#and then bt as A plot in the helicopter ep

[wellthatsnottrue]

Ok fuck it

Buck has a couple of failed dates, gets to say he's bisexual, is clearly not over tommy. He's also lonely without eddie (who'll be back in a few weeks when this storyline is over lol)

Maddie has disappeared. People speculate she ran away again, but it doesn't ring true to chimney. Buck doesn't know what to think

Meanwhile, Buck starts rebound fling with Some Lady

Some Lady is actually a serial killer who kidnapped maddie

Buck starts to suspect. He's talking to her, she's in the room with him, in her house maybe. So, he calls tommy and leaves a fake nonchalant voicemail. He says weird things like "it was great to see you last week" even though they haven't talked since the breakup. He tries to drop hints to what's going on.

Some Lady poisons buck, whoops. He falls unconscious

His phone buzzes, Tommy's texted him all "????", and Some Lady types a generic reply to cover her tracks.

Then we cut to tommy just staring at his phone, frowning. This is the first time we see him since the breakup. We're all pleased to see him but also worried for buck and maddie, very tense fantastic television etc.

Cut to credits.

Next episode:

Tommy shows up at the 118, asking if anyone's seen buck. They're all like "no, who knows? Maybe he's wherever maddie is?" (Dramatic irony 101)

Tommy is initially a bit uncertain, he turns to leave, but then is like "no guys something is up. He left this weird voicemail, and hes been texting me but its not him. Its not evan."

Bobby and hen are skeptical maybe? Or something but either way we get chimney and tommy talking one to one and they both listen to the voicemail and work out whats going on

They find the house, find the buckleys.

Idk something exciting happens

They save the day, athena shows up to arrest Some Lady

Really tearful emotional madney reunion. We all cry too.

Final scene is a moment between buck and tommy. Tommy's so obviously in love with him, and buck is still a little out of it but is so happy to see him.

But then, theres no kiss no reconciliation. Once hes sure buck is ok, tommy just leaves

Next episode:

Crash

That

Helicopter

[velvet-tread]

A theory, or wild speculation, or whatever; anyway there’s some Bellarke

Here follows a collection of thoughts that don’t quite add up to a thesis yet

Season 5 had one of the best runs of episodes I’ve seen on this show ever - strong themes, great setups, impactful character beats. 9 straight episodes of near-perfection.

But imo it fell short in the last couple of episodes. How short depends on your perspective, but my feelings about it range from mildly disappointed to Jane Austen mourning weeds and little weepy handkerchiefs. Either way - the collapse into fudgy incoherence and loose ends actually undid all of the great work the show did in the first 9 episodes.  WHICH IS FUCKING INFURIATING. 

The show painstakingly put together so much excellent character and relationship set ups which either never materialised or didn’t pay off or just fizzled out. And now I’m left wondering what it all meant, which not only frustrates me on a viewer level but also makes me feel like an idiot for wildly overestimating what the show was doing with the material.

*looks at the X Files forever*

Just to pick a few things out at random.

a) Bellarke were put in conflict, but there was no emotional pay-off, the framing was all over the place and the resolution basically a post-script. 

b) We spent the series agonising about the wisdom of going to war on a fragile planet, but the actual harbinger of Apocalypse 3.0 (I can’t believe I have to write that) was someone only tangentially related to that storyline, whom every single named character bar Kabby was trying to stop. So was everyone wrong? Or just ineffectual? The latter is far less interesting and more depressing tbh.

c) The worms

d) Memori

e) I could go on

I repeat, I would not be so pernickety if the run up to the s5 finale hadn’t been so good, and the set up so promising.  The idea of a reboot was genius.  The Bellarke separation was genius.  Blodreina = genius.  Mama Bear Clarke = genius. Eligius = genius. Spacekru = genius. 

But ultimately?  Can ANYONE tell me what s5 meant?  What difference did any of those things make in the end?  What conflict was resolved satisfactorily?  I’d argue that the Blodreina/Blake siblings arc worked the best (although *howl* Bellamy was never given any in-universe context for Blodreina) but generally I’m left with the feeling that very few of these stories or conflicts had any meaning whatsoever, and especially not Bellarke.

So I have a theory and I stand to be corrected as ever because I am very much processing.

I think there’s a strong possibility Jason and/or the 100 writers room began rewriting the back end of season 5 as they were filming the early season 5 material.

Given Jason’s comments immediately after the finale, I’m inclined to believe that the rewrites, if I’m right, were mostly around Bellarke and the Flame.  Specifically, I think that at some point when they were filming mid-season, Jason changed his mind about how Bellarke-y he wanted the season to be, if at all.  And on top of that, I think as he was pitching season 6 around that time, he realised that he wanted to go full-hog with the Flame in season 6. 

Those two things might be connected.  Perhaps Jason realised the full extent to which he coud “bring Lexa back” without actually bringing back ADC, around the Flame.  Perhaps he wants to recreate the show’s Clexa glory days.  And perhaps romantic Bellarke isn’t compatible with that vision. Dumb, in my view, but hey.

Perhaps, he just realised that he can’t doesn’t want to write romantic Bellarke.

If that’s the case, then well, *shrugs*.  Less satisfying for me, but I don’t own this shit.  I do, however, own the prerogative to speculate wildly on how and why they squandered all that promise in the last couple of eps.

Certainly, a mid-season back end emergency rewrite would explain a few things:

1.The loose threads and wonky framing

For example, Clarke’s fury at Bellamy for putting the Flame into Madi’s head was just...dropped?  Why? When it was SUCH A BIG DEAL in 509?  What were we supposed to the think about that?  What was she? And Bellamy, who didn’t appear to even remember who Clarke was until he saw her at the ship, being angry at her? Really? Where? Since when? And importantly - why? 

I’m a writer and it’s my experience that the best planning you do for a piece is when you approach it at the start.  You brainstorm.  You get your thoughts together.  You address each problem and question and mould it into a whole so it all makes sense.

But when you finish the thing and you look at it and you think - the thesis is wrong! I need to restructure the entire thing!  That’s when mistakes get made.  Especially if, for example, you’re up against a deadline or in this case a filming schedule, the threads that you would usually pick up at the planning stage or in the editing stage get missed.  And because they are part of the final editing process, there’s nobody around to pick them up and properly address them.

Result?  Fudge.

2. The curious ambivalence about Becho. 

Look I ADORE Becho. They are soft, and loving and real af.  I fully believe that was always intended to be the case. 

I think Becho was set up as a benchmark, for Bellamy in particular, a symbol of his peace and prosperity in space,. And, of course, I think it was also set up as a point of conflict for Octavia and Clarke. In the case of the latter, it was definitely a silent love triangle. How do you explain the love triangle framing on two separate occasions? How else do you explain the two separate interviews Jason gave about love triangles?

But here’s what Becho was not set up as: a relationship that was supposed to develop on-screen and take the audience with it.  Becho had no arc this season. It wasn’t “a story” per se, however much Tasya and Bob’s chemistry electrified me. It was the backbone to *other* stories. 

So, why, then, were Becho given every single Bellarke beat, especially towards the end? A background of forgiveness? Check. A steadying influence on each other. Check. The person they’re fighting for? Check. Plotting together? Check? Battle couple? Check.

Contrast with Bellarke. Forgiveness?  That’s something for Bellamy and Madi to discuss without Clarke!  Battle plans? Clarke will do that with Echo instead (oh my GODDD my ot3 came to life there *clutches hands and wishes upon a star*). A steadying influence on each other? Maybe! Until they forget each other’s names when they’re not in a scene together! People they’re fighting for? Definitely not each other.

Meanwhile bts, the messages were VERY confusing.  So the show was giving us a Becho that, while very real, was not the core of the story. Which was probably why, in early season 5, some deep Becho nods (the extra forehead touch, the “I love her”) found their way on to the editing room floor. All legit. But then, the script-to-screens then BROUGHT THOSE THINGS BACK to the viewer’s attention?  Why? Why give us those things even though they were cut? Was it because maybe, the show had changed direction after the fact?

And don’t get me wrong. I loved every second of the show’s affirmation of Becho. I still adore them.  But how does it fit into the jigsaw of the show as it stands?  It doesn’t really.  In fact, if you just swap Echo for Clarke in Bellamy’s storyline this season, you would have a hard time telling me that this isn’t exactly what romantic Bellarke would look like - the only difference is that in terms of screentime, Becho’s antagonism has had far more time, and Bellarke’s forgiveness/working together has had more time. IN-UNIVERSE, IT’S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.  It’s why shipping Becho comes so easily for me. And if the show wanted to frame that as Clarke’s personal tragedy, I would get it and probably relish it. But the trouble is, I’m having a hard time understanding what the show *is* saying about Becho and Bellarke, because it seems to be constantly changing its mind.

WHICH. BY THE WAY. MADE THAT ENTIRE WAKE-UP MARPER VLOG SEQUENCE A MASSIVE DAMP BELLARKE SQUIB.

SORRY.

3. The Flame suddenly jumping to prominence as a tool rather than as a symbol late in the season.

The show went from framing the Flame as a threat to this kid, who had hidden from it her whole life, for whom it meant literal nightmares of people burning at the stake, something for Clarke to rightly protect her from, to something that turned her into a mouthpiece for Lexa, to Clarke’s hostility to it being framed as “wrong”. There was an abrupt change of tone imo, to Clarke’s fears being justified to Clarke’s fears making her, and I quote Jason from an interview that nearly made me choke on my cereal, a “helicopter” mum.

Excuse me while I punch the nearest object to smithereens.

The Flame “gave” Madi battle ideas (which were different from Octavia’s how, exactly?) by Gaia’s bedside, with just a MANTRA? That whole scene felt cobbled together at the last minute. Like a film student’s badly edited homework.

It’s giving Clarke life lessons, ffs! 

*clenches fist*

The whole thing feels like a season 5 retcon, hastily put together to justify Madi still having the thing in her head for season 6, when it can do it’s victory lap for real.

4. The scenes that were dropped

a) Bob and Eliza both referenced a big Bellarke scene that got cut.  My guess? Not a romantic scene but some kind of Hakeldama that allowed them to hash out their various beefs with each other and probably involved some shit talking about the Flame.

b) And like, if that scene had some tenderness in it? Too Bellarke maybe? No, Bellarke BAD BAD BAD *stern looks*

c) also, wasn’t Echo supposed to have a sad scene of sitting in the snow and remembering Azgeda? That was supposed to be at the snowy back end of the season, but Echo had no sads really.  Only fierce spacekru love and some cuddles and some good sexy time. Was there an Echo sad that got cut? What was it related to?

5. The writers room walkout

Yeah. I don’t know what that means, but it sure means something.

Just fyi...for some context.  I love Becho and they currently own my heart but until recently Bellarke was very much my otp. Probably, deep down, it still is.

But I’m getting tired of running this race. I have no problem with the show doing a slow burn. I have no problem with platonic Bellarke. But I need consistency and, importantly, I need the show to remember that Bellarke are the backbone of this show. Their relationship - however you frame it - is the heart and without it the show is nothing but a collection of Elon Musk conspiracy theories on reddit.

JUST LETTING THEM HAVE A CONVERSATION =/= BELLARKE ROMANCE.

If you want them platonic, fine, you win. But gutting their relationship from the inside out to try to ward off the sniff of shipping is just counterproductive. It’s the lack of real, meaningful connection that really turned me off Bellarke this season, not the lack of kiss or lack of romantic framing. Early in the season? Yes, the set up was all there and it looked GREAT. But their conflict never got off the ground and we never got a cathartic resolution to show us the characters really, truly mean something to each other. 

Ultimately the show forgot that they were friends who love each other, and I just *clenches fist* can’t ship that.  Maybe that’s what the show wanted. But the flipside is that at this point I’m not really invested in their relationship in any context, which is why the end shot left me cold. I hope Bellarke hasn’t died in my heart forever but...idk it doesn’t look good.

[angievores]

I think they will significantly change second half plot of the novel bcz it was very weird. I don't how Vegas pete will fall in intense intense love in just 2 episode. They said they are like puzzle pieces who fits perfectly together. And it makes me think like they are part of same cloth. So maybe some past memories with Pete's backstory need to come up on surface giving a good reason as to why pete fell for Vegas. They said everything is consensual so maybe they both wanna be together but can't. Like we don't have much time to curse Vegas.so I hope that they both long for each other while separated .pete is gonna fell as hard as Vegas but kinn can't show relationship with his own bodyguard how vegas can show it with his enemy bodyguard. They take mafia plot seriously. And Vegas also have responsibilities. But then it's Vegas.

No matter what,pete can't escape that place without Vegas help Or some rescue mission. And kan is either injured or dead before final showdown as Vegas is wearing the ring. I saw a bts scene of ken driving, macau stopping him from backseat. Big injured and job also with macau. It doesn't fit in any plot we know.

I doubt they ll forget pete too. And khun noo is smart,he'll know what kind of deeds Vegas did once he saw him. Neither would he wait for some 2weeks knowing well pete goes to second family house. So what i wanna say is if pete sends important evidence not just about mole but also about corruption. Main house will take action immediately or second family be on full alert mode. That is during vp, serious mafia plot is going in main house, not just fluff.

Also the way kim was beating second family man, I doubt chay kidnapping has something to do with tawan,but with kim himself or his murder board or parental backstory.Porshe mom told him to not die before chay complete his degree. I think he is the one most important, some property issue maybe. Or what else those mafia bros want by keeping porshe on their side. The way kinn and porshe holding gun against each other it seems porshe is forced to choose one side after parental backstory, the way kinn looking at him, maybe korn hurt his parents more, or porshe did something so expected him to be on second family side. But porshe chooses just kinn, nothing else. As long as, porshe won't know Vegas drugged him, he doesn't have any personal problems with him. And the way they dragged Vegas porshe upto ep9 and probably 10. , they may wanna show porshe in middle of both families.

That helicopter needs to come too. Kimchay in that studio in intro. Namphueng comes in intro part so I guess flashbacks take enough time. And here Kim is already investigating porshe backstory, he should know first on his own that they are cousins (if they are). I also contemplate on his dialogue can't breathe here while confession. Like their relationship won't let him breath at first. I'm very curious about his character.

I also hope they'll remove kan homophobia and incest part. As in ep 2 Vegas talks sweetly to his dad and show concern but dad doesn't acknowledge it. It was genuine. I doubt in novel they ever talked like that in private.So their relationship is different than novel, I mean much worse but sexuality isn't an issue. Mafia boss with ambitions don't have time to concern on these things,like leave your son personal life alone. But they are on same side at least in business matters. Also here first and second family do different kinds of works, while first family do high class work, second family deals with all dirty work. Even though divided, they are still one group. So Vegas seems very much capable in doing his work. And I doubt kinn could pull off the mission like he did in ep 7. So their works aren't comparable. Second family on whole is less powerful and have to heed to the commands of first family. Like they're stuck, neither could be separated and start their own, nor go ahead and become more powerful. That is from where Vegas inferiority complex comes from and his father gaslighting. Like would kan yell on him you couldn't pull off this deal,that deal, when I think they make different kinds of deals. But then we didn't get showed their interaction much so maybe he is just like novel.It also seems from there ep 2 conversation, that korn didn't give kan 2nd chance for something he did wrong. It could be Vegas mother corruption thing from novel and that's why Vegas is driven by revenge.

I'm sorry I rambled on too much off the topic. So what I wanna say is timeline can be affected by how much plot changes. Also I didn't read the main novel only enough spoilers here and there and vp story so I don't know much.

Timelining KP

The time has come. I’ve spent the last few days organizing my notes as much as possible, so here it is. And it is a monster of a post, I swear I didn’t realize how long this was going to end up being.

HUGE NOVEL SPOILERS AHEAD

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