#but i'm trying to hold out hope for malex and where that story at least is going

[lovecolibri]

I don't think we're headed for more romantic M*luca, but the show is very blatantly writing their dynamic as one with unresolved feelings, and I can't tell if it's going to lead to like an actual honest conversation between them about the why of their relationship (I don't trust post-Carina RNM writers yet to land the emotional arcs), but it should. They are choosing to write M*ria lashing out specifically at Michael, even though he's not the only person trying to reason with her, and I can't imagine why unless they do intend to address something. The choice to have M*ria be the one to end things and only vaguely allude to Michael's feelings for Alex is still hanging over things. The whole breakup was nonsensical, and quite frankly I have no idea if breaking up with M*ria would have been a thing Michael did during the time jump. He wasn't allowed to express himself last season, and S3 needs to be better.

Yeah, season 2 was a mess especially in regards with how Michael wasn't allowed to acknowledge Alex existed outside the bubble all of the Malex scenes took place in and I'm really hopeful we are going to see some resolution at least for Malex and getting some good conversations between them about their feelings and some of what they felt last season that because of c*rina we weren’t allowed to see. I definitely don't think they will ever try any hint of romantic m*luca again given that the press around it was bad enough before 2x06 and did not improve after that, but I've got to be honest though, I have no idea what the deal with m*ria is! I have no clue what could even be the reasoning behind her being catty and snappy towards Michael. I know a lot of people think we are getting them being "banter buddies" back, but the vibe of her comments and her attitude, and Michael's response to it, is markedly different from what we saw in season 1. And even IF they wanted to go with "unresolved feelings" about m*luca, it doesn't work with m*ria being the one to be upset given that a) she broke things off, b) given that they committed to the year-long time jump to put distance from season 2 and to let everyone move on, and c) that Alex and Michael didn't get together immediately and spend that year rubbing it in her face how happy they were together now. So if they try to play it like there are unresolved feelings for her, it's not going to make any sense! And it seems like, against any modicum of common sense, they are going to push m*ria together with Greg and we saw them interact before she ever interacted with Michael, so why if she’s already flirting and moving on is she still being so awful toward him?! I’m with you in that after what we’ve seen in these 2 episodes (and the past 2 seasons as c*rina wasn’t the only writer and didn’t rewrite every single thing), I do not trust the writers to handle the closure on m*luca well at all. Because right now it looks like they are having Michael tiptoeing around and trying to manage her delicate feelings about the break up from a year ago so I would actually rather the show didn’t address it if all they are going to do is keep shoving the idea down our throats that their sham of a relationship was in any way a good or healthy or helpful thing for either of them, or that m*ria, after never having a good or kind thing to say to or about Michael and refusing to even consider being exclusive on her end (while he had to be on his end), is somehow missing him and distraught about their relationship ending. She had nothing but disparaging things to say so I’m still trying to work out why they were even together in the first place (spoiler alert, every reason I can come up with makes her out to still be an awful person), much less why she is being so pissy about it now! They really only had one major job to do on this front going into this new season without c*rina and that was to make sure m*luca was buried 8ft down where it would never rise again, and establish again the soulmates connection for Malex, (and to a lesser extent, if they really wanted to put a pin in season 2, to not have Michael and Alex interacting with m*ria at all outside of group scenes where it’s clear they are only there for alien business) and we are 2 episodes down out of the 10 that Alex will be in and we still haven’t gotten any of that. I am trying to hold out hope at least for the Malex of it all (tonight had better deliver!) but I’ve lost any hope that they are going to even make a passing attempt to address m*ria’s behavior or put any effort in to making sure it’s clear that m*luca was a mistake. I’m hopeful they might to the Literal Least Thing Possible and have Michael say a generic “I made a lot of mistakes” or “I said a lot of things I didn’t mean” or “I was trying to bury my feelings” or something like that as a way to address his actions from last season. I would not be shocked if they make sure Michael’s actions are addressed, while continuing to pretend that m*ria has never done anything wrong and not allow any character to say or do anything that might insinuate that she has even while she is actively still manipulating everyone by threating self-harm and threating other people’s lives and safety and compromising their alien secret in the process. 🙃🙃🙃

[lambourngb]

This week has just been a terrible, no good, dirty rotten kind of time where I am about to lose all faith in humanity. I'm not even sure what kind of Malex story I want to read but if you have any recs for that sort of mood that might be comforting I would love to read them!

Oof I have had weeks like that, so I completely know what you mean. At the moment I’ve been caught up with work bullshit, so I haven’t read a ton - I think I have 34 tabs currently open... however what I have read, has been good and comforting, so here’s some recs:

I am loving this AU series by @prouvaireafterdark where Michael was raised as Michael Sanders. https://archiveofourown.org/series/1742722 The newest chapter had two boys clinging to each other, but being comforted.

The wonderful @haloud wrote a set in season 3 story where Malex are back together but still trying to figure out what’s too much to ask for and honestly, there’s no point in tiptoeing, they are made for each other. https://archiveofourown.org/works/24922564 So Honeymoon Moment was sexy and sweet.

Also on the same sexy times theme, the wonderful Molly wrote this https://archiveofourown.org/works/24947167 @manesalex where Alex is like, friends doesn’t work for him.

I really enjoyed this soft fix-it, a little angsty, canon-divergent story by @spaceskam where Alex gets taken after 2x10 but they use the memory drug on him. https://archiveofourown.org/works/24872848/chapters/60176869

This was a great season 3 set speculative story where they use Mimi’s powers with Isobel to propel Michael and Alex back to the past to talk to Nora. It’s sweet and sad ... @forgadgetsandgizmos  https://archiveofourown.org/works/24882838

This is a bit mean to Forrest if you’re a fan, but I found it satisfying as a Malex person. @seeaddywrite wrote a great Alex tries but he’s still in love with Michael story https://archiveofourown.org/works/24872038

Set in the future, short but sweet by @unbreakablejemmasimmons wrote a great malex love each other but still trying to be friends story https://archiveofourown.org/works/24861778

Back to Forrest and Alex- this time it’s in Forrest’s POV but he’s very sympathetic here. Who wouldn’t try to hold onto someone as awesome as Alex? He ignores many signs. Isobel does her best to make him see the truth. https://archiveofourown.org/works/24851257/chapters/60118276 by @soberqueerinthewild

and last but not least @planetsam really hit it on the head, Michael made a decision for them both after 2x13. https://archiveofourown.org/works/24788854

That’s what I’ve read in the last two weeks that is finished. Hopefully there’s something comforting there you haven’t read. Lots of hugs to you- I hope things start to improve soon. ❤️