#and I'm sure there will come even more characters to love in future episodes :D

[nei-ning]

JINGO! I can't! :'D God, I love him too SO MUCH!

This anime is killing me over and over again!

[smahell]

otaku fm sinful sounds - the disappointing reply to the fans' outcry.

this morning i wake up to a notification from the obey me! official channel - a new otaku fm episode? celebrations. fantastic. i'd been waiting ever since i saw a photo of kada and yamashita back in the iconic studio. we hadn't received a new otaku fm episode for roughly two years, and of course, when a new one is announced there's going to be expectations surrounding that. expectations that will originate from the previous seasons and episodes.

so after watching the one which came out today, i was just genuinely disappointed.

"that's it?? that's the episode?"

you might even notice that the episode doesn't stay loyal to its usual 35-45 minutes format. in fact, anime and chill had the longest episodes, and is what I'd call "peak obey me™". these episodes are half that length. and i'm expecting the newer ones to be even shorter.

sinful sounds (ss).. was never advertised to be as short as almost the otaku fm mini series with the side character's vas-

even worse? the twenty minute time frame was meant to be shorter. they went overtime.

i'd totally understand if it was labelled 'otaku fm mini - sinful sounds', but this was meant to be a return to formula. with the abundance of paid content coming from solmare recently, this was meant to be something that those without dispensable income could actually enjoy. yes, it was also stated that listening to the asmr would "make the episode that much better", but assuming that i'd enjoy it regardless is an overstatement. whether you listened to the audio drama or not, this was just a disappointing way of coercing people who don't use twitter to listen to it. and another disappointing reminder of what obey me has become.

be warned - i talk about the actual episode here. so maybe go listen to it first before reading on.

yes, hearing the voice actors come back.. of course i'd love that. that's one of the main reasons i wanted it to come back. they even acknowledge how long it's been since the last time they did, but then it goes straight into "what is ASMR??"

like.. the fanbase is full of deluded white women /j .. i think we all know what it is!!! i guess it's helpful nonetheless, but then they're like:

"let's listen to a clip!!!"

hey...what?!?

(and said clip takes up a good chunk of the episode..)

my point is.. it's not really them gisting about anything. the whole thing just feels scripted and stiff. i don't feel that liveliness that i feel from rewatching previous episodes. sure, yes, asmr is meant to be calming and relaxing.. but that's not what i think of otaku fm. they're spoonfeeding me a product like it's baby food.

it's just a 20 minute ad. really.

some could say "well duh, that was the point of otaku fm, to advertise obey me and give more fan content!!"

then tell me, genuinely. did this episode give you any fan content of the vas or character that you've either already heard before OR content that really satiated you.

let's use anime and chill as an example. the anime and chill series was made to advertise the anime, but they didn't spend all the time talking about it. and you didn't exactly need to have the money to watch the anime to enjoy the whole thing. the voice actors themselves are performers. they're used to taking the reins on a project and creating an entertaining experience, which is why even though a segment is based on asking one question, we learn so much about them on a personal level. if a radio episode can make me feel like i'm chatting with two friends, then its done its job. this episode felt like watching two unskippable ads in a row on youtube. end me.

for me it's bringing up the question - all this paid content might just turning more fans away rather than bringing more in. i'm suspecting they've ben losing money since the decline in popularity after lockdown.

it's just making me think, well, five years in the future, will obey me as a game even survive? because trust me, after this disappointing episode, i'm starting to turn to ex and bee as my lord and saviour.

this isn't a diss at the voice actors at all. they were told and paid to do this, and they've done it perfectly well. this is more at a poke at the higher up executives calling the shots for this. because it always is- /hj

think i'm the only one who hates it? read this other post from another person on youtube who's also another avid fan of the voice actors. i might be repeating one or two of their points, but i saw this before i ever listened to ss, and trust me, it was a red flag for what was to come.

again, i'm not making this post because "arghhh i hate solmare i hate the vas".. no. i'm doing this because i can see that in another universe, this new series could've been amazing. it just falls flat. and i feel like it will continue falling flat until the developers and higher-ups behind this game acknowledge the scraps and and shreds of a fanbase the game has left.. i'm disappointed.

before you even begin praise this episode, listen to every single episode featuring sumi shinya, miura ayme, and/or takuhei yamamoto, laugh your heart out, then come back to this post. and mourn what has been taken from you.

[crayistic]

I needed to come somewhere to rant.... so here it is. Critical role Campaign 3 Episode 77 spoilers ahead so please don't read if your not wanting spoilers.

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First of all want to say the episode was brilliant, in terms of the story and the hopefully future animation for sure. However I have so many issues.... I have seen alot of people and shippers getting g happy about the fact thatAshton kissed Fearne... and saying things like he is being the barbarian and is wanting to be the one to take the pain and damage... so on and so forth and I couldn't disagree with this more.

First of all, from a players perspective... i know there is trust and love between the crit cast and they are all about support and aftercare... but thus choice by ashton as a player with other players made me feel quite uncomfortable. It was such a horrible place to put Ashley in and it was easy enough to see how angry and how rediculous most of the cast thought the choice was. Not only that but Matt himself making comments about how he gave them clear warnings. It would jave been less painful for others if he had let Fearne take the shard (or gave her some support or time to think about it for herself) that put her and the others through what he did. He knew how risky it was and he was very prerered to die, so anyone saying he was doing it for his friends? Like what... how? Because the pain of losing someone and having to carry that with you, when you also played a part in it MAJORLY out weights phitjcal pain. Then chockyness with the end result when it was all fluke and luck. If it wasn't for fearnes spell and randomly swaping the ring with chet... yes these are all great story points but I do think he crossed the line alittle.

Now the missed opportunity for the story. Mat wad clearly setting up the emperor and empress, giving them clear signs and opportunities to gain power for two of the bells hells. Now what? Will ashton be completely OP, and how is that fair to the other characters. Mat is now going to have to find away to limit him and again yes, the game is about the players, not everything goes to plan and things can change in an instant but again I do think there are lines. If he had died, there is a big change Ashley would have blamed herself for saying she didn't want the shard (however i also think she was influenced by Tals persistent pushing and comments for him to have it). I was really looking forward to seeing what it would be like to have two of them tighed to eachother by ancient power and what that would mean for them. Not to mention how stressed and upset she was at the table, I get that shit can happen in game but when another player is doing it to you without any type of warning for over 40 mins of play... it seemed abit messed up.

Moving into the shipping aspect of things. I'm a lover of romance in d&d and I had a forst class ticket aboard the Imogen/Laudna and the Fearne/Ashton boat. I was looking forward to being able to see Fearnes vulnerable side. She is usually so ladeda about flirting, intimacy and so on but this... this was kind of gross and it almost felt like she was being used and manipulated. While this could have been tal not recognising fearne was going down that path for ashton and him rushing to implement things last moment or whatever was going on... it just felt wrong.

Out of nowhere he's calling her hot after she's referencing him saying he wants a sister... and the horrible thing is you can tell she has feelings for him because ots almost like she is to wrapped up in the slight attention that she doesn't even see how he's acting. Saying she's hot while lased in the request to lie to all of their friends, aid him in doing something stupid, very much from the begning never planning on fearne having the shard... saying how he trusts her more?... It felt like love bombing to confuse her and get her to do what he wanted. Her returning his hot comment and running away... there was no recognition to how she doesn't normally act like that... what did it mean and so on, he just sat back and made a cocky comment

Then the whole thing, grabbing her and kissing her right before it happened. He actually made a comment saying to just do it because it will never happen again and it's the only one she gets. Like imagin if you actually loved or was falling fir someone... it felt like she was nothing but a tool and none of the others would do it for him because it was fucking STUPID but fearne also wouldn't have done it to any oof the others... so what's the difference? Well maybe ots the fact she has feelings for him. The people saying he wanted to do it to take the pain over his friends... I just don't get it. His actions were nothing but selfish. Doing something so crazy and actually telling people to heal him. Saying he needed this like having one shard wasn't enough. Putting fearne in that position, someone he clearly knows cares for him more than a friend and she had to stand there and watch him fucking shatter into pieces and come back... nearly dying over and over and worst of all at the aid of her own hands. Now I don't see how they could have any chance of a romance because he kicked it in the ass before it even began... or he doesn't even see her that way and did completely use her... because if it was the only kiss she was getting... then why do it unlessbyour trying to love bomb her?...

It was all abit twisted and fucked uo to me and I really don't know how to actually feel about the whole thing... definitely the most controversial point of bells hells to me. Oh man what I would give to be a fly in the wall after that. The following pics sums up my emotional roller coaster through that ep....

[ordinaryschmuck]

Season One of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is FINE

All and all, I'd say it's a fine adaptation of the first book.

The spirit is very much in place. The story's sense of humor and light drama is present and well balanced through the show. One moment you have a gripping discussion of Sally explaining she fell in love with a god, and it's followed by Percy asking if she found Jesus. It's a funny line that doesn't undercut the drama because that's exactly what a kid like Percy would ask. Even some bits that WEREN'T in the book that very well could have been, like Mr. D lying to Percy about being his father for some cheap booze or the gosh dang Consensus Song. Moments like that show me that the people behind this show are HUGE FANS of the books and wanted to make something that's faithful but still provides something new to enjoy.

And there are SOME changes to the story, a lot of them I don't really mind. I like that they made Sally more sassy and Grover more proactive. I like that Medusa's made more as a tragic villain instead of a monstrous one. I REALLY like that we got to see Poseidon early. That last one takes the punch out of the dramatic weight of seeing him in Book Four, but seeing him now really helps cement the idea that this version DOES love Percy and Sally, something that I didn't really get in the books. Which might have been the intention, but the show is trying to be something different, and I respect it for it.

When it comes to the action, it's pretty good. Stuff like the Minotaur fight and the battle with Ares wasn't as long or epic as it was mapped out in my head, but I can understand it. These are big fights involving little kids and CGI is expensive (Even though you wouldn't have this problem if the show was ANIMATED, but I digress). Despite the limitations, the show did will and provided some kickass moments.

As for the actors, frickin' round of applause across the board. Nearly everyone they got does GREAT in their role, fitting the changes the show is going for and the spirit of the book everything is based on. Some particular standouts for me are Adam Copeland as the perfect D-Bag that is Ares and Walter Scobell who IS Percy Jackson. It's the kid especially that impressed me the most, as he nails the sarcastic, angry, endearing, idiotic, and loyal to a fault hero that makes Percy the best. If there's any actor who I think is struggling it's probably Leah Jeffries as Annabeth, who seems a bit too standoffish and closed off, as if she's holding back a lot of personality that the character has. However, to be fair...

A. Annabeth was more or less the same in the first book, so I'll allow it. Just as long as she has more of a wit to match Percy's. It's what made Percabeth amazing.

B. This is a child actor we're talking about. Even Walter, who is PITCH PERFECT casting, manages to have some awkwardness and stiffness to his performance at times too. I'm sure that as more time goes on, these kids will get better and better each season.

And, yeah, I'd say that this is enough to make Percy Jackson and the Olympians a FINE TV show...But there's some things that hold it back from being good or even GREAT.

Firstly, there's the pacing. The pacing in this show is off a lot of the time, and this is mainly a problem with most straight to streaming shows nowadays. We can have long, extensive TV shows anymore as networks and services are demanding shorter and shorter seasons, to the point where its less of a season of television and more of a long movie. It's no different here as we're forced to fly by past plot point after plot point, all while trying to be more episodic AND while setting up future stuff. It makes you appreciate the moments when the show DOES slow down and let moments settle, but there's not enough of that.

Then there's the way moments are told out of order or are condensed. Like how Percy and Annabeth have their heart-to-heart on the train instead of on the animal truck. Or how Annabeth starts calling Percy Seaweed Brain when the journey's almost over instead of doing it right away. Or how Luke sparred with Percy near the END of the season, not the beginning. I'm not exactly an accuracy purist. I find changes are fine as long as the spirit is in tact, which it very much is. And if I wanted the story told exactly as it was, I would have just read the book. But changes like that make me feel like they're missing the point. Like, that zoo truck wasn't great, but it will be a happy memory between Percy and Annabeth as a time when they REALLY talked. Annabeth calling Percy Seaweed Brain was a straight up insult that Percy hated but grew to accept as something only SHE can call him as it later turns into a sort of petname for him. And interrupting Percy's battle with Ares with Percy sparring with Luke spoonfeeds us information, when showing them do that in the beginning would have benefited in making that scene act as a set up with a pay off. Besides, we spend so little time with Luke anyway that when we get to that BIG REVEAL, it's not as impactful because he was barely a character. Again, I don't mind changes, but if you're going to do them, make sure the story doesn't suffer.

But while we're on the topic of changes, let's talk about the ones that REALLY bother me.

I don't like that some other gods are introduced too early. It takes the impact out of Ares and Hades being big, intimidating figures when there are other gods that the characters can just chat and reason with.

I don't like that Annabeth's fear of spiders is just glossed over. Not only does it SHOW US (instead of telling us) that a strong-willed character like Annabeth can be emotionally shaken by something as small as a spider, but leads to a sense of tragedy of her past and her being a child of Athena. To gloss over it is a huge disservice to Annabeth as a character and it doesn't feel right.

And I REALLY don't like that the movie did the Lotus Casino better than the show. Because if the movie that the author loves to shit on managed to be more faithful than the SHOW...it messed up.

So...the show is a mess at times. I still enjoyed it and I hope we get a season two. But if this series wants to get past The Sea of Monsters, it'll need to focus on what makes it GREAT instead of using more of what holds it back as just FINE.

[eisforeidolon]

Since I'm still determinedly procrastinating on my NaNo novel, let's also touch on that bit about how SPN's legacy is gonna totally be nothing but D/C because it's such an important groundbreaking ship!

Except people who watch SPN in the future aren't going to spend a week in between each episode and months in between each season reading bad meta convincing themselves there's a love story told only in set dressing and eyeblinks between Dean and Castiel. Instead they're going to see the increasingly told-over-shown best friendship that's actually there in the canon. They're going to notice how little Castiel is proportionally present without meta about how he's really a lead and every scene he's not in actually totes revolves around him. It's going to be very obvious the central relationship of the canon is the crazy intense platonic one between Dean and Sam featured in every episode. Sure, people will still ship D/C, but actually believe it's the focus of SPN in the same delusional way as hellers have without the self-reinforcing echo chamber? No, SPN's legacy is going to be what's actually in SPN - with its notoriously batshit fandom as an entirely optional side dish.

Except when it comes to good representation of LGBT+ characters, even in the year 2020 when it aired, compared to what other canons had already done and were doing? Aside from the above mentioned bad meta that is not the canon, the thing hellers are bragging about is a single scene only about Castiel's character - which is not remotely the same thing as a ship being reciprocated and made canon. I'm not saying you couldn't do genuinely good representation of an LGBT+ character through them having one-sided feelings for another? But even just from Castiel's end? The scene in question is a very pointedly deniable and ambiguous potential "coming out" with no narrative buildup leading to it and no followthrough to confirm it. Outside of heller space, it gained so much traction as a meme not just because of how awkward it was, but also because it was so obviously a low-effort last minute throwaway blink-and-you'll-miss-it regressive queerbait implying bury your gays rather than anything like good representation. Berens/Collins attempt at a message for the hellers about D/C is the furthest thing from groundbreaking and noteworthy now. Five, ten, fifteen years down the road as more and more canons include well thought out, genuinely good representation? It's going to be even more of a cringe-y nothingburger to the point even hellers may eventually realize Berens and Collins were the ones actually queerbaiting and insulting them by getting their hopes up over nothing - and only getting away with it because hellers were just that desperate to pretend something more was there. As a legacy, it's a fucking embarrassment. On the other hand, the established message of the entire rest of SPN, that it's perfectly fine to center your life on platonic love which can be just as strong and important as romantic love? Well, that's actually pretty unique as a story, validating to those it speaks to now, and is going to age just fine as a legacy. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[jaeellec]

I'm having a bit of a rough time lately...Can't really focus on any writing or one single piece of art for too long - I just keep jumping all around and it is exhausting. So...I just decided to talk about my main character since I'm feeling more comfortable with sharing things about her. And be warned, this will be all over the place as well.

Here is her SBS trivia:

And below the cut are lots and lots and lots (and I mean, a lot) of details of development, fun facts, and further info on my girl.

🌙 Carmen is incredibly morally grey - I place her very firmly as a chaotic neutral.

🌙 Some cute, lighter things before I get in too deep with her character: As a child, she was very much a daddy's girl. She loves to make things; especially jams, wines (jet fuel, save for a lavender wine that is surprisingly pleasant), suncatchers, jewelry, and the occasional tambourine. She can read the stars. She really likes sweets - her favorite flavors being caramel, honey, and cherry. And she really loves peaches - her Devil Fruit was once a peach. As mentioned above, typically in a real-world setting, her mother is from Japan, so Japanese is usually a second language for her, but it hasn't come in One Piece. But she also really loves miso soup, especially when it reminds her of her mother's cooking. Her mother brushing her hair is a very fond memory for her, and she grew it out for her mother - playing with hair is a major sign of affection for her. She really likes the ocean and she misses swimming.

Anyway...

🌙 She won't hesitate to become violent - there's confidence in her abilities that can even overflow to arrogance at times. In fact, Carmen was so similar to Kid, I had to tone some things down. For example, in Gundam, she had the short choppy hair (which she gets at some point in every insert, but more on that later) and she always wore goggles either on her head or around her neck. She was a mobile suit pilot and she loved working on her machinery, so I took the tinkering and mechanic aspect away from her. Although...I do still have an old mechanic pin-up drawing I did a few years back...

🌙 Carmen still thinks robots are cool, though! Didn't take that away from her. She also likes dinosaurs, dragons, comics. Since the only one I'm aware of in One Piece is Sora Warrior the Sea, she's an avid Sora fan and goes straight to the strip whenever the paper drops. She also really likes anything considered scary and strange. She likes to catch spiders, lizards, insects. As mentioned above, she has a fascination with Thriller Bark. Her favorite holiday is Halloween - she loves all things Halloween. In the real world, the Monster Mash is one of her favorite songs.

🌙 Also...in a real-world setting, she fucking loves ALF??? (She's watching ALF all the time in Gundam)

🌙 Beyond her interests and sense of humor, she herself is also incredibly...weird? Strange? Off-putting maybe? Franky will describe her as sketchy earlier on (Wandering Star, episode 5), even as she warms up to everyone, I'm not sure that opinion really goes away.

🌙 Very much a trickster - it's her base for how she functions even later in work and play. If you've read any of Wandering Star, you know she absolutely cannot be trusted - not unless you truly get to know her, at least. But before that, she knows how to read people due to her job and absolutely will use it to her advantage.

🌙 She has ridiculous willpower when it comes to reaching her goals. Originally, she wasn't going to have Conqueror's Haki, but after reading more about it, I realized it would be absolutely fitting for her.

🌙 I kept with my other rules though. No Future Sight, she can't hear the Voice of All Things, and she is not a "D". Her middle name for well over a decade has been Dolores, so I removed it entirely for that purpose. While she is good with Haki because of her upbringing in a powerful kingdom with a Haki-based military and her family being personal friends with the Captain of the Guard who would train her from a young age, she is far less reliant on it now. However, she does often pair observation Haki with her powers, and has pretty much ceased use of armament. Her whole thing is just "don't get hit", which usually works out for her with her speed and precision - but is absolutely not always the case.

🌙 She doesn't like to use shields or wear helmets, even in battle. That was a big thing that came up often in her insertions for Berserk and Gundam. With armor, she just likes to keep everything light.

🌙 She doesn't like to wear shoes. That's just always been a thing with her. She will compromise with some black flats or comfy sneakers though.

🌙 I've noticed she's always incredibly nomadic. In AOT, it was the Survey Corps. In Berserk, she was a mercenary. In Gundam, she was Airborne. She holds rank across the board, too.

🌙 On that note, I'll say she feels very much like a natural-born leader. While she can be crude and cold (often) she still always very much cares for her men, and they give love and loyalty in return. In One Piece, you'll see what she was willing to give just to be sure her men had adequate training (for victory and survival), food, clothing, and shelter. Her and her men are always like a family, that's across the board. They like to sing a lot, especially around their campfires.

🌙 Singing and dancing is something that has carried over for her since I was a child. As much as I hate it, it is a major part of her as a character and has been from the start. In One Piece especially, after certain events you'll see she'll use singing to kinda self-soothe (also I've noticed when she sings, unless she's performing, it's always sad songs or love songs???), and dancing is very freeing for her. In stories across the board, she's always working at a club of some kind that leads into the main story. For Berserk, it was pretty much the same as One Piece when the Band of the Hawk came through. In Gundam, she was working in a far sleezier little place, stole a cop car to attempt to drift it to try to impress a guy and got arrested - with current world events, they gave her the option of prison or military. She chose military and went on to become a Major, and yes, at least one war crime was committed on her part. To further illustrate her brand of violence even from back then, there was one scene after she had just lost one of her men where she stepped on ground soldiers with her mobile suit, smearing a few of them.

🌙 The pilot thing always carries over in some way shape or form. If it's not a mobile suit or an aircraft, it will be a black Jeep or a black horse. In One Piece, she will come to find she adores sailing ships.

🌙 Another really big thing that will always carry over across the board is at some point, she will lose her hair. In Berserk, she willingly cuts it off out of grief. In Gundam, her hair is already short for the main story, and you get the event in a backstory OVA. For One Piece, I know exactly when it happens. Which, across the board, it is devastating because of how special hair seems to be for her.

🌙 Also for appearance, her weight can tend to slightly fluctuate as well. In the main story for Gundam, her stomach has a bit of softness. During WS, she's very toned, bathes often. Post-WS she's still fit, but her stomach is softer, she doesn't bathe as often (maybe every 3 days). Some TMI, she's not a dancer anymore, so she doesn't have to keep everything clean-shaven down there, and she doesn't. In WS, her scent was like a sweet spicey vanilla amber on her skin and flowery/fruity for her hair. After WS, she just smells like sea salt and her captain. Even though she has a pretty bad scar between her shoulder blades (that's new for her) she will probably get the moon phase tattoo down her back that she had in Gundam.

🌙 Aside from appearance, there are plenty of core story elements that have always and forever carried over and translated to the worlds, but I think that's all I'm willing to give for now while I'm actually posting Wandering Star.

🌙 For some more character development info: If you've been following me, you've probably seen me mention a handful of times I've had Carmen since kindergarten. My first memory of her is on the playground and she was a VeggieTales OC at the time (can you believe???) But her first full, actual insertion was Sonic the Hedgehog when I was in second grade. Fun fact: her eyes are still purple to this day because of her Sonic insert.

🌙 On that note, while she's gone through many changes and developments over the past couple of decades, you will see plenty other artifacts still shining through from her inspos. Esmeralda from Hunchback of Notre Dame was one to the point where it permanently affected part of her style (fully, depending on the world. But I love her One Piece insert because it somehow let her two distinct styles come together and kinda fuse).

🌙 If you've read episode 2 of Wandering Star, her meeting everyone was based off Esmeralda's dance, and even her family house words "Let Justice Be Done" spill over from that character. And those house words have been used in multiple inserts. Though I will say, over the years I've noticed she's developed her own darker sense of justice. Oh, also the Thane family crest carried over from Berserk (it's just Skull Knight's sigil - don't tell anyone).

🌙 Another huge impact for developing her to who she is today was Lara Croft (I was just...so into Lara Croft as a child...all the Tomb Raider games...man) - that whole 'tough girl' thing has stuck, but more importantly, it was the beginning of her dual wielding that was solidified with her Attack on Titan insert. Between the two, I've had her current fighting style for a while and was delighted when I saw how similar it was to Killer's own fighting style. Fun fact: when I make her in video games, I play as her - go for the choices she would make, the armor she would wear, the weapons she would use. In my thousand plus hours of Monster Hunter World/Iceborne and Rise/Sunbreak, I have only touched dual blades for serious gameplay.

🌙 Beyond dual-wielding, duality is a major character element of her I have picked up on over the years - how she's incredibly cold-blooded and brutal with enemies, but how she has such a sweet and devoted loyalty and a gentle heart for those she loves. I noticed duality even manifested itself with her power use in the world of One Piece, even as far as the attack names themselves in the form of a big scary word and a really pretty word (i.e. Eschaton Aurora). That's how it goes for all of her attacks, except one that isn't an attack - it's the softer, loving side of her power use and it's called Honeymoon, though it's never really said. So, there ya go.

🌙 Even further, she always has twins - Rae and Ciri (Raemond and Cirilla). BUT! Interestingly enough, if (and that's a really big IF) she reproduces in the world of One Piece, it'll just be a boy instead of the twins that's she's been having for over two decades. Which...i can't figure out why...But! I do have a name chosen for him! However, I came into this planning to kill her off before she reproduces - it was a rule when I gave in to her insertion. Think I'll just let things play out like I always do.

Anyway...that's enough for now. If you made it this far...wow. All I can say is I hope you like her! I realize she won't be for everyone, but that's okay! Her and her stories keep me going.

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

That was the premiere of Ghosts Season 3!!

I really enjoyed it, it was a great episode :D

Now, first off, elephant in the room: I did not really expect them to go full tilt with the sucked off event! But at the same time, I wasn't totally sure, so I was still plenty scared xD. Mostly for Nigel but I felt he was a bit too obvious as well. I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about who it was gonna be, though, so I wouldn't stress out, so hmm xdd. But just. . . gosh. It's so sudden 😭. I don't deserve this xd.

I will say I think it's not quite as depressing as BBC's loss of Mary, but I still think it hit hard and well <3. Flower wasn't my favorite character (but they're pretty much all right up there lol) but I absolutely adored her and I'm so gonna miss her :((. Especially the humor she added - obviously they all have humor, it's a comedy xD, but her just out-of-it-ness was so fun sometimes :'D. Sighh :')) :'(. Flower <33. If she is that bird now, she's flying high and loving it <3.

After attacking Jay and finished the life cycle since she was attacked by a bear lol.

Anyway, more on her at the end <33

First of all: so glad Nigel and Issac are okay <33. Loved the angst of them searching for each other though :D (after the fact - I was S T R E S S E D in the moment lol, as you could see xD). But guys come on xDD wait on the engagement party lol

I do kiiinda get it in like a "well we can't stop our lives" and to be fair she would want them to be happy, but also, nah xD. Did my family have a murder mystery the night of my grandmother's funeral? Yes. Doesn't mean you can have the engagement party then xD. But hey, what's his face went back down to the basement lol, so you can have next week!

Poor Pete xD. Man was going through it lol. I mean, not as much as like, Thor (which we'll talk about in moment) lol xd, but still. He did say "just a basement ghost", however. On the other hand,

so did all of we lol.

So hey, who are we to judge xD. Loved him trying to make it right though :'). And I just love that they were friends with Flower <3. That's so accurate, so her :). And I'm glad they invited the basement ghosts to the memorial <3. They deserved it :').

Thank you Nancy though for ruining the relations again lol, we need some space away from the groups (like them away from each other) xD.

Also Hetty and Alberta were being icons <33 as always xD glad to see them back to friends :')) I assume we'll still see more repressions of that all in the future but given that the situation was all that it was I'm glad they were friends this episode <3

-

Hetty shares a room with Flower :(

I just realized that :((

Oh my GOSHHH I don't deserve that. So ill thank you very much, oh my gosh 😭😭💔💔❤️

Hetty trying to sleep but all she can think about is the deafening silence- I'm not okay

They never even really got a chance :'((

AOUGH anyway xd. I'm okay lol (no I'm not)

Trevor knowing about ornithology was iconic xD Good for him lol. Poor guy was going through it with the basement ghosts encroaching on his territory though lol. Also Sass just wanting Thor to continue "wanting" a bird 💀. Sas no xD. Love the idiots lol <3.

Also AYYY Crash sighting!!! We love to see it :DDD. Really nice to see him again 🥰. Genuinely I loved seeing him, and it's nice for consistency's and making sense's sake lol <3.

Jay was also really going through it xdd. I am glad he stood up for himself and needing to get the thing done (I know they don't have a lot of control over their [after]lives but sometimes living stuff just really does need to come before ghost stuff xd), but I'm also glad he felt for Thor and was there for him <333. Jay really is just the best :')).

And Sam was also trying her best to be there for them this episode! She always does her best and seeing her get upset to be reminded that she's grieving herself is just ouaugh 😭😭💔❤️. So good <3. This is a lot sadder of a premier than Abbott lol. Anyway xD. I loved that bit, and I'm so glad she was supporting both the ghosts and Jay <33. I'm glad it all worked out :').

Now onto Thor.

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔❤️❤️.

I feel so bad for him DDD': 😭. Bro was alone for so long and then he saw Flower (those flashbacks were absolutely illegal by the way), and he loved her 😭❤️. I know he stopped being totally alone a while before that but it still wasn't many. He's constantly been getting left behind (ouch this is starting to hurt even more I knew it would bring out even more emotions in me xd) and just to have someone, to have her choose him, and stay with him despite the hard stuff and the bumps :'). And then to have it all ripped away :'( 😭. You can just see his heartbreak :'(. I really hope Flower's living her best (after after, lol) life, but I can't wait for Thor to join her <3. Although of course I want to keep him around as long as possible :'D. They just. . both deserve it <3.

I will say I like the way the Ghosts-verse does getting sucked off. Or, "death", I guess, lol, as I always about to say xD. It sudden, like death is in life. I think even when it's something you know is coming for a long time and expect, it's still surprising somehow. It's having something be there one day, and vanish from your life the next. It's terrifying and crushing and awful, but at the same time? You want to be happy for them. Because, at least for me, you believe in some place beautiful for them. I hope Flower gets that <3. This is rough to experience, especially being reminded of losses in my life, but it helps to imagine her thriving, and just waiting for the rest of them <3 :). She is absolutely living her best life <3.

After life, that is ;').

Flower is wild. She was silly and crazy and wacky and FUN. She was just such a fun and enjoyable character, and I really am sad to see her go <3. I also think it has to be acknowledged that she had such an impact on the other characters. They all do, obviously, but you look at Flower and you see it at every turn. She helped Hetty liberate herself from society a bit, she helped Pete learn about what people can be with the basketball, she helped Thor learn to love again and compromise (as well as living with more balance), owls, she taught them valuable lessons with her life, the story of her robbing the bank, and her death (and all that surrounds it, like the movie and such). She was unexpectedly wise, and often underestimated, but she always proved them wrong in her own way. She's awesome. I'm going to miss her so much, but it was an honor to have her here while she was here <3. A soldier's salute, men. 🫡 Ah, I originally said that because I didn't think I had that emoji, but then it suggested it and I searched it, so yeah. Both are staying though :). She deserves it <3. Owls :)).

Rest in Peace, Susan Flower Montero. You are an icon, and I love you <3 ❤️🥰.

Overall, this was an amazing episode :D. Sad but lovely xd. It had some great plots going on, even/especially just the little things like the recurring bits (the turf thing with Trevor for example lol), still managed to have plenty of funny bits amongst the sadness, and was just all around a really amazing episode. I loved it so much <33.

What a great start to Season 3 :D! This was an angsty and awesome first episode lol, and I'm so excited for the next one (ghost power!! And Sas!!) and the rest of the season :DD. 🥰😍🤩❤️.

See you guys later!!

[the-official-account]

Three of Hearts episode 17 live blog

(this bitch has spoilers)

On sabbatical from my impromptu career in marketing, and also (sigh) life, here's another liveblog! The first one on tumblr, the platform where I am somehow even more unapologetically long winded

@threeheartscast

OOOH another flashback I love these. Getting to know spar before clovenheart is <3. Of course it's malicious compliance that's the best type of compliance.

Ooooh I gotta love a seedy literal underbelly. I'm excited to listen to that quiet year series omg.

Okayyyyy I see that moody lighting we've got going one 👀👀👀

ALL THREE AT ONCE IF YOU ARE EXTREMELY SKILLED

Invite only altered people club is so rad.

Scales and tails notes for future me writing a very particular sort of fanfic

Note to find out how to spell yaccab's name right for that fanfic LMAO

GOD I love spar. The puring for the table, the going out to have fun and going it by acting like a host. He's such a people person in a way that's like....Shepardly? OH like a herding dog! Not so much that he's forceful but so much that when he's got you marked as a friend he's gonna make sure you're ok make sure you're okay make your you're okay, your good? OKAY GREAT!!!!! :D

And it's so lovely and wholesome and warm and I'm glad it's a dude filling that sort of role. As much as I love my sexy hostess with the mostest trope, accommodating individuals come in many flavors and genders!

OMG YACCAB IS SO NICE IM SO GLAD SPAR HAS A FRIEND LIKE THAT

Okay writer brain is telling me that while I don't think vellum is TOO straight laced to go here...... hmmm these notes will NOTE be posted yet

(I would've listened to more of the episode by now and maybe gotten to 18 if my brain didn't go on a HARD left turn after that. Know that the live in liveblog means "with many, MANY pauses")

Spar is like "hmm. I moved away from my tribe of people like me. Unacceptable. I'm gonna adopt everyone in this shady ass establishment" and yk what I respect that. Queer life goals.

Let a man get drunk without interruption, oh my god!

I realized "Yaccab" might be "Jacob" and I am... a perfectly intelligent English speaking person! But monolingual.

I don't like this dude for ruining the party. He's probably fine but. Still.

The dynamic I'm imagining between Spar and Jacob is like...Not friends with benefits, but not NOT friends with benefits. Sex-positive, queer, and close enough to where they're super physically comfortable (he was literally on his lap lmao) and they may have kept eachother company once or twice! But like. I'm thinking of that dynamic that is sort of "our relationship is neither platonic nor romantic not queer platonic but between all of those things, and I want you to find somebody but I consider it my responsibility to decide if they're good with you" type beat. Yes these posts are very often me taking notes for myself later. Ah to be free of the twitter character limit.

"....that's fucked up." THE WAY I HOLLERED. Yacob (final awnser) is so confused and spar is so drunk lmao.

OH WAIT IS YACOB AN EX? idk I mean previous statements still mostly count.

I'm too aro for this shit— I don't care how much characters kiss I deadass forget traditional romantic situations are like. Possible.

Why does spar keep giving YACOB responsibility 😂😂😂😂 narrative brain is saying "Setting up to spar trusting vellum with Anya or sorrel n them/paralleling when he sort of did fighting jasper" the part of my brain that wants to put my blorbos in my mouth and chew on them like the word "intellectual" was never invented is going HAHA. SHEEPDOG!

Ah yes the classic Italian stereotype: possessing fancy hats

Jordan introducing the folks in this room as "two women and a man" is THE most gendered sentence that I think exists in this podcast and that is VERY funny to me

*fanning myself* There is something SO admirable about a man with convicti— HES GOING FOR THE DOOR LMAOOOO

"I know what I wanted to know now" my deeply embedded distrust of gms (as a runner-of-games who also loves to get up to nonsense at the first opportunity)has alarm bells going off a bit

OMG VELLUM IS HERE NOW HI HI HI!!!!!

OH MY GOD I love little cute scenes where characters met before they like met, if one or both parties forgets it I call them "meet moots" because they meet and nothing happens JFKSVSLDVSKDVKZ

I mean yeah timbleton has gotta pursue hell lose his job and probably get arrested.

I was about to be like "vellum fuck your bosses stop staying late RISE RISE RISE!!!" and then I remember vellum kinda owns the place dushdgoddb SO DO SOME SELF CARE AND SLEEP, DUMMY.

"yeah I'm fine are spars first words to vellum" oh ouch but cute

NO AGENTS HERE DKSVSODVSOSVSO OH MY GODDD this. This is. This is very cute. NOT SPAR INTRODUCING HIMSELF AS GAMBLER. vellum sounds. Confused but endeared (BECAUSE WHO WOULDNT BE) but ENDEARED!!!!

Vellum is so cool. WOULD IT BOTHER YOU IF I STAYED WITH YOU. AWH.

Bestie if he pushes the key under the door anybody who comes past can open the door.

Spar said "idgaf I can fuck I fucker up, do it all the time, try me"

VELLUM WAITING WITH HIS SWORDCANE AFTER GAMBLER HAS PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR IS SSUUUUUUCHHHH A GOOD MENTAL IMAGE

OH THEM FLANKING THE DOOR WITH TWO SWORDS IS GO GOOD ALSO

BUT THUNBLETON MY MAN WHAT THE FUCK

YACOB IS HERE!!!! OMG FRIEND! Oh my god I love him.

OOOOOH AND VELLUM IS HERE TOO TIMBLEICBDMD IS SOOOO FUCKED.

POV: you're thinininininnton and vellum is pointing his rapier (I imagine that when he presses the button to unsheathe it an intricate collapsible golden guard springs out) at you're throat is something I wanna draw SO bad that is SOOOO cool and sexy and rand but wayyyy out of my ability right now. It will live forever in my brain (also my list for 3o♥️s stuff to draw is sooo long )

(also I shouldve guessed those people were shady they had one-word genders)

Yacob saw spar running and was like "guess this is my life now!" What a real one.

HE PULLS OUT A FLASH. KIIIIIING SHIT. Spar kisses him...but...but are they.....whatever dlegdkvdskdvd

Also I feel like grey for sure has that eye. Or diamond had the eye and grey has the gem now.

Efficiency-opsec brain getting really excited about the idea of vellum adjusting security protocols....I fucking love protocols.

Oh Vellum honey maybe don't go interrogating the single most secretive person with the most open desire to kill you.

"do you need somebody to take you there?" 🐑🐕

OH SHIT CATS. I miss destiny

I feel like Arabella is for sure in that lighthouse

YOU TURN TO LOOK AT THE WIGHTHOUSE AND YOU SEE THE PRESIDENT JXOSGSODHSODHDIDH

OH. AWH. VELLUM GETTING FLUSTERED WHEN HE'S APPRECIATED THATS CUTE BUT HE DESERVES ALL THE APPRECIATION AND TO BE USED TO THIS!!!! BUT ITS STILL CUTE!!!

BFKSGSKDVS VELLUM GIVING THIS TEEN AN EVEN SAFETY LESSON ♥️♥️♥️

Look like I Respect Meraphina's biomancy, and I respect her ability to use it for healing while also being very skeptical about the role of magic but like .... I disagree with the "don't bring magic back" thinking. If YOU have access to it it's clearly still there. Better for the world to recon with it as a whole then to have it available to some mysterious small number of folks only. Idk. Maybe my opinion on that will change but :\

OH. OH MERAPHINA LIKES HIM NOW? ....COOL!

They're still in cloven heart...hmm. in the lighthouse? This is probably related to preparing something big for bridge since they were all jacks.

"you dont just give things freely" somewhere in town Brunhilde has started frowning

OH. OH THATS A DAMN GOOD JOKER PLAY. WOW. WOW!!!! THOUGHTS. IMPLICATIONS. WOW! Now she can't kill him lmao

Anti-thaumatera is wearing Mayor Thorne as a glove puppet

"everyone in cloven heart at the time the spell was cast" diamond? Didn't diamond arrive soon after?

LOL ok so she'll still kill him

Midtro dance midtro dance

[ID: several repeats of the same very low quality image of a strange silhouette, humanoid but with a head that is too long from nose to ear, feet planted apart, arms out, and butt back, almost as if halfway through a squat. It is black on a white background. End ID]

Ooh Arabella can't do magic. Good to know.

"diamond took care of that" ALSO good to know

Okay but like...jasper...I can see where they're coming from

"he is posted up scanning the river and trees for potential assailants" the sheepdog joke will stop being funny when it stops being relevant and that is no time soon.

DESTINY WITH BRUNHILDE, THE TWO CUTEST CHARACTERS TOGETHER MY HEEEART

"that is definitely where I would be sneezing" 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

"they are both committed to this...to this Investigation"

OKAY BUT TATI AND ANYA COULD BE SOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE. I'm glad I'm not the only one that hears this. Tatianya....though I prefer Anyati

I didn't know tati was altered!

Edit: yes I did, what? Just forgot

...hmmm stowaways.....Arabella would probably be a much stronger presence probably. Xoechi and Joaquin maybe????

VELLUM NOT THINKING ABOUT THEM BEING ALONE BUT I FOR SURE WAY

JOSEPHA DID FUCKING NOT.

BEZTIE LIKE FUCK OFF

If you're trying to get money from the Harrington's for a good reason you could consider just ASKING

ABNFOEVDMD OHHHHH IT WAS TATI.

Girl I love you so much but you are like one week from the world's best full time jobs with the world's most eccentric investor like you'll be fine.

VELLUM'S FLIRTING LMAO

to protect him...

IT WAS GREY!!!! I FUCKING KNEW IT.

Still bestie it is NOT hard to guilt your niece into going to a blood drive you're setting up and like yoinking that shit. The drama! Unnecessary!!

Unless she's doing something super secretive and vellum might suspect that the blood being related to grey at all makes his behavior weird........HMMMM. HMMMM!!!!

I just KNEW tati was about to make that joke

Maybe grey is being Ransomed by a third party who wants vellums blood for some reason and she can't ask him for it because she knows the third parties goals go against vellum's morals and that the only way for them to be happy together after the third party does whatever thing with vellums blood he disagrees with is for her to pay for other people to get the blood so vellum assumes they were involved at all?

Like protection and ransom feel like good grey motivations to be but idk

BLOOD MAGIC?

okay okay maybe not.

Yeah because if grey was REALLY their employer it means that she doesn't have working for him as an out anymore really ...

Spar it might buy you time but it might also put you in danger. And there are possibly worse forces looking for the blood of altered people for expiriments!!!!! Though....well supplying it to them isn't actually doing any harm it's it's conventual since their goal isn't harmful? Well arabellas isn't but....UGH!

This blood drawing scene feels...intimate?

I was right!!!! Just some teens having fun going on an adventure.

BDJSGSJDGDKDBim imagining spar doing full manly-frown lean-on-the-banister stern older brother, vellum starting to smile when he sees the teens (because they're NOT Arabella!) Looking at spar and then going ahem yes. Serious. I am serious now.

Okay yeah but your mom's said no because diamond is a person of interest in a fucking KIDNAPPING

Ah yes the feeling vellum will feel upon spars death is surely "disappointment"

I really hope there's some really crucial information in the couples party djdgskdbd.

THE EYE?????????????? OH DAMN.

That was a really good one. No conclusions I am very tired now. Lots of love goodnight

[walkingstackofbooks]

DS9 3x23 Family Business thoughts (I'm re-watching, so beware spoilers for future episodes!)

(30/05/2023)

"You only cook Hungarian food when you're in a really good mood." "You know, I always said you are a smart child." :3 I love them

"He's a very dedicated student." Rom's proudness of Nog!

"Brunt. F.C.A." Ohh, had forgotten how fun he is to hate!

"But you haven't even told me what I'm being charged with." "No. I haven't." This is weirdly reminiscent of Cardassia... Oh, of course, apart from the requirement to bribe.

"Odo, I'm holding you personally responsible for the safety of my bar and my personal possessions for as long as I'm off the station." It's very telling that Quark doesn't trust anyone like he trusts Odo.

"You know, the rate we go through runabouts, it's a good thing the Earth has so many rivers." XD you know, now I'm wondering if all the commanders who have runabouts have like a central Google doc of all the rivers they've claimed so no two runabouts are accidentally named after the same river. 

"Have you met her yet?!" Jadzia is SO dramatic, blocking him off the stairs like that XD

"What did I tell you about contradicting me?" "You told me not to do it." "That's right. So you're going to stay here and watch over the bar while I'm gone." "No, I'm not."

Rom being able to stand up against Quark when it's for his family <3

"My house is my house." Again, a human phrase with a twist found in an alien language - fascinating

Ishka is the most wonderful character. I love how much we learn about her in just the first few sentences.

"Are you sure this is absolutely necessary?" I love them trying to rescue their dartboard.

"Your lucky dartboard?" ... "A little defensive, aren't they?" Love Sisko's gentle teasing 

"The chief told me." Miles' glare when Julian puts him on the hook to explain XD 

"Exactly how many people has Jake told about this woman?" "Everyone-" The way Miles turns around hoping he won't have to say anything more on the subject XD

"I know he can be headstrong and overbearing... not to mention mean... and insulting - and rude..." Rom's expression when he says "mean" 💔

"...but he's not all bad. He works hard. You should see the bar. It's thriving!" Rommmm, Quark does not deserve you!

"I don't think Quark knows how lucky he is to have a brother as loyal as you." I see you haven't told her about that time you conspired to kill Quark, then 😅

"It means Moogie's got the lobes for business." Rom looks so stunned, Quark's just disappointed 

"You're going to sit there and study the problem, and then come up with a clear, simple solution." He's so trusting! Still!

"I already have... I'm going to kill her." XD I shouldn't laugh because I think he's actually half-serious but oh Quark

"Females don't belong in business." "Give me one reason why not." "Because it's wrong." "You're going to have to do better than that." I love Ishka so much.

"So I lied. To both of you." Rom! Yes!

"Now, neither of you is going to leave this room until you've settled things. Is that clear? And no shouting! I'm going to take a nap." ROM I'M SO PROUD OF YOU

Kasidy and Sisko's stilted conversation - so this is an awkward first date?

"He was doing something called sliding into second." She's so ready to have to explain this. Little does she know...

Sisko's face is so fun to watch here as he computes what he just heard. "S-s-s-sliding into second?"

And Kasidy's face completely changes into shock "You know about baseball?" 

"I don't know you liked baseball!" "I didn't know anyone else liked baseball!" Their stunned excited laughter I love this. Best reveal!

Sisko's got the biggest grin :D

Jake's smile as he watches them go. I wonder if he knew the baseball connection and had kept it secret? (And how long was he watching them for?!)

"I sincerely hope I never see any of you again." Oh, I wish (not really, he's such a fun villain)

I love how Ishka not only wears clothes but has created completely her own style of clothing - her dress doesn't look like anything any of the Ferengi males wear.

How on earth is Rom going to keep Ishka's pretense a secret from Quark? He always slips up and reveals undisclosed amounts of profit! It's like his thing!

[nebulouscoffee]

Ok for the series ask game thingy I shall ask you… TNG and Enterprise

Ooh, this should be fun! Thank youuu :D

TNG

Favourite character: ahh this is legitimately hard! I love all the main seven leads so much. Maybe Deanna? I think she's heaps more interesting and complex than she comes across at first glance- I love her difficult relationship to her Human and Betazoid halves, I love her complicated dynamic with her mom, her state of cultural drift, her very nebulous sense of self that she's always just a little too afraid to confront head on, her compassion, her self-awareness, her warmth, and of course her occasional barbs that just never miss

Second favourite character: gosh this is even harder!! I feel like it's either Data or Geordi, but then I remember Worf. I adore Worf... but then there's also Beverly.... Okay, okay, I'm reasonably sure it's Data. I just really love his arc, his multifaceted relationships with the other characters, and the complexity of the questions his existence and chosen life raise. Some of the series' best episodes are centred around him. Not much else to say- I just love the guy! (And I am laughing so hard picturing your face while reading this. Sorry Fancy! Lmao... Unfortunately I am a Data girlie😂)

Least favourite character: uhhh maybe that Okona guy from 'The Outrageous Okona', I haven't actually rewatched that episode in sooo many years and I think he might be why haha (also every single guest character in 'Code of Honour' though that's not so much a case of me hating them as wishing the writers had never come up with them)

The character I'm most like: None of them!! They all joined the space military lmao I would never join the space military!! Also they're all very smart, like top-of-their-fields smart. TNG where is the representation for us mediocre dumbasses. I demand more mediocre dumbasses on the Enterprise! (OKAY if I had to pick, it would probably be Geordi but only when he's goofing off- or Riker when he's rejecting a promotion so that he can remain with his besties)

Favourite pairing: Beverly and her lamp🥰 okay, okay, Troisha from the non-canon ships, Troi/Riker from canon

Least favourite pairing: Deanna/every man she was ever sent to single episode romance hell with, special shoutout to that one dude from 'The Price' for making me watch that looooong as hell foot massage sequence *strained laughter*

Favourite moment: Gonna be a cliche and say that poker scene from the finale. Yup, they actually managed to end the show on... my favourite scene from the whole show. Good job, TNG! (If I'm being honest it's everything from the climax with the three Enterprises working together to Q's line on how exploration is not about conquering or charting territory but discovering new depths of the soul (good stuff👌) and the gang vowing not to let themselves drift apart like they did in that possible future. This is where TNG ended in my heart tbh! Every other appearance is like schrödinger's canon to me; it's canon when I need it to be, and fanfic generally lol

Rating out of 10: Objectively, it's a 7.5/10 from me. Its highs are SO high, but its lows are just so hilariously low- it had a rough start, there's no getting around that, and it's frequently clueless about the inherent imperialism and colonialist undertones of its premise, plus it almost never lets its female characters shine the way they deserve to. However this show also turned my life around so it gets a 100/10 by the power of the blorbolense😌 thank you for existing TNG!

Enterprise

Favourite character: Hoshiiii we love an overworked gifted child prodigy who grew up learning to speak soooo many languages but never had anyone to talk to, only now learning to relax and make friends and figure things out as an adult on the ship of the unhinged

Second favourite character: I mean it's gotta be T'Pol! She is far and away the most interesting character on the show imo, and despite the constant terrible horrible so-bad-it's-funny attempts to objectify her she manages to surpass the material and contain so much depth. She's an alien among humans and a deeply scandalous weirdo and pioneer among her own people, and I love her struggles navigating those two spheres throughout the show <3

Least favourite character: the ever-present air of post-9/11 military propaganda. And if you're going to argue that that's not an actual character on the show, I beg to differ. Straight up had more lines than Travis Mayweather!

The character I'm most like: Maybe Phlox? I'm not much like anyone on this show honestly, but in general he's a chilled out dude just doing his own thing. I feel like that's me right now

Favourite pairing: T'Poshi hell yeah!!! I know the characters barely interact in canon but it really is actually that deep you guys. I love it! For some reason all my favourite ships seem to involve these eager young super smart friendly compassionate officers falling for much older buttoned-up aliens who are obviously culturally isolated, and then connecting in a way that reveals the older alien (who might have a drug problem) is actually a social outcast in their own society whose superiority they won't shut up about and the younger officer actually has a more complicated relationship to their culture than first apparent thanks to an overbearing family, and they are strikingly similar shades of lonely. Hmmm....

Least favourite pairing: I don't think I have one lol! I don't feel strongly enough about any of the canon pairings and fanon ships don't affect me because I don't really engage with that side of Enterprise fandom (not saying this like a snobby thing, I'm sure it's great! I'm just not interested enough in this show that way hehe)

Favourite moment: T'Pol's speech standing up for the crew to the Vulcan High Command stands out in my memory... I'd probably have to rewatch to answer this question properly tbh

Rating out of 10: gonna be generous and overlook the nightmare of its place in history and all the ensuing xenophobia baked into its very premise and give it a solid 6/10. These characters deserved to come into their own, and the show is often good fun!

[discet]

What did you think about For the Future?

Bless Dana and the team, they are trying to fit 10 pounds of plot in a 5 pound bag.

I will say, for how ambitious they were, they managed to land a lot of good moments despite how crunched everything was.

I'll start with what I enjoyed. Most of these you can add a "... but I sure wish they had more time to flesh it out/build this up."

Loved Luz's arc in the episode, I'm glad that she wasn't just instantly in a better after Thanks to Them. Her talk with Camilla is probably my highlight of the episode.

I liked the Hexside plot, even with how all over the place it was. I actually did not see that reveal with Kikimora coming and liked both her disguise and updated design. She's so easily hate-able, its great.

Camilla was so great all episode I adored her just being so on board with supporting the kids and so utterly disturbed by the Boiling Isles. She's doing her best for Luz's sake, but man this place isn't for her. "The detention pit!?" I also like that she did her best to fight alongside the kids. Often characters in her role get totally sidelined, so I like that she managed a couple of key saves.

Loved the Palisman reveal. The way that Luz has been associated with snakes since episode one, the way that it connects with Vee her new adopted sister. It's all so great. I'm still curious if its titanic power is something that Luz did or if thats just how new Palisman staffs be.

Enjoyed Eda Lilith and King's little pow wow. Loved Lilith and Eda's designs for this.

Things I was Underwhelmed by. Again, you can take a "I understand that this was a consequence of having to cram a season of television into 3 specials and is not the d" at the end of all of these.

I was kind of bummed by Willow's arc in this one. It was a great concept and arc for her, but its so crammed in between everything else that I feel it got lost in the shuffle. There are visuals I liked. I liked her scene in the cave getting more and more lost in vines, and Hunter and Gus's pep talk trying to help her, but it just needed an episode that they didn't have to really let it all breathe.

Boscha's little arc wrap up also didn't land for me. I don't doubt there's a way to make her have a satisfying resolution to her arc, but they were way overstretched to try to do it between the really juicy parts of this episode. Amity mostly seems annoyed to have to wrap up her dynamic with her when the two have their confrontation in the caves.

Really wished we had gotten more of King and the Collector's dynamic. I really like how King is trying to balance 'big brother' with 'keep this kid from killing everyone on a whim'. It's a shame that the collector was basically asleep for most of this episode. Also felt like King's "We need to deal with him once and for all" felt a little contrived for it to also be a coincidental misunderstanding.

----

Overall, still pumped to see the end. I hope that they tee'd up everything they need for the finale, but I can't help but mourn what could have been.

[dulcewrites]

I saw girls in Tik Tok claiming that Nettles was in the way of Daemon and Nyra..they are blaming a 16 year old instead of the 50 year old man, the MaL3 wifeee that was supposed to be by her wife's side as she was grieving her sons' death.

Wow.Just wow.

Also people there claiming she is his Daughter when he never cared for his daughters in the first place in the show; also in the books, when Nettles left, Carexes' screeches broke the windows and he disobeyed Nyra's order that wanted the girl's death.

Feel bad for Nyra..he lost her sons, her family and Daemon is there fooling around with a child and the sad thing, Nyra will never blame her..groomer(if people said that their relationship is normal for medieval's standards, I'm gonna fight them, it's still creepy and disgusting)

Sorry for the rant

Also people telling that D is out of character at the end of the episode..the man killed his first wife, neglected the second and he ignores his two daughters🙄

Also people there saying the author is going to be involved in season 2 writing and changing Daemon's character because he is his favorite..I don't think so..you can love character and acknowledged how problematic they can be annd people stating "Dameyra is gonna win, D will never do that☺😡" oh boy..the point of the dance of the dragons is not the romance, but how war can change people and doesn't spare anyone from despair, death and suffering.

Gonna start right off the bat and say people give George way too much credit when it comes these shows. I haven’t finished got (the show) but based on popular opinion, it went to shit… and he still got ‘back into bed’ with hbo for hotd, and probably more shows in the future. He wants a bag. Do I think he’s proud of his work and likes certain characters? Sure. But the people making up rumors or saying he’d get involved just for daemon are pulling it out of their ass bc they are upset about his portrayal (for some reason). George signed off on s1. He does not care like that so people will just have to die mad about the changes made 🤷🏽‍♀️ (myself included).

Also tangent but people have gone as far as to make really disgusting comments about Miguel’s wife.. all bc she thought it would be a good idea to have Rhaenyra and Alicent have a close relationship? It’s funny that the people who think they are doing the pinnacle of feminism by supporting some fictional white haired girl will turn around and attack real people (Emily, Olivia, and now Alexis). Blaming his wife on a decision that was signed off by a room full of majority MALE showrunners/writers

Now onto Rhaenyra, daemon, and nettles. As long as their is a white man to champion and lift up, it really doesn’t matter what Rhaenyra or nettles do, he’s gonna somehow be the victim. In the book, Rhaenyra says some fucked up shit about nettles and that’s on her (idk if they will even adapt the classism and racism knowing how they are characterizing hotd nyra). It’s one of the reason I truly dislike book Rhaenyra and wonder why her hardcore fans would want a direct interpretation of the book. But the way people just skip over daemon leaving his wife is crazy. He groomed her, then cheated on her (first with mysaria), and now in the show abused her… so yeah she’s not in a great headspace. People can complain about how they have painted daemon, that’s their prerogative if they like him, but acting as if they have made some great character into a bad one is just false. He sucked in the book… he does in the show. There’s nothing morally grey about a good 70% of the stuff he does

[hopepaigeturner]

Love your benophie posts so far!! will you be doing other episodes or just the three because your storytelling is better than what Netflix can prob come up with tbh! I have a head canon that somehow violet knew Sophie’s grandma? Or aunt? Not sure who it was in the book that she is said to look very similar to in her smile but I’d suggest she would look scarily similar in every way ( looks and personality) and maybe it causes violet to want to know more about her on top of her unusual education as a maid, and maybe even bring lady Danbury into it, cause I think they are establishing their friendship in the queen Charlotte show, and it has them being super interested in Sophie because of their old friend. Idk I thought it would be cute and not sure if the spin-off is a limited series but what if we have the grandma or aunt in the show and we see the similarity lol

Oh my word, your kind words made my heart beam—thank you! The three episodes are mainly centred around the Benedict character-arc post I am writing. (But as he is a main character unsurprisingly there's a lot to cover). I will do other episodes, but I am typically grouping posts due to topic rather than episode, so will be jumping around a bit.

Yeah, I'm always in two minds about the whole Lady Violet knowing Sophie's Aunt etc. Part of me just thinks it is satisfactory that the Earl (as one of the highest-ranking men in the country) had been well known due to his title/presence & Sophie having a strong resemblence resemblance. And personally, I do not think the writers will make too many links from the Queen Charlotte show to Bridgerton, and if so, not necessarily for small characters like Sophie's aunt/father. (Perhaps a cameo as an easter egg, but nothing more substantial than that). And also, in the book the Earl keeps his identity as a ward quite hushed.

However, I do have an idea that is 100% a Lady Violet & Danbury team up.

*~*~*~*

In my ideas, Mary Sharma is playing a role in Benedict’s character arc (for a future post), and so I am posturing that she and Lady Danbury are gone from the first couple of episodes visiting Edwina (whether Edwina is a princess or a Bagwell by now). So Lady Danbury returns in episode 6, goes to Bridgerton tea, sees Sophie—studies her a couple times too many to be deemed as causal, before drifting towards Lady V.

"Is that a new maid you have hired?" Lady Danbury asks, as if making a passing observation. Lady Violet immediately gets the hint but, like Lady D, plays it off casually.

"Indeed, Sophie. A remarkable girl. My girls are quite charmed with her. Why do you ask?"

"Her face...it seems a little familiar."

"Indeed. Benedict found her and brought her to me. Apparently, she is the daughter of a housekeeper."

"With that accent?"

"Oh, the lady of the house allowed her to take part in lessons—it is why she is fluent in French."

Lady Danbury looks at Lady Violet. Lady Violet raises an eyebrow.

"French?"

Lady Violet leans closer,

"And Latin."

The ladies look at one another.

"Well, she seems like a very interesting young woman…"

"Hmm. Would you stay for another cup? We have not seen each in such a long time and so much has been going on.”

Another significant look between the ladies. Lady Danbury gives her a slow, sly smile.

"It would be my delight, Lady Bridgerton.”

"

[petalsmooth]

Season 3 hit top 10 on netflix most streamed English original tv shows but will pass season 2 with next weeks numbers, in reality has already bypassed we just don't have the numbers. For certain imo will hit over 100,000.000 hours viewed but doubt will beat season without an unexpected one or two leaps back up in next 40 days. If there had been a viral moment like the carriage or hadn't dragged out angst in last episodes I think could have but... I'll take getting over that 100 mark because I hate uneven numbers. Season 1 in fairness was also while people were stuck at home with COVID and while didn't debut as high as 2 or 3 because no one knew what it was at time it had longevity due to that...and liking as well.

Season 1 still overall the better written season with better subplots, although I don't know how to separate that from the fact Colin and the Featherington's/Whistledown WERE the subplots along with Anthony and Sienna. And since those first 2 or 3 were the mains this season it kind of explains why the subplots seemed a bit lackluster. But I'm not sure that is really helpful for future seasons if don't plan to keep them as major subplots because no one else really stepped up. I don't blame Luke T because only so much you can do with Benedict sleep with two other people ultimately doesn't care about. Don't blame Claudia either because she COULD have had a good subplot but they wanted us to like Cressida (I don't). Plus if one of them is the main can't be the subplot.

Lady Danbury didn't have much of a plot until right at end, also their fault. Best entrance was the The foursome of Colin, John, Will and Benedict but didn't get them until part 2. I think I'd write those four getting into some form of mischief in season 4 as a subplot myself. The show has missed a good male bond since Rege left and I want this for myself while John is alive.

Personally I'd probably even do a subplot with Portia finding love. Before this season wouldn't have wished for that, but now I think she deserves that. In fact I think both her and Lady Danbury deserve that. Definitely should have them both find that. If they are going to give Violet someone and she HAD a love match I think those two who never had one should. Particularly since Portia only started became a believer in it after seeing her daughter and Colin in love.

Also I've finally watched the show enough I think I made peace (mostly) with parts disappointed by and can even enjoy for what it is despite the writing choices. I still have a hang up about the end confession with P & C because there wasn't balance. If the show had made it clear respected Colin's character a bit more rather than an accessory to her than him saying that probably wouldn't bother me as much if capped with the story over his jealously of her professionally. It's just the sense they think his worth is measured by loving her and being her choice and supporting her ambition while his own contentment with purpose outside of love feels like an afterthought to them. I think I'd have reacted far more favorably to it if LUKE had more screentime and care as well. And I still think the wd reveal falls flat but I've stopped being angry or caring about it really. It's just anti-climatic while it could have been something memorable. And the silence before the butterfly release......no one was clapping for Pen even though sort of feels like tried to manufacture that impression/scene from the books. They were clapping over butterflies because the ton is easily distracted and vain and no they didn't stride out of the ballroom so they could take as not outright rejection of her and her family...but they didn't approach her as well. Still just a disappointing scene in general.

And I know I'm belaboring it again but I actually have come to terms with it and not as mad or depressed about it anymore, I just fw it because nothing is resolved there, no real f/u with anyone but Lady D, it's just left open ended without resolution and just not worth the time for further re-watches. I will FW to Pen and Colin and just pretend Shonda and Jess appreciate him as a character/actor to extent I do and that the confession is more of an apology for his jealousy then admission he can't have an identity outside marriage too.

Also on re-watch ...look I've been trying to watch the parts that bothered me most to make peace with them so I've watched some of Benedict's again. And still find the entire thing pointless when you cap it off as Benedict a FreeBird yet another season with no attachments. But, and maybe it's just me head cannoning, I've decided Benedict he's not really happy. Even if he says he is. You do have that brief moment when eloise is leaving and he says he'll miss her with the look behind her shoulder. You have him fumbling around trying to explain what he does at the dinner table with tilly and Paul while denying himself as a painter, it's the closest we get this season to the show letting him admit this is still an open sore with him and the most interesting part of that dinner outside of the look Benedict gets when he relizes Lady Tilly ran a con on him with the line of how he should be afraid of her and her friend Paul is laughing right along with her praising her for it. Actually, I've decided this is when Benedict shut down, put up his mask again and that maybe I was a little too hard on him and he did of some slight openness to exploring something more prior to that. But the minute she speaks that line I think he realizes this woman was NOT as open as he previously thought and eventually came to conclusion would just enjoy in the end two people's company because he IS rather lonely. And why when Tilley approaches him in the end he shuts it down. I think if she gave him that speech prior to that dinner would have been more receptive. I don't think it would have gone far on his part but I think I was wrong and on BENEDICT'S part it wasn't just sex in the beginning for him. I think it became just sex when He realized for Tilley and Paul that's what it was. Tilley coming to late realization later it was more was bad timing on her part.

Ultimately doesn't matter though because neither one of them are characters I really cared about. I loved Sienna, these two are forgettable. I love Gen too, but not with Benedict. And the result is still the same. Ended season with Benedict again claiming to not want to be tied down and his mask up and that's where the season started so no growth there. Yeah, he's canonically fluid or bi but that could have been established without endless threesomes no one enjoyed with people he didn't love or care for.

The only real scenes of development for him imo were the family scenes. THOSE I enjoyed. They were Benedict's saving grace this season.

As for Eloise I think she ended the season feeling less lost/depressed than Benedict (who imo is floundering emotionally even if claims he's free) but I view it in same way viewed Colin's travels. He left on high spirits season 2 and she left same way thinking finally going to understand the world so she can find her focus to channel change. He came back instead pretending to be content and a changed person he thought people might notice/like better (and some did) but completely lost internally and with knowledge travel didn't fill that hole he had. My guess is Eloise is not going to find that traveling fills the absence she has either. I think she and Colin might be more alike in that respect than people realize. And like Colin probably will come back pretending finally has her answers, or on the road to those answers with maybe a new "cause" to trumpet at start.

Benedict on other hand see more as Colin season 2 where there is no real movement from where we last saw him, no real high or low...just status quo drifting through life even if that life is a bit different than the one of the prior 2 seasons. I'm still not convinced Benedict is next.

Also I'd be very curious if the epilogue is going to bear relevance to the plot. Because season 1 did. Season 2 didn't. Aside from the two being married NONE of it made sense because they have Colin there playing pal mal when he is supposed to be off on his travels. Kate and Anthony had returned from a lengthy honeymoon in that epilogue. It doesn't fit in the timeline.

Season 3 has it about a year later because even if pen got pregnant their first time and baby was born early on top of that, that baby is a few months old. And she's just written her first column of the season. The season is not 9-12 months later though. So are they going to have Pen still pregnant in season 4? Or just ignore timeline doesn't match up and brazen though pretending carried baby to term and baby is 3-4 months? If we are keeping canon epilogue but ignoring timeline Benedict doesn't appear close to being married and Eloise is missing. Eloise COULD have been there..unless she's at a country estate with her new husband. I just find it interesting they chose not to have Claudia in that scene and if that means anything.

[mizra-asgardia]

Thanks for tagging me, @underarchon

Currently reading: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman. I loved the show so much I had to go back and read the original. It's just funny, and witty, and sarcastic, and very much right up my alley.

Last song: Save Me - Remy Zero. Husband was re-watching Smallville and this song is so late 90s/early 00s I can't even. But Remy Zero in general is good.

Currently watching: Nothing, really. Eagerly waiting on LOKI season 2 because A) Loki and B) Tom Hiddleston and C) Owen Wilson. Mostly in that order. Otherwise, it's waiting on more seasons/episodes of The Last of Us or The Boys. Maybe more House of the Dragon.

Current fic: Uh... I've got a bunch saved on my phone to read for later for FFXIV, but the latest was a Baldur's Gate fic featuring a very bitey Astarion. :D

Next on my Watchlist: LOKI S2, The Last of Us S2, and anything that might peek my interest. There might be some *gasp* Hallmark movies in my future, because, yes, I am that kind of level of fluffy romantic. Just hold on the pumpkin spice, please. Eww.

Current Obsession: That new dating simulator that also makes you fight things. Pretty sure it's mainly a dating simulator now lol. Not that I'm complaining at all. *Looks sideways at the mountain that is Halsin.* Also going to jump back into FFXIV. I'd been playing it almost a year straight, off and on. I took a mini break for a new game, and will come back to it. There's always more to do before Dawntrail comes out! :D :D :D All I will be doing is having my character AFK near Urianger, pose like I'm sipping drinks and planning our next Margaritaville location.

Tagging: Anyone who wants to fill this out, but @gunbun @disciple-of-frost @ofscorchedearth @laeorinel @traveleorzea @wkngsnds @starlit-masque @iridescentvale

Tag 9 people you want to know better - thank you for the tag @enigmaticxbee 💗

Currently reading: 11.22.63 by Stephen King. It's my first King's, I'm ~ 30% in and I'm enjoying it so far!

Last song: Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift

Currently watching: nothing at the moment because I'm still processing the five months immersion in The X-Files universe. I'm rewatching random episodes to cope with the emptiness and waiting to be in the mood to watch something else again.

Current fic: I'm reading snakebitten by onpaperfirst - I love being in a "new old" fandom because there is so much to read!

Next on my watchlist: I haven't watched the second season of Good Omens yet, so maybe I'll watch that. Or Our Flag Means Death, that has been on my watchlist forever.

Current obsession: someone took every single thought in my brain and replaced it with txf. It's a (beautiful) curse and I see no way out.

No pressure tag @badlucksav @alwaysleadstoyou @tsaritsa @littlewitchbee 🫶🏻

[kdramaxoxo]

Hey! Would love to hear your thoughts on our beloved summer up until now. What are your thoughts on the actors and storyline as well 😌😊

Hi!!

OMG I'm so sorry this is so long anon D:

I generally like and enjoy Our Beloved Summer but it's kind of a mixed bag for me overall hence the super long answer.

Good things:

The actors are great

The filming is so so pretty

I love the documentary set up. It's a creative way to show the back story

Soft romance! and there are a lot of very soft moments

Re: Soft Romance - the writing is also really lovely when it comes to the romantic moments. The kisses, the gazes, the times the couple finally gets together or flirts or feels feelings - Gorgeous!

Re: Re: Soft Romance - Choi Woo Shik is excellent at lonely hurt broken hearted boy even if (see the not so good things)

It's 100% my genre: Slice of life romance with a bit of humor

And it feels really quiet and peaceful to watch? I can't explain it but it's pretty calming.

V's OST (ARMY here lol)

Not so Good Things (a.k.a missed opportunities)

When the couple finally meets up in the future they are pretty annoyingly petty and stubborn for too long (not as bad as Love Struck in the City but on the edges of that). That can be frustrating to watch.

The drama favors Choi Woo Shik's character Ung so it feels a little one sided, but I think he was just as petty and maybe even more cruel than Yeon Soo (sorry wanted to get that off my chest)

Where is the rest of the story? Sure, we have romance - got it. But there needs to be more and well, there just isn't.

Re: Where is the rest of the story?: All of the characters 100% revolve around the two leads (I get it it's a romance) even though they have interesting personalities and jobs. It would have been so fun to see the SLS NOT be that for more than a couple of episodes or something ELSE happen other than the couple stuff.

Re: Re: Where is the rest of the story?: NJ is amazing we love her!! Why is her only story line that she has a crush on Ung? Why show her doing cool work stuff, hanging around looking fabulous and showing up everywhere only to give her that one trait?

Also...

Why didn't this show end at episode 12? It really felt like a perfect ending but now there are 4 more episodes and I'm confused. I'm assuming we're going to watch the mains bicker and push pull for 14 eps but it would have been so much better if their reunion and night gallery date was the end of the show.