#but yeah i guessi can say it's a break

[nickeldalm]

Been a while since my last post. Have Victor

[bladekindeyewear]

Bloggin’ thru new Homestuck^2 bonus, The Influencers part 2.  Kinda got my gears ground during part 1, but that largely wasn’t this sideplot’s fault, so I should still be able to enjoy it.

Reminder, bonus update blogging is always light on detail because I don’t wanna spoil all the paid content, but I’ll give the gist of my reactions and go into anything plot or character related that helps understand the main story, as well as giving you a real top-down view of “what happens” so you know what it’s about and whether or not to invest in looking yourself.  (And I don’t necessarily have to give you anything that isn’t main-plot-relevant.)

So where are they going to follow the main party?  They shouldn’t need to record the funeral I’d assume, because that already would have been televised (and awful for Jane’s PR)...  *click*

9/28/2020 - The Influencers, Part 2

TEACHER: Time’s a-ticking. TEACHER: The next plot point is yours to change, if you want it. Don’t you feel it calling to you?

Yeah, just hanging a lampshade on this whole parallel sideplot I guess.

> (==>)

Whatever it is, Imode feels it. A tiny string of relevance spooling out from their belly. They want to follow it.

That’s pretty Lighty and/or Seery.  I’ve used that terminology to describe the pull of Light and its “relevance” connotations even since the only fanfic I’ve ever written, back in 2011 during Homestuck’s run, and it’s obvious enough terminology that I think Rose later mentioned it somewhere like in the Epilogues.  Are these three kids perhaps going to get a fourth, and become their own session by the end of this like Harry, Vrissy, Tavros and Yiffy might?

They can’t stop picturing their friend, Harry Anderson, arrested or tortured or worse. They’re not sure what there is to be done to stop this chain of events, but they’re sure as shit gonna find out.

(”They” is almost certainly referring to Imode here, not all three, since Imode uses they/them.)

Alright, self-aggrandizing used for good.  Show off the sort of thing that Vriska could have accomplished if she actually used her talents for her team for once.  (Besides, like, the similar thing she did just recently by making a scene.)

> (==>)

Imode is the first to choose pursuing this path over bootlicking, and the others are sure to follow.

> (==>)

Yup, Avril and Silas follow.  (Had to be reminded of ALL of their names, it’s been months since their single named appearance.)

> (==>)

Crockercopters overhead but none taking note yet, just ominous setdressing

> (==>)

IMODE: lemme take a ⏱️ to 😮‍💨 before we figure out where to go next. AVRIL: wait don't you know? IMODE: Huh? AVRIL: we were following YOU this whole time.

Oh, that answers the first question I asked.  They have NO clue where they’re going.  Let’s see if they luck out and find the clock tower.

IMODE: You 👂 what he said about the next step 📞 to us, same as i did. Don't you feel it pulling at you?

Literal pull? Powers? Future player?  --All baseless speculation of course.

SILAS: Woah are you seein’ this.

Vriska’s probably putting on her very public display now.  (This is a bonus so I’m skipping lots of banter and arguing.)

> (==>)

Oh, they just saw John flying up to the clock tower in his outfit.  And catching sight of him fly is rare celebrity gossip stuff so of course it’d stand out to them, apparently.  (Only one of them is athletic apparently, the other two are groaning at the prospect of more running.)

> (==>)

Avril always enjoys running, but there’s something else thumping along to the rhythm of the thuds of his feet and beat of his heart. He’d thought Imode was nuts for feeling it just a minute prior, but now he’s realized he isn’t deadweight, that he hasn’t fucked up someone’s life irrevocably, and it pushes him faster and faster as he tears ass toward the belltower.

(Did we know Avril was he/him before this?  Probably but if so I forgot.)

Okay, since we’re getting glimpses into each of their headspaces narratively that BOTH have had some oblique aspect references, I have to at least OPERATE on a guessy assumption that there’s a sort of classpect-for-each-of-them thing going here.

I’ve quoted both those whole paragraphs here... so what do I see?  This is going to be a bit tougher because I don’t care as much to remember these characters...

Imode had some Lighty-or-Seery language, and then could not stop picturing bad things happening to Harry, wanting to avert that chain of events.  So something of a Seer or Mage would make sense.  But given how easily Lighty stuff and the Understanding classes (or at least what we think those are) can be conflated, Mage of Light seems a bit of a premature jump.  Heck, I’m only saying Mage because a Seer of Light already occupies a starring role, and because her first act on that feeling was to jump after it herself and tell the others:

IMODE: Stay here and 👢👅 your way into fame if that's what you really want. IMODE: I’m ✈️. Follow me if you’re not 🐔💩.

--leading by example rather than directing the others into battle.  Only half-caring if they followed, willing to pursue it herself if necessary.  So, potentially more “Active”.

As for Avril... the word “heart” is mentioned there, sure, but the full context is “there’s something else thumping along to the rhythm of the thuds of his feet and beat of his heart”.  I’m inclined to think that the rhythm/beat references, especially the even footsteps and heartbeats hitting like a metronome, might be more tied to Time?  But if so, I don’t see anything class-related.  (Could also be Blood, and him thinking of what he owes in the last sentences could be reinforcing that?  Big question marks for now.)

> (==>)

Door to the belltower’s locked.  The kids figure John’s forgotten that his son can’t fly.

AVRIL: this is it, this is the thing we can help with! #feelinit #vibes IMODE: OK I'm excited that you believe me now, but what are you gonna even do? IMODE: use your big all-star 💪 to break down the 🚪?

--so they think they can “resolve a missing plot point” by getting the way into the clock tower open?  Is this going to be a theme or running joke of the Influencers sideplot, showing plotholes resolved in bonus content like how we finally saw how Gamzee’s body was relocated last time?  When I was explicitly mad about that?  (This seems like a much smaller one though.)

Apparently in HS^2 proper they remarked that the door SHOULD be locked, but Vriska just opened it anyway and wasn’t surprised it was unlocked, which she would’ve ascribed to her luck -- how the universe just makes way for her.  (And we’re literally seeing HOW the “universe” “made way” for her this way, through these Influencer kids.  Even though Vriska could have broken down the door in a second and it’s practically meaningless.)

> (==>)

Avril just has the key!

AVRIL: so like my photoshoots are like, #modernfashion #myworkout #urbexp IMODE: Yea, your 📸 are why we’re all in this mess. We know. Get to it. AVRIL: fair. ok well this is the urban exploration part. AVRIL: a lot of the public infrastructure buildings in the kingdom have the same weird, shitty deadbolts on them. AVRIL: its like they were mass-produced for ease of access or something. AVRIL: none of the deep crockergov stuff, but a lot of the kingdom maintenance buildings. AVRIL: so once you swipe one key, you got access to it all. AVRIL: that’s how i get a lot of my hard-to-get shots #tradesecrets #tellnoone

Hhhmmmmm.  So what does this tell us about his potential role?  Getting places you’re not supposed to is associated with the Thief, Rogue, Bard, and sometimes Knight classes... as well as the Time/Space aspects, or the Void and Breath aspects.  A Thief or Rogue of Time could do the trick, and fit with the rhythm paragraph earlier... whereas Space doesn’t have the same rhythm associations even if it is “places” he’s getting into for these shots.  And photography, snapshots still in time, is something Dave was also explicitly into.  Plus, this exploit he’s showcasing is specifically for older buildings, playing into history/archaeology from an urban perspective.

So, Time is looking like a safer and safer bet for him.

> (==>)

lock click

> (==>)

long-hair swoop, cheer

SILAS: Yeah, I’m tickled a near-disproportionate amount by the unlockin’ of a door, so I’m inclined to believe you were onto somethin’.

Still no real hints about Silas, yet.

AVRIL: ok so. we did it, right? #missioncomplete AVRIL: feels a little anticlimactic #tbh IMODE: idk, I think so? whatever I was feeling doesn't seem so immediate anymore. IMODE: I wonder if-

Okay, that’s some near-confirmation that Imode was LITERALLY FEELING the plot or some such.  We’ll probably end the Influencers sidestory eventually with at least solid GUESSES blatantly obvious for their potential Hero Roles or the like.

> (==>)

Ah, Vriska and the kids are coming-- and we get the Silas paragraph(s)!  Silas is green-themed with green text, and a session with a Time player has a good chance of having a Space player too, so let’s see if...

Silas doesn’t know what being spotted by the other kids might mean, metaphysically or logistically or legally. She’s not particularly pressed by that sort of thing. But this is a day that’s come with more introspecting than she’s used to having to endure in a year, so she's ready to get moving before it becomes an issue.

As Harry Anderson, Vrissy, Vriska, and Tavros proceed to have this conversation, Silas pushes to catch up with Avril’s pace. She’s not sure where they’re headed, and has no clue what all this means for her. She knows the step she’s taken isn’t one she’ll be able to backtrack from, but she’ll figure that out tomorrow. For now, one foot in front of the other.

That...

I mean there’s a lot of talk of time-FRAMES, from a lazy perspective, but just-pushing-forward-in-the-here-and-now is reasonably Spacey? ...hm.  I was excited for the Silas paragraph(s) but I don’t see any immediately-apparent pattern meant for us to discern classpect info here.  Maybe a female Page example (since we could use one), propelled along by events without knowing what’s going on at first, too early in her journey to have taken more than her first step up the gradual incline of her long-term potential?

I really don’t know I guess.

Anyway, that’s the end of the bonus upd8!  See ya in a while.

[miraculous-content]

Miraculous Season 2: Episodes 1-6 (review)

A few people requested that I talk about the episodes of Miraculous that have aired in France. For those who maybe watch the show in other languages, I’ll be putting it all under a “read more”.

I’ll make another post - also under a “read more” - if anyone wants me to elaborate on any of my opinions, so feel free to send asks if you so desire!

Episode 1 - The Collector

Compared to the opening episode of Season 1, this - in my opinion - is a vast improvement. All of the tiny plot details mesh together beautifully and combine into a great episode.

Highlights

- The reveal of Gabriel being The Papillon. You already know before the de-transformation, but just the slow build-up is beautiful. It’s also great seeing Nooroo again eVEN IF IT RIPS MY HEART OUT.

- Marinette and Master Fu’s conversation. More plot development and another look at the fox and bee miraculous! I like seeing them occasionally.

- Chat’s reactions to Gabriel possibly being The Papillon. My heart was absolutely breaking.  Also, Ladybug being supportive of Chat is A+ 10/10

- The fight scene is really good (a lot of the fight scenes in Miraculous are, honestly). The angles are really dramatic, and my favorite shot is when the camera is moving in a circle as they fight.

Lowlights

- I know this is kind of a nitpick, but it bothers me how Lila technically gets away with stealing the book from Adrien. I appreciate the character it took for Marinette to lie and say that she took the book for herself, and I know that Lila still technically got yelled at (just not about the book) and also had that whole episode where she was akumatized but, I dunno. The fact that Adrien nor Gabriel ever know who really stole the book irks me just a little. Anyone else agree, or is it just me?

Notes

-  I wonder if the camera in Gabriel’s room only captures video, or only takes pictures every couple seconds? I looked back on Volpina just to check (the images don’t line up with the original footage by I digress--), and I feel like they’d at least hear Adrien talking to Plagg or see Adrien talking to seemingly nothing?

...Unless they really do know that Adrien is Chat Noir... oh dear.

- I no longer know how to feel about Gabriel.

- The biggest plot twist of this episode for me is that Nathalie knows. I was not expecting that at all. It also changed my opinion of her a bit because, I remember seeing her in Origins, looking away from Adrien when he was thanking her. At first, I thought she was just trying not to show emotions, but now I’m not so sure. How much does she care about Adrien, really?

- THE TAIL???? IT COMES OFF??????????????

the other big plot twist

Episode 2 - Baddy Bear

The “Chloe redemption” begins, I suppose? I know a ton of people have been wanting this for a while. I’m more of a “I love Chloe but I hate Chloe” person; I love how over-the-top she can be, but she’s really obnoxious when they don’t take her all the way with it. The episode finds a bit of a middle-ground with that, where I like her half of the time and find her a bit irksome for the other half.

Highlights

- Adrien being stern with Chloe made me gasp. I had been waiting for this moment since Kung Food and it was so worth it. (I think the scene itself is also very nicely shot.)

- The Papillon relying on Chloe’s “natural cruelty” had me laughing so hard. The fact that they actually referenced the fact that Chloe has akumatized so many people was a super nice touch.

- I already liked the butler from the Antibug episode (one of my few highlights from that episode), but I like him even more here! He’s so patient and nice and AHHHH.

- The Adrienette. Oh sweet love square, the Adrienette. This episode nearly killed me. Adrien, you oblivious fool. Also, Marinette’s look of complete dead as Adrien compliments her macaroon was beautiful.

- Chloe trying her best to be nice was enjoyable to watch, and she actually has some cute lines later on, like when she was helping Ladybug (right as she pulls on Chat’s tail and right before she starts turning the umbrella).

Lowlights

- Completely personal preference, but any comparison between Chloe and Marinette irks me (maybe because it reminds me of The Evillustrator?). I know Alya was teasing Marinette, but I kinda twitched at that one line. I suppose it just feels like a really obvious joke that the show’s above at this point.

- Chloe’s ego gets a bit cringe-y near the end of the episode. Ladybug and Adrien brush her off, but I still think they could’ve toned it down just a little bit.

Notes

- Nice subtle “Chloe’s mother left” for the few seconds we see Chloe’s drawing memories. I wonder if she left on a business trip or if she left because the mayor is such a jerkface. I could understand either.

- The bear is cute and I want it. WHERE ARE THE “CHLOE’S BEAR” PLUSHES, ZAG???

- I’m glad that Chloe didn’t turn in one episode, especially because I do feel that she made progress. She did something nice for the sake of Adrien, and now she just has to do something nice because she wants to.

- I know that most people hate that Chat got put under someone else’s control, but it doesn’t bother me when it happens, so I don’t have anything to say about it.

- I’m a dork for size-changing so tiny butler had me dying.

Episode 3 - Audimatrix

The meta is so strong in this episode. Also, CHAT JUST WANTS HIS KISS.

Overall, honestly not my favorite. I think it might be because I was getting second-hand embarrassment. I don’t think the episode is bad though. It’s good!

Highlights

- Ladybug’s entrance. It’s awesome and you can see her inner Marinette as she lands.

- Chat has finally seen the kiss. That alone is worth its own point in the highlights.

- The animation seems a little more bouncy this episode. It’s nice.

- I enjoy Audimatrix’s design and the lengths she goes to just to get her story. The episode reaches a bit of a dark place and I think that’s cool.

- Alya and Marinette’s talk when Marinette returns. I could really feel the friendship between them.

Lowlights

- I don’t understand how Marinette could make the mistake with her babysitting being on the same day as the interview? It’d be one thing if Nadja wasn’t doing the interview, but she is, so shouldn’t Marinette seeing Nadja remind her immediately of the interview on the same day? Whether Ladybug or Marinette accepted first, I feel like even fumbly Marinette wouldn’t make this mistake?

- Going off of the last point, the babysitting subplot feels a little awkward here. It might be because the plots of the last two episodes felt so solid, but the subplot and main plot feel disconnected.

- The people helping Nadja’s show are really frustrating. I know they’re supposed to push Nadja to her limit so she gets akumatized, but they have to nail her for every little thing that goes wrong. I’m guessing that maybe Nadja has already tried and failed to get her own show or something, but it drives me a little crazy.

Notes

- “I love croquettes!” Chat is cute.

- This episode has a different feel than other episodes, likely due to the interview. It’s not bad, not good, just different.

- Ladybug’s “lucky vision” highlighting all the boxes had my brain reeling. So many boxes...

- I need more of Ladybug just pinning akuma down. That move she did was rad.

- I was actually uncomfortable the first time I saw this episode because I didn’t have subtitles, and it made it seem like Ladybug was the only cause of Nadja’s akumatization, which I thought was so wrong because Ladybug has every right to leave after being pressured so much. I’m glad that wasn’t the case.

Episode 4 - La Béfana

Can we all agree that Chat Noir and Ladybug singing together is cute? Yes? Okay, great. Speaking of great, this episode was pretty great too!

Highlights

- Some plot development with the charm that Tikki gives Marinette! It’s so cute that Marinette turned it into a necklace.

- Marinette’s grandmother is a really solid character. Her design and personality are both very nice, and having her related to Marinette gives her a bit of an advantage since a connection is already there.

- This episode avoided a lot of tropes that I’d been steeling myself up for. I was ready for the whole “Marinette thinks they’re planning a birthday party but they’re not” since she was building it up so much, but no, they were actually planning her party! In-between, I was expecting the “Gina doesn’t understand that Marinette is a grown-up now” thing to go on forever, but they kept it relatively short. Then, I was ready for the akumatization being because “Marinette lies and talks about the dentist but then Gina comes across the party and realizes it was all a lie”, but they avoided that too by having Marinette be honest.

- Another interesting akuma, this time with both a witch and candy theme! How fun, considering this episode was first aired around Halloween!

- Everyone rallying together just to protect Marinette was so sweet. Not that I thought they’d just leave her, but the fact that they’re all trying to help really helps show that pretty much everyone likes Marinette, which not all episodes portray well.

- Yet another great moment with The Papillon - seems to be a lot of them this season - with him having to say “please”. My sides started hurting with laughter.

- So, this is the second look of complete dead from Marinette’s end, yeah? The Adrienette this season has been awesome and this particular one presents a nice callback to Gamer (regardless of how I feel about that episode, I’m fine with the lucky charm making a return).

- The fact that Marinette actually made something out of the tiny “shirt” that Gina gives her is precious. Marinette is almost too pure, honestly.

Lowlights

- Even though I am glad that they avoided those tropes I mentioned earlier, the first at least is still there, and even though it’s only about a minute long, it feels a little awkward having this motorcycle-riding grandmother doing all these simplistic things with Marinette. I’m guessing the reason is because, back in Gina’s day, she probably wasn’t allowed to do much at the age of fourteen, so she’s just a little back in her own time, but... I don’t know. I’m not saying it doesn’t make sense, but it’s probably the least fun part of the episode.

- I know that Gina wanted to spend the whole day with Marinette and she’s very attached, but seeing her sulk that Marinette is going to this other birthday party feels a little off. I’m sure Marinette would’ve taken her if it wouldn’t’ve been weird for a grandmother to be mixed in with all these teens, but yeah.

Notes

- This is our MariChat episode, and it delivers! Chat wishing Marinette a happy birthday warms my heart.

- Actually, Chat in general has a lot of good moments in this episode!

Episode 5 - Riposte

They somehow fit all four sides of the love square within the first five episodes and I am 100% okay with that. We also get another new character in this one, which is once again fun because this was a great episode!

Highlights

- This is another episode where the action is just top notch, particularly with Adrien and Kagami fencing. Marinette’s look of awe as it ends sums up my feelings pretty well.

- I felt bad for laughing, but the slapstick with Armand D'Argencourt was hilarious.

- It would’ve been so easy to have Marinette give Adrien the point just because it’s Adrien, but I appreciate how they made her seem very genuine in her decision. I legitimately believe that she thought Adrien touched first.

- I enjoy Kagami as a character. Even though she’s the akuma for the episode, you do feel bad for her, and she’s never aggressive with the other characters in her civilian state. She takes her loss like a champ, even if it upsets her. In akuma form, it also intrigues me how she doesn’t go after Marinette, the one who made the call that Adrien won. She just wants her rematch, and the akuma side of her is the one that doesn’t care if it’s an unfair fight.

- The character moments in this were nice and solid. Even though Adrien is still playing his “just a friend” card with Marinette, we see a little more of how he feels about her in general, and we get to see Marinette express a bit of sadness that she’s still “just friends” with him (after that dance in episode 2, can’t blame her). Tikki also plays her typical supportive role, which is good because I feel that Tikki is vital to keeping Marinette grounded emotionally.

- The Ladrien in this episode, I am so weak. I’m always happy whenever they’re just complete love-struck dorks with each other, and the kisses had me squealing.

Lowlights

- This is an extreme nitpick, but when Ladybug is calling Chat Noir, she talks about him “keeping them waiting”. I’m pretty sure she knows that they can only listen to messages on their communicator after they’re transformed, and Riposte hasn’t even been around that long, so the fact that she seems confused/irked by the fact that Chat isn’t here yet is odd.

Notes

- I went frame-by-frame in case you guys were curious; Adrien does actually touch first. I saw his “weapon” bending before Kagami’s did.

Episode 6 - Robostus

Probably the most fascinating akumatization; who knew a robot could get akumatized? Also, I couldn’t even believe it when this episode aired because it’s like, I know I’ve had my lowlights here and there, but I’m very picky and I’d actually liked the first five episodes so far. And then, guess what? I like this one too!

Highlights

- Markov. Just Markov. This little robot is so cute, so endearing, and I love his motivation for wanting to be human.

- Everyone who's been following me for a while know that I didn’t like Gamer, and I’m very pleased that I have an episode now that I enjoy where Max gets some good screentime. He hasn’t changed much in terms of my least favorite to most favorite students, but he plays a nice role here.

- The comedy in this episode isn’t half-bad. I started snickering when the lamp had taken over the mayor’s office. Honestly, I think it would’ve done a better job as mayor anyway. Also, Marinette tricking Ms. Mendeleiev into letting her talk to Mr. Damocles.

- My mouth dropped open as Robostus completely shut down The Papillon’s lair and started firing missiles at him. It blew my mind that Robostus could even do that.

- Bringing the virus back to shut down Markov was such a nice choice for defeating him, especially as the lucky charm also had to play a role in things.

- We got more explanation for how the miraculous wishes would work, so yes! More plot please! That’s always fun!

Lowlights

- I wish they’d used a different way of showing that the computer was infected with a virus. Both me and my best friend are computer nerds and... yeah, it kind of irked both of us. It didn’t ruin anything and it does show what’s happening better than portraying it as an actual virus would, but still. Also, the style of it doesn’t feel like it fits with the show.

- The animation feels a bit more stilted this time around.The animation on Markov and the electronics are fine, but, well, they’re mechanical, so that kind of makes sense. The other characters seem to move a bit more stiffly than usual. In addition, Master Fu’s eyes in the final scenes aren’t staring at Marinette correctly at times, and it’s a little distracting.

- I recognize that the akuma seems to pick its own appearance and Markov naturally wouldn’t be very creative, but I wish they’d either picked different colors or given Markov a human-ish design to fit with his desires.

Notes

- Mr. Damocles and Ms. Mendeleiev are so salty about Markov and Max fixing the computer and it’s very amusing.

- I’m not sure how I feel about Max debating on what to do with Markov, considering that Max has already been possessed by an akuma. I imagine the point is that he’s afraid Markov is too emotionally unstable, but still.

- I wonder if the miraculous wish had something to do with Fu and the Guardian��s temple being destroyed?

Overall

This season so far has surpassed all of my expectations! It’s incredibly rare for me to have this many positive things to say about episodes that come right after another, which means that I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the season!

As for if I had to rank the episodes (this is a bit rough because they’re honestly so close)...

1. Riposte

2. Baddy Bear

3. Robostus

4. La Béfana

5. The Collector

6. Audimatrix