director Jean Luc Godard’s films are considered pieces of art for convincing reasons, and 1963 classic ‘Le Mepris’ (Contempt) is a masterful example of this. It’s stylistic choices reflect the sombre, but beautiful & hard hitting story of a marriage turned bitter. It is the cinematography, writing & somewhat clean-cut, French directing style that livens the plot. With reference to cinema & the connection with life that it shares, the emotional bluntness of the New Wave story makes it all the more impacting. 1960s stars’ Brigitte Bardot, Michael Piccoli & Jack Palace all add to the heart of the Eurocentric film, their sourness becoming a point of interest in the plot. Colour, light and contrast all are significant points in this perfectly painted film.

Rising to prominence in the New Wave period, French-Swiss director Jean-Luc Godard is known for his colourful, sharp & artistic European projects, expertly executing any romance or drama in a beautiful way. ‘Le Mepris’ is an adaptation of Alberto Moravia’s 1954 novel, II disprezzo (A Ghost at Noon). The story goes as American producer Prokosch (Jack Palance) casts Paul (Michael Piccoli) to write a screenplay for Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’. This intake of work on film & challenging of his artistic values from Prokosch turns his marriage with Camille (Brigitte Bardot) on it’s head. Sticking to well-known themes in a drama such as tragedy, romance, infidelity and change, ‘Le Mepris’ breaks our hearts by touching on the beauty of a classic.

Godard’s distinctive style is prevalent in the significance of the story, as the way in which the film is both written & directed is in touch with each emotion & colour throughout. The rocky marriage between Camille & Paul on the backdrop of a film set actually reflects Godard’s personal demons - his struggling marriage and dissonant relationship with Hollywood at the time. Bold blues, reds, whites and yellows colour the film, which is something rather ironic, as emotion can be seen as something badly represented with such uplifting tones remaining in a heartbreaking scenario. Yet, this is all apart of Godard’s wonderful filmmaking. As a directer and writer, he brings realism to the table, where most romance pictures don’t. As the anguish of love decaying is on the forefront, Godard’s style still remains throughout, showing that although emotions change, the world around us really doesn’t. However, Godard also utilises these colours as a means of drama, the sultry opening scene with a naked Bardot & Piccoli soaked in an erotic red. Colour and costume is a hugely recognisable feature of the New Wave Era, as the 1960s began to explore aesthetics more freely. With Tanine Autré as the leading costume designer, the clean-cut & artistic costumes all sit well with each beautifully painted scene. Stripes and colour-blocking in the summer style are all reflective of the New Wave Movement. Even the 1960s interiors that Godard chooses reflect his storytelling style. Modern buildings, references to art and the human figure is relevant, as for a film about love, the male gaze is utterly, yet tastefully focused on French bombshell Brigitte Bardot. The visual spectacles are phenomenal, but still have meaning. As Godard focuses on realism, classism and a very Eurocentric story in ‘Le Mepris’, this can be seen as him even mocking Hollywood’s growing commercial and idealised storytelling at the time.  

By connecting cinema with life, striking reference is made to many emotions & creates space for a beautifully relevant drama. For a movie about movies, when art and love mix, disaster strikes. Scorsese quoted Contempt, saying ‘it’s one of the greatest films ever made about the actual process of filmmaking’ & named it as “brilliant, romantic and genuinely tragic”. Godard filmed a variety of scenes with tracking shots, in a natural light & near-real time. He too focuses on the beauty of Capri & the settings of the characters, rather than the characters themselves. The cinematography celebrates film itself, relevant to a storyline focusing on movie-making. With a painfully moving, stringed soundtrack and sweepingly romantic landscape wide shots, audiences can feel as though they are watching the film being made by Prokosch & Paul. Even the dialogue is reminiscent of the film, cleverly making connections between the project being made and the drama in Paul’s marriage. As Paul & Camille discuss ‘The Odyssey’, Paul states, “I agree with Prokosch’s theory. That Ulysses loves his wife, but she doesn’t love him”. Camille has no reaction to this comment, but we as audiences know that Godard is linking ‘The Odyssey’ with Paul & Camille’s fading love. Furthermore, Paul states that he is to “walk back with Mr. Lang (the director) to discuss the Odyssey.” This is followed by a comment by a crew member on set who comments, “I should have done a scene at the beginning, in which the Gods discuss the man’s fate, in general & the fate of Ulysses in particular”. It isn’t hard to see the comparison made between Paul and Ulysses’ romantic situations, one a Greek king & the other a script writer, yet still both are relevant & though contrast vastly, are mighty men. Both wonder about their fate. This is the great connection between the two storylines - the beauty and pain of cinema & how it all too often relates back to our own demons, so gracefully presented in ‘Le Mepris’.

Brigitte Bardot in ‘Le Mepris’

Godard’s clean-cut directing & blunt writing style, along with the impressive acting are all successful in presenting a widely emotional drama. Set in the outstandingly beautiful Capri, melancholy and mourning is mixed with the sunlight and dreamy landscape of the island. As Godard worked with cinematographer Raoul Coutard, he contrasts light and dark, showing the unexpected nature of life - where love can grow in a beautiful area, it can also be killed. We associate colour and light with positivity, yet the fact is that however life changes, the world around us does still remain the same. This is reflected in the writing of the film, as Godard’s straightforward dialogue hits hard. Rather than creating a falsely dramatic ‘movie magic’ script, there is no drama in the very real & blunt adult conversation that characters’ Camille & Paul have in establishing their feelings for one another. As Paul questions as to why Camille has been acting so distant, she simply replies with, ‘it’s true. I don’t love you anymore’. Paul asks, ‘you still loved me yesterday?’ & Camille replies with ‘yes, very much. Now it’s over’. With statements along the way from Camille like ‘that’s life’, there is melancholy reality, which is beautifully French in comparison to the excessive, long-winded scenes we see in todays writings. Yet the film seeps in elegance through it’s script, as when any words are spoken, each is valuable. As Camille reflects on the breakdown of her marriage, she metaphorically states, ‘We used to live in a cloud of unawareness, in delicious complicity. Things happened with sudden wild, enchanted recklessness’. Character Prokosch brings statements like ‘I don't believe in modesty. I believe in pride! I believe in the pride of making good films’. Furthermore to this, it, again, is the realism that breaks our hearts through the masterful filmmaking. The acting in ‘Le Mepris’ is very real, as Godard had the actors improvise lines in the moment. When asked about this, he stated, ‘I need them, just as I need the pulse and colours of real settings for atmosphere and creation’. Godard’s focus on realism is great as it is something so sincere and authentic. He also rather fitted the character of Camille to Bardot herself, rather than having Bardot act as Camille. This too made for an authentic script, as Bardot’s supposed acting ability shone through, bluntly delivering bold lines & somewhat rising above the typical sensual blonde that she was used to playing, as she had a voice. Godard’s writing brings in slices of poetry to inspire us & add to the artistic nature of the cinematic experience.

The Guardian’s description of it as ‘poetically sour’ encompasses the beauty of 1963 classic ‘Le Mepris’, as iconic director Jean-Luc Godard creates a heartbreakingly real tale of love lost. Through the recognisable New Wave style of the early 1960s that Godard helped define, the significance of ‘Le Mepris’ is made through it’s visuals and aesthetics, that we as an audience can recognise and appreciate. The beautifully artistic and European summer drama shines through with it’s ability to challenge everyday filmmaking. Godard hits the nail on the head with every emotion throughout, presented through not only dialogue, but the ravishing soundtrack, cinematography, set design and overall disposition. ‘Le Mepris’ remains a wonder that inspires and transports us to a world that, through it’s passion, seems all to familiar for some.

Stars Out of Five: 5/5

[luthienebonyx]

I’ve been meaning to do some more Jaime x Brienne recs for a while, and since I’m trying to decide what to write next, it seemed like a good time to talk about other people’s fic.

Alright, outta sight - by Samirant

Author's summary: Ain’t no party like a Lannister party (whether you meant to invite a Lannister or not).

This is a medical AU where Brienne the doctor and Jaime the cardiologist have been working together at the same hospital for a number of years. When the story starts, Brienne thinks their relationship is one of professionalism but personal dislike. However, when Jaime learns, firstly, that Brienne is planning a small house-warming party, and secondly, that she and Hyle broke up some time ago, he takes over the planning for the party and… well. See the author's summary.

The story is mostly the story of the party, but that description does not in any way do this story justice. It has some wonderful characterisation, some laugh-out-loud humour, and great little shout-outs to canon - like Ironborn vodka - but at its core it's a lovely, warm true-feeling story about two people finding each other. But yes, it's also the story of a legendary party.

(This is the only WIP on this list. The main part of the story is complete, with only the epilogue still to be posted.)

Evenfall - by @aviss​

Author's summary: Jaime had never intended to get back to active duty, he was happily retired. Now he has no choice, someone has to pay for taking her from him.

This is part of Aviss's Spies Like Us series. Brienne is a female James Bond, Jaime is a former spy who is now the Quartermaster (ie. Q), and the plot of this one is influenced fairly heavily by Skyfall. Jaime and Brienne are in a relationship - they even have cats, so it's pretty serious ;) - but haven't formalised anything. Fairly early on, Brienne is injured and presumed dead, and Jaime resigns and decides to go and seek vengeance.

If you are in the mood to wallow in angst, this is the fic for you! This story hit all my angst buttons and wouldn't let up. There is some nicely done comfort at the end to balance out the hurt, too.

I will always hold you close, but I will learn to let you go  - by angel_deux aka @angel-deux-writes​ 

Author's summary: Jaime is gravely wounded in the battle against the dead. When he thinks he's dying, he kisses Brienne.

After, he heals, kept asleep with milk of the poppy. Brienne worries about what will happen when he wakes up.

This is a very internal sort of story, with a terrific Brienne POV. Brienne’s thoughts and emotions go round and round, always so painfully, brutally honest with herself that sometimes she ends up getting things completely wrong. As usual for angel_deux’s fic, there are some great turns of phrase in this, with complex emotions being conveyed concisely but with deadly accuracy.

Little talks - by robotsdance 

Author's summary: Brienne isn’t at Winterfell when Jaime arrives. She isn’t there to vouch for him and he’s sentenced to die by dragonfire. Brienne returns just in time to make sure that doesn’t happen, but she doesn’t want to talk about it.

She doesn’t want to talk to Jaime at all.

Finding a story that is deeply romantic without being sappy is one of those things that makes my day, and this story perfectly fits that description. It's an AU take on the beginning of Season 8, after Jaime arrives at Winterfell. What happens after Brienne returns just in the nick of time to save Jaime is… well, deeply romantic, perfectly in-character for both of them, and not at all sappy. The visual image of the scene right after Brienne returns is one that's going to stay in my head for a long time.

Living Proof - by @hardlyfatal​  

Author's summary: In the middle of a war, with brutality and bloodshed overwhelming what little kindness and safety can be found, she meets a man who is everything she admires and respects. And it’s not the man she thinks it will be.

This is a MASH style AU, set during the Korean War. Brienne is a nurse and Jaime is a helicopter pilot. This is just beautifully characterised, with painfully honest emotions, a slow burn romance, and a storyline that does not flinch from the brutal reality for medical personnel in the midst of a war. There were parts of this that I went back to re-read immediately after finishing a chapter because they really did just sort of take me captive as a reader.

The Lord and the Selkie - by Roccolinde aka @firesign23​ 

Author's summary: On the west coast of Westeros, there stood a castle, known far and wide as Casterly Rock, overlooking the Sunset Sea. The lord of this castle, Lord Tywin, had three children: The Golden Lion, Ser Jaime, was brave; his twin The Beautiful Maid, Lady Cersei, was cunning; and The Unwanted One, Lord Tyrion, was learned. Together, they might have come to rule Westeros as their Lord Father intended, a final wish made from his deathbed. But then Ser Jaime met the selkie, and their paths were forever altered.

This is told in the style of a fairytale. Brienne is a selkie searching for her lost brother. Eventually, her search brings her to Casterly Rock, where she meets Jaime, and their romance plays out in the style of a fairytale, too. 

I love everything about this; the characters meld perfectly into the fairytale setting and it all just works. There are some great little shout-outs to canon in this, including this one when Jaime and Brienne first meet:

but though Ser Jaime was wise in chivalry, he was foolish in the ways of sense, and so exclaimed with some surprise, “The ghost of Casterly is a woman?” 

Measure in Love - by @dancinginthecenteroftheworld​ 

Author's summary: Brienne Tarth isn't wild about the new building that's been built across her office, blocking her view of Blackwater Bay. But what she really doesn't expect the gorgeous nudist who moves in or the chaos he brings into her life.

Yeah, one guess who the nudist is. ;)

This is a slow burn modern AU. Brienne and Jaime first see each other through their respective windows, and then meet properly at the gym run by Sandor Clegane. I really enjoyed the pacing of this story, and the way initial hostility slowly changes over time. The ways in which the various canon characters pop up in different roles in Brienne's life is also really well done.

Once it ends, so it begins - by nubbins_for_all 

Author's summary: Brienne doesn’t care why it’s cold. She just knows it’s really fucking cold.

A quiet evening between the Lady of Winterfell and her sworn shield, with ruminations on sex, love, and dealing with everything being awful.

This is part of a series (Winter isn't goin' nowhere) where winter doesn't end after the Long Night, and so Dany and the northern army are stuck at Winterfell, while Cersei is stuck in the south.

The main part of this story takes the form of a long conversation between Brienne and Sansa one night, interspersed with mostly-dialogue flashbacks of scenes between Brienne and Jaime. 

I love how this story explores these two relationships side by side, with Brienne as the linchpin. All the characterisations are very on point. I can believe very much in this version of Sansa, after everything she's been through, and I love Brienne's awkwardness at what is basically a slumber party for two. Brienne is thoughtful and considering as Sansa’s sworn sword, and self-doubting when Sansa needs her half-forgotten girly side, but also gets better and better at giving Jaime as good as she gets. Also, Jaime's dialogue is so very Jaime, and he makes the dialogue-only flashbacks really shine. 

Ser Goldenpaws and the Wench - by Libkat   

Author's summary: It's the Lady and the Tramp AU that nobody wanted.

This is Jaime and Brienne in a Lady and the Tramp fusion, where they're golden retrievers. In this case, Jaime is the prize-winning, much-loved golden retriever, Ser Goldenpaws, and Brienne is the lost golden retriever living on the streets who won't divulge her name, so Jaime calls her the Wench.

Brienne and Jaime are somehow still recognisably in-character AND very canine in the way they think. I'm not quite sure how the author has achieved that balance (major kudos!), but it works really well. This is not as light and fluffy as you might expect, and goes to some relatively dark places at times, before everything works out the way a story like this should.

The Tides - by @slipsthrufingers​   

Author's summary: Jaime Lannister, recently missing a hand, a white cloak and his purpose in life, is sent to Tarth to decide whether the Lannisters will loan them the gold they so desperately need to thwart a disaster. He expects to negotiate with the Evenstar, but is stuck with the dour daughter instead.

This is the type of story where a lot happens, in terms of characters and relationship development, while not a lot is actually happening, in terms of plot points. It's intensely character-focused, and the author's style is beautifully descriptive, which fits the quiet atmosphere of a lot of the story.

You will never think of a medieval marble mine in the same way again after reading this story. ;)

Banner by @ao3commentoftheday​

[skamamoroma]

What do you think about the idea that sander could come from an abusive home and that’s his side of the story instead of a mental illness? I love your thoughts

Ah, thanks so much, sweets ❤️ this post got a bit long!

It’s very plausible.

First off, it’s important for me to stress how important the mental illness portion of s3 and the remakes is to me and I know it is very important to others so I’d be thrilled if they decided to stick to it but we DO have multiple wonderful Evens who provide a lot of comfort to many folks. Eliott, Nico and Joana have taken Even’s legacy and grown it and added to it and the 4 of them are cherished so if Sander was to join them then I would be perfectly down for that. It’s an important story to tell. I’ve been kind of presuming they’d go this route but I’d be thrilled if they chose their own thing...

There is a chance wtfock won’t go there. It’s not a necessity as we saw with Druck. I think as long as it is an important story that needs to be told then Julie Andem is always down with that - that’s what Skam is about after all.

There are many very plausible hints that could fit with that theory. I’d want to talk about it respectfully because I have a lot of experience of living in a very volatile and unpleasant home but a truly abusive home is a different matter and it’s a very serious/sensitive topic. But this is me WILDLY SPECULATING which I don’t normally do so don’t take any of this as truth, it’s just me having fun with the story!

There’s the way that Sander responded to their attack. He was clearly very shaken but his “shit happens” was worrying. It’s not nothing and he discarded it. There’s a potential he did that because he didn’t want anyone to know where he was/who he was with and that could point to many things like homophobic parents etc. Or it could point to him trying to convince Robbe to not pursue reporting it and this suggests a worry with police... has he been involved with the police before? We’ve all theorised this to death!

There’s clearly something amiss with his living situation. I made a post immediately after the FaceTime clip because I realised we knew so little about his situation and that moment... THAT STAIRCASE MOMENT WILL MEAN SOMETHING god damn it. It has to. That moment he turned around and waited until the people had gone before he spoke... I’m certai his living situation has something to do with his actions recently

He has done some unusual things that could be due to his spontaneous rebel kind of behaviour and because he’s just a whirlwind kind of guy that maybe acts without thinking sometimes - aka paintball and the supermarket trolley crash. If the theory of an abusive home is correct, I understand that sometimes kids brought up in those environments have a desensitivity to danger etc

The “nobody will love me for me” line can be so clearly linked to the idea of mental illness but also to other things...

The moment that Sander got a little upset during the cuddle clip was NOT the same as Even’s or Nico’s. Joana’s was different and fit her situation wonderfully. Here, it was so different. It would still fit very very well with Sander experiencing disordered thoughts or a lack of control over his thoughts due to a mental illness but it could also be symptomatic of something else because he basically talks about not understanding how you get from one thing to another. He says that he wonders why he thinks things and then he looks into his past to work it out and asks why is it like this - what if I’d thought something different? That screams regret... it screams not understanding his present sometimes and how it makes no sense and he keeps wondering what if he’s thought or done something differently? That’s so interesting to me because it could be about something other than mental illness.

Then there is the whole situation post “I love you”. Sander’s behaviour will obviously be something they’ll cover. They’re brushing it aside at the moment because Robbe is, because he’s in love and overwhelmed by happiness and dazed by the wonder of Sander... but reality will hit and it’ll make what they have all the more amazing but we will also see Sander’s truth. Something changed to make him retreat from Robbe and yes we could argue it is likely to be for a similar reason to Even (that’s what I’ve been working on - but with added extras) but there are major differences and it’s the police reluctance and the lack of request for a break from Robbe. The writers chose to remove that. There must be a reason for it and I think it has everything to do with the attack and how that situation impacted Sander. If he was from an abusive or homophobic home, finding out he was attacked for being affectionate with a boy would be dangerous for him.

There’s also his focus on the idea of forever and “you and me” with Robbe. It’s incredibly sweet and he means it so much, he wants Robbe in his life and you can feel how he is around him and how safe and comforted he is by him... but I made a post earlier about how it seems like he’s convincing himself it’s possible, like he needs it to be true.

Also, Sander didn’t change school. We don’t have any hint that Sander had to leave his school. I vaguely remember a comment from Noor about Sander and school but I can’t remember (can anyone help?). He seems v stable at art school which is of course entirely possible for folks with bipolar (if they chose to follow Even) but that strand of Even’s story seems to be missing

I was sadly not a fan of how Druck handled mental health. For me, it was such a shame with a character like Matteo not to focus on that and make that link with his mamma etc, it felt messy and such a shame to me. And the importance of Isak’s journey with mental health awareness and understanding was so important... so here Robbe is not like Isak. He doesn’t struggle with it. There is no right or wrong when you’re a teenager thrown into this and Robbe just happens to have had an experience which has allowed him to be comfortable and loving with his mamma and it’s a beautiful thing. There doesn’t feel a need to have him learn about mental illness or to realise his compassion - he is a few steps ahead of our Isak. So that element wouldn’t be lost in this story if they chose to replace the Even’s story with a different issue. It’d just be a situation where Robbe understands being alone, being without a comfortable set of parents. That could be the bridge.

The forehead touch last night. I can’t get over it. I made another post earlier about how I can’t shake this feeling that Sander has sacrificed something or made his life more difficult in being with Robbe. Something isn’t right there.

Then the “I’m holding you and I will never let you go” - is someone going to try to make him? It could just be a beautifully romantic line but it could also mean other things too.

Personally, I’ve always presumed they’d continue with the mental health storyline but this alternative is the only one I can see some serious plausibility with. It’d work and it could be VERY powerful and important for people.

We shall just have to see! ❤️

[oosteven-universe]

Archie: The Married Life 10th Anniversary #1

Archie: The Married Life 10th Anniversary #1 Archie Comics 2019 Written by Michael Uslan Pencilled by Dan Parent Inked by J. Bone Coloured by Glenn Whitmore Lettered by Jack Morelli     10 years later, a landmark moment in Archie Comics history is being revisited! ARCHIE: THE MARRIED LIFE 10th ANNIVERSARY, is a sequel to the headline-making 2009 “Archie Wedding” storyline. The original storyline written by Michael Uslan answered Riverdale’s longest-running question: will Archie marry Betty or Veronica? Fans were treated to two alternate worlds that explored each possibility and Uslan’s sequel picks up both stories ten years later. See how much life has changed for Archie, his family, and the rest of Riverdale in this new and exciting mini-series.     This is fun and to be honest I would very much enjoy seeing more of the married life. Though where's Kevin's husband in all this? So first up we get to see the married life of Archie and Veronica as Archie deals with his overbearing father-in-law at Lodge Industries. Honestly while I don't think this is a good fit for them I do like how this is being written by Michael. You see this subtle manipulation from Hiram and we see this version of Archie being too timid to stand up for himself. The characterisation that we are getting with this is sensational. You get it, you see what's going on and you know exactly what's happening and why.     The way this is structured and how we see the kids and how the react to Archie well it's interesting to say the least. Most know that parenting is never easy and with kids glued to their phones today and not comprehending what it means to play outside and to actually talk to their friends doesn't make things easier. I absolutely adore the fact that Michael uses the modern world in such familiar ways and applies it beautifully to these characters. The story & plot development that we see here is great and it allows the opportunity to see the entire gang and what their lives are like in this reality. Personally some of this is kind of like what we wish would happen to the bullies we had in High School and it is extremely humorous.     Let me say this the way Dan is able to lay down his pencils always amazes me. He has this absolutely amazing eye for storytelling and we see this through the way he composes the panels and brings depth perception to the book. Heck even the backgrounds we see are utilised to enhance the moments and bring a sense of size and scope to the book. Plus I love and I mean LOVE seeing his vision for how they all look in both versions with the hair styles, the clothing and just the overall attitude he's able to infuse in them. With J. Bone and Glenn finishing off the pencils this is what I expect to see when I think Archie. It shouldn't surprise me that in either reality Jughead looks exactly same, like Maynard G. Krebs.     One thing that always made me giggle is that regardless of whom he marries Archie seems to have twins. The boy with ginger hair like the other the colour of her mother. The second half of the book centres on the married life of Archie and Betty which seems like a much more natural fit. I got to say that seeing what they are going through, where they live and what brings them back to Riverdale it's all perfectly laid out. The first half had Ambrose (please let that be Sabrina's cousin) and this has Dilton and it really does play out perfectly.  As does the characterisation which as expected is tweaked a bit for the second half.     Again I adore the real world complications that arise as we get older. Not seeing or keeping up with old friends, ageing parents the whole gauntlet. This may be blasphemy but this is better than Riverdale almost like what a real night time soap should look like. This has all those layers and sup-plots going on here and if I am to be honest this feels like home to me. With Cheryl here where's Sabrina and Kevin's husband? ​     This really is perfectly done.

[drsallygrissom]

Why We Love ars PARADOXICA

Back in 2016, the fandom made a list of 43 reasons why we love ars PARADOXICA in honor of the 73rd anniversary of Dr. Sally Grissom’s first audio diary on October 29, 1943. When I learned that the podcast was going to end after its third season, I decided to pull together another list that was double the length of the first. 

However, the fandom was so passionate that we blew past our goal, and reached triple the length of the original list!

Without further ado, here are the 129 of the reasons why we love ars PARADOXICA:

Helen Partridge, my beautiful, beautiful wife

I just love Kristen’s laugh and it never fails to make me smile.

Mischa’s outros! “Brought to you by the internet:” 

The TimeSwimmers episode. That whole thing was a masterpiece

Sally and Nikhil's friendship

Petra, my sassy troubled daughter

The effort that went into making such a truly unique and ambitious take on time travel-based fiction

Sally, my favorite disaster ace

All of the characters are just so beautifully flawed in their own ways and are so well depicted it’s hard to pick a favorite

Every episode makes me feel SO MANY EMOTIONS

The sound effects are just so well done that I feel like I’m right there with the characters

The subtle yet mind blowing foreshadowing

The way it endlessly inspires me to create fan content

The decryption team, who I don't understand yet love to watch unravel codes

The ability to make us both love and hate a character at the same time as much as we do Esther Roberts.

Jack Wyatt

The sass, and in general wonderful interactions with the fan base on social media.

The schoolyard brawl!

Very obviously not being afraid to have fun with ads/sponsored content.

Actually making me want to listen to the version with ads even though I'm a patron

Buttsticks…

Plasticity

The outro music is simple but so, so good

Lemon drops and Limestone

My curiosity about what Esther wrote in the letter

Golden boi and his devils lettuce

With three episodes left it felt like there was so much story left to be told and such little time to tell it

The generosity to keep us entertained between seasons

The subtle symbolism of Esther's mind being represented with card games

The heart-wrenching ups and downs of Esther and Bridget's relationship

Esther and Sally’s lesbian/aroace solidarity

Bridget, my mom

Sally's #relatable ace anxieties and Nikhil's comforting response

The super cool theme song by Mischa "i do not play piano" Stanton which they apparently HEARD IN A DREAM?!

The found footage pieces between scenes

The amount of detail put into it, and being able to notice new things on each relisten

Easter eggs like QDAM

Seemingly infinite pop culture references

The commitment to posting a transcript for each episode

The GOLDEN BOY smokes the devil’s lettuce?!

The Super LUminal Recursive Processor

All of the machine code names really

Mischa’s wonderful sound design that makes me feel like I’m actually in the location the episode takes place at and made me realize how wonderful podcasts could truly be.

Sally Grissom. The wonderful disaster ace and the first ace rep I ever found.

The sound design of the show, especially the tapes adding to world building, all those clunky sounds.

Sally Grissom, ‘I wonder what would happen if I...’, Mad scientist.

This show has the most complex, humanistic portrayal of aromanticism I’ve ever experienced

I appreciate the aP creators’ dedication to nuanced portrayal of and discussion about violence

All of Curses, of fucking course

Keeping the humanity of people who do bad thing while not trying to justify them

Their commitment to “all killer, no filler”

Reminding me that science is cool, dammit!

Petra is a lovely and nuanced, complex character that I adore with my whole heart and soul.

[BLUE BLUE 09 13 18 15 26 08 04 12 20 24 05 18 14 09 17 04 05 12 01 05 The weather in Tulsa today is: Drought. At the tone, the time will be: 5400 hours]

The creators are so so fantastic and fun! I love that they interact with fans.

Sally is the disaster stoner physicist we all need in our lives. also she’s relatable as hell

The show is not afraid to tackle issues like race, gender, or sexuality and it doesn’t overstep its bounds.

The codes are so fun (even if I don’t understand all of them)!

I love how excited scientists get when they’ve discovered something-it feels like real scientists I know

How Bridget criticizes Sally for making puns under pressure even though she does exactly the same thing

The way characters interact with one another, and grow, and learn, and develop is so fascinating and beautiful.

Plasticity might have been the first podcast episode to make me cry.

I love Sally “I only know anecdotal biology and chemistry” Grissom and how her science knowledge actually makes sense??

As a huge huge physics nerd and aspiring computer scientist, I love love love the way Sally talks about science! It’s like Kristen DiMercurio is narrating my inner monologue!

The thrill of trying to keep up with the diverging timelines

☭S̶͜͞ ̀͜҉̀͢Í͠ ̸̸͟҉X̵͘͢ ̢T̷̶͞ ̢̨͟Y̧̛͘ ̨͟͢ ̴̨͜҉S̷̶͢ ̴͝Í͢͟ ҉̢̛͝X̕͝͝☭

The consideration and dedication shown in not only writing an aro-spec ace character, but addressing issues and worries often faced by people in that community.

The mind-boggling task of trying to piece together everything that’s happening when for all we know every scene could be from a different, rewritten version of the timeline.

Anthony Partridge, the most melodramatic math nerd to ever play Tetris in a bubble outside of time.

The optimism of the show and ultimate faith it shows in both science and humanity, despite all the characters’ failings.

Sally giggling over meeting her future self both times that it happens

Sally’s book (and her attempts at pronouncing NaNoWriMo).

Maggie Elbourne, because as much as I love all my the more morally ambiguous scientists it’s nice to see one who actually stood up to ODAR’s shenanigans almost as soon as she figured out what was up.

Everything about the road trip.

TimeSwimmers was already mentioned but specifically TIME DOLPHIN RYAN LOCHTE

Characters that grow and change and learn

The 77s getting name dropped in Plasticity, way before we knew who they were

Sally calling out the English language for being problematic (“oh, you mean like morally upstanding?”)

“The weather in Tulsa today is: uhh I dunno”.

It has been quite possibly the most human exploration of time travel I’ve ever seen/heard.

Reaching a happy ending I couldn't even imagine

The weather in Tulsa is: sppoookyyy

The ever changing ways the codes were presented in season 3. Giving the feeling that the anchorites were both on the run and broadcasting these messages from different points in time.

Sally’s ace representation is the best I’ve ever seen and it makes me feel so #valid.

The sound design and detail in the writing make me feel like I’m truly immersed in the story, and it feels so authentic. Are you sure you don’t secretly have a timepiece?

The characters are people I CARE about and wanted to cry over during work all the time because they’re all wonderful and I love them.

The integration of the different storylines into Sally’s, especially Petra’s, is amazing.

Petra’s characterization was really well done, and it made me really care about her, even as she was trying to more or less destroy the world.

Out-of-date pop culture references that fit seamlessly into the dialogue despite being from literally a different time period and most of the characters having no idea what it meant. They just added an extra level of hilarious.

You may not actually know a single thing about tachyon fields and gluon walls (are they even real?) but you could definitely convince me that you know exactly what you’re talking about (or at least that Sally Grissom does).

The enDING WAS JUST REALLY WELL DONE AND I LOVE A GOOD CIRCULAR ENDING AND IT MADE ME GENUINELY GO TO THE BATHROOM DURING WORK TO CRY BECAUSE IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

The fact that the whole show is wrapped up by the revelation that the entire show is actually Nikhil and Mateo curling up with board games and snacks trying to form a story out of these tapes, patching together timelines to make it all cohesive, it just feels very right.

This story fits the medium so well, and so the fact that we don’t learn that Whickman has an EYEPATCH is absolutely wild but also wonderful because as soon as I heard that I knew that that was how it belonged, like of course he has an eyepatch, that’s a very Chet thing to have.

The ending was so perfectly, painfully beautiful. It was the ending we needed but never would have imagined.

Petra’s and Sally’s relationship being so complex and real.

Nikhil and Mateo using the archive to create the framing device for the whole podcast.

The sound the timepiece makes.

The final destruction of the timepiece.

Putting time travel in a Cold War setting makes perfect sense, and they go together like peanut butter and chocolate.

Did anyone mention Helen Partridge as a character? How beautifully she was set up and the fact that she pursued her own her life, and also, how BEAUTIFULLY Susanna Kavee can sing? Because damn.

I just. Really love this show. And everyone involved. So much.

The child characters were really well done-both the actors and the writing felt real.

To me, the show feels a bit like one of those camp friendship bracelets everyone used to make, with all these colors and threads--all of the timelines, woven together, messy but beautiful.

TEETRIS

Grissom’s Gizmo Gals!

Mateo’s non-stop flirting, even in the worst of situations

Sally “It’s Dr Grissom”ed HERSELF.

The way both the story and the characters reflect a complex view on the world with people making horrible decisions and horrible things happening to them, and yet always maintaining a positive outlook, offering the possibility of change and improvement.

The top-notch voice acting from everyone involved, helping to create the wonderful characters we all love.

Sally finger-gunning her way out of a conversation with a pun about a friend almost killing her.

All the minisodes!!

Any time Bridget, Nikhil or Lou acts like they want to adopt Petra

The series ending with two characters who had been at odds coming together

The characterization of the different Petras, because they all seem like different people even though  in fact they are not (and Sylvia deciding she doesn't want to follow the legacy of Petras)

How Kristen can play 2 of the same character and make them sound different (how does she do that???)

Anthony’s will to save everyone, sacrificing himself, when the world didn't do anything good for him…

... and the constant struggle to save his friends (like when he was literally the only one aware of the Anchorites and the way their plan could have ended)

The way the show can go from time travel shenanigans to heartfelt character moments is a real testament to the talent of the writing team.

The Vegas episode, which I listened to after the finale and cried, because they were so happy and naive and everything wasn’t messy and bad and complicated.

The way gun violence is handled by the creators with respect and care

The way PTSD and mental health is handled (through Sally) is beautiful and respectful.

Partridge being named after a bird and living out his life in a cage. YOU GUYS ARE MEAN

Susanna Kavee’s absolutely amazing singing and Tau Zaman’s lyrics are an absolutely combination.

The ceaseless, unwavering commitment to puns

I love how important their friendships are to the characters (well, most of them anyways).

Sally’s conversation with Nikhil in season 3 reflects a lot of common anxieties of aromantic people, and his understanding responses

The entirety of the trial episode, which just really sort of showed the full extent of how terrible the Red Scare was by putting Esther, a Jewish woman, through it, and just shows you how defamed people in that time were.

In so many of the fictional and non-fictional representations of history, marginalized people have diminished, distorted, and stereotypical roles-but not in ars PARADOXICA. Thank you for making so many people feel seen.

All the amazing writers who started it all. 💜

Here are the signatures of some of the fans who contributed: 

Signatures

Lindsay (ioniluna/drsallygrissom)

Khanan Abayev

SJ (your friendly neighborhood slauthor)

Dave (mondas-mania)

Noah (kindadisappointed)

Sana (i-am-delta-s)

Tina (espressonist)

Meaghan (lafgl)

Katherine (Rubywolfsbane)

Artimis (jp-blindperson/ap-blindperson)

Luke (martianboyy)

Ellie (joan-and-jane-and-esther-roberts/shewrites)

Bridge (cornerandchair)

Lem (aceparadoxica)

Esme (starsparadoxica)

Glory (mercutiglo)

Carly (guardianbob)

Emese (mse)

Ben (Q)

Special thanks to the ars PARADOXICA discord for being so helpful! From the time it was just a dozen people with a spork in a shoebox, this community was a shining star that helped me through tough times. Thank you for your silliness, cleverness, and support.

Brought to you by the internet: It’s weird! It’s fun! It loves you very, very much!

[goodbye-susan]

Infinity War.

Saw it twice when it premiered yesterday. Spoilers below cut.

The silent Marvel logo with the Asgardian distress signals fading in really set the mood from the first second.

Loki felt like a prime target for a death because they needed to cull off excess characters for some breathing space in the film, and he was ‘expendable’. Plus Thanos had a decent reason to kill him. So I’ve almost been preparing for this moment these past few months. IT STILL HURT SO MUCH THOUGH HOLY FUCK. Surprisingly, I took his death better than I expected. Although for the next 30 minutes I was still reeling and it almost didn’t feel real. ‘Loki is gone, Loki is gone...my god it actually happened...Loki, no’. I think I’ll begin to feel it after I watch that scene some more times. Fuck. I miss him so much. I wanted the Avengers to see the person he’s changed into.

BUT FUCKING THANK YOU HE WENT OUT A HERO. Christ, Tom’s acting was so good in this scene. Chris’s too. When Loki is trying so hard to resist handing over the space stone but you just see his cool demeanour finally crumble to pieces when Thanos nearly kills Thor.

‘We have the Hulk!’ YES! And then his leap forward to Thor pushing him out from harm’s way.

Just...Loki. I love you. You were brilliant. I miss you. I miss you so much.

Tony discussing kids with Pepper, ah isn’t it nice to consider the lovely future family plans right before the end of the universe arrives.

EVERY. INTERACTION. WITH STEPHEN AND TONY. I love how their relationship kicks off. They don’t like each other. But by the end Stephen gave up the time stone to save Tony and everyone, augh.

The way they staged the arrival of the space ship. God the panic and chaos happening in the streets. The Russos are so good at making me feel stressed.

WIZARDS. ‘Dude, you’re embarrassing me in front of the wizards.’

Ebony Maw was such a stone cold badass, I love his character and they had a great actor fitted for him.

That soft kiss Vision gives Wanda on her hand OH MY GOD.

THE FIRST SHOW OF STEVE WAS AMAZING. SAM. NATASHA. AUGH. That fight was spectacularly choreographed.

Mantis doing her ‘mean’ face in the background.

Peter making his voice deeper to mimic Thor was fucking hilarious god I love Chris Pratt.

All of Rocket’s lines were comedy gold as usual. Bradley Cooper is so damn good at this role. Rocket continues to be my favourite guardian.

When Thor mentions the soul stone and the camera lingers on Gamora for a bit longer OOOOOOOOOOOH MY GOOOOOD SHE KNOWS.

Rocket pretending to be the ship’s captain lmfao.

Whoever they had playing young Gamora during the flashback scene on her home planet that Thanos invaded DAMN she was a great child actor.

Holy shit Chris’s expressions as Peter trying to stop Drax from moving forward on his revenge crusade at Knowhere I was dead this guy cracks me up!

Gamora breaking down in tears after she kills illusion-Thanos SHEEEEEEEEET this acting from Zoe was incredible.

‘You promised!’

‘I told you to go right...’

Fuckkkk watching Gamora break after Thanos tortures Nebula was emotional. How many times do I need to watch siblings get used to manipulate each other. It was enough watching Loki breaking to save Thor.

Also at this moment I’d like to say they got Thanos god damn PERFECT in this movie. Visually, he was done just right. His motivation had a legitimate argument for being valid and you can kind of understand why Thanos began his crusade (further reinforced with his talk to Stephen Strange later). And Josh Brolin fucking kills this role, he has the character under his belt. Bravo indeed.

Rocket’s heart to heart with Thor (this is why I love Rocket, he’s an asshole that cares deep down). And holy hell Chris’s acting in this scene, with the tears welling in his eyes because the death of all his friends and Loki is hurting him, but not breaking because Thor knows he needs to stay strong to get through the coming battle. Fucking heck.

RED SKULL!!!! OH MY GOD. I knew he’d show up again at some point because it looks like the stone opened a portal into space after he held it in First Avenger. But damn, his reveal had me shook. Nice inclusion there, and it felt like we really were tying this all up and acknowledging how this Infinity Gauntlet storyline began.

THANOS SACRFICING GAMORA OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOD. This part was done so beautifully with Gamora’s muted shouting, Thanos shedding tears but staring straight ahead to focus on his end goal, the slow motion, the stunning back-drop of Vormir, Silvestri’s score. It was cinematic history for me. Left me emotionally scarred because I thought all the guardians would be safe.

‘I’ll do YOU one better. Why Gamora?’ Drax don’t ever change.

‘Please don’t put your eggs in me!’ The comedy in this movie is just consistently well-timed and good.

Another meeting I was looking forward to, Peter Quill and Tony and MAN their banter was great. Just...the earth heroes reacting to the guardians in general. Ah man.

‘We kick names and take ass’ damn straight girl.

Peter Parker saying Footloose isn’t a good movie in front of Peter Quill oof.

I just loved the dialogue between Stephen and Thanos. Maybe it’s my Benedict Cumberbatch bias but I thought him sitting around waiting for Thanos’s arrival was lovely. And then Thanos using the reality stone to show him what Titan used to be.

And on that note Benedict is damn amazing as Doctor Strange in this movie, even better than before. God I love him.

The entire fight against Thanos with the Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Star-lord, Drax and Mantis was fantastic. Again, perfect staging and choreography. All the abilities of the team were utilised to work together. It was awesome.

Visually, Nidavellir was brilliant. That single shot from the trailer didn’t do it justice and they really saved all the good parts for the film itself. The music Alan Silvestri created for all these scenes at the forge was wonderful. God damn, Thor pushing off to the centre of the forge to hold the shield open and opening the dying star...watching him collapse and nearly die. Rocket flying the vessel to try and catch Thor when he falls and shoots off in the drift from the star. Groot severing his arm to complete Stormbreaker so that it can revive Thor. It was all brilliant. One of my favourite parts in the whole film.

That final stand with the Avengers and the Wakandans against the Black Order and the alien hordes. It was all so fantastic but at the same time utterly heart-wrenching. Like with every other battle scene, the fights were perfectly choreographed.

I love how the cuts between each of the main settings seem to get shorter now that the climax is happening. My heart was racing so fast.

Shuri holding her nerve and focusing entirely on unlocking Vision’s mind stone right until the very last second, despite one of the Black Order killing the guards behind her, FUCK she is is amazing.

Thor using the maul to transport himself, Rocket and Groot to the Avengers in Wakanda right when the battle was looking bad. I WAS CHEERING! Oh my god I was waiting for the moment the Avengers would meet a sentient tree and a talking, gun-slinging raccoon and it was INCREDIBLE. The music was amazing everything was amazing.

WHEN BUCKY PICKS UP ROCKET AND SPINS AROUND WITH HIM TO GET MORE HITS ON THE ALIEN HORDE IT WAS THE BEST MOMENT EVER!

Rocket asking Bucky afterwards how much it would cost for his robot arm and Bucky saying it’s not for sale THAAAAAANK YOOOOOOOOOU for this exchange.

When Peter discovers that Thanos has killed Gamora. Auh god. And Tony saw it coming, the strain in his voice and trying so hard to calm Peter down. It was a catastrophe in slow motion.

WHEN HE YEETS THE MOON GOD DAMN IT WAS EPIC.

Doctor Strange when he went one-on-one with Thanos for a moment here in the battle was amazing, I loved it.

Honestly it’s so incredible how not only do they display all the heroes in each battle scene of Infinity War using their signature moves and working as a team, but they also have Thanos utilising the full array of powers given by the infinity stones. You see Thanos altering the space around him and creating portals with the space stone, sending out streams of raw energy with the power stone, and changing the shape of reality with the reality stone. Then later uses the time stone to reform the mind stone. Each stone he uses illuminates when he makes a fist. It’s good detail.

Thanos vs Tony. Fucking hell I loved every single frame. My heart went ballistic when Thanos stabbed Tony in his side and Tony stumbles over and Thanos just is there standing over him, it was so fucking tense here.

‘Wanda, it’s time.’ what the fuck are these emotions.

ELIZABETH OLSEN’S LIP QUIVERING OH MY CHRIST.

‘It shouldn’t be you, but it is.’ AND VISION GUIDING HER HAND INTO PLACE

Stephen relenting and giving the time stone to Thanos to save Tony augh fuck I was emotional.

‘I hope they remember you.’

The entire slow motion sequence of Thanos striding forward to Vision with each ally falling past him when he used the gauntlet.

Wanda killing Vision and then that line delivered by Thanos...something like ‘it is not the time’ or something. It was clear what he was about to do and I got chills.

Thanos reversing time to bring Vision back and get the reformed mind stone, and then killing him AGAIN in front of Wanda. FOR FUCK’S SAKE.

Thor flying over to kill Thanos with Stormbreaker was damn epic and for a couple seconds it felt so satisfying that Thor got some sort of revenge for Loki’s death.

‘You should have gone for the head’ and the snap of his fingers. Fade to white. Utterly perfect.

‘Steve...’

T’Challa dying in front of Okoye FUCK NO.

GROOT DYING WITH ROCKET WATCHING AND UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING AGAIN HOW MANY GOD DAMN TIMES...

ALL THESE CHARACTERS DYING AND TURNING TO DUST WHAT THE FUCK NO STOP

‘Mr Stark? I don’t feel so good...’ and then Tony just incapable of believing Peter is about to die in his arms, ‘You’re okay, it’s fine...’. Marvel I need therapy and fuck you.

Tony just with his blankness and dusting his hands after Peter dies slowly processing what happened and then crouching over and crying silently. I can’t even handle.

That last shot of the surviving Avengers and Rocket at Wakanda, Steve kneeling where Bucky collapsed and died. Everyone just looking so distraught and helpless. Then Steve’s ‘Oh god...’

I loved the last scene with Thanos emerging from the hut on that idyllic planet to watch the sun rise, just how it happens in the comics. Poetic.

The minimalist end credits with the emotional score by Silvestri. It was suited nicely considering all the emotions that had just been raging through me. Needed a breather after the last two hours.

The post-credits scene was great and I’m so glad they included Fury and Maria in this.

Thanks for the Samuel L Jackson ‘motherfucker’ gag. Wasn’t over-the-top comedy but was just enough to break the ice and kick my head back into functioning properly so that I could walk out of the theatre. Pretty cool Captain Marvel teaser too.

I’ve seen people say Stephen gave up the mind stone to save Tony because the one outcome he saw in the future depended on Tony being alive. This would also explain why in some set photos that have been shared you see Robert in a S.H.I.E.L.D outfit and it’s clear based on the costumes others wear that he’s travelled back in time to the battle of New York. So I can’t wait to see how things turn out.

Probably my favourite movie of all time and I can’t wait for the second part next year.

[myreviewcorner]

Before I Fall is a fictional drama that sends a very important message regarding bullying, self-expression, and influence. The plot of the movie is easily revealed in the trailers, but as the movie progresses, the plot begins to open up more holes piecing together the overall message of the movie. In Before I Fall, based on Lauren Oliver's novel, Sam (Zoey Deutch) wakes up on a teenage high school day on what they called "Cupid's day”. She lives her day normally with her friends who are planning their night. She later gets into a car accident after a party that went sour causing the exact same day to restart setting up the film’s storyline.

The movie has a very specific target, as it first starts it was hard for me to keep up because it just seemed like another high school movie. I had hope and continued watching, and thankfully it did not fail me. The movie raises very important points that you would notice if you are intrigued enough to stay focused, otherwise the movie just seems confusing.

For the premise of the movie, Sam and her friends are presented as a loathsome group of people which was significant in order to see Sam's character development. Zoey Deutch managed to portray Sam in a way that was realistic, which is important in these types of movies because they are usually very dramatic and far-fetched. Overall the cast was able to generally make the movie believable in a way where you could feel with them, but it was obvious that Zoey was the center of attention. She was simply phenomenal. A pleasant surprise was Kian Lawley, it's nice to see a youtuber leap from the web screen to the big screen. He did not fail to impress, he was great at playing an asshole!

As the movie goes on, the message becomes clear. The movies makes it a point to not make the theme clear as day, which is very appreciated because it gives the viewer and opportunity to think about what the movie is trying to get across. Sam begins to realize her surroundings, and how her influence could change her friends. At first she joins her friends in bullying a character named Juliet Sykes, but later realizes it's wrong, as well as stops them because she notices that standing by her friends bullying does not exempt her from harming Juliet. The story then loosely wraps around Juliet creating a unique experience between her and Sam. Sam’s friends did have their negative qualities, but for some reason Sam never concretely stands up to them. She merely begins to change the way she acts creating an effect that would also change her friends.  Sam learns a lesson about selflessness, being kind, and how ones influence can heavily impact their surroundings. What she learns seems to be reversed towards the end, making it seem as if it is a lesson for others (wont spoil it for you).

The movie goes on accompanied by a weird soundtrack that made the scenes less enjoyable at times but somehow fit. With it goes the luxurious rich society, big houses, and stylish costumes. There seemed to be some scenes that were voice over recorded and it did not fit at all, it seemed sloppily done. The filming was quite good because it was smooth and followed the characters perfectly along with some very dark scenes that were simply beautiful. Not to forget the permanent mist present throughout the movie. Somehow with the pros on cons the movie created a tone for the audience that was the perfect medium of light and dark. Overall, Before I Fall raises critical ethical points, using believable and talented actors, beautifully dark scenes, and an intriguing storyline. I definitely recommend it, but keep in mind that you need to give it a chance to get interesting. Grade: B-

[archerton84-blog]

BoJack Horseman season 5 spoiler-free review

“I tell you buddy, this is going to be an exceptional season of television…���

Over the span of five seasons, BoJack Horseman has proven itself to be many things. It is of course an animated series about a self-absorbed horse actor’s struggles through life’s many hurdles, but BoJack Horseman is also a friend. BoJack Horseman is an enemy. BoJack Horseman is a therapist, and it is escapism. It is a mirror. But BoJack Horseman is also just a television show, which is why it is so impressive when it so perfectly captures the human condition. It can also make its audience laugh and cry and want to be better. BoJack Horseman is art and its newest season continues to evolve the show and its characters in exciting and challenging ways.

BoJack Horseman season five begins with dialogue that feels like it could be said by BoJack at any point in the series. "Nothing's lonelier than a party,” he muses. “Good thing I don't need anyone, or I might feel lonesome." For a moment it looks like BoJack has made the ultimate emotional backslide after much of the progress that happened back in season four. But then it becomes abundantly clear that this isn’t BoJack, merely his latest role, who just happens to share disturbing parallels to the actor. BoJack is forced to re-live past traumas through episodes of his new show, “Philbert.” John Philbert’s house even inexplicably looks identical to BoJack’s, as if its purpose is to intentionally get BoJack lost between real life and fiction.

This reflexive, self-referential direction for the character isn't exactly new territory for the show. But the way in which BoJack's new alter ego, Philbert, cuts so deeply into who he is and what he's done—especially after all the soul searching and mistakes BoJack has made—feels particularly poignant this time. It’s a clever device for BoJack to confront his past. This is the ultimate way for BoJack to finally come to terms with who he is and it’s all too fitting for this series that BoJack requires a fictional character to reach this degree of honesty and intimacy with himself.

“Philbert,” BoJack’s new gig, is a gritty detective drama, but it’s a huge satire on “troubled men” shows as well. The series also broaches the important idea of how shows like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, or Ray Donovan can make audiences feel less guilty about their own poor actions and how dangerous this is. The icing on the cake is that this conversation also applies to BoJack Horseman itself as the show wades through continually shaky territory with its own flawed protagonist. No other show knows how to get meta and poke fun at Hollywood and the television and film industries like BoJack Horseman.

BoJack Horseman season five explores the intricacies and dangers of relationships, whether they’re romantic, professional, or just of a friendly, platonic nature. Furthermore, while this has very much been a series that wears its cynicism on its sleeve, this season reinforces the importance of following your dreams and not giving up. However make no mistake, this is still a show where an entire cold open can be dominated by someone sobbing or characters will use trusted secrets as emotional blackmail against each other.

This has never been a series that’s afraid to dig deep and show people at their worst or most raw, and this year is no different. However, with so many characters now in reactionary places, this season deals with much more vulnerable versions of these people. BoJack Horseman gets a lot of credit for how brilliantly it eschews the entertainment industry, but it also conveys and understands heartbreak, pain, and the dangers of addiction as genuinely as any of the all-time great dramas out there.

In what can often be a BoJack-heavy series, this season isn’t afraid to share the focus and take some of the spotlight off of its titular character. There are several episodes which dig into the problems of other characters, allowing the season to cover a broader perspective than purely what plagues BoJack. In fact, a lot of this season looks back to the painful childhoods of its characters to examine how their destructive trajectories began and perhaps how to break the cycle. This has been par for the course with BoJack, but this season extends this courtesy to the rest of its characters. It’s necessary for everyone to look back and examine their roots as they head into the next stages of their lives. Everyone is lost in some old version of who they are.

On that note, the majority of BoJack Horseman’s cast finds themselves in flux this season. BoJack really tries to think about others more than himself, but as altruistic as his actions are, they still seem to hurt people. BoJack is still selfish in many of the ways he’s always been, but this points to this older version of the character getting ready to settle down to some form of normalcy. BoJack did whole lot of living and five seasons in, it feels appropriate his character would be in this calmer, more reflective place.

Diane struggles with her existence as a divorcee and how her life functions without Mr. Peanut Butter and if can find a casual balance with him still in it. Diane has often been positioned as a mirror to BoJack’s character, even if they find themselves increasingly further away from each other. Diane’s story really rises to the forefront of this season and she feels more like BoJack Horseman’s second lead than she has in years.

Alternatively, much of Princess Carolyn’s material is consumed with her adoption efforts and fluctuating feelings on the matter. She still wants to further her life and spread her love, and the series doesn’t shy away from the complexities. This year really digs into the character’s constant workaholic tendencies and the difficulty of seeing if a family can fit into that lifestyle.

Some of the season’s best work comes from what it does with Todd. He continues to navigate life as an asexual, but begins to enter more areas of responsibility and growth, albeit in very Todd ways. It’s nice to see him get fleshed out into less of a caricature. In spite of Todd tackling more adult tasks this season, his storylines are in no danger of losing any of their absurd nature and they still fall together in a chaotic, happenstance way. One particularly ridiculous situation places Todd in a cartoonish sexual comedy of errors that wouldn’t be out of place in a Frasier episode, but it uses this absurd veneer to say something deeper on asexuality.

BoJack Horseman season five embraces important discussions on relevant social topics like sexual harassment and the male gaze. It’s not as if this hasn’t been previously critiqued by the show, but it really attempts to have a conversation about it now, and for good reason. There’s an entire episode on celebrity apology tours and their precarious reputation with the cyclical PR machine. It exposes the dangerous nature of overanalysing and creating stories where there are none. The show handles the topic as adeptly as anything else that it’s put in its crosshairs. It manages to say some very insightful things about responsibility while still operating with a precise, razor sharp wit. What makes this even more powerful is that it holds this paradigm up to BoJack himself and attempts to answer if he can probably atone for all of his mistakes.

BoJack Horseman also has a remarkable knack for presenting its season in a non-linear order that beautifully reframes events and characters in new and inventive ways. The series truly understands how to tell a story and the most powerful way to present its information to the audience. Another episode seamlessly splits its storyline into four variations on the same idea in order to show how much these characters have evolved and changed (or haven’t) over the course of twenty-five years. BoJack Horseman naturalises inventive story structures like this that would otherwise be daunting in a less seasoned series.

One remarkable episode is basically a darkly comic one-man show from Will Arnett where he delivers a staggering monologue about grief for the entire instalment. It’s an astonishing display of stream of consciousness and how humans process bad news. It’s one of the best performances of Arnett’s career and both his work and the script deserve Emmys. It’s perhaps the most moving, emotional thing the show has ever done and it’s episodes like this that are so purely, thoroughly BoJack Horseman.  As good or intelligent as other shows may be, this is the only show that pulls off risks like this.

BoJack Horseman season five does not disappoint and moves its show and characters forward in a way that most shows aren’t willing to explore. Some of the best work from the entire series is in this season and there are episodes as powerful as last season’s dementia entry or the silent underwater installment. Furthermore, this season contains no lull or period that drags in the middle, which is honestly a rarity with Netflix shows. This remains one of the few series that has more than enough content to fill their entire season.

Even though BoJack Horseman is as fresh as ever, it feels like the character is finally taking the steps that are necessary to give him some peace. The end of the season perfectly crystalizes not only the themes of this year, but also the larger lessons of the series as a whole, with startling clarity. It’s one of the strongest conclusions the show has done and it really sets things up for a powerful sixth season, which could very well be the end for the show. Season 5 proves it has plenty of life left, but much like one of Mr. Peanut Butter’s wives, it’ll surely want to leave the party early before it’s worn out its welcome.

Oh, and Diane gets a boss new haircut this season. Seriously.

BoJack Horseman season five arrives on Netflix on Friday the 14th of September.

Source: http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/bojack-horseman/60298/bojack-horseman-season-5-spoiler-free-review

[fusionfitter-blog]

Must See Tv Shows On Netflix

Best TV Shows on Netflix Right Now Scattered one of the better TV shows on Netflix are more and more of the streaming platform’s own unique sequence. Watching Television on Netflix has gotten better and better as the support continues to add to its amazing catalog of network and cable collection, not to mention the proliferation of flashy Netflix originals. In truth, the organization that invested its formative years in order to to see movies has since become to the world’s major enabler of binge-watching. Our listing of the finest TV shows on Netflix is here to assist you find the next Television series to devour, and we’ve appeared through the enormous catalog (USA only, sorry) to find these recommendations.

Master of None

Creators: Aziz Ansari Stars: Aziz Ansari Eric Wareheim Kelvin Yu Bobby Cannavale Premiered: 2015 The extended-awaited second time of Aziz Ansari’s masterful Master of N-One begins by having an homage to Bi Cycle Burglars and ends having a nod to The Graduate. In between are beautifully nuanced episodes as Ansari’s Dev Shah tries to navigate his love life and his job. Even when the display goes the conventional sitcom route—the will-they-or-won’t-they romance of Dev as well as the engaged Francesca (Alessandra Mastronardi)—the dialogue and interactions are decidedly not conventional. They talk like real folks perhaps not ones produced in a writer’s room. “New York, I Adore You,”which stepped from the primary characters to showcase the lively diversity of the town and “Thanksgiving,”which chronicled Dev’s childhood friend Denise (Lena Waithe) being released to her family, are easily the time high lights. The display is fun to observe, emotionally satisfying and thought provoking. Unlike any such thing else on television, Learn of N One is not only one of the better shows of Netflix, but perhaps one of the most of the most important in a long, lengthy time.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Creator: Rob McElhenney Stars: Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson Network: FX The idea behind Sunny is simple yet brilliant—bring together the most narcissistic and cruel figures imaginable and let them wreak havoc on the planet. Dennis, Dee, Mac, Charlie, and Frank all run Patty’s Pub together, though that endeavor never seems to keep them occupied for lengthy. The group hatches one scheme after another, to entertain themselves. “The D.E.N.N.I.S. System,” for example, is Dennis’ foolproof method for manipulating women’s emotions so that they’ll love him. To provide you with an idea of the way that it operates, the strategic acronym starts with “Demonstrate value”and ends with “Separate entirely.”

Judging Amy

Lost

Creators: J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber, Damon Lindelof Stars: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Naveen Andrews, Michael Emerson, Terry O’Quinn, Josh Holloway, Jorge Garcia, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim Network: ABC When J.J. Abrams first marooned his plane-crash survivors on a remote island, no one realized the show’s name was a double entendre: It took crowd-sourced blogs to make feeling of all the hidden clues, relevant connections, time shifts and intertwined storylines, and every season has provided u-s significantly more questions than answers. But there’s some thing refreshing in regards to a Network-tv show that trusts the mental rigor of its audience in the place of dumbing every-thing down to the lowest common denominator. Sometimes it’s great to be a little misplaced.

Cheers

Creator: James Burrows, Glen Charles, Les Charles Stars: Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Kirstie Alley, Rhea Perlman, Nicholas Colasanto, John Ratzenberger, Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer, George Wendt Network: NBC It was mo-Re than a bar where everyone knows your title. It was a life-style. Cheers rarely left the confines of the bar, but was able to weave slapstick comedy, romance and drama into the 11 seasons it was to the air. It started as the worst-rated series (74 out of 74) but climbed its way to the best 10 during the third-season. Two casting modifications couldn’t even slow it down. The ensemble forged all won awards in performing, in addition to the present winning four Outstanding Comedy Sequence awards. Unlike many sitcoms that touch on social issues that were seri ous, the show never felt like an afterschool special. Everything was done with superior humor.

The West Wing

Creator: Aaron Sorkin Stars: Allison Janney, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Dulé Hill, NiCole Robinson, Melissa Fitzgerald, Rob Low E Stockard Channing Kris Murphy, Timothy Davis -Reed Network: NBC Television’s quintessential political drama started in the Clinton era, soldiered on through Bush and 9/11, and ended in the earliest times of the Age of Obama. Weirdly, the show’s political climate was more secure than actuality itself. And maybe that was its attractiveness. The West Wing showed us government maybe not as it was, but as it could be—a White House operate by quippy, tireless, big-hearted public servants who believed in governing with decency. President Josiah Bartlet would give any of his real life counterparts an operate for their money.

Mad Men

Creator: Matthew Weiner Stars: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, Bryan Batt, Michael Gladis Rich Sommer John Slattery Network: AMC Look, you don’t need us to tell you that Mad Males is is among the the one of the biggest TV dramas of all time; you've the complete Internet for that, and frankly, that’s time you may be spending watching more Mad Guys. But with his tale of 1960s (and eventually, early ‘70s) ad men and women and the American Dream, Matthew Weiner has done something really extraordinary: proven that there’s drama in everyday activity. Unlike almost every other TV drama, this one doesn’t offer with cops, doctors or lawyers; there aren't any mafia dons or drug lords going down in a hail of bullets. It’s just a bunch of folks functioning together in an office, attempting to push forward and navigate perhaps one of the most of the most compelling decades in American background. Sure, it’s glamorous and brilliantly written, as well as the fact that Elisabeth Moss never won an Emmy for this is legal, but ultimately, it’s oddly relatable, and that’s what fantastic Television is supposed to do—show us ourselves.

Stranger Things

Creators: The Duffer Brothers Stars: Winona Ryder, David Harbour Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono Network: Netflix The only query viewers tend to inquire about concerning the standard of Netflix’s Stranger Issues isn’t “Is this a fantastically entertaining show?”but “Does it matter the show is s O homage-large?”Our take: No. Since springing into the cultural consciousness instantly with its to produce month ago, Stranger Points has been hailed as a revival of old-school sci-fi, horror and ‘80s nostalgia that's far mo Re successful and immediately gripping than most other examples of its ilk. The influences are far too deeply ingrained to independently checklist, although imagery evoking Amblin-era Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper films drips from not quite every body. Using a stellar forged of child actors and lots of different characters whose hidden strategies we desperately want to see explored, Stranger Issues hits every notice essential to motivate a weekend- Netflix binge. As queries now swirl about the course of Time Two, following the first season’s explosive summary, we’re all hoping that the sam-e team of characters will be able to re-conjure the chilling, heart-pumping magic of a perfectly constructed eight-episode sequence. Please, TV gods: Don’t permit Stranger Points go all Correct Detective on-US.

Orange is the New Black

Creator: Jenji Kohan Stars: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Michael J. Jason Biggs, Harney, Michelle Hurst, Kate Mulgrew Network: Netflix Orange is the New Black is perfectly suited for the Netflix shipping method, if only since it could have been agonizing to wait a week for a new episode. But there’s more; the construct felt cinematic and compared to your average display, and I couldn’t help but feel that the all-at once re-lease plane freed the creators to make some thing less episodic and more free-flowing. Taylor Schilling stars as Piper Chapman, a lady living a content modern life when her past rears up abruptly to tackle her from behind; ten years earlier, she was briefly a drug mule for her lover Alex Vause (the superb Laura Prepon), and when Vause needed to plea her sentence down, she threw in the towel Piper. The tale is centered on the real life activities of Piper Kerman, whose book of the same title was the inspiration, but but you the screen model is miles better. Schilling is the motor that drives the plot, and her odd mixture of natural serenity combined together with the growing rage and desperation in the late change her life has has brought strikes the perfect tone for life inside the women’s prison. Within the first few episodes, prison is handled like a nearly-quirky novelty she’ll need to experience for 15 months, as well as the wisest option director Jenji Kohan made (and there are many) was to heighten the stakes so that what begins as an off kilter journey soon assumes the severe proportions prison lifestyle demands. And as great as Prepon and Schilling are together, the cast is so universally outstanding that it beggars belief. You can find too several characters who make gold making use of their constrained screen time to mention individually, but suffice it to say that there’s enough comedy, pathos and tragedy here for several shows. The reality that they fit s O efficiently in to one makes OITNB a triumph that is defining .

The Civil War

Creators: Ken Burns, Ric Burns, Geoffrey C. Ward Stars:: Sam Waterston, Julie Harris, Jason Robards, Morgan Freeman, Garrison Keilor Studs Terkel Network: PBS First aired in the fall of 1990, Ken Burns’ pioneering docu-series attracted a now-unthinkable 40 million viewers on the span of five nights, and re-established the Civil War as the central hinge of American history. This alone is no mean feat; include the series’ profound aesthetic impact, in the pans and zooms that enliven its archival pictures (now called “the Ken Burns effect”) to the use of well-known actors to give voice to the era’s letters and diaries, and The Civil War emerges among the the most essential works of non-fiction ever to air on American television. One might dangereux its interpretation of activities, in certain Burns’ choice to paper over the sabotage of Radical Reconstruction and only the more optimistic narrative of re-unification, but the elegiac note on which it concludes never fails to bring tears to my eyes. “History isn't ‘was,’ it’s ‘is,’”the historian Barbara J. Fields remarks, as a piano taps out its lonesome rendition of “My Region, ‘Tis of Thee.”“The Civil War is, in the present as well as in the past.”

[fluffywhalelord-blog]

Movie Review I: MOANA (2016)

Photo: http://movies.disney.co.uk/moana

Greetings! Lord Whale here! This is the first post and review on this blog! I’m kind of nervous, never having done this before...however, I hope that my review is looked upon kindly by all who view it, and I hope you enjoy the read:)

Synopsis: An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she always sought: her own identity.

Content / Plot:

I, to be honest, didn’t really know what to expect from this movie at all. I had heard earlier that the movie was about an islander girl travelling with a demigod, and that was all I knew about the movie. And the fact that Moana’s voice actor really is an islander. Thus, I was coming into this movie completely unaware of it’s actual story line. I was pleasantly surprised to find the story much more engaging than I expected. The struggles that Moana faced seemed to me to be mixture of Ariel (The Little Mermaid) and Mulan (Mulan), leaving her comfort zone to be something greater than she can imagine. Her struggles are relatable and easy to understand. The flow of the story is good and they managed to lengthen the story with good character development on Moana’s part.

Maui serves as a good deuteragonist in the story, providing good humour and dialogue. I do admit his anger after the duos first taking on of Te Ka was a bit too much, becoming a tad bit annoying, but it does help stir more empathy for me as a viewer for Moana. His back story was a little cliche, but it does well to explain why Maui is the way he is.

The connection between Te Ka and Te Fiti can only be described as perfect. The parallel drawn between the two of them was beautiful and I personally feel that it adds much more meaning to the storyline. 

Grandma Tala is another beautiful character that was used to support Moana in all the right ways. Her death and reincarnation as a sturgeon ray was touching, heartwarming and tear-jerking. Yes, I did cry at all these scenes TT0TT.

(I’m not looking into a few other wonderful characters, such as The Ocean, the Mini Maui, HeiHei, but they were wonderful and played their parts really well.)

With a simple story line of a girl trying to save her village from doom with the help of a demigod, the content is simple yet endearing:)

Message:

The clear message was that of learning to find oneself, and to believe in oneself, as was demonstrated by our protagonist, deuteragonist and antagonist.

The fact that Moana needed to be taught how to way-find, how to sail, and most of all how to believe in herself was most inspirational. Nowadays, we have a lot of “Chosen One” stereotypes that just find themselves perfectly fitting into the role and Moana is nice change from that. It adds a nice touch of realism in this more fantastical world, because at the end of the day, many of us are still finding ourselves even in places where we know we belong. It shows clearly that while not talent-less, she is definitely not perfect or talented in the way she needs to be for her journey, which is similar to us in many ways.

I must admit that Maui’s part in this is somewhat cliche, but I feel there is no harm in throwing a little cliched elements into a story such as this. It helps to make the story easier to understand and prevents it from becoming to complicated for children, whom the movie was mainly supposed to target.

Te Ka and Te Fiti is easy to understand for adults and I feel that it merges well with the story line. While it definitely talks about finding oneself, one thing I feel it makes a great impact on is demonstrating that there is some darkness in everyone and taking away someone’s heart (love) from something, can truly bring chaos. As an added note, I love how Te Ka is a lava villain, because even in destruction her power still has roots to life, since volcanic soil is one of the most fertile:)

Graphics: 

The graphics were perfect. I loved the animation of the ocean, of Te Fiti and all the characters. I personally found no faults here that are particularly important. Truly Disney standard.

Acting / Voice Acting:

Wonderful. No complaints at all, everything was done beautifully and all the voice actors (VAs) were on point.

Songs:

Beautifully and wonderfully done. The soundtrack did a great job creating atmosphere for the film. Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson have wonderful voices and did their singing parts great. The constant reuse of songs was an excellent move to show Moana’s character development and the change in the village, as well as generating attachment to the songs. 

Final Verdict:

Content: 4/5

Message:4/5

Graphics:5/5

Voice Acting: 5/5

Songs: 5/5

Re-watch Value (based on above scores): 4/5

While the story was rather simplistic, it still was entertaining enough and had the depth needed to make a wonderful addition to the Disney Collection.

I must say, given that this is pretty much an original story by Disney, I applaud their effort to create a princess of their own, who stands on her own and who is her own.

Thank you for reading and see you in the next review!