#and I've seen takes about why it's terrible for Robby Carmen and Miguel

[emletish-fish]

So I need my feminist card revoked because I want Carmen to have a girl so Johnny can have a daughter, and Robby and Miguel can have a sister, and the 3 of them will be over protective idiots.

The baby is absolutely a girl. That's what the whole sonogram scene was foreshadowing - so you will probably get your wish.

Honestly, if you like the babyplot and think this would be sweet - then that's completely fine. You do you. I'm not going to tell you that you aren't allowed to enjoy media a certain way.

I mean, I have a wildly different take, but that doesn't mean you're wrong - just that we see plot devices differently.

The babyplot makes me legit sad for Johnny on many levels. (I mean, I'm sad for a lot of the characters involved because they've been narratively misused- but it's actually a tragedy arc for Johnny).

There is something sweet in big doofus men being protective of tiny lil baby girls and this trope can be done well and be heartwarming - but it's also a common trope because:

1) big doofus strongman type characters are only allowed to show softness and vulnerability with female characters.

2) little boys are often treated 'less soft' than little girls in media (even though at that age, their need for snuggles/attachment is identical).

So for me, since the show has already tried showing Johnny outgrowing his sexism, I don't need to see him playing princess teaparties with a toddler to prove he's not sexist anymore (as adorable as that would be).

And like, wouldn't it be even more wild and meaningful and engaging if Johnny was allowed to show softness around his own son? Wouldn't that help him build a more meaningful connection with Robby? Wouldn't that have been a more powerful way of showing that he's grown past his toxic masculinity?

That's the story I was more excited for.

(RIP my hopes and dreams for this storyline).

[pilvimarja]

I watched the first three episodes of Cobra Kai today and I have this to say:

Chozen is AMAZING. So badass and ride or die. I love him more than I ever thought I would. He takes zero shit from anyone and I'm so glad that Daniel has a guy like him in his corner.

Then there's Mexico. Oh boy. The sheer second-hand embarrassment of those sequences. The set design was so cringe and I just kept facepalming at Miguel and Johnny, like those two should not be let out of the house without adult supervision. Thank god Robby was there.

I did enjoy the Johnny and Robby bonding moments a lot and I know the whole Mexico plot was probably written to give those two a chance to mend their relationship, but oh man, bringing Miguel's father into the story is so lame, like what is the point? His writing was absolutely terrible, but it was actually so bad that I found it entertaining. I'm just relieved that the Mexico plot was only 2 episodes long.

I love that Daniel and Chozen tried to give Terry a taste of his own medicine with the undercover "I'm on your side" thing. And it almost worked! Haha Terry is so needy for other men's validation. It's funny because he can be really scary in his "no mercy, victory at all cost" mentality, but even when he's being ruthless and walking around in expensive suits there's something utterly pathetic about him.

And then episode 3 happened and the show pretty much hit the lowest of low points for me. I honestly don't even feel like watching more until tomorrow.

I'm sure most of you can guess what my main issues is and yes, it's the whole Carmen and Johnny having a baby plot. I don't think I even have to elaborate? It's the worst writing I've seen in any media in a long time. A band-aid baby that makes Johnny fix all of his issues in a three-minute self-improvement montage where he learns to swaddle his case of beer and baby proofs his cockroach infested apartment. Yeah, that'll do it. He's ready to be a dad now, who cares if he's an alcoholic in his 50s, has no stable job (how could he afford to turn his apartment into an Ikea model home??) and has barely mended his relationship with his existing son who he mostly ignored until two weeks ago. And how fucking stupid is he to use condoms that look like they were bought in the 80s from some shady back alley???

If I'm being 100% honest, I'm not liking Johnny in these first three episodes. I can't even say why, but something about him just really annoys and frustrates me. I hope the writing for him improves as the season continues and I hope most of his plot doesn't revolve around him panicking about becoming a dad again and doing Three Men And A Baby brand of comedy.

Mike Barnes the suburban dad and furniture (co) king who will probably join Daniel's harem was a hilarious subversion of expectations, though! I really don't like the actor, but maybe Mike Barnes won't actually be as bad as I thought he would be.

I also really dig everything that's going on with Sam this season. And I can't wait to see more of Tory!