#episode 9: lady raven

[seekers-who-are-lovers]

“Don’t touch me!” Episode 9: Lady Raven

Shiratama is a princess who has received extraordinary expectations from the Northern family and is a princess with a strong determination that she has to enter the court at all costs. Because of that strong determination, I was conscious of the coldness of hiding my true feelings and emotions ... in terms of spring, summer, autumn and winter, I played it with a feeling like “winter.”

- Rie Kugimiya, the VA for Shiratama*

* The staff (especially the sound director) was blown away by her acting that Hamayu’s VA Nanami explained that before starting the recording they discussed what was going to happen and how would they approach it, especially on episode 9.

[danwhobrowses]

Critical Role C3 Ep 118 - Initial Thoughts

Well guys I maaaade it

It's 8am (well 9 now) and frosty in England and I had like, 1 hour light snoozing, I'm currently basking in the delusional energy being sleep deprived sustains until the inevitable crash but for now, an episode happened!

First of 2025, first I could watch in full thanks to PTO and willpower, shivering with nerves all day so let's cover the thoughts I remember at least (was staying as still as possible to avoid making noise for the others sleeping, so couldn't do the clickety clacks - and as you can tell by my use of 'clickety clacks' that my verbage may be as loopy as a rollercoaster at times)

Spoilers for the episode

Adorable abnormally named animals that looked more like a pupper and a gerbil, Bandit was true to his name

Oh geez more fucking monologuing, even Sam had the cup thing for it XD

Remember that fanart of Laudna, Orym and Ashton kicking Liliana after verbally dressing her down? Well that but this time with Ludinus, loved the pressing

Got some mini Ludie backstory and it was 'my family died as collateral in the Calamity', it's so hilariously basic at this point he deserved every bit of Ashton's 'get the fuck over it'

Part of me also couldn't help but think of Istho, the reluctant to die Paladin of the Lawbearer imprisoned at the Bloody Bridge literally a year ago, they had the same mantra

Would've been cooler to get a bit more Lawbearer sauce before in this campaign but fairs enough

Fearne just wants to give everyone cupcakes and candy and treats being the vessel of the God Eater like winning the lottery and I love her for it

It's not lost on me as an Ashton fan that Ludie never asked them what they wanted. There's a gist yes of controlling your own fate but still, got a lil' under your skin didn't they?

Chet no, don't try to open the cascade of sigils!

HA! Poofed out of his second monologue

Braius don't call him, you're gonna call him aren't you?

FUCKING LYING WHORE CHEATER BITCH Azzy, how's the family?

Brennan is untouchable but Matt's Fucking Lying Whore Cheater Bitch Azzy M still gives me the feeling of 'you know all the right things to say but I can still hear your manipulation'

Family, Braius, is right here! I get he's been around longer but first it's 'chase away and I'll remain' now it's 'don't let it out', mixed messages

I probably would've laughed to death if Ludie got distracted by the toy, though I do wish it was an Intuit Charge

RAVENOUS VOID OFF THE FUCKING BAT?? I was literally looking at that spell a few days ago

The aoe and save was so fucking high too, and I could've sworn Ashton can't be moved in Titan form, and resists all but Force Damage

Oh shit the neck! The neck comes back around!

God the cast rolled so badly for so long, and he kept saving and using his resistance

Not the neck ladies, the body, da body!

PATE I LOVE YOU

Pate noooo!

IRAAAAAAA I LOVE YOU!

MISTERRRRRR! I LOVE YOU!!

ASHTOOOOOOOON I LOVE YOU! That is my motherfucking barbarian tank killing the concentration

OH MY FUCKING DAYS POWER WORD STUN IMOGEN I FUCKING LOVE YOU!

I was counting the damage, once you knew it was below 150 all it needed was the math

Bless Ashley for wanting to go big but couldn't because of aoe

It had to be Orym, IT HAD TO BE ORYM, how's that for resolve?

Ira laughing in Ludie's face was cathartic too

'I don't want to hurt anyone, or kill anyone' - SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE ASHTON HATERS IN THE BACK!

We were so fucking close though, so close to the 'we can't absorb it but it can't stay here' point, we could've had an option C like sending it to a Demiplane

Surprised me how much Laudna pushed for pro-Predathos, given Imogen's reluctance, and Orym just unable to argue it because it's been argued to death

Oh god is he not dead? Fuckery duck, Laudna you have that ghost tracking thing right?

'What did you do to me, I used to be fun' - you still are you just have mushrooms planned with Fearne for after

Imogen you talked a lot about being free to decide your fate and now you're literally walking towards what 'fate' planned out for you

We are LITERALLY approaching what Ludinus wants to do

Child's voice is a nope, like an absolute nope

Like a 'Guys did we not learn from the Dominox?' nope

Because GUYS DID WE NOT LEARN FROM THE DOMINOX??

Orym insight checked a God Eater, got a whisper, stepped between it and the Ruidusborns, and that was not a red flag??

The collective 'ohhhh' though

Like, I get hearing it out, trying to see if we've simply been misinformed, but the proof is kinda in the pudding and it is dessert time

It knocked Chet into a wall for opposing, that's a nope

Hey Matt don't you think the Primordials partly responsible for this cage would have some resonance with it since we're getting clips of Tengar and Orym's Wildmother vision for all to see?

Imogen and Fearne NO

Predathos the nice hot faun lady told you to wait

Fearne YES but IMOGEN NO!

Fearne Yes! ...right? Answer the question cliffhanger! RIGHT?

I mean she heard her, that's something, are we gonna have to give Imogen her first death in the campaign? Can that staff factor in at all?

Definitely peeved that Imogen went and pulled a Frodo right at the last moment, but like the One Ring in Mount Doom she is being lulled by Predathos muddying her instincts, so I can kinda see why she thought it the kindest option, also le drama I suppose, Laura Bailey had to put her own third wedding one-shot in jeopardy

I have to be at work next week and there's a likelihood that the worst ending happens and Ludinus didn't get his ancient elf ass handed to him permanently ;_; so the stage is different, the health and spell slots are lower, but the fear is the same and I can't stay up for it

Contrary to others though I do still want a happy ending, the Hells aren't bad or evil for what they were attempting; the intentions was still good it was just not right. Someone else would've come, if not Ludinus then someone else with the same plan, but this is why we should've discussed alternatives earlier, this is why a united goal is important and why the Arch Heart fucking up the plan with his visit rubbed me the wrong way

At least now the Hells are gonna be on the same page with Predathos, it's about saving your people - so, save your people

[mary-the-traveler]

Unmasked - Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Trailer

In the first four episodes, over 2.3 billion minutes were viewed.  The highest debut weekend in history for any Netflix show, the historical drama was filled with romance, action, and comedic endeavors. The first part focuses on the romantic story of Colin and Penelope, while the second part will explore the mystery and unmasking of all the personas introduced in the first part.  To say we are ravenous for the final episodes is an understatement.

"What is concealed, shall be revealed"

A New Betrothal

Everyone in the Bridgerton family is excited about Colin and Penelope's upcoming wedding, except for one member. Let's be honest, Violet had already practically picked out the stationery. In like manner, during season 2 when Anthony calls on the Bridgerton family to help him "woo" Edwina, Penelope is in the drawing room. Undoubtedly, she is like another sister, and the brothers joking that Anthony may need to fight a duel for her speaks to her connection to the family.

The fact that the Featheringtons found out about the betrothal through Lady Whistledown speaks volumes. Albion Finch, always the supportive brother-in-law, clearly deserves the Brother-in-law of the Year award. I must admit, I enjoyed seeing the sisters' surprise and his smile. On the contrary, Portia didn't seem pleased. Undoubtedly, a lot was going on after the, ahem, carriage. Finding out that your youngest is marrying the best out of the three, and you didn't know about it, is likely to cause conflict.  Portia also appears unhappy after two seasons of trying to finally get her connection with the Bridgerton family -- and she isn't happy about it.  On the bright side, this means she's the next Catherine the Great, right?

The Reward

 "Whistledown is power."

As Penelope is finally making progress towards marital bliss, the issue of the Queen and Lady Whistledown remains unresolved. Over the past three seasons, the Queen has been trying to find Lady Whistledown but has been unsuccessful. She has even offered a reward of five thousand pounds to anyone who can uncover Lady Whistledown's identity. The clock shown multiple times in the new clip suggests that time may be running out. The question remains: what will the Queen do with the information once she finds Lady Whistledown?

Last season, when Eloise was discovered by the Queen and pulled into the carriage, we got an idea of just what she might do with the power that Whistledown may bring. Whistledown, with influence, was able to bring down Nigel Burbrook in Season 1. She has released some pretty risky stuff. If that power was in the wrong hands, it could be troublesome.  On the other hand, just the knowledge of who the penned author is, the Queen may respect Penelope. Only time will tell, and that is 9 days to be exact.

What are you looking forward to most in Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2?

By Mary The Traveler

[animeandfilmotaku]

烏は主を選ばない-[A Raven Does not choose its master]-Intrigue and Insight.

In my normal regular brain, this is honestly my reaction to this series via a meme

But I am a serious film review writer, and I really really need to gush one of the best anime series I have watched in recent years, so shall jump into the world of Yatsugarsu.

I may come late to the court drama genre party, thanks to Apothecary Diaries (薬屋のひとりごと) [FYI I really highly recommend this, if you love strong female characters and intriguing plot twists), so unfortunately I have to wait til February 2025 for Season 2 (I should read the novels too, as I heard it is also good), but it would be another show that I will recommend. As for now, I need to talk about this series 烏は主を選ばない [A Raven Does not choose its master]

So it started simply about Yukiya, a country boy from Taruhi who has unexpectedly cross pass with Prince Wakamiya (the true Kin’u), to be his aide (Though Yukiya has his sassy ways when dealing with his antics). So for the first half of the series- we deal with the 4 consorts vying for Wakamiya’s hand in marriage. I said it was great, it was cool, the intrigue is amazing with every plot twist from each consort having its own affairs and personality-all vying for . Not going to spoil for one of the biggest twists for that arc, but not all that it seems in the courts, that even Yukiya-an observer be like I am too old for this shit with these delulu nobles.

I would say Hamayuu is my favourite among the consorts, because she radiated intelligence and wit that every time I see her, I be like QUEEN, I love you so much 😩

However I wanted to give the shout out to the next part of the series that totally solidify the series for me as a whole, so after the selection process of the consort is officially done (With oh course revelations of our lovely consorts, again no spoilers), trouble seems to brew at the countryside as there are mutated yatsugarasus and killer were-monkeys (These things scared the shit out of me TBH) prowling through the villages, killing the residents- which Yukiya is pulled back to the Prince’s side, to investigate these horrors. I guess that is how Game of Thrones fans feel like with the plot twists they watched, because Raven’s plot twists are muah Chef’s kiss. Like every time I be like ‘This so-so is SUS” and the same time, did not expect the unexpected with the motivations. Like from the intrigue on who shall win Wakamiya’s hand, now it become like there are drugs???? There are evil monkeys???? Gang pacts????? Quoting that Lady Gaga Meme;

You can say it makes you want more of its twists and turns in Yamauchi’s inner worlds.

Not to mention, I love the world-building that it is not jarring at all, but rather it serves you like a 9 course Michelin meal, which its politics, surroundings, mythos and livelihood interweaved so beautifully. I admit I am jealous how it is written, as I cannot even pen these worlds so intriguing and yet so brutal, which could be similar to real life.

As David Lean, one of my heroes said ‘I'm first and foremost interested in the story, the characters.’ and it really shined through the series, with the relationship between Wakamiya and Yukiya, who lived different lives; Wakamiya burdened with the destiny of protecting his fellow crows and Yukiya, a witty kid who learns that the world he lives is not what it seems and yet bonded by loyalty. They propelled the story through their observations and interactions with their allies, enemies or conspirators.

On the side note the endcard after every episode done by Natsuki-sensei (The illustrator for the Yatsugarsu series) which are so gorgeous by itself (I saw an online website where you can buy the postcard set itself, which I am jealous as it is expensive)

I am quite upset how this anime flew by the radar, with the more popular ones, but if you love court intrigue, refreshing world buliding and complex characters, this series is for you,and I hope you enjoy the ride as I was

I am hoping to get my hands to work on the novels by Abe-sensei itself so I can read it by itself, because it is just amazing

[vlovann]

Twilight of the Gods: Mythosyns

(Inaccuracy & Stupid Shenanigans Countdown)

Rankings:

S/6 - This is actually in the mythology or accurate to our pagan ideas of the gods

A/5 - Passable; As they should, not going above and beyond; Doesn't break immersion

B/4 - Could've done better or more research; could've asked a pagan; will continue with caution

C/3 - True Neutral

D/2 - Don't like it; okay?; Breaks immersion

F/1 - Absolutely not

Misc: no = automatic 0, comment out of number, silly

goofy, +/- (.5), E/1.75, etc.

Let’s Beninging - Episode 2: “Heretic Spear”

1. Made by a non-pagan, perverted man: Ew/6 (0)

2. Hel is not half corpse: D (she transforms between the two once)

3. Hel has horns: F

4. Loki has a derpy Jormungadr torc: L (for Love it; 6)

5. “Loki of Asgard”: No (Loki of no man)

6. Lief married Sigrid because “sexy, warrior lady”, not realizing who she was: F (for Hades: “HE’S A GUY”)

7. I like that lady, she’s funny: A

8. WTF BRO?: Ew/6 (0)

9. Ah yes, blame the forest witch for all your problems: No (Völva were respected members of the ancient Norse community)

10. Sexy, village witch: D (not old lady like razzle dazzle from She-Ra)

11. Sexy, village witch is carrying the accents on her back: VAs, Take notes/6 (B)

12. Sexy, village witch with hints of traditional Völva attire: D (for why is she showing cleavage in the damn cold?)

13. “Huginn & Muninn!” I shouted: S (for I don’t like Odin, but I like ravens)

14. Seið-kona is a real synonym for Völva: S

15. Kinky/6 (0)

16. Trans, sexy, Völva: B (for she still B cold, give her layers, please. You pervs)

17. “[speaking dead-speak]”: Wow, creative/6 (0)

18. LOKI SPIDER REFERENCE: S (for spider skitter)

19. Lief, SHUT. THEFUCKUP. SHUT. THEFUCKUP: F

20. Andvari walks straight past Lief: HAHA!/6 (C)

21. Andvari is who Loki goes to, mythologically, when he needs things forged: S

22. Ulf says, “I am weapon enough, and cursed enough”; a.k.a I am wolf-boy and I am enuff: S (for self-aware king)

23. Lief says, “BUT I’M A MAN. I DO WHAT I WANT”: L (for F)

24. Odin, shut the fuck up: S (for ominous, creepy Odin)

Mythosyn Count: 67

Out of

6x24= 144

47% again…damn.

Verdict: Throw Lief in the Norse River Styx and give the Völva some warm fuzzy thermals, please

[thequeerlibrarian]

Read in 2023

January

1. Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian - 5/5 ⭐

2. The Silmarillion by Tolkien - 4/5⭐

3. Seide und Schwert by Kai Meyer - 5/5⭐

4. Lanze und Licht by Kai Meyer - 5/5⭐

February

5. Drache und Diamant by Kai Meyer - 5/5⭐

6. Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

7. The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller - 5/5⭐

8. The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis - 4/5⭐

9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis - 5/5⭐

March

10. Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare - 5/5⭐

11. The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis - 2.75/5⭐

12. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

April

13. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

14. One last stop by Casey McQuiston - 3.5/5⭐

15. You Deserve Better by Anne-Marie - 3.75/5⭐

16. Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian - 5/5⭐

17. Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia C. S. Lewis - 5/5⭐

18. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader C. S. Lewis - 5/5⭐

May

19. The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis - 5/5⭐

20. The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis - 4.75/5⭐

21. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

22. Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

June

23. Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Book by Suzanne Collins - 5/5⭐

24. Summer poems by Hermann Hesse - 5/5⭐

July

-

August

25. Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen - 4/5⭐

September

26. Harry Potter 1 reread for work

27. Harry Potter 2 reread for work

October

28. Harry Potter 3 reread for work

29. Babel by R.F. Kuang - 4.5/5⭐

30. Poems ll by Hermann Hesse - 4/5⭐

31. Poems by Shakespeare - 4/5⭐

32. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio - 5/5⭐

33. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - 4/5⭐

34. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - 4.75/5⭐

35. Coraline by Neil Gaiman - 4/5⭐

36. Watership Down by Richard Adams - 4.5/5⭐

37. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum - 4.5/5⭐

38. Star Wars: Stealth by Karen Miller - 5/5⭐

November

39. Star Wars: Wild Space by Karen Miller - 5/5⭐

40. Crush by Richard Siken - 5/5⭐

41. Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno - 4/5⭐

42. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers - 4/5⭐

43. I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee - 5/5⭐

44. Was fehlt, wenn ich verschwunden bin by Lilly Lindner - 5/5⭐

45. Dracula by Bram Stoker - 4/5⭐

46. Hamlet by William Shakespeare - 4/5⭐

47. Die Farbe der Rache by Cornelia Funke - 4.5/5⭐

48. Star Wars: Siege by Karen Miller - 5/5⭐

December

49. The girl who decided to go for it by Alice Bromell - 5/5⭐

50. Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen - 4/5⭐

51. Star Wars: Jedi Quest - Path To Truth by Jude Watson - 4.5/5 ⭐

52. Macbeth by William Shakespeare - 3.5/5 ⭐

53. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - 5/5⭐

54. Murtagh by Christopher Paolini 4.5/5⭐

55. Star Wars: Jedi Quest - The Way of the Apprentice by Jude Watson 4/5⭐

56. Star Wars: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray 4.5/5⭐

57. Just eat it by Laura Thomas 5/5⭐

58. The picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 5/5⭐

59. Star Wars: Padawan by Kiersten White - 5/5 ⭐

60. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

61. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

62. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

63. Star Wars: A New Hope Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

64. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

65. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

66. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - 5/5⭐

67. Star Wars: The Trail of the Jedi by Jude Watson - 4/5⭐

68. Star Wars: The Dangerous Games by Jude Watson - 4/5⭐

69. Über mir die Wolke by Clara Louise - 4/5⭐

70. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - 5/5⭐

71. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater - 5/5⭐

Dnf:

✖️ Star Wars Episode I

✖️ A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J Maas

✖️ A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

✖️ Luft nach unten by Aron Boks

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, February 4th

Trick: Ladies, gentlemen, spiny-headed looking creatures, welcome to SlayerFest '98!

~~Homecoming~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

A Friendly Wager by Bobbie23 (Giles/Jenny, Gunn, Wesley, G)

Complaints "Act II", a Usenet era story crossposted by pgadzikowski (Scoobies, G)

Scar Crossed Lovers by Maxineeden (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Do You Trust Me Now? by Maxineeden (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Raven - Chapter 1 by sparrow2000 (Xander/Spike, G)

Spidey Does Angel - Chapter 1 by megamatt09 (Spider-Man crossover, Peter Parker/Cordelia, other pairings in future chapters, Explicit)

Early One Morning, Ch. 12 by all choseny (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Afterburn, Ch. 11 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Unborn, Ch. 3 by Lizzie Queen of Meigas (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

If You Don't Want Him... Ch. 1 by Spikelover4ever (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Pages of a secret notebook, Ch. 1-4 (COMPLETE!) by though_you_try (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Dawn Rising, Ch. 42 by Luna (LotR crossover, Buffy, FR15)

To All We Guard, Ch. 3 by simmony (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Lie to Me, Ch. 6 by In Mortal (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Out For A Walk... Bitch, Ch. 9 by MaggieLaFey (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Coming Through, Ch. 13 by hulettwyo (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Chapter 1 of an X-Files crossover by enchantedquill-40 (Buffy, not rated)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: parents and children by cutetanuki-chan (Giles & Buffy, baby Giles & his mom, Jenny & her baby, Giles/Jenny mentioned, worksafe)

Drawing: paisley rekdal, "philip larkin's koan" by genericaces (Angel/Spike, worksafe, blood)

Drawing: Angel by pinkpersonsblog ()

Fanmixes: The Mixtape Chronicles, part 5-6 by Julikobold (Buffy/Spike, G)

A Spike/Drusilla Valentine's day card ft. poetry and art by Ashmaenas (T)

[Reviews & Recaps]

Question - Is there a moment/scene/episode that hooked you? by Tome

When suspending disbelief becomes difficult by Tome

Who the hell wrote these DVD descriptions? by Curious_Paradox

[Recs & In Search Of]

Reacting to Reactions! AtS Season 5 by Stoney

[Fandom Discussions]

Buffy Summers: One Girl in all the World by veronyxk84

Spike is a fixer-upper in the “this old house” kind of way by still-nix-d-goffic, raisedbythetv89

[Faith should have been an Angel series regular] by hersterical, thepunkmuppet

Buffy movie based on the TV show? [what if there was one] by varveror

[I'll never watch the deer scene in Bargaining the same way again] by burnmeup82 and others

How do you think it would go if the Initiative started chipping, then ensouling vampires? by Christianduty

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[atamascolily]

princess tutu re-watch, episode 9

Narrator: Once upon a time… Woops, wrong story! … or is it? (strongly implying the evil raven is forcing Rue to dance a la The Red Shoes)

Okay, here's something I never thought of before: if Drosselmeyer is the writer of this novel (ostensibly), then who the FUCK is the narrator supposed to be???!!!! Are there any older lady characters in this show??

Rue (standing by a fountain staring at her hands): "Curse these sinful hands!"

lol at Ahiru's friends live-tweeting (heh) the drama between Rue and Mytho

Fakir (standing by a fountain staring at his hands): "Curse these sinful hands!"

Oh, hey, I thought the pizza shop was a one-off joke, but here we are again!

Fakir, at a literary speak-easy: "I'm here to see a man about a book."

I just realized that the piano in the ballet studio has all the old-fashioned punch cards, so it can play without an accompanist when the penguin is busy.

Fakir, looking at a picture of a knight getting sliced in two: GOSH I SURE HOPE THIS DOESN'T AWAKEN ANYTHING IN ME

Edel: "Depends. Are ya feeling lucky, punk?"

HOLY SHIT EDEL IS A PUPPET (I mean, okay, there were plenty of hints she was doing stuff for Drosselmeyer earlier, but now we've gone from subtext to text).

Rue (talking to Ahiru): "Weird… this must be what it's like having friends. A novel experience."

Ahiru: "BIRD GIRLS OF THE WORLD UNITE! HIGH-FIVE!" (okay, okay, she has no idea Rue is Kraehe and neither does Rue, but I couldn't resist)

Neko-sensei is romantically pursued by a goat. I have no words. At least she's a fellow teacher??

Ahiru's Friend #1: "Don't worry, Ahiru, we love you in spite of your fuck-ups!"

Ahiru's Friend #2: "Actually, we love you ESPECIALLY for the fuck-ups!"

Ominous flock of crows: Hey little girl, want to join a GANG?

the parallels between Rue and Fakir as they cope with Mytho essentially breaking up with them are excellent.

so the school is an arts school! we have dance, musicians and art students, how about that?

Malen, the art student we will never see again: "I am obsessed with Rue."

Ahiru: "It's okay, me too! Let's be besties!…. oh wait, it's a shard again, isn't it?"

(the fact that Mytho's devotion still seeks out Rue IS proof he genuinely loves her, though)

hey, uh, Drosselmeyer? femslash and OT3s exist, so stop being such a heteronormative dick, okay?

the birds turning into shoes effect actually looks pretty good! like Animorphs, but ballet!

Rue's transformation into Kraehe in this episode is so similar to Homura's transformation at the end of Rebellion that it's clear the animators of the latter were taking notes

and the fact that Kraehe screams and the feathers initially appear as thorns is a big hint This Is Not Good for Rue at all.

Fakir making a dramatic entrance by busting THROUGH the window and grabbing a glass shard to stab Kraehe is Peak Everything. This boy should have been a theater kid.

Unsurprisingly, this makes Kraehe revert back to being evil when she was on the cusp of giving into Tutu's persuasion/charisma roll. NICE JOB BREAKING IT, HERO.

also HUGE SHOUTOUT to "The Old Castle" from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition for being such excellent music for this episode.

[celtfather]

Black Tower #635

Climb the Black Tower with the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #635.

Hanneke Cassel, TJ Hull and Amanda Caretta - Hull, Jesse Ferguson, Juha Rossi, Andy Irvine, Jim Sharkey, Gordon McLeod, Lauren Oxford, The Dustbunnies, Don Gabbert, Kevin McKrell, Derina Harvey Band, Beltaine, Screaming Orphans, Mànran, The High Kings

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This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create next year's Best Celtic music of 2023 episode.  Vote Now!

You can also follow our playlists on Spotify and YouTube. These feature the top songs two weeks after the polls open. It also makes it easier for you to add these artists to your own playlists.

THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC

0:02 - Intro: River Driver

0:11 - Hanneke Cassel "The Green Lady / Olivia’s Jig" from Some Melodious Sonnet

5:08 - WELCOME

7:38 - TJ Hull and Amanda Caretta - Hull "Mr. Cunningham's Maggot" from Tippy Taps

9:40 - Jesse Ferguson "Renzo" from Sea Shanties

11:43 - Juha Rossi "Spotted Dog / Kataroni" from Irish Tunes on Mandolin

14:16 - Andy Irvine "Autumn Gold" from Andy Irvine & Paul Brady

18:00 - FEEDBACK

22:26 - Jim Sharkey "The Three Ravens" from SWEET ANNE'S ROAD

26:51 - Gordon McLeod "Christy's Waltz" from Still Fiddlin'

30:32 - Lauren Oxford "On Death" from Lauren Oxford

34:56 - The Dustbunnies "Gillingham Ramshire" from What Goes Around

39:29 - Don Gabbert "My Name is McCann (Ed's Campfire Waltz)" from Donovan's Fancy

42:48 - Kevin McKrell "I Can Breath Again" from In Quarantine

45:23 - THANKS

48:21 - Derina Harvey Band "Grow" from Waves of Home

52:21 - Beltaine "Whisky Rye" from Mercy

55:22 - Screaming Orphans "Sweet Forget Me Not" from Paper Daisies

59:31 - Mànran "Black Tower" from Ùrar

1:02:50 - CLOSING

1:03:38 - The High Kings "The Streets Of Kinsale" from The Road Not Taken

1:06:36 - CREDITS

Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You’ll find links to all of the artists played in this episode.

Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you’ll get 7 weekly news items about what’s happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage.

Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor.

Finally, remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment.

Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/.

WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST

* Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn.

This podcast is here to build our diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. Musicians rely on your support to keep making music. If you hear music you love, please email artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast.

You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com.

If you are a Celtic musician or in a Celtic band, then please submit your band to be played on the podcast. You don’t have to send in music or an EPK. Just complete the permission form at 4celts.com.

You love Celtic music right? Do you also love Christmas music? Our holiday podcast, Celtic Christmas Music, is back with a brand new podcast episode that launched on November 5.

If you’re like many people you don’t want to hear about Christmas when we haven’t even gotten past Thanksgiving. But to truly promote Celtic music with Christmas cheer, we have to start in November. Because of that, the podcast needs people like you to support the show Patreon and to of course, subscribe and listen. Just head on over to CelticChristmasPodcast.com to follow the show. It’s free. Just like this podcast.

You can also now LIKE the podcast on the Facebook page.

THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST!

You are amazing. It is because of your generosity that you get to hear so much great Celtic music each and every week.

Your kindness pays for our engineer, graphic designer, Celtic Music Magazine editor, promotion of the podcast, and allows me to buy the music I play here. It also pays for my time creating the show each and every week.

As a patron, you get music - only episodes before regular listeners, vote in the Celtic Top 20, stand - alone stories, and you get a private feed to listen to the show.  All that for as little as $1 per episode.

A special thanks to our new and continued Patrons of the Podcast: Deborah McDermott, Metta RavenHeart, Jim Horgan

HERE IS YOUR THREE STEP PLAN TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Go to our Patreon page.

Decide how much you want to pledge every week, $1, $5, $10. Make sure to cap how much you want to spend per month.

Keep listening to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast to celebrate Celtic culture through music.

You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast on Patreon at SongHenge.com.

TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/ #celticmusic #irishmusic #celticmusicpodcast

I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? Please email me. I’d love to see a  picture of what you're doing while listening or of a band that you saw recently.

Email me at celticpodcast@gmail.

John Golden answered the question, What are you doing while listening?: "Often working BUT usually play the St Paddy’s episode for the family feast."

James J. Grefig replied: "Hi Marc, This St. Patrick’s Day I hope I’ll be listening to your podcasts."

John Mahony replied to the Celtic Music Magazine: "Hey Marc, Thanks for everything you do to promote Irish and Celtic culture! I usually listen while working on technical stuff. It relaxes me and helps me keep up with newer bands. For St. Patrick’s Day, I will be going to a lower - key party rather than hitting the bars, though I might stop at one or two. I help produce live Irish and Celtic music shows year - round, so I guess the answer is that I’m just doing more of the same!"

Edward Birdsall emailed: "Greetings; What am I doing while listening  -  out for daily walk if it is not raining or snowing here in Georgia (1 - 2hours long)  also I listen while donating platelets at the Red Cross which I do on average every 6 weeks which means 2.5 - 3hrs of show for that "

Chris Raisin replied to the question, 'What are you doing while listening?': Usually lying in bed with my eyes closed (but not asleep). And for Patrick's Day? "Probably the same as I do for any other day (being 73 years old, single and living alone having lost contact with all my friends due to those infernal lockdowns we had in Melbourne." He's celebrating "By just listening to your great podcasts each time they are issued and remembering back to my days as an energetic Scottish (yes, not Irish) Country Dancer and Highland dancer (not so good at the Highland stuff…LOL). I still have a kilt in my closet (a bit moth eaten now) which I ceased fitting into about 30 years ago. Keep up your great sessions, and I look forward to (I hope) a bonus session. Slainte!"

Check out this episode!

[her-koss-portapros]

09 - 24 - 2023

Today’s been an okay day. It’s been peaceful in my quiet mind. I woke up late and talked to Spencer for a moment. He was telling me about the bus schedule from El Ejido to Almeria Beach, and I was listening as I made my coffee in the Mr. Coffee pot, the way that I like it. Five scoops of Veranda roast to five cups of water. Eventually he hung up with the excuse that he needed to eat before catching the bus, but I was wondering if his deeper reasoning was that talking to me made him sad and uncomfortable. I could tell that he was close to crying as we said goodbye without ending on “I love you.” I sat with this in mind as I ate a cinnamon blondie for breakfast alongside my hot coffee.

I decided that I would clean around the apartment and my reward for cleaning would be a trip to Goodwill. Thrifting always seems to prove fruitful. Seeing random, outdated pieces of clothing and objects that I would never purchase. Finding something that isn’t perfect but is good enough. And of course, it’s in my budget. Goodwill has a distinct smell to it, as well. The best one that we have in Atlanta is located in Buckhead - around a 15 minute drive from where I reside on 386 Parkway Dr. It’s in the depressing part of Buckhead, as I see it. Though really, all of Buckhead is quite depressing to me.

I didn’t end up thrifting though. I did clean; I threw in a load of laundry, I unloaded dishes and vacuumed the 550 square feet that I walk on everyday. While doing this I listened to my favorite podcast. Every episode is informative and usually about something happening presently in society, but is explained through a historical lens. The two ladies always start their episodes by chatting about normal things happening, gossip, the rest. And today I really only wanted to listen to the chit-chat and gossip. I didn’t have enough space in my brain for learning.

After cleaning I told myself I’d lay out in Piedmont park for a bit before going thrifting, knowing that I was leaving the house without eating anything except for that blondie at breakfast. I took with me the Goodwill bags that had been sitting in front of my A/C vent for over two months now - filled to their brims with clothes I’ve intended to donate. I drove the long way into Midtown so that I could turn right onto 10th to find a place to park. There was plenty of parking at noon-thirty on a Sunday. I parked and walked to the spot where him and I threw the frisbee a few weeks ago. On the first of September, actually. But there was no disc to throw and there was no Spencer to laugh and lay with. Instead, I laid on my beach towel by myself, and I admired the juxtaposition of the warmth I felt on my skin in direct sunlight against the cool shade under the tree I chose to lay under. These past few days without him have just barely felt real.

I was ravenously hungry by the time I got up to leave, and realized that thrifting was going to have to happen another day. I went home and ate eggs, then a full carton of raspberries, and finally three scoops of coffee-chip ice cream. And then I slept.

The way that light hits certain furniture pieces on a sunny Sunday afternoon in my studio apartment makes me full with gratitude. I slept for two hours - from 4pm to 6 and had bizarre dreams that I can’t recall. I got up and then showered, then threw a frozen pizza in the over. A fourth of the pizza I would eat tonight, the rest for lunch at work tomorrow. And then I watched Netflix’s documentary on Joan Didion; the first Netflix media I’ve seen in a long time that doesn’t make me cringe. I love Joan Didion, and I love her mind, her writings, the way that she studies humans and the world around her. So now I’m writing this. It is 9:51 on the 24th of September. It’s a Sunday. I’m equal parts sad and grateful for what I have right now. I know that nobody will ever read what I write, but what’s important is that I write anyways. For myself, I guess.

[wiwinia]

Tag 9 people you’d like to get to know more

Tagged by @celestialspark - Thank you for tagging me ❤️ This came out a little longer than I expected

Last song: According to my YouTube history (I really don’t understand how to use Spotify and I don’t think I ever will at this point), that would be Stranger by The Mechanisms, from Tales To Be Told, Volume II. Idk why, but this song vibrates my brain in exactly the best way. (I feel like that about a lot of songs in this album, especially Lost In The Cosmos, which is honestly weirdly relaxing for a song describing a slow death in painful details, and Pieces, but like, only the chorus)

Show I'm watching: Well, the last show I’ve seen was the newest episode of Helluva Boss, watched it with both of my partners, one of whom knows nothing about this show. It was fun, though, well, don’t want to spoil anything, but I was hoping for something else. Besides that, I intend to watch Stranger Things soon, cause I have read some great fanfics (I wanted to check if any of the authors are on Tumblr, so I could tag them, but for some reason, I can’t open ao3, which is quite concerning considering what happened this month) and decided I might try, even though I am good 7 years late. However, I am not watching it yet, because from what I know so far it feels like the kind of show that will permanently rewire my brain, so I am waiting til I can watch it with my friends, cause I am not going through that alone. If we consider podcasts shows, then I am an active listener of Dracula Daily, the voice acting is great, and I am already swooning and fanning myself like a victorian lady at Quincey P. Morris, which is to be expected, he’s one of my favourite characters. I can’t wait for this year’s holiest love entry tho, I want to see Tumblr go wild for it again. Also, season 2 of Not Quite Dead is coming out in a little more than two weeks (a fair warning to anyone who follows me, I already know I will be insufferable about it ❤️). I binged season 1 in one sitting, I am so excited (there are precisely 0 fanfics for this show on ao3 so far, I am working on changing that, but I’ve been suffering from a serious case of can’t-finish-wips-disease for quite a while now, so we’ll see how it goes)

Book I'm reading: If we’re talking new books, then right now nothing, but the last two I’ve read were: 1 Noce za nocami by Małgorzata Wilk, I loved it, it was exactly what I wanted, and I was so excited to finally get it, I read it on Wattpad back in the day and I preordered it the moment I was able to. It just feels very cozy to me. If you a) know Polish, and b) like gay vampires, I highly recommend it 2 Vampireology from the Ologies book series, cause I’ve never seen it before, I found it at a convention and I may be an adult, but it had vampires and was full of shiny secrets, you can’t possibly expect me to resist that Besides that, I am currently relistening to an audiobook of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, because the first time I listened to it, I was in a really bad place mentally, and this in tandem with some incorrect beliefs I had about this book caused me to miss some important things the first time, so now I am doing better I plan to listen to the whole series again, and I am really enjoying it! I know this series goes into some very dark places, but at the point at which I am currently, it is just full of pure joy of exploration and awe-inspiring discovery and listening to it makes me really, really happy right now

Currently obsessed with: Fandom-wise, The Magnus Archives, closely followed by The Mechanisms, a lot of things mentioned above are either basically obsessions, or very close to becoming that, because I can’t just be normal about things Also, vampires are my obsession that has been a constant part of my life practically since I remember, and I doubt it will ever change at this point. If for whatever reason you want to see me ramble, ask me about my opinions on any vampire-related trope or theme, and you will probably get a pretty substantial essay

Tagging: @suaveotter @laceandsteelgirl @kind-ghost @doofus-and-dragons @fall-festival @katenotbishop @wet-snail @rhymingteelookatme @graceful-not

[seekers-who-are-lovers]

The power of a true golden raven

Episode 9: Lady Raven

As a true golden raven, Wakamiya/Nazukihiko can 1) open locked doors with just one word and 2) make old, dry cherry tree branches bloom again.

Episode 4: Imperial Council

Things that his brother Lord Natsuka cannot do. It probably explains why Wakamiya can easily blend in as one of the commoners, apart from the fact that he’s not always present at the Imperial Court, avoids crowd bc he can easily be identified, prefers not so many attendants as he only needs people who he can trust. Also, they run away from him as he is purported to be demanding, meticulous and exact. So the feeling is probably mutual.

Now, I am still waiting for the solution of the first-ever scenes where Wakamiya and Yukiya’s first meeting seemed to be inevitable.

Why is their fate intertwined?

It gives me the impression that based on his power of observation and his keen understanding of his surroundings, he can easily map out the events in the future. And that recruiting Yukiya has already been set on the table. Like a bucket list.

I am curious how did he find out where he lives and eventually learn his family background is. How long had he been observing the two children as they got lost in the woods? I wonder if this all happened during his “education abroad,” i.e. when he was absent from the Imperial Court.

[teachingmycattoread]

Things We’ve Yelled About This Episode #3.0

“When shall we three meet again?” Act I Scene 1, Macbeth, William Shakespeare.

Pong (game)

Jane Austen

Garth Nix

Brandon Sanderson

Discworld (Terry Pratchett)

Terry Pratchett

Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Mansfield Park, Jane Austen

Emma, Jane Austen

Sanditon, Jane Austen

Emma (2020)

“How very dare”, The Catherine Tate Show (2004-2007)

The Old Kingdom (Garth Nix)

Terciel and Elinor, Garth Nix

Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case, Garth Nix

The Keys to the Kingdom series, Garth Nix

Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, Garth Nix

Tamora Pierce

Supernatural (2005-2020)

The Empty (fandom wiki)

Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gailman

Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett

Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett

Wyrd Sisters, Terry Pratchett

Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett

A Gothmog:

A Wook:

Tower of Babel (wiki)

Sam Vimes, Lady Sybil; Discworld characters

Benoit Blanc (fictional detective - see Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022))

Dorothy L Sayers

Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Death on the Nile, Agatha Christie

Death on the Nile (2022)

William Shakespeare

Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare

Hamlet, William Shakespeare

The Lion King (1994)

Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

David Tennant (imdb)

The Raven Tower, Ann Leckie

Ancillary series, Ann Leckie

Small Gods, Terry Pratchett

Blorbo from my shows (meme)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984-1985)

Jeremy Brett (imdb)

Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Leverage (2008-2012)

Leverage Season 5 Episode 9:The Run Down Job

Alec Hardison (Leverage character)

Sherlock (2010-2017)

Sherlock Season 2 Episode 2: The Hounds of Baskerville

Elementary (2012-2019)

Elementary, Season 2 Episode 18: The Hound of the Cancer Cells

Alanna the Lioness, Tamora Pierce

Jeeves and Wooster, P. G. Wodehouse

Ask Jeeves

Yahoo

Google

*hacker voice* I’m in (meme)

Press f in the chat (wiki)

Clippy (wiki)

Matt Berry (imdb)

Ben Kearns, voice actor on twitter who does Matt Berry impressions (example)

Map Men on the pronunciation of British placenames (youtube)

Howl’s Moving Castle, Dianna Wynne Jones

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

The Four Branches of the Mabinogi (wiki)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (wiki)

Green Knight (2021)

Dev Patel (imdb)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Merlin (2008-2012)

“Are you aware that your wife is a troll, sire?” Merlin Season 2 Episodes 5 & 6: Beauty and the Beast (youtube)

Charlie Hunnam (imdb)

Jude Law (imdb)

Pacific Rim (2013)

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

Vortigern (wiki)

Eric Bana (imdb)

Guy Ritchie (imdb)

Gildas (wiki)

Ambrosius Aurelianus (wiki)

Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir

Gaslight Gatekeep Girlboss (meme)

The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson

Temeraire series, Naomi Novik

Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer

Uzumaki, Junji Ito

Wheel of Time (2021 - ?)

Stormlight Archive, Brandon Sanderson

Man makes plans and God laughs (Yiddish proverb) 

The Twitter Fiasco (wiki)

King Chaz, aka King Charles III of England, aka. Parasite in Chief in his Idiot Hat

The Crown estate vs. Twitter (BBC article)

Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch

Rivers of London series, Ben Aaronovitch

Next Time on Teaching My Cat To Read

The Inimitable Jeeves, P. G. Wodehouse

[the-king-andthe-lionheart]

There was this line in the book [Fire and Blood] that always fascinated me. Daemon's wife, the Lady Rhea Royce of Runestone fell off her horse and her skull was crushed in the fall. And I read that and was like, "that's such a weird detail to include with no context around it. [...] Obviously Daemon went home and murdered his wife." 

Ryan Condal said this after episode 5, and I want to examine it.  Mostly because I think this is the wrong conclusion to make, and I have wholeheartedly disagreed with the interpretation that Daemon killed his wife even before I really cared about him as a character.  So I want to look at the entirety of this passage:

A year later, in 115 AC, there came a tragic mishap, of the sort that shapes the destiny of kingdoms: the “bronze bitch” of Runestone, Lady Rhea Royce, fell from her horse whilst hawking and cracked her skull upon a stone.  She lingered for nine days before finally feeling well enough to leave her bed…only to collapse and die within an hour of rising.  A raven was duly sent to Storm’s End, and Lord Baratheon dispatched a messenger by ship to Bloodstone, where Prince Daemon was still struggling to defend his meagre kingdom against the men of the Triarchy and their Dornish allies.  Daemon flew at once for the Vale.  “To put my wife to rest,” he said, though more like it was in the hopes of laying claim to her lands, castles, and incomes.  In that he failed; Runestone passed instead to Lady Rhea’s nephew, and when Daemon made appeal to the Eyrie, not only was his claim dismissed, but Lady Jeyne warned him that his presence in the Vale was unwelcome. (Pg. 374, Fire and Blood)

So now I want to argue against the notion that Daemon killed his wife.  

The Source:

Fire and Blood is a biased source of history written by Archmaester Gyldayn during the reign of Robert Baratheon, who uses several historical sources that may or may not be true in his recounting of Targaryen history.  Maester’s learn their craft at the Citadel in Oldtown where the Hightowers are Lords, and it is said that the Citadel was founded by Prince Peremore the Twisted, the second son of King Uthor of the High Tower.  The Citadel has always been incredibly loyal to the Hightowers.  The Starry Sept in Oldtown was also built by Lord Triston Hightower, in honor of his mentor and earlier regent, Septon Robeson.  The Faith of the Seven has always had issues with Targaryen’s.  Oldtown in general just seems to have issues with Targaryen’s.  Once you read Fire and Blood, one thing is for certain, during the Dance of the Dragon’s Daemon is painted in a really bad light, and he’s accused of killing a lot of people even though some of them make no sense.  The telling of Fire and Blood is pro-Green.  And yet….Daemon was not accused in Fire and Blood for killing his wife, Rhea Royce, unlike all of the other accusations of deaths thrown at him, so let’s get into the reason why he couldn’t have done this.

Daemon was nowhere near the Vale when Rhea Royce died.  He was all the way in the Stepstones.  I’ve seen people say that he could have easily flown on Caraxes and immediately disappear after killing Rhea, but why didn’t anyone see his dragon if this is true?  And I’ve seen people say that maybe Daemon hired a Catspaw or an assassin to kill Rhea Royce, and I have to question why they would leave Rhea Royce alive?  Rhea Royce survived for 9 days after cracking her head, and was actually awake.  If someone tried to kill her then why didn’t she say so?  Now let’s argue that she doesn’t remember her attack, like Bran doesn’t remember who pushed him from the tower, but I still have to question why Daemon or an assassin would leave Rhea alive?  Surely Daemon has enough money to employ a good assassin?  Maybe not a Faceless Man, but someone skilled enough and ruthless enough to do the job right.  After all, we aren’t talking about someone who would make the same mistake as the literal 12 year old Joffrey Baratheon in the main series.  However, I have to question why Daemon would do this now?  Why wait so long to kill his wife in the books?  Daemon married Rhea Royce in 97 AC and Rhea dies in 115 AC so why did it take 18-19 years for Daemon to do this?  It’s obvious they never got along, so why not cut his losses a couple of years in, and then marry someone he actually likes/loves or stay a bachelor for a few years?  Like I don’t even think you can argue that he was just waiting around for Rhaenyra, because why?  Rhaenyra was born the same year he got married, 97 AC.  So if he was waiting for Rhaenyra, why not cut his losses earlier in order for him to try to wed Rhaenyra as soon as she flowered?  Instead Rhea Royce’s death comes after the rumors of Daemon and Rhaenyra being sexual together AND Rhaenyra was already wed at this time to Laenor Velaryon as they married in 114 AC.  And let’s not forget that as soon as Daemon left the Stepstones he began courting Laena Velaryon and then wed her.  It really doesn’t sound like he was doing what was depicted in the show - killing Rhea to try to wed Rhaenyra.

I also don’t think it’s an odd detail to say that Rhea Royce fell in a hunting accident and cracked her head without context, after all we get none of the gritty details about Aemma Arryn’s death beyond the fact she died in childbirth.  It’s not like it says one way or another if Aemma died from childbed fever or hemorrhaging or a c-section.  I’m not even sure what Ryan Condal thought was weird about that statement.  My guess is that he doesn’t realize how dangerous horses and horseriding can be.  I grew up around horses and people who ride horses.  It’s typical for people who regularly ride to get injured in some way by horses.  When I was a kid, my mom’s horse reared up and smacked my mom in the face, knocking out a couple of her teeth and she had to have stitches.  I’ve been around people who have broken their ribs, hurt their backs, broken their collarbones, etc. all from riding horses.  Horses are also animals that can spook easily.  And let’s not forget that the Vale is rocky terrain.  It’s more than plausible to get thrown from a 800-1500 pound horse and smack your head on a rock, cracking your skull.  Even the most expert of riders can be thrown from a horse at any time.  HORSERIDING IS DANGEROUS!  Now if you don’t believe me I’ll give you some facts:

Each year, horse riders are injured, hospitalized or killed as a result of horse-related accidents and injuries.  Despite technological advancements in equestrian safety equipment, horse riding continues to be found more dangerous than motorcycling, skiing, football, and rugby.   Whilst injury can occur simply from handling horses, falling from a horse constitutes a dangerous fall from height, possibly at speed.  A rider’s head can be elevated up to 3 meters (9.84 feet) from the ground and horses can travel at speeds around 50 kilometers (31 miles) an hour. source

Now let’s look at some motorcycle accident statistics in America:

There were 89,000 motorcycle accident injuries.

45% of motorcycle accidents result in more than a minor injury.  

There were 4,985 motorcycle deaths in 2018.

4.24% of all motorcycle accidents are fatal.

80% of all motorcycle crashes result in injury or death. 

Now let’s look at how common head (and other) injuries are from horse related accidents:

Head injuries are associated with approximately 60% of all equestrian deaths and 18% of equestrian injuries.  

Aside from death, brain injury survivors may suffer personality changes, intellectual and memory impairment, or epilepsy.

Head injuries are associated with approximately 60% of all equestrian deaths and 18% of equestrian injuries.  

Aside from death, brain injury survivors may suffer personality changes, intellectual and memory impairment, or epilepsy.  

Falling or being thrown from a horse accounts for the majority of mounted injuries, while being kicked or trodden on, accounts for most dismounted injuries.

Dismounted injuries require hospitalization approximately 42% of the time, while mounted injuries require hospitalization in only 30% of incidents.

Fractures, soft tissue damage, and head injuries are the most common types of injuries inflicted by horses.

The arm, leg and head/face are the most common body parts to be injured. source

It is not outside the realm of possibility that Rhea Royce did die from being thrown from a horse, thus smacking her head on a rock and dying 9 days later.  It is more than likely, because like I said even the most expert of horse riders can be thrown from a spooked horse and die.  I also want to mention how incredibly unlikely Rhea Royce was hawking alone.  Lord’s and especially Lady’s in her position would not go off alone, and usually hunting/hawking is a social sport for both men in women in our real medieval world.  Rhea should have had other ladies and attendants with her.  It would be incredibly weird, and awfully plot convenient for a noble woman to be off hawking alone in a territory surrounded by dangerous mountain clans.  The fact that Daemon isn’t outright accused by the source, tells me that there were witnesses to this event.

I completely disagree with Ryan’s interpretation of this part of the text.  It seems to me this is a man who didn’t check his facts on how dangerous horses can be or look at the context in which this could have happened.  It’s obvious, he pretty much considers Daemon more of a villain than a truly gray character at this point in the show, which is incredibly unfortunate considering this quote:

Over the centuries, House Targaryen has produced both great men and monsters.  Prince Daemon was both.  In his day there was not a man so admired, so beloved, and so reviled in all of Westeros.  He was made of light and darkness in equal parts.  To some he was a hero, to others the blackest of villains. (Fire and Blood)

So far we haven’t seen much of Daemon’s light in the show, and there are certain photos from trailers that suggest Daemon is going to go around killing more people that are “in his way”.  I can only hope that we will see more nuance for his character in the writing of the show going forward, that doesn’t entirely depend on Matt Smith’s acting to make him seem more complex.  Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the show, so far I am loving it overall, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have criticisms, and so far my biggest criticism is the whitewashing of Alicent and Otto in the first 5 episodes to make them “more sympathetic and complex” while not even bothering to do the same for the characters that make up Team Black, yet more of them are surprisingly still complex and sympathetic even with flaws!  Shock.  Gasp.  And I’m not saying I expected Daemon to be whitewashed, I didn’t.  Daemon isn’t some poor little meow meow.  However, I expected him to be more of a middling gray character, rather than utterly chaotic and murderous, character with invented impotency problems.  I love me my gray characters, so I wouldn’t EVER want Daemon to be whitewashed by the narrative.  However, showing Daemon killing a bunch of people now in the story, I fear, is only going to cheapen a hugely significant event he orchestrates out of obvious grief and anger most likely in the beginning of S2.  But not only that, in my opinion the whole opening scene of episode 5 was not only poorly written but poorly edited and directed.  It was confusing.  At most they should have left Rhea Royce’s death open to interpretation like Daemon’s supposed “heir for a day” comment about whether he actually said it or not and in what tone and context.  I mean we already knew that Viserys exiled him back to the Vale, so in my opinion I think at the very least it should have been left off screen with the next time we see Daemon sauntering into Rhaenyra’s wedding.  And frankly, they could have used that five minutes to further establish the future relationships we’ll be seeing in the 10 year time jump.  And while I’m not a book purist, I just don’t see the point in re-interpreting and actively creating a different scene when you honestly can’t argue about the way Rhea Royce died.  In the show Rhea Royce was paralyzed, and Daemon obviously killed her immediately with a rock, but in the books Rhea Royce lingered for 9 days before dying, and she wasn’t paralyzed, as she was walking around the hour before she died.  So why completely reinvent this part of the story?  I’m sure you all will counter that they changed Aemma Arryn’s death, by her having a c-section, but that’s not the same.  We didn’t get any details beyond “when Queen Aemma was brought to bed in Maegor’s Holdfast and died whilst giving birth to the son [...]”  There are no details here saying one way or another how Aemma died in childbirth.  It could be easily said she did have a c-section, so it’s not an entirely new thing they created.  Aemma still died in childbirth, when Rhea Royce obviously instead died the day she encountered Daemon, despite lingering for 9 days in the books.  Maybe if the interpretation and the scene had been written and filmed better, I’d be more forgiving, as I’m fairly forgiving of most of their decisions, but I just think re-imaging this scene to be something so different than what was depicted in the books, regardless of unreliable narrators (which honestly doesn’t count when it comes to straightforward causes of death, because why lie about things like this, when it’s obvious they aren’t trying to blame someone for the fall?).

So regardless of my own opinions about how the scene was written, directed, and edited, and how Daemon has been being portrayed so far, I really hope I’ve convinced you all, or at least gave you food for thought, that it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Rhea Royce in fact did get thrown from her horse, and sustained a serious head injury from the fall.  As it’s definitely more common than I think Ryan Condal knows.

[buckleydiaz]

the sandman for the ask game!!

yessss please i’m so obsessed with this show it’s not funny thank you for sending this hdhdjdjd

favorite male character: the corinthian is my babygirl fr i need therapy. also i need a million playlists with a ton of lady gaga and marina, badass shades and a knife

favorite female character: rose walker

least favorite character: idk roderick burgess probably

prettiest character: oh god everyone is pretty in that show 😭 i’ll go top 3: death, desire, corinthian

funniest character: my homeboy matthew the raven

favorite season: i feel like s1 is going to be the only season we get but i hope i’m wrong

favorite episode: episode 9 oh my god the cereal convention 💀💀

favorite romantic ship: dream and hob <33

favorite family ship: rose and jed my babies

favorite friend ship: also dream and hob cuz they’re besties but they’re also totally dating

worst ship: dream x glass cage

[vlovann]

Twilight of the Gods: Mythosyns

(Inaccuracy & Stupid Shenanigans Countdown)

Rankings:

S/6 - This is actually in the mythology or accurate to our pagan ideas of the gods

A/5 - Passable; As they should, not going above and beyond; Doesn't break immersion

B/4 - Could've done better or more research; could've asked a pagan; will continue with caution

C/3 - True Neutral

D/2 - Don't like it; okay?; Breaks immersion

F/1 - Absolutely not

Misc: no = automatic 0, comment out of number, silly

goofy, +/ - (.5), E/1.75, etc.

Let's Benean - Episode 3: “You Will Gladden His Ravens”

(I need you readers to know, my girlfriend and I have been wanting to make a Loki story for…A WHILE basically since we’ve started dating a couple years ago…only 2 episodes in and I think we’ve found the push we needed…anyway

Onward, mortals!)

1. Made by a non-pagan, perverted man: Ew/6 (0)

2. Jormungandr is a sexy trans lady: A (for as they should)

3. Ew, Thor. Fuck off: F

4. Loki, the ominous cockblocking dad: S (for papa of slithery lil snek)

5. NO. NO. GOD. PLEASE, NO!!: F (for put that thing back where it came from or so help meeeee! So help me, so HELP ME! That thing as in Thor entirely)

6. Cheating on Sif: Unfortunate S for accuracy :(

7. bAldr? LIKE HE’S YOUR PAL-dr, bAldr????: NO! (0)

8. Kitty scruff Libzarb Loki: S (because he just rolls with it)

9. Accuracy of Freya and Odin’s relationship: S

10. Loki didn’t shapeshift bosoms when talking about bosoms: F

11. Loki drinks Freya’s breast milk: Ew/6 (0 for this isn’t even a chaotic extreme actual Loki would partake and he has been a milkmaid before. This was someone’s fetish, probably Zack Snyder’s, so…fire him)

12. Dwarves turn into stone when they die. This is accurate: S

13. The apples were not taken from the Vanir. They were a wedding gift to Idunn by Ivaldi, her father: F

14. Freya wasn’t the queen of the Vanir. She was traded as a hostage during the war, along with Freyr and Njord (Their father): B (for acceptable confusion, but come on)

15. Egill said the gods spit in a well, but no mention of Kvasir, God and Traveler of knowledge: B (for could’ve added, “[…] and with the birth of Kvasir, the war was over.”)

16. Bindrude on the weapons, but no explanation, so probably not a real or accurate bindrune: C

17. Oh now you say it right, Thor: Inconsistency/6 (0)

18. Roll Credits/6 (0)

19. Kid didn’t deserve that. Fuck you, Odin: L Odin (for 0)

20. Wow, Thor respects Sigird’s title more than Lief. Lief saw it as a sexualizing trait!: I’m not sure what to make of this/6 (D?)

21. Thor sounds (and looks) like a fake hippie guru: F (for he’s trying to sell me CBD oil and will not accept “I’m allergic” as an answer)

Mythosyn count: 53

Out of

6x21= 126

42% despite all the S’s, it has LOST points.

Verdict: