#but it already looks so crowded..

[cyclorose]

[mirror selfie]

saw a cute ref on pinterest and my mind went crazy about it so I drew him 😭

[cozylittleartblog]

is this the tragic clown the sims warned me about

[hallucinatinghalos]

I don't think this contains spoilers but if you don't want to hear any book references or season 3 speculation be warned.

Reading the interview clip where Sam Reid said that Lestat is ripped from the stage by Magnus is wild because we know he knows the books, that's not how it happens there, so he's maybe let Rolin's version slip. Which, if holds true, would be a seismic change. Instead of being torn from Nicki's arms while they sleep, Lestat would be taken during a performance, in front of an audience. Surrounded by humanity, by those he loves, but not a soul can save him. The one place that brought him joy would now be connected to the trauma of Magnus and his turning. If he truly is going to be the catalyst for the theater becoming hunting grounds in the show, for better or worse, it would seem to be related to this change as well. Also, his rockstar moment would have a desperation to it that reflects the books but is tragic in its own way. It would all become devastating in a subtly different way than how Rice wrote it. Even events that only happen in the show would have a different impact. Like Armand first approaching him telepathically while he was on stage would now seem cruel and calculated, and later choosing to put the trial on stage. Sorry about the ramble but it blows my mind how much a small change, changes so much. The murder of the opera singer...the mocking of the Dracula film...the baby on the Mardi Gras float...would all feel different.

[lady-raziel]

hilarious that with each new day that passes a new bit of dirt from JD Vance's past gets discovered and plastered over the internet...it's almost as if this is why presidential campaigns have always announced their running mates well before the convention...so that if glaring issues with a candidate came to light quickly there would be time to replace them on the ticket before they were officially locked in...it's almost as if certain things in political campaigns were done for a reason, donald...because the very same critical failures had happened before...but no i'm sure you and your guys attempt to recreate a fantasy version of history while ignoring all the reasons that history was a disaster will work this time...because you are built different and the 10000th time trying fascism will work like a charm...

[bixels]

On one hand, really funny that they straight up lied. On the other hand, pretty mean that they straight up lied. But on the third hand, I knew they were never doing HL2AIVR.

[chronomally]

I went to a local production of Romeo & Juliet where all the actors pulled their roles out of a hat two minutes before showtime and my favorite joke was the actor who played Juliet wore a trucker hat that said "GIRL" on it until the scene where Romeo and Juliet imply they've consummated their marriage, when he dramatically threw it to the side and pulled out another hat that said "WOMAN" on it

[cynopoe]

Hand in broken hand…

[worstloki]

ok, I'll admit this looks bad.

[theflyingfeeling]

can't believe I went to the meet & greet today just to complain to Olli about the free poster not matching my interior design and to tell Joel I'd like one Big Mac, a large drink and garlic dip

[daughterofsarenrae]

eek

[daily-hanamura]

[evilsartcorner]

[lovecanbesostrange]

I see some people come out of the woodwork again and talking about how super terrible the Fox X-Men movies are. Especially - the absolute valid and most annoying point - how the women were nerfed and underutilized. Biggest criticism, forever a big stain. But I'd argue that X-Men '97 still fell into that same trap. Better? Yes. Holding back still? Also yes.

Most of all this hit Storm. Once again. In part this is thanks to where we are with streaming. Tight seasons, few episodes, not much room to breathe. All that while the team pulled nuggets from so many storylines that have spanned decades. There is very limited time and the biggest casualty is the loss of emotional character beats.

Depowered Storm is a well-known moment from the comics. But the reason why it is looked back on fontly is because Storm still had things to do and say and found herself in new ways, including as leader of the X-Men regardless. Readers followed her for quite some time in that state and could wrap their heads around the situation. The beginning and ending of that journey are wonderfully adapated with Lifedeath, but there is no middle. And apart from those focused episodes Storm does... very little.

They do give her a due badass moment early, even mention her status as an Omega Level mutant (won't explain the concept, easiest yet not totally accurate way is to say the best they can be with the power they have and it's off the charts). There is a case of tell, not much showing going on overall though. And in the finale when Cyclops decides it's time to stop fighting he looks at Storm, she gets it, but you have to be a superfan to find the little nuance, to see how this is very much in-character and it does make sense. Storm has a few very wise lines, something she is known for, a few pew-pew-lightning moments, but sidelined. So hard. Not even allowed to talk about what she feels seeing the footage from Genosha.

For non-comic readers a fun fact: in the recent run of X-Men, the Krakoa era, mutants terraformed Mars. Omega level mutants. Of course Storm was there. Prominently. That was a huge thing. The Krakoa era is ending right now and a new relaunch under the banner From the Ashes is coming. And just this week Marvel put out a teaser that "Earth's Mightiest Mutant" would join the Avengers roster. They had buzz for a day with lots of guesses (the word mighty can be interpreted in a few ways) and guess what, it's Storm. (Although I think going from being the Voice of the sol system in intergalactic matters to Avenger is a downgrade.) Meanwhile '97 Storm barely fought in the big climactic battle. Huh.

A tv show has more time than one single movie. That's the whole reason why watching shows is awesome. A narrative that builds over time and can follow some sidepaths. But not anymore. X-Men '97 would never give us a fun little Christmas special, there is no room. And that's sad.

I enjoy the way they went with Madelyne Pryor. But it all happened in one episode and then Jean was a bit angry at Scott, who for once didn't do anything wrong in this bizarre situation imho. They ignored one of the worst moments from his comic history (thank you so much), gave Madelyne a happy ending (for five seconds), but also left no breathing room. The best they did however was the way Jean struggled with the emotions. She remembers things she wasn't physically there for and her love for Nathan is still just as real. What a blessing. So it makes sense that when she fights Nathan she holds back.

Telling stories that involve Jean Grey can be very tricky. With every super powerful being the threat can't just be punchable. So I get that the Cosmic Birb sighting was limited to one appearance. But what happens? Oh, right, Jean faints. I would be here for a few scenes where Jean explains how this vast power is still overwhelming. That there is a fear of tearing earth itself apart. But what we get is Jean powering up, exhausting herself, powering down and then not being strong enough (even next to Storm) to keep Asteroid M from falling. No, no, we needed Magneto's power or else... which, I enjoy the group effort, but I would have at least appreciated a little "we almost got it, if only we had this tiny bit more" and not making it seem like Magneto is the one and only. They pushed the asteroid in place for him to pull, okay? Please. They should have shown how he could not have done that alone.

The show does have a bias super in favor of Magneto. Without even discussing that his plan is stupid. It comes from an emotional torment I understand. I understand him. I understand Rogue and Sunspot joining him. It's still dumb as hell. And within the three part finale there is no room for any debate and a lot of flip-flopping. Which, again, as a comic reader I can put under a microscope and tell you how this makes sense with a nice good-will reading. It does. But it's buried under the high octane beats. (There wasn't even room to take in what happened to Logan. Honestly I like Logan as a character, but the joke of him being everywhere is not even a joke and there is a certain fatigue and the way Logan was not the focus of '97 makes me appreciate the show even more. I like him! It's somewhat hilarious how the Adamantium pull was the cliffhanger shockfest and then... kinda nothing... of course I know S2 has a lot to pull from with that.)

Speaking of the ladies, the way bias is showing and how two things can be true at once and interpretations can vary - let me ramble on about Rogue in all of this.

On the surface oh I can't complain. My blorbo had things to do. Things to punch, lines to cross, angst to go through - I was fed. I will rewatch so many moments for years to come. But if you want to be cynical about this, Rogue's arc revolved around a man. No, two men. They shoved a decade long on-again, off-again romance from the comics into the show that already has five seasons and never remotely hinted at this. They started with a quiet Magneto and Rogue moment so we can see jealous Gambit. And when she makes a choice after a dance and kiss, Gambit dies. The one she wants. But also Magneto seemingly for a bit. And Rogue rampages.

Equality win: Man successfully put in the fridge so the woman gets to soar. Rejoice! (This is the perfect Rogue/Gambit dynamic though; you are depicting the couple wrong if he iesn't the one with a lovestricken face enjoying to be held in her strong arms. He pines, she gets the manpain moments.)

You could absolutely argue that Rogue's whole motivation is tied to dudes. But if you want to get over this you can look closer at what she says. She remembers Remy. She does this for him. But also every other dead mutant from Genosha. We did not get to see what this would have looked like, but when she chooses Magneto, she also chooses Genosha. She chooses a place at the table, the whole "Queen" deal. And when she joins him again in the finale, she talks about "no more dead mutants" (oh sugar, he's about to destroy the world with everybody). There is just so little time it gets lost. No time for nuance and showing the amount of survivor's guilt she feels. Unlike Storm and Jean though, she is allowed to let loose. She was ready to kill. And disregarding what came next, she dropped Trask from that rooftop.

The show is extremely in favor of Magneto and Rogue, and still doesn't have enough time left to give them the right build-up, because ten episodes isn't enough. Love that Morph got to confess their feelings for Wolverine, yet I'm sure a lot of the audience is baffled with his shapeshifting-power-duplicating powerset. Something that was really nice was the journey Jubilee and Sunspot took together. The way he went from hiding his powers, coming out, being betrayed by his family, giving in to rage for a moment, ultimately wanting to and saving people - true heart of the story.

Okay, this is long and like the show has a dozen different points without following through on one single issue. Ha! I enjoyed every second of it. I have bought monthly X-Men comics for over 30 years now, they are always with me, but these past few weeks have reignited the spark. 10/10 show, highly recommend. But can people please not pretend as if they did everything right? Also with so many stupid, stupid, highly stupid things that have happened within the pages of X-Men stories... just chill.

[ebbpettier]

i don't believe in the fandom concept of problematic faves (all characters should have at least one Problem, i think, for flavor) but if i did, fiona pitch would have a permanent throne at the very top of my list. i just think she's neato-cheetos.

[mitamicah]

confession time: After sleeping on it, I actually think I miss the Joker Out guys a bit more than I miss Jere and crew atm. That might be because it has been longer since I've watched them live comparred to Käärijä ...

... but because of this I'm actually tempted to do something very scandalous *gasp - I know; how nonkääryle of me* and only go for Hamburg tomorrow in hopes that Joker Out will get some Europe dates this fall as well :'D

(and if they don't then I hope the Käärijä shows in germany won't sell out too quickly :'D)

[ahit-oc-corner]

HI DON'T JUDGE ME

HI Okay guys this is so random is also so crazy BUT STICK WITH ME! SO CONTEXT i am planning on opening Ko-fi commissions this weekend and i had an insane late night thought and wanted to see thoughts on the matter on the poll