#cause that kinda sounds like foreshadowing to me

[blindhades]

i don't know if this is already said somewhere but

what was Eurylochus trying to say at the beginning of Puppeteer ???

[travisdermotts]

.

[tigersharktheautisticseawing]

WAIT GUYS FUCK I GOTTA TALK ABOUT THIS OR I'LL FUCKING DIE

(spoiler alert: this somehow grew from five talking point to almost 2000 words of Bad Trip symbolism, so buckle up, buttercup, cuz we goin' for a wild ride)

So, I'm rewatching Truth Seekers with a friend, and Moxie's Bad Trip and Blitzø's Bad Trip, and I just noticed some things (this is gonna be heavily Blitzø centered, so prepare for that)

Moxie's Bad Trip

In this, I specifically want to point to four things

So Blitz is very accurate throughout Moxxie's whole segment (read his pegging comments and "Because you my precious little bitchboy are tripping balls!"), but I want to point to one moment specifically

At 10:09 Moxie says

"Cause you're thoughtless and cruel and you'll end up alone!"

And at that point, at exactly 10:11, Blitz makes this face

Up until this point and from this point onward his eye on the mask part of his face is glowing red and undetailed, pupil not visible

This singular frame shows exactly how deep Moxxie hit Blitz with that comment, and foreshadows the fact that he has a massive phobia/obsession on the whole "dying alone" thing. Like, I want to scream, this is so beautifully done. Whoever thought of this frame in this context has my fullest respect

The second thing is what Moxxie says just before the first part of Blitzø's Bad Trip

At 9:02 Moxxie says

"Cause if you're here causing frustration, I'm torturing you in your hallucination!"

Now let's take a look "causing frustration" and "torturing you", because that's exactly what's happening here

In Moxxie's Bad Trip, the worst Blitzø does is call him a bitch/bitchboy and making some comments about the whole M&M pegging thing, but that's about it. It's mostly Moxxie screaming at Blitz and singing with him about becoming better

In Blitzø's Bad Trip, Moxxie brings up Blitz's worst insecurities, calls him basically stupid once, and kinda just rants what Blitz thinks about him

So the words "frustration" and "torturing" definitely fit the respective songs

The third thing is that the mask replaces Blitzø's scar

Under that mask Blitz has a completely normal and unscarred face

Meaning that Moxxie's subconscious straight up erased the physical embodiment of Blitzø's most major trauma and replaced it with a mask, of all things

I saw a theory on here, concerning the people at the Blitzø hate party, that the fact that the Blitzø cake is unscarred means that Blitz hid the vulnerable side of his and showed it off as "tough guy scars", so they stripped him of it as a "fuq u ur not tough", when meanwhile it's exactly what Blitzø would want happening, his scars just straight up disappearing one day.

Well, I think the same happened to Moxxie

I think he doesn't see the scar as a sign of vulnerability and/or physical embodiment of his worst mistake that caused his trauma, but as a tough-guy mask, designed to make him not have to talk about his feelings

(If you think something else's going on here, do tell! I just realised that last one while writing this and I find it very interesting)

And, lastly, Blitz's short line just before the one I talked about in point 1

Aka:

"I don't know, eventually everyone goes"

It feels really self aware of Blitz, but this isn't Blitz, this is Moxxie

So Moxxie, consciously or not, realised that Blitz pushes people away with his behaviour and that it's a genuine problem, but didn't realise the whole scar thing

So I wonder what exactly is Moxxie's image of Blitz. Like, considering what we know that Moxxie knows, he seems to have some elements of the puzzle but not the whole picture, and assumed incorrectly what the full picture is

2.Blitzø's bad trip

Now, here we begin the absolute fucking masterpiece that is the symbolism in this one

For one, let's talk about the spectre's voices

Moxxie and Stolas's voices are pretty on-point, at least to me, and we'll later touch on why I think that's the case, but let's talk about Bad Trip!Verosika, Striker and Fizz first

All three of them don't sound like normal

Instead, they sound like Blitz trying to make their voices

Striker's has an obvious tinge of Brandon Rogers in it, honestly it sound more like Blitz than Striker, as if Blitz hadn't really memorised his voice that well

Fizz's is, in my opinion, more well-balanced. I can hear a bit of Alex Brightman in it but also quite a lot of Blitz

Lastly, we have Verosika. She sound a lot like Blitz, but her manner of speaking is purely Verosika, which imo makes this the most accurate one.

Now, what does the Blitzø-voice mean?

Well, it all has a very specific motif

It's things that Blitz would say as a form of self-hatred

Think about it

"I don't need you, I can do this shit on my own so easily!" "But you don't want to do things alone Blitzo!"

"You tried the solo act, but it didn't work out so well!"

"Yet you still shove away anyone who gets too close until they resent you for being a selfish, shit spittin' snob!"

(the bold parts are the hallucinations, the red is Blitz)

Now, the things they said are very much the stuff Blitz would hate in himself. The fact that he wants someone to care for him, the fact that he can't do what he wants alone even though he tried, and, of course, his inability to get vulnerable with anyone causing him to push people he cares about away until they hate him.

So, I think that these are the thoughts that plague Blitz's brain daily, his self hatred, but it chose to talk through the mouths of the people most affected by said flaw

Striker was literally invited to join IMP. That proves that Blitz didn't want to do this stuff alone

Fizzarolli was his duo act for a while, and his robo version saw him trying the solo act, so it makes sense for him to say, that, on top of the circus vocabulary

Verosika is pretty self-explanatory. He shoved her away when she tried to be vulnerable with him, and she now resents him

So, now that we have that outta the way, let's talk about Moxxie and Stolas

Moxxie does a lot of rambling, but he also roasts him pretty bad

"I simply follow your orders! It's not my fault that your orders are as nonsensical as a suntanning bed left out on the cold rainy porch of a fresh April shower"

"Perhaps you should crack open a dictionary sometimes"

"Admit it, my dear boss. You don't know what you're doing half the time, and you depend on me and the missus to manage your foolish flights of fancy"

"I believe your subconscious is trying to tell you that you simply cannot fathom proper intimacy, but also crave it as well. It’s rather unfortunate sir, considering it’s often how you treat those who stand by you, such as myself"

"Are you worried I might have enough of it one day as well?"

But he also says some rather self-deprecating stuff that he wouldn't say in real life

"And then maybe you can understand half of the frivolous things I carry on and on about on my many rants about upbringings"

So, I think that this is Blitz's opinion of Moxxie. Now, why do he and Stolas keep their normal voices?

Well, I think that it's because, in Truthseekers, they both didn't hate him yet

That wasn't his self-hatred speaking

That wasn't him speaking

Well, at least in Stolas's case

In my opinion Moxxie's voice is altered for one of two reasons

• Moxxie is literally right next to him and high with him, so his voice is fresh in his mind

Not fun, kinda boring, but reasonable

• He hasn't fucked up with Moxxie yet, so his subconscious hasn't created lines that would be repeated so much in his mind that his voice slowly seeps into them

Very fun, also very reasonable

And that second reason is what I think happened in Stolas's case too. His voice is kinda flirty/condescending because that's the Stolas Truthseekers!Blitzø knows. He doesn't know his personality yet. For now he's just a rich, blue-blooded asshole he fucks once a month.

Now, another thing, Blitzø's outfit

He's dressed like a clown here, specifically he looks kinda like in the Loo Loo Land flashback

And his outfit changes when he gets dragged around in chains by Stolas

So this (I think), symbolizes one of three things:

• He fucked up relationships with people in the past

This is his past outfit, so it obviously has something to do with his past, and this is a pretty sound theory, but Striker kinda makes it fall apart

• The people he fucked up relationships with see the past version of him

A bit better, and pretty good overall

• This is himself at the worst point in his life in that outfit he wore in the past

Yeah, his self hatred would *absolutely* exploit him like that, plus he kinda hated himself at that time, so bonus points!!!

Now, the fucking marks on his face

For one, his usual tattoo that looks kinda like an imp/succubus got replaced by a broken heart both in Blitzø and Moxxie's Bad Trips, but in Blitzø's bad Trip at one point the heart (and his outfit) get replaced by his normal self

When does this happen?

When he's near Stolas

I think this symbolizes how Stolas heals his heart and fixes it, as well as how he sees him for his present instead of his past, which is very sad considering *couch cough* the last two episodes *cough cough*

Now, the tear

The fucking tear

If it was on both sides of his face, this would be maybe about how sad he is

But, it's only on the white side

Only on the scar

So I think this is sort of an opposite to what happened with the scar in Moxxie's Bad Trip

Moxxie's subconscious got rid of the scar and replaced it with a mask, since Moxxie thinks of it as a sort of Tough Guy Personality™ thing

Meanwhile Blitzø's subconscious recognized the scar as a physical reminder of his emotional pain and added a tear, a single tear, that can mean that the scar is something left of a time of sadness and grief, a time of tears

Another thing is that the imps fanning Stolas with those big-ass fans are actually Blitzø's but completely black

So that's Blitz's subconscious telling him that he will end up serving Stolas/is already doing that/is under him, while also trying to tell him that he loves the bird

Also, how the mud on the golden stairs disappears after feathers touch it Again, just like with the heart thing, I believe it's another part of the whole "Stolas heals you" symbolism thingy

Also, notice how he turns from Past!Blitzø to normal Blitzø gradually, and the closer to Stolas he gets the more normal he gets

So I actually just realised that and I'm pretty sure it's part of the whole thing I mention in the (hopefully) las paragraph of this post

And, lastly, how he gets covered up in golden feathers at the end there? I think it's some part of him trying to say "You're gonna end up trapped, tied down, unable to escape, so escape NOW"

So yeah, now I'm interpreting Blitzø's Bad Trip as two parts of his subconscious fighting, with the dead dog of the matter being "Should we trust Stolas?"

(Yes, it did turn really Stolitz in the end there huh? Now I gotta add the tags!)

[eddiegettingshot]

my list of tommy crimes to litigate leading up to september 26th

calling buck kid

calling buck evan (and sounding so incredibly annoying while doing it)

not laughing enough at buck’s funny joke about the mug

“and yet they’re so grateful” fucking weird thing to say honestly.

eddie literally SAID “you’re not jumping ship are you?” and tommy is causing people to turn their backs on my princess

never followed up on getting a beer with buck

why did he shove in to take eddie to the doctor at the basketball game like ummm buck offered that’s his best friend go away ugly…

condescending in the kiss scene honestly

why did he even kiss buck when buck was making jokes about hurting eddie when presumably tommy had just seen eddie feeling sad and guilty about buck and he knew buck hadn’t reached out or apologized. honestly strange like that shouldn’t have been cute

literally leaving buck in front of the restaurant and not even telling him he was about to do that until he had one foot in the uber

“i think you’re adorable but i don’t think you’re ready” is an unforgivable sin. Actually.

and then he had the nerve to be disingenuous about this like oh yeah sure you definitely made that closet joke because you didn’t want to pressure him. like can you be sincere at least

being snarky about the coffee isn’t a crime in a vacuum but unfortunately he never stopped being snarky after that so it annoys me that he said “mm so not like that” ummm just shut up and drink it!

didn’t dress up for the bachelor party and then was just dismissive of buck when buck was like i told you the theme. like honestly he could have just been like i won’t be able to dress up for x reason beforehand. or you know. he could have put in some effort.

“hey i knew chimney before he was chimney” don’t talk about chimney. also weird response to eddie’s point

“enjoy it while it lasts” ok?

only the active suicide risk thinks he’s good people. everyone else kinda doesn’t want him around. lesbians don’t approve.

“your dad’s still alive” it literally should have been you. god should have tried taking you instead of bobby

literally every time he’s talked about gerrard. it’s not his fault that he’s the mouthpiece for foreshadowing but it’s still a crime

“god i hope so” does he even like buck. Like actually

[theanxiousghostartist]

TMAGP 15 THOUGHTS

spoilers under the cut

Ok, I'm going to try to go in order of the episode so I don't confuse anyone 😅

● Pre - Case

First off, while reading the transcript, I noticed the title (under Episode 15) said "Good Show" while under the Announcer's lines it says "Well Run," the title used on YouTube. I wonder if this was the original title, a typo, or something else. Also, I did check every other transcript, and all match with the announcer's lines and top of the page title. Just something random I noticed lol

According to Wikipedia, a summary of 'The Pillowman' (the play Sam and Celia were planning on going to) is:

"Katurian, a writer of short stories that often depict violence against children, has been arrested by two detectives, Ariel and Tupolski, because some of his stories resemble recent child murders. When he hears that his brother Michal has confessed to the murders and implicated Katurian, he resigns himself to being executed but attempts to save his stories from destruction. The play contains both narrations and reenactments of several of Katurian's stories, including the autobiographical "The Writer and the Writer's Brother", which tells how Katurian developed his disturbed imagination by hearing the sounds of Michal being tortured by their parents."

I wonder if this might be foreshadowing: either for another Avatar, or maybe what someone is going to try to do to Jack (this would break me, I hope he stays safe 😭😭😭), or maybe it could be a nod to Sam's or Celia's past?

On a lighter note, I really enjoyed the Sam/Alice/Celia interactions! Maybe a polycule in the making?

● Case

This case was definitely of the Hunt. It kinda reminded me of the 'Murder Club' episode in TMA. Lady Mowbray is definitely interesting! I hope we get to see more of her :3 I wonder if her family is one of Avatars, like the Fairchilds (adopting other Avatars in, instead of focusing on blood like the Lukas'). Also, I wonder if the 'dogs' are like Daisy's transformation in S5, but more extreme. Just a werid thought I had lol

● Post - Case

Mowbray telling Celia that she's "different???" More nods to Celia being from TMA! (:

Also, the fact that Celia caught onto her being an Avatar and the "No you won't" to "catch you next time, dearie?" Let's go, Celia!

WTH is a 'Cheshire Bouchard?' Is it like the Fairchilds or Lukas'? Is it a family of Avatars? Are there multiple Bouchard families? Are Gwen and Elias even related? I have so many questions 😭

We also got to meet Luke which was cool! I hope nothing bad happens to him (me actively remembering what happened to Tim's brother) 😅

As for 'Victim' and Alice: the victim had to be a victim of the Vast, especially since they talk about stuff like the sea, the sky, deep blue, no ground, ect. And they seemed tied to the tape recorder in some way? I wonder if this universe's Archivist or Magnus or Head of the Institute had a similar power to Jon but more extreme. Like how Elias said that he was 'dream sharing' and was (accidentally) forcing people to relive their experiences with the fears in their dreams, I wonder if it's something like that, but more extreme and tied to their statements? Sorta like how Jon had the statements as an anchor, maybe the person anchored the victim's experience to the tape recorder, causing the spewing up water and choking and such.

Anyway, really interesting episode!

[baronaliswritingcorner]

TOS Replay Stray Thoughts #1:

Ahh, playing Tales of Symphonia is like coming home. ❤️

It's been some time since I wrapped up my years-long 100% completion run, so just for fun, I'll provide some wisened/wisecracking commentary along the way. Starting...NOW!!!

-As I'm playing the GC version, it's funny how I went from "the NA opening instrumental is totally rad and Starry Heavens is generic anime schlock" to, uh, kinda the opposite.

To this TOS veteran, said instrumental still "represents" the game for me, but in retrospect removing the Japanese songs is a really cynical practice. (And I'm saying this as someone who doesn't care for Modern Tales at all.)

-HNNNNGGHHH THAT ISELIA THEME JUST INSTANTLY DROWNS YOU WITH NOSTALGIA JUST LISTEN TO THAT RUSTIC AIR

(Seriously, what's up with the different instrument in the PS2/OST versions??? Dunno what that sound is, but it's no good.)

-Who is Vidarr? What's his deal? No one knows, but I'm thinking he's in desperate need of a character study -- one diving into the complex themes of Do Not Get In Our Way and Ugh I Lost To A Bunch Of Kids.

-"I gave the Chosen a lifetime's supply of gels for her journey!"

Then where are they, guy? 'Cause I didn't get a single one when they joined my party.

(There's a story here...were they lost in a tragic accident? Or is Kratos a gel addict?)

-"What are you saying? Do you realize how many died here because of him?"

Scott Menville condemning Scott Menville.

-Kratos in Triet: Lloyd, you are growing stronger -- you've realized you can't just swing your swords mindlessly.

Also Kratos in Triet: Your swordsmanship is bad and you should feel bad.

(Both in-character! But they're bundled too closely.)

-Colette: ohnoitsbroken

That needed another take.

-Lloyd shoots a Renegade with the Sorcerer's Ring and that frees him because??? (As you can tell, nitpicking's a habit of mine.)

-One storytelling flaw of TOS -- particularly in the first act -- is that it's a little *too* frontloaded with foreshadowing. It practically spells out Colette's fate no less than three times before you leave Iselia! That resigned "yeah" of hers on Lloyd's balcony was enough.

-I love Clumsy Colette, but I've always felt Ditzy Colette comes off as a little too dumb/mean-spirited. (Never liked the "you need to act more Chosen-like!" scene early on) I guess you could say it's a coping mechanism of sorts to distract herself from her inevitable death, but I don't know if that works.

-"You got re-ject-ed!"

See, even Genis knows Lloyd and Colette are meant to be. Oh, sure, he's laughing at Lloyd's expense now, but he's crying on the inside. I promise.

Annnnd that's it for now! I'll be posting more thoughts on the regular, so stay tuned for further Tales of Symphonia geekiness!

[bobfloydssunnies]

THINGS THAT ARE IN THE TOP GUN BOOK BUT NOT THE MOVIE

this list is long and i ramble so idk how much is understandable sorry i just ramble cause i feel some need explanations. I may have missed some difference cause some of it was just a change in dialogue or something simple i tried to just stick with up noticeable differences or things that felt more important. Y'all can ask me about any of these if you want and if i didn't explain it much or like want to see the page in the book.

maverick has a younger brother named Barney who is 3/4 years younger than him 

maverick Dad was a test pilot and was part of testing the F-14s before getting called up to the war

Mavericks dad‘s name is Rick Mitchell, and when he died they gave him a Navy cross but just mailed it to them instead of doing an official ceremony (since they think he's a traitor or whatever shit lie they are telling people)

after they found out they were going to top gun they went out onto the bow of the ship and then yelled into the night that they were getting to go to top gun

they have goose and maverick ride on maverick's motorcycle before they have to go to Miramar they’re just driving around San Diego when they are stopped by California highway patrol because Maverick is speeding (he was going about 115 mph but then when he tells the cop how fast he was going he says he was going Mark .15 or 1/60 the speed of sound)

goose and Maverick got a police escort to base because Maverick talked his way out of the speeding ticket

‘ shit, mav - you saved cougar. looks like the tale got all twisted up crooked somehow’ goose said (after they talked with slider at the bar cause he brings up them taking cougars spot and without ice)

“Figured it out yet” ….“Who’s the best pilot”  (ice) “ i know who the best is” maverick answered “ now i didn’t say the luckiest” (ice) (this was more just like a conversation change but still)

mav jokes goose owes him 50 when him and charlie leave the bathroom (even tho they did nothing)

They have a whole moment of mav getting fully suited up and like going thru the whole pre flight check with him suit and equipment and explaining some of the things he’s wearing and has on him for survival if needed (little details like were so nice and just cool to see)

Goose starts the convo about them flying inverted and that they saw a mig and then mav comes in and brings up more about it ( they both kinda equally talked not just mav with random bits from goose) 

Viper seems aware that charlie and maverick are messing around but idk how much he fully knows he just seems to see/hears them talking before they start flying

They make a point to say mav always keeps his promises especially the ones to himself (the foreshadowing) 

They try to hide charlie and mavs relationship more in the book

The volleyball game starts like 30 minutes before mav is supposed to be at charlies and goose comes to get mav, he tries to get out of it and then goose starts saying ice and slider called mav chicken shit and they need to defend his honor 

Goose and carole were childhood friends to lovers like they started dating in high school and bradley is only 1 and half when they are at top gun ( goose talks about how before they come to visit he is afraid bradley isn’t going to remember him)

Goose also calls carole his lifeline and his reality

We learned where in tennesse carole and goose are from (it’s buck holler) 

They don’t sing great balls of fire at the bar instead goose plays bartender during that scene and bradley isn't with them (goose still says great balls of fire during some of his other lines though)

Penny is never mentioned ( or admirals daughter)

They mention goose putting the ejection lever in pilot position meaning maverick was in control of the ejection commands

After the accident mav is stuck in the water for a while before finally getting into the inflatable raft in his survival pack and he falls asleep or passes out and then when he comes to again he finally pulls goose up on to the raft with him after cutting him free from his parachute and the other debris from the crash (its sunset when he comes to and dark by the time he gets goose on his raft) 

When mav gets checked over by medical he also gets told he should go to therapy every once in a while to talk and he agrees but its obvious he wont do it 

When charlie picks him up after his eval she mentions that she was with carole and bradley while he was in medical and i just am confused by that but whatever they wanted i guess

Charlie also gives him this speech about he just needs some time between him and the accident and that times the only miracle and he said if its a miracle he wants yesterday back so he can have goose back and like they talk more but he blames himself because it was his hand and his brain

They kind of implied that carole and goose had an apartment they were in the middle of moving into cause mav has to pack up what was left in his room on the base

When carole does the speech about goose loving to fly with maverick and that he’d fly without him if he had too, its in the apartment and at the end of the conversation mav hears bradley ask for carole calling her mama ( he calls him baby boy brad) 

Mav calls himself a killer cause it seem like not one willingly want to fly with him each time they go after cause they hint he's with a different RIO each time he flies after the accident

When mav quits he packs all his stuff while the rest of the guys are in the locker room and tells them he is saving them the paperwork

Wolfman gives mav a speech outside the locker room trying to talk him out of quitting before we see him make the phone call to charlie (which is longer in the book) 

The speech with viper takes place on the beach more while viper is out with his son rather than at his house and then out on a walk and he doesn’t explain what duke did to save the other people

His options weren’t just quitting or graduating he was told he could just not finish and go back to his old squadron, go back to top gun and finish cause they weren't that close to graduation or he could quit

Maverick asks Merlin to be his RIO but doesn’t want him to feel forced to so if he hadn’t said yes someone else would have been picked 

hollywood, wolfman and mav seem to be a lot closer than the movie makes them

They had the wingman speech take place in the ready room instead of on the deck and maverick is literally in his underwear it sounds like cause they make the comment his pants are down around his ankles (which what a funny thing like they are all in the locker room changing after they had the moment on the deck)

Mav also takes the tape with goose name off his locker before he throws his dogtags out to see (which was stupid imo cause he still holds on to his dads navy cross)

We see maverick start his instructor gig at top gun with his first class before the last bar scene with charlie (who is back cause she has a new job that brought her back to top gun)

[spicyviren]

After reading the case for Viren connecting with the Star Arcanum and him having visions because of it, I made myself a beautiful tinfoil hat.

Humor this giant spaghetti noodle:

This is a vision of Claudia performing Infantis Sanguine.

Viren is initially pulled out of his catatonic state when he sees Claudia wade into the water to retrieve the prison and immediately recalls her walking into a red sea. And this would track with his premonition, but the giant orb in the sky and the approaching wave are missing.

Entertaining the idea that this is indeed a vision of the future and not purely metaphorical elements of Viren's own mind, exactly what is the orb in the sky? An eclipse, a dark star, a black hole?

A full moon?

Vision Claudia drags her legs through the water, which trails red behind her (BLOODUH).

IRL, she's squeezing her blood into black pentapus ink...

...and Terry explicitly remarks on it.

The wave I'm less sure about. Aaravos repeatedly invokes the rising sun as kind of harbinger of Viren's death, so my semi-joking, semi-serious idea is that Claudia finds a loophole by somehow managing to prolong the night or otherwise block out the influence of the sun. So first thought was eclipse which, looking at Viren's nightmare revelation, uh-check!!

AND THEN cursory research confirms that the increased gravitational pull of a sun and moon aligned causes bigger waves called spring tide and I was like, yes very good for me that science is on my side for this magical made up scenario in which the rules are made up and the points don't matter!

SO! Wave is there because SCIENCE says so. But also, eh, kinda looks like sound waves! Like, a nice tableau of Claudia chanting the words of a spell in a pool of her own blood to save her father's life.

An additional element which further convinces me that Viren is having Star Primal-type visions is that child Claudia only skips on one side of Viren's footprints, foreshadowing her losing a leg.

I think the biggest question about Infantis Sanguine is whether or not "the sacrifice" is just some blood or all of the blood, and therefore, whether or not it's something Claudia would be able to do and walk away from using herself as The Sacrifice. Alternatively, she does carry with her a blue flower which begins to fall apart into the water, which if I really wanted to, I could maaaaybe buy as representing Sparklepuff (as sacrifice) or as Viren himself (who is also falling apart and dying lol). Could totally be something else though.

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing I don't know the exact cause of Viren's horror at Infantis Sanguine - if it's simply the prospect of using any part of his children as a spell component, or, more plausibly to me, that he's simply operating under the reasonable assumption that "sacrifice" in this context = death.

Generally, I tend to believe that Aaravos doesn't straight up lie, but I do think he obscures a lot by simple implication and is happy to sit back while people stumble through a maze of their own incorrect interpretation. Things Aaravos never says are, "you must kill the homunculus" and, "one of your children must die so that you can live." The only time Aaravos explicitly talks about death and dying is in relation to Viren himself (and even then, he throws in mysterious stuff about death in tandem with the sun rising).

What he DOES say is this: And I will show you how to use every drop of his living essence to restore your own life...AND your future.

I'll admit that I'm reaching a bit here, but the fact that Aaravos is invoking the future with regard to Sparklepuff's living essence (as opposed to Sparklepuff's magical essence) does kind of hint to me that Sparklepuff wouldn't necessarily die as sacrifice. Which might also explain (what I perceived to be) Aaravos's rather muted response to Viren's refusal at what could essentially be a magical blood transfusion.

Last bit to add - the pentapus and ATLA by extension. This isn't my favorite thing to bring up because a lot of the time I feel like TDP is a bit in ATLA's shadow (but they DO keep making references...) so tossing in a tenuous but relevant nod to a character stealing a literal celestial body from the sky AND a solar eclipse blocking out the power of the sun.

[madrone33]

I finally listened to Hadestown! 🎉

Starting with the Original Cast Recording, ‘cause might as well do it in release order. Loved it! Groovy music. Snickered. Cried. Wrote down my reaction as I went, so if you're chill with rambled thoughts and observations, here you go lol

(Soz for any typos, I was touch typing most of the time, and I've edited it but probs missed stuff)

Road to Hell (Live)

Oh it’s JAZZY. Huh. Didn't expect that, but I am living.

I like how at the start they’re simulating a train’s chugging.

Those call and response harmonies tho *chef's kiss*

Kinda reminds me of Udad.

Oh that’s Hermes!

“It’s a sad song” he says, while singing the boppiest of bops.

I like that “suitcase full of summertime” line.

“About someone... who tries.” Oho, we’re gettin into it now! *rubs hands together*

Also, I completely get now why Jorge said that first draft of EPIC: The Musical Hermes was like Hadestown.

Livin' It Up on Top (Live)

That’s a smooth transition👌

Persephone’s voice is really cool. Kinda rough texture?

Oh I didn’t realise Persephone and Hades would be having a turbulent relationship in this.

Oooh Orpheus’ voice is smooth.

They’re all so happy huh. Welp, you know there’s gonna be a crash in their future.

Orpheus seems really grateful for Persephone’s... graciousness? When he said that she'll always fill their cups and they'll raise them to her and stuff. Theory: either she’ll have a soft spot for him later, or he’ll feel betrayed and blindsided by the more cold side of her later.

All I've Ever Known (Live)

I don’t know anything about Eurydice, but is this her song?

Ah yeah Orpheus is singing, so it must be.

Oop. Foreshadowing.

Way Down Hadestown (Live)

Hermes is back!

“Bored to death” HA

“Graveyard” wow the puns/metaphors are going hard XD

I can’t tell who’s singing lmao. This is like when I listened to Hamilton for the first time. I’ll need lyrics, or familiarity RIP

The coins as the percussion/tambourine is a nice touch.

Hades’ voice is DEEP.

They haven’t mentioned gods yet, I don’t think? Just the Fates, right? It sounds more like a mining operation metaphor for mythos right now, hmm.

Epic II (Live)

King of diamonds and spades - like the playing card suits, but also like the mining operation.

It’s the La la la la thing from Wolfy’s animatic! Almost. A different rendition - I bet I'll hear that later 👀

Why is it called Epic II? Where’s 1? Am I missing something?

Chant (Live)

Oh they’re doing overlapping meodies!!

Ah wait this is Eurydice now, gotta go back a few seconds to catch that. I keep getting her mixed up with Persephone 😅

Oh now we’ve got Eurydice and Orpheus relationship troubles? Huh, I kinda assumed they’d be the perfect couple till her death.

And a semi callback to her song, nice.

Hay Little Songbird (Live)

DAMN his voice is deep!

Is this Eurydice??

Is- Is Hades seducing her? To work for him of smth? Ummm.

Not the canary!

That shaker sounds like a rattlesnake, and it does not bode well for a little bird.

When the Chips are Down (Live)

Oh hey I was right! It is a metaphorical rattlesnake!

Does she choose to go to the Underworld of her own volition? I thought she like- died.

Gone I'm Gone (Live)

She does??

Ouch. She sounds so resigned.

Is this a metaphor for her starving to death? Oof.

The harmonies!!

Wait for Me (Live)

“Six feet under” oh yep.

“Lay low, stay outta sight” - getting Hamilton's Stay Alive vibes.

“Don’t look back” ah. FORESHADOWING.

Ohhh the River Styx being a high wall is so smart!

“And don’t look no one in the eye” I must be too deep in the Odyssey related fandoms, because I'm seeing puns where there are none lmao

The HARMONIES!

Poor Orpheus, but I mean, he was kinda being a bit… naive? If he didn’t prepare for winter and just went off in his own head to make songs?

Why We Build the Wall (Live)

Free from who?

Enemy? 👀

(Yes, I'm aware I'm being led into asking all the questions he wants me to ask, but in my defence, it's very effective.)

Oh huh. Wasn't expecting it to be poverty, tho maybe I should've.

Him calling them “My children” plus the chanting is uh. Why does this sound like cult propaganda?

His voice sounds like the Ozymandias poem guy.

Also giving Frollo “She ran, I pursued” vocal vibes.

“Behind closed doors” - ominous.

Ha! Ok nice subversion.

Our Lady of the Underground (Live)

Persepone is a drug dealer XD

That’s a strange note on “there’s a crack in the wall”

Oh no, am I supposed to remember all these band member names? *crying*

Way Down Hadestown II (Live)

Bringing back motifs I see.

The pickaxes as percussion is cool.

Oop, Eurydice is getting a bit of a wake up call.

Chant II (Live)

Ooooh does the ‘backdoor’ Hermes meant, mean that Orpheus doesn’t have to ‘die’ to get there? ‘Cause he didn’t sign anything, which is a metaphor for him not actually being dead in the myth, so he can still leave.

“Hungry for the underworld” - the pomegranate?

And now Eurydice and Orpheus are singing half the La la la la tune each as if to each other from across the Underworld!

Ooh I LIKE those slant rhymes! "Young man, you can strum your lyre, I have strung the world in wire."

Oh this is where Orpheus sings his plea!! I know this is a thing because of Udad's Underworld Blues lol.

Epic III (Live)

The harmonies 🥺

Oh! It’s that part from Wolfy's animatic :O

I’m tearing up bro.

Just thinking that Eurydice was so upset with Orpheus for focusing on writing his song about Hades and Persephone, but it's that very song that is giving him a chance to sway Hades' mind. But on the other hand, if he'd focused less on the song, he never would've had to use it, y'know?

Word to the Wise (Live)

Ha the Fates(?) doing Hades’ inner monologue like, yeah bro u screwed yourself.

Uh oh this is probs where Hades comes up with the ultimatum. Wait no don't-

His Kiss the Riot (Live)

Those strings are creepy.

Belladonna? Oh the poisonous flower.

Did he call Orpheus the Jack of Hearts?

That acordian is awesome.

Fuck, I knew it.

He sounds like the guy who does the creepily ominous monologue in Micheal Jackson's Thriller.

Promises (Live)

Oh huh. It’s my theory from the 2nd song but it's Eurydice feeling betrayed that the world isn't always plentiful and not Orpheus?

Those strings are gorgeous!

Oh! A duet!

When the couple actually works out their shit:

“I do” omgggg!

KEEP WALKING. DONT LOOK BACK.

Wait for Me II (Live)

Aww that’s nice. Persephone and Hades are gonna try too!

Oh no not the “wait” like in Hurricane-

Doubt Come In (Live)

Oh noooooo

KEEP GOING. JUST KEEP GOING. SHE’S WITH YOU

OH NOOOO DON’T FALTER

LISTEN TO HER! HOLD ON! KEEP GOING!

... Oh god

Road to Hell II (Live)

NO THERE'S A FUCKING AD

Hermes sounds so sad but resigned. Like, 'Oh well. I knew it would turn out like this, but I'd hoped.' Which like. SAME.

The instruments stripped away so it's only silence and one voice is so good.

I can just imagine Orpheus collapsed shell shocked on stage as Hermes not unkindly pushes him to go on.

That reprise and ending is so fucking good AHHH omg no regrets. Some regrets. Whatever, it was good.

... Time to listen to it again with lyrics :D

And then I'm gonna listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording!

[phoenixinthefiles]

Ok so as yall know I rewatched ATSV andddd

I HAVE A HYPOTHESIS….

ITS THE SPOT

(I know this probably isn’t an extraordinary take but I haven’t actually seen someone say it and I did come to this conclusion from just watching the movie so don’t insult my intelligence)

Ok so the whole dang movie Miles was saying, “It’s the Spot” and I think that was the writers kinda trying to foreshadow.

At Alchemax Spot told Miles he brought the e42 spider to e1610 and when Miguel was going off on his little tangent he brought how the spider wasn’t supposed to bite Miles (obvi)

And when Miles’ spider sense kicked im he saw Spot’s actions causing his dad to try and save that little girl. (“Spot does it”)

So my theory (yes I know I said hypothesis, juh vibe) is that when Spot brought the Spider to Earth-1610 he obviously disrupted canon, but all Miguel’s talk about Miles’ dad having to die isn’t necessarily true. Because SPOT DOES IT

I know that’s not easy to follow but stay with me, SPOT brought the spider to this universe, SPOT disrupted the “canon” for Miles universe, SPOT is the one trying to take everything from Miles and kill his dad, so SPOT is the key to everything (I sound like a recluse who’s a conspiracist, not too far off from reality😭)

Basically I think Miguel is wrong, because the problem in the universe he destroyed was created by him. He was the one who went and disrupted canon there but in the other canon disruptions we see the chaos was started by Spot.

Because in Pavitr’s universe, Spot was the reason for the Triangle of the Alchemax building (AHHHHHHHHHHHH, I just took a break to jump around my room cus this connection just came to me, am I a genius?)

OKAY SO Pavitr’s canon event was Inspector Singh’s death but if Spot hadn’t shown up and used the collider then the Alchemax triangle would’ve never fallen and hit the bridge AND INSPECTOR SINGH WOULDN’T HAVE TRIED TO SAVE THE LITTLE GIRL

WHICH ALL GOES BACK TO SPOT BRINGING THE SPIDER TO 1610 AND THE SPIDER BITING MILES AND THE COLLIDER GIVING SPOT HIS HOLES ANDDD AHHHHHHH

I AM A GENIUS

(If BTSV comes out and I’m completely off the mark I’m gonna be so shame😭😭😭)

[wings-of-ink]

it’s like i just drank an entire oceans worth of water, buckle up because i’m about to ramble

chapter 4….hooh boy where do i even begin. i never know how to begin. to summarize, it had me on the edge of my seat. when the horses ran off and oswin curses?? that’s when the thought of “we’re so fucked” finally settled. and after that, it was just one thing after another like a literal landslide (talk about foreshadowing yikes). i seriously thought we were about to have to put down a horse and while i was still in shock, i get hit with “we’re splitting up.” like HELL NO? NO THANK YOU? and to make things better, a landslide. like wow, MC hasn’t been through enough already let’s fuck up their shoulder too. i also really thought we were about to get our arm amputated because of infection, how do you explain that to papa and da when you get home.

duri’s first appearance and introduction? flabbergasted. first it was “WHAT IS THAT 😭😭” to “gee this is one smart wolf” to “what the hell. what the hell??” ALL POSITIVE REACTIONS!! i couldn’t believe it. maybe the onions we found on the side of the road contained some hallucinogens and we were all conveniently imagining the same thing. when oswin said my healer MC was obviously delirious, i was half expecting her to ask him just who was the healer here HAHA!

you deliver once again, lunan. without fail, every time. i appreciate the maps you provide for rest stops everytime they’re always so pleasing to see <3

and how do you feel about these long rambles or bug reports…..i don’t wish to flood your inboxes with my words >_<

Oh honey, don't drink ocean water...lol

I am tickled pink that you were thrilled, my dear. Though it is chapter 4, those scenes were some of the very first I thought of when plotting this story. I have been so excited to write them and I'm glad that seems to have come across in the passages to you. This is really where some of the "oh shit" comes into play for the story. We'll have more hills and valleys as we continue as well (hopefully no more fall out from under us though). And Oswin usually only drops the F-bomb when he's really stressed, lol.

I want to make sure your MCs have lots to tell their fathers about when they get home. I have a feeling they are going to have this moment when MC gets home and be like "we let them out of the house ONE time!" and then you get grounded. I anticipate getting the MC back home for a little break around chapter 6. It's going to be interesting, lol. MC leaves with 1 companion and comes back with more people, injuries, and maybe a little something else...

As long as the journey to the city goes okay, I'm sure MC will be totally safe from additional complications...mmhmm...

LOL you know I didn't think about your onions being the cause of a mass hallucination. Sounds kinda fun really. I am glad you enjoyed Duri's grand entrance. They love that shock and awe, and they don't show those parts of themselves to just anyone either.

And not to worry about filling my inbox. I appreciate every message including the long ones. I enjoy reading your thoughts, opinions, and ideas so much. It brings me great joy to see how enthusiastic you are about the experience. And now that the chapter is cleared, I have more time to dive into here and read and respond!

Thank you so much for sharing with me. ^_^

[luukka]

I watched Wish recently, and regarding what people had said, it wasn't bad.

It wasn't good either but it wasn't bad it was... meh.

(Might be spoilers but yeah, if you didn't/don't want to watch it my little analysis won't really interest you)

Now as a Disney and animation fan, I must talk about it because I watched it very late and still manage to bear my own opinion even if no one asked for it so here it is yoohoo

Did I laugh ? Yes two are three times (and no joke, I was the only one cause I'm an easy-laughter); did I smile ? Sure; did I find some music interesting ? Kinda; were the colors pretty ? Yes; the animation for a disney ? Err... m'k.

I get people that like it, there are things that are interesting, it... passes the time, you can show it to toddlers, but yeah, I mostly get people that didn't because I was kinda disappointed. If you take one thing apart from the other, it's quite awful, and when you put it all together it's a "hell no", especially because it's supposed to be the 100th Disney classic. I mean, I get the point of foreshadowing old classics, but some were really messed up like- some characters are just carbon copies of old design ? Asha's best friend is Snow white if she was a disabled four-eyed girl, the tired guy looks like the rich guy in Big Hero 6 and Bambi ? Little John ?? Can't you do that any clearer, we're fucking blind here.... I mean, ok I laughed when I heard that but I don't count I'm an easy laughter, wtf was that, like- I couldn't help but look at my brother like "did you see the same shit I just saw ? And you forced me to come and pay for that ?" and I was mostly laughing out of embarrassment because I WAS ALONE GIGGLING TEARS OF WTF-NESS

Some things were cool I guess, like the mirror effects when Magnifico sings I think ? And at the end when he elsa'd his castle to take the star. The Jafar effect wasn't bad either, but because it's Jafar effect and Jafar is a fucking badass, same with Elsa-ying the castle, because this scene in frozen was very cool

I felt bad at first but I must say, the songs are very disappointing. Like I wasn't expecting much, and it sure stuck in the head easily but that doesn't mean it's nice. The ones I appreciated were the song about the wishes (the clip is pretty) and maybe the revolution song (but the clip was urgh and why the hell they look so lifeless ???) I get why people said it was made by AI lol

In terms of character, except the Queen and grandpa, I didn't like any of them. Like usually I can't hate or dislike a Disney character, but here ? None of them was fine to me. Actually, I felt nothing from them. The villain was erh... basic I guess, he could be nice like the woman in The Rescuers but no he was, well basic "I'm perfect they should be grateful but they are not so let's become an asshole !" So yeah. Disappointed. He was a better villain than Hans, tho, maybe because Hans wasn't supposed to be a villain at first and that Magnifico was like Jafar, Evil Queen and Scar had a baby. Also, it seems to me like they didn't have a few or any -like ANY- personality, like- I CALLED THE TREASON OUT THE MOMENT I SAW THE LIFELESS BIG BOY COMON'

Now, I'm coming to people saying all the kids love it and I'm too old for that: no. No, I'm not too old for that, Disney is for everyone. No, not all the kids will love it, kids get easily bored, and this movie isn't very attractive. I bet if I show this to my nieces and nephews and siblings, they wouldn't care less - and they already don't very much care about movies in general when you put one for them. There were at least four kids in the theater and none laughed, or sounded interested, one preferred to play on his daddy's phone ??? well, I know all kids aren't like that, but really, this movie wasn't made to content the kids, it was made to content the fans clearly, that is why the movie isn't good.

Anyways, if you enjoyed it good for you ! The colors are pretty and the technic used is interesting, the chara design of Asha and the Queen are pretty, I can't say anything for the rest, tho, because the bg design is just resuming the old (and new *cough* encanto *cough*) classics anyway, but less good at guess... but really, if you like it, good for you, and say why, so I don't have a bad souvenir of it forever lol

[gamerbearmira]

My little pony: family is a miracle

(IM BACK RAAAHHHHH.)

So this might be unexpected, but here's Agustin. Him and two other madrigal weren't always human.

He was a pegasus from cloudsdale. He was well-known for being the best flyer in class, being able to out fly multiple adult pegasus. Everyone thought he would become a Wonderbolt someday, including his parents.

He was constantly pressured to be a Wonderbolt, but Agustin wanted to pianist. He would often skip flying practice to play the piano at the music store in Ponyville (where he met a certain earth pony(foreshadowing)). Eventually, his parents found out about his skipping and forced him to stop playing the piano.

Agustin, being hurt by his parents, flew away to the everfree forest. He flew for a long time before hitting a tree branch, causing him to fall into a portal-pond into the human world. When he came to, he freaked out for a bit before he heard a piano in the distance. When he walked to the sound, he found a crowd dancing to a pianist. Being inspired, Agustin thought this world might be for him.

(A few Notes: Agustin was like a teen/young adult when he ran away. He also became a legend in pegasus culture, tho one can agree on the story.)

RAHHHHHHH LETS GO ‼️‼️ Amazing art, as always 🙏🙏

As hybrid Pegasus Agustín WHATTTTTT💪💪💪💪 Yeah I’mma need to see the other Madriagal. Like who we talking, makes me curious 🤨🤨 shoutout to him for skipping the flying and going to piano, bros got a backbone, I’ll give him that 🗣️🗣️ kinda said how he ran away, but like. Humans have piano, and Agustín now has opposable thumbs, so like 🤭🤭

Crazy how he became a legend, but mfs don’t even know what really happened. Not even his parents 🧌 ANYWAY BRO’S WISH CAME TRUE LETS GO 🦈🦈🦈

[imminent-danger-came]

Who do you think will try and help MK grapple with the issue of being the harbinger of chaos? (Obviously all his friends, but who would play the biggest role?)

Considering that some of the next season will presumably take place in the underworld, and that he‘s the only one who actually KNOWS about it; Macaque is actually a decently strong contender imo.

Which would be really fun- they‘re one of my favorite duos (MK is a bitch exclusively to Macaque and I love him for it) but I‘m holding out hope for some Sandy/Pigsy!

Since the curse of the scroll called them monstrosities, and they both seem to have lived with that kind of discrimination they would also have experience with figuring out your own identity despite it.

So them unknowingly helping MK when their past is revealed sounds fun!

And the MK‘s mental health takes a turn for the worse again in the special obviously. We can‘t have him become to stable after all!

Also, (sorry if you already talked about this before) What connection do you think the curse has to MK? If I‘m not misremembering anything he is the only one where it said 'we' (unless MK was in denial about something). Everybody else was 'you', but MK also accidentally said "we help people!". Even in the curses final scene it says "then prove us wrong." Us being the curse and MK, since he did end up believing what it said.

Do you think there is actually some credence to the curse calling MK the harbinger of chaos? Or is it just saying what MK is feeling since he caused so much damage on accident? Is MK being that harbinger actually destiny, or more something along the lines of a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answering this ask with another, because both kinda go into the same thing with the curse/memory:

-

So, in my dreams, Sandy is the one to help MK cope with his Monkey Demon identity for reasons I go into in this post (of course I want Mei to be the one to talk MK down initially, but as far as post-breakdown goes Sandy is my top contender—which those two work together to comfort MK a lot anyways, like in 2x06 and 3x04). But, if we had a Pigsy/Sandy tag-team duo while also going into their pasts, that would be awesome! Literally couldn't ask for anything more.

Macaque could also be interesting, being the one who was there for MK in 4x09 and 4x10, but he's also already given his advice: MK doesn't only have two choices, and nobody can decide who he is for him. But, well, the curse (who I think is undeniably part of MK) was the one who gave MK the title of "harbinger of chaos"—it wasn't anyone else. MK essentially gave himself that title. This would be a super interesting way for MK's arc to go, if it's headed this sort of direction, where MK can certainly decide who he wants to be, but what if he doesn't believe in that person, you know?

((Of course Macaque can offer up more advice, I'm just not sure Macaque advice is what MK needs right now.))

Next on the agenda: whatever the fuck MK is.

So I have this collection of screenshots where I highlight MK's weird connection with the underworld throughout the seasons, and I specifically want to call attention to the scroll emanating from MK not once, but both times he enters the scroll:

Bonus Shot of MK as part of his reflection motif, where his face lines up with the skull on screen:

MK: "Again!? Remind me how this 'game' is supposed to convince me I'm not destined to turn into an evil monkey demon thing again? Cause every option I pick takes me to this, same, screen!"

(4x10 The Jade Emperor) (Every option MK picks leading him to the same end? I'll take foreshadowing for 500!)

Which, the skull in the TV is very similar to LBD's skull in the Demon Revealing Mirror from 2x02:

All this to say: the Curse/the scroll and MK are connected somehow, meaning I'd take a gander that MK is also connect to memory in some form.

MK: "You're not my friend—you're NOT me!" Curse MK: "Sure I am! I'm your best friend, well, closest at least! I know more about you than you'll even admit—to yourself, or to others."

(4x07 Pitiful Creatures)

-

I think you could make the argument (which I'll probably write a full-fledged theory post on at some point), that Lady Bone Demon's original power source for her mech was MK, then switching to the Samadhi Fire later when that comes into play. LBD in ROTSQ, s2, and s3 threatens to erase the memory of Wukong/the world/Macaque, which is something that is notably absent in the s3 special. MK (plus maybe Wukong) being the original power source would help to explain why LBD wanted MK (+ Wukong) all throughout s3, and why she didn't immediately go ahead with her plans. She only says "Now, I will undo the memories of this world!" when she's confident that she has both the staff and MK. If MK were a being related to memory, using him as a power source could be a real possibility for how LBD originally planned to erase the memories of the world—then moving to the Samadhi Fire to create a "clean slate" when that became an option.

Now, although it's based entirely in conjecture, I do think MK potentially has the power to "rip the memory of people from this world". We know so little about what MK actually is that a lot could be possible!

ANYWAYS.

When it comes to "is MK destined to become a harbinger of chaos or was it just the curse echoing his own doubts", I think it's both! After all, there's "a reason [he] was at the center of all these stories, a reason [he] can harness the power of the Monkey King himself!". We don't know that reason yet, but I'm inclined to believe that it's because MK is connected to the underworld/the scroll/memory in some way, like I've mentioned. However, I also think MK's own flaws and self-doubt will contribute to his walk down destiny lane, and MK will put on his own chains so to speak.

One of the major contributing factors of MK's arc has been his own lack of belief in himself (in contrast with his total belief in his friends), so that HAS to be resolved eventually. When it comes down to it, that's at the core of his character—it's why he can feel he's both too weak and too strong across seasons and still feel distinctly like MK. So, that same lack of belief is probably going to be what drives his decent into the role of "harbinger of chaos"—that and a number of other things I'm sure. His friends, Monkey King, his identity, his responsibility, destiny—it's all gonna culminate somewhere.

Plus these eyes haven't turned up yet,

(they also show up in MK's 4x03 vision), and we don't really have any concrete explanation for what the curse was/is, or why MK specifically was the one who could destroy it ("It wasn't in my power—it was in yours."; but maybe Monkey King could have finished it off after it had been weakened?).

There's a lot of arc left and a lot of things we don't know!

[deludedfantasy]

Trimax Vol 13 Ch 1-4

I'm leaving on vacation this week, so I want to get my thoughts out before I go. Unfortunately, I'll be too busy to really participate in volume 14 next week, but I'll be reading along and reading what everyone else has to say. But without further ado, part 1 of my thoughts on volume 13!

Ch 1

Legato is back on his killing Vash bullshit. He is so devoted to Knives that he would go against what he wants to give him what he thinks he deserves. There are so many levels of mental gymnastics going on here, I kinda can’t keep up. 

Chronica is so past the point of caring about anything except her own revenge. Civilians in the city beneath her? Who cares! She just wants to destroy Knives. I wonder if it’s about more than the fact that he killed Domina, if there’s something about the fact that he’s an Independent that’s causing so much damage and giving Independents a bad name that’s driving her to act like this. 

Of all the human villains Vash has faced, Legato is truly the most powerful, the one who he would have the hardest time standing against regardless of his morals. How do you fight a guy who can control your entire body? How do you fight someone who is so obsessed with killing you, he’d do anything to achieve it? 

This conversation between Knives and Legato is interesting. Let’s see if I can get my thoughts about it straight. Legato still wants to kill Vash for whatever he did to Knives, even though Knives doesn’t want that and seems to want Vash’s death to be at his own hands. Legato desperately wants to prove to Knives how loyal he is—and Knives flat out tells him he doesn’t care. 

That’s such a blow. And I imagine it would only motivate Legato more, to prove that he is worthy, that he can hold Vash and defeat him, to make himself worthy in the eyes of his god, his truest love, whatever Knives is to him. 

Knives is so cruel to him. What a thing to say to someone who has only ever followed you and done what you asked of them. It makes you feel bad for Legato. 

I personally have never been able to decide if Knives really cares about Legato or views him as a useful tool. Or if it’s a combination of the two, hampered by his ideology which doesn’t allow him to care about humans or see them as anything other than lowly parasites. This conversation just muddies the waters even more for me. He’s so dismissive of him and his powers whereas at other times he’s shown, at least in his actions, that he cares about Legato and his survival. 

Then Legato also says, “His beliefs against my loyalty.” Which knowing what I know actually feels like a bit of foreshadowing…

Watching Vash fight Legato’s powers is so devastating. And I thought seeing him purposefully push himself closer to death was bad. This is just…a lot.

Add on Legato’s commentary to it and I feel like I’m chewing on glass. It’s been said over and over again lately, but something about Legato pointing it out and the blank look on Vash’s face fills me with indescribable emotions. 

Vash is pushing so hard because he doesn’t want to live anymore. He doesn’t care about the pain or staying alive. Sure, he has a goal to accomplish, but what happens after that doesn’t matter, so he’ll push past the normal limits to do what he has to do. 

What a strange moment of connection too, when Legato sees his own face reflected in Vash’s. They are enemies but they recognize this in each other. Usually, it’s painted as a bad thing when a villain says to a hero, “You’re just like me.” It’s certainly not good, but I don’t know. There’s no real moral judgment here. It’s just Legato realizing that Vash is more human than he originally thought. At least that’s the way I see it. 

Finally, the reveal of the coins and what they do! It’s…a tool to let Legato have a “fair” final battle with Vash? Vash certainly doesn’t sound happy about that. 

Ch 2

Oh, Vash is angry about this. All those deaths, all those people’s lives sacrificed, just for Legato to play this little game with Vash? What a cruel waste of life that spits in the face of everything Vash believes in. 

Legato, what the actual fuck. He just…puts Vash’s gun in his mouth??? What a move though, what a way to prove himself right. That Vash won’t shoot him even when he can put the gun straight into his mouth. 

Okay, I have no idea what’s happening here other than Legato executing some incredibly complicated maneuver and Vash still not shooting him because he’s Vash. But also how does he not crack his teeth doing all of that and keeping Vash’s gun in his mouth for the majority of it? 

Livio and Elendira have the best fight banter. I’m living for it.  

It’s nice to see Livio be confident about something, even if it’s his own fighting prowess. He’s been so anxious and unsure up to now, it’s great to see him really go for something. 

Livio, why are you being so cute right now? You’re in the middle of battle!

Meanwhile, the Earth fleet secretly descends to the planet’s surface. I wonder what they’re planning?

Ch 3

Where in the world did Legato get his giant Iron Maiden mace from? Like, where has he been hiding it this entire time? I know I won’t get an answer because Nightow plays by the rule of cool, but it’s just so funny. 

I don’t know why I’m even surprised by Legato at this point. Licking Vash’s blood from the floor? Okay, why not! 

So Vash and Legato both want to die, but it’s in very different ways. Vash doesn’t see a place for himself in the world anymore and he can’t see a future beyond this battle. Meanwhile, Legato almost wants to die to prove a point—the ultimate representation of his loyalty to Knives. He’ll die trying to kill Vash the Stampede for him, because his life doesn’t matter, only Knives’s mission. I don’t really know what to make of it, other than it makes Legato a very dangerous person for Vash to be fighting right now. Because nothing will make him stop. 

“Tell me, if it were not for you, would he have accepted me?” → Is Legato implying that he’s been trying to act as a replacement Vash for Knives? The trusted brother and confidant Knives supposedly always wanted Vash to be and Legato has desperately been trying to fill that role for years? No wonder Legato hates Vash so much. 

Livio, sweetheart, I love you so much. Runs around mid fight to get his hat and cloak back like he’s Indiana Jones, makes the cutest little face when he gets them back. They’re so important to him. He literally just got them and he’s unwilling to let them go! They’re the symbol of the new man he’s trying to become. Truly, he’s stronger with them. 

Ch 4

There’s something about Elendira’s new outfit that reminds me of a skeleton. Or more of an exoskeleton. It’s so strange and we’ve never seen her in it before. Who is this mysterious woman and what is she going to do now?

She’s moving so much faster and she’s suddenly smoking? These are some new and unknown powers for her. 

These poor soldiers are not having a good night at all. Imagine a giant ship just appearing in front of you while the world is ending. I’d be pretty freaked out too. 

But can we trust these new people from the Earth Fleet? Because so far, the Earth Fleet hasn’t done much to help and Chronica has kind of given up helping humanity in favor of revenge. 

As Vance is explaining the situation to Luida and co, I suddenly realized that most people had no idea what was going on or what the Ark was. Or who Knives is! One day, a strange ship just appeared on the horizon, looking like nothing they’d ever seen before, and started destroying everything in sight. That makes the past 7 months even worse. 

Now, not only is Knives actively a threat, he’s holding so much power he could literally destroy the planet. One being was never meant to have so much power and it seems like it’s inevitable that he’s going to lose control of it. 

Can’t get over this description of Vash or Luida’s face when she realizes who Vance is talking about. “For some reason his hair always stands on end.” He does that on purpose because he likes it, Vance. That’s literally it. 

But I wonder how the Earth Fleet knows about him. And how they think he can help that isn’t just fighting Knives. 

I think the award for most ridiculous gun in Trigun should go to Legato’s oversized Iron Maiden mace. Because what even. How is that a gun. Why is that a gun. Nightow, I have so many questions. 

Wait, did Vash’s coat turn black too? Like in episode 12 of Stampede? He’s using up so much of his power that it isn’t just changing his hair color but the color of his clothing. Or is this just Nightow being symbolic and the coat is still red? 

Elendira says something about removing her restraints and now I’m wondering if that skeleton suit is her actual body. And who were the other two people she removed her restraints for? Part of me wonders if one of them was Knives and that’s how they met? Elendira, I have so many questions about where you come from and what your powers are. 

And Razlo makes an appearance! We haven’t seen him for a while. I wonder if that’s what Elendira senses here. Though I wonder how she even feels him. Sometimes, the theories about Elendira being part Plant in Trimax feel very correct because of things like this.

[goingtochurch]

THE EARTHSPARK REVIEW NO ONE ASKED FOR EP:13 "Missed Connection"

This one's my favorite. Head's up. This might be long.

AW THEY PRETENDING TO HAVE ALT MODES THATS SO CUTE

BEE AND ALEX HANGING OUT

"where's-" *explosion*

sounds about right

dramatic af nightshade thank you stellar performance

"the first 5006 tried to destroy me"

THE H A N D F L I P

ew the outdoors

GOD I FEEL TH A T

dot comin in clutch with the mom advice

Alex is too relatable

SCIENCE FICTION?????

I got roasted during the binge with My Binging Buddy because I had a doubt that Alex Malto was autistic in some capacity...i think the roasting was warranted

an additional quote from my third watch through with him for talking about the previous roast "Its like asking if water is wet"

Laying on the table in true Neurodivergent fashion Nightshade

CASUALLY DOXXES AN AUTHOR?????

ah yes go into the creepy woods

oh glowing foreshadowing object

HOLOFORMS CANON HECK YEAH

nightshade followed the weird flying contraption INTO A CRYPT

very smart nightshade thank u

TARANTUALASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

HES SO NICE SOUNDING OMG

oop realizing stereotypes are wrong

how tf did nightshade know that would project all of t h a t

"...missed connection" ROLL CREDITS

the other siblings desperately trying to fix the smart trainer is so cute

equally cute that nightshade is still enthused cause they kinda helped

i love the way tarantulas moves

"ILL PREPARE THE WORKSTATION" OMG NIGHTSHADE MY HEART

tarantulas sounds so h u r t

alt modes as a form of expression is amazing

"it is a gift to know yourself so young..." omg

MONTAGE TIME MONTAGE TIME

THE FUCKING B O W

d o r k

i like the detail that it covers the decepticon symbol

tarantulas wants nightshade to be safe aA

i like this mentor protégé thing

another "hypothetically if i meet a decepticon" conversation

tarantulas no

tARANTULAS D O N T

dang it

NIGHTSHADE ITS OKAY

TARANTULAS P L E A S E

dot is a badass in every situation

The clear fear from cybertronians for something ghost is doing is a nice detail

MEMORY DELETION TECH CONFIRMATION

no nightshade yOU DONT NEED TO APOLOGIZE

THE MISCOMMUNICATION

SOMEONE JUST S A Y SOMETHIN

tarantulas is actually terrifying sometimes

YEAHHHHHHH OWL ALT MODE FANTASTIC

"I WAS NEVER LOST" YEAH NIGHTSHADE GET EM BABY

that took the other maltos a minute

the realization from tarantulas that they are running too

TARANTULAS ALLY MOMENT

NIGHTSHADE GOT SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTOOD THEM ONLY FOR THEM TO BE HUNTED DOWN UGH

i want more tarantulas that is all