#ep 1.2

[everythegildedageoutfit]

Every Outfit in The Gilded Age - Outfit 130 - Gladys Russell's outfit 8 - Season 1, Episodes 2 & 7

[fighting-naturalist]

Sam and Daniel always like ( ˘ ᵕ˘(˘ᵕ ˘ ) (continued)

[wulfhalls]

long live the king

[toshiro-sims]

Pelican Town Hood - Download

UPDATE: There is now a cc-free version available for download!

UPDATE: Version 1.2 is out and contains some minor fixes like adding missing storytelling images and fixing surnames.

It's finally here! This is a recreation of Pelican Town from Stardew Valley as a custom Sims 2 neighborhood. It contains:

17 playable lots/families

7 bin families

14 community lots

5 custom townies (+ Leo in the adoption pool)

6 stray animals inspired by the cats and dogs you can choose in SDV

All buildings and Sims are supposed to resemble their SDV counterparts as much as possible. I am definitely more comfortable with building than with CAS, so feel free to give the Sims makeovers ^^ All sims have custom memories, relationships, skills, bios, family photos etc.

All EPs and SPs are required! Keep in mind that this is by no means a CC-free hood. I have included all of the CC with the download, see the attached README for more information. I might make a CC-free version one day if anyone's interested, but that's a pretty big might! I am using default replacements in the screenshots, these are not included in the download.

DOWNLOAD ver 1.2 (SFS)

DOWNLOAD - CC Free ver 1.2 (SFS)

If you decide to play the hood, be sure to let me know about any problems or feedback you might have. I am super excited to see what you all do with it. This is the first time I created and shared a custom neighborhood for TS2, so I hope everything is working properly.

Full disclosure, I experienced some pink soup issues during playtesting :( They were usually resolved by exiting and re-entering the lot. I don't know if it is caused by my system or this particular neighborhood, maybe it's the amount of trees? Anyway, let me know if you encounter any similar issues.

Thanks y'all for showing interest in this project and encouraging me to finish the hood! I started this back in March 2022 and was done building a long time ago, but setting up all the SimPE stuff took much longer than expected. I had loads of fun though!

Since tumblr will not let me put enough images into one post, I'm going to make seperate posts with more info about the lots and families. Or you can check out the download and see for yourself :) Happy Simming!

[esamastation]

Some Magnus Archives fanfic ideas....

1, The Archivist was never a Beholding adjacent position - there's nothing about the Eye that demands it's servants to record their knowledge. Instead, the Archivist was an ancient, general purpose collector of fears, always meant to gather and immortalise them in stories. Jonah Magnus (like many avatars of many different Powers before him) just hijacked the concept for his own uses and now everyone assumes it's how things are supposed to be.

1.2, All Leitners are written by Archivists. After consuming enough stories about specific Fears, an Archivist has to get them out, expelling all the gathered fear and coagulating it into single point - traditionally, in books. Aka, unbeknownst to him, Jon's recordings work a little like Leitners.

1.3, Simon Fairchild is the only one old enough to remember a time when an Archivist had no special connecting to the Beholding.

1.4, A time travelling Jon resorts to drastic measures to make sure he can't be used for the Watcher's Crown again, and permanently mutes himself - and gains for his troubles an obsessive compulsion to write eldritch books.

2, Post ep. 200 Jon and Martin end up somewhere else - back in time, alternate reality, in another fandom, whatever. Jon is still the Archivist and he still has the urge to archive, to listen and to record. But knowing what they do now, both are of the opinion that using tape recorders is a Big No. Aka, Jon ends up using vinyl records instead (and thus courting the Spiral instead of the Web??)

3, Jon asks a very important question I really wished he had: why does Gerry, with all the experience and knowledge he has, get eye tattoos on all his joints? Do they do something? What do they do?? Which then leads Jon down a very different sort of path of Being Marked By Horrors. Aka, Jon starts getting magical tattoos to balance and counteract the various Dread Influences on his life. Aka, Tattooed Jon Being A Distraction To Everyone and Also Mucking Up Elias' Plans By Having A Closed Eye Tattooed On His Forehead Maybe???

3.2 Better yet, this becomes a Trend in the Archives and everyone outside the Archives comes to the conclusion that the place is ran by some sort of delinquent gang of tattooed hooligans. Tattooed Martin for the soul, anyone?

4, Jonah/Elias Sees everything there is to see and figures it all out long before Jon and Martin make it back to London. Total extinction of human race looms not in unfathomable distance but less than hundred years in the future, and it turns out that in absence of human free will, the Fears grow... quite boring and repetitive, really. Jonah wanted Immortality to See It All, and this... isn't it. So, time for a retry. Aka, Jonah time travel.

4.2, Jon, Martin and Jonah all end up back in time after episode 200, and immediately Jon and Martin scramble to stop Jonah - not realising that he's already changed his mind about the Watcher's Crown, and is, in his own way, on their side.

5, Mr. Spider's door is flung open and the Archivist stumbles out, right in front of traumatised little Jon Sims. Aka, Eldritch Eye Monster tries to raise his own younger self to make better decisions than he did and probably only makes things worse.

6. All the above.

[earthmoonz]

WIFEY. PT 2 | EP ONE (1.2)

start / previous / next [haven't read part one?]

(transcript below)

(Lena): Tenemos suerte de que no estén ocupados, ese tráfico era horrible. [We’re lucky they’re not busy, that traffic was awful.]

(Amara): Lo era, no lo he echado de menos en absoluto... ¿Has estado aquí antes? La comida parece deliciosa.

[It was, I haven’t missed it all… Have you been here before? The food looks delicious.]

(Lena): No lo he hecho…No he tenido tiempo. [I haven't…not really had the time.]

(Amara): Es una pena. La comida aquí viene muy recomendada por Richard, así que confío en que la disfrutaremos.

[That’s a shame. The food here comes highly recommended from Richard, so I trust we��ll enjoy it.]

(Lena): ¿Desde cuándo vuelves a trabajar con Richard? [Since when were you working with Richard again?]

(Amara): ¿Dije que estaba relacionado con el trabajo mija? [Did I say it was work related?]

(Lena): Mami, ¿qué es esto? ¿Te has pasado los últimos cuatro años jurando no volver a pisar la ciudad y ahora de repente estás aquí como si fuera normal?

[Mum, what is this? You’ve spent the last four years vowing to never set foot in the city again and now you’re here out of the blue like it’s normal?]

(Amara): Contigo siempre son negocios. Igual que tu pa- Ejem. Te sacaré de tu miseria. Me haré cargo de la operación. Te quiero a mi lado cuando lo haga.

[It’s always business with you. Just like your fa-[Off Lena’s sharp look] Ahem. I’ll put you out of your misery. I’m taking over the operation. I want you by my side when I do.]

(Lena): ¿Perdón? [Sorry?]

(Amara): Ya me has oído. Tu hermano ya no es viable, los accionistas quieren retirarse y el sueño de tu padre ha fracasado. Ahora es mi turno. Es nuestro.

[You heard me. Your brother is no longer viable, the shareholders want to pull out and your father’s dream has failed. It’s my turn now. It’s ours.]

(Lena): [In english, stunned] I…I don’t know what to say.

(Amara): So let’s eat. It’s no good to talk business on an empty stomach.

[lions-and-men-musical]

Story Layout for Act I (Eps 1-3)

(“Red text” indicates a song title)

1.1: Sing, Muse

Cassandra & Calliope have their prophecies. “Rage (Extended)”

Achilles is listening to music, then forced to train by Thetis as Patroklos accidentally hurts Clysonymus and is banished for it. “Greatness”

Patroklos is banished to the Western Phthia, his room is across from Achilles’ in the east. They begin to become friends/mutual crushes “Ashes to Ashes”

In the Sparta Penthouse, Menelaus is performing as Helen is gambling. Neither want to be there, but don’t want to give up their positions of power. “The King of Sparta”

Paris, on ground level, is approached by 3 goddesses. They offer him different things, and Aphrodite offers to get him into the Penthouse. He chooses Aphrodite. “Dancing With Devils”

1.2: Sparta & Pelion

Paris gets into the Penthouse & meets Helen. Helen wants to be with him, but doesnt want to lose her power. She decides to run away with him & leaves the Penthouse. “Animal”

Patroklos and Achilles are told they must go to Pelion to train. When Achilles leaves the room, Thetis tells Patroklos of the Prophecy. Achilles comes back, and he & Patroklos talk about the possibility of going to war. “Someone Worth Fighting For”

Achilles & Patroklos are sent to Pelion. Achilles, Patroklos, and Chiron train. “Hold Me Down”

Achilles & Patroklos go to their floor. Achilles goes to sleep while Patroklos thinks about the prophecy. “Ashes To Ashes (Reprise)”

1.3: This Means War

Menelaus discovers what happened with Helen & Paris and declares war on Troy.

Patroklos is taken to war, Achilles escapes to Skryos.

On Skyros, he is disguised as a girl and starts to become friends with Deidamia. “Skyros Party”

Ares is distraught as to whether to support Sparta or Troy. Athena tries to convince him to fight for Sparta, Aphrodite tries for Troy. “Fight For Us”

Patroklos fears for Achilles, Achilles opens up to Deidamia. “The Weapon (Preprise)”

Achilles gets found by Diomedes & Odysseus and is sent to war.

Helen begins to take control of Troy as they prepare for war. “I Run This City”

[missbabyjay]

Panic - Joel Miller x Reader

Little one shot drabble about Joel's panic attacks. Shout out to @sn1peraj for the idea hehe :)

Again, I love me some Joel fluff. I prefer to look at him that way, no matter how toxic he can be lol

This doesn't necessarily follow the original TLOU plot line!

Warnings/Content: Ep. 6 spoilers, fluff, some angst, panic attacks

Summary: When panic attacks take over Joel you are unsure of how to help him.

Word Count: 1.2 K

. . .

You peered ahead, watching Joel drag his feet along the crunchy, blanched powder snow. You could see from his form that he was tired, his aged structure slumped over in weakness as the supply knapsack sat snug upon his shoulders. 

Your breath trickled into the crisp air, forming small clouds of vapour in front of your face. Your nose scrunched as the viscous, icey winds brushed against your skin. You were hopefully to come across somewhere safe - deeply aching for some structure to provide you solace; an escape from the aggressive environment. 

Ellie plodded next to you, keeping quiet to herself. You hated watching her frail body take on the wrath of the elements, and the journey. You reached over to give her arm a squeeze, sending her a hopeful smile. 

The three of you were on a mission to find Tommy and hopefully the fireflies afterwards. It was a tiring trek - you’ve literally tottered across the radius of the country within the last few months.  You were all exhausted, eager and desperate.

And scared, when a group of intimidating people suddenly surrounded the three of you.

=====

To your surprise they lead you to Tommy, who was living comfortably in a discrete society, Jackson. Tommy had settled down; married his wife and was expecting a new addition to their family. You could tell the situation created a bundle of anger in Joel. He was despondent. He knew he was growing weak, his age was beginning to weigh on his overall health both mentally and physically, and his regrets in life followed him like a dark cloud hanging above. You assumed there was jealousy, despair even, but Joel was a difficult book to read. 

You lingered outside of the bar as Joel caught up with Tommy. Ellie asked for you to join her and Maria, but you insisted on waiting for Joel; your intuition was telling you he’d need your presence. Joel was never open with his feelings, but when you came along he almost softened up a bit. He never expressed his need for you; the way your existence simply soothed him.

You played with the frayed hem of your winter jacket as you plopped down on to the bench, the damp wood dispersing coolness across the back of your thighs. You glanced around, observing the energetic village; laughter and conversation filling your ears. It reminded you of life before the pandemic. You were shook out of your comfortable daze as you heard the bar’s entrance door slam, sending loud shockwaves through your ears. You glanced over to see Joel hurrying away from the building, paying no mind to look back for you.

In one swift move you found yourself trying to catch up with Joel’s fast-paced tracks. When all of a sudden you watched Joel hesitantly grab a large metal pole, allowing it to hold his body's weight as he slumped over. You slowed your steps, cautiously coming up behind him.

Joel’s heart was thumping at a rapid pace in his chest. His ears filled with a distinct ringing as he grasped his heart, attempting to catch his breath, but failing mercilessly. His eyes darted in front of him, landing on a small girl who looked similar to Sarah, causing his panic to deepen. 

You grasped your arm around Joel, squeezing tightly to get his attention, “Joel.”

He quickly turned around to you, his chest visibly rising and collapsing like waves as he wheezed for air. His face was covered with worry, his lips parted as if he wanted to speak but the words had escaped him. 

“Joel, talk to me,” you attempted to bring Joel back down to earth, the worry now growing within yourself. Joel could do nothing but shake his head, the tears began to well in his eyes. You grabbed Joel’s hand, not knowing what else to do, and hurried to the house that Tommy and Maria graciously had given the three of you. 

Nothing but silence filled the space between the two of you, although your thoughts were racing around your head intensely. Joel never showed weakness, he always kept a tough facade. If you were being honest with yourself, you weren’t sure how to show support to Joel in a time like this. Any warmth you showed him in the past was typically shot down, leaving you to avoid showing Joel those types of feelings. But Joel was frail, fragile, you could tell he needed you without him having to speak any words into the abyss. 

Joel's fingers were tightly intertwined with yours, his face stone cold. He was thankful for your presence, your intuition being correct.

As you entered the warm house your own tension began to melt away, your skin unthawing thanks to the comforting heat - something you all weren’t used to. You brought Joel towards the couch, he was still speechless, slightly shaking. As you sat down you slowly settled your hand on his back and began to gently rub, hoping to not cross any boundaries. 

Joel’s body startled you as he crashed into yours, his arms wrapping around you as he gripped you closer. Soft muffles filled the room as he quietly cried into your chest. You froze from shock, but when your brain clicked back to reality you swiftly wrapped your arms around Joel, returning the embrace, gently stroking away at his curls. 

You allowed Joel to pour his emotions out, and as his body began to calm you asked him, “What is really going on Joel? I have never seen you like this?” Your voice was filled with genuine concern.

Joel disconnected the latch between your bodies, pulling himself upwards as both his hands wiped at his face. “I don’t know what's going on with me,” he began, “my age is catching up to me, I’m too slow, too deaf to hear anyone coming,” he glanced into your eyes, “I feel like I keep failing her, failing you.”

You stared back into Joel’s dark pupils, you could see the deep rooted pain, the ache in his heart. He was a man of few words, but you could tell Joel was truly concerned for you, but mostly Ellie. He no longer viewed her as cargo.

You grabbed both of his hands, looking down as you ran your thumbs across his dry, calloused skin. You kept your gaze locked on your clasped fingers, “Joel, we wouldn’t be here in Jackson if it wasn’t for you,” you moved your eyes back to him, delicately placing your hand on his rugged beard, “You are more than enough. You have always been more than enough for Ellie - for me.”

You caught Joel’s gaze dropping to your mouth, when suddenly he closed the distance between the two of you - connecting his tender lips to yours with a loving kiss. You pulled his body close, close enough for the two of you to become one. 

You parted, nuzzling your face into his neck as he brought you to his chest. "I am so glad you are here," he murmured.

"Me too."

. . .

Likes, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated <3

[everythegildedageoutfit]

Every Outfit in The Gilded Age - Outfit 38 - Peggy's outfit 5 - First seen in Season 1, Episode 2, repeated in S1E5 & S1E8

[fighting-naturalist]

“I knew I’d like you.”

Sam & Daniel in “Children of the Gods” 

[angelic-writer]

Stupid idea that entered my mind and refused to leave of ct but every ep someone's scottish. So here's my choices

1.1 - Florence (its just a Scottish sounding name, I considered Peter but I've got an uncle called that so-)

1.2 - Brock (once again, he now just sounds Scottish in my head)

1.3 - Operator Nine (I cant lie it's just funny to me)

1.4 - Ethan (another its funny plus its funny to imagine him called the lady "a right twat")

1.5 - Patrick (for some reason I couldn't think of anyone to be scottish so I chose him bc name sounds real british)

1.6 - weathergirl (I think she's the one who pointed out it was bodies?? But aye its funny to imagine a thick scottish accent screaming abt bodies falling outta the sky)

1.7 - Star (in our folklore we have kelpies, horses that, once you touch them you can't let go and they walk you into water to drown you. So ofc I had to choose her)

1.8 - Prophet (I genuinely cannot explain why)

1.9 - Howard (ONCE AGAIN ITS JUST REALLY FUNNY TO ME)

Bonus ep - guy they ran over (bc only a Scottish lad would decide to walk down a random road in the middle of nowhere at night)

Christmas ep - Manny (he just. Has the vibes.)

2.1 - Pierce (we have so many druggies ofc I have to make him scottish/silly)

2.2 - Kurt (...I must make at least one of my faves scottish)

2.3 - Cliff (bc Tommy deserves to keep his accent, accent buddies!!)

2.4 - Kevin (it makes his rant 10x better)

2.5 - Snuggles (read a book as a kid with a teddy bear character that had a very similar name)

2.6 - Matthew (just has scottish vibes. I was very close to putting Thaddeus though purely bc it's so funny to imagine Declan having a son with a Scottish accent somehow)

2.7 - "911 operator" (the only thing without a texan accent AND it's scottish? Yeah that's how you know that's a creature)

Wonderful! Brilliant! XD

[dangerliesbeforeyou]

someone on twitter posted this chart that showed the average ratings for the inside no 9 episodes and i was FLABBERGASTED by the results of it... and like i didn't think my opinions on the eps were particularly Hot Takes but... now i'm not sure lol...

anyway prepare for a (very VERY long... i wrote over 4700 words what is WRONG with me lol?!?!) ranking list that no one asked for and no one wants lol

firstly check out the post i was talking about here (and potentially be equally as shocked at the results as i was lol)

ok so i will preface by saying i have seen most of the episodes twice, but some only the once atm... also, i kinda haphazardly put this list together so it's potentially subject to change lol

final thing is that i dont thing any of the episodes are BAD, even my least favourite are still good bits of telly, but ultimately i liked them less for whatever reason (which i'll go into because i love to ramble)...

i'll try not to do any spoilers in case anyone's reading this (lol) and hasn't seen the series (double lol)

also also we're going from my least to my most favourite because that builds suspense soooo.... here we go!

55) 1.4 Last Gasp

ok so i've not just put this one last because reece isn't in it lol (though that is part of the reason(ha) lmao). though i found the premise of this episode interesting, i think ultimately the characters and direction of the story felt a lot like something you would see in a sorta run-of-the-mill sitcom... which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just not really what i personally look for in an in9 ep lol...

54) 2.5 Nana's Party

another with a similar sorta vibe to the previous one, this is just slightly higher because i enjoyed the characters a bit more here lol... i think the 'twist' of this one was a little bit lame, though, if i'm being totally honest lol...

53) 5.3 Love's Great Adventure

i appreciated what this one was going for, and i think it built up the characters with each new day in a really believable way, but mostly i just found it Okay and not super memorable... i will say that i wish i could put this higher because the kid in this was genuinely adorable & his interactions with everyone were so sweet lol

52) 1.6 The Harrowing

a slightly disappointing episode for me, especially when the set up was SO good... and yes it was DEFINITELY let down by steve not being in it lol! i totally get why they wanted to try some eps without the both of them, but yeh it really felt like it was missing something for me...

the end was alright, but i kinda wish they'd gone further with it? i did enjoy the characters though and ofc helen mccrory is a goddamn LEDGE in it lol

51) 3.2 The Bill

this might be the first of my potentially Hot Takes(tm) lol... i thought it was just Fine lol... definitely some great interactions, and the premise is hilarious, but i wouldn't say it was one that stuck with me particularly? it kinda felt like a cut league of gentlemen gag which isn't a BAD thing, but because of that it didn't feel totally new/unique to in9... idk lol... great supporting cast, though, ofc!

50) 7.3 3 by 3

this one was definitely good fun, and lee mack is great in it, but it's not one i necessarily see myself watching again any time soon? i think part of this is because i didn't see this live, or witness all the Bus Episode(tm) fuckery so i think i am at a kinda disadvantage lol... but yeah mainly sad that neither steve nor reece are in it :(

49) 1.2 A Quiet Night In

another potentially Hot Take here lol... though i liked the whole idea of it being silent comedy, i think it was let down by a couple things. first, i kinda wish it had leaned more visually into the sorta slapstick/charlie chaplin era they were referencing (like i get they probably thought that it being in black and white would be a bit TOO on the nose, but idk... i kinda think it would've added to it? that might just be me though lol... i just like when things are in black and white lol)

honestly though? my main issue was the lame transphobic joke they made w/ oona chaplin's character lol... like even for 2014, the whole 'haha woman have penis = peak comedy' was a bit tired of a trope, coupled by what happens to her at the end of the episode? idk... rubbed me the wrong way and kinda stopped me from fully loving this episode lol

48) 5.1 The Referee's A Wanker (no i'm not censoring it like it does on the iplayer fuck that lol)

i'm kinda let down by being infinitely bored by anything football related with this one lol... like i liked some of the twists, and also the final twist (after my dad explained it to me because at first i was like huh what lol...), and the characters were fun, but yeh... not really much to say other than 'it was alright lol'

47) 4.5 And The Winner Is…

i actually did mostly enjoy this one lol! we're mostly getting to the ones now that i have minimal bad things to say about (which at number 47 out of 55 is p impressive lbr)

but yeh, the reveal of this was great, and i loved the individual characters (shout out to zoë wanamaker, she stole my heart lol <3) i suppose it's just kinda low because it wasn't that exciting lol? but yeh, a solid episode anyway lol

46) 8.5 Nine Lives Kat

i loved a lot about this one, the kinda russian doll style of reveals were really clever tbh! this is one that i've only seen once and i really do feel like i should watch this one again to get my full thoughts... so who knows, its ranking might change if i were to watch it again lol

also that kiss though 👀

45) 5.4 Misdirection

i loved the opening bit, plus the tension of this episode was fab! the twist was kinda predictable, which i don't consider a negative thing generally but it just means that it falls lower against episodes with more surprising twists lol... it's definitely one i wanna watch a few times since there's a lot of details you miss with just one!

44) 8.4 Love Is A Stranger

this one was probably the most black mirror-y feeling episode they've ever done (which is a compliment, btw, because i genuinely love black mirror lol) not just because of the technological elements, but also with the general tone and that twist! i actually kinda liked that steve and reece took more of a step back in this one, it let the other characters really shine imo!

43) 5.5 Thinking Out Loud

i feel kinda bad for putting this one so low since i think it's probably one of the most interesting both conceptually and stylistically, but... there are just so many good episodes what am i supposed to doooooooo?? (not much i can really say about this one without giving things away... i did really enjoy steve's american accent though lol!) 42) 7.4 Kid/Nap

i thought i was gonna kinda dislike this one when i started watching, the premise is pretty simple and i like the split screen stuff but was worried it was gonna come across as a bit gimmicky, but honestly? i had a lot of fun with it! some really brilliant twists and turns, and genuinely one of the funniest of the episodes imo! held together by the great performances and simple but effective story!

41) 8.6 The Last Weekend

this probably would have been higher if i had just based it on my first watch (which was before a certain other episode came out), but on second watch (and with the context of that other episode that has a similar sorta premise but, imo, done much better)

regardless, though, this is a pretty iconic and VERY memorable episode lol!

40) 1.5 The Understudy

ok so my very tiny complaint about this is i wish there were more of the surreal elements (kinda hard to describe but if you've seen the episode you know what i'm referring to lol)... anyway i generally really love things that are set around the theatre tbh and this one really highlights just how good they are as writers with a very limited setting and selection of characters!

but yeh... wish there were more of the surreal/strange moments if had dotted around!

39) 9.5 Curse Of The Ninth

i generally loved the spooky atmosphere of this one! another one that i feel i need to rewatch, i feel like the ending felt a bit abrupt on this one and i definitely kinda wish it had been slightly longer (just like an extra 5 minutes come ON lads) but overall i really liked it! it's my least favourite of series 9, which really shows how strong of a final series it was tbh lol!

38) 6.3 Lip Service

there's so much to like in this episode; great layers of comedy and tragedy, plus the twist really caught me off-guard lol! definitely one of the more complicated episodes (and yes, i also need to rewatch this one lol...) 37) 5.2 Death Be Not Proud

i first watched this one with literally no knowledge of psychoville, but even then i still enjoyed it (also jenna coleman!!! kinda wish we'd seen more of her since she kinda got overshadowed by the psychoville characters, but she's still great lol), though rewatching it once i had watched the other show definitely made a lot of the references make more sense lol

wish i could put it higher just because mr jelly!!!!! love that guy, but the overall story isn't the most interesting or unique compared to the others, but it's still great regardless lol

36) 9.4 Ctrl Alt Esc

another episode that has a similar concept to an episode i like more, which is sorta preventing this from being any higher, but regardless i adored the setting (i've never been to an escape room but i have a strong feeling i'd love them lol), and i think it did such a good job at making us understand the family dynamics really quickly and effectively! also one of steve's strongest performances, i gotta say! he plays these kinds of understated characters so well imo

35) 7.5 A Random Act Of Kindness

i really like the episodes of in9 that feel like almost love letters to a particular subject and how that relates to people and their relationships... curse of the ninth was about music and the act of creation, misdirection was magic and revenge, and this one is dedicated to science, regret and loss! i think i kinda wish it ended in a different way, but i don't think the ending took away any of the rest of my enjoyment of the episode lol

34) 6.6 Last Night Of The Proms

i was most shocked that based on the ratings this is apparently the least liked episode lol? it's arguably the most political of the in9 episodes so i don't know if that's why people are a bit torn about it? or the religious elements lol?

either way overall i really liked it! i think it did a good job of combining the absurd premise with the slight political commentary, plus i really enjoyed the characters (and loved the thick west country accents lol)

33) 2.6 Seance Time

there are so many great elements of this that i can't talk about cos i don't wanna give away any spoilers, but honestly this one has some great twists as well as some genuinely pretty intense moments! i can't explain it but i feel like this would be a really good episode for anyone who hasn't seen the show before to start with? i just feel like it has a perfect 'inside no 9' energy to it lol

32) 8.1 The Bones Of St Nicholas

this might be one of my favourite interpretations of a typical ghost story tbh! possibly genuinely one of the only episodes of the show that actually scared me a bit, ngl! the overall spooky atmosphere is just so great. plus simon callow!!!!!!!!

31) 6.1 Wuthering Heist

another of my potential Hot Takes since a lot of people didn't seem to like this one? i found it genuinely really funny, plus the whole commedia dell'arte + the breaking the fourth wall thing were such unique concepts to throw into one episode lol! i think maybe it's because there were so many slightly strange concepts that people felt it was a bit unfocused??? idk... the ending wasn't my favourite, but i just felt generally the episode felt like nothing i'd really seen before!

also gemma whelan (whose name i had to google oops... she's SUCH a familiar face to me but i don't think i ever learnt her name lol) was so good in this lol

30) 9.6 Plodding On

sorta hard to know where to put the finale tbh... i've only watched it the once through, so definitely need to watch it again at some point. at the same time it's basically a love letter to the rest of the show itself, so it's sorta difficult to judge based on its own merit lol...

that being said, i loved the drama and tension, plus all (well most, ahem) of the cameos from all the people who were in the show in the past were really lovely!

but yeh... definitely a weird one to try and rank... almost feel like i need to put it in it's own list pfft

29) 7.2 Mr King

one of the first truly Bat Shit episodes on my list so far lol! i love the setting and the kid actors in this were INCREDIBLE honestly! another one i don't wanna say much about it because it's kinda better to go in blind lol

only thing i'll say is: ok but whose dicks were those pictures of? they probably mentioned it in a behind the scenes episode or on twitter or smth but i've not seen anything and i'm kinda intrigued did they just.... find them online? did they ask staff? how does one find random pictures of penises(peni?) to use in your dark comedy show lol???

28) 9.1 Boo To A Goose

there's a lot to love about this episode, SO many absolutely incredible british actors (joel fry, susan wokoma, mark bonnar!!!!) plus drag queen steve!??! hELLO???? AND it's on a train!!!! the twist definitely felt reminiscent of a lot of other older horror media, but that didn't stop it being surprising or memorable!

27) 4.4 To Have And To Hold

1st thing: good for her.

2nd thing, this episode was SO good! i had no idea where it was gonna go with the story so the reveal was super shocking to me, plus nicola walker seriously KILLED with her performance ngl!

this is definitely a slow burn episode, so if at any point you're feeling like it's dragging i do implore you to stick with it!

26) 4.6 Tempting Fate

now, if we were ranking these on 'how cute reece looks' then this would be in the top 3 at least sorry not sorry... unfortunately we're NOT ranking them based on that criteria so it'll have to remain at 26th place lol

i really enjoyed the premise and characters of this one! i also especially liked how the hare from this episode is featured in every episode of the show which creates this really kinda insane idea that what if every single story is actually connected lol?!?!

25) 1.1 Sardines

i feel like i should put this one higher because it is pretty iconic first episode of the show, but there are just so many good episodes what am i supposed to DO?!!!!!!?!?

this is technically the episode i've seen the most, i believe, and i do still find so much to enjoy about it even though i've seen it like 3+ times at this point! so many great actors involved lol

side note, i had not actually heard of sardines as a game until i watched this and wasn't entirely sure if they'd just made it up pfft... anyway maybe it's just a northern thing or smth because i'm sure we didn't have this in the south pfft... just plain ol' hide and seek lol

24) 8.3 Paraskevidekatriaphobia

one of the most jarring twists (literally kinda feels like it comes out of nowhere, at least to me pfft), but i definitely still liked it! there was a nice bit of slapstick comedy in this which i appreciated! there were also a lot of superstitions in this that i wasn't familiar with (like the peacock feather one lol)

not really much else to say, it's just a really solid episode lol!

23) 7.1 Merrily Merrily

i did love that this one felt legit like a reunion between the (3) members of the league of gentlemen tbh they were obviously still playing characters, but their interactions just felt so natural and i really enjoyed it! plus diane motherfucking morgan is one of the funniest people alive i SWEAR to god lol! the pee scene made me cry with laughter ngl lol

i honestly think this one is kinda underrated? idk if it was because it was more emotional and character driven than some of the others? (which doesn't make sense since The most popular episode is an emotional, character driven one pfft... idk... people are strange)

22) 6.4 Hurry Up And Wait

so if we were ranking these based on 'how cute reece looks' then this would be RIGHT at the bottom because girl WHAT was that fucking wig?!?! thankfully we're NOT ranking it on that so this gets to be at 22nd lol

as said before, i really like films and shows that deal with theatre or actors, so it was really fun to see actors acting like complete divas lol i was a little worried that the mystery element was going to be another kinda lazy lame joke, but they actually went more of an interesting direction with it imo!

21) 2.3 The Trial Of Elizabeth Gadge

part of me kinda wished they'd done more historical episodes like this because I genuinely loved the setting! there's also a great load of humour in this one, which a pretty legendary couple of twists at the end that made me go like 'OHHHH!??!!' when i first watched it pfft

20) 3.4 Empty Orchestra

arguably the most wholesome episode of the entire show, and usually i wouldn't be a big fan of this kinda episode (like i said i didn't the bottom 2 eps because they felt too much like generic sitcoms lol), BUT there was something in the characters and the genuinely really uplifting and kinda sweet vibe of this one that i couldn't help but love lol!

it's also the closest we got to a musical episode which i'm STILL bummed we never got... like yeh i get logistically it's super hard to do but .... i wanted to hear them sing :((((((

19) 9.3 Mulberry Close

another case of 'there's another similar episode that i liked more' which is sorta why this isn't higher lol regardless, it's such a clever concept to be told entirely through the cctv footage, and the general story and collection of characters were super interesting! i haven't rewatched it yet so definitely need to give it another go lol!

18) 4.7 Dead Line

ok so i need y'all to know that i was watching this literally YEARS after the ep aired with me dad but we STILL got bamboozled by the show cutting out pfft... which might just be because we're dumb but i like to think it's also just because it's so well crafted! it is another one that you need to go in blind imo so please just check it out if you haven't!

recently watched a great video essay on yt where someone spoke about this episode (check it out here!)

17) 2.2 The 12 Days Of Christine

gasp 12 days of christine? not in the top 10???!?!

ok this is IS an amazing episode, and sheridan smith is honestly one of the most under-appreciated british actors imo

BUT idk i think on rewatch the impact of the twist had definitely lessened? like i remember coming up with all these theories on my first watch which were TOTALLY wrong lol... and yeh like there are definitely just other eps i like more... it's good! it's SO good! i still love it! i just... idk lol

16) 3.6 Private View

maybe it's the art nerd in me but i really did love this one lol! i liked the murder mystery vibe of this one with a group of people being invited to an mysterious location and as a viewer you spend the whole time desperately trying to figure out their connection lol!

i liked the small peter kay cameo, plus morgana robinson as a big brother celeb was so fucking funny lol! plus the twists were really mad and i loved them lol!

15) 2.1 La Couchette

very similar to the previous one, but i really did love the collection of kooky characters here lol plus as someone who has been in several hostels (not on a train, but hostels are hostels) i relate HEAVILY to being surrounded by just the strangest and loudest people you will ever meet pfft...

(shout out to the korean guy that came in at like 2am, showered (the shower was right next to the beds so we could hear everything) and he appeared to have everything he ever owned in paper bags which he rustled about for like 20 minutes... i really contemplated murder that night lemme tell you...)

uh anyway yeh this episode is great lol!

14) 6.2 Simon Says

we're onto my ultimate favourite episodes at this point btw lol

this episode is full of great twists and suspense, plus nick mohammed! i like the way they explored fandom culture in a way that didn't feel like it was being overtly mean to the idea of fandom itself (cough unlike sherlock cough and supernatural cough)!

also if we were ranking these episodes based on 'how cute steve looks' then this would be number 1 hands DOWN lol!

13) 1.3 Tom and Gerri

my highest rated series 1 epsiode! i'd actually forgotten about the twist of this one when i rewatched it recently, but i still really loved it tbh!

a great combination of horror with a really emotional through line, plus even at the end you're never really sure what is real or not lol...

12) 3.3 Riddle Of The Sphinx

this episode is SO fucked up and SO good lol!!! you never guess where the story is going next and it's just a wild experience lol! again, don't wanna say too much to give anything away but i will say i understand cryptic crosswords even LESS after watching this twice pfft...

11) 4.1 Zanzibar

if i had any skills i would write my review for this in imabic pentameter ... but alas i do not

this episode felt like such an amazing demonstration of reece and steve's writing prowess! it's funny, the story is absolutely mad with so many crazy twists, and a stellar cast! so worth a watch, especially if you like anything vaguely shakespearan and theatrical lol!

10) 6.5 How Do You Plead

another one where i had SO many theories of where the episode was going to go only to be completely wrong and the twist shook me and i LOVED it! there isn't really much to the story, but it's truly carried by the brilliant performances imo!

9) 3.1 The Devil Of Christmas

i've not really heard anyone talk about this episode much but i was so taken aback by how much i really loved it! jessica raine absolutely NAILS her performance as a 60s/70s actor, and the general film aesthetic and dialogue style is just perfect, and the reveals throughout the episode just add so SO much to the enjoyment of this!

i have a feeling this might actually go up in my rankings when i eventually rewatch it because there are just SO many interesting layers to it imo!

also i just realised i've included the two episodes derek jacobi was in back to back pfft.. wasn't on purpose but he is a legend lol!

8) 9.2 The Trolley Problem

highest rated 9th series episode woop woop!

i rewatched this one recently and realised it reminded me a lot of the story in Last Weekend, but just as i said in that review, i much preferred the way this story was handled to the other one!

(don't get me wrong, they're VERY different just... sorta similar vibes lol)

anyway this is a very dark episode, both physically (it's set at night and i can't see a THING) and conceptually, but the way this combined the psychology elements with comedy is truly masterful!

7) 5.6 The Stakeout

ok so Funny Story about this one

i'd been on a big binge of in9 episodes a few years back and i got to this one and was about half way through when i realised i needed to take a break lol it didn't help that the episode itself is pretty slow burn, especially after watching some of the others that are a lot more fast paced lol... so basically, i paused it with the intention of returning in a few days or so except... then several years go by and i STILL hadn't seen the end of it pfft

anyway, finally watched it this year and it instantly got transported into my top 10 because that twist was SO iconic lol! it's so simple of a concept (steve and reece spend the entire time yapping in a police car) but it's so cleverly written!

6) 8.2 Mother's Ruin

i was a little bit surprised that this one had a lower rating than the rest of series 8 tbh? anyway i LOVED this one lol! the incense line make me laugh every time i hear it, and in general i loved the relationship between the brothers and everything surrounding their mother!

also as someone who recently watched the film reece was in called 'the cottage' (which also starred andy serkis), i can't help but think it was at least somewhat of an inspiration for this episode lol (they may have talked about this already btw but idk)

5) 7.6 Wise Owl

oof... this episode made me go Oof about 500 times after i watched it

it's a good oof... but it is an oof lol

i haven't rewatched it yet and i'm kinda nervous about doing it cos it did sorta emotionally devastate me lol

4) 4.3 Once Removed

in terms of how this story is told, i'd honestly say it was my ultimate favourite inside no 9 format! it's not something i've ever really seen before and it felt so interesting and built the story in such a unique way! also shout out to monica dolan (whose name i forget EVERY time idk why) who is honestly one of the best british actors ever yes i know i've said that about everyone on this list but shhhhhhhhhhh lol

also absolutely loved all the andrew lloyd webber stuff (which isn't a spoiler btw lol...)

3) 2.4 Cold Comfort

another one where i mentioned before that in Mulberry Close there's another episode with the concept of the story being exclusively filmed through cctv footage (deadline also does it but shhh)! i love that concept, especially with the multiple screens where you're constantly aware of things happening in the other booths which just keeps you on edge!

the reveal is super chilling and though i haven't rewatched it yet, i am honestly really excited to because i feel there were SO many things i missed on my first watch!

2) 4.2 Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room

oof part TWO lol... another one i haven't rewatched because it made me cry and i need at least another few months to recover from the first watch pfft... it is still funny btw! i think a lot of people talk about episodes like this and how sad they are, but it has a lot of great comedy in it which is i think part of why the emotionality hits so hard!

side note, i keep accidentally calling this 'bernie CLIFFORD'S dressing room' and i have no idea why lol... i don't think there's anyone called bernie clifford lol??? help?????

1) 3.5 Diddle Diddle Dumpling

trying to figure out my favourite episode was kinda hard, and i think any one of my top 15 could ultimately take this place, but honestly? rewatching this one i just was so overwhelmed with how beautifully crafted this episode is!

it also features my favourite performance by reece... a amazing combination of subtle moments with the bigger explosions of emotion, you instantly feel so much for his character tbh!

the twist isn't necessarily as shocking or intense as others, but there's something so heartbreaking when you realise it that changes the entire feeling of the episode... also mathew baynton is briefly there which i enjoyed lol!

i'm so sorry this post was so long lmao i'm sure no one will have read this far but if you HAVE then THANK you <3 i really love this show can u tell? WHY did it take me so long to get into it smh smh smh smh

anyway if you have read this far then let me know what your favourites were or just if you have general thoughts on my general thoughts u know? idk basically my ask box is always open if anyone wants to ramble about this show or whatever else lol

[becauseplot]

Alright party people, I just finished Episode 1 of Ordem Paranormal: Calamidade! :D My options for tonight were either work on a drawing or do a "journal" post but I just love screaming into the void (and I have to write this before all the lore I have a by-the-finger-nails grip on slips out of my head) so the choice was obvious.

First of all, I've had a closer look at the intro, and...what's really weird is that the first time I watched the intro, I saw this particular frame and I was like, "Huh, that's weirdly familiar," but I couldn't place it and thus assumed it was a to-be-revealed location BUT THEN IT HIT ME

IT'S THE MANSION FROM ONSF! The painting of the infamous "caverna" is a dead give-away. In my defense it's on screen for like 1.2 seconds. Love the detail of the door to the basement being blasted off and how the paint drips out of the painting, like it's alive. (Love love love this picture, might just make it my wallpaper or something.)

The others are less clear to me. The one on the left has a sword (Veríssimo's? Arnaldo's/Thiago's?) on top of what looks to be a Scoundrel Vultures jacket, a black book, and some sort of ritual, with the Ordo symbol behind it... The purple room could be some sort of callback to the Energy occultists from OPD ep 7? Assuming all of these are, indeed, callbacks.

There are of course the silhouettes standing with Kian but eh, I don't wanna look too much into the intro sequence. We'll get there when we get there.

Anyway episode! Was good! One thing I really liked about this one was the built-in "downtime" to allow the players to just be silly and free with their characters, like with Rubens and Balu playing pool and the team choosing seats on the plane. (Jesus Christ the plane seating scene killed me lmfao.) Not to diss on OPD but for me that's what that season was lacking, so I didn't have *quiiiite* as much fun with it. And we could get into that but this is supposed to be about OPC. Just a noteworthy difference. Downtime lets us develop the characters outside of their missions and see parts of them that you might not see when it's time to Focus and Plot and Do Things, and it means the characters can bond as friends!

(Depicted: average Balu moment.)

Oh and bond they do. Trauma bond that is. Speaking of trauma TEAM VULTURES :D And Arthur once again talking about "passing the torch" and I have. A normal amount of thoughts. About this idea. Ever since Arthur brought it up in OPD I've just been. FOAMING at the mouth at this idea. Because it's true, right? The Order passes the torch, again and again. Agents pick up the torch, run with it as far as they can, and survive just long enough to pass it onto the next agent, the next team, the next generation, on and on and on; and they have no idea if the fighting will ever be over. It's like a relay race with no clear end. All they have is their hope that the next person can carry that torch a little further, and that all their work and suffering will not have been in vain. It's. Deeply profound. Especially coming from a character like Arthur, as he himself has become a symbol of this torch-bearing theme in the series. I love the fact that this idea is being expanded on in this series since, again, Arthur was the one who brought it up in OPD when the group was talking and looking at the letter Joui left Kaiser before he was masked.

There's a good amount of...I suppose similarities developing between Arthur and Veríssimo. Both having leadership roles, both feeling the loss of their fellow agents so deeply, as if losing family, both understanding the need to just keep moving forward, moving on with life, because what else can you do? And yeah, kind of redundant to say it, considering the fact that Arthur has straight-up been referred to as being unofficially Veríssimo's right hand, as well as all of those character moments between Arthur and Veríssimo during the OPD finale. "Arthur! Eyes always open!" And of course the hug later on. SCREAMING. There's a lot to chew on here.

Oh, but the lore! The lore is lore-ing! The old couple made some sort of deal with the Devil that we don't know the specifics of but it seems it was to lure the team to the house where the Child-monster eventually showed up, and it seems they've held up their end of the bargain. No idea what the deal was for though. In any case, Arnaldo's Grimoire has revealed more secrets---new pages concerning the Devil case Arnaldo worked 20+ years ago that seems to be echoing now, specifically about a circus that traumatized people (a fountain of Fear, perhaps?) and some brothers who were trying to resurrect the Devil. Maybe that's what the circus was for? Whatever happened, the Devil wasn't summoned and instead they made a creature that traumatized Eusébio. Probably. See the issue is I can never tell if I'm the right amount of confused in this series, or if I'm so confused I'm misunderstanding things that should've been clear to me by now. Ah well, leave me to my confusion, for it is all I have.

Anyway, they're hEADIN TO ITALY WA HOOOOOO VACATION LOOK AT HOW HAPPY THEY ARE!!

Btw literally all of Guaxi and Rakin's OOC shenanigans give me life. Putting them next to each other at the table was the best decision ever. I've decided to start head-canoning all of Rakin's expressiveness and swearing as Dante's inner monologue but Dante's 😐-ass just doesn't let it show Ever. Thinking back on it, I don't think Dante has ever willingly engaged in the Sillies like other characters do, if at all. Props to Rakin for staying consistent with that because a, that's gotta be hard with a group as silly as this, and b, it seriously helps build Dante's apathetic, no-nonsense personality. And he's apathetic, no-nonsense without falling into the pitfall of typical "unfeeling aloof asshole" character! Dante cares and feels deeply, he just won't make a dick-joke, you know? In summary, good character building, I love <3 (But seriously I need ONE scene where someone in the group in-character gets not just Rakin but Dante to crack and laugh at something stupid. I need it so bad. Let it be Arthur it would heal me.)

Right, anyway, so, Italy! As I was in the discord getting ready to comment on how sweet and nostalgic the music for the Leone Mansion was, Carina opened the door and. Well.

*hiss through teeth* Yeahhhhhh. Nevermind on that one, chief.

I really loved this moment for Carina, though. I took Gabi's million billion questions to Cellbit about the surroundings (is there anything moving, how many bodies, if she immediately recognized anyone, etc) as Carina's mind attempting to parse this deeply disturbing scene in the only way it knows how: investigation. Of course, she has an emotional reaction a beat after, but for a moment, her brain just immediately went into work-mode, and the emotions hit in a second wave of realization---processing the scene first and then processing it, you know?

And then we had that moment between Carina, Dante, and Arthur where Carina...I believe she took a step back and sat down on the steps? If not then she at least took a step back, and Dante took her hand and reassured her that they were there for her. If Arthur doesn't do it here, then post blood zombie fight when Carina sits down in the chair, Arthur puts his hand on her shoulder to reassure her as well. And Carina asks Dante to check the bodies for her family crest. And Dante finds the crest. And he lies to her, and she notices immediately, and she thanks him anyway. I'm. They're so much. The Greater Ordo Realitas Trauma Bond is growing.

In other news, putting this joke from the discord here because Balu, I love you, but you make a better door than a window, if you get what I'm saying.

The combat this episode was pretty good! Of course there was Balu being Balu, but Clarissa was a fucking badass holy shit, and CARINA WITH THE BEASTIAL BLOOD ZOMBIE ONE-CYCLE???? And Arthur and Rubens hit a few really good shots too. Dante hearing Carina screaming when she got tackled by the other bestial blood zombie and charging in there with his Decadence/Decay ritual already half-formed on his lips lives in my brain now. (The👏trauma 👏bond👏)

Oh yeah and Kian and Gal were here (hate them) and they brought a bunch of Escriptas and massacred the entire Leone Family (hate them even more) and it seems like they're working with the Devil? Like from the fucking Bible? Hello sir??? Probably not actually from the Bible but like. That's the fucking Devil. He just. Kinda exists. Okay! First time we encounter a Paranormal "creature" that seems to be at least...somewhat sentient? It's usually either feral creatures or Occultists, this guy seems to be a bit of a planner/deal-maker so he's gotta have something like a brain working up there but like. Mans not really human-looking anymore huh. Incheresting.

Oh and I kinda forgot. Rubens! Talking with Clarissa! Johnny most definitely horror'd :( My buddy Factorial pointed out that the flannel that Rubens is wearing around his waist looks exactly like Johnny's so uh. Yeah. Oh, and the contrast between Clarissa's "get your head in the game, we have a mission, I know you can do this" talk with Rubens on the plane and Dante's "I know this is horrible, we're here for you" talk with Clarissa on the steps of the mansion is astounding. Clarissa definitely feels very detached from the group, but I suppose that's rather the point of her character, right? Untethered? Aloof? I still believe in the strength of the Greater Ordo Realitas Trauma Bond, though I don't know if it'll be enough to save her since Cellbit oh so loves to kill off his NPCs in horrific ways <33

Anyway that's it for now. Some other screenshots I have from the discord just for safe keeping. Wa hoo!

[kimpossible-polls]

Round 1.2 Bracket 2 Side B

The Shego’s Alternate Future Team vs Miss Go and Pop-Pop Lipsky

The Alt-Future Team (Empress Shego, Buff Drakken, Robo-Duff and Future Monkey Fist)

Appearance: Kim Possible, Sitch in Time (TV Special)

Crime: Influencing the Space-Time continuum to support a worldwide dictatorship, stealing priceless artifacts from a foreign country, devaluing world socioeconomic status

Miss Go and Pop-Pop Lipsky

Appearance: Season 2 ep 30 “Rewriting History”

Crimes: Stealing the Electrostatic Illuminator and framing Mim Possible

[rockmiyabideusexmachina]

Megaman Production Art Scan of the Day #563:

Hikari Netto Production Sketch [from Ep. 14: Street Fight]

Notations include:

- A① Everything except Netto

- C⑤ (Netto)

- Dialogue DⓍ 1.2)

Looking at my upload numbers, this is the 365th day of just EXE settei and art. One full year! Still a ways to go to hit 2 years of overall scans, with breaks and all that have interrupted me a bit. But still, to hit a bigger number like that, figured I’d switch it up for a day back to a Season 1 piece. 

ꜛMe, exhausted after an hour of touching up a single pic on my computer and noticing all the specks I missed erasing...

Full Resolution Scan: https://imgbox.com/uUBHrKDA

[louisupdates]

THE INTERNET IS IN ITS LOUIS TOMLINSON ERA AND IT’S ABOUT TIME

By MICHAELA GALLIGAN | 13.9.2023

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter.

In January 2016, One Direction, one of the biggest bands on the planet at the time, went on an 18-month hiatus. But in 2023, that “break” sounds more like a “breakup.” Since then, the five members of the band have gone on to pursue solo careers in music, and very successful ones at that.

Zayn Malik and Niall Horan have both released three very popular albums, Liam Payne had one of the most popular pop songs of 2019, and Harry Styles has won multiple Grammy Awards and is one of the most famous artists in the world today. However, the band’s eldest member, Louis Tomlinson, didn’t jump on the solo train immediately like the others, making his rise to solo popularity a little slower. But he is finally getting his flowers and fans couldn’t be happier.

Louis Tomlinson was born in Doncaster, England on Dec. 24, 1991. He, Horan, Malik, Payne, and Styles all auditioned for the singing competition series The X Factor (U.K.) in 2010 as solo artists but were later grouped into a band that they named One Direction. The band did extremely well on the show, and even though they did not win the competition, they won the hearts of millions of fans across the world and became overnight sensations. They went on to release five albums and went on multiple world tours. Zayn Malik left the band in March 2015 for personal reasons and to start his solo career, and the rest of the band split in 2016 to do the same.

Tomlinson took a different approach to solo music than the rest of the boys, choosing to release several singles not associated with albums or EPs. These songs, including “Just Hold On” and “Back to You,” were very successful and took a large amount of inspiration from the British pop genre.

Tomlinson continued his release strategy until October 2019, when he announced his first album Walls. The album was released in January 2020 and featured 12 songs by the artist, carrying a heavy pop-rock influence. Tomlinson’s first world tour was postponed due to the pandemic, but he was able to perform the album at several festivals and venues. Today, the album has sold over 1.2 million copies worldwide.

Tomlinson announced his second album, Faith in the Future, in August 2022 and released it in November that same year. This album is mainly comprised of the British indie rock genre and has 18 tracks. It has been extremely successful, hitting No. 1 in the U.K. upon its release. Tomlinson is currently touring the album in Europe.

Tomlinson is finally getting the praise he deserves, but it was a difficult journey to get there. In his recent documentary, All of Those Voices, he discussed how he was often overlooked in One Direction, being given smaller vocal parts due to his voice being unique for the pop genre. In their first two albums, Tomlinson has very few solos and features, which has always upset his die-hard fans, myself included. Despite this, he may have contributed the most to the band in the form of songwriting.

On One Direction’s eighth anniversary in 2018, Tomlinson tweeted, “And remember if it’s by One Direction and it’s a banger I probably wrote on it”, really emphasizing his crucial role in the song creation aspect of the band’s music in his infamous snarky way. He has also grown into his voice much more since 2010, now singing confidently at his concerts and festivals.

Right now, Tomlinson is all over the internet due to press from his current Faith in the Future world tour. He is one of the most viewed music artists on TikTok and his albums are getting loads of streams every day. Buzz is still going around from his documentary release in March. Everyone loves seeing the behind-the-scenes content of touring and his relationships with his family and friends, especially the adorable one he has with his son Freddie. As someone who has been waiting for everyone to go into their Louis craze for a decade now, I love to see it.

I highly encourage you to go and listen to Tomlinson’s music, not only because I am a huge fan and love him, but also because his songs are extremely fun and have very positive, uplifting messages. He is very reflective about his time in One Direction and thankful for the opportunities he has been given in his music career. If you’re ever thinking about buying a ticket for his concert, do it! I recently saw him live for the first time this July in Tampa and it was such an amazing show, where he played almost every song from his most recent album, two One Direction songs, and an Arctic Monkeys song. He and his team are amazing when it comes to making tickets affordable for fans. He even has a music festival, The Away from Home Festival, that changes locations every year and is completely free to fans. So here’s to hoping it will be in North America next year!

Louis Tomlinson is notoriously very kind to fans and appreciates all the support he is given. So if you ever need a serotonin boost, just look up a video of him interacting with fans. He is just amazing. Go support him and all that he does. Listen to Walls and Faith in the Future, and buy that concert ticket! He deserves all the love. I’m already ready for a third album!