#and with his voiceover it was just CHEF'S KISS

[dtriad]

I came across this bilibili video with commentary on a lot of the actors in Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1994). Adding my own scatter-brained thoughts on some of the featured characters, with timestamps:

Bi Yanjun as Yang Xiu / Li Ru (6:31) - omg TIL they were played by the same actor? I see it now... the power of facial hair & acting lmao. I like Yang Xiu a lot :3 though here he's not overtly obnoxious (affectionate) like Zhai Tianlin's Yang Xiu in TAA

Li Jianyi / Xiu Zongdi as Chen Gong (7:00) - XZD's Chen Gong is /chef's kiss/ I love the final Cao Cao/Chen Gong breakup scene at 白门楼, Cao Cao gazing at his white moonlight who refuses any possibility of surrender/reconciliation (Cao Cao: you'd rather be with Lü Bu than be with me??? HIM??? and now you'd rather die than be with me???)

Cao Li as Lu Su (9:17) - babyface mengmeng!!!!!! way too cute & honest compared to historical Lu Su haha

Gao Lancun as Sima Zhao (10:17) - confession, I still haven't watched the whole thing in order b/c I keep jumping around & picking out scenes/arcs instead, sooooo I have mostly skipped Sima Zhao content... but I love OP's description of Sima Zhao "who seems like he's looking at [others as] trash" lmaooo

An Yaping as Ma Chao (10:53) - 锦马超! Luo Guanzhong: /sweating I gotta spruce up this guy dammit! well good job LGZ I love watching him go after Cao Cao

Chen Hong as Diaochan (11:35) - MY DARLING!!!!!!! I really enjoy all the moments when she darts a glance at Dong Zhuo or Lü Bu to gauge her next move. & LOVE her character song—

Yang Fan / Zhang Shan / Hou Yongsheng as Zhao Yun (12:28) - ZILONG! ZILONG! too many A+ character songs... Zhang Shan's horsemanship was crazy good

Wu Xiaodong as Sun Quan (13:20) - he successfully captures that bearing/air as a ruling lord, but I'm sorry Sun Quan every time I look at you I think 孙十万... pls, let your generals do the fighting 😂 also I am weirded out by the fact he's got a luxurious beard while Zhou Yu goes around w/o one because then he would blow his identity as young Yuan Shao (speaking of facial hair, they dropped the ball with Sun Ce, why didn't he get a beard as nice as Sun Quan's!!)

Zhang Tianshu / Fan Zhiqi as Jiang Wei (14:14) - my young bb 甜姜! my old bb 苦姜! ;_______; ok tbh the thing that bugs me most about the 2010 drama is that they end the final ep with Sima Yi's death and toss in a voiceover "yadda yadda a decade+ later, Shu surrendered, yadda yadda" and THAT'S IT???? BUT WHERE IS THE CULMINATION OF THE TRAGEDY OF JI HAN???? JIANG WEI???? if you don't wanna adapt that part then ok just own it and wrap up the show with a thematically appropriate ending, why even bother to shove the idea of 分久必合 into the voiceover during the last half-minute as;dlkfja;sdlk. anyway wahhhh @ OP's commentary: "姜维是承载着蜀汉的所有美好与激情的存在，但是最后终会化为壮烈与凄凉 [...] 我们会在樊志起的身上看到诸葛亮，看到关羽，看到赵云，看到刘备的影子" ;______;

Zhang Guangbei as Lü Bu (17:15) - hahaha omg he originally intended to audition for Zhou Yu???? ok, especially after reading 《早安！三国打工人》I can't help but admit he's become my poor little muddle-headed meow meow... and ZGB is A+ in this role

Hong Yuzhou as Zhou Yu (18:35) - 美周郎 absolutely deserves that BGM cut at 19:28 /swishes cloak

Wei Zongwan as Sima Yi (20:37) - SO. MUCH. happening beneath the stillness of Sima Yi. he also deserves that BGM cut at 21:24. the ultimate 猫头鹰!!

Sun Yanjun as Liu Bei (23:27) - I like the historical Liu Bei more than ROTK Liu Bei, but major major major props to SYJ for, frankly, elevating ROTK Liu Bei with his portrayal, so 央三 Liu Bei > novel ROTK Liu Bei \o/

Tang Guoqiang as Zhuge Liang (24:31) - YES

Bao Guo'an as Cao Cao (26:46) - HELL YES

this got so much longer than I expected /facepalm

[mintjeru]

shoutout to genshin impact for being the only game w/ gaming!!

first of all. he sounds amazing in every single voiceover <3 gaming stans we stay winning

i cannot lie his "hey boss" in EN reminded me of hermes hades game and it's really really cute

also i might be hearing things in the intonation but it Sounded like his EN va said his name w/ the correct accents?? falling tone is natural for a declarative statement though so it might just be a coincidence ;u;

forever grateful that they included the raised cylinder platforms lion dancers use in performances in his attack animations

his roar. yeah.

this montage in time w/ the beats of the music <3

i am seriously considering buying a blackcliff slasher for him in the future if i have starglitter to spare

he deserves only the best

baby man chai spotted

i absolutely love how they incorporate the modern and the traditional w/ the digital mora coins/glowing lights on his outfit and the cultural/historical aspects of the lion dance (the same can be said of yun jin's opera cutscene using instruments like modern drums/guitar while maintaining a traditional opera singing style)

when he goes "are you hungry~?" does he know i'd say yes to anything he asks

i think they did a great job w/ the casting in all 4 voiceover languages bc they all have a similar endearing tone ^^ i can't decide which voiceover i want to use while playing him

his roar (it's more like an effort sfx) in CN voiceover. chefs kiss

he sounds very light in JP voiceover and his roar... it's adorable...

his "let's go" and roar (more like an "ahem!") in KR voiceover is so darn cute i am biting through steel beams as we speak

we've already established this but i'm so hyped for his release

[supernaturallyliterate]

PJO SEASON FINALE AHHHH

THOUGHTS. YES THOSE.

Spoilers. Duh. Book and show

Annabeth being there to witness the moment Luke tried to kill Percy is a FUCKING GAME CHANGER. To me, it says that Annabeth suspected Luke & made a plan to make both Percy and Luke think that she would be with Clarisse. When she intended to follow them and protect Percy if need be.

I’m not mad about it. It’s a big change. But it makes sense for her character. It will make her and Luke’s dynamic later in the series a little different. Maybe instead of Annabeth blindly wanting to believe that Luke is good and couldn’t possibly do evil things, it will be more nuanced. She knows he’s done horrible things. She’s seen it. But she still can’t help but remember who he used to be. She hesitates in key moments. Let’s him get away. He takes advantage of those moments and escapes. Not intentional on Annabeth’s part. She tries to be calculated. But her emotions get the better of her. I can see this working out quite nicely.

And it still allows her to be the one at the end, in heroes of Olympus, to be there, advocating for Luke. Telling Percy to give him the knife. OH THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD.

Okay but Walker Scobell is such a good fucking Percy Jackson

Leah Jeffry Savies is such. Good fucking Annabeth Chase.

And aryan is such a good fucking Grover Underwood.

Okay but the searchers license being a literal flower?? How are you gonna convince me that Grover wouldn’t anxiously eat it like he does tin cans??

OKAY BUT ALSO I ACCIDENTALLY STARTED REWATCHING EPISODE ONE instead of episode eight and LUKE DOES THE VOICEOVER. THE ICONIC SO YOURE A HALFBLOOD SPEECH. BUT CHANGED. AND OHHH ITS SO FUCKING GOOD. THE PARALLELS ARE PARALLELING

I am so so fucking glad that we got the sword fight training scenes. We really needed them. The scene shifts of Percy fighting Ares and Percy training with Luke are spot on. And it sets up the friendship and mentorship with Luke & Percy even more. Making the betrayal so much worse. It build up perfectly.

Gods I wish we had a longer season.

Again with things being directly told to Percy. “You’re a leader among the halfbloods now,” Chiron tells him.

The bead at the end of the season when he’s leaving camp

THE PACT THE TRIO MAKES

And the fact that next year, all FOUR of them will return to that spot. Percy, Annabeth, Grover… and Thalia.

Annabeth’s hairstyle in the final scene was supers cute

The scene of Percy seeing his mom after she returns from the Underworld WAS SO CUTE AND PRECIOUS AND THEN KRONOS FUCKED IT UP. I love it. Chefs kiss.

Clarrise looked so fucking badass in her pan shot with her arms crossed. Like yeah she totally could’ve fucked some shit up with the gods

I love the beach scene with Percy v. Ares and how confused Annabeth is about the helm situation cuz she wasn’t there lmao

I kinda liked that Ares got cocky and kicked his opponent, the SoN of the FuCKinG SeA GOD into the OCEAN. Percy rolled through that little puddle and I screamed OH ITS OVER FOR YOU.

Walker’s micro expressions are fucking ICONIC AND I CANT WAIT FOR THE SCREEN RECORDS

Your honor I love them. Yes this post has devolved. No I won’t stop.

I gasped when Alecto was there at Montauk instead of Sally. But yeah. She showed up. I just forgot.

I love how Percy has just started calling people out on their shit. “You were always after the helm, weren’t you?” And telling Zeus he’s a shitty dad

OKAY BUT POSEIDON SHOWING UP TO PROTECT PERCY. I GASPED. I LOVE THIS CHANGE SO MUCH. it shows so much more compassion and gentleness of Poseidon. Yes in the books we get some glimpses. But the show isn’t holding back his favoritism.

THE PERCABETH HUG PT TWO

okay but we were robbed of more Seaweed Brain and Wise Girl quips.

I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts later on. But overall. I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS SERIES I JUST WISH IT HAD MORE EPISODES TO GIVE THE STORY THE TIME AND DEVELOPMENT IT DESERVES.

[deathsbestgirl]

blood (early s2 <3)

not sure how much i have to say about this one specifically but i'm trying!!

i love the way we first see scully, i don't think they've done it like this yet and it feels very special. little green men & the host were scully reaching out to mulder and kind of not letting mulder push her away. now in blood, we're listening to mulder's voiceover and toward the end, we see scully reading & reacting to it — he was talking to her !! this time, he reaches out.

and her first line is after he finally mentions ufos & abduction, "i was wondering when you'd get to that" like she's talking to him, but she's only reacting to his email.

and once again, she's doing the autopsy for his case.

their first scene together is after mulder was sprayed by an insecticide:

i love them. her "i'd love to tell you..." 'that you're right!' but with the evidence she has, she can't confirm his theory. as they're having the conversation, he starts seeing "do it" on the tv. he doesn't really seem to be driven to violence (i think it takes some time) but it does make him double down. and when he asks her about subliminal messages and doesn't get to the point (their game!!) she says "i'm still waiting" BEST FRIENDS. MARRIED. and when he says "he's probably one of those people who that thinks elvis is dead" she retorts "mulder, i was wrong. exposure to the insecticide does induce paranoia." they're soooo funny. the way they do this during serious conversations about their investigation *chef's kiss*

and the way it ends is actually crazy! because there's just no resolution for it:

when he doesn't say anything she gets more concerned & frantic. she told him it wasn't the insecticide, but i think she believed him the whole time. and that's scary to her. to believe, and what it means for his exposure.

i love that he wasn't affected like the others. maybe it wasn't enough, but his focus is so much on helping these people. the way he screamed no when spencer shot the woman attacking him. he didn't want another person to die. and with ed at the end, mulder is the one who finds him. he tries to talk ed down, understanding that the man couldn't stop, appealing to him by understanding his fear of blood. but mulder's wrist is bandaged & bloody, ed freaks out. mulder manages to subdue him. he didn't have to shoot & kill ed.

[thelediz]

Episode 12: Come out wherever you are

I’m watching Sonic Underground in search of inspiration to finish a fic I’ve been writing forever. It’s a sad state of affairs. See the recap of the first three episodes here, if you're interested!

The plot (for want of a better word): It’s debutante season! Sonia has been invited to her debutante, where she would normally have been presented to society. But it’s all a trap. Can Sonia attend her dream ball without losing everything in the process?

Heeeeey a Bartleby episode! Aleena’s voiceover is not impressed with Bartleby, and you shouldn’t be either.

Okay, before we get started, a quick explanation of what a debutante is and why it’s interesting. A debutante, which is something mostly only done in American and Latin countries these days, usually with a different name, was originally about introducing girls to society at large, and releasing them onto the marriage market. These days it’s more recognised as a coming of age thing, which is why many people think of it as a ‘Sweet 16’ and not what it actually is. In Sonic Underground, it’s about girls being introduced as part of adult society. I find it interesting because it’s building on the unspoken maths of the Mobodoon episode which means the triplets are either 12 or 16, AND Sonia is the only one acknowledged by society here. I absolutely low-key call this out in my fic by having only Sonia go by her actual name formally.

World building wise, I love it because again, it’s the kind of thing a real-world dictator would allow to still happen among the aristocrats. Now, in this case it’s obviously a trap, but the fact that the other aristocrats are just having a great party and don’t even blink until Sonia disrupts the whole thing is just… chef’s kiss, love it!

Sonia’s in love with Bartleby +1

So the boys find out about the debutante because Sonia’s acting distracted, and they don’t get it, as they wouldn’t, because debutantes are high society nonsense even in the real world. This is, however, treated like they’re just being stinky boys. To his credit, Sonic at least is supportive of his sister getting to play princess just this once, in his own way.

Woo, Cyrus! Proving he’s committed to Resistance spy work. We love him.

Robotnik’s growing brains. Cool. Cool, cool, cool, looking sideways at Gerald Robotnik. Putting the brain in a living body. Cool, creepy, slightly more weirded out by how fine the characters are with hearing about this. Cool, cool, cool, this is all very disturbing if we think about it too much.

Luckily, we’re not focussing on it, we’re focussing on the living ship’s mission.

Cyrus and Sonic niggling at each other, I love it.

And Cyrus has built a zombie tool, which takes over brains for control purposes. Cool, cool, cool, this is not a distressing plotpoint at all, let’s not think about how the Resistance is into brainwashing, okay…

Ahhh Sonia getting distracted on a mission daydreaming about the debutante… forcing Sonic to shift the plan to save her.

And then Sonia gets captured again, this time because Sleet and Dingo were prepared.

Side note, I do enjoy how Dingo often gets used as a spy and just how MUCH of his screentime is devoted to proving he spends hours just… hanging around as a sidecart or something, waiting for something to happen. He shouldn’t be a dingo, he should be some kind of venus fly trap or eel or something, because that’s what he actually is.

Sonic’s tense-grammar is terrible in Sonic Underground and it really annoys me because it’s not world building. If it was, it would be a Manic thing. It’s just a thing he does. It riles my grammar-nazi tendencies something chronic.

Yes I make too much of it in my fic.

Okay, Manic, if you knew Sonic was going to suck at talking to Sonia about what was going on, maybe you should’ve handled it? I know it’s because the writers only let you really get involved when it’s one of your episodes, but could you please show SOME proactivity?

Mind you, it means we get Sonic/Bartleby interactions, and you know I love me some bitchy banter, so bring it on.

Ah, I love Bartleby. He just wants his girl to be happy, and he’s trying to achieve it the only way he can… by being a lousy two-faced dandy. He sees right through Sonic’s nonsense to the soft heart beneath. It’s great.

And Robotnik sees right through Bartleby. But lets him get away with it because having a two-faced dandy on hand is legitimately so useful.

The song: Society Girl. Another Sonia lead, and Cindy Lauper is again given the side-eye.

But sadly, Sonia of course proves herself the best at everything, and so is the preferred pilot for the plan, which is on the same night as the debutante, of course. Forgive my rolled eyes.

And as I mentioned, and making up for last episode, all the aristocrats are appropriately scandalised that Sonia interrupts their party. Gimme that world building you terrible trashfire, you know it feeds me!

Aleena steps in (with power that looks remarkably similar to Sonic’s guitar) to let her daughter get away. Would’ve been nice if she got a dance, but at least she was introduced. It’s sweet, kind of.

Manic’s in drag… to steal stuff and distract the party goers. Interesting choice, but sure. He looks better this time. Maybe he’s just more girly!fem than sexy!fem?

Ah, Sonic’s also in drag to distract the SWATbots at the party. No comment on his looks this time, just a joke about how they all wore the same dress. Sure. Sonia, however, should not find that funny because that literally would have been distressing at a real debutante. But she’s only concerned with these things when it would be funny, so sure, stop overthinking the cheesy punchline.

And it all wraps up with… no comment, basically. Cool. Cool, cool, cool, still thinking about the brain thing, cool…

I gotta say, these two episodes together kind of feel like the writers’ room was given a brief to write a Sonia-focus episode about her having to choose between her cushy life and the resistance and then split into two rooms, and we got two scripts. It’s so weird. I don’t think they were supposed to air this close together.

The counters:

Sonic implying less than 100% American heterosexuality: 4

Sonia in love with Bartleby: 2/37

Sonia in love with someone who is not Bartleby: 1/37

Sonia’s got super strength: 3

Manic’s thieving Is A Problem: 2

Come back tomorrow if you're interested for more!

[liopleurodean]

Season 5, Episode 8: Changing Channels

Oh, we're just going right into it!

Just the end of the world!

Dean's faces 😂

Right. Reasearch

The look on his face 😂

Oh, I'm gonna LOVE this episode

Asdfghjkl I love everything about this

Backstory time

Is that Dr. Sexy?

So it is

Dean is enthralled

Yikes

Riiight

Yeah, I'd believe it

Probably not

Poor girl

Huh. Not what I was expecting

Dean.

That is such a weird question

Interesting

Nice, Dean

Tricksterrr

Ding ding ding!

...Sam?

Okay, I know that he has answers, but why would Sam think a Trickster would have the answers they need?

He'll find you

That'll be it

Suspicious

Those are some fat stakes

Man, I love the facial expressions here

Seriously?

Dean's face is giving me life

He's so excited

Everything about this is just *chef's kiss*

That's exactly what happened

Weird

Liar

THE SPARKLE MUSIC

And they say he isn't gay, but this scene exists

This is weird

I think that's just your cowboy fetish, Dean

That was weird

Of course!

Is that a reference to something?

Something like that

"survive?"

Whack

Play the part, I guess

Dean does not want to be there

I thought you liked this show, Dean?

Yikes

The music 💀

Better play the part, then

This is great

Yikes

Sam 💀

Whack

He is so uncomfortable

New show!

Ruby!

This is gonna be great

Yikes

Dean's face is easily the best part of this entire episode

Cas!

He called him a pretty-boy 💀

Whoaaaa

How did that work?

The way I'm CACKLING right now

THE HERPES COMMERCIAL

Dean's happy with this one

Thanks for the voiceover, Dean!

Rip Sam

Nice, Dean

She doesn't even have any clothes 😂

24 hours

Cas is back!

Cause it's an archangel!

It's okay, they're brothers

Yayyy

Ouch

Heaven, technically

Everyone is

I doubt that

Spooky

He took that personally

Dean, Supernatural is basically a procedural cop show in the first season

Kinda fig the music though

Getting major DiNozzo vibes

Oh, that's horrifying

It's really not

Not your Trickster

Huh

He's still playing the game

Aw, you do care

Uh oh

KITT!

THE KNIGHT RIDER THEME

AND THE FLASHING LIGHTS

He's an angel!

Oh boy

Swooshy swoosh

Really, Sam?

Wow

Yes and no

Stop lying

He can't

Nice, Dean

Facts

Hi Gabriel

He plays a role

God is "hands off"

Excuse you, he has a piehole

So you'd rather ditch them?

I kinda feel bad for him

Don't go there

Yikes

Convenient, isn't it?

Not quite

Nope

Heh

This is so meta

Sounds crispy

Hi Cas!

Not great

You kinda deserve it

You tell him, Dean!

Nice

I'm sure

[hrpayo01]

After re-reading and rewatching the whole series back to back as an adult, I actually appreciated the movies more than I have before (and I already loved them). I noticed the creative changes that they took and honestly, most were for the better.

What I wish they kept: Katniss and Peeta's picnic in CF. Peeta losing his leg. Katniss stroking Peeta's hair in Mockingjay. The real reason Gale was whipped (homie wasn't heroic, he just got caught)

Things they changed that I loved: Effie, Cato's speech before he died and how Katniss showed him mercy by killing him quickly, the revolution, Coin's speech at the end: "May your aim be as true as your heart is pure" (chills), explanation of what will happen to Katniss post Coin instead of the trial.

There are a few more, subtle changes/deletions that I agreed with so it look better visually but I truly enjoyed the portrayal of Katniss and Peeta in the films. I also liked the girlbossing of Katniss because, well, she was, and there were so few female leads at that time, at least ones that were done well.

They nerfed Peeta a bit, he had so many more lines, more appearances, but Josh's performance, his portrayal, the fact that he's the same height as Jennifer, how he was more innocent and charming than a smooth talker with one liners... I actually prefered that. I trusted movie Peeta so much more, if I'm being honest. I also like the subtle changes to Peeta's lines and the additional dialogues.

"I'll take the bow"

"That'a night lock Peeta, you scared me to death! Damn you" / "I'm sorry"

"If you would stop looking at me like I'm wounded, I could stop acting like it" was a much better version to me.

"What did he want?" / "To know all my secrets" / "Have to get in line". Cute.

Peeta's (added) speech to Katniss in Mockingjay, about how their lives were never theirs but she can change that by killing snow. That was powerful and sincere. Reinforces how good he is with words, how he was the only one who could get to her.

The added: "I'm not gonna lose you again" / "If I see you again, it will be a different world" and THAT HUG.

The hug when he returned to 12 and told Katniss he was sorry...

Honestly, they made up for it. Since Katniss was so skeptical and in denial in the books I can't help but take on some of her suspicion. In the movie, Peeta's kindness and innocence was clear as day.

Jennifer also did a fantastic job. She CARRIED the ship especially when people say that the director wanted Katniss to be more badass and even asexual. That they didn't want to focus on the romance. Jennifer really conveyed that "he fell first, she fell harder" acting. You could see the subtle difference in THG when Katniss was "acting" and when she's genuinely smitten. In CF you can see the shift in their relationship. Peeta hitting the forcefield was even better in the movie (the smile, the kiss, the trembling). The pearl scene was cuter and softer. The kiss at midnight was more convincing. The final scene in Catching Fire: "promised you would save him over me, you're a liar" was chef kiss.

The longing in Mockingjay, her face everytime she sees Peeta on screen. Their goodbye hug in Capitol. And how she looked at him in the epilogue. Jennifer's gazes conveys as close Katniss' inner dialogue about Peeta as she can without doing a voiceover. And her, looking at Peeta in meadow...

Idk, I just really loved the movie too. And I loved who Katniss and Peeta were in the movie. It was a faithful portrayal but it was also different enough that I could tell them apart. Double the fun.

everlark has been my number one literary ship since my tween years but it's insane to me that their movie version made me feel nothing. i can write novels about book everlark and then i can also see why movie only watchers don't see it for everlark. it's the girlbossing of katniss and reduction to peeta to just one of the love triangle guys that really did it to me.

[hadersgf]

Dearest Anna Viktorovna. Perhaps you loathe me or have long forgotten me. If that is the case, I shall accept it with humility and never bother you again. It was dishonourable of me to leave you alone that night, and even though it was for reasons beyond my control, I know it is unforgivable. I assure you, there wasn’t a single day, a single moment in the past five years when I didn’t think about you and didn’t wish to see you again. 

[mediocre-writerr]

who do you love [lexi howard]

lexi howard x reader

requested: Hiii! I just discovered your page while looking for Euphoria fics. I saw that you don’t have any Lexi Howard fics. Could I request a fic where Reader is partnered up with Cassie for a project or something and they meet Lexi and develops a crush on her, but Lexi is clueless and thinks reader has a thing for Cassie? Fluff please. Also your works are absolutely amazing!

a/n: italicized are rue's voiceover

*not my gif*

Lexi has always lived in the shadows of her sister. Every guy or girl she liked just never fell for her. They always fell for her sister. Cassie was the one in the spotlight and Lexi was just the background character.

You sat there with your earbuds in as your teacher went on and on about some project you guys had to do. But again, you weren't exactly listening.

Until he came over and ripped your earbuds out of your ear. You looked up at him with innocent eyes, "Ms. Y/L/N, you're partnered with Ms. Howard. Hopefully, she'll be able to fill you in since you weren't paying attention,"

You sent him a small smile before trudging your way over to Cassie. You heard a lot of things about her, but you didn't really care what everyone thought around here. Most of them were assholes anyway.

"So were you paying attention to anything he was saying?" you asked as you plopped down into the seat next to her.

"Not a word, but my friend Kat heard all of it. If you want you can come over tonight, we can start working on it, getting it over with," she offered and you nodded. 

“Sounds great,”

You see this was the start of a beautiful friendship for Y/N and Cassie. They became as thick as thieves. Everyone thought that Y/N and Cassie would eventually get together, but the entire time Cassie was just trying to get her newly found best friend to admit feelings for her sister. 

And those feelings started, cheesy to say, but at first sight.

You knocked on the Howard’s door, bouncing on the balls of your feet. You didn’t really know how to feel, Cassie was popular and well you? Not so much.

The door swung open and you swore your jaw dropped all the way to the floor. You were met with the younger Howard sister. She was beautiful. Her beautiful brown hair fit perfectly with her fair skin.

“You must be Y/N?” she says, snapping you out of your daze.

“Yeah, that’s me. Hi, Lexi, right?” you asked, stepping into the house as she held the door open.

“Yeah. Cassie went out with Maddy, but she texted me and said she’s on her way back. You can come in, you don’t have to wait outside like a dog,” she joked and you laughed together softly.

The two of you sat together on the couch. Your eyes gazed to the TV to see her watching Crazy Rich Asians. One of your favorite movies of all time. The screen was showing the montage of Rachel trying on all the different dresses for the wedding.

“This movie is a masterpiece,” you tell her.

She nods, “This is my first time watching it and I’m completely sold,” 

“Oh, you haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. The wedding scene is-” you put your fingers to your lips and kiss them, “Chef’s kiss!” 

“Hmm, I’ll have to take your word for it,” she said.

You continued watching as the wedding scene started. Lexi’s eyes were glued to the TV, but yours kept drifting towards Lexi. The way she watched intently as Kina Grannis started singing “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

The scene ends and she looks at you, tears boarded at her eyes, “Why am I going to cry?” she laughed.

“Because it’s one of the most beautiful scenes in history,” you told her. 

The two of you just stared at each other. Her doe brown eyes were captivating and you couldn’t help your eyes from drifting down to her lips. There was a moment where you thought she did the same thing. 

The door bust open filled with laughter and Cassie and Maddy’s eyes landed on the two of you, “Hey Y/N, sorry I’m late. I see my sister was able to keep you company,”

“Oh yeah, Lexi was great. It was nice meeting you, I’ll see you around,” you told her. 

You see, my best friend Lexi developed a crush on Y/N right after that. But despite me and Jules telling her constantly that she felt the same way, Lexi still thought that you fell for her blonde sister and not her. 

“Cassie! I am not telling your sister that I like her. She does not feel the same way that I do. I am not going to risk my friendship that I’ve built with her and you,” you told her as the two of you laid on the bed in her bedroom.

She looked at you with her blue eyes like you were on drugs, “Are you kidding me right now? You sound like you just bought something from Fez. I’ve never seen my sister look at anyone the way she looks at you. You need to stop being a fucking coward and just tell her how you feel,”

“Okay, what if she does want to be my girlfriend? What if something bad happens? I lose the both of you and I can’t do that. I don’t want you to choose between me and your own sister,” you whispered.

Your heads were slightly tilted towards each other as you just stared at her, “I think you need to take advice from your favorite movie: you’re not playing to win, you’re playing to not lose. So play to win. Don’t think about the what if’s and even if things go south with my sister, I found a sister in you. You’re not gonna lose me either,” she said, “You’re one of my favorite people in the entire world, possibly my favorite, don’t tell Maddy that though. I love you so much Y/N,”

Little did the two of you know that Lexi was at the door way. She didn’t hear anything besides that you’re Cassie’s favorite person and that she loves you. 

“Awww someone loves me,” you nudge her shoulder, “But I’m for sure going to tell Maddy that I’m your favorite person. She’ll have a field day with that one,”

She pushed your face away from her, “You will not! I’ll just tell Lexi myself then,” 

You gasped, “You wouldn’t dare!” 

“Then you do it!” she exclaimed. 

Lexi avoided Y/N after that day. She also avoided Cassie. The two girls didn’t know why the brunette Howard was avoiding them. All they knew was that she avoided them every chance that she got.

It broke Y/N’s heart. She was finally ready to tell Lexi how she felt. And now, she wants nothing to do with her. No more movie nights. No more random ice cream days. But rather, Y/N going over to visit Cassie and being disappointed when their mom would answer the door and not Lexi.

You finally caught up to her as she was trying to sprint past you in the hallway. You grabbed her wrist and she looked back at you. The first time actually seeing those beautiful eyes of hers in weeks.

“What did I do? I understand if you don’t want to talk to me. I understand if you don’t want to be my friend, but please just tell me what I did. That’s the least I deserve,” you whispered, your voice breaking at the thought of losing one of your best friends. 

She shook her head, “Nothing, you didn’t do anything,” 

“I obviously did something, you’re not talking to me!” you exclaimed. 

Lexi broke free of your grasp, “You don’t need me Y/N. You have my sister. Cassie always wins. She’s always been in the spotlight. She always gets the guys and girls. Everyone I’ve ever liked, she went for them. And she always wins. I just thought for once that I mattered. That for once, the person I fell in love with chose me, but I guess I was wrong,” 

She stormed away and you were left with your mouth agape. Everything she said twirling in your brain. You immediately told Cassie all of it and your brain worked together to try and figure out a way to win her back. Until it all finally clicked.

You stood outside in the backyard of the Howard’s house. A slip n slide was in the path leading to you, switch on candles. You sat on the opposite side with a guitar in your hand. Luckily, you can play. 

Singing on the other hand, well let’s just hope it goes well.

“Cassie, I already said I don’t want to talk to you! You can’t bribe me with Bob Ross tutorials!” Lexi’s voice echoed as she closed the backyard door. 

She spotted you sitting there and she was immediately about to go inside when you yelled out to her, “Lexi please! Just let me explain, it’ll take maybe three or four minutes of your time,” 

Lexi walked down the slip n slide, but not before falling on her butt and sliding towards you. You let out a roar of a laugh as she finally reached down to you. She tried hard to fight off a laugh and a smile, but you could see it faintly. 

When you finally came down from your high she looked at you with raised eyebrows, “Well, I’m waiting,” 

You started playing the guitar. The melody you learned just hours before playing from the guitar. You took in a deep breath as you started singing the infamous song that got you to fall in love with her in the first place. 

“So, take my hand, take my whole life too. For, I can’t help falling in love with you. For, I can’t help falling in love with you,” you finish the song.

The two of you look at each other as you place your guitar down next to you, “You do matter to me, Lexi. More than you know. I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you, but ever since the first night I met you I’ve always been in love with you,” 

“Cassie actually told me that I need to play to win. And if I had to slip on my ass a thousands times trying to set up this low budget recreation of the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians, I would. I did it because I need to win your heart, because Lexi, you already have mine,” 

A small smile breaks out onto her face as she closes the distance between the two of you. She kissed you ever so softly as you tasted the sweet taste of her lips. 

“And you have mine,” 

[aratilightwood]

I’m slowly starting to see the TMS fandom turn into team Seojoon/team Jiwoo, and I’m hating it. I had a feeling this divide would happen, as soon as I learned that the storyline for season 2 would involve one of them leaving the other with only a note. It wasn’t hard to guess who this was going to be, and that many of us would’ve disliked him for it.

The first four episodes of the season have been biased, considering they’re narrated from Seojoon’s perspective. I knew that as soon as the series started, Jiwoo’s voice and feelings would’ve remained in the dark for some time. I mean, he didn’t have to be vocal, it could’ve been a short voiceover of his thoughts about Seojoon, instead. It annoys me that all we’re shown at the moment, is his coldness and nonchalant attitude - which he’s clearly prepared himself to do. Yes, “prepared.” Even Seojoon can see through his lies, especially when he first confronts Jiwoo about why he left. Why else does he visit the village frequently, attract customers to the restaurant and camp outside the house? He said it was because he couldn’t move on as quickly as Jiwoo has. But when you tie this together with his codependency and fear of abandonment, you understand that this is something that needs to be addressed outside the dynamics of their relationship, because it’s pretty alarming. Aside from all that, though, there’s also a part of him that wants to get closer in order to dig out the truth. This is a test of patience that no one, not Jiwoo, or even us as viewers can truly understand - because most people would’ve given up.

An outsider may glimpse at the series and observe this: (a) cold heartbreaker with no remorse for his actions and (b) an individual who’s obsessive over his ex, to the the point where he cannot move on from their relationship. Where as, the series is simply just about two soulmates, different in every way possible: a rigid chef and an enthusiastic actor - both who have greater depth and nuance in their characters than we give them credit for, as they go through life’s hardships together.

And, despite my annoyance towards Jiwoo’s lack of perspective, I know the showrunners are holding off revealing too much at the moment, to carry on the suspense of the mind-boggling question, “why did he leave, and especially in that manner?” I can’t imagine what justifies breaking up with your boyfriend on his birthday via note, and disappearing for a year. I can only guess that it’s something that even speaking about it, would be dangerous for those who know - hence Jiwoo’s silence.

Therefore, until this revelation, and to ease our minds, it’s important to note a few things: (1) despite his cold and nonchalant attitude in season 1, there was still kindness and affection underneath it all. (2) Taking in the few breadcrumbs in season 2 so far, let’s also not forget that he’s battling with his inner demons by (a) keeping Seojoon’s shirt, (b) lying with every reason he gives for breaking up with Seojoon, when he can’t even look at him during the confession, (c) lying about throwing away the ring, (d) showing heartbreak and awe in his expression before leaning in to desperately kiss Seojoon’s bruised lips and (d) not being able to stop himself from researching news about Seojoon’s scandals.

In short, all I’m trying to say is:

It’s possible to sympathise gravely with Seojoon’s year-long struggles and heartache, while simultaneously acknowledging Jiwoo’s year-long struggles and heartache. Just because we’ve been shown more of one than the other, doesn’t make the other any less important or any less worthy of our empathies.

[yourethecoolestpersonhere]

Obviously S2 opened with a banger of Fez's story and closed with Nate getting his shit rocked, chef's kiss if you ask me.

How would you like Euphoria S3 to open? How would you like the first episode to close out?

You sweet sweet angel. Thank you.

As some of you may or may not know, I’ve actually spent copious amount of time on this blog spouting pure insanity about this show. I’ve decided that I will create a YTCPH RANTS tag that keep a lot of my theories together.

But to start here are some ways I’d like to see season 3 episode 1 explore

Ash Voiceover “ He has a plan”

A Nate and Rue Showdown In Season 3

Time Jump Picks Up at Rues 20th

Fez goes to jail

Honestly I’m open to much of everything as long as it can be as good as season 2 episode 1 cause I mean aren’t we all just chasing that high again

[mister-brightside]

I finally, FINALLY finished season one of the sandman tv series and speaking as a fan of the comics I loved it so much. my long and winding thoughts (with minor spoilers) under the cut.

it was really refreshing to have so much trust in the creators. by the last few episodes I’d be like, I can’t wait for them to get to this scene, and then the scene happened, and it would be so good and so spicy.

for ages literally every comics fan (myself included) was saying that a good and faithful adaptation would be impossible. I was actually fully prepared to pass over the tv series cause there was no way they could pull it off, right? thank god some reviewer on reddit changed my mind, because I’m so delighted to be proven wrong for once. it’s honestly crazy impressive how well they took all these disjointed narratives and somehow made them tonally consistent but still kept the edges. I thought maybe they’d skip the more out of line stories, like the one with the cats or the massacre in the diner, but they really went there. in fact I reread some of the comics after the episodes and I was really surprised to find that they lifted quite a bit of dialogue word for word.

(I love how hob gadling’s story was basically retold verbatim EXCEPT they went out of their way to make the breakup a million times more angsty)

there were so many throwbacks and visual references to the comics which were really lovely and never felt forced. and speaking of visuals, the show is as good as you’re gonna get for a production this size. I was worried it was gonna be a CGI mess and, well, it does veer on that edge at times, but most of the cinematography and effects are truly gorgeous and in the end it’s the actors who keep me connected to the heart of the story.

when I first saw photos of morpheus I was like what the hell? they’re just making him look like Some Guy? but my god tom sturridge knocks it out of the park. he’s absolutely perfect. he sold me immediately. someone else said that when he’s imprisoned in the glass cage he moves almost like a creature and they’re dead on. he does a spectacular job of convincing me he’s not human.

so in the end I think the decision to humanise morpheus’s appearance was absolutely the right one. I always found his character in the comics to be a bit distant because yeah, at times he can be arrogant and self-righteous and somewhat terrifying since he’s so unreadable. and that doesn’t change in the transition to the screen but having tom as he is (with those sad, sad, pathetic, emo eyes) softens his edges a little, you know? he makes you feel for him a bit more.

and I’ve said this before but it’s like. I never really pictured a specific voice when reading the comics, but all of morpheus’s dialogue comes in these special black speech bubbles so you know he’s Different. and as soon as tom’s voiceover began in episode one it felt Right. almost like it had been buried in my subconscious for all these years. insane.

(I kind of want to watch more of tom’s roles but I literally can’t imagine him as anyone other than dream of the endless, like I’m afraid to even google him because it would probably break my brain to see him behaving like a normal human person)

the rest of the cast is fantastic as well. the highlights for me: gwendoline christie as lucifer – chef’s kiss. kirby baptiste-howell as death – for real though, if I met her when I died, I wouldn’t feel too bad about it. david thewlis adds a layer of nuance to john dee that somehow makes him quite sympathetic despite the complete lunacy. vanesu samunyai is very cute and likeable as rose and I hope the show sticks around long enough for her to make her return. likewise, lily travers is really sweet as barbie and I think she’d be a really good lead if her storyline ever comes around.

okay, time for the nitpicking. I do wish they’d cast someone older as lucien, he always had this exhausted ‘no one helps me in this house’ vibe that I just don’t get from vivienne acheampong. and I think boyd holbrook needed to be a little more maniacal as the corinthian. oh well, it’s not like we can have everything. and both actors do a great job as they are so I’m not gonna whine too much.

(if this was 2014 tumblr I probably would be seeing extremely, uh, controversial takes on the corinthian but I haven’t come across any yet thank god)

I’m really hoping the show gets more seasons because it’s doing a wonderful job of bringing all the stories to life. I hope enough casual viewers stick around because I know the lack of narrative structure will throw a lot of people off. in the comics, some characters turn up once and never again, some wander in and out, others leave the story only to show up again several volumes later. some stories last for only a chapter and others go on for ages. and the genre swings from urban fantasy to historical fiction to horror to straight up batshit insanity and everything in between.

but in the end that’s what makes the sandman one of my favourite comics ever. every time I read it I feel like I’ve experienced a big fever dream. and like a dream it promptly fades until I literally forget why I love it so much. then I reread it again and I’m like, oh yeah, that’s why.

so I don’t know how to say it better than this: the show FEELS like the sandman. and that’s all I can ask for.

[enigmaticxbee]

✖️✖️✖️ 9x19 The Truth

The one where... in the original finale Mulder and Scully end where they belong - on the run, but together in a motel room on a rainy night, talking about truth and belief and hope.

Best: My favorite kiss - I could watch it a million times (I have watched it a million times). Skinner awkwardly hovering in the background just takes it to the next level, chefs kiss, perfection!

I have such affection for this ending, with the two of them curled around each other on a motel bed while it pours outside, everything gone to hell but they have each other. I lived with this finale for 6 years before IWTB and I’m honestly still kind of mad at IWTB for taking this ending from me. It felt fitting and satisfying in a way that IWTB and especially the Revival do not. It’s tender and nostalgic and hopeful, burning the world of the show down but giving the characters that glimmer of a way forward - everything a finale should be.

Worst: This is not a good episode of television (who thought a clip-show recapping the show’s mytharc would make an interesting finale?? Oh right, CC) but... see above.

❌ Flashlights

✔️ Desert

❌ Slideshow

✔️ Autopsy

✔️ Evidence Disappears

✔️ Scully Misses It

❌ Mulder Ditch (Good call on bringing Scully on the run this time!)

❌ Sunflower Seeds

✔️ Voiceover: Everyone during the testimony clip show

✔️Catch Phrase: Mulder (TTIOT & IWTB) & Scully (IWTB)

✔️ Scully is a Medical Doctor

❌ Mulder is Spooky

❌ Scuuullllaaaaayy! Muullllderrrr! (They really should have gotten one final one in during the Anasazi ruin escape scene)

✔️ Dana

✔️ Inappropriate Touching (that I am here for) 🙌

✔️ Casual Scully

✔️ Casual Mulder

✔️ Trench Coats

❌ Bad Tie Watch

❌ Glasses Watch

✔️ Taking! It! Personally!: Mulder & Scully

50 States: New Mexico x4, Virginia x17 & DC x100 (44/50)

Investigate: Together & Apart

Solve Rate: 84%

❌ Bechdel Test: Only conversation between women was about men

MSR: 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Goriness: 👽👽

Creepiness: 👽👽

Humor: 👽👽

Rewatch Thoughts:

William check-in: I see, so Scully had to give up William so that they couldn’t use him as proof in the finale. I see. 😑

Missing Mulder: He’s BACK!! 😭

So Mulder’s just wandering onto this military base with no disguise or anything? Great plan my dude.

Why is Mulder’s first thought on seeing Krycek “ghost” not “shapeshifting alien”? 🧐

Lotsa old faces showing up: Krycek! X! The Lone Gunmen! CSM...

Guard: What are you thinking? Mulder: About my son. About his mother. 😭

Mulder:... I failed in every respect. I deserve the harshest punishment for my crimes. The way he parrots this to his captors at the beginning but then repeats it to Scully at the end 🥺

Scully’s little “Hi” expression when she first sees Mulder and he’s not reacting 🥺

Mulder’s trying so hard to let them know this is all an act! Dana? Walter?!

Scully: Dammit Mulder! It’s not funny... He wouldn’t be Mulder if he wasn’t making jokes at very inappropriate times!

The kiss 😍 - the show has set the bar so low in terms of lighting that I don’t even care how dark it is 😂

The way he holds on to her hand over his heart the rest of the scene ❤️

On the one hand I appreciate that Skinner gave Mulder the heads up on William so that he had a little time to process it and could concentrate on being supportive to Scully when she tells him - because she’s so afraid that she’s failed him. She sent Mulder away to protect him and their son, and she couldn’t keep him safe on her own. On the other hard why the fuck didn’t we see that scene of Skinner telling Mulder???

Scully’s fingers caressing the nape of his neck, her long lingering kiss to his neck, her laugh when he tells he’s been looking for the truth - she looooves him

The way GA’s eyes shine with tears

Mulder giving Scully smoldering looks as she testifies - like yeah, you were assigned to spy on me 😘

Time to summarize the mytharc - CC’s last ditch attempt to claim it all made sense (before reversing course completely in the Revival 🙄)

“Love child” When’s the last time anyone seriously used that term? 😆

Scully: You say this is greater than us, and maybe it is, but this is us fighting this fight, Mulder, not you. It’s you and me. That’s what I’m fighting for, Mulder. You and me! You tell him Scully!

So a ghost was the only one who could find Marita Covarrubias? Sure.

I feel so bad for Skinner! He’s trying so hard even though Mulder isn’t helping him at all, and the whole trial is a sham.

That body was not killed by a fall - isn’t that enough to prove that this “murder” didn’t happen the way the military’s claiming 🤔

Scully: I found it. What’s going to get you off. Bow chicka bow wow...

Scully sitting on the couch waiting to hear that Mulder’s been sentenced to death 🥺

Jail break! Not a moment too soon.

They’re surprised when Kersh shows up, so he wasn’t part of the jail break crew. Did he just happen to be there to break Mulder out too? 😆

We never find out what happens to Gibson. Or Doggett! Let’s just ignore what happens to Reyes in the Revival.

Someone destroyed their office and took all the files, the X-Files are really over 😭

Gentle kiss on the cheek 🥺

Did Mulder even know the Lone Gunmen were dead before they showed up as ghosts?? (Maybe Skinner filled him in on that too, yikes, poor Skinner, delivering all the bummer news) I’m glad he got a last little moment with them though.

When we see the Anasazi ruins I always think about the bts footage of their water gun fight at the end of filming!

I think this was actually filmed in CA but I was planning a trip to see the real Anasazi ruins in New Mexico last year - trip was put on hold because of the pandemic alas, but someday!

We really didn’t need CSM in the finale. And I’m always going to be mad that he comes back in the Revival after we see his FACE explode!

Dec 22, 2012. So... In the world of the show this never happens. I can only assume CC thought he’d be able to do another movie in 2012 after IWTB. But the explanation in the Revival as far as I remember is just lalalala the OG mytharc was actually wrong lalalala 🤨

Or maybe you led Them right to Mulder and Scully, ever think about that Doggett and Reyes??

Rainy night at the motel: nostalgia alert!

Scully: You wouldn’t tell me. Not because you were afraid or broken... but because you didn’t want to accept defeat. Mulder: I was afraid of what knowing would do to you... I was afraid it would crush your spirit. Scully: Why would I accept defeat? Why would I accept it, if you won’t? Mulder, you say that you’ve failed but you only fail if you give up. And I know you - you can’t give up. It’s what I saw in you when we first met. It’s what made me follow you... why I’d do it all over again. I can understand why he thinks this might break her because of William, and what her state of mind must have been to think that was her only recourse. But the only times Scully has truly been crushed is when she thinks she’s lost Mulder, like in season 8 when he died or this past season. She told you Mulder! She’s fighting for the two of you. It would only break her if Mulder were to truly give up.

Scully kissing his thumb! The way they curl themselves around each other 🥺

Mulder: I want to believe that the dead are not lost to us. That they speak to us as part of something greater than us - greater than any alien force. And if you and I are powerless now, I want to believe that if we listen to what’s speaking, it can give us the power to save ourselves. Scully: Then we believe the same thing. Mulder: Maybe there’s hope. ❤️

Episode-Related Fanfic Recs:

a weatherman to know which way the wind blows by zauberer_sirin - These are not all the ways and whys and hows Mulder loves Scully, just some. In reverse. Mulder’s thoughts about Scully on the run post-The Truth and then moving backwards through the series. I’m emotional. Take me back to the start...

[ursbearhug]

I think I've mentioned my interest in voice acting once or twice. That's just so genuinely curious profession and art form.

Now, I'm not that gifted when it comes to voice modulating, modeling or whatnot. I'm good at mimicking; like, I can go significantly higher or lower, when mimickng someone avisto, but cannot do so otherwise. My range is also quite limited.

But it's not about me for once.

When voice acting changed for reasons it should change in it's entirety; here's what I mean.

In "Craig of the Creek" Craig at some point matures and so does his voice. I don't know how it is handled in English dub but in mine, he just gets new voice actor. His new actor is not great but at least he's *consistent*. When we have flashbacks or something; it's still his new voice actor, not the old one. You don't randomly jump back and forth.

Sometimes voice actors change or mature. That's normal. What matters to me is that you either have one or the other. If actor is unavailable, you either wait for him or edit him out of existence. Don't mix. It's horrible.

In League of Runterra, Kai'sa has different voice actor than in Leauge. That's annoying to *me* because I know both voice overs and one is done better than the other (no shade to voice actress but she's just inferior). Same applies to Taliyah (which actually causes psychic damage to me because LoL Taliyah is just *chef's kiss*).

Now, the thing that pisses me off the most and is most egregious. And painful. Elsword. When I started playing in circa 2009-2010, we complained about voice acting and wanted Korean voice over. Then the huge fucking Gameforge fuck up and our server was German dub for 6 months. Not a single quick fix. But then - the horror. After 6 months, important updates, new voice overs... New actors that sounds nothing like previous ones and are appaling quality. Seen more so in newer characters because sometimes they are quiter or louder, sometimes they speak intangible nonsense, they stutter or have some other voice defects - if not health wise, then technology wise. It's fucking horrible. Eventually, we got Korean voiceover in options. All is good.

I wanted to go on a memory lane yesterday (with my broken headphones because fuck me) and I wanted to rip my ears off. I cannot prove it in any way shape or form, but Rena has just striaght up 3 different actors. They didn't bother to change voice lines from previous actor from 9 years ago. Now that's just fucking pathetic. One character, 3 voices.

Original actor was always a-okay (at least for Rena), especially now with all the memories and need to reminiscent. But the other 3? (or her aging up if it is the same girl, which is not likely but still - quit ciggarets girl) Change your profession, you're bad at this and Zeus Almighty save us. Also, Gameforge could really get their subjects either better studio or better something, quality has no business being this bad.

I also know how hard translation can be (have y'all seen ancient greek?) but get yourself better people for translating shit too. I know some words like 'Burst' have no translation, or words like 'Force' have awkward translations, but it can be done - I promise.

Yes, this is me distracting myself from my problems because I know if I think about them for a second too long, I will straight up kill myself.

[midgelenny]

give me your hot take on what the best jane austen adaptation is ever and why it is the best 😎

ok so without question p&p 1995 is the best jane austen adaptation ever and that is the hill i will die on. literally the entire movie is iconic, and there was a point in my life when I could quote it probably nearly in its entirety. it’s a six hour getaway from life when you get to cancel all the rest of your plans for the day and openly yearn for peak-era colin firth and his smouldering eyes and his disheveled hair. the characterization is spot on, the pacing is excellent, the wit is spicy, and the romance is *chef’s kiss*. every scene with colin firth in it is iconic. honestly tho, i don’t think this is really a hot take, and as much as there is very healthy discussion of which p&p is best on this site, i think both are masterpieces for different reasons and the one that’s best really comes down to which one you grew up with or personal preference.

what i think IS a hot take, though, is a recent revelation I had about persuasion 1995, which i had never seen until about a month ago. i think it’s safe to say that we are all in desperate need of a really GOOD new persuasion adaptation (*little happy dance*), but having now seen both persuasions i think the 1995 is...actually better?! I really like rupert-penry jones, and the supporting cast is more solid in the 2007, and 2007 has The Aesthetic, but let’s be real, the success of a persuasion adaptation absolutely depends on getting the dynamic between anne and wentworth right, and in the 1995 they just really really get it right. I adore Persuasion because of the angsty pining, but there’s an additional layer to it. It’s not just the pining and wentworth’s resentment of having been rejected, but also that these are two people who once knew each other so so well, and still do, and can’t help but have that familiarity with each other, yet are constantly feeling forced to suppress it. And this is something that the 1995 just GETS! They don’t even need the annoying voiceovers of 2007 to do it! You see in their body language and their hints at former inside jokes and the way they slip into familiar conversation before stopping themselves-even in the silences it’s abundantly clear that these are two people who fundamentally understand each other and are constantly on the verge of wanting to indulge in that former familiarity. 2007 gets it to some extent, but in 1995 it’s more intangible yet deeply expressed

Also the 2007 entirely removes the ““loving when all hope is gone” speech from its context and that has always annoyed me to no end!! In the book that dialogue is not only a window into anne’s heart but also a major plot point!! Bc wentworth overhears!! And then writes the most romantic letter ever written as a live reaction to that conversation!! And in the 2007 they just throw it AWAY randomly in the middle of the movie as a side conversation with no effect on the movie plot and it makes me so ANGRY I-

Ok I will stop now I apparently have a lot of feelings 😳 thank you for the ask Anastasia!! 💕

[mantra4ia]

Debris 1x13 "Celestial Body": rewatch Reaction'd, questions and comments

So if all those people are experiencing emotional convergence, who are they converging from? Who's sending the emotional signal that the debris is channeling, or is it the debris manifesting it's "consciousness" in a way that we can understand it by way of human conduits?

Maddox is clearly trading debris pieces with Irina (perhaps the piece that he took out of storage off the books), and Irina is on the phone with presumably her handler/ boss to negotiate this trade. She gives him lateral (which I assume means latitudinal) readings and then he asks for longitudinal readings which we don't get to hear. They are: Lateral 105, 112, 115, 120, 113, 110, 109

What's the significance of these measures? Latitude goes from 0° to 90° from the equator, so that doesn't track unless the scene is cut wrong and they're meant to be longitudinal (E/W) readings, which go to 180° relative to the prime meridian. That would make more sense, because after Irina is done with the first set of readings, the unknown caller on the phone says "drop to level two for vertical" and latitudes are North/South.

If we're talking Western longitudes, notable landmarks include: Denver, Salt Lake City UT / Phoenix AZ / nearly Sedona AZ - aka where the telesphere went, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe/ Nevada border, Great Salt Lake, Alberta-Saskatchewan border, and the Utah-Arizona border.

Or perhaps they're not part of terrestrial measurement at all. The act of "lateral reading" could just mean verifying your sources/accuracy as you go, where as vertical reading is reading for content first to see if something is worth evaluating for sources.

However, if they are part of coordinates, then is the fragment that Maddox is trading with Irina a legitimate "mapmaker" piece like George previously said Influx was seeking? Ya know, when he lied to his daughter. Can a mapmaker piece track moving/animate debris akin to the telesphere? Are those black dust cloud beings George is running from made up of animate debris?

Bryan: After becoming a parent you're in a heightened emotional state, emotionally raw.

George: Higher highs, lower lows, the joy of having a child, the postpartum depression, and the fear of getting it wrong.

Me: Are we in a pensive, self-reflective mood, George? Are you practicing your pub trivia Bryan, delivering exposition, or are you speaking from personal character experience? Seriously, how would you know?!

John Noble as Otto, man why does he always make such a good villain?

What is with the cryptic vagueness when Maddox tells Irina, "You know I can't let you leave with that case right? I mean you know that. There's another door for you Irina, one that only you can go through." They seemed almost on good terms in a previous episode, like friends or something more in a past life "nice car, i almost left / no you didn't", he wouldn't kill her, would he? Or is it more like a code between them, a sort of "I'm being watched, take the back exit"?

Hey, so why is it that sometimes George's eye seems opaque and damaged from the debris implant, but then when he's talking to Finola after he distracts Bryan while being Debris whisperer, his eye seems fine? PS: I googled Tyrone Benskin just to see what he looks like when he's not playing George Jones and I didn't know he's a former member of Canadian Parliament. Don't trust the government, eh?

George: "You're such a compassionate person, you always have been. So much of your mother in you." That's the second time that Finola's mother has been mentioned in the series, back from the pilot. Is it a coincidence that the first piece of debris that chose to interact with Finola resonated her mom? More than just Finola's desire being reflected by the debris, but the debris emoting it's first impression of her as someone compassionate that it can trust?

It also raises my heckles that George repeats, almost word for word, something that Finola said in episode 3. "If we can't help people, we do not deserve this debris / if we don't use this debris on these people, we are not worthy to have it." Are father and daughter that ideologically similar, or has he been spying on her progress this whole time, or both?

George: "I took my life to allow myself a rebirth, I paid the price. I want you to know that not one day goes by that I don't think of you and your sister. I want you to know this." This coincides with my initial impression that George staged his death to get away from Orbital after he assessed how his research was being used/abused.

George: "You never wanted to go into the pool, I had to throw you in, and you kicked and screamed, but you always did better that way." Immabout to throw you George, just keep talking!!!! I'm sorry, this charicature of absentee father reminiscing about the good old days really ticks me off from personal experience.

Also, as a person with a disability, I am not particularly pleased with the use of Dario as a plot device instead of a thoughtful character with a backstory at this point in the show for 13 whole episodes now. Pretty pissed off actually, so they better do something phenomenal and pivotal with Christian Rose (Dario) in season 2 [maybe have his character interact with debris in a similar way to Caroline]. But that's another rant about ableism in screenwriting for another angry day....

George: "A telesphere was born yesterday. It came from a pocket dimension inside Orbital. I think it's birth may have triggered the debris." This is perhaps the one-ish episode that I find George remotely interesting and also infuriating, particularly because of the way he speaks, like he's finally taken off the guise of the old, well-meaning eccentric and turned into a sharp, cunning, and at times calculatingly ruthless individual. I find it peculiar that he says a telesphere is born. Makes me think that the debris is not just part of a spacecraft, but a hybrid of the beings piloting that craft.

I get tremendous satisfaction from Finola head-butting people. This should continue.

I'm not familiar with all of the work of JH Wyman to know if this is a running theme or an ongoing joke. But does he keep his writing staff in a constant state of starvation? Is that why pieces of debris are called "Nachos", and why Influx has "Beans" to shield them from debris side effects, and why Bryan is always eating junk food? Should I be worried about the writer's room and start sending them healthy snacks?!? Just give me an SOS in the credit roll.

Speaking of: is the "Bean" that Finola ingested a piece of debris? Similar to the pieces of debris that fused with Anson Ash? Will it impart some physical benefits to her moving forward?

"I won't lose you again...you belong with me." What are you talking about George Jones, you made the conscious decision to leave your family. You didn't lose Finola, she lost you. In this version of reality at least. Or (unscripted backstory) did Jones and his wife separate prior to her death / was Finola brought up mostly by her mother? That doesn't seem the case if she was buying her father birthday presents and took it upon herself to settle his affairs after his death.

Why do the Influx Operatives Otto and Anson have tattoos on their hands, but not Loeb? Is he like the low end of the totem pole FNG who hasn't earned his stripes, hence why Otto gives him s***: aka "Careful you cretin. All the finesse of a butcher."

What is the hierarchy of Influx anyway? Despite being an anti-government "for the people/ elevate the human consciousness" organization they do still seem to have a governing hierarchy and Otto and George seem to be on the same level, pretty high in rank / they talk with confidence to each other like they go back a while.

What is that weird thing that Otto does with his hands to Bryan's head? What are all the weird things Otto does, including his massacre at the petrol station? Ick.

Why is it that Leob and George are freaked out by the black smoke (debris particle?) man, but Anson and Otto aren't? They seem to see them(?), but don't overtly react.

Bryan: "It seems like we're entering some kind of new phase." Gee where have I heard that one before? Oh yeah, the story of "Blackwater grandfather" and the black wind that they're still teasing endlessly while refusing to tether it into some kind of world building lore. Agggghh!

Lololol, Bryan and Finola's dynamic even in the midst of a very serious episode makes me laugh. "Devon Reese / two e's? / Two e's!" "This one smells like baby diapers. Almost as bad as the tech section of the plane/ You mean your section of the plane. / Almost." That zinger 👍

Paraphrasing Bryan: "[recapping, recap, and did I mention recap]...something about George doesn't feel right." Personal pet peeve: I HATE IT when episodes have intentional explanatory lines like this to point out the fact that we as audience are privy to information that the main characters aren't. Not only does it make the main characters seem less intelligent, it breaks the fourth wall a little bit and gives the impression that the audience, which is ahead of the plot, is not as intelligent and needs a reminder that we're ahead. Lackadaisical writing drives me nuts!!! I can't outright say that it's "bad" dialogue, but it's not a choice I would make if I wanted uninterrupted viewer immersion.

Finola: "My instincts are good" Me: You are an emotionally intelligent decision maker with gaping personal blind spots.

George: You belong with me, your father.

Finola: My father died six months ago, and you are not him.

Me: Chef's kiss 👏👏👏

Otto: "It would never have worked out with that girl [Finola], not in any iteration." Definitely makes me lean towards the fan theory that the alt!Finola in (presumably) suspensia in Sedona Arizona got plucked from another reality.

Surprisingly, the ending credit roll has no voiceover as all the previous episodes of the season have. Disappointed that there's no potential teaser to a season 2 if the show gets renewed. But I find it curious that the extras who were demonstrating emotional convergence were credited as: chess board persons. Not sure if that's relevant, but I definitely feel like this show is playing games with me and my emotions.