#also gutsy they know how to play

[goingmerryfics]

Would they kill the spider for you? - Sanji, Law, Doflamingo, Shanks, Corazon

Content: spiders!! (no images!)

Sanji

Since he also hates bugs, this would be a struggle for him. Of course he wants to do it for you, but he gets the shivers when he sees bugs!

Usually when he finds a bug in the kitchen, he’ll ask Robin or Luffy to get it out of there, trying to play it off like he’s worried about it crawling into the food 

Robin knows what’s up, though

He would probably end up calling Zoro in and baiting him with insults into making him slice the spider in half. Like, “bet you can’t even slice that itty-bitty spider over there with those shitty swords of yours”

Zoro falls for it all the time, much to your and Sanji’s delight

Law

You would think so, right? Surely this guy isn’t afraid of a little bug. Right?

WRONG

Law’s eye twitches and he just watches the damn thing run around the wall

He finds bugs and especially spiders gross, even having to hold back a gag as he watches them scurry around with their little legs. UGH

He always tries to avoid bugs when he can, but the sub is a warm, damp place and sometimes they just manage to get in

He will use his Devil Fruit to get it out of the submarine, though. The poor spider will end up drowning and now you have to clean up wet seaweed off the floor, but that’s probably better than a spider, right?

Doflamingo

Fuck no!

Doflamingo isn’t scared of bugs one bit. But he’s a prissy little bitch, and he’d complain about having to touch anything that seemed ‘dirty’.

Absolutely makes someone else get rid of it for you, as he would for himself as well

He also pokes fun at you for even asking him to do that for you, even though he probably would order you to get rid of a bug for him if the situation arose

Doffy was the type to burn ants with a magnifying glass, the prick

He lives for destruction, so I can just see him kicking over the anthills every time, too

Probably crushed a butterfly once! Cora cried

Shanks

No, he would not kill the spider for you. He would pick it up and either toss it over the ship, or place it somewhere else, out of the way, while talking gently to it, like “Poor little thing, Y/N how could you ask me to murder a little creature?”

He’s only doing it to piss you off, because he’ll come right back to you and reaches for your face to touch you with his just-touched-a-bug hand

Even if you swat and scream at him, he’ll try to get his grimy little fingers on you somehow. You’d have to hide from him out of reach if he’s in that kind of mischievous mood

He thinks it’s hilarious how much you avoid bugs, while he is just used to insects of all kinds by now. Being a pirate wasn’t exactly luxurious living

The guy probably has some spider webs under his damn bed. Maybe that’s where they keep coming from

If you catch him while he’s drunk, he’ll pick it up and chase you around the goddamn ship with it

Corazon

Cora is another type who would not kill it, but he would move it somewhere else

He is a gentle soul, and he’d tell you how it’s more afraid of you than you are of it

He finds the nicest spot to put it in, and he walks like all slow-motion because he knows how clumsy he is and doesn’t want to squish it by accident

He’d place it in grass if possible, or anywhere that it wouldn’t get stepped on by accident

I don’t believe he would be gutsy enough to actually touch the spider- it’s more of an aversion than a fear, but he would scoop it into a cup or something he had on hand

He is clumsy enough to step on the bugs if he’s just walking in, though. You’d have to make sure he doesn’t see it’s dead, squashed body, because he would cry

[astheworldgoesonitswickedway]

As the ASoUE fandom, we need to acknowledge the drastic differences between the books and show more often. I love them both though I do prefer book canon on this particular subject. The schism. The timeline can be confusing. And it's so important to recognize that while in the show, Beatrice accidentally killing Olaf's father incited the schism and Olaf's villainy, in the book, Kit tells us the schism happened when she was four. If we are assuming all our main generation of V.F.D. members are probably within a few years of each other in age, this happened when they were all young children. This changes a lot, but most importantly it means that the death of Olaf's parents and the great schism, were two different events. And also, this means they all grew up in schism V.F.D. essentially this environment of warring factions. They didn't get to experience a maybe healthier version of V.F.D. They grew up in an atmosphere where their lives would much more often have been at stake. Well I've been thinking about that night at the opera, since the schism had already happened, it could have played a part in the events. The show says it was an accident, but the books never clarify. To be honest, the books make things sound much more like an assassination...not saying it was but I won't say it wasn't. We see the Baudelaires themselves come to the conclusion their parents weren't who they thought they were. Why would they have poison darts if they didn't intend to use them? Kit says she snuck them past Esme to the Baudelaires. (Which is another thing. Seriously, if this was an assassination, Kit participated in the murder of her fiancée's parents...Olaf didn't seem to blame her like he did the others, did he not know, or did she not know what they would be used for so he didn't consider her complicit?) And for the record, the death of one person with a dart like in the show, could be an accident. Both of Olaf's parents died in the book and that's a lot harder to answer for. So why would the Baudelaire parents assassinate Olaf's parents? Would "noble" V.F.D. really condone something like that? I mean, I guess they were messing around with the medusoid mycellium...planning to use it against their enemies. Could the Baudelaires actions that night relate to their reluctance to tell the kids about their organization? As for why they would do that, is it possible Olaf's parents might have been villains on the other side of the schism? Were they planning something horrible? We are basically told that night is why Olaf switched sides, could he really have been on the noble side at a time when his parents weren't? What did Olaf see that night, how did he know who to blame? Did he watch his parents die? Could his parents have been planning to strike first? Could they have meant to kill his friends, an event which would also drive Olaf insane, just in the other direction, against his parents? Is there any way his parents could have been innocent? I have a really hard time believing that if the Baudelaires did what they did, though it was still not okay. This is all wild speculation I know, but the book canon just opens up worlds of theories, unlike the show which seems to sacrifice the plot a bit, in order to keep our important characters hands clean. But if Daniel Handler taught us anything, its that no one really keeps their hands clean, everyone participates in treachery at some point, and you never know how horrible someone's treachery was, you can't necessarily trust someone just because you care about them. Can I just say how absolutely gutsy it was for Daniel Handler to deliver a thirteen book series, the plot of which is driven by the great split of this secret organization, only for him to never tell us what happened? He never explains the schism? I know he loves to leave unanswered questions but. But this. Then again, it's written from the Baudleaires perspective and for many reasons, they don't get to know. It is fitting that neither do we.

[coralinnii]

I love the villain scorned by the world feat: Azul genre: drama note: continuation of reincarnated into a new world as the bad guy AU Azul ver, not gender specific reader, no pronouns used, use of non-canon characters (Neveah), 1.4k word count

I know people wanted to see more of the female and male lead’s downfall but Azul’s story has so much potential for drama that I just can’t skip it. This is more of an interaction between villain/ess!reader and the female lead and things are getting interesting. There’s more to the story

Is it funny that the more I write Azul’s villain/ess!reader, the more they’re starting to be like how I think Jade would act…just sassier

You became the talk of the kingdom for quite some time and you weren’t surprised. You had your engagement annulled and disowned from your family but you managed to disgrace your former fiancé the prince and his lover with their affair. Instead of a fallen noble, you became a surviving noble who became a victim of unfaithful love. All according to your plan.

Free from your downfall, you find yourself living in comfort in your own house close to Azul. The royal family and your own parents have requested your attendance but you declined their letters, playing your victim card to the fullest.

“Oh no, how could I possibly return back to the palace where I had my heart broken?” “My family disowned me. The least I could do is respect their wishes” Good riddance to that stifling environment.

You did notice that you never once received a letter from the young prince, the male lead though you would scoff and burn it if he did anyway. You figured that he was too prideful to address the affair with you. He wasn’t regretful for his actions nor was he regretful he got caught. The original series seriously had a bad cast.

Though it could also be that since the disgraceful act the male lead was sentenced to house arrest to “reflect on his actions”. From your sources, he’s just been angry all this time, especially when he hasn’t been able to meet with his beloved.

Speaking of which, the female lead has been busy through all this fiasco. Crying and spinning the tale of how she was a helpless victim in this mess as well, saying how she was clueless throughout everything since being so new to the noble society.

Please, Jade has better acting skills than she does. You supposed you could commend her for her guts.

Like how she was gutsy enough to visit you in your own home.

“I’m so glad you’re willing to meet with me” Neveah smiled but you didn’t return the smile, choosing to sip your tea.

“You should be glad, considering I probably would have ignored you” you replied indifferently. “It just so happens that I wanted to ask you a few questions”

“Oh? What kind of questions?~” That exaggerated childlike tone of hers really rubbed you the wrong way.

Fighting through your irritation, you questioned her “I’ve heard that you’ve been attempting to meet with Azul for the past few days. Curious since you two aren’t even acquaintances”

“But, we are! Me and Azul are really close~”

“That’s not what Azul says, and you will address him as Count Ashengrotto” you rebuked her claim, a little snippier than you wished but your patience is not unlimited and the ditzy lady is truly testing you.

Azul mentioned his troubles to you when you asked about the visible stress on his face. Apparently he has unfortunately been bumping into the female lead at his businesses and she has been trying to interact with him, even offering to have tea with her…in his own restaurant.

“Tricking her would be akin to taking candy from a child, but even a child is more worthwhile than speaking with her” Azul sighed in aggravation with his brows furrowed. You kept a sympathetic expression but you felt a sense of joy over the silvernette’s words. There’s nothing wrong in secretly taking glee in your crush sharing your disdain over the same irritance, right?

“Perhaps you should take a short rest, Azul” you suggested, “This stress will do you no good and you can’t afford to make mistakes due to your clouded mind”

Azul sighed but nodded “you may have a point”

“Would you like to rest on my lap? I wouldn’t mind after all”

“You-!”

Refocusing your attention away from your memories, you sharpened your gaze at your uninvited guest. “Considering Azul is someone dear to me, I worry about your intentions in approaching him”

Then, the situation took an interesting turn.

The young lady in front of you, undeterred from your stare, smiled brightly which some could compare to something angelic…to some. But her words did not match her innocent appearance.

“Are you worried that I would approach Azul the way you did?”

You didn’t break your expression but you must admit you were close to. Is she insinuating…

“Isn’t it weird that the famously lovesick fiancé of the prince suddenly changed?” Neveah questioned, putting on a confused pout on her lips. “No explanations, like a whole new person. The story has changed”

Oh, how interesting.

“So you’re interested in me” you finally smiled back “What can I say, I realized one day this was not my love story so I decided to change my ways”

“Is that so?~”

“Yes. But back to the topic,” you took control back of the conversation “You haven’t explained your reason for approaching the count?”

Whatever calculating look you thought you saw in the female lead disappeared as she smiled even brighter than before, fully committing to her innocent appearance.

“I just felt so bad in interfering with your engagement that I’ve been avoiding the prince in respect for you, not even replying to his letters. Then maybe you can reinstate your engagement with your beloved”

My beloved? You truly had difficulty not outright laughing out loud over that idea. But it was an interesting tidbit the female lead gave, knowing that the prince has been sending her letters meant that those two are still in contact. Just because she said she doesn’t reply, she could still be reading them.

“I’ve been trying really hard to forget the prince so I’ve been visiting the Monstro Lounge to get away” she continued her story, managing a tear from her eyes. “And I’ve been seeing the count there so I thought we could be friends”

So this is how she’s been fooling the masses. You’re willing to admit that she’s definitely a better actress than you initially give her with her sweet words and unassuming “innocence”. But you knew the story she conveniently left out.

Breaking the engagement between the royal family and your (ex)family of duke status, the male lead has been in hot water ever since as his reputation has affected him to the point that his right to the throne is in jeopardy. Azul on the other hand has been making a name for himself and his value in the kingdom is very attractive to many pursuers.

“How shamelessly greedy of you, Ms. Protagonist” you smirked at the female lead who continues to put on a sweet facade, you commend her ambitions at least. She really wants her happy ending.

But you’re done with this conversation already. You got your answers and have no interest in keeping company with this eyesore for any longer.

“That’s all I need to hear, I believe it’s time for you to leave” With that, you waved to your guards who were standing by to escort the lady to the door.

“Wait, then will you take the prince back? And convince the families to restore the engagement” Neveah quickly asked you before she was ushered. Ah, so that’s why she came to see you. You never did bother to ask…or care.

“Firstly, I don’t have the habit of picking up trash I already tossed out” you calmly stood up from your seat, smoothing down your clothes of creases, and gave a smile towards the female lead before speaking again “Secondly, I’m simply respecting what you said to me. Do you remember? You couldn’t stop from loving who you want”

You watched Neveah stutter and stumble, trying to find the right words but you weren’t interested anymore so you proceeded to leave the room first with some parting words before your guards walk the female lead out of your home.

“I’m letting you love the prince like you said you wanted, and I’ll love who I want, and I intend to fight”

[night-raven-tattler]

A second opinion - Resorting the Night Raven College students into different dorms

Summary: Based on their personal headcanons and this post made by @thoselethalarts, Mx Tattly took it upon themselves to sort the NRC students into dorms different than their own - just for fun! She'd appreciate your feedback and opinions, as he is no Magic Mirror, so feel free to add your imput!

Characters: First year notable students (Ace, Deuce, Jack, Epel, Ortho and Sebek)

Other parts of the series: Second year notable students, Third year notable students

Warnings: none

By opening the document, you agree to Mx Tattly's terms of source confidentiality.

-ˋˏ’✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

A good fit for Heartslabyul's strict environment would be Sebek!

He is a boy with a very strong code of conduct that he follows religiously. Sebek is very strict with himself and follows his personal rules and daily routine with no exception. He puts a lot of value in the importance of rules and authority figures to maintain peace and order, since it's the only thing he knows: as a hopefully royal guard to be, Sebek believes in his liege first and in himself second. And, as a guard, he is very protective.

Sebek believes his way of thinking is the correct one and has no shame in trying to instill his views on others. He considers that he is doing what's right for his liege and the world, and no one can convince him otherwise. He'd make a good card soldier, maybe a spade suit or a heart suit.

『••✎••』

Deuce would make a good candidate for Savanaclaw.

He has an ironclad willpower and determination in spades (pun intended), which are his main driving forces in life. He is determined to become a honor student and to right all the wrongs he's ever done, a resolution he clings to harder and harder with every day.

Deuce is gutsy, and when push comes to shoves he is ready to fight back. He has a strong sense of loyalty, and he is willing to do anything for the ones he considers part of his "gang". He is a dedicated friend and family member and believes in payback, especially when he has been wronged in some way.

『••✎••』

Another good candidate for the Savanaclaw student spot is Epel!

His initial wish to be sorted in Savanaclaw was not random. Epel has the (in)famous Savanaclaw willpower and determination. Epel knows what he wants -he wants to be a strong mage who can help Harveston thrive- and his pride for his community is unwavering. He knows how hard he needs to fight and he is willing to work himself to the bone when needed.

Epel also is somewhat of an idealist, and he has big dreams for himself. From being a great mage to someone his whole hometown will be proud of, Epel strives to be this amazing, reliable figure worth of respect and who doesn't deserve belittling. He won't back down from any fight, even if he has to throw the first punch, and he gets back up even after losing.

『••✎••』

Ace would fit well in Scarabia.

He is a clever and cunning boy, who knows when to be straightfoward and when to be sneaky. From facing his own housewarden to pretending to ask Leona a smart question in order to not be used a bait, Ace is intelligent and can read situations very well, skills he uses to his advantage. He is also not above playing roles and feigning innocence if the end goal appeals to him.

Ace is resourceful, playful and knows what to say in a moment of need, making him very adaptable to any situation. Despite still getting into trouble, he insists it is part of his calculated risk. He is good at math, but sometimes you gotta make sacrifices (re: get put on cleaning duty) for a good outcome (re: a nap at the back of the class).

『••✎••』

Pomefiore is a dorm whose values Jack would resonate with.

Jack is a boy who strives to improve himself in every area he can. Academics, sports, even with his hobbies, he always strives to become smarter, faster, wiser, better. Self improvement is his main driving force, and he loves knowing that he is improving, since he knows very well just how hard he is working to achieve his best self.

Generally speaking, Jack is very self aware and knows what his skills and strong points are. He is self assured, meticulous and last but not least, aware of his potential, which he cultivates every day without fail.

『••✎••』

Another good pick for Pomefiore would be Ortho!

Ortho is, above all else, very proud of his own skills and achievements. He is the only humanoid with the ability to learn and feel, that's quite an achievement! Yet he is not satisfied, as he knows technology (him included) will always have space for improvement. From making and maintaining his gears to joining clubs to extend his knowledge on human reactions, Ortho wants to become even better, and he is an unstoppable force.

Being a Shroud, Ortho comes with his own eccenticities, like calling everyone by their full names and considering using powerful lasers as a solution for most of his problems. Maybe it's because he's an android, but Ortho can get quite reckless and engage in risky behavior.

『••✎••』

[signify-nothing]

It's been a literal fucking decade and I still have SO MANY FUCKING FEELINGS about the season two finale of Boardwalk Empire. (Spoilers ahead because, obviously). On one hand, I mourn the series that could've been if the commodore actor hadn't gotten sick when he did and if Michael Pitt had been able to keep his act together long enough to have another season's worth of story development. It's crushing that Jimmy Darmody never got a chance to rise as a gangster and really play a strong antagonistic force against Nucky the way we hoped he would.

BUT there is also something so fucking gutsy about the writers setting up Jimmy to be such an epic, early failure. I just finished rewatching the third to last episode of season two and Jesus Fucking Christ. Watching him have his last moment with Angela? Devastating. He can't even fucking laugh with her. He doesn't even know how to be remotely normal. Then later that night she and her lover get shot for his failures, and it's EVEN MORE devastating. And then. AND THEN. We cut to Jimmy, who doesn't yet know his wife is dead at home, and he's driving past the Princeton sign -- conspicuously without Richard in sight for the first time in ages -- to try to sell his shitty, watered-down liquor to the university that symbolizes every dream he failed to realize. It's a journey he has to make alone because it is more than anything else a journey into his own past.

And to think ALL OF THIS IS JUST SET UP. It's just the opening act of the end.

I simply cannot. I'm so angry about what went down but I also have so much goddamn respect. There is a reason I wrote a whole fucking novel inspired by the end of the second season of this goddamn show. Nobody does updated Greek tragedy like Boardwalk Empire. Fucking no one.

[eggshellsareeat]

Alright, here's my review of Parkour Civilization as a (retired) actual Minecraft parkour player on how well it represents high-level Minecraft parkour. Spoilers and infodumping below!

Minecraft Version

Most parkour players play 1.8 or 1.12. Modern Minecraft has a couple fundamental movement changes, namely making walls harder to jump around.

Accuracy: Low

Walk-Only Parkour

Walk-Only parkour kinda sucks because fundamentally, it's significantly faster to walk diagonally (e.x hold w and d) than to walk straight (this is not true of sprinting: it is faster to sprint straight than diagonally).

Evbo_ also misnames some jumps, but that's a running theme and I'm not going to knock it too much. For what it's worth, a "one block vertical jump" is more correctly called a "one block + one", or "1+1" for short.

Accuracy: Low

Backwards Jumps and 360s

Backwards jumps don't really exist, but 360s are genuinely used for flair in the parkour scene. It's seen as very gutsy and impressive to 360 particularly risky jumps.

Could they bribe someone? Maybe.

Accuracy: Sort of

Multiple Jumps "In a row"

This exists in two forms: "chaining" and "onlysprint".

A chain jump is a jump which doesn't have enough starting space to get the speed to do the jump. Therefore, you need to do the previous jump and the chain jump in a row, "chaining" the two together to complete the course. Check out 10 Jumps to 10 Jumps to see this taken to its logical extreme.

It's not to be confused with "chain jumps", which are jumps on chain blocks.

Onlysprint is a harsher ruleset, which will auto-fail the player if they stop sprinting for any reason--this includes hitting walls. Courses are incredibly difficult, check out Iris for a great example.

Ultimately, it's a thing, and it's impressive.

Accuracy: Close-ish

Parkour Battles

Accuracy: What did you expect

Parkour Practice

At the pro civilization, there's an arena where players can practice jumps for risky courses. This is shockingly accurate.

"Rankup Parkour" is a format where courses are very long and have no checkpoints. Think of them like Foddian games, except parkour rankups predate Getting Over It by a good couple years.

So how do you do jumps at the very end of a map? Simple: leave, build them in a creative world, and practice them there. This is an incredibly common practice, and single sections of parkour can take multiple hours as a result. It's good fun.

Accuracy: Spot-on

That hidden barrier path at the one part of the pro course

This is a very common thing on older maps, which tended to have significant amounts of bullshit. Particular shout-out to the ceiling doors on JC IX, a set of 20 teleportation doors where 19 take you to random past points in the map and the 20th takes you to the end. No, you don't know which is which, they all look identical.

Accuracy: Accurate

Water bucket jumps

Water jumps are a thing, but water bucket clutches would qualify as "obstacle" and not pure parkour. I don't play obstacle, so I can't comment further

Accuracy: Low

Brewing stand jumps

They don't give effects, but I want to give them a mention for being the most annoying hitbox in the game. Evbo_ gets that one right.

Accuracy: Medium

The parkour champion

There's a lot of different types of parkour, so whoever's the best is pretty up for debate. They definitely don't rule over the parkour lands with an iron fist, though.

Accuracy: Low

The parkour god

Is kyroh still a meme?

Accuracy: Medium

The triple neo

Finally, we get to the end of the video. Evbo_ does a triple neo, and all is good with the world (presumably, haven't watched the sequel yet). Not much to nitpick here. Triples are hard, especially for new players. I personally see them as certifying a true parkour-er. When a Minecrafter does a triple neo, they get their wings. It's a real hallmark of a jump, and a great place to end the movie.

Although it's common enough to have a standard momentum which the parkour champion does NOT build, opting for 4bmm instead like a psychopath.

Accuracy: Medium

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 02x05 - Bring Down the Dark Tower / Old Reliable

Previously on Digimon Adventure: It was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that neither Yamato nor Takeru is sufficiently telepathic. Meanwhile, despite Daisuke's best efforts, the forces of the Digimon Kaiser successfully overthrew the forces of the Digimon Kaiser.

Now, with a clear understanding of how the Kaiser's influence works, the Chosen Children forge ahead on a new mission.

Deep in the frozen tundra of a Digital World region, the Digimon Kaiser is inexplicably using the frog-like Gizamon as beasts of burden for construction.

Not to construct the Dark Tower, which is already up and going, but something using steel girders. The Gizamon do their best to hop along, weighed down by their burdens, while the Kaiser cracks his whip on the ground to keep them moving.

Wormmon waddles up, dragging a fur coat through the snow with his itty-bitty forelegs.

Wormmon: Ken-chan, take this.... Kaiser: Quit bothering me!

Ken kicks Wormmon in the head, knocking him over into the snow with the coat falling on top of him. While he's distracted, one of the Gizamon falls over, dropping the materials they're carrying.

The Kaiser whips back around and whips the fallen Gizamon over and over.

Kaiser: Get up, already! You cretins are too slow!

Maybe if you weren't using frogs in a frozen climate, they wouldn't be. I know Ken thinks he's playing a video game, but he is not very good at this video game.

In the dub:

Wormmon: Wear this, it's cold. Emperor: Rrgggh.... Leave me alone! (Emperor kicks Wormmon; Gizamon falls over) Emperor: Get up!

All three whiplashes against the fallen Gizamon are cut, and we see only him raising his whip to begin striking before the next bit unfolds.

As the Digimon Kaiser raises his whip for a fourth lash, Gomamon leaps into the middle of it. He grabs the Kaiser's whip, clutching it between his Yes They Are Hands and refusing to let go.

Gomamon: Stop it! They're all tired! Besides, Gizamon can't move very well on land! Kaiser: Pompous little.... I already know enough about Digimon without needing you to teach me!

Obviously, he doesn't, or else he wouldn't be using Gizamon here. But the Kaiser is beyond reason at this time. He jerks his whip out of Gomamon's grasp, then brings it back and lashes Gomamon across the belly, knocking him over.

Kaiser: There has to be a punishment for anyone who dares to resist me. Hey! I'll make things easier for whoever takes down this little pest!

For the rundown, Gizamon is a Child-stage Virus-attribute Aquatic Mammal Digimon. We saw a group of them during Vamdemon's takeover of Odaiba. They harassed Hiroaki's news crew and were a persistent menace until Vamdemon's bats ate them all.

Narrator: Gizamon. A Child-stage Digimon with webbed hands and feet. Their sharp dorsal fins cut through the water's surface like a knife!

They're also, per the first rundown, more comfortable underwater than on land.

In the dub, Gomamon's interception comes before the Emperor can start whipping. Nonetheless, you can still see the wounds on the Gizamon behind him.

Gomamon: Hey, quit it! They're all tired and need rest! Maybe someone should use this whip on you, you big bully! Emperor: #1: Don't ever talk to me without calling me 'Sir'. #2: Don't ever TALK TO ME!!!

In the original, Gomamon points out that the Kaiser is making baffling tactical choices with his enslaved Digimon. Choices that convey his ignorance and lack of understanding towards the Digimon. He's clacking them around like toys in a toybox rather than making the effort to even understand how best to apply their various capabilities.

He's punishing them for inefficiencies that he created through inept mismanagement. Ken isn't very good at dictatorship.

The dub snips that in favor of Gomamon clapping back with a violent taunt. Gomamon's a gutsy brawler type so it's a perfectly in-character thing for him to say, but I don't like what it costs us.

Emperor: Whoever among you can defeat this creature will receive a special prize package. The rest will get some lovely parting gifts. So who is up for the challenge? (The Gizamon crowd in around Gomamon) Emperor: (rundown) I know all about Gizamon. They're amphibian Digimon with webbed feet. Their fins cut through the water like knives.

There's something ironic about having Ken deliver the rundown when his ignorance towards Gizamon was a point of contention in the original version of this scene.

The Gizamon crowd in around Gomamon.

Gomamon: NO, DON'T!!!

The Gizamon attacking with Sonic the Hedgehog spin jumps, bashing through Gomamon one after another until he's left bruised and defeated on his back, unable to stand.

Kaiser: Hmph! All bark and no bite.

Wormmon squiggles out between the Kaiser and the Gizamon to remind him of his promise.

Wormmon: The ones who defeated him get to rest, right? Kaiser: No, something else.

Sorry, Wormmon. The Kaiser never promised 休ま yasuma, that they could rest and have some time off. He promised 楽にしてやる raku ni shiteyaru. I'll go easy on them, I'll make it easier for them. And he has just such a plan in mind.

The Kaiser retracts his whip, and a set of Evil Rings descends upon the Gizamon. Most are taken before they know what's happening. One Gizamon tries to run for it, but the Evil Ring catches them in short order.

Kaiser: Huhuhu... It's easier now, isn't it? The prison for this area is nearly complete! Pick up the pace and finish the job!

Obediently, the enslaved Gizamon turn away and return to work. This is why you never become a class traitor. Once they're gone, Ken turns to take his leave. Wormmon follows for a second, but stops and glances back at Gomamon lying broken on the ground. Only for a second, though, before he double-times it to catch up to Ken-chan.

In the dub:

Gomamon: They won't attack me! (They attack him relentlessly) Emperor: That was way too easy. Wormmon: Yeah, they've defeated him, Master. Now tell them what they've won. Emperor: Right! (Dark Rings enslave the Gizamon) Emperor: Here's your reward: You all have the honor of being my slaves. Now get back to work building the prison! (The Gizamon go back to work and the Emperor goes to leave) Emperor: MOVE IT, Wormmon! I want you to make me a hot chocolate. Wormmon: What about Gomamon? Emperor: Let him freeze.

I really like the "I'll go easy on them" exchange. It's so slimy. The "special presents" bit tries to match the same tone, but without Wormmon's optimistic misunderstanding, I don't think the treacherous backhand lands quite as hard.

The dub version calls more attention to Wormmon's concern for Gomamon's wellbeing, while the original leaves it implied through Wormmon's body language. This plays into the ongoing key difference between versions, as the Digimon Kaiser generally doesn't interact with Wormmon of his own volition.

So far as he cares, Wormmon can do whatever. Wormmon is utterly beneath his notice or concern, except when Wormmon actively tries to interact with him. Where, as usual, the dub has the Emperor using Wormmon as his personal assistant.

Once the Kaiser is gone, Gomamon uses what's left of his strength to pick himself up. He crawls through the tundra, making his way to a Gate TV half-buried in the snow.

Gomamon crawls right up to the TV, presses his face against it, and closes his eyes. All he gets out is a pitiful:

Gomamon: Jou....

In the human world, Jou receives the distress signal while on his way into school. Specifically, the sign above him reads "Waseda Preparatory School", setting our time frame as at the end of the school day. Jou's finished his normal classes and is heading into the private cram school his family's paying for him to attend.

This cram school is probably based on the real-life Waseda University in Shinjuku. Though they spell Waseda differently. Probably for the same reason cartoon characters might drink "Cola-Cola" and watch "PeopleTube".

He's with a couple of his peers when his Digivice starts ringing with Gomamon's distress signal.

Jou: (quietly) Gomamon.... Green Shirt: Looks like today's our proficiency test for math. Tan Shirt: Aww, seriously? That sucks. Green Shirt: Hey, Jou-- Jou: I'm skipping cram school today. Both: Eh!? Jou: Bye!

Without another word of explanation, Jou dashes off at full sprint.

In the dub, we go to our first commercial after the Emperor and Wormmon leave Gomamon in the snow. When we come back, Gomamon offers a bit of internal dialogue.

Gomamon: (thinking) I've just gotta climb up this little hill.... (Gomamon trudges through the snow) Gomamon: (thinking) Okay, maybe it's not such a little hill after all... (Gomamon finds the TV) Gomamon: What's that? (Gomamon crawls to the TV) Gomamon: Joe....

I don't know why Gomamon seems surprised to see the TV when it's pretty clearly what he was trying to reach in the first place. Even in the dub, his extra dialogue suggests he went this direction for a reason.

(SOS Signal goes off) Joe: Gomamon! Green Shirt: So, how about it, guys? You all ready for that big anatomy test today? Tan Shirt: Yeah, I spent the whole night looking in the mirror. How about you, Joe? Joe: Uh, I just remembered that I forgot to remember something. I gotta go!

XD This is good.

The timing might be (unavoidably) confusing here due to the lack of American context for 塾 juku, Japanese cram schools. Without knowing that Joe's here for extracurricular evening classes, this comes off like it's the start of the school day.

Since Joe won't reach Odaiba Elementary School until well after the end of the school day, that makes it seem like it took Joe a re-e-e-eally long time to get there.

Might have been better off taking more liberties with this scene and having them, say, discuss having a crazy workload of homework to do or something. IDK. In any case, timeline in the dub is a little bit funky due to culture shock.

Speaking of Odaiba Elementary, Daisuke's on his way to Computer Club when he happens to spot Iori descending the stairwell to the ground floor.

Daisuke: Huh? Iori! Iori: What is it, Daisuke-san? Daisuke: Don't "What is it" at me! You're going home!? Iori: I have practice today. For kendo. Daisuke: You do!? While the DIgital World's in crisis!? Iori: Once per week, I get to train at the police dojo with my grandfather. That's all.

Iori bows respectfully to Daisuke, then turns and leaves.

Daisuke: HEY!!! Hikari: (approaches) What's wrong, Daisuke-kun? Daisuke: (suddenly cheerful) Hikari-chaaaaaan! You're going, right? To Computer Club? Hikari: Uh-huh! Of course! Daisuke: (considering) Well, as long as Hikari-chan is there, I don't need the others. (blushing) In fact, it might be better if they weren't there.... Hikari: O_o What? Daisuke: (backpedaling) Oh, nothing, nope nope! C'mon, let's go!

Smooth, Daisuke. Real smooth.

In the dub:

Davis: Hey, Cody! Cody: Oh, hi, Davis. What's up? Davis: What's up? Are you crazy? Where are you going!? Cody: I'm going home. I've got kendo practice this afternoon. Davis: What!? Practice later! The Digi-World's in danger! Cody: Sorry, Davis, but my grandfather is the teacher and he would be very disappointed if I missed a lesson. (Cody bows respectfully) Cody: See ya. (Cody leaves) Davis: Yeah, but.... Kari: (approaches) What's the matter with you? Davis: (suddenly cheerful) Kari, great! I'm going to the Computer Room. Why don't you come with me? Kari: Sure, let's go. Davis: (considering) Really? You and I together all alone in the dangerous Digital World? (blushing) Finally! It'll be like my dream come true! Hikari: O_o Excuse me? Davis: (backpedaling) I-I said I'm studying French, parlez-vous?

Cody doesn't mention the police dojo, instead fretting about his grandfather's feelings which seems in-character for him to do.

Davis leaps to the wild conclusion that Kari joining him will result in a romantic outing for just the two of them. Daisuke also reaches that wild conclusion, but we get to watch the gears turn in his head to see how he got there.

Of course, when they arrive at Computer Club, Daisuke's foolish hopes are dashed. Iori may have had to go home but Takeru and Miyako are there, right on time.

Daisuke: Gck... (defeated) They're all here.... Hikari: (approaches Takeru) What's wrong? Takeru: We got an SOS Signal from the Digital World.

That snaps Daisuke out of his funk. Flipping into business mode, he jogs over to look at the map Miyako has on the computer screen. A single square deep in black territory is flashing red.

Hikari: (gasp) Takeru: It's from one of our nakama. Miyako: And the signal's coming from a black area. It's a long ways away from anywhere we've been to before. Hikari: Does that mean the Digimon Kaiser's territory is expanding? Patamon: Did he build a new tower? Miyako: That's possible.

Reckoning with the question that Davis brought up in the dub last episode: Even if we tear down the Dark Towers, what's to stop him from building more?

In the dub:

Davis: Eh... Eheh... (defeated) I just can't win.... Kari: (approaches T.K.) What's going on? T.K.: We just got a message from the Digital World! It's a Distress Call from one of the Digimon! Kari: Who!? T.K.: I'm not really sure yet. Yolei: I've got it! The signal is coming from one of the black areas controlled by the Digimon Emperor, and it's a lot farther than any area we've been to. Kari: Well, this should add to our Frequent Flier Miles. Yolei: According to this map, the Emperor's area is getting a lot bigger! I bet his ego is too!

Not the sickest burn we've ever heard. Sorry, Yolei, but I don't think "Is your ego swelling from the weight of your immense triumph!?" will be the line that breaks the Emperor's spirit.

Daisuke: The Digimon Kaiser is such a jerk. Going to such a far-off place and.... Hikari: ...even as we speak, I'm sure....

Daisuke's mad, but Hikari seems hurt by the unspoken implications they're raising. Her voice cracks as she says her words. Daisuke goes quiet for a moment, watching with concern at how badly this is affecting Hikari. Then he takes charge.

Daisuke: Alright, now that we're all here, let's get moving and go to the Digital World! Upamon: What do you mean, everyone!? Iori's not here dagyaa! Daisuke: He's not coming. Upamon: Why dagyaa? Daisuke: He's got kendo practice. Upamon: What's kendo dagyaa?

Daisuke bops Upamon three times with a rolled up folder.

Daisuke: (top of the head) MEN!!! (hit to Upamon's side) DOU!!! (hit to Upamon's little wing flaps) KOTE!!!

In kendo, there are a few basic attacks you're allowed to make against your opponent. 面 Men is your headgear. 胴 Dou is your chestplate. 小手 Kote are the padded gloves on your arms. You're meant to call out which part you're striking at, as Daisuke does here.

Upamon: WHY ARE YOU HITTING ME DAGYAA!?!? Daisuke: Because that's what kendo is. Upamon: Huh?

There had to be have been a better way to explain it. Daisuke is being a prick.

In the dub:

Davis: It won't be long before he controls the entire Digital World! Kari: Then every single Digimon is in danger. (Davis watches Kari, concerned, for a moment) Davis: Alright, I've had enough of this clown! Let's all head to the Digital World! Upamon: But we have to wait for Cody to get here! Davis: He's not coming! Upamon: What's he doing? Davis: He says he has kendo practice. Upamon: One question: What's kendo? Davis: Yaa! (Davis strikes Upamon three times) Upamon: WHAT DID YOU HIT ME FOR!?!? Davis: You wanted to know what kendo is! Upamon: Huh?

Davis doesn't do the kiais right. He makes one quick "Yaa!" and then attacks three times consecutively to different parts.

Kari and Davis aren't as emotional with their lines. They're bothered, but still forming complete sentences in a matter-of-fact tone. So the moment where Daisuke is struck by how badly Hikari's hurting doesn't carry through well.

Across town, we find Iori at the police dojo with his grandfather.

Iori, breathing heavily, tries to focus. But the image of Upamon flashes before his eyes, distracting him.

Chikara: MEN!!!

Before Iori knows what's happening, Chikara knocks his 竹刀 shinai, a type of bamboo sword designed specifically for kendo, aside and lands an unguarded strike to the top of the head.

After the match, they remove their kendo gear and sit across from one another in Japan's traditional 正座 seiza position.

Chikara: What's wrong, Iori? Your concentration seems to be lacking today. Iori: I apologize, Grandfather.

Linguistic note: The word for grandfather is お祖父さん Ojii-san. It's what Taichi's rude 爺 Jijii insult for Gennai is derived from; A popular bastardization of ojii-san to mean a doddering old codger.

Iori goes the other direction and addresses his grandfather as お祖父様 ojii-sama, using the honorific intended for showing respect to a wise elder, a master, a mentor figure, or other person worthy of immeasurable respect.

Which makes sense, given that Chikara is Iori's master in kendo.

Chikara: Is there something else weighing on your mind? Have you met a girl you like? Iori: I haven't-- Chikara: IORI!!! You and your sword are both too rigid. Your father Hiroki was the same way.

Iori's father is Hiroki. Yamato's father is Hiroaki. Great. Thanks.

Incidentally, Chikara's name 主税 is a homonym for 力 chikara, the word for strength or power. We see that word a lot in anime.

Chikara: Let's take a break.

Chikara unfurls a cloth behind him, the contents of which are obscured. Then he turns back.

Chikara: Iori, would you like a smoochy-smooch too? Iori: O_o ... Chikara: (embarrassed) No, when I say a kiss, I mean this.

Chikara holds up a carton of the Chu x2 or ChuChu Jelly drinks we saw a couple episodes ago. チュチュ Chuchu is an onomatopoeia for the sound of kissing, hence the tragic miscommunication. He was offering Iori a snack.

In the dub, they again replace the specific strike kiais with a generic:

Chikara: HYAAAAA!!! (Chikara strikes; Cut to them sitting across from one another) Chikara: Let's take a break. What's the matter with you today, Cody? You just don't seem to be concentrating enough. Cody: I'm sorry, Grandfather. Chikara: You haven't lost interest in the martial arts, have you? Or hanging out with your old grandpa? Cody: Of course not! Chikara: I can read faces. Your expression tells me that something is troubling you deep inside. Your father acted the same way when he was a boy. (Chikara lays out his cloth) Chikara: I have been to many lands and met many people, and in all my travels, I have found only one thing I can count on. PRUNE JUICE, HA!!! Cody: O_o Huh...? Chikara: YUP, take two big glasses! You'll be fine! (holds up ChuChu carton)

Yeah, we'll file this in the "They were screwed from the outset" category. No way of making the chuchu bit work. Not only that, but they needed something he could say that would fit with the comically distended smooching lips they were given to work with.

Not to mention the censors probably wouldn't let them play a joke where grandpa innocently and accidentally asks a third-grader if he wants some chuchu straight. Like, you could just have him say, "Want a little chuchu?" with the kissing face and kids would get it. But Fox Kids would also get it and they would have you hanged.

There were some severe limitations on how they could possibly play this gag. I'm willing to classify the prune juice moment as "They did the best they could under the circumstances."

They also dropped Chikara asking if Cody's met a girl too, swapping it out for pre-emptive guilting.

My favorite dub moment, however, is "I can read faces." What a unique power you have, grandpa. XD

This replaces "You and your sword are too rigid," which is something Iori's been struggling with since we met him. He has trouble adapting to changing circumstances and reacting impulsively.

Miyako missed out on the first trip to the Digital World because Iori needed to run home, pick up snacks he'd asked his mom to make, and then come all the way back and eat the snacks with the group before they could leave. He can't just go, "Change of plan," and do something else. Which is why he's here, right now, instead of where he clearly thinks he should be.

Fortunately, Chikara's prompting seems to have gotten through to Iori, who accepts the opening to come out with it.

Chikara: What's wrong? Iori: Grandfather, would it be alright if we ended practice here for today? Chikara: Hm? Iori: I feel awful for backing out in the middle of practice but-- Chikara: You may go. It's up to you to decide what it is you must do now, and to have faith in the choice that you have made. Iori: Yes, sir! Please tell Mom that I'll be late coming home!

Iori gathers up his kendo gear and hurries out the door. He stops just past the threshold, turns, and bows to his ojii-sama. Then he leaves quickly, in a rush to get back to Computer Club.

Chikara: (affectionately) He's so like his father.

Then, once Iori's gone, Chikara demonstrates exactly where ChuChu Jelly got its name. Sucking down the packet with loud, obnoxious smooching sounds.

In the dub:

Chikara: You want some? Cody: No thanks. I'm afraid that my problem is even too big for prune juice. Chikara: Hm? Cody: There are others who are counting on me to do something and I'm afraid I might let them down. Chikara: I once told your father: People will rely on you only to the extent that you rely upon yourself. Try your hardest and you won't let anyone down. Cody: Right! I've gotta go, Grandpa! Thanks for the advice! (Cody runs out the door with his gear, then stops and bows) Cody: Seeya! (Cody leaves) Chikara: (kind of offended) No problem is too big for prune juice! (slurp slurp)

XD Okay, they pay off the prune juice thing beautifully. They've made it his Old Man Quirk.

So. Yeah. Iori's problem is that he's here because he can't adapt. He has to keep appointments he's made even when he really should just cancel. And now it's eating him up inside because he knows where he should be instead.

The dub rewrites this as Cody hiding from his responsibilities. He ditched the others because he's insecure about his ability to perform as a DigiDestined. But Chikara gives him a jolt of self-confidence so he can get out there and get it done.

Back at Computer Club, everyone hears footsteps racing down the hall.

Upamon: Ah! Iori came anyway dagyaa! Daisuke: Those aren't Iori's footsteps! EVERYONE HIDE!!!

Including Daisuke, the team uselessly runs around the computer room like headless chickens until it's too late and they're boned. The door slides open, with all of the Digimon still in full view.

Group: Huh...? Hikari & Takeru: JOU-SAN!!! Jou: (entering, nervous) Uh, hi.... Upamon: :-(

Upamon's disappointed, but at least Hikari and Takeru are happy to see Jou again.

Jou: I'd heard about it, but it's still so weird to see Digimon here. Takeru: Guys, this is Kido Jou-san. Daisuke: (pleased) Wow, this guy, huh? Nice to meet you! Miyako: I bet his grades are incredible! Hikari: This is Motomiya Daisuke-kun and Inoue Miyako-san. Takeru: We just received an SOS Signal from the Digital World. Jou: That was from Gomamon. Takeru: Did your Digivice react too?

Everyone's excited to meet Jou. Hopefully this will go better than meeting Yamato did.

In the dub, Joe's footsteps are faint and hard to make out. Contrasting Jou's footsteps, which were loud and frantic, implying a full sprint through the hall.

Upamon: OH BOY!!! I KNEW CODY WOULD SHOW UP!!! Davis: It's not Cody, okay!? Now everybody hide! (Everybody uselessly fails at hiding until Joe enters) Group: Huh!? Kari & T.K.: It's Joe! Joe: Hi, guys. Upamon: :-( Joe: Wow, even though Tai told me about it, it's still strange seeing the Digimon here in the real world. T.K.: This is Joe, our old friend that we told you about. Davis: Oh! The doctor! That's really cool! Yolei: Would you mind taking a look at my tonsils for me? Kari: Joe, this is Davis and Yolei. Joe's not really a doctor yet. T.K.: I'm glad you're here! We got a Distress Call from the Digi-World. Joe: I know. It's from Gomamon. T.K.: So your Digivice was triggered too? That's why you came!

Daisuke and Miyako have no idea who this guy is, but Davis and Yolei have been briefed on the old guard well enough to recognize him as the aspiring doctor.

While Jou and Takeru are talking, Chibimon tries to get into a grocery bag Jou brought with him.

Chibimon: Candy? Candy!?

Jou pulls the bag up away from Chibimon, who hops helplessly in the air trying to reach it.

Jou: Ah! We'll eat these on the other side! Chibimon: The other side? Hikari: Jou-san, you're planning to come with us to the Digital World? Jou: I'm worried about Gomamon.

Takeru holds up his new-type Digivice to show to Jou.

Takeru: The new Chosen Children have Digivices that can open the Gate to the Digital World. Jou: Yes, Koushiro told me about that, and also that a terrible enemy called the Digimon Kaiser has appeared on the other side. Miyako: Right. I'll open the Gate, then. Daisuke: (English) Okay!

The children raise their Digivices to the computer screen and--

Iori: (throwing the door open) I'm sorry! Upamon: (scolding) Iori! You're so late dagyaa! I was about to go to the Digital World by myself dagyaa! Iori: (noticing the new arrival) Ah! Kido-san, right? My name is Hida-- Gate: (chime) Daisuke: Hey, the Gate's open! Miyako: Chosen Children, LET'S ROLL!!!

Okay, this time Miyako can say the line because she's actually coming with them so it's grammatically correct. Sorry for being pedantic. :P

Daisuke and Miyako have no idea who this is, but apparently Iori does.

In the dub:

DemiVeemon: Gimme! (Joe pulls the shopping bag up) Joe: Hey! These are supplies for an emergency! Kari: Do you plan on coming to the Digital World with us, Joe? We could really use your help. Joe: Absolutely. I'm worried about Gomamon. (T.K. shows Joe his new Digivice) T.K.: These are the Digivices of the new DigiDestined. They're the only things that can open the Gate to the Digital World. Joe: Yeah, Izzy gave me a heads up about them. And he also told me all about this jerk that calls himself the Digimon Emperor. Yolei: Alright, let's open the Gate! Davis: Right! (The team prepares to go) Cody: (throwing the door open) What about me!? Upamon: Cody! YOU MADE IT YOU MADE IT YOU MADE IT YOU MADE IT YOU MADE IT YOU MADE IT YOU MADE IT Cody: (to Joe) You're going to have to forgive him. He's hyperactive. Gate: (various electronic noises, nothing distinctive) Davis: Hey, everybody! The Gate's open! Yolei: Alright, come on! Let's GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Original Upamon scolds Iori for being tardy, but Dub Upamon's just excited to see him.

Joe calls his grocery bag full of stuff "emergency supplies". That's a fair description, given what we'll see coming out of that bag.

The Chosen Children cross through the Gate and immediately regret that their Magical Girl costume changes don't dress them in warmer clothes.

Daisuke: Ehhhh It's so cold! What's going on here!? Hikari-chan, are you okay? Hikari: Yep.

Oh, never mind. Daisuke's just being a weenie. Hikari has exposed shoulders and she's fine. Toughen up, Daisuke.

(HIKARI'S GENERATION HAD TO WALK UPHILL BOTH WAYS)

Now that they're in the Digital World, Iori tries again.

Iori: My introduction was cut short a moment ago. I'm Hida--! Daisuke: This is no time for introductions! Jou: Everyone, you can use these if you'd like.

Was that necessary, Daisuke? XD

Jou fishes a set of heating pads out of his bag, passing them around. The package reads "POP! Kairo". カイロ Kairo are disposable air-activated heating pads. Once you open the package, the air triggers an oxidizing chemical reaction in the pad, providing heat for up to 24 hours.

In the smaller text up top, the little guy is saying, "So wa~arm!" Adorable.

Jou: (handing one to Hikari) Here you go. Hikari: Thank you! Takeru: Like always, Jou-san, you came prepared! Jou: Where could Gomamon be?

Once the team senpai, always the team senpai.

In the dub:

Davis: Hey... I hate the cold... Kari, are you okay? Kari: Mhm! Cody: I'm sorry but we weren't properly introduced before we took our trip. My name is Co-- Davis: HEY, I'm freezing my goggles off and you're introducing yourself!? Let's get going! Joe: Here, you can use one of these. (Joe starts passing out heating pads) Joe: They're hand warmers. (handing one to Kari) Kari? Kari: Thanks a lot! T.K.: Boy, leave it to you! Good ol' reliable Joe! Joe: I watch all the survival shows on TV.

Perfect. No notes.

Well, one note. They took out Iori's first attempt at introducing himself to Joe so the gag where he's again thwarted doesn't hit as hard.

They have Joe explain what the pads are, which is good because American kids won't be able to read the packaging nor will they recognize the kind of product.

Miyako struggles to warm her hands with the heating pad, but she's still freezing. (Try taking off the thick gloves, Miyako. Children!)

Miyako: I'm still so cold....

Then she fumbles it, accidentally dropping her pad in the snow.

Miyako: Oh, crap!

Miyako picks up her pad, which has already melted the snow under it. When she does, she reveals a familiar looking eye.

Miyako: Jou-san! Jou: Huh? ACK!!! GOMAMON!!!

The team hurries to unbury Gomamon, revealing the unconscious Digimon barely hanging in, still covered in his Gizamon wounds.

Jou: Gomamon! GOMAMON!!! Gomamon: (comes to) ...Jou.... Jou: Hang in there. Gomamon: You came.... Jou: Of course I did! Even when we're apart, I always worry about you. Gomamon: (teary) Tentomon said we could use the TV to contact you guys.... Jou: (holds up his Digivice to show Gomamon) Yeah, I got your signal.

Armadimon turns up his nose and looks away from Iori.

Armadimon: I bet if I sent out an SOS Signal, Iori wouldn't come for me dagyaa! Iori: Eh? Tailmon: What are you sulking about, Armadimon?

He's still mad that Iori dumped him for kendo. While Armadimon's sulking, Jou pets Gomamon's head, examining his injuries.

Jou: What happened to you? You're covered in wounds. Gomamon: It was him. That scumbag, the Digimon Kaiser!

In the dub:

Yolei: Rgh... rgh... It won't open! ACK!!! (Yolei accidentally drops the pack and melts part of the snow) Yolei: Joe, look! Joe: Huh? WHOA, GOMAMON!!! (The kids unbury Gomamon) Joe: Gomamon, speak to me! Gomamon: (comes to) ...Joe.... Joe: What day of the week is it? Gomamon: ...it's Saturday.... Joe: Actually, it's Thursday. But you never did know the day, so you're back to your old self! Gomamon: I heard from Tentomon that we could use that TV to contact you if we were in trouble. Joe: (holds up his Digivice to show Gomamon) Boy, looks like you're gonna wipe out my whole first aid kit. Armadillomon: I always get misty at happy reunions. I actually think I'm gonna cry. Gatomon: Don't! Your tears will turn to icicles. (Joe pets Gomamon and inspects him) Joe: You really look terrible, Gomamon. But I mean that in a nice way. Gomamon: I picked a fight with the wrong guy: the Digimon Emperor.

So, the good: Joe and Gomamon are cracking jokes but you can still feel the strength of their bond here. They also don't try to downplay the severity of Gomamon's injuries, with Joe's "first aid kit" remark playing off of his "emergency supplies" mention earlier.

For the bad: Yeah, they are whole-ass deleting the conflict between Iori and Armadimon. Carrying on from the exuberance he showed earlier, Armadimon feeling butthurt because Iori went to kendo has been stricken from the script entirely.

While they're having this moment, Daisuke notices the Dark Tower in the distance.

Daisuke: He built a tower over here too? Jou: A what? Hikari: A tower built by the Digimon Kaiser. Takeru: In the area surrounding the tower, the Digimon are fitted with rings called Evil Rings that make them obey the Digimon Kaiser. Hikari: And they can't evolve. Daisuke: DAMN IT!!! We have to destroy it! Hikari: But we'll have to cross this snowfield to reach it. Takeru: It'll be difficult to trek through all this.

Love Daisuke's passion. He already knows all this but hearing it said out loud still gets him fired up.

Koushiro can be forgiven for failing to brief Jou on this part. It's a recent discovery.

In the dub:

Davis: He's built another Control Spire here too! Joe: What's that? Kari: It's the Digimon Emperor's secret weapon! T.K.: He hunts down Digimon and puts these Dark Rings around them, turning them into his slaves! And the Control Spires supply the power to those rings. Kari: And no one can Digivolve. Davis: DUDE!!! I'm gonna rip it down! Kari: But we're gonna have to cross this ice if we hope to get close enough to destroy it. T.K.: Now I know what Matt means when he says I'm walking on thin ice.

Ba-dum tish. This is pretty good. I also had a laugh at the usage of "DUDE" for the line's expletive. They should have everyone shout "DUDE" every time the Japanese script curses. XD

Alright, we need to get across. Fortunately, Miyako has a plan.

Miyako: Did you bring any skis or skates? Jou: (embarrassed) I wasn't that thorough....

Miyako's plan has failed. Daisuke, ideas?

Daisuke: Jou-san! Do you have rope? Jou: Eh!?

V-mon, Hawkmon, and Armadimon knock down trees for resources. The children lash them together with rope, creating a makeshift sled. They tie the five Partners who aren't beat to shit to it.

Daisuke: Whew. Alright! It's done! Miyako: This should be fast. Daisuke: Right, we're counting on you guys now! Armadimon: We'll push through this (ganbaru) and destroy that tower! Hawkmon: Well said! Iori: (smiling) Thank you, Armadimon. Armadimon: (turns away) Hmph.

Yep, he's still mad.

The team piles onto the sled, and Daisuke gives the command.

Daisuke: GO!!!

In the dub:

Yolei: Did you bring any skates? We need six pairs. Joe: Heh, sorry, I'm all out. Davis: Hey, Joe! Do you have any rope? Joe: Yeah? (The team constructs their sled) Davis: Whew! Well, that's done. Yolei: What a great sled! Davis: Now all we have to do is go for a ride! Armadillomon: That's easy for you to say. We're pullin'. Hawkmon: (pouting) I'm no dog.... Cody: Come on, guys! We're counting on you! Armadillomon: (turns away) ... Patamon: Okay! (Everyone gets on the sled) Davis: Now, mush!

This time, to disguise the conflict they removed between Iori and Armadimon, the dub has the Digimon be mad that the inconsiderate humans are using them as sled dogs.

As the Chosen Children make their way to the tower, their arrival doesn't go unnoticed. Over at the prison construction site, Wormmon reports in to the Kaiser.

Kaiser: They're here!? Wormmon: (nod)

Not just here, but coming in at breakneck speed thanks to Daisuke's ingenious plan.

Daisuke: (English) YAHOO!!! Miyako: Faster! Faster!

As they approach the Dark Tower, a line of Yukidarumon standing guard come into view. Daisuke and Miyako are having too much fun to realize what they're seeing, but Hikari and Takeru behind them are visibly on guard.

Miyako: Are those snowmen? There's so many! So cute! Takeru: (serious) No, those are....

Once they're close enough, the Yukidarumon's legs come into view. Each one wearing an Evil Ring as an anklet. While Miyako and Daisuke suddenly realize their mistake, we go to commercial.

Hey, they were being optimistic. It would be nice if these were just playful snowmen that the Kaiser's forces had made in their spare time.

In the dub:

Emperor: So they're here!? Wormmon: Mhm. (The sled shoots across the tundra) Davis: Go, Veemon! Yolei: What a way to travel! (The Yukidarumon come into view) Patamon: Uh-oh. We've got visitors. Yolei: Oh look, snowmen! How cute! T.K.: No, they're Frigimon. But what's that around their legs?

Technically we're the visitors, Patamon. They're stationed here.

This time, it's T.K.'s turn to be optimistic. He was hoping that it's fun jewelry. It is not. It is the least fun that jewelry can ever be.

Coming back from commercial, the Digimon Kaiser watches the sled approach from a nearby hill.

Kaiser: Fire!

On his command, the Yukidarumon unload, throwing punches into the air that send waves of frost towards the sled.

Yukidarumon is an Adult-stage Vaccine-attribute Ice and Snow Digimon. We met one of them on File Island previously. After being freed from their Black Gear, they helped Taichi cross island fragments to reunite with Yamato. He had to spend a night sleeping on Yukidarumon's frozen shoulder while they crossed part of the ocean.

They later joined Mimi's army to fight in the last battle at the end of their world.

Narrator: Yukidarumon! An Adult-stage Digimon with a warm heart who typically avoids fighting. They freeze their opponent with their immensely destructive Zettaireido Punch!

A rare case of an attack name that's partially in Japanese. 絶対零度 Zettaireido means "Absolute Zero".

Under enemy fire, the Partner Digimon move in a zigzag pattern to evade the Yukidarimon's shots. One shot cuts it too close and blasts snow in Daisuke's face.

Daisuke: You...! Jou: We can escape by maintaining our speed and sliding through between them. Daisuke: Escape!? Jou: Our goal here is to destroy the tower, right? Then we'd be better off moving on than getting bogged down in fighting here. Daisuke: Oh! Got it. Takeru: Guys, give it everything you've got! Digimon: RAAAAAAGH!!!

No argument from Daisuke this time. We have a good reason to avoid combat and he accepts it without making a fuss. He's learned his lesson from last episode.

In the dub:

Emperor: Attack! (The Frigimon fire) Emperor: (rundown) Freeze them, Frigimon, with your Sub-Zero Ice Punch! It's amazing how these docile creatures can be turned into such abominable snowmen.

Very flavorful and hits the key point that the Frigimon are typically peaceful creatures. A+

(The Digimon dodge shots until Davis gets snow in his face) Davis: That's cold! Joe: Forget about the Frigimon! They're not very fast! We can outrun them! Davis: What!? Joe: Our mission is to destroy the Control Spire, right? So it's better to keep going than to waste time fighting! Davis: But they're attacking us! T.K.: Joe's right! Run past them! Digimon: (various tired exertion noises)

Davis, on the other hand, has learned nothing.

Just as Jou planned, they shoot straight through the gap in the Yukidarumon blockade and keep right on going.

Miyako: We're in the clear! Daisuke: Piece of cake! Kaiser: Aim for those hills!

On command, the Yukidarumon fire over the Chosen Children's heads. Their shots collide with a snowy hillside.

Daisuke: (triumphant) Where were you even aiming!?

He finds out pretty quick, as their shots dislodge an avalanche of snow coming straight at the Chosen Children's sled.

Daisuke: TURN!!!

A sharp left turn takes them away from the avalanche, but leaves them headed straight for a ravine.

Daisuke: JUMP!!!

The Digimon make it across but the sled nearly doesn't. It takes all the team can muster to pull it up.

In the dub:

Yolei: Alright! Davis: We made it through! Emperor: Aim for that hill! (The Frigimon shoot at the hillside) Davis: They missed us by a mile! (Avalanche) Davis: WHOA!!! IT'S AN AVALANCHE!!! (The sled turns) Kids: (miscellaneous shouting) (They jump the ravine)

Davis doesn't shout in-the-moment commands to guide the sled in this version.

The team makes it over the ravine but they aren't out of the woods yet. Past the ravine, another cliff comes up fast, this one opening out into open water. The sled turns too sharply, nearly upending it. Not everyone manages to hang on.

Most of the kids hang on, but Iori plunges into the icy waters below.

Daisuke: IORI!!! Gomamon: I've got him!

Gomamon leaps from the sled to follow Iori down and rescue him.

(Incidentally, Hikari/Takeru shippers will probably be happy to know that Takeru hangs on to Hikari to keep her from falling at both cliffsides. It's easy to miss because it happens in brief frames of animation.)

Taking shelter in a cave, the team makes a fire to warm Iori up. Armadimon watches Iori with concern while Jou brings him some medicine.

Armadimon: Iori.... Jou: I also have some cold medicine. You should take it. Iori: Yes, thank you. Miyako: (impressed) Senpai came really prepared! Hikari: What do we do now? Iori-kun can't move like this. Takeru: The rest of us will go! Group: Mhm! Daisuke: Yeah!

In the dub:

(Cody falls) Gomamon: I'll save him! (They warm Cody up in the cave) Armadillomon: Warmin' up yet? Joe: Drink this herbal tea. It's 10% herbal and 90% tea. Cody: Thanks a lot, Joe! Yolei: Boy, that Joe really comes prepared. Kari: That's nothing. Wait until you see him during hay fever season. T.K.: We'll have to leave Cody here. Group: Mhm. Davis: WHAT!?!?

Davis inexplicably has a problem with this plan despite having nodded his approval a second ago.

Joe offers Cody herbal tea instead of medicine. There are some herbal teas that are really good for easing cold symptoms.

Kari makes a self-referential quip about the dub's overuse of "Joe's allergies" for comedy in the first anime.

Alright, we have a plan. Everyone's on board, right?

Jou: I'll stay here to look after Iori-kun. Takeru: Thank you. Iori: I'm going too! Takeru: Eh!? Iori: I had to cut my practice short to come here! I won't be able to face my grandfather if I don't do this. Hikari: That's too much to ask of you. Jou: It would be better to let the others handle it. Armadimon: That's right dagyaa. Iori, your wellbeing is more important dagyaa. Iori: Armadimon... Very well, I'll wait here. Daisuke: Leave it to us. We'll smash that tower to pieces!

Just like that, the team sets off, leaving Iori behind with Jou.

In the dub:

Joe: T.K.'s right. I'll stay back here and take care of Cody. T.K.: Thanks, Joe. Cody: I'm going too! T.K.: Huh? Cody: My grandfather told me if I rely on myself and try my hardest, I won't let any of you down! Kari: You're not letting us down. Joe: And besides, you'll need to conserve your strength. Armadillomon: That's right, Cody. We've got a long fight ahead, so we're gonna need you! Cody: I guess you're right... I'll wait here. Don't be gone long! Davis: We'll be back. Quicker than you can say Digimon Emperor!

...what long fight do we have ahead? The fight is where the rest of the team is going. Once they knock down the Control Spire, the Digimon Emperor will lose all forces in the region.

Armadillomon, have you been peeking at the script? Or are he and Joe gaslighting Cody into thinking there'll be more mission after this?

The changes to Cody's episode plot rear their head again here. Iori is upset at being left behind because if he doesn't contribute then he walked out on Chikara for nothing. Cody is upset because he has inadequacy issues and fears disappointing the group.

While the rest of the team takes off on the sled, Jou and Iori sit by the fire with Armadimon and Gomamon for a heart-to-heart.

Jou: Are you okay? Iori: Sorry about that.... Armadimon: Iori, I shouldn't have said that stuff earlier. You left halfway through kendo practice? Iori: That's okay, Armadimon. I wanted to come. Jou: I skipped out on a proficiency test at cram school today. But it can't be helped, because this is what I wanted to do. We're called Chosen Children but, the truth is, we're the ones who have to choose what we should do; What we want to do. Iori: Jou-san....

Iori seems touched by Jou's words, but there's no time to dwell on that 'cause a tremor suddenly rocks the cave. Jou leaps to his feet.

Jou: WHAT THE--!?!?

Scurrying out into the snow, the boys find the Digimon Kaiser waiting for them with (ohhhh my god) beachside marine Digimon Shellmon beside him. Shellmon has a visible Evil Ring around their right bicep.

Shellmon is an Adult-stage Data-attribute Mollusk Digimon. We met one of them on File Island near the very start of the Chosen Children's adventure. They'd made the area around a set of confusing phone booths into their territory.

Kaiser: Huhuhuhu.... Narrator: Shellmon! A primitive Digimon shaped like a hermit crab. Their Hydro Pressure sprays fluid with enough pressure to shatter boulders!

Oh boy, I do not love that the substance Shellmon sprays is not described as water.

In the dub:

Joe: Are you okay? Cody: A little tired. Armadillomon: Me too! I could really use a little nap. I vote we take this opportunity to get some shut-eye! Cody: I couldn't sleep! I feel I should be out there helping the others! Joe: I know exactly what you're feeling. I used to feel that way too, but I thought it was nausea. And then I slowly began to realize something. All of us are here for a reason. There's a big picture that we can't see yet, and I don't mean a widescreen TV. So us staying behind is for a reason! Cody: But what...? (Earthquake; The boys rush outside) Emperor: Huhuhuhuhu.... Emperor: (rundown) Meet my newest slave, Shellmon. His Aqua Blaster attack shoots water so hard, it can demolish solid rock.

Excepting the rundown, this could not be further from script if it tried. First, because the episode deleted Armadimon and Iori's conflict, it also has to delete their reconciliation. Armadillomon is given throwaway dialogue to set up Cody and Joe's talk instead.

Jou's heart-to-heart with Iori was about personal agency. It ties directly into Yamato, Sora, Jou, and Mimi's portion of the first show's final arc. He's passing down the wisdom he learned from those events directly.

Joe makes the exact opposite point that Jou did. We have no choices, we have no control, we are merely the tools of a greater destiny. This is Joe's answer to Cody's feelings of inadequacy. We were all put here for a reason and you just need to have faith that destiny will play out for you.

Which then segues directly into the Emperor's arrival. Implicitly, "Destiny has placed us here so that we may play our role in the grand design of our team's victory." Like, the message does flow pretty well within the episode itself.

It's also about as far from "You have to be the one to decide what you should be doing, what you want to do," as physically possible. And also I have a personal grievance with "Jesus, Take the Wheel" as a philosophy. As a point of personal taste, I don't like teaching children that they are not the arbiters of their lives but merely exist in deference to higher authority, with no true control over what they do. So the dub's version of this rubs me the wrong way.

Even if it's well-executed (and it is), rewriting the episode to sell zero-agency fatalism as a cure for insecurity was never going to sit well with me. It's well-fitted, but I do not like this.

In any case, moving along. The Digimon Kaiser has made a grievous tactical error, and it falls to Jou and Iori to punish his mistake.

Kaiser: I hope you don't think that you can escape from me.

Jou casts a look at the Dark Tower, standing tall in the distance, then whispers to Gomamon.

Jou: Gomamon, we need to stall him here while Takeru-kun's team destroys the tower. I'm sorry, I know you're still injured, but I need you to prolong this fight for as long as possible. Gomamon: Got it.

Gomamon hops down from Jou's arms and pads across the snow, calling out to Shellmon.

Gomamon: HEY, SHELLMON!!! COME AND GET ME!!!

Shellmon's happy to acquiesce, raising their giant hand and slapping it down where Gomamon was standing. Gomamon hops backward to evade.

Jou: (thinking) Takeru-kun, Hikari-chan, hurry and get to that tower!

...Armadimon and Iori, meanwhile, hug each other uselessly by Jou's side. Armadimon's in fine condition but sure, let's make Gomamon fight Shellmon.

I understand the reasoning of not wanting to Armor Evolve and trash Shellmon. We're trying to hold the Kaiser's attention here, so winning right away would be as bad as losing right away. But we could at least put in a Digimon who isn't beat half to death.

In the dub:

Emperor: It appears I've discovered your secret little hideout. (Joe glances at the tower) Joe: Gomamon! Now I know the reason we were supposed to stay behind: So the others can have time to destroy the Spire. I need you to create a diversion. Keep him busy with some of that great Gomamon charm of yours. Gomamon: Gotcha! (Gomamon approaches Shellmon) Gomamon: Why did one Shellmon take the other Shellmon's lunch? Because it was shellfish! (Shellmon tries to crush Gomamon) Gomamon: I guess you heard that one already! Joe: (thinking) That's the great Gomamon charm!?

Joe's newfound fatalism shows up here again, and I still don't like it.

Gomamon trying to wow Shellmon with dad jokes instead of stall out the fight arguably works better than the original, because it sidesteps the question of "Wait, why aren't we sending Armadimon in instead?" Could Armadillomon crack wise like Gomamon? I think not!

The other team's closing in on the Dark Tower, but the Yukidarumon have regrouped and formed a new barricade in front of it.

Daisuke: This time, we fight! Let's go, V-mon! V-mon: Yeah! Daisuke: DIGIMENTAL UP!!!

Fladramon armors up and engages. Three of the Yukidarumon let off shots of their Zettaireido Punch. Fladramon hurdles their shots and returns fire. The triple projectiles from his Knuckle Fire hit home, knocking the three foes off their feet.

In the dub:

Davis: Time to get down to business! Veemon, let's do it! Veemon: Mm! Davis: DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!!!

Over at the other fight, Gomamon's still holding the line by dodging Shellmon's crushes.

Jou: KEEP GOING (ganbarre) GOMAMON!!! Iori: Armadimon. Armadimon: Iori. Iori: DIGIMENTAL UP!!!

A minor detail that's easy to overlook but more visible here is that Jou has a reassuring and/or guiding hand gripping Iori's shoulder. Ever the senpai.

Clad in his armor, Digmon catches Shellmon's hand moments before it can come down on Gomamon. An animation error clones Shellmon's hand, causing it to exist in simultaneous quantum states of reaching for Digmon while also closed around Digmon.

Jou: Is that Armor Evolution!? (Digmon catches Shellmon's hand) Digmon: GOMAMON, MOVE!!! Gomamon: Thanks!

Get out of there, Gomamon. Shellmon is so determined to punish you for your dub counterpart's dad joke that they sprouted new limbs to do it with. XD

In the dub:

Gomamon: You have no sense of humor! Joe: Try the knock-knock jokes!

Bit too late for that. Shellmon's more into slapstick.

Cody: (to Armadillomon) Are you ready? Armadillomon: You bet. Cody: DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!!! (Armadillomon Armor Digivolves) Joe: Armor, huh? Not bad! (Digmon catches Shellmon's hand) Digmon: URGH!!! Gomamon: Thanks, Digmon! Digmon: You're welcome!

Good news, Gomamon's out of there. Bad news, Digmon's in there and getting crushed. Worse news, Jou's so awestruck by Armor Evolution that he's let go of Iori.

I'm gonna have to take back that Senpai Cookie, Jou, as Iori steps out into the danger zone out of concern for Partner.

Iori: Digmon...

Shellmon changes tactics suddenly. Letting go of Digmon, they lower their head and prepare to fire their signature non-water fluids.

Jou: LOOK OUT!!!

Digmon throws himself on top of Iori just before Shellmon fires, taking the force of Hydro Pressure to his back.

Digmon: I will protect you, Iori dagyaa.

The Digimon Kaiser watches this display of affection coldly and dispassionately. But, at his feet, Wormmon's eyes quiver with emotion from the strength of the bond he's seeing.

Shellmon slams their hand down on Digmon's back again and again, but Digmon weathers each hit. Unfaltering in his determination to protect his Partner.

In the dub:

Cody: Hey... Leave him alone.... Shellmon: AQUA BLASTERS!!! Joe: CODY!!! (Digmon takes the hit for Cody) Digmon: Don't worry, Cody! I'll proteck you! Emperor: Rrgh! Wormmon: Mrr....

Digmon mispronounces "protect" and it's super noticeable. XD In his defense, he's under pressure right now.

Shellmon calls their attack in this version. Additionally, the Emperor and Wormmon both vocalize noises rather than silently watching.

Cutting back momentarily to the Tower team, Fladramon knocks down three more Yukidarumon with a second shot of Knuckle Fire.

Fladramon: KNUCKLE FIRE!!! Daisuke: Get 'em! Takeru: Fire attacks are very effective against Yukidarumon. We should leave this part to Daisuke-kun. Hikari: We can take to the air and destroy the tower from there. Miyako: Got it.

While they're making plans, Digmon's had enough time to devise a plan of his own.

Clutching Iori to his chest with his scoops, Digmon times his moment. When Shellmon raises their hand for another slam, Digmon rolls onto his back and fires three drills, aiming for the arm that keeps slamming down on him.

Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!!

The rockets break through the Evil Ring, releasing Shellmon from the Kaiser's control.

Jou & Gomamon: YOU DID IT!!!

The dub censors out most of Shellmon's slam. They slam their hand down on Digmon's back five times, with the last two cutting to a closeup of Iori lying under Digmon and watching helplessly. The dub lets Shellmon do one before cutting away.

Flamedramon: FLAMEDRAMON, THE FIRE OF COURAGE!!! Davis: Strike three! T.K.: Flamedramon can handle the Frigimon by himself so it's up to us to destroy the Spire. Kari: Okay, but I think we're gonna have to do it from the air. Yolei: Got it.

They played the wrong stock audio clip for Flamedramon's attack. Man, everybody is fucking up left and right for this third act. International clown show.

More censorship when we cut back to Digmon. Shellmon gets another five slams in before Digmon counters, with the first two coming during the same closeup shot of Iori. The dub lets them have none, instead splicing in a single straining reaction of Digmon tanking the Aqua Blasters to replace all shots.

The impression the dub creates is that Shellmon simply grabbed Digmon and is pinning him to the ground. Why Shellmon suddenly lets go of Digmon is anyone's guess.

Digmon: Hold on tight, Cody! (Shellmon lets go and Digmon rolls onto his back, then fires) Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!! (Gold Rush destroys Shellmon's Dark Ring) Joe & Gomamon: ALRIGHT!!!

In any case, it's over. Shellmon's defeated and--

AND THEN THERE'S THIS ASSHOLE

With zero warning, a new contender explodes from the water. This is a new one. Ebidramon is an Adult-stage Data-attribute Aquatic Digimon. First introduced in the Sega Saturn's "Version S", Ebidramon was then added in the .5 update for the Deep Savers V-Pet.

Their name is derived from 海老 ebi, which means shrimp, lobsters, prawn... that whole category of shellfish. And, of course, they are a dramon. The Lobster Dragon Digimon. Crayfish dragon? Crawdragon!

Narrator: Ebidramon! Though small in stature, they still possess the tremendous attack power typical of the dramon class. Their special attack is a rushing charge with both pincers called Twin Neptune! Kaiser: Crush them, Ebidramon!

Before Digmon knows what's happening, Ebidramon clamps their pincers down on his neck and nose drill. Ebdramon then lunges backwards, yanking Digmon into the water with them. He's gone in seconds.

Jou and Iori race to the water's edge, but they're gone. Sinking into the depths, already out of sight.

Iori: DIGMON!!! Jou: If only Gomamon could evolve... Oh, why haven't they brought down the tower yet!?

As if on cue, Hikari, Takeru, and Miyako close in on the Tower. Nefertimon's Curse of the Queen, pronounced correctly this time, softens up the metal or stone or whatever it's made of near the base.

Pegasmon follows up with Needle Rain, pummeling chunks out of the softened material until his needles have carved out a sizable chunk.

Then Horusmon finishes the job. The red crescent blade of his Mach Impulse cuts through the weakened base, bringing the tower toppling to the ground.

Jou: It's coming down! Now you'll be able to evolve! Gomamon: Yeah! Kaiser: What!? Wormmon: The other ones must have destroyed the tower. Kaiser: YOU SHUT UP!!!

Operation Mordor was a triumphant success, and the Kaiser's livid about it. I love Wormmon's matter-of-fact explanation. I wonder if he'd already considered that this might be happening but kept his mouth shut to avoid invoking Ken-chan's ire?

It needs to be said that, mechanically, our situation right now makes zero sense based on previously established information. Even with the Dark Tower destroyed, it only acts as a transmitter for the Dark Digivice's power. The Kaiser should have that in his pocket, and thus still be able to suppress Gomamon's evolution.

But also Ebidramon's Evil Ring should be falling off, making it a moot point. Unless the Dark Digivice is sustaining that too. But if it is, then why isn't it suppressing Gomamon's evolution?

That we still need to defeat Ebidramon but the Kaiser can't stop Gomamon from evolving is... confusing.

In the dub:

Emperor: (rundown) No problem. I'm never out of ideas or slaves. Ebidramon here uses his Twin Scissors attack to crush the enemy like a snail. Emperor: Ebidramon, destroy them all! (Ebidramon pulls Digmon into the water) Cody: DIGMON!!!

The dub puts its last commercial break here, as we watch Digmon sink into the depths. Good spot for it.

Joe: If there were some way you were able to Digivolve... What's taking them so long with that Spire!?

As usual, Needle Rain and Mach Impulse are rebranded as Star Shower and Tempest Wing. Curiously, Curse of the Queen is rebranded as nothing. Nefertimon fires without calling any attack.

Joe: They did it! They destroyed the Control Spire! Now you can Digivolve! Emperor: What!? Wormmon: He said, "They destroyed the Control Spire. Now you can Digivolve." Emperor: It's just a figure of speech!

Not quite as on-the-nose about the way Joe and Cody played the Emperor like a fiddle just now, or how pissed off the Kaiser is about it.

Well, you heard the man. Gomamon SHINKAAAAAA!!!

Deep beneath the waves, Ebidramon has one pincer still gripping the drowning Digmon by the neck while the other bashes on his skull. Ikkakumon descends, jamming his horn into the base of the pincer and prying Digmon free.

Digmon and Ikkakumon return to the surface, but Ebidramon pursues Ikkakumon to retaliate.

Digmon: OVER HERE!!!

When Ebidramon turns to face him, Digmon fires.

Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!!

Digmon's drill missiles slam into Ebidramon's forehead, ricocheting off without detonating but stunning them from force of impact.

Iori: GREAT JOB!!! Jou: FINISH IT, IKKAKUMON!!! Ikkakumon: HARPOON VULCAN!!!

Ebidramon barely manages to recover from the last attack before Ikkakumon's missile strikes the top of their head. They're swept up in a massive, battle-ending explosion, never to be seen again.

...

...

Wait, did we just kill that guy?

The. The ring was on their upper right arm, like Shellmon. But this is the last we see of Ebidramon so... we may have just killed that guy.

We'll. Uh. We'll hope for the best.

In the dub:

(Ikkakumon frees Digmon and everyone surfaces) Digmon: Now it's my turn! (Ebidramon turns to look) Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!! (Direct hit) Cody: YOU'VE GOT HIM!!! Joe: FINISH HIM, IKKAKUMON!!! Ikkakumon: HARPOON TORPEDO!!!

I think we killed Ebidramon in the dub too. I'm putting this on both versions of Jou getting a little bloodthirsty. Force of habit.

Once Ebidramon's fucking dead I guess, the Kaiser again quietly pisses off. Probably hightailed it out of there when he realized Jou's not playing. He will send your ass back to the Village of Beginnings. He does not give a fuck.

The children return to the Gate to unpack.

Jou: Well, Gomamon, this area is yours. Gomamon: Yeah, I'll be in charge of protecting this area from now on. Jou: If anything like this happens again, I'll come right away. Gomamon: Sounds good. Takeru: In that case, let's head home.

It's a good idea, but not quite yet. There is something that Iori has to take care of first.

Iori: Um, this has been bothering me for a while.... Jou: What is it, Iori-kun? Iori: One more time. My name is Hida Iori.

Iori bows respectfully to Jou, completing his introduction.

Daisuke: It's a little late to be giving introductions! Iori: No, once you start something, it's important that you see it through to the end. Hikari: Iori-kun is so conscientious and honest, just like Jou-san! Takeru: He also has an insatiable thirst for knowledge, like Koushiro-san. Jou: One person to fill two roles. What a dependable kouhai! Iori: (blushing) Daisuke: (teasing) Yup, so dependable!

Laying it on a little thick, guys. XD We get it, the new kids are each successors to two separate Chosen Children.

In the dub:

Joe: Alright, Gomamon, you're in charge here now. Gomamon: (sarcastic) Great, a frozen wasteland. Just what I always wanted. Joe: At least you'll have plenty of time to practice your jokes. Gomamon: Very funny. T.K.: I guess we'd better be heading back home.

Dub Joe and Gomamon have a very different relationship from what Jou and Gomamon have, but you can still feel the affection all the same.

Cody: Before we go, there's one thing I just have to finish. Joe: Oh, really? What's that? Cody: Our introduction. Hello, my name's Cody. (Cody bows respectfully) Davis: I don't get it, Cody. What's the big deal? Cody: My grandfather says that, next to prune juice, manners are the most important thing a man can have. Davis: Ehehe.... Kari: You know, Cody reminds me an awful lot of Joe. He's always honest and sticks to the rules! T.K.: I think he reminds me of Izzy. Just loaded with curiosity! Joe: Part Izzy and part me? That's a scary combination! Davis: He's got a split personality!

Pretty good. I will say that Cody's response doesn't really address Davis's point adequately. Though Davis also doesn't quite convey his objection very well either. Daisuke is specifically confused because we're well beyond the point where an introduction would make sense, but Iori feels he has to go through the formality nonetheless because it's something he's been trying to do.

This plays into the incident with his mom's ohagi and the kendo incident today. This is how Iori thinks. He is a ball in motion. It doesn't matter if the gesture is unnecessary. It's a matter of principle. He must complete the task he set out to do, regardless of whether that task is even beneficial to anyone anymore. He is a child of obligation.

Cody says he needed to do it because of good manners, but this fails to suitably answer the question, "What's the point of doing it now?" A question that Davis only sort of asks anyway so... Again, this flows okay, but it's a pale imitation of the original dialogue.

My other nitpick is that the erasure of Cody's first attempt at introducing himself means we violated Rule of Three. This isn't something he's been repeatedly thwarted in. But it is still something he started and was interrupted during, so it still works.

From his control room, the Digimon Kaiser watches that black square turn white. (Must have been some lag.) He grips the arms of his chair angrily.

Kaiser: The area I just captured... Well then, let's change things up a bit, Wormmon. What do you think our next step should be? Wormmon: ... Kaiser: Wormmon! Wormmon: You said not to talk. Kaiser: ANSWER THE QUESTIONS YOU'RE ASKED!!! Wormmon: AHHHH I'M SORRY!!!

In Wormmon's defense, this is new. The Kaiser has barely acknowledged his existence since episode 1. Hikari's team must have him rattled if he's looking to Wormmon for ideas.

Speaking of whom, the Chosen Children return to Computer Club.

Daisuke: Serves the Digimon Kaiser right! He must be losing his mind over the liberation of an area he just conquered! Hikari: And we're only getting started. Iori: Jou-san, I hope you'll come here again. Jou: Yeah, my Digimental is sure to turn up at some point, so I'll make sure to drop by. Iori: Also, please come by my house sometime. I think my grandfather would be pleased to meet you. Jou: Is that right? In that case-- Hikari: (appearing out of nowhere) I WANT TO GO TOO!!! I've heard your ohagi is ama~azing.... Daisuke: (appearing out of nowhere) If Hikari-chan goes then I'm going too! Hikari: You can't, Daisuke-kun! Daisuke: Ehh!? (whining) But whyyyyy.... Hikari: Because you and Chibimon would eat my portion too! Daisuke: Chibimon, you can't come. Chibimon: EHHHH!?!? THAT'S SO MEAN, DAISUKE!!! Iori: Um, I can ask my mother to make enough for everyone. Miyako: In that case, I'm going too! Takeru: Me too! Daisuke: Eh!? Takeru too!?

We leave off the episode here, on this unmitigated disaster that's about to be unleashed on Iori's poor mother. She does not deserve this.

In the dub:

Emperor: Blast! They've destroyed another Control Spire! And that was a freshly-conquered area, too! Alright, then. I'll just have to go to Plan B! ...Wormmon, what is Plan B? Wormmon: ... Emperor: Well!? Wormmon: We can all become friends? Emperor: THAT'S NOT PLAN B, YOU FOOL!!! Wormmon: Don't blame me; I can't spell!

Because the dub's been having the Emperor treat Wormmon as a toadie all series, the impact of him suddenly acknowledging Wormmon isn't going to land here. So they pragmatically swap out the "SHUT UP" "You told me not to talk" gag for a different gag. The new bit features a genuinely adorable moment of optimism from the poor long-suffering Wormmon.

I love both versions of this scene.

Davis: I bet he's home crying. "Mommy, those mean kids broke another one of my Spires! Wahhhh!" Kari: The fight's not over yet. Cody: Joe, will you come back and fight with us again? Joe: Sure. Who knows, maybe I'll even find a Digi-Egg of my own someday. But I have to watch my cholesterol.

I had to google the relationship between eating eggs and high cholesterol in order to get that. But Joe is an aspiring doctor so it's just like him to make inscrutable medical jokes that no one around him gets.

Cody: I was wondering if you'd like to come over to my house sometime. I think you'd like my grandfather and I know he'd like you. Joe: Sure, I love prune juice. Kari: (appearing out of nowhere) Is it okay if I come over too? I would just love meeting your grandfather! Davis: (appearing out of nowhere) If Kari's going, I'm going too! Kari: Do you always have to do everything I do? Davis: But you and I are partners! Kari: Sorry, Davis, but you already have a partner. Davis: Uh, you mean him? DemiVeemon: Yeah! You got a problem with that!? Davis: Ugh, it's just not the same.... Everyone: Hahahahahahaha! Narrator: Where will the Digimon Emperor build his next Control Spire? Find out on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters!

This banter's a lot more playful in the original, where the whole time gradually dogpiles on Iori's family ohagi. The dub version is a steady dunk on Davis for his (and Daisuke's) flirtations with Hi/Kari.

Including yet another clear and firm rejection of Davis's affections that he will ignore, as opposed to Hikari who seems to appreciate Daisuke's friendship and tends to tiptoe around the elephant in the room.

Hikari's attitude towards Daisuke tends to be... Like, she has to know. There's no way she's oblivious, with how thick he lays it on. But I think she's trying to gently avoid getting caught up in a situation where they need to actually have it out. She's trying to keep their friendship where it is without having to reject Daisuke's feelings to his face and risk breaking their relationship entirely. Silently pleading with him not to pursue this and the complications it would bring.

That's the impression I get.

Whereas Kari is very much, "Ugh, it's this asshole again." She's being harassed and she wants it to stop, but Davis won't take no for an answer.

Assessment: Once again, we have destroyed a Dark Tower and set free the Digimon that the Kaiser had enslaved. Except Ebidramon. Fuck that guy in particular, apparently.

Man, this episode went to fuck in its final act. Animation errors, dubbing errors, plot inconsistencies, and also we killed that guy. I haven't seen shit this messy since that time the dub team accidentally let random children playing in the studio get dubbed over the footage.

I definitely didn't appreciate Iori enough as a kid. I remembered him as the forgettable other new kid, but he has a wealth of personality and identity. Reminiscent of Jou and Koushiro but in ways that make him distinct and unique.

Not sure if neurodivergent or just overly well-mannered but this poor kid's trapped in a cage forged from his own neuroses.

And now... I'm hyped for next episode 'cause pattern recognition says it's time for...!

[sinsandsweetness]

I adore your mood boards. And honestly your guts to post all of the smutty goodness that you post. I still do some thing’s anonymously just because my anxiety. But anyways, someone posted an ask and a response fic to it in a different fandom and I just…. Guh. I have to send this to you. and

the boys… (yeah the boys: Rick, Daryl, Shane, Merle, Negan) catch you masturbating. In their shirt, or in their vest, shorts, or their bed, or in their truck, etc. how would they react? I’m curious to see the scenario. Or have I asked this before? I send in so many asks I’m surprised you aren’t sick of me already…. 🫣☠️

Or, their reactions to being referred to as, “My boyfriend.” (Or my husband? Hmmmmm I don’t think anyone really gets married in the apocalypse they just move in and take on a last name eventually? Or is that just a Rick/Michonne thing?)

shit, I should go write my own smutty goodness, but my dopamine is so unpredictable. Ugh.

I could never get sick of you! I definitely have a few asks of yours in my inbox that I want to expand on so don’t think I’m ignoring them!

I was definitely nervous at first to post such smutty filth, but it turns out there’s a decent amount of people who seem to enjoy it. I think fanfic in general can be such a great form of escapism. Even smutty stuff can be really healing so I definitely enjoy writing no matter how “adult” the content is. I also think the wonder of Tumblr is that it still is pretty anonymous:) no one here knows me irl so that definitely helps when it comes to being open and gutsy with what I post hahah.

As far as your concepts… I love. I actually have a masturbation fic already started in my drafts so I’ll use this to answer the second half of your ask.

Here’s a quick rundown of how I think the boys would react to you calling them your “boyfriend”:

Rick: he’d get that cocky little smirk he has and wrap his arm around you even tighter. Exuding that, “Yup. that’s right. You’re mine,” kind of attitude.

Shane: I think Shane’s reaction would be really similar to Ricks, he’d look at you with a sexy little smirk. Maybe grabbing your leg under the table and giving it a nice squeeze. Hinting that he’s definitely going to make you repeat it later in the bedroom.

Daryl: I think he would freeze up a little. Like his brain would stop for a split second and he’d look all confused. Thinking to himself, “Boyfriend? Did they really just say boyfriend?”. And at the realization that yes, you did just call him your boyfriend, he’d probably blush a little. Internally having heart palpationsa but trying to play it cool and not let you or anyone else see how giddy it makes him feel.

Negan: if you called him your boyfriend I think he’d feel offended. He’d interrupt the conversation and make you repeat what you said, only correctly this time. “Sorry, uh, my husband…” you’d stammer out, biting back a smile. Secretly loving how defensive he is about the title.

Merle: I think Merle wouldn’t say anything in the moment, but when you’ve left the function or are out of earshot from whoever you were speaking to, he’d turn to you and ask “Boyfriend? Thought you said you didn’t like labels.” “Yeah, well it’s a lot easier than saying I fuck you three times a week and put up with your bullshit so… yeah. Boyfriend it is.” And he’d just laugh in agreement, wrapping an arm around you as the two of you continue to walk home.

(Also, please do write some smutty goodness. I’d be happy to read it<3 )

[godsofhumanity]

We all know what happen with Cronus and Rhea relationship, how do you think Cronus brothers treat their wives and family?

whenever i received a hc-request related to the titans, i do a little weird dance and scream inside my head because im so excited to talk about them hee hee

ok. i'm just gonna start with Kronos x Rhea to begin with, because it's been a while since i talked the Couple of the Year, and it's just easier for me to get my thoughts going. the rest of the titans follow the [read more] break... i didn't want to clog people's dashes :)

KRONOS x RHEA:

BEFORE everything went bad, BEFORE Kronos was even born (remembering that he is the youngest of the Titans, and was born last), i love the idea that Rhea herself was always a mischief maker and she naturally got along with Iapetus who was the Family Prankster (much to Oceanus' despair T-T).

so when Kronos was born, and it turned out he was even more wily and cunning than Iapetus, i think Rhea and Kronos just had a natural thing going from the start.

Rhea, to me, is super intelligent and witty. so is Kronos. so i like the idea that, in their youth, they were quite the prankster duo. Kronos would play pranks on Rhea, and Rhea would one-up him, and then Oceanus would get mad at them both.

i don't see Kronos and Rhea as being "overly romantic". Kronos doesn't call Rhea by any gushy nicknames or anything; i think they both would hate that. they'd much rather poke fun at each other and tease each other.

i think Rhea has a quick temper, and i love the idea of Kronos intentionally getting on her nerves because he thinks its cute when she gets annoyed lmfao

as a husband, i think it's far more bittersweet to imagine that Kronos was a great husband pre-insanity. he was the saviour of the Titans; the only one gutsy enough to commit patricide and save his siblings from an eternity of terror and fear, never knowing when Ouranos would one day snap and decide to shove them ALL in Tartarus.

but he wasn't only a warrior. he loved Rhea. her death is what i have previously hc'd to be the awakening point of Kronos' powers; his need to save her allows him to travel back in time and fix his mistakes. so yeah he certainly treated her well.

faultwise, i think Kronos' worst trait is that he always has this super strong, fearless exterior. so when Ouranos tells Kronos that his children will rise up and overthrow him and enslave all his siblings, Kronos DOESN'T TELL Rhea this. he doesn't want to look weak in front of her. and i think he still has this idea that he needs to protect her.

i think it's important to remember that at this time, there were NO OTHER GODS. Nyx's children were alive, but not involved in the affairs of the titans. this was the first time in history a "takeover" had occurred. no one really knew what to do. Kronos didn't know what to do. all he knew was that he was the leader, and he had to protect his siblings at all costs.

i hc that Kronos and Rhea have always wanted children; i mean, the Earth was sort of just made up of 12 Titans, 3 Hecatoncheires, 3 Cyclops, 4 absent primordials, and 1 psycho pseudo-primordial with anger management problems. so i think there was definitely a need for the Titans to have their own families to populate the place.

but when Kronos and Rhea settle down as King and Queen, and Rhea starts talking about families, Kronos just indulges her without ever acknowledging his own fears. perhaps this is partly because he doesn't want to burden her, but i also think Kronos was just naturally paranoid and feared that if he spoke his worst fears aloud, they'd come true. so he'd keep them buried until it was too late and oops, he's swallowed his kids.

i think it's a real testament to Rhea that she forgives him after losing Hestia. well, maybe not forgives him, but she moves past it. i think it shows how much trust and love she had for him.. to stick around after all of that. she truly adored him. of course, we all know how that story ends with them.. so i'll stop there. but yeah, i think pre-insanity, Kronos was a good husband and Rhea was an excellent wife. and their downfall was Kronos' inability to express every part of himself to his wife, fears included.

OCEANUS x TETHYS:

THE most unproblematic couple of all time.

Oceanus treats Tethys like,, well, a goddess.

Oceanus is the firstborn Titan. he was the guy who raised all his 11 little brothers and sisters. he fed them, clothed them, taught them, played with him, disciplined them. he was the guy who was there for the first time they cried, the first time they laughed, the first time they fought, the first time they lost. needless to say, that kinda makes a guy.... patient, kind, respectful, thoughtful.

i'm a younger sibling myself, and i know that many older siblings work their butts off to take care of their little siblings... and that can be a pain. but i love the idea that Oceanus enjoyed every second of it. it was the most IMPORTANT duty Gaia ever gave him; to look after them.

11 siblings is a lot. so i think that Oceanus never really ever had any time for himself... but when Tethys comes along, i love the idea that she is sort of the only one of her siblings who actually realises fully how much work Oceanus does for them. and she does everything she can to make his burden lighter.

Oceanus normally has a hard exterior, but i hc that with Tethys, he fully relaxes. the full range of his emotions, he shows to Tethys, who is his confidant, his other half.

i think their communication skills are soo good. that's why they last for eternity without any real fights.

obviously, after having 11 siblings, that Oceanus would have his own children, no one could doubt. he was so good at it. and of course, he does... he has like 1000s of kids hee hee.

Oceanus knows every single one of his children's names, he could recognise them by their laugh alone... i think these are the things that make him the complete opposite of Ouranos and that's SO important for his character.

fault-wise, i think maybe Oceanus' only weakness is that he's a bit over-protective. for Hera, for example, i've always liked the idea that Oceanus hates Zeus; this all makes sense, of course, when you consider Zeus' history, and also that Zeus killed Oceanus' daughter Metis. so i get it. but i also think he's like that for all of his kids... heavily scrutinising their partners etc. (see Iapetus x Asia below!) but yeah. even this "weakness" is up for debate. but i personally think Oceanus may be justified in this.

COEUS x PHOEBE:

i always hc'd Coeus as very shy and timid. he is the most intelligent of all the Titans,,, but he cannot hold a conversation to save his life.

i think Coeus was usually the victim of Iapetus and Kronos' jokes in their youth, even though he's the 2nd oldest, because he just naturally is a very passive and soft god with an aversion to fighting.

Phoebe is a lot like him, i suppose, because she's also a bit shy. but i do like the idea that Phoebe has a little more gutsiness than him when she is really pushed. she can fight, when provoked.

because of this, i truly think Phoebe is the pillar in their relationship. any doubts that Coeus has, i think he would bring it to Phoebe.

i think he would tell her almost anything... and he is inspired by her strength during the Titanomachy to also take up arms against Kronos when he goes mad.

Coeus' kids are Asteria, Leto, and Lelantos. Asteria and Leto are both quite headstrong goddesses... i think Leto, especially, is quite boisterous, which is fascinating considering Phoebe and Coeus' mild natures. but i think their children are reflections of their hidden strengths.

Coeus is a good father, i think. Phoebe is a good mother. i think all of this is attested by the kind and elegant nature of Asteria, Leto's righteousness, and Lelantos' innocence.

also, a bit unrelated i guess, but Phoebe is the kinda gal to call her husband by gooey petnames HAHA and Coeus is too shy to ever say he likes it when she does that, but he does. and she knows it. it came to her in a prophecy ;)

CRIUS x EURYBIA:

winners of the Most Enigmatic and Mysterious Couple of the Year.

Crius and Eurybia are a lot of fun to make up stuff about because there's literally no lore for either one.

Crius, to me, is quiet. but it's not because he's shy. he's just reserved. he doesn't like talking if there's no reason to talk.

yes. he hates small talk.

Eurybia, however, is the opposite! i think she talks LOADS. she loves talking. or singing. she loves asking all sorts of useless and dumb questions, especially to Crius because she knows it irritates him... she loves messing with him.

for example, Crius, as the god of the stars and constellations, is always star gazing and recording the movement of the planets, etc. and even though Eurybia knows exactly how it works (Crius has explained it to her many times, it's one of the few things he actually likes actively talking about), she'll still point at the constellation of the Ram and say, "that's the donkey one, right?" and Crius will try not to scream.

i can't remember if i wrote about how they met, but basically, i think Kronos divided the land into North, East, South and West: Coeus in the North, Iapetus in the East, Crius in the South, and Hyperion in the West. and while wandering about across his land in the South, Crius randomly came across Eurybia while she was by one of the rivers that flow through his land, and she was just so fascinating to him, and he was just so interesting to her, they just naturally clicked.

because Crius is such a reserved guy, i honestly think, Crius isn't all that forthcoming about everything. this is because Crius only says things that he deems "need to be said".

so, as Kronos' 2nd right-hand man (after Iapetus, obvs), i think Crius is privileged with a lot of information. and he doesn't share a lot of it with Eurybia, only the things that are relevant to her.

for example, Crius wouldn't tell Eurybia that Kronos locked up the Hecatoncheires (a pivotal event marking the growing paranoia of Kronos) because it doesn't have anything to do with Eurybia, but Crius does tell her of his suspicions that there is a resistance growing against Kronos, and that he feels their son Pallas is part of it (which is true) because Pallas is their son and this involves Eurybia.

for Eurybia's part, i think she has never cared much for "titan business". Eurybia, being the daughter of Gaia and Pontus, is NOT a titan. so i hc that she isn't really concerned at all about Crius' secrecy. she is aware of it, but she is 100% confident in his love for her (which is true, he does love her) and trusts him implicitly. and if she had reason to suspect that Crius was not being true to himself, only then would she confront him.

now to the children: Pallas, Astraeus, and Perses. Pallas and Perses are a lot like Crius, and Astraeus is a lot like Eurybia. Crius and Eurybia love all their children... BUT. Crius is very... stoic. i don't think he has ever actually told his children (or Eurybia for that matter) that he loves them, they all simply know it by way of his actions.

as a father, i think Crius pushes his children all the time to be the best they can be. for him, Ouranos' terror was not all that long ago. he doesn't want them to be weak and defenseless. he needs to know that they can save themselves. he also expects that they will follow Kronos as he does, because Kronos saved them all, and Crius is loyal to him.

so i think, when the war finally comes about, and Crius is fighting against Pallas and Astraeus, and not alongside them, it's a terrible betrayal for Crius. and i think he rejects them as his sons then. so not the greatest father of all time.

now Perses does fight with Crius, and he is loyal to Kronos. and i think Crius is forever wondering how things could have gone so wrong when clearly one of his sons is still loyal.

when Kronos is freed from Tartarus and becomes King of Elysium under Zeus' orders, his siblings go with him. and though things will never be the same, and Crius will never see his children again. i like the idea that in his heart, he feels pride for Pallas and Astraeus fighting for what they believed, and he forgives them.

for Eurybia, i think she has always loved and adored her husband and her children. and lets them know that every step of the way. i love the idea of her fighting alongside Crius, less because she cares about Kronos and more because she supports her husband (and also, i needed at least 1 goddess being punished in Tartarus.. there were too many men T-T). BUT. even though she has to fight her own sons, it's not a betrayal to her. she is SO proud that they stuck to their guns. that they wouldn't sacrifice their morals and beliefs just to avoid confrontation with their parents.

Eurybia fights against Pallas and Astraeus with a smile on her face, and she throws everything she has at them because, when they face her in battle, they are gods in their own right, and they are her equals. she's equally proud of Perses for staying true to what he believes in; to her, this is the most important thing in the world, to be true to yourself.

post-war, Pallas' daughter is named Bia, and i love the idea that he named her for his mother, so he definitely admired his mum and her strength. curiously, Bia ends up being a very loyal supporter of Zeus during a time that the 2nd gen. titans fall OUT with Zeus due to Prometheus being punished, so Crius' family is full of gods who put their family ties on the line to do what they think is right. which i kinda like! ((Pallas and Prometheus are the best of friends. practically brothers.))

so yeah, i think Eurybia's a different sort of mum, but i personally think she's one of the best :)

HYPERION x THEIA:

hmmm.. what to say about these two. honestly i think they're a pretty normal couple.

Theia's a goddess who loves jewels and sparkly things and i can see Hyperion always showering her with gifts. that's their love language.

they don't really have too much trouble. Hyperion isn't one of Kronos' most loyal supporters... i think if Hyperion was privy to what he had done to Rhea, Hyperion would have immediately been on Team Zeus.

in their regular life, i think both Hyperion and Theia are very good to each other. they're open with each other, and they have a lot of trust.

their children are Selene, Eos, and Helios. i think that, from all the 2nd gen. titans, these three are the most "spoiled". i truly think Hyperion is an adoring and doting father.

side-track for one sec: if you're familiar with the myth where Medea kills her own children to get revenge on Jason for marrying Creusa behind her back, you know how taboo filicide is, and YET, Helios saves his babygirl granddaughter and gives her a chariot ride away from the scene. truly Helios loved all his children and lineage. i think he HAS to get this from Hyperion, who in turn had to get it from the only father he knows: Oceanus.

also, with the way Eos casually takes the mortal prince Tithonus and others against their wills because she's in love with them.. there is a myth where she only does this because Aphrodite cursed her because of some other disagreement to have insatiable sexual desire, but even in light of this, she's definitely a girl who's used to getting what she wants.

BUT IN SAYING ALL OF THAT, i think Hyperion and Theia are good, kind people. if Hyperion and Theia learned to be good parents from Oceanus, then they had to learn his kindness too. and i do think that Selene, Eos, and Helios share this trait with them too.

in Medea's myth, i think Helios KNOWS that Medea was pushed into that horrible tragedy; she was cursed with a love spell that made her commit both patricide and fratricide for Jason, whom she never would have helped without it. and after all that, he still ditched her. so yes, i think Helios having sympathy for his granddaughter was justified.

FURTHERMORE, in Persephone's abduction myth, Hekate takes Demeter to Helios to learn where Persephone is and he tells her.. similarly, Helios tells Hephaestus about Aphrodite's affair with Ares... these are things that Helios doesn't truly have to do, but i picture him doing it with such kindness and gentleness.. i think he's a caring guy.

with Eos, i think after she gives Tithonus immortality, even though he starts to age, she still STAYS with him, and takes care of him even after her fascination with him has died... i think that is a lot more than most other gods do after playing around with their favourite mortal.

Selene is relatively problem-free (? dont quote me on that pls idk what exactly is going on with Endymion's myth HAHA) which i feel can only serve to support the idea that Hyperion's kids are PRETTY good.

so yeah. all in all. pretty good family. Hyperion (and Theia)'s biggest weakness, i think, is that they were so caught up in their own bliss, they didn't see any of the signs that could've suggested the impending doom of Kronos lurking on the horizon.

IAPETUS x ASIA:

winners of the Most Unexpected Couple of the Year.

ok so. Asia is an Oceanid. and as i already wrote before, Oceanus is fiercely protective of his children. and Iapetus... well, Iapetus is Iapetus.

i think Iapetus was a bit of a late-bloomer when it came to love. i think he was the last one of the elder Titans to marry because for the most part, he was just interested in joking around and having fun.

but after everyone starts to get married and have families, and Kronos becomes King so he doesn't have any time for trivial pranks, i think it starts to settle in with Iapetus that he needs to get along with his life.

i have a hc that Oceanus would, pre-Kronos-insanity-era, regularly hold these dinners for his siblings so that everyone would still come together with their newly established families to share meals together like they used to. and of course, that meant that all of Oceanus' children would be there too.

and i like the idea that Iapetus, ever eager for an audience to entertain, would always come up with some trick or the other to make Oceanus' children laugh. and now that Oceanus didn't really have to keep an eye over Iapetus anymore, he could afford to smile at his tricks too :)

now. i have said a few times that the gods don't age the way humans do. it's not linear. gods mature according to the needs of the time. so even though Iapetus is, technically, a lot older than Oceanus' children, he doesn't appear like it because.. as i said.. Iapetus himself wasn't really ready to settle into life and be an adult.

anyhow. Asia is one of Oceanus' sweetest daughters. her humour threshold is so LOW. she will laugh at even the worst of jokes... and Iapetus is a GOLDMINE for bad jokes. so i think, Iapetus was always guaranteed a smile and enthusiasm when he saw her.

i think Oceanus was very annoyed by this... he didn't really want one of his daughters to be hanging around with a god whom he personally knew was a bit of a no-gooder. so i think Oceanus really put Iapetus through the ringer to show that, if he was serious about Asia, he could be a good husband and treat her properly.

and through that process, i think Iapetus did mature out, and show that behind the jokes, he truly was kind and loyal, and as the Ruler of the East, he could provide a good home for Asia. and so it was!

now Iapetus definitely loved Asia. all the titans loved their wives to begin with. BUT, Iapetus' problem was Kronos.

being the right-hand man of a psycho tends to rub off on you.

i think that Kronos' paranoia seeped into Iapetus' mind too. and as Kronos began to put distance between himself and Rhea, so did Iapetus with Asia. suddenly, Iapetus didn't feel like he needed to tell his wife everything... keeping Kronos' secrets was more important to Iapetus than being truthful to his wife.

to be honest, i don't imagine Asia being particularly smart, or fierce or courageous. not every god needs to be a superhero. that's not to say she was dumb or anything, but no one was calling Asia to weigh in on war councils or anything like that. and i think, as time goes on, this becomes very apparent to Iapetus. and he thinks that makes her weak. and as her husband, it's his responsibility to shield her from the things that he think could break her.

now in this regard, i do think Asia would have been absolutely heart-broken to know the kinds of gods Iapetus and Kronos had become, and post-war, Asia still is never fully aware of the extent of Iapetus' crimes because Prometheus and Anchiale make sure their mother will only remember her husband for the good things... leading up to and during the war, Iapetus is a MASTER of illusion and deceit.. and by Gaia he can play the role of a good husband amazingly well. so Asia i think, was totally blind to the truth.

Asia and Iapetus' children are: Prometheus, Atlas, Anchiale, Menoetius, and Epimetheus. Iapetus would never SAY he had favourites, but i do think Prometheus was his golden child. he was smart, witty, cunning, mischievous, and with a natural talent for illusions and magic, the same as Iapetus. so i think he had a lot of pride for Prometheus, and so many huge expectations that Prometheus would be some sort of powerful commander in Kronos' army.

when it became apparent that Kronos and Rhea were not having much luck in producing heirs (though the exact reasons were yet unknown), i think Iapetus might've considered that Prometheus could be the heir that Kronos needed... he would have been a perfect candidate. and Kronos himself had a super great relationship with Prometheus as a child. Prometheus didn't call Kronos "King" or "my Lord" like most of his cousins did, he called him "Uncle" because that's what he was.

AND YET. Prometheus also had all of Asia's kindness. mixed with Iapetus' bravery... he could never be the god that Iapetus wanted him to be.

in the Titanomachy, i think Prometheus is the one to fight Iapetus and it is... like the world falls apart. i think Iapetus is so furious that his son could betray him, i think he disowns him in his heart for sure. but Prometheus doesn't. he loves his father like he loves his uncle, and he knows that their current corrupted state is not a reflection of the gods they truly are.

as for the other kids: Atlas is Iapetus' 2nd most cunning child, and i think he's almost like Prometheus EXCEPT that Atlas is cowardly. even as a child. and i think Iapetus always tries to push Atlas to overcome this: it's important because if any one of the elder Titans had shown cowardice, they would have failed in their fight against Ouranos. so Iapetus truly despises cowardly people. Atlas ends up giving himself up and helping Zeus at the 11th hour to save his hide, and i think that's another disappointment for Iapetus.

Menoetius is headstrong, but he's not too witty, so i think he could've been closer to Asia than Iapetus... nevertheless, he supports his father to the end because all of Iapetus' children are aware of how much he values loyalty. and though Menoetius couldn't do the tricks Prometheus and Atlas could, he showed Iapetus his worth by standing with Kronos till the end. he's actually the only one of Iapetus' 5 children to show such undying loyalty, the same as Iapetus has for Kronos. so Iapetus appreciates that.

Anchiale and Epimetheus are more soft in nature. Anchiale is smart but she doesn't care too much for trickery, and i think she doesn't like confrontation and violence, the same as her mother. i give her this attribute to explain why the Lore doesn't give Anchiale much of a role. but where Iapetus doesn't share much with his wife Asia because he thinks her weak, Prometheus does share with his sister Anchiale all his thoughts and his desire to fight against Kronos, and though she's unwilling to pick up a sword herself, she stays with her mother and little brother Epimetheus and protects them from home, and she covers for Prometheus: which i think is an alternative form of bravery, but bravery nonetheless. and if Iapetus wasn't such an idiot, he would've been proud of that.

Epimetheus i think was a child when Iapetus went to Tartarus. his only memories of Iapetus is being a good dad; a dad who tells him jokes, and scary stories, and who could make a coin appear from his ear. i don't think Prometheus and Anchiale ever try to spoil these memories for him. it's good for Epimetheus to remember Iapetus for who he was and not who he ended up as.

anyhow. all in all, Iapetus was probably the 2nd worst husband after Kronos... this is to be expected given their proximity.... but uh yeah.

i hope this all made sense lol feel free to send an ask if u want a clarification on anything ^-^ i have terminal brainrot about the titans and can speak forever and ever about them.

[syrena-del-mar]

Interlocking Narratives: Exploring The Chains of Kim and Porchay

I've been rewatching KinnPorsche in the last couple of weeks and even on the second watch, I'm still so intrigued by the relationship between Kim and Porchay (which is only reinforced by @daeyeol4you's Chay deep dives stemming from every episode). It's the irony of what appears to be the sweetest interactions and relationship of the show ending up with unfinished business. I love character deep dives and KinnPorsche is one of those shows that really allows the audience to partake in it. I hadn't realized it on my first watch but @lilitblaukatz is absolutely right, Kim and Chay are using similar necklaces.

There's already so many metas surrounding the type of jewelry that Kim wears, @wildelydawn's dive into Kim's necklaces comes into mind, but I definitely neglected looking more into the necklaces that Chay wears.

Porchay and his Cuban chain necklace with a carabiner pendant

I'll be honest, at first I wasn't sure what the pendant on Chay's necklace was when I first looked at it. I'm pretty sure it took me about 10 rewatches of this scene to even consider that it's a carabiner.

Interestingly enough, during ep. 5 when Chay goes to his first tutor session with Kim, this the only time that Chay wears such a thick chain, specifically what looks to be a Cuban chain (probably a 6 mm at that), outside of the time that he goes to the club and gets drunk. Cuban chains are nothing short of iconic because of their tight, twisted, interlocking links. Popularized in the 70s/80s by hip hop legends, the Cuban chains became a status symbol to impress because it looks classy and expensive. So I can't help but think that just maybe Chay specifically chose this chain to dress himself up for his idol-turned-tutor.

The interlocking links of the Cuban chain are important in creating and influencing the cohesive, elegant look of the necklace. And just as each link is dependent on the other, Chay is heavily influenced by his own life experiences. He's an orphaned child that was raised by his older brother, he's well aware of the sacrifices that Porsche has had to make in order to provide for him, and he's grown up being hounded by the aggressive debt-collectors that his "Uncle's" gambling habits bring. It's why he loves and appreciates Porsche so much, why he believes himself to be unlucky, and why he's as gutsy and straightforward as he is. He's been shaped by the tragedy that has surrounded his upbringing along with the undying love that his brother has given him.

Another prominent feature of the Cuban chain is the alternating large and small links, a duality that is specific to this style chain. Meanwhile Chay navigates, being the quiet and agreeable little brother that he is for Porsche, while also being his own being who knows how to work for what he wants. He's bold and outspoken when it comes to Wik, he needs to be if he wants to grasp at any chance. He plays around with who he is and what is expected of him; it shows in his personality and how carries himself with Kim versus how he is with Porsche.

Not to mention the sheer tightness of the interlocking links provides a strength and resilience that other delicate chains do not, it's almost symbolic of Chay's own strength and resilience. If there's one thing about Chay is that he's endured a lot of pain, he even believes that his whole life has been filled with bad luck, but even with that he's the one character that shows a steadfast resolve and endures multiple betrayals. He sticks to his guns and his decisions, he knows the love he deserves. He was willing to give Kim a chance, he went to him first to explain, he likely would have forgiven the lies if Kim had said that he cared about him and the feelings weren't all a façade. Kim didn't give him that and Chay blocked him out of his life.

Now moving onto the carabiner portion of the necklace. It seems like we see Chay in TWO different carabiner necklaces. The one he wore on his first tutoring session with Kim and the one he has on when he finds out the truth about Kim from Tankhun. A carabiner is synonymous to strength and fortification, a physical form of security that keeps objects together and secures elements. Similarly, Chay clings tenaciously to what he wants, he takes the chance to ask Kim to tutor him, he finds out where Kim lives, he tells him that he loves him. It's his steadfast determination that intrigues Kim, that sets him apart. Chay may be young, but just as carabiner's are used for adventures and exploration, Chay is the one that dares to tread uncharted territories with Kim. Chay is bold and has a willingness to hold fast until his goals are achieved. He's experienced several trials and tribulations in his lifetime and he still holds on, navigating through the challenges while still staying securely true to himself and his wants. Arguably, he's the one with the strongest mental fortitude when it comes to decisions with his love interest. He knows when to let go and when to hold on, even if letting go means hurting a bit more; it's a strength to come to terms and to then stick to his guns.

Kim and the ball chain necklace with a safety pin pendant

First things first, if we look at the history of safety pin jewelry, it's often associated with the notion of it being a sign of rebellion. This sentiment originally become popularized by the punk rock movement and then was again brought into the spotlight after it started being used as a symbol of standing against the xenophobia attacks around 2016 when Brexit occurred.

The safety pin is often used as a tool for quick fixes and connections, it's a resourceful solution to keep things attached, albeit unconventional. It's a tool to keep fabrics together, and it very literally breaks through a barrier to serve its function. Kim, out of the three, is the only one that initially attempts to rebel against his father. He's the one that tries to get out, even if he's ultimately dragged back in. He creates a life outside of the shady dealings of his father and the mafia as a whole. He has to be resourceful to investigate, to get information about what is happening with his family while still maintaining a distance from the direct dealings with the mafia.

Add that with the fine ball chain that attaches the safety pin, it adds to the idea that Kim is adaptable. His changes occur as necessary to reflect the situations that he finds himself in. Kim adapts who he is as an individuals depending of the people that surround him. He fluidly maneuvers through his life in a way that sees fit to get the information that he needs. He can be idol!Wik, tutor!Kim, mafia!Kim, or distant brother!Wik, at the drop of a dime depending on what version of him the situation calls for. Similar to how @hamliet clocked that Kim's painting of himself does not have any discernable features, symbolic of his ability to hide behind masks, it's the same here.

The fact that Kim's necklace is a simple, and rather thin, ball chain with a sturdy safety pin attached hints at Kim's hidden strength. Just by stature alone, he's the smallest of the three Theerapanyakul brothers. He's also the youngest and seemingly the one that is less involved with the mafia. The chain almost seems to serve as a potent remind that appearances can be deceiving. Like the guards first told Porsche, while Kim might seem to be the most normal of the three, he's the most dangerous. The safety pin adorning a delicate ball chain seems to serve as a profound dichotomy that mirrors who Kim really is.

Final Thoughts

The two necklaces seem to be an intentional parallel and paradox of each other. Much like Kim and Chay's position in the story, as Kinn and Porsche's younger brothers that are seemingly uninvolved with the mafia, they're parallels to each other but they're also each other's literary foils.

I really find it interesting that they chose to put both of them in necklaces that have some type of clip contraption on them. Maybe I'm reading (watching?) too into it, but I can't help but believe that the specific designs that the costumers decided to put them it, especially with accessories, goes beyond the simple aesthetics that fit Kim and Chay. Rather it seems like the necklaces are acting as a mirror that reflect their core aspirations, identities and the interactions that they have with each other and the other characters in the show. They're wearing simple accessories that can get overlooked in the moment, but I really think they provide a deeper look into what drives them as characters and gives us a deeper appreciation for both of them.

[floweyheadcanons]

Headcannon Time!!! So, Flowey is a jealous boy. He at first hated Martlet, Starlo, and Ceroba for taking Clover from him. He was able to tolerate them for a few hours at most after Clover's death, and about 5 years of just listening to them talk or talking to them for a few minutes. He learned how to play the harmonica for Clover to hear. Clover died 2 days before their birthday...Clover knew they weren't gonna be alive for their 10th birthday...Flowey doesn't do well with the day Clover died or their birthday. He saw how Clover was so calm with dying that he knew something was off, he never asked though and never will. He wants to live in bliss that Clover wasn't dying from the beginning or that Clover chose to die at the first place, because they came down here to save the human souls... Flowey secretly looks up to Sans. Flowey feels the need to give Clover a gift every single birthday for Clover, because they couldn't celebrate it together. Clover told him that he could care less about their birthday...he hates that Clover told him and he wants that thought to leave him alone. He had the most fun in years with Clover that day, it allowed him to feel emotions for the first time in many years...he never felt it again until he saw Clover. He was happy :)

And now the Gusty Gaggle. They were supposed to be named "The Gutsy Gaggle," but they all failed a spelling gutsy, so just went with Gusty. They have some members who join in sometimes, but it's mostly just Flowey, Clover, and Kanako. Clover is the leader, Flowey the brains, Kanako the one to get them out of trouble, when not causing it. They all have matching pins. They reside in the Ghosty South, even though Flowey can stay in Frisk's town, he just won't. They may or may not have thought of starting a band. They will take down Alphys when they see her, Flowey being the one doing most damage.

Now, some questions. Do you think that at the end of UTY, when it said "Someone called for help, you answered the call" that it was during the Asriel fight or Omega Flowey fight? I say that it first happened in Omega fight, but Frisk, under their breath asked for help to SAVE Azzy, so Clover came and saved him. Allowing Frisk to win. With is Flowey's favorite amalgamate? What's his favorite type of music? Will he kill Mettaton of Clover asked him to join them too? Has Clover allowed Flowey to play the harmonica? Does Flowey look up to anyone? What's Flowey favorite plant? Has he ever cared for other fallen humans? Has he and Dalv ever drew together? Does Papyrus know he's Asriel? Will he get therapy? What's his relationship with Axis? Does he pretend to be Dasiy? (Axis's wife, girlfriend, fiancé?) Will he care for Kanako after the barrier is open?

(HERE IS SOME MORE COOKIES FOR YOU FLOWEY!!!! ALSO SOME ICE CREAM AS WELL!!!! YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD!!!!! I GET YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK NEXT ASK!!! WHAT YOH LIKE?!?!? Also, I'm thinking of making a Gusty Gaggle ask blog and would like to use your photo as the pfp or background image, if that's fine with you. I GET MORE SWEETS FOR YOU SOON MY FLOWER FRIEND!!!! ENJOY!!!!)

oh my god the asks are slipping through my fingers... curse you artfight and general procrastination...

YEEAHHHH GET HER GUYS!!!! The Gutsy vs Gusty Gaggle is also a lil funny to me because for a bit I thought you misspelled Gutsy and almost called them the Gutsy Gaggle. Only kept it the Gusty Gaggle cause it also works oddly enough.

1. Do you think that at the end of UTY, when it said "Someone called for help, you answered the call" that it was during the Asriel fight or Omega Flowey fight?

I always assumed the 'You answered the call' was for the Omega Flowey fight. On the topic of who saved Asriel I always thought it was Chara because that made the most sense to me, since it would explain how they had those memories locked and loaded.

2. What is Flowey's favorite amalgamate?

Been a while since I played pacifist route but I think it'd probably be Endogeny since it is a giant dog. He'd probably play fetch with it to keep his throwing skills from declining just in case he needs to throw something really far one day. He also generally finds it entertaining to watch the dog run around.

3. What's his favorite type of music?

Undoubtedly breakcore, he'd go wild if you turned on breakcore.

4. Will he kill Mettaton if Clover asked him to join them too?

I don't think he'd kill Mettaton if he tried to join the Gusty Gaggle, merely decline because he isn't cowboy enough. But... If Mettaton were to hurt anyone in the group, Flowey would react more violently.

5. Has Clover allowed Flowey to play the harmonica?

Clover does allow Flowey to play the harmonica, it's just that sadly he's very bad at it. This can actually be repurposed into an attack funnily enough! He plays the harmonica in the most grating tone he can until you fess up to the murder.

6. Does Flowey look up to anyone?

Don't tell anyone but it's secretly Sans.

7. What's Flowey's favorite plant?

His favorite plant is an echo flower because they're just like him, they're just like him fr!!!!!

8. Has he ever cared for other fallen humans?

Excluding Chara, nope.

9. Have he and Dalv ever drawn together?

I think Flowey secretly draws things and tries to sneak them into Dalv's storybooks. He's trying to see how long he can do this before Dalv notices he did NOT draw those.

10. Does Papyrus know he's Asriel?

Most likely not, as Papyrus isn't close enough to Flowey for him to really want to tell him such an important thing. Maybe he hints every now and again that he wasn't always a flower, but he doesn't tell him that he was Asriel.

11. Will he get therapy?

Flowey is most definitely getting therapy, though I think it would take a while for him to actually trust said therapist and I think he'd have to switch around a bit.

12. Does he pretend to be Daisy?

For the funny, I think he does. He finds it hilarious that Axis fell in love with a pile of junk and even named it.

13. Will he care for Kanako after the barrier is open?

He says 'welcome to the secretly revived children club!!!' when Kanako gets up and agrees to hide her from her mother because he really, really, really hates Ceroba.

[shallowseeker]

hi shal!

re dean being willing to sacrifice jack... for me the throughline there is dean feeling powerless with things "above his paygrade." forgive that this is gonna be a bit long and rambling. but like as early as 1.04, we see dean being kind of overwhelmed by the more Cosmic nature of tackling a demon vs ghosts etc. and in season 4, he is so disbelieving that he is somehow equipped to stop the apocalypse. in 11.21 when he's desperately trying to get chuck's help with amara, he says, "Look, give me a – a vampire, and I'm good. But this – God's sister? That is way above my pay grade. I - It - Bottom line is i-it's you who has to take her out." this also ties a little bit into 2.18; he doesn't want to be in charge, he just wants to be part of a team.

it also reminds me of 15.06 - the episode dean spends in pajamas and reading off cereal boxes and acting kinda superficially silly. that episode always reminds me of the silly little jokes dean tries to crack in 1.20 after john comes back, while dean is trying to happily fall back into the good little soldier routine. and who do they find out isnt actually gone in 15.05? chuck. in both these instances, i think dean is dealing with feeling entirely powerless and hemmed in on all sides. so might as well crack a joke. dean is, i think, very very aware of his powerlessness in a world of supernatural creatures - e.g "i've never had powers" from 9.06.

15.05

DEAN: Without the gun? It’s God, Sam. And he’s coming for us. How the hell are we supposed to fight God?

5.17

DEAN: Angel world, angel rules, man.

so how does this tie back to jack? well the throughline there, i think, is billie. in s14 billie tells dean that there is only one way to stop michael and he believes her so firmly. even when jack kills michael, i dont think dean decides from that that billie was wrong. i think he sees all the consequences of jack's choice and it reaffirms for him that billie was right that any other choice about michael would result in a huge amount of damage. so when billie explains the plan about jack stopping chuck, i honestly think dean just believes that's the only way. and more than that, that he is just not equipped to change it. i mean its similar to his attitude in 14.20 when chuck tells him jack will destroy the world. and dean is devastated and also like... doesn't know what else to do but listen.

dean is resistant to authority figures and he is stubborn and gutsy... to a point. but there are times when shit gets so big and the powers at play feel so beyond him that he really doesn't know what else he can do. and though i think he would always, always rather sacrifice himself, that's not what's being offered to him.

idk sorry for the ramble and feel free to ignore but this is my understanding of his headspace.

Rambling always welcome. :-) Oh, yes, I agree with you. I think actually the 15x06 Golden Time *script goes out of i's way to describe Dean as fatalistic, overhwlemed, grief-stricken, and defeated. *My pet parallel is that season 15 Dean is in the same position as early-seasons Cas, losing faith in trusted foundations and, more importantly, in his self. He doesn't trust his own ability to change things!

And yes, Dean (and Cas and Sam) give up all the time! I think a nice way to look at is that, time and time again, it is the sharing of support that allows people to pick themselves up from their respective ashes.

Dean is wonderfully, honestly human. I personally think that the natural evolution of season 15 would be that it is Dean's previous grace towards others that "pays it forward" for his own recovery.

I.E. He's given grace and emotional support to others so often that his loved ones are finally going to return that grace ten-fold, understanding his psychological wound and helping him through it.

[loz-furbies]

Skyward Sword Zelda

Design

Now for something completely different since Zelda is a commoner this time! I think the outfit works well, it’s not too busy but it also has plenty of memorable details (I especially like the sailcloth around her shoulders) and the green and pink ribbons in her hair. And while the overall design is very different from the usual Zelda looks, the blue cloth on her waist at least reminds me of the “aprons” a little.

Mixed feelings about the white dress, the Hyrule crest collar is great, but everything else in the dress is really simple and basic so it feels a little out of place. However I like the white dress when she’s depicted with botw Zelda in her white dress, it’s a nice contrast how one has long flowy sleeves and the other has no sleeves at all.

Character

Skyward Sword Zelda has a charming and playful personality, making her super likable, and overall she really feels like an ideal girl-next-door type. As Link's childhood friend she's incredibly supportive of him, but also not above calling him out for being lazy or lightly teasing him. And she can be quite stern and gutsy when needed, as seen when she puts Groose and his cronies in place when she finds them bullying Link.

To some extent Zelda does feel a bit too much of idealised manic pixie dream girl to the more down-to-earth MC-kun that is Link. A considerable amount of her lines are spent on speaking positively of Link too, and we don't get to know much about what else she has going on in her life besides Link and the Plot.

A notable example of this is her status as a student of the knight academy, why is that not touched at all? Why was her role to give a trophy to the flight competition winner and not take part in it herself? Even if she's at a different stage from Link in her studies, shouldn't she still have something to say about their shared goal? I've seen some fans attribute the fact that she made it through a dungeon on her own to being a knight student, but I'm not giving the game credit for that.

We do get to know that she was interested in the surface even before the events of the story, and apparently has a knitting hobby judging by the items in her room. Which... okay I've been a bit too hard on her, as it's incredibly rare for any of the Zeldas to have a hobby at all and I do give SS Link points for his wood carving hobby too. It's just that so many of her lines are spent on gushing over Link so I guess I would have needed more stuff that's specific to her alone to balance that out.

Once she finds out about her role as the reborn goddess she becomes more serious and gloomy, but is still very much recognisable as the same character. Which has not been a given in the history of Zeldas with multiple personas, so good for her.

We don't get to know a lot about how regaining an unspecified amount of memories of her previous life has affected her sense of self, but I figure it has had at least some effect since she sometimes switches to first person, notably when apologising to Link about involving him in the grand anti-demise plan (which at least to me clearly isn't SS Zelda's fault). Though there's not any question if the goddess persona had somehow taken over, since the greatest line of the game "I'm still your Zelda" exists.

Ultimately while I think SS Zelda gets close to the line of being too much of a perfect fantasy waifu, she doesn't cross it and remains incredibly charming.

Role in the story

The game has a very slow beginning, where a lot of time is spent setting up Link and Zelda's relationship and ordinary life. And while the characters are the biggest draw for me in these games, I think there would have been room to condense the story a bit. Even if you really like the characters, in a video game you can reach a point where you're just hoping them to get on with it so you can actually play the game, which isn't exactly helpful if you're supposed to like the characters. But if you don't get frustrated with the slow start, Zelda is set up extremely well as someone you'd want to save.

After the setup she falls into a tornado, and the first part of the game is spent chasing after her and trying to figure out what's going on with her. You get more information about her bit by bit, so she clearly remains as the goal. Once you do catch up with her, it's after she was just rescued by Impa, who chides Link for having been too late to do anything himself. For me this worked just fine because I was really bad at the game, so her criticism was perfectly fair, but I wonder how better players felt about when the plot mandates that their perfect performance is judged to be a failure?

Eventually both Zelda and Link travel to the past, where Zelda explains herself as the reborn goddess and commits to her duty to seal Demise's curse for thousands of years, which changes the game's objective from trying to solve the mystery around her to a more clear rescue mission. Sealing herself to magic sleep is Zelda's big moment and the the game really plays it up, and to great success because that scene is beautiful. After that she doesn't really do much though, like because her darkness-sealing moment happens in the middle of the game (and chronologically before the main part of the gameplay since we're in the past here) and the grand finale darkness sealing is done by the Master Sword, there's not a lot of room for Zelda and she ends up with more of a victim role.

It is also kind of disappointing how Zelda gets damseled twice in the same game. I guess I can kind of see that since Link and Zelda's relationship is such a big part of the story, it makes sense that her life would be at risk when the stakes need to be at their stakiest, but I really wish they could have thought of something else than have her be woken up from her magical coma for five minutes before getting immediately kidnapped for the bad guys' evil resurrection ritual.

The end credits show snippets of Zelda's life after she fell to the surface, met Impa and started following her duty. Which was of course great but also a somewhat odd place to put it, and made me wonder if it was originally supposed to be shown somewhere during the story but got cut. And then they just put it in the credits since the scenes were already animated. But in any case it's nice to see more of Zelda's journey, even if strictly didn't offer any new information.

Relationships

As usual Zelda's most important relationship is with Link, and this time there even is more to it than a single line that they're childhood friends. Or they are childhood friends, and while in general I'm a big hater of this trope being so common in Japanese media, at least here it's used with a purpose, as the Goddess' master plan involved specifically preparing a hero who'd go to the ends of earth for her reborn form.

I said about Link and Zelda in Spirit Tracks that their relationship doesn't get any specific development and is more just about that they went on an adventure together and you have to imagine that they grew closer during that. Meanwhile in Skyward Sword they clearly know and care about each other as people and it's not just about like, general human empathy towards someone in trouble, which certainly makes their relationship more interesting.

So as I complained earlier, a lot of Zelda's lines are about Link. She gently teases him for being a sleepyhead, goes out of her way to arrange him time to practice for the flying competition and knows to send her loftwing to wake him up, asks his opinion on her ceremonial costume, asks him out to fly together which is totally written to look like a date, and so on. Some of her behaviour comes out as so flirty that it makes me think if she's all astonished at Link for being so oblivious. And she states multiple times that she wishes that Link will be the one to win the flying competition, so she can do the celebration ceremony with him, or how amazing he was when he managed to do that. The last point was brought up so many times that it just got really heavy handed, and I do think that some of it should have been cut, but just as it was entering actual cringe territory, an alternate explanation emerged that she actually wanted to talk about these ominous premonitions she's had, but had trouble bringing it up and was stalling for time.

Also it's just beautiful how the whole sleeping thing goes full circle, with Link being the notorious sleepyhead in the beginning, but Zelda requesting that it's Link's turn to wake her up as she's about to enter her magic sleep. Really shows that she has a lot of trust in him.

Meanwhile Link doesn't talk outside dialogue options as usual, so you don't get as much from his side, but his expressions when he looks at Zelda in many scenes tell a lot about how he cares about her.

In general their relationship skirts around being a romance but doesn't fully confirm anything (or at least that I can remember). After Link wins the flying contest, a scene where it looks like Zelda is about to kiss him is set up, but instead she pushes him off the ledge to complete the ceremony. And maybe she was just so coy about the "date" in the clouds because it was all about trying to gather courage and find a good moment to bring up a difficult topic, and Link's determined responses how he'll certainly save Zelda are totally platonic? But like, obviously a scene that teases a possible kiss is put in for a reason and the game ends with a shot of their loftwings flying together after Zelda tells about her future plans to live on the surface and asks what Link wants to do, so I'd say you need some serious anti-shipping goggles to ignore what's being implied.

Also since I brought it up for Spirit Tracks, Link and Zelda hold hands in this game too.

Impa is in the game as well in the role of Zelda's bodyguard, guide and friend, and this time offers a more meaningful relationship with her than her previous incarnations. Impa is fulfilling her job at assisting Zelda do hers, but they also clearly care about each other. We don't get to see them that much though, so their personal relationship isn't defined too well. Like Impa acts as a servant and refers to Zelda with "your grace", and Zelda just goes along with it and we don't know if she tried to establish a more equal relationship. In one of the end credits snippets we see Zelda doing this cute happy skip when she's walking with Impa and it looks like she's having fun, and these four seconds are probably their most casual scene together.

It's also really sweet when it's revealed that the old woman who helps the cast in the present timeline is actually Impa, so Zelda gets one more chance to meet her. Or it's kind of funny how they saying their goodbyes in the past but Impa reassures that they'll meet again, and after some time travel from Zelda's perspective the reunion in present time is literally just a few minutes later, and then Impa actually dies and they're separated for a second time. But obviously it was about how Impa had been hanging in there for thousands of years so she could still help Zelda and Link with their duty.

In any case Zelda and Impa's bond is clearly strong, even if we don't see the details. It also makes me think of how different this is from BotW Zelda's situation, and how things might have turned out for her if she had a mentor how knows what to do and also is emotionally supportive.

Groose primarily acts as a rival to Link, which includes being a romantic rival for Zelda's affections. He's not any threatening at it at all though since his feelings are clearly one sided, but it's not exactly clear what Zelda thinks about him. He is introduced when he has hidden Link's loftwing so that Link couldn't take part in the flying competition, and Zelda immediately jumps in to take Link's side. After that Groose's character development happens while Zelda is away, and next time they meet Groose behaves in a more respectable manner and Zelda appears to be happy to see him.

Like everyone else in Skyloft, she also has her own loftwing buddy, and much fuss is made about how everyone is soul-bonded to their bird. None of this really shows up about Zelda's relationship to her loftwing, who doesn't even get a name, though to be fair neither does Link's. In general I think the loftwings were hugely underdeveloped considering how much time you have to spend on one flying around.

Zelda also has a father with whom she actually gets to interact with, but I don't get much anything out of that except that they have a normal/good relationship.

[batsplat]

I know Marc probably doesn’t have as many fun or interesting races like Vale does because he kinda just sometimes fucked off at the front, but do you have any favourite Marc races that aren’t necessarily race recs based on pure racing and battles but are fun based on something that has gone on during the race weekend. (Like one of my favourite Marc races is Misano 2019 purely because of how crazy he went in Parc ferme after he won.

(Also Marc didn’t really do celebrations regularly or as in-depth as Vales so I couldn’t ask for favourites list for that but do you have an favourite title celebrations that Marc did?)

oh this is a tricky one - first off, I do think marc has a very solid line up of fun races! maybe not quite as extensive as valentino's, but also that's partly a function of how particular racing eras played out and just how long valentino was at the sharp end of the sport. also, marc is proportionately involved in more fun races where he ends up losing than valentino, but like. that doesn't mean it's not still a fun race!! he's involved in like... seven proper excellent races in 2019, even if he comes second in four of them. idk he's always very 'well I learn most from my defeats!!!!' which might partly be #cope but it's not no longer a good marc race just because he comes off second best. assen 2015 is one of my favourite marc races in the same way that sachsenring 2003 is one of my favourite valentino races, just how it is sometimes

on the favourite title celebrations, just to quickly cover that one - my favourite was the pool table one mainly because I feel like that's. quite a gutsy celebration to do. remember when fabio repeatedly fucked up taking a whack at a golf ball? and that shouldn't have been THAT hard... like you're kinda under pressure!! the pool table thing is not a HARD shot but it's a theoretically-fuck-up-able shot, and if it's your title celebration everyone will remember you fucking it up... so I kinda respect that. I googled it to maybe pull up a clip and I immediately got hit by this headline from our friends at the daily star

my god why does everybody have to be so bloody miserable about this stuff. let guys be cringe 2k19

anyway have a photo instead ig

lovely stuff. again I mostly just like it because of the 'having to make the actual shot' business, idt there was any particular meaning beyond it being his eighth title? which is fine. I thought it was nice when I watched it in any case

coming back to races with other stuff happening that race weekend... this is the kind of thing where I might have to come up with better examples because it's kinda a tricky one, I'm sure there ARE quite a few fun ones but. yeah. I'll properly go through my notes at some point. for now, my pick is catalunya 2019. as we've once again established this season, marc is perfectly capable of being fast at that track but it's certainly not... his favourite. and he was kinda weirdly off his game all weekend... unsettled, uncharacteristically tetchy, not entirely clear why. this was round seven of the title and despite how utterly dominant the season eventually became, marc's cota crash had injected a faux sense of competitiveness into proceedings. as stated above, not really a track where marc had particularly thrived, whereas ducatis had won there the two previous years - so it was very plausible that dovi would be closing the gap. beyond his actual tone in the media, he deployed his classic tell of feeling a bit uneasy and decided to stalk certain riders around the track. god knows why but apparently marc's way of coping with stress that year was just latching onto valentino's rear tyre... you mention misano, which of course comes right after two back to back last lap defeats - the drama comes in qualifying, but that's not even the first session that weekend where marc was glued to valentino. we all work through things in different ways, I suppose. in catalunya, valentino shrugs it off and basically goes 'well it's annoying but smart', but marc still is pretty irritable in press at the suggestion he's been doing a lot of stalking of his competitors that weekend. he also has a run-in with jorge during fp3, basically the first bit of minor drama they'd had as teammates - where marc was "so angry" at jorge for coasting on the racing line

now, I'm gonna be honest. at the time, all of this set off something in my brain... let's call it the argentina instinct. argentina 2018 had quite a similar feel where marc was like... not completely settled that weekend, the vibes were off, just something in the air that in retrospect helped set the stage for the entire fiasco. so I'll say it: given marc's catalunya record, given the events of that weekend, given that marc's most established rivals in valentino, dovi and vinales had all qualified on the second row... I sat down for that race with expectations. I fully thought we might be about to witness some generational levels of headloss from marc. if my affinity for making dumb rankings was ever in doubt, I quite literally had a list of what I thought would be the funniest possible outcomes for that race in my notes. it was genuinely the race I was the most hype for all year

look. having had half a decade to get over it, with the benefit of hindsight I can admit that this probably was one of the funniest ways that particular race could've unfolded. like, okay, you got me - I did not expect jorge, who had been at the fuck end of nowhere all year and had qualified in tenth, to get such an excellent start that he suddenly shot himself into the front running group. I was thrilled to see the initial close racing featuring marc and pretty much all of his established rivals riding in a pack. I was considerably less thrilled when marc by some INSANE stroke of luck overtook for the lead at essentially the same corner when jorge attempted an overtake of his own and managed to take out like. literally everyone. not only did this make the whole race basically a walkover - it meant that marc finished the weekend pulling 25 points clear of the blokes who had finished second, third and fourth the year before. at one of his weakest tracks on the calendar. like, it was so obviously over. the biggest highlight is when they show all three of valentino, dovi and vinales sitting in their boxes, whose expressions in that moment really spoke to something within me

so yeah, I think that one fits the brief. like the race in isolation is already pretty funny, but it's the entire weekend of build up that really makes it. you go into a race expecting bloodshed and instead it's just some guy playing bowling. and I still think I might have ended up being right, if the race had been allowed to normally unfold! sure, marc had just taken the lead, but it's really not a track where he generally clears off. especially not with dovi sitting right on his rear tyre. and marc was so clearly relieved after the race... took a moment to thank his whole honda team for the help they'd provided him, which was very nice of him. what are teammates for, right

[lazlolullaby]

temporal temp work, a Batman Beyond and WFA style fluid comic canon crossover (but mostly Bruce amnesia recovery/character study)

Bruce lost his memory. He has no idea who Batman is, or what he's done for the past 30 years of his life.

Bruce is still a detective, despite the holes in his memory. He keeps noticing little tells, bruises, signs of lying. He knows he did something in his spare time, he's not sure what.

The batfamily decide that if it's not going to come back easily, then they should treat it as a retirement for Batman. They all came to an agreement, that they would be "as civilian as possible" around Bruce as to not put pressure on him to perform as Batman when he's not ready.

Alfred and Dick had gently explained that they won't tell him anything until he comes to a conclusion by himself and tells the family. If he gets it correct, then they can talk about it. If he doesn't, they can't. The Batcave is still open for him to find.

(he's in the world's most elaborate detective game, basically.)

in the meantime, Bruce focuses more on the company, on bonding with his suddenly large brood of kids, and legal methods of fixing Gotham.

Everyone's backstories remain similar to what the press knows. Jason's case is special, as he's dead. So Jason explains that he did survive, he was mad at Bruce for a while, so he got out to get his own place. They are slowly repairing their relationship.

Damian also flat out goes: "Yeah I was grown in a jar for the League of Assassins." and everyone nods and goes along with it. Jason even says he's seen the jar.

He even starts to bond with Tim, Jason, and Duke again over investigating crime. (well. More for the kids to solve it.)

The ones that fight the most for Batman to come back, the ones that make the most progress in getting Bruce to remember are Tim and Terry, since they were the ones that got him out of his funks in canon.

Bruce has nightmares. Despite losing the context of the fears, he still has them, he still can remember some Caped Adventures. He blames that for his nocturnal sleep schedule.

The Justice League dropped by in capes, trying to get him to remember.

Bruce gets totally suspicious that he's funding an entire space station. It takes him a week to crack every. single. founding JL member's ID, and even some sidekicks...Except Batman and his merry brood of birds and bats. (It doesn't help that the Dark Knight has been missing. no new data.)

The Gotham Rogues are starting to get gutsy. The Batfamily is stretched thin. It gets to the point where either scientists or magicians step in and try to "Summon Batman".

This is where Terry comes in. He gets summoned with Ace the Bathound. They survive on the streets of Gotham, then find Nightwing and Red Robin facing off against a Joker that's "pining for his eternal rival"

Tim is barely in danger but Terry's instincts go full throttle and he starts to roast. They see Ace has a harness with a Wayne Security badge and a license that are both dated for decades in the future.

Dick and Tim take Terry home. Say he's a friend in a tight spot, but Bruce sees right through it. Terry is the seventh black haired kid to be sheltered by Bruce and he knows it's a ploy to jog his memory. He's not having it. Terry also isn't interested in playing along with that either, instead loudly acknowledging he's got family already.

Ace gets along well with lots of the Batfamily. Terry makes a comment that he was trained as a PTSD-support dog. He knows how to sit and block people from getting into your space, how to use his weight as a grounding method. Bruce starts researching getting one for the house.

The batfamily train Terry on the streets for a few nights just in case. Nightwing goes back to Bludhaven. Dick does as well, and Bruce figures the connection quickly. The Justice League is seen with a new Batman.

Terry decides to annoy Bruce into becoming Batman again. Being ever so slightly off kilter, but still dedicated to helping. Always saying "If the guy I'm temping for doesn't like it, he can come out and do the job again."

Terry sees Bruce's psych profiles and list of Batman and Batman II suspects and makes a comment. "You writing a murder mystery or something?"

"Or something."

"What's the seventh rule of Knox's 10 commandments of detective fiction?" Terry asks.

"The detective must not commit the crime?"

"Mmm-hmm. Good thing you're not writing."

Bruce is getting tired of not knowing. Not getting better. Terry talks about how he was an assistant to an old man. That he also had trouble with being less active than he used to be.

Batman II shows up to save a hostage Bruce Wayne, and Bruce plays 20 questions. "why are you here in Gotham?"

"someone has to. And I already promised that I would."

"who did you promise? Why does it have to be you?"

"What makes this work is that I chose it. I work so I won't destroy this legacy. Me. My choice."

"You didn't say who you promised."

"The last guy who wore the bat...he got swallowed up by it. Didn't even think of himself as anything but Batman at the end." He shrugged. "Separating yourself from the mask is important. You know about Superman, yeah? He needs that job. He needs his friends and family, if not to feel human, just to be the best he can. Bruce. You have your friends and family. What are you willing to do to protect it?"

idk i can't figure out a suitably appropriate and dramatic emotional situation where Bruce figures it out. But he does.

Bruce gathers all of the family in the Wayne Study for a Classic Detective Reveal. He goes through the Batfamily one by one an unmasks each of them correctly, even confirming the ones who had other identities.

Bruce takes up the Cowl again, this time with a little more restraint and respect to his Bruce Wayne identity.

Terry goes back to Neo Gotham, stronger and happier that he knows the Batfamily.

[yurisorcerer]

Holy shit that was fucking incredible.

Warning: major hyped-up ramble session below.

The scheduling of the concert being switched around gives TogeToge a leg up to hopefully make an even bigger first impression at their first festival. Things seem to be going well for them, for once! Let's see if that lasts.

In the leadup to the festival, with Nina and Momoka actually doing pretty much fine for once, the show refocuses on its other three characters for a little while, spotlighting Subaru and how she's still hiding her involvement with the band from her overbearing grandmother, and then moving over to Tomo and Rupa, whose relationship---played to a tasteful tee, neither over- or under-explained---provides a source of strength for the both of them in the face of the loss of their respective families. Physically in Rupa's case, emotionally in Tomo's. Subaru seemingly resolves things with her grandma later in the episode, but Tomo and Rupa's issues aren't so easily packed away. I wouldn't be surprised if the show touches on them one more time before it ends.

Oh hey, Mine's back!

In general the atmosphere of the pre-show buildup reminds me a bit of the pre-concert scenes from Oshi no Ko, although in that show there's a different and more cynical context at play to the upbeat, nervy anticipation on display here.

Oh my god, it's the punk girl from episode one. (Kyouko, apparently.) There feels like a bit of symbolism in how even she's a fan of TogeToge now.

Momoka taking them all to the big main stage to see Diamond Dust play before their own show is gutsy. And at that, we get our rewind all the way back to Nina's confrontation with DD's current lead singer when they were both students. And, as has been previously implied a few times, friends! We still don't precisely know what their falling out was about, as Pink's remark to Nina where she tells her to stop "playing the tragic heroine" are awfully vague. Regardless, DD's performance itself is pretty good, although one gets the sense they're sort of being set up to fail here from a meta perspective. Their little show of rivalry here is admirable, but they aren't the band we've been following this entire time. (And while they sound fine, if we're being honest, they'd be rinsed not just by TogeToge but by most protagonist girl bands from these sorts of anime. Then again, maybe this is the intended reaction, and we're supposed to be feeling some amount of fannish partisanship.)

Rupa's just here for the drama as usual, what a queen.

During the sound check Subaru plays a pretty nice little break beat, and Rupa gets to show off her bass licks.

TogeToge also unveil their new looks here and all of them look genuinely fucking fantastic. Rupa's weird military uniform thing with the goggles, Subaru's pinstriped suit(?!), Nina's underdye and badass long shirt, Tomo's almost pixellated-looking hair bow accessory, Momoka's arm bands. Honestly just a killer visual presentation both in- and out-of-universe.

When the time comes to take the stage, they absolutely kill it. At the end of the day, this is an anime, so of course, Girls Band Cry deploys absolutely every single visual trick it can think of to really sell the performance that serves as the climax of this episode. "Void & Catharsis", the song they play, is a, if you'll pardon the pun, rock solid alternative number with a surprisingly heavy low-end that serves as a bed for Nina's incisive, comet-like vocals. (Also it has what I'm pretty sure is a breakdown??? I'm not a heavy metal expert, but what the fuck.) The show spins out into full music video mode here, taking a page from the otherwise very different Love Live series, as the stage blends into a blurry stitching-together of idealized, crystalized memories; defiance, lies, love, loss. It is perhaps the single most arresting moment in a music anime to air this year. I ended up replaying the entire thing from the start of the song onward, twice. I can't help myself; TogeToge have charisma. Every single one of them sheds tears during their part of the music video, making this episode something of a sideways title-drop.

The single most compelling visual element though has nothing to do with all the crazy camera tricks, overlays, flashbacks, anything like that, though. It's Nina herself. In what I can only describe as an absolute triumph of CGI in anime as a form, this little sixteen year old pipsqueak comes off as a complete and total superstar. She stomps angrily from one end of the stage to the other with her long shirt drooping and billowing dramatically, she grips her head in anger as she sings like the words are being physically ripped out of her throat, she headbangs, she pumps her fist and spins around to egg her own band on, she glares at the audience like she's trying to kill them---maybe Diamond Dust specifically, who are also watching---with her mind, she does weird shit with her hands and gestures around like a rapper. It's mesmerizing. Clearly the result of a ton of love not just for animation as an art form but for concerts as a form of performance. The entire thing is just end to end nuts, and this moment, regardless of what came before it or comes after it, completely validates Girls Band Cry as an artistic endeavor. If the entire rest of the show were to somehow go missing, removed from reality with a surgeon's knife, this performance alone would make the undeniable case that it deserved to exist.

Nina isn't even my favorite *character* in this show. But good god she's great here. I'm just honestly stunned.

As for GBC itself, there is only one real problem. There are still two episodes of this anime left. It's possible I'm just sitting in a sort of concertgoers' afterglow at the moment, but I kind of can't imagine what else the show could really do from here. How do you top that?

Nonetheless, Girls Band Cry wants to try, and that ambition is admirable.