#gonna see if i can stream rwrb this afternoon at work to take my mind off of everything

[lovecolibri]

SaL anon here friend and it looks like its going to be another one of Those Weeks until the episode airs (with the fun addition of that pesky election thingy which, much like BT, I still legitimately can't believe the racist, misogynistic white guy is considered by some a legitimate choice). I don't mind telling you too I am so, so tired and desperately need for BT 2.0 to die next episode. I know its by no means a certainty but here's my argument for why Now is the time.

So on the minor side of things I'm still rolling my eyes over the "hurdle" being about Tommy's past and I really need for just once 911 to say no, people with a shitty past don't have to be forgiven or understood if they've never tried to be better. They're not going to bring up his treatment of Chim and Hen?? Fine, nonsensical but fine. Don't make "working thorough" it be Buck choosing to ignore, or worse legitimize, whatever red flag is there and accepting Tommy's dickish, condescending treatment of him (which frankly is enough of a hurdle in and of itself, no further information needed). On minor note number 2, I don't see the point of dragging this relationship out longer, or for them to resolve whatever differences come up only to break up a few episodes later for some other manufactured reason, it feels so pointless. Let's bury it and be done.

But on a more major note I need the show to refocus the narrative that has depressingly gotten lost in this nonsense, namely Buck's journey. One of the reasons I have no trouble believing the rumor that Oliver hates Lou is because frankly, he should. Oliver had literally been looking forward to this arc for Buck for years, this was supposed to be his chance to deliver a compelling performance about discovering one's sexuality as an adult. And within a few episodes and several cameo's by Lou later a chunk of rather loud fans decided the narrative was no longer about that. Suddenly the narrative was about Buck and Tommy (and in some cases not even Buck really), like Buck's sexuality didn't exist outside that relationship. And instead of people wanting to see Buck's journey, suddenly there were demands that Tommy be a regular. Can you imagine how insanely disappointing that would be, to have the careful narrative of the character you'd crafted for years be snowballed over by calls to know more about a cardboard cutout of a character?? All that on top of Lou saying it was supposed to be Eddie's storyline, like Buck being the one to come out was an afterthought not something Oliver had been thinking about for years. So yeah, that story has gotten lost in the middle of all this, which is why I really hope BT ends early next episode and Buck's spiraling isn't about a side character's past that no one cars about but his realization that his relationship with Tommy isn't necessary for him to define who he is. Bring the story back tio where it should always have been, Buck being bisexual.

And as for the Eddie of it all, as mentioned by many others this has dragged on long enough. One can only hope we'll get some movement next episode, not just on Chris but on Eddie supposedly "discovering himself" without Chris. At this point dropping the Shannon of it all is the minimum that needs to be done. Eddie needs to be free of the expectations placed on him by his family and his upbringing. If Chris is going to be gone this whole time can we at least have Eddie realize that building a picture of himself outside of those expectations, one that includes his wants and needs, is NOT a crime and actually something he has the right to do?? And look, I'm no writer, but if, at the end of next episode we get Buck and Eddie having a moment together, where they both have this profound realization that they are entitled to define themselves however they choose without any other reference point, wouldn't that be lovely?? Wouldn't it also be lovely if they both, in their own way, maybe consider that the person who always allowed that to be true, the person who always brought out and encouraged the truest versions of themselves, is sitting right beside them?? Anyway sorry this got long, and by no means am I implying I'm quitting Buddie if BT are still together after next episode ends, just that the nonsense for both stories has gone on long enough, can we please just call it and move on??

Hello, hello my friend! It is certainly shaping up to be A Week, though hopefully tonight we can celebrate one thing (GO VOTE!!).

I am certainly with you on the "BT needs to end right now for my sanity, as well as fandom's and Oliver's" train! I'm also with you in that we have already seen enough times of Buck (and Eddie!!) "moving past" the red flags only to break up later anyways and I am SO tired of see that play out over and over and over again! The show NEEDS to do something new, and it's a shame that instead of exploring what the audience already knows about T and actually DOING something with it, they're just not addressing it. Why waste everyone's time inventing a backstory for Buck to struggle with? It's the nun-isol thing all over again! Something completely random that makes a "hurdle" that they "get over" that doesn't actually do anything productive for the relationship, the character disappears into the background, and then they break up. What a waste of time all that was when the story changes not one single bit if they had broken up in 7x05. It feels like we're headed for the same thing again and it's just BORING at this point.

As for centering the focus back on BUCK, everything you said is SO spot on, and for Oliver's sake I hope things circle around to Buck's journey again, entirely outside of T. I HATE that he will always be the first for Buck and that it was allowed to drag on this long instead of ending in s7 when it was supposed to. I wouldn't rule out network interference again, but honestly throwing a planned story and fan favorite main characters under the bus (including the firefam/maddie not being allowed to say anything negative about Buck's partners, only about HIM and how he's not doing good enough) just to fan ship war flames and perpetuate engagement? And over a racist misogynistic character and actor? It's gross. There is no need to devote any more time to this character, and continuing to do so only ends up reflecting badly on the main characters. What show in their right minds protects the reputations of random side characters over their mains?? It's especially frustrating because this isn't even the first time it's happened!! It's time to make it stop!

ANYWAY

I'm baffled that since s7 ended we have been told over and over that we are going to see Eddie figuring out who he is outside of being a father, and 5 episodes in its like, girl WHERE??? WHEN??? 98% of Eddie’s screentime has simply ENFORCED things about Eddie-as-a-father. I am hoping 8x06 gives us something different. And as much as I never want to hear about Shannon ever again, the doppelganger thing was ultimately SO unsatisfying and stupid that I am willing to put up with it ONE (1) more time if it means Eddie taking off the rose colored glasses about that relationship. But good god it needs to be done. And we need to see some movement on the Chris front. Ideally, it would be Eddie letting go of some of the shame and guilt that was never his to carry, letting the burdens that were Shannon's rest with her, and making the choice to go get his son back. I will also accept him just accepting and feeling some grief in silence with Buck this week, and hitting mid-season with him going to get Chris. I would also like to see some not-up-for-interpretation Gay Eddie but I'm trying to keep expectations low.

For having such a strong start, the show is starting to flounder a little bit and they really need to get back on track. With only 3 episodes until mid-season and a lot of fans stating that is the point of determination for them if they will continue watching, the show doesn't have a lot of time to get things together. Fingers crossed my friend that they can pull these last few episodes off! Especially because they aren't giving us a happy Christmas episode. It's been 84 years!

I also will not be jumping ship, but good god, it would make thing a lot less fucking annoying if we could get to the longing and pining and delicious slow burn stuff. Which only works if the audience is explicitly told in no uncertain tearms that someone has romantic feelings. That is the part we are all looking forward to, but the show doesn't have a lot of time to waste getting to that point. Get it the fuck together, Tim!