#devon is okay so far not many opinions about her

[ajohnhughesmovie]

tier list solely for my eyes

[that-banana-headed-bovine]

Season 2 Shenanigans

AHEYYY sO I went on a giant Knight Rider binge the last few days, and I've FINALLY seen all of Season 2!!  Big thank you to @trust-doesnt-oxidize who watched with me and stayed up absurdly late because I wanted to see Garthe before I went to bed AIDBWJFNEM

I just wanted to post a quick reaction to all of the episodes, spoiler warning activated!

Goliath Parts 1 & 2

I LOVE MY DOOFY VILLAIN SON. K.I.T.T. is HILARIOUS, I love his dynamic with Goliath, as is evident by my handle oops- I hate how Season 2 starts with my son almost dying tho, almost had a heart attack tyvm! This is back before I knew anything about the direction of the rest of the series so I was legitimately in shock lmbo- Moustache Michael is a gem tho I love him. I SURE HOPE HE STAYS A DUMB VILLAIN WHO'S JUST REALLY SILLY TO WATCH. SURE HOPE THEY DON'T TAKE HIM TOO SERIOUSLY.

Brother's Keeper - Blind Spot

I- forgot that these episodes existed until I looked at the episode list for this, soooo...

I should really not be lazy and look up an episode summary and try to remember what I thought of these but the problem is that I am in fact going to be lazy because this post is already taking so long

Return to Cadiz

This episode is so,,, frustrating.  Not the plot or the format or anything like that, nono... I mean how they essentially introduced April.  Like, okay, I know that she has been here since the beginning of Season 2, but she hadn’t really said much up until now.  This was where we really got to know who she would be, and, uh... After this episode, I absolutely hated her.  Despised even.  She forces my son to go drive on the same ocean on the same beach where Karr DIED without any testing beforehand AND is chastising Michael in a flirtatious way.  The heCK is this woman?!  WHERE’S MY BONNIE???!!!  I was so mad at her you guys I.  But the thing is, I don’t hate April, not by a long shot.  In some ways, the rest of Season 2 does a better job giving her a character than all of Season 1 did for Bonnie!  I really enjoyed April and wish that both could have stayed.  BUT THIS EPISODE makes her SO HATEABLE and I just ugh.

also I tried to watch this a long time before I got to and after seeing the intro and not knowing the title of K.I.T.T. vs. K.A.R.R. at that point in time, I thought Karr was gonna come back based on all the panoramic shots of the underwater and I am so sad that he didn’t so oops this episode gets my wrath a bit

K.I.T.T. the Cat

0/10 there are no cats.  False advertising.

Seriously tho this episode was a pretty run of the mill episode.  The best part of the episode was Kitt, because it always is, but seriously that guy with the hedges was amazing- I GOT THE GAG BY THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED BUT THE FIRST TIME HE GOT STUCK IN THE TREE OH MY GOSH I WAS DY I N G- Also the fact that Kitt messed him up again trying to apologize is so sad yet funny ahosihdfiohasdf

Custom K.I.T.T.

APRIL GET THAT STUPID DECAL OFF HIM OH MY G O S H-

Somehow her 2-d design ideas looked almost worse than the actual thing and I thought the actual thing looked like a that default sticker decal that you get on a Hotwheels car.  I’msorryI’mnottryingtoroastanyartistsIjust I why there’s so much potential with giving Kitt decals :(

Seriously I want to use my drawing software to draw fire on Kitt at some point because it could be done so cool and that ain’t it chief.  I’m probably not going to be too great at it either since I don’t do backgrounds nearly enough and fire would be a background element for the most part but I could at least alter the colors ; m ;  OR LIGHTNING OH MY GOSH AAA LIGHTNING WOULD BE SO COO L ON HIM-  anyway it needed so much more red- and it was so asymmetrical too aHHHH-

I.  I’m fine it’s fine I’m fine it’s fi-

I don’t even know why Kitt needed a decal anyway, the other cars didn’t have to have decals to be considered custom, surely his dash alone could have done it-

ANYWAY

This ep was so WEIRD at times oh my gosh.  What was that series of insults the two ladies spat at each other?  Like the one just complimented her eyeshadow aggressively and the other one accused her of wearing “training bras” or something like whAT EXCU S E ME What is this episode?!  Kitt was so upset about the decal too :[

Soul Survivor

OH MY GOSH IT’S CUTE IT’S SO CUTE YOU GUYS-

I was recalling @knight-rider-fan-2000‘s theory about this episode (plz go check them out btw aaaa), and after watching it I totally agree.  Michael was especially kind in this episode, and he seems to be overall a more supportive mentor for Kitt this season, starting with Soul Survivor and being pretty consistent throughout.  I love their new dynamic so much- There’s definitely still episodes and moments where he’s closer to Season 1 Michael, but Season 2 Michael is a far superior human being in my opinion.

KITT’S SO ADORABLE LIL TINY CPU OH MY G O S H YOU’RE TELLING ME OUR SON IS ACTUALLY T H A T SMALL AAAAA

Michael really is so sweet in this oh my gosh, that whole arc where Kitt is his partner no matter what and that the car isn’t what made Kitt-- AW!!!!  ADORABLE!  Kitt being so unsure that he repeatedly asks Michael how it feels to see the Knight 2000 without him in it or fusses about his limited functionality as Michael patiently reassures him again and again that he’s wanted just the way he is, I just- Feelings.

One thing that hit me as funny though is when Michael finds Kitt’s CPU in the garage and the trash can is just like PULSATING and then he like yells at it like “tAlK tO mE kItT” and Kitt’s jus sitting there as a box of colored lights like “...”

I can just imagine a cut scene where Kitt���s like, “Oh and by the way Michael, if I could have said something I would have done so LONG before you started asking me to.  Believe it or not, I don’t like being in a trash can.”

“You Dingaling.”

Also Michael and his whole “I’m an honest man you can trust me listen I’ll give you a small TV just like this one” and then he proceeded to not do that.  Hmm.

Anyway, yeah, it doesn’t get any cuter than this.  The only thing that would have been better is if Adrianne didn’t exist.  Good thing she’s gone now~!

Ring of Fire

THIS IS SO TRIPPY THIS EPISODE IS SO TRIPPY

I would say that I hate Michael trying to get Kitt to subject himself to testing if he can withstand insane levels of heat.  I would say that if April did not then walk in and karma the crap out of him.  Gosh I loved it.  How he immediately was like whAT NOOO YOU WOULDN’T MAKE SOMEONE DO THAT and Kitt’s just like :/

dang hypocrite, Michael my feelings towards you are so complicated sometimes

anyway

So. Many. Dogs.  I usually love seeing Kitt interact with dogs but this started to get unsettling, I can’t blame him for not loving 6 different dogs all swarming him at once whAT- Have they nothing better to do than to jump on my son.  What the heck language were those banjo players singing in?  Was it a language or was it just gibberish keyboard spam that accidentally made it to the final script AOSHDIAOHSD

This whole swamp setting is really unique to this episode, and part of me really does commend the chance they took by switching up settings.  It’s almost always a small town on desert roads.  The way this all happened though was??? What?

I think the scriptwriters forgot that Return to Cadiz exists because Kitt got so much water damage AHSIDHAOISDH- I know April said the system was damaged but surely it would have minimized this a little bit.  Also did literally anything change by the end of this episode?  We didn’t see the guy get arrested, did we?  And the girl decided to stay living out in the swamp forest thing.  The only thing is that she, like, conquered her fear or something?  Even though she still isn’t acting in that direction?

This episode didn’t actually d o anything did it LOL

alsowhatevenwasthatexplosion

It’s not a bad episode though, just really bizarre.

Knightmares

YOU KNOW WHAT I SAID ABOUT IT NOT GETTING ANY CUTER?

I WAS WRONG.

THIS EPISODE this episode THIS EPISODE.  TOP TWO MATERIAL?  MORE LIKELY THAN YOU THINK.  TDR will always be my fav until the end of time I’m pretty sure because I don’t think another episode will get me to ugly sob like that (aLTHOUGH I AM MEGA HYPE HERE BECAUSE I WATCHED KvK AND IT WAS GOOD ALSO BUT WE’LL GET TO TH A T LATER) but in terms of sheer adorable buddies happiness this is the winner by all accounts.  I really like how they portray Michael Long, and I genuinely think the arc here has an impact on the rest of the season in terms of how Michael treats Kitt.

I love how Michael had told Kitt a long time ago how they were partners, like how he used to have a partner when he was a police officer, and how now when Long is so confused about everything everyone is trying to tell him, Kitt chooses this specific word to help introduce himself, and everything feels a bit more grounded for Long.  I love how Long immediately revolts against the way Devon and April try to tell him he’s wrong about who he is currently, which is, despite good intentions, the opposite of what he needs.  I love how Kitt then swoops in behind him and decides to treat Michael Long like a WHOLE NEW PERSON, one who Kitt tries to get to know.  I love how Long recognizes just how hard Kitt is trying and genuinely opens up to him.  I love how he never reverts to being mean or rude to Kitt after he gets in the car the second time, NOT EVEN ONE sarcastic comment.  How he never calls him a computer again after Kitt asks him not to, how he compliments his new partner left and right, how despite having no clue who Knight is he really wants to be that person for Kitt, because Kitt seems sincere and pretty great.  I adore that bit where Kitt gently, lovingly lists traits good and bad about Knight and how Long can finally connect to this other version of himself.

“One more thing about Michael Knight.”

“What’s that?”

“I was extremely fond of him”

I love how Long starts saying “Good work, Kitt” after they complete parts of their mission and how Knight does not stop this for the rest of the season, even after he regains his memory.  I love so much about this and could frankly talk about it even more than this but this is a brief summary so.  So yeah, we’re moving on ;W;

Silent Knight

It’s funny so.  I didn’t realize that Knight Rider had done any Christmas specials.  I knew about the Halloween specials, but I didn’t realize the Christmas special existed.  And so I was laughing at how funnee I was while I was like “SILENT KNIGHT HOLY KNIGHT ALL IS COME-” and then that’s exactly what the pun was meant to be.  they done bamboozled me.

ANYWAY THIS MIGHT BE THE STRANGEST CHRISTMAS SPECIAL TO EVER EXIST EVER.

They kept mentioning the Christmas banquet thing to make it mildly related to the season but then it wasn’t, it really wasn’t, it all revolved around clowns.  There was.  There was a Santa I guess.  Albeit a bank robber Santa--

And the kid is juuust obnoxious at first, I love how Kitt absolutely hates him immediately for some reason even though Kitt usually doesn’t hate people unless they do something really bad, but it feels so deserved because the kid is a jeeerk.  Maybe it’s because the kid accused him of endangering human life and that Hurt?

Kid: Just let me drive and I’ll throw away this dumb clock thing

Michael: No

Kitt: YES

Michael: W H A T ?!

Kitt: YES

Michael: ugh whatever

I was kind of expecting Kitt to pull some sort of shenanigans while the kid was driving as payback for whatever he absolutely despised him for, but Kitt was actually just really sweet and gave him a bit of freedom until he started endangering himself and then helped him get back into control.  Very wholesome.

AND the end was CUTE though, like the boy who had previously been a jerk going over and patting Kitt and being just sincerely nice to him ;w; wholesome

A Knight in Shining Armor

Gosh I always forget what this episode is about because the title is so loosely related LOL

The dynamic with Michael and the girl of the week was actually really cute and chemistry was not entirely nonexistant, so that’s a nice change from some of these that come out of nowhere.  Her arc was actually pretty sweet, how she resented technology because she wanted to be loved and cared about, how she thought computers were incapable of doing that until she talked to Kitt...

And the cave was prebby.

But why couldn’t she understand that her DAD was in PRISON.

“Why didn’t he ever come to see me?” “Because he was in Jail.” “oh.  But why didn’t he call???”

Diamonds Aren't a Girl's Best Friend

SOMEONE

AHAHA

SOMEONE CALLED MICHAEL

AHAHA

BERNIE CALLED HIM A DINGALING. Speaking of Bernie, all I could think this whole episode was

White-Line Warriors

LONG-LEGGED PUNK-

Seriously idk what this season’s love affair with the baddies picking on Michael but I love it.

Honestly the twist of this episode was really interesting, I still don’t fully get how the baddies’ plan comes together though.  So the song plays on the radio and the police go to investigate the drag racers and the crims are IMMEDIATELY ready?  okay then.

Radio announcer Kitt tho.  That is blessed.

I want Radio Announcer Kitt.  Then again, I just want more Kitt in general so.

Race for Life

INHALE

Y’ALL ARE REAAALLY TRYING TO MAKE ME DETHRONE KNIGHTMARES AS THE CUTEST, AREN’T YOU?

Well ha, joke’s on you episode, you’re getting docked points for only giving Kitt and Becky two interactions.  And for making the donor obnoxious for most of the episode (although that end scene was pretty adorable).  So, okay, second cutest.

THE WAY KITT WAVED I-

HE IS SO CUTE

he is so cute.

Devon was really sweet this episode, not gonna lie.  I’m not sure if I’ve said it on this blog before, but I had strong dislike for Devon after Season 1.  I can explain that later if anyone wants, I’d be perfectly willing to compare the two seasons, but Season 2 Devon is pretty alright.  He doesn’t have much of a presence, but when he does, he’s kind.  I’m assuming he let Becky win at checkers, in which case uh, aW?!  Devon that’s cute.

KITT TRYING TO TEACH THE TEN YEAR OLD CHESS AHSIODHOAISD I LOVE YOU BUDDY

Also, I feel like this is the episode April really became her own character, separate from Cadiz.  She’d kind of just been a slightly perkier Bonnie, but now we get to see her family, her concerns... And April’s a pretty good character.

OH AND THE WHOLE “Kitt is family” ARC IS THE SWEETEST THING ASHDHAOSDohIAD

“Julio, meet Kitt.  He’s part of the family”

“Thank you, Michael.”

MY.  HEART.

Speed Demons

Okay so.  This is another one of those episodes where very little seemed to change by the end of the episode.  The guy who was actually in danger quit motorcycling anyway soooo...  The episode plot itself isn’t what I feel like talking about.

What was WITH that one announcer guy?  Were we meant to like him or not???  First he tries to Kick the Kitt and Kitt’s like :/ whatever

and then he comes back and they start to have like, a deep conversation, and he lovingly pats the hood before walking away.  And we’re like AWWW OKAY THIS GUY IS NOT TO BAD

AND THEN he asks Kitt to talk for someone and Kitt’s like “...” and the guy riots.  Why did Kitt not talk for him and why did the guy go so absolutely bonkers when he didn’t?  Were the cameras rolling and I just didn’t realize?  And then we kind of hate the guy again because he once again absolutely went ballistic at Kitt.  “That’s Showbiz.”

But then the dynamic with that coworker keeps coming up, and yeah, I guess she does seem a bit annoying.  But she also seems like a potential lady of the week and a potential protagonist.  So when she gets splashed with mud or whatever that was and the guys all like :D

What are we meant to be feeling?

Are we meant to feel bad for her or happy for him?

Because I just felt confused.

Goliath Returns 1 & 2

GOSH DARNIT ADRIANNE IS BACK

ALSO I-I-I I TAKE BACK EVERYTHING I SAID ABOUT YOU BEING A DOOFY AND STUPID VILLAIN JUST P L E A S E STOP ; M ;

SERIOUSLY WHEN DID GARTHE TURN FULL PSYCHOPATH-

THE FEELING I GOT REMINDED ME OF WATCHING THE SHERLOCK FINALE.  S H E R L O C K  F I N A L E.

Sigh, I should have known he’d gone off the deep end when he walked into a hot tub with jeans on.

I will forever be mad at some versions coughincludingtheoneIwaswatchingoncough for cutting out the fact that Kitt’s microchip was almost ENTIRELY WIPED/OVERWRITTEN AND PUT INTO GOLIATH.  Because uh, the way the show cut it up for TV, it seems like Kitt’s really in no danger other than being annoyed.  But no, literally everyone almost dies.  Fun times!

Seriously why did this convoluted garbage get a two-parter but Kitt vs. Karr didn’t?

This episode makes me sad.  Not just because Garthe tried, and almost succeeded, to take away everything we love in this show.  Not just because this episode strayed far enough from the typical formula for this to seem like some dystopian nightmare version of Knight Rider. Not just because freaking Adrianne is back.

I mean because I loved Garthe’s character, and this totally changed it.  I like that they went into Garthe’s trauma a bit more with this one, but unlike some villains in the Knight Rider canon (okay let’s not play games, UNLIKE KARR-), what he does is so dastardly, SO insaNE, that there is no way to argue that he might be justified.  No.  No.  Garthe, Adrianne, and Goliath are gone now, and that’s how it had to be.

OH ALSO GO O F F APRIL YES QUEEN I LOVE YOU- I honestly felt so bad for her when she turned around and broke down right after standing up to him, like dang, that hurts.  And Devon was sweet in this episode too ;w;

Okay but were they planning on making another episode of this?  Because that end scene was such an obvious teaser it’s not even funny.

“I hope we don’t run into those very much drowned people out in the streets again, Michael.  And I especially hope that they do not construct another semitrailer with the exact same scale and name as the previous one that was driven into the ocean.”

“Yes, I agree Kitt, this is also an anxiety that I possess despite the fact that they are very much definitely Deceased.  I sure hope that plot convenience does not interfere in the future.”

THANK GOODNESS THAT ADRIANNE IS GONE

wait what?  her actress is in another episode as another character who’s just as awful? wHYYYYYY

A Good Knight's Work

THAT BEAR NEEDS TO DIE. I am so glad Michael ejected the dumb thing at the end, Kitt deserved it. Especially after Michael essentially told him to temporarily kill himself. Michael's a cyberbully now ig. The arc with Kitt and the car salesman was cute. Apparently deactivation is considered programming now? Michael my mans you could have given Kitt any warning at all (I kind of take this back after one of the Season 3 episodes I’ve watched uHHHH this was a lot of warning compared to how Michael rolls in S3 what the heck is wrong with him). Cute episode overall tho I guess. ALSO I JUST NOW REALIZED "A GOOD KNIGHT'S WORK" IS A PUN BECAUSE KITT IS WILTON KNIGHT'S WORK AND I'M MAD AT MYSELF FOR NOT NOTICING IT SOONER-

Mouth of the Snake and that other garbage one that's title makes no sense

David might as well be a plank of wood. A plank of wood that yeets himself ten feet into the air whenever possible, but I digress. Does this count as superpowers? I just love how he offended Kitt 0.1 seconds after meeting him and then Michael proceeded to tell Kitt off for reacting. Love that soooo much. It's also hilarious to me how most of this episode has a similar structure to most Knight Rider episodes and then they randomly start reacreating the Most Dangerous Game--

Let it Be Me

Why isn't this the season finale?! I mean, I'm glad it's not, but why? This is way worse than White Bird like why- I feel like the Stevie episodes are kind of a controversy in this fandom? I loved the first one. This one's just, blegh it's okay. She and Michael still have pretty great chemistry WHEN THEY ARE SPEAKING IN REGULAR SPEECH. I do not like Stevie singing the same song with Michael 100 times. The duet at the end is kind of cute though, sue me I like corny things.

Stevie: I’m so sorry I shouldn’t have been with this one guy but ;m;

Michael: has been with approximately 100 women by now

Also Michael: How could you ;m;

Big Iron

This episode is kinda wild. Why does the guy manage to have a full out breakup with Lucy in less than one minute? Why is Michael a marriage counselor now? Why couldn't Kitt take the oxygen out of the cabin when Michael was definitely going to die if he didn't?  Since when does Turbo Boost use a ton of oxygen anyway?  Why does this man just immediately make up with his wife after finding out that she helped him? And most of all, WHY DIDN'T THAT BARTENDER LADY ACT THE LEAST BIT CONCERNED WHEN THEY ABSOLUTELY TORE UP THE PLACE??? Lmbo she's just like "Stop it guys :/"

It’s so bizarre that this is the season finale ahsdoifhasodf but go off I guess NBC

[mythopoeticreality]

Okay. Alright. I’ve been trying to figure out how to put all of these thoughts into words for the past couple of days now, and I thiiink I‘ve gotten this into a place where I can communicate it all clearly? (you know rather than a flailing keyboard smash about Norrell and Strange and John Uskglass xD) Sooo....yeah. Time for some more rambling about the Raven King? Time for some more rambling about the Raven King!

Something that I’ve wondered a lot over the years I’ve spent writing and roleplaying as John Uskglass has been his attitude towards Fairy Abductions. In the book, just before Strange and Norrell summon the Raven King one of Norrell’s objections to the entire plan is this: “What will he care about two lost women? You are thinking of John Uskglass as if he was an ordinary man. I mean a man like you or me. He was brought up and educated in Faerie. The ways of the brugh were natural to him and most brughs contained captive Christians -- he was one himself. It will not seem so extraordinary to him. He will not understand.”

In essence here, Norrell is basically saying, ‘John Uskglass will not care’ and I can’t help but feel that his words are more of a refection on himself and his own still lingering attitudes towards the Raven King. I mean, the last time Norrell and Strange spoke together, didn’t Norrell just outright say it? “Do you think he cares what happens to England? I tell you he does not. He abandoned us long ago.” Norrell tried so desperately wen he was younger to find the Raven King. He is a Northerner, born and raised amidst stories and tales of John Uskglass’s deeds and surrounded by his legacy every day of his life; This is the same environment that Childermass -- who’s own devotion to the Raven King is made obvious -- grew up in, and so much of our knowledge of the Raven King does come from Norrell, he could be called one of our foremost experts on him in the book! But he felt betrayed, abandoned by the King as well, and that kind of bitterness doesn’t simply just go away. And now Strange wants to summon the King? Like Norrell tried and failed to do when he was younger? Imagine how close to home that would hit, how that could reawaken that sort of bitterness!

Meanwhile Strange replies with, “Then I will explain it to him, Mr Norrell.” He believes he can convince the King. Of course, this could all be chalked up as arrogance on Strange’s part -- ‘Arrogance’ is so much a part of his character that it was his name in the Prophecy after all! But his plan was to summon the King from the beginning. He believes that John Uskglass will be sympathetic to his plight. Our first introduction to Strange in this chapter, we see him reading from a book, listing off recorded historical cases of Fairy Abduction. “Seven people from Norwich in 1124...Four from Aysgarth in Yorkshire at Christmas in 1151, twenty three at Exeter in 1201, one from Hathersage in Derbyshire in 1243 -- all enchanted and stolen away into Faerie. It was a problem he never solved.” And here strange is presenting Fairy Abduction as something the King would see as a problem, would want to see solved. Not as something that just happens as a matter of course, as natural as the wind or rain. 

And honestly, I think we should believe Strange’s view over Norrell’s here. I think that of the two of them, though Norrell might know more of the Raven King intellectually, Strange has displayed more of an....emotional understanding? A sympathy? for the Raven King. (well, inasmuch as anyone can understand the Raven King on any level, atleast xD)  I’ve already gone into this more in a post I wrote a while back over here, but during the battle of Waterloo, Strange’s experience casting  Pale’s Conjectures Concerning the Foreshadowing of Things To Come reflects something of his later description of the young Raven King after his conquest of England. Look, compare this:

“Until this moment it had never seemed to him that his magicianship set him apart from other men. But now  he had glimpsed the wrong side of something. He had the eeriest feeling – as if the world were growing older around him, and the best part of existence – laughter, love and innocence – were slipping irrevocably into the past.” 

to this:

“He was pale and handsome and solemn-faced.”  Said of a boy fifteen years old, and newly successful in accomplishing all of his goals. As I said in that previous post, you would expect something more triumphant and celebratory to be in his expression --especially as he was raised by fairies. Can you imagine the Gentleman not crowing about his victories, after all? But instead he carries that same air about him, after battle, that Strange feels and experiences, looking out to the results of the battle he is about to fight, Melancholy, lonely, “as if the world were growing older around him, and the best part of existence – laughter, love and innocence – were slipping irrevocably into the past.”

So Strange has already once glimpsed something of what it was to be John Uskglass, but then, here at the beginning of the very chapter where he’s proposing to Norrell to summon the Raven King, he returns, just newly having gone through perhaps the experience that brings him as close to the Raven King as he ever has been: “I suppose it is because I have been many things since last we met. I have been trees and rivers and hills and stones. I have spoken to stars and earth and wind. One cannot be the conduit through which all English magic flows and still be oneself.”

So yeah, on some level I would say Strange had more of an understanding of the Raven King than Norrell does, or atleast a very different one, not blinded by the same bitterness that Norrell feels towards him. But does that necessarily mean he understands The Raven King in regards to how he feels about Fairy Kidnappings? Does John Uskglass view this as an issue? Does he care?

What’s interesting to note here are the locations and numbers of the dissaperances. Seven people from Norwich in 1124, Four from Aysgarth in Yorkshire at Christmas in 1151, twenty three at Exeter in 1201, one from Hathersage in Derbyshire in 1243. Norwich is in East Anglia, Aysgarth is in Yorkshire, Exeter is in Devon, and Heathersage is in Derbyshire. Interestingly, the places where the most people disappear are outside of the Raven King’s kingdom of Northern England. Perhaps it’s almost as if his presence there is discouraging such captures?

Of course, if we’re going to talk about Fairy Abductions, we cannot overlook the case of Buckler and Brandford-upon-Avon. In 1310 Buckler offered to act as the Fairy Servant of a minor magician known as Simon Bloodworth. After serving the magician and gaining the trust of the Household, Buckler managed to spirit back off to Faerie seventeen members of the Bloodworth Household, both of the family and servants. The Raven King sent magicians from his own court to investigate the matter of the dissaperances, but they were unable to discover the whereabouts of the Bloodworth family. Important to note here, in regards to our current discussion, however is the fact that the Raven King? He didn’t have to do anything about this. He did’t need to have anyone look into the dissaperances at all if he didn’t think it was an issue. Bradford-upon-Avon is in the South, and well outside the Raven King’s own Kingdom. Meanwhile, Simon Bloodworth was a rather minor magician who’s wife was lured into Faerie partially by the promises of spells that would ease the workload of her and her daughters, that they might not have to be constantly “sweeping and cooking and cleaning.” Such hardly speaks to a family of any importance, so even the political benefits of taking an interest in the matter seem negligible. But the Raven King did take an interest in the disappearance of the Bloodworth Household, and he sent two of his own Magicians into the South to do something about it!

Even the very presence and mere existence of the court of Folflures suggests far more about John Uskglass’s concern about the consequences of Fairy actions in England -- including Kidnapping -- than Norrell’s assertions would have one believe. Why else have a court committed solely to settling disputes and trying the crimes committed by Fairies? 

But of course none of this is to say that the Raven King has a completely human viewpoint on the matter of Fairy Abductions either. The Raven King himself is said to have spirited off several men and women to live with him in his home in Faerie-- to the point of there even being a ballad written about it. Not to mention the fact that his entire plan to bring Magic back to England involved the Abduction of three innocent people for over a decade -- no matter that in the end he also planned for an end to their capture in the form of Stephen’s rise to Kingship over Lost Hope as well. But...I don’t think it’s quite as simple as Norrell believes it either. Yes, he was raised in Faerie and their ways might at times seem more natural to him even than human ways. At the same time however, he has spent over 300 years amongst humanity, and in the course of his life amongst other human beings, even Norrell had to admit that he became “less like a fairy and more like a man.” Perhaps in the beginning he wouldn’t have understood, not really, but as he began to live more amongst his human subjects? As he began to develop connections himself, as he taught his apprentices, as he gained friendships, found people he actually cared about personally? How could he not understand, atleast on some level?

So yeah. I don’t...I don’t think The Raven King views such things as necessarily wrong all of the time, under every circumstance, but at the same time I certainly don’t think that he wouldn’t care or understand that kind of grief at separation at all. I don’t know. I think his opinions on such Fairy abductions were ambivalent and complicated, and were constantly changing over the course of his life, and even after all this thinking and rambling about it I’m still kind of trying to sort it all out. What do y’all think? I’d really love to talk to someone about this :D

[earldevon]

◤ ––––– (  fawad khan, cismale, he/him  ) — a member of the  [  VILLIERS  ]  family seeks entry to the society !  [  SARMAD  ]  is a  [ 37 ]  year old   [  NEWSPAPER EDITOR &&. MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS  ]  who hails from  [  LONDON  ]  ,  who call them  [  THE DILIGENT  ]  .  although their peers know them for being  [  CHARMING  ]  and  [  AMBITIOUS  ]  ,  their reputation for being  [  IMPATIENT  ]  and  [  SARCASTIC  ]  might hinder their relations with current society members. while the  [  VILLIERS  ]  family is known for  [  BEING BRITISH NOBILITY  ]  ,  the society’s hopeful  [  MARCUS AURELIUS  ]  is better remembered by  [  EYE CONTACT AND A LIP BITE ;  BLOOD TYPE: GOLD ; A SIGNET RING GLINTING IN THE EARLY MORNING LIGHT ; SNOWFLAKES DISSOLVING INTO DARK HAIR ]  .  initial reports say their goal of  [  EXPANDING THEIR SOCIAL NETWORK  ]  would be their first priority after being inducted, although who’s to say that won’t change ? ◢ 

––– RECAP. 

tldr earl of devon is also a newspaper editor, enjoys sitting on balconies and reading his own newspaper, isn’t the best but also he is definitely not trying at all. goes out a lot. has many dogs. has many opinions. thinks hes hot shit. once got lost in his own house. 10000% uses his looks to get what he wants. basically a femme fatale i guess idk 

tw sex mention ; tw partying mention ; tw language

the eldest of four, sarmad was always a little shit. it’s okay, because he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth –– he was born with several gold plated cutlery sets. literally grew up in a castle. still stays there most nights. but as the heir to the earldom of devon, he grew up with tourists walking around his house and lavish dinners every other night, and he grew up absolutely, completely spoiled. did their mother abandon them when sarmad’s youngest sister was only a year old? yes. does he have mummy issues? yes. did they manifest in bad choices and severe commitment issues? you bet. ( but he also had a great step-mother. 10/10 love her. )

so after all the things he was supposed to do –– attend harrow ( yawn ), attend oxford ( double yawn ), make all the social connections he could ( not that bad, actually ) –– he finally graduated and did what he wasn’t supposed to do. sarmad became a journalist, much to his father’s great annoyance. he started off at the bbc, before becoming a full time contributor at the telegraph. he also wrote for vanity fair, the independent on sunday, and the guardian. then he became the full time editor of the telegraph and gave it the modern revamp it so desperately needed. he also has an assistant he would legitimately be dead without. 

now, sarmad is an arsehole. he never pretended otherwise. he goes out, he parties a lot, he’s been a staple in the daily mail since he was all of about nineteen. he doesn’t date, he doesn’t call people back, he doesn’t lead anyone on. he likes a good time. and maybe, maybe he’s completely unapologetic. is he sleeping with a rival newspaper boss? yes. is it hate sex? yes. is he sleeping with one of the other members of the house of lords? yes. he’s not a saint. but then again, anyone getting involved with him knows exactly what they’re in for. so, really? what’s the harm? 

he followed his dad and eventually joined the house of lords after he passed away. and he takes that pretty damn easy. sure, he still has his day job as editor, but he also enjoys using his charm in parliament, and he likes seeing how far he can get his way. tbh he’s doing mostly for the influence and the clout.  

joining the society had never interested him. he’d known about it, obviously ; his family were legacy members and there had been enough dinners at their estate for him to be fully aware of its existence, but. sarmad had just never cared. it was a little too much cloak and dagger, skull and bones nonsense for him. 

however, since joining the house of lords –– since entering politics at all –– he’s realised he needs to branch out more and more. he can’t just rely on his own media connections or the elite he brushes shoulders with just because of his name and title. sarmad needs more to survive politics, and for that? the society’s good for something after all. it’s why he’s an initiate at his age ( his dad would yell )

MOST IMPORTANTLY : he has eight dogs –– three corgis named cider, peppermint, and cardamom ; two cocker-spaniels named spencer and emmanuel ; two foxhounds named winston and manto ; one labrador named simla. also owns horses and birds. 

he also has a younger brother and two younger sisters. they’re annoying but he loves them, and he can also now joke about how they’re under his roof when they stay at the estate. ( hes not joking ) sarmad is also a mouthy lil shit 

also if you are not making your tea on the stove by boiling tea leaves in milk and water, and then serving it piping hot, you can get tf out of his house !!! dont ask him about his chai discourse bec he only stans doodh patti 

[sleepyymp3]

okja (2017)

it may be two years too late but i recently (a few minutes ago) watched the film Okja.  for those who are unsure of the plot, okja follows the path of a young girl who raised okja, a pig bred for a competition.  when the pig is taken away for the competition, Mija, the girl, goes after her.  she meets a rebel group of animal lovers and they attempt to take the pig back.

im about to spoil the film so if you haven’t seen it and wanna, bye!

okay.  spoilers below.  it’s been two years though so unless you’re me, you should be aware of the plot.  they’re not major spoilers though.

firstly, my initial thoughts.  i loved it.  the cinematography was fantastic, striking visuals and contrast of light and dark when approaching different parts of the film were perfect and beautiful, the emotions they evoked from me when watching it was unforgettable.  when the shot of all the manufactured pigs panned out to show thousands of them, i had chills everywhere.

the fact that it was a korean-american film in terms of actors, language and setting--and done so WELL, director Bong Joon-ho impressed me to no ends, is important in so many ways.  the representation it brings, as well as the importance of steven yeun (the walking dead, voltron: legendary defender, mayhem) in the role of the korean-american character ‘k’.  i am not a korean speaker, so i did limited research on his portrayal of k in the film, and according to an interview, he played k as a character that was dancing in between the roles of korean and american, and spoke slightly broken korean on purpose.  read this article for a well articulated version of what im trying to say: https://slate.com/culture/2017/06/there-s-a-translation-joke-for-korean-americans-in-the-subtitles-of-okja.html

the acting was fantastic.  Seo-Hyeon Ahn, mija, was phenomenal.  i was truly and completely invested because of her.  incredible.  the entire cast floored me.  everyone was so perfect in their roles i couldn’t believe what a dream cast it was.  tilda swinton and jake gyllenhaal astounded me, they were absolutely unforgettable as the ‘antagonists’, and i even felt disgustingly sympathetic for them, especially jake when dr. johnny has the breakdown in the factory.

carrying on, the characters were amazingly written.  the movie okja was portrayed so that there was no black and white, right and wrong--every character was in the grey area, it portrayed everyone in a harsh light.  the ‘good’ characters did bad things and it was a refreshing take on protag vs antag.  the main characters were so likeable and i loved their chemistry and interactions.  paul dano (jay) and steven yeun (k) thrived in their scenes together (k is a primary example of the “good character does bad thing” style i just mentioned when he mistranslates.  jay is also a bit iffy in terms of his morals in some scenes.  in fact, the whole alf is).  i lowkey shipped them together throughout the film, especially in the post credit scene.  other main characters included red, played by lily collins, blond, played by daniel henshall, and silver, played by devon bostick (aka jasper from the 100).

blond and silver, i would like to point out, are portrayed as boyfriends in the film.  lgbt characters.  they did not kiss on screen, nor did they in any way verbally state that they were in a homosexual relationship.  they were dating though.  through body language (holding each other, burying faces in necks/shoulders, sacrificing themselves for the other, etc) it was explicitly shown.  the fact that lgbt characters were shown in Okja without anybody mentioning or playing a large amount of attention to was amazing.  it showed that lgbt characters don’t have to be a ‘big deal’ or that they are in a film just to be an lgbt character.  they were animal lovers part of the alf who played crucial roles in the film, who just happened to be dating.  it was fine.  wonderful.

finally, okja the film was NOT an anti-meat statement.  i can see how it could be interpreted as such but it was NOT AN ANTI-MEAT FILM.  mija is shown explicitly eating meat, she collects fish in the stream for dinner and her grandfather makes her chicken stew.  this film was promoting ETHICAL PRODUCTION.  the conditions of which the bred bigs were put through were an attempt to show the horrors of manufactured creatures such as okja.  though they are not real creatures and this is a fictional setting, it is a representation of real meat manufacturing and production.  okja is chosen as the Biggest, Best, most Beautiful pig, and she has been raised by just roaming the country, fed and raised naturally.  this is a representation of natural, ethical means of meat production.  it showed corporate greed, activism and ETHICAL PRODUCTION.

tldr; OKJA IS AN INCREDIBLE FILM WITH PHENOMENAL ACTING AND AN AMAZING MESSAGE THAT STAYS WITH YOU LONG AFTER WATCHING.  PLEASE GO WATCH IT.  IT IS WORTH THE TIME I PROMISE YOU.

also: i have absolutely no experience nor professional critiquing in terms of film studies or the history of meat production.  or ethnicity representation or anything that i have spoken about.  take my opinions with a grain of salt.  i am literally fifteen years old.

if you made it this far, thanks for reading!  i hope this film changes/changed you as much as it did me. 

[milesawaylove-blog1]

When those we love, have to go

Firstly, I just want to say this is a post I have been very nervous about. It’s been written for months but I've been very apprehensive to share it. It’s is very personal to me, but I also thought why would anyone want to bother reading it. But after much consideration I realised that this subject is one all too many of us are familiar with. Loss. Those who know me well know that I could talk for England, but I really struggle to be honest with myself about things I NEED to talk about. Hence why this piece became reality. And by sharing my own experience it may help someone else to feel less alone with the pain that so many of us share. Writing for me is therapy, it allows me to channel my thoughts positively- and lift weight from me mentally.

Like most little girls my Dad was my best friend. I always wanted to be around him. I was so fortunate to grow up with parents who I am wonderfully close to, and each relationship was so different and special in its own way. My Dad was my superhero. He made me feel safe and like we could do anything if we put our minds to it. Scary things were less scary when he was around. I was the more adventurous one out of my sister and I- so it was always me and Dad trying the new theme park rides, together. And we were the strongest team. We are so similar in many ways too, I definitely got my opinionated nature from him. He was never afraid to say what he thought- sometimes this was for good but it could also land him in hot water occasionally! But he also didn't care what other people thought- something I admired so much. He didn't care about making himself look silly, and always stood up for what was right, and for those who couldn't always do it for themselves.

I was only 12 years old when we received the news. Cancer. The word that every family dreads to hear. Before we knew Dad went for initial testing for the pains in his lower back that were stopping him from walking properly and I remember thinking how scared I was that it would be cancer. And when we found out I was so upset as I thought it was my fault for thinking it. As you can imagine, the next year was hell for my family. Endless chemo treatments, hospital visits, tears, cuddles and being the most scared I've ever been.

But my Dad was so strong. He took it all in his stride. He hardly ever complained and I only ever saw him cry once. Even though he was so ill, he always remained so positive and was always thinking of others, because thats just who he was. And he was incredible.

The 21st of January 2011 was the day my life changed forever. The day that all our lives changed. Suddenly he was gone. My happy, outrageous, fun, caring wonderful Daddy was gone. Half of me was gone and I was never getting him back. I couldn't believe it and I didn't want to believe it. I asked the nurse to double check, and bless her she did, probably to give me peace of mind. Everyone reacts differently to death, and I was numb- I didn’t cry. I couldn't. That has always played on my mind- how can something so devastating happen but your body doesn't flinch, no tears? No acceptance and shock, I guess that’s why. My last ever memory of my Dad, is when I gave him a final kiss goodbye. He didn't look like himself anymore and he was so cold. That is something that will stay with me forever. 

The next few weeks, months and years were weird, we tried to go on with normal life but in reality we couldn't. Our foundation had been taken away. We crumbled, and it was going to take an incredibly long time for us to even think about beginning to rebuild. 

My mum and sisters grieving process began straight away and I felt like mine never truly began. Seeing them both cry meant I couldn't cry. I had to be strong for them, just like Dad would have been. It definitely made me grow up so quickly. But this wasn't healthy for me, as I ended up bottling my feelings for months on end, that then resulted in colossal breakdowns that would last for hours on end, and when I was all tired from crying, it would begin again. The bottling. The un-acceptance. The feeling of it just not being real. I would definitely say for the first year I didn't even process it. We were so used to being without him when he was in hospital, there was always the childish hope that he would just come back or that it had all been a horrendous nightmare. But sadly, this nightmare was a reality. Every time I thought about it, I thought “why him, why did this happen to us?” I was really angry and constantly felt how unfair life is. I thought there are some people in the world that deserve this WAY more than him, he was a good person so couldn't it just have taken a bad person instead? Yes that’s bad, but it’s honest. I genuinely thought that most days. It was just horrible that one of the two people that brought me into this world, and who I loved the most was ripped away from me & I still feel like that now.

Today I am 21 years old. I have been without my Dad for 8 years. I lost him at such a young age, I feel as if I have been cheated of the life that I should have had with him. The last 2/3 years have been particularly hard for me. If I'm honest, probably the hardest yet. As an adult I have realised the consequences of living a life with one parent missing. And he has missed so much. My GCSE’s, my singing, my first ever show and all the ones to follow, getting into University, getting jobs. It truly breaks my heart that my Dad never got to meet Charlie. The person that loves his nutty little girl for everything that she is both good and bad, and has provided nothing but love and support over the last three and a half years. I always found it weird and creepy when people say you end up with people like your parents, (sociologist/media students you know what I mean lol) in some ways this could not be further than the truth but in others it is. I’ve been lucky enough to find someone as kind, funny and warm-hearted as my Dad. I just know if they had ever met my Dad would have given him hell for the first few weeks, but they would have got on so well- and I know this because my whole family agrees.

There will be so many more things that I wish he could be here for, and that I would give anything for his guidance on. He won’t see my graduate in a few months time, or get my first proper job and help me move to London. He’ll miss out on my wedding and my children will never know their Grandad- I know all of that is so far away but you just can't help but think about it. Even though he may not physically be here, I truly believe he has been watching over me and guiding me through the past 8 years- because as Winnie the Pooh says (one of my faves growing up) “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.”

People always say it gets better in time, but for me this is bullshit. The longer I go without him the harder it gets. Generally, I think I’ve done pretty bloody well. I know I should give myself credit but it is so hard to. I’ve been through a lot and I’m still going through it. It’s so much harder for me as my family are at different stages now but I still feel stuck, longing and not wanting to move on. I don’t think I ever want to move on completely, and thats okay. It still hurts and it hurts so bad. Those who are lucky enough to have not experienced anything like this don't always get it, and that can be frustrating, but I have to remember what ever I feel is normal and okay, and I should never feel bad about feeling upset wether it has been 8 years, 18 years or 80 years.

However, through all the hurt, and sadness, what I am left with is beautiful. Family, friends, and loved ones, but most importantly memories. The brilliant family holidays to Devon, Christmases, Birthdays, Weddings, game nights, golf lessons & nights in. I was lucky enough to spend 12 years with my Dad which is more than some. I will cherish those years, but my god I wish every day that they weren't cut short. I miss you constantly Papa Bear. I hope you are proud of me. I love you forever.

Your Emsie xxx

P.s- To those of you I cherish the most- both family and friends, you know who you are. Thank you for being there for me and keeping my head up when I feel down. Forever grateful for you all. BIG LOVE xxxx

[weekendwarriorblog]

The Rest of the Weekend Warrior’s 2020 Top 25… and His Terrible 12 Movies!

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice that my Top 10 has already appeared over at Below the Line, and you can either go there and read those first or start with the movies that fell just outside my top 10, including a few movies you might not have heard about.

Back at the very beginning of 2020, I made a private resolution that I would watch more screeners. This is because I had become quite legendary for publicists sending me screeners and me just not getting the time to watch them with all the running around I was doing to screenings. I will never make a resolution like that ever again. (In fact, if my 2021 resolution was to have more sex, I only really need to do it once.)

This year, I wrote (no joke) slightly under 300 reviews, which may be more than I wrote in the three years prior. Part of this was having extra time from not travelling around the city trying to get to screenings, but also, once I decided to transition my weekly box office column into a review column, I decided that I was gonna watch and review as many movies as I possibly could this year. I’m sure there are others who do this all the time, but man, I don’t know how you do it. There were days where I got so burnt out at staring at my laptop for 15 hours every day that I just had to stop.

Still, when you’re watching 300 movies in a single year, any movie that can get into my annual Top 25 (or even get an Honorable Mention) should feel somewhat honored.

Anyway, onto the second 15 movies in my Top 25 (click on the title for a link to each of my reviews!):

11. Herself (Amazon Prime Video) – One of my more recent viewings is this film directed by Phyllida Lloyd  (Mamma Mia!) and starring British actress Clare Dunne (who also co-wrote the script) as a mother of two young girls who got out of an abusive marriage with a man who still shares custody with her daughters. She wants to give her girls a place to live so she decides to build her own house on a plot of land given to her as a gift. It’s such a simple premise but Lloyd and Dunne have made a wonderful not-too-heavy drama that still slams you with its raw emotions.

12. Jungleland (IFC Films) – I really enjoyed Max Winkler’s earlier movie Ceremony, but this underground boxing drama about two brothers (Jack O’Connell, Charlie Hunnam) was also a solid crime-drama that follows them on a road trip to deliver a mob boss’ mistress (Jessica Barden) back to him on their way to a big match. Winker really outdid himself in terms of the storytelling and somehow managed to avoid most of the normal boxing movie cliches while allowing this to stand up to some of the greats.

13. Palm Springs (NEON/Hulu) – One of the first of this year’s Sundance movies that really connected with me, Max Barbakow’s sci-fi comedy starred Andy Samberg as a guy stuck at a horrible wedding who ends up in a Groundhog’s Day situation with the wonderful Christin Milioti was so much fun. Adding to the madness was JK Simmons as a guy who seems to be out to get Samberg’s character for reasons we don’t learn until much later. Such a brilliant and hilarious movie with so much great re-watch value.

14. Soul (Disney•Pixar) – The latest from the animation studio that seemingly can’t do wrong – but that depends on who you ask – follows jazz pianist Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who dies and ends up “The Great Beyond” desperate to get back to earth having just gotten his big break. Helping him (sort of) is a soul voiced by Tina Fey, and things don’t go quite as Joe helped. Co-written and co-directed by Kemp Powers, the film goes in a different direction from Docter’s last animated film, Inside Out, but still retaining some of the same metaphysical fabric that made that Oscar-winning animated film connect with adults just as much as with kids.

15. Mangrove (Amazon Prime Video) – The debate on whether Steve McQueen’s latest “Small Axe Anthology”  should be deemed a TV series or five separate movies continues to rage as Amazon decides to save the movie for the Emmies. At  two hours long, Mangrove is the closest of the series to being a  great stand-alone film, and frankly, I thought it was better than McQueen’s Oscar-winning film, 12 Years a Slave. This told the true story of restaurant owner, Frank Crichlow (Shaun Parkes), and how he’s persecuted by the racist local police in the late ‘60s, but when he teams with a local Black Panther activist (Black Panther’s Letitia Wright), a protest march turns into a tense court trial for a number of people involved in it.

16. I Will Make You Mine (Gravitas Ventures) – Actor Lynn Chen’s directorial debut was actually the third movie in a trilogy of indie films centered around musician/songwriter Goh Nakamura, who appeared in all three films. I watched this the first time thought it was just okay. When I realized it was part of a series of films, and I went back and watched the other two movies, I was completely blown away by what Chen did within this finale. With movies, you generally only have a limited time to explore its characters, but like Richard Linklater’s “Before” movies, this movie helped to really create depth in the characters by revisiting them. I was kind of shocked that I hadn’t seen the other movies – few critics have – and though only 18 other critics reviewed this one, the film is still 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, which should tell you how good it is.

17. Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Prime Video) – Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha starred in Eugene Ashe’s 50s-60s-set romantic drama about an early television producer and a jazz musician, following their relationship after a summer fling that ends with him leaving for Paris. Separated for years, she remarries and raise the child from her former lover, but then they reconnect and… well, you’ll have to watch it for yourself. It’s on Prime Video right now, so if you’re a subscriber, you have no reason not to. (And Erik Davis of Fandango had a great idea… watch this as a double feature with McQueen’s Lovers Rock from “Small Axe Anthology”!)

18. The Traitor (Sony Pictures Classics) – Last year’s Italian section for the Oscar International Film was a fantastic The Godfather-like crime-thriller, this one starring Pierfrancesco Favino as Tomassso Buscetta, a Palermo-based Casa Nostra family member responsible for the heroin trade in the ‘80s who flees to Brazil. It’s an amazing story showing that filmmaker Marco Bellochio did his research to create a movie that didn’t really get the critical love or attention it deserved.

19. Weathering With You (GKids) – And here is Japan’s selection for the Oscar International Film, a rare Anime film, this one by Your Name director Makoto Shinkai, this one more about a fantasy-romance about a young man who meets a young woman who can control the rain, which they turn into a lucrative business. I didn’t love it quite as much as Your Name, which was a truly inventive turn on the “body-switching” movie, but this also had some of the same characterizations that make Shinkai’s work so terrific, so it was impossible not to enjoy how it translated into his latest feature.

20. Lingua Franca (ARRAY Releasing/Netflix) – Trans filmmaker Isabel Sandoval’s film was released in the same weekend as another movie with a trans lead, Flavio Alves’ The Garden Left Behind. While they were both good, Sandoval wrote, directed and starred in her movie which was about her character Olivia having a romance with a guy surrounded by transphobic bros. Olivia is also trying to get her green card, and the immigrant aspect of the film really added a lot to what seemed like a deeply personal film.

21. The Outpost (Screen Media Films) – I’ve been a fan of Rod Lurie’s work for almost as long as I’ve been writing reviews. In fact, one of my very FIRST movie reviews was for his movie The Last Castle in 2001. I’ve also been fortunate to call him friend. I’ve watched Rod transition into quite a skilled television director, but I been waiting over ten years for him to make a movie as good as his amazing political thriller, Nothing but the Truth. Working from Jake Tapper’s non-fiction novel, Lurie created a full-on and unapologetic war movie as good as Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor, Blackhawk Down or any other modern war film… but also a film as personal as any others released this year.

22. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix) – Aaron Sorkin’s second film as a director stepped things up, WAY up, as he decided to take on one of the more noted events that signified the famed “Summer of Love” of 1969, as a number of peaceful protesters were tried by the federal government for “inciting a riot.” The amazing cast included Eddie Redmayne, Sacha  Baron Cohen, Yahya Abdul-Mateen 2, Michal Keaton, Mark Rylance, Frank Langella, Jeremy Strong and many more. It was an abundance of acting riches and when you have such a fine wordsmith in screenwriter/playwright Sorkin, it’s hard to go wrong. The thing is that by the time I saw this, I had already seen Steve McQueen’s Mangrove, which in my opinion is a far superior version of a similar story from the same time period.

23. Words on Bathroom Walls (LD Entertainment/Roadside Attractions) – A movie I didn’t expect much from but totally fell in love with was this romantic drama starring Charlie Plummer as Adam Petrozelli, a young man sent to a Catholic School where he hopes to keep his schizophrenia a secret from his new classmates. The film co-starred Taylor Russell from Waves as Adam’s friend and love interest, who also gets worried about Adam’s erratic behavior whenever he goes off his meds. Adam’s condition was shown by the personalities he interacts with, played by Anna Sophia Robb, Devon Bostick and Lobo Sebastian, but the movie also stars the great Molly Parker as Adam’s mother and Walton Goggins as her live-in boyfriend. All of this adds up to a great coming-of-age film from Thor Freudenthal that also became one of the first couple movies since March to test out theatrical waters months after the pandemic shutdown.

24. Sputnik (IFC Midnight) – An amazing Russian sci-fi thriller from Egor Abramenko (remember that name!) that’s likely to be compared to Alien  but adds so much more depth by taking place in communist Russia during the ‘80s. It stars Pyotr Fyodorov as a cosmonaut who brought something back with him from space and Oksana Akinshina as the psychologist who has to figure what is happening. It starts quite, reminding you of the original Russian film Solaris, but by the end, it gets pretty insane. More than anything, it finds a way of doing something original within an overused sci-fi trope.

25. Parallel (Vertical Entertainment)  - Similarly, I had pretty low expectations for Isaac Ezban’s sci-fi/horror film about a group of Silicon Valley friends who discover a mirror that allows them to travel to and from alternate versions of their own dimension, which they use for criminal activities. Soon, some of them have gotten out of control with the power and money that this access gives them, but like Palm Springs, it’s a great take on another overused sci-fi trope that’s done so beautifully. (Warning: There have been a LOT of movies with this title in the last five years. Make sure you choose the right one!)

Honorary Mentions: The Prom (Netflix), Kindred (IFC Midnight), On the Rocks (A24/Apple TV+), Yellow Rose(Sony), Misbehaviour (Shout! Factory), Premature (IFC Films), Spontaneous (Paramount), The Climb (Sony Pictures Classics)

Oh, and as a reminder, here’s my top 10, this time with links to my reviews where applicable:

10. One Night in Miami.. (Amazon Prime Video) 9. Pieces of a Woman (Netflix) 8. Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime Video) 7. Mulan (Disney+) 6. Synchronic (Well GO USA) (Tied with Disney+’s Hamilton) 5. Nomadland (Searchlight Studios) 4. News of the World (Universal) 3. Minari (A24) 2. Corpus Christi 1. Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)

And some MORE DOCS I liked that didn’t make my Top 12 over at Below the Line:

13. Robin’s Wish (Vertical) 14. PJ Harvey: A Dog Called Money 15. 76 Days (MTV Documentaries) 16. Rebuilding Paradise (NatGeo) 17. The Fight (Magnolia) 18. Collective (Magnolia) 19. Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story (Shout! Studios) 20. We Are Freestyle Love Supreme (Hulu) 21. My Name is Pedro (Sweet 180) 22. Crock of Gold: A Night with Shane MacGowan (Magnolia) 23. You Cannot Kill David Arquette (Super) 24. Feels Good Man 25. Suzi Q (Utopia Distribution)

The Terrible 12 of 2020!:

And it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for -- and the reason I guess most people are reading this -- so I apologize for making all five of you read through all the great movies and docs of 2020 before getting to the juicy stuff. Let’s get to it!

12. Superintelligence (HBO Max) – There was a time when I loved Melissa McCarthy – years before Bridesmaids – but her success after that film and her decision to keep making movies with husband/director Ben Falcone has only led to a few halfway decent comedies. (I didn’t think The Boss was that bad, but that’s cause it co-starred Kristen Bell.) So imagine if you’re one of the first big studio comedies to be dumped to Warner Media’s new streaming service, HBO Max, and that was almost SIX MONTHS BEFORE COVID HIT! How bad could a movie be to have that little support and confidence from the studio? Well, I found out that very thing, as I sat through this horrible movie that had McCarthy play another one of her usual “everywomen,” this one who encounters an Artificial Intelligence, voiced by James Corben, who has achieved sentience. Trying to learn what it is to be human, the AI starts giving McCarthy’s character everything she wants, including a relationship an old workmate, played by Bobby Canavale. The movie wasn’t very funny but it also branched into a rom-com plot that just didn’t suit either McCarthy or Canavale, so yes, quite an epic fail.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “'Superintelligence' is not a term I'd use for whoever greenlit this piece of crap.”

11. Hubie Halloween (Netflix) – I don’t think that Hubie Halloween was anywhere near Adam Sandler’s worst movies ever, and probably not even his worst for Netflix – although there have been some VERY bad ones. The problem is that any opportunity Sandler was given in this movie to show he can deliver something other than “more of the same” had him instead resorting to the physical humor that appealed to his fanbase. And yet, it wasn’t even the worst movie to come out that week it debuted on the streamer. (See below.)

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “A perfectly fine Netflix movie, not something I’d ever want to have to sit in a movie theater watching with others.”

10. Max Cloud – This sci-fi-action-comedy didn’t have a terrible premise – I mean, I enjoyed it in all three Jumanji movies --  but it was marred by being such a monumentally badly made movie that stars one of the one actors in the business, namely Scott Adkins. Set in 1990, Adkins plays the title character in a video game, in which a teen girl finds herself transported as a character. If you wondered what a Jumanji movie would look like in the hands of a completely incompetent cast and crew, well, here you go.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “Pretty awful, a bad faux video game movie that should have had its plug pulled.”

9. The Stand-In (Saban Films) – Not to be outdone by her frequent co-star Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore threw out all of the love she’s garnered from previous movies and her new talk show by playing dual roles of a raunchy comedy star best known for her pratfalls (so kind of a cross between Sandler and Melissa McCarthy?). Barrymore also played her nearly identical stand-in who didn’t get as much acclaim but gets to stand in for her famous lookalike when the latter goes on a bender and ends up hiding in her mansion for five years. Not sure why Barrymore thought this would be a good way to put her back on the movie screen, but yikes… one of her character’s big gimmicks is falling face first into a pile of horse shit – not funny and just plain gross.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “Guarantees Barrymore a double-dose Razzie nomination.”

8. The War with Grandpa (101 Studios) – For whatever reason, I decided not to review this Weinstein Co. cast-off family comedy starring Robert De Niro and Uma Thurman. Maybe that’s because I hated the movie so much I could barely get through it, and with a Friday review embargo, I just decided not to waste any more time thinking about it. So why didn’t it end up lower, you ask? I have no effin’ idea.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: N/A

7. Pearl – There have been some bad young adult romances over the past few years, and while I don’t think Bobby Roth’s is actually based on any existing book, it might as well have been, because it was very, very bad. It stars Larsen Thompson as a 15-year-old piano prodigy who is sent to live with her unemployed film director uncle, played by Anthony LaPaglia, who was so super-creepy in that role. I don’t remember much else, since I deliberately scrubbed my memory of this movie’s existence.  Little did I realize that I’d be watching an even WORSE version of this movie a few months later.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “LaPaglia is way too good an actor, who deserves better than this.”

6. Black Water: Abyss – Another movie I watched late in the week and just didn’t have time or bother to review. Honestly, I remember very little about this. I think it involves crocodiles? Who knows, who cares? Not me or anyone else I expect. Everything about this movie was pretty bad.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: N/A

5. The Turning (Universal) – Probably the biggest studio movie to wind up on this list, and possibly the only reason I didn’t review this was because I interviewed the director, Floria Sigismondi (The Runaways), who is generally a pretty awesome artist. But I love the original source material on which this is based and seeing how much better Netflix’s The Horror of Bly Manor was a few months later just made me a little sore that a movie starring the great Mackenzie Davis with Finn Wolfhard and Brooklyn Prince could end up with one of the lamest endings of a horror movie in recent memory.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: N/A

4. Butt Boy (Epic Pictures) – Tyler Cornack’s comedy-slash-thriller was my worst movie of the year for many, many months until the three movies below it reared their ugly heads. Still, this one is pretty ugly as it stars Conack himself as Chip Gutchel, a man who becomes obsessed after a proctology exam so that things just keep vanishing up his own asshole. Yeah, I think my RT quote is fairly apt.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “I wouldn't recommend this to my worst enemy.”

3. Buddy Games (Saban Films/Paramount) – The fact that Josh Duhamel’s directorial debut came out the same week as Superintelligence yet ended up lower on this list is fairly telling. It involves Duhamel and a group of his friends taking part in ridiculous competitions for money, and shows what happens when these friends reunite five years later to throw another Buddy Game. It was just very low-brow and disgusting and a not particularly funny take on the Jackass movies. There was scene that almost made me stop watching.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “To call Buddy Games moronic, idiotic or even asinine, would be an insult to morons, idiots or asses, who are also likely the movie's target audience.“

2. Sno Babies (Better Noise Films) – This poorly-conceived “Afterschool Special” that follows a high school senior named Kristen (Katie Kelly) and her ever-growing drug addiction was almost like a young adult version of Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream if just about everything about the movie was bad from the writing to the acting to just really horrible images that no one would want to watch or be put through. If the film just followed Kelly’s character, maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad, but it’s a narrative that follows a bunch of characters including a couple wanting to have a baby… and when Kristen becomes pregnant due to her being on drugs, well, you can probably guess where it’s going. The only movie this year that had me literally yelling at my laptop like a lunatic.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “The people who made this movie should never be allowed to make another movie again.”

1. Dead Reckoning (Shout! Studios) – Scott Adkins makes his second appearance in the Terrible 12 with a movie in which he plays an Albanian terrorist. In fact, when I first heard about this movie and the fact it was directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, the cinematographer/director behind Romeo is Bleeding and lots of trashy action flickers from the Aughts, it made me expect something in that vein. Instead, this is another young adult drama set in Nantucket with K.J. Apa from Riverdale playing Adkins’ brother who falls for a local teen lush, played by India Eisley, who proceeds to chug alcohol in every scene. Oh, her parents were killed in a terrorist act… coincidence? I think not. Eventually, we learn that Adkins’ character is planning a terrorist act by blowing up a boat on the 4th of July, and that’s maybe an hour or more into the movie. And yeah, there’s a number of action scenes awkwardly shoehorned into the story as well… Adkins’ fight with a nurse trying to help him was particularly hilarious. But the fact that the movie is being sold as “a thriller inspired by the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013” just makes the whole thing even more awkward and insulting. This one ends up in the “What on earth were they thinking, whoever financed this movie?” box.

Rotten Tomatoes Quote: “The only way to have any fun watching this disaster is to play a drinking game where you take a drink every time Eisley's character takes a drink.”

That’s it for this year…. Happy New Year and on to 2021!

[what-if-rpg]

Welcome to the family, JORDYN! Your application to BLAINE ANDERSON was accepted. I am really happy to give you your second character! Make sure to read the beginners checklist, and remember, have fun! I can’t wait to roleplay with you! Have fun!

IN CHARACTER

CHARACTER NAME: Blaine Devon Anderson CHARACTER AGE & DATE OF BIRTH: 27 and 10th Nov OCCUPATION: Broadway Actor & Singer FACE CLAIM: Darren Criss HOMETOWN & CITY WHERE LIVES NOW: Bostin, MA and New York City SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER: Gay and Male RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Divorced POSITIVE TRAITS: Creative, Affectionate and Proactive NEGATIVE TRAITS: Stubborn, Defensive and Grumpy CHARACTER QUOTE/LYRIC: You can refuse to be the victim ANYTHING ELSE?: Add Quinn Fabray as a best friend to connections SECONDARY CHARACTER CHOICE:

HEADCANONS

Blaine has always been good at everything he put his mind to, school, performing and even being a friend to someone. His parents adored him and his older brother was always there to push him, even if he didn’t want it, so his life was what he thought was perfect. It didn’t last long for Blaine though as when he was thirteen, Cooper moved out to pursue his career and Blaine was alone. Not long after that he came out to his parents and his life truly was flipped upside down, he was assaulted at a Sadie Hawkins dance with a friend alongside him, Blaine was considered lucky as it could have been worse but all it did was entice his father to send him to a private school, Dalton Academy for Boys.

After being at Dalton for a while, he came across a young boy who came to spy on the Warblers, his name was Kurt Hummel and even though he was oblivious. He fell in love with him. They were high school sweethearts, and continued their relationship when Kurt moved to New York to attend NYADA. Once he graduated, he also moved to New York to attend NYADA as he wanted to pursue Broadway. Kurt and Blaine married eventually, though it did not last for as long as they thought it would, though before that they did have a daughter in July 2017 but separated in October 2018.

Finding his feet in New York along was something Blaine had to adapt to as it had been a long time since he was alone, he graduated NYADA and managed to score a few small parts in on and off Broadway productions before getting his big break in West Side Story, ironically he got the same part he did in high school. Blaine was finally feeling like his life was turning around for the better and performed his heart out.

Blaine has done many roles after WSS, but is trying to devote time to his daughter Serena as she is approaching three and wants to be in her life. Luckily he also has Cooper when he’s in NYC to keep him company, he enjoys being around his older brother and tries to catch up as much as possible. Nothing romantic is going on for Blaine right now, but he’s open to it eventually happening.

CONNECTIONS

PAM & THOMAS ANDERSON (Parents): Blaine was the golden child to their parents, he was good at whatever he put his mind to so his parents adored him. He was their baby after all. Though as Blaine grew, showing interests for dancing, singing and musical instruments, his father encouraged he also get into sports, so Blaine signed up for football to make him happy but when he was in high school, he came out to his parents and the dynamic changed. His mother was supportive but his father no longer considered Blaine a son of his. Even after his assault, his father was still distant and sent Blaine to Dalton so it wasn’t his problem. Blaine only stays in contact to hear from his mother, he hardly speaks with his father. COOPER ANDERSON (Brother): Though their relationship was estranged for quite a while, the two brothers have grown closer as they got older. When he was little though, Blaine would be criticised by Cooper for how he did things up until he was thirteen when Cooper left for LA. Through a lot of strained visits, talks and an eventual breakthrough, the two are close and will be there for one another in a heartbeat. KURT HUMMEL (EX-Husband):Blaine and Kurt seperated in October 2018 due to irreconcilable differences. Ever since Blaine has been trying to cope with not being with Kurt anymore, it has been a struggle but he still loves his ex-husband. Though they are divorced, they still have their daughter Serena who is the apple of her dad’s eyes. Blaine wants to be friends with Kurt but doesn’t want to intrude on his ex’s life too much. SERENA HUMMEL-ANDERSON (Daughter): Blaine absolutely adores his daughter, always spoiling her with love, attention and cookies after all. Whenever he can, he will take her to new places around the city to show her how amazing it is, though she is happy to just have time with her dad. SAM EVANS (EX-Crush & Best Friend): Sam and Blaine become friends when they are persuaded to run for Senior Class President together. Following that, Sam helps Blaine deal with the latter’s failing relationship with Kurt. It is thanks to Sam that Blaine manages to overcome his guilt regarding Kurt back when they were younger and Blaine cheated on Kurt. And that was what made Blaine fall Sam. He fell for how nice and funny Sam was, so different from Kurt, exactly what he needed at that time. But, Sam was not into him, and they decided to stay just friends. Now, they continue best friends, and always helping one another, no matter what, they are in this together. TINA COHEN-CHANG (Best Friend): Their friendship started almost as he joined Glee Club, but only when the Seniors left that the two of them got closer. They even joined the Cheerios together! But, as Tina started to fall for him, Blaine tried to make her see that there was nothing more than a good friendship between them. Yes, it took them both time until they were close again, but, now, they are good friends. SEBASTIAN SMYTHE (Frenemy): Blaine heard about Sebastian only a couple months after he left Dalton Academy. He was so sure that Dalton wouldn’t be able to find someone as talented as him that when he heard that a guy called Sebastian had transferred and taken his place of Captain, he couldn’t believe it. He needed to meet him! And the truth was that once they met, there was a lot of chemistry, and if it was not for Kurt, maybe they had been more than friends. But, all the chemistry went away when they started to ‘hate’ each other, and have a very complicated friendship that even ended with Blaine in the hospital. Only a few time later they were able to make up, and now, yes, Blaine still has a hard time trusting and believing in Sebastian, but they are friendly. RACHEL BERRY (Best Friend): Rachel was the only person that made Blaine question his sexuality. Maybe it was all the chemistry they had or all the songs they used to sing together, but she was the only one that ever made him think, okay, maybe I am not gay. They even went on a date, they even shared a kiss, but, after that, he was sure that he was 100% gay. Now, they work together on Broadway, but are still waiting for the moment they are able to share the stage, so far, they share the stage on private parties where they continue singing and dancing together. QUINN FABRAY (Best Friend): Quinn was the unlikely friend he had in high school but they seemed to have this dynamic together, Blaine felt like he could talk to her and get an honest opinion without worrying about his feelings, she was there for Blaine whenever he needed her, and she donated her eggs for them to have a child. Even now, whenever Quinn is in town, they go to brunch to catch up and see what is going on in one another’s lives.

[shrpghq]

Congratulations Amy!

 You have been accepted as your second character, Charlotte “Charlie” Bishop (Maddie Hasson fc). And congrats on receiving 500points for picking up a medical patient! Please send in their account within 24 hours.

OOC INFORMATION

–> Name: Amy

–> Preferred pronouns: She, her

–> Age: 19

–> Time zone: MST

–> Activity:7/10

–> Today’s date: 13th of April, 2017

–> How did you find us? (If tags, please specify) asylum rp

–> Did you read the rules? Please give the TWO passwords: RFP

***please actually read through the material to find the passwords. It will be very obvious to us if you don’t, even if you put down the rights words and we accept it, we will know, and we’ll use it as a judgement of character (meaning you, OOC). Thank you!***

IC INFORMATION

OC Patient

–> Character name: Charlotte Bishop

–> Character age: 15

–> What are they here for: Dilated cardiomyopathy, insomnia, RTS PTSD

–> Medical or Rescue Ward?: Medical Ward

–> Face claim (Please try to keep to the +/- 5 year rule… we don’t want a 29 year old face claim playing a 16 year old!): Maddie Hasson

Born and raised in Detroit, Charlotte -or Charlie- was from a large but loving family, though it didn’t stay that way forever.  She was the 3rd of 6 children, 7 if you include Nick, her older brother Ben’s best friend and occasional hookup to her older sister who has lived with them forever. It wasn’t until the youngest, Freddie, was born that things got screwed up, not that it was his fault. Their family already struggled financially but they worked hard together to make it work, so when Charlie’s mom died giving birth to Freddie when Charlotte was 10, it was a huge hit and the family never recovered from that. Their dad especially took it hard, and began to drink. He abused the kids, but they told no one for fear that if they did, they’d be separated. Even with the abuse, at least this way they were together and had each other. The saving grace was their dad often went out to drink, and wouldn’t come home for a while. Aside from when he abused them, he took no notice to them, so when Charlotte started having dizzy spells or trouble breathing, only her older siblings seemed to notice. With a lack of authority and worried about her family, Charlie’s older sister Amber stepped up to help the family. Although Charlie was young she did her best to help, taking odd jobs and getting up early to help her younger siblings Devon, Eliza, and Freddie prepare for the day. Whatever was wrong with her could wait, as she was too concerned with helping her family; there wasn’t time to be sick.

Stuck in the middle and growing up around so many boys, Charlie learned how to watch out for herself. She wasn’t ‘tough’, but she didn’t back down from a fight either. She had to do what was best, even if people disagreed with her. Their family counted on each other, and she’d do anything to help them, but it only got harder as they all grew older. It became especially hard after Nick sexually assaulted Charlotte when she was 12. She didn’t know exactly what was happening, but he said it was okay. He was practically family after all and they cared about each other so if he said it was fine, then it was. Shortly after that started, social services came by on a surprise visit. With their dad awol and drunk, they were placed into foster care temporarily, though this was a bit of a relief for Charlie. Their intake was the first time they’d had a real, proper medical checkup. There, Charlotte was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. It was not that severe at the time and they treated her as best as they could, with what they had. By the end of the month her family was all back together in their home. Everything seemed okay for a while, but things picked up where they left off as more incidents happened between Charlotte and Nick, but now she was starting to expect it. She lost sleep waiting for whatever he would do and the stress of it all and lack of sleep put unnecessary pressure on her, and her heart.

Things only seemed to get worse when Ben turned 18 and enlisted in the army, stationed far away from his family. With Ben gone and Amber busy, Mark began raping Charlotte, and it took her a while to realize how wrong all of this was. One day, she decided it was time and came at him with a bat, only being stopped when her siblings walked in and called the cops. Her family was shocked to find her like this and wanted to believe Mark was a good person, after all the time he had spent with the family helping them when they were in need, how could he possibly hurt anyone? When the police arrived, Charlotte was taken into custody and sent to juvie. Things started to break apart back home, and when she finally got out everything was too far gone to be fixed. Amber en route to becoming a street drug addict, and the youngest 3 were split up in foster care. She was already a bit older, and now had a history of violence with a stay in juvie on her record… with a medical condition on top of that it was unlikely anyone would want to adopt her. Despite this, she knew there was still hope for her younger siblings. Charlotte was put into foster homes and group homes for a while, all while trying to track down her family, until she finally made a run for it. There were too many conditions in the system, Charlie kept getting in trouble. She needed to be on her own, do what she needed to at her own will. It was hard for a teenage girl… she had to make money to live while also trying to deal with a serious heart condition. She still wasn’t getting much sleep either, usually too worried to close her eyes for too long. Not long after, Charlotte was picked up by police for selling drugs. They thought she was on drugs because of her behavior, but she was exhausted, homeless, and terrified for her life. Charlie was little to no help in the process, but after finally identifying her and seeing her medical history and record, it was determined that she needed help and Serenity House was contacted right away. She’s a good kid at heart, but with a very, very troubling past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IC Questions (Please write SEVERAL sentences –4 TO 5, MINIMUM EACH. Mandatory for both canon and original characters. Not required for staff.):

Do you know why you’re here at the Serenity House?

Yeah they were cleaning up the streets and found me… Apparently I have too many years left on my clock to be thrown in the trash, but not enough to actually place me with my family. The island of misfit toys here was the perfect solution for everyone, and now they can say they all did a great job at ‘saving my life’ or whatever. Kudos to you guys.

How do you feel about being here? Good, bad, indifferent?

A joke? I don’t understand why I have to be sent to an overrated haunted house in the middle of Idaho? Like seriously all that money and y’all couldn’t afford like a beach or some shit? Thoroughly disappointed, that’s how I feel. 0/10, would not recommend. I just want to know how soon it’ll be until I can leave. I don’t plan on staying long enough to really form an opinion.

What is your biggest fear coming to the House?

That Nick will be there. That they’re going to try to keep me in here. I’m getting out ASAP, I don’t care if I have to pick 40 locks or hop over a razor wire fence with my bare hands, I’ll be runnin off into the sunset in the first week. I don’t have time to be scared. Don’t think, just do.

How do you feel about the patients on other wards? (Medical or Rescued Wards)

…..Is Serenity like a war zone or something? Are we being pitted against each other, medical vs. rescue and it’s just a fight to the death? That would be seriously interesting, but I still don’t understand the point of it. We’re all in here one way or another, we’re just fucked up in different ways I guess. It’s chill. Again, I don’t plan on staying long enough to form some sort of opinion on them.

[head-and-heart]

4x04 Personal Highlights

So I know that there has been a lot of negativity surrounding this past episode, but I would like to point out that it was far from being all bad and I would say it was a hell of a lot better than episode four from LAST season (aka. my least favourite episode of this show, ever) there was actually some good shit buried in this episode that I would like to address.

Never too much positivity, right fam?

Okay, I’ll get to it.

1. “Bellamy should be back by now.”

I mean, it’s self-explanatory. Even the C/exa queen is writing us some Bellarke shit .. hmm, I wonder why? Maybe cause she has to? Maybe cause Bellarke is becoming canon? Huh, weird.

2. Monty being a total babe and trying to comfort Clarke

It only serves to make the absence of his name on The List that much more painful, but I love seeing Monty trying to cheer Clarke up. He’s such a beacon of light. @the-ships-to-rule-them-all and @abazethe100 talked on their podcast about how its not just Monty’s brain and skills that make him invaluable, but who he is at his core - a source of optimism and support. He holds people together. I thought it was worth mentioning because @theskyboxpodcast is always good, but I especially loved that bit.

3. Devon’s acting

The writers truly could not have picked a better actor to play Jasper. He kills it, over and over and over again. Devon is the perfect mix of humour and tragedy that makes Jasper so heartbreaking and unique. He brings life to this character in a way that few actors could. That scene in the rain perfectly demonstrates this.

(UNRELATED: I’d love to see how Jaha was managing out on that lake when he heard about the acid fog. The possibilities are never-endingly humourous.)

4. Kane calling out Octavia

This scene was soooo validating because its the first time that Octavia’s actions have TRULY been called out. And it wasn’t just a brief call-out, it was an entire lengthy scene dedicated to why Octavia’s actions are NOT being supported by the narrative and are NOT right or honourable. 

“A warrior knows when not to kill. Lincoln taught you that. You seem to have forgotten.”

FINALLY RECOGNITION THAT A WOMEN WITH A SWORD IS NOT ALWAYS BADASS AND EMPOWERING. IT TAKES MORE THAN THAT. IT TAKES HONOUR

And to those of you who were screaming about Octavia never dealing with the consequences of her actions after ... what? 4x02? YOU COULDN’T WAIT TWO EPISODES??? WHY DO YOU JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS WHY DO YOU TORTURE YOURSELVES? Short rant concluded. This was a top-knotch scene. 

5. LUNA

She is so gorgeous and her voice is so soothing. She makes every episode better just be existing.

6. THE ISLAND IS SO COOL

I’M SO GLAD THAT ALIE’S MANSION IS NOT THE ONLY THING WE GET TO SEE OF THIS ISLAND. THE WHOLE INTRIGUE SURROUNDING BECCA AND HER LAB AND THE DRONES AND THE “MUTANT LINE” AND THE MYSTERIOUS THINGS THAT ALIE’S SECURITY IS “PROTECTING” THEM FROM IS SO INTERESTING AND ITS SO DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING THIS SHOW HAS DONE BEFORE AND BOY AM I EXCITED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S GOING ON AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THIS STORYLINE. AND ALSO I, AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE, TOTALLY PREDICTED THAT THEY WERE HEADED BACK TO ALIE’S ISLAND TO FIND A LAB OF SOME SORT BACK IN THE HIATUS SO GOOD-WORK TEAM. NOTHING GETS PAST THIS FANDOM, I SWEAR.

7. Jackson being a total babe and helping out Raven this episode/showing compassion and concern

So I’ve seen people shipping it and I am ... oddly, not opposed??? I mean, he’s sweet and that banter was nice and he’s a doctor which means he’s probs smart and also can help her out with her pain (kinda) and it will never happen but I CAN DREAM OKAY? 

Also, Jackson is Jackson’s only name. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules. You will never hear me referring to Jackson by any other name. #dealwithit

8. “Save us all” sounds like “keep us all clean” in Trigadesleng because apparently Grounders know their priorities

I guess this explains why L.exa had that deep conditioned shit last season while Clarke was progressing through her slow but steady evolution into a dirty mop

9. “I’ve never met a line I wouldn’t cross.”

Richard you get the best lines. And you slay them every time.

10. MURPHY AND RAVEN’S DYMAMIC

I’M SO EXCITED. Lindsey and Richard are both a thrill to watch and they’re both so sassy and their history is just ... WOW. They haven’t had many scenes together ever since that KILLER scene in the dropship where we learned Murphy’s backstory which is a total crime because THEIR CHEMISTRY SERIOUSLY FLIES THROUGH THE ROOF.

I do think Murphy was trying to get on Raven’s good side when he grabbed her and helped her to safety and it was definitely for his personal motives, but I do also believe that a large part of him wanted to do it as an attempt to make up for fucking up her life so bad as well. It’s such an interesting dynamic to watch.

Just want to clarify that I don’t ship it because ... y’all he literally shot her and paralyzed her why do you do this?? But I definitely want to see more of them on my TV screen

11. Dad!Kane cupping his son’s face

Need I say more?

12. “Warriors don’t reveal their secrets.”

AND ECHO LOOKS AT BELLAMY BECAUSE HE DIDN’T CAVE AND REVEAL THEIR SECRETS BECAUSE MY BOY IS SO STRONG 

13. Ice Nation is SO much more interesting than Trikru

BYEEEEEEEEEEEEE

14. “Remember that time we welded your dad’s furniture to the ceiling? Now THAT was a prank.”

I WOULD SAY SO MONTY LMAO THIS IS SO EXTRA AND I LOVE IT

CLASSIC JONTY I CAN CLEARLY ENVISION THEM DOING THIS

15. “You’re not God, Clarke. You don’t get to decide who lives and dies.”

Hmm ... that’s an interesting line. Almost like it might be ... I don’t know ... A major theme of the show or something?

Also A++ delivery Devon. Kudos.

16. This show is SO GOOD with moral dilemmas

They truly do bring their A-Game every season. The List is just one example of these so-called moral dilemmas. There truly is no right choice. Clarke was pragmatic, everything she did made SENSE. But was it moral? Was it humane? That’s another story, and it’s one these writers are not afraid to tell.

17. Monty and Clarke’s interactions are all so on point

“You’re the one going too far and using the same old justification: it’s all for my people.”

ANOTHER MAJOR THEME ALERT

Monty is spilling the tea this episode and while I understand Clarke’s mindset and sympathize with her for dealing with the pressure on her shoulders, everything that Monty said in this scene was absolutely 100% true, and it’s going to come into play in Clarke’s character arc this season, I am sure.

18. Raven’s struggle with her leg is so real

Kim perfectly captured the struggles that Raven has to deal with and how her leg, while limits her physical ability, certainly does not limit her determination, her skill, and her brain. 

19. “What if the fight is all we are? We torture, kill, betray. We pretend we’re more than that just to make ourselves feel better, but it’s a lie.”

I love this line so much. This episode encapsulates so many themes and big ideas of the show (and it grapples with morality in hugeeeee ways) and I’m loving it.

20. “You’re not a prisoner, Luna. You have a choice.”

Raven putting her gun down and saying this to Luna is SO important, especially when you think about how Clarke tried to force the flame on her in 3x14. Free will was a major theme last year and I’m glad to see it paying off now.

21. Jaha swooping in and stealing that crowd

Listen. I know that there are many conflicted opinions on Jaha and I know that lot of people hate him. But I have never been more intrigued. His story this season is sooo interesting. I have no idea what to expect from him. I feel as though he is so disconnected from the other characters at this point in the narrative that he’s a complete wild card. Do I trust him or not? Should I? What are his motives? What knowledge does he have that the other characters don’t?

He’s so fascinating to me in that he is completely unpredictable. His story this season could break off in just about any direction. 

This scene was really fun to watch. Clearly, Jaha’s years of being a Chancellor comes in handy with a crowd. He knows what to do, what to say, to sway them. It reminds me of Bellamy, in a way, actually. Say what you will about Jaha, but he has a way with words and he knows how to inspire people. I can’t wait to see how this goes. 

(I totally think that lottery is bullshit and I think that Jaha realizes this, but he’s manipulating the crowd. We’ll see how this blows up in our faces later.)

“The people need to feel like they have a say in their fate.”

Another interesting line that I enjoyed. Just wanted to point it out.

22. “It’s the only choice you gave yourself. If you think you have the best idea, you have to convince people, not lie to them. Or lock them up.”

So choices and free will and truth and morality are all big focusses of this episode. People seem to overlook how much great thematic stuff is in 4x04 but there’s a lot and it’s great.

23. Becca’s lab is bomb AF

24. BOB MORLEY DESERVES A FUCKING EMMY PLEASE AND THANK YOU

25. “Take me home.” 

BECAUSE EVEN AFTER ALL THIS TIME ARKADIA AND THE SKY PEOPLE ARE STILL OCTAVIA’S HOME BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE BELLAMY IS (or so she thinks) AND HELLO YES I’M STILL EMO

[judieasley57]

My Disclaimer:

I purchased a three-book bundle at the current price. I am voluntarily providing an honest review in which all opinions are fully my own. I am not being compensated in any way.

~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review

What it’s about…

Fatal Affair

Chief of Staff and best friend, Nick Cappuano, discovers the murdered body of Senator John O’Connor. It’s Detective Sam Holland’s case. It only takes the first look for both Nick and Sam to remember their one night together six years ago.

Can Nick and Sam work together through the tangled mess of government, family, and police politics to find the killer? Can they keep their hands off each other until it’s solved?

Technical Tidbits…

The cover works really well with the couple there at the top and the capital building down at the bottom. The couple work as good representatives for Nick and Sam, too.

The storyline is really good. It mixes the political, familial, and police aspects really well.

The characters are introduced and developed very well. Even most of the secondary characters are explained well enough to understand who they are and what their motivations are.

The pace is pretty fast. It’s mostly going from one crisis to another with just enough time in there for a kiss here and some love there.

The tension builds very fast and remains right up to the end with the unhappy resolution to the murder.

And this is where you STOP if you don’t want to see any SPOILERS…

The good, the bad, and the ugly…and how much it lit up my life… ✰✰✰✰✰

What a lovely read! Almost 500 pages of intrigue, secret love, family secrets, government politics, and more. How could I not love this? And just think, each book in this series is like this! And it doesn’t end it doesn’t end by saying “and now you need to buy my next book to get the rest of the story”. No, this isn’t a standalone, but it is a complete story. If I never read the next book, I would be okay. But, of course, I did read the next book!

I want to talk about Marie Force’s amazingly rich characters. Former Deputy Chief Skip Holland, now retired with a severe disability due to an injury suffered in the line of duty. Skip is Sam’s Dad. Her #1 Hero. He sits in a wheelchair and breaths through a tube at night because of a bullet lodged in his neck. He was shot during a normal traffic stop just a few months before his retirement. The bullet can’t be removed. He has sensation only in his right index finger. It’s still an open case that every detective on the force works on at some time or other. Sam discusses her cases with him.

Then there is Sam’s partner. Frederico Cruz, affectionately known as Freddie. He’s as handsome as a model, slim but built like a gym addict. His only addiction seems to be junk food, though. He was raised to respect the church and his mother got him to take a vow of chastity until he was married. So he looks like a walking wet dream, but he’s a virgin. And he’s always reminding Sam not to take the Lord’s name in vain. He’s a new detective and he’s learning from the best. He’s even taking notes. He wears a trench coat to help his image.

And the murder victim. Who was he? Senator John O’Connor. The second son of the Senator from Virginia. Not the one being groomed to take his father’s position. No. He’s the one who stepped into the position when his big brother screwed up. He’s the one who became so popular that the DNC of Virginia was pushing him to run for a second term. Best friend to Nick Cappuano since childhood. They’d shared everything. Except that John O’Connor was a man with many secrets. One of them, at least, was deadly.

What it’s about…

Fatal Justice

Julian Sinclair comes to town to be considered for a seat on the Supreme Court. He’s an old school friend of Nick’s and a friend of the O’Connor family. He has very strong views and opinions that will shift things on the Court. When he is killed, his views are thought to be the reason.

Sam is caught up in the domestic case that interrupted her swearing-in ceremony. Clippings about her father’s case were found in the apartment of the family involved. It seems the whole police force is out after Clarence Reese because of the connection. But Reese shoots back and Freddie ends up in the hospital.

Then a young man named Tucker is found shot. Tucker was gay. He was a very close friend of Julian Sinclair’s estranged nephew. Is there a connection? Can Sam and Nick move fast enough to stop the last killing?

Technical Tidbits…

The cover reflects the fact that Sam and Nick are now a couple in this book. I always like it when the covers of a series keep up with the story so well.

The storyline is really gritty this time.

The characters are getting deeper into the main characters and the regular secondary characters are becoming quite well developed as well.

The pace is even faster in this book than in the first one. It seems like they almost can’t keep up with things this time.

The tension is incredible.

And this is where you STOP if you don’t want to see any SPOILERS…

The good, the bad, and the ugly…and how much it lit up my life… ✰✰✰✰✰

It blew me away. Both Nick and Sam are hurt in major ways in the car accident. It was a big scene in the book, the whole pursuit, and crash. Then to find out it was totally unrelated to the case. It was gang-related based on their popularity in the press! The Senator was worth more points than the Lieutenant.

Sam’s interaction with LT Stahl actually makes my skin crawl. Ms. Force writes him so sleazy! Every time he comes near her he gets worse! She really should have that office fumigated. But he is bound and determined to get her for hooking up with Nick during the O’Connor case. The fact that it was her ex-husband Peter that exposed their relationship was quite the twist. I love that the author puts things like that in.

There are two other twists in this book. One, I find sort of sad. Clarence Reese is sought by everyone because they think he’s connected to Skip’s shooting. All this because they’ve found a box of clippings in a closet in his family’s apartment. So with everyone chasing around after him and his wounding Freddie in the dark by accident. Yes, by accident. He knew nothing and blew his own brains out. I find that pretty sad.

The other twist is really twisty and it’s the major one. Diandra Sinclair is a wacko and has so brow-beaten her husband, Preston, he’ll do anything for her. He kills Tucker. Diandra doesn’t want any gays around her family as her new book is ready to launch. It could ruin her politically. But will Preston go that one step further and kill the other young man who is gay? The one in the relationship with Tucker? Tucker’s lover. If she could make him kill his own brother and a young man…

But does she realize that Devon, her own son is the other partner in that relationship? What might Preston be driven to do for her? How far has she pushed him?

What it’s about…

Fatal Consequences

This one is all about sex. Nick makes a deal with Sam. If he can give her three orgasms in 30 minutes, then they will set a wedding date. They now have a wedding planner that Sam calls Tinker Bell and plans are going forward for March 26. Yes, this year!

Someone is raping and killing the immigrant women who clean the senate chambers, and they aren’t being tidy about it. There’s DNA to spare. Then Detective Jeannie McBride is kidnapped and brutally raped as a message to Sam to back off.

Will Nick and Sam be able to set aside all their personal distraction and root out the rot in the capital?

Technical Tidbits…

The cover reflects a couple in love. The view of D.C. shows the wider impact of the story with the nighttime shot of the city.

The storyline is excellent.

The characters are great. The main characters and primary secondaries are getting very well developed at this point. It’s getting so that you can pretty well predict what their reactions should be. Not that the author is letting them get predictable, but we are getting to know them as people. Each new character is incorporated well and quickly if they are going to be staying.

The pace is good. This one is a little slower than the first two, but the type of crime involved is probably the reason. Things are spaced out a bit more.

The tension is in no way slackened because of the pace. Ms. Force has done a great job of keeping us on our toes working out what’s going on from incident to incident.

Writing quality is the key. Ms. Force has mastered the ability to create a scene and move characters through it so well that we aren’t aware of it as we read. She draws us in. Remember it’s over 500 pages this time. She gives us enough description of locations so that we can see where we are and what the conditions are. Yet she brings the actions and characters alive and moves them through this space effortlessly. Just as easily, she lets us drop into a character’s mind and hear what they are thinking or draws back and describes the look on someone’s face so well we know exactly what they’re thinking without their thoughts.

And this is where you STOP if you don’t want to see any SPOILERS…

The good, the bad, and the ugly…and how much it lit up my life… ✰✰✰✰✰

Top executives in the government running a prostitution ring using immigrant women who clean the government offices sounds pretty corrupted. But power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. So how unreasonable is it? How high could it go? Selina tells all. All she has to do is stay alive.

Senator Lightfeather might have really loved his mistress, but she was still accepting a lot of money for seeing him and sending it out of the country. And she was pregnant with his child. But his wife didn’t appreciate any of it. She wasn’t the only wife who didn’t like the arrangements. It was time for some Senators to go home and tend to family business.

Family business closer to home takes us to Nick’s problems with his dead-beat mother who drops in and takes him for $25,000 and a chunk of his soul. It’s hard to give up hope that someone will love you someday. And Sam’s ex, Peter, is out of jail. Now they have to worry about the possibility of being blow up again. But Tinker Bell is making lots of progress towards that March 26th date! Freddy gives Elin an ultimatum but it’s only he and Mom for dinner. Gonzo wins his paternity suit and then proposes to Christina. That’s another tie between the Senator’s office and the police station.

The one I worry about is Detective Jeannie McBride. She’s now a kidnap and rape survivor. She’s refusing counseling at this point. She’s not really letting Michael in. He’s trying to stay at her side, but I think he realizes that she’s holding him at a distance. I fully expect her problems to blow up in another book. She and Sam are friends, so Sam will definitely be involved. But Jeannie’s not in a good place right now and it really worries me.

[offwithalicesheadx]

1000 Question Survey pt. 4

Money 301.) Do you have a job?: Yeah

302.) What do you do?: I'm an administrative assistant in property management for a company called Savills

303.) Does your boss like you?: Pretty sure, yeah

304.) How much do you get paid?: £15k per annum

305.) Do you have your own bank account?: Yeah

306.) Do you have a credit card?: No, a debit card

307.) A checkbook?: No

308.) Are you a big spender?: Not really, I can be but only on things like food haha

309.) Do you go to the mall a lot?:  I walk round on my lunches some days

310.) In an average week, how much money do you spend?: I'd say like £200 average including getting to work and stuff

311.) Do you know how much a peso would be worth in the United States today?: No idea

312.) How about a Franc?: Also no idea

313.) Do you really care?: Not massively

314.) Do you like your job if you have one?: It's okay, it gets pretty boring and sometimes stressful but it's good enough money for me to be able to do the things I want to do

315.) If you don’t have one, do you wish you had one?:  -

316.) Do you wish you had more money?: I'm doing alright with what I've got, the only thing is not being able to afford to go to Disney World, but I could save for a long while

317.) Why?: Because if I really need money for something I've learnt to be patient and save up for it

318.) Would you rather be filthy rich with no friends or dirt poor with tons of friends and a dog?: It depends, I'm not rich but I don't really have any friends aside from my boyfriend, and I'm cool with not having friends based on the fact it's because I got rid of the bad people from my life, however if I had genuine friends I'd rather that and be dirt poor, plus the dog sounds dope but I'd hate if I was too poor to be able to look after it

319.) Do you have a cool wallet?: I don't know what defines cool but I like it

320.) What is the largest amount of money you ever had in your possession at one time?:  I'm not sure, maybe when I changed over a load of money to Turkish Lira before I went on holiday, I can't remember how much that was though

321.) What are you wearing?: Black tights, a stripey grey, black and red dress, flat black slip on shoes, my watch and my Pandora bracelet

322.) What are you listening to?: Nothing, just whoever is talking on the phone at work when somebody rings up

323.) Who are you talking to?: Jesse over WhatsApp, whoever rings at work and whoever might walk in or out as I'm on the reception desk

324.) What are you doing other than filling out this survey?: Pretty much what I just said above

325.) How is your hair?: I plaited it last night when it was wet so it's sort of wavy but it hadn't dried properly so it doesn't really look how I wanted to, sort of frizzy

326.) Do you have anything on your feet?: Tights and slip on shoes

327.) Are you cold or warm?: It's more cold than warm but I'm not like shivering

328.) Do you have any jewelry on?: My Pandora bracelet

329.) Do you have any makeup on?: Yeah

330.) Name 4 things laying around your desk:

Tissues

Bubblegum scented hand sanitizer

Chocolate

My work notebook

331.) Pick up a book laying near you and type a random sentence from a random page: "I was away on an excursion for the last couple of days"

332.) Open a cabinet near you and describe what’s in it:  A make-up bag, a lanyard, lip balm, Vaseline, a mirror, bandages, a defender alarm, a phone case, a shoe polisher, Fifty Shades of Grey, a nail file

334.) Should you be doing something else now?: I probably shouldn't be on this but there's nothing I really should be doing

335.) Why aren’t you doing it?:  -

336.) Is your room a mess now?: No

337.) Is your mom nagging at you to clean it?: I don't live with my mom

338.) What are any people around you doing?: There's two guys trying to fix the lift at work

339.) Who are you thinking about right now?: Jesse

340.) Are you doing anything illegal?: No

Looks 341.) How much time do you spend on your appearance in the morning?:  Before work it's usually about half an hour

342.) Do you wear makeup regularly?: Yeah

343.) If so, what?: Primer, foundation, eyebrow powder, concealer, face powder, mascara - and sometimes I'll wear bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipgloss or lipstick

344.) Are your looks important to you?: In some ways

345.) Do you want to change the way you look?: Yeah, I want to get a full fringe but I feel like I'd get annoyed with it and I want a slimmer face too

346.) What would you change?: ^

347.) How do you usually wear your hair?: Most days for work it's either in a plait or I'll have plaited it before hand and then took it out so it's wavy and some days it's in a ponytail, if I'm going out on the weekend I might curl it and sometimes I straighten it

348.) Do you dye your hair?: Yeah

349.) Do you straighten your hair?: Sometimes

350.) What color is your hair naturally?: Mousey brown

351.) What is your eye color?: Some days they look green and others they look brown or a mix of the two

352.) Do you wear colored contacts?: No

353.) Do you look like your parents?: Yeah, I think more like my dad than my mom

354.) Is that good or bad?: I guess it's good, haha, I don't really have much opinion on it

355.) Do you turn strange colors sometimes?: I wouldn't say strange, I just go red a lot

356.) Why?: I go red if I'm hot or cold or embarrassed or stressed, it's my reaction to a lot of things haha

357.) Do you have any piercings?: No

358.) Any tattoos?: Two, one on my arm that says 'wildflower' and one of my ankle of Tinkerbell

359.) Ever gotten a makeover?: No

360.) Do you experiment a lot with new looks?:  Sometimes I'll try a new make-up look or wear something a little different but not really

Travel 361.) Have you ever been out of the country?: Yeah

362.) Out of your state?: I don't live in a state, but I've been out of my county, is that like our equivalent?

363.) Out of your city?: Yeah

364.) Do you go on a vacation every year?: Usually, even if it's only in the same country I'll try to get a break somewhere

365.) If so, to where and for how long?: I've been to Turkey, Spain, France, last year I went camping a couple of times just in this country and I'm going away in this country this year

366.) Have you ever ridden in a plane?: Yeah

367.) In a boat?: Yeah

368.) Do you visit relatives that live far away from you at all?: Not really anymore, I have been over to Devon and to Hereford as I have relatives there but I usually just see them when they come down here now, and my dad lives in Hinckley but that's not too far so I try visit him every month or so

369.) ON average, every week how many miles do you travel?: If I go from Jesse's to work that's about 5 and a half miles so there and back about 11, if I go from mine to work it's about 9 miles so 18 there and back, I usually go from mine to work twice in the week and Jesse's three times so that's 69 (ha), then on Saturday we will usually go from mine to town and back so that's another 18 making it 87, and Sunday we will go from mine to Jesse's which is about 10 miles, so almost 100 miles altogether

370.) Do you drive?: No

Cars 371.) Favorite car?: Old Beetles

372.) Color for that car?: Navy blue

373.) Do you have your license?: I have a provisional license but not a proper one

374.) Permit?: No

375.) Do you like fast cars?:  Not bothered

Sleep 376.) How long do you sleep each night on average?: About 6-7 hours

377.) Is this enough?: I never feel like I've had enough sleep haha

378.) Do you dream every night?: Not every night, or at least I don't remember them all

379.) Describe a weird dream you had: The last dream I remember most that was pretty weird was it was just me looking at this really tall, thin, extremely pale woman. She had white long hair but she either didn't have a face or I don't remember her face, she had a long white dress on but the dress started to become soaked with blood, but didn't seem to be coming from any kind of wound she had, and it was spreading across her whole dress and dripping from it, that's all that happened and then I woke up jumping and feeling scared and confused

380.) Do you sleep in awkward positions?: Sometimes

381.) Do you sleep in school?: No

382.) If so, do you wake up with different patterns all over your face from whatever you were laying on?: -

383.) What position do you usually wake up in?: I'm usually either on my side or on my front

389.) Does your alarm clock wake you up?: Yeah

390.) What kind of alarm clock do you have?:  I just use the one on my phone

Going Out 391.) How often do you go to parties?: Not very often

392.) Are you a crazy party hopper?: No

393.) Do you like wild parties with lots of people?: I usually just end up feeling a bit overwhelmed or get anxious

394.) Are you a social butterfly?: I don't think so

395.) Do you go clubbing?:  Yeah

396.) Ever been drunk?: Yeah

397.) Ever get kicked out of a party?: No

398.) For what?: -

399.) Do you throw a lot of parties?: No

400.) Do you go to the mall a lot?: I'll walk round on my lunch some days or might go on the weekend if there's something I need to get

401.) Do you go with a lot of friends?: No

402.) Do you like going to arcades?: Yeah they can be pretty fun

403.) Is DDR a cool game?: Don't know what that is

404.) What about those racing games?: They're okay

405.) How many parties have you been to in the last 3 months?: I don't know what properly counts as a party because I've been clubbing and I've been to a couple of family gatherings around Christmas and New Year but they're not like proper parties

406.) How many formal dances have you been to in the last year or so?: None

407.) Do you dress up when you go out?: Sometimes

408.) Do you go to see a lot of movies on the weekend?: Jesse and I will usually go like every other weekend, depending if something decent is on

409.) Who has the best parties?: I'm not sure, the ones at sixth form were pretty fun at the time, but I usually just go clubbing now, I enjoy Snobs and Popworld