#as if the rest of the show isn’t equally gay����

[gd-dollopole]

Let’s take into consideration:

Arthur would rather waste precious time before an important council meeting to run around the entire castle and search for Merlin, who, in his very honest opinion, is the worst servant of the entire kingdom or that he had ever known, than to call literally anyone else to help him dress (as if there wouldn’t be anyone ready to assist Arthur, their king, with clothes);

Arthur, and therefore Agravaine (which makes it all the more hilarious) knows every single place where Merlin could be, at that precise moment, or during that day in general; (EDIT: As someone pointed out in the comments, everyone and Agravaine included, knows who is the “dollophead”)

The guards nod to Agravaine without asking anything, which only means that it is canon that everyone in Camelot knows Merlin by name; EDIT: It also means that the guards deal with this on a daily basis. They must be tired.

The aforementioned point implies that everyone knows how Merlin looks like, that also means Merlin is known to never leave Arthur’s side, even during council meetings;

Arthur is running around the castle in what today we would call a pyjama, just because Merlin didn’t wake him up with, “Rise and Shine”. And he’s barefoot. That’s right. The king of Camelot, everyone, has just walked barefoot in Merlin’s chambers, in the armoury, where other knights probably are, and in the bloody stables (yes, the ones where the horses and their dungs both are), without boots on, just to look for Merlin;

Arthur is more distressed in this scene than in the one where Morgana declares war in season five. He’s fretting like a mother hen. Not only he is without breath, which means he was just coming back from his checking around, but he is red in the face and almost yelling in desperation. “Does he expect me to dress myself?!” Because apparently, Arthur literally cannot do anything without Merlin by his side. The way he says, “No sign of him” to Agravaine is so endearing, and he shouldn’t be this adorable. Unfair, Arthur. Really unfair.

Arthur just yells, (and distressingly looks around) in hope that Merlin will come back to him, because he always does. *sounds of my heart breaking into millions of pieces*

And last but not least, Arthur shouts, “Last night!”, which means the actual reason he’s going around searching for Merlin, it’s because he’s worried his world will end without his quirky and clumsy servant by his side (and the love of his life). Merlin is currently out on a quest with Gwaine to look for Gaius, since he has been kidnapped, but the problem is that Arthur doesn’t know this. What he knows is that he has fought with Merlin the day before about Gaius in the council chambers, and believes Merlin is gone for good, this time, and solely for the fight they had. Arthur feels more than guilty that he can’t make it up to his best friend, the love of his life (Agravaine helped Morgana kidnap Gaius, and it explains the ending of the scene, where he understands where Merlin is.) Now Arthur is worried that his last words to Merlin were harsh. He had last seen him when he was done with his duties the night before, and then Merlin disappeared.

No wonder they deleted this scene.

[miriellesandthegiantpeach]

Curls | Bucktommy

In the bathroom, Buck is grimacing in the mirror, swiping his hands back and forth over his freshly cut hair. His eyebrows are furrowed with indecision; was this a good idea? He hears the front door open.

“Evan? Where are you?” Tommy voices rings out.

“Up here,” Buck calls back, he closes the bathroom door most of the way before Tommy gets up there.

“Oh there you are, what are you doing?” Tommy tries to push open the door but Buck stops him.

“I got a haircut from the place Hen suggested. You’re not allowed to laugh, okay?” Buck’s voice is hesitant.

“I promise I won’t laugh, did they botch it?” Tommy replies with total sincerity. This time Tommy can open the door and step into the bathroom. He examines Buck’s hair, very relieved it actually isn’t botched or a buzzcut.

Tommy takes it in and can’t help the smile that spreads across his lips. His boyfriend looks damn fine; curls in full force and not reigned in like how Buck usually styles it. The hairdresser added a fade making his neck look a lot longer.

“What? It’s awful. Your silence is making me nervous,” Buck rambles out.

Reaching a hand up, Tommy carefully pinches a wild curl and is surprised how soft it is, not at all crunchy with gel. His hand slides down to touch the equally soft hair on the back of his head. He absolutely loves it. “It’s definitely not awful. I always love your curls, babe. I like seeing your natural hair be free for once, and it’s so soft too. You look really really hot actually. It’s trendy for sure, but not in a bad way.”

Buck is still frowning at the mirror and rubs his fingers on the side of his face. “She even shaved off my sideburns,” he pouts and Tommy laughs.

“They will grow back in no time.” He wraps his arms around Buck’s waist and rests his chin on Buck's shoulder, watching him still fuss with his hair. “You know, it does make you look undeniably not straight, if that’s what you were going for.”

”Not really my intention, but I mean I’m not, so I guess it works?” Buck huffs drops his hands. “I’m itching for my gel, I feel so naked without it.”

“Don’t you dare. It’s just new, it’ll grow on you.” Tommy smiles, catching Buck's eyes in the mirror.

“Hey, what about your natural curls, huh? I don't see you easing up on the hair products.” Buck turns his head to look at Tommy.

“Shhh we're not talking about me right now,” Tommy replies and slides a hand up to cup Buck's jaw and kiss his lips. “I'm sure there's something in the pilot handbook about hair regulations,” he mumbles against Buck's mouth then promptly leaves him in the bathroom.

When Buck walks into work the next day he’s greeted with a wolf whistle from Hen, “Damn, Buck! I knew my girl would make you look fresh! You’re looking damn fine.” And he can’t help but smile at the praise. He gets compliments and light teasing from the rest of the crew. Maybe he can live with it.

One of their calls is at the famous gay night club, The Abbey, in Santa Monica. One of the cages that the dancers was in fell with the dancer trapped inside of it. Buck and Eddie had to break out the saw to get the dancer out, luckily he walked away with minor injuries.

They attracted a small crowd of the other dancers- all in skimpy speedo like underwear. Most of them had their eyes on Buck, giving him flirty compliments and asking if he’s ever been there. At first Buck was confused why he was getting most of the attention from these objectively hot men, especially when Eddie and his stache was right there.

Oh right, the hair, he thinks. The ‘undeniably not straight’ hair style he is sporting right now. He couldn’t help feeling a small blush creep into his cheeks.

His attention gets pulled back to one of the dancers, “Are you single? I know it’s really forward of me, but I thought I’d shoot my shot.” At least he’s polite about blatantly hitting on him.

“Oh wow I’m really flattered but yeah, I am taken,” Buck says proudly. He takes out his phone and shows the dancer and his friends his phone lock screen - a selfie of him and Tommy from one of their recent dates. Buck is laughing and Tommy is smirking at the camera with an amused glint in his eyes.

“Oh my God! I know that guy! That’s Mr. August from the 2019 LAFD calendar! I’ll never forget that year,” one of the dancers muses.

“Lucky bastard,” another one says to Buck, which makes his smile grow wider.

Tommy’s phone pings with a picture from Chimney, which there is no doubt this was his idea. It’s of Buck in the middle of a row of speedo clad club dancers. He doesn’t have his jacket on, so it’s just the fire T-shirt with red and yellow suspenders and the turn out pants. He’s holding an ax resting on his shoulder with the cockiest look he could muster; a sexy smirk on his lips with his left eyebrow cocked. The dancers around him are all looking at him, hamming it up for the picture acting like he’s the hottest thing on earth. Tommy couldn’t agree more and immediately makes it his phone background.

Yeah, the hair is growing on Buck.

[rodolfoparras]

Price and Soap have such a chokehold on me right now 😫😫 Like both of them are so hot but they would treat their s/o so differently (imo)

Soap would be so touchy and sweet. Whenever you’re together, he always needs to be touching you. Whether it’s a hand on your thigh while sitting with the rest of 141, or him laying his head in your lap while y’all watch a movie. I hc Soap at like early to mid 20’s. He has such a high sex drive. He’s always up to fuck when you’re alone. It’s basically like rabbit mating season if you’re both horny. He’s also just very needy. Maybe he wants you to ruin, at least, one of his holes, or he just wants his boyfriend to hold him after he comes back from a mission.

Price on the other hand, not the complete opposite, but different. Price has more experience because of his age (mid to late 30’s), so he’s not as touchy or needy as Soap, but if he’s deprived of you because of work or something, this man devolves and becomes the most desperate man. Price won’t beg, it isn’t in his nature, but he’ll definitely make his intentions and wants known. Putting on the cologne he knows you can’t resist. Purposely bending over to show off his ass. Wearing less and less clothes around the house. He’ll always deny that he wants you, but once you give it to him, he’s chanting your name like a prayer.

I’m sorry for ranting. These men make me realize how gay I am and I’m so downbad for them (can I be 🤠 anon?)

First of all pls don’t apologize for ranting I absolutely loved reading and you can def be 🤠 anon that’s a cute one🥹

Second of all I absolutely loved this bc I love talking about how different price is compared to the rest of the boys when in a relationship

Bc for example soap can be touchy and kissy and need ppl to know that you’re his and he isn’t sharing while price rarely gets jealous someone has to literally be like I want to take you out on a date for him to react and even then he’d stand off to the side rocking on his heel and pretend he isn’t listening in

I also think that soap and price are equally touchy but in different ways soap is like a toddler who’s enamored with a baby kitten he wants to hug and squeeze you and sneak up behind you wrap his arms around your waist etc

Now price id def would say he isn’t touchy but that was until I saw a compilation of him somehow always fist bumping the boys or giving them a friendly pat so let’s say you’re heading out for a mission price is giving your hand a firm squeeze you’re coming back alive and well on the heli he’s giving you the biggest bear hug to exist when in company he’s got a hand on your thigh but no one else can see from the table that’s blocking the view always makes sure to sit next to you in the car he doesn’t touch you or anything it’s just nice to feel your body heat next to him. Also I absolutely agree that price won’t beg hes been in the game long enough to know how to play his cards right he knows how to rile you up what to wear what to do but also what to say you know usually when he speaks to you and you’re in public its very low pda being shown in the conversation but when you’re alone and he’s horny you can be like “are you hungry?” And he’s like depends are you on the menu?

[purble-turble]

Love potion universe but nothing to do with the love potion, how was the poly before azure nonsense? I know macaque was exclusive to wukong. Anyone not banging someone else in the poly? (ex- dbk and wukong didn't hook up, or yellowtusk and peng didn't hook up, etc) and who was romantically in love with who? Below I'm putting in my guesses. Tell me how right or wrong I am

Macaque, obvious. Azure is interested sexually in all of them and loves them in different ways but he's in love with wukong, and he thought wukong also had "some romantic interest" but was unhappy about not being his favorite/#1. Wukong also is sexually interested in all of them, but as previously established wasn't even a little bit in love with azure since in an au where he gets love potioned, he becomes obsessed. Safely assumed the only one he's in love with is macaque. Peng has a hate crush on macaque that might be only sexual but might have some romance longing. I also assume that at least sometimes when they're with wukong they pretends it's macaque, because that's really messy, and this situation is completely messy. They are attracted to everyone, but might be in love partly or a lot with azure and/or yellowtusk. Dbk, no clue. You could go the way he's in love with everyone to some degree, or could go the way ironfan was the first person he ever loved, or something in between. He does assume everyone is romantically interested in everyone though, has no clue about the messiness and favoritism going on below the surface (beyond the obvious macaque favoritism). Yellowtusk isn't attracted to anyone actually, but he sees sex as a bonding activity and a way to make his brothers feel good. Only romantically interested in azure, but he knows azure only had eyes for wukong

I love the breakdown you have here anon! Honestly I am pretty much 100% with you on almost everything there.

Especially the bit about Peng.. They definitely are in hate/love with Macaque and use their time with Wukong to sort of pretend it’s Mac too! But also yes, Yellowtusk and Azure are also their favorites.

Yellowtusk I always saw as being sort of in love with Azure, but I also really like the idea you broached here of him being somewhat aromantic as well. Being part of this big poly brotherhood is a good way for him to still be in a relationship without having to deal with the stress of being somebody’s one and only companion (which I think he would hate) which can be a lot of pressure for someone who isn’t fully invested in that sort of thing. Sharing is caring, after all~

DBK I do have some thoughts about. Since in the show, he pretty clearly falls in love at first sight with Princess Iron Fang in the middle of a battle, I think DBK assumed he was gay for most of his life, but turns out he is secretly (even to himself) a bisexual disaster 😂 He likes all the brotherhood and has had a physical relationship with all of them (except Macaque who is only with Wukong but he doesn’t mind that) and up until he met Iron Fan he probably assumed that he was in love with all of them in equal measure. And he DOES love them… sort of. Or at the very least he respects them all and enjoys their company, and that’s probably what that means, right? …Well, it’s only when he gets his world completely rocked by that gorgeous Celestial Maiden that he has an OH moment. Turns out he likes women too… well actually no. Not women. THAT woman. He wants HER. No one else will do. He must win her over- Everything and everyone else be damned.

The rest of the brotherhood is definitely surprised by this development.. DBK probably seemed the most ardent of them all that women weren’t worth his time before, but he meets this one and overnight he’s turned into #1 wife guy… no wonder Azure and those two were so hostile towards him in season 4. It probably felt pretty hurtful turn around for him to abandon them for some woman they lost a battle to all of a sudden, with absolutely no warning.

[montaguesimp]

my masterpost of wildchaos headcanons!

(to further spread my agenda)

⁃ (canon divergent hc) my wild card in this hc is solely one person, he had a full gang but they disbanded at some point and wears different masks depending on the vibe for the day :)

⁃ the first (and only) time wild card showed his face around chaos agent, he genuinely believed he’s the most handsome individual he’s ever seen in his life and did not hesitate for one moment to voice it lmao

⁃ chaos agent loves using pet names for wild card (dear, darling, etc) while wild card is more of a physical intimacy type (wild card loves resting his hand on chaos agent’s shoulder and upper back specifically) (the closest thing to a pet name wild card will ever use is “agent” 💀)

⁃ they first met when chaos double agent joined the cold blooded syndicate (hush was the one who lowkey set them up) but chaos is snakey and betrayed the syndicate </3 (doomed yaoi) (kinda canon actually lol)

⁃ chaos agent and wild card are both multilingual, although the only language they fluently share in common is english (wild card knows some russian but is nowhere near fluent) (chaos knows a few more languages than wild card does tbh)

⁃ chaos agent was the first to catch feelings and was extremely taken aback when he found out those feelings were reciprocated

⁃ chaos agent is gay, wild card is bisexual

⁃ since they can’t share physical intimacy like most, they often express it through small gestures like bumping masks and close proximity

⁃ wild card has severe trust issues and hardly lets his guard down around others. it took him a VERY long time to open up to chaos agent

⁃ wild card isn’t very talkative, he has a very cold and closed off personality while chaos agent has a very over the top personality and never shuts the fuck up lmao

⁃ wild card genuinely thinks chaos agent might be the most interesting and intelligent being he’s ever met, they’re both lowkey infatuated with each other’s abilities and knowledge

⁃ chaos agent constantly goes out of his way to equally pester wild card and make make him smile (even though he doesn’t get to see him smile through the mask, it makes him happy to know he did it regardless)

⁃ chaos agent and wild card argue like an old married couple

[pynkhues]

I think the top/bottom discourse is especially funny because Louis is the only character we ‘see’ topping (w/ Armand) and is implied to top Lestat in s1x02 and most likely s1x06. The other times with Lestat are only kind of positionally suggesting that he’s bottoming. I believe that’s what we were supposed to get in the pilot but it’s ‘just’ blood drinking in that scene anyway (according the script iirc?), and the other scene where Claudia is talking to Louis in his head could be literally anything at that point.

Sometimes I get the impression that people assume Lestat is topping because they’ve associated his worst behaviors with a sexualized or romanticized dominance. Which is kind of funny to me because some of those traits in Lestat are the ones he isn’t in total control of and lead to his worst actions against people he loves- and I would argue aren’t really sexual at all for him- and I also think they’re the ones he’s most ashamed of. And then sometimes I also think there’s a weird idea that a bisexual man is “more masculine” than a gay man and masculinity must equal topping (I’m bi myself and feel like I’ve seen this idea before).

I do think the show has pretty specifically implied that Louis and Lestat's relationship was vers, but I also agree with you that the most explicit depictions of sex in this show outside of the pilot broadly have generally featured either Louis topping or it being vague enough to be interpreted any which way.

And yeah, I mean, I agree with you on the rest of your points too. I think this dynamic in particular has kind of become this weird annex point for a lot of capital-S Stuff around misogyny, homophobia, biphobia and racism that I don't even know how to begin to unpack. It's just a Lot, and the fact that nothing seems to be off limits with people arguing about it is wild to me. It's interesting to have conversations about on the one hand, but I don't know. This fandom seems especially prone to sort of like - - an aggressive take-up of particular readings?

It's been interesting to witness even in my little corner over here to say the least.

[thedawnofcrime]

ASSHOLE

POLL RESULTS

Note: if you don’t agree with trans people, don’t reblog. Instead go take a cold shower and maybe stub your toe on a metal table.

Earlier today I polled the LGBTQ and LGB hashtags to see if the general population of queer people accepted those who want to separate queer and trans people from the rest of the community. This wasn’t actually my goal, because I know perfectly well how you bitches operate.

I really didn’t care about the results from LGBTQ hashtags, because I know from legitimate demographic studies that most people, let alone queer people, do not agree with their sentiments.

What I did learn however is that their goal isn’t to separate the LGBTQ community down the middle, it’s to build their own hateful group and convince everybody else that they’re bigger and stronger. Their biggest tactic seems to be the abuse of language, by claiming homophobia when queer people refer to themselves as queer, and insisting that being against LGB groups is against all lesbian gay and bisexual people, they hope to victimize themselves when faced with even equality with trans people.

They spread my poll like the plague, reaching over 250 votes in a couple hours (thanks for that), and I couldn’t give less of a shit, because those votes came entirely from the group who already hates trans people. They REALLY want community, but without the icky trans people. They think our pride is tainted by grooming and fetishists, because they can’t look at a history book and realize homophobes have been saying that about them since the 1900s. Either way, don’t give them that community. Protest their groups and don’t show up to their pride, because there’s no pride in hate. Love thy neighbour unless they want to control your life, your gender and your language.

When you look at the poll demographics though, most votes came from under 0.5% of the queer community on Tumblr. Despite all they might say, the answer to whether trans people deserve to be in the community is a resounding

•YES•

The LGB hashtag has so few members that the numbers don’t even show up. Add the T and you go up OVER TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND.

You’re loud as fuck, but less like a crowd, and more like an angsty teen in their garage with an electric guitar and 3 speakers.

TRANS PEOPLE ARE HERE, AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, YOU CAN

✨ROT IN HELL✨

[castlebyersafterdark]

It’s amazing how the depth of ST really relies on Byler happening. Not that there aren’t other things/themes within the show (Max’s depression, being black in Hawkins, a cop learning to be suspicious of authority, the power of friendship, etc), in terms of its three central kids/now teens (Will, Mike, and El), a Byler-less season 5 would mean that the show doesn’t have much to say. And it would mean the show is ultimately fairly generic, fight the Big Bad and the evil government with superpowers fare. Sometimes I wonder if I’m too hooked on Byler endgame to the point of overemphasizing Byler’s thematic role and not being able to enjoy alternate outcomes, but I don’t think I am. Cause if Byler isn’t endgame, we’re not just wrong about a ship, we’re wrong about the show. Not to mention being wrong about the characters, specifically Mike. Like I don’t even recognize the Mike they believe in?

No, I really don't think you are I or anyone in agreement with us are being dramatic or unfounded or biased about this - Byler not happening as predicted really changes the whole story and I also am not sure what the show's messaging would be. It changes the characters completely.

How do you have Will at the end alone, without getting his love? Or, with him dead? His story has so much resting not just on acceptance because here's the thing - we know Joyce and Jonathan and Mike would accept him for being gay if that was his only secret. Will doesn't know that, but the audience (who cares about the show) know this. Or at least, has the context clues to know. THEY GAVE WILLIAM BYERS THE LINE "I'M NOT GONNA FALL IN LOVE" when one, he already is and two, not let that pay off!! And he's in love with Mike!! And Mike - his story of needed to be the hero, be needed, be himself, be allowed the grace to be different and true to himself - and that is really only allowed to shine with Will. I don't know what we're supposed to take away from the character of Mike without Byler with the show as it stands. It could have been a different arc with him and still have his arc entwined with endgame El - but what was written is so so so odd if real. Should have been written differently seasons ago. From the beginning.

Hell, even El needs Mike and Will to get together to really shine and come into her own. Her story is not about romance. If you really care about El - she cannot end the show in a relationship with Mike Wheeler. She needs inner strength without others propping her up or using her (whether for power or for a misguided stand-in for feeling needed). She doesn't need you, Mike. And you don't need her. Standing apart actually allows you to stand as equals. Right now both hide insecurities with themselves by burying them in each other in that relationship. They need each other's friendship - which neither have right now. Will needs love. El needs family/friendship. Mike needs both. The door to El and Mike also needs to be firmly shut and the door ripped off the closet.

The sexuality storyline is tied into the supernatural storyline. It kinda feels... incomplete without a way for Will (and Mike) to express that beyond just Will being gay. There needs to be weight and stakes to that storyline and he needs a love interest the audience can care about due to invested familiarity - which is why a shoehorned random townie isn't gonna do anything for Will.

There's a lot of additional value to the other arcs you've mentioned and I want to briefly highlight them as well as to emphasize how they all tie in and enhance each other. The message of being different and the power of love and friendship. Being different in a small town. How humanity's monsters are just as bad or worse as monsters from other worlds - or how those human monsters make the fantastical monsters. Something something like that, there's a lot of different takes that all lead to a similar place. It's a wonderfully assembled ensemble show, and the Byler storyline as the heart ties everything together really. What else could have been built up? It's the most dramatic and hard hitting reveal - everything swirling to a focus with Will. He started the show, he ends the show. With his happy ending - it'll be so beautiful.

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Psycho Analysis: Gus Fring

(WARNING! This analysis contains SPOILERS!)

Breaking Bad is known for its fantastic cast of characters, all of whom have some level of critical acclaim and iconic status. Seriously, go to Wikipedia and go to any character’s page from the show (basically every major character has one) and look at the “Reception” part, pretty much all of them are universally beloved. Chief among that crowd is the only villain in the show to give our rascally villain protagonist Walt a run for his money, the criminal mastermind that is Gustavo “Gus” Fring.

If you think I’m going to do anything other than add to those heaps of praise, you’re surely mistaken; I love Gus as much as anyone else who has seen the show. But where most are willing to overlook certain aspects of the character that don’t work so well because he is cool and gay, I acknowledge those flaws and love Gus anyway. We are not the same.

Motivation/Goals: Gus is a businessman, plain and simple. Be it Los Pollos Hermanos or his secret meth business, Gus wants perfection in every aspect of his professional life. That being said, he’s a pretty fair boss, and if you pull your weight you will be rewarded; he treats his employees at Los Pollos Hermanos so well that you know the show takes place in a fantasy world, because no boss is that nice. And he was way too lenient with Walt all throughout that man’s career working with him.

Of course, Gus is also driven by revenge. Don Eladio, Hector Salamanca, and the rest of the cartel are responsible for the death of his lover Max, and Gus refuses to rest until the entire operation has crumbled, with only him left standing tall and Hecor lefty broken and crippled to be finished off last as he’s the one who pulled the trigger. It’s a very classic villain motivation, and it helps give a little bit of sympathy to a character who is otherwise too cold and mysterious to really delve into the mind of. At any rate, it makes it very easy to root for Gus and cheer him on as he plays his supposed superiors for suckers and orchestrates their downfalls all while coming up with dozens of plans to cover his own ass.

Performance: Giancarlo Esposito has such an air of elegance and menace to him when he’s playing Gus. You can really see why he man ended up typecast after this, playing cunning antagonists, because he really kills it here. He does have one incredibly major flaw, though: He’s not a native Spanish speaker like Gus is. This leads to pretty much any point where Gus is required to speak the language falling flat, especially since most of the time he’s up against actors who are actually fluent and even if you’re not a native speaker you can pick up on how clunky he is in comparison to Michael Mando or Tony Dalton.

Final Fate: Gustavo Fring got outplayed by both Walter and Hector, and the result is perhaps one of the single greatest villain deaths of all time.

As many have pointed out, it is genuinely hilarious how Gus hated Hector so fucking much that he refused to die in the same room as him. And hey, maybe this isn’t very accurate to how a person would realistically look after taking an explosion directly to the face… But it’s one hell of a cool visual. Sometimes it’s better to check realism at the door for the sake of symbolism and cool prosthetic gore.

Best Scene: I think it is genuinely hard to top Gus’ awesome moments, even if he doesn’t ever really get an entire episode of focus. I think his crowning moment, the moment where we as an audience and Walt as a character learn that us is not even remotely fucking around, is his silent preparations before he comes up to his lackey Victor and violently slits his throat in “Box Cutter,” before equally silently getting dressed once more. Right before leaving, he simply says, “Get back to work” before leaving a stunned Walt, Mike, and Jesse behind.

There’s also Gus taking down Don Eladio and all his capos in “Salud.” It’s such wonderful, beautiful vengeance, and it’s all made better by the fact Gus poisoned himself, went to the bathroom, neatly placed a towel on the floor and knelt down on it, and then induced vomiting. This man would pick the fruitiest way imaginable to save his own life.

Finally, there is his scene in “Fun and Games,” the first and only time we see Gus just out enjoying himself. We get to see him pretty obviously flirting with a sommelier, but as soon as the man leaves for a moment Gus makes the decision to commit himself fully to his mission and rule out the possibility of love again after what happened to Max. This is the moment where we see Gus fully become the man we know him as in Breaking Bad, and it’s honestly pretty tragic. He could have been happy if he’d just let go some of his hate, and maybe he’d even still be alive.

Final Thoughts & Score: Gus is one of the best villains ever to grave television, and considering he’s in a show filled to the brim with some of the greatest villains ever devised, that’s really saying something.

Part of what makes him so genuinely great is just how utterly unknowable he is. Over the course of both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, he is almost like a god of the criminal underworld, untouchable and mysterious. What very little tidbits we get of his past paint a conflicting picture that could mean any number of things, and at every other point he manages to command respect and fear from all those around him, with those not wise enough to do so ending up dead by his masterful machinations. It ultimately makes the single scene where we see him not doing business, the one where he flirts with the man at the bar, so much more impactful. We see that Gus has rejected his humanity, his chance at ever being happy again, so that he can be consumed by his work and his vengeance. Gus is what he is by choice.

It’s why, even if it’s not really “good” that Walt won, it is so satisfying and cathartic. Gus spends his screentime pulling off superhuman schemes and feats of vengeance, orchestrating the deaths of the entire Salamanca family and his own cartel superiors, and yet he is done in by an absolute bumbling buffoon of a criminal like Walt. It’s a classic case of David and Goliath, with the untouchable adversary being taken down due to viewing his foe as so far beneath him that he didn’t realize he was screwed until it was too late. Gus was sadly too smart for his own good, never bothering to consider the erratic chemistry teacher could ever pull off anything big enough to defeat him.

With all that, Gus gets a 10/10. With how much I love Gus and how I consider him one of my favorite villains ever, you might be wondering why I didn’t bump him up to a 10.5 to denote him being a cut above the garden variety 10. Well, Gus has one issue with his character that I feels really hampers him in crucial moments: His inability to speak Spanish. Giancarlo Esposito, despite being an absolutely fantastic actor in every other regard, does not speak Spanish and needs his lines given to him phonetically. Native speakers have called his accent stilted and unnatural, and it has led to moments that should be epic and powerful such as his monologue to Lalo before killing him becoming nonsensical gibberish to trained ears. Considering that character is a native Spanish speaker, this is an absolutely unforgivable and glaring flaw. It certainly doesn’t ruin the character, but it does hold him back just a little bit.

But it really does speak volumes that as soon as Gus is taken out, the quality of the villains just plummets. The final season has Walt facing off against a bunch of Nazis and fucking Lydia, the annoying businesswoman. The final season is still peak, but boy are those villains living in Gus’ shadow. In spite of his flaws (or, well, his singular but rather major flaw), he’s still one of the greatest villains in television history, and is up there with Walt and Saul as the greatest villains in the series.

[namtanlovesfilm]

axelle judges bl shows > The Eighth Sense

summary: Jae Won, in his last year of university and just came back from his stay in the military, is the popular kid from the surf club. When Ji Hyun, a freshman from the countryside, joins the club for him, sparks fly, and a long tumultuous relationship starts.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 8/10

pros:

- this show stands out a lot from its directing, which is very indie looking compared to other kbls. it feels like a film d’auteur, which makes it so there is a lot of experimentation in this show which is very appreciated, and also makes the show stand out & way more memorable.

- the chemistry is amazing. and I don’t mean just between the main ship, but the friendship chemistry is equally as great, be it jae won with yoon won (my fave friendship, I loved them sm together & she was by far my fave character!), ji hyun with ae ri, or jy hyun with his boss, the relationships of the show are portrayed very realistically & with great banter!

- the pace is SO much better than usual kbls that are way too short for my liking! with 10 episodes of 40 minutes, we get to fall in love with the story & characters way more, and moreover the writing was quite good & balanced so the story didn’t feel like it dragged often, if ever.

- the characters are amazing, and again, bc of the length of the show, we get way more attached to them. they’re all very flawed & sassy, and they truly feel like real people which is not always easy to achieve!

- the acting is very good & natural. it doesn’t stand out as the most incredible acting, but for a series that seem to want to be a bit more realistic than most kbls, it landed perfectly for that job.

- the soundtrack lowkey slaps, it’s very different from usual kbl soundtracks & contributed to make the show stand out. in a way, it reminded me of the not me soundtrack (my fave soundtrack ever) in the way it can sometimes feel a bit random but still works amazingly with the show.

cons:

- bc of its indie feel, there are moments that do feel a bit amateur, and the execution isn’t very uniformous, which makes it so certain scenes are truly amazing, while others feel like they should’ve either been cut down or shot/written differently. imo eps 7 & 8 especially were less good than the rest.

- this is a story that feels very reminiscent from the gay stories released before or in the early 2010′s. so if you’re like me & you’ve watched so many stories like this before, it will definitely limit the reach that this series has on you emotionally bc it feels like you’ve seen this story happen before. they did offer enough changes to make it stand out & different, but it is still a reason why this series isn’t an 8,5/10 for me.

would I rewatch it: yes!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this show & would absolutely recommend it to everyone! I absolutely love these more indie-feeling shows, and here it definitely made a story I’ve otherwise seen over twenty times work way more! I also gotta praise the actors & writers for making me this attached to the characters, they were lovely!

[eeblouissant]

hii !! @witchybitchybisexual tagged me a while back to answer some tgg questions, and I’ve finally gotten around to it haha! Thank you soso much I had lots of fun with this :D (under the cut so I don’t clog anyones tl)

1. How did you find out about the show?

I was raised on it! My mother always (and I mean always. I’m very grateful she kept all her DVDs in such good condition so that I can rewatch!) had it on in the background when I was little, my great grandma too I believe. (I’m also convinced Bea Arthur was my gay awakening, i used to sit and stare for hoursss lol)

2. One storyline you'd eliminate?

Listen … there are so many but. I feel like you all already know what I’m about to say - firstly, the bit where Dorothy almost marries Stan again. I’d get rid of many of the Stan storylines (and get him much further away from Dorothy, honestly it’s a little upsetting to see him near her at all but maybe I’m just overly sensitive when it comes to the things Dorothy’s been through because of him? He shouldn’t have been a reoccurring character imo.) but that one especially. I can understand the need for it, because it dives into a part of Dorothy’s character that I find very interesting and that I love expanding on, but god it just hurt my heart way too much. He makes me very upset and I’m just a viewer - so I can’t imagine what it would be like for someone to actually have to put up with him. I really think I’m just overly sensitive because of the subject matter but oh well 😅. Anyway - that and, I’d change how the show ended. And not in the way you think !!!! I think it was crucial that Dorothy got her fairytale ending, she deserved it more than anyone (sorry rose, blanche, sophia) after the way she’s always treated, even if it’s not really meant, she deserved to hold that over their heads. I wouldn’t change a thing about that. But I would change that exit scene, where she isn’t able to respond to roses’ “is this goodbye?” It is goodbye. It shouldn’t have been goodbye - I hated that they ended it that way so badly. And the affect is seen later in the golden palace (they don’t even patch things up really!!!!!! It was so horribly done imo!!!! Maybe I’m just bitter I’m not sure 😭)

3. Best guest star/character?

The two times Sophia’s sister appears are my favourites, so I’ll have to go with her 😂

Also - I’m forgetting his name at the moment, but the trans man that made an appearance in that one episode. The way he was never misgendered or deadnamed!! that episode has a very special place in my heart!!! (Jean as well, that episode is also a huge comfort. But I don’t think I need to say that - it’s kind of implied)

4. Character you most relate to?

Dorothy and Rose equally 🚶🏻‍♀️ but is this really a shock at this point lol

5. Favourite character?

Rose !!!!!! You may think otherwise but she will forever be my favourite. She’s just too relatable, I see a lot of myself (unmasked) in her and it brings me a lot of comfort. Shes actually helped me start to be okay with the idea of unmasking a little more outside of the house. I love her soooo so much.

6. Favourite story of a cast member?

This one kind of involves all of them? So I hope it counts, but learning that the crew were the photos in the ‘men of blanches boudoir’ episode 😂 hilarious!! I can’t remember if the girls were expecting it, I hope it all came as a surprise because their reactions seemed genuine!

7. Which was the episode that got you hooked?

I can’t really answer this one because I’ve always loved the show, simply because I grew up on it 😅 my mum & I have a very similar dynamic to Sophia and Dorothy, so I actually think that’s what kept me hooked; the emotions and memories attached! And then of course growing up and picking up on how queer coded those three are, good lord.

8. You could wear one girl's wardrobe for the rest of your life, who would you pick?

Sophia and Rose, no hesitation. Dorothy is too tall and flowy for me (I’m 5’2, no way I’m pulling her wardrobe off lol), Blanche is too, well, Blanche 😭 although I do adore her wardrobe, it’s just definitely not for me (I will however be stealing her robes & housecoats immediately)

9. How many kids do you think they all actually had?

Okay, I know Dorothy for sure only had two. That’s talked about lots. Blanche had four? Because she’s only ever talked about having four, possibly adopting? And Rose, I’m actually unsure, does she ever say it outright 😅? I’d guess three or four. I know we see one or two of her kids but otherwise I’m unsure.

10. Do you think the actresses would've gotten along with their characters if they met in real life?

Why/Why not?

Sophia and Estelle would be two peas in a pod and I stand by that. They both just have this way about them that makes me think it wouldn’t turn out any other way haha

hhhhmmmm … I think that Dorothy and Bea would be able to relate on a different level for sure. Cheating husbands, very specific insecurities (until Bea was a little older that is. Her confidence was contagious!) fashion choices, similar opinions on how comfortable shoes actually are lol - but I feel like Dorothy is a little too much of a romantic. That might have thrown them off. Bea was also a very shy person, and Dorothy is a little more bold. That would have gone one of two ways I think! Either Dorothy ends up being her scary guard dog or they clash for all the wrong reasons 😂

Rose and Betty? I don’t have much to say other than, again, it would have gone one of two ways and been very black and white 😂 either they’re hitting it off, or never speaking again.

Rue mentions once that shes all Blanche with the exception of not being from Atlanta Georgia, and friends of hers have mentioned that she had a hard time shaking Blanche off after the show ended - so, I’d say they’re practically twins 😅 they’d question if they were related!

11. What are your other comfort shows?

The crown! (special interest, you know how it goes), I don’t watch much, because I always fear getting too absorbed in media and developing another fixation 😭 it’s also just hard when I’ve got such intense interests going on. I can’t delve into new media because it’s almost overwhelming? Idk can’t explain that one. Anyway, talk to me about the crown and I’ll marry you on the spot (/j)

12. Headcanons? (Feel free to list as many as you'd like)

Oh BOY. Oh here we go. You’ve all seen many of my headcanons by now so this might get repetitive, but I’ll list some anyway:

First off, because oh my god I think about it daily, Blanche has a natural tan!! Partly because she lays out in the sun so often but I also see her just being born with it. Something about it suits her so well! She gets a tiny bit paler in the winter but in the summer she’s almost unrecognizable (Thank you Blanche for adding some colour to the group lmao, those ladies are white !!!!)

I headcanon strongly that Rose is autistic. Or at the very least neurodivergent somehow (definitely autistic, but you get my point) - as an autistic person she reminds me a lot of myself when I’m unmasked and it’s actually really lovely unintentional representation! I feel so seen by her!

Honestly, a lot of what I would want to headcanon about Dorothy is already canon (her chronic illness, depression, hearing aid etc) but one thing I do headcanon her dealing with that isn’t explicitly stated is dissociation. It would come naturally with that one really awful thing that I won’t name that happened to her - and having to them live with Stanley for 38 years after the fact? I believe dissociation became less of a concern to her and more of a very, very dear friend. Anyway, I’ve rambled on that a million times so I’ll spare you all 😅

I also headcanon that Dorothy is an extremely repressed lesbian, be it her religion or, again, the very awful thing that shall not be named, etc - there’s something about the way she treads so carefully around the topic of lesbianism that just … yeah. We know Dorothy. It’s okay. I headcanon blanche being bisexual, since it’s kind of hinted at once or twice? Or like? Straight up implied? Cut to all the times she just happened to ask Dorothy to “help her out” or pick between her and rose lmao. I can see rose being pan or bi as well, but I think I headcanon her being unlabelled honestly! She just wants to love and be loved, if she loves someone, she loves them!

Honestly, I don’t have many headcanons for Sophia - she’s perfect as she is 😂 10/10 no notes!

13. What would you change (if anything) about the show/ characters if it was set in the modern day?

Again, how it ended, and in this case because of the insane amount of queer coding and subtext - need I say more? I can’t see this show being set in modern times, I honestly think it would ruin the vibe 😅

14. Which other Fictional Characters would you like each one of the golden girls to meet?

oh lord okay, I’ve saved this one for last because I’m actually not sure? I don’t think I can answer this one but I’ll edit and add if anything comes to mind later 😅

15. Who were your favourite duo?

Rose and Dorothy!!!! Although it’s very hard to separate the four, rose and Dorothy always had the most precious scenes.

16. Who should've got more 1:1 screen time with each other?

Rose and Dorothy 😭😭 pleassseeeee oh my god

16. Calmest season?

Two I think!

17. Most chaotic season?

Seven or three - season seven felt rushed, so it felt chaotic in a way I hated, but season three was so filled with lore and things that it felt chaotic for all the right reasons!

18. Favorite Season?

Three and four!

19. If the girls hadn't had their established careers, what other ones could you picture them doing?

Well firstly I’d give Dorothy her antique shop dream, obviously. I cant not see Blanche doing something with the arts… if she really put her mind to it I think she would make an incredible artist. & rose … hhhmmm. Maybe a preschool or kindergarten teacher! (Sophia is exempt here, let the woman rest lol she’s much to old to be working)

20. Best aspects of the show in your opinion?

All the different kinds of representation! How much it leaned into topics that were otherwise considered kind of swept under the rug. There’s been a billion posts made explaining this already though so I’m sure I don’t need to talk anyone’s ear off about it 😅

21. This question is for my fellow cheesecake lovers) favourite cheesecake flavour?

Ohhhh strawberry has to be my favourite.

22. Storyline you wished they had expanded upon?

Okay this is going to sound silly so bare with me, but that time Sophia got a job (dressed up in that pirate costume) - they never expanded on it, in fact she kind of disappeared for the rest of the episode!!!! I have to know what on earth was going on there 😭!!!

23. Questions you'd ask the actresses?

Honestly, if they actually got along. Because there have been rumours and things. (and then, you know. The Thing Rue Said that Bea had said about Betty because of the way she was picking on Estelle. And also Betty admitting that Bea was never too fond of her. I just have to know!) id also ask Bea Arthur specifically what she thought of the possible queer subtext around Dorothy’s character - I have a feeling she’d be fond of it actually 😂

24. Episode that brings you the most comfort?

Any episode that isn’t from the end of season 7 😭 I don’t think I can pick just one

25. Episode that made you laugh the hardest?

The episode where Dorothy sleeps with (or well, attempts to. We all know how that went) stans brother. I could write an essay on that one but oh my GOD I was laughing so hard at the parts that weren’t ripping my heart out!!!

26. Which other work that the actresses did you enjoy the most?

You’re asking me to pick only one of Bea Arthur’s other works???? I’d have to say Maude I think, basic answer I know - but oh my god I love her 😭 I’ll have to say Maude for Rue as well. The Beatrice Arthur special is Very close behind her though. & Betty - hhhmmm. Probably Password (if it counts?)

27. Best St Olaf Story?

The Great herring war hands down - I CANNOT with that scene 😂😂 when rue started to giggle I knew exactly what was about to go down - BEA lost composure, and I’d imagine that’s a hard thing to get her to do!!!!

28. Best slut story?

does this count I’m not sure … but I’m very very fond of that little moment where rose and dorothy are recalling different men Blanche has told them stories about to ask if they’re true (after she admitted that she tends to over exaggerate sometimes) like oh my god. They actually remember all the nonsense Blanche tells them 😂 I can’t !!!!

29. Best Sicily story?

The Pablo Picasso story !!!! Oh my god I think about it daily !!!!!!

30. Which girl would you be most interested in seeing a prequel of? And at which point in their life?

Young Dorothy !!!!!! OH MY GOD !!! She should have had her own show I’m so serious!!!!! The fact that she didn’t get a spin-off is a crime - I don’t know how that never happened. I’m so fascinated by her and how she survived back then. I need all the details big and small or I might (will, I will) die

[variousqueerthings]

assumes 4 likes from nice people is there to enable me 😂

some stuff about marriage (which I know can rub people the wrong way, so to disclaim this is not about personal choices, this is about an institution/structure/social construct)

I see posts on here about why marriage is important and they’re wondering why there’s queer pushback against it, and I think they misunderstand the politics and the philosophy behind marriage abolition, in the sense that they posit these hypothetical queers as young, naïvely idealistic, and/or uninformed

I’d say anecdotally most queer people I know who do get married are more pragmatic about it than many straight people, and I know a fair few straight people who are incredibly pragmatic about it too for that matter. hell, I generally am like “I’ll get married to any of my friends that need to get out of a country if that should happen” -- that’s about the only reason I would get married. 

there’s some element of starry-eyedness-gonna-be-with-person-I-love, sure, but people know about taxes and healthcare and parenthood rights and inheritance and the like, they’re not ignoring those things -- the people who don’t get married (like me) aren’t not doing so for shallow understandings of what marriage is for

anti-marriage politics has been around for quite some time (literally every text I’ve picked up with political essays from the 80s-2000s has included some form of it, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it earlier) and it’s not technically at odds with individuals getting married because they have to -- in fact, the point is that this isn’t about individuals, it’s about systems of assimilation that force people to make choices to conform simply in order to survive, but also assimilation as something some people were going for the whole time:

(mostly white, middle/upper-class) gay people who were in the fight for queer rights, until marriage equality meant they’d gotten what they came for, and they stepped out of it. which also on some level maybe didn’t feel like a choice (I’m sure for some it was), so much as that’s what happens with the violence of assimilation -- you become the in-crowd and the idea of creating waves (after all, you’re married, what are you still complaining for) becomes a lot less salient. head down, live your life, forget the rest of the reasons the fight was happening at all

and suddenly the coalition of queerness -- fights for non-segregated healthcare, for asylum-seekers and refugees, assisting homeless queers, disabled queers, sex-workers rights, the rights of less clean-cut easily digestible queers, and rights for non-queers that were part of the understanding of many who were involved: unions and working class rights was a big one, all of the above encompassed people who weren’t queer, etc. -- that coalition was broken up into becoming about individual lives, it became a private thing, it folded into the idea of LGBT+ and never shall the letters overlap, you are now “allowed” this much leeway as long as you conform and melt away into individualism and consumerism. your family is now you, your spouse, and a couple of potential kids.

the people asking “why marriage” were/are asking why straight systems were getting to define when and how somebody is allowed access to basic rights. because while marriage can go from the “we’re deeply in love and want to show the world by shelling out so much money” to “we went and got a piece of paper signed with our friends, maybe ate some cake” it’s still structurally shutting out non-traditional wider coalitions of support, and wider family structures

marriage is the end-goal, pack up, go home (to your monogamous spouse, and your nice, clean house)

it’s not necessarily saying that there are fixed better new systems all ready to go (although in various places those systems are created out of necessity), it’s asking who is shut out of marriage as an institution and why, and if financially stable queers -- or heck financially unstable queers who need marriage to just keep afloat -- are so focused on this, then what and who is being forgotten about in return? 

a lot of the texts point out that in America it was healthcare that was the big focus pre-marriage equality fight -- I cannot say for the rest of the world, but I know the UK is relatively similar in that regard, because AIDS highlighted just how vulnerable queer people were in these systems, and of course the UK also had Section 28, which while no longer in operation legally, is alive and well in discussions about what children “ought” to learn in schools (especially now that transphobia is really just the new cool way of attacking queer people en masse, despite what some LGB-transphobes believe, they are affected by this too)

I’m sure that there are people who are disconnected from the texts on what marriage abolition as a concept is all about beyond “I don’t want it on a personal level, because it’s monogamous and I am not monogamous” but I also think a lot of those people instinctively do get it, like I instinctively got it when I was a bit younger and only knew that it wouldn’t work for me, because, well... I simply don’t believe in its beliefs. and to get married would be as much a lie for me as a romantic relationship, as being cis was, as being heterosexual was -- you might as well ask why I fight for non-segregated healthcare, for non-binary to be recognised legally, instead of just living as a binary cis person. it’s all the same thing

I get that it’s a piece of paper that would give me the right to be supported by [insert person-whom-I-have-entered-into-an-agreement-with here] but it’s also a symbol, and a powerful social demand, and it is amatonormativity and heteronormativity and it’s a system that is used to cover up all kinds of ethical fucked-uppedness, while also having limitations of personhood within it that this post is already too long to get into -- but consider women were fighting to have rights outside of marriages and once those rights started to happen divorces rose astronomically (good for them).

I would never judge someone for getting married for whatever reason, just recognise that I’m one of the people shut out of that structure, and so I am more vulnerable, and instead of thinking that’s naïve of me, ask whether a structure that excludes so many people in its design and demands conformity to enter into it, can be a very powerful tool for violence

and now I need to make a list of those texts, because they do say it with more examples and contexts than I do

[notsadspicyfunny]

I was convinced that Sawyer had a thing for Bella. And then it turns out he dated pepper which I completely forgot. They ended up breaking up. And I was like what the fuck. And I’m 97% sure that fucking Newt was gay, but was scared to come out because his dad is most likely a bigot his stepmom is obviously homophobic.

Going back to Sawyer and Bella. He didn’t like her… He didn’t even confess to her. His cousin ended up doing it. His cousin and Bella ended up dating. And that is insane to me like they kissed during fireworks. That is so fucking cute.

And then fucking Troy dude, Troy is a fucking asshole . And he’s so self-centered, but he’s also kind of hot. But I would honestly prefer Newt over him any day. The series also like reminded me how much I fucking love and miss football. Also, for when the show is made, there were so many before the times are references. Like gender equality, LGBTQ plus rights, bullying, etc.

There was even a gay character. Like he didn’t come out and say he was gay, or had a boyfriend. But he literally said in Season 2 episode 20: ‘Im not into girls. But I’m into free tacos’

Let’s go back to Newt. He was obviously a theater kid at heart. Like there was an entire episode about how he was a god of a singer.. but he couldn’t do that for a living one because he had stage fright and two because his dad wanted him to play football. And one of the other episodes he was too ashamed to tell his dad that he was mostly on the bench all of the time.

He also had crushes on very masculine girls. And made a lot of ‘jokes’ about being into guys. He and Sawyer even joked about smacking troys butt.

Also, most of the mannerisms he had we’re just obviously LGBTQ plus. I think because it was the time that the show was created they couldn’t make an outwardly gay dude.

Or maybe he was just really wimpy and I’m over reacting to all of this. I don’t know he just had a lot of hints.

Bella was like the main character because like she’s the title character. But she was honestly such a bitch. She made every situation about herself all the time. And while I did enjoy some of the moments she was shown. She was honestly kind of awful. First of all, she made a boy cheat on his lovely ass girlfriend for her. She almost didn’t let her best friend go with a girl because she had beef with the girl.

And then, when the girl broke up with him, she goes: ‘lol told ya’

Like I’m rooting for the dudes on this one. Choose a new best friend man.

Sawyer was honestly so funny in this. He was my favorite bit of comic relief. He had a shitty, best friend though who is Troy. What are my favorite scenes was when he wore a dress and fucking rocked it

There was an episode, when two of the male football players were like ‘cheerleading isn’t a real sport’ and the girls literally taught them a lesson. And it was so entertaining and I think it was a great lesson because cheerleading is a real sport. And it should be treated as such. Like it’s a literally gymnastics, AND weightlifting

The coach in this, though is so funny. He’s one of my favorite adult characters that is ever been introduced into any type of series besides grunkle Stan in gravity falls.

As much as I hate to admit it the intro song. Such a fucking bop. Honestly really really good. It’s gonna be stuck in my head for the rest of the night/day,

That reminds me, I’ve pulled an all nighter to finish this stupid series

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk

[darlinghowl]

i do not know how many times ppl are going to bitch abt an episode of television not going their way before they quit the tv show and move on. you call the writing terrible, you say the marketing is queerbaiting, you say the actors are lying to you. if you believed any of that, TRULY believed any of it, WHY the fuck are you still watching? there are 100 mlm ships out there for you to go fall down on your martyr cross for. why are you still here if you’re this miserable bc your ship isn’t ‘going canon’. in my day (literally less than a decade ago) normal shippers in fandom didn’t spend their every waking moment harassing the creators/actors on every available social media to the point they literally have to DELETE IT abt their ship bc it was fucking weird. y’all are too comfortable these days with it. also if you’re this pressed abt gay firefighters not getting together i have a completely viable option for you that goes by almost the same fucking name! tarlos is right there but y’all want to pretend you’re above lone star when really you just want to keep bitching ad nauseam and making the rest of the fandom uninhabitable to normal ppl who understand that SHIPPING SOMETHING does not equal that thing being CANON. and that you can enjoy a ship without the expectation! fandom is so entitled these days it’s fucking ridiculous

[somethingvinyl]

The lawsuit is over, the ugly covers have all been released—1979 is the year we unkink the hose and all that great music Zappa was working on in ’77 and ’78 comes out. And it does so on his own new label, Zappa Records, distributed by Phonogram but with far more sole administrative control than FZ’s previous record labels. This is the beginning of a truly independent Zappa.

I have such mixed feelings about Sheik Yerbouti. It's unquestionably one of FZ's best albums, and even pretty high on my list of favorite albums of all time. But the lyrics… they are not good. This album completes Zappa's slide from lyrics that are provocative and transgressive to ones that are offensive for the sake of causing offense. His lyrics never get back into the zone of good taste; he stays here for the rest of his career. The intent is the same as it ever was—shock value humor with a dash of asking listeners to question the mores of society. But when you try to be an equal opportunity offender, to be "fair" by offending everybody, you're really missing some social and moral cues. Those in power are not harmed by your offense to the degree that others will be, so your offense is far from equal. And, of course, if you’re going to go for offensive humor, you’ve got to be FUNNY, and Zappa only hits on like 50% of the swings he takes—some of what he sings actually is funny, but so much of it just comes off as mean. And it isn’t just that it didn’t age well (though it didn’t). It had mostly the same negative impact at the time of release.

In any case, the lyrics here range from fun (Baby Snakes, City of Tiny Lites, Dancin' Fool) to despicable (Jewish Princess, Broken Hearts Are for Assholes) with no warning. Probably the most significant song from this album is also its best case study: Bobby Brown Goes Down. The intent is obviously to mock its narrator, a misogynist macho-man rapist, and the first verse does a pretty good (if tasteless) job of doing so. But in taking him down in the next few verses, Zappa mocks women's liberation and the LGBT community, with a tangle of confusion about what it means to be gay, transgender, and kinky—all concepts that Frank showed a lot of interest toward as subcultures similar to his own freak scene of the ‘60s, but doesn’t seem to have taken the time to truly understand. And the worst thing is that the music on Bobby Brown is stellar. The melody is great and works with the lyrics to make the punchlines hit so well, even when they miss the mark for me. It’s no wonder this song was a massive hit across eastern Europe, where they have an ear for great music and the language barrier prevents the lyrics from making their full impact.

Most (all?) of the guitar solos on this album use a technique Zappa called xenochrony (Greek roots: “foreign time”). He had been recording every live show he played for a while, and indeed all the basic tracks for the songs on this album were pulled from live shows (and massively overdubbed). For his guitar solos, he would pull a solo he played for an entirely different song and slap it over the backing track for the new one, finding ones that would interact in new and unexpected ways. It’s prominent on Yo’ Mama, and on Rat Tomago, Rubber Shirt, and Sheik Yerbouti Tango, the last three of which are entirely xenochronous, built from backing instruments that have also been removed from different songs and combined with guitar solos from others. It’s clever and the results here are very cool. He will overuse the technique later, causing a lot of his songs from the ‘80s to sound rather interchangeable, like they’re built out of lego. But for this album, his “Ampex guitar” (as he later called it) is great fun.

The band here is top-notch—Terry Bozzio on drums and frequent screamy vocals, Patrick O’Hearn with his bwompy fretless bass, Ed Mann on marimbas (finally filling the hole Ruth left), the legendary Adrian Belew on guitar (Bowie headhunted him out of Zappa’s band on this tour, beginning Belew’s ascent into guitar stardom). I really can’t overemphasize how, despite how much I hate some of these lyrics, I LOVE this album. It’s the curse of being a Zappa fan… I will not defend him, but nor will I stop listening obsessively.

[pinkarachnia]

Lesbian Anime Review #3 - Bloom Into You

Ring the bell ladies, we’ve got a GOOD SHOW!

I won’t go too deep into plot spoilers here because let me be clear: this one is worth your time (with a caveat).

Our protagonist, Yuu Koito, has just started high school but she has a dilemma. Her middle school bestie just confessed his feelings to her but she doesn’t reciprocate. Oops! Yuu has been trying to figure herself out and why she isn’t into this guy at all, and has come to the conclusion that she is asexual, and that’s why she doesn’t want to date this guy or anyone really.

Then she has a chance encounter with Touko Nanami, a member of the student council. She sees Touko flatly reject a boy because she “doesn’t want to date anyone”. They talk, but when Yuu opens up about not being interested in anyone and having seen Touko express the same sentiment, Touko reveals that she had thought she was ace, but in actual fact has discovered that she has gay feelings for Yuu. Specifically, gay feelings that are conditional and predicated on the fact that Yuu will not fall in love with her back.

First I’m going to talk criticism.

I have two major problems with this show, and at least one of those can be forgiven in my opinion.

Issue #1: high school setting

This is the forgivable of the two issues because I think this show uses the setting effectively for its narrative. The characters are experiencing relatable adolescent struggles to understand their own sexuality, which make sense in context because they’re teenagers. Not to mention, the presence of ACTUAL ADULT LESBIANS in the cast serves to contrast the stability of the adult relationship with the turbulent adolescent ones. The adult lesbians are comfortable with each other and their own sexualities and they’re shown to have a nice life together grounded in mutual acceptance, where the kids can’t seem to get a handle on things because they’re so preoccupied with their own internal drama to see the other person’s struggles as equal. So despite the setting being the most overdone, played-out thing in all of anime, I think they at least succeed in leaning on it for what context it can add to the characters’ struggles instead of it just being set dressing to sell manga to teens.

Issue #2: The (non)Ending

This anime needed a second season so badly. The series ends at right around the half way point of the manga, but the ending doesn’t carry any emotional weight because they haven’t resolved any of their ongoing plots. It is hard to recommend this series if you only intend to watch the anime because it doesn’t conclude.

This is what I meant earlier when I said I recommend this with a caveat. The caveat is you need to be ready to finish the rest of the story by reading the manga. Now the great thing about that is the show is a faithful enough adaption of the manga that you can start reading from the point the show got up to and you won’t have missed anything. I went and read the whole manga after I finished the show and I loved it. I won't speak on any of the events of the manga that aren't in the anime because this is an anime review, but I do believe it's worth picking this up if you liked the show.

Now I’m going to praise the show. Oh my god, it’s good yuri anime. And it’s got meaningful discussion of sexuality within the text! Wow! One of my favourite characters is Maki, an actual asexual character who talks to the protagonist about her ongoing relationship drama over the course of the narrative. When they share their experiences with asexuality with each other, Maki is unconvinced that Yuu is ace at all from the way he sees her yearning, which serves to highlight how the protagonist has had her view of sexuality coloured by her experiences with compulsory heterosexuality in middle school.

Did I mention the adult lesbians? I know I did but I’m coming back to it now.

Yuri manga is currently leagues ahead of anime because the stories in manga are often more diverse than high school girls love. This show offered me a tiny glimpse into what we could have, and I cherished that. Cheers to those two homos.

Overall it’s hard not to feel satisfied even though the ending to the anime wasn’t really an ending at all. And I now have some manga volumes that will be some of the most cherished in my collection. They can go right next to Chainsaw Man on the cool guy shelf.

Pros

adult gay people

sexuality as a major theme of the text

just a nice looking, well presented show

opening theme very nice to look at

Cons

the anime doesn’t end well if you aren’t going to read the manga (read the manga)

high school setting (redeemed)

not on any streaming services so I hope you like crime (I do)

And I’m giving this one a 9/10.