#because it's assumed knowledge on our part‚ and we wouldn't feel the need to explicitly lay out the intricacies of our own world

[hoofpeet]

is there any reason why you choose to build hoofology’s world the way you do? with the sort of sporadic posts I mean. that each incrementally focus on specific characters or the world itself, or just some random spattering of biology or design choices. I actually really like the way you do it even though I’m pretty sure it’s unintentional, it feels like looking through old newspapers or picking up a picture book from when you were a kid, if that makes sense? It’s more of “you can get a general idea for it very fast, but the deeper intricacies are yours to find”. I think back to your valentine flavored energy drink post a lot as a way for couples who aren’t the same breed(?) to go on dates if one’s nocturnal and vice versa. I love your work lots and lots and lots and think the way you go about everything is gorgeous. Hoofology as a whole has a very “uncomfortably comfortable” feeling to it. Like I’m visiting a grandparents house that I was at all the time when I was a kid but haven’t been to in over a decade.

Because I enjoy stories where the worldbuilding is something you can sort of choose how much you engage with; it's more of a suggestion that you can choose to ignore, but does add some fun to the story if you work to piece everything together. That probably came from watching Adventure time as a kid and being really obsessed with vague hints as to it being set in a post-apocalypse world, with background elements that suggest worldbuilding but never fully hand an explanation to the audience.

The other big inspiration for worldbuilding probably comes from Ghibli films; I feel like ghibli characters always feel very believably at home in their surroundings. Someone is generally already familiar with their surroundings, so they don't act like their own world is particularly extraordinary/unusual. I think the two big examples for what I mean would be princess mononoke and Nausicaa- where the characters are more concerned with looking forward and living their lives while somewhat ignoring the worlbuilding around them- because it's already familiar knowledge to them.. It's like watching landscapes pass by from the car window but still being focused on driving

--I also like stories where the characters themselves also don't fully know what's going on with the world around them. Most of the events/forces at work that shape the world Hoofology is set in are completely unknowable to both the characters and readers. Don't have many good examples of this but like- settings with a lot of ruins and such

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Not that anyone asked me but I dont think anyone should get to married to the idea that anything Eddie and his parents confirmation have anything to do with his sexuality. We only have canon confirmation of how they made Eddie feel as a father and a man. The writers sometimes surprise us but I feel strongly they won't here. A theme this season is parenting and I really think its more about how they made him and how he's trying to break cycles for Christopher. I would just consider it a win to have him say but guess what Buck is his legal gaurdian. But assuming his parents would even have issues with him being gay is people making assumptions TBH.

Honestly I'm actually OK with that 2 because we only have 2 episodes left, we still need to deal with May's life choices, Jonha, the Madney reconciliation and and the next step for Athena and Bobby. I really dont want the Buddie canon to be rushed.

They deserve to have a few episodes to deal them a proper romcom get together. Some pining. Some talking to the others about do you think he might like me lol. I sound juvenile but I need all the things with them. We still dealnin a situation where they assume the other is straight to the best of our knowledge.

Also Buck needs to finish his self worth journey and get his shit straight with Taylor. As always I would be happy to be wrong but I'm just hoping for a finale of Buddie making heart eyes at each other like the very first epsiode. Both single and ready to mingle.

Hey Nonnie

First off - you are always entitled to your opinion and secondly you do raise some interesting points.

you say about the writers sometimes surprising us but they won't here - the GA will more often than not be surprised by what happens and the only reason we in fandom are less often surprised by things than the GA is because we spend time looking for the clues etc. Also I wouldn't say Eddie queer awakening would be a surprise because the writers have been leaving clues for us everywhere this season (and a good chunk of last as well).

Yes one of the themes this season has been parenting - but actually its been the subplot to the larger idea of building a family - (which is the main overarching plot of the entirety of 911 ) like a second string to that bow - and thats the thing - its the sub plot so it won't likely be the main focus of Eddies trip to Texas - its part of that plot, yes, but not the main focus, because yes Eddie is trying to break the cycle for Christopher, but thats been an ongoing concept since at least the beginning of season 3 so it was already something Eddie was and is doing - it doesn't warrant a trip to Texas on its own.

This seasons main themes are the heart, healing, identity and Queerness and they all interconnect.

We have had hearts being thrown at us left right and centre all season and so our characters are being told to follow their heart (Eddie has quite literally been told to make sure he is following his heart by Carla in S4). Healing - both Maddie and Eddie have spent this season grappling with their mental health and the fall out from years of trauma stacking up on top of each other and finally tumbling. we've seen other characters grappling with healing as well - some in a constructive way, others less so - but every single main (and many of the recurring) has had some form of healing journey this season - several of which came to a conclusion in pertinent moments in 5x16.

Part of healing and part of the meaning behind hearts as well is the concept of identity - who are you what has made you the person you are and do you still want to be that person or is there another version of you that you didn't get to be for various reasons. Again we have seen all our mains (and many of the recurring as well) grappling with various aspects of identity this season

We have had more rescues and accidents involving explicitly queer characters this season than in any other so far and the big happy family event at the end - its a Queer vow renewal.

All of these themes interconnect with each other - the idea of following your heart, healing and becoming your true self - accepting what ever it was in your past so that you can embrace the you that you want to be - that is what Eddies trip to Texas is about, and yes that of course involves the theme of family, but that theme of family isn't just about the one in Texas, it also involves the one he has in LA - there is a reason we have gotten so many Buddie and Buddifer scenes - that is Eddies family - the one he has been building these past few years.

As for the Queer connection to all of this - well he is literally the only one this theme fits with in this season - there would be no need to have all the explicitly queer accidents and rescues - of which two people becoming a couple has been heavily implied (Chloe and Gabi and Josh and Carlson). If it was only about Hen and Karens vow renewal - they are the OG couple of the show - they have been happily married (with their share of bumps along the way) since before 911 started - we don't need the idea of queer people getting together - they are already together so their story is not about the idea of new love and finding your person - the only reason you need that idea is if you are planting in the audiences subconscious because you are moving towards there being a new queer couple within your mains - such as Buddie going canon

Eddies trip to Texas is about healing and identity and following his heart, that means Eddie needs to embrace his Queer self - the one he has been repressing and now, having spent time working on himself in a position to do just that. So Eddie coming out as Queer to his parents and potentially to the wider firefam - thats not rushing things, thats just what we've been building to.

it also doesn't mean Buddie is going to become canon within in the next two episodes - because yes we do need more time for them (especially Buck) to work on themselves as individuals. The audience explicitly knowing Eddie is Queer - that just gives the writers time to have Buck and Eddie keep working on themselves - it gives them so many narrative options to work on themselves at the same time as moving ever closer together until we get to the moment Buddie goes canon so I don't think it will be rushed in anyway, or a surprise if we have Queer Eddie by the end of the season its what everything has been building to and there is still plenty of time for all of the other storylines to unfold this season and sett everything up for next.