#ed’s not even here yet i’m on ep 1

[adamnsey]

oh my god bro like it’s literally about the boy whose been told he’s soft his whole life trying his hardest to be tough and the boy whose been told he’s been tough his whole life trying his hardest to be soft and literally about them falling in love and bringing out the side of each other that they’ve always tried to be while also accepting the other as they are…. good GOD

[queerfandomtrifecta]

So a lot is bothering me about the narrative structure of season two. If I didn’t have my own novel to work on and didn’t have several more edits commissioned, I’d write a fix-it fic for all of season two to fix the narrative stuff and to really delve into character arcs that felt off. Maybe I will anyway. Idk. If someone who actually has time wants to take any or all of this and write a fic, go for it. Can’t wait to read it. Anyway, this is a very rough outline that’s subject to change if I do write the fic, but from a developmental editing perspective, here’s my two cents nobody asked for on season 2:

Thematic elements: Atonement and coping with trauma, the crew leaving (especially in regards to Stede’s emotional wound where he’s worried about people being better off without him) and identity (especially in regards to Ed/Stede/Izzy). These are present in the show as-is, but they don’t play out well just yet. I’m focusing on these to make things cohesive.

Episodes 1-3: mostly perfect. Loved these and the pacing felt correct for the most part. I would keep the tone from these episodes through the season. Ricky would be introduced here. Zheng is fantastic and all of her stuff stays here.

What I’d change: Ned Low would be the primary antagonist for this season. Ricky would be set up through this season to be the primary antagonist next season. Ned Low’s record is Ed’s original suicide by proxy plan, and that needs to be introduced here. There needs to be a scene showing how Ned tortures people in these episodes. Izzy needs to bring it up as a concern to Ed. Ed doesn’t care about the crew’s safety, obviously, someone (Izzy) needs to mention Ned’s record and possible repercussions here. I’d also NOT play Lucius’s trauma reveal with Stede like a comedy beat. (Like seriously, I HATE that the show played SA as a comedy beat.) Black Pete would be shown crying of Lucius so it’s not just told randomly after the fact. Olu would be shown missing Jim.

Episode 4: The unicorn thing with Izzy was beautiful and I’d keep that. Stede and Ed going to Mary and Anne’s is fine. Buttons can APPEAR to turn into a seagull.

What I’d change: The Kraken Crew and Lucius need to stay paranoid longer. They need to tally things up and realize that Low’s record has been broken (I think Ed was too checked out from reality/high on rhino horn to even realize he’d broken it; Izzy has bigger things going on and likely also lost track) but that record being broken was NEVER shown in the original, just told after the fact. In order to NOT switch to a speculative genre randomly for a convenient metaphor, Buttons appears to turn into a seagull but he doesn’t literally. Revealed to the audience but not to Ed/Stede (more on this later). Stede doesn’t put it to a vote that Ed can come back. He’s the captain and decides that that’s how it’s gonna be. The crew is also gonna look to former first-mate Frenchie (whose trauma is in a box) for direction when Izzy is struggling. It’s Frenchie’s idea about the leg. Izzy is still struggling a little more after his new leg, and I think he should be shown happy at the end but with a bottle of something not far from him (but more in that later).

Episode 5: Ed’s influencer non-apology clearly written by Stede works. Ed and Stede need time apart. The cursed suit can stay for the levity of it. Ed and Fang can go fishing. The moonlight kiss scene works for the most part.

What I’d change: Izzy can be sassy with Lucius, and a bit of a mentor to Stede, but he’s going to be drinking in this episode. Not plastered drunk like ep 4, but it’s gonna clearly be a struggle and everyone is just Not Talking About It. Lucius might start to parallel that a bit and I’d like to see more interaction with them there. I’d also like to see the Kraken Crew (all the crew really) treating Izzy as their captain. Stede says he doesn’t feel like the captain and there should be a reason for that. If he forced them to let Ed back on the boat in ep 4, that can be addressed here. Izzy is following Stede so he can eventually persuade everyone they have to as well, though Izzy’s earned more trust than anyone at this point. I’d delve into him doing for Stede what he did for Ed pre-season one (“massaged the crew” when Ed’s moods seemed off to keep things running (I can’t remember the exact quote past that, but that’s essentially the idea). The Kraken Crew needs to be wary of Ed longer. They do not believe Buttons is a seagull. They all think Ed killed him and Stede says he didn’t see Buttons turn into a seagull, but he takes Ed’s side and doesn’t think Ed killed him. That starts a rift and an “us or Ed” thing that’ll play out later. Ed can try to interact with the crew and get the cold shoulder. He’s done nothing to restore his reputation. As far as the cursed suit goes, I would have them receive some sort of warning from Ned Low when they go to pawn the suit off on the other ship. Stede or/or Izzy would keep it quiet from the crew, who are only just now starting to follow Stede as the captain. Ricky needs to be shown here wanting to end piracy, and interacting with Zheng. After the moonlight kiss, I’d have them holding hands as they walk off. I think maybe Lucius would want to leave the ship here. The Swede and Buttons are gone already, and it makes sense for Lucius to want to leave but Black Pete to want to stay. They’ll both still be on board here though.

Episode 6: Calypso’s Birthday will be the plot for 7/8.

What I’d change: let me preface this by saying I haven’t worked Zheng’s plot fixes out fully. But. If we’re moving this to the next two episodes, something has to happen here. I’d keep the bit with the guilt room and with Ed giving away treasure to the urchins saying don’t be pirates, but have him say more in front of Stede about how piracy is bad for specific reasons that Stede just doesn’t clock as Ed wanting to stop. I think the plot will be along the lines of Stede engaging in more piracy. Ed will quietly be struggling with the fact that Stede is becoming a more and more proficient pirate in his own way, Ed himself not wanting to pirate anymore, and his tentative new relationship with the captain of a ship he is definitely not wanted on by anyone other than Stede. Zheng needs to interact with Ricky here about him wanting to end piracy. Izzy is a good first mate here but he’s still drinking. Lucius may start to parallel that here. Former first mate Frenchie picks up the slack and falls into a leadership role when Izzy is struggling too much, and this is eventually gonna cause him to have to deal with his trauma that’s bottled up, when he has to talk to Izzy about clearly not handling his own. Eventually, things will come to a head with the crew not wanting Ed on board. It becomes an “us vs him” thing with the crew threatening to leave if Es doesn’t. Stede will try to smooth things over but Ed will interrupt and say don’t bother, he’s leaving. He doesn’t know who he is but at least fisherman would be better than pirate. Episode ends with Stede heartbroken and Ed going off to fish in something that isn’t his leathers, so he wouldn’t be recognizable from a distance. Low pinpoints Stede’s ship but doesn’t see Ed on it, and plans to bait him out by boarding and torturing the crew.

Episodes 7-8: Nope. I’d keep almost none of this.

What I’d change: This part is also still rough and I need to flesh it out a bit more, BUT: Calypso’s birthday would be episode 7. The crew would wanna party but also wanna cheer up their sulking captain. They’re glad Ed is gone. Izzy is a good first mate here but still drinking. He encourages the party to Stede who agrees. They’re spending Ed’s treasure that he’s left, turning the poison into positivity by getting rid of the bad memories the Kraken Crew has of obtaining it. Stede and Izzy bond a lot here. Ned Low does interrupt the party (I think maybe he’s also “working” with Ricky but not really, he has his own agenda) planning to bait Ed back. The scene in Stede’s quarters would be Izzy and Stede, not Ed and Stede. Once again the crew are suffering for Ed’s actions, and THAT is how Ed can atone for it. He can save them, probably with the help of Zheng who he’ll have met when he goes off to be a fisherman. So there’s some camaraderie going there. Also, with help from Lucius and Black Pete, who will have to trust him in order to save the crew/themselves. Stede will be the one to kill Ned Low, and he and Ed will still impulsively sleep together as a coping mechanism at the end of episode 8. Izzy is still alive and well (though still drinking a lot; and I think this could be a key to Frenchie having to confront trauma instead of locking it in the box), and things aren’t smoothed out with Ed and Izzy yet, that’s for next season, Ed has ACTUALLY done something to earn the crew’s trust back, and it appears to be a happy enough ending for Ed and Stede. Also, IF Ed says “I love you”, Stede is GONNA say “I love you too” because WTAF was that in the show?! But I’d end the season with La Vie en Rose and fireworks, Izzy happy and celebrating with the crew, a happy moment for Ed/Stede, the antagonist defeated, and Ed actually having atoned for his previous actions.

All of this is rough, but it’s my original thoughts. If anyone wants to use the base of this to write a fix-it fic, go for it. I may do it myself if I can find the time between work writing responsibilities.

[saintvainglorious]

Fics I Enjoyed in February & March

18 fics and ~720k (!!!) total. Includes fics from the following fandoms: Fullmetal Alchemist, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, Kung Fu Panda

Pornstar Martini by blatantblue/@blatantblue and brightened Hazbin Hotel | Angel Dust/Husk | 5k | Mature | Part 1 of Pornstar Martini

Naturally, Husk’s kindness goes straight to Angel’s head. This is why he doesn’t do heroin — you try that shit once, you always want it. You may never take it again, but you’ll carry the gaping-aching hole in your chest until the end of your days. Or the end of eternity. Angel never needed aftercare before; he puts the blame squarely on Husk’s huggable shoulders.

Sour Dove by blatantblue/@blatantblue Hazbin Hotel | Angel Dust/Husk | 6k | Explicit | Part 2 of Pornstar Martini

“What do you need?” Husk asks again, hand in Angel’s hair, always in Angel’s hair. Angel needs to feel something that’s his and only his. He needs to know there’s a part of him, a pathetic inch, when he doesn’t yet end and Valentino doesn’t yet begin. He needs a lie. “Put me on my knees.” Husk doesn’t even flinch. “You know I’m not gonna do that, baby.” Angel and Husk get as close as they can without breaking each other.

Call Your Bluff by RazzAppleMagic/@razzapplemagic Hazbin Hotel | Angel Dust/Husk | 72k (WIP) | Explicit

Val may be a fucking monster, but he’s a monster that Angel knows. He’s a monster that Angel understands. Angel isn’t stupid; he made the choice to sign with Valentino because he was the only overlord that made sense for Angel’s lifestyle — for what Angel wanted out of Hell. But now you’re tellin’ him that his soul is owed to some random fucking jackass who swindled Val in a game of cards? How can that be fair? How can that be something that’s just allowed to happen? (In which, Angel's contract is acquired by a new overlord �� Hell's very own Gambling Demon, and they both get more from the relationship than either of them bargained for.)

snipers solve 99% of all problems by silentwalrus/@silentwalrus1 Fullmetal Alchemist | Gen | 260k (WIP) | Mature

Ed had thought, after the whole Promised Day, homunculus, entire country harvested for alchemical batteries thing, the batshit quotient of his life would have settled down some. He really ought to have topped out the meter with that one. But no. The bullshit is just getting started. “Are you fucking kidding me,” Ed demands. “The wizards?”

Call Sign: Morning Star by blatantblue/@blatantblue Hazbin Hotel | Alastor/Lucifer Morningstar | 7k | Explicit

“You,” Alastor says slowly, “came up here to proposition me?” Lucifer shrugs. “And if I did?” Joy and the thrill of friendship are not on Alastor’s frequency, and neither is Lucifer. But it may be their last night in Hell; in the circumstances, Lucifer’s mouth on him is infinitely less of a terrible idea.

You're in MY House, Bitch by brightened Hazbin Hotel | Adam/Lucifer Morningstar | 3k | Explicit

“Is this what you’ve been up to?” Adam asks. “A rubber duck orgy?” Lucifer gasps, reaching for the nearest duck and clutching it to his chest. “How dare you! I’ve never fornicated with any of my ducks. In fact … I haven’t fornicated since Lilith.” Lucifer drops the duck in favor of drumming both hands on his chest. “Well, that’s embarrassing. Why am I saying this to you?” Lucifer propositions Adam. Not in that way! But also, yes in that way.

Dusk Till Dawn by Novaeris Helluva Boss | Blitzø/Stolas | 13k | Mature

When Blitzø gets drugged and kidnapped by an imp gang, he has to fight tooth and nail to make it out with his life. When his injuries prove to be a bit too much for him to handle, he sucks up his pride and goes to ask Stolas for help. Normally, not a big deal. Except this time, he hasn’t spoken to the guy since their shitty first date at Ozzie’s. And when one of his wounds gives Blitzø a nasty fever, he finds himself revealing a lot more than he intended. A post ep 7 fic with a lot of Blitzø whump and Stolas finally learning where the lines of communication had broken down between them.

Far From Heaven by Novaeris Helluva Boss | Blitzø/Stolas | 45k | Explicit

After their disastrous first date, Blitzo and Stolas struggle to pick themselves back up again in the aftermath. It takes many small steps before they can finally be honest, with themselves and with each other. Blitzo learns to tell the truth. And Stolas learns that, sometimes, things aren’t as hopeless as they appear. A study of Blitzo and a study of Stolas as they fall apart and then come back together after ep 7.

Palaces and Souvenirs by CloudySonder/@cloudysonder Helluva Boss | Blitzø/Stolas | 14k (WIP) | Mature

So Stolas is objectively. Objectively. Attractive. Kinda soft-looking, sometimes. Pretty. Whatever. Fuckin’ whatever. That’s always been a thing. Blitzo knew that, Stolas definitely knew that-- whatever. This is not, Blitzo thinks, sounding a little bit desperate even to himself, some sort of revelation. the lack of Slow-Burn Friends-With-Benefits to Lovers with Octavia & Blitzo Bonding as a Sideplot content in the stolitz community is Appalling, so i am merely fulfilling a demand in the market

"Red." by QUINADEN Helluva Boss | Blitzø/Stolas | 10k | Explicit

Another full moon, another sexual rendevous. But when Stolas suggests that he return the favor for once, Blitz has to confront the fact that giving over even more control of the situation might be the scariest compromise he’s ever had to make.

At Your Service by QUINADEN Helluva Boss | Blitzø/Stolas | 14k (WIP) | Mature

When Blitz was 10, his family sold him to the Ars Goetia family, believing that he’d have a far better life than he ever would in the circus business given his lack of general talent and skill. With his soul forever bound by contract, he has one job and one job only: to serve Prince Stolas of the Ars Goetia. Part of that duty eventually became having a nearly two-decades-long affair with the prince. But when their secret is discovered by Andrelphus, who threatens to expose them both to the Goetia family, just how far will Blitzø be willing to go in order to protect Stolas, and, by extension, his own life?

The Devil Is My Shepherd by QUINADEN Helluva Boss | Blitzø/Stolas | 28k (WIP) | Mature

No longer able to live in the comfort of the home and property he owned for decades, Blitzo has now moved in (at least temporarily) with Stolas while he recovers from his injuries sustained at the hands of the local Catholic congregation. No one said adjusting to an entirely new life in Hell would be easy, but between Stolas' daughter going through the motions of her parents separating, his new friends planning their wedding, a manager who is both younger and far braver than he is, and Stolas himself, it's been difficult, to say the least. Grappling with a brand new lifestyle and world without the comfort of the deity his parents raised him to embrace, things are certainly going to be rough. He's already been dragged down into the depth of Hell, though: how much worse could it get?

Traces of Spring by nehezt/@nehezt Kung Fu Panda | Gen | Mature

While investigating a strange phenomenon, Po inadvertently brings Tai Lung back from the Spirit Realm. Forced to live again, Tai Lung must grapple with his place in the world and the feelings that led to his attack on the Valley of Peace.

Competition by astolat/@astolat Game of Thrones | Jaime Lannister/Brienne of Tarth | 11k | Mature

Almost the instant Brienne was out of earshot, Bronn turned to Podrick, jerked his head towards Jaime and asked, “Has he fucked her yet?”

Words by astolat/@astolat Game of Thrones | Jaime Lannister/Brienne of Tarth | 10k | Explicit

“So we’ll look for you in the North," Robb Stark said, "coming to pay your debt."

Let The River Run by astolat/@astolat Game of Thrones | Jaime Lannister/Brienne of Tarth/Robb Stark | 61k | Explicit

The deep satisfaction of having made the right choice; of having found a clear-flowing wellspring of true honor to protect.

Royal Flush by astolat/@astolat Game of Thrones | Jaime Lannister/Brienne of Tarth/Margaery Tyrell | 85k | Explicit

Robb Stark had swept his entire hand of cards off the table, and Tyrion couldn’t see how to make a single play at all.

Winter's Crown by astolat/@astolat Game of Thrones | Jaime Lannister/Robb Stark | 76k | Explicit

“When the Night’s King rides,” the giant said, each word slow as cold honey pouring, “the King in the North must answer. The King in the North…whose name is Stark.”

[hooked-on-elvis]

ELVIS RECORDED A SONG FOR HIS FATHER

The story of the track “If I’m A Fool (For Loving You)” recorded at the American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee (1969)

[ABOVE] Elvis and his father, Vernon Presley, early 60s and 70s.

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JANUARY 20, 1969 - AMERICAN SOUND STUDIO, MEMPHIS TENNESSEE

Elvis was working with the musicians in the studio since the night before, January 19. The night went on and it was already past midnight when, during a pause to catch the breath, Elvis Presley casually finds another song to record yet at that same recording session.

JANUARY 20, 1969 - AMERICAN SOUND STUDIO, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE By 4:30 the next morning they were tired — and they’d pretty much exhausted the song list they’d come in with. Elvis and piano player Bobby Wood were sitting quietly on the piano bench talking about religion and music. Bobby had had a minor hit as a recording artist with “Searchin’” and had recorded Sun writer Stan Kesler’s “If I’m A Fool (For Loving You).” Elvis introduced Bobby to his father, and when Vernon said that “If I’m A Fool” was one of his favorites, Elvis decided to give it a try. Excerpt from "Elvis Presley: A Life in Music - The Complete Recording Sessions" (1998) by Ernst Jorgensen and Peter Guralnick

In an interview, this is what Bobby himself said about that moment:

Q: In 1964, you had a hit. Can you tell us when Elvis covered it? A: Yes, 'If I'm a Fool' in 1964 was a pretty big hit for me and so Elvis had know about that and his dad came in one night at the studio while we were recording Elvis. And he said, 'Dad, I'd like to have you meet somebody here'. And so he brought him over and I shook hands with him and then he introduced us and he said, 'Do you know who this guy is?' And he said, 'No, I'm not sure'. So Elvis said, 'What's your favorite record'. And he said, 'If I'm a Fool'. And he said, 'This is the guy that sang it'. And of course his father just said, 'Woah'. So Elvis went on and did it for his dad because that was one of his dad's favorite songs at the time.

Source: www.elvis.com.au

— BOBBY WOOD'S "IF I'M A FOOL (FOR LOVING YOU)", THE SONG VERNON PRESLEY HEARD AND APPRECIATED:

— [BELOW] Bobby Wood's EP released in 1964

— [BELOW] ELVIS' RECORDINGS: TAKES 1, 2 & 3 — JANUARY 20, 1969

What Elvis thought about his own performance on the song:

Maybe it was just too late in the day to introduce a new song, but even with Bobby’s help the master they produced elicited only one word from Elvis: “Rotten.” It’s a measure of how high Elvis’s standards had risen by this point: The master of “If I’m A Fool” may have been one of the lesser cuts Elvis made at American, but measured against the years of Hollywood soundtrack crap that came before, it was still a giant leap of musicality. Excerpt from "Elvis Presley: A Life in Music - The Complete Recording Sessions" (1998) by Ernst Jorgensen and Peter Guralnick

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THE MASTER OF "IF I'M A FOOL (FOR LOVING YOU)" WAS FIRST RELEASED IN 1970 IN THE COMPILATION ALBUM "LET'S BE FRIENDS".

Later the track was also released in the reissued album "From Elvis in Memphis" as bonus track in the "40th Anniversary Edition" (legacy edition, 2009).

MUSIC INFO: IF I'M A FOOL (FOR LOVING YOU)

Lyrics by Stanley Kesler.

Recorded February 20, 1969 at American Sound Studio, Memphis.

Guitar: Reggie Young, Elvis Presley. Bass: Tommy Cogbill. Drums: Gene Chrisman. Piano: Bobby Wood, Elvis Presley, Ronnie. Organ: Bobby Emmons. Harmonica: Ed Kollis. Trumpet: R. F. Taylor, Wayne Jackson, Dick Steff. Sax & Trombone: Jackie Thomas. Sax: Glen Spreen, J. P. Luper. Trombone: Jackie Thomas, Jack Hale, Gerald Richardson, French Horn: Tony Cason, Joe D'Gerolamo. Vocals: Mary (Jeannie) Green, Donna Thatcher, Susan Pilkington, Mary Holladay, Dolores Edgin, Hurshel Wiginton, Joe Babcock, Millie Kirkham, Sonja Montgomery.

Source: www.elvisthemusic.com

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— ADDITIONAL INFO

Elvis didn't only covered one version from his pianist Bobby Wood previously recorded tracks, but two. Still from the "Elvis Presley: A Life In Music" book:

On the 22nd Elvis returned to do repairs and to try another song Bobby Wood had recorded, the religious “Who Am I”.

Elvis' second song cover that had been previously recorded by Bobby Wood, "Who Am I?" was recorded in February 22, 1969 at the American Sound Studio, and first released in March 1971 in the compilation album "You'll Never Walk Alone". The track followed the same destiny as "If I'm A Fool (For Loving You)" being later released as a part of the "From Elvis in Memphis – 40th Anniversary Edition" (2009) also as a bonus track. Unfortunately I couldn't find Bobby's recording, not even the released EP with it.

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Here's a quick interview in video with Bobby Wood telling how he met Elvis and his impressions of him.

You can read a longer interview HERE [elvis.com.au].

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Well, well, well. Such a nice info I came across today. I wonder if Vernon liked his son's version of Bobby Wood's country song "If I'm A Fool", one of his favorites at the time. Anyhow, it's cute to learn Elvis was not at first interested in recording this song until he acknowledged his father's personal liking of it. I guess it makes this tune a special gift to Vernon from his son, if you think about it. It was one 'at the spur of the moment' decisions when Elvis just followed his heart. ♥

PICTURES: Elvis and his father, Vernon, and the R&B legend, Roy Hamilton, filmed during one of the recording sessions at the American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Circa January 22, 1969.

[rainmustfallts4]

Rain Must Fall (Commentary Ed.) ◇ Episode 36: troublemaker

⊶⊰Information & Index⊱⊷⊶⊰Ep. 1⊱⊷⊶⊰Chronological Tag⊱⊷

─────────────⊶⊰◇⊱⊷─────────────

Do you ever look at someone and wonder… what’s going on in their head?

Something tells me the answer is ‘nothing.’ Or maybe fancy tuna, who knows.

HE’S STARING AT THE WALL AGAIN LMAO I only just noticed that. There are really no thoughts in that cat’s head but I still adore him.

‘Why are we here… just to suffer?’

Maybe he’s upset because she hasn’t cleaned the cat box yet lol I really need to get the automatic one.

SHE’S DONE IT! Is that our very first aspiration completed? Why, I do think it is (unless it’s not, my memory is bad okay.)

She’s feeling good now that one of the four had been completed. Just three more and we can finally age up.

It’s time for some mischief 😉 I’m gonna enjoy this one.

She looks so cool boxing, even though she’s totally new at it. I’ve always thought boxing was a cool sport, though I admit I’ve never actually watched it before.

Oh… well that’s surprising. Maybe she’s less like me than I thought lol

[theclaravoyant]

AN ~ Version 1 of about 16 trillion WIPS I have of Ed and Izzy finally facing each other again. Did I write 1500wd and technically not use the prompt phrase? Yes I did, but in my defense I'm haunted by It's not your fault you're broken, you were just trying to do your job.

For @fictober-event’s Fictober 2023 prompt: “It's not your fault." Spoilers up to Ep 6, in which it's theoretically based.

Masterpost of my Fictober OFMD fics

Fandom: Our Flag Means Death Characters/Relationships: Ed Teach, Izzy Hands. Tags: Canon Typical Violence, References to Suicidal Ideation and associated mutually-destructive stuff that went down in the early eps. Angst with a Hopeful Ending and hopefully healing vibes.

Try

Ed recognises the voice before he turns the corner. It’s so familiar and beautiful and missed, his heart clenches. Because Izzy doesn’t sing. Not the Izzy he knows. Not anymore. And yet.

His feet carry him forward like they haven’t caught on that this is a stupid idea.

The bell around his neck announces him and he can hardly stand to hear the song strangle itself in Izzy’s throat. If there was a dance in his step it’s gone now. Izzy stops and stares at him for a long, miserable, terrifying moment.

“Edward,” he croaks.

In the silence, one can hear the other shoe drop.

“Izzy. I think we need to talk.”

-

Stede has the good sense, and the sense of drama, to usher the rest of the crew below deck. The abandoned party makes for a fittingly morbid setting; its rainbow lanterns bobbing in the breeze, beautiful food and rich aromas doing little to drown out the rotting wound they’re about to rip open. Neither of them speak for a long time. There’s too much to say.

Eventually, Izzy steps down off the little dias they’ve been calling a stage. He ignores Ed as much as possible, and sets about cleaning up instead. He marches to the nearest table and begins scraping all the food scraps onto one plate. Now that they’ve gone and ruined the mood, he might as well. But he feels Ed’s eyes on him, knows that stupid bell is swaying in the breeze a micron away from tinkling as he only moves just enough to watch Izzy. The heat pricks the back of his neck until he can’t stand it anymore.

“You’re the one who wants to talk, Edward. I’m fine.”

“Sure. You look fine.”

“I was, ‘til you got here.”

It hurts, but Ed swallows. He did walk right into that one. But it’s not the uncharacteristically camp make-up or the… golden… unicorn leg apparently? … that’s got Ed worried. It’s the tension in his shoulders, his gaunt face. The way that he carries himself around Ed - even though he’s well out of arms’ reach - with an air of hesitation, like he’s terrified he’ll be suckerpunched at any given moment and is trying desperately not to show it.

I wasn’t laughing, it reminds him. I was screaming.

He remembers the sound of the bullet too. He remembers thinking Izzy was dead and gone. He’d hardly felt a thing at the time, but looking back he knew it would destroy him. It should destroy him. That’s what it should feel like, to have somebody so close to you for so long and in so many ways that losing them feels like - 

Well, like losing a limb. Isn’t that how the saying goes?

But his traitorous fucking tongue refuses to form fucking words, at least not ones that mean anything, so all he can do is dare step a little closer. He reaches out his arm - slowly, hesitantly, - and he watches Izzy equally slowly close a fist around the handle of one of the butter knives he’s packing away. So he stops. Izzy’s fingers uncurl, but Ed’s pretty sure he’d rather have been stabbed. It hurts, everything hurts.

“It’s getting late,” Izzy says at last. “Think I’ll call it a night, actually.”

“Izzy. Please.” The words barely make it past the lump in his throat. If they don’t push through it now, they might never, and that’s just- well, that’s just not an option.

“Are you going to order me to stay?”

“No. I’m not your Captain anymore.”

Ed wishes he could be offended at the implication that he’d ever use his position in such a way, but he definitely would. He definitely has. And maybe, just maybe, he’s finally come close enough to admitting that for one of the worst people on God’s Green Earth at apologies, because Izzy finally stops doing busywork and looks at him. Really looks at him, like he’s trying to figure out the answer to his own question. What am I, to you?

“Still on probation, then?” he asks instead.

“Oh. Yeah.” Ed flicks the bell at his neck. “Crew says the vote has to be unanimous. So.”

“So you need me to tick the last box on your little form.”

“Oh fuck off, you brought it up, not me.” Ed bites his tongue. All this is going to do is get them riled up until they strangle each other. He tries to channel his crash course in healthy emotional expression and drag himself back on track. He takes a deep breath. “What I mean is. You’ve got a lot of them going to bat for you, Iz. They really care about how you feel about- about all this. You should be proud. I know I am.”

Izzy blinks. “What?”

Ed plays back what he just said. Is he finally making the words go?

“I am… proud of you,” he repeats. Tears spring to his eyes and he feels a bit sick and overwhelmed but there it is, he said it. “And grateful. I really am. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d really- I mean if you hadn’t-” 

He swallows. And maybe it’s because he’s still trying to spare Ed or maybe it’s because Izzy is allergic to the full spectrum of human emotion or maybe it’s because the memory is swirling around them like the storm did and they can both taste the salt water in the air but Izzy cuts him off.

“I was just doing my job.”

“Your boss fucking sucks then.”

He gets a tearful snort out of Izzy for that one. 

“Yeah, well. Pretty sure I started it.”

And maybe it’s good they’ve been making a point of avoiding each other since they got back on board the Revenge. Maybe they’re… ready for something. (Please. Please let them be ready.)

Ed waits with bated breath as Izzy looks away, touches his finger to his eyes in case he’s been crying, and deliberates. Ed watches, wishing, pleading, contemplating falling to the deck and fucking praying that a whip crack of vicious vengeance isn’t going to come for him. Once upon a time - hell, even this morning - he would have offered the man his pistol to shoot him back. It’s the pirate way of doing things, an eye for an eye, and maybe it’s not the healthiest or whatever but he’ll take it if it means making things square with Izzy. He's already got a bad knee, what’s a little more metal crunching around in there?

The silence lasts so long it itches under his skin. It burns the tip of his tongue and he’s on the verge of opening his mouth to suggest that the man fucking shoots him (again) after all, when Izzy finally speaks.

“Well,” he announces. “If we’re doing this, I’m going to need a drink.”

Speaking of knees, they almost give way beneath him.

“Amen to that.”

-

There’s a lot to untangle; so much that if they had the time-bending powers of the gravy basket they might still have not got through it all. But it’s progress, and the two of them end up lying close on the deck with their hair and limbs tossed every which way and a red glow to their cheeks that betrays how much they’ve imbibed. They’ve cried. They’ve laughed, frankly a surprising amount. They’ve almost called it quits and stormed out a half a dozen times each. Yet they’ve both stayed, and they’ve both let those walls down further than they have in years. The wound they’ve been letting fester isn’t healed. It’s a long way from that. But it’s been cleaned and wrapped in new bandages and as the morning light starts to make its way across their faces, there’s a gentleness to the ache in their chests.

Ed sighs.

“Be honest, Iz,” he prompts. “Do you think there’s a version of us where we don’t wind up killing each other?”

Izzy frowns, struggling to turn his fuzzy mind to the subject without getting bogged down again in I had a dream where you killed me and Edward better watch his fucking step and the Spanish and the English and the way their downward spirals have been happening harder and faster lately. Rising sun be damned, it’s hard to have hope in the face of that.

“I don’t know,” he confesses.

Ed swallows. It’s hard to take. But he said to be honest, and they’re being honest in a new way now. In a new old way that reminds him of the way things were before, somehow. It’s like a light at the end of the tunnel, shining into the dark sea. Like the morning breaking over them. The sun is warm, and it reminds him of the things that are worth holding onto.

“Do you think-” he asks, “d’you think we could try?”

“Stranger things have happened.”

“Like Izzy Hands stone-cold-sober letting someone put glitter on his face?”

With a cheeky, if hesitant, hopeful smile, Ed glances over at Izzy the best he can at this angle. Izzy, best he can too, angles his chin to meet Ed’s eyes, and smiles back.

“Yeah,” he agrees. “Like that.”

[tharizdun-03]

Hyouka Watchthrough

Episode 1: The Esteemed Classics Club has been Restored

Pleasantly surprised by how good the direction is. The show looks great in general too, even for KyoAni (even for KyoAni 10 years ago).

Narratively, this was solid. Mystery-solving is an interesting quirk. Not sure how that'll hold up over 22 eps but I get the feeling this will be more about them wasting time anyway with the mysteries as frosting on the whole thing, so probably not a problem.

Characterization is strong. You immediately get a feel of what they're all like. Horeki, is a typical trope, you know the loner, but I mean, it's not like it can't be done right, so we'll see. Satoshi with his database thing, Chitanda being curious. There's potential. 

Opening is cool.

The only real weird thing is the ED, where they're dressed in erotic baby clothes??? Odd choice, but it does look good. 

Episode 2: Activities of the Esteemed Classics Club

She is cute.

She is cute as well. 

Love how her arm extends beyond what should be possible to grab Oreki. Lots of good visual comedy in this show, as expected.

Good direction in this episode as well. I was particularly fond of the restaurant metaphor, and intrigued that they lingered on the shot of the librarian walking past the camera even when it wasn't necessary to do so (later on ofc it also makes sense why they lingered on the librarian and her nametag, with the succeeding mystery in mind, so clever foreshadowing).

This episode's mystery wasn't really interesting, but not quite boring either. This show is obviously more interested in just spending time with the characters as they waste time, and luckily, there's nobody better at that than KyoAni.

Episode 3: Inheritors of the Classics Club and Its Circumstances

EP 3 was an improvement on the first two. The direction is even more playful, and the mystery was the most interesting one yet.

First, I thought, "oh, he's probably hiding porn". But then they deduced he wanted to ventilate out a smell, and my mind was still set on the porn route, so the natural next step was the smell of semen? But he had to open windows AND use a fan? How much did he masturbate? Like, good god dude, control yourself a little bit.

But, enough about how my mind processes things lol. The show isn't doing much yet, but I'm just liking the mood. But, if not each mystery is strong, it could walk on that line of being almost boring, but I think we're slowly working up to something more significant here.

Episode 4: Past Days of the Classics Club and Its Glory

Hyouka continues to improve with EP 4. It's very much a mood piece, this show. I'm feeling it's less so (as of now) based around the character interactions like some of KyoAni's other SoL's, and more about the atmosphere the mysteries and discussions around them create.

That's not to say there isn't substance and charm to the character interactions, but it's not as solely focused on that as many of KyoAni's shows, this is more atmosphere oriented in another manner. if I'm making sense? I think we'll get more character meaty later too.

And again, Ibara is just so cute, I love her design. Also, lovely jeans overalls? I've always liked when girls wore those. They’re cute as shit.

Also, Oreki getting lost when he only had one direction, walk straight lol.

I'd be remiss, of course, to not mention the presentation here. Again, it's just stunning. KyoAni puts their heart and soul into every little detail.

Episode 5: The Truth of the Classics Club and Its Past

Really good episode.

Now that we've practically completed the first arc in the series, I can't say any particular element in the story blows me away, so if there's a bad mystery the entire narrative will suffer for it, but I do think it's just doing a really solid job at everything so far. 

So, yeah. I think it just comes down to KyoAni's exceptional execution again, but I certainly hope the mysteries keep being worthwhile, and that the characters keep deepening as well.

Episode 6: To Commit a Deadly Sin

EP 6 really took the idea of the show just being about kids wasting time with mysteries to the next level. It's a more low-key episode, but it's still amusing like the rest. Always pleasant to spend time with the characters. KyoAni is kinda good at this stuff, after all.

And, to be honest, dissecting random topics and thoughts (usually instigated by me) to death is practically all I do with my friends, so I totally see myself in them. It's oddly comforting, I suppose.

Episode 7: Seeing the True Identity

Loved Hyouka's 7th episode! The most engaging mystery so far (it's easy to lure me in with the challenge to explain the most seemingly unexplainable things, the supernatural being the epitome there), and it's the most in-depth look we've gotten into Oreki's head too.

I can't say all the mysteries in the show are super engaging, or that the characters are anything special, but it's all very pleasant, and it's like I said before. Hyouka is more a mood-oriented show, it's selling the feeling of the entire package, and it's succeeding at that.

That said, I do still think we got some nice Hotarou stuff, how his cynical perspective of "all ghosts are just withered flowers" was challenged in the end either way. And some shipping! We get that as well, which is always appreciated.

No shame on Houtarou, as this has happened to me, twice actually, but the fact that he actually passed out from just being so horny his body couldn't physically handle him staying conscious throughout it lol. A pitfall of his energy-conserving lifestyle perhaps.

Blessings. 

Episode 8: Let's Go to the Screening!

EP 8 seems to be the beginning of a second major story arc, huh.

The opening texting scene was interesting. It was framed as "suspicious". I suspect that the author of the script is actually in on this (cause even if she's sick, why couldn't she just tell them the answer?). Also, that you can tell it's Chitanda through the texts lol.

Very well done KyoAni, when it came to making their short film as amateurish as possible, with all the flat framing, bad acting, and camera movement that barely captures the stuff it's supposed to lol.

I'm finding myself consistently enamored by Satoshi. He mentioned earlier in the episode that even with his being a database, he isn't talented enough to do anything special with it, and the fact that he seems to envy Oreki (giving him the Strength tarot). 

I am very much enjoying this show. Again, it's so easy to see me and my friend group in these kids, so I often just get pulled into that headspace when watching it now.

Episode 9: Murder Case in the Deserted Furuoka

EP 9 was interesting enough (tho not much happened) with the whole rejecting each proposed theory, cause they either break against mystery rules or just aren't narratively satisfying, but why don't they just ask the author? She's sick, not dead.

Now, yes, obviously that's the actual mystery, hence the episode title being, “Why Didn’t She Ask Eba?”, but why haven't our characters realized this yet? They don't seem to care too much about all this anyway tbh.

We have a little fun gag with Chitanda getting drunk on whiskey chocolates, which I was concerned about since it's school, and they're underage, which did get out of hand, but it just heightens Chitanda's cuteness. 

Speaking of Chitanda, Houtarou here doesn't really act until Chitanda isn't sastified, cause she's his audience. It's not about finding bulletproof logic, usually mysteries aren't like that anyway, it's about satisfying the reader.

I thought this was an interesting moment, cause it seems like Chitanda should be really into mystery stories, so why isn't she? She's not much about deducing stuff herself, but I mean, the detective character usually does that. Maybe I'm missing something?

Another interesting moment was finding out Satoshi likes mystery novels (another hint that he's jealous of Houtarou's deductive capabilities?). 

And Mayaka getting offended on his behalf is very cute.

Episode 10: What No One Noticed

Another good episode. Having a solution where the cameraman is the killer is very creative (tho not compatible with traditional mystery rules). Satoshi continues to be really interesting, there's subtext in everything he says. Ofc, one twist is left in store for the arc.

Episode 11: End Credits of the Fool

That concludes Hyouka's movie mystery arc. It was a bit long, and a bit overdramatic by the end, but I think it all served a larger theme in the end, and that was more so the point. We got some Houtarou good stuff, along with a well-constructed mystery, so good overall.

Episode 11.5 (OVA): What Should Be Had

This was fun. It's just pleasant spending time with the characters. I was wondering if they could involve a mystery somehow, and they did (tho even I figured this one out quick). And a pool episode with attractive characters is always nice.

Episode 12: Practically Piled to the Ceiling

Great episode! Finally, the culture festival is here, and it's difficult to think of it as having been better done than here. It's just an excuse for KyoAni to show off (the breakdancing and NO CG CROWDS), and truly have the characters just "waste time."

As interesting as the mysteries can be, this is more my jam, when it comes to Hyouka at least. And there's just so much happening here, and we focus more on the characters other than Oreki this time, and their interactions with all the events, it's lovely.

The breakdancing was great, I loved Satoshi's Saturn costume and how he immediately wrecked it, and Chitanda continuously getting distracted is literally me lol. This is a really effective way to make me more emotionally invested and make the characters more loveable. 

Also, GODDAMN IT, Mayaka is cute.

Loved the visuals for the new opening, showing metaphorically how Chitanda causes Oreki to step away from the observer role and actively engage with the life around him.

The new ED is super cute too.

Episode 13: A Corpse by Evening

Hyouka's Culture Festival arc continues to be a joy. Love how the characters are all over the place so we get to see all these new sides to them, and allows KyoAni to pop off by bringing all these events to life with insane detail. This type of SoL vibes with me more.

The two presenters during the quiz show (my favourite scene in this episode) brought their A-game to this. Comedy gold. 

And Mayaka debating media experiences. Gooo drag her slay queen!

Mayaka was already plenty likable, but I think exploring her passion like this, especially as I share this passion of hers, makes her even more loveable.

As mentioned tho, while I like the mysteries in this show, this is working a bit better for me in terms of investment and is a smart move since I'm expecting the climax of the show to give us some emotional payoffs that'll hit harder with this set-up.

Episode 14: Wildfire

I'm convinced. This is the best culture festival I've seen in anime.

oh my god is that a reference to the hit visual novel 'The House in Fata Morgana'????

She is so cute i almost can't stand it.

Chitanda striking that Mugi pose (on that note, crazy that Chitanda and Ritsu share the same voice actor).

This arc is leaps and beyond what's come before in this show. I'm really loving it. Yes, we still got a mystery, but it's more of a fun one in the backdrop, and that's how I like it. Also, shout out to the OST in this episode. And, ofc, Oreki being adorable. He does care.

I was also particularly impressed by a bunch of the directorial tricks in this episode, so I looked it up, and what do you know, it's Naoko Yamada's episode, because of course. 

Episode 15: The Juumonji Incident

And with EP 15, Hyouka's Kanya Festival arc goes for a more serious turn. I do find so far that the series is doing less for me the more it focuses on its mysteries, but by all means, this was a well-executed episode nonetheless.

We still get some character stuff, of course. Hyouka never leaves that out. We really see here now how Satoshi isn't actually satisfied with only being a database, and wants to solve the mystery for once.

In the meantime, Mayaka's dynamics with the manga club is establishing her as a bit more of an independent character herself. Oreki is mostly in the background in this arc (altho he does find out that he can order products from the festival online, happy for my boy) and Chitanda does her best to help the Classic Lit club in her own special little way. 

This arc is more and more seeming to be about Satoshi and Mayaka finding their place in the world.

Episode 16: The Last Target

And Hyouka's Kanya Festival arc keeps it up with EP 16, delivering on the best slice of life, mystery-setting, and character development the series has seen so far.

While Oreki (whose PoV we still always return to) and Chitanda (who might not offer much complexity but is always busy with something) are still around, they've really taken a backseat for Mayaka and Satoshi to shine.

With Mayaka we see a more vulnerable side to her as she deals with the bullying in her club, and with Satoshi, we see him try to grab the spotlight and actually solve a mystery but still fail at it. He's a sweet guy, but there is anger there, and I fear it might burst. 

Also, literally Umineko.

Episode 16: Kudryavka's Order

And EP 17 marks the end of Hyouka's Kanya Festival arc. What a very elegant arc. The series high point, if you ask me. Impressive just how much was accomplished here, and how every layer of the narrative and characters ties back to the central theme; the curse of expectations.

Episode 18: Are the Mountains Sunny?

EP 18 is back to formula, and ngl, the Kanya Festival arc raised the bar so high that I kinda want a bit more plot again. Quirky, fun little one-off eps like this are pleasant enough, but oh well.

The most interesting thing about this episode is Houtarou. The character development in this show really is slow and subtle and you almost don't notice it, but it's there.

Houtaro has likely always been curious but just rarely acts on it, which is why he's used Chitanda and his sister as an excuse to force him to act, for example, but he's doing it himself now. He's growing. Slowly, but steady.

Episode 19: Anyone Who Knows

EP 19 was probably the best standalone episode so far. I'd still want some more meat for these final set of episodes, but can't lie and say I wouldn't respect the hell out of it if it's just lowkey stuff like this the entire way through. This was super fun.

I was honestly amazed by just how much information they deduced from a 5-second announcement alone. Hyouka is definitely unique, no other show could do this, or would even attempt to.

It's funny how the series has returned to the structure the first half had, but now with a different Oreki who's grown. Also worth noting, once Oreki starts, he ends up really trying anyway cause he hates being wrong.

But, he also just enjoys spending time with Chitanda so much that what they're doing specifically isn't important enough to remember. And on that note, boy was there some sexual tension here.

Overall just an extremely well-structured episode with plenty of good character moments (Oreki asking Chitanda about the funeral, and being willing to go with her to Jun's grave) and filled with all types of visual shots to keep things engaging on that level. Great stuff.

Episode 20: Sappy New Year

Not always a lot to talk about when it comes to Hyouka, but EP 20 was another pleasant one. I'm gonna miss this show. I really hope we follow up on Satoshi and Mayaka's character arcs from the Kanya Festival tho, cause so far, it just kinda feels like they've been reset. (also look at Oreki’s coat fucking badass)

The mystery in this episode was probably the worst one, yeah, but believable enough that it didn't hinder my enjoyment or anything. And spending time with these characters is always nice enough to just overshadow some of that.

Episode 21: The Chocolate Files

FANTASTIC EPISODE! Hyouka is one of those shows where the character development is there, but it's so subtle that it takes its time before it gets up to the surface, but it's always present in their actions if paid attention. Satoshi is the prime example of this.

Did I not say at the beginning that Satoshi seems like the most interesting character, that there was stuff beneath the surface? Did I not praise the introspection we got from him (and Mayaka) during the Kanya Festival arc? Did I not ask for a conclusion to that arc yesterday?

Yes, I fucking did, and this show answered my prayers. And I am so thankful that the payoffs we got here wasn’t grand emotional outburts, but quiet mundane wexecution wise. I also watched Toradora this year so haha. 

But, really, what we have here, in its most stripped essence, is Satoshi's fear of commitment. But, done in a really unique manner. Satoshi is afraid of commitment because he overcommits.

Satoshi explains how he eventually gave up being perfect (represented wonderfully by the uneven snowball) and is now instead just obsessed with not being obsessed, which is of course, still an obsession.

Yes, Satoshi. It might give you some temporary happiness, but you haven't gotten rid of the root problem, which still affects your relationships negatively.

We know from the Kanya Festival arc that Satoshi still cares if he loses. He certainly tries to let that go, but it still hurts. He hasn't truly grown up, he's just sweeping things under the rug (which Mayaka to an extent already knows, cause she just knows him that well).

The possibility of obsessing over Sayaka to the degree that it can bring back his old tendencies is a legitimate fear of Satoshi that has been present in his characterization from day one.

And, you know, obviously, he can't toy with Mayaka's feelings like this, but maybe, for now, he shouldn't be with Mayaka. Until he's grown up enough, maybe he shouldn't invest in another person like that, but just enjoy their presence platonically.

But, that does not give him an excuse to hurt other people's feelings. And, while we didn't hear what his conversation with Mayaka would be about (and I suspect we won't follow up on this in the next episode cause the implication is enough),it's pretty safe to guess that he's made the first step towards emotional accountability; confesses to Mayaka about all his insecurities and stops treating her so selfishly. 

He still has some growing up to do, but he'll get there, and Mayaka is obviously a girl of patience.

Episode 22: Doll in the Distance

Hyouka's finale was a fantastic and very satisfying end to the series. Beautifully encapsulated just how much these characters have grown, and how they'll continue to grow. Spring has only just begun.

I feel a bit empty after that tbh. That's proof a series has left its mark on me. There's a lot to talk about, all my thoughts are jumbled up in my head, but let's try.

I loved the soft-focus image they used when Oreki is captivated by Chitanda.

And I also love the spinning slow pan around him and Chitanda as they were walking together after the festival.

We also checked in quickly with Mayaka and Satoshi, and we got the impression that they were doing alright. Satoshi is finally being honest with her, and they're still friends, but they'll get to that next stage eventually when they're both ready.

And then we come to Oreki and Chitanda. They both practically proposed to each other here lol. Chitanda showed him her future and what she plans to do with her life, basically an open invitation for Oreki to join her and what he'll get by doing so. And he imagines it.

He imagines asking her if it'd be okay to stay by her side and help her. But he's not there quite yet. But even the fact that he imagined it is big growth on his part. He'll get there. They're 16. Ofc the show will end open-ended, their lives are open-ended at that point.

Hyouka is a great show by all means, but it was not always great. Never bad, but uneven. When it was at the top of its game, particularly the Kanya Festival arc and these last two episodes, it was superb stuff. But then the rest varies in quality. Yet it was always fun.

But, and I mentioned this back in EP 1, Hyouka is all about atmosphere, so it's slow-build. It takes its time, and it's only by the end that you really realize everything the show accomplished and how invested you got.

And this slow build applies to the character writing as well, where the character development is so subtle and rarely explicitly commented upon, but you observe it in their behavior instead. Satoshi is still the prime example of this, but they all had fantastic arcs.

But, all in all, great show. It sneaks up on you, but it's a really unique one. And I'm happy it exists.

Overall Thoughts: 

Hyouka was great! Sophisticated and intelligent narrative, filled with emotional depth and subtlety in its character writing. It's a bit uneven, but its highs are sublime. The Kanya Festa arc is genius, and the ending is fantastic. What a unique show. I'll miss this one.

[feuqueerfire]

February 2024 Movies/Shows Wrap-Up

A little monthly (spoilery!) wrap-up of all the shows, movies, and shorts I’ve watched or am watching in February 2024, general thoughts, and ranking of them all.

Recommendation of the month(s): Honestly, this month involved me watching BLs which brought something new to the table (omegaverse, fantasy & thai legends, isekai-ed into a game, lawyers and crime) but none of them stood out to me as much as I’d hoped (my greatest wish is stronger, more coherent scriptwriting). Recommendation is try whichever concept seems most appealing.

Ranking

Love For Love's Sake = Midnight Runners (2017) = Laws of Attraction (2023) =  Pit Babe = The Sign = Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Average Rating: 6/10 [unfortunate that it’s just 6/6.5s considering I was hoping for more from Pit Babe/The Sign/Laws of Attraction]

MDL Updates - Added to Watchlist: 

A section because I’m curious about how many shows I decide to add to my Watch List a month and also the ratio of watching them:adding them.

Title MDL (year) - (date added to Considering or To Watch): initial reaction

Love for Love's Sake (2024): Positive reception and Cha Woongki is in it

Marry My Dead Body (2022) - 240202: I was watching Certified Noonas What's Coming Up in Feb 2023 and came across this, Taiwanese movie where dude marries a (male) ghost

Pit Babe (2023) - 240207: omegaverse racing show wouldn't necessarily draw me in but some Tiktoks I saw of eps 1-2 (esp of Charlie woahhh beautiful boy, I even reblogged on here which I very rarely do for shows I haven't watched yet) were interesting + lately, I've been seeing a lot of praise for it (esp that week when apparently Last Twilight Ep 12 disappointed a lot of people but had a really good episode for this show)

A Shop for Killers (2024) - 240210: I saw it on the Certified Noonas coming up in January I think? But I also saw it getting good impressions on the r/kdrama on-air threads + pocha playlist's initial impression + it has Lee Dong Wook, even though it's not like I watch all his shows or anything

A Killer Paradox (2024) - 240210: Been waiting for this since literally 2023 after I watched Strangers From Hell and saw in Certified Noonas' 2023 releases that it was from the same director + is an interesting concept

My Personal Weatherman (2023) - 240215: I don't know, maybe I just wanna see their dubcon bad bdsm dynamic. also, i keep reblogging horny gifsets cuz there are plenty for this show...

The Sign (2024) - 240215: The finale still isn't properly available yet so I don't really know how people will feel about the end but oh well, I'm gonna end up watching it either way because of how much people have been loving it

Chaser Game W (2024): Another Japanese GL and apparently it has toxic-ish workplace romance + post-breakup second chance romance yay. Also, the tweet where one of the characters is like “I’m a lesbian” *thunder* is hilarious

A Little Romance/Let's Wait for the Rain to Stop (2022) - 240219: A 14-minute Chinese bromance short from this tiktok that I saw

Dead Friend Forever - DFF (2024): I’ve been meaning to watch this since like ep 1 came out and I learned it was supposed to be horror-esque/slasher and seems like people have been loving it even more these past few eps. I’m actually so excited to check it out, I hope I love it and it rots my brain.

To Watch List At Start Of Month: 62

To Watch List At End Of Month: 67

Removed from To Watch List:

Title (Year) - (date removed): reason

None

Completely Watched

Love for Love's Sake (2024)

Country: South Korea

Release Dates: Jan 24, 2024 - Feb 1, 2024

Watch Via: paid, so :>

Watch Dates: Feb 1 - 2, 2024

Rating: 6/10

Overall Impression: It was cute, the concept was nice, the early 2 eps were Very promising and last ep was touching but the middle (esp 5-6) was quite meh for me. There was also a bunch of confusing stuff, esp in the second half, but I guess I won't try to investigate too much. It has people really talking and discussing and dissecting it though, which is a fun aspect.

tags: love for love's sake

Also Appears In: Love For Love's Sake Live Blogging

Midnight Runners (2017)

Country: South Korea

Release Dates: Aug 9, 2017

Watch Via: Tubi (free)

Watch Dates: Feb 3, 2024

Rating: 6/10

Overall Impression: I came in with expectations of copaganda and bromance. Got the copaganda (I mean the real cops were useless af but) and bromance, as well at annoyance at these male-led shows with female victims where the story is solely about the men and they just dilly-dally through it all like why are you not upright enough to be like oh, I shouldn't waste time getting my ears cleaned by pretty girl rn, there's a 7-hour critical timeframe we were taught about, chop chop. Anyway, they were still passionate and did it, so good job but this really was just more about a male power fantasy of being the hero and beating up people and being the "saviour" because it was just about them 2 doing anything and we don't even get a moment of the girls after rescue and like 1 minute of them total before that. I can enjoy these sorts of action movies and like a good fight scene but I think I can be really averse to using crimes against women while centering men in the show (Midnight Runners, fuckass Manner of Death). I love Beyond Evil though, even though 2 male main characters were the focus in this story where a serial killer is killing women but I think that story maybe that story 1) properly showed the gravity of the crime against the women and 2) there wasn't a scene like the ear-cleaning parlor in this one and the sex scene in Manner of Death after they got that important laptop where I was supposed to either find it funny or sexy that they were doing this instead of focusing on the fucking investigation.

Agh, so many words and half of them aren't even about this movie

Laws of Attraction (2023)

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Jul 15, 2023 - Sep 2, 2023

Watch Via: paid, so :>

Watch Dates: Feb 3 - 6, 2024

Rating: 6/10

Overall Impression: I really liked To Sir, With Love which was a lakorn and so was different than every other BL I've watched and was hoping I'd similarly love this one, which is also bringing something unique to the BL table. It started off really well for me, I thought Charn was such a fun (morally corrupt) character and was intrigued about what was going on. I liked the lesbians Maya and Rose as well ofc. However, I think toward ep 7 and 8, it kinda became very meh for me (that warehouse live stream scene not counting) because the mystery was too predictable/boring and thus had no tension, people kept making incredibly stupid decisions, and I wasn't attached to the characters enough to care/be emotional about all the wedding stuff. Nawin was a great addition in ep 7 though, so unexpected and fun. Unfortunate that the meh impression ended up being the last ones since that sticks with me more than liking it in the earlier eps.

tags: laws of attraction

Also Appears In: Laws of Attraction Live Blogging

Pit Babe

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Nov 17, 2023 - Feb 9, 2024

Watch Via: iQiyi (paid, so :>)

Watch Dates: Feb 7 - 11, 2024

Rating: 6/10 [May 12, 2024 Update: Decreased by 0.5 stars when rerating shows I've watched in 2024: 6.5 -> 6]

Overall Impression: This show had everything: non-traditional alpha/alpha relationship, racecar competitions, x-men like superpowers, child trafficking, pseudo-incest if you think about it (from Kenta's side at least), and more. And it didn't have a super strong script, there were nonsensical elements and plot holes that didn't get addressed and things that happened to just move the plot along, but it was a fun watch nonetheless, both for the novelty and the entertainment factor. Babe was a very compelling character with his past and how he behaves in the present and his relationships with Tony/Way/people in general. Also helped that Pavel did a really good job with him and acted his ass off, there were quite a few emotional moments in there. I agree with some people's comments that I wish Charlie's actor Pooh as a better actor. And his character wasn't as developed or with depth as the other ones either, like in terms of emotions I guess. Although I really liked Charlie/Babe, my true ship winners might be Pete/Kenta in a Not Me ToddBlack fashion, to be honest, with Kenta as maybe my favourite character (2nd is Babe). They gave us like 2 tiny hints that they might know each other and waited until literally last 10 mins of episode 11 out of 13 to lay out their history. They have an interesting friends (-> brothers/crush) -> enemies -> allies again at the very end dynamic where I think that they could become lovers post-canon. Really had me writing a fic idea in my notes app after my few months of no drive to write.

tags: pit babe, kenta

Also Appears In: Pit Babe Live Blogging, + my fic heh

240215: I'm not starting Only Friends already because I wanna take some time to write my Pete Babe fic and if I start a new show, I'll stop writing it. However, I was in dire need of some BL and ended up rewatching just bits of Ghost Host Ghost House ep 4 after I saw a gifset on here, then watched like 2 mins of Bed Friend cat Uea and then Eps 13 - 15 of Addicted Heroin. Man, once again, 2016 Addicted Heroin cutoff must've actually been so fucking tragic. Like I'm only rewatching parts of it nearly a decade later + watched the Stay With Me remake and still it's devastating the way it just ends, I can't imagine how people who were watching it in real time coped. How has nobody leaked it even asdfghjkl Also ended up reading chapters 96 - 135 because I was like hm maybe I wanna read more but the book is A Lot, so stopped lol

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Country: USA

Release Dates: June 7, 2005

Watch Via: TV

Watch Dates: Feb 19, 2024

Rating: 6/10 [May 12, 2024 Update: Decreased by 0.5 stars when rerating shows I've watched in 2024: 6.5 -> 6]

Overall Impression: This is fun and finally I will understand what people mean when they reference this movie (although I knew that it was about hitmen/spies who were married and didn't know the other was a spy as well and that's pretty accurate). Had one of my favourite tropes of having guns/knives pointed at each other and ample chance to kill the other person but they Can't!!! Todd/Black was my original for this but then we got Vegas/Pete, Pete/Kenta and now this movie which came out like 2 decades before these other shows lol Anyway, fun but not something I will think about again + the characters aren't developed enough for me to care.

The Sign (2024)

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Nov 25, 2023 - Feb 11 (24), 2024

Watch Via: Youtube

Watch Dates: Feb 20 - 24, 2024

Rating: 6/10 [May 12, 2024 Update: Decreased by 0.5 stars when rerating shows I've watched in 2024: 6.5 -> 6]

Overall Impression: I think I liked the first few eps and the potential of the series and the possibilities than I liked the actual series oof. Since everybody freaking loved this, I also had high expectations. I thought there would be more focus on the romance and fantasy and past lives aspect and less on the cop activity. I feel like they didn't choose the correct things to show on screen. I think most of the fight scenes and stuff were confusing and not choreographed very well, and some moments needed to have more time dedicated to them or have more gravitas to them. However, some moments were just shot/directed so beautifully. I enjoyed the parallels between Tharn and Phaya or their current life and past life. It shows the cyclical nature of Phaya and Tharn's lives, and it would've been even more impactful if we saw more of their past lives (their OG life or other reincarnations). Highly doubt I'm gonna think of the characters again, I somehow stopped being attached to them about halfway through - probably related to the fact that I liked the first few eps (half?) of the show better. They tried so many things, but I don't think they satisfyingly merged them or chose the correct things to focus on on-screen.

tags: the sign

Also Appears In: The Sign Live Blogging

I’m not watching anything in the last week of February because I seriously need to study for this exam and can’t have a show distracting me but am also in such desperate need of a BL, so I skimmed some stuff.

240226: Skimmed parts of History 3: Trapped’s last few episodes and it continues to hit. agh, it’s just so good. Also skimmed a bit of Semantic Error middle episodes but not as much as Trapped

240228: Skimmed some middle bits of the Our Dating Sim movie, I really need to rewatch the full thing in year cuz I think it’s possible for it to go from 6.5 -> 7

It’s a shame that I only watched 6 things this month (and 2 of those were movies that) because I had a week of break in the middle from university. Still, it’s fine because I used that week to write a fic after a couple months instead, so I’m not too sad. And since the Thai BLs were pretty like plot-involved (esp The Sign and Laws of Attraction), it makes sense that I wasn’t just jumping from show to show.

Posts Created This Month:

2024 Anticipated Series & Movies

...Pit Babe fic

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL

Oct 2021 Wk 4

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs.

Ongoing Series - Thai

My Mate Match (Line) Ep 3 - what a ridiculous show, they just did poly versions of crash into me, lie on the floor, AND carry baby to bed tropes with a completely straight face (rhetorical straight of course). I’m kinda glad it’s only 6 eps. Certainly, I couldn’t take a full run of this utter nonsense. On the flip side, we got actual kissing which I honestly was not expecting and I felt oddly embarrassed about, and then a confession which I definitely felt embarrassed about. Partly, I guess that’s because the conceit of the show means all these things always occur in front of a third person. Now if it were going to go genuinely poly I wouldn’t mind but I just don’t think Thailand is brave enough for that yet. On the other hand. What if they are? What if poly is where this show is headed? Wouldn’t that be AMAZING?   Also, anyone want to take bets on one of the semes being the owner of the house? 

Bite Me Ep 9 (Viki) - apparently the hets staged a hostile plot takeover (does the actress playing Eve look like Plustor Pronpiphat’s sister to you too?) Back to the BL: look I don’t get what’s going on, either. If they were going to throw in the rich guy faen fatal, why didn’t they bring him in a LOT earlier instead of the Eve character? Why is Aek so against Aue? It is just that he thought they were friends? And honestly at this juncture why does any character like Aek? He’s cute and all but does he have a personality apart from being a great cook? The audience is generally feeling betrayed and that’s fair. Aek has to have a damn good reason for acting the way he’s acting and SOON or this show won’t be able to redeem itself. Pity. 

NilunDon Ep 0 - is supposed to drop Sunday but I’m not sure where. Hopefully I’ll be able to report on it next week. 

Bad Buddy (YouTube) Ep 1 - oh it’s really flipping good. Much better than I was hoping and about what I expected. Trust Ohm and Nanon. The pacing is good too, I’m live blogging this one here. Watch it ‘cause it’s gonna sweep tumblr. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

My Sweet Dear (Korea - Viki) Ep 3-4 - waiting on subs is HARD with this one. Korea is being strategically tropey again with sing feelings (sigh), piggyback, carry baby to bed, and cooking for him (of course) all deployed in ep 3. I like a cocky/tsundere pairing plus the professional rivals thing, but the tsundere has to soften now as we’re at the halfway point. So far, no one has been given a reason to soften yet but fingers crossed they can redeem Mr Cocky with broken backstory, and our tsundere with a gooey center, even in such a short time frame. 

Vanishing My First Love AKA Kieta Hatsukoi (Japan - indie subbed) Ep 3 - MY BABIES! OMG another plot twist. Eeee so good. From love rivals to besties! How is this show so warm and fuzzy and cute? I’m getting the same vibe I got from Cherry Magic or Seven Days and this makes me very happy. Japan can turn on a yen though, so VMFL could go rotten fast but right now, it’s beyond adorable. (Did you notice Aida is played by Suzuki Jin? He’s the lead, Uenoyama, from Given! Completely different character, I almost didn’t recognize him.) Also the dog cuts = truly hilarious. ALSO they’re writing Ida as kind of ace/grey/demi and I really like that. Reminds me of Ae in Love By Chance. 

In Case You Missed It

TharnType 1 & 2 are now available on Viki. 

20 minutes of BTS footage from OhmFluke’s upcoming new drama (with subs) Oh! My Sunshine Night. It’s university set and seems to involve sports as well as music. And at least we know they’re shooting publicity for it. 

New Thai BL Restarted (AKA Restart(ed) AKA Re*Started AKA Re’Started) launched a fundraising trailer. (More on this show here, thanks @heretherebedork​.)  Looks like a sort of Top Secret Together meets Y-Destiny or En of Love. Clothing brand ClothLabel is their main backer (so this is a little like how Summerdaze or Ingredients came into existence - as a long form advertisement). Features 3 couples:

Supergay flirt & his friend who’s not as straight as either of them thought (whacha know this is kinda what I was just calling out for from SantaEarth)

Nerd baby (literally that’s what the voice-over called him dek nerd) meets (younger?) boy who wants to bring him out of his shell

Friend zone, roommates - dork meets hot boy, kinda a nice version of KhaiThird?

That title tho - fix your SEO boys, that game is a losing game. 

GOSSIP

Gaga is bring us a Taiwanese GL! Fragrance of the First Flower on Nov 12, 2021. This is very exciting! (But remember, Taiwan = no guarantee it will end happily. I don’t know about you but I’m still bitter over Handsome Stewardess.) 

Vietnamese BL Mr. Cinderella is coming Nov 28, 2021!!! 

Japanese BL (!!!) Utsukushii Kare is coming, possibly soon? (Thanks to @clairificusrex​ for the tip) This is adapted from a yaoi of the same name, so MDL has a plot description. It’s high school set and seems to be a grumpy/grumpy pairing with old school whipping boy (master/servant) trope. So that’ll be fun if they do it. Japan loves to serve us some kinky AF controversy. Anyway I speculate about the dynamic and talk about the casting here. It’s either gonna be amazing or a glorious mess. (Nov 18 says the twitters) 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Some shows may be listed later than actual air date for International subs accessibility reasons. Also I tend to put Sat/Sun stuff onto Mondays. 

Upcoming 2021 BL master post here. (many of these now looking unlikely to happen this year) 

Links to watch are provided when possible, ask in a comment if I missed something.

This week’s best moments?

[edwardbonnets]

a blackbonnet + taylor swift mini playlist…explained

(because i’m way too invested in this)

@whatisthisiamconfused requested a blackbonnet and taylor swift mini playlist which is the most GENIUS idea ever, and because I am Extra, I decided to make a whole post explaining my song choices because I have nothing better to do with my time lmaoo

Here’s the playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7dhMNpUGzlyYz0gqRLQTYF?si=9f62346a82c242cc

The explanation is below the cut because this shit gets long, you have been warned lol

So I decided to order this playlist with songs that describe Ed and Stede’s relationship in chronological order, complete with lyric examples and screencaps of the show to back up my song choices lmao

1. Everything Has Changed

“'Cause all I know is we said, "Hello" And your eyes look like comin' home All I know is a simple name Everything has changed”

Pretty self explanatory: the beginning of Ed and Stede’s relationship! Everything has changed now that they’ve met. In my brain I've connected “all I know is a simple name” to Ed introducing himself to Stede as his actual name rather than the elaborate Blackbeard persona, and so everything has indeed changed for Ed, because for once, someone is knowing the real him.

2. Enchanted

“This night is sparkling, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home I'll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you”

Also pretty self explanatory lol, I just imagine this is what they (or maybe specifically Ed) is feeling after they’ve met and realizing that whoa i kinda really like this man. it’s just cute and sappy and i feel like it fits this scene so well

3. Untouchable

“In the middle of the night, when I'm in this dream It's like a million little stars spelling out your name You gotta come on, come on Say that we'll be together Come on, come on Little taste of heaven”

Honestly I imagine this as the Moonlight Scene, since it’s this moment where their mutual love for each other is sort of coming to the surface a little bit, but they still can’t really act on it. Stede is a “distant diamond sky” that Ed can’t yet reach, which we see in the scene where they step close together, and Ed leans in for a kiss, but he doesn't act on it and they leave.

4. Sparks Fly

“I'm on my guard for the rest of the world But with you I know it's no good”

Ed feeling conflicted about his identity as “Blackbeard” and feeling like he can only truly be himself with Stede. I imagine this as the montage scene in ep 6 where Ed is just having a jolly good time while Izzy is like “what the fuck happened to Blackbeard.” It’s just another cute sappy song about them pining and being in love!!!!!

5. Delicate

“This ain't for the best My reputation's never been worse, so You must like me for me”

“Sometimes I wonder; when you sleep Are you ever dreaming of me? Sometimes when I look into your eyes I pretend you're mine, all the damn time”

“My reputation’s never been worse” is 100% Ed’s feelings about who he was as Blackbeard, and the things he’s done that he’s scared and ashamed to tell Stede about. Even despite having the plans to kill him, Stede is like “oh……..well let’s just pretend you didn’t want to and we can go back to being friends :)” so like, this song is basically for the version of Ed that is having a breakdown in the bathtub going blankey mode with Stede’s robe.

6. peace

“The devil's in the details, but you got a friend in me Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?”

I like to imagine this as the scene where Ed leaves with Calico Jack because he realizes the kind of person he is and feels like he isn’t worthy to be around Stede. “You were always gonna realize what I am” is literally him saying “I could never give you peace” like HNGHGHH.

7. Message In A Bottle

“But now You're so far away and I'm down Feelin' like a face in the crowd I'm reachin' for you, terrified”

Okay this one is a little sillier but I felt like it needed to be added to the playlist because messages in bottles are like!!! A way to send messages with the ocean!!!! And like they’re pirates!!! On the ocean!!! It just fits!!!! But I also imagine this as Stede spying on Ed and Calico Jack with the spyglass and being like :( “i want him back”

8. gold rush

“Gleaming Twinkling Eyes like sinking ships On waters so inviting I almost jump in”

How could I not add gold rush to the playlist??? “Eyes like sinking ships on waters so inviting I almost jump in” ?!?!??!!!!! LIKE HELLO that is so perfect the ship metaphors are killing me. I could also say something about the lyrics “falling feels like flying til the bone crush” is about Ed’s feelings for Stede coming crashing down after Stede leaves him but we haven’t gotten there yet so sdjfhk

9. Cruel Summer

“Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes What doesn't kill me makes me want you more”

Because Cruel Summer is one of my favorite songs I had to include it, but I also feel like it works because they have these feelings for each other but they have yet to really say it to each other, and “no rules in breakable heaven” is them being out at sea, international waters having no rules, and being in heaven is them in love. Also “what doesn’t kill me makes me want you more” I like to think of that very literally as Stede almost dying but Ed stepping in and saving him because he loves him so much lol

10. You Are In Love

“And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars And why I've spent my whole life tryin' to put it into words 'Cause you can hear it in the silence You can feel it on the way home You can see it with the lights out You are in love, true love”

PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY. This is when they figure out that they love each other!!!!!! They admit their feelings and they kiss and everything is sweet and perfect (for the time being) and I want to sob because they really are in love, true love!!!!!

11. Daylight

“I don't wanna look at anything else now that I saw you I don't wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you I've been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night And now I see daylight, I only see daylight”

Ed has been in his Blackbeard persona for so long, surrounded by darkness and death and murder, that now that he’s finally with Stede, he’s finally known happiness in a way that he hasn’t before and he literally only sees daylight as they look out into the ocean!!!!!

12. Run

“And run, like you'd run from the law Darling, let's run Run from it all We can go where our eyes can take us Go where no one else is”

Also pretty self explanatory lmao, this is Ed asking Stede to run away with him. They are in love and they need to skip town!!!!!! “Like you’d run from the law” is pretty literal in their case because they would straight up be breaking the law sdjfhskfj

13. right where you left me

“I'm right where you left me You left me no, oh, you left me no You left me no choice but to stay here forever”

HAHAHA H A this is where it gets sad folks. A lot of these are pretty self explanatory so I don’t know why I’m doing this but this is literally just Ed being left alone on that dock waiting for Stede to arrive but he never does rip. I know the rest of the song doesn’t fit that well but like come on I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use this song based on just the chorus alone lmao

14. coney island

“And I'm sitting on a bench in Coney Island wondering where did my baby go?”

“Were you waiting at our old spot In the tree line by the gold clock Did I leave you hanging every single day?”

I imagine this song as the separation happening from both perspectives!!! Like Ed is the first part, wondering where Stede went as he waits by the docks for them to leave, and Stede is reflecting on this realizing that he decided to go back to his family rather than leave with Ed.

15. All You Had To Do Was Stay

“Hey, all you had to do was stay Had me in the palm of your hand Then why'd you have to go and lock me out when I let you in?”

This one’s kinda silly lmao, I imagine this is what Ed is thinking as he rows away like “man why couldn’t you have just stayed” because he’s sad and he wanted so badly to run away with Stede. Poor little meow meow’s got his heart broken now sjkdhfkj

16. Death By A Thousand Cuts

“Saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts Flashbacks waking me up I get drunk, but it's not enough 'Cause the morning comes and you're not my baby”

This is the culmination of Ed wallowing in his sorrows, writing lyrics in his blanket fort, pining after Stede and wearing his robe and eating his marmalade, THIS is the perfect song for all of that lmao. Stede leaving was death by a thousand cuts, because the morning comes and Stede isn’t there anymore!!!!!!!

17. Breathe

“It's 2 am Feelin' like I just lost a friend Hope you know it's not easy, Easy for me”

This song I think is more from Stede’s perspective, because I feel like a lot of the songs so far are from Ed’s perspective. I think this is Stede sort of thinking over his decision and really regretting it once he’s realized that he really was in love with Ed and he wants to go back. This wasn’t easy for him at all but he needed to go back to his family to get closure.

18. You All Over Me

“I lived, and I learned Had you, got burned Held out, and held on God knows, too long And wasted time, lost tears Swore that I'd get out of here But no amount of freedom gets you clean I've still got you all over me”

Basically Ed realizing that Stede is gone and there’s nothing he can do about it, and no matter what he does he’s going to have a part of Stede scarring his heart. Even writing lyrics or putting on a talent show isn’t going to wipe away the memory of Stede, and that kills Ed.

19. hoax

“Stood on the cliffside Screaming, "Give me a reason" Your faithless love's the only hoax I believe in Don't want no other shade of blue But you No other sadness in the world would do”

This song fucking kills me in the best way possible. I like to think of this as the ummm…….the RIP Lucius and Red Silk scene sjdfkhs. Ed has gotten to this point of complete melancholy about Stede leaving that he can’t handle being in this wallowy state anymore, he has to shield himself by reverting back to his “Kraken” persona, and so he lets go of the silk and…..fucking murders Lucius the best boy lmaooo

20. I Did Something Bad

“They say I did something bad Then why's it feel so good?”

I don’t think this song fits that perfectly but I just think it’s hilarious to think of this as Ed’s transformation into the Kraken, complete with pushing Lucius off the boat and cutting off Izzy’s toe and forcing him to eat it and throwing all of Stede’s books in the ocean and leaving the rest of the crew on an island. Yeah, he’s doing something bad alright lmaoo (the debatable part is whether this is something that actually “feels good” to him, because he’s def in a lot of pain and just using this to shield his own emotions, but I just think this song is funny as a background to all of this lol)

21. All Too Well

“But you keep my old scarf from that very first week 'Cause it reminds you of innocence And it smells like me You can't get rid of it 'Cause you remember it all too well”

We all know what this is about I don’t even have to explain myself.

22. Afterglow

“I don't wanna do, I don't wanna do this to you I don't wanna lose, I don't wanna lose this with you I need to say, hey It's all me, just don't go Meet me in the afterglow”

Stede realizing his mistake and wanting to go back!!! He’s had his conversation with Mary and realized that he truly is in love with Ed. He doesn’t want to lose Ed and so he wants to “meet him in the afterglow” aka go back to the revenge and apologize and tell him how he feels. 

23. This Love

“Clear blue water High tide came and brought you in And I could go on and on, on and on, and I will Skies grew darker Currents swept you out again And you were just gone and gone, gone and gone”

“In losing grip On sinking ships You showed up just in time”

“This love is good This love is bad This love is alive back from the dead, oh, oh, oh These hands had to let it go free, and This love came back to me”

THIS LOVE IS SUCH A PERFECT SONG I COULDN'T CHOOSE JUST ONE LYRIC TO SHOW HOW IT FITS SO WELL. SO MANY WATER AND SHIP METAPHORS HOW COULD IT NOT BE THE BOOKEND TO THIS PLAYLIST. “High tide came and brought you in” is Ed and Stede meeting and “skies grew darker, currents swept you out again” is Stede leaving and Ed being heartbroken over it. “In losing grip on sinking ships you showed up just in time” is Ed trashing the revenge to scrub every bit of Stede from it as a desperate attempt to spare his feelings of heartbreak, and Stede arriving at the last minute to save the abandoned crew off the island.

Like literally, “this love is good” is all the fun they had “this love is bad” is the break up, and “these hands had to let it go free and this love came back to me” is Stede needing to go back to his family to understand just how important Ed is to him and coming back a changed person!!!! Like holy moly this song was made for blackbonnet I swear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And that’s it! Thanks for coming on this completely unnecessary ride with me, I hope y’all enjoyed it lmaooo

[wenamedthedogkylo]

At long last. After over a week of rewatching and cross-referencing, here’s the wholly unnecessary massive meta post where I red-string a bunch of shit together.

At the end of the absolute fever dream that was Ep 13, I spewed out some stream-of-conscious, barely-coherent meta thoughts that some people seemed to like a little. First, thank you, glad you saw any kind of value in my frantic ramblings. Second, as I was thinking over everything that had happened and kept remembering more and more details to link things together, I realized… I should probably double check some of what I was remembering. We’re now only 14 episodes into C3, but it’s been long enough since I’d seen some of those earlier eps that I was definitely questioning if I was remembering things correctly.

So here I am—now armed with a whole Google doc of notes, quotes, etc.—to try and make those original thoughts a little more coherent and sensible. Again, this is less of a “theory”-theory, and more just me going

So let’s dive in, shall we? Spoilers ahead for pretty much all of C3 so far, so beware of that if you’re not caught up.

First, the brief glossary of shorthand I’m using, just in case you get confused.

Next, what’s the “not really a theory”-theory? That everything from Dugger to the Fucked Up Shade Creepers to the brumestone is connected to Armand Treshi.

But how and why? They never found out where the brumestone went, or how Dugger got the way he did, or what was up with the FUSCs. That’s what you’re probably thinking, right? That those are still loose ends to be tied up? I would argue that they’re not nearly as loose as you might think.

The linchpin of this theory is that two-timing goopy bitch Emoth Kade. She came to The Ball literally on the arm of Armand Treshi, and Eshteross confirmed that her Mahaan house had ties to House Treshi. Now what’s a gal who turns into a pale, black-eyed, goop-sweating, wall-crawling, acid spitting monster that can talk to FUSCs, doing hanging out with Armand Treshi? Or better yet, flip that question: why’s Armand connected to someone like that?

Well, because he basically made her like that, of course.

1. THE GOOP PATROL

Let’s talk about Dugger for a second. Remember that nasty little goop man? The pale dwarf with the jet black eyes who literally sweated out that gross clear-ish sticky stuff? Who turned all wormy to crawl through the tunnels in the spires? Who literally birthed a FUSC out of his back in a moment that still makes me gag to remember it?

I think a lot of us thought of him immediately when Matt described how Emoth looked at the end of Ep 13. And then it was confirmed in Ep 14: Emoth and Dugger were the same kind of fucked up. There were some differences, of course. Emoth could clearly control when she looked like a fungus demon, while Dugger couldn’t or maybe chose not to. When cornered, Dugger literally spat an AoE cone of that goop stuff that dealt Poison damage; Emoth spat out a straight line of goop that also did Poison. But they’re definitely the same kind of squishy goop person. Hell, Emoth even went and slimy-ed her way into a baseboard hole in the wall, like. Need I say more?

Well, I’m gonna. Because Emoth Kade and Dugger started out as utterly different people. Emoth belongs to a frickin’ Mahaan house ffs. It might be a lower-tier one, but it’s still a Mahaan house, and one that has ties to House Treshi. Dugger? A nobody. A former carpenter who shut down his business and ran with the Hubatt Corsairs for a while. They come from totally different worlds; how the hell did they end up with the same condition?

(I’m also, just this second as I’m writing this, realizing that both Emoth and Dugger had ties to the Corsairs. Dugger literally was a member for a time, while Cyrus said Emoth had worked with them in the past and that’s how she roped him into being her big himbo distraction. Shit, bro, I’m pretty sure Armand has more influence inside the Corsairs than maybe they realize… The Gang definitely needs to talk to Yash about Emoth and let him know that she was a goop person, too. They need to start checking their ranks for double agents.)

Yash Mangal with the Corsairs told the Gang that six months prior, Dugger vanished for several weeks. They thought maybe he was arrested and/or dead. But he turned up again, and he was already way different—“sweating more, skin growing paler”, becoming more aloof over time, and refusing to answer questions.

Well, what if he was arrested by the Wardens? What if that’s how Armand got ahold of him? I’m already pretty certain that Armand and/or Vali Dertrana had a hand in breaking Cyrus out of prison. I did that other meta theory about how Armand staged the robbery of the Gold Guild’s caravan which Cyrus was blamed for, and if it wasn’t obvious before, I think e14 proved that Cyrus is really not sharp enough to break his way out of a prison solo. He had to have help, and he made it sound like he met the Corsairs after he was on the lam. So who helped him escape in the first place? Maybe even he doesn’t know, maybe he thought he got lucky. But I’m pretty sure at this point that he only got out of there because Armand wanted him out.

Which means it would be perfectly reasonable for Armand or Vali to be able to go into the Granite Hold prison and pluck out a recently-caught member of the Corsairs to turn into their newest henchperson. And even if Dugger hadn’t been arrested, we know Vali was getting “riff raff from the Steps”, poor people who “no one would miss”, and collecting them for Ira’s experiments. Who helps the poorest people of Jrusar? The Corsairs. Reasonable to think that Dugger was down in the Steps helping people out, and got bagged by Vali’s people while there.

“Well hold on now, why’re you bringing Vali and Ira into this?” Because, my darling dearest fellow Critter, how do you think Dugger and Emoth got turned into goop people?

2. EVERYONE HAIL TO THE NIGHTMARE KING

Think about what Fearne remembered from her nana’s stories. The Nightmare King was “a figure that bent and twisted nature for fun. [And] beings that exist within nature. Just didn’t care for them.” What else would you call Dugger if not “bent and twisted”? Same with Emoth. Same with the FUSCs. Imogen and Laudna tangled with normal shade creepers in Zhudanna’s house pre-stream, and Imogen said those ones “looked alive” and were “less, you know, explosive”. They are all absolutely bent and twisted versions of what they used to be.

Also, think about the way all of these beings have been described. A recurring theme pops up, particularly pale skin, creepy black eyes, and wide mouths with sharp teeth.

When the Gang finally gets a better look at Dugger in his house, they see “that weird, kind of glistening, similar oily film [that] you see on everything emerging from him, these blackened veins that curl up the side of his face… The eyes are almost completely black like the other shade creepers that you’ve seen in the previous encounter.”

At one point during that same fight, a FUSC attacked Imogen, and as it got close, she could see “... grayish fleshy arms… Its stretchy, toothed mouth with no nose features and the beady black eyes staring at [her].”

Emoth was first described as already being pale when she entered with Armand, but when Chetney got a look at her in Headmaster Alakritos’s room in the Chambers, she was described as: “Her eyes, black. … darkened veins in the side of her neck. … her arms are a little bit longer, and that sweat is dripping off in a thicker, mucus-y pattern.” The others of the Gang who fought her later saw her “latched to the ceiling, in her dark gray, silver dress, pale sweaty skin, … head turned down, black eyes and extended jaw just dripping liquid saliva from it, the sharp teeth exposed…”

Pale skin, black eyes, no nose, wide stretchy mouth with lots of teeth, unnaturally long limbs? Kinda fuckin’ sounds like Ira Wendagoth to me. And it makes sense that when the Nightmare King twists creatures into horrible versions of themselves, they would each end up sharing some of his features. And let’s not forget that Ira has shown us his prowess with transmutation magic—he turned FCG into a frickin’ turtle without batting a big dark creepy eye.

I think it’s also pretty clear that Ira’s experiments were responsible for the Spitting Mimic that was killing people at the DST. Even without going really meta, we know the Mimic started eating people right around the same time that the Treshi’s Stone Mason’s Guild did “repairs” in that alley. The Mimic shares both Dugger and Emoth’s predilection to spit some kind of nasty damage at enemies. Dugger spat a cone of Poison, the Mimic spat a glob of Acid, and Emoth spat a line of Poison.

But if you go into the Spitting Mimic’s original stat block in Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden, it explicitly states, “The variant presented here is a particularly large and voracious specimen—the result of Netherese experiments on ordinary mimics—that spits acid.” Even in regular D&D lore, normal Mimics aren’t like that; they can only be created. It makes perfect sense that within Exandria, the same would hold true, and Matt adapted it to be the result of Ira’s experiments under Armand’s employ. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that metal half-sphere thing that Imogen pulled out of the Mimic’s body was part of how Ira mutated it, as well as being what tied it to that particular location.

Lastly, it should be noted that Ira, Emoth, and the FUSCs all dealt Piercing + Necrotic damage with their claw attacks. That seems a little too coincidental to me. Dugger probably would have, too, if he hadn’t chosen to fight with actual weapons. Or perhaps his goop-person abilities were different enough from Emoth that he couldn’t form claws to fight with. Thankfully, we’ll never know.

“Okay, that makes some sense. But where’s the brumestone that Dugger was smuggling? That hasn’t turned up yet.” Oh, but it has, my friends. It definitely has.

3. I’M BLUE DA BA DEE DA BA DIE

Day one of C3, the Gang comes together to protect innocent people from murderous moving furniture. We all remember, it was iconic. But let’s rehash real quick, yeah? It was a nice evening, peaceful, everyone was minding their own business. Suddenly everyone heard (and Imogen felt) an “odd, low, bassy rumble”. Right then, Laudna saw a “dull blue flash” off the side of the street ahead. A “small arcane sphere” flashed inside a cart pulled by two sillgoats, who reared up and ran away. The cart detached, scattering boxes which broke open to dump utensils and furniture in the street. That furniture came to life, and thus our beloved party banded together for the first time to defeat it.

Ahh, good times. Things were simpler then.

Hop-skip-and-a-jump ahead to the fight against Ira under the Moon Tower. At the end of Ep 10 when the Gang walked in on him working, Ira held “a blue gem about the size of someone’s clenched fist” up and over his shoulder. At the beginning of Ep 11, Chetney noted that Ira had put the gem down on the table behind him, which was described as a “fist-sized piece of blue crystal that’s giving off a faint blue glow.” And when their conversation came to an end, Ira picked the gem up once more and threw it on the ground, where it exploded in “a wave of arcane energy”. For everyone in the Gang except Chetney, that “burst of bluish-purple arcane energy” was familiar. A moment later, the tables and chairs nearest the explosion came to life.

“Yeah yeah, we know, Ira was behind the moving furniture. What does that have to do with bru–”

Blue. Stones. That. Make. Things. Move.

I’m tellin’ ya, that’s brumestone, baby!

We first hear of brumestone in Matt’s description as Orym, Fearne, and Dorian were arriving in Jrusar by skyship. They watched as “two prominent, blue, rounded stones about 10 to 12 feet in diameter that are affixed to the front of the ship—referred to as brumestone, which has a natural arcane ability to remain aloft in spite of gravity and that maintains a skyship’s movement—begin to glow brighter.”

At PT, the Gang found that odd crumbly, gravel-like residue in the pilfered crates. FCG used their Identifeye on the dust, and saw that it was “a somewhat vibrant sky-blue color almost, like a light cerulean. It’s a dull piece of brumestone.” Matt further explained brumestone’s rarity; how it’s heavily controlled by the Alsfarin Union in Ank’Harel; that it’s only known sources are the ruins of floating cities from the Age of Arcanum; and that “they are the blue stones that are embedded in skyships to keep them aloft.”

Drawing from sources like the original Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting and Campaign 2, the CR wiki explains that brumestone itself is not magical, but is particularly receptive to magic that will make it levitate. By embedding it in skyships, the enchanted brumestone is therefore able to make that otherwise inanimate object float as well.

So we’ve got a glowing blue rock that can be enchanted to make inanimate objects (like skyships and cities) float. And we have a glowing blue rock that can be enchanted to make inanimate objects (like tables, rugs, brooms, etc) move on their own.

Can I make it any more obvious?

Armand hired Ira to help him sow chaos in Jrusar. To do this, Ira needed supplies. Among those supplies is a very rare and notoriously hard-to-get mineral that is, according to Yash Mangal, very valuable on the black market. It’s a very tightly controlled element, and the Corsair spokesman said that there are probably a lot of arcanists and engineers seeking it out.

But this is Armand Treshi of House Treshi we’re talking about. He’s absolutely got the money and connections to get his hands on some illegal brumestone. (Especially once he stages a robbery of his own guild and squirrels that money away from the official books; see above theory about Cyrus and the robbery.) All he needs is ready hands to do the smuggling. Another trade: Armand, through Vali, provides Ira with test subjects for his experiments, and Ira twists them into willing servants who will do their dirty work.

Dugger, either picked up from the Steps or arrested and plucked out of prison, is among the first of these subjects to get goopified. He sticks around the Corsairs for a bit, probably gaining Armand & Co. some intel, and then eventually leaves them to focus on smuggling the brumestone into Jrusar. (This, I believe, is what he meant when he told Danas, “Well, I suppose we need to adjust our supply lines.” He killed her immediately after that, so he wasn’t saying “we” to include her; he was referring to himself and someone else. And since the Corsairs were certain he hadn’t gone to the Ivory Syndicate, it makes perfect sense that that someone was Armand & Co.)

The brumestone is passed on to Ira, who in turn uses his various contraptions and magic to enchant the mineral in a different way. After all, levitation magic and animation magic really are not that different. They are both used to move objects, especially those that cannot move on their own. It stands to reason that if brumestone is receptive to one kind of movement magic, it would, with a little arcane prodding, be receptive to others. And with how Ira loves twisting things to be darker and scarier, it’s no surprise that when he makes furniture move, the first thing it tries to do is kill people.

4. MY MIDDLE NAME IS ‘SECOND-SUMMARY’

Now, any reasonable person might have come to these conclusions and just moved on with their life. Given my ADHD and the ensuing memory issues, I am physically incapable of doing that. So when I say I literally rewatched damn near every second of C3 so far to make sure I wasn’t making this shit up… I mean I rewatched damn near every second. I made a Google Doc to cite specific information and quotes when needed. If anyone wants to see it, I’ll be happy to share. At this point I’m just recording anything that seems interconnected and/or important.

So I promise you I’m not pulling this stuff out of my ass. At most, I’m drawing lines and filling in gaps with reasonable conclusions. And where I’ve landed is that Ira the Nightmare King made the FUSCs, Dugger, Lady Emoth, and the Spitting Mimic for Armand Treshi, as well as used the smuggled brumestone to make animated killer furniture.

Obviously, if I end up being wrong about anything, then oh well. The surprise will be all the more amazing, because after hours of doing my best tin foil-hatter impression, Matt still managed to dupe me. Which would be exciting as fuck. But if I’m right, that doesn’t really lessen the excitement for me. Because despite all this, I still haven’t got a fucking clue where this will end up leading. Tie all of this in with the Paragon’s Call shit and the werewolves (still convinced those are linked), and all I can surmise is that Armand Treshi has much grander and more ominous designs for Jrusar than we thought.

Because as I said in my original blathering post, it’s one thing to make a little furniture move and one wall that eats people. Like, that’s still wild as fuck, but in the scale of an entire city and the surrounding lands, that’s relatively small potatoes. At best, you make people feel a little unsafe and off balance, and use the upset to maneuver your way into more power.

But the connections to Armand just keep adding up. Now we’ve got Lady Emoth, his date to one of the biggest political events of the year, being a goop person and robbing Gryz Alakritos’s guest suite? On top of everything else?? What did he have that she wanted so badly? And what in the ever-loving fuck was that shit with Emoth saying “we have business for her tonight” and “she’ll help me” and someone called “mother”? Like, I kinda joked during the stream that this might mean there’s a Queen Shade Creeper, but… bro what if there is? Ira what the fuck did you do?

At this rate, I really wouldn’t be surprised if Imogen’s red storm dreams, the Lumas Twins’ deaths, and the shadow assassins that attacked them and Zephra were also somehow Armand’s doing. The description of how the shadow assassins just kinda vanished reminds me of Ira being all smoky and hard for Laudna to hit; is he somehow responsible for those beings as well? WHERE DO ALL THESE THREADS LEAD?

MATTHEW WHAT HORRIBLE CHAOS HAVE YOU COOKED UP FOR US, I CAN’T STAND THE WAITING ANYMORE

[nikadoesanart]

My predictions on BSD getting animated going forward

I’ll be taking a look at the novel page counts (Japanese and English) and comparing them to the screen time they’ve gotten so far and then using this to predict how long the remaining light novel adaptations will be (approximately). At the end will also be my rough prediction/hopes for the order of some of these being adapted. I say some because I have yet to read what there is so far of the gaiden novel translations, the main story manga has essentially still been on the DOA arc almost since where the anime left off, and I personally think that it’s currently too soon for Storm Bringer (aside from money purposes).

Note, most of this was written well before the anime 5th anniversary livestream but the announcements wound up not affecting it. I then of course made adjustments as needed account for the novel content we do have so far, both in Japanese and in English (officially).

Page to Episode Count

Not counting the afterward, ads, etc for the English/US copy, Japanese is including it

Also all eng page counts are using the Yen Press release and jp page counts are taken from the fandom wiki

*148 is purely counting the Untold Origins portion of the novel. If we also count the A Day at the Agency short story that’s included before it (56 pages), then we get the full 203

Also the English page count for BEAST was noted before the English release date but after page counts have been posted by affiliated retailers, so subtract a couple pages from the written count of 176 for the time being to account for the afterward and possible character sheets being included

Now that we have our page to episode counts (as of April 5th, 2021), let’s find the actual content run time of what we do have animated so far.

Seasons 1-3 and the OVA all have the same episode length/duration. Each episode is 23 minutes, and we can subtract 3 minutes on average from that to account for the OP and ED being played. This leaves us with an average of 20 minutes of BSD story content per episode. So on average, each of the first 3 seasons contain 240 minutes, or 4 hours, worth of story content.

Dead Apple’s total run time is 91 minutes, with the OP and ED making up 9 of those minutes. However, we do have a bit of the story content being played while the ED is playing (as sometimes happens in the anime as well). To keep the math simple, I’ll be approximating story content time at 82 minutes.

Apply these numbers to the novels that have been animated so far and this is (approximately) what we get:

Now let’s use these numbers to predict the screen time needed for the other novels

Note that we can’t really use Entrance Exam as a fair measure because of how much got cut out (just compare the run time of it to Dark Era and it speaks for itself). However, the numbers for Dark Era and Dead Apple are the best ones to use, as they both have minimal changes between anime and novel and both have official English translations currently available. Take out the approximate time taken up by OP/ED and and the numbers pretty much match up.

So with that being said, we can estimate Untold Origins (only) at approximately 3 eps/60 min and 55 Minutes at 1h 40-55min/100-115 min or 5-6 eps if it doesn’t get a movie. We can also estimate the A Day at the Detective Agency short story at the beginning of Untold Origins to take up about 1 ep, probably even a bit less.

1+ 3 + 5-6 = 9-10 episodes which isn’t enough for a full single cour season unless they all get put into one big OVA season, but also 10-11 eps (or less) seasons are a thing (ie. Fugou Keiji: Balance Unlimited, Blood Lad, Black Butler: Book of Circus, The Seven Deadly Sins: Signs of a Holy War, FLCL)

My personal predictions/hopes for the anime adaptation timeline going forward

This is considering the manga content, current “pausing/stopping points” what wouldn’t be too awkward, each of the novels relevancy/necessity to the main story manga, and assuming we continue with single cour (12-13 ep) seasons

Hopefully/ideally a 55 Minutes movie

S4: ch 54-70

Early S5 (preferably) or end of S4: Untold Origins or A Day at the Agency

S5: ch 71-88/around where we are now?

A Day at the Agency can, in my opinion at least, be chucked in at any point either as a single episode OVA or as the light novel content for s4 (maybe not even taking a full episode and then starting ch 54 in the last few minutes for example). Keep in mind that the current DOA arc is a long one and has plenty to it, so personally I think it may even be better to not include a novel adaptation in a future S4, as it would likely already be a right squeeze content wise. Remember, we also have a few XX.5 chapters that are continuations of the chapter directly before them.

I still need to read what’s currently available of the gaiden novel fan translations but it can probably be adapted at any point as well. I’m estimating approximately 5-6 eps as an OVA series. I don’t really think it would get a movie, partially because you can make it only so long, especially since it’s an anime movie and unlike Storm Bringer, it doesn’t have Chuuya to practically guarantee the profit.

BEAST also doesn’t directly impact the main story and can be adapted at virtually any point. However, seeing as we do have a live action confirmed for it and it’s page count lines up very closely with Dark Era, it can be either 4 eps or (more likely in my opinion) a movie, as it can be considered almost stand alone content.

Personally, I believe it is currently way too soon to animate Storm Bringer as it came out only a little over a month ago (as of writing this) and has minimal plot necessity as of ch 91, but I do believe it should be either split into 2 movies (a part 1 and part 2) or it would need 8 episodes, likely as an OVA season. If it were to get animated sooner than 55 Minutes or Untold Origins, which I believe to be very unlikely, I feel that it would almost certainly be driven by the financial gains of Chuuya being included, and his popularity alone. Reminder, SB is about Chuuya and not SKK. Dazai’s appearance in SB is proportionally a very small percentage and he’s not even mentioned in the official plot summary.

However, you can argue that SB is starting to have some relevance now, with the recent mention of the Order of the Clock Tower in ch 90 and the increased relevance of sealed ability weapons in ch 91. However, I really do believe that you can’t adapt Storm Bringer before 55 Minutes because of Standard Island and its treaty, it also talks about sealed ability weapons, knowing who Wells is, and 55 Minutes canonically takes place during the “downtime” portion of S3. In fact, here’s Asagiri’s words directly from the Afterward (translation by Yen Press):

“this volume didn’t take place in the past, but rather sometime after the tenth volume of the manga. In other words, it’s a tale about the ‘usual’ detective agency in novel format.” (55 minutes, p 237)

Untold Origins also should be adapted sooner rather than later (at least compared to SB in my opinion) because it’s about Ranpo and Fukuzawa’s shared past, which becomes increasingly relevant ch 70 onwards, as well as the need for the ADA being founded (which ties in with Yosano’s backstory in ch 65-66).

In regards to whether I think each of these would be better suited to a movie adaptation or as multiple regular length anime episodes, it’s mainly due to page count and partly due to the budget difference between the two, as well as how difficult I think it would be to animate each of these based on what needs to be drawn. The anime industry isn’t the fastest to switch to newer technology, hence why we see issues with 3D blending sometimes. I really do think that at the very least, 55 Minutes deserves the movie budget because of how detailed and complex the architecture of Standard Island is described as, as well all the mechanical parts needed for the final battle of the novel. Hate the lizard mouths introduced in Dead Apple all you want, but you can’t deny that the 3D cgi was blended very smoothly. For any of the other novels to be movies, it’s more so because gaiden and BEAST can be considered their own stand alone stories that don’t rely too heavily on the main story in terms of when they take place and get adapted. I feel that SB is more likely to get its own season or an OVA season more so due to its length, but multiple part anime movies have also been done before (ie. the Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel movies), so it’s not entirely impossible. Especially considering that merely having any Chuuya screen time means that you can expect the profit and popularity to really go up, especially with SKK being on screen together (regardless of whether you love or hate how the fandom tends to push a shipping POV on them).

These are all of course just my hopes and predictions and estimates based on information currently available, so take them with some salt. I’d love to hear opinions on how, when, and why each of the currently non animated novels should be adapted going forward. Also please stop begging the relevant BSD official Twitter pages for SB to be animated next and go read the other light novels you Chuuya simp

[papers4me]

Fruits Basket Manga Review , ch 110

The writer doesn’t need to rush to akito (antagonist) & give us quick background exposition & escalate her mentality to the exploding moment, simply cuz tohru (the protagonist) isn’t emotionally in her most vulnerable moment yet. Tohru’s issues will be presented deeper  with each pov chapter she’ll have. So what should the writer do now?

This is a connected plot, meaning the emotions belonging to the previous chapter are still lingering & needs to be dealt with. There is no stupid laughing & cooking or even dumber momentarily amnesia. Nope! There is this:

-The Art of Writing Slow-Burns: (Lingering Emotions:)

Last time kyo hugged tohru thro the sheets. sth he wouldn’t do if it weren’t for the heartbreaking moment of tohru’s tears & the reason behind them. Why wouldn he do it? cuz he believes he’s the reason of her pain & is setting his mind on leaving her & being imprisoned as a punishment. He  wouldn’t do it cuz he loves her but he did it cuz he loves her. why? cuz love is illogical. Kyo’s heart moved him effortlessly to embrace her & “ his tenderness covered her pain” as the writer put it at the end of ch109.

Last time tohru hugged kyo thro the sheets, sth she wouldn’t do if it weren’t for the comfort of his warmth enveloping her loneliness & providing safety & a home. A home can a person. Why wouldn she do it? cuz Tohru is someone who hides pain behind a smile, someone who thinks she’s ugly & unlovable cuz she’s grieving still after all this time. She’s thinks she’s a burden. But here she confessed to kyo unprompted or advised by anybody. He only asked a fleeting question. but tohru cant hide who she is friom him anymore. Still, he accepted her & tenderly held her thro the sheets & she threw her body at him, she initiated the hug.

The sheet hig is the biggest emotional moment between kyo/tohru yet. It altered how they feel for each other cuz in that moment tohru’s mask fell & kyo was the most honest with himself emotionally. That’s not sth you move from with the stupid ED song. They both try to carry out normally afterwards cuz they live together after all. The slightest touch brings..... sexual tension!!!  it was so bad poor yuki left the house running!!!!!!!!

The writer cleverly escalates the sexual tension as they awkwardly try to find a talking topic, then dissolves it a bit when kto asks if tohru wants to go out together & where, then escalates it when tohru suggests buying eggs cuz she’s awkward, then dissolves it when kyo grumpily agrees but this is just grocery shopping” not a fun going out”, the escalates it when tohru said she’s happy for just bring together with him regardless of the location & kyo looses it! sexual tension explodes!

The target of the slow-burn isn’t the characters... the target is the audience! the writer plays with their emotions & cleverly puts the audience in a place where they desperately want these two idiots together but still remember why they aren’t! that’s very important. Having the readers cheer for a romantic relationship includes the readers understanding the obstacles ahead & how big they are & still cheer. If the obstacles are meh~ the readers will find the couple unrealistic, if the obstacles are so big & the couples emotions aren't buildup properly, then the couple themselves will feel meh~. Glad kyoru survived such writing mistakes both manga & anime ( anime hurt their characters more than their relationship).

-Yuki wants to move on from the unofficial son third wheeling his mom & her man:

The writer jokes abt yuki admitting he felt as a son watching his mon & her bf. I love tha this joke becuz it cleverly addresses the following points:

it is cleverly weaved in with the kyoru incident from last chapter. Sth happen & yuki doesn't know what is & doesn't want to! Yuki represents the audience I talked abt in the slow-burn point above. He is us. He’ll cheer for them to be together & will be so frustrated when they can’t. It adds to yuki confronting kyo at the climax!!! You see in the anime kyo/yuki stopped interacting much in se03. Then tada~~ big fight when it’s a must! & can’t be escaped... Here we still have kyo/yuki moments despite each boy moving away from his issues being the fault of the other. Basically better writing.....

The writer cleverly used this to address that yuki still feels like tohru’s son sometimes despite being more independent now, which is natural as you cant switch ur feelings with a button. But also the writer doesnt stay in this moment long & use it to build the next moment.. yuki/Aya , yuki/machi & aya/mine.... sadly all there dynamics are shortened in the anime like kyoru’s.

-I don’t think yuki/Aya  moment suffered much from the cuts, the entire school parents meeting ep us enough to reconcile the brothers. Aya defended yuki that day & so did yuki. He completely accepted him & stood up to him in front of the mom.

- More aya/mine would’ve been good to see & I would’ve preferred it to yuki/motoko moments in the anime that served nothing. but aya/mine too are stand alone story. They’re the most alike couple in a healthy way. Aya is the guy who protected his woman the most. simply cuz he’s the snake. snakes are secretive. he kept her to himself, even from yuki!!! impressive.

- What I lament from the cut of this mini yuki adventure?

1- This: ( yuki’s facial expressions) This is sth the anime fears, either cuz (a) pretty yuki is 100% pretty all the time, so no expressiveness cuz it leads to showing eyebrows & hiding them under layers of hair is the A.B.C of pretty characters... (b) Yuki in the anime is a prince 98% of the time, except with kyo (they got rid of this in se03 & give them one honest/ugly moment together) & with kakeru (one tiny moment in se03 in match’’s focus ep & then quickly back to prince yuki!)..., ugh!!!!!! I hate how yuki is prince thro & thro in the anime!!that’s why they couldn’t get rid of any motoko content!!! he’s a prince there... heck! school girls float after him the graduation ceremony... what’s up with that!! lol.

2-. This: ( machi with the toy that tohru/kisa/kagura/momiji & kiro like! so cute!!! also, foreshadowing yuki’s future chosen extended family! (his bro & his wife), (yuki & his wife) & best friend/his brother in law! Also, yuki is so himself! no glitters, no bubbles & no pretending anger! <3

Side Notes:

The lovely @mizzraynelly​ made notice kto’s speech in ch109 abt not vising his mom’s grave! Even tho it’s such a minor line, it’s one of the biggest cuts that foreshadow the accumulation of kyo’s guilt towards his mom. Kyo’s thing is guilt towards ppl he loves & fear of hurting them, by keeping this feeling alive in readers’ minds, the writer is making sure that the climax will hurt like sharp knives cuz the readers are on the same wave liength as kyo!!! epic buildup consists of tiny subtle pieces!

 Luckily, kyoru as a ship felt so strong in both manga & anime despite the later cutting half of their moments. Why? cuz the chosen cuts didnt affects the romantic relationship...no... the cuts affects the characters’ own personal struggle... most precisely tohru. Kyo’s own character struggles had better luck in the anime despite the cuts, simply cuz (a) was drawn with very expressive emotions & the anime team lingered on them in his scenes. (b) His character design as a whole was very expressive, the anime team didnt give him constant wide eyes like tohru & didn’t fear expr4essivness will affect for his “beauty “ like yuki. (c) kyo was given one ep per season for his issues which altho not much but way better than tohru (d) most important: kyo’s issues are very universal & very relatable” feeling guilt, mistakes & choosing wrong. That’s sth we all do!!! Tohru’s thing is grieve: this is very personal & most ppl experience it differently. 

I love kyo’s oufit!!! we have a hint of this moment in se03, ep 10 when yuki was fighting kyo... but they made yuki see them shopping as opposed of him seeing them being sexually charged!

I’m so mad this kyoru moment is cut!!!!!! tohru as a woman with pending sexual emotions is so refreshing & underrated in the trope of “ girl saves guys”. Also, it contradicts the pure mom image that’s been suffocating her since se01 ep 1!!!!! oh now i know why it’s cut... That’s why! momma tohru is so pure for such things & only when it’s the last two eps, then will allow her to be a woman choosing to live away with her man by her own desire! Why the anime only allow things ti happen when there’s no escape!!! I’ve always felt tohru/kyo is the type of couple to be expressive emotionally & sexually with each other based on seeing that ALL of their romantic interaction involves body language & I’m so happy there’s a canon proof so early before the future glimpse in finale!!!!!! 

I liked the aya-story, but it felt like the typical “ lesson of the day” formula, so I didnt analyze it much, but I enjoyed the brotherly interaction so much!! It had a gold mine of yuki being himself & so nit a prince! Im so happy I saw it! <3.

Every time yuki looked expressive is a happy moment for me!

[chalkrevelations]

So, sliding in under the wire on this one tonight: Bad Buddy, Ep 3, Part 2/4, and this is a quick hit, a little bit of a shorter act and not as mind-blowing as the first part of this ep, although still with some good stuff

Due diligence, of course: This will likely contain spoilers for later eps, so if you haven’t finished watching the series and want to see it unspoiled, turn around now and come back when you’re finished watching.

We jump right into it, presumably post-tincan argument. Both Architecture and Engineering are in a lecture hall - clearly a gen-ed class, as they’re all there, although grouped on opposite sides of the aisle - and it’s like there’s a wall of ice between them. Class is just ending, and there is notably NO interaction, everyone is staying on their own side of the line, not even a side-eye to be seen. Architecture is ready for lunch and decides to hit up the curry restaurant again – NO curry for you, Korn, I guess, and I’m beginning to wonder if you initially start really hanging out with Wai later on in an attempt to gain access to the curry restaurant, as it appears to have been practically claimed as Arch territory (do they have a flag planted?). Pran, however, is going to stay behind and do some more work on the budget for the bus-stop build. I’m spending a little time here trying to suss out exactly why all of this is now on Pran – he’s clearly taken it on himself, because Wai wants to stay and help, but Pran gives him another job to do instead (coordinating with the Student Union for possible additional funding). Is this Pran’s control freak, micromanager nature coming out? Does he feel bad for not being there when the fight went down? Does he think he could have stopped it? Does he feel additionally guilty because he was with Pat instead of his Architecture friends when it happened? He’s said before that things don’t turn out well when he’s around Pat – does he see this as some sort of karmic punishment? I can easily see how he could take the lead, given not only that’s his natural spot in this group, but also because he’s the one with direct access to the supply chain they’re going to need, but a little bit I feel like I’m having to fanwank the why, other than the disappointing Doylist explanation that he’s our protagonist, because I haven’t come to a conclusion that feels really satisfactory, which makes the writing feel a little weak. Anyway, over on the other side of the room, Pat has finally given in to the urge to look over, and he watches Wai and Pran walk up the stairs to leave the lecture hall. SUDDENLY, he tells the Engineering secondary backup hobbits to go ahead without him and he’ll catch up. He tells them he’s “discussing work for a bit,” according to the English subs, and does he mean classwork? With the instructor? None of them question it, anyway, and they take off without him.

We cut to Pran, now alone, walking down some stairs and periodically looking back behind him in irritation, because he’s not dumb and he knows he’s being followed. He walks out of the shot, and Pat walks into the shot, coming down the stairs and turning down a hallway. This is vaguely reminiscent of the Ep 1 sequence when he was tailing Pran across campus to register for the music competition (and make sure he didn’t get beat up by the rest of Engineering), but I don’t know that it means anything, because there’s really only so many ways to shoot a stalking sequence. We do then get a move that’s maybe a deliberate callback, as Pran reaches out of an alcove, grabs Pat by the front of the shirt, swings him around and shoves him against a wall, much like Pat did when he rescued Pran from the other Engineering guys who were chasing him earlier. Pran has his angry face on   >: (   , one that doesn’t match either of his stickers. Pat acts puzzled, and Pran, who is still pretty furious at him, wants to know if he’s having fun, yet. Pat tells Pran that he deleted the video, and Pran wants to know why Pat is telling him this. Because he’s trying to be a good boy, and he wants some treats, Pran - although judging by Pran’s face, I suspect he’s with me on this, that you don’t get cookies for basic decency, you just get to not be That Asshole. Pat insists he wants to help, and Pran tells him to stay away, but come on, my dude, you can’t possibly believe it’s that easy, because of course it’s not. Pat watches Pran walk away for a minute, then basically shrugs to himself and gives in to his impulse to just continue stalking. Leading us to …

The library, where Pat sits down at Pran’s table, and Pran’s face is a picture of angry disbelief, but when he protests, Pat just shushes him while the other library patrons look at him with judgey faces, which is definitely the way to get Mr. Neurotic to quiet tf down. Pran is reduced to basically hissing under his breath at Pat, who leans back in his chair and claims he’s staying “away” now, and bro, it’s a good thing Mr. Neurotic is not willing to risk the social opprobrium of the other judgey library patrons, because “I’m not touching you I’m not touching you” is only ever a punchable offence. I feel more sorry for Pa every day, because I can see exactly what kind of sibling you must be. Pran, an only child with no experience of exactly how annoying a bratty sibling can be, rolls his eyes and attempts to ignore Pat (hahaha), which means, of course, that Pat grabs whatever Pran is working on – presumably the bus-stop budget - and tries to pull it away. His eyes go big, and we learn that Architecture still needs 40,000 baht from somewhere to cover their projected budget. Reliable exchange websites tell me this is currently a hair under $2,000 USD, so that’s a bit, particularly when the only person in this whole cluster who even seems to have a job is Wai. So now maybe you can see why Pran is in such a bad mood, bro. He’s in such a bad mood that he doesn’t even care about the judgey library patrons anymore and slams down his pencil in order to jam everything in his bag and huff away, but Pat – in one of our few cliché bl moves – grabs him by the wrist to stop him, before they subvert the cliché by having Pat promise he’ll go away and leave Pran alone. He gets a last dig in to wind Pran up some more (“Don’t miss me later”) and then shushes him again (most. annoying. sibling.), but he actually does seem to be on his way out, before he gets diverted by a flyer that’s advertising an “eco innovation” design contest. It’s got a graphic of a solar panel on it. And it’s called an “eco innovation” design contest. Remember that. I’m going to beat that horse, eventually. Anyway, a little light bulb goes on over his head, and he goes back to the table behind Pran to make a surprisingly aerodynamic paper airplane out of one of the flyers, in order to hit Pran in the head with it from behind, and then he’s even good enough to fall on his face on the table and pretend to be asleep so that Pran will pay attention to the flyer, instead of him. You’re still on thin ice, bro, but OK, you’re working your way from the center of the pond toward the bank. Pat’s super-pleased with himself as he watches Pran read the flyer, but Ohm’s face also does this momentary soft little thing that makes me think it’s not just self-gratification, but that Pat’s happy about helping Pran. Now you’ve done it, bro, because that is a slippery slope you’ve just put your foot on, and you’re eventually going to discover that all you want to do for the rest of your life is be of service (lit. and fig.) to this guy.

Cut to sometime later in the lobby of the company sponsoring the design contest, and Pran is at the front desk, signing in. He’s doing a good job of maintaining, avoiding any kind of PTSD flashback, given that they appear to have recycled the set/building of the school he was banished to back in the day. The lady at the desk takes his ID, then asks if his friend is there with him, whereupon Pat pops up over his shoulder like a fairly well-dressed gremlin, claiming that yes, he’s Pran’s friend, and here’s his ID. (He doesn’t want to be your friend, Pat, although I realize you still need to be hit with the cluebat about all that.) Pran snarks about Pat being called his friend (I told you, Pat). Pat remarks that he gave Pran the info about the contest and asks for some thanks, which Pran begrudgingly grants, before telling him he can leave. We all know THAT’S not gonna happen, and sure enough Pat tells Pran that Pran can’t do it without him, which a) will turn out to be true despite b) probably being the very last thing Pran wants to hear, given their historic rivalry. (It will prove, however, that they work best as a team.) Pat says he’s Pran’s lucky charm, Pran calls him a jinx, and I guess he is kind of a mixed bag for you, my dude. On the elevator, we get the classic crowded elevator scene, with Pat increasingly pressed up against Pran, only again we’re going to undermine it – it’s very self-aware, with Pran remarking out loud that they don’t have to squash in so much, and Pat asking if Pran really thinks he wants to (YES, I do, actually, Pat). At this point, Pat, who’s got his shoulder pressed into Pran’s chest, presses in more, as “Just Friend” starts up as our soundtrack, and Pat’s practically giggling to himself. Pran wants to be pissed off, he really does, but he can’t quite help being a little bit amused, and maybe a little bit charmed by all this, and they’re ADORABLE, enough that I’ve momentarily forgotten what jerks Pat and his friends are. And THEN. Nanon’s face goes soft, and Pran starts looking up at Pat, surreptitiously, and he’s having thoughts that are written all over Nanon’s face – dangerous, dangerous thoughts, and also thoughts that are maybe inappropriate in an elevator full of people. They manage to reach their floor, and everyone else gets out, but Pat stays there, pretending to be oblivious, leaning into Pran’s chest, pinning him, and this continues to be half adorable and half incredibly painful because this has got to be like sandpaper on Pran’s emotional wounds, because he doesn’t want to be your friend, Pat. Pran’s all, hey, we’re here, and his voice is weirdly soft, and I swear to god he’s looking at Pat’s mouth when he says it, and it’s like a knife in my left lung. You’ve missed my heart, but you were awful fk’n close, baby. Pat’s all “Oh!” like he’s just realized, but then instead of getting out of the elevator, he turns so that his back is to Pran’s chest AND CONTINUES TO PRESS PRAN AGAINST THE BACK OF THE ELEVATOR. So, much like the previous wrestling on a bed or slinging each other around while racing up the stairs, physical intimacy remains a matter of competition at this point – competition is still the only way that Pat understands to get Pran’s time and attention. Pat’s still low-key amused by himself, and he’s laughing out loud when Pran finally manages to push him away. Also, Pat takes a long, obvious look at a flyer about the design contest that’s on the elevator wall before they get out.

Inside the conference room, we learn that Pran’s interpersonal skills actually do need some work – tbf, he didn’t have a lot of time to prep, but his body language is NOT the body language of someone who’s effortlessly charming. His tells include wringing and rubbing his hands together while he talks, and he uses weak language like “super convenient” to describe his bus-stop project that he would very much like them to fund. I’m sure all this stuff is a result of deliberate choices, and it does give us the idea that Pran’s not going to be very good at bluffing his way through situations where he feels out of his depth, and it also, I think, prevents him from coming off as someone who’s going to seem fake. We get a couple of cuts to Pat, and he can obviously tell that this is not going perfectly. I suspect if Pran had the brainspace to really focus on Pat at this point, this would be mortifying for him, for his historic rival to see him as less than perfect, but I’m not sure he can focus on anything other than trying to get through this presentation. He does actually look at Pat as he’s winding up, as if to say, “was that ok?” Pat nods encouragingly, and Pran wraps up. Unfortunately, the company just approved a similar project, so Pran’s a little bit too late. How about we meet again at the end of the year? Pran’s face falls, and Pat is NOT having that. He’s watching Pran pretty closely at this point, to see how Pran counters. I can’t help wondering if Pat thought he was going to get to see brash, confident Pran at work here, and if so, what gears are turning in his mind at seeing this meek aspect of Pran that’s comes to the fore when presented with an authority figure? Pran, of course, doesn’t counter, just thanks them for their time. And Pat has a moment of puzzlement before he just goes for it. He stands up and tells the executives they have one more concept to propose, and well, now you’ve taken the second step on that slippery slope, Pat, and Pran is never going to have that hunched, self-protective look again without you feeling the need to intervene SOMEHOW. Get ready for a lifetime. And scene.

Next on PART 3: More elevator shenanigans. Pat’s noticed exactly how much Pran watches him. Pran’s buffering, trying to explain his way out of this one.

[kwangyadetective]

🖥 Understanding aespa’s ED Hacker Role (1)

A short theory post of me attempting to understand Ningning’s role in aespa’s lore and what she really does in the overall story. This post discuses what happened in Ningning’s side in aespa’s EP. 1 Black Mamba - SMCU video. There could be more posts as the next episode is released.

In aespa’s lore, Ningning has the role of being a ‘ED Hacker’. Though, oddly, she is mostly shown being an artist. Because of that, its confusing to see what’s the correlation of an artist and a hacker. So here’s me attempting to dissect this.

As of now we still don’t know what ED stands for, but for sure, Ningning is a hacker. After rewatching EP 1 Black Mamba SMCU, I found out that her role somehow has something to do with cryptocurrency.

tweet link

I’m using this tweet as my guide... although I may not understand what OP was really talking about. But here’s my understanding.

CUDA (or Compute Unified Device Architecture) is a parallel computing platform and application programming interface (API) that allows software to use certain types of graphics processing unit (GPU) for general purpose processing.

We’re only focusing on GPU,

GPU - A graphics processing unit is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device. It was created by Nvidia (multinational technology company). GPU is used in cryptocurrency mining.

GPU mining involves the use of a gaming computer’s graphics processing unit to solve complex math problems to verify electronic transactions on a blockchain. This is how you mine blockchain. Due to a GPU's power potential vs. a CPU, or central processing unit, they have become more useful in blockchain mining due to their speed and efficiency. (source)

On the picture of the tweet, we also have Ethminer (labeled as ‘Ethereum Blockchain’ on pic).

Ethminer is an Ethash GPU mining worker: with ethminer you can mine every coin which relies on an Ethash Proof of Work thus including Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Metaverse, Musicoin, Ellaism, Pirl, Expanse and others. Ethminer features Nvidia CUDA mining. (source)

Ethash is the computer algorithm (just search what it looks like, you’ll get it) for Ethereum network or other Ethereum-based cryptocurrencies. 

Now that I have defined the terms, shouldn’t I be able to patch things up? Honestly, not really... I need someone who is an expert in this. But I’ll give it a shot.

If my translation is correct, Ningning is targeting this lady (art director) because she is under suspicion.

‘“예술가 착취” 미관장, 혐의 의혹’ translates to ‘"Artist exploitation". Director Mi, suspicion.’

Ningning along with the mysterious guy in hoodie, who, if you remember, people speculated to be either Jaehyun or Jungwoo in Sticker era, is in a way crashing her exhibition. Basically to attack her for a good reason (?).

My possible theories:

1. Ningning hacked into her exhibition using Ethminer and replaced (?) the previous art with her art.

Weakness of this theory: To be honest, I don’t know if you can hack using an Ethminer. I don’t think that’s the function either. It’s difficult to get the answers for this too unfortunately. This is my first attempt in patching her hacker role with mining cryptocurrency.

This one is getting further,

2. The art director stole/benefit unfairly from the artwork of someone else and was selling it to people as an NFT(?), Ningning stole (or bought???) the artwork using Ethminer before it falls into the wrong hands. That’s why the article says ‘Artist Exploitation’.

Weakness: I’m unsure of this theory too. Why would Ningning buy it too just to save it?? If only there’s more explanation to that article.

Those are just attempts by the way, I’m not concluding yet. Even the video is still vague.

I’m confused if Ningning is hacking or just successfully mined???? Again, I would need someone who knows this better. What’s for sure is that there is mining involved. Since there is art involved so does this mean there are NFTs?

We still don’t know what ED means either. But its a part of the role name, ‘ED Hacker’. So Ningning hacks for it? My biggest guess is that the E stands for Etherium or Ether, I mean we had Ethash and Ethminer involved. Speaking of which, the word ‘Ether’ isn’t foreign either in SMCU. NCT has their own definition of Ether; sea of unconscious. So does that mean aespa has their own ‘Ether’?

---

I guess that’s it from me. I’ll definitely make another post about this once I get more info.

[madsdefencesquad]

I hope if we do get a Madison backstory episode, we get to meet Grandma Frances.

Anon. We WILL get a Madison backstory. The writers have officially confirmed it and I am certain that without a doubt, we will see Grandma Frances. She meant so much to Madison to the point that Madison named her own daughter after her so for her not to show up in Madison’s backstory ep will be a disservice. 

We will get it, I have no doubt.

In saying that, in this latest ep (have you stopped screaming/crying/both yet????), if we’re gonna go back to the whole proposal and the ring, I want to go back in particular to Kevin’s line when he says, “I will get you whatever ring that you want whenever you want it because you deserve that.” If this doesn’t solidify the fact that the whole “earning the ring” thing that was left in the air last season that a lot of people still speculate to be related to Sophie is actually about Madison, then I don’t know what is.

This is the second time that Kevin has proposed to Madison without an actual ring and here, in his own words, he finally tells her that he will get her one that she wants and that she deserves.

AND SWADDLE ME UP AND CALL ME FRANNY PEARSON but now I’m even more excited to see if this ring that Madison does want and does deserve has something to do with Grandma Frances like, perhaps, her own wedding ring *cue loud, obnoxious gasp*

In episode 1, Madison talked about how her grandparents used to rent campers and travel the States together implying that they were a happily married couple who grew old together so it’ll be even more significant for Madison (and Kevin) if the ring she wanted once belonged to grandma Frances because her grandparents were the great love story Madison wished, dreamed and wanted to have herself too.

Oh, and apart from the ring situation, I also believe that Grandma Frances (and grandpa) were Madison’s only family members who truly loved and cared for her and tried to help her with her ED because her family is just toxic. I have this HC (along with the gc gals) that Grandma Frances either: 

passed away when Madison was 17, which pushed Madison’s bulimia to the point that she almost died too or 

Grandma Frances was there to take care of Madison when her bulimia got worse and she almost died and that she was the catalyst to Madison finding the will to live and really live. And then Grandma Frances eventually passed away either during Madison’s adult years or even just before the show started which triggered her bulimia again, but this time, she sought out help through the OA group because she keeps reminding herself about living and honouring her Grandma Frances’ memory.