#but thomas and anthony pick him up and he fits in so well with them

[qeyond]

One day I'd like to share my A oc with y'all but nervous but also I love him so dearly he's me, he's A, he's stubborn, and childish, and a smart ass but baby...

But also more than being an A oc he developed into just being my own oc and in non-death note universe, as a kid, he helps solve little mysteries around the neighborhood he grew up in with his besties Cole (originally my B oc) and Thomas (my friends oc who was a V oc) and they call themselves the Misfit Knights!!! They're all kinda misfits for one reason or another at their school and slowly become a found family type of friend group and eventually becoming the misfit knights really helps to reconnect with their classmates and community. They solve little mysteries for kids at school or in the neighborhood like "who took my backpack!!" or "the group of bullies are scaring me :(". Tho in that case they kind of just end up diverting the bullies attention to themselves, which in their opinion is a Problem Solved, even if it's Their Problem now.

Their biggest mystery and the one that jostles them all the most is The Missing Pets, which they're just kids and they haven't really interacted with criminal crimes before so they just think someone like stole them or something... ? It's very strange and they don't really realize it's like... Something that will put them in real danger until they're in the basement of the person, and close family friend of Thomas', they think is causing the pets to go missing and they See Scary Things Down There....

Anyway I'm rambling but I love them all so much and I love the idea of them all ending up in the Wammy house in some alternate reality but their bonds are shaken up and broken and weird now cuz they're older and Things Happened after/during the Missing Pets arc that really drew them apart and they either take the wammys house too seriously or it fucks their shit so bad.

[talesofsorrowandofruin]

Notice Me Reader Tag

Thanks for tagging me, @ahordeofwasps! :D

Rules: Share 3 (or more!) small details from your WIP that you feel have gone/will go unnoticed. (You can choose whether or not to share why the detail is significant!)

I was tagged twice, so I'll give details from two WIPs!

The Case-files of Seo Yo-han (counting all of them as one WIP for this):

Shakespeare is referenced in every book:

Leo reads Richard II in The Unfortunate Moth.

Silver Glass has a quote from King Lear as the epigraph to the last bit of the flashback ("...I am a man/More sinn'd against than sinning").

Also in Glass, Phil quotes Othello when she says she and Alec both "loved not wisely but too well".

Houses Full of Deceit has a more light-hearted example according to the outline, where Leo attempts to flirt with Phil by reciting Romeo's "Juliet is the sun" speech. ("Attempts" is the key word.)

Mine Eyes Dazzle mostly references John Webster and Gilbert & Sullivan (yes, really!) instead, but one character quotes Henry V -- specifically Act 2, Scene II. Which gives Yo-han an important clue, because that scene is about a former friend who became a traitor.

2. The murderers in books 1 & 3 are foils, and so are the ones in 2 & 4. Leo kills because he's paid to, while Ji-hun kills because he enjoys it. Davit kills from a mixture of love and hate -- love of Alec, hate of Gwladys -- while the still-unnamed villain kills because they both love and hate their victim.

3. For most of HFOD everyone is running from Ji-hun. For the climax, I want to turn the tables on him. He sets a trap and thinks he's caught Leo and Yo-han, but really they know it's a trap and have set up one of their own! (Namely, Phil hiding nearby with a gun.)

Uneasy Money:

Of the seven Millner siblings, the three oldest are fluent in German, the middle two are semi-fluent, and the two youngest barely speak it at all. This is because their mother was German, and she died when the three oldest were teenagers. By then she'd spent years in Britain and had mostly stopped speaking German, so the younger children picked up less of it.

Loughlinter isn't a real place. I borrowed the name from Anthony Trollope's Palliser series. (Where, oddly, Loughlinter is in Scotland -- it should be spelt Lochlinter. So based on spelling alone, moving it to Northern Ireland makes more sense.) I'm still vague on where exactly it is. I'm leaning towards somewhere around Limavady solely because my crush is from there, but that doesn't fit with Helena's statement that it's "twenty miles from Belfast". (Limavady is sixty miles from Belfast.)

Everyone has very different ideas of what sort of story they're in. Gilbert thinks he's in a P. G. Wodehouse comedy, Helena thinks she's in a Georgette Heyer romance, Thomas thinks he's in an Emily Brontë Gothic novel, and Tarka thinks she's in a Charles Dickens mystery. All of them are partly right.

Tagging @weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables, @sarandipitywrites, @oh-no-another-idea, @mysticstarlightduck, and anyone else who wants to do this! :D

[morizoras-cave]

Weird (Request)

MCU Cast x gn!teen!co-star!reader

Genre: angst, fluff

Request Description: Hello ❤💓could i please request a x teen reader were she has a really quirky and bubbly personality and the cast loves it but she starts getting bullied at school for it and shes acting shy and doesnt talk anymore and there all concerned.⚘💓❤😘

Warnings: bullying, general sadness, insecurity

(A/N): decided to do this request with chris evans, anthony mackie, sebastian stan, scarlett johansson, and elizabeth olsen (as i have previously stated, fitting the entire cast into it is impossible, so i usually have to pick). i hope this doesnt affect the requesters enjoyment of it :)

“I’m considering picking up some lye,” you said bluntly. Everyone that had attended Chris’ I’m-sorry-I-forgot-I-was-hosting-dinner dinner looked up from their Chinese takeout boxes. 

“Like, the chemical lye?” Anthony asked, picking at a piece of chicken with his chopsticks. You hummed and nodded, doing the same. 

“Why?” Sebastian asked.

“I’m considering getting into the soap making business,” you said, “there’s some real money in that market.” 

“Really?” Scarlett said, chuckling along with everyone else at the horrible, scrambling-to-even-be-called-a-dinner dinner. 

“Don’t laugh, guys. You might be seeing my custom soaps in The Body Shop soon,” you joked and once more everyone laughed, shaking their heads. 

“Good luck with that,” Elizabeth said.

“Thank you, I’ll need it, seeing as lye is apparently very fun to eat and also very toxic,” you sipped your coke, bubbles long gone, leaving the sticky and sweet juice behind. 

It was like that every time you were around. You always had something strange you had been pondering about, wether it was soap-making, a career in shipwreck exploration, or investing in a live action Thomas the Train movie. Every single time the cast was with you, they were waiting for the next weird thing to come from your mouth and they were never disappointed. 

You were a lovely, outgoing, yet casually blunt young person, and you were simply wonderful to be around. Like a breath of fresh air each time they were around you. Refreshingly happy. 

And you loved being weird. You loved being yourself, even if you were a bit of an outsider. Not in the sense that you were better than anyone else, you were just slightly different. You always felt there was nothing wrong with that. 

Well, you did. Then things changed. Your schedule working with the movie was lined up, so you had at least two days a week in regular school, often more. You were happy, because it meant you weren’t sacrificing your education to be in a movie. 

Then these girls started bothering you. You could always tell that they didn’t exactly like you, which you actually understood. You always knew that you could easily come off as pretentious and snobby when someone didn’t know you, especially seeing as you were a ‘quirky’ movie star.

But then they started talking to your friends. Which was fine. But then when you tried to speak to your friends, everything changed. Those girls were practically bristling at your presence, your friends included. 

But you didn’t let that bother you. You still had plenty of friends on set, as you considered all of your cast members to be your friends. And they considered you a friend as well. 

But then those girls at school decided that they weren’t done. First, they said things that were very obviously about you, but were disguised as something else. And they’d always make sure you’d hear. 

“I think I’d like to be an actor,” one of the girls had said. They had been sitting on a bench a little bit away from your locker, where you were cramming a physics book in. 

“Oh my god, Lacey, you’re so quirky and weird!” another one had said, and your mood had crumbled, realizing they were making fun of you. You had just closed your locker and left, but you had still heard their giggles at your obviously upset state.

Then they just started blatantly making fun of you, saying you were ugly and untalented, but what hurt you most was when they said you had an annoying, attention-seeking personality. 

You started questioning things about yourself that you never questioned. Were you attention-seeking? Was your personality annoying? Were you even a good actor? 

You would tell your friends, but they didn’t seem to like you anymore, and with your new insecurity about your personality, you even wondered if the cast really liked you, or if they just found you annoying like everyone else. 

So you told no one, and you decided, determined, that you would be less annoying and more quiet. 

“Hey, Y/n! You’re here!” Sebastian exclaimed, as you entered Elizabeth’s rented flat. He was holding a drink in one of his hands and ran to hug you at the door. You hugged back gently. 

“Are you ready for an actually prepared dinner this time?” Elizabeth said slyly, smirking at Chris, who had definitely heard enough about that one time he forgot to plan the dinner.

“Ha ha, very funny, Liz,” he said. You watched them in amusement, holding back multiple snarky comments. 

Sebastian, Elizabeth, and Chris had all turned to you, and it took you a moment to realize they were expecting you to say something. There was an awkward moment where just watched them, before they snapped out of it, coughing and shuffling uncomfortably. 

“Uh, anyway, table’s this way!” Elizabeth guided you all to the large table. Anthony and Scarlett were already there, mid-conversation and bobbing their heads to ‘Anaconda’ played from Elizabeth’s stereo. 

“Y/n’s here!” Scarlett said excitedly and you sat down sheepishly. 

“Yep.”

You watched everyone around the table exchange glances, before all eyes landed back on you. 

“Are you okay?” Chris asked carefully. He was sitting next to you.

“Yeah,” you said quietly, fiddling with your napkin, “just a little stressed about school.” You forced a smile. 

“.. Alright,” Anthony said said reluctantly. There was a moment of silence, because if you weren’t happy, there had to be something seriously wrong with the world. 

“Uh, I think the chicken’s ready,” Elizabeth said, changing the subject. Everyone mumbled in relief. 

The night went on and everyone had conversations and small laughs as they ate, but it was very clear that something was off. Scarlett tried bringing you into the conversations several times, but you immediately clammed up.

It was becoming increasingly clear to the cast, that it was obviously not stress from school (which none of them bought anyway). You noticed the awkwardness too, contemplating if you were being too much of a downer. They would probably have a better time if you didn’t drag them down, you thought. 

“I should go,” you said suddenly, making their heads snap towards you. You forked your untouched chicken. 

“Why?” Sebastian asked, as you stood up and grabbed your jacket. You stilled.

You were conflicted in that moment, wondering wether to confess to them or suck it up and go home. You just didn’t know how to be less of a bother. 

“Don’t lie,” Scarlett said, noticing your conflicted state. You frowned. 

“Am I.. Annoying?” you whispered. There was a moment of silence.

“What?” Chris exclaimed, baffled. You looked up at them. 

“Am I- Am I weird? Because if so, I-I can just go home-” 

There came a choir of whats and nos, and outrage from the table. Everyone spoke over one another for a moment, desperately trying to let you know as clearly as possible.

“Hey!” Anthony’s booming voice shut the rest of the guests up. He looked you in the eyes, “None of us think or have ever thought that you were annoying. And for your information, you’re only weird in a good way. Now, would you mind telling us why you suddenly think this?”

He was calm in a way the public never saw him. Dropping the silliness and handling the situation. It was quiet then.

You felt horribly sad, as you thought about those girls at school. You sighed and blinked away tears. Your cast members’ faces grew even more worried at this. 

“Come on, N/n. Sit down again and let’s talk about this,” Elizabeth said gently, patting your chair. You nodded hesitantly, and sat down. You fiddled with your napkin self-consciously. They waited for you to speak.

“Well.. There are these girls at my school. I don’t know- They just.. Started making fun of me, I guess,” you mumbled, ashamed and avoiding their gazes.

“They said you were annoying?” Chris asked.

You nodded. Sighs could be heard around the table. If you had dared look up, you’d have seen several clenched jaws and fists, displeased faces, and frowns. 

“Have you told anyone?” Sebastian then asked.

You shook your head. You felt someone grasp your hand and looked up to see Sebastian, sitting across from you, holding your hand gently. He smiled sympathetically. 

“First of all, Y/n, you’re not at all annoying. You’re the type of person anyone can love, you’re so refreshing to be around, and you always have something funny to say,” Scarlett begun after a moment of silence. You smiled softly. 

“Secondly, this is something you need to tell the principle, and I don’t want to hear anything about how you don’t want to confront them or anything. You shouldn’t tolerate that,” her voice was tough and determined. You knew she was right, so you nodded. 

There was a moment of silence.

“So.. Have you discovered anything strange you want to share with us?” Anthony asked then. A large, toothy smile enveloped your face, as you remembered that there was, in fact, something you had been excited to share with them. 

“Yeah, so, uhm.. I’ve been playing this game..” 

And with that, everything was back to normal. You entertained them like you always did with your bright and bubbly personality, and you felt confident and happy again. 

It would take you a lot longer than just that night, to fully understand why you were amazing and exactly why you weren’t annoying, but the most important thing was that you were happy and confident right then and there. 

You called the principle, of course, and those girls were expelled. Your friends apologized for their behavior, but you decided not to be friends with them again, not with the way they treated you. You weren’t mean about it, just got some better, more sincere friends. 

Although, you were grateful for friends you had had in that time. Your cast mates started complimenting you more, just slightly here and there. And if any interviewer or fan commented on your personality, the cast would get incredibly protective very fast. 

They knew that your personality was an easy place for people to pick on you, and they just wanted to make sure, that you knew you were a lovely human being. And with how much they reminded you, it got hard to forget. But that’s only a good thing, because you really are a good person :)

___________________________

Tag List:

@hera-the-writer @marvel-madness @40srogcrs @whatthefuckimbisexual @snarky–starky @garbage-potato @lozzypoz321 @allthecreativeonesaretaken @missamericana713 @rororo06 @shady80smusicsingercolor @ireadfanficforfun​ @deephideoutmilkshake​ @rae-is-typing​ @sophs-library​ @herecomesthewriterwitch​

[elisaphoenix13]

Consequences Of Pitching Practice

"Bah!"

"That's all well and good but you still haven't given me the screwdriver."

"Nnmmmnnn." Lucy answers while slobbering all over said screwdriver.

Tony huffs fondly. "Don't let your mom see that. I don't need another lecture about how unsanitary that is." He takes the screwdriver and chuckles when the baby glares at him. "It's also unsafe. I kind of like you."

Lucy babbles at him angrily as Tony wipes the screwdriver free of drool and he offers her one of her actual toys. It's not that he didn't offer her her own toys in the first place, it's just that Lucy had an uncanny ability to get her hands on whatever she wanted. Even when she was confined to a highchair or something. It wasn't anything magical, Tony and Stephen made sure of that, Lucy was just a typical, curious baby.

Tony had a feeling he may have been the same way as a baby.

"If you keep back talking me like that, you won't have lab time with me anymore." Tony says as he tightens a screw.

"Mmmfffbbb!" Lucy retorts and the engineer looks over at her to find that she had somehow gotten her hands on a different screwdriver. Which she was currently drooling on the rubber end of.

"Maybe I should take that as a clue that it's lunchtime for you." Tony says. "How about a bottle?"

Some happy beeps and whirs grab Tony's attention and he looks over at the kitchenette to find DUM-E excitedly starting a bottle. The first ingredient? Grease of some sort. Tony wasn't even sure when the robot grabbed that.

"No, no, no. Lulu can't have grease. You finish that for yourself!" Tony reprimands as he walks over to make a proper bottle. He partially ignores the sad noises DUM-E makes and takes the bottle over to Lucy. "Here you go dolcezza. How about something sanitary to put in your mouth?"

Lucy eyes the bottle her father holds out for her and Tony's eyes widen when she actually throws her screwdriver across the room and takes the bottle. He looks over to where the tool had landed when he hears a crash and finds a separate project emitting sparks from where it had been hit. Six months old and she had quite the arm.

"Maybe we should make a baseball team." Tony says calmly. "You can be our pitcher. Diana was kind of like that too but Cassie corrupted her."

For once, Tony doesn't get an answer from Lucy, but she was too busy with her lunch. Something he should probably be thinking about at the very least.

"Think your mom would make me a sandwich if I asked him nicely?"

A pointed look from the infant makes him chuckle.

"Probably not, huh? Not when I'm down here with you and tinkering for f--"

A low hum distracts Tony and he swivels around when it gets louder by the second. The machine Lucy had damaged with the screwdriver was spitting sparks like an angry cat, and it was glowing brighter and brighter. Tony barely had the mind to turn back and grab and cover Lucy just before the thing exploded. The force of the explosion sent them to the ground, but Tony made sure to keep Lucy secure in his arms. When he recovers and sits up, he winces as his ears ring and the first thing he hears is Lucy crying. Her poor ears were probably ringing too and he knew that Stephen was going to have a fit when the sorcerer undoubtedly came to investigate. Both Friday and Victor tended to snitch on him, especially when one of the kids was in the lab with him.

"I'm sorry dolcezza." Tony says to Lucy in an attempt to soothe her. "Daddy should have checked to make sure you didn't do so much damage."

He carefully gets back to his feet as a window opens to ventilate the smoke, and checks Lucy over to make sure she's unharmed, glad to see she wasn't and was already calming down. Her cries had already turned into whimpers and she had grabbed one of his fingers to stick into her mouth to help soothe her further. Tony coughs and waves away the smoke in the air, noting that DUM-E was actually in the process of putting out a small fire by the machine. It wasn't the only thing Tony noticed either. There were two extra bodies standing by the burning remains of his project, and when the smoke finally cleared away, Tony froze.

The two people that were also waving away the smoke and coughing were his parents.

Howard and Maria were standing ten feet away from him and all Tony could do was stand and stare.

That project was in no way a time travel machine, but clearly that's what had happened. His parents were somehow pulled from the past with a half finished machine that Lucy broke with a screwdriver, and Tony was floored. The last time he saw his mother was the night she died, and his father during the time heist.

"Tony!" The engineer blinks and looks over at the door with wide eyes as Stephen rushes in and over to him. "Friday told me there was an explosion. Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah. We both are. Lulu was just a little spooked…"

"Tony?"

Howard's voice draws the attention of both men and Stephen's eyebrows fly up toward his hairline.

"What exactly were you working on?" Stephen asks Tony.

"Not a time machine."

=======

"She's so darling." Maria says as she takes Lucy from Tony. "What's her name?"

"Lucy." Tony mumbles and watches the interaction with fascination.

Once they had gotten over the initial shock, Tony managed to explain what happened before promising to find a way to send his parents back to where they belonged. For now though, they were stuck in the present time and Tony was already preparing for anything. Maria wasn't the problem...it was Howard. Tony had no idea how things would go when it came to his father.

"Who is her mother?" Howard asks.

There it is. That didn't take long, Tony thinks to himself. He then points to Stephen.

"Him. Meet my husband, Doctor Stephen Strange." Tony says.

"Did you adopt?" Maria asks.

"Yes...but not Lucy. Stephen is literally her mother. The girls were made with magic." Tony explains, and Maria brightens when he mentions the girls.

"There are more?" Maria asks while Howard simultaneously says, "Really, Anthony? Magic?"

Stephen was the one to answer Howard before Tony could open his mouth again. The doctor didn't even have to say anything. He simply displayed his magical abilities and Howard actually closed his mouth.

"How many children do you have?" Maria asks again.

Tony looks at her and genuinely smiles. "Seven."

"And a half." Stephen adds and Tony chuckles.

"That's a long story." Tony explains to his parents.

"Where are the others?" Howard asks.

"Somewhere." Tony says flippantly.

"Peter is out patrolling, Harley and Thomas are running an errand for me, Diana is downstairs with Cassie, and William is napping with Valerie." Stephen tells them. "Tea?"

"Yes, please." Maria says and Stephen walks into the kitchen.

Tony could only watch his mother play with Lucy. Even Howard seemed content to spend time with his granddaughter, so Tony joined Stephen in the kitchen and finally took a shuddering breath. Stephen looks over at him with concern and Tony waves him away.

"I'm alright."

"Wondering if it's all a dream?" Stephen asks.

"Maybe? It was nerve wracking just seeing my father during the time heist and now he's actually here. Sort of." Tony tries to explain.

"You have a chance to tell him what you want to." Stephen says. "And...I understand how you're feeling."

He reaches over and carefully grabs Tony's right arm, and looks at the scars traveling from the top of his hand and up his arm. They disappear briefly under his sleeve, but then reappear at the collar of his shirt and finally stop just below the right side of his jaw. Tony supposed Stephen had a point. Stephen probably felt that having Tony back was just a dream for a while. But Tony was here to stay.

Howard and Maria had to go back.

"You've made it very clear that I'm only allowed to die of old age or caffeine overdose." Tony chuckles and Stephen looks at him flatly.

"Preferably the former."

"That's the plan. Where's Athena?" Tony asks as Stephen gently drops his arm and turns back to the tea.

"Upstairs with William and Valerie. Tibbs is sleeping in his cat tower."

"The chaos will start up any second now regardless." Tony huffs and Stephen picks up the tea he finishes and takes it back into the living room.

Tony follows him, finding Lucy surprisingly with his father, and giving Maria a chance to drink the tea Stephen offers her. The chaos truly did erupt after that as he expected. Maria was only halfway through her tea when the kids that were out and about came home, Cassie and Diana came upstairs, and William and Valerie shuffled out of the little girl's room. Harley and Peter had expressions on their faces that made Tony think that they knew who exactly their visitors were, but they didn't say anything.

"Here's the rest of the brood." Tony announces. "Brood and a half." He says motioning to Cassie.

"I'm sure it's always exciting here." Maria says with a smile.

Stephen snorts. "If it's not the kids, it's our friends. Sometimes it's both."

"But it's our life. I don't think any of us would trade it for anything." Tony says.

Not even for one more day with his parents like he might have wished for once upon a time. He got his wish anyway, just not the way he thought he would. Because Lucy liked to throw things.

Tony told himself that he wanted to say things to his dad if he ever got the chance to, but just like the time heist, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He didn't want to see his parents off with another bad memory, and he didn't want to do that to any of his kids. They deserved a good memory with their grandparents...and Howard was being pretty decent so far. He could be civil too.

=====

To Tony and Stephen's surprise, Howard and Maria enjoyed spending every moment with the kids. Stephen at first kept an eye on them to make sure they didn't force any of their beliefs on them (or try to parent them in their own way), but he was able to relax after a little while. The older couple were content to spend time with the kids as grandparents usually did. Watching movies, playing games, cooking, and sharing each kid's hobbies.

Tony unfortunately couldn't spend much time with his parents because he had to fix the project Lucy had thrown the screwdriver at. He had to find a way to return his parents to their own time since he knew they didn't belong here. No matter how much he might have wanted them to stay and see how his life turned out.

Maybe they would go back to his seventeen-year-old self and tell him everything would work out okay. Even back then, Tony probably wouldn't listen to them, so he could see their attempt to reassure him being ignored.

It only took Tony a couple of days to fix the machine so that he could send his parents home. He let them, Stephen, and the kids know...and spent the rest of the night and up until the next afternoon with his parents. When it came time to take them back downstairs, they all went to say their final goodbyes.

"Do they have to go?" Diana pouts and Maria smiles as she pats her head.

"I know dear. It's unfair, but I'm glad we got to see you and your brothers and sisters." She says softly. "You be good for your mom and dad."

"I will."

Maria and Howard were quick to accept Stephen's role as the kids' mother once they explained how it started. How it started as a bit of a joke but overtime became serious...and then true when Diana was born. Of course they weren't used to it since their time was almost forty years prior, but even they knew anything could happen that far in the future. That things and people were becoming more open-minded.

"Thanks for teaching us some more of your recipes." Harley says, making Maria smile.

"Of course. I'm glad to see you enjoy cooking."

He shrugs. "Sometimes."

"Make sure you surpass your father." Howard says and Peter grins.

"We will."

After the kids finish saying their goodbyes -- and of course Lucy throws her teething ring at them -- Howard pulls Tony aside. Stephen watches with a raised eyebrow, but Tony subtly waves away his concern and the sorcerer turns his attention back to Maria and the kids.

"I'm glad to see you've done well for yourself." Howard says.

"For the company?" Tony asks.

His father sighs. "No. I'm glad to see that you have a family. A good one. Your children are all amazing and I'm not even talking about their potential." Tony looks at him in surprise but doesn't interrupt as Howard continues. "Your spouse...I don't know how things are in this time...but he's good for you. I…" he sighs. "I'm not good at this…"

"It's okay. I think I know what you're trying to say." Tony reassures. "I love him. I love my kids...and I would do anything to keep them safe. I have and I always will."

"I'm proud of you." Howard says softly. "I know our relationship wasn't the greatest, but I wanted to make sure you knew that. I doubt you need to know that or if you care--"

"Thank you." Tony says. "It means a lot."

"I'm glad we got to see you happy."

Tony felt just a tiny bit lighter after that when they rejoined the others. He hugged both of his parents goodbye, watched as his kids and Stephen did the same, and then booted up the machine that would send his parents back. Tony made sure Lucy didn't have anything that she could throw and make a mess of the machine again, and then finally hit the button. He looked at his parents as the machine hummed loudly, and returned the smile they gave him before they disappeared from sight and the machine powered down.

Stephen walks over to Tony as the kids head back upstairs, and wraps his arms around his neck. "Any regrets?"

"No."

Not at all.

[sergeantmiller]

The life and crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer

May 21, 1960: Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was born at Evangelical Deaconess Hospital in Milwaukee. According to Jeffrey's father, Lionel, his mother suffered bouts of partial paralysis during the pregnancy. Doctors were unable to find any reason for the paralysis. She was given "injections of barbiturates and morphine, which would finally relax her." Later she was given phenobarbital as well.

1962: The Dahmers moved to Ames, Iowa, so Jeffrey's father could work on his Ph.D in chemistry.

1964: Jeffrey was diagnosed with a double hernia in his scrotum. Surgery corrected it. Extreme pain suffered by the child both before and after the surgery could, conceivably, have influenced later feelings of sexual inadequacy or insecurity. Lionel claimed that it was from this time on that Jeffrey began to become more and more withdrawn and introverted.

November 1966: The Dahmers moved to Doylestown, Ohio. There were several other moves over the next year as they searched for just the right place to bring up Jeffrey and his brother David, who was born on December 18.

The pregnancy was as difficult for Mrs. Dahmer as her first. At this time a teacher (Jeffrey was in the first grade) noticed that Jeffrey seemed to feel neglected. This is, of course, a normal reaction for someone used to being an only child whose family suddenly expands. Most get over it fairly quickly.

Jeffrey's father describes him as being extraordinarily shy and withdrawn during this period, actually terrified of new people and situations.

1968: The family moved to Bath, Ohio.

Jeffrey's father has reported that Jeffrey was sexually abused by a neighbor boy at this time. Jeffrey himself claimed to remember no such thing. Molestation can be a factor in gender confusion and hostility.

Late 1970: Jeffrey's mother was hospitalized twice for psychiatric problems. According to Lionel she had been taking drugs to deal with her extreme nervousness for years, but they didn't work well. Thus, she was not a stabilizing influence in Jeffrey's life.

During his school years Jeffrey built a reputation as a misfit with a penchant for stupid pranks and very heavy drinking. Some of his pranks, such as shouting things out at strange times, bleating like a sheep and faking epileptic fits, sound eerily similar to the childhood behavior of Arthur Shawcross, another serial killer who practiced cannibalism. [See The mask of sanity in the November 1994 issue of Murder Watch for more about Shawcross's odd behavior.] They don't seem to resemble each other in very many other ways.

June 4, 1978: Jeffrey graduated from high school. By this point he was living alone. His parents were going through an extremely bitter divorce and had each moved out. Because Jeffrey at 18, was legally an adult, the law did not allow for anyone to have custody of him. Therefore, no one took custody. Instability and a lack of emotional support continued.

June 18, 1978: Dahmer picked up nineteen year old Steven Mark Hicks hitchhiking. They went back to the house for a few beers. When Hicks tried to leave, Dahmer clubbed him with a barbell and strangled him with it. Over the next couple of weeks he methodically stripped the flesh from the bones, smashed the bones and disposed of the few remains in the back yard.

Dahmer said he killed Hicks because he didn't want him to leave. At least one survivor of a Dahmer attack reported that after he had been at Dahmer's apartment for a while (voluntarily), he mentioned that he wanted to leave, and Jeffrey's attitude changed; his voice became panicky, and then the attack began. However, Dahmer's fascination with death and the dead was already pronounced by the time he picked up Steven Hicks. Friends said he liked to pick up roadkill and take it to a shed behind his house, to skin the bodies. He also had a small animal cemetery. There were rumors that he killed neighborhood dogs and cats and even mounted a dog's head on a stake.

This bizarre behavior must have influenced Jeffrey's decision to kill Hicks. After all, if he just wanted to keep Hicks from leaving, he could have tied him up. Corpses are poor company, generally.

Another explanation for the killer's panicky tone when the prospective victim wanted to leave could simply be the stress of realizing that, if he was going to kill the target, he'd better do it soon. Dahmer did indicate that he never liked the killing much; he only did it to acquire dead bodies.

After his high school graduation Dahmer enrolled in Ohio State University. He stayed only one semester before dropping out. He was now creating his own instability.

December 24, 1978: Lionel remarried.

December 29, 1978: Jeffrey was sworn into the Army. After failing to become an MP he was trained as a medic and assigned to Baumholder, Germany. This was far from a plum assignment. It was also a very few years after the humiliation of Vietnam, when morale and discipline in the armed forces were poor and drug and alcohol abuse wide spread.

In the Army, Dahmer no longer stood out as a clown and prankster. He was noticed, however, for being not only a very heavy drinker, but as an unpleasant, even violent, drunk.

After his arrest in Milwaukee became known around the world, authorities in Germany looked to see if they could connect Dahmer to murders that took place there. Though information is sketchy, it seems likely that a serial killer was active in the area at the time, but that it was not Dahmer. (The victims in Germany were young women. Dahmer killed only men.)

March 26, 1981: Dahmer was discharged from the Army before his enlistment was up because his drinking had reached the point where he simply didn't function any more. Back in the U.S., he went to Florida where he slept on the beach for a few months before returning to Ohio.

October 7, 1981: Dahmer was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and paid a small fine. He was drunk.

August 7, 1982: Dahmer was arrested again for disorderly conduct. He dropped his pants in public. By this time Dahmer was living with his grandmother, in part because she seemed to be the only person he responded to with anything like affection.

September 8, 1986: Jeffrey was arrested when he deliberately exposed himself while urinating in front of a group of children in Milwaukee. Another version of the story has it that he was masturbating.

By this time Dahmer was a frequent visitor to gay bars and bath houses. He was barred from one bath house because of allegations that on at least four separate occasions he took someone to a private booth and drugged them. No charges were filed, though one of the victims was hospitalized for a week or so.

September 15, 1987: The murder of Steven W. Tuomi, age 24. Dahmer claimed he woke up in a hotel room and found the victim dead, with no memory of doing anything to him. He bought a big suitcase, transported the body back to his grandmother's house, and proceeded to dispose of it much as he had the body of Steven Hicks.

Nine years passed between the first and second murders. In a sense, the time was so long that the second murder could be treated, mentally, as another first murder. He spent years working up to it, learning how to approach other men, how to drug them, how much to drug them. He may have been too drunk to remember the murder or he may have avoided the memory because it was unpleasant - he wasn't very skilled at killing yet.

1988

January 1988: James Doxtator, 14, killed. Dahmer offered him money to pose nude for photos, took him back to his grandmother's house. After sex Dahmer drugged and strangled him. By now his pattern of using acid and crushing force to destroy the remains was practiced.

March 24, 1988: Richard Guerrero, 25, came back to Dahmer's grandmother's house for nude photos. Again, after sex, Dahmer drugged and strangled the victim.

September 25, 1988: Dahmer moved into his own place. He offered $50 to a 13-year-old to pose nude, gave him drugged coffee and fondled him. The boy escaped. Dahmer was arrested.

From here on the pace of the murders picked up significantly. Once he had his own place, Dahmer seems to have lost most of what little control he had.

1989

January 1989: Jeffrey was convicted of 2nd degree sexual assault and enticing a child for immoral purposes. (See above) Sentenced on May 23 to five years and three years, sentences to be served concurrently. Actually served ten months, then began five years probation.

March 25: Anthony Sears,24, was last seen alive. Dahmer met him at a club, took him back to his grandmother's house. After sex, he drugged Sears and murdered him. Sears's painted skull was recovered from Dahmer's apartment after his arrest in 1991.

1990

May 29: Ricky Beeks, 33, was last seen alive. Dahmer met him at a club and offered him money to pose for nude pictures. He drugged and strangled him and had sex with the body. The victim's painted skull was recovered from Dahmer's apartment after his arrest in 1991.

June 1990: Edward W. Smith, 28, killed. Dahmer met him at a bar and offered him money for sex and pictures. After sex, Smith was drugged and strangled. Dahmer took some pictures during the process of dismembering the body.

September 2: Ernest Miller, 24, was last seen alive. He met Dahmer in front of a book store. Dahmer offered him money to come home with him. After sex, Dahmer drugged him and cut his throat. He took pictures of the body and dismembered it, putting the biceps in the freezer. He bleached the skeleton and painted the skull, which was in his apartment when he was arrested in 1991.

September 24: David C. Thomas last seen alive. Dahmer met him on the street and offered him money to come home with him. Dahmer drugged Thomas and murdered him without sex, taking pictures as he dismembered the body.

1991

March 7: Curtis Straughter, 18, last seen alive. Dahmer picked him up at a bus stop, offering him money to come home with him. He drugged Straughter and strangled him after sex, taking pictures of the dismembered body. The skull, unpainted, was recovered from Dahmer's apartment after his 1991 arrest. This is at least the third sequence of events Dahmer experimented with. Earlier, it had been sex, drugging then murder. At least once he tried drugs, murder, sex. This is drugs, sex and murder.

April 7: Errol Lindsey, 19, last seen alive. Dahmer met him on the street and offered him money to come home with him. He drugged Lindsey, strangled him and had sex with the body. The unpainted skull was recovered from Dahmer's apartment.

May 17: Dahmer met 14-year-old Konerak Sinthasomphone in front of a mall and offered him money to pose for nude pictures. After the pictures he drugged Konerak, then went out for beer. The boy escaped, naked into the street. Neighbors called police, but Dahmer convinced them that he and the boy were lovers who had merely had a little quarrel. Police, aparently unconcerned that Sinthasomphone was still too drugged to confirm or deny the story, returned him to Dahmer, who strangled him as soon as the police were gone. Dahmer had sex with his body, took pictures and dismembered him. His skull was recovered from Dahmer's apartment.

When the full details of this incident became known, mild disciplinary action was taken against the officers involved. The department was also sued for a large amount of money.

May 24: Tony Hughes, 31, last seen alive. Reportedly, Hughes and Dahmer had known each other for two years. By writing (Hughes was deaf and mute) Dahmer offered him $50.00 to come home with him and pose for nude pictures. Hughes was drugged and murdered without sex. His unpainted skull was recovered from Dahmer's apartment.

June 30: Matt Turner, 20, last seen alive. They met in Chicago at the bus station after a Gay Pride parade. Dahmer offered him money to pose nude, drugged him and strangled him with a strap. After cutting the body up, Dahmer put the head in the freezer and the rest in a barrel of acid he had obtained.

July 6: Jeremiah Weinberger, 23, last seen alive. They met in Chicago at a gay bar, where Dahmer offered him money to come back to Milwaukee. This murder is very unusual in that the victim was not murdered until the day after he came home with Dahmer. When he indicated that he wanted to leave, Dahmer drugged him, strangled him, and dismembered him, taking pictures of the process. Like the last victim, his head went into the freezer, his body into the acid.

July 15: Jeffrey was fired from the Ambrosia Chocolate Co. for bad attendance.

The same day, Oliver Lacy, 23, was last seen alive. They met on the street and went back to Dahmer's apartment for body rubs. Lacy was then drugged and strangled. Dahmer had sex with the body before dismembering it. He put the head in the refrigerator and the heart in the freezer, "to eat later."

July 16: Joseph Bradehoft, 25, last seen alive. They met at a bus stop, where Dahmer offered him money to pose for nude pictures. After sex, Dahmer drugged him and strangled him with a strap. He dismembered the body and, as before, put the head in the freezer and the body in the acid barrel.

July 22, 1991: Shortly after midnight, Tracy Edwards, 32, escaped from Dahmer with one hand in a handcuff and flagged down a police car. He lead the cops back to Dahmer's apartment. They found photos of dismembered victims and body parts in the refrigerator and freezer. Shortly, the sight of crews in biohazard protection suits taking evidence out of Dahmer's apartment was televised all over the world. The suits were necessary because of the smell of decay in the apartment and because of the acid in the barrel.

Caught red-handed, with overwhelming physical evidence against him, it's not surprising that Jeffrey confessed. His dry, unemotional descriptions of murdering a dozen and a half young men belied the reality of brutality and sadism that was revealed in Tracy Edwards' testimony.

It's possible that the sameness of the descriptions (Offers of money to pose, drugs to knock them out) was not entirely accurate. Tracy Edwards claimed he was not offered money, that he only went to Dahmer's apartment for some beers before going out again. He may have been covering up his own indiscretion, or Dahmer may have lied about the ways he lured people back to his apartment in order to make them seem less like innocent victims.

Edwards was drugged, but did not lose consciousness. This raises the possibility that the sedatives Dahmer gave victims were intended only to weaken them, while leaving them aware of what was being done to them. Dahmer had certainly had enough practice by then to have a good idea what dose was needed to knock a man out. Dahmer may have enjoyed taunting the victims about their fate and killing them, slowly, much more than he let on later.

Dahmer also claimed that he needed to drink heavily in order to be able to face killing people, but we know that he was a hard-core alcoholic for much of his life. For him, making excuses for drinking was normal and can not be regarded as likely to be honest.

1992

January 14: Dahmer entered a plea of guilty but insane in 15 of the 17 murders he claimed to have committed.

February 15: By 10-2 majority vote, a jury found Dahmer to be sane in each murder. Testimony from defense and prosecution experts took weeks and was extremely gruesome. One expert testified that Dahmer periodically removed body parts of his victims from the freezer and ate them. Another testified that this was a lie Dahmer told to make himself seem insane. The jury deliberated slightly more than ten hours.

February 17: Dahmer was sentenced to 15 consecutive life terms. At the sentencing, Dahmer read a prepared statement in which he expressed sorrow for the pain he had caused.

"I knew I was sick or evil or both. Now I believe I was sick. The doctors have told me about my sickness and now I have some peace. I know now how much harm I have caused. I tried to do the best I could after the arrest to make amends."

"I now know I will be in prison the rest of my life. I know that I will have to turn to God to help me get through each day. I should have stayed with God. I tried and failed and created a holocaust. Thank God there will be no more harm that I can do. I believe that only the Lord Jesus Christ can save me from my sins."

He later pled guilty to aggravated murder in Ohio, in the death of his first victim, Steven Hicks. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

November 28, 1994: Dahmer murdered in prison.

Dahmer and two other inmates were assigned to clean the staff bathroom of the Columbia Correctional Institute gymnasium in Portage, Wisconsin. Guards left them alone to do their work for about twenty minutes, starting at around 7:50 a.m. When Dahmer was discovered, he was unconscious and his head and face were bloody. He died on the way to the hospital from multiple skull fractures and brain trauma.

A bloody broom handle was found near Dahmer, but a broom is probably not sturdy enough to inflict the damage that killed him. Reports in December indicated that he was struck with a steel bar stolen from the prison weight room.

One of the other two inmates in the area with Dahmer was also attacked. Jesse Anderson, 37, was pronounced dead in the hospital at 10:04 a.m. on November 30. Anderson was convicted of stabbing and beating his wife to death in 1992. He was serving a life term.

The third inmate in the work party is twenty-five-year-old Christopher Scarver, a convicted murderer reportedly taking anti-psychotic medication. Scarver murdered a coworker when he was angry at his boss. The boss got away. Scarver claimed his boss was a racist and there has been speculation that Scarver, who is black, wanted revenge for the wrongs Dahmer and Anderson (both white) had done to black people. The majority of Dahmer's victims were black. Anderson tried to blame two fictitious black men for murdering his wife during a mugging. It's been pointed out that a desire for publicity or status may have also been a motive.

Dahmer was attacked last July, also. A convicted drug dealer tried to cut his throat with a razor blade attached to a toothbrush handle, making a crude straight razor, but the weapon fell apart. Dahmer received minimal injuries.

Scarver is said to have delusions that he is Christ. He has been in psychiatrict observation and treatment several times, with diagnoses of bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia. He was found guilty of the murder, though, and sent to prison. A jury apparently did not believe he was insane.

[folklorestv]

Hamilton London: Review (Oct 2018)

I saw Hamilton in London on Oct 4, 2018 (matinee show) and I decided to write a little review; I was located in the stalls, row K, seat 40 (scroll further to the bottom of the post to see where my seat was exactly). I’d been wanting to see Hamilton for about two and a half years and I bought the tickets eight months ago, and it feels so surreal that the moment I’ve been looking for is over at last. I flew out to London on Wednesday, the show was on Thursday (two show day). We got to the Victoria Palace Theatre at around 1pm and by that time, a small queue had already formed outside. We got in pretty quickly as the paperless ticketing system works great! The redeveloped theatre is absolutely beautiful, not to mention fancy as hell. They let us inside the actual stage room at 1.45pm, there’s different entries and they let us know beforehand which one to take, so we were at our seats in no matter of time. Fortunately, my seat had plenty of leg room and sitting was not uncomfortable at all. Being in 11th row, I was super close to the stage. Like, for real, I was really close. You can’t tell on the photo, but when the actors were on stage I could see every single tiny facial expression. Let’s just say that I could always see clearly whenever the actors spit while singing/rapping.

I’ve written a review on each actor which I will put under the cut (it actually got really fucking long, I doubt anyone will read all of it). You will be able to tell that I actually prefer the West End company over the OBC! I only have the OBC to compare them to, anyway. One thing I want to mention beforehand (because I don’t want to write it multiple times) is that you could actually hear the cast’s British accents here and there, but overall they did a solid job at faking an American one! I rather enjoyed it whenever a bit of a British accent slipped through at certain words.

Jamael Westman as Alexander Hamilton: I honestly don’t know where to start. Jamael is absolutely amazing, in my opinion a lot better than Lin! He is a perfect Alexander Hamilton and I can’t praise him enough. I’m glad he extended his contract and hopefully I’ll be able to see him again next year. He is great down to every micro-expression, like I said, he definitely beats Lin. His voice is awesome and very lovely to listen to, he hits all his notes, and he speaks clearly which made the rapping fantastic as well. He has a wonderful gentleness about him that is beautiful in That Would Be Enough and Stay Alive (Reprise); his Hurricane and his verse in The World Was Wide Enough are breathtaking. Moreover, Jamael nails the role in both acts. He has that certain playfulness in the first act and I enjoyed watching him so much. In the second act, he plays the fatherly and slightly more serious role really well, too. In contrast to the serious part, he is amazing during the Cabinet Battles and earned a lot of laughs from the crowd! Opposed to Lin (in my opinion), Jamael just fits the role a lot better physically, too. He’s young, fresh and handsome and that is mirrored in his portrayal of Hamilton. To sum it up, Jamael’s energy as Hamilton is out of this world and I’m at a loss for words.

Rachelle Ann Go as Eliza Hamilton: She didn’t particularly stand out for me, but she is still an amazing Eliza! She brings the necessary eagerness in Helpless and you could see her go through a real character arc as she grew more mature. She has a phenomenal singing voice and her acting is great, too. She’s genuinely crying in Burn and you could feel all her disgust towards Hamilton, it was amazing. Furthermore, her scream in Stay Alive (Reprise) is heartbreaking. She’s an excellent emotional singer. She’s also a lot shorter than Jamael which just made them look cute as a couple on stage.

Giles Terera as Aaron Burr: I have mixed feelings about him. I had to get used to him first for a couple of songs as his lisp annoyed me a bit, particularly at the start with the spoken narration. I wasn’t a big fan of his voice but I soon realised that he’s an incredible performer! He can sing really well which he definitely shows in Wait For It and The Room Where It Happens, so as the show progresses the lisp became less noticeable and you can focus on his excellent performance and acting. Overall, he plays a different Burr than Leslie Odom Jr, and at the end I actually adored his portrayal since it’s fresh and new. I still preferred him in the second act, though. He does a great job of making Burr a victim and The World Was Wide Enough - especially the end of it - was simply beautiful.

Rachel John as Angelica Schuyler: Oh my lord, she is absolute perfection. She might have beat Renée Goldsberry for me just because she has that certain something, she is a lot more fierce. Her voice is badass and she killed Satisfied! You can see her gentle side in It’s Quiet Uptown which she plays really well. She can sing, rap, act and get all the right emotions across. I’m so glad I got to see her as Angelica! I would’ve loved to see her sing Congratulations as that song seems to be written only for her. As you can tell, I’m literally speechless when it comes to her. She definitely owns the stage whenever she is on it.

Obioma Ugoala as George Washington: Definitely one of my favourites. He was unreal. Imagine Chris Jackson but even better! He has a really powerful and super deep voice along with amazing vocals. He was full on yelling a few times in Right Hand Man and you definitely feel intimidated by him. He plays the comedic part in the Cabinet Battles well, which is something I haven’t seen with other Washingtons. He gives the role all the aspects that were missing and I was completely speechless after his performance! He gets the loudest applause after One Last Time as he does a particularly fantastic job during the song! His vocals are simply incredible and he dominates the tricky role of George Washington. Fun fact: He actually forgot his line “Remember, my decision on this matter is not subject to congressional approval / The only person you have to convince is me” in Cabinet Battle #2 while saying it and just changed it up quickly to “Anybody else’s opinion doesn’t matter”. I just thought that was funny, it just proves what live theatre is like.

Jason Pennycooke as Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson: Absolutely loved him! I wasn’t immediately a fan of his Lafayette because I got caught up in how different he is to Daveed Diggs. But in reality, he brings completely new energy to the role, which I enjoyed a lot. Guns And Ships is flawless, so he is really likeable in the first act. He is sort of this small, young guy who comes out of nowhere and saves the day. The second act blows everyone away! His Jefferson is perfect, probably better than Daveed’s. His version is again different but he is so funny and gets the majority of laughs! Next to Jamael as Hamilton, he does perfect comedy in the Cabinet Battles - they both do. I am basically in love with his portrayal of both characters as he brings a lot to them each. He does a stand out performance and is a true joy to watch. Although he is so very, very different to Daveed, he is very talented and awesome in his roles! Again, the second act had me completely amazed. His rapping and singing is on point and he is really flamboyant and confident. I also met him at the stage door and he’s very lovely in person. He genuinely appreciated when I told him how much I liked his portrayal and he took tons of time with everyone.

Tarinn Callender as Hercules Mulligan / James Madison: Personally one of my cast favourites as I’ve been enjoying his Instagram stories (and Cleve’s) for a year now. I was super excited to see him on stage and he was perfect! His portrayal is quite similar to Okieriete’s, but I still enjoyed it! He brings a booming energy to the group as Mulligan in the first act and he morphs perfectly into Madison in act two. He kills his rap in Yorktown and I was in love. He has this  wonderful “I’m so done with this shit” attitude about Jefferson which is funny and he gets a lot of laughs as well. Tarinn is a wonderful performer and has an amazing comedic timing! He is awesome alongside Cleve in act one, and then alongside Jason in act two. He lifts the scenes and picks up the pace. He was the nicest person ever at the stage door (I had been dying to meet him) and he took a lot of funny photos with my phone! It was a blast to see him that day, definitely my favourite part of my London trip. (I’m putting the photos he took with my phone at the end of the post.)

Cleve September as John Laurens / Philip Hamilton: My other favourite besides Tarinn! Cleve and Tarinn are an amazing duo, on and off stage. They put a lot of comedy into the first act and bring new energy to the characters’ beliefs. It is absolutely heartbreaking when John Laurens dies (right after Dear Theodosia) and Cleve is able to bring the sadness and the pride across at the same time. He is absolutely fantastic as Philip, too, I probably prefer him over Anthony Ramos. Take A Break was sooo funny, I wish everyone could see him in it! His portrayal differs from Anthony’s while he still stays true to the character. He’s so scared during Blow Us All Away and he’s genuinely shaking before the duel. Stay Alive (Reprise) is absolutely heart wrenching to watch. Cleve’s acting is flawless during the conversation between Philip and Alexander (”I did exactly as you said, Pa / I help my head up high / Even before we got to ten- / I was aiming for the sky”). He actually screams out in pain while talking and my heart shattered into pieces. He does an awesome job! Definitely a bummer that I didn’t meet him at the stage door as Cleve is such a lovely and funny person as well.

Sharon Rose as Peggy Schuyler / Maria Reynolds: She is the only understudy of the main cast that I saw but she really kills her role! I had heard recordings of Christine Allado as Maria before and thought she was amazing; therefore I was really curious to see Sharon. She is really fun-loving during The Schuyler Sisters and her portrayal as Peggy is everything it has to be. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her and she is adorable during Helpless and Satisfied. She also kills her performance as Maria during Say No To This and it reminded me more of Christine Allado’s version, rather than Jasmine Cephas Jones’s. Sharon hits every note and plays that helplessness and state of being devastated well, she’s definitely an amazing emotional singer, similar to Rachelle!

Michael Jibson as King George: I wasn’t sure about him first but afterwards I can say that I definitely like his portrayal more than Jonathan Groff’s. I prefer Jonathan’s vocals as I felt like Michael was sometimes struggling with the high notes, but he absolutely owns the stage when he was on it! All of his mannerisms are superb; he might have got the most laughs and cheering from the audience. The British definitely love to make fun of themselves and poke at the Royals, it was awesome! Michael adds a lot of tiny tweaks to the character which is really creative. He changed several things about the performance as King George that make the whole portrayal a lot more fun to watch. You should definitely go see him in his role if you ever have the chance. I also met him at the stage door where he seemed like a really laid-back and nice guy!

Jack Butterworth as Samuel Seabury: Now, this is a super minor role but I thought I should mention it anyway. Jack Butterworth is a pure joy to watch as Samuel Seabury. Completely different energy compared to the OBC; Jack seems a lot more innocent and playful. Also, he is standing on a podium and Jamael is almost taller than him without a podium, just a funny thing I noticed. Jack was definitely the right casting choice (as are all the other actors involved).

Gregory Haney as Charles Lee: Another really minor role that I want to mention nevertheless. Charles Lee is usually played by Leslie Garcia Bowman so it came as a bit of a surprise to me that Gregory played the role that day. I’ve been following him for several years as he was part of the Broadway cast before and I was really excited when he starred as Charles Lee in Stay Alive! He did a really good job in both Stay Alive and Ten Duel Commandments. His “I’m a general, whee!” sounds different than the Broadway one and earns many laughs.

Ensemble - Jade Albertsen, Curtis Angus, Courtney Mae Briggs, Jack Butterworth, Jon Scott Clark, Kelly Downing, Gregory Haney, Leah Hill, Walyon Jacobs, Miriam-Teak Lee, Chris Tendai: The ensemble are the true stars of the show; they bring beautiful harmonies and mind-blowing choreographies. Leah Hill stood out for me as the Bullet and she did a beautiful job. Miriam Teak-Lee is another one who stood out in all of the dancers, I’ve heard recordings of her as Angelica (she’s actually an alternate for all the Schuyler sisters!) and she definitely has potential to rise up. Kudos to everyone in the ensemble, they’re doing an amazing job every night.

Like I said, I was pretty close to the stage. My ticket was £100 while the ticket for the seat to my right is already £250. This is because my view of the stage was slightly obstructed to the left side which didn’t matter at all. The only thing I missed was Washington’s “Me, I trusted him” during Alexander Hamilton and I couldn’t see Hamilton standing on the staircase during Satisfied. Both of those are, however, very minor things that didn’t bother me. I felt extremely close to the actors in 11th row, and it was definitely worth saving £150 (the rows in front of me are £250, too).

Aaaand here are the photos Tarinn took with my phone!

[five-miles-over]

Drabble: Tom Hiddleston's Last Day with a Few Cast members of Avengers: Infinity War before Leaving for Scotland

2019

"So…all packed up, Your Majesty?"

Tom awkwardly chuckled at Chris's comment, adjusting his navy Tom Ford blazer with a blush upon his cheeks. The two men scoured about the hotel room which was completely empty on one side, the side that Tom had slept in while he was filming his scenes in Avengers: Infinity War.

Most of those scenes were merely a flashback to Loki's death at the hands of Thanos. And among the Marvel cast and crew, it was understood that this would be the last cinematic appearance of the God of Mischief. 

To say that Tom loved Loki would be an understatement. It was the role that made him from just another Eton and RADA alumnus into a household name. It was the role that gave him the chance to immerse himself into a character for several years, a character beloved by so many around the globe. Moreover, it even gave Tom another chance to integrate his knowledge of the Shakespearean plays he loved so dearly. So leaving the God of Mischief for future endeavours was certainly going to be a large transition.

"You didn't have to see me off to the airport, really." 

"No, it's no problem," Chris replied, picking up one of Tom's bags. "But first, we're going downstairs for, uh, getting a bite to eat with Robert and Mark."

"Oh, are you sure? I wouldn't want to trouble them…"

Tom exited the hotel room for the last time, holding the rest of his luggage, the key card inside of his pocket. With Chris by his side, he strode into the elevator and pressed the 'L' button. 

"Nah, they'll be fine. They're not filming for a couple of hours, and…we're going to miss you."

A tear welling up in his eye, Tom took a deep breath. "I'm…I'm really going to miss this too." The two of them shared a bear hug before the doors opened to the lobby.

Near a cafe within the lobby, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo were at a table sipping coffee from porcelain mugs. As soon as they saw Tom and Chris exit the elevator, Robert and Mark giggled like schoolboys and swiftly stood up from their table, revealing the outfits they chose for the occasion.

"Are you wearing kilts?" Chris managed to ask before the four of them burst into fits of laughter.

Mark nodded. "We-we thought it would be appropriate, saying goodbye to our-"

"-our Scotsman," Robert finished before all four of them sat down. With complete nonchalance, Robert turned to a waitress and ordered a bottle of champagne for the table.

"Mate, isn't that a bit girly?" Chris cringed a little. "Having champagne at brekkie?"

"I didn't expect Thor to be so insecure in his masculinity," Robert retorted, earning a laugh from the rest of the table. "Besides, it's Tom's favorite."

Tom quietly protested, insisting that it was barely eight in the morning.

"That reminds us…" Mark fished out a gift basket from under the table and passed it to Tom. "Since most of the Marvel cast couldn't be here before your flight, we got together to, uh, assemble this for you. There's a big card, everyone's signed it including Stan Lee, Natasha, um…Anthony, Paul, Elizabeth, Chadwick, Spiderman, Benedict -"

"Where's Benedict?" Chris piped up while Robert accepted the large, glossy, black bottle with a wooden cork.

"In London, attending his kid's school play or something."

Tom thanked Mark, graciously accepted the gift, and glanced at the contents. Nothing too special, mainly chocolates, fancy gold trinkets, and 

Robert raised the bottle, despite Mark's jocular warning,  "To Thomas William Hiddleston, Prince of Scotland…Long may he reign!" 

"Hear, hear," Mark and Chris echoed.

With a pop, Robert opened the bottle and poured the bubbly alcohol into three glasses. He poured a generous portion into his now-empty porcelain mug. Thus commenced a morning with several rounds of champagne, eggs, potatoes, pastries, pancakes, bacon, and more champagne.

"So, when do you get to wear a kilt?" Mark poured syrup on his pancake and turned towards Tom.

"Erm, not very often if at all," Tom explained. "It's really something that is only worn for a cultural event, since the garment holds so much significance. And of course when, erm, we have special visitors at Balmoral Castle."

"He means the royal family of England," Robert teases.

Chris inhaled a large forkful of eggs. "So how'd you get to act? I mean…I've never heard of something like…that."

"Actually, not many know that Charles, I mean the Prince of Wales, was quite fond of acting. He too participated in school productions like Richard the Third. In fact, he was very supportive of me pursuing it full-time. I cannot thank him enough." 

Just then Tom's phone buzzed. It was a message from his cousin's security team. It read,

The golden eagle has landed.

The golden eagle, a majestic bird with dark brown plumage, was the most bird famous among the Scottish. Thus, it became a sort of 'code name' for the royals' private plane. 

Tom looked up from his phone. "I'd better check out from the hotel. I'm afraid I must be off to the airport soon. 

"Okay, cool. Don't worry about breakfast. It's on me," Robert casually replied, reaching for his wallet before Chris playfully swatted his arm.

"No, not fair! You need to let me handle it this time."

While the three of them quarreled and eventually settled on some form of splitting the bill, Tom calmly approached the receptionist, a smartly-dressed blonde-haired woman, and checked himself out of the hotel room. He returned to the table, profusely thanked everyone for a fun morning, and gave one final hug to Robert and Mark.

"Make sure you don't forget to bow to the king," Robert reminded him.

Mark chuckled. "Yeah, you might have to do some kneeling this time." 

AU: Tom Hiddleston as the Prince of Scotland

After decades of auditions, drama classes, and more auditions, Thomas "Tom" William Hiddleston was able to establish himself as one of Hollywood's most charismatic, intelligent, and kind actors. 

But all the while, Tom was hiding a secret about his origin. Actually, it was a secret that everyone knew about, but Tom did everything in his power to downplay it in interviews.

The Hiddlestons were Scottish royalty.

Through countless battles, political campaigns, and dreary Parliament sessions, Scotland was able to achieve its own independent monarchy, apart from Great Britain. And by numerous twists and turns of fate, the throne fell into the Hiddleston family. One of Tom's cousins sat upon the throne, reigning as a king, which made Tom another prince (and perhaps 3rd in line of succession, after his cousin's son and Tom's older sister). And for a long time, Tom preferred to keep it that way, stepping back from royalty so he could earn his fame as an actor through his own diligence (and not by using a title).

But at the end of the filming of Avengers: Infinity War, his last appearance as Loki the God of Mischief,Thomas (with the counsel of his family and the Scottish court) decided to return to Scotland and take some of the royal duties of his family. Surely the older family members would appreciate the help. Tom would serve the Scottish people, attending State engagements with his family and starting charities of his own to give back to society

…though a return to the stage is certainly not off the cards, yes? 

[classyfoxdestiny]

Premier League predictions 2021-22: BBC Sport pundits pick their top four

Premier League predictions 2021-22: BBC Sport pundits pick their top four

Defending champions Manchester City have won the Premier League in three of the past four seasons – but can anyone stop them this time?

Manchester United were City’s nearest rivals last time out but finished 12 points back and have still not sustained a serious title bid since they were last champions in 2013.

Will United challenge for top spot until the end in 2021-22? How will Liverpool respond after their title defence imploded at the start of the year? Can Chelsea be contenders again domestically after conquering Europe? And will Leicester, Arsenal, Tottenham or anyone else break into the Champions League places?

We asked 20 BBC TV and radio pundits to pick their top four, with explanations for their selections.

Alan Shearer Chelsea Man City Man Utd Liverpool Fara Williams Chelsea Man City Man Utd Liverpool Sue Smith Chelsea Man City Man Utd Liverpool Chris Sutton Chelsea Man City Liverpool Man Utd Rachel Brown-Finnis Chelsea Man City Liverpool Man Utd Matthew Upson Chelsea Man City Liverpool Man Utd Rob Green Chelsea Liverpool Man City Man Utd Martin Keown Man City Chelsea Liverpool Man Utd Micah Richards Man City Chelsea Liverpool Man Utd Stephen Warnock Man City Chelsea Liverpool Man Utd Danny Murphy Man City Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Mark Lawrenson Man City Liverpool Chelsea Man Utd Ashley Williams Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Clinton Morrison Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Michael Brown Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Pat Nevin Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Leon Osman Man City Chelsea Man Utd Liverpool Nedum Onuoha Man City Man Utd Liverpool Chelsea Lindsay Johnson Man City Man Utd Chelsea Liverpool Jermaine Beckford Man City Chelsea Man Utd Leicester

Five teams feature in the forecasted top fours, but only City, United and Chelsea feature in all 20.

In terms of who will win it, City are favourites, with 13 votes. Chelsea get seven, while the highest anyone thinks United or Liverpool will finish is second. The overall predicted ranking gives a similar outcome.

1. Man City 2. Chelsea 3. Man Utd 4. Liverpool 5. Leicester 72 pts 62 pts 33 pts 32 pts 1 pt

(using system of 4 pts for a 1st place, 3 pts for 2nd, 2 pts for 3rd and 1 pt for 4th)

Which transfer would affect three pundits’ title predictions?

The predictions were made on Thursday, 12 August, with just under three weeks to go before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, 31 August.

Alan Shearer: Some major signings have already happened, but there are more to come that will affect the title race. I’m expecting it to be much tighter at the top than last time, with four teams in with a chance of being champions, not just City and Chelsea.

Alan Shearer joins Ian Wright and Gary Lineker on Match of the Day this Saturday at 22:20 BST on BBC One and the BBC Sport website for highlights of seven Premier League games.

Chris Sutton: If Harry Kane goes to Manchester City, then he is the perfect fit for them and I would fancy them. If he doesn’t, I think Chelsea will nick it, because they are getting Romelu Lukaku. I don’t think City will win the title without signing a centre-forward. I know they won it last season largely playing without one, which was remarkable. I don’t see it happening again.

Matthew Upson: As things stand, I’d back Chelsea. It looks as if Lukaku is definitely going there, while things are very different with City and Kane – who knows if that will happen? It’s a big ask for them to win the league again without a new striker but, if they do get Kane, that turns that problem position into a massive positive – and I’d change my prediction.

Sue Smith: Chelsea will have massive confidence from winning the Champions League but if City can get Kane, then I’d put them on top instead.

Guardiola was a ‘massive factor’ in Grealish joining Man City

Pat Nevin: City have already added Jack Grealish, who is exactly the right player for them and there is the possibility of Kane, who is perfect too because he is so creative and adaptable. Arguably he’s the player that Pep tried to turn Sergio Aguero into, and I can’t think of many strikers so well suited to City’s style.

If they get him, they are big favourites. If they don’t, they are just marginal favourites.

Man City – ‘A team of Galacticos’

This is the sixth season running where Manchester City have featured in everyone’s forecasted top four. It’s also the fourth successive year where no-one thinks they will finish below second.

Micah Richards: It’s tougher than ever to call it this season but I am still going to say City, even if they don’t get Kane. John Stones has signed a new deal and, with him and Ruben Dias, the defence is sorted. When you look at their options in midfield and going forward, it’s just not fair on the other teams and, with the form that Raheem Sterling was in at the Euros, they still have to be favourites.

Micah Richards and Dion Dublin are the guests on Football Focus on BBC One and the BBC Sport website at 12:00 BST on Saturday.

Danny Murphy: My gut feeling is that City are going to be really difficult to knock off their perch. They and Liverpool will just about have the edge on everyone but not by much – the top four will be really tight.

Nedum Onuoha: I look at how good City were defensively last season and think they will be strong enough to win the title again. But I think this year will be the first time in a while where there will be more than two teams in with a shout at the very end. City have made an excellent signing in Grealish but their rivals have strengthened well too.

Jermaine Beckford: They are so powerful. Stones and Dias have formed a brilliant relationship and City don’t really have a weakness any more.

Michael Brown: My only doubt is if they don’t get Kane, or another striker.

Ashley Williams: City are the best team and squad in the league. They have added Grealish and if they get Kane then the title is done. Even without Kane, or another top-class striker, as a team they have got goals everywhere and their style of play doesn’t need a recognised centre-forward. I’m expecting a more productive season from Sterling too.

Martin Keown: What I am really excited about is seeing how Grealish will play under Guardiola, after seeing the effect Pep has had on Sterling and Phil Foden already. Now we have another talented English player in his hands, and Grealish has a team of Galacticos around him.

Chelsea – ‘The depth in their squad is scary’

Last season, no-one thought Chelsea would win the title and only two out of 25 pundits thought they would make the top two. This time, seven out of 20 pundits think they will be champions and 80% think they will make the top two.

Pat Nevin: I’ve been at all their pre-season games and have looked at the depth they have got in their squad and it is actually scary – and that’s before Lukaku has arrived. If you add him on top of Kai Havertz, who could be, certainly over the next few years, one of the great players in the world, and look all the way through their squad, then they have got so much quality.

Fara Williams: We saw the impact Thomas Tuchel made in the second half of last season and how hard Chelsea are to beat. Lukaku’s goals will turn a lot of draws into wins.

Rob Green: Their squad is stronger than everyone else’s, even City. Then you add Lukaku, who will bring the best out of everyone else.

Martin Keown: Lukaku is a player you have to keep hungry so I think this is the perfect move for him, going back to a club where he has something to prove.

Ashley Williams: Chelsea made big improvements last season and I think they will be better again. I played with Lukaku at Everton so I know him quite well – his goal record for us was incredible but having seen him play for Inter Milan and Belgium, he’s even better now. It’s as if he has recognised his own ability and strengths more than he did before, and he knows when and where to use them. I still speak to him a lot and he has worked hard on his game – it’s mentally where he has got stronger, because he has always been a beast physically.

Ashley Williams joins Dion Dublin and Jason Mohammad on Final Score on Saturday, from 14:30 BST on the red button and the BBC Sport website and from 16:00 on BBC One.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel celebrates winning the Champions League with his family

Stephen Warnock: Tactically, they are so well organised under Tuchel, and it looks a happy camp too. He has created the perfect environment of having the authority that means no-one steps out of line, but the players like him too.

Michael Brown: They have got the belief now too, which is massive. They have gone from wondering ‘where will we finish?’ to thinking ‘we’ve got every chance’. They will be right in the mix.

Rachel Brown-Finnis: Tuchel consolidated at first and made them difficult to break down, now he is adding more firepower as well. If Lukaku clicks with their creative players, they will just be awesome but I just feel they will have the edge because of how hard they have been to beat.

Chris Sutton: Tuchel has not just sorted them out defensively, he has added a really nice balance to their team. Timo Werner will benefit from his first year in England, and Havertz also came into form at the end of the season. If there was a criticism of Chelsea last time, it was that they possibly weren’t ruthless enough but with Lukaku they will have a guy in who is an absolute glutton for goals.

Jadon Sancho joins an already fearsome United attacking line-up for the new season. Also in their squad are (left to right) Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani

Man Utd – Will Sancho give them the ‘X-factor’?

Last season, 24 out of 25 pundits thought they would make the top four although 17 of the votes they received placed them in fourth. This time, 100% think they will finish in the top four and 11 out of 20 think they will finish third or higher, although only two people have backed them to finish second.

Chris Sutton: United missed a great opportunity to win the Europa League last season, which would have taken the pressure off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by ending his wait for a trophy. They still had a good season but there is something missing – they have to show greater consistency and be able to take the game to the opposition. The other three top teams have a better balance about them but maybe Jadon Sancho will give them that X-factor.

Nedum Onuoha: If Sancho’s game can translate to the Premier League, then that is a huge coup for United. I can’t wait to see how he gets on.

Micah Richards: United have shown that they can beat anyone but they seem to have too many off-days over the course of the season and for me they are a couple of players short of being a title-winning side – including a centre-forward. Edinson Cavani is 34 and at the stage of his career where he needs looking after. He can’t play every week and they don’t have another striker like him.

Pat Nevin: It feels like Manchester United have been trying to sort out that centre-back position forever and, finally, by getting Raphael Varane in alongside Harry Maguire it looks right. I suspect it will turn out that way too, but let’s hold fire slightly to see – Varane was always lightning quick when he was younger but I have watched him a few times recently and wondered if he had lost half a yard of pace. I will only find out by watching him in the Premier League.

Matthew Upson: There is a lot of guesswork involved here until the season starts but Varane looks a really good signing, and one they needed to make. He and Harry Maguire are a world-class pairing at the back and that is going to make a huge difference for them.

Ashley Williams: You can’t ask for more from a centre-half partnership. My only question is whether Varane hits the ground running or does he need time to settle in. I’ve never played in La Liga so I am not saying there are easy games there but in the Premier League you are tested even by the poorer teams, and in different ways. Varane is vastly experienced but I’m not sure he will have come up against many teams like Burnley who have really physical strikers such as Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes. It doesn’t sound glamorous but they make your life difficult for 90 minutes. He has won everything there is to win, though, so I am sure he will cope with that.

Stephen Warnock: I see it as a four-horse race this year but the only difference between United and the other three is with their manager – I don’t think Solskjaer is the man to win the title. He’s done well tactically in some games but there have been times when something is not quite right and if you had given United’s squad to Jurgen Klopp, Guardiola or Tuchel last season, I think they all would have won the league. I am not sure he is the right man to take United to the next level.

Martin Keown: I have United down as finishing fourth but this title race is as open as it will ever be. They have made two brilliant signings, and they mean business. I am only picking this order because I have been asked to – and if they were to win it, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Liverpool’s only signing so far this summer saw France centre-back Ibrahima Konate join for £36m from RB Leipzig

Liverpool – A strong team but how deep is their squad?

Last season, 52% of the BBC pundits thought Liverpool would defend their title, while 21 out of 25 thought they would finish in the top two. This season, no-one thinks they will be champions, and only three out of 20 think they will make the top two.

Mark Lawrenson: A big factor for Liverpool is hunger after what happened last season. Yes, they had a lot of injuries but by their high standards it was a poor campaign – so they have a point to prove, especially in front of their fans at Anfield where they had such a poor run at the start of the year.

Danny Murphy: It is hugely important that Liverpool get Jordan Henderson’s contract situation sorted out. They have already lost Georginio Wijnaldum, who has been under-rated for the past few years. I do expect Henderson to stay, because he has been so pivotal to their success, but they need to put those concerns to bed quickly. Losing both now would be unthinkable.

Danny Murphy joins Ashley Williams and Mark Chapman for MOTD2 this Sunday at 22:30 BST on BBC One and the BBC Sport website for highlights of Newcastle v West Ham and Tottenham v Manchester City.

Georginio Wijnaldum left Liverpool in June and signed for Paris St-Germain on a free transfer. “He is seriously under-rated,” says Danny Murphy. “He is brilliant defensively but great on the ball too and he doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is technically.”

Stephen Warnock: They are still a very strong team and I just think the style of football will be back to what it was a couple of years ago, with the team playing that high press again. Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah look fresh after a break over the summer but it is a concern what happens when they both go to the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Martin Keown: I know people are saying they haven’t really bought but there was nothing really wrong with Liverpool before their injury problems last season. I am backing Klopp to get back the perfection that was there in the two seasons before that, and they can challenge again, no doubt about it.

Pat Nevin: Liverpool still don’t look like they have a big enough squad to win the league, but then I’ve said that about them before. They have got Virgil van Dijk back now, which makes a massive difference, but I kind of think they need another serious striker.

Micah Richards: Diogo Jota did really well last season, and his injury came at a bad time for them. It might take a while for them to work out their best combination in attack, or what system to go with.

Chris Sutton: Ibrahima Konate looks like a decent defensive signing but the issue with Van Dijk is how fit is he? How has he been affected by being out for so long and the injury? We will find out.

Matthew Upson: It is hard to remember Liverpool at full throttle because they had such a disastrous time from the start of the year. Even though they have got Van Dijk fit, I had the same cruciate ligament injury and I’d say you are looking at several months from when he plays his first competitive game to him being back at his best. Joe Gomez is in the same boat really, and that’s the reason I have them down as third.

Rachel Brown-Finnis: I hope Van Dijk gets back to his best because he is such a wonderful player. They need him to perform individually but he also lifts the whole team. I don’t think it will happen for Liverpool without him, because of that knock-on effect. When they are in full swing, they are fantastic to watch.

Leicester – fighting it out with Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham for the top six?

Last season, Arsenal were the only other team to feature in the picks – two out of 25 pundits thought they would finish fourth or higher. This time, Leicester get a mention – but only one pundit thinks they will finish in the Champions League places.

Jermaine Beckford: I am going with Leicester to finish fourth. They are a breath of fresh air in terms of how much they invest in their squad compared to the teams who finished above them last season. They still spend some money of course, but they spend it so well. Their recruitment is absolutely brilliant, and I am a huge fan of the way Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers sets up his teams and gets everyone working hard together.

Ashley Williams: It’s going to be tough for anyone else to crack the top four, and I don’t think Arsenal or Spurs can do it. If anyone can wriggle in there, it is Leicester. They are a really good team and can beat any of the leading teams on their day but as they have already found out after finishing fifth twice, it is tough for them to sustain those standards for the whole season.

Martin Keown: Leicester will push again and they will definitely have a say in who will win the title. Arsenal and Spurs can too, but it still feels more like they are both in transition at the moment. There will be some pressure on Arsenal early on, because they have got some very difficult early fixtures against Chelsea and City in the first couple of weeks. I just want to see some more convincing performances from them, because I think we can see the club has tumbled down the league, and there are other clubs with more resources than them now. They need to be more competitive in games to get up the table, and they also need Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to have a smile back on his face.

Danny Murphy: If anyone might surprise a few people it’s Arsenal – they are not in Europe, and they have got some fantastic forward players. People forget that last season was the first in Aubameyang’s career where he didn’t score a bagful of goals, and nothing suggests to me that is going to continue. They have a tough start but their young players are going to keep getting better.

Pat Nevin: Just purely if you look at the finances and size and experience of squads, it is going to be very hard for anyone outside the top four to get up there again. After the top four, it is Arsenal, Spurs, Leicester, and maybe West Ham who will all basically be trying to be the best of the rest.

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[your-dietician]

FINAL: Riverhounds SC 1, Charlotte Independence 0

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/soccer/final-riverhounds-sc-1-charlotte-independence-0/

FINAL: Riverhounds SC 1, Charlotte Independence 0

USL Championship – Atlantic Division

FINAL: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1, Charlotte Independence 0

Match Stats 

Match Summary & Takeaways  

For the first time in club history, the Riverhounds beat the Charlotte Independence, 1-0, as Anthony Velarde’s goal off a nifty assist from Albert Dikwa at the end of the first half was the difference.

With the win, the Hounds improved its record to 6-4-1 to remain in second place, and in close range of the Atlantic Division’s front-running Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“We had a fair bit of the ball tonight,” Head Coach Bob Lilley stated. “We forced them into a long ball game. Charlotte is usually good at possessing but tonight we weren’t chasing guys. We were so fixated on what happened last game. We dictated the play and never sat back.”

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The Hounds were in complete control of the match from the beginning.

How dominant were they?

In the first half, Charlotte didn’t see the net once. Not a single shot on goal or shot attempt.

After 20 minutes, and several chances for the Hounds, it seemed as if it was only a matter of time for someone to score.

Velarde, after being the captain last game at Loudoun, ended up being the man to do it.

“I’ve been here for three years now,” Velarde said. “I’m proud to wear the captain’s band when Bob wants me to. I thought we moved the ball well from right to left tonight. (Kenny) Forbes was able to set Dikwa up well. It was a good team goal for us.”

Velarde has started the past two games and has produced in both.

“I just want to build momentum and help the team. Score and defend. That’s the mentality for a lot of us. We knew it was tough to beat Charlotte, but we came in so aggressive to be successful tonight.”

Riverhounds SC midfielder Anthony Velarde evades Charlotte Independence defenders with the ball at his feet (Photo by Ed Thompson)

Coach Lilley even mentioned in the press conference the work that Albert Dikwa did on both sides of the ball.  Not only did he get the game winning assist, but his pressure was a nightmare for the Charlotte backline all game.

In the second half, however, Pittsburgh wasn’t able to completely put away the opposition.

“I was getting very frustrated on the sideline that we weren’t scoring enough. At least we were getting chances but we need more goals to win games. Just more clinical and we can find more space to have open shots.”

Pittsburgh has only been able to produce two goals or more four times.

In order to put away teams, more than one goal is usually needed.

The game ended with Pittsburgh at 16 shots and nine on goal, compared to the Independence’s 6 shots and only one on target.

The one opportunity they had was a chip from Irvin Parra over the hands of Danny Vitiello. Fortunately, Shane Wiedt was able to save the day on the goal line, heading the ball out of bounds. But, these are the games when a team can completely outplay another, but still go away with a tie or even a loss.

Riverhounds defender Shane Wiedt (left) and goalkeeper Danny Vitiello (center) have their eyes on a ball heading into the goal area. Wiedt would clear the ball away to prevent a Charlotte goal. (Photo by Ed Thompson)

Under Lilley and Dan Visser, the Hounds seems to finally be finding a rotation, and subbing on players they can trust to play good consistently.

The past two games, the French winger Louis Perez earn start for the squad, picking up his first professional goal last game at Loudoun.

“I wish we realized sooner he could really help us,” Lilley boasted. “His contributions the past few games have been good. He’s kept his fitness up. He’s solid on possession and tight on the ball. He’s an option going forward.”

Riverhounds SC midfielder/forward Louis Perez (Photo by Ed Thompson)

It’ll be interesting to see if the same goes for Josh Gatt and Ezra Armstrong. Maybe their time will come soon.

More importantly, Pittsburgh stays in second place in the Atlantic Division, now with 20 points. But, Hartford Athletic, Charleston Battery and The Miami FC still sit close behind them with games in hand.

A win at home was vital, as it’s important for any team to establish earning results in their home stadium.

Lilley summed up, stating, “Look, the game ended 1-0, but there was more goals in it for us. We’ll take the three points and we deserved to win. Hopefully we can build on this and get a result down in Charleston.”

Ed Thompson Photo Gallery 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Final numbers from a big three-point night.#UNLEASH #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/QlQSelx7gL

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) July 4, 2021

  Highlights

Gameday Updates 

FINAL – The Riverhounds finally beat the Charlotte Independence on Independence weekend, 1-0. Now they’re 1-7-5 all-time vs Charlotte. Velarde was the lone goal scorer. Second home win for the Hounds on the season.

90′ – Marcelo Palomino who was subbed on 12 minutes ago gets a yellow card. 3 minutes of stoppage time added.

86′ – Tresor Mbuyu and Noah Paravicini are now on for Charlotte. Irvin Parra and Kevin Riascos come out. Hounds still lead 1-0.

83′ – Dikwa dives out with his chest to make a pass to Forbes. Forbes then plays in Cicerone who gets a shot on net but Miller is there again.

Jalen Robinson now on for Alex Dixon.

80′ – Dani Rovira awarded a yellow card now. He strongly disagrees with the call.

78′ – Valentin Sabella comes on for Clay Dimick.

76′ – SHANE WIEDT SAVES THE LEAD!! Vitiello was chipped by Irvin Parra, the goal scorer from the last time these two teams met. Wiedt sprinted back to the goal line and headed the ball out of bounds.

73′ – Noticing Todd Wharton playing more defensive now back on the right side. He can play practically anywhere and that’s why Bob Lilley trusts him so much. Wharton, a veteran is one of the few on this team that have played over 100 USL games.

68′ – Riverhounds make a few subs. Russell Cicerone in for Anthony Velarde and Dani Rovira on for Louis Perez.

66′ – Hugh Roberts with a header off a corner kick gives the Independence their best chance all game. Still don’t have a shot on goal all game but Hounds can’t let them break through now.

61′ – In trying to tie the game, the Independence have changed to a 3-5-2 formation.

.@RiverhoundsSC is putting on an absolute clinic right now in how to control a game. Currently outshooting a good Independence side 14-0, and the only reason it’s still 1-0 with an hour gone is because @DVOtwosix is pulling off save after save.#PITvCLT #UNLEASH

— Nicholas Murray (@NJEMurray) July 4, 2021

56′ – Dikwa with a header on net, yet again Miller makes a tremendous save. He’s been Charlotte’s best player, keeping this a one goal game.

53′ – Brandt Bronico fouls Forbes. Free kick opportunity from about 25 out is taken by Louis Perez but another spectacular save from Miller.

50′ – Dixon with two shots on net in the half so far, both saved by Miller. About 3,300 fans in the stadium tonight I’ve been told.

45′ – Second half begins. Hugh Roberts now down injured. Looks like the away team thinks Dikwa elbowed him.

0s on the left side is what we like to see.#UNLEASH #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/vUnUhyNez6

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) July 4, 2021

Half – Riverhounds certainly dominating in play tonight. The Independence don’t even have a shot on goal yet. Hounds have 9 corner kicks and 16 crosses with 66% possession. Could be a 2-0 game for sure.

A classy touch from Albert Dikwa puts the hounds out front. 🌊🐶#PITvCLT | @RiverhoundsSC pic.twitter.com/9qCxaM5hL3

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) July 4, 2021

45+’ – VELARDE GOAL!! A beautiful cryuff type pass from Dikwa sets up Velarde inside the box. Velarde’s second goal and Dikwa’s second assist on the season. 1-0 Riverhounds at the half.

49′ Independence Substitution:

IN: #35 Blake Pope OUT: #14 Thomas de Villardi#PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/qHTbYWIGAp

— Charlotte Independence (@Independence) July 3, 2021

45′ – 3 minutes of stoppage time added. Thomas de Villardi of Charlotte is injured and walks off the field.

40′ – All Riverhounds right now!! Just can’t get it in! Wharton down the end line sets up Forbes but saved by a defender.

37′ – Todd Wharton issued a yellow card now.

35′ – Velarde with another shot on goal but straight at the keeper. The look on his face shows he knows he can make that shot.

32′ – Great build up play from Griffin and Velarde. Hounds just can’t get one of these in but are getting close.

29′ – Wiedt gets a header off a corner kick cross but doesn’t get all of it. Save for Miller. Miller has 4 SO’s which is second most in the league.

26′ – Louis Perez gets a great chance outside the box but pikes it way over the net. Field goal is good. He used his weak foot instead of his strong foot there.

21′ – I don’t think Danny Griffin has missed a pass yet. He shows great fitness out there, never tired. Hounds look like the slightly better team so far.

16′ – Kevin Riascos on Charlotte gets a yellow card for a foul on Velarde.

14′ – Dikwa trying the bicycle kick for the second time in a row. This time he’s pushed down by the defense in mid air. Fans wanted a PK to be called.

12′ – Shane Wiedt looks so solid centering the back line. He’s been their best defender all season. He has enough technical skill too, where he could play CDM as well.

5′ – Louis Perez looks very confident on the ball already early on. Is this a player that the Hounds could use out on the wing every game? I think it’s a possibility. Will be interesting to see throughout the season if Bob Lilley keeps starting him.

2′ – Hounds give up a dangerous free kick early. Danny Griffin heads it away. Dixon then almost sets up Velarde and goes out for a corner kick.

1′ – Game begins. Velarde and Perez getting another start. Cicerone starting as a sub, but I bet he gets in the second half at some point.

According to the USL Championship website, the Riverhounds are lining up in a 3-5-1-1 and the Independence are out in a 4-4-2.

Out tonight with @JSmith_1187 and @pghsoccernow at @highmarkstadium for @RiverhoundsSC v. @Independence. @SteelArmy is in the house tonight in full force. Weather is perfect. Should be a great matchup. @AHNtoday#UNLEASH #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/b0XBGZ3uxA

— Ed Thompson (@ThompsonFoto12) July 3, 2021

Starting XI in the Steel City. 👊 🔵 #WeAreCLT #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/xpWKrBuJ9D

— Charlotte Independence (@Independence) July 3, 2021

Here is how we lineup tonight vs. @Independence on #4thofJulyWeekend! #UNLEASH #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/eBMnoSwEvm

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) July 3, 2021

Pregame vibes 📈#UNLEASH #PITvCLT pic.twitter.com/bdixD3K4bi

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) July 3, 2021

Look for lineups to be posted here along with game updates from Highmark Stadium.

PSN’s Mark Goodman’s preview is up…

Preview: Charlotte on the Mon, Maybe for the Last Time

Preview

Will this continue to be a week of firsts?

The Hounds would now like that to be the case as they’ve never defeated the Independence, a nemesis since they’ve been competing in the USL Championship since 2015.

The Independence (5-4-0) come to Highmark having never lost to the Hounds (5-4-2), with seven wins and five draws in 12 all-time matchups. That includes a meeting May 22 in the Hounds’ home opener, when a first-half goal by Irvin Parra was all the scoring Charlotte needed to escape with a 1-0 win.

Since that early loss, the Hounds have steadied themselves with a 5-2-1 mark, but nothing can be taken for granted in a matchup where the winner will hold sole possession of second place in the Atlantic Division.

In that 2-1 defeat Wednesday at Loudoun United FC, the Hounds did get a spark from Louis Pérez, the first-year pro who scored his first goal in his second start for the club. While it’s likely the lineup will be shuffled again, the Hounds are limited on the back line with Jelani Peters still away on international duty and Jordan Dover still being listed as questionable after missing the past two matches.

Charlotte, which was beaten 2-1 by Miami in their last match, is a different team on the attack than when they last came to Pittsburgh, having added longtime USL goalscorer Dane Kelly. Since joining the Independence, Kelly has four goals in six matches.

Recent PSN Hounds Coverage 

Hounds Notebook: Independence Day tradition continues, sort of, and up close with Russell Cicerone

Hounds endure long night, first loss Loudoun United FC and an earful from coach Lilley

  Related

Jordan joined the Pittsburgh Soccer Now team in 2020 as a contributor to Riverhounds SC & WPIAL coverage. He is also a current Graduate Assistant at Point Park University in the athletics department, while also obtaining an MBA and MA in Media Communications. Jordan, during his undergrad four years at La Roche University, interned and worked part time for every pro team and several universities in Pittsburgh: Riverhounds SC, Pirates, University of Pittsburgh, La Roche University, Duquesne University, Steelers and the Penguins. With all of these experiences he began to gain a passion to work in sports as a career. Smith played cup soccer for Century United and Beadling during his youth years and also trained with the Riverhounds. He attended South Fayette High School where he helped his team win WPIAL’s and a section title his senior year in 2015, while earning All-Section and All-WPIAL honors.

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[sportsleague365]

By Bucky Brooks, NFL.com Analyst The 2020NFL Draftis underway! You can follow all of the picks with ourNFL Draft Trackerand tune in to NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportesfor live coverage. The draft will also be streamed live via the NFL app and ESPN app. Below is Bucky Brooks’ analysis for every pick by every NFL team. For reference, you can see every pick fromBrooks’ final NFL mock draftatMock Draft Central. 1) JOE BURROW, QB, CINCINNATI BENGALS The Heisman Trophy winner gives theBengalsa franchise quarterback to build around. As a quick-rhythm passer with outstanding poise, accuracy and playmaking ability, Burrow plays like a pass-first point guard running a fast break in the open court with a knack for getting the ball to his playmakers in their sweet spots. 2) CHASE YOUNG, EDGE, WASHINGTON REDSKINS Ron Rivera grabs the best player in the draft to fortify a defensive line that could feature five former first-round picks. Young is a natural pass rusher with A-plus size, athleticism, first-step quickness and technical skills. He gives the ‘Skins a Julius Peppers-like playmaker off the edge. 3) JEFF OKUDAH, CB, DETROIT LIONS TheLionstake a rock-solid cornerback with excellent man-to-man cover skills. He’s at his best in press coverage but displays the footwork and movement skills to shadow from afar. Okudah’s overall toughness and tackling skills will also stand out on the perimeter. 4) ANDREW THOMAS, OT, NEW YORK GIANTS Experienced offensive tackle (41 career starts) with the potential to play on either side of the line. Thomas is a rugged blocker in the run game but also displays the balance, body control and anchor to snuff out pass rushers off the edge. 5) TUA TAGOVAILOA, QB, MIAMI DOLPHINS TheDolphinsdidn’t have to tank for the QB they’ve been tied to for over a year. Tagovailoa has a game that reminds some of a youngDrew Brees, with his accuracy, anticipation and touch earning high marks. He is a franchise QB with the potential to elevate the play of others with his talent and leadership skills. 6) JUSTIN HERBERT, QB, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS Anthony Lynn wants to implement the Shanahan system with a mobile playmaker capable of thriving in a stretch-bootleg scheme. Herbert has outstanding arm talent and is a nimble athlete with the capacity to make accurate throws on the move. Playing in a play-action scheme that creates huge voids in the intermediate range should help Herbert thrive as a passer. 7) DERRICK BROWN, DT, CAROLINA PANTHERS ThePanthersneeded to fortify the interior of their defensive line with a disruptive force at defensive tackle. Brown is an absolute monster as an interior defender with A-plus size, strength and explosiveness. He is a high-motor player with impressive run-stopping skills and pass rush potential. 8) ISAIAH SIMMONS, LB/S, ARIZONA CARDINALS Simmons is an electric hybrid defender capable of playing anywhere on the second level. He is a unique playmaker with impact potential as a blitzer or cover guy vs. tight ends and running backs. It will be interesting to see how theCardinalsuse a multi-dimensional player with a rare set of skills and versatility. 9) CJ HENDERSON, CB, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Henderson is a polished cover CB with outstanding athleticism and movement skills. He flashes natural instincts, awareness and ball skills in coverage, and is efficient in man and zone coverage. Tackling was an issue but he is arguably the best cornerback in the class. 10) JEDRICK WILLS, OT, CLEVELAND BROWNS TheBrownsadd a bully to the offensive line with the size, strength and power to maul defenders in the running game while stalemating pass rushers off the edge. Wills played RT at Alabama but his footwork and athleticism should enable him to handle the blindside without a problem as a pro. 11) MEKHI BECTON, OT, NEW YORK JETS Mammoth OT with A-plus size, athleticism and movement skills. Becton is a natural LT with explosive strength and power and a nasty disposition. He finishes runs like a nightclub bouncer throwing guys out of the club. The Louisville standout also flashes the balance and body control to effectively shadow speedy edge rushers. 12) HENRY RUGGS III, WR, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS Ruggs gives theRaidersa speedster to man the vertical stretch role in the passing game. He is a spectacular runner after the catch, so he could be utilized as a WR1 despite playing as a WR2/WR3 for the Crimson Tide as a collegian. It could take him some time to adjust to the bigger role as a pro. 13) TRISTAN WIRFS, OT, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (VIA 49ERS) The Bucs getTom Bradysome much-needed protection on the offensive line. Wirfs is an experienced RT but has the capacity to play multiple spots along the line. The Iowa standout is a freak athlete with outstanding agility, movement skills and explosiveness. 14) JAVON KINLAW, DT, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (VIA BUCS) The49ersget a natural replacement forDeForest Buckner. Kinlaw is a long, powerful defender with the capacity to play multiple spots along the defensive line. He is a disruptive defender with strong hands and a nonstop motor who fits the culture of the49ers‘ defensive front. 15) JERRY JEUDY, WR, DENVER BRONCOS Jeudy gives theBroncosa polished route runner with a game that’s plug-and-play ready. He can play in the slot or outside as a potential WR1 in an offense that creates big-play opportunities for playmakers. 16) A.J. TERRELL, CB, ATLANTA FALCONS It was imperative for theFalconsto find a CB1 in a division that’s loaded with pass catchers. Terrell is a talented cover corner with size, athleticism and a diverse set of skills. He can play in press or off, and has the potential to move inside as a slot corner. 17) CEEDEE LAMB, WR, DALLAS COWBOYS Mike McCarthy could see a littleDavante Adamsin Lamb’s game. The Oklahoma standout is an impressive playmaker with spectacular ball skills and running ability. He is a threat to score from anywhere on the field, and he gives theCowboysa potent set of pass catchers on the perimeter. 18) AUSTIN JACKSON, OT, MIAMI DOLPHINS A talented OT with natural left tackle skills, Jackson plays with outstanding balance, body control and lateral quickness. He has All-Pro potential from a physical standpoint but needs some time to refine his technique as an edge blocker. 19) DAMON ARNETTE, CB, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS Rock-solid CB with a steady game that’s better than advertised. Arnette plays with a technical savvy and discipline that’s common in veteran corners. He has the capacity to play press or off, and plays with outstanding vision as a zone defender. 20) K’LAVON CHAISSON, EDGE, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Jaguarsget an explosive speed rusher with outstanding first-step quickness and closing burst. Chaisson has big-time potential as a pass rusher, but he hasn’t put up the sack numbers to match his talent. He could make a major leap when he settles in as a pro. 21) JALEN REAGOR, WR, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES TheEaglesneeded a speed WR and they get one in Reagor. The TCU standout is electric with the ball in his hands, and he also displays the speed to act as a deep threat on the outside. With theEagleslooking to upgrade the weaponry aroundCarson Wentz, it is not a surprise to see Reagor get the call at this point of the draft. 22) JUSTIN JEFFERSON, WR, MINNESOTA VIKINGS TheVikingsget one of the best route runners in the draft to replaceStefon Diggs. Jefferson is an A-plus slot receiver but also has experience playing on the outside at LSU. He should be ready to make an immediate contribution asAdam Thielen‘s running mate on the perimeter. 23) KENNETH MURRAY, LB, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (VIA PATRIOTS) TheChargerswanted to add an instinctive second-level defender to the mix to match up with explosive offenses in the AFC West. Murray is a terrific sideline-to-sideline playmaker with blitz ability and solid coverage skills. 24) CESAR RUIZ, C, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Ruiz is a high-IQ pivot with solid skills as a run blocker. He doesn’t move defenders off the ball, but he holds his own at the point and effectively creates seams at the line of scrimmage. In pass protection, he understands how to use his neighbors to slow down overpowering defensive tackles and is strong enough to anchor vs. power. 25) BRANDON AIYUK, WR, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (VIA VIKINGS) The49ershave twin playmakers on the perimeter with Aiyuk joiningDeebo Samuel. The Arizona State standout is an explosive runner with the ball in his hands and his open-field running skills make him a threat to score from anywhere on the field. With Kyle Shanahan masterfully creating big-play opportunities on catch-and-run concepts, the49ers‘ offense is even scarier with Aiyuk coming on board. 26) JORDAN LOVE, QB, GREEN BAY PACKERS (VIA DOLPHINS) WithAaron Rodgerson the back nine of his career, thePackerswisely select a young quarterback to groom as his successor. Love is not a finished product at this stage of his career but spending a few seasons working on his craft in the shadows of the two-time MVP could serve him well when he takes over down the road. 27) JORDAN BROOKS, LB, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Pete Carroll loves instinctive players with nonstop motors and physical playing styles. Brooks is a tackling machine with the capacity to stone runners in the hole or chase them down on the perimeter. He is fast, tough and productive with a knack for shooting through gaps. 28) PATRICK QUEEN, LB, BALTIMORE RAVENS The LSU standout is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker with quick diagnostic skills. He is an exceptional “see ball, get ball” defender with the speed, quickness and explosiveness to track down runners all over the field. 29) ISAIAH WILSON, OT, TENNESSEE TITANS If you want to maul and mash, there’s nothing wrong with running behind a mammoth OT with a powerful game. Wilson is a road grader with the capacity to blow defenders off the ball and his run blocking skills should work well with theTitans‘ scheme and offensive philosophy. 30) NOAH IGBINOGHENE, CB, MIAMI DOLPHINS (VIA PACKERS) The pick might stand out as a surprise but Igbinoghene is an A-plus athlete with exceptional straight-line speed and quickness. He is a press-only corner with a competitive streak that shows up on tape. The Auburn standout lacks natural ball skills, but he’s ideally suited to run around in man coverage as a former track star on the grass. 31) JEFF GLADNEY, CB, MINNESOTA VIKINGS (VIA 49ERS) Mike Zimmer gets a tough, hard-nosed CB with solid instincts and awareness. He has nice movement skills and athleticism, and shows enough versatility to effectively play man and zone coverage on the perimeter. 32) CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE, RB, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS The LSU star is a pass-catching RB with soft hands and excellent route-running skills. He is one of the best pass catchers we’ve seen in recent drafts while also showing a tough, hard-nosed game that enables him to stay on the field as a three-down running back. The post 2020 NFL Draft: Bucky Brooks’ pick-by-pick analysis for Round 1, all 32 picks appeared first on American Football International. #2020NFLDraft #Round1 #AtlantaFalcons

[junker-town]

Our grades for every pick in the 1st round of the 2020 NFL Draft

Tua Tagovailoa, Javon Kinlaw, and Chase Young were all taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Minnesota Vikings played the first round perfectly while others did not.

In what was supposed to be a bizarre 2020 NFL Draft, things felt pretty normal. Through the first 12 picks, at least.

Then things started to get a little weird. Tampa Bay made the first trade of the night to go get a blocker for Tom Brady. Some teams that were expected to take a wide receiver in the first round didn’t. Some teams that we didn’t expect to take a wide receiver in the first round did.

The back half of the first round was filled with trades and some questionable selections. At least that’s how they look initially. And that is why we’re here with some instant, premature grades.

These grades are based on a combination of factors starting with player value. After that, filling need and personnel fit are considered. Of course, these are way too early. We’ll re-visit them in a few years to see the true value.

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Burrow becomes the 15th quarterback since 2000 to be taken first in the draft. Many of those picks — like David Carr, JaMarcus Russell, and Jameis Winston — haven’t worked out. Obviously the hope is that Burrow does. He’s the best quarterback in the draft and goes to a team that badly needs one.

Grade: A+

2. Washington: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

Washington doesn’t really need Young. The team has taken defensive linemen in the first round in three consecutive drafts, most recently Montez Sweat last year. If the team has a strength, that is it. Still, Young is overwhelmingly the best player in the draft. He has every trait you want in a 4-3 defensive end, from length to an incredibly fast first move.

Grade: A+

3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

After considering a trade down, the Lions stood pat to take the best cornerback in the draft. It’s a pick that makes sense. No team in the NFL gave up more passing yards per game than Detroit last season, so it needs Okudah. In the Ohio State product, the Lions get a man coverage corner with excellent athleticism for the game. He’s a Day 1 starter. This grade would be higher if the Lions didn’t force themselves into this pick by disenfranchising, and ultimately trading, Darius Slay.

Grade: B+

4. New York Giants: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

The expectation was that the Giants would take an offensive tackle here. But did they take the right one? Thomas is considered to be the classic “high-floor, low ceiling” type of prospect. That’s in part because he played a ton of games at Georgia. As it has been stated throughout this draft process, the top four offensive tackles could come off the board in a random order. That’s what this represents.

Grade: B-

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

This is a gamble, but it could pay off huge. Tagovailoa had numerous injuries in college, the last being a fractured hip. But when Tagovailoa was healthy, he was arguably the best quarterback in this draft. Tagovailoa is a magician in the pocket with his ability to move around. But sometimes he moves around a little too much and he’ll put himself in danger. The question now becomes about how soon Miami will put Tagovailoa on the field. In the end, the Dolphins did tank for Tua.

Grade: B

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

The Chargers badly needed to land a quarterback in the first round, and they didn’t have to trade up to get one. Despite what head coach Anthony Lynn said, it was impossible to see his team banking on Tyrod Taylor, a quarterback who has started just 46 games in nine seasons. Which Herbert are the Chargers getting, though? Is it the one who holds on to the ball too long or the big-armed 6’6 athlete? Are they getting Cam Newton or Paxton Lynch?

Grade: B-

7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

This pick either had to be Brown or Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons. Carolina’s run defense last season was abysmal, and only got worse when Luke Kuechly surprised everyone and retired. Not only that, but the Panthers lost Vernon Butler and Gerald McCoy on the defensive line this offseason.

Brown is a monster of a defensive tackle. To me, he’s the new version of Fletcher Cox of the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown is hard to move off the spot and can collapse the pocket with his power. The only issue is how well his pass rush game will translate to the NFL. If it does, Brown should be a superstar in the NFL.

Grade: A-

8. Arizona Cardinals: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

From a best player available standpoint, Simmons is a slam dunk of a pick for the Cardinals. Given general manager Steve Keim’s drafting history, he tends to like defensive players who are versatile. Sometimes it works out (Tyrann Mathieu) and sometimes it doesn’t (Hassan Reddick). The problem with this pick is that Simmons can’t block for Kyler Murray on offense. That’s maybe the one thing Simmons can’t do. This pick is akin to Derwin James falling to the Chargers in 2018.

Grade: B

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

This was one of the first surprises of the first round, and it was only a mild surprise. Jacksonville’s secondary is a barren wasteland after the Jaguars moved on from Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. They needed to make this pick to help rebuild a defense that has fallen apart in the last two years.

Grade: B-

10. Cleveland Browns: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

The Browns needed a left tackle in a bad way. They signed Jack Conklin in free agency, so the choice of a tackle was pretty telegraphed. There is some projection with this pick, though. Wills played the majority of his snaps at right tackle in college. The assumption is that he’ll be able to effortlessly move sides because of his ability to pass block. We’ll see how well that goes.

Grade: B-

11. New York Jets: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

This was a smart move by the Jets. They could have taken a wide receiver here, but decided it was more important to block for young franchise quarterback Sam Darnold. Becton is a physical specimen who moves around with ease despite being 360 pounds. The Jets can find receivers later in the draft. They can’t find a blocker like Becton.

Grade: A

12. Las Vegas Raiders: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Al Davis has risen to make the pick of a speed-first receiver over teammate Jerry Jeudy or Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb. Ruggs is a deep threat, sure, but he’s also a run-and-catch receiver who can line up on the outside or in the slot. Ruggs should be a playmaker for the Raiders. That’s what you expect out of a wide receiver who runs a 4.27-second 40-yard dash. But he seems much riskier than Jeudy or Lamb.

Grade: C+

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

The Buccaneers moved up a spot in an effort to get the blocker they need at right tackle. With Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to go with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, suddenly the Buccaneers appear to have one of the NFL’s best offenses. It only got better with the addition of Wirfs, who I rated as the top offensive tackle in the draft this year.

Grade: A+

14. San Francisco 49ers: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

The 49ers made the right move making a no-risk trade with the Buccaneers to drop down a pick and get a fourth-round selection (No. 117) in return. Then they took a defensive lineman over a wide receiver. The 49ers originally got the 13th pick from the Colts for DeForest Buckner. Kinlaw in the closest comparison to Buckner in this draft. So basically they got a cheaper player to do the same thing.

Grade: B

15. Denver Broncos: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

This pick was a steal for the Broncos. Jeudy was the best wide receiver in the draft, and he shouldn’t have lasted until the 15th pick. Jeudy is an excellent route runner who runs crisp, smooth patterns. He can play on the outside or in the slot for the Broncos and he has good speed too. Jeudy has very few flaws in his game.

Grade: A+

16. Atlanta Falcons: A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

When Henderson went ninth overall, the Falcons taking Terrell seemed more likely. Terrell was widely considered the third-best cornerback in the draft, and he fills a big hole for the Falcons. Terrell is a willing press coverage cornerback, with the speed to make up space. He just has to get a little better down the field at the catch point and with his tackling. His skill level is high, though.

Grade: B-

17. Dallas Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

This pick was a little strange given the Cowboys just gave Amari Cooper a five-year, $100 million contract. Also consider that Michael Gallup is a solid No. 2 receiver who had 113 targets last season. And that running back Ezekiel Elliott is on a six-year, $90 million contract. Lamb is unquestionably a great player. But how much is he going to see the ball on this offense?

Grade: C+

18. Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers): Austin Jackson, OT, USC

After taking Tagovailoa at No. 5, it was evident the Dolphins had to get an offensive tackle here. The choices were between Jackson and Josh Jones of Houston. Look, Miami is still rebuilding, which makes it perfectly fine to take the player with more perceived upside in Jackson. It was a surprise to see him go pro because a lot of people thought he could be a top-10 pick in 2021. Jackson is a true left tackle with good athleticism, especially out on the second level.

Grade: B

19. Las Vegas Raiders: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

This is a risky pick for the Raiders. Few thought Arnette would be a first-round player. He nearly bolted from Ohio State after the 2018 season but was convinced to return to Columbus. Arnette is a physically gifted cornerback who defends receivers throughout their routes. That could lead to him being a penalty magnet in the NFL. By the time Arnette gets to his second contract he’ll be 29, so he enters the NFL as an older prospect.

Grade: D

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

When the Cowboys took Lamb instead of Chaisson, it seemed apparent this would be the pick for the Jaguars. Chaisson is a special athlete for a pass rushing edge player. He’s a player who can stand up or rush with his hand down. Pairing Chaisson with Josh Allen gives the Jaguars two bookend edge players.

Grade: A

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

Like the top offensive tackles, the way the wide receivers came off the board was going to be different from what most expected. That was evidenced in this pick over Brandon Aiyuk of Arizona State, Justin Jefferson of LSU and Denzel Mims of Baylor. The Eagles obviously had to get a wide receiver with their first pick. You just have to wonder if they could have traded down and still gotten Reagor.

Grade: C+

22. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

This might be my favorite pick of the first round. Some thought Jefferson could go as high as the 14th pick. For whatever reason, he slipped to the 22nd pick. He torched defenses from the slot last year at LSU to the tune of 111 receptions for 1,540 yards. It’s true, the Vikings have Adam Thielen in the slot. But Jefferson’s game lends itself to playing more on the outside than he did in college.

Grade: A+

23. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

Los Angeles moved its second- and third-round picks to get back into the first round to take Murray ahead of the Saints. Murray is a three-down linebacker who can make plays all over the field. He comes down against the run in a hurry and he can move sideline-to-sideline. There’s a risk trading up, but the linebacker class this year is suspect. Having Murray and Derwin James on the field at the same time makes the Chargers’ defense a lot of fun.

Grade: A-

24. New Orleans Saints: Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan

If the Saints truly view the 2020 season as their all-in year, it’s understandable why they would pick Ruiz. You have to think the Saints wanted Murray, which is why the Chargers jumped to No. 23 to snag him. Ruiz is a plug-and-play interior offensive lineman who can play center or guard for the Saints.

Grade: B

25. San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

On a team that was light on draft picks, the 49ers gave up pick Nos. 31, 117 and 176 to move up five slots. That’s a big gamble for the 49ers. While they don’t have a ton of needs, the back of the first round is deep in wide receivers. While there’s something to say about getting the player you covet, the only picks the 49ers have left are Nos. 156, 210 and 217.

In regard to the pick itself, this is the type of wide receiver the 49ers needed to get. Aiyuk is an explosive playmaker who can make defenders miss after the catch.

Grade: C+

26. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

This is the single most stunning selection in the first round by a long shot. The Packers traded into this pick, and the thought was that it would be a for a wide receiver for Aaron Rodgers. Instead they picked the veteran’s successor. This pick could pay off big down the road. And a quarterback on a rookie contract is almost priceless in today’s NFL. And Love is a player who needs to sit at least a year to fix some of his flaws. But with Rodgers, the Packers should push to win now.

Aaron Rodgers in March on the possibility of the Packers drafting a quarterback: "No matter who you bring in, they're not going to be able to beat me out anytime soon."

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 24, 2020

Grade: D+

27. Seattle Seahawks: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech

Just about every Seahawks fan was certain Seattle would trade down and out of the first round. It’s a staple of general manager John Schneider. Then Schneider didn’t and took a player most thought would be there in the second round. Other than trading down, going against the grain is Schneider’s specialty. That’s why prematurely grading Seattle’s picks are the hardest of any team. And it doesn’t help that Seattle fans keep receipts.

At any rate, Brooks gives the Seahawks a hard-hitting linebacker with excellent football IQ. Brooks is arguably the best tackling linebacker in the draft, and made a ton of plays in 2019 when he had 20 tackles for loss.

Grade: C

28. Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

This was the pick the Ravens needed to make. He is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker with a high motor, Queen can patrol the middle of the field for the Ravens and make a ton of plays. His comparison for me was C.J. Mosley. After building out their defensive line this offseason, Queen fits a big need for the Ravens, and he was the best player available.

Grade: A+

29. Tennessee Titans: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia

Sometimes picks that are even in the back of the first round are obvious. That was the case with Wilson and the Titans. You could see this one coming from a mile away if you thought about it a little bit. Wilson, one of the youngest players in the draft, excels as a run blocker on the right side. That’s exactly what Tennessee, a run-first team, needs to replace Jack Conklin. You can quibble about the value of taking Wilson here — the knock is his uneven pass blocking — but you can’t argue about his system fit.

Grade: B+

30. Miami Dolphins: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

The odd thing about this pick is that the Dolphins just gave a huge contract to Byron Jones this offseason, they still have Xavien Howard and have a big need at safety. They could have had Xavier McKinney of Alabama with this pick, for instance. Igbinoghene is a wide receiver turned cornerback who has speed on top of speed. It’s true, NFL teams need three good cornerbacks. But the Dolphins could have found a slot cornerback later in the draft.

Grade: C+

31. Minnesota Vikings: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

This is a perfect fit for Mike Zimmer’s defense. Gladney is a nasty cornerback who will get physical with wide receivers. He’s aggressive coming up to play the run, and knows how to get off a block.

Grade: A

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

This is another tremendous team fit. There was plenty of speculation leading up to the draft that the Chiefs could be a team that takes a running back in the first round. Edwards-Helaire is an excellent runner who stays low to the ground. But his real value at the position is as a receiver. He’s going to catch a ton of passes in Kansas City’s offense. The only issue is the positional value of a running back in the first round.

Grade: B

[valkyrie-echo]

Project Echo, Part 2: Chapter 27 (Filling the Ranks)

Part 2 Summary: A new enemy surfaces with a team of the Avengers’ greatest foes, hand-picked for their destruction. Meanwhile, Inessa’s pre-Hydra past begins to surface, casting doubt on where her loyalties truly lie.

Chapter 27: Filling the Ranks

"Not having second thoughts are you, friend?" Albatross teased Berny as he entered hour 2 of his study of cell phone footage from the Second Battle of New York, "She would make a rather fierce opponent."

"You know our host won't let her near us," Berny laughed, then consulted the complete Hydra file on the girl- the one annotated by the late Commander Dennisson and Nikolai Ryker, "I was just curious about something."

Morris wandered over from where he'd been sitting with Cul Borson, consulting on strategies, "Oh? Anything relevant to your mission?"

Berny smiled at his tone. Morris was on edge with Pryor's report- the Avengers were regrouping and there was no subtle way to prevent it. He didn't like his Cabal distracted from their study of the individuals they'd be fighting, especially not now. "General curiosity, cross my heart. I'm just bored," he shrugged. "No one knows Clinton Barton like me, there's nothing new to learn."

"So then, what is your question?"

He forwarded the footage to the point where a pack of shadowy wolves launched from the Senate House ruins down the streets of New York and paused it, "Here we have the monsters of the Valley, just as Nikolai described them to Dennisson. We know now the failure of Project Echo came when she possessed one of them- her little mental vanishing act. I'm just curious... Is she really human?"

"How so?"

"The one wolf obeys her, always has. She can unlatch from her body, but that has nothing to do with her other powers. If she could just look through shadows, maybe teleport, that's one thing. But jumping ship? What if," he skimmed the report for the name, "Emilie's kid really did die in the explosion and this," he gestured to a blurry, deeply shadowed figure on the screen, "is what possessed the corpse?"

It wasn't a bad question, Morris was impressed, "There is no way to know for sure, but if it is true then the pieces of the puzzle would certainly fit better."

Berny smiled with pride, "Like I said, changes nothing, but it's a thought."

"I like this one, he has a brain," Cul's deep voice filled the room. He raised his glass to Berny in a toast and took a sip of wine. Berny blew him a kiss and the gods expression immediately soured. He didn't approve of such cheeky humor.

"Either way, neutralizing her is our first move. If she has time to open a door and bring the Shadow through before we begin our broadcast, we lose her, the prize. Killing the Avengers is a security measure, but our mission is her. Lord Thanos demands her for his collection."

"That's only because he hasn't met me yet," Albatross wheeled around and threw a dagger at the unknown speaker before his brain even registered seeing her. Berny likewise had a crossbow out and aimed- though he managed to stop himself from firing it.

Morris turned slowly, smiling, "I take it I have the honor of addressing Sinthea Schmidt?"

"Sin," the woman flipped Albatross' blade and threw it back at him- he barely caught it. The name was apt- she looked like a demon. Her hair and even irises were an unnatural, flame-red, matching the red corset loaded down with the hilts of at least a dozen small knives. More blades were latched to cuffs on her arms and she had two short swords belted to her hips. Her eyes moved quickly, analyzing every detail in the room. Albatross smiled. She reminded him of Natasha- minus the overwhelming homicidal urges he felt when looking at his former ally. He didn't know Sin's training, but they had been enhanced by the same serum, this one was an equal.

"Gentlemen, may I present the daughter of the Red Skull. Though, I must inquire as to how you found your way down here. If there is a gap in our defenses it must be mended immediately."

"Lazy guards," she waved a hand dismissively, "dead already."

"Well, thank you for alerting us," there was no sarcasm in Morris voice. If there was, Sin would have slit his throat before anyone had a chance to move. She was everything he'd hoped Dennisson would turn out to be.

"Your plan?" her voice was barely accented, "My handlers did not share more than your location before I ended their service."

Morris motioned for her to sit on a vacant couch. She didn't budge, so he remained standing as well, "The Avengers are a powerful enemy. My master authorized an entire army to be sent against them, but they still won the day without so much as a casualty. When my last ally, Hydra commander Thomas Dennisson, divided their forces he came close to ending them."

"Close is not enough."

"Agreed. That is why I mean to improve upon his plan. He gave them four enemies. I will give them eight. Their greatest enemies, all at once. They will not be able to turn to one another for aid, and divided they will fall."

Sin nodded, it was a plan worthy of her involvement, "Who is my opponent?"

"Iron Man." Morris pointed to Berny who quickly pulled up footage of Tony Stark in battle, "He relies on advanced robotics, but his suits are embarrassingly susceptible to damage. We need a precision tool to extract him from the lineup, and you are more than qualified for this battle."

"My father suspected his technological rival, a fool named Howard Stark, may one day create an automated fighting machine. Provide me with schematics and more film of his fights and I will identify the weakness in the suit of armor."

Albatross was impressed, "This one is Anthony Stark, Howard's son."

"Then I'm in luck."

"We are in luck," Morris corrected, "to have one such as you fighting for the Cabal."

"Yes, you are," she wasn't modest. "My father had me trained by every spy and combat specialist he could find. I even wiped out an entire generation of the Red Room's Black Widows during my time there. This fight benefits Hydra, and so it benefits me and my family."

Dramatic, idealistic, but more than capable of bringing down Tony Stark, Morris was willing to forgive any fault, so long as she lived up to her reputation, "Gentlemen, my lady, my lord," he half-bowed to Cul and Sin, "we are very nearly ready."

"Who's taking care of the bird?" John Ryker spoke up from an armchair near the back of the room.

"Bird?" Sin arched an eyebrow.

"The Falcon," Berny spoke up and pulled up the relevant media, "similar to Stark, but less protected. He could be taken down by anything really."

Morris hadn't decided yet, and Sin could read this on his face, "My father's MODOK device?"

He shook his head, "I've considered it, but MODOK would be useless once we activate the frequencies necessary to trap the Avenger's Shadow."

"Why be delicate?" John smiled, "Battle begins, the Avengers scatter to give one another space to fight, and the Falcon flies up for an aerial view. Great for seeing the war from above, disastrous if something were to happen to his wings."

"You want to detonate an electromagnetic device?" Morris rolled his eyes at the stupidity, "Have we not said often enough that the frequency must be maintained to keep the Shadow grounded?"

"I'm not that delicate," malice glinted in his eyes, "I was thinking more along the lines of shooting him out of the sky."

"Not an option. I don't want him so much as turning on the damned things."

Sin shrugged, "Then remove him before the battle even begins."

Morris' mind immediately went to Doctor Pryor. The woman was capable of impressive feats, could she maneuver the Falcon in such a way that the Avengers themselves might end the threat? The woman had proven too eager in the past- as battle neared he grew more and more certain that it would be best if he handled Inessa by himself, but could she actually still have a use?

"If she fails, they will do everything in their power to extract intel from her." John didn't care one way or the other, but he was playing devil's advocate. He disagreed with Morris- the Cabal was already powerful enough for one to kill at least two Avengers, the least powerful and frankly least impressive of the lot was hardly a threat.

Sin pulled a small disk from her pocket and held it up, "Have her swallow this. Make up a reason why or hide it in her food. Once she has completed her task, detonate it. They cannot interrogate a dead woman."

Morris thought through it slowly, cautiously optimistic. He couldn't get too greedy, eliminating the Falcon would put the Avengers on alert, more so than they were after the little assassination attempt. "If we do this," he said carefully, "no one leaves the bunker until the day of the attack. We give them no way to trace it back to our location. If they remain divided, good. If they come together," he shook his head, "they are doing that already so it is no great loss. But we keep the size and specialty of our ranks a guarded secret." He wouldn't act, not unless everyone agreed to this plan. It was relatively sloppy, but he couldn't see an alternative- there was no way to ground the Falcon fast enough once battle began- and they had no idea what sort of protections the wings might have against manipulation or direct fire.

One by one they nodded, even Cul Borson. Morris approached Sin and took the disk with a nod of thanks, "You have ten hours to go fetch whatever supplies you may need- new arrows, weapons, equipment, then we lock down. With any luck, our short war begins and ends in two days."

In the morning Natasha found two pictures nailed to the door. One was of "Sinthea Schmidt", a woman in red they could not trace. The man had had an "Oh, duh," moment and tracked down a picture of Doctor Pryor taken from the "About" page on her medical practice's website. Across her face he wrote in large, red letters "TRAITOR."

Unfortunately, the warning arrived too late.

Chapter 28: Traitors Among Us

[league-of-light]

2019 What’s the Weekly Challenge Rankings Week 1 Weekly Challenge What Is It IDP Flex Weekly Challenge? Rankings

What’s up YouTubers it’s the Will + Dyl show back at it again with another set of power rankings. And by Will + Dyl back at it again I mean Dylan back at it again while I incoherently ramble nonsensical garbage next to him. We’re off to a great start. Per usual, Dylan will provide his EXPERT level statistical analysis of players and teams, and I’ll pick some stupid meme to run with. This week we’re going with Super Smash Bros because Banjo Kazooie just dropped and it’s the only light in my life outside of Ace and Dairy Delight. Anyway, take it away Dylan.

__________________________________________________

Howdy folks! It’s been a while. I’ve wanted to get back into writing Power Rankings, but it seemed like a bad idea. I haven’t followed football late in the 2017-2018 season, and honestly, I have no idea what’s going on. But Will has convinced me that it doesn’t matter, and that I can do these anyway. So without further ado, here are my power rankings, based on what I understand about the league from almost two years ago. 

11. Cleveland Browns

The Browns have been the worst organization in football for about 15 years. Last I checked, this team was losing every single game, finishing the season 0-16. And now it seems that Josh Gordon DeShone Kizer aren’t even there anymore? This team has no shot. I don’t know who this Daniel Jones fellow is, but hopefully he can help; otherwise, this team is primed for a lot of losses. 

Super Smash Bros character: Pichu. If you’ve played Smash Bros, you know that Pichu has nearly the same moveset (if not the same exact moves, sue me Evan I don’t use Pichu) as Pikachu. The only difference is, anytime Pichu attacks, it also hurts itself. Just like me, every time I look at this stupid gimmick team I decided to go with instead of actually trying to win free money.

10. Honedge Heroes

Antonio Brown AND Le’Veon Bell? I’m not a fan of taking the two Steelers, who will steal touches from each other. Brandin Cooks is great, and I like Derrick Henry, but I’ve never even heard of half of this team. This team should suspend any hope they had of being a contender. 

Smash Bro: R.O.B. Rob is a robot, so is Dylan.  I am reminded about a thing I read today on Reddit about a robot. It was written by Douglas Adams. Please hold while I find the quote:

A robot was programmed to believe that it liked herring sandwiches. This was actually the most difficult part of the whole experiment. Once the robot had been programmed to believe that it liked herring sandwiches, a herring sandwich was placed in front of it. Where upon the robot thought to itself, Ah! A herring sandwich! I like herring sandwiches. It would then bend over and scoop up the herring sandwich in its herring sandwich scoop, and then straighten up again. Unfortunately for the robot, it was fashioned in such a way that the action of straightening up caused the herring sandwich to slip straight back off its herring sandwich scoop and fall on to the floor in front of the robot. Whereupon the robot thought to itself, Ah! A herring sandwich...etc., and repeated the same action over and over again. The only thing that prevented the herring sandwich from getting bored with the whole damn business and crawling off in search of other ways of passing the time was that the herring sandwich, being just a bit of dead fish between a couple of slices of bread, was marginally less alert to what was going on than was the robot.

^ This is Dylan, and the herring sandwich is the New York Mets.

9. Cursed Will

It’s tough to rank the team with the best player in football (Aaron Rodgers) this low. But Jordy Nelson is getting up there in years, so I’m not sure how good Rodgers receivers will be. 

Super Mash Potato: King K. Rool.  Dylan had a pretty fire one for this, so I’ll let him take it away:

IT’S NICE THAT AFTER YEARS OF FREELOADING IN SMASH GAMES AS A TROPHY AND A STICKER, KING K. ROOL FINALLY DECIDED TO CONTRIBUTE AND BE PART OF THE SMASH ROSTER. THIS DOESN’T HELP ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPENT YEARS WITH THE EARLIER SMASH GAMES, BUT I’M SO FUCKING HAPPY THAT NOW THAT HE’S OLD AND IRRELEVANT, HE FINALLY DECIDED TO BE USEFUL.

For those who don’t know, Evan now pays rent. For those who also don’t know, Evan and King K. Rool are both thousands of years old, have leathery skin, and eat Taco Bell every other day. Also, check out this screenshot of K Rool from when Banjo was announced, it’s literally the most Evan photo on the internet.

8. Float Like a… Whine Like AB

I’m not sure why they have Alex Smith’s backup at QB. Davante Adams and Michael Thomas are great, but Mark Ingram seems to be their only competent RB. Maybe they’ll get Alex Smith and find a way to contend. Otherwise, I’m not really sure what this team is doing. 

Smush - Donkey Kong. For those of you who don't know, Donkey Kong got his name because Nintendo wanted to convey that the ape was stubborn, so they picked the most stubborn animal they could think of. Or at least that’s how the story goes. That alone would be fitting enough for Jason, but really he gets DK because of DK’s affinity to charge up a punch and wiff on it, only to CHARGE UP AGAIN LATER.

7. tbt to K88 being platonic

I’m glad to see Larry Fitzgerald is still around, and they have Andrew Luck’s long-time favorite target Eugene Hilton. Ben Roethlisberger could have a huge year with the talent on that Pittsburgh offense, and Alvin Kamara is great. Still, I’d expect Devonta Freeman to split carries again, and the Bills’ defense can’t be very good. 

Super Dunk - Young Link.  Young Link has been out of the Smash Brothers games for over a decade which is almost as long as Harnsowl has been out of America.  Also, YL can drink a seemingly endless amount of Lon Lon Milk, just like Harnsowl with alcohol. 

6. Spicy Meatballs

From what I’ve been told, James White should be the best RB in football by now. I’ll take Phil’s word for this. And Drew Brees is awesome. But I’m not sure about the rest of the team. JuJu Smith-Schuster will have trouble getting touches over the Killer B’s, and all I know about Anthony Miller is that he was a mediocre NBA player in the 90’s who had a brief cameo in Space Jam. Tough to see this team doing well if they can’t improve on that depth. 

Super Meesh Pepe - Samus. Another soulless human robot thingamabob whose only purpose is to watch the New York Mets. Dark Samus for when the Mets lose. So I guess always Dark Samus?

5. No Content

I don’t know if Kyler Murray is actually good, but I’m expecting a big year out of Eric Decker. And the Colts QB has always loved throwing to TE’s, so Eric Ebron should have a huge year. A definite sleeper who might take the league by storm.

Supper Dinner Brother - Lil Mac.  Dylan beat me to it again:

I respect the effort that they put into making Little Mac a better character. They improved his aerial gameplay and his recovery, and made a bunch of other improvements. It must have taken them, like, 12 weeks of work! But, despite all that effort, he’s still in a low tier and can’t compete with the stronger characters.

Honestly, the biggest difference here is that Lil Mac definitely never skips leg day (see photo)

But apparently Kyle has been for the past 84 days.

4. Shit Outta Luck

For some reason, their team page says that they dropped Andrew Luck, but I’m going to assume that there’s some kind of issue in the database that will be resolved shortly. I’m assuming some team that already had a franchise QB took Saquon Barkley at a completely reasonable pick in the draft, and he’s doing great there. And Mike Evans is a star. Once Andrew Luck is re-added to the roster, this team can be a real contender.

Smash Bros Character - N/A. Dylan, Who’s fuckin team is this?

3. I’m Still Here Bitches

A shockingly strong showing for Team Arielle. David Johnson, from what I recall, is the best RB in football. Julio Jones is awesome. Dak Prescott is pretty good, although honestly, I still think Tony Romo is better. Damien Williams might not get a ton of carries in KC, but I still think this team could go a long way.

Daisy. Daisy doesn’t belong in Smash (yeah, I said it Andy), and Arielle doesn’t belong in the league

2. Team Mar

The squad from the 845 is looking very strong. Two superstar WR’s in Alshon Jeffrey and Keenan Allen, a perennial MVP candidate in Matt Ryan, and two top 5 caliber RB’s in Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey? I have no idea how this roster is even possible.

Mashed Potato: Joker.  I honestly know nothing about you, just like I know nothing about this anime (?) character who is in Super Smash Brothers. His name is Joker but he’s clearly not from Gotham and your instagram handle is Marisa845 and you’re clearly not from the 845 otherwise Bowers would’ve remembered seeing you at South. He knows everyone who went to South.

1. Venice Beach Hulkamaniacks 

Now here’s a team of people I recognize. A.J. Green? Trey Burton? Melvin Gordon? Shady McCoy? DION LEWIS? I honestly don’t see how things could possibly go wrong with that kind of talent. This team shouldn’t lose a single game. And there you have it. Hopefully by next week, I will have learned a little bit about the modern NFL and can take a better stab at these, but hopefully this helps get you excited for another great season of the NATIONAL! FOOTBALL! LEAGUE! Back to you Boom.

Smash Boo: King Dedede. The people’s champ. The Penguin with the Hammer.  Just like Kirby, King Dedede can suck in opponents.  Just like Bowers, if those opponents taste like carbs, he will not swallow them. King Dedede has an unrelenting hammer akin to Bowers’ unrelenting trade offers for LeShady McCoy, and had this other game where he got swol af just like Bowers is gonna be at the end of his journey. At least his 12 week journey has seen results. 

Also, I’m genuinely unsure if Bowers wrote this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jibCSdZ8xG0 

73. Andy Brown

A late addition that we had to shoehorn in here even though they don’t belong in the Power Rankings.

[gadgetsrevv]

Arsenal and Emery’s plan badly backfires at Liverpool. PLUS — Griezmann steps up for Barcelona

Gab Marcotti is here to recap a busy, dramatic weekend in soccer. Welcome to Monday Musings.

Jump to: Arsenal’s errors at Liverpool | Real still a mess | Spurs’ Eriksen problem | Refs wreck Fiorentina vs. Napoli? | PSG need Neymar | More Man United woe | Mihajlovic is inspiring | Lewandowski carries Bayern | Griezmann the hero for Barca | Business as usual for Juve | Milan’s epic fail

What Arsenal got wrong vs. Liverpool

Unai Emery’s resume is what will likely get him a pass for what Arsenal fans saw on Saturday. A decade at the highest level with Valencia, Seville and Paris Saint-Germain, often succeeding because of his tactical nous and his ability to read opponents and exploit their weaknesses, means that you want to give the benefit of the doubt. But having watched the approach to Liverpool away at Anfield, it’s a tough thing to do.

It’s not just the midfield diamond that ceded the flanks to Jurgen Klopp’s crew (who, for those not paying attention, have two pretty darn good providers in Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold). Nor was it the decision to try to keep possession without Lucas Torreira, your second-best passer. Nor was it the insistence on playing out from the back against arguably the best high-press team in the Premier League, just a week after another high-press team, Burnley, had given them fits. And, for that matter, neither was it the reluctance to occasionally mix in the long ball (the two times they did it, it worked well) when you have speedy forwards like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe.

It’s that it’s really difficult to figure out what pathway Emery sees towards success at Arsenal.

Emery’s career has earned him some time, but there’s little sense in how he set Arsenal up in Saturday’s defeat at Liverpool.

There’s nothing wrong with adding Dani Ceballos for a season in midfield, but if you’re trying to build something, do you really want everything to hinge so heavily around a guy who’s there on loan? And given that it’s hard to find a natural home for Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the setups he has used this season, is it really wise to write them off at this stage?

Arsenal finished two points away from third place last season in Emery’s first Premier League campaign. They may well hit the target this season, or come close to it, but that has more to do with issues elsewhere. The real goal has to be reducing the 27 points that separated them from Liverpool in second. It’s not clear at all that Saturday did that.

– Weekend Review: Are Tottenham getting stale? – O’Hanlon: Should we be worried about “superteam” Man City? – Jones: Sheffield United prove heart can beat talent

As for the European champions, they played with big-game vitality and intensity as Klopp opted to turn in one of his extreme high-press performances. I’m not sure how often we’ll see that from him this season. It’s extremely taxing on the front men and the midfielders, which is why, incidentally, you should expect more rotation in the middle of the park this year. Not to mention the fact that you’re always vulnerable to the ball over the top or teams with enough quality to break the press wide open.

All that said, in one-offs and for shorter spurts during games, it remains a devastating weapon.

Real Madrid still a mess

Against Valladolid, Real Madrid managed to field not just an entire XI without newcomers, but also one where every outfield player was on the club’s books since at least 2014. Sure, Eden Hazard is injured (and you assume they’ll make room for him when fit) but apart from two Luka Jovic substitute appearances, we haven’t seen any of the four new signings. Instead, we’re seeing plenty of James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale, two guys with giant “For Sale” tags around their necks for most of the summer.

Zinedine Zidane is doing things his way, and to be fair, the Pep Guardiola-style 4-1-4-1 we saw in the first half Saturday is worth revisiting. Less impressive was the late collapse that left two points on the table. And the fact that Valladolid’s equaliser was scored by a guy named Guardiola (Sergi, no relation, although he was once on Barca’s books), makes it hurt a little bit more.

I made this point before but it’s worth making again: no clean sheets and two points dropped after two games does not mean Real Madrid absolutely need to sign Neymar. Their four new signings have played a total of 34 minutes, and they’re already stacked in Neymar’s position. (What’s more, Zidane is getting those guys on the pitch.)

There may be a price/package at which Neymar makes sense, but most likely, there isn’t.

Tottenham’s Eriksen problem

Tottenham knew what they were getting when Newcastle United rolled into town. They were taking on an embattled veteran manager who had lost his first two games and was getting criticised locally. No prizes for guessing what Steve Bruce was going to do: sit deep with a virtual 7-2-1 formation and pray for the best.

So why take the pitch without Giovani Lo Celso and Christian Eriksen, arguably Spurs’ two best creative passers? Beats me.

Mauricio Pochettino’s negativity over Eriksen and his contractual situation — he recently called it “difficult” and said he “didn’t know” if the Dane had played his last game for the club — is understandable to some degree and you can find some sympathy too. But equally, that’s not a reason to bench him or, for that matter, Jan Vertonghen, the guy who was (and maybe still is?) Tottenham’s vice-captain until last season.

You can blame the media for many things but there are legitimate questions to answer about the club’s strategy and the degree of freedom which Pochettino has… or maybe doesn’t have as manager.

Refs ruin Fiorentina vs. Napoli?

After the wild Magic Mountain ride that was Napoli’s 4-3 win away to Fiorentina in Serie A’s curtain-raiser, the last thing you want to do is talk referees. But that crew, particularly with the penalty Dries Mertens “won,” leaves little choice.

You can understand the mistake in awarding it — referees are human and Davide Massa isn’t just human, he’s not particularly good either — it’s harder to accept why VAR didn’t ask him to take another look. The whole crew is likely to sit out the next round (and Mertens, reportedly, could face retrospective punishment), which is encouraging.

On the pitch, Fiorentina’s young ones (who later made way for the golden oldies, Franck Ribery and Kevin-Prince Boateng) were fun to watch and played without fear. It will be a transition season but the future is bright. As for Napoli, the Smurf Squad did its thing and with Arkadiusz Milik and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano added to the mix, this is a side that can beat you many different ways.

PSG might need Neymar after all

Last season it was the teeny, tiny senior squad: a direct result of Financial Fair Play. This year, Paris Saint-Germain have more bodies but they’re dealing with injuries. Against Toulouse they lost Edinson Cavani, Abdou Diallo and Kylian Mbappe in one fell swoop, which rather muted celebrations for their 4-0 win.

None of the injuries looked season-ending, God forbid, and we’ll get an update soon, but with Neymar out of the squad pending the final days of the transfer window, it’s looking like an uphill ride for Thomas Tuchel. What does appear clear (despite the naysayers) is that if the transfer deadline comes and goes and Neymar is still there, he’ll be a professional and quickly slip back into the lineup. For Tuchel, that won’t come soon enough.

What does Solskjaer want Man United to be?

Aside for a few episodes — think the Marcus Rashford missed spot-kick, some strong penalty appeals — Manchester United could easily have beaten Crystal Palace. And while they weren’t stellar, they didn’t play particularly badly either. But they remain a frustratingly one-dimensional team: fine on the counterattack and toothless with the ball, unless Paul Pogba invents something or Rashford picks out that little pass for Anthony Martial that seemingly nobody can cope with.

That’s what is disconcerting here. We know Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can do that reasonably well, but what else can he do? Is there an alternative way of playing — one that actually works — that he can turn to? That bit isn’t clear at all.

It’s not just about personnel (though it’s pretty clear he would have liked a couple more signings) which, to some degree, is out of his control. It’s about what he can affect: the way United play and right now, it seems to be in transition only. That has to change if they’re going to finish top four.

Mihajlovic is inspiring

Six weeks after telling the world he was battling a severe form of leukemia, Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic slipped out of the hospital and took his place on the sideline for his team’s opening fixture, a 1-1 draw at Verona. Doctors had initially advised against it but relented when they saw his mind was made up. And anyone who has followed his career as a manager and a player will tell you that once he’s determined to do something, there’s no stopping him.

The players themselves only found out a few hours before kickoff. He wore a baseball cap and a large bandage on his neck. He was gaunt and had clearly lost a lot of weight. It obviously was a struggle but in case you hadn’t noticed, whatever else Mihajlovic is, this man is a warrior. He’ll fight cancer the way he lived his life: no retreat and no surrender.

Lewandowski keeps carrying Bayern

Robert Lewandowski‘s hat-trick overshadowed Philippe Coutinho‘s debut (he came on as a substitute) on Saturday in Bayern’s 3-0 win over Schalke and it’s as good a time as any to remind ourselves of his everyday brilliance. He has scored every single Bayern goal this season. He has 197 in 246 appearances in all competitions and since 2010, he has missed just 16 league games for Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

Appearing on the Gab + Jules podcast last week, Jan Aage Fjortoft said “they must go to church every day in Munich praying he doesn’t get injured.” He’s right. He carries the can on his own up front and, for most of his tenure, he’s had no credible back up.

It’s not surprising, then, that Bayern are about to extend his contract by another two seasons, taking him up to 2023. When you’ve been that consistent for that long, doing otherwise would be madness.

Griezmann proves himself for Barca

With Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez unavailable, Ernesto Valverde conjured up a new front three for the visit of Real Betis Sunday night. Alongside Antoine Griezmann were Rafinha (who had played once since November 2018) and Carles Perez, who had played 35 minutes of top-flight football in his entire career. (He was later replaced by Ansu Fati, who is only the second youngest debutant in the club’s history.)

Having gone a goal down, they stormed back to win 5-2 and a lot of the credit has to go to Griezmann. It wasn’t just his two goals: it was the leadership, drive and personality he gave the side (evidently qualities seared into his DNA after years with Diego Simeone), which, at times, had you forgetting that you-know-who wasn’t there. Critics will fault Rubi’s top-heavy Betis side for failing to manage the lead but the way Barca’s second half unfolded, there was no containing them.

As with Real Madrid, they’ll want to think long and hard about whether they really need/want Neymar…

Business as usual for Juventus

There wasn’t much new or interesting in Juve’s seasonal debut, a 1-0 win over Parma. None of the new signings started and, in fact, the new manager Maurizio Sarri, battling pneumonia, wasn’t there either. Leading the line was Gonzalo Higuain, who resurrected his old Real Madrid partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Might he end up doing so all season long for Juve? It’s increasingly looking that way, if only by default. Of the club’s three potential centerforwards, he’s the least likely to leave and he’s the one who knows Sarri best.

Milan get a little too creative

Milan boss Marco Giampaolo said that his formation didn’t work in the opening day 1-0 defeat to Udinese. Kudos for honesty, even though he did sound like Captain Obvious following a game that saw his team fail to record a shot on target and his centerforward, Krzysztof Piatek, get just 18 touches.

Giampaolo is an “outside-the-box” type of guy who likes to get creative, so he’s entitled to be unconventional. But playing a midfield three of Fabio Borini, Hakan Calhanoglou and Lucas Paqueta plus Suso in the hole behind the Piatek-Samu Castillejo partnership is waaaaayyyy outside the box.

It’s simply lining up without recognised central midfielders. To paraphrase Billy Joel, do that and you walk away a fool or a king. He was no king on Sunday.

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[torestoreamends]

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Recap: Part One, 24th May

Where to begin with this? I’m not sure whether to give opening assessments of the characters first, or line by line details. How about we start with the characters!

Ron

Thomas is just really delightfully funny. You forget that he doesn’t look like Ron, because he inhabits the character so well. Because he’s so jovial and bubbly all the time, the second timeline Ron is a stark and entertaining contrast. I think he’s brilliant, and he’s one of about five or six cast members who is completely nailing it already.

Hermione

I adore Rakie. She exudes Hermione’s authority, and she has this beautiful sort of Hermione-ish quality to her that I’m not sure I ever personally felt from Noma. She just has this presence about her. I feel so comfortable when she’s on stage, I trust her implicitly, and she and Thomas have already given me one of my favourite ever Romione moments.

Rose

Helen’s Rose is simply adorable. She’s young and bubbly and seems like she’s having so much fun. I love how she has no time for Scorpius’s flirting, and she seems to have such a sweet relationship with her parents.

Harry

I was surprised and delighted by how much I liked Jamie. I was really worried about him, because in the past I don’t have a good track record of enjoying Harrys who weren’t played by Jamie Parker, but I didn’t have any issues with him. There were a couple of decisions that he made that I thought were really beautiful, especially in the second timeline. I could really feel a change between his normal timeline Harry and how he was in the second timeline. You could tell, especially at times in that timeline, that he loves Albus and wants the best for him.

Ginny

I lot of the good Ginny moments come in Part Two (which I hadn’t realised; it’s fascinating how a new cast changes the whole balance and feel of the show), so I don’t think we’ve seen too much of Emma yet. But what I have seen I’ve liked, especially things she did around the duel scene. I can’t help but wonder if this cast have rehearsed the second timeline a lot, because that felt the most complete section of Part One for me.

Albus

From the first moment I saw the first photo of Theo in character, my impression was that he was uptight and insecure and nerdy, and that’s exactly what we got on stage. The photos and videos actually do give a really good sense of how these characters are being played, looking back on them with hindsight. I think Theo is really scared, but there are flashes of how he will be when he’s relaxed, and I do think we got a small sense of how he’ll be playing Albus going forward, which is entirely contrary to anything Sam or Tom ever did (although I actually really like that).

Draco

James has always been my favourite Draco. He exudes confidence and pain, and is one of those actors who’s shining. His Draco feels the most complete of all the characters on the stage, just because he’s had so much time to dig into him. I am so excited for his big moments in Act Two. I should also mention that it helps that James seems to have chemistry with everyone, from Thomas, to Jamie, to Samuel. All the people you want him to have chemistry with.

Scorpius

There is nothing to be said about Samuel beyond wow. His Scorpius is nothing like anything we’ve ever seen before. In a similar way to Theo, it’s the opposite to how Anthony or James played Scorpius. Brimming with confidence. Enthusiastic and excitable. His crush on Rose is so explicit and painfully cute. He’s just adorable, and he’s owning this character in a completely new way. Scorpius is Samuel’s now, and I’m delighted with him.

And with all that initial assessment out of the way, let’s have a look at the play itself!

*

Act One

Opening

One of the things that made the biggest impression on me when I first saw the play was the quality of Chris Jarman’s movement. He took so much time over every motion, and gave it all so much significance. I was afraid with what would happen when he left, but Mark Theodore completely nailed it. He did exactly what I loved about Chris, but in a whole new way. He’s more staccato in both his lines and his movements, but he really takes his time and owns the moments. He just stood and looked at the hat for a moment before putting it on, and because he took so much time we heard more of the music, which was pretty cool. He’s a lot more playful and buoyant than Chris’s sombre Sorting Hat. It’s a refreshing little change.

Platform 9 ¾ (Scenes One and Two)

The Potters now feel a bit like a posh family, less down to earth than before, and James Sirius fits that mould too. They’re sort of restrained and distant. They don’t have the same warm, open heart as before. Which is exactly what I got from their photo, so I think that’s how they’re going to play it.

The moment I decided I was fine with Jamie as Harry was ‘Don’t stop, and don’t be scared, you’ll crash right into it’. I don’t know what it was about that line, but I just sort of looked at him and felt that things were going to be okay.

I may or may not have had my fingers crossed during the transition onto the platform itself. I think I did that for all the big technical moments.

Tom was nailing it as Ron right from the word go. His nose stealing trick was great, and he milked it even more than Paul did.

I loved how much the Granger-Weasleys felt like a family in this scene. They just looked so fond of each other, and the lines where they were teasing Ron about his driving test felt completely natural and like they’d been having that sort of banter for years.

My highlight of the scene was the way Ron slipped James a bag of sweets while Harry and Albus were talking. Such an adorable little family moment, that I only happened to notice by chance.

I actually really loved end section when the adults are alone and talking after the kids have left. I thought they all did a great job with that, and the Hinny vibes I got were sweet. I liked their conversation, and that was the moment where I decided Emma was going to be fine. She’d already given Theo a massive hug, and I enjoyed how she was talking to Harry.

Scene Three

When Karl went and sat in the carriage with Scorpius, Scorpius got really excited and looked up from his book all enthusiastic. Karl stretched out a hand to him, and Scorpius was all ready to take it, but at the last second Karl withdrew his hand and thumbed his nose at Scorpius. (If there is anyone in the world who isn’t excited to see Mackley and Samuel as Albus and Scorpius then… I don’t really know what to say to you.)

I loved how Theo actually did a thorough assessment of the various carriages before going to the empty compartment. It always felt like Sam was either inexorably drawn to Scorpius, or maybe that his Albus was just kind of glancing into the bus carriages. But Theo took his time to study each one before deciding that they were too full.

I really have no idea where to start with Samuel. His ‘Hi Scorpius. I mean, I’m Scorpius. You’re Albus. I’m Scorpius’ had this sort of self-deprecating feel to it. He isn’t awkward and unsure of himself, he’s confident, and it felt like he was just laughing at his silly mistake. He wasn’t embarrassed by it at all.

He does have his own sweets song! I couldn’t possibly sing it for you, but he does have his own one, and that’s all I really wanted from him.

Theo’s ‘What do you mean, you know who I am?’ made it feel like all Albus’s fears were coming true at once. It wasn’t really a question, it was more resignation. He expected Scorpius to know who he was, and was scared that Scorpius would have a problem with it.

There’s a massive nose gag going on now. They’ve taken the stuff about Voldemort’s nose and run with it. When Rose said ‘look, you’ve got a nose’, Scorpius sort of felt it for a second like he was surprised it was there, and laughed. Also, later on, in the transition scene, the line ‘leave him and Voldemort’s child to it’, Mackley sort of pushed his nose flat against his face, making it into a Voldy nose.

Theo’s smile is really sweet. He really does smile when he’s around Samuel, which is nice. They have great chemistry, and there are times where Albus and Scorpius feel like an old married couple.

Theo really took his time considering whether Albus preferred Albus or Al.

I’m not sure if Samuel has more steam loaded into his Pepper Imp steam machine thing, or if he’s just figured out how to get more from it than James or Anthony ever did, but wow was that a lot of steam. He also took a really long time over that line. He said the line, then really carefully picked the right sweet from the bag, then tucked it away, then popped it into his mouth, then he grinned and made the steam go everywhere. Milking the trick for all it was worth.

Transition Scene

Polly Chapman is now Scottish and has purple streaks in her hair.

Mark’s Sorting Hat rhymes are a perfect demonstration of how he’s more staccato than Chris. He was sort of static as he delivered them, but in a good way, leaping from line to line in a sort of jagged fashion. Also, when he was sorting people he made almost beat boxing sounds, sort of muttering and ticking and hissing, and he did these jerky movements with his body.

Samuel does a lot of the muttering and mouthing that I’ve always liked, both when he’s being sorted and later on. I couldn’t work out what he was saying, but he was muttering something.

Karl started sweeping the floor with his broom when he said ‘Albus Potter, the Slytherin Squib’.

James Howard was perfect as Draco right from the word go. I loved the little hint of pain we got when he said ‘Astoria hasn’t been well recently’.

Samuel’s ‘Hi Rose’ was the most hopeful, enthusiastic little thing.

During Polly’s line ‘Even portraits turn the other way when he comes up the stairs’, Karl was pretending to be one of the portraits, turning his back and pretending to walk away. I hope whoever decided to give Mackley a speaking role in this thing knew what they were getting into. I’m not sure Karl is meant to steal the show…

The moment in the third year carriage ride is when you really get a sense of the front Scorpius is trying to put up. He was broken, but visibly struggling not to be so. The confidence and jokes make up this unshakeable shield around him, and you get flashes that tell you that this is a boy who has really deep running issues that he’s suppressing with all his might. I’m hoping that thread feels resolved, and I think it might do after the Voldemort timeline, although I’m not sure if I’ll be left wanting more of that. I’m not sure if the script gives the opportunities Samuel needs to fully play out that character choice. (But if it doesn’t, we can just fix it ourselves with fic, so that’s fine.)

Theo takes every opportunity he can to give Samuel a hug. When they left the carriage, Albus wrapped his arm right round Scorpius’s shoulders.

During the wand dance, Albus stayed with his wand the whole time, desperately trying to prise it from the ground.

Scene Five

I completely adored Rakie in this scene. Just her level of authority. Also her disapproval at Harry’s mess was deeply entertaining to me. She walked into that office and instantly despaired.

Jamie wasn’t bouncy and enthusiastic like Jamie P always was in this scene, which was a little bit of a shame. He also didn’t shout. He’s nowhere near as explosive and incendiary. He’s not Harry in the way Jamie P was, but I don’t think anyone ever will be. I’m convinced that Jamie P knows Harry Potter with a level of depth that is second only to JK herself. And that is impossible to top.

Jamie does an interesting thing where he stands up when he’s being told off, it’s like he’s trying to bring himself up to Hermione’s level. It goes along with the slightly stern demeanour he has, trying to bring himself an air of increased authority.

Scene Six

The moments where Barry and Sandy were on as Amos/Dumbledore and McGonagall/Trolley Witch felt like a wave from an old familiar friend. It was a little heartbreaking, but at the same time I’m so glad they’re still there.

I really liked how Jamie played with scene with Amos. There were little flashes of pain. He was struggling to be civil and authoritative and not let it show how much he was hurting.

I loved how Theo played the bit where Albus is eavesdropping on Harry and Amos. He sort of had his ear pressed to the banister on the stairs, like he was listening really hard through a wall, and you could really tell he was reacting to their conversation, rather than just moving up and down the stairs for the sake of it.

Annabel is a really cute Delphi. She just has a sort of lively energy to her, and so much enthusiasm. She feels really experienced beside the boys, and it’s actually comforting when she’s on stage with both of them. I could feel her encouraging them both along.

When Amos called her back, she made a little robot nose, but she didn’t do the whole mechanical walk down the stairs that Esther used to do. She hopped up on the bannister and tried to slide down it in a way that was really awkward, didn’t really work, and was presumably just to make Albus laugh. Also, before she left with Amos, she glanced back and gave Albus a wave. Her Delphi cares far more about connecting with Albus in that moment, than she cares about meeting Harry, which makes sense. Although Harry is Harry, Albus is her target.

Scene Seven

I think both Jamie and Theo were very nervous in the blanket scene. I could see Jamie’s hands shaking as he was messing with the blanket.

Jamie said a line in this scene that I have never ever heard Jamie P say. Possibly he said it during the previews, but he definitely always skipped it as a matter of course: ‘James has been going on about the Invisibility Cloak since time itself, and Lily – I knew she’d love wings – but you…’

I really liked the bit with the love potion. That worked well from both sides, Albus’s dismissiveness, and Harry’s attempts to justify it and defuse the conversation.

I loved how Theo was all curled up really small on the bed. He had his legs crossed and was just sort of perched there, looking vulnerable and tiny.

This scene didn’t ignite in the way it always did with Sam and Jamie P. With them it was like some had lit a fuse, and you could see the sparks working their way down to the dynamite at the bottom. It was only a matter of time before the whole thing went up. But with Theo and Jamie the anger sort of came out of nowhere without the build, which certainly made it shocking.

They both reeled back when Harry said he line, and Harry looked so heartbroken by what he’d just said. The second he’d said it you could see him shuffling his feet and flailing his hands, and panicking about it. He wanted to take it back, but he couldn’t. And Albus just looked broken.

As he ran out of the room, he dumped the blanket on the bed like he was fleeing, and only paused in the doorway to shoot the ‘no luck or love for me then’ over his shoulder as an after-thought.

The First Dream (Scenes Eight and Nine)

When Uncle Vernon was holding the gun, Dudley (Mackley again of course) was holding his fingers up like a little gun too.

Mark didn’t seem entirely confident walking down the stairs in Hagrid’s massive shoes. I can’t image it’s an easy thing to do. I never noticed with Chris that it might be tricky, but clearly it is.

Mark’s Hagrid is really happy and jokey. Again, he’s less sombre than Chris, and just seems to be having fun all the time.

I just realised that the way Jamie played out the beginning of waking up from the dream is basically exactly what’s written in the script. He didn’t scream or anything. He woke and sat on the side of the bed, breathing deeply and trying to calm himself down. He also got up and was really shaky and unsteady on his feet. Harry actually looked ill in that moment.

Again, I really liked the relationship between Harry and Ginny here. It was sort of quiet and caring and supportive.

Escaping the Train (Scenes Ten and Eleven)

I loved Samuel’s bread section. He just wasn’t at all deterred by Rose’s reaction. He kept digging and digging and explaining and explaining. Completely adorable.

The hug was really cute. Scorpius isn’t hugging back yet, so I know the hugs are just going to get sweeter and sweeter as we go on.

Scorpius was so happy about the quiz. He was having great fun. And Albus was quite delighted with how geeky he was. Scorpius was really thrilled to be called a geek, and his thank you was sort of breathless and excitable.

I loved how when Albus asked the third question, Scorpius just sort of looked at him, at a loss. Like he really didn’t know the answer to the question. And then in response, Albus stepped in to answer it for him.

Neither of the boys were as physical on the train roof as Sam was, but Sam was always truly excellent at the movement side of things.

I really loved the two Molliare spells, especially Samuel’s. He pronounced it in the cutest way, with a sort of like flick of his tongue on the ‘r’. It was very serious and correct. Which is perfectly Scorpius. That geek would definitely be really careful with his spell pronunciation.

The EGM (Scene Twelve)

I really liked how Hermione addressed Harry at the end of her speech. You can feel the friendship between them.

I loved James in this scene. He had a really commanding presence, and his voice is really powerful. When he shouted you knew about it.

The ‘a vote you only won because you are his friend’ line was really excellent. I can’t remember the exact detail of it, but I remember absolutely loving it. I think Draco might have pointed accusingly up at Hermione? It was really well delivered though.

James’s impression of Harry was spot on. He went very posh and mocking. And it’s genuinely hilarious for Draco of all people to mock someone for being posh.

St Oswald’s (Scenes Thirteen and Fourteen)

Much to my disappointment, the kids no longer play the old people, it’s all adults now. We had Mark and Martin and David and Rosemary, and a few others. So there’s no Mackley antics in that scene. However, Martin was wearing a dress, which more than makes up for the lack of Mackley any day.

Albus and Scorpius stuck really close side by side when they were calling for attention. They went very carefully and systematically to each of the three groups of people in turn to ask for help.

When the boys go into Amos’s room, I noticed that it was Delphi who cast the spell to make the wall close in on them. She flicked her wand at it, and then it started moving. Also, the boys no longer yell at the wall to stop, they seem to mostly trust Delphi’s magic, although they did keep glancing at it apprehensively as it followed them across the room.

This was the scene where the boys really felt like an old married couple, constantly muttering to each other and strategizing together, and checking in on one another.

When Amos was saying he’d read about Albus, Scorpius stepped forward to defend him, and then Amos turned on him, and Scorpius shrank back into his corner looking angry and upset, and Albus turned to make sure he was okay.

When Delphi offered to go with the boys, Albus mouthed a thank you at her, and she smiled.

Scene Fifteen

There was a lot I liked about this scene, and some things I was uncertain about. My main issue was that Ron and Ginny don’t feel like brother and sister. They’ve connected with their respective on stage partners, but not with each other so much yet.

Thomas was really doing well in this scene. He and Rakie were kind of holding it together and driving it along. His bit about the trolls going to a party was really well done, and I loved Rakie’s line about not being Cornelius Fudge. She really does have a lot of authority, and is very sensible and level-headed as Hermione. I just love that quality about her.

The Polyjuice Sequence (Scenes Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, and Nineteen)

Samuel is already delivering on Scorpius’s disgust about fish. It took Anthony ages to reach that level. I love it.

Annabel did a little bit of Sam’s ringing/alarm clock noise that he used to make when he would transform. It was just a subtle little thing, but it felt like a tiny tribute to the second hand embarrassment of watching Sam and Anthony do that scene. I appreciated it.

Jamie and Thomas completely nailed their transformations, and got a round of applause for it. Their pain and yelling was great.

I also think that Jamie and Thomas both did really well with capturing Scorpius and Albus. Jamie had all of Scorpius’s confidence, and Thomas was just so awkward at times. When I was watching Thomas, I felt like I was getting a flash of how Theo’s Albus will be when he has more confidence.

Rakie was really late into Scene Seventeen, and they had to wait for her for a while.

The line about the Prime Minister has definitely been changed to ‘she’ now. Nicola always said she, but Noma never did, however Rakie definitely went for she.

Draco and Ginny yelling at each other was really good. I was really happy with how they did that.

James is heartbreaking with the ‘he’s my sole heir’ line. He broke himself off even before he’d started the word heir, and he just looked down and finished the line. He really does look so much like Lucius, and you can sense the ‘every inch his father’, but at the same time, the fundamentals of that line are so different from how his father would have been. In the script that is the line where Draco is most closely compared to Lucius, but onstage it’s one of the lines where he’s furthest from him in terms of attitude.

During the part where they’re trying to hide outside Hermione’s office, I heard a lot more of the offstage dialogue than I usually do. They really paused to let that be heard which was cool. I liked hearing the details of that conversation. I don’t think I’ve ever heard them before.

Thomas’s baby or a holiday section had me in physical pain from laughing so hard. The comedy was very physical, more so than how Paul played it.

After the first kiss, Albus was just pulling the most disgusted face and wriggling his tongue around like he was trying to get rid of an awful taste.

When Hermione was trying to get into her office, she kept reaching in, and Albus would bat her hand away, then she’d come from another angle, and Albus would bat it away again.

The baby or a holiday line was said with Albus kind of hugging Hermione awkwardly from behind, and kissing up and down her arm and across her neck. Apparently that’s what he thinks of as affection.

The really cool thing about how this scene was played was that it was definitely Albus doing it. There was no confusion for me at all between Albus and Ron, but sometimes when Paul used to do the scene, I would forget it was Albus doing all those things. It’s great having the really distinct separation.

I thought Jamie was absolutely great as Scorpius. In fact, I thought all the adults were really wonderful in this scene. This was one of my favourite scenes of the night. When they were going through the books on the shelves they seemed to be having so much fun, and there were moments where Jamie just really palpably owned the confidence that Samuel has.

I am relieved to say that the answer to the first riddle is now delivered in a way that actually makes sense to me. I no longer have to cringe every single time we reach that line.

At one point one of the books didn’t come out on cue, and then Theo started to go too early for the bit where Albus is briefly spat out of the bookcase then sucked back in. Thankfully he managed to wriggle back in without anyone (apart from me apparently) noticing.

Samuel brought as much to the end of this scene as Anthony always has, which was just really exciting. When he plucked the book off the shelf he sort of punched the air and cheered, and he was just really excitable, owning the stage when he was out there alone. He’s really exceptional.

I felt a real genuine emotion and relief from the actors during the line ‘only just begun and it’s almost half-killed us’. All three of them were really happy at that moment. They survived Act One! Only just, but they did survive it. And the only way is up.

* 

Act Two

Scene One

I really quite like the new Petunia. I haven’t seen a lot of her yet, but I think she’s good!

I absolutely loved how Jamie played this dream. He made it so Harry was just nodding off on the stairs, rather than that he was in physical pain and discomfort. Then when the time came for him to look at his younger self, he didn’t seem to jerk awake, he just rose exactly like he was sleepwalking and turned to look. It made so much more sense to me that way.

Scene Three

The new cast aren’t yet one hundred percent comfortable with the Floo Powder transitions. They haven’t quite got the nimble timing of the original cast yet. But in a way that’s actually quite nice, because Floo travel is a pretty awkward and uncomfortable thing anyway.

Ron came up from the kitchens with a half-eaten apple, which was pretty entertaining. I don’t remember Paul ever coming on with food, but maybe he did and I never noticed!

I absolutely loved the animosity between Ron and Draco as they glared at each other across the table in this scene. That was the moment that showed me the chemistry between them. They’re going to be great.

Scene Four

There was a truly sweet little moment with Theo and Annabel at the beginning of the Expelliarmus scene. As they ran on, they went to the back of the stage, and it looked like they had a little moment of interaction before they came forward to start the actual scene itself. It felt like Annabel was giving Theo some confidence, and I was wondering whether maybe the Expelliarmus trick hadn’t worked during rehearsals that day or something. It worked perfectly of course on the night, and they both looked incredibly pleased with themselves.

Annabel gave Theo a little sort of nose boop thing after the second Expelliarmus. She also did a silly little jazz hands thing when she said ‘Great. Wizzo!’, and then Samuel copied the jazz hands when he asked ‘What’s wizzo?’

Scorpius’s level of excitement and over-enthusiasm when he said he’d found a way through to the school was adorable and very funny. And when no one reacted he just sort of deflated and started checking that the plan really would work.

Delphi apologised to Scorpius that Albus had picked her. She glanced at him and gave him a little apologetic wave, and he was all ‘fine, fine’ while looking slightly mutinous.

One of my favourite Anthony lines was the ‘second point, more significant point’, and Samuel absolutely nailed that one. He just spat it at Delphi, and it was great.

Annabel added in a little bit of a line in this scene. She said something like ‘I don’t think I’m smart enough to pretend to be a student’, just a little self-deprecating twist on the line that Esther definitely didn’t ever do, and that isn’t in the script. I find it fascinating that there are still adjustments being made to the script and to the tracks.

Scorpius kind of leant in to Albus for the ‘pale and red’ line, and was all conspiratorial about it. Also he did this sort of circling gesture to his own face, and he seemed genuinely concerned for Albus’s well-being. He wasn’t teasing Albus at all, he was worried at the extraordinary colour he’d gone.

Theo put his arm round Samuel as they ran off after this scene. That was a perfect example of their unnecessary hugging.

Scene Five

This was one of just a handful of scenes where I really missed Jamie P. Jamie’s searching for the boys just didn’t convince me. He didn’t seem terrified enough, and there was no variation in how he called their names.

Nuno was great of course, although there was some hesitation before Bane came on, and I wondered if Bane’s back legs weren’t ready or something. But I’m glad Nuno’s staying. He’s the movement captain, and every time he was onstage I felt a confidence in the cast. I think all the originals are doing a great job of encouraging and inspiring their new cast mates.

Scene Six

This was really beautiful. I wondered if it might be, because this is the first time the two boys have really been to Hogwarts. They have to say these lines, and they’re finally there, onstage, living the magic. It must have been a powerful moment, and I could see the pure wonder on Samuel’s face, and Theo’s too.

There was so much joy in how Samuel delivered this speech. He was completely wonderful.

I’m not sure how convincing it was though, Scorpius saying he was scared, when he was so clearly just confident and excitable. But at the same time, the internalisation of feelings seems to be one of the hallmarks of Samuel’s Scorpius, so I feel like we probably don’t see half of what he’s really feeling inside.

I was mildly terrified the boys weren’t going to get to their marks. They hung around in the middle of the stage for so much longer than Anthony or Sam ever did. But they made it, and the Time-Turner effect worked perfectly, much to my relief.

One cute little thing, I noticed that Samuel kept puffing his cheeks out, and it looked like he was blowing on the Time-Turner to make it spin. I’m not really sure what he doing. I never saw Anthony or James doing that. Maybe it was just Scorpius doing terrified deep breathing or something.

Scene Seven

The wilder members of the original cast are now positioned together, side by side, right in the middle of the crowd for the first task scene. Rosemary and Mackley. A potent combination. And boy did they whip the new cast up into a frenzy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a wild first task scene. It was carnage.

Josh came shoving through the crowd to give Mackley a massive hug before going to stand with the Slytherins, Mackley kept telling Rosemary off for being too over-excited, and Mackley shouted at Fleur to say he wanted to give her a Hufflepuff hug. He’s really embracing his new role, bless him.

The boys came up with their own new chant, to replace the ‘go go Krazy Krum’. The chant now goes: “I love Krum, you love Krum, Krum is the one for everyone!’ Which was awkward, nerdy, embarrassing, and delightful all in equal measure. I’m so glad they’re getting into this thing properly and making it their own.

It really is difficult to give you any notes on Theo and Samuel when the rest of the crowd were being so raucous. I’m sorry I don’t have more observations about this scene.

The cutest moment of the night, our first glimpse into what is sure to be an absolutely delightful Malfoy relationship, was when Scorpius hung back as everyone was rushing to get Albus to the hospital wing, simply so he could walk side by side with his dad. It was just the tiniest detail, but so sweet. I’m anticipating the Malfoy hug tonight getting the biggest round of applause ever.

Scene Eight

I mentioned earlier how Jamie stands up a lot to talk to people, and this was one of those scenes. Both when he was addressing Albus and when he was chatting to Dumbledore. He stands straight backed and authoritative and looks at people when he’s talking to them, or wants to intimidate them I suppose.

When Albus was just waking up, and he mumbled ‘dad…’, Harry immediately went to his side and started comforting him. Jamie P used to do this sort of ‘hold on a second’ gesture in Albus’s direction, but none of that with new Jamie. He started stroking Albus’s hair, and rubbing his arm, and touching his forehead to check he was okay. As a result, when Theo sat up, his hair was an absolute fluffy mess. It was such a classic Albus hair moment.

This was absolutely Theo’s best scene. I don’t know if it was having Jamie reassure him at the start that did it? But he loosened up considerably, and there were some really nice lines where Albus shone through. For example, ‘We decided we didn’t want to come to school. We thought we could start again – in the Muggle world – we discovered we were wrong’.

A truly adorable thing, Harry broke off a piece of chocolate for himself, then handed Albus the entirety of the rest of the bar, instead of breaking Albus a bit and putting the rest back in his pocket. Harry really couldn’t care less about Ginny’s sugar ban in that moment.

Theo’s other great line was ‘you can’t make me go into Gryffindor! I’m Slytherin!’ I think it was @bounding-heart who’s been talking about how Theo is really good at the dramatic moments, which is true! You can see at those points how he’s really giving everything.

Scene Nine

Thomas in this timeline looks really cool, with the slicked back hair and restrained clothing. I really enjoyed him.

One of my observations was that all of this cast seemed really good at the second timeline. I wonder if they’ve just done this section more than any of the rest? I felt they achieved a new level of confidence. For example, Jamie’s Harry fired up and started to get more angry, Emma had some great moments, I loved Rakie (although opinions about her in this bit seem to differ wildly), and Samuel and Theo were great.

On the stairs, somehow Theo and Jamie stayed right at the bottom of the right hand set of stairs, so Samuel had to get all the way to the top of the left hand staircase before they were in view.

Samuel played this bit on the stairs with as much panache as Anthony or James. He stood and held Harry’s gaze for the longest time, and then he went and curled up in a miserable little heap to listen to the McGonagall scene.

Scene Ten

This was the scene where we started to see bits of angry Harry from Jamie. He was slowly firing up, and really exerting his authority over McGonagall.

I also really loved Emma in this scene. She was great in sort of scolding Harry for what he said to McGonagall. She seems to be very good at telling him off, cause there was another great moment of that later on.

Scene Eleven

I’m not entirely sure why some other people I’ve talked to didn’t really get Rakie in this scene. I thought she was really good! She doesn’t have the level of bitter brokenness that either Noma or Nicola brought, but she was still sort of twisted and unhappy, and she had less of her shining authority. You could still tell that she wasn’t who she should be, and that she was a fragment of her former self.

Theo kept kicking his stool miles across the stage when he fell off it, and then had to walk to go and get it. The first time it went so far it hit the stage wall (down where Sam used to hide from Bathilda Bagshot).

I adored how shaky and unstable Hermione was in the final moments of this scene. There were so many pauses, and deep steadying breaths, and you could tell she was in so much pain talking about it. It was awful in the best way.

The Staircase Ballet

Someone told me they thought something was amiss in this scene, but I personally didn’t notice anything! Maybe I was too absorbed in Samuel.

The boys were definitely copying some Sam and Anthony things in this scene, for example Theo did the wiping of Albus’s eyes that Sam always used to do.

The part where the boys meet at the top of the stairs was awful. Scorpius looked like he was desperate to say something , anything, and Albus looked the same. They were just staring at each other with this desperation, not knowing what to do, until Albus walked away because he had to.

And when the boys were facing each other at the end of the scene, Scorpius started walking down the stairs right away, like he simply couldn’t face having to look at Albus any longer. He was completely heartbroken.

Scene Thirteen

My absolute favourite Emma line of the night – ‘Saved by the door’. Poppy always said this like she was referring to Ginny, like Ginny was being saved by the conversation. With Emma it was absolutely a threat to Harry. She glared at him and said it in the most ‘we will talk about this later’ voice. It was amazing. Really brilliant.

James was incredible in this scene. When Harry asked if he was sure Scorpius was his he really slowly and menacingly drew his wand, and he told Harry to take it back in a voice of menacing calm, with seething anger bubbling away underneath. It was so much more serious and threatening than the way Alex was playing it by the end.

The duel was pretty great. James’s timing on the Rictumsempra chair block was absolutely spot on, better than I ever saw Alex do it.

There was only one thing amiss in this scene, and that was Jamie’s Flipendo. I imagine he hasn’t been cleared to do it out of rehearsals yet, because there was no attempt to flip him, and it didn’t feel like there were any mistakes or confusions there. I think they just decided not to do it. I’ve seen Jamie P take some pretty hard landings on that one, and I imagine they had no desire to break Jamie’s ankles on his first show out. Definitely a sensible decision to leave it out, but I hope it’s back in soon!

Emma’s re-entry to the room was really great. She absolutely nailed her bits in this scene.

Scene Fourteen

Delphi was running away up the staircases when Scorpius found her. I’m not sure why she was sneaking around, and she didn’t seem unhappy to be found, but it also seemed like she hadn’t been looking that hard for Scorpius.

This was a really great scene between Delphi and Scorpius. Some really cute, funny moments. For example when Polly walked past, Delphi dived headfirst for cover, and Scorpius sat down next to her and sort of crossed his legs, almost resting them on top of her back so he was using her as a footrest in an attempt to hide her. It was so awkward and ridiculous and perfect.

The ‘sounds like he’s found a shoulder to cry on’ was really really bitter. There was so much emotion in that.

I wondered if Samuel might rename Scorpius’s invisible friend, but nope, he’s still Hector.

At the end of the scene Delphi smiled at Scorpius, then ran off up the stairs, and looked back once again to smile at him. There wasn’t the sinister twist that Esther used to give that moment. She was just being nice.

Scorpius didn’t run off at the end of this scene, he just sat in a little huddle on the stairs, presumably trying to mull things over and decide what he wanted to do.

Scene Fifteen

James kept Alex’s delighted little smile at the news that Harry does most of the cooking!

There was just the one mistake in this scene that I noticed – James skipped ‘Maybe the black cloud Bane saw was Albus’s loneliness. His pain. His hatred,’ and went straight for ‘Don’t lose the boy,’ otherwise he was really great and I enjoyed the scene immensely.

The Library Scene

Why is it that every scene with Samuel in, I want my first bullet point to be ‘holy shit Samuel Blenkin’? Because that’s basically my reaction to him. Not a very constructive reaction though, so I’ll try to do better!

Scorpius and Albus were sitting quite far apart in this scene, like Scorpius didn’t dare get too close to Albus in case he frightened him off or something.

Poor Scorpius was really really heartbroken by the loss of Rose in this timeline. I always thought it was sad when Anthony did it, but Samuel makes so much of the crush, that it was just devastating.

One of the times the boys were shushed, Theo threw a book at Samuel, and they both started pretending to study really hard. It was hilarious, cause Samuel was fumbling to get the book open, and Theo was rustling with his papers, and you could see how fast Samuel’s eyes were going, like Scorpius thought that the faster he pretended to read, the more believable the charade would be.

The wrestling was pretty great. I thought it might be, but yeah. They fought over that Time-Turner for ages. None of the whole, giving it a gentle tug one way then the other and then letting Albus have it. This was a proper fight. No floor pinning though.

The problem with Albus being so nerdy and awkward is that the line ‘I wasn’t a loser before I met you!’ just really didn’t work. Poor kid.

God I want to do it again! Okay I’m going to give in to temptation. Samuel. Fucking. Blenkin. Oh my god. That speech.

I was sitting in Row C in the stalls, so close enough to see the detail, and you could see the tears welling up in his eyes. He almost made me cry. It was incredible. When he was talking about his mum he was just slowly breaking apart. All the confidence and all the walls were shattering and you saw through to the inner Scorpius who was struggling and in so much pain. Completely heartbreaking.

It’s fascinating how different this speech felt from Anthony’s or James’s. You felt in their speeches that they were dealing with Astoria’s death, that they had sort of come to terms in a way, and that they were bringing her up to make a point. But with Samuel it just wasn’t like that. It was like all this raw, unprocessed emotion was coming through for the first time in a wave, like he’d never said any of this to anyone before, and it was awful. It made me realise just how little time Scorpius actually gets in the rest of the script to speak about his mum and deal with her loss. Draco talks about Astoria a lot, but Scorpius doesn’t, and I just want him to have chance to talk about her. I can’t help but think there’s going to be a painful lack of resolution to the way Samuel plays Scorpius.

Theo was great in this scene. When Albus was talking about how the cloak made avoiding bullies easier in particular. That was a beautiful little moment and there were a couple of others too.

Samuel sat sideways on the chair when they were chatting through the apology, so he ended up facing Albus most of the time.

The bit about Scorpius being the son of Voldemort was the bit that nearly shattered my heart. The two boys had such awful reactions around that line. Scorpius had pain and shock and resentment, like he hadn’t realised they thought that, and Albus seemed to want to try and reassure him. I think that was the bit where Scorpius had to start wiping away his tears.

Scorpius’s ‘as apologies go’ was hilarious. He was trying to stop Albus all the way through Albus’s little preamble, sort of waving his hand in a ‘hello, you can stop now’ motion, and eventually he just got sick of it and interrupted with so much exasperation, but fond exasperation.

The hug was cute. Samuel still didn’t hug back. Like I say, the Scorpius initiated hugs are going to be great. I don’t think Albus will be able to resist returning the hug.

Scorpius sounded amazed at how brilliant Albus’s strategy was. He was genuinely impressed and delighted by it.

Scene Seventeen

This was where the four days of tech rehearsals showed. They wheeled the staircases on in perfect symmetry. Unfortunately, they were symmetrically aligned far too close to the little decal bits on the columns at the edge of the wings. As the staircases came out, there was a big bang, and on one side the decal came right off, on the other it ended up hanging off the wall. Super awkward.

But this scene itself was pretty amazing. One of my favourite Romione moments ever (I’m aware this is controversial and that other people hated this scene).

It was flirty and awkward, and their reactions to touching hands were to die for. It wasn’t stiff like Noma and Paul’s version. It was almost a little giggly, and there was a moment where Rakie looked like she was about to melt. I really loved it.

Scene Eighteen

Just the one note here really. James’s ‘what on earth would they be doing there?’ got as big a laugh as Alex’s ever did. Nice work.

Scene Nineteen

Samuel totally nailed the ‘Engorgimpressed line’. He didn’t look ashamed by it either, but Albus looked like he wanted to sink into the floor with embarrassment on his behalf. He shook his head and turned away, and only then did Scorpius seem to consider that that was the worst joke ever.

There was something about the way Scorpius said ‘people they loved’ and pointed right at Albus. Lovely little Scorbus moment.

April Hughes as Moaning Myrtle was simply incredible. On Sunday I said that no one could ever beat Annabel’s performance, but boy is April having a go. She was flirty and a little bit gross, and just wonderful. She growled at Scorpius and pretended to bit him at one point, and she was so desperate for Harry. Just amazing. If that’s her baseline performance, she’s going to be a show stealer every single night pretty soon.

She looked at both boys when she was talking about the love incantations in the bathroom. Some of her bits of crying were just mocking rather than real tears. She just seemed really delighted to have drama back in her bathroom again. Also, her voice was completely spot on. It was a little more nasal than Annabel’s, thinner and sort of reedy, a little closer to how Myrtle’s voice is in the films (although Annabel was already doing an amazing job with that), and just all the flirtation was ramped up so much. The ‘or the equivalent for ghosts’ line got a massive laugh, cause she left a long gap after ‘cross my heart and hope to die’ in which she seemed to consider the plausibility of this. She was really just great. I could watch her do that scene over and over again.

Samuel’s ‘then I’m entirely ready’ was about as ridiculous as you might expect.

One of the best Myrtle moments was when Harry asked her what trinket the boys were using, and she beckoned him in really close and breathed ‘I think it was a secret’, and he just looked so disgusted with her. Completely beautiful.

Scene Twenty

Mackley is still on the wires as double Scorpius (I presume they haven’t trained Henry properly yet), and he did his waving at Cedric just the way he did on Sunday.

A warning to anyone who wins Friday Forty, Samuel is not even a little bit restrained in the lake. If you are anywhere near the middle of Row AA you will get wet. Bring brollies.

Scorpius’s shock at Harry Potter’s death was wonderful. He was completely horrified.

When Scorpius was encountering the Dementors he was doing his muttering again. It looked like he was going ‘no no no no no, stop’ over and over again as they came up to him, but he just had no idea what to do to get away, until eventually he did manage to get past them.

Final general observations

The play feels sort of bare at the moment, and lacking in rich, vivid detail. But of course that’s just because the cast is so new. The old cast had been doing it for over a year when we last saw them. It will fill out and improve.

The new cast do the show really slowly. They added ten minutes to Part One so I missed my train (plan accordingly). We heard Jack and Sonia chatting about it at the back of the theatre on the way out, how they started out very slow then sped up towards the end. Their pacing (which I actually really enjoyed, I savoured everything more at the slower speed), was inconsistent, and I’m sure it will improve. It sounded like there were going to be lots of notes. I think Sunday will probably a rehearsal day. I imagine the experience of the audiences next week will be vastly different to those of us going this week. It’ll be fascinating to see.

Personally after tonight I’m going to wait until June to see the play again. A whole month for the cast to get into it, relax, and feel comfortable. But really my overall impression was hugely positive. I love the new feel, and all the new little touches. I’m so so excited for Part Two (especially how amazing Samuel’s Voldy timeline will be). It really isn’t the same show (I actually forgot there were badges to pick up on the way out; it was a surprise to me), but we’ll get used to it, and it’s certainly different and refreshing. I, for one, am excited. I can’t wait to hear what others thing when they go in the coming days and weeks! I hope you enjoy yourselves as much as I did.

[chorddebtor0-blog]

Projecting all the offseason moves for the Chicago Bears

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears offseason is upon us and because of that, it’s time to let the imagination fly. Even so, this is a team that is currently tight against the cap and will still have more movement before they can spend with any sort of impact, if that is indeed the plan.

There’s plenty that can happen in an offseason, so I’m going to do my best to project a combination of what I think general manager Ryan Pace would do and what I would do as well.

Without further ado, let’s jump into this head first.

Current Cap Space: $18.146 million

This includes every currently announced cut and I also projected Cody Parkey’s cut in here as well, since there will be no additional cap penalties in 2019 because of the June 1st designation. This also includes the $2.5 million cap credit from Mike Glennon’s 2018 offset language.

Cap Savers: (+$12.751 million)

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Restructure Khalil Mack. (+$8.396 million)

By converting Mack’s $11.3 million base salary into a signing bonus, it would allow the Bears to save a maximum of $8.3 million. That would include a sixth year minimum salary and spreading the remaining dead cap over a five-year period, which would start this year.

Extend Chase Daniel (+$2.33 million)

By giving Daniel a two year extension (two years, $8 million), the team could also turn around and convert his $4 million base salary into a signing bonus. After a minimum salary benefit and the proration of the bonus, it would allow them to save around $2.33 million in 2019.

Trade Jordan Howard (+$1.535 million after rule of 51)

This is a move the Bears should only make after finding his replacement(s). I’m projecting that the Bears will trade Howard and a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for their fourth round comp pick (#132). This saves money and makes the most sense for both sides if Pace feels comfortable with the return.

Notes: Converting Mack’s base salary into a bonus is somewhat of a risk, but even an extra $2 million in dead space over the next five years isn’t going to cripple them, especially when the cap has continued to rise by $10-$12 million each year.

Total Cap Space: $30.38 million

Internal Free Agents (8)

2019 MOCK FREE AGENCY

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

CB Bryce Callahan (Four years, $26 million with $12 million guaranteed) $4.75 million hit (Comp: Bobby McCain)

WR Josh Bellamy (Two years, $3.5 million with $1.1M guaranteed) $1.5 million hit (Comp: Sherrick McManis)

G Bryan Witzmann (Two years, $3 million with $600,000 guaranteed) $1.25 million hit (Comp: Eric Kush)

LS Patrick Scales (Three years, $3.5 million with $1.25M guaranteed) $1 million hit (Comp: Mike Windt)

TE Ben Braunecker (One year, $900,00 with $150,000 guaranteed) $900,000 hit (Comp: Daniel Brown)

S DeAndre Houston-Carson (One year, $700,000) $700,000 hit

DL Roy Robertson-Harris (one year, $650,000 (ERFA) $650,000 hit

RT Rashaad Coward (one year, $650,000) (ERFA) $650,000 hit

Notes: This is going to be an interesting group to follow. It’s quite possible that the Bears could end up retaining both Adrian Amos and Callahan after hitting the market, especially with how packed both markets are at their respective positions. The Bears have been vocal about wanting to retain both, and judging by the lack of reported buzz from both players at the combine, this seems more and more realistic. Even so, I’m still going to make this a safer projection and assume that just one of the two comes back.

Total Spent (after the rule of 51): (-$6.87 million)

Current Cap Space: $23.567 million

Primary Outside Free Agents (6)

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

OLB Terrell Suggs (Two years, $12 million with $5.5 million guaranteed) $5.5 million hit (Comp: Cam Wake)

RB T.J. Yeldon (Three years, $12 million with $6 million guaranteed) $3 million hit (Comp: Isaiah Crowell)

DB Brian Poole (Three years, $10.5 million with $4 million guaranteed) $2.5 million hit (Comp: Terrance Mitchell)

CB P.J. Williams (One year, $1.5 million with $500,000 guaranteed) $1.5 million hit (Comp: Marcus Cooper)

K Kai Forbath (One year, $1 million with $200K guaranteed) $1 million hit

WR De’Anthony Thomas (One year, $900,000 $150,000 guaranteed) $900,000 million hit

Notes: This isn’t going to be some extravagant offseason for the team like in previous years. They don’t have the resources to go out and sign multiple contracts in the $8-$10 million range, but that’s alright. Their holes will be minimal and the focus should be more about finding missing pieces in the short-term that can help push them team closer to a Super Bowl. It’s possible the Bears could do better at safety than Poole, but I have a feeling Pagano will want versatility, which the former Falcon brings. There’s also “better” options than Yeldon at running back, but stylistically, he fits like a glove. Maybe they’ll shell out $7 million per year for someone like Tevin Coleman, but I’ll keep my projection more conservative for the time being.

Total Spent (After rule of 51): (-$10.98 million)

Current Cap Space: $12.587 million

Extensions: (-$3 million)

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Notes: At this point, a Whitehair extension has not only been widely speculation by names like Adam Jahns and Biggs, but it seems like a foregone conclusion this summer. It’s a no-brainer and speaks to Pace’s ability to land talent out of the first round.

Current Cap Space: $9.587 million

Draft Class (-$2.5 million)

2019 MOCK DRAFT

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

3rd (#87): RB Miles Sanders (Penn St)

This is a running back class that simply didn’t test very well as a whole, but even so, there’s not a lot of first round talent, if any in this class. This should be a good thing for the Bears. Sanders is someone who didn’t originally pop to me on film, but the more and more I watched him, the more attractive he was. He’s a one-year starter with minimal miles. He doesn’t have a ton of long speed and may dance too much behind the line, but he has all the physical makings of a primary back in Nagy’s offense.

4th (#126): DB Amani Hooker (Iowa)

Much like the Poole signing, I expect the Bears to look for versatile options in the defensive backfield. Hooker can play in the nickel, either boundary spot or at strong safety. He’s someone that was used in multiple ways at Iowa and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to trust a good friend of mine who covers that team. He raves about Hooker and it’s easy to see why. Could be a plug and play starter from day one, but the Bears won’t need him to be.

4th (#132): TE Foster Moreau (LSU) Projected Trade with Buffalo

I’ve kicked a few different tight ends around at this pick. My other choice would have been Texas A&M product Jace Sternberger, but I find it hard to believe he’ll be sitting there in the late fourth, so enter Moreau. He’s not a crazy athletic kid, but he’s big, has steady hands and is an outstanding blocker. The Bears have invested heavy at the position, but this may be a needed addition.

5th (#162): WR Penny Hart (Georgia St)

Depending on who you talk to, receiver is either a bigger need than meets the eye or receiver is not a worry at all. I’m more in the middle. I don’t think they need to go out and spent big money or use a high pick, but finding Taylor Gabriel’s eventual replacement in the fifth-round wouldn’t be bad. Hart is smaller, but he’s very quick and could be used perfectly in Nagy’s offense.

7th (#222): K Matt Gay (Utah)

The Bears are likely to draft a kicker, seeing as how they have a pair of seventh round picks. Right now, the two kickers on the roster are Redford Jones and Chris Blewitt. Neither have NFL experience. Enter Gay, who has one hell of a leg.

7th (#238): OG Alex Bars (Notre Dame)

This pick is all about value and development. Kyle Long restructured his deal to help the team for a year, but has over a $9 million cap hit in 2020. Bars has experience with Harry Hiestand and could be a nice developmental pick or depth at worst.

Total Remaining Cap Space: $7.087 million

Offensive Depth Chart

QB Trubisky/Daniel

RB Yeldon/Sanders/Cohen/Mizzell

WR1 Robinson/Bellamy

WR2 Gabriel/Wims

WR3 Miller/Thomas/Hart

TE Burton/Shaheen/Moreau/Braunecker

RT Massie/Coward

RG Long/Witzmann

C Whitehair

LG Daniels/Bars

LT Leno/Sowell

Defensive Depth Chart

DE Hicks/Bullard

NT Goldman

DE Nichols/Robertson-Harris

OLB Mack/Suggs/Fitts

ILB Smith/Kwiatkoski

ILB Trevathan/Iggy

OLB Floyd/Irving

CB1 Fuller/Hooker/Williams

CB2 Amukamara/Toliver

SS Poole/Bush/Hooker

FS Jackson/Houston-Carson

NCB Callahan/McManis

Special Teams Depth Chart

K Gay/Jones/Forbath

P UDFA/UDFA

KR Thomas/Cohen

PR Cohen/Thomas

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/3/7/18252545/projecting-chicago-bears-mock-draft-free-agency-callahan-amos-suggs-mack-yeldon-bellamy-whitehair