#but in terms of actual musicality? not great

[bestmusicalworldcup]

As the Wicked movie (well Part One, to be specific) is quickly approaching, many people have shared their enthusiasm or skepticism of it.

I have had varying opinions over the years it’s been in development, but at this point I honestly think it will be good, and I am quite excited for it.

The two-part thing was a large source of my skepticism, but as I've been contemplating that over these past few weeks I've realized that it could actually be a smart move, if executed correctly. Wicked is a fast-paced show that often barrels from song to song and telling the same story in a movie will require more time because of it. And while most movie musicals tend to cut material to fix this, the thing about Wicked is that the show doesn't have much fat to cut, on account of it being such a fast-paced show. In fact, the plot is actually quite thin in certain places, which means it probably will be more beneficial to add scenes elaborating on things rather than making cuts and abbreviating the story even more.

And in terms of what we have seen so far, I have very few complaints. The cast all seem quite capable, and the non trailerfied songs we have heard sound great. Aside from the usual Hollywood lighting issues, I am quite satisfied by the visuals, in large part because of the massive practical sets. Overall the movie seems to be put together quite well.

[louisisalarrie]

Hey how are u? I really like your point of view so I want to ask you few things that my brain frequently think about.

I’m pretty sure that sooner or later bbg will be unmasked, so how they will handle this? They created Louis’ public image around this baby. They painted him like the perfect father who obv love a lot his child.

I think that the shitstorm where his fans will throw him in will be bigger than everything. You know what I mean his solo fans paint him like the most loyal person in the world who trust his fans a lot and would never betray them. So I’m quite sure that they will start to throw shit on him, plus they’re so obsessed over this poor baby and I see a lot of them saying that if louis is not the father they will leave him cause he is just a gross person who lies to fans.

So, how will they managed it without throw him into a very big shitstorm? Plus when it will happen definitely all will be connect to the Larry situation so: when they do it, will he do also a coming out?

I don’t see it happen without a coming out, because the speculation would be so much bigger than ever and everyone would start saying that Larries were right since the beginning and that he’s a horrible person using a child…

I don’t know I don’t see a easy happy ending :(

okie dokie anon, im gonna answer this in the best way I know how, and tag it a little differently to usual so everyone knows where to find my theories on how they’re gonna end bbg/what’s the best way to end it without ruining louis’ career. anon, welcome to the show sweetcheeks!

After the absolute shit show of a smear campaign that was pushed onto Louis in 2015, of clubbing and being a gross fuckboy taking a million girls home every night, they had to repair said image when they decided this kid was actually gonna be born (in my theory it was Belfast) because to continue on with fuckboy louis when he has a child on the way further down the pregnancy/child is born, it would’ve looked even more fucking worse for one d’s demographic and louis’ image would be irreparable. His image has always hung off family values and long term relationships too, so it’s not super crazy to think “oh, louis has had his fun and now it’s serious he’s gonna buckle down and be a great dad because of his upbringing/family values and he’s a wonderful guy” etc, ya know? Plus the vast majority of one d fans at the time were Larries, we saw through the bullshit and we saw this behaviour wasn’t louis. Mgmt were like “ok if we’re actually gonna see this through, if there’s actually gonna be a child in the picture, he’s gonna have to be a present and loving dad”. It just would’ve been too off brand for him to not be. Hell, the whole fuckboy Louis thing was off brand for him, but they started that, and then had to fucking fix it because an actual child was gonna be born into this mess.

Anyway so louis’ buzzing (looks like he’d rather set himself on fire) and we get heaps of baby content on Insta/from B and her clan etc to really bring it home that louis cares about this kid. This kid is his life and he will do everything he can to be there for it because he’s a good guy (which like… it this was real, they would’ve covered up this baby real quick and silenced the mother and that’s the biggest fucking fault they made in my opinion, shit makes no sense). So yeah, fake baby, happy dad, family values. Cool, alright let’s go.

You are very correct in saying they’ve made louis being a dad a major element in his image. He’s pretty private otherwise, but boy does he love this kid! Which if we base this on how it was meant to end in 2016 with a DNA test so he’d be out free, which didn’t happen for a few reasons, the kid is now older and a paternity test should’ve been taken far earlier and louis’ trying to figure out himself in a solo career and working hard on music and it’s all too much. Not to mention he signed his fucking rights away to SC and still had to deal with this all. But I digress. They didn’t end bbg then, and he didn’t want such a scandal to hinder the beginning of his career because that’s what he’d be known for when starting out as a solo artist. “Oh did you hear about that dude from one direction? His kid isn’t actually his! Holy shit!” would just be on repeat anywhere and everywhere and something like that doesn’t really die down that quick in the media. It just would’ve jumped him off the wrong way after dealing with the heartbreak of his mum passing etc., so things are a little chaotic for him to deal with that as well. (Then the bbg contract gets amended and SC gives him publicity with the X Factor etc, but I won’t get into the contracts side of it right now).

Cool cool cool. So. He’s gonna look like a shit dude for chucking this baby in the spotlight if he’s known for ages. Everyone’s gonna hate him for lying to them. He’s gonna lose his fans. He’s not gonna be able to promo himself for a while because he’ll be “devastated”. Now, let’s have a look at how this can end with fan and GP sympathy on his side, and how they can spin this in a good way.

Now, hear me out.

We’ve talked about a few ways, but the best way to dig him out of this shit show, is simply to go down the paternity route. It just is.

Situation 1: louis and b go to court over F. this works perfectly in his current no music or tour timeframe. It keeps him relevant in the papers while he’s off, and also gives him the excuse to grieve or whatever. This is 100% the best way to do it but it drags it out so long.

- Louis, who is now on break, wants to spend more time with his beloved son little lad, and wants to take him away from B for a while to live in the UK with him and his family for an extended holiday/spend some quality time. B is withholding his son from him and he isn’t allowed to be with him for extended periods of time because B doesn’t like his lifestyle (partying, smoking, etc.)

Or

- maybe B decides Louis’ doing really well in his career so she wants more child support money. He’s getting older, more expensive, and this was all louis’ doing. He took B home, he’s also a multi millionaire, he should be paying way more than what he is!

- maybe B gets married or a long term serious boyfriend and he wants to adopt F because louis’ lifestyle doesn’t allow him to be present as much as he wants to.

Or something else ridiculous that they go to court over. In this theory, they need to go to court 100%.

So, they’re in court over whatever, and B goes “hey well I was actually sleeping with someone else around that time too, I want a paternity test” (because she never pushed for one because she saw $$$) and louis takes one and BAM, he’s actually not F’s father. Holy shit.

So why did a multimillionaire famous boyband member in his early 20’s who was clearly loving partying not demand a paternity test early one? Well, he never bothered to ask because he trusted B. They’d actually been seeing each other for longer than initially thought (like some articles mentioned back in the day LOL) but didn’t want to introduce her to the public because he knows 1d fans would eat her alive and the whole Larry thing etc., so he trusts her. He’s also just a really good dude, sees the best in everyone, trusted her and copped it on the chin and said well yeah… im gonna help raise this dude because I’ve always wanted a son and I have big family values and I fucked up. I’m mature. I’m a good example of what women should look for in a man.

So then shit… the fans and GP find out and he cops the public sympathy and everyone feels sorry for him. This is heartbreaking, he loves that kid so much and now he’s found out he’s not really his dad. The fans are devastated, the GP goes “well it’s stupid he didn’t get one earlier on but this is still really awful for him, poor guy. He’s too nice for his own good, and he was just a kid. Maybe he didn’t think about it. He’s so brave to say this. Heart on his sleeve” etc etc like it’s really not hard to make the GP and fans feel bad for you, even tho some folks may think he was an idiot for not getting one earlier on (which like.. that’s how it was meant to end but it was extended), everyone who’s scrutinised bbg has thought the same at some point. So, anyway, you see what I mean here? This situation ends with him looking like just a silly loving trusting guy, with a big heart. Solos will eat that shit up. I promise you. Anyway, F fades into the background and we don’t see any more content of him. He just… disappears. No one’s gonna question that. F isn’t his son, and he wants to give the kid and B privacy now. A classic example of being a good guy.

So like, this situation also upholds the idea that he’s straight. He’s had sex with a woman, it’s just this kid isn’t his. Anyway, sorted, case closed and we alll eventually move on. It does drag it out but my god does it truly spin some sympathy for him. But if he wants it over and done with quick, this wouldn’t be the way.

Situation 2: louis has known for a while, but him and B are really good friends so he’s helped raise F and helped with funds because the dad left and he wanted to be there for the kid. This brings out the lying factor though, but he truly does feel like a dad!!! He knows what it’s like to not have a father figure there, he wants to give the kid a good life, he’s taken on the role of his dad and he has the money to support B and F, so why wouldn’t he? You know, he has family values. So yeah, he wasn’t lying out of hate, and F knew all along he wasn’t his real dad either, but he gave this kid a great life. Anyway, B gets married or whatever, louis goes “im still gonna be there for F but I trust this guy and he loves F and my career is taking off even further and I can’t be there for him all the time and this guy really wants to be a dad, I’ll step back”. This also works well in terms of good guy louis, and he loves F so much. Public and fan sympathy, a little anger towards the lying but truly he’s just did what he could. He helped B out and now F has a strong and fantastic father figure in his life. Sorted, done. This can be done through an Insta live or a post of him and F explaining stuff, and F fades from the picture. Still upholds the sex with women, but he did get a paternity test ages ago, he’s just a good guy. Anyway, that also works.

You also have a spin on the above situation too though, to make it easier for a coming out. Louis and B never had sex. He’s just a long term good friend of hers and took on that role. He’s always been gay/he never fucked her. Having this onto it, really leaves it a bit more open ended. This is really the only kind of solution to say “hey I’ve been with Harry this whole time and bbg wasn’t a stunt” ya know? Still believable, a bit more murky, but if done well it ends it quicker than a court case. Still looks good for him. Plus, he can say how long he was with Harry and that they wanted to keep their relationship private because they were nervous to come out and yeah. Cool. That’s also done.

The fans might be angry about that one, but it still swings it well. I don’t think they’re gonna hate him. He might lose a few but… yeah. He’s always gonna when he comes out anyway. Yeah. The above is two birds one stone.

Situation 3: it was all a stunt. they just reveal absolutely everything. That’s it.

He’ll lose the most fans by doing this, but also… he’ll gain a lot of public sympathy. Whatever way they end bbg, he will be on the side of public and fan sympathy. He’s always gonna end up with some kind of hate when coming out, but so will Harry. It just… is what it is. Harry’s process has just been a lot smoother without a kid tied to him. But with the screaming of how shit the music industry is to artists, this will call a lot of attention to it all. Might actually make a change. But again, the hardest.

Now the thing with all of the above, right, no matter which way they take it, is that bisexuality exists. Also, sexuality can be fluid, so maybe he didnt figure out he was into dudes until later on in life and him and Harry reunited and it just kind of happened. He had to navigate queerness in a space of homophobia. He felt fucking lost as hell, and Harry helped him. Also public and fan sympathy, also works. Doesn’t put them from the beginning though, like situation 2 and 3 could, but yeah. The current conversation about queerness and how things can change is important and big right now. People would understand.

Both Harry and louis (more so louis) will and should expect fan and public hatred for lying and queerness. But it’s just something they’ll have to cop. They come out, go into hiding for a bit, and then put out a statement and they’re just gonna have to expect some hate. Hell, Harry already gets hate for queerbaiting. It just always will be affected.

To your last point, about using a kid, if they unravel everything then they’ll just shove that blame on SC etc, they had no choice! For the other situations, it may be a little scrutinised but yeah. He’s either silly and too trusting in situation 1, or does see F as his kid and is proud of him in situation 2. Those situations above are how I see a smoother end to bbg. They’re kind of the only way I see it ending. So, SC/marketing gods, if you’re watching, or if this is you, consider one of the above please and let’s end it fucking now.

So there you have it. These situations might seem stupid, but he comes out of it the most unscathed (except option 3 but again, sympathy from fans and public about being controlled like puppets). And I think in all those cases a coming out will happen shortly after, they kind of go hand in hand. But also they might let it die down for a while before announcing anything, but yeah. Speculation is gonna happen. They can’t escape everything.

Any questions or if anything doesn’t make sense because I haven’t had a coffee yet, let me knowwwwwww

Thanks for coming to the show!

[peril2000]

Arcane Episode 3 Immediate Thoughts

Oh hey, my prediction from Episode 1 about Ambessa was right!

To be honest I'm pretty sleep deprived at this point so my thoughts about this episode aren't very coherent.

-The black rose from League lore!

-Diversity Win! The corrupt police officer lesbians go to kiss an hour before they broke up!

-Jinx is pro-Cait/Vi Sex scene

-It is heartbreaking knowing from the leaked french trailer that Jayce will likely spend the entirety of the coming time skip in the hexgates wild rune chamber. Poor guy.

-No Viktor update this ep :(

-Jayce is probably my favorite character so far, which is crazy cause he was my least favorite last season. I was too harsh on him, this boy's alright.

-That Cat lady who gave Mel information was so cunty, she slayed so hard. I want to listen to her dialogue on repeat like ASMR.

-The Music video at the beginning was gorgeous. So was all the animation. As always Studio Fortiche slays the house down.

-All the Jana references are great. I like that. Also, she looks so much better than she does in actual League. I can't tell if they are using the Legends of Runeterra redesign, if not they should.

-Vi looks more like her League self in this episode than every before. Cool.

-How TF did Jinx effectively fight Vi without a weapon for a while when Vi has the gloves? I know Jinx was pissed and has shimmer running through her veins, but still. She's built like a twig.

-Considering what we saw last time in terms of Ambessa's taste in men, I wouldn't be surprised if Salo is her sugar baby.

-I'm still so glad Mel is ok. I was so sure they would kill her off, it was giving me so much dread for this season. But she's alive :)

-All the Heimerdinger, Ekko, and Jayce stuff is fun.

-How was Viktor ok with the hexgates having the most dangerous part in the undercity? His entire motivation last season was building stuff to help the undercity. Granted he says he only did the hexgates to get hextech off the ground, and is often blinded by ambition, but it feels like the kind of thing he would object to.

-Overall: It's good. Not perfect, but very very good. If S1 was a 9.5/10, so far S2 is an 8/10. Not AS amazing, but it would be insane to call it bad. I am loving it so far and super hype.

[blueskittlesart]

deeply refreshing to see someone critical of Swift who also like, genuinely likes her. Like i'm neutral to positive on her, but the online discourse has been absolutely rancid. flipping between "Taylor Swift has never done anything wrong ever and she's a fucking genius" and "Taylor Swift is the worst lyricist of all time and also a bad person" is exhausting, so thank you for like. nuance or something lmao

not to make it serious for a sec but i genuinely think that being able to like things that are bad is really important. like I think that it's an important skill to be able to look at something and see what you personally enjoy about it and then take a step back and acknowledge that objectively it's flawed. and to also be able to acknowledge that liking something isn't necessarily an identity or a moral stance. and i think that fandom space in general could really benefit from more people taking the time to learn how to do that. it's okay to like things that are bad

[captain-habit]

This sure is a selection, huh? Tagged by @ourbastardofsorrows (thanks!) so I'll tag @deermouth @ferocity-flynt @seemlikeapercy @coupleoffruits @stromcuzewon @eternalmonoliths @skin-bible @werewolfbneimitzvah @faggylittlenuisance @pressxtodavid @jane-vampeyre @keenie-bo-beenie and... well any and all of you that didn't come up in my immediate suggestions >;P

If you have a spotify, you can go HERE to find your top long-term artists etc

Don't know any of these bands? Carry on...

[ipswichtowns]

Okay thinking about it today, the thing i'm most annoyed about isn't actually sweden winning (though don't get me wrong, i am definitely still annoyed about that), it's how many other great acts got completely shafted. Austria, czechia, spain etc. all brought such great songs and got like. nothing for it and it honestly makes me really sad

[finexbright]

instead of listening to a banger of a no skip album, you all are out here having a discourse about something that's not even valid in this case. just listen to the album and enjoy how hard it slaps

[aromanticasterisms]

women 👍

[linoguy]

i like that they view the songs and performance as one because again, the reason im here to begin with is because i wanted to watch cool dancing that fit my taste and they did the trick, and then i loved their music so v much. but i do wish they viewed their music as stand alone too <3 they have intense and intricate dances that they're not gonna be able to do once they hit their later years (if they're still together) so its like -.- look out for our own backs boys, pls

[rosielav]

Finally caught up on @ameliapodcast

Can safely say it is my new favorite podcast :)

I love all of the characters, all of the stories are interesting, and I find myself longing for more. With every answered question comes a dozen unanswered ones, questions I didn't know I *could* have...

If you haven't listened, and you love archive or voicemail based podcasts, or audio dramedy in general, you absolutely *must* give The Amelia Project a try. I can't recommend it enough, and I would be honored if anyone listens for the first time and yells at me about it. I love genuine excitement about new-to-you media and I'd love to share this gem of a podcast with someone :)

The trailer does a much better job of explaining the premise than I ever could, so hop on your favorite podcatcher and listen to it, if you're interested!!

[unproduciblesmackdown]

a great time juxtaposing "helen" by joe iconis with "centerfold" by the j. geils band

[soleadita]

ya know i was listening to the hunger games soundtrack today while studying and it occurred to me that james newton howard actually . sorta used a different style w those soundtracks than what he usually does to fit the Vibe of the movies because like. he's got the light kinda fantasy-sounding soundtrack style that he's usually known for but the hunger games soundtracks are SO. like. solemn and poignant and dark (I'm specifically thinking abt this one but it applies to most of the soundtracks tbh) and idk. an artist modifying his style to better fit the tone of the media. i think it's cool and wanted to share :]

oh MANNNNN ok ok i am listening literally now as i respond to this (i started with the song you linked but i might just let the album play through as i work today bc it's such a vibe) and it's blowing my mind a little bit???? like it's crazy because i can still tell that it's him (i don't know the Right words for music but like something about the way certain parts of it pause and transition and build still fundamentally feel like james newton howard to me)(NOT THAT I AM SOME JNH EXPERT i just hyperfixated on One Specific Soundtrack for years in my youth lmao) BUT YES. it's darker it's more solemn there are some ominous parts in there.....OOHHHHH. you are SO CORRECT it's very cool and i'm SO glad you shared.

[videostak]

society if the atari 7800 didnt have the worst sound chip imaginable.

[adambomb82]

hahahahahahahha uhhhhhhhhh

[musical-chick-13]

If I'm not careful, I'm going to get salty about stupid music opinions again.

[4giorno]

AND ITS DONE 😭😭