#and THAT'S how you show he's grown up

[firefly-fez]

as much as I generally like the ending of brooklyn nine nine I don’t love what they did with Jake’s character. I feel like his friendship with Doug Judy and the way it ended was a missed opportunity for Jake to re-evaluate policemanship and what he’s actually doing at the 99th precint. Jake has always had a very childish, idealised perspective of a police officer. His character arc centres around growing up and maturing - it seems like such a missed opportunity not to have his persepctive of a police officer also mature, especially considering he’s had so many moments that might prompt him to re-consider. After he’s wrongly imprisoned, he struggles with the responsibility of arresting the right person for the crime. He makes a wrongful arrest and is guilting of intimidating an innocent person - and he feels remorse when he realises the subject is innocent, but feels justified in his actions when he thinks they’re guilty. All throughout his relationship with Sofia, they argued about the ethics of her job, because she was defending “criminals”. And yes, she’s a defense lawyer, she does represent clients that have commited crimes.

Even though the last season tackled police reform in a lot of detail, it stopped short of defending the idea that even criminals deserve human rights. Even as it represented Doug Judy’s bittersweet departure from the show, highlighting that he ended up in a life of crime because he couldn’t get his life back on track after being convicted of a minor offense -- Jake is sympathetic and helps his friend, but none of the team acknowledge with any serious depth how badly the justice system failed Doug Judy.

That could have been a catalyst for Jake’s character, but it wasn’t.

Although it’s rewarding to see Jake go from fatherless to the-father-he-never-had, and his dedication as a stay-at-home dad and everything that means to him, I don’t think it was the most rewarding end to his character arc.

Instead, I’d love to have seen him do a deep-dive into Doug Judy’s old case files after his arrest/escape. (He’d have to be cautious, so that no one picked up on what he did). To really take the time and think back on every criminal he’d arrested and how much it changed the trajectory of their life. To look at the arrest record of someone he’d booked as a first-time offender, noticing that they’d been convicted of multiple crimes since then...and wondering if he’d condemned them to a cycle they couldn’t get out of with that first arrest. Looking back on his career and everything he did, without that idyllic, childish, ‘good guys vs. bad guys’ mindset.

And after all that, he goes back to Sofia. Not to get back together with her, but to tell her she was right. Defending the human rights of the accused, even if they’re guilty really is the basis of their entire justice system. So he re-connects with her - to network and gain her advice.

Because he’s decided - he wants to become a defense lawyer.

[aunmenosheteroenespanol]

2.12 Chimney Begins - 2.09 Hen Begins - 2.16 Bobby Begins Again - 7.04 Buck, Bothered and Bewildered

Tommy's family arc

[danandfuckingjonlmao]

[nuge]

from being the youngest captain of the nhl to losing after being down 0-3 and forcing game 7. i don't care what you say. this is his team

connor mcdavid | EDM @ FLA | 06.24.2024

[secriden]

*cracks knuckles* Okay lets talk about the elephant in the room: Style going to the support group for those who've suffered loss and telling what appears to be a fake story about losing his pet dog.

I'm going to point out a few things that I think provide a framework for Style's actions here. Not because I think it excuses what he did, but because I think a nuanced read is what the character deserves.

Point 1: An irresistible opportunity

The subs put the "Support Group for Loss" on the image in the notebook, but I'm not sure there's anything to suggest that Style would've known that was what this image represents until he showed up and saw the sign on top of the door.

In episode 2, Bison says, "He plans everything down from years, months, weeks to days" and then tells Kant:

So Style is literally just going to addresses/locations at given days and times, potentially not knowing what to expect. And as much as Fadel is certainly attending this meeting as a response to having that heartbreaking flashback (😭), this is also something he attends regularly and has planned to attend way in advance. So Style has no reason to think Fadel is attending this meeting because of a recent resurfacing of his pain.

What we, the audience, and what the characters know are very different things.

Now, should Style have turned his cute ass right around once he realised what this meeting was? Of course he should. But that wouldn't have been true to Style's character. We've been told by his best friend that he is "crazy" and been shown repeatedly that he lives right up to that description.

Style is impulsive. He's all base instinct and he acts on his desires without thought or contemplation. And by this point he is desperate for a deeper connection with Fadel. He's fascinated, captivated by the mystery that is Fadel and this is an excellent opportunity to finally see behind the wall Fadel so carefully maintains.

When Style sees the sign above the door, Style looks at the notebook (which, again, shows nothing but people sitting in a circle with the words RISE UP) like he's just realising what it means. He then gets this amused, almost rueful look on his face (like he's thinking "am I really going to do this?") before it shifts to determination and he walks through the door.

(My soul for the ability to once again gif something because FUCK Dunk is doing SO MUCH in this show!!)

To Style, this is just too good of an opportunity to give up.

Because let's be real, Fadel is so clearly lying and hiding something:

Fadel is shady as FUCK. He is simultaneously actually a really good cook (Style finally tries his burger so he knows, now), and also has the skills to work at a strip host club, and also can take on 3 guys in a fight, and also can break a man's arm with his thighs. Can you honestly blame Style for losing his mind just a little bit about wanting to get his hands on something, anything, to figure this man out?

Style is being absolutely consistent in his persistence to understand Fadel. This isn't about the car or about finally 'winning' the fight (thank you @airenyah for giving such a detailed framework to understand what Style's been doing until this point) anymore. This is about Style wanting to know Fadel himself.

Point 2: The potential implications of the setting

Now, what might give us a bit of insight as to why Style is this way? I have a theory (albeit one that could prove to be very wrong, but hear me out). I think this whole entire show is set in what could potentially be quite a small town/suburb.

There's a few things that make this theory plausible:

(1) Fadel and Bison are in hiding after Bison blew their previous cover. They're probably on the run from some section of the authorities and so it makes sense to settle in a quiet/out of the way place.

(2) Style seems to be really familiar with the people in the area. Like he grew up there and its the kind of small town where everyone knows everyone and everyone is in everyone else's business.

(3) Style is clearly the darling of the market aunties and uncles.

Style just lost her a sale and potentially a loyal customer, and she's still rooting for him? In episode 2, when Style asks the uncle to let him borrow his cart, it takes nothing but his word for the uncle to give Style his entire cart of produce for his ridiculous scheme.

Style is so clearly someone they all know well and have great affection for, and a very plausible explanation for this is that they all watched him grow up and the entire market (town/village) is fond of him.

And honestly?? Yeah, we see the way Style is actually quite sweet in that careless, guileless, thoughtless way. He goes the extra mile to fix his mistake with Fadel by replacing his car parts for free in episode 1. He helps out by taking orders in episode 2 without being asked and takes it seriously. In episode 3, he tries to drive more business to Fadel's store (bless him, he so clearly does NOT understand how restaurants work, but he MEANS well!!), and can we all acknowledge that it works?? He understands how to appeal to potential customers in the area because he knows the people there. It's not (entirely) his fault that Fadel wasn't remotely prepared for an actual rush crowd and Bison was off getting kinky with Kant and not doing his (fake) job. He is so clear about not judging Fadel's host job and tries his hardest to help him (to absolutely NO effect, but still) when the 3 guys gang up on Fadel.

Style is so loved and more importantly so very loveable.

Point 3: What this could mean for Style's character

So, potentially, Style is someone who grew up in a small town, who has been well loved, potentially spoiled and coddled, but also very much kept within the confines of the narrow viewpoint that a quiet, country town places on you.

It's in the way his dad scolds him as if he was still a child when he's at least in his mid to late 20s. It's in the way Style was so mad at Fadel for scolding him ("thanks for the lecture, dad"), like that hit a sore point for Style. It's in the way no one in the market takes him seriously; they're fond, but he's still a kid in their eyes. It's in the way he has an abundance of free time like he doesn't REALLY need to work at his dad's shop. It's in the way he sees Fadel beat 3 guys up with ease, starts wondering if Fadel is an assassin or a hitman, and is completely unfazed like he doesn't quite have a handle on reality.

It's in the way his best friend is a man who has no qualms about lying to him and putting his life in danger, and how Style seems to have no other friends or people (aside from his dad) in his life.

@wuxian-vs-wangji made a comment to me about Style being desperate for a meaningful connection, and I think she hit the nail on the head. Because along comes Fadel, a mysterious stranger with a suspiciously versatile set of skills who is also very hot and keeps giving Style these wonderfully complex reactions? Who sometimes wants nothing to do with Style, but at other times seems to be at war within himself about desperately wanting him? Who treats Style with anything but apathy?

This is catnip to Style; he never had any hope of resisting this.

Breaking news: Style is a complex and imperfect character...

Here's the thing, though: he was never going to try. The show has been incredibly upfront about who Style is as a person. Regardless of whether I'm correct about why he is this way (ie. that he is very much the product of the environment that didn't know how to handle a kid with Style's personality), episode 3 shouldn't have surprised anyone about Style. He's been incredibly consistent and true to himself.

He wants Fadel and he's "crazy" enough to go all in, no holds barred about it, and the Support Group was the biggest doorway to finally discovering something REAL about Fadel.

And its not just about sex or to prove his superiority anymore. Because if it was just that, then Style would have reacted very differently to their first time.

In this scene, Style is pleased and evidently enjoying himself, but he isn't exuberant. He isn't overcome with joy. If anything, he was more happy and excited when Fadel let him help out in the diner (I mentioned this in the tags in this post too) than he was when Fadel is literally fucking him. He lets Fadel set the pace; barely moves to touch Fadel except to hold him close. Almost like he doesn't want to accidentally mess this up, like he's worried he'll take too much, so he'll take what Fadel gives him and no more (please appreciate @braceletofteeth's amazing tags on this post). For a character that has been so aggressively on the offensive, this is shocking until you realise that sleeping with Fadel - while it's a step in the right direction - isn't Style's end goal anymore.

And he makes that abundantly clear in this episode:

Does Style even fully realise the weight of this desire? I doubt it. But I do believe that Style is in earnest. He doesn't fully understand his own feelings, but he also doesn't really care to either. All he knows is that he wants Fadel, wants his attention and his passion and his focus and his heart.

...but Style is also kind of, sort of, perfect.

Because he's exactly, precisely, breathtakingly exactly what Fadel needs.

Because Fadel is hurt and broken and bleeding inside. Because Fadel is barely holding it all together for Bison's sake, but has already given up hope for any true happiness for himself. Because Fadel can't trust anyone or anything in his life, when he's been used and used and used by the family who should've loved and cared and protected him.

Because it's going to take nothing short of this kind of unwavering, unshakable, uncomplicated determination to give Fadel even a chance of healing and opening his heart to love again.

[m0on-boys]

they had to make Vanessa break up w wade in the film because they'd already kidnapped her and killed her and they couldn't just have her in the film as a person like peter, obviously she could only be there if she was being used to motivate wade somehow

[fantasticgothicpeachsludge]

There’s no way Jayce came out of the fucking Infection Dimension perfectly healthy except for his leg (and his mental health)

He had an open wound on his back before he even went in!! and then the one we saw on his leg! (which was broken in fucking half!!) like did y’all see how thick the fog was?? He was breathing that shit in for months!! That man was probably dying!!!

[nantokanarusaa]

Ao no Flag (SERIES FINALE SPOILERS!!)

Seriously, don’t read this if you are planning to read Ao no Flag. That being said, go read the manga now!!

Finally finished reading Ao no Flag and I have so many feelings. Non-coherent, rambly, messy feelings. I was looking at reactions online and what mainly boggles me about the reactions to the final 2 chapters is people being “how is Taichi suddenly gay??” My friend living on this big planet he never was (he’s bi). He most likely just realized it later in life. Did the events of his 3rd HS year help him figure it out? Heck yes. Is he suddenly bi? No.

Not all queer people pop out into this world and instantly know they are queer. Heck, it took me 23 years to figure that out. It’s not like Taichi instantly realized he likes Touma and started dating him. He knew Touma mattered to him somehow, but it took him multiple years to realize how, as evident by him maybe starting his relationship with Touma after 5 years when Touma contacted them all. He gained life experience and grew.

People go through a lot of learning, unlearning and growing. Especially if you are outside of societal expectations and norms. Taichi grew up learning to and wanting to blend in with society. “Be normal, don’t stand out too much”. Add to that low self-confidence and you feel stuck. Feel like there is only black and white. only one right answer to life. It can be very difficult to look out of this dark box, trust me, I had a tough time and sometimes still do. But it feels like Taichi thought and thought and pondered even back in high school and came to the decisions that he did.

And isn’t that what the series is about? growing as a person, making mistakes, learning, allowing yourself to be visible and vulnerable, and eventually, making choices, even if they don’t make sense to anyone else, and continuing to do so?

These two pages really hit me hard and I was wondering why. And then it hit me. This is possibly the happiest I’ve seen Taichi be since his childhood. Like genuinely happy. He’s reached max happiness points and is sharing those with Touma. He’s made his choices, and he’s happy. You can and are allowed to choose what or who makes you happy.

That’s all that matters.

[diskusaurus]

My biggest issue in Epic the Musical is Odysseus, actually. In this essay, I will....

[lomltrentarnold]

thinking about situationship with trent based on you’re losing me by taylor swift :( especially where you guys were friends before. he says that he doesn’t want any ‘label’ on you guys considering the spotlight that he is currently under. so you guys aren’t dating, but you guys do things that a normal couple would do, but no commitment.

at first you were fine with it, his job does mean that one slip up can mean your personal life being on blast, paparazzi, articles & such.

but lately all you wanted was to shout from the rooftops at how you wish he was yours.

you guys talk, laugh, sleep, joke, act, like a couple, so why are you not?

the situation went downhill when you have taken notice at how loosely trent used the term ‘situationship.’ at clubs or parties or just getting coffee in general, he would always get hit on by gorgeous women.

you weren’t insecure, because why would you be? you guys aren’t together.

so why does it hurt like hell every single time he would entertain these women and flirt back?

one day you finally had enough and decided to call it quits on whatever terms the hell you both are on.

trent didn’t understand, it was going fine. but then when he sees your teary eyes, the way that your lip wobbles and your scratchy voice when you said “you’re losing me, trent.” his stomach dropped. he royally screw up.

his heart ached, all he wanted was to be yours, and you wanted the same. guess the timing didn’t work out very well.

he tried to argue, at the same time invalidating your feelings and how much it was affecting you. so when you repeated, “stop. you’re losing me.”

his hands started to shake because he knows deep down that he already lost you. so when he left your house, you knew it was the last time you’ll see him. until your paths cross again.

he lost you and you lost him.

[prncewilhelm]

craaazy that some of you are so determined he stays within the mould when the entire show is chronicling him breaking out of it 

[duusheen]

The funeral

[puppetmaster13u]

Oh boi even more of One au in like 3 hours lol

I like to think that like how in @phoenixcatch7's Doll au there's gas versions of like cures and such in the batfam's gas masks since they don't need to breath when possessing the puppets right? I like to think there's an organic version of that with the meat puppet bodies, at least with Bruce, where the plates on his neck opens up into vents of sorts, pictured here with a few spikes removed for visibility reasons.

This gas could be some cures for like Joker venom & Fear gas and such, or it could also be sedatives, paralytics, could even vary between each member. (For example in the Cryptidverse Steph has Anesthetics on her claws, Jason has reflective powder that mimics embers/sparks, Cass has paralytics, etc). Honestly I am just brainstorming so this could definitely change lmao

I do like to think they start developing their own venom though, gotta' have those fangs & tusks for some reason lol

[thearunadragon]

Inheritance Cycle Characters and their Roles in the Friend Group.

(Group One: Eragon, Arya, Orik, Nasuada)

Nasuada:

Nasuada is the leader. She is often the one to take initiative and keep everyone in line and in order. She is the first to analyze a situation and find a way out, around, or through. She is naturally inclined to be the one to step forward and give orders and direct a situation accordingly, though obviously there are times where she must lose and regain power and respect in an ongoing seesaw of politics and friendship. She sometimes gets caught up in her work and neglects relationships, but is overall a loyal friend and a smart and powerful ally. She is kind at heart, though her duties do not always allow her freedom to show it.

Orik:

Orik is rather caught in a net of three main roles. He can be the comedian and he can be social when the situation requires or allows. However, he knows when the situation requires a strong will and a good leader, and will act just as such whenever circumstances request it. He is loyal, stubborn, humorous, and occasionally hot-headed, though he tries to work this to his advantage properly.

Arya:

Arya is the realist and the outwardly level-headed, logical friend. She can be a little withdrawn at times and a bit distanced from both her more personal thoughts and those of others, but she is intelligent and a good companion to have in a stressful, dangerous, or otherwise strained environment.

Eragon:

Eragon is—sometimes reluctantly—the empath. He is forced into positions of leadership and power, but would really prefer to sit and brush the horses or watch the birds or just share company with a close friend. He is the one typically paying attention to others and how they might feel at any given time, well-attuned to each of his friends and their individual signals and needs. He is impulsive and a bit scatter-brained, but smarter than often perceived, and a man of good intentions. However, someone should really check in on his mental health for once…

(Might add to series later)

[quadrantadvisor]

Sometimes I still think about The Owl House Gang all trying to watch ATLA together but then Zuko's backstory in The Storm retraumatizes Hunter so bad they have to stop

[thecarelessvoice]

me going back to thirsting over ju ji hoon after 15 years and seeing how much of a DILF he has truly become: