#avatar's worst adaptation

[craftyandy]

Color Sky Background Bedtime Story w Last Airbender Video

https://youtu.be/8SpiZEEOmKg Any Future Hope For The Live Action Avatar The Last Airbender by Netflix? #lastairbender #avatarthelastairbender #netflixavatar #nickelodeon #craftyarts #craftyandy #craftythoughts #animation #cartoons

Posted using PostyBirb

[kideaternomnom]

Can JJK, ATLA, and Sailor Moon fandoms not come up with a god horrendous objectively wrong take for just…one second?

[princemonday]

😭😭

[nibwhipdragon]

💫

💫 Favourite fact about your special interest?

Hmmmmm I cannot choose out of three for monhun so I will just list them all.

First one I really love is that Diablos is a herbivore, it only eats cacti. It's a pretty common fact, but I find it interesting how a creature can be a herbivore and still get the title of apex predator as it's so territorial and aggressive it actively hunts other organisms like it predates them.

Second fact is that Monster Hunter (Monster Hunter Frontier specifically) had a collab with. Pizza Hut. Yeah. It's had many collabs (Zelda, Ace Attorney, Sonic, Okami, One Piece, JJBA, Attack on Titan, etc.) but the concept of it having a collab with PIZZA HUT is too damn funny

Third of my favourite facts is that the live action movie absolutely bombed in the box office, only getting $44.5 million with a $60 million budget, as well as it getting terrible reviews. The live action film is SO BAD, and I am forever comforted by this fact as we likely will never get a sequel. Legends of the Guild is the only good Monster Hunter film. It is the only Monster Hunter film.

[zutarasbuff]

I watched the Netflix adaptation of ATLA today and being a hardcore fan of the OG series who knows every nook and cranny of the ATLA world, here’s my unbiased and truly honest review (It contains both the negatives and positives of the series, so dear reader please enter to read at your own risk).

Firstly, let’s talk about the wonderful additions to the already magical world of ATLA.

1. The depth of the genocide

Well, I always wanted to know how the air nomads were suddenly wiped out and how it would have been for them? Why didn’t they resist? I got my answers in the first episode where we explore how the unhinged power of the comet was “actually” used to create a genocide on a massive level. Before that, I had only heard about it in the OG series. Those few scenes were so powerful that they had left me sobbing uncontrollably and Gyatso’s concern regarding Aang had me bawling.

2. Suki’s Characterization

In the OG series, we do find our Suki the fiercest warrior, but here in the live action, she’s an absolute goddess. She is perfect in every sense. She understands the responsibilities she has being a non-bender and is fearless. Her character is what I believe to be was the strongest one of all.

3. Graphics & Music

We never talk about a film by M.Night (that didn’t happen), but this one is really a visual treat for you can readily set yourself up for some mind-blowing bending scenes, plus the fight scenes are quite impressive. It seems that the VFX team had really done their homework this time. Plus, both Momo and Appa are so freaking cute. I loved the fluffy Appa. Good work over there. The revival of the OG theme is also a highlight plus the sun warriors’ chanting in the end is given a new but intriguing twist. The background music especially in scenes where Aang unravels his Avatar powers is mystical in every aspect.

4. Life in motion

I don’t know about others, but I have always been a sucker for animation as well as live-action where characters are operating even in the direst of the circumstances. Life is there and even after they know what happened a hundred years ago, they are still trying to believe and regain their past confidence. This is beautifully portrayed and I was very much impressed by the way people are continuing their day-to-day activities even in the middle of a crisis.

Overall, the series serves the purpose of an adaptation carrying its unique colors (at least better than the previous live-action disaster that didn’t happen).

Now let’s move to the bad side, and when I say it’s honestly what I felt, you need to take my word on it being a hardcore Atla fan.

1. Weak writing & lots of exposition

ATLA remains at a 9.2 IMDB rating even after years because of its writing, strong plot, and very few plot holes. This time, the writers are the real amateur ones. Despite adding more to the already flourishing universe of ATLA, sadly, they killed the quest of the viewer to find answers. There is too much exposition. It seems that every character just wants to see the end of the war and keeps on revealing things after things. Plus, some of the OG moments that were the soul of the series are not even included. The way Aang finds Momo and then decides to keep it with him as a last remnant of their bygone air nomad civilization is nowhere to be found. In fact, the replacement of Roku with Kyoshi is the biggest disappointment. I love Kyoshi like no one else but that was unnecessary as per the cycle.

2. Bland acting

Even the worst writing shots can be digested only if the acting appears real good. Sadly, this is another issue that I found with the NETFLIXED version. No doubt the characters must have done a lot of hard work for this, yet, they lack the expressive power. Gordon as Aang is super cute but the goofiness is not even there. Katara seems a nerd who doesn’t like to talk much even when it’s necessary and Sokka’s jokes are forced. Meanwhile, Dallas seems to save the day at one point, but again his over-the-top angry young man attitude ruins it for me. Maybe the actors will learn from the criticism in the upcoming season (if Netflix plans to go with it).

3. Major changes

Yes, it’s okay to change the narrative while you are working on an adaptation, but targeting the loyal viewers who are OG fans of ATLA means that you have to be very careful when you are trying to implement your changes in scenes that are the real soul of the OG. You can’t change the Omashu myth as if it’s nothing when we actually see even the cute animated version of the folklore. You cannot portray Roku more as a perpetrator of the genocide and Bumi as the evil king when in truth he’s the mad king who’s known for his genius ways of teaching. I hated that. Plus, reducing Zhao’s authority and taking Uncle Iroh’s sarcastic attitude is just meh. Mai again doesn’t even seem perfect as a cast. Jet is good as far as the aesthetics are concerned but Jet being in Omashu doesn’t even sit right with me. The amalgamation of multiple storylines creates so much confusion and this persists till the end.

4. Bending at convenience

We all know how Katara’s bending progressed throughout the first season and it’s little effort each day. However, in series, one day she’s unable to bend even a droplet of water and the next day she is capable of producing ice crystals. This was unacceptable for me because I was anticipating her learning strategies. Besides, Aang doesn’t learn much water bending throughout this season and in the end, it’s him being the savior in Avatar state. Thoughtless bending sucks despite the great VFX and that’s one thing at which you can’t convince me otherwise.

5. Forced friendships

We all know how it took some time for Sokka to embrace Aang as a chum. However, here Sokka keeps on calling him “the kid” and remains mostly alienated from Aang. Talking to Katara, then she also seems more interested in helping Avatar fulfill his goal than being with a friend. I hated the scene where Aang comes into the Avatar state and instead of hugging him just like in the OG series, Katara runs along Sokka and keeps on calling his name. How is that going to build any organic friendship? I think the first mistake began right from the very moment when Aang was taken back to Wolf Cove on a boat in his unconscious state. Upon opening his eyes, the first person he finds near him is neither Katara nor Sokka but a tribesman who’s playing guessing games. Writers were really high when they wrote that.

6. Lack of the four nations’ biodiversity

Maybe in live action, it’s difficult to create all the marvels of the four nations when we talk about their natural biodiversity. In the OG series, it is indicated by Aang that even after 112 years, he has still not forgotten the animals that define different regions in the four kingdoms and that’s exactly why he wants to finish those “important tasks” alongside saving the world. His important tasks included keeping a check on the natural biodiversity of the lands and exploring whether the Hundred Years’ War had not damaged the majestic animals. Actually, his first dialogue right after regaining consciousness is to go for an otter penguin’s ride with Katara. When I thought about that I felt that somewhere in Aang’s mind he was always connected to nature and that’s why he wanted to regain that connection by being an avatar. Sadly we never see much of the biodiversity but I hoped that maybe they will.

Also, how come Aang had that silent whistle for one hundred years when in the series he only discovers that accidentally? I missed the OG Yip Yip for our Appa. There are lots and lots of problems with the Netflix version, and no I am not being a nitpicker. I appreciate how the current creators credited the original ones, but now I know why Bryan and Michael bade farewell to this project. On a scale of 10, it’s a 4 for me or 4.5 if I am being too generous.

If I am asked to review the live action in a single line, I would only say this:

“The Netflixed ATLA makes you go back to the OG series and you end up watching the animation to give your mind a much-needed respite from a carefully crafted artistic disaster aimed at the sensationalized generation.”

[captainkirkk]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

ATLA

Divergence of Destiny by Fernandidilly_yo

This is his life now, here on this ship, serving tea with Uncle and the crew. Traveling the world and staying far, far away from the ongoing war.

The Jasmine Dragon is Zuko's home.

Meeting the Avatar does not change that.

It changes absolutely nothing.

(Until, inevitably, it does.)

Tea and Cakes by ghosteyes

Zuko is having trouble pretending he doesn't has a problem with food and through a series of field trips with friends, the gaang starts to pick up on that as well.

Wishful Thinking by mindbending

Right after Boiling Rock, Zuko found Sokka sprawled in his tent with a bouquet of red roses, and a ring of romantic candles, and one final rose set between his teeth. With the littlest twinge of envy, Zuko realized the entire display was for Suki.

The point is Sokka's flirting is about as subtle as a buffalo yak. To miss it, you’d have to be a complete and utter airhead.

Stranger Things

Down in a Dead Man's Town by holyfudgemonkeys (erraticallyinspired)

When Steve nearly runs over Will Byers on that fateful night in 1983, he doesn’t expect offering him a ride home would result in both of them being hunted into another dimension. Surviving there is hard. Adapting to normal life again is even harder. His old self settles like an ill-fitting suit, and there’s no room for nightmares and fear and his new bond with Will in it. As he struggles to find a new normal he can live with, Steve finds himself befriending a bunch of kids and maybe (definitely) falling in love with a local weed dealer.

BNHA

Overcome by redrobin1989

When Izuku accepted All Might's quirk, he never expected to feel this helpless again. Sitting in on the interrogation of a serial killer, he realizes that the past can't always be left behind. Sometimes it comes back and brings with it a body count.

One can either overcome the problem or yourself be overcome.

DC (Batfamily)

Conference Room 2B by motleyfam

And okay, fine, Tim can admit it: his parents paying off a school official to circumvent social services just to see him was sketchy at best—probably illegal at worst. They really shouldn’t have done it. Bruce and Alfred would be furious to find out that they had. Not to mention Jason, who would go absolutely apeshit.

But–

But it was also just really fucking sweet of them.

Tim hasn’t felt this loved, this cherished, this fought for and desired by his parents in years.

Doesn’t he at least owe it to them to hear them out?

(Three months into Tim’s foster placement with the Waynes, Jack and Janet Drake decide they want back into their son’s life.)

Another Mirror by byrambles

It’s over remarkably quickly. The winning Batman leaves the losing Batman on the floor, still and broken, and Superman moves quickly to tie that one up as Winning Batman turns away. Turns toward Damian.

His shoulders slump, and Damian feels numb. This is not his Batman.

Anton Syndrome by Anonymous

Tim's parents have been away for six months and counting—the longest he's ever been left alone at one time—and it's starting to have some unpleasant side effects. Luckily, he has a solution.

OR, the one where Tim attempts prostitution to cure his touch starvation. His plan goes wrong pretty much from step one, but it all works out for the better.

DC/Danny Phantom

I Just Wanna Talk by foldingfacets

John Constantine beat the system of life and death until it fully refused to touch him anymore, and when it did, it never went well. It was a fact that the League had come to terms with, or those that knew, anyways. None of Constantine’s past could explain the kid in fuzzy pajamas that was curled up on a chair in the Justice League’s control room asking for the elusive brit.

Danny had barely made it to high school graduation only to be thrust into dealing with the millennia of bullshit waiting ever so patiently for the King of the Infinite Realms to look at. The fact that there was a weird amount of paperwork filed regarding some dude named John Constantine that looked like the weirdest form of tax fraud he’d ever seen was puzzling, and his parents committed that regularly. He has no idea what the hell he’s looking at.

Alternately: Danny is the inter-dimensional personification of the IRS for Death and the Unliving, and he just has a couple questions.

[rubydubydoo122]

Idk why everyone’s complaining about the new avatar. Specifically Zuko, Azula. I think the writer really nailed those characters, and their actors took it a step forward.

You can really see Zuko and Azulas anxiety in their micro expressions, but more importantly, with Azula, you can tell that she was a character raised to revel in the suffering of others, and you can tell how it’s affecting her, even if she does not realize it.

Aang was also really well casted, and I think with time he’ll become a really good actor, he’s just a bit young. Yk?

But the writers definitely did Katara and Sokka dirty. I feel like their personalities were kinda swapped? If that makes sense? I understand with Sokka they were trying to go the leader route, but in doing so, it kinda pushed Katara character to the side.

But also, people should stop hating on it, because it’s definitely something they can fix in the next season, and I want them to make it to season three, so that we can watch these characters grow. So that we can watch these actors grow.

In terms of adaptations, it’s not the worst, and it’s not something that can’t be fixed in later seasons.

[craftyandy]

InkFinal Bedtime Story w Making Video (Last Airbender Netflix)

https://youtu.be/8SpiZEEOmKg Any Future Hope For The Live Action Avatar The Last Airbender by Netflix? #lastairbender #avatarthelastairbender #netflixavatar #nickelodeon #craftyarts #craftyandy #craftythoughts #animation #cartoons

Posted using PostyBirb

[mossy-green-aka-ferrythem]

God now that I truly think about it... (Shadow of the Erdtree Spoilers under cut. I will be going over every remembrance boss.)

Never have I been more disappointed in a boss than with Promised Consort Radahn. What really makes it sting is the boss lineup this DLC has.

It has truly elevated Elden Ring to one of my favorite games. Stuff that never even clicked before in the base game finally clicked, I love a large portion of Elden Ring's boss design philosophy because it tends to be tough but fair, and the game gives you multiple options to handle all these different challenges. Even some of the worst bosses, with stuff like Godskin Duo, have big workarounds that make them very manageable! (not to say godskin duo is good, just something you can deal with).

Then you look at Promised Consort Radahn, and just... look I need to relay my feelings on all these DLC fights.

Rellana feels a bit too swift for my taste, but still a fun and engaging fight which really is quite interesting!

Divine Beast Dancing Lion really does feel quite simply... Divine when you get the hang of it.

Putrescent Knight was a fight I hated at first, but then... after making it pretty much the first boss I fight when I get to the Shadow Realm... it has become one I am incredibly fond of, and a fight that is, again, fun and engaging!

Scadutree Avatar is an easy favorite of mine. Gives weight to the concept of a "Tree Avatar", is a very engaging fight with many twists and turns, and has a large emphasis on one big weakspot!

Bayle is really amazing. Minus some lingering hitbox jank and the way fire interacts with the arena sometimes, he really did perfect the boss philosophy behind dragon bosses in Elden Ring I'd say. Better than any ancient dragon, better than Placidusax I'd say. Really I am not terribly fond of Placi. Too much big AOE usage and very little movement from the actual boss, only occasionally using lightning claws to keep you in it. Bayle however, is special. The fight actively encourages you to aim for the head, Bayle is aggressive, forcing you to dodge attacks that come at an interesting pace, and adapt to unusual punish windows, and weakpoints, and overall... is just an absolute fucking spectacle that I adore. Would love to learn this boss more in more playthroughs.

Midra is peak, problem is he died quite quickly on my first playthrough, so I can't say too much about him.

Messmer...

Messmer was a turning point.

Messmer is one of my absolute favorite bosses in Elden Ring. In fact, he's one of my favorite souls bosses, period!

So much about him is done right! He harness the Elden Ring boss design philosophy so perfectly! Also just. The way he recontextualizes so many fucking things with him and his mother Marika, and the sort of emotions the fight has... god.

Anyways

Commander Gaius is an alright fight. The changes made to his arena placement are very welcome. Overall a pretty fun fight, all things considered.

Romina is just... god she is just spectacular in so many ways! I love Romina! Mwah! 💋

Metyr is quite the interesting boss... very unusual, very odd, but also, definitely a fun time! Very reminiscent of some unusual fights in Bloodborne, namely Rom. Metyr is still very distinct though, of course.

Then...

God Damn it.

God fucking damn it.

god.

Promised Consort Radahn.

Ok I will be honest

I haven't beaten this fight, but honestly, I don't really want to.

I don't see him as a test of skill, or a fun challenge.

I see him as a test of patience. A test of patience at best even! Like just. So many things about this fight are fucked.

The first phase is great though, I must say! Despite it feeling somewhat frustrating, it has a lot of fun things to it! Though... some of it did feel quite bullshit... which just... oh god. It's like a prelude to what awaits you.

The fucking Second Phase.

Everything falls apart here.

The beams of light mess with your vision, and don't have quite the clear telegraph. I've seen how you dodge them and it's just... hugging against the boss. Like just. It feels like in this way, they enforce a very specific way of playing. Problem is, this way of playing isn't fun!

Then there's also the way other things mess with perception...

Then there is the inconsistent arena structure...

Then there is the nuke that comes out so quickly you can't get away from it 90% of the time...

There's the unsatisfying feel to how suffocating the attack strings begin to feel...

There's the fucking clone attacks that look fucking stupid and feel dumb.

There's the roll catches that will hit you like. All the time.

It doesn't feel right listing it all, but like. I am sure anyone else who has reached his second phase has their own input to give here.

My main input is that it just quite simply... wasn't fun...

In fact, it is bullshit.

Bullshit in that the challenge doesn't feel too consistent, bullshit in that it just feels so suffocating, and how that suffocation works against Elden Ring's design philosophy, and just. It's not fun. It's not fun to either squint your eyes and find a way to roll through that nauseating barrage of light, or take the other best option that I have heard, which is, I kid you not, to just, "Block Everything with a Shield".

...

That's. No. Just. No.

What really gets me is how in my experience, DLC final bosses not only are the most fun, but are also just. So amazing in so many ways. Some of the most emotionally moving the series has to offer, some of the toughest, but some of the most satisfying ever.

When I say this, who I really pertain to is Orphan of Kos, and of course...

Slave Knight Gael. One of my favorite bosses ever. Not just in terms of Souls games. But in terms of EVERY game. Everything about Gael is so amazing... genuinely, no boss has caused my heart to stand still, only to rush back to life quite like Gael. No boss has made me shed deep, sincere tears quite in the way Gael has. I love Gael. Gael means the world to me, and how he so thoroughly thematically captures the end of an entire world, the end of Dark Souls as a series. That there is nothing after him, that he stands alone at the end, due to him just living long enough to outlive everything. It's just... god I could keep going. I adore Gael. Adore him.

While Radahn... yeah I went over it.

Everything about that fight feels scuffed. Extremely scuffed.

Hell, you can actually look at what attributes Radahn and Gael share in terms of gameplay, and Gael does LITERALLY FUCKING EVERYTHING better. Like. Gael is the template here. You don't throw out what Gael did so well in pursuit of this overly-ambitious slog of bright lights and boringly-long attack strings.

Just. God.

What I really have to say here is that Promised Consort Radahn disappoints me so much.

How they have made such an amazing lineup of bosses in this DLC as well, which if I will likely talk about more in the future, and continue to speak about with an air of fondness, fun, and respect! Compared to what was supposed to cap off the DLC it's just...

So horrifically disappointing.

When compared to the Orphan, it's so horribly disappointing.

When compared to Gael, it's so atrociously disappointing.

I make this long post to say just.

I do not like Promised Consort Radahn.

[sludgewolf]

We need to talk about the lack of "filler" in series that're been released recently

I just watched a video about ATLA and it's filler or lack there of and, they're right, ATLA doesn't have filler episodes as we define "filler episodes" now. Our understanding of filler is closer to what's used for anime that is, non canon episodes that are made so the anime doesn't catch up with the manga. Applying this to western animation (I say animation bc I graduated in it thus a better understanding and I don't really watch many live action series so I don't have much of a say) we ended up with the impression that it means "episodes that don't move the plot forward"

Which, doesn't make sense with Western animation since most of it isn't a adaptation of something else, or with comic adaptations for ex, they're mostly adaptations of various arcs coming together as a single story. Smt very different from the manga to anime adaptation process

Comparing ATLA who positively doesn't have "filler" and X-men 97 who negatively doesn't have "filler" is a good example of what I'm trying to say.

Not all of ATLA episodes move the "learn the elements and defeat the firelord" plot forward and that's good thank fuck not all episodes are rushing ahead to throwing this 12yo we barely know into a battle with a full grown adult who's perpetrating a war against the rest of the world. Instead we actually get to know the characters, we see them traveling from the South to the North Pole instead of spawning where the plot demands, we see Aang adapt to the world post iceberg nap and learn to be the avatar, we see the effect the 100 year war had in this world. And most of all, the more "filler" episodes contributed to the pacing of the series, when binging the series now I still feel like the Gaang traveled across the whole world and didn't just teleport to the plot.

Opposed to X-men 97, don't get me wrong I'm absolutely loving it but the story is always being racing forward at a breakneck speed. They did try to pace it better inter cutting the main plot with Scott, Jean, Madelyne, Wolverine's whole deal and the "LifeDeath " plot, but if there wasn't the weekly wait for the next episode we would not have any time to breathe and digest what happened in the episodes.

I'm still confused on how Madelyne went from trying to have a normal life outside the x-men to being in Genosha's council. Still on Madelyne, I didn't care that they had to part ways with Nathan, ik he's their baby and all that, but as soon as they named the baby Nathan I knew they were throwing that baby to the future to complete the time loop of him being in the original series. And that's because they never got the chance to try to make us care, the writing team couldn't waste time with that since they only had 8 episodes to tell all these stories, the speed that the plot is being taken makes me believe that when writing this season Disney still hadn't signed on the second season and when they did it was too late to rework the script.

This whole thing is reminding me of Hazbin Hotel's pacing problems, analyzing it as if I didn't watch the pilot, we just met the characters and suddenly had to care that they were going to die in six months, we don't really know Charlie other than 1. she's Lucifer's daughter, 2. daddy issues that aren't rly addressed besides jokes, 3. she's with Vaggie (other character we didn't get to know) and 4. she's the owner of the hotel and wants to rehabilitate the sinners. The worst part of it is, we teleported from the start of the season to 6 months later out of nowhere and suddenly we're at the finale with the big boss battle. Of course HuskDust is a more popular ship than Charlie and Vaggie, we never got the chance to see them being together other than in episodes when the characters are being dragged by the plot while Angel and Husk had an episode where we met them and got the time to see them interact without being pushed by the extermination plot

This is exactly why "filler episodes" are important, we should actually know who these characters are before the big fight at the end so we can actually care about what happens to them. X-men 97 may not suffer that much from it but it's because we already knew most of the characters, but we never got to meet this version of Madelyne, see her going out alone to a world that hates her existence, see her morn having been forced to send her baby off to the future and maybe not being able to see him ever again and finally see never see how did she even end up in Genosha.

Or Storm, sure we got a two parter, but how did she get to fuck knows where to meet Forge in that bar, what did she go through during the time she was traveling alone, it's not as if people wouldn't recognize her as a x-men even if she'd left the team, maybe see more of how the relationship between her and Forge developed, cuz I didn't get why she still wants to be with him even after he basically created the tec that was turned into the weapons used to kill mutants, that's smt one can't just forgive, and yes I'd like to see her as she struggles with not having her powers, smt other than she feeling lonely without the wind (this would work even as just a montage with sad music as she travels to the fuckall haunted desert)

On a rly quick note on Invincible I do think they did a good job with their pacing and character development with the time they had, I'd like to have seen a bit more of Rex's development from complete douche to Lizard Leader homemade lobotomy to where we are now, but on the Grayson family whole thing they did an amazing job at showing how they're dealing with the aftermath of season 1, there was just a little jump from Debbie downing a bottle of wine every day to full bug mom mode but I do think she'd step up to it no doubt.

Maybe just some scenes of her still working through s1 trauma and questioning wtf is wrong w Nolan bc from her perspective he just killed hundreds of ppl on Earth, almost killed Mark, fucked off to space and suddenly there's a purple half bug baby living in her house calling her mom. But I don't think that's strictly necessary since there's always fanfiction to bridge this gap and it's just a minor thing that bothered me

TLDR: Filler in western cartoons isn't really filler, these are just episodes to help develop the world or characters without having to rush with the plot and also episodes that help with the pacing of the story, thus showing the passage of time or great distances being crossed without having the characters spawn at the next plot point. And we do need it specially for shows that are intended for binging, such as most shows now. What determines good filler from bad filler here is good writing

[xplainthexmen]

SPOILER WARNING: ALL OF THEM, NONSTOP

In which Barry Windsor-Smith is too sexy for television; we know what happens when unstable molecules get struck by lightning; X-Men gets political and does it spectacularly; this Captain America would not sew the cape; Magneto continues to throw things into space; and they kissed and we missed it.

X-PLAINED:

Fabian Cortez’s name

X-Men ’97 episodes 6-10

Lifedeath I & II: a surprising adaptation

Varying levels of going in blind

A somewhat different and possibly better Forge

The Adversary vs. the Owl Queen

Stormiest and least-Stormy costumes

Professor Charles Xavier, Official Space Boyfriend

Colonialism vs. Identity

Delayed catharsis

The narrative power of altered opening credits

What makes allyship effective (and not)

Justified mutant anger

The worst version of Nina DaCosta

What makes Prime Sentinels scary

Summers family feels

The best damned fight scenes out there

Bastion, robo-avatar of conservative white patriarchy

Simultaneous crossovers

A psychic gay bar

A last boss arena

Acolyte equivalencies

Phoenix Ex Machina

Crying

Whether Magneto was right

Apoca-futures and Apoca-pasts

A bulletin board and our hopes for its contents

Soft Serve

Kitty Pryde’s coffee shop AU

X-Men ’97 as the perfect gateway

NEXT EPISODE: Skrulls!

LINKS AND FURTHER READING:

The Judgment of Magneto by Asher Elbein

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[jasmine-tea-latte]

JTL's long but not as long as it could've been review of Netflix's ATLA

So.

I’ve finished watching the Netflix adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender and I have a lot of thoughts. Because despite some of the more questionable changes, I overall enjoyed this as an adaptation.

I wish I could say that I was surprised by the criticisms I'm seen so far, but unfortunately, I’m not. As much as I adore the OG series for being one of the greatest animated shows (or television shows, period), it’s been placed on a pedestal over the years and any adaptation of it will always be held to an impossibly high standard. And for better or for worse, a lot of fans have their nostalgia glasses on when it comes to the show, so any deviation from the source material is going to receive some form of backlash. I say this as someone who clearly still loves the show 19 years later, otherwise I wouldn't be here writing about it, ya know?

Anyways, if I had to give it a grade compared to the OG series, I’d give it a B- or a C+. If I’m grading it as its own thing, I’d bump that up to a B+ or A-. There are some elements (pun not intended) that definitely should have been kept in, and some changes that I thought were done well.

TL;DR – I had fun watching it even during the parts that made me cry, and the parts that made me say “… well that was a decision.” I’d love to see the last two books be adapted as well, if for no other reason than to meet Toph Mothereffing Bei Fong and see all of Team Avatar together.

(Also because I’d LOVE to see The Ember Island Players, especially if they managed to work in a few fun cameos. Can't you picture Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Play!Toph and thee Dante Basco as Play!Zuko, hamming it up for all it’s worth? Shut up and take my money!)

(And of course, the Last Agni Kai for obvious reasons)

So I’d recommend at least checking it out if you’re interested. I’d also like to recommend that if you do, watch it from a pragmatic standpoint that it’s a condensed adaptation, not a shot-for-shot remake.

Some things that I liked, and some that I didn’t are below the cut:  

(SPOILERS, obvs)

Aang – I really liked this version of him, and though his actor’s still young, I thought he embodied the upbeat, playful side well. I also liked that they removed his one-sided crush on Katara, and – don’t shoot me for this – if they went with Kat@ang later based on how they did their characters in this first season, I wouldn’t be entirely opposed if it’s built on actual friendship and not an unrequited crush. (Still Team Zutara for life, but I don’t think that I’d *hate* it if the show went in this direction.)

Katara – I thought her actress did great when it came to portraying the nurturing, sensitive side. What I didn’t like was them removing nearly all of her feminine rage. Let her be angry! Let her lose her temper and be hot-headed! This post sums it up nicely. That being said, I do think she did well enough with the direction she was given. Here’s hoping we’ll see our girl eff some stuff up if we get Seasons 2 and 3.

Sokka – Fantastic and sarcastic. I really liked his actor’s interpretation of him, and it definitely felt more in line with the character we all fell in love with during the OG show.

Zuko – out of the main cast, I think his performance was the best. He had to step into a major role, taking over from a beloved performance that is still hailed as one of the greatest redemption arcs in modern media with a lot of expectations riding on his shoulders, and I think that his actor knocked it out of the park. It’s different from Dante Basco’s interpretation, obviously. But as I watched each episode, I kept thinking, “there’s our grumpy fire boy.” The scene where he’s throwing the temper tantrum over losing his journal, while Iroh’s standing back and watching? I thought to myself, “this boy is the worst, he’s perfect.” Plus the flashbacks to his life before scarring were done well, and even though I knew what was coming re: the Agni Kai against his father and subsequent banishment, I still got emotional.

Also, regarding the Agni Kai – on one hand, I feel like his absolute refusal to fight back was such an integral part of that scene and understanding who he is as a character. That being said, I didn’t *hate* that in this version he was pushed into defending himself, albeit by holding back. That one shot where he hesitates to attack Ozai, only for his father to use that same move against him moments later… oof.

My ONLY complaint with this version of Zuko is that he didn't say "honor" once.

Other thoughts I had:

🟣 I really liked that we got to see more of the Air Nomads and life at the Southern Air Temple prior to Sozin’s attack. I also liked the explanation the show gave of having all the Air Nomads gathered together for a festival celebrating the comet, which makes more sense if they’re all (allegedly) under one roof.

Additionally, witnessing the genocide itself… I was crying. Especially during the final showdown between Gyatso and Sozin, and the realization that we were witnessing Roku’s (former) best friend slaughter one of his other closest friends.

But why wouldn't they send the children out on the flying bison to escape instead of having them all cornered?!

🟣 I really enjoyed getting to see interactions between Ozai and Iroh, which was one of the biggest missed opportunities in the OG show.

🟣 MY GIRL JUNE. That is all.

The part where she flirts with Iroh was also a nice flip on what happened in the OG show, with his covert pervert crush and all. Plus Zuko’s face when she calls his “dad” cute? Peak Zuzu. Also, poor Iroh hahaha.

🟣 Suki! I really liked the Kyoshi Island episode, plus her awkward flirting with Sokka by kicking his ass.

🟣 I really wish the whole subplot of Kya’s necklace hadn’t been cut, tbh. The flashbacks involving her were good, and as devastating as it was actually seeing her death, it does hammer home the point what a horrifying experience that was (side-eyeing you, everyone making the jokes about Katara always bringing up her dead mother.)

🟣 THE SCARF SCENE. Nice try, Netflix, but I know better than to get my hopes up again from 5 seconds of slow-mo. Did I still screech when it happened, though? Ofc I did!

🟣 The twist with the 41st Division was bittersweet and I may have (okay, definitely) cried.

🟣 Combining Jet’s subplots with the Mechanist’s and putting them in Omashu wasn’t too bad. I do wish the message of “not everyone in the FN is evil” from Jet’s episode had made it into this version, tbh.

🟣 Overall, I liked Jet + the Freedom Fighters. Also, props to his actor for capturing the pretty boy / f*ckboi attitude well.

🟣 Loved Chong and the hippies, of course (SECRET, SECRET, SECRET TUNNEL, YEAH!) and I don’t mind that they were included this early.

🟣 I loved the change to the Cave of Two Lovers and having Oma and Shu be lesbians.

🟣 I feel like if the show’s renewed for a second season and we come back to Omashu, there’s a chance they could revisit the COTL with Katara and Aang this time around.

🟣 The random lady smacking Zuzu with a broom – “how dare you hit that child?!” – was hilarious, and Dallas Liu’s facial expressions of “wtf” and “fml” were a thing of beauty (starts at 1:40 in the video below)

🟣 CABBAGE MAN! I just love that they got the original voice actor, hamming it up and screaming at the sky.

🟣 I LOVED the Blue Spirit episode, and all of the flashbacks, plus the voiceover about masks and seeing past!Zuko contrasted to present!Zuko, as presented in this gifset? RIP my heart.

🟣 The flashback to Lu Ten’s funeral and showing Zuko being the only person to join his uncle, sharing a sweet memory of his cousin while Leaves from the Vine plays? Beautiful. Ditto to the flashbacks of Iroh standing up for his nephew prior to the Agni Kai and the scenes of them getting ready to set sail to search for the Avatar. “I don’t need a babysitter.” “How about a friend?” how about excuse you I did not ask for these emotions how dare you.

🟣 I actually liked the inclusion of Ozai and Azula + Mai and Ty Lee. I also loved the opening of Ep. 3, showing how she was able to infiltrate the team of rebels. RIP to Kevin Tran (in advanced placement), though.

🟣 I loved that Katara rallied the women waterbenders and they were able to help during the Siege of the North. I also liked her reaction when she's talking with Yugoda in the healing huts and realizes why she's been sent there. It gave us a glimpse of the fiestier / headstrong Katara we all know and love, and if the show gets renewed I hope we'll get to see more.

🟣 I really enjoyed them giving Aang and Zuko a few minutes to talk / form a connection after he was unmasked as the Blue Spirit. That was nicely done.

and finally...

Nothing else to add, just chef's kiss.

(gif source)

Anyways! I might make a more extensive list of my personal pros and cons, but for now, I’d still recommend giving it a shot.

[thevindicativevordan]

Xa-du pretty much shows up whenever the Phantom Zone shows up now. He even had a cameo in a Wonder Woman comic back during infinite frontier. Do you think he counts as a meaningful addition to his rogues gallery like Manchester black or do you think he needs an animated adaptation (I'd love for MAWS to use him over Zod, especially since their brainiac already felt like robot Zod)

Gladly take an animated adaption, but I believe he's already a meaningful addition in that he embodies the Phantom Zone as an antagonistic force, and Superman can believably fight him in a brawl unlike Aethyr. Zod and other evil Kryptonians being imprisoned in the Zone is peripheral to their whole deal, but it's central to the Phantom King. He's actually been mutated by his time there, and ideally if I had my way, it would result in a different powerset for him too. As an evil Kryptonian he is different enough from the rest to justify keeping around, and he actually has an awesome design to make people remember him.

I cannot overemphasize enough how important having a cool design is. Venom has coasted off being cool-looking for practically his entire existence. Artists like to draw cool stuff and writers like to use characters that look awesome. Waid loves Jax-Ur because that guy was the most prominent Silver Age Kryptonian baddie, but Jax fell off and has never recovered because he has neither the personality, potential, or coolness factor to compete with Zod. Jax has never had a cool looking design, even his DCAU appearance makes him look like Diet Zod.

Xa-Du meanwhile strikes a dramatic contrast with Zod in both personality and motivation. If Zod remains the Space Fascist, seeking to exert total control over everything he sees, even as his control over himself continues to crack, Xa-Du is the cackling maniac who left sanity and self-control behind long ago. Where Zod dresses in pristine power armor, Xa dresses in rags. Where Zod has shown a twisted concern for his fellow Kryptonians, trying to revive the Kandorians with the Lazarus Pits, Xa used the Kandorians as bullets to try to kill Superman's loved ones. Actually that's the fundamental difference between the two and why Xa works alongside Zod: he doesn't give a damn about Krypton being gone or what happens to his fellow Kryptonian survivors. He's never going to repent or reform, he has no sympathetic backstory or traits, and he doesn't really serve as a twisted mirror to Superman. Being pure evil let's him be fun to read because he stands out amidst all the other Superman Rogues who are frequently being given sympathy in the modern era.

Waid has frequently said that Superman would struggle with Batman's villains because he can't think like a sociopath. If that's the route we're going, then I argue we need to have Superman up against villains who are as depraved as the worst Arkham inmates because they would test him in a way his other villains can't. Toyman for me is the human who brings that depravity while the Phantom King is the Kryptonian side of that coin. Superman can't empathize with, or understand them, and when he's up against them he is forced to contend with the most debased avatars of both sides of his dual heritage.

[wandamyconfort]

if I were you.. | CH.1

wanda Maximoff x fem!reader

CH.2

summary: y/n is best friends with vision, who ironically, is the boyfriend of his worst enemy, wanda maximoff. until one night, when the clock struck midnight, they are both struck by something mysterious that completely changes the fate of their best friends, including a certain redhead… be careful what you wish for.

note: this is an adaptation, all credits to my star allyszoka. ☆

sorry for any translation errors, english is not my first language

(...)

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" you murmured at the entrance to the room, slightly startled by the thunder that collapsed into the sky with a noise that echoed throughout the house.

Of course, my love. - Scott responded by giving her a space in the bed for her daughter.

Despite being a teenager, you was still scared to death of lightning and the rumble of thunder terrified her. The girl cracked a beautiful childish smile, showing off her nasal muscles, and snuggled between her parents.

You are considered unpopular by most students as you seemed to be very "self-centered and impatient." You are known to be very competitive and always want to get the role you thought was right. And not forgetting: you're best known for getting cold scratch cards on your face.

Wanda Maximoff is their card-carrying enemy: the popular cheerleading captain, the kind of girl they die of envy and love for. Girlfriend of Vision Stark, the newest member of the popular group, and who ironically is his best friend.

Obviously, much to Maximoff's chagrin, you and Vision became best friends when he came two years ago to attend Harbor High School in another all-boys boarding school town. He didn't have much of a knack for girls. And with dyslexia, the grades weren't as good, but you always tried to help him with these problems.

He also had his nerdy side, he loved Star Wars, Harry Potter and Avatar, At first he got a lot of scratch cards for being a joke, but that changed about a year ago, when he decided to join the football team and when he started dating Maximoff to become more popular. Because he was new there he was afraid of being socially excluded, but gradually he fell in love with Wanda, and vice versa.

But not for these reasons did he abandon his friendship with you; Raised in a lower-middle-class place. was mocked for being poor and not having the conditions like most students, and for the way she dressed badly, in an infantilized way.

Such a trait given by one of her classmates, Natasha, "as a grandmother and at the same time a five-year-old." you was a virgin and wasn't shy about admitting it. and was also a vegetarian.

The day was born you got a yellow star plush from your parents. To them, you was a star. At least, that's what you been telling herself since you won her first dance contest at the age of three.

You loves stars, and her signature is always followed by a golden one, because metaphors are important.

It's a metaphor, and metaphors are important. My golden stars are a metaphor for me being a star.

Though some — the vast majority — don't agree with the things you does.

You was the essential voice in the Choral Club.

- Comes... Let me help you. - Vision said with a friendly smile on his face.

He opened the cupboard next to his and grabbed a blue towel that read, "Best friends forever." A gift you gave him, having an equal, only in lilac color. The boy helped clean himself up

"These brutes will never leave me alone. - She grumbled. - They'll regret it when they're the drivers of my expensive limousines.

Vision laughed in agreement.

- But look on the bright side... At least it's strawberry. Your favorite.

- Tried to force a smile and got a simple one back.

- Idiot. - Punched his arm weakly.

- Already filling my boyfriend again, homeless? You rolled her eyes at hearing that queasy voice.

- Good to see you too, hunchback. - you said in a sarcastic tone and still rolling his eyes in boredom.

"Who do you think you are, imbecile?"

The two shot each other with their eyes and Vision stared from one to the other in fright, not knowing exactly what to do. Wanda was already about to open her mouth when she was interrupted.

- Shall we stop? - Asked the boy.

- I don't know how you handle this... thing. - Kept teasing.

- I don't know how you handle this sour barbie project! -Retorted.

- Oh, please. Go to the garbage can that is your place. Enjoy and take the rest of your family. That which you call father and mother!

- That's enough! - The boy said firmly.

- I'm not going to stand here listening to your shit. See you later, Vision. - After that, you left a little upset.

you couldn't stand Wanda maximoff! The most annoying girl. you didn't understand what Vision had in her head to date something like... that! And then she was popular and beautiful? It was just that! She was shy, cold, calculating. A bitch. That's what you thought

"You shouldn't have talked to her like that. - Reproached the boy realizing how sad his friend had been.

-What? Are you going to be defending your weird friend now? - Replied in the same tone

Vision looked at her completely seriously.

- It's not about defending or which side I'm on. I'm just tired of my best friend and my girlfriend fighting like dog and cat!

Wanda rolled her eyes and the boy sighed giving up on talking about it.

- Let's not talk about that now... Is the invitation to spend the night at your house still standing? - He tried to change the subject.

"But don't you think you're only going because my parents won't be home, that there's going to be something else besides sleeping.

-Calm. That didn't even cross my mind. - Smiled mischievously.

"Mom, are you home yet?" - Shouted looking at the rooms of his house while locking the front door.

Vision lived only with his mother. A woman who liked to occupy her time with work. Especially after the death of her husband five years ago, after that she never left or fell in love with anyone. She worked as a nurse in one of the best hospitals in Miami, where she occupied all her time. And since she had to deal with it alone, she always tried to work as many overtime hours as possible, coming home late and already tired. Although Vision understood his mother's necessary absence, that didn't mean he didn't miss her company. But whenever she had free time she did not hesitate to spend with her only child.

The boy realized his mother wasn't home, but found a note attached to the fridge.

"I'm sorry, son, but I'll be back later today. I'll have to stay on duty. Lunch is in the fridge, just need to heat in the microwave. Mom loves you!"

"I love you too, Mom," he whispered in a thread of voice in that quiet kitchen.

But what made him happy was that he, today, would not spend his night alone...

(...)

The plan was to sleep in a shell but a series of warm kisses began between the two young men. He was already on top of Wanda kissing her, he was panting and tried to take off the girl's blouse but was stopped.

-No... I'm not ready yet. - Murmured composing himself.

Whenever he had a little loophole, he would try to go beyond kissing Wanda. I couldn't help it, they had been together for almost a year and nothing was happening but kneading and kissing. He also never forced anything, Vision respected her.

- Alright, I'm sorry. - Said sympathetically coming out of it.

- How about we just sleep in shells? - The girl asked for candy looking into his eyes. He nodded with a smile.

[miirshroom]

"If the gods saw peoples' souls but not their bodies in mirror to the way people saw bodies but not souls it might explain why the gods were so careless of such things as appearance or other bodily functions. Such as pain? Was pain an illusion from the gods' point of view?" - Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold

The design philosophy of FromSoft's souls games (and Elden Ring) is simple: adapt the above concept from book format to video game. The players are in the role of the omnipotent god who can play and replay the game and memorize all of the pieces of how it all fits together. With effort, a person can know the past, present, and future of every character. And the pain of the player avatar - and indeed all characters - is an illusion. They are distant abstract constructs. Not real.

Where the quote says "soul" what it means is "thoughts". Narratives written from the point of view of a specific character can give an unparalleled view into their thoughts about the situation they are in. Sneaky writers can use this to show that even the worst person in a story views themself as a hero who fully believes themselves justified, even as another character identifies them as careless or a dangerous tyrant.

So the characters in the videogame are conceptualized as more than just "people" - they are souls. They are bundles of thoughts. Their affect and quest lines and naming schemes and even the directions that they are facing in game are all highly structured to convey theme, cautionary tales, or to act as microcosms of the macro forces at play. And when they die, their animating thoughts become exposed as one or more pieces of equipment that the player can take for their own use.

Counterpart to the soul, the word "body" is used less often than you'd think in Elden Ring. More often the physical form is described as "flesh". "Cursemark carved into the discarded flesh of Ranni the Witch." "As for his flesh, he gave it to me, Shabriri."

What I mean by this is that when Ranni says "this doll's body is not without its hindrances" the body in question is not the doll. When Ansbach says "After Lord Mohg's slaying at his dynastic palace, it appears his body has been absconded with. And taken straight to Kind Miquella." he is not really talking about the physical appearance of Mohg Lord of Blood that we fight.

Think of the "body" of each demigod as a world. Thoughts occupy a body and so "Elden Ring" the videogame is the body of work that contains the characters. The Lands Between itself is the body that Ranni's doll form exists within. The "Shadow of the Erdtree" is a body nested within the greater body. A game world accessed within a game world.

Important is the extrapolation of this understanding. The Shadowlands in all its hostile glory is the "body" of Mohg that we are all trampling about in - the "inner world" that he stole from Miquella and made his own. Recall that Mohg appears from nothing - he forms from the formless blood that pools out of the corpse inside the cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace. He is possessing this corpse like a demon - like Shabriri - possesses the flesh of others. But Ansbach has no obligation to tell you the history of the flesh or the body. He only says the most recent true thing because it is most flattering to his cause - that Miquella has seized control of the body that was most recently under control of Mohg. He neglects to mention that Miquella's claim to the body pre-dates Mohg's.

And Mohg, Lord of Blood, claimed the body by soaking it in blood.

“Blood is memory...Blood is who we are...Blood recalls who we were. Blood is how we will be remembered. Work it well into the womb wood.” - Fool's Fate, Robin Hobb

It's a fantastical explanation that could have been pulled directly from the Realm of the Elderlings. Blood is memory, and blood worked into the Wombwood (the chrysalis of dead dragons) allows a person to superimpose their thoughts and memories over those of the never-metamorphosed dragon. And so, many souls who experience bloody violence are trapped in the Cocoon of the Empyrean in a living death.

And whether Miquella is a victim who suffers from being drowned in blood, or whether this bloody ascension was all according to plan becomes a topic of debate for us careless player-gods. The pain of characters in a story is an illusion. What you get out of it depends on the perspective you put in.

[ultfreakme]

Kiawentiio (when answering about Kataang): it’s still just the first season but uhh they’re family *proceeds to explain the concept of found family*

Gordon: She’s my … uhh… family. Also, the one other person I did a chemistry read with outside of Dallas was Kiawentiio.

Albert Kim: Us doing Cave of Two Lovers doesn’t mean we won’t do Kataang. That’s a future storyline to be explored. Also, the finale I wrote with Katara’s speech was definitely meant to be romantic.

Everyone: Zutara will 100% be endgame

Gordon and Kiawentiio are so funny when they have to talk about Aang and Katara's relationship because they clearly don't want to spoil anything or hint at things, but they accidentally keep walking into conversations where they have to talk about it hdbfjgbhb it's cute.

"Yeah Aaang and Katara are uhhhhh- friends- and family. Yep just that just found family ya know"

The final speech is so good ;_; This Aang thinks that he can be nothing but the Avatar. He's not of this time, there is no home for him, and all the Avatars are telling him to keep his distance from people. He's feeling isolated, unwanted as just Aang, and alone. Katara tries to reach out but he isn't letting her.

Him merging with the ocean spirit in this version feels sadder because he's willing to lose all of himself. He just seems...done. But Katara is telling him that no, he isn't alone, that she'll stick by him so please just come back and I- I'M CRYING.;_; (I screamed at that part where Yue said the Ocean spirit will forever search for its other half and it cut to AANG AND KATARA AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH)

(and i don't wanna diss or look down on zutara as a ship, but, zutara feels even more impossible in NATLA considering Katara gets flashbacks to the worst moment of her life at the sight of Zuko and the final fight is kinda symbolized as her being able to find strength and treasure the good times with her mother, overcoming the trauma FN inflicted upon her. Zuko is all her worst fears, he almost took away her brother too like come on).

Kataang is integral to ATLA in all its forms, like you can't make a true and honest ATLA adaptation without Kataang. Also I kinda liked the new take on Cave of Two Lovers. Familial and platonic love is important too <3<3(just remembered that multiple people called it incestuous?????? now that's just in bad faith like what is wrong with you?) We got some Sokka-Katara sibling bonding and resolution, I liked seeing them interact.

I think season 2 is going to have a lot more romantic moments between Kataand and I can't wait!!!