#finale thoughts

[formercarylshipper]

Thoughts on TBOC finale ***SPOILERS AHEAD***

I have to say I was curious when Norman repeatedly claimed that the finale is the best hour of TWD ever. But then watching S2, and the way it was written, the story, etc, i had my doubts. Then I watched the finale. In my opinion, it was not the best hour of TWD television. Not even close. Not even the best TWD finale. BUT, I do have to say that the location and the zombies were definitely unique and not something we've seen before, so kudos for that.

The best part of it was Carol. We already know that Melissa is a tremendous actress and she did not disappoint. I cried. The emotion in that final scene was so beautiful. And it felt like Carol's trauma around Sophia has been resolved in a way and I'm hoping that it allows Carol to finally start healing and move foward.

Can't say the same for Daryl. Maybe it was lost on me, which is completely possible. I saw a man who was ready to give up. Granted, he had just been through quite the beating by not just one, but 3 people. I don't imagine he felt amazing in that moment, so I get it. But also, I do feel like there was a bit of a "what's the point" moment. And then Isabelle shows up. I'm still not sure what she meant to Daryl but there she is stroking his face and telling him not to give up, to believe in hope and then telling him that he's not going to die in France like his grandfather did and leave his family behind. We know Daryl struggled with his grandfather's story in S1. In a way, it was very beautiful, her giving him hope since that what she represented. And Daryl is crying while staring softly up at her. Likely a combination of a few feelings I imagine. There was also a script leaked awhile back and A LOT got cut from this scene. It was supposed to show Daryl dealing with feelings of guilt around the deaths of Merle, Glenn and Beth. But we don't see that. Just a sweet moment between Daryl and "the love of his life".

I feel like, aside from Isabelle's apparition, she had a bigger presence in this episode. And that might just be my own interpretation. But the song with Laurent and Daryl i think had to do with Isabelle with the lyrics "you can't always get what you want, but you get what you need" suggesting that Daryl wanted a family with Isabelle and Laurent but that, in fact, Carol was what Daryl needed which lines up with what Norman said about the Carol being the person that he needs. Then Fallou leaving but then deciding to stay with this new woman that he's found romance with, was representative of the choice Daryl's felt with Isabelle and that Fallou got his happy ending, where Daryl didn't. I think that Isabelle showing up isn't necessarily a closure for Daryl and it's not necessarily wrapping up that story and that character. It's already been hinted to us that Daryl is going to continue to deal with his grief in S3. To me, it seems that Isabelle was more than just an acquaintance or "experiment". Was he in love with her? No, I don't think so. But I also don't think Daryl knew exactly what he felt. Since according to Norman, Daryl's never experienced that before. So he's probably trying to figure out how he feels about all of it.

Overall, the season didn't leave me wowed. It's called The Book Of Carol, but it just felt like Carol was a side kick to Daryl's story. And things just felt awkward. There's still so much missing between those two. Norman wants to make us think things are all perfect between them, but it's not coming out on the screen that way. Have Daryl and Carol changed too much to get back to what they were before? They don't feel like the BFF's they were in the flagship show. There's just...something missing.

Tbh, nothing i saw is giving me lots of excitement for S3. Time will tell.

[winchester-reload]

I have a few thoughts about the Winchesters finale, and though I wasn’t gonna weigh in on this, it turns out I needed to write this down to get it out of my head, so here we go.

I understand that Misha was approached to be included on the show and that there was a “scheduling conflict” that included multiple conversations with Jensen. Here’s my interpretation of that: 

I believe Cas was supposed to make a cameo in episode 13 to tee up the confession resolution—this was always the episode where they were going to crack open the “surprise twist” even before learning they would only get 13 episodes total. In the original scenario, episode 13 would have been the hellatus episode rather than a finale, leaving room for everything to come to a head with episode 22 instead. It’s then they would have given us the actual Dean and Cas reunion. This would have wrapped both stories nicely with each group going off into their own respective sunsets—their own happy endings, while still leaving all the room for the new crew to explore more seasons; all along, we see, The Winchesters was about Dean and Cas as much as it was about Mary and John.

When they didn’t get the back half of the season picked up, I assume they feared it would be more dangerous to show a Cas cameo without getting to address the confession, so Misha likely opted to be left out instead. With the only hint to Cas being Dean’s line that he was looking for his family when he found the Akrida, then directly drawing the parallel that Jack and Bobby were “family.” The core crew for Dean has always been Bobby, Sam, Jack, AND Cas. And he wasn’t looking for Sam because he was still on earth. So who’s left? You might be compelled to believe he was window shopping AU versions of his parents, but he confirms he ran into the Akrida in this world and then sought to interfere with the order by approaching John in an effort to prevent it from spreading to Sam's world. (Why Cas would be AU hopping, idk. The boy is really afraid of being shot down, I guess.)

It goes far to explain the vast narrative parallels we saw reflected in the Monster Club crew if it was intended as a setup for the confession payoff. It honestly doesn’t make a lot of sense otherwise. There’s no reason these people should be living Dean's experiences and regrets every episode unless the writers wanted the viewer to be thinking about the lessons and resolutions in how they relate to Dean too.

Additionally, as this has been a largely uncontested take, this is Jensen's well-funded fanfic come to life. Complete with the embracing of many of our favorite fanfic tropes and emphasized by Dean’s own words throughout the season. Because this is an obvious embrace of that “write your own story” fan side, I believe the reason Dean couldn’t even say Cas’ name in the episode is because they were going to change the spelling from “Cass” as it was in the show proper to the fan-adopted (and more accurate) spelling of “Cas,” which would have appeared in the subtitles and later the script pages.  And even that little thing right there would have been a huge giveaway to the whole game. And a very dangerous thing to do if there wasn’t going to be enough time for follow-through. 

But the truth is, this isn’t a game for many people, and the harm that can be caused by good intentions is just as real. It also begs the question: why should this be so difficult? The answer is it’s not. Edging forever isn’t fun. It’s torture. I understand there’s an art to storytelling, but your audience is weary, and trust has been violated too many times. Even still, the flip side of that coin is honest to god respect for DeanCas endgame means taking the story and the reveal seriously. It’s a tightrope walk. And one that Robbie somehow managed to keep balanced after the finale, without it falling either way.  Also we also need to consider the possibility that Jensen did pitch a full-on destiel love story spin-off but got shot down, opting to couch it in a more CW-branded world instead. He’s mentioned over half a dozen pitches were rejected. It's up to you whether you want to give him the benefit of the doubt on that.

But, I’m gonna be honest here, I don’t know that we will ever get that resolution we crave. Even Robbie confirmed The Winchesters were always meant to “go it alone” after the first season. It’s hard to imagine Dean popping in there to fuck around again after that handoff. But the dude is clearly a very restless sea-faring*, swoopy-haired mofo right now, so I’ll leave that one up to the SPN multiverse and the new Mr. Superwholock’s magical universe-traveling impala. (This show used to be about what again? *looks at notes*.) And FWIW, if they do get green-lit for a whole second season or are allowed to move networks, I believe a good-faith effort will be made to tie the narrative parallels we saw in season one to some real Dean and Cas resolution. If there gets to be a world where John *might* not turn into an abusive dick, then this possibility has to be true too.

For the record, I enjoyed The Winchesters, all the new characters, and the doors the finale opened for the possibility of more. I would have been fine half-watching it with no promises, empty head no thoughts, but I got my clown** suit on again, and though I mostly kept quiet, unlike last time, I did regrettably manage to drag a few friends down with me yet again.  Though the spec sessions were epic, and we did get some art out of it—it still rocks the boat when the base level expectations were only 1. Dean alive, and 2. seeing Cas again. 

But for anyone, like me, upset by the (likely unintentional) Cas-baiting or anyone still reeling about why this stuff can hit so hard, here’s an interesting article about the way our brains respond to fictional characters. Tl;dr: There’s nothing wrong with you. This is science. And while you’re at it, take a look at this article about the very real power of disenfranchised grief over character loss.

Ramble on, fam. And take care of yourselves.

<3 Jackie

*Um hi he appears as a sailor? Literally, on a show with a story Dean is writing whose audience is looking for a resolution to a conversation between two people who’re famously the “most shipped” characters of all time? That’s not an accident. That’s intentional. And it’s another reason why there might be a bitter taste in your mouth. These nods came without resolution, so it still feels dirty, despite the brilliant Easter egg.

**I hesitate to say “clown” here because the lesson on episode 12 was that the clowns were the ones who chose a self-induced limbo rather than face some personal hard revelations. That sounds more like a certain closeted character than it does the people cheering him on, and that felt like an intentional nod too.

***obviously, this is my own rambling spec as I try to reorder my thoughts in the wake of the finale.

[andrea-lyn]

you know how I know there's more to the daniel turning than spite or rage kill? we watched an episode that spent the first third showing louis' revenge machinations and how he did not let that shit go. yes, disobeying his order isn't as massive of a betrayal as the trial, but you really think louis would let a violation of his order go like that without 'time healing'? 'harm him and you're dead' 'touch him and I kill you' and he's already pissed at armand for the rest of the story? the fact that armand's still walking means there's more to it. maybe daniel wanted it, maybe there was a deeper connection, maybe it was a choice between the illness taking him and turning him, maybe something happened in the past to give it all context, but it definitely wasn't immediate (armand would have been slammed so hard into a second wall if louis got a telepathic sliver of the idea of it) and it had to have been something that wasn't necessarily harm, because otherwise rip armand, louis the vampire revenge slayer would've got you

[meenawrites]

So.. I finished Alchemy of Souls

Guys, the amount of tears I just shed in front of my entire family in the last episode of part 2 is crazy.

They were just sitting there like, you good? It's fiction as I'm sobbing my eyes out.

Anyway.

I have many thoughts. So many. And I lowkey want to make a separate post for each of them.

But for now I do want to leave some of my impressions about the finale: (spoilers ahead obviously)

I thought it was pretty well done. I expected to be a bit more shocked about the whole Jin Buyeon is Jin Seol-ran plotline but it honestly made sense to me and I feel like it was actually foreshadowed pretty well for the most part, even in season 1.

Also they definitely got me good with the deaths of Park Jin, Maidservant Kim, and Jin Hogyeong (if that's how you spell her name). Like that's when I started crying tbh. (I could care less about Mama Jin tbh, she sucks, but that deserves its own post). And I'm glad that them actually being alive didn't feel like a cop out to me. They established early on that Jin Seol-ran knew what would happen and used that to their advantage so it was believable and didn't feel like a Deus Ex Machina move for them to be saved. Well, maybe one of them should have died (cough–Mama Jin–cough). But it's fine.

I do feel like the last two episodes were kind of rushed though. I don't know if they had budgeting constraints or if Netflix didn't give them more than ten episodes, but I think that they should have had at least 12. Two more episodes would have allowed for more expansion on the climax and allowed them to up the drama more, which I think would have done well for the series over all, and would have been a better payoff.

I think the time could have been used well to flesh out some of the side characters arcs more. I feel like Danggu and Jin Choyeon were kind of pushed off to the side this season, and especially in the latter half, but I would have liked to see more of them and their relationships not only with each other but with Jang Uk and Naksu/Jin Buyeon.

For all intents and purposes, Naksu/Jin Buyeon lived as Jin Choyeon's sister for three years, and we can see that despite everything that happened three years prior, Choyeon did treat her as her sister even knowing the soul was Naksu's and cared about her. I think that could've and should've been expanded upon, her choosing to care about Naksu/Jin Buyeon or how that came to be. Also, after Naksu regained her memory AND found out Jin Mu had been for sure controlling her at the end of Part 1, I would have loved to see the conversation between her and Choyeon about what she did, an apology and an explanation that she would never have done that if she were sane of mind. What I said about Choyeon applies to Naksu as well because she lived three years as Choyeon's sister, and we can tell she cares about her, so I would have loved to see more of her feelings towards her, especially upon remembering all that had transpired in part 1.

When it comes to Danggu, I mean, he's one of Uk's best friends, and he was left out of the loop a lot when it came to anything Naksu-related. I would have liked him to find out or for Uk to tell him at some point and see how he makes peace with that. Because Danggu and Mudeok were friends in part 1 and he supported her (erroneously) in her supposed romance with Seo Yul. But then she killed his fiance's father and tried to attack him. I can't imagine the sense of betrayal he felt, but also finding out that it wasn't her fault and how he could come to terms with that would have been great to see. I also think his whole experience/trauma from part 1 was kind of glossed over. Like his main thing this season was his broken heart after Choyeon didn't end up marrying him, and I think that was making his feelings a bit too one-dimensional there. They do talk about how he feels slightly uncomfortable/doesn't know what to do with Jang Uk at the beginning of the show, but once Seo Yul comes back, that's kind of forgotten about and the three of them just start hanging out again no problem. I would've like to see a bit more about him struggling with becoming Leader of Songrim as well and how he adapted to that amidst his heartbreak for both his love and his friend who he doesn't even know how to act around anymore, and even towards Naksu/Mudeok who kind of ruined his future and that of his best friend but also being intuitive enough (because he is and he has one of the best hearts we've seen in the show) to realize that there's more to the story than her just going on a murder spree.

I've seen some talk about people saying they didn't like the actress for season 2 as much as season 1 (forgive me, I forgot their names), but I think both brought something good to the table.

Season 1 actress for Mudeok was really good. Her facial expressions were spot on and her chemistry with Lee Jaewook and the other cast members was really good. I think she definitely had great stage presence and made the show popular in the first place. I just don't agree that season 2 actress was worse.

I think season 2 actress definitely put in the work and embodied who Naksu/Jin Buyeon was for the majority of the series. There were times where she made expressions that perfectly resembled/echoed Naksu/Mudeok's that really got me like yes they are the same person even if she doesn't remember. She may have been cuter than we were used to with out sharp-tongued and emotion-resistant Mudeok, but I think Naksu needed that. As Mudeok and before then she didn't have the luxury to be more emotional and girly, it's only now in this body that she does, and I'm glad she had the opportunity to express that side of herself that had never seen the light of day.

We did get a glimpse of that side of her at the end of part 1 where she's playing around with makeup and what might make her look pretty, and it really spoke to all that she had missed out on and had to give up in order to survive. So yeah despite all the angst, I'm glad Naksu/Jin Buyeon had that opportunity through season 2 actress who played it really well while keeping in line with the essence of Naksu/Mudeok.

This whole thing about Naksu being the shadow to Jang Uk's light and if light exists then it needs a shadow broke my heart you guys, it was so perfect. And the fact that they were each other's light and shadow at different points but were also wholly necessary to each other in that was beautiful. I want to talk more about this in a separate post, so I'll table this metaphor for now.

Shout out to Crown Prince Go Won, a great character this whole season in terms of both comedic relief and massive character growth. So good.

Uk's arc was fantastic too but again want to save that for a full post.

Those are my out of order first thoughts about part 2, but I have SO MUCH MORE to discuss, so I will come back for sure. I just needed to scream to the world for a bit (virtually of course).

Question though for all of you more knowledgeable in the k-drama world: is there going to be a season 3?

[alfhildr-the-word-weaver]

It's wild because I have exactly one episode of Vampire Diaries left and I've been saving it since *checks blog* a little over a week ago (versus the six episodes a night I was watching back in season 1) and I keep telling myself I have to watch the ending if only so I know what I'm working with in fic but also I do want to see the return of Elena (and Katherine) but also I don't want to see Stefan die (or Damon and Elena in a flashforward apparently? How will they have time for all this, honestly?) but I do want to see how they manage to break the curse with Bonnie still alive (but maybe it wouldn't be so bad to write my fic without knowing) but I don't know. I'm notorious for not watching the last few episodes of shows I love (White Collar, Psych, Once Upon a Time, although that last I ragequit over many minor grievances with multiple seasons left so it's not really the same thing) but I keep telling myself that if you don't watch the end of a thing then you just have less of the thing that you love but like I turned the TV on to watch it just now and I'm actually so nervous? I both do and don't want to watch it so intensely, so I had to open up tumblr and blog about it. I could save it another week but I want to watch it before the intensity of my obsession starts to fade but I know this is going to hurt me, emotionally and profoundly. Maybe I can stretch it out to two episodes by stopping in the middle or something idk. But aaaaaaaaa I don't know I'm not ready but I feel like I have to watch it. Help me I don't know. I need some of you internet people to come over and watch this with me or something lol I don't know. I'm so nervous I'm not prepared but I don't want to put this off forever either. And once it's done I could start rewatching. But like, aaaaaaaaa!!

[mirmirma]

The Titan was watching the whole time, which means he definitely saw King discovering he was a titan, waving shyly, and trying to talk to the Isles.

Ow, my heart ❤️ 🥹

[somedayillbepeterpan]

Indulge me if you will, but here are the things I'm thankful for about Crash Course in Romance/Ilta Scandal.

There are a lot reviews for this show about what could have worked and what they didn't get right. I will get to that since I'm only human but before all that, CCIR/Ilta Scandal team, thank you so much.

-Thank you for giving Jung Kyungho the lead that he has said is the closest to his heart which even his gf, Choi Sooyoung, have said. For giving him a character that showcased his range and his undeniable charm. He's been under the radar for far too long. Which I actually didn't realise because he steals the scene for whenever he is on in all the shows I've seen of him so far. He actually first caught my eye from that random cameo he has from the 1st episode of Crash Landing on You (is the title fate or just a Netflix marketing ploy?)

-Thank you for introducing me to Jeon Do Yeon. I'm not korean but I read that a lot of the actors/actresses in SoKor chose Jeon Do Yeon as their acting influence. She is a fire that won't be extinguished. She put a credibility and strength in Nam Haengseon's character that I cannot imagine anyone else playing her. But, she was also so good in her art that I could clearly see Nam Haengseon brought to life by how the writer/director intended it. I am definitely going to watch anything that she's on right now.

-Thank you for showcasing a love story between people who were middle-aged and are in a moment in their lives where they didn't think that they deserved any change. Who were used to how equally mundane and chaotic their lives were. I loved that while the title cards represented the whole theme of the episode, it was pretty much focused on the development of Chiyeol and Haengseon's relationship. It was playful and thematic but also had actually really good meanings behind them. Someday, I'll get to writing an analysis on the title cards.

-Thank you for also not highlighting Chiyeol's wealth as something to save Haengseon. Too many kdramas give this "hero" status to the wealthy characters. I love that Haengseon was who she was from beginning to the end. Fiercely simply beautiful. She didn't need saving but there were moments that she was stopped at sacrificing too much. She was the "hero" in the story. A three dimensional hero.

CCIR/Ilta Scandal has many flaws and I will get to it too but I love it so much that I know that even though I'm frustrated, I'm willing to overlook them (I can't get over my frustration over the no-mention of the dream kiss).

[taruolentoorsomething]

I have hope that they decided to change the ending from buddie getting together to... this, because ABC probably wants to have the moment of uniting buddie to themselves, and fox then decided to fuck with us. The problem is, that they fucked with us too much. If they had given us even a small hint of buddie; the couch, shared looks or even one conversation (!), that would've been fine with me. But this way they turned most of this part of fandom away from the show, and almost even me (for a whole two days... I might be too optimistic), even though I adore all the characters and have been rooting for buddie for years now. But I can only hope my thoughts are right. I do know it's going to be an agony to wait until next year to see where this is going.

Lots of hugs and energy to you all!

[b99andsoc]

Ok now that I’ve slept on it: my thoughts on the Castle series finale.

I thought it was a pretty decent ending character wise. Plot wise with LokSat? Eh. Like it being a character we only just met coming out of left field was a bit anticlimactic but I think it still got wrapped up decently well.

That ending scene when they get shot and are dying on the kitchen floor??? Fully thought they were going to kill them both and end the show. I might be a bit masochistic because I was like…”That’s bold, I kinda like it.”

But the 7 years later was also good, I thought it was sweet and overall I liked the ending.

[calzone-d]

saw what you said about the finale (lol same) what are your thoughts on ted going back to kansas???? i knew he would at the end but i hated it??? that man wasn't happy

honestly i felt like it was kinda hypocritical? the entire season was this whole “good job ted you’re getting better”, and then he goes right back to the environment that kind of put him the shitty mindset to begin with?

i totally get wanting to be with henry, and i am 100% a believer that they should have been reunited, but i also believe there were plenty of other ways they could’ve done that.

it felt like an easy out, and it hurtsssss my heart. that being said, i still love the rest of the show more than i can describe and will happily continue writing and running this blog. but in my mind ted stays in richmond 😭

[noodles-and-tea]

Our hextech dream….

[reallybadblackoutpoems]

the picture of dorian gray (1890) - oscar wilde

"fuck my yaoi life"

[onefey]

you're going about your normal day when, suddenly, surprise! you've been pokémon mystery dungeon'd!

unfortunately, due to budget cuts, the pokémon assigning quiz has been canceled. instead, you must spin THE WHEEL, assigning you a random, unevolved, non-legendary and non-mythical pokémon. you must now go on some sort of world-saving adventure as this pokémon. good luck!

tell me in the tags what you rolled, and how you feel about it - for bonus points, you can spin the wheel again for (or just take your pick of) a pokémon to be your partner.

bonus rules:

you're not shiny unless the wheel tells you you're shiny

take your pick of regional forms and evolutions (for example, if you roll vulpix, it's up to you whether that means normal or alolan vulpix)

apply whatever logic you like with regards to gender

have fun and be yourself!

[druid-for-hire]

[image id: a four-page comic. it is titled "immortality” after the poem by clare harner (more popularly known as “do not stand at my grave and weep”). the first page shows paleontologists digging up fossils at a dig. it reads, “do not stand at my grave and weep. i am not there. i do not sleep.” page two features several prehistoric creatures living in the wild. not featured but notable, each have modern descendants: horses, cetaceans, horsetail plants, and crocodilians. it reads, “i am a thousand winds that blow. i am the diamond glints on snow. i am the sunlight on ripened grain. i am the gentle autumn rain.” the third page shows archaeopteryx in the treetops and the skies, then a modern museum-goer reading the placard on a fossil display. it reads, “when you awaken in the morning’s hush, i am the swift uplifting rush, of quiet birds in circled flight. i am the soft stars that shine at night. do not stand at my grave and cry.” the fourth page shows a chicken in a field. it reads, “i am not there. i did not die” / end id]

a comic i made in about 15 hours for my school’s comic anthology. the theme was “evolution”

[camilleflyingrotten]

ABANDONED CREATURE(s)

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TODAY

[squidflavoredsoup]

stupid thing i did