#artistry of Lockwood and Co

[carlyleandco]

You know what I would love to see more of in season 2? More eerie, whimsical depictions of Lucy’s connection to ghosts and their lives, whether that’s by using the underwater world as a continuing motif, or something else entirely. I just love the idea of manifesting a space or spiritual realm for her to commune with the dead

[bookwyrm35]

June 7th: World Building

Something I really love about the world building of the Lockwood and Co. universe is how solid and easy to understand what it all is. That sounds vauge I know but I remeber when I first encountered the show, it had little ways of slipping in bits of information in non-info dumping and very subtle but memorable ways. Like the classification of the ghosts along with the varying subtypes, the way you quickly get acquainted with an agents gear, the rule and patterns that Vistors follow, and just all the cases we get to see them go on in both the show and books. It really gives a solidity and weight to the world.

Another thing I love is the consequences. You burn a house down? Here's a fine, pay up. Forgot a vital piece of equipment? I hope you like hospital stays. You have these amazing gifts that allow you to see, hear, and feel the dead? Not forever you don't.

It gives every desicion more weight, makes the characters face their faults, and gives the story those ups and downs it needs to truly be great.

[yveni]

Does anyone have the still in episode 3 where George is like “Oi, where’s his slap?” I’m trying to do a thing but I have no idea how to be a pirate.

[lockwoodandconetflix]

completefictionpictures instagram update

We were beyond fortunate to work with so many incredible artists, craftspeople, and technicians on Lockwood & Co. One of them was our Lead Graphic Designer - the enormously talented @sophiehpowell  who brought so much detail, care, and artistry to the fabric of the worldbuilding. Feast your eyes on some of Sophie's amazing work in closer aspect, and keep an eye on her page for a few more details of how she brought these designs to life. Thank you, Sophie! 👻 #lockwoodandco @netflixuk

[savelockwoodandco]

Twitter Mod said they found the show cause you heard about it. How did you hear about it?

It's a little funny, actually, I (tumblr mod) heard about it from my tumblr dash; I follow a wide variety of people (due to lots of shows/books I love having a fandom consisting of only a handful of people online) and in particular those who like to gif shows they love. After a few Locklyle gifsets I decided to run to put it on my netflix watchlist, and about a week later (sometime in Mid-February, so not far off at all of when the show premiered) I decided to sit Twitter Mod (along with some other friends) down and watch it, and the rest is history!

(To all you talented, amazing gif-makers, don't give up! People see your work and get interested in a show purely from your artistry, and you should be proud! The first sets I personally saw were by the fabulously talented @pearlcaddy, @nancydrrew, and @thisgameissonintendo, but there are dozens more insanely talented creators in this fandom!)

The funny part comes in after we watched, when someone said it was based on a book series by Jonathan Stroud. I have a little brother who was quite into the Bartimaeus series, also by Stroud, so I recognized the name. Then, after poor Twitter Mod waited WEEKS for her books to show up in the mail -- the demand after the show came out made them sold out everywhere -- we discovered that my sister had owned a copy of the first Lockwood and Co book for several years, having picked it up at a secondhand books sale also after recognizing Stroud's name. Twitter Mod grumbled a bit at that, but we all found it very funny :3

[avalonianrising]

Hakon, Vanadev

Slowly, but surely. /w h e e z e! Have some more boys!

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Hakon

The co-leader of the Golden Firefly Dance Troupe, and my very first dream dragon. I love this dude with a burning passion, you have no idea.

Was originally a Mirror, and no one really knows why he decided to become a Ridgeback. He could’ve become anything, but a Ridgeback was what he chose. Says even he doesn’t even know, honestly, and some wonder if it was the fireflies that may have suggested it.

Speaking of which: the fireflies that have followed him since childhood have been revealed to be small guardian sprites sent to him by Ryann, who is highly suspected to be an emissary of the Lightweaver.

His troupe was named for these fireflies, but there is actually a much deeper meaning behind this performance group: they’re a front for a large group of dragons bent on taking down a massive slave/escort ring known as The Water Gardens–of which he found out about through whispers in the inns their then-much-smaller group stayed in.

As a performer, he specializes in aerial silks and trapeze artistry. As Haimah has stated multiple times, his beautiful, expressive, and highly personal performances have brought even he himself close to tears.

His partner for aerial silks is Haimah, and his partners for the trapeze are Huifen and Rori. Has a total of three mates (yowza’!), who are Haimah, Huifen, and @zephemeral-fr‘s hilariously wonderful Israk. (Needless to say, he’s polyamorous, and pansexual!)

Has a nephew that he didn’t know existed, until he came to join the Fireflies–Kalyan! Dotes on him endlessly, even if he’s embarrassing as sin about it.

Is the Clan in the Mists’ strongest mage of Light, and thus, is their elemental Ambassador.

Once in a blue moon, he bumps into things. He used to have four eyes, and he’s…uh. Still adjusting, so to speak. His depth perception has taken quite a hit, after all. Luckily, he seems to be able to focus much better when performing. He kind of has to, lest he trip up!

Headcanon voice: Helios, from Sailor Moon! (I can’t really find really good audio clips, so this is the closest I could get–apologies!)

Vanadev

Was my very first Imperial, when Imperials were still a Thing™. And someone gifted him to me, to boot. Needless to say, he’s become a spoiled brat. And I love it.

He’s the bartender for the Emerald Locust Tavern, but serves a much higher purpose as the clan’s seamster, and jewelcrafter. He also dabbles in art, and will paint for you upon request…as long as you have something to offer in return. (Silks. Silks are good payment. GIVE HIM PRETTY THINGS.)

If you happen to order an Emerald Abyss at the bar while he’s working, know that it’s not a drink. Know what you’re in for. (Though, of course, if you found out about it, of course you know what you’re in for. Again, have proper payment ready. More silks, man. Or gems. Though, this particular service has become a rarer thing as of late.)

Only recently, has his past been revealed��and it was only under dire circumstances–and that was his time as Vine King of the Black Market. As this suggests, he ran an entire black market that doubled as both an escort service, and as a band of the highest-class assassins one could possibly afford.

Vanadev’s Nature magic is devastating, and was critical during the Endless Night, to combat Tzila’s very similar magic. Rumor has it, that they trained together in earlier years. Neither has confirmed. He is able to control not only tree-laden vines, but vines deep in the ground. Wants to try pulling up one of the Behemoth’s for fun, but Lockwood won’t let him. HMPH.

Is one of the clan’s tallest members, who makes himself needlessly taller with a collection of high-heels that would make a drag queen blush. His favorite are emerald-green, six inches, and take for-freaking-ever to put on. But, he likes the clicky noise. And, yes, he can still fight in them. Screw clumsiness.

His beloved mate Tirumala acted as the head assassin for the black market, when it was still active. No one knows how they met, and by god, do they make up stories about it. And they’re hilarious. Seriously, they tell them around the fire, and people just…heave, it’s great.

His son is Morgan, who he adopted when he tried to steal off of him on a supplies run. Is endlessly proud of him, and loves to dress him up. Needless to say, he’s a daddy’s boy of the highest caliber. (But he did get his papa Tirumala’s dangerous streak!)

Met Renshaw a looong time ago, and they’ve knocked boots countless times–both he and Tirumala were involved with him, after Renshaw ran off from the Task Force. Now that they’ve met up again, they’ve fallen into an old tea-drinking-buddy routine. Still quite affectionate, but in a much more platonic manner. It’s well-needed, luckily!

Headcanon voice: Sebastian from Black Butler. (Fun side note: Morgan has, canonically, a heavy natural Cockney accent. He tries to hide it, and sound properly refined like Vanadev…but sometimes, it pokes through, and VANADEV MAKES FUN OF HIM. IT’S GREAT, MORGAN HATES IT.)

[monsterzeronj]

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (2018)

The latest installment of the franchise takes place three years after the disastrous opening of Jurassic World. A volcano on Isla Nublar has become dangerously active and the U.S. government declines to save the animals still there. John Hammond’s former partner, Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) asks Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) to join a rescue mission to save the dinosaurs from the doomed island and to convince her ex-boyfriend Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to join them. Once on the island Claire, Owen and their team are betrayed and they discover that this “rescue mission” has a far more sinister purpose.

Fallen Kingdom is directed by J.A. Bayona, the Spanish filmmaker behind the atmospheric and spooky haunted house flick The Orphanage and the bittersweet fantasy A Monster Calls. His script is by previous installment director Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connor, who co-wrote the last one, as well. The result is a more Gothic feel to the proceedings, especially when the location switches to Lockwood’s old mansion with genetics lab and creature holding cells in the basement a la Dr. Frankenstein. From here It becomes a tale of man’s greed and trying to play god…again. The Indominous Rex taught these greedy corporate types nothing and now we have the genetically created dino-soldier the Indoraptor to serve as our predator of choice for this flick. After the escape from the burning island…which is a very entertaining set-piece in itself, the flick becomes more of a James Bond movie with dinosaurs. The second third finds Claire and Owen sneaking around the castle-like mansion with Lockwood’s granddaughter, Maisie (Isabella Sermon), trying to find a way to stop the sale of and genetic tampering with the last survivors of Isla Nublar. It’s not quite as fun as the last flick, but at least they are trying to take the series in a new direction and we actually get off the island. The last act has the skilled director Bayona going back to his haunted house roots with a cat and mouse chase through the dark and cavernous mansion between our heroes and the Indoraptor, with a very exciting and very Gothic rooftop finale. Overall it is an entertaining flick, though a bit darker, a bit more violent and somewhat less fun than Jurassic World.

The cast is fine, even if the bad guys are complete two-dimensional stereotypes. Pratt and Howard still have that chemistry as Owen and Claire and having them broken-up gives us a chance to experience their combative banter and then having them fall for each other all over again. Young Isabella Sermon is endearing as Maisie, Lockwood’s young granddaughter with some secrets of her own. Rafe Spall, Ted Levine and Toby Jones are the trio of bad guys as Lockwood’s conniving assistant, a soldier for hire and a black market dinosaur dealer respectively. While the characters are familiar and stale, the actors give it their best. Cromwell is charming as the elder Lockwood, who is having his dream corrupted right out from under him. Rounding out the main characters are Justice Smith and Daniella Pineda playing Claire’s IT tech Franklin and dinosaur veterinarian Zia, respectively and they are fun characters well portrayed. We also get a nice cameo with Jeff Goldblum reprising his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm and B.D. Wong returns as slimy Dr. Wu. A good cast though some characters are better written than others.

Jurassic World gave this series a bit of revived energy and while this installment is a bit less fun, it does take the series to some new places and Bayona gives it a darker and more Gothic tone, as well as, his trademark visual artistry. On the negative side, the whole predator du jour chasing our heroes is getting stale, as is genetically whipping up new creatures like ordering a pizza. The dinosaur auction was interesting, but one wonders where the authorities stand on black market dinosaur flea markets. Guess it’s too soon to approach that side of the story. It was fun to see Clair and Owen and company playing James Bond in this massive Victorian Mansion, as we also enjoyed the film leaving us at a point where we wonder if mankind’s meddling might get us slapped back to the stone age. Stay through the credits.

rated ***

-MonsterZero NJ

[yveni]

It’s so funny cause I’m like trying to casually tweet random things about my day and retweet art normally like I used to when I had twitter, but then I’ll just spam like and retweet a whole lotta Lockwood and Co. tweets. Like, I’m sorry to the people I actually speak to and interact with on the daily, if y’all don’t understand I am obsessed at this point, idk what to tell you.