#and an viewer role for those who simply want to watch what happens!

[tasty-littl-snack]

Puppet history season 7 is the best season and here's why.

Once again gushing about puppet history season 7 because the writing is sooo good and I can't stop thinking about it.

I am one of these people who doesn't mind spoilers when going in, because a good story will not only have twists and turns but also a logical way to make the most of them. It's like finding clues along the way and thinking "Oh this might be something!" and then you have the satisfaction of being right at the end. This is why some TV shows fail because they don't like the audience finding the ending out for maximum shock value or whatever.

But I believe that even if you know the final twist of the season there's still ways to enjoy it.

The clues were there all along.

I also think that season 7 has great marks of a good tragedy (as in a well written tragedy and that's why all major points hit so well)

MAJOR SPOILERS beyond this point if you don't want to get spoiled then come back after watching the season.

(This turned out to be mostly a season 7 recap but I just. Love this story so much).

Let's start at the beginning and that's episode 1 of the season, which features Aria aka the guest that was there before lore got very lore-y in season 5. In this first episode we get the explanation on how things went when Aria left the studio in season 5, and that he didn't meet the professor yet (Because season 5 was hosted by a hologram who is really similar to the professor but like an evil twin).

This serves as both exposition and a way to get the viewer up to date on what's worth paying attention to. Ryan defeated that villain by defenestration which also was the topic of the second episode of season 5. (hint hint). The episode is about Pythagoras and establishes that Pythagoras was not only a mathematician but a cult leader. And we don't know if he lived or died. He's also supposedly afraid of beans, and we can see that the prize which was jellybeans for 6 seasons, is now changed to Phorgetydol which is a mysterious pill. On the surface not much, every episode of Puppet History has a topic about a whacky figure.

But then the lore happens, and it's established that a new puppet is in town - Dr. Sprat, which is also a blue puppet with a degree, and he 'helps out' (his glasses are triangle shaped, and he calls the triangle 'old friend' which seem like him just being polite but when you know the ending it makes you go !!!!!). Then Ryan and Professor are drugged and the puppet is in a 'retirement' room, which we are not sure what it does but can't be anything good. Man is suspicious! Surely he's evil.

In episode two, however it turns out that Sprat might not really know what he does, and Elmer is established as the worse villain (drugging everyone around including Dorothy Ruth to manipulate her). So here we have first seed of doubt because maybe Sprat is doing his job? Maybe he's not knowing what he's doing and there's a chance for him to be brought on the 'good side'.

In episode three, we have obviously further establishing Elmer as the bad guy, and while the dino parents were not mentioned before, here we have them coming back. And they are cute! But now knowing what we know there's an undercurrent of "oh no I hope they're not gonna go there". The viewer is still fooled by techincally Elmer doing the job, so it still doesn't put Sprat in the villain role, especially because we've seen him regret things in episode 2 (but those are said by Elmer, and at this point he's not that evil so we decide to trust him). The song and the story of the episode also tells us about "Pretending that a dead ruler is alive by simply not looking into a tent", and it has one of the coolest reprises since Asmodeus/meteorite song, with the "Perfectly normal room, nothing to see here."

Then in episode 4 the narrative changes to Ryan wanting to remember, and the first payoff happens, with Shane being dead all along. (But they didn't look at the memorial, because they were too drugged/in denial, and the villain did a great job of pretending that Shane is still alive by running the show. After all, Estranged Producer was deadbeat anyway and didn't listen to them, so what changed really?)

This is also where we get the payoff from the first episode of knowing what the 'drama' is -> that Shane was killed that night. This is also a fun rule of a tragedy where you introduce a character to be killed off by making him sympathetic. And also Shane himself saying "I will just walk into my carriage in a dark alleyway" (He won't make it there).

This episode also ends with a great cliffhanger of them maybe hunting for ghosts. Which in itself is bittersweet, and the show being created by Shane makes you think "But surely ghosts aren't real in a show written by a skeptic?".

Then again, this is puppet history so a world where magic is real, and puppets are antropomorphic. The plot was pretty dark up until this point so something good needs to happen so there's hope that they can win. And that's what happens in episode five, with them contacting Shane's ghost. Sprat also once again plays innocent and it seems like he might be on their side. He helps them out, and says he will keep watch for the horse and alert them if something happens.

The contact is successful, and there Shane's ghost gives a hint that he's seen all the other people they covered on the show except Pythagoras. This makes sense in context because he wants to deny that he's a ghost, but as a foreshadowing it makes so much more sense. (It's a hint that Pythagoras is still alive). They come up with a plan and it seems like they might succeed too.

But then, in episode six (appropriately titled and dealing with "mutiny") comes the betrayal. It also hinges on Ryan and Professor being stupid and naive, and just like Dinoparents before them they get locked in the puppet retirement room. By now the viewer knows what that means, and when the orange light is on it's one of the coolest moments to me.

Elmer looks dead and so it makes you think "Was he already killed? But then all the other puppets vanish when they go to purgatory so he can't be dead". You first get the satisfaction of defeating that horse which is clearly evil, but then it turns out that it's worse. Hoagy Sprat is Pythagoras, the villain and you were right to be suspicious of him. But there's also that form of betrayal because why would he help them if he hated them?

"No you fools. It's a puppet. I bought it in a store. For children!" is one of the greatest line deliveries I've heard. It is said slower than the monologue but that's because it has to sink in for Ryan and the Professor, but also for the audience. "A puppet manning another puppet" to us seems maybe kinda normal but it's not for the professor. It's kind of like... cutting someone and taking over their skin? (hint hint).

Sprat is so evil and it is fun to have a monologue so well acted. And he succeeds. Like all good tragedies, the heroes die at the end.

Then at the very end we get the punchline to a joke the professor made in episode one. Chekov's Puppet Mathematics is real. All seems lost but not yet. There's a mouse that you recognize from the previous seasons and maybe they might save the day? Or make things even wilder? We won't know at this point, but that's a great cliffhanger to end on. We know that the substitute is coming back at least.

All in all, the changing to Phorgetydol being roughly jelly-bean sized but not a bean (because Pythagoras hates beans) is my favorite hint that something's wrong aside from it's function to make you forget.

I think this season is a masterpiece. Truly beyond this surface level "Pythagoras is a crazy man who wants to kill everyone" it has that meta narrative of a show made with charm and love being replaced by numbers (cough cough youtube algorythm and not all of their shows being profitable), and the commentary on sponsorships stopping you from what you want to make. Because idk about you but I loved that the prize is jellybeans in a tiny cup, rather than a white suspicious pill that makes you forget that things are that bad.

[simplydnp]

whenever i watch phil’s daring advice videos i realize he is really against overtly jealous boyfriends, do you think dan is better with jealousy these past few years? do you think he used to be bad with it?

dan has, in the past, referred to himself as jealous. in my opinion, he's also very bad at hiding it.

i'd have to go back to specific segments, but the advice phil generally gives is more about excessive/controlling jealousy. the type where red flags are popping up continually. for the people receiving advice, it might just be a conversation they have to have, or they might have to call it.

i think it's up to dnp with how they deal with it. clearly, it isn't the same as situations presented by viewers, otherwise his advice would be different. i think there's a few points of interest around this all.

if we're looking back to the beginning: dan is 18. he's young, his brain isn't fully developed, he had a difficult childhood. stability is not something he knew. so to meet phil, with all his awkward emo rizz and close relationship with his family--it's natural to want to hold onto it. i can completely understand any jealousy from that point in time, because it comes from fear. it's rooted in insecurity and instability. all he wants is this one thing, why does everyone else have to want it too? but he knows exactly why people want phil--it's why he does! he does seem aware of it, as the quote i mentioned earlier does come from the early years. but it doesn't mean he could stop it from coming out. and i don't really think he wanted to, at that point. (this did change)

there's a secondary participant in this though too. someone who saw all his flaws and loved him anyway, loved him despite them, and loved him because of them. if there's one thing you know about phil lester, it's that he loves dan. and has for a very, very long time. from what we've seen, in the early days, phil liked a jealous dan. there clearly wasn't a discussion about stopping it. it's nice to be wanted. to be seen. instead of just tolerated by your peers. one of the things he'd do would be invite dan in when he felt jealous, or when he could feel jealous later. dan should be a youtuber too. then they can do this together. and it's not to say any or all of their career decisions were based on jealousy. but i do think it played a role. because they know each other too well to simply ignore it. (but i also think it'd unconscious for phil, sometimes).

but as the years go, they had to 'clean up' their image for radio. they put themselves into boxes and those boxes weren't supposed to have jealousy in them because it's too real. but of course it came anyway. and phil is not as innocent in this as you may think.

the second thing you know about phil lester is that he loves to rile dan up. he loves when dan gets snarky and wordy and dramatic. he loves the outbursts and the swearing and the enthusiasm in it all. he loves that dan feels things and acts on them. so he... pokes the bear sometimes. cause it's fun.

in the next years, there was both more and less jealously. less because of their Straight branding, and therefore pushing anything like that down. more because of 'phil trash #1' becoming part of their brand. and it's never really gone away--cause it's true. dan could suddenly be jealous or fond on main again and it could be played off. so it happened more. but also, they were successful now. secure, in so many ways.

if you see jealousy now it's very evident that dan's trying to hide it. it's just as bad as it used to be, if not worse. cause he's allowed to be jealous now, and is out of practice of hiding it. and i honestly don't think they care that much anymore. he fights it back cause he doesn't want to say it at times, but it's different now. and phil can still tell anyway, cause he loves pushing dan's buttons.

in terms of phil giving advice, i'd say it's more about finding someone who is compatible with you, and loves you for you: the things you do, the words you say, the person you are. dan and phil live in an existence of constantly affirming each other, and they probably don't think about it since it comes so naturally to them. they are on the same page. there's trust and love there. phil knows why dan gets jealous. but he isn't going anywhere. and he knows dan knows that too. so it's kind of fun to play into it all.

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

What do you think about the way the creators are developing Aang's character as the last survivor of his kind? I personally think it's quite good in the series! But in the comics and in other projects, I feel like the creators don't really know how to handle it. They replace the Air Nomads with acolytes, it's a good idea, I don't dismiss anything. I also saw this comic where they talk about the Air Nomads' festivals, but once again, there is relevant information, but it's vague. In The Legend of Korra, the Air Nomads return through this harmonic event.It's touching, it's cool, but once again, it ruins the lore, the story of the war of the traumatized. Aang's culture, I find it is not explored enough. I know there are books and that there is some information to pass on.

But overall I have the impression that they give us a little glimpse without saying more, in the sense that they provide us with information about his culture, but it is not detailed or explicit, it's always quite vague. So, I think there's a lot to know about Aang's culture.I can list many things that the creators could delve into about the culture of the Air Nomads, but they don't.

They also don't want to show what happened during the 100 years before the war when Aang was alive, the massacre that occurred in his culture. I think that the people who watched Avatar in 2005, since then, they have been left without content, they are not showing anything. (I know they showed it in live action, but I'll be talking more in the context of the series!)

Many protagonists have this type of development, like the search for identity, knowing who you are; protagonists with different types of writing that can resonate with viewers who will watch them and identify with them.But, in Aang's case, it's different because it addresses an interesting theme of being the sole survivor and tackles very interesting topics that can raise awareness among the audience about war, trauma, and those who have experienced genocides in their cultures. As I already said, in the series, they do it quite well. But then, it's like, we're forgotten, airbombs no longer exist, get used to it, we replace everything, don't worry, airbombs will return through a harmonic event.

I'm writing this because I think that, with the new series approaching, moving into a futuristic world, I find that they have left enough gaps in the Air Nomads' culture on how to handle a person with trauma and being the survivor of their kind.

Let me put it this way.

How it was handled in the original show: flawed, but good. They could have tried to have more flashbacks to Aang's life to give us a bit more of a glimpse into air-nomads and their culture, but it could NEVER be explored in the same way the other nations were BECAUSE Aang was the only one left. Gaps in information and major losses to the world because knowledge wasn't passed on are a FEATURE, not a bug. It's the realistic consequence of literal genocide.

How it was handled in Korra: TERRIBLE, as almost everything, especially with the "Actually, let's undo some of the damage with the harmony thing" factor. It's the story cowering away from one of it's core themes - genocide and war do IRREPARABLE DAMAGE.

How I fear it will be handled in the new show: Even worse than Korra. Avatar simply doesn't work with futuristic shit. It already didn't work with prohibition era stuff. Almost like a universe that is designed to only work with BENDING taking the role of technology to keep society functioning because it would not harm nature (and by extension not piss off spirits) is immediatelly BROKEN when you try to "update it."

On Netflix showing the air-nomad genocide: It was pure shock vallue, added nothing to story, was gross, and literally only happened to pander to Game Of Thrones fans that have a complex about enjoying anything that isn't grimdark/filled with violence to "prove" it is indeed a mature story (I liked the first 3/4 seasons of the show and I love the books, but MAN, George R.R. Martin's work has cursed the world to deal with so many pretentious edgelords that are alergic to quality, subtlety or simply not showing gory details when they're not needed).

[justcagney]

What the hell is going on...esp with Kev??? I missed a lot of chapters LMAO

Best you watch our video on the matter here for a shorter summary on this thing

Long version under the cut:

Basically Miner betrayed us by sexualizing minors behind our backs (and he is friends with someone named Red Radiant who sexually harassed Kev back in 2020 and apparently ships himself with Brandy, a ship which Miner encourages... Crazy I know, we never found this out until after our hiatus and we're all disgusted by that), so Kev called them out for these things

After that Red made a (meme filled) video responding to her document by basically hiding Miner's wrongdoings to the public and giving excuses for the sexual harassment that are prevalent in r*pe culture ("I never sexually harassed her! We were both minors" and "It was never recorded so it never happened!"), only taking Mob's name on it for views (he was only mad at her because she started selling characters from Affinity this year ((2024)) and he thought she lied to him when she told him she wasn't going to do so back in 2022... A lot can change in 2 years. She didn't lie to him, she just changed her mind. This is literally a common sense issue). All while continuing to slander Kev in the process and encouraging his viewers to do the same. He had also misgendered both myself and Kev in his video, calling us both "they" even though he knows what both of our genders are (Red had been to Mobcrit before, he asked Mod Springtrap for a mod role which they denied)

During this occurrence, Aftonsocks, one of the buyers, talked with Miner and told him nothing but lies about a situation that had happened with Kev regarding a co-own, basically siding with him just because he didn't get his way (even though he's... Literally friends with someone both Miner and Red hate ((that being Miles))? Like okay pick your poison I guess)

During this time I had asked for Kev's socials to be censored in Red's video for her own safety involving her personal life, but this request was refused and instead of honoring my request Red actually doubled down and continued to show her socials despite the safety concerns in his shorts and making meme videos about the matter, milking the situation

A little while after Red's video came about Kev made a very in-depth video showing more evidence of the sexual harassment occurring, going over her document, pointing out the strange things in Red's video while showing Miner's wrongdoings ((drawing fetish art of canonical minors via aging them up to sexualize them and using the excuse of "it's just fiction" to defend it, using AI as a source for his claims, etc.)) and that the two of them did no research on her before speaking about her, showing how what Socks said to Miner was all lies with recorded evidence, and revealing that Miles shipped not one, but two inc*stuous pairings with Socks shipping one of those pairings with her ((I say her because Miles detransitioned while the video was being edited)) and even drew ship art of it (It's very long, like a half-hour, but it's worth your time due to how in depth it goes)

Red's response to the matter was basically continuing to milk the situation and Miner's response was him simply continuing to make excuses for his actions

Due to Kev saying all that she needed on the matter, she doesn't wish to be involved further with any more of this mess. All I want is for her to be safe, but both Red and Miner refuse to respect privacy, so I filed a privacy complaint on Red's video. Red (obviously) saw it and blamed Kev even though she didn't do it, and I made a comment on his video where he blamed her saying this to him

After that, we made a video discussing the bad eggs of the fanbase and spoke of this whole situation. With Red making another video in response (it was a meme video disguised as an update video, basically saying that we made a video and was trying to twist our words and not giving a correct timeline of events. As well as only saying the correct gender of myself and Kev's after he was called out about it)

Obviously, I had commented on this video but Red deleted it. Since almost nobody has seen this comment, I'll put it here:

(And for those wondering, Red and Miner never spoke with me in private messages. So once again my request was refused)

Miner has said that he'd make a response to our video, but it will likely continue to only be excuses once again. If we have to, we'll say something about it

Though currently Socks is trying to blame Kev for his own problems that don't even involve her (he is trying to blame his blog's closure on Kev's video, but this is a lie. As Socks was posting like normal even after Kev's video released and only made the post about the closure on the day his problems started). Kev has a post going more in depth about it though

[moononmyfloor]

My Year End C-drama Review (2023)

Part 1

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17. Actors I newly discovered in 2023

Hong Yao, Wang Yinglu, Marcus Li, Tian Jiarui, Qin Hailu, Wang Ke

Some of these are new actors, some are already very experienced but I discovered only now. All of them provided phenomenal performances in their roles this year.

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18. Favorite Child Actors of the Year

Wang Haoze (Ou Zimo- Be Your Own Light), Phoebe Sun Yichen (Duoduo- Stay With Me)

Child actors in C-ent always baffle me, I have zero idea how they are SO good. Impeccable performance. I want to take them home. 🥺

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19. Feminist Cdramas of the year

Be Your Own Light, A Journey to Love

The premise of the first is about women to begin with, the second only partially. Most of the time the self-identifying feminist stories fail massively in realistic depiction of women, let alone idol dramas where the focus is elsewhere.

But these two shows really understood what women think and say, their priorities and what they want in life, how they conduct themselves....and not through the eyes of men who assume women crave xyz things only. The arcs and growths of women in these two shows felt very organic and relatable.

(I hear there were few other such dramas this year as well, eg: Faithful. But this is all I managed to watch huhu)

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20. A drama that let me down

Destined

The chemistry of the real-life pair Bai Jingting and Song Yi was adorable, but the story just wasn't my cup of tea.

I absolutely loved their spacious bedroom tho!

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21. Favorite BGM

Be Your Own Light- I Only Wish to Face the Light by Liu Yuning

Stay with Me- Stars Shine by Zhang Jiongmin, Xu Bin

I Am Nobody- Sea of Time by Zhou Shen

Young Blood 2- Lending a Ray of Light by WineQ (圈9)

Romance On the Farm- Letters from Spring by Su Yunying

Silence of the Monster- Cross a City Just to See You by Huang Yi

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22. Favorite wardrobes

Sui Yi (Sun Yihan)'s wardrobe in Silence of the Monster and Pang Hongmei (Peng Xiaoran)'s fits in Unshakable Faith

Oh they looked so delightfully vintage and exactly my style! 😍

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23. Best Breakups

Moxi and Jiagui (Gone With the Rain), Xiangyi and Wanmian (Mysterious Lotus Casebook)

I HAD to include this category simply because of these two pairs. I LOVED those two scenes. So mature! Such thorough discussion about how their feelings have changed over time, the frank admission that there are indeed some remnants left (because contrary to popular depiction, feelings don't POOF overnight), how they'd always consider the other as a special someone that they were lucky to have met in their lives, the wish to remain as tight friends in the future as well.... 🤌🤌🤌👏👏👏

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24. Worst character designs

Road Home

Gods know I only sat through this for Jing Boran in army gear and snow. The characters were so mind-blowingly flat despite the actors giving their best to "understand" their roles and make them relatable but there was only so much they could do. All the interpersonal relationships happened just because the writer said so. There was a child character who was passed from hand to hand for whenever the writer wanted a "warm childcaring and family moment" but was discarded without a glance the next second, I got second-hand abandonment issues from watching that lonely kid. I did not understand why anyone was doing anything at any given moment.

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25. Most convincing villains aka characters I loved to hate

Yuan Hao (Young Blood 2)- Gotta be one of the most dangerous villains I have ever seen. He was insanely smart, unpredictable and cunning AND strong, and it took all the heroes of the story to defeat him and still it was barely enough. He was so well written and portrayed, till the very end of the show the viewers weren't sure of the outcome of the battle.

Jiao Liqiao (Mysterious Lotus Casebook)- AHH Jiao jie! We all love a good unhinged female villain who isn't uwufied in the name of some weird "women should always be portrayed with tearjerking backstory" notion. Let her go crazy all over the place, we support women's wrongs as well as rights! She always meant what she said and did what she meant and it was terrifying to see.

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26. Favorite murder kittens of the year

Gong Yuanzhi (My Journey to You), Li Tongguang (A Journey to Love)

Oh these two bois were VERY disturbing individuals and I wouldn't go within 1 mile radius around them but were them such delightful affection starved meow meows with killer (ha!) hair and eye acting? Heck yes.

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27. A drama that I wished was longer

Romance On the Farm

I really appreciate how 3D and empathetically portrayed all the family members are. We are shown all their sides and what made them what they are today without making a mockery of Asian family values, but rather constructively analysing + celebrating the good parts.

And then there is a political thriller story arc.

And then there is "this is all but a game" part which I had to try very hard to pretend like it's ignorable.

And then there was the basic premiere of the pastoral country life story.

Clearly the dramamakers had LOTS of ideas. And you can see none of them were empty bite-more-than-can-chews but had actual potential.

If only.... it didn't try to do all this at once under the guise of a 26 ep lighthearted fluffy romcom genre.... it would've made such a difference.

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28. A drama I wanted to watch but couldn't

SO many! For all sorts of reasons.

Ray of Light, Butterflied Lover, The Road to Ordinary, Pledge of Allegiance, Where Dreams Begin, There Will Be Ample Time, Faithful, Stand By Me

ARGH!😭

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29. A drama I wish more people watched

Stay With Me

This is a Chinese BL, with Chinese cast, Chinese locations, but produced by a TW company. That's all I'm going to say about it, give it a try. You won't regret it. (Maybe don't watch last episode tho lol)

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30. Most favorite Cdrama of 2023

Mysterious Lotus Casebook

Why? Because... well if you are in the fandom you'd know, if you aren't... I can write ESSAYS about it so I won't 😂 In short, it was such a healing watch.

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31. A Cdrama I'm excited to see in 2024

JOL 2. Obviously.

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Conclusion

2023 served to solidify my belief that there's really no 'perfect' drama, what I can do is listening to the stories people have to share and then take what I want from them, and leave what I don't want behind. Some may resonate more with me, some less. Some may teach me new things, some may feel redundant. Sometimes you will enjoy only 50% of a drama and hate the rest, but that won't diminish the impact that 50% had on you. It could be a totally different experience for another viewer and that's fine. I watched all the DMBJ shows this year as well (but didn't speak about them in this list since my focus was on 2023) and it really was an exercise on not being overly critical and going with the flow or you would totally miss out on all the good things DMBJ had to bring.

Overall I enjoyed 2023 Cdramaland a lot. I hope this review helped some of you to try out dramas that you didn't know existed/were hesitant to press play or continue on!

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More Posts by Me

[georgiapeach30513]

I'm going to counterpoint that American Psycho anon with Matt Damon's character in the Drive Away Dolls movie. I wouldn't say his role in this film (no spoilers but it is readable on the film's wiki) is particularly level with his current career. I mean he was just in Oppenheimer...lol. Can we also mention him appearing in the Dunkin commercial with Ben for the Super Bowl? But, he's Matt Damon. He can do what he wants.

Here's the thing: Actors will do the things they do because they want to or it's an opportunity or they were convinced for whatever reason. Or they just needed something on their resume. Or it could be a million other reasons.

We don't know for sure Chris is playing the Priest guy. It can be inferred because in the PR of the movie, he's listed as playing a cult leader and cult leaders are usually akin to religious leaders, and Priest Dean makes sense. However, these are simply context clues, like Jen has mentioned previously. You don't know what his entire role will be. I don't think having raunchy sex onscreen, if his character does do this, means it's downgrading his career. I think if anything it's meant to be comical, but maybe people should watch Drive Away Dolls and see what type of vibe Ethan and Tricia were going for. I think it'll be in the same realm in Honey Don't. But it could also be completely different. Who knows what's going on in that brain of Coen.

And I'm going to be dead honest...I recently tried to watch the Pam and Tommy show and I was extremely turned off by it and everyone involved. TBF, I think Seth Rogen and co are way too old to be doing something like a show about a sex tape....and the fact that they needed to put Tommy talking to his penis. To me....that was unnecessary and not something I would do if I was trying to be taken seriously. It somewhat worked for the Awards circuit, and the show and the cast got recognized. But if you asked me if on paper, a show focusing on a sextape that gets stolen of two famous people would garner Awards...I would have rolled my eyes. But you really never know. Until the finished product.

And...last controversial take. Everything Everywhere All at once. I am a huge Michelle Yeoh fan. But I did not enjoy this film. There was a butt plugs fight scene...(For anyone who hasn't seen it, well...yeah) Again, it worked out for the Academy and for viewers, but I couldn't take it seriously. But I don't hold it against the actors because this is something unexpected and out of pocket. For Michelle, I wouldn't have expected her at this point in her career to be doing a film like this but glad she did. Because it got her the Oscar. And the mainstream recognition she's deserved, in my opinion, for a very long time.

Again - I am not saying that Honey Don't is going to be some Oscar darling because I'm going to go ahead and say it's not. Lol. But it is coming from the brainchild of an auteur Oscar nominated/winning director whose made some very out of pocket and unique films in his career. I'd more like to ask Margaret Qualley what made her decide to sign onto a sequel before the first one even came out.

Whatever happens, I think this will be at the very least, an interesting role for Chris.

You do bring up a great point with Matt Damon. I feel throughout most of his career Matt has been a very respected actor, and he’s still done some raunchy comedies. Dogma, anyone?

And we don’t know, and may never know why Chris chose this role. At the end of the day, he’s going to do what is best for him and his career. And we can continue to watch, or don’t. And that’s okay. Once upon a time I was a HUGE Elijah Wood fan. I still adore him, but I don’t check out every single project he does.

Okay, so as far as the talking penis in Pam and Tommy, that was literally taken from Tommy’s memoir. And unfortunately sometimes the shock value is what people do. And Seth Rogan is one that loves a good shocking moment. And those moments can cause buzz. Buzz is what makes people want to watch something. I work with a lot of people, from a lot of different walks of life. And one of my clients, has no idea who Sebastian is, but heard enough about P&T and decided to watch it. She now is a Sebastian fan.

I have yet to see Everything Everywhere All at Once, but @nancydrewwouldnever told me I need to check it out more than once 😂 I’m currently finishing up the Fall of the House of Usher, yes, I know I’m late. And look at what it earned Michelle! So good on her!

We don’t know what Honey, Don’t will entail. We aren’t even 100% sure if Priest Dean is Chris, I think it’s a great guess. But he will be doing a panel this Saturday, and I’m going out on a limb and predicting that he will mention his upcoming projects. He has a lot of work he can talk about this time.

And what we can say for certain, is with Honey, Don’t, Chris is stepping out of his comfort zone. He’s taking a risk. And this is what I and several other people have asked for ALL last year. So I am excited to see what his future holds.

[epicfx]

Wedding Live Streaming: Making Your Special Day Accessible to All

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced world, technology plays a huge role in keeping us connected, even during life’s most intimate moments. One of the latest trends sweeping across the wedding industry is live streaming. Wedding live streaming allows couples to broadcast their ceremonies to loved ones across the globe, ensuring that no matter the distance or circumstance, everyone can witness the momentous occasion. Whether you’re considering wedding live streaming due to travel restrictions, budget constraints, or simply to include more guests, this modern solution offers a way to make your big day accessible to everyone.

What Is Wedding Live Streaming?

Live streaming is the process of broadcasting video footage in real time via the internet. For weddings, this means that the entire ceremony (and sometimes reception) is filmed and streamed on a platform like YouTube, Zoom, Facebook, or a dedicated service. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person can tune in live from anywhere in the world to share in the moment.

Wedding live streaming can be done with professional videographers or DIY methods, depending on your budget and vision for the event. A professional service may include multiple camera angles, high-quality audio, and seamless streaming, while a more budget-friendly option can involve a single camera or smartphone.

Why Choose Wedding Live Streaming?

There are several reasons why live streaming your wedding might be the perfect option for you:

Inclusion of Distant or Elderly Guests:

Travel can be expensive or even impossible for some guests, especially older relatives who may find long-distance journeys challenging. Live streaming allows them to be a part of the day from the comfort of their own homes.

Managing Guest Numbers:

If your venue has a strict capacity limit, live streaming can ensure that more people can still witness the event without being physically present. This is especially relevant in post-pandemic times, where some couples have opted for smaller ceremonies.

Budget Constraints:

For couples on a budget, live streaming offers an alternative to inviting a large number of guests. Instead of paying for extra seating, catering, and favors, you can host a smaller, intimate event and invite everyone else virtually.

Destination Weddings:

Planning a wedding in an exotic location? Live streaming allows those who couldn’t make the trip to still witness your vows. It’s an excellent option for couples who have always dreamed of a destination wedding but want to ensure that family members still feel included.

Creating a Lasting Memory:

One of the biggest perks of live streaming your wedding is the ability to record and save the event. This gives you the chance to watch it again later, perhaps on your first anniversary, or share it with anyone who missed the live broadcast.

How Wedding Live Streaming Works

There are several steps involved in setting up a successful wedding live stream. While professional services often handle the technical aspects, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the process if you plan to go the DIY route or simply want to be informed about what’s happening behind the scenes.

Choose a Platform: First, decide where you want to stream your wedding. Popular platforms include YouTube Live, Zoom, Facebook Live, and specialized streaming services like Lovecast or Wedfuly. Consider the number of guests you expect to tune in, as some platforms have limits on viewers.

Test the Internet Connection: A stable, high-speed internet connection is essential for a smooth live stream. If you’re hosting your wedding at a venue, check their Wi-Fi capabilities in advance, or consider using a mobile hotspot as a backup. The higher the quality of your video feed, the stronger the connection required.

Use High-Quality Equipment: If possible, invest in a good camera and microphone to ensure clear video and audio. While a smartphone may work for small, informal weddings, a DSLR camera or dedicated video camera will provide a more professional-looking stream. External microphones can drastically improve the audio quality, ensuring that the vows and speeches are heard clearly.

Hire a Professional (Optional): If you’re worried about managing the live stream yourself, there are professional companies that specialize in wedding live streaming. These services usually offer multiple camera angles, professional lighting, and technical support throughout the event.

Notify Your Guests: Once you’ve chosen your platform and set up the technical aspects, be sure to inform your guests. Send them a link to the live stream ahead of time, and consider doing a test run to ensure everyone knows how to access the video. Include instructions in your wedding invitations or on your wedding website.

DIY Wedding Live Streaming Tips

If you’ve decided to take on the live stream yourself, here are some handy tips to ensure everything goes smoothly:

Stabilize Your Camera: No one wants to watch a shaky live stream. Use a tripod or a stable surface to keep your camera steady throughout the ceremony.

Check the Lighting: Natural light is your best friend, but if you’re getting married indoors or in a dimly lit venue, consider bringing extra lighting to ensure the stream is clear.

Use a Backup Device: Technology isn’t always reliable. Consider setting up a backup camera or smartphone just in case something goes wrong with your primary device.

Appoint a Camera Operator: While you’ll be busy exchanging vows, assign someone you trust to monitor the camera and ensure everything is running smoothly.

Professional Wedding Live Streaming Services

For couples who prefer not to handle the technical aspects, several professional services offer wedding live streaming packages. These companies manage the equipment, setup, and streaming process, allowing you to focus on enjoying your big day.

Lovecast: A popular option for couples looking to live stream their wedding, Lovecast provides an easy-to-use app and offers various packages, including guest interaction features like virtual toasts and a digital guestbook.

Wedfuly: This service specializes in Zoom weddings, offering a team of virtual coordinators to manage the live stream, interact with guests, and ensure a seamless experience.

EventLive: EventLive offers a high-quality live streaming experience with the ability to invite guests via a simple link, making it easy for even the least tech-savvy family members to tune in.

StreamWeddings: A dedicated live streaming service, StreamWeddings, handles everything from setting up cameras to providing technical support throughout the event.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Wedding Live Streaming

How much does wedding live streaming cost?

The cost of wedding live streaming can vary widely depending on the service and equipment you choose. DIY options using personal devices may be free or minimal in cost (depending on camera rental or platform fees), while professional services can range from $300 to $3,000 depending on the complexity of the package.

What platforms are best for live streaming a wedding?

Popular platforms include YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Zoom, and specialized wedding streaming services like Lovecast, Wedfuly, and StreamWeddings. Your choice will depend on how many guests you expect to watch and whether you want a public or private stream.

What kind of equipment is needed for wedding live streaming?

At a minimum, you’ll need a device with a camera (smartphone, tablet, or laptop), a stable internet connection, and a microphone. For a more professional stream, consider using a DSLR or video camera, external microphones, and tripods to stabilize the video.

How do I make sure my wedding live stream goes smoothly?

Testing is essential. Conduct a test run at your venue to ensure the internet connection is stable, the lighting is good, and the audio is clear. Have a backup plan (like a secondary device or mobile hotspot) in case of technical difficulties, and appoint someone to monitor the stream during the ceremony.

Can I record the live stream to watch later?

Yes! Most streaming platforms allow you to record the live event and save it for future viewing. This is a great way to have a permanent memory of your wedding day, which you can revisit on anniversaries or share with guests who couldn’t watch live.

Conclusion

Wedding live streaming has emerged as a fantastic way to ensure that your special day is shared with loved ones, regardless of physical limitations or geographical distance. With technological advancements, it’s easier than ever to set up a live stream that allows family and friends to virtually attend your wedding. Whether you choose a DIY option or a professional service, live streaming ensures that your wedding is accessible to all your loved ones, making the day even more memorable. With careful planning, the right equipment, and reliable service, your live-streamed wedding can be just as magical for those attending virtually as it is for those in person.

[chirpsythismorning]

I'm not going to say we should take every single thing official Netflix accounts post as gospel, because obviously they are not run by the Duffer Brothers themselves.

But to be clear, these people are hired by Netflix and there's more to it than just random interns scheduling posts. The people running these accounts are not the same people designing the posts made there, just like the people designing those posts have higher ups telling them what to do/not do in terms of the content they are creating. And there are plenty more levels that go beyond that, which eventually does lead to the Duffers and producers of the show, who do have a stake in how the show is promoted on a basic level to best align with their intentions and all the revelations still to come.

It is common knowledge that the Duffers work with Netflix marketing directly on a consistent basis to get their vision across, and that carries out in promotion with posters, merchandise, social media, etc., because it's really important in ST case (with it being a show made by nerds that love easter eggs), that they foreshadow what is still to come outside of the show itself.

When it comes to social media, the core purpose of those accounts is to encourage engagement for Netflix's user base, ideally ensuring they tune in to whatever is being promoted (and more), but it’s also more than that, in that it’s even more based on data and other factors.

What this leads to is the people in those less major decision-making roles, like graphic designers, simply being advised what to create, based on the information and content they are given to work with.

And so these accounts going from promoting byler subtly for years, to blatantly posting about it post-s5, is actually very, very intentional, going beyond a simple Netflix intern. It’s orchestrated by those in management positions, being advised by those in the ST production to do things a certain way, so that when all is said and done, we are able to look back and find tiny little things that point to it.

Byler can't be something they NEVER talked about even once on social media, only to have them end up being endgame with them posting about it forever afterwards when it's all said and done. It doesn't work like that, at least not in ST case. We're talking about a production that costs hundreds of millions to make, as well as being the most talked about mainstream series of our generation.

They have an obligation to make their story feel not only satisfying on its own, but to also promote the show in a way that makes the viewer feel this whole well-rounded experience, outside of the show itself as well.

And so when ST came out in summer 2022 and Netflix Geeked was making posts about it non-stop, that wasn't a rogue, low-paid Netflix intern doing whatever they wanted. That was multiple people with a job given a task and following through with it at their advisers discretion. Regardless of where it ended up, it started at the top with the Duffers informing higher ups in marketing that Byler is something that will happen, along with other revelations that they want to inform marketing about, so they can take the steps to plan ahead and create content that matches the Duffer's vision, most often to act as a foreshadowing device for the story still unraveling.

Remember when Netflix Geeked made a post acknowledging that Will the Wise drawing in El's room back in s3?? A very well known byler easter egg that only we know about??? That wasn't some ga intern watching the show once and them spontaneously coming up with content to create related to that drawing and posting about it themselves. That was very likely someone associated with the show giving suggestions to marketing, with a few of them being very incriminating in relation to byler, but with most being casual in relation to the show overall.

Just like I said in this post about how Noah didn't tweet about byler or mention it multiple times at cons unprompted bc he was feeling quirky. He was being advised to...

And look what Netflix did to that tweet Noah posted that was clearly a stunt in an of itself.? They broadcasted it and made a cheesy ass edit out of it... And it's bc several people behind the scenes were advised to make content like that specifically.

I mean, if you actually look at how social media promotes byler (if and when it does), it's arguably in the exact way that the Duffers want it to be promoted?. Just enough. Not too little. Not too much. I would argue if the Duffers had no say whatsoever in how the show was promoted, then we'd either be seeing byler constantly or we wouldn't see them at all, instead we see social media sort of dance around it, which tells me they are following the exact approach the Duffers themselves follow... because they were obviously given the instruction to.

And so seeing an account like UK Netflix, an account that as of recent has really went all out with posting Queer content since Heartstopper released, has also notably made really incriminating posts about byler over the years, but especially as of recent. And that's in large part because of what I've stated, but also based on data.

If higher ups in marketing at Netflix know about byler, then they are very likely pushing people lower on the payroll, doing more simple tasks like graphic design and social media management, to make connections to ST with other shows like Heartstopper, Sex Education, Young Royals, etc. And this is because if byler IS going to end up being this huge Queer love story, data is telling them to make these connections sooner than later, so that the eventual revelation will be a smooth transition amongst other content just like it. This works in Netflix's favor at the end of the day, which is the whole point of all of this.

Not saying you should take the most casual of Netflix posts as byler endgame proof if that's what you're asking. But to say that these accounts have NO association with the Duffer's and ST directly, therefore we shouldn’t even appreciate anything they post if it points to byler, is sort of over-simplifying things.

It's not like s5 is gonna drop and all of these interns are going to be like OHHH okay now i'm a byler so i'll post about it... Going into s5 they're going to be making some very side eye posts and it isn't going to have anything to do with them being an intern without any say in things, its gonna be about them getting a task list and following through with it bc it's their job.

[in-deep]

If you could only pick one piece of Byler evidence to convince someone that Byler is endgame, what would you pick?

First off - I wrote this stream of consciousness style so please be kind aha.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this question and I think it’s simply the fact that if Mike is in fact straight, then what is his character arc?

Let me explain.

A lot of the GA view Mike as a glorified side character - sidelined after S2 to fulfil the role of El’s incompetent boyfriend whilst simultaneously leaving Will (his best friend) behind and treating him like a dick. The GA also view Mike as straight. For many GA viewers, the idea that Mike is gay/bi, let alone in love with Will, seems implausible and were it to happen, it would come out of nowhere.

Which leaves the question of: what is Mike’s character arc?

From this GA perspective, he doesn’t have one. He’s destined to make up with El in S5 and support her independence, and kindly turn Will down and go on with being besties like the supportive guy they remember him being in S1/S2. If anything, his character has regressed from the early seasons into a douchebag - a mouth breather. 

Not to mention that from this perspective, he has no real internal or external trauma to be unpacked. While this is obviously untrue as it has been made clear by the Duffer brothers and even within the show (Mike’s suicide attempt, Wheeler family discussion around his behaviour at school) that he is struggling with depression, that doesn’t seem to play into their predictions on his ending. If anything, many GA viewers don’t really view his character’s conclusion in S5 as something important because to them, (just to repeat my earlier point) he’s just a glorified side character.

Of course, if you watch the show carefully and focus on Mike, you’ll quickly realise that his character is dealing with a lot of the direct pressures of heteronormativity and internalised homophobia:

His family is your classic nuclear family, Nancy talks about the Wheeler family dynamic extensively in a heart-to-heart with Jonathan 

S1 has a lot of homophobia - all of it is about Will, but a lot of it is targeted and directed toward Mike

There are multiple times he is visually shown to come to realisations about his feelings toward El and Will, respectively. Now I won’t analyse those in this post because technically, none of the contents of those realisations have been made clear to the audience, it’s just my own interpretations. I’m sure this will come back in S5, though.

To show Mike’s queerness in S5 is not changing his sexuality, simply just revealing what has been shown to the audience the entire time. Stranger Things is brilliant at show vs. tell. They tell us something, and then show us something entirely different or even something that directly contradicts what we were told. Much of the GA don’t pick up on this (and tbf I don’t really expect them to, it’s intended to be subtle!).

To reveal concretely that Mike is queer and in love with Will would change everything. It would be shocking! The GA would lose their minds - and many people would, at first, struggle to believe it. But upon rewatching the show, it would all make sense. It would turn what many view as an unimportant character into one of the most well thought-out and planned queer stories in media history (definitely an exaggeration but bear with me aha, I’m not normal about these boys).

What people thought to be an incompetent boyfriend and an absolute dick to his best friend for two seasons in a row would turn out to actually be a deeply traumatised boy struggling to remain on the “normal” path (quote from Finn Wolfhard on Mike), within the bounds of heteronormativity. A boy who desperately wants to play DnD and Nintendo with his best friend, but realises that what he feels for him isn’t “normal”. It would reveal so much about Mike and all the things we never got to see from his perspective.

And in terms of my predictions, I’m absolutely a believer in Mike being Vecna’d, and we’ll finally see Mike’s point of view on all of this. Just imagine Vecna taunting him about how he failed to be normal. He failed to do the “right” thing. He’s been in love with Will since before he even realised it.

So yeah. Byler is real. Byler is endgame. And I’m 10000% certain that Mike is going to become an extremely popular character once we get his insight. He’ll also absolutely need a hug once all is said and done. I will be hysterical. 

But at least he’ll have his cleric <3.

A really good video on Mike's internalised homophobia that essentially sparked me to write this post in the first place, and I highly recommend if you haven't seen it yet, was this one (@lesbianmindflayer) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6IOlmBEEgE&t=80s&ab_channel=LesbianMindflayer

But yeah! What would you pick as your one piece of evidence?

[iamafictionfreak]

KINNPORSCHE

(spoilers for those who haven't seen episode 2)

I'm spiralling.

For the majority of viewers, I can imagine you’re all simply watching the episodes and letting it be – I don’t have that option because there isn’t a single person that I know who’s interested in discussing with me and I NEED to discuss it with someone! It’s dire. I need INFORMATION.

It’s not that it’s this amazing show (not that it isn’t either) that needs to be analysed to death. No, it’s the potential there that’s driving me silly, and we have to wait two whole weeks for episode 3 to air. Not sure how I’m going to last.

A show about gay mafia, bodyguards and how their daily lives run and intersect??? How can I not love it?

I have questions. I’m watching this blind – I know next to nothing about it beyond the trailer, ep 1&2, and the scraps of insight left by some magnanimous souls (@lutawolf is one of them) posting about the outfits, the colours used and what they’re indicative of etc. It’s based on a book, I do know that and, honestly, I don’t necessarily need to ask for more. I could just enjoy it. But.

BUT.

When I like a thing, when I really like a thing, I need to inhale as much of the thing as I can. For fun, this is FUN for me. I like doing this.

We have a show about a gay Dom (I’m guessing) Mafiosi hard hitter called Kinn (Anikinn) and a disaster of a human being called Porsche.

YES. I'm sorry. I had to post this (credit goes to Seokhwasan for the pics). LOOK AT THEM.

Ahem.

For anyone who’s read the book, feel free to tell me if anything I write here is incorrect. I’ll be incorrect a lot. It’s how I role. My analytic skills are lacking because I usually get so absorbed that I miss details – like KinnPorsche, it’s a game of chess and you’ve got to think ahead several steps to beat the system, to reach check and find Mate. I’ve never been able to do that with any degree of finesse so feel free to help me.

What I really want to look at are the two leads. Of course, it’s a show about them. A well-made show about them, where all the characters so far feel three dimensional, so that’s great right off the bat. But no, I want focus on certain behaviours exhibited in episode two.

Porsche is a national champion in Taekwondo. You don’t get to that level by being a strutting street thug with little finesse and a slippery ego. You get there through dedication, resilience, will power, hard work, patience, and TALENT.

We saw none of this in episode 2 (just a talent for fucking up).

Let’s back up a second.

Porsche is clearly a gifted little shit, right? But because he’s had to become the breadwinner, it seems that he’s given up on being gifted because gifted costs money. A life he gave up where he won a lot, a life where he had prospects, a life where he shined for reasons that didn’t involve his dick or parading his looks like a peacock for money.

He appears to enjoy being a bartender and getting laid by lots of beautiful women looking to forget themselves with the hot bad boy behind the bar. It's transient and maybe, deep down, it makes him feel worthless, Maybe I'm reaching there.

But does he miss what he might have been? He’ll never blame his brother – he’s doing all of this for him. Basically, if his brother can succeed in life, it won’t matter what happens to him. So, he has layers – there’s a truly selfless piece of him, mixed in with the stripes of grey where he, currently, doesn’t house anyone but his brother.

It's why he took Kinn up on his request (‘cough’ demand/threat ‘cough’) to be his bodyguard – the money, so that his brother can go to classes without worrying about paying the rent.

I’m also going to skip the part where the head of Kinn’s family CLEARLY has a hidden agenda regarding Porsche, which, I for one, think is going to be a fucking huge deal down the line.

But back to the choice to be his bodyguard. He said he’d guard him – he never said he’d do a good job of it.

I get the feeling that Porsche only says what he believes and only makes promises he can keep. Basically, he’s honest. He hasn’t promised to 'succeed' in guarding Kinn. Anyone would think he’d naturally want to do well out of pride – I’m that way. Even if I don’t like my job, I’ll do as well as I can, simply because I can, but Porsche doesn’t think like that, which is extremely healthy in one way. In another it’s detrimental because he’s only just realising that a bad job can get him hurt or killed.

At the end of the day, Porsche really doesn’t want to be there and that’s why everything is going tits-up.

It might be for his brother, but the bare minimum is where he’s at right now. He just has to show up. They’re the ones who went for him in the first place, they want him there – not the other way around. For Porsche, respect and loyalty are earned and they haven’t earned it from him. A substandard performance is all they’re going to get.

But there is another way for Porsche to take his new job seriously – he needs to care, right?

He’s befriended Pete and vice versa. Even after this one episode, if anything happens to Pete, Porsche will be all over it. He’s been humiliated but it didn’t destroy his pride. Now he’s switched guarding Kinn to guarding his brother Tankhun, who - if the official trailer is anything to go by - he’s soooooo going to be throwing a party for, and maybe it’ll be a night where the mafia brothers can relax, because who else knows how to throw a party like Porsche? So, it’s already happening. This is how he starts caring.

But he can’t read Kinn – he’s used to picking up on small behavioural patterns, on the way people dress and how they act around him. He’s learnt it. It made him a reputable bartender.

With Kinn? He saw glimpses of the man, but he knows it’s surface stuff. That scene at the end of ep 2, where Porsche makes him coffee, gets it wrong and Kinn responds pretty much with, practice makes perfect, and Porsche allows the smallest concession there. Then they both confess to trying to figure out who other is. Kinn, under his guise(?) of absolute authority and control. Porsche beneath his loose, undisciplined Pan-likeness. Who are they really?

Curiosity. Doesn’t take much more to get the ball rolling.

All through the episode Porsche is told and shown that the rest of Kinn’s family seem to be more ridiculous, quintessentially entitled, violent, and all-around NUTS in comparison. But Porsche doesn’t agree because there’s just something about Kinn that’s either unsettling or confusing him, and because of that, it’s made Kinn the unpredictable party. It’s made him interesting.

Interest doesn’t equal care, but this is early days. We have 12 episodes more and all of them devoted to figuring out the characters.

What’s equally interesting to me is that Kinn is the first to show attraction.

Porsche is apparently, just his physical type, but I don’t think his personality is, so this might be new ground for Kinn.

Now, I wrote attraction, and I meant it. Attraction. Physical attraction – you don’t need to act on finding someone attractive. I think what I’m enjoying most right now is the levels already being stamped out here. Kinn’s gay, capital G. But the number of men he’s found attractive without doing shit about it, are probably endless. So, what will make whatever he’s feeling become more than just attraction?

He's clearly surprised by it. Has he never been attracted to one of his bodyguards?

Pretty certain the impression of a cold, controlled mafia god has more truth to it than not. But does it actually go so far as to describe him as a Dom? And I’m absolutely referring to dynamics of the BDSM variety, not just someone with a domineering personality. It feels like it does, but I’d rather not assume so.

I breach this subject because Porsche is his own person – he’s entered a military-like compound, where his under someone else’s control and for someone as strong willed as him, Kinn’s personality might chafe- HAS already chafed. Can a strong personality like Porsche submit to someone like Kinn? It’s a long while off but I’m super interested in the journey.

As for Porsche being the worst bodyguard in the history of all bodyguards, I’m guessing that once he has reason to care, he’ll do what he does best, which is become the absolute BEST. He’ll be the BEST bodyguard, like he’s the best swimmer, the best taekwondo pupil, the best bartender. Eventually he’ll go from thug to killing machine – he’ll stop failing and he’ll do it for Kinn.

You think we saw him at his best in episode 1? No, we saw someone who'd had a few drinks, who'd just gotten laid, who was very much used to an undisciplined lifestyle, years away from Taekwondo days. Eventually, he'll stand and walk differently. The gun in his hands will stop being a toy. He'll see exits and entrances instead of the general splendour money can buy.

But right now, everyone needs to think he’s a giant loser or close to it - Vegas now thinks he’s this playful guy with some skill after sending a woman to pretend to try to Kill Kinn for intel. He was drunk on duty and talked back to his boss - it’s sort of interesting but it’d be easy for people to drop their guard around Porsche following that display.

For the future, I think everyone needs to watch the fuck out because Porsche is dangerous. He’s a different type of unpredictable to Kinn, but it’s just as lethal. With time, he’ll master gun-play and everything else, but with that on top of that moral grey heart of his? I’m going to go out on the limb and say that he’ll become exactly what Kinn needs.

Or thinks he needs.

Could Kinn ever let someone he truly cares for step in front of a bullet for him? I mean, when the time comes?

Anyone notice just how close the guards are to the mafia sons? Like, some are friends.

Anyway, ep 2 was hilarious and cringy and exactly what we needed it to be.

…Is Porsche Bi? There’s a vague sense in this show that sexuality shouldn’t be labelled, which I adore but I’m also getting the impression that Porsche may not have been with a guy before. Again, I’m probably very wrong – someone let me know. Either way, it’s delicious.

[batri-jopa]

I'm digging through my drafts lately so now the time has come to speak about movies that are like milestones for me:

Collateral (2004) dir.Michael Mann

I watched it for the first time in June 2021 and it became my hyperfixation, something I've been obsessed so much that... well, I literally LIVED that movie for about 4 months and I consider it changed my life's goals' perception❤️‍🔥 I've been reading all possible reviews, comments, interpretative theories... I wanted to wrote my own review and interpretation of the film.

(Just for those freaking abt actors: ppl who hate movies with Tom Cruise in it - usually make exception for the Collateral - and if THAT'S not convincing to you I don't know what is!)

Who would have guessed that the story about heartless hitman interacting with that poor random taxi driver has a potential to change a live perspective of a 35 years old person? Vincent is so inhumane I'm not even sure he deserves to be called a "character" (not more than a killer-cyborg probably) and what he says to Max about his attitude toward the world and his life and his dreams is so provocative and cruel but... it's all so freaking true. You are over 30 already and the time to act and to change your life and to fulfill your dreams is NOW! Now or never!

"Someday? Someday my dream will come? One night you will wake up and discover it never happened. It's all turned around on you. It never will. Suddenly you are old. Didn't happen, and it never will, because you were never going to do it anyway. You'll push it into memory and then zone out in your barco lounger, being hypnotized by daytime TV for the rest of your life."

Not to mention every next victim feels like another lesson in personal developement of Max (or any viewer sympathising with him), just like those lessons given to Scrooge by ghosts in A Christmas Carol. Yes, there are five of them instead of three but it's like the first case is: "wake up!" - the next: "this happens for Real!" - then "and there's nearly nothing you can do about it..." - and "...but you got to try anyway..." - followed by: "...because it's all about you right from the start!"

(One night you may need to turn your whole life upside down)

And I know some people see the last case as lame, cliche, unbelieveble, predictible or whatever - but jeez, ppl, that's how it works in a theater play! Of course it could have been predicted and so what?! It's the story about Max's character and in my opinion: that when he gets to know about his key role in all this - in a way similar to Bastian in The Neverending Story.

And I dare to say at this point it is not about any "love" or any such thing (here, take my AroAce filter): it's about a dream, that still is to be fulfilled, about a life, that could have been, about the right to be yourself and freedom to choose your way. About an urge to fight for something so important that you simply can't turn away from it anymore. About a need to defend something that feel so close and dear to you like it's your core, like it's yourself - like it was all about your life from the very beggining!

(And what if: maybe it all would never had happened if not for Max symbolic giving away his dream "island"?🤔)

I love how the provocative speech of Vincent to Max and all the uneasy questions he gives to him are meant to get him out of his comfort zone: your job is to take the client from point A to B, never before have you cared what they gonna do there, maybe all of them where going to kill or hurt somebody, so why did you not care about it ever before? Why would you care about it now? What the difference if the bad thing is happening close to you or far away from you? What's the difference if you do or do not know about it? And what actually changed in your case now - anything other than that now you know? In all this you are irrelevant, COLLATERAL, you are only a fucking meaningless, powerless cab driver! Look at you, you're not even the one to decide your own route! And if you decided to only always do your job without the second thought - then why don't you just do your fucking job right now?!

And then it's like: you can run from your problems and avoid hard decisions for just so long - there's literally no more place left to run and hide, and you got to face your greatest fear... To save a life.

Not your life though.

You'll be reminded it's NOT about you. That it's not your business. So you can simply step back and live. Just keep on being nobody, not having anything to say, not having any power over bad things happening around you. You'll be reminded that you're weak and you can keep the safe distance and remain comfortably numb just as you always used to be...

You could remain COLLATERAL

Only would you be able to live with knowing you haven't even tried?

As much as I hate guns IRL - I loved to learn about the "mozambique drill" (some fans probably breaking new record of rewatching "yo, hommies" scene over and over again) and reading other viewers' interpretations of what actually happen in the final shooting... and of why he could not or would not reload... (as a neurologist I'd vote it's bc of his brachial plexus) and finally thinking about the spontaneous act of previously non-spontanous character - winning over cold routine of the one always talking about "adapting to enviroment"... Like Max've won over him by actually learning his lessons!

This movie is filled with symbols and allegories. Starting with the silver gray Vincent: I like to compare him to a heartless cyborg T1000 from Terminator 2: The Judgement Day, or see him as an angel of death, or even - as mirror giving a dark reflection, like an evil alter-ego of the main character! (there's the allusion of policemen that a taxi driver might get rampage and kill ppl around the town - followed by Max's mother asking "Who?" like not noticing Vincent - to the point Max actually "acts" Vincent - all these priceless little hints that Vincent might not even exist in a first place...)

My own favorite interpretation is that Vincent is personification of a coyote - the spirit animal meant to teach you life lessons that are many times very uneasy but really rewarding

(And don't listen to director talking about Vincent, it seems to me that Michael Mann did not himself get any deeper meaning of this guy at all!😑 Like treating his past history seriously? Oh please, have mercy...🙄 Vincent's power derives from the fact he's so perfectly inhumane he barely touches the earth! Or at least he's the perfectly neutral transparent everyman... who's empty of emotions. And you can treat as a symbol of anything you want!😋)

The story takes place in the middle of the night - with the broad streets of the great town being almost empty - and it's such an unusual view it gives an almost dreamlike mood. Perfect time and place for a life-changing story about changing your life.

All in all this story is so brilliant someone definitely should have made a movie about it!

😆

PS. And I love the soundtrack.

[zandracourt]

Some thoughts about Episode 2x12 of 911 Lone Star and subject of physical abuse. I’ll put behind the cut for those who don’t want to read:

I work in the field of abuse of adults and one of the hardest realities of my job is that I have to hold the word “abuse” lightly because the spectrum of what is experienced as abuse by the parties involved is wide, for many factors, including enculturation, personal history, physiological make-up, emotional maturity/intelligence, and mental health. There are legal definitions of what constitutes abuse/assault in every jurisdiction and there is the basic understanding of power/control and the role that plays in the relationship. Even the word “healthy” when it comes to relationships is difficult to define because what I regard as “healthy” is not something someone else considers valuable enough to work on or worth separating from their partner over. It is surprisingly personal and while I have laws that I enforce, the reality is that even when an incident meets the legal criteria, if the victim says it wasn’t abusive to them, there is not much we can do other than to keep offering the victim that there is another way to love and be loved.

That said, I’ve seen a lot of posts of fans very upset about TK’s shoving Carlos when he was angry. And I am not here to say that interpretation is wrong. However, I do understand why the writers and actors would have created that scene and not consider it all that problematic. Again, not justifying, simply offering some thoughts from someone who works in this field. These are my own and I know other investigators in my own unit who would think differently, so it is just one perspective. Also, I am not a sworn officer. I enforce civil law, not criminal.

1) I don’t believe TK’s reaction is out of character. When he is emotionally compromised, he self-harms. He does that with substances and we have seen him seek out fights (the bar which leads to the police station scene and with Judd, both S1) when he is upset. I read his pushing Carlos as self harm over abuse because his actions betray that he is trying to get Carlos to *hit him*. Which Carlos, being a police officer who is trained to remain calm (they are supposed to be anyway), responded by restraining TK. TK’s response is then not to calm down but to get more upset and tell him to leave because TK is *not getting the emotional release that he wants* which is physical pain. He wants to feel physical pain to mask his emotional pain but Carlos won’t participate in that. So this isn’t abuse in the typical way we understand it. It is manipulation on TK’s part and unhealthy as hell, but is actually in keeping with what TK does when he’s hurting emotionally.

2) This scene is highly-feminine coded. There are hundreds of examples in tv/movies where a woman is upset and she beats her fists against a man’s chest (who is almost never who she is actually upset with/about) and the man endures it for a bit and then restrains her until she calms down. We see it all the time and while also problematic, generally we don’t object to it because we view the woman as not being able to cause the man any real harm or pain. Women get away with a LOT of domestic abuse because of this bias. So given that trope, it is very possible that the writers and actors viewed this scene through that same bias. That TK isn’t really hurting Carlos because he is bigger and more muscular than TK. Again, not great, but something to consider when evaluating the choices made by the creators of the art in question.

3) The Fight or Flight response is so deeply ingrained, it is very difficult to stop. When I enter someone’s home as part of my work, I am there to investigate an allegation of abuse. Even with the word INVESTIGATOR on my chest, and with everyone knowing why I am there, there are some perpetrators who are so reactionary in their fight/flight response that they try to threaten and intimidate me (fight). They are displaying abuse behaviors to the one person you would logically think they would want to hide those behaviors from. And many do. But for some, they literally cannot stop the response. Makes my job a little bit easier because now I am a witness to their abusive reactions and can document it. In this instance with TK and Carlos, I’m not necessarily saying that response was triggered in TK, but again, he has a much higher propensity for Fight than Flight in general so I can’t say it’s *not* a factor either.

4) Many have expressed wanting to see the apology between them that was not shown. In some ways, I can understand why the showrunners chose not to. That should not be a quick conversation. And in the context of a show like this, where there is no other way to do it, I think would ultimately be worse. If TK apologizes and Carlos accepts without much conversation, there is no reason for anyone to expect the behavior to change on TK’s part. This actually models abusive cycles. Any conversation where Carlos confronts TK about his behavior would take real time because they’d have to get at the reasons why TK had that reaction in the first place, and given that Carlos has already addressed this (in their convo at the police station after TK is arrested for brawling) and it hasn’t changed. Therefore, the scene would need to either put Carlos in a role of continuing to bring this up while addressing why he is putting up with the behavior from TK, or Carlos needs to do some self-reflection about why he’s still in this relationship. So to do it in a way that is actually “healthy” doesn’t take them where the writers wanted them to be later in the episode. So, in many ways, their apology scene is best served by a well-written fanfic than it would be by a 2 minute on-screen scene that would either serve to perpetuate an unhealthy cycle or push them further apart. This way, there is an ambiguous element where everyone can pretend that some long-ass conversation occurred and the two of them came to a healthy resolution.

5) DV scenes between men are *way* bloodier than any other scenes I encounter. In my experience, when men are abusive of men, it’s very brutal. And again, what equals abuse is sometimes hard to define and even harder to address. So a little shoving, while not great, is also not even in the stratosphere of how bad it often can be. Is it right to view abuse with that kind of relativism? Hard to say. But when you exist in this world, it is hard not to and I have to go by the people in front of me and what they are expressing about how they feel about what happened. If you, the viewer, watched this and reported it as abuse, I could go investigate. But if TK and Carlos say to me, “Nah, we didn’t feel that at all.” Then it doesn’t matter what you, the witness, feel about it, or even me. I can offer my educated and experienced view, but that doesn’t mean the two parties will accept it. That’s why I have learned to hold it loosely because adults have the right to self-determination and the right to make poor choices. And believe me, that is very hard to do, especially when I encounter a victim who is clearly so beat-down that they can’t imagine anything better for themselves. But if I tell that victim, “You must...” then I am simply becoming the next person controlling their choices. Instead, I offer “You could...” or “Here’s some options...”

To me personally, I read TK’s shoving Carlos as evidence of unhealthy self-harm behavior more than TK abusing Carlos, because the action wasn’t rooted in power and control and ended fairly benignly. Would it be awesome for them to still address it? Absolutely. But I also understand why they chose not to.

[gunterfan1992]

Episode Review: ‘Wizard City’ (Distant Lands, Ep. 4)

Airdate: September 2, 2021

Story by: Adam Muto, Jack Pendarvis, Kate Tsang, Hanna K. Nyström, & Charley Feldman

Storyboarded by: Maya Petersen, Hanna K. Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, & Aleks Sennwald, & Haewon Lee

Directed by: Miki Brewster & Jeff Liu (supervising), Sandra Lee (art)

An episode focusing on Peppermint Butler’s dark side is something that the fandom has craved ever since the little guy demanded Finn and Jake’s flesh in season two’s “Death in Bloom.” While installments like season five’s “The Suitor” and season six’s “Nemesis” did much to scratch that itch, the story of the Dark One remained mostly unknown…

And after “Wizard City,” it still remains largely unknown. But that’s OK, because instead of focusing on the character’s history, this special focuses on Peps’ quest to relearn magic at a magic school. Put most simply, this special is largely a fun excuse for the show to riff on Harry Potter and The Owl House-style “magic school hijinks,” and it mostly all works.

The special follows Peps quest to go to WizArts (a definite play on CalArts, the school that Pen Ward and Adam Muto, among many others, went to) so that he can relearn magic and once again become one of the greatest dark wizards of his time. Initially, Peps tries to make friends with cool kid Spader and his posse, but once they learn that Peps is not as talented at magic as they had initially thought, they kick him to the curb. It is at this point that Cadebra, Abracadaniel’s adorkable niece who is fascinated with stage magic, enters the picture. Cadebra tries everything in her power to befriend Peps, but Peps pushes back, since she’s not “cool.” It does not matter, though, because both Peps and Cadebra are sorted into the same “house”—the “Skink House—and are forced to work together.

While Peps and his cohort begin learning more and more complex magic, a secret cult of school professors, led by the otherwise caring Dr. Caledonius, are scheming to resurrect Coconteppi, a powerful dark wizard whose putrid heart has been discovered underneath the school excreting a very powerful ichor. The school cult kidnaps Spader and gives him some of the ichor to drink; they hope that because of his talent, he will be able to house the spirit of Coconteppi. This does not go as planned, and Spader is graphically killed (albeit off screen). (In a more humorous moment, Bufo, the scam wizard from season one’s “Wizard,” also ingests some of the ichor, believing himself powerful enough to handle it, but it kills him.)

Eventually Peps and Cadebra learn what is going on. Dr. Caledonius welcomes Peps, believing that he is strong enough to handle the ichor. When Cadebra’s life is put in danger, Peps reluctantly gives the putrid fluid a swig, which infuses him with the power of Coconteppi. Coconteppi-Peps then kills all the cult members before Cadebra manages to remove the ichor from Peps body. For uncovering a heinous plot, Peps is promoted to the highest house, “Salamander,” but he decides to remain a Skink and learn magic “the hard way” with Cadebra as his friend.

As I mentioned near the start of this review, “Wizard City” spends most of its time riffing on the “magic boarding school” trope, with much of the episode feeling like a light-hearted parody of Harry Potter: The characters, after all, are “sorted” into “houses,” they learn various types of magic from skilled “professors,” and they bunk in different parts of a large castle-like campus. Of course, Harry Potter didn’t invent the idea of a boarding school, but when setting your story in a school for magic, it is very hard not to lean at least somewhat into the Hogwarts relation. And this really is a double-edged sword, for while Harry Potter references can be fun here and there, they can also make the overall story feel like a fanfic parody. This special does a good job focusing more so on the characters rather than the setting, but I won’t lie, at times it did feel as if they show was really trying to make you realize it was making a Harry Potter joke.

Of all the characters introduced in the special, the breakout star is easily Cadebra, voiced by Chloe Coleman. Radiating a sort of Mabel Pines energy, Cadebra is the beam of optimism who shines brightly in an otherwise macabre special. There is something about her plucky personality and sense of wacky individualism that charms the viewer. I appreciate how the show compared and contrasted her with her uncle, the one and only Abracadaniel: like her uncle, Cadebra is a good person who wants to help others, but unlike Abracadaniel, she has a sense of courage and fortitude that results in her taking on a Coconteppi-possessed Peps at the episode’s climax. (Say what you will, Abracadaniel stans, but our favorite custodian would never have done that!) Thanks to her bravery and dedication to Peps, Cadebra is easily the heart of the special.

The episode throws an interesting little curveball into the mix by having the ‘ghost’ of Past Peppermint Butler constantly haunt Peps in the here-and-now. Past Peppermint, it seems, was so determined to become a great wizard, he cursed himself, so that if anything were to go awry, his Past self could materialize and set him straight. It’s confusing, but I do think that mixing the “overbearing parent” trope with a curse is a clever idea; it gives the whole special some dramatic heft. The whole setup is made even funnier by the special’s conclusion: After Future Peppermint Butler is ‘defeated’ and the day is saved, Peps reveals to Cadebra that he still wants to be a great and powerful dark wizard… but he wants to earn that power through hard work and determination. (Peppermint Butler might commune with demons, but he would never sell his soul to one for power; Glob helps those who help themselves, ya know?)

One of the special’s strongest points is its background art. Adventure Time always had some beautiful set pieces, and this special goes above and beyond to give WizArts an ancient sense of grandeur and mystery. Ghostshrimp, a freelance artist who was the show’s lead background designer during seasons 1-4, return for this special as a “visual developer”—basically, he mocked up a bunch of rough designs for the locales, and then the episode’s background artists worked up the final pieces in his style. On his podcast, Ghostshrimp mentioned how hectic he found Adventure Time to be, because he was used to taking his time on pieces. As such, the decision to bring him on for just development was smart, as it allowed him to still come up with iconic background designs while also playing fast and loose with everything. Hopefully the show will continue this approach with the Fionna and Cake miniseries that is coming up. After all, Ghosthsrimp’s style is the look of Adventure Time.

Another strong point for the episode is its voice acting. For one thing, you have your regulars like Tom Kenny and Dana Snyder, and Duncan Trussell, who all give a solid performance. But to voice many of the special’s new characters, the show brought on a bevy of fun actors: Saturday Night Live’s Bill Hader, for instance, is now voicing Bufo, and he does a solid job hamming up his role as the old fogey. And then there’s Toks Olagundoye, whose British accent gives Dr. Caledonius a sense of knowledge and expertise. To my delight and surprise, SungWon Cho, an internet personality and voice actor perhaps better known as ProZD, was tapped to voice Brain Wizard, and he does an excellent job. And finally, Anthony Stewart Head, a very talented actor who I know best as Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, voices Con Wizard, and is even given a fun little ditty to sing. I can safely say that the voice acting in this special is likely the best of the bunch, and it’s obvious that the actors were all having a great time playing their parts.

What drags the whole thing down, in my opinion is the excessive murder. (I joked on Twitter that during the climax of “Wizard City,” it felt like I was watching an Adventure Time-ified version of Invincible!) Infused with the power of Coconteppi, Peps goes on a brutal killing spree, boiling Potable Wizard into steam, zapping Dimension Wizard into another plane of existence, smashing Berdzerd, and—perhaps most graphically—excerebrates (had to look that word up!) Brain Wiz. On Twitter, @sometipsygnostalgic​ argued that while, yes, the scene is startling, it does wonders to transmute “a poor Summer Camp Island knockoff [into] Adventure Time chaos.” The more I think about it, the more I think that’s a fair point; after all, this is hardly the first dark thing that has happened in Adventure Time. But the part that I cannot really stomach is the fact that Spader was murdered for no real reason, and the special ends without anyone really expressing their horror at the situation. Sure, Spader was a schoolyard bully, but he was also a child. And killing a child—either for the drama or the lulz—feels decidedly out of place in an Adventure Time episode. It’s hard to express, but it just felt unnecessarily nihilistic and mean-spirited.

All things considered, I think this was a fun episode, but it was somewhat underwhelming for a ‘finale.’ Much of this is because it had to air after the perfection that was the back-to-back “Obsidian”/”Together Again” wombo combo. But I can’t help but feel like this special just felt a little... off. A little too meanspirited, and it leaned a bit too much on standard tropes. Still, it was a fun spin, and I know that I’ll rewatch it.

Mushroom War Evidence: As Peps rides the bus to school, he passes a bunch of abandoned houses, some of which are buried in the ground. There is an unexploded bomb above the fossilized elephant in the school. Cadebra has a dream that takes place in the ruins of a city.

Final Grade: B+

[vaalthus]

Remthalas Theory/Sort of Analysis: The All-Seeing Idiot God, The Dreaming Chaos, The Path of Omniscience. Oh and like potential Lore Spoilers maybe.

With the conclusion of the Reckoning War, and having bared witnessed to Remthalas’ actions, I believe we have a better idea of what our aquatic Dreamfarer desires and intends not only for themselves but for the inhabitants of Lore as well.

We already know that Remthalas believes that the only way to achieve freedom, to dream, is to not be shackled. To not live out the dreams or whims of others. Unfortunately, this boils down to the lesson Remthalas got out of the idea is that people should not tie themselves down by basic laws or morals people tend to follow. Otherwise, the endless possibilities provided by true freedom are not possible.

This a concept that he has clearly taken to his very core given how angrily or impulsively he’ll react should he feel someone is ordering him around or someone else shirking their freedom in his point of view as demonstrated when he rebuked Notha twice for commanding him and when he killed Mr. Nameless/Twinkles.

So that’s it then, right? Remthalas is just an anarchist drunk on freedom? Wanting all of Lore to break their shackles and live out their own dreams never minding once of those around them, right? Well yes, but there is I think a bit more going on here.

I found a few things concerning about Remthalas in our fight with either Notha or Uaanta. One, is that he found the Avatars more interesting in their reduced orb state. Secondly, he didn’t appear to want to destroy them. Thirdly, is that regardless of who we chose to side with, Rem finds us interesting either way. Fourth, and most concerning is that he only found Uaanta truly fascinating if she merged with the Avatars. Lastly, and most revealing was his desire to see all the events unfold regardless of what the outcome was and then simply bounce when a conclusion was reached.

The reason why I find him being able to see Uaanta as a truly fascinating player in this conflict is to be some cause for concern is that being ‘interesting’ to Remthalas seems to, at first, amount to being someone that can bring about his idea of freedom, freedom from the balance the Avatars imposed. Characters like the Hero and I imagine Notha when he first met her and was introduced to her ideology. However, if this is the case, why find Uaanta interesting? She after all plans to shepherd away the very entities responsible for the very concept that resulted in his abandonment and have shackled so many others and their dreams. Why find someone who still intends to be devoted to the Avatars to be a person of interest then? Are they not still choosing to wear their shackles? To ignore their own dreams in the favor of the dreams of others.

 The answer I think is simple. In the end, it was just less about Remthalas serving his ultimate plan and Remthalas wanting a show. Remthalas has always long been aware of our capacity to come out on top over our opponents, including his own fellow members. Why would he suspect there was any possibility we would lose to our dear friend or even Notha? He didn’t because he knew we would win, but how can he enjoy the play if all the actors aren’t putting in effort for their roles. After all, are you satisfied by the just the ending of a movie or the passionate performances that it took to get there?

You see I believe Remthalas revealed what he plans for us and Lore all the way back when we first met in the Ex Somniis Fabula or The Story of Dreams quest. In his introduction, Remthalas posits the question of whether he’d be able to alter reality if the entities only referred to as “They” dreamed instead of just slumbering. With quite the determined, if not a bit demented, expression on his face I might add. There’s also one other feature to this and it’s the fact that Remthalas points out that we’re in his dream, or perhaps more accurately his dream space, and that it’s basically just a blank white box. (There are also the blue glowing circles on his robes that could symbolize having multiple eyes to see which are only visible when he’s in his dream form, but it could also just represent Kathool’s eyes so who knows) This is ultimately his domain and by the looks of it he can bring anyone into it and determine what is experienced within this tiny space. What the viewer sees could amount to anything but what they ultimately stand is just the box, the blank canvas. Here, Remthalas controls reality, what goes on in the ‘bigger picture’ so to speak. Here, Remthalas is as close to a god as anyone else that can control their own dreams.

 What I’m getting at here is that Remthalas doesn’t just want freedom he wants to see possibilities and the process it takes to getting to an outcome. What he wants is to dream and for everyone else to be the actors in his never-ending play of entertainment. To see the big picture change from one point to the other. These are details that I think were touched on when he mentioned that he enjoyed the dreams of children because of their ability to imagine possibilities to fill in gaps left behind by a world they are still very new to. Or when he appeared genuinely disheartened at the idea that he was not at rest. Or when he finds dreams to be not interesting enough when pointing out that Voyna can only ever dream of dragons due to her trauma with them. Or even when we fought him in the dream to save Sally and he noted that our dream was “Fierce, but one dimensional” Or the rather basic nature, in comparison to whatever else he wanted to show us, of Notha’s backstory and memories.

 What he wants is for Lore to be his dream. To fit all of existence in that little box of his and to watch things go wild. Which is why I called him ‘Idiot God’ because if true then Remthalas is basically trying to become Azathoth, the Blind-Idiot God from the Lovecraftian Mythos who created the entire universe in that series by simply dreaming, and who will kill it if he ever wakes up. A character/concept I still believe was being referenced when Remthalas asked what would happen if “they” woke up and questioned if the world would stop existing if “they” did. However, unlike Azathoth, Remthalas intends to be aware of all that happens when he finally dreams.

Azathoth is not the only eldritch god that Rem appears to share similarities with and to be honest it the one that makes him perhaps the most untrustworthy. The god I’m referring to of course is Nyarlathotep: The Crawling Chaos, The Dweller in Darkness, The Haunter of the Dark. These are just a few titles of Nyarlathotep, but I believe they would fit Remthalas for the similarities they share with the Outer God. For one thing is how both Remthalas and Nyarlathotep communicate through dreams to any of their unaware victims and pass on information that might shatter their world view. Furthermore, much like Nyarlathotep, Remthalas seems take more enjoyment in the dreams of others being messed with in a way that is typically nightmarish in nature. The most important similarity here of course is that both entities are more driven by spreading chaos and madness through people as opposed to their utter annihilation like other eldritch gods such as Cthulu. The reason for this is because in the case of both characters, I believe in Rem’s case anyway, their enemies isn’t so much other people but rather boredom, in addition to their own stagnation.

An interesting contrast I just thought about between them however is how Nyarlathotep and Remthalas spread chaos. As mentioned, Nyarlathotep does so through dreams by revealing, in typical Lovecraftian cosmic horror fashion, how utterly pointless the lives of his victims are in the face of the sheer overwhelming forces at play in the infinite and unknown universe and how they should just succumb to madness and/or become one of his followers, to amuse himself. Remthalas kind of does something similar when he suggests that morals and the lives people are currently living don’t hold much weight in the face of the grander schemes and roles of the Avatars. 

However, unlike Nyarla, Remthalas would do this so that others cast off their rules, still to amuse himself with the chaos that would thrive from that but in his view, they’d be getting something out of it. A sort of “You and everything you’ve known don’t matter so succumb to despair and madness and entertain me” vs “You and everything you’ve known don’t really matter so do what you want and entertain me” Chaos vs Chaos but different philosophies on how to get it.

The connections that can be drawn to other well known eldritch entities does make me wonder if when we see Remthalas next he might be trying to elevate his power on the material plane to that of the Primordials (Kathool, Uthuluc (probably not Uthuluc out of all of them to be honest), The Witness, Sciuridaehotep, the latter of which is just a Nyarlathotep reference) or is somehow going to get them involved in some way when his plans really start to get under way. If he does somehow involve Kathool in what he intends to pull off I imagine we might see Aquella again given that she’s supposed to overwatch his bedtime and I think it would fit to have a water take on another that was devoted to Kathool. I’d suspect she, or potentially another water elf, could reveal more of in-depth info on Remthalas’ servitude to the Avatars and later Kathool.

This brings us to the question of course of how exactly Rem plans to pull this all off. Obviously, we fit into those plans. However, with what just happened with the Avatars now being out of the picture and Myalos also being out of commission, what’s the next step? Where does he take us from there? The answer goes back to those “They” entities being referenced. Remthalas has brought them up, but he wasn’t the only one I believe. Celeritas mentioned them once when Sinnoncence made his move. I believe, I’m certain, that our dear Big Daddy named dropped them for us a long time ago. 

The one and only Aequilibria, the true gods of existence who are said to be slumbering even now. How Remthalas intends on exerting power over these beings is unknowable, but it would appear the best time to do so before they awake once more.

Which brings us to the Hero and the interest Rem has taken in them. It is clear the main reason that Remthalas has taken an interest in us is because of how capable we were in comparison to Uaanta at the time he was scouting us both out. We are an invested tool…and yet. I cannot help but wonder if Remthalas continued engrossment of us isn’t just because he knows we’ll be useful to his plans but also because Remthalas is straight up looking for a plus one when his plan would be theoretically completed. He did offer us to see where the currents of existence could take us.

  After all, why look at and enjoy multiple paintings in a vacuum or go to the movies by yourself when you can have someone watch it all with you. Then again, as I mentioned earlier, he could simply be viewing us as just another tool to pull off his plans and that is join the others later once everything falls in place

All of what I stated is more speculation than anything but if any of it’s true then we are in for a ride.

[msfbgraves]

“...Cue Thomas, who spent his entire career Domming people on screen in broad daylight...” I lol’d, but it’s SO true! TIG is such an Alpha type man by nature, and that just seeps into any performance. And the absurd height and ridiculous good looks only impress that upon the viewer ever more.

And speaking of good looks - TIG and Ralph - Terry and Daniel - just look so GOOD together on screen, or in those fanmade gif sets I live for. They’re the opposite spectrums of male beauty - Terry tall, dark, handsome, broad shouldered and masculine - and Daniel, doe eyed, small, slender and pretty. Floppy hair and a constant sweet vulnerability about him. Almost like an eternal ingenue. It’s dangerously appealing.

And anyway, Daniel just reeks of malewife material. Even with Amanda, we all know who really wears the pants in that relationship. I jest...but only barely. He did, in many ways, marry a genderbent version of Terry (Terri?) haha!

Ah, Cobra Kai and gender... I know that both TIG and Ralph do things to our perception of them. I personally don't want to put characters in boxes too much, who should be playing what archetypical role, I simply like to play with them. I of course do find it very appealing, seeing Silverusso, where I personally find watching an archetypical 'perfect man' with an archetypical 'perfect woman' slightly off putting. But I think society's expectations of gender do a lot to harm people. I find Daniel's caring side adorable, but it makes people aggressive a lot, the same way how I see people bearing down on men who like to play 'female' roles. And it's sad, because there's a man I know who simply wants to be a homemaker, and is, and they give him no end of trouble about it, while had the roles been reversed, no one would have said a word.

I find it interesting to see what would have happened had Daniel been a woman - would "Dani" have been believed sooner or protected better against a Johnny or Terry? And what about "Dani" and female Cobras or "Terri"? What if Daniel had angered Kreese's gal pal Terri? Possibilities are legion! (Though going by SamTory... with a female Terri, Dani might still be pretty much on her own...)

[somanyerikas]

Nostalgia sells - or does it? About BBC’s rehiring of a previous showrunner for Doctor Who as a marketing strategy

All, right, this is the one where I deal with my issues about RTD’s rehiring from the standpoint of BBC’s business strategy . Brace for passive agression, swearwords, brief history of british television and numbers. So, so many numbers.

Allright, so I already wrote a post about my problem with RTD’s (re)hire from the creative standpoint (it’s here in case you’re interested), but hey, I can bitch about it all I want, but we all know what caused the BBC to make this decision, right? You’ve heard about it for sure. The Dropping Ratings. You’ve read about it on so many posts, lots of them probably oh-so-gladly conflating this fact with their own opinion about the deteriorating quality of the show. (Don’t worry, we’ll get to that.) So Obviously the execs at the Big BBC Quarters needed to do something about it, and what better way to go than rehire a guy who’s run at Doctor Who is a warm childhood memory for so many in it’s fanbase? After all, it’s what we’re seeing nowadays: from Star Wars return to wave of 80′s nostalgia to every old blockbuster star doing a comeback, there is but a single conclusion - nostalgia sells.

Or does it?

Part One: Moving with the change; or very much refusing to.

Let’s start this off with some facts about the ratings for Doctor Who. (Well, I warned you there’s gonna be numbers, didn’t I. Stick with me, I’m going somewhere with this I promise.) In it’s beginnings, in the sixties and seventies , the series flown high, averaging a viewership from 8 up to 10 million viewers per season. Collin Baker’s series 17 brought in a record of 11.21 milion viewer asses in front of a good ol’ TV screen, real champagne opener here. But, as it happens, things were downhill from here. During the eighties, the rating started dropping steadily, reaching an all-time low of 4.15 milion couch-warming bottoms in 1989, the last season of the classic era. 

Years passed, 16 of those years to be exact, and here comes our saviour RTD. Under his wings, the revived series premiered, bringing in over 10 milion viewers to the premiere episode of season 1, Rose. A viewership this high did not last for long, but still, RTD’s seasons averaged between 7 and 8 milion viewers per season, which seemed pretty respectable. But then, as the story likes to repeat itself, not unlike the bbc execs just did, along came the decline again. Ever since 2010, the ratings began steadily dropping again, from 7.95 in 2010 to 5.46 in 2017. Then DW experienced an unexpected peak in 2018 with the premiere of Jodie Whittaker’s first season, which averaged 7.96 viewing asses, but then continued the dropping trend on the next season, averaging 5.40 viewing butts.

So what went wrong?

You see, part of the reason that Doctor Who was bringing in such great viewership numbers in the 60′s and 70′s, was that, to put it simply, BBC did not have much competition. Or, to be exact, only had one competitor. ITV was literally founded in order to break BBC’s monopoly over British television. But in the 80′s, with the launch of Channel 4 and Sky, the british viewers had more and more options to choose from. So logically speaking, they no longer had to watch BBC’s programming just because there was nothing else on. There was more and more new programes to boredom-watch. And here’s something y’all need to know about the tv industry: the boredom-watchers, the casuals? That’s the most important demographic. As hard as it might be to swallow, us hardcore fans, forum dwellers and Ao3 gremlins, we’re not as big of a group as we’d like to think. Loving fans are important to the tv execs as providers of word-of-mouth advertisment, but the real numbers come from the casual, everyday viewer who will just put on the next episode cause the other one was kinda fun I guess. Or more fun than the other options, anyway.

And this is why, by the way, when someone is conflating low viewership with the show Dissapointing The Fans, they’re full of shit. I’m sorry, but we’re really not that much of a force here, definitely not enough to make such a big impact on the numbers. Another factor, that some of you probably noticed already, is that the numbers I’m quoting are from british tv only, while the online fandom is very much international, so our opinions matter even less to the british execs, I’m sorry again, hard pill to swallow I know, but true nonetheless.

But I digress. So, to sum up the previous paragraph, Doctor Who’s viewership decline in the 80′s was the effect of the changing landscape of the TV industry, with which the BBC struggled to come to terms with.

Sound familiar?

Let’s move on to the 2010′s, shall we?

2010 was is actually a good marker of a year to choose, because it marks one important thing that begun a big change in the industry. This was the year in which Netflix expanded their services overseas, from being a DVD rental company to providing VOD services. Over the next decade streaming services grew in importance, from being an add-on to your cable TV that you didn’t really want but they were throwing it in for cheap, to very much self-sustainable media services you might very well buy instead of buying the cable. And if you look at the numbers for Doctor Who viewership declining over the last 10 years, that’s precisely what’s been happening. It’s not that people don’t want to watch Doctor Who on tv, they don’t want to watch tv in general. Do you know what was the most popular channel in Britain this year? Can you guess? Fucking Netflix that’s what. It’s just slowly-yet-steadily ceasing to be the way we use home entertainment anymore. Again, not much to do with the audience approval, because for that matter, let’s see about the specific episodes that saw the spikes in viewership. 

Rose, which i mentioned at the start of it, was for the longest time the unquestionable queen when it comes to viewership, at 10.81 milion. The next episode, The End of the World, pulled in 7.97 - almost 3 millions worth of lost viewer-butts in one week? Is it because it was so much worse than it’s predecessor? No, it simply did not have the smell of Newness, the Event You Must See, and as such brought forth less of the casual viewers who were simply curious about The New Thing. The next season followed the similar formula, peaking at the premiere, when the marketing was at it’s strongest, going down during the season, sometimes rising slightly for the finale, sometimes not. The most popular episodes are, of course, the specials - yet again, the vibe of The Event To Be Seen worked here, but one more thing working to their advantage is they often aired in spaces between seasons, serving as both a long-waited Crumbs of Content for the fans, and the basically stand-alones for the casuals. Do you know what the single most watched episode of revived DW is? No, it’s not Tennant’s goodbye with the role (yeah I know, I thought it had to be that as well). It was Voyage of the Damned, between seasons 3 and 4. The perfect standalone for the casual watcher. And last but not least, you know one more special feature that brought, maybe not as much, but definitely more than expected? The 1996 movie Doctor Who, with 9.08 million. Again, a perfect standalone.

But the standalones aren’t the only way to grab the viewership. The currently-highest viewing non-special episode of DW? The Woman Who Fell to Earth, Jodie Whittaker’s introduction. In 2018 no less, in the year when the streaming was the ruler supreme, this episode brought a whooping 10.96 million buts to the good ol’ TV again. Let me reiterate: this episode brought in more viewers than Rose did in 2005, while having WAY more competition and way less favorable circumstances of release that RTD’s debiut did. Not only that, it managed to bring on some numbers for the entire season as well, not as good of course as the premiere (because again, the Event vibes faded), but still brought a better average than the last six seasons did. (Again, let me reiterate: more than the last SIX seasons. More viewership than any series since 2010, since the Streaming Wars.) So clearly, this must be the way, right? Catering to this Weird New Trend, that saw directors notice there do in fact exist other actors than white men, that surely brought in some profit, even Marvel does it now, right? Out with the old, in with the new!

Part 2 The Deceitful Charm of Nostalgia

Well, it turns out the whole Doing New Things deal didn’t work out that well after all, now did it? The second season penned by Chibbnal averaged 5.40 milion, that’s 2.5 million drop from the previous one! It must mean it didn’t work, right? Well, yes and no. As much as the refreshment of the formula as simple as Let’s Put A Woman In It absolutely worked for one season, it very visibly did not hold up for longer. An Event-Episode is something that can still happen on TV, Event-Series? That’s pretty much reserved for streaming now, if you think about it, and it’s honestly kind of a miracle that Series 11 did as well as it had. Two consecutive Event-Series on network tv? Flat out impossible. 

So how to make those ratings great again? How to get those butts in seats of the Good Ol’? Well, the execs of the BBC have a plan for that. They brought in a devouring beast, and it’s name is: Nostalgia.

Without a doubt, there is a number of people who feel nostalgic about RTD’s era of Doctor Who. It’s a lot of people’s fond childhood memory, or the series they started with, and judging by the numbers, there should be quite a lot of them. So the new plan, as it appears, is to get to those who maybe lost interest in the show and lure them with the promise of the thing That Is Totally Like The Thing You Used To Love, Remember? (This is why I don’t actually think that RTD will be allowed to do anything new and interesting, that’s not what they hired him for. And that’s why I think this is bad from the creative standpoint.) So there are two questions here: One, will the people be lured? And two, for how long?

Nostalgia as a marketing strategy is something that you’re probably sick of seeing already (I know I am). But it has very much been effective on many levels, especially the eighties-baiting, Stranger Things style, can bring a new IP up to relevance. But what about old IP’s that want to have a comeback? 

It’s kind of dificult to find another TV show that I could compare to Doctor Who. Most series that have been running for that long are mostly soap operas, that operate on slightly different rules, and are also targeted to a different audience. So as much as the movie series is still not exactly the best comparison, when I think about a big IP, campy sci-fi, family-oriented (at least in theory) on its path back to relevance, I think about Star Wars, obviously. The Force Awakens gambled on that nostalgic feeling and won big, but the next two movies, while still financially successful, were nowhere near the astounding success of the first one. And that’s because - you guessed it - it created the Event You Must See again, The Great Comeback, but merely two years later, the comeback became old news. So what we can gain from that is that nostalgia can create an Event as well as a new trend, if not better. But the question remains: how long will that last?

That is, after all, the main difference between a movie franchise and a TV series in the traditional, network TV sense of the word: movie franchise must bring in the viewership every year or two, and TV series must bring in viewers every week for at least two months. Is RTD’s Nostalgia Vibes enough to provide for that?

I’ll say this: I’m absolutely certain that the 60th anniversary will be very popular. I still don’t think it will break any records because, as I’ve been trying to explain for this whole post, it is not 2007 anymore no matter how much the tv execs would like it to be. But ironically, the almost-certain success of the special is the very thing that could undermine the effect of bringing their precious Nostagia Boi back onboard. Remember, the first Event Episode is The Big Oof. That’s the one that gets asses to the Good Ol’, if anything ever does. After the first big event one, that’s the point when things start going down. They’re wasting their Special Event Boi for something that already would be an event, dear fucking gods, I hate your plan and I would still execute it better. Either have RTD be the Anniversary Guy and then hire someone new, use that hype and keep it going, OR have RTD come in after the anniversary, then at least you get the Event Effect for the premiere of his first return season. Fukin’ amateurs.

But even if they did that, here’s the thing: do you think that the people who departed from the show years ago actually want to watch another three to five seasons of The RTD Show? I mean, I’m sure the thought warmed some hearts, for sure. A number of people will definitely gladly watch the anniversary, probably the first few episodes of the first return to the basics, but after that? In the world when, due to streaming, they have an easy way to revisit the actual thing they’re nostalgic towards? I honestly don’t think so. And you’re not really gonna get many new people by going back, if that nostalgia factor isn’t there. And then there’s casual viewers, the backbone, as we established. And here’s the thing: lots of those people don’t even know who the current showrunner is, cause they’re not Terminally Online like we are, and the second thing? Lots of those people ARE JUST NOT WATCHING NETWORK TV, IM SORRY GARRY. They’re just. They’re just not. I don’t know how to spell it out better. Even my mum has netflix now. Your biggest base is in another castle mate, gotta get moving and gotta get moving quick, cause here’s another thing: all the nostalgia in the world will not do SHIT for you if your target, people who were kids/teens when the RTD era was airing, PROBABLY DON’T EVEN HAVE A FUCKING TV ANYMORE CAUSE THEY MOVED OUT OF THEIR PARENTS FLAT AND LOTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE JUST DON’T BOTHER. Just. I’m sorry but you’re trying to resuscitate a decade-deceased corpse there buddy. It just won’t work. The times have changed and you gotta swim or drown, and it’s just not gonna be 2005 again, no matter how hard you pretend it is. It’s not your content it’s your business model. Just push more marketing for your iplayer or whatever, focus on streaming as your primary not your secondary cause that’s just what it is now, and maybe don’t rely on the viewer-counting systems of the yesteryear to evaluate your business. Or else you’re gonna get stuck sacrificing the creative growth of your show for a marketing strategy that probably won’t even fucking WORK.

There, I got it of my chest. Feel free to reblog, and also: you somehow got to the end of this, congrats! I’ll make numbers nerds out of y’all yet.