#great acting from craig this series too

[zirafail]

he looked GREAT in bte/s9 and NOBODY talks about it. let’s change that!!!!!!

(also the fps is terrible because pirate websites hate me!!! will be fixed for the next edits :P)

[goldsainz]

# DREW STARKEY — ACTORS ON ACTORS !

MASTERLIST !

001. SUMMARY !

✯ drew and you participate in variety’s “actors on actors” series.

002. WARNINGS !

✯ cursing, talking about nude scenes, probably inaccurate acting experiences.

003. NOTE !

✯ sorry to all the actors i stole roles from😭 also zendaya is used as a face claim for the social media but the writing is inclusive and has no descriptors of physical appearance… or at least i hope so.

word count : 5,4k (chat i got carried away)

The cozy studio was bathed in warm light, designed almost as if to feel like a welcoming living room. Two plush chairs faced each other, separated by a low coffee table adorned with a few carefully placed books and a small vase of fresh flowers. Everything about the space was crafted to exude intimacy and warmth, inviting open conversation.

Drew Starkey entered the room first, his usual calm confidence mingled with a tinge of nervous energy. He smoothed his shirt absentmindedly and scanned the setup, trying to ground himself in the moment. He was used to being in front of cameras, but this felt different. This wasn’t just about promoting a project or answering rapid-fire questions on a press junket. This was you.

“Hello,” Drew started, a smile gracing his features as he took in the fact that he was sitting right in front of his number one celebrity crush. His hand hovered awkwardly in a small wave, as if he couldn’t believe this was real.

“Hi,” you said back, a giggle falling past your lips when you noticed his sheepish look. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too,” he said, his voice just a little higher than usual. Drew cleared his throat, laughing at himself, which made you laugh too. “Sorry, I’m… a little nervous.”

“Oh, don’t be,” you reassured him with a warm smile. “I promise, I don’t bite.”

“Good to know.” He chuckled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “How are you doing?”

“I’m great, thank you. What about you?”

“Pretty good, can’t complain.” A laugh bubbled out of him, and subsequently, you. The way he rubbed the back of his neck made you think he was still pinching himself that this was happening.

The cameras rolled, capturing the easy charm and immediate chemistry between the two of you. 

Drew’s grin widened as he began. “First of all, let me just say—I’m completely starstruck right now. I mean, the way you completely own every role you take on... it’s incredible.”

Your eyes widened in surprise, a bashful laugh escaping as you waved off the compliment. “Oh, stop it. You’re making me blush!”

“I’m serious,” he pressed, leaning forward slightly. “You’re like… the blueprint. If I ever get even halfway to where you are, I’ll consider myself lucky.”

“Well, now you’re just flattering me,” you said, your voice teasing but your cheeks undeniably warm. “But thank you, that’s so sweet. And honestly, you’re being way too hard on yourself. You’re incredible in Queer. You’ve got this natural charm that just lights up the screen.”

“Natural charm, huh?” He smirked, pretending to preen, which made you laugh again. “I’ll take that.”

“Good,” you replied, smiling. “You should, because it’s true.”

Drew’s gaze softened, the teasing giving way to something more earnest. “That means a lot, really. Especially coming from you. You’re like… Hollywood royalty to many.”

You tilted your head, a playful smirk tugging at your lips. “To many, huh? And are you part of this many?”

Drew’s eyes widened, and he laughed, a little caught off guard. “Oh, absolutely. I’ve got a lifetime membership to the fan club.”

“Good to know,” you teased, crossing your legs and leaning back in your chair with an air of mock superiority. “I’ll have to start charging you membership fees.”

“Totally worth it,” he shot back, his grin widening.

“Well, thank you,” you said with a soft laugh, “So, we’ve both got some things in common, which I think is pretty cool.”

“Like working with Daniel Craig?” he asked.

“Yes! Honestly, I still reminisce about our time on set… he’s genuinely incredible, isn’t he?”

“He is, yeah. I found myself just admiring him and sort of forgetting I had to act too. He’s just… he’s on another level, for sure.”

“Daniel’s a master of his craft… Most of my scenes as Paloma in No Time To Die were with him, and at first I was so nervous because, like, what if I messed up in front of the Daniel Craig?” Drew let out a laugh at your words, and you couldn’t help but laugh too. “But when he noticed I was nervous he reassured me that it was all good. He’s just the best.”

“You’ve worked with so many high-profile actors.” You nod slightly at his words, as if it were the most common thing in the world. “Are you always nervous when meeting them, or was it just a Daniel thing?”

“It wasn’t just Daniel, no, but I think it depends. For example, when I did Oppenheimer with Cillian Murphy, for some reason I felt more relaxed… even though I had some nude scenes with him.”

“Nude scenes just make you connect, don’t they?” he joked, leaning back with a sly grin.

“They do, actually,” you replied, leaning into the banter. “You’d think they’d be worse, but honestly, with the amount of seriousness and concentration they take, it’s like you don’t have time to be nervous.”

“You clearly pulled it off flawlessly,” Drew said with mock solemnity. 

“You did too in Queer.” You compliment him, “I watched it a few days ago, and the chemistry you had with Daniel was just off the charts.”

Drew’s face lit up, a mix of pride and bashfulness crossing his features. “Daniel’s an amazing scene partner. He really made it easy for me to tap into everything.”

“Well, it shows,” you said. “It was such a raw and beautiful performance. I might’ve shed a tear or two.”

“Okay, now you’re just trying to make me blush,” Drew teased, pointing at you with a playful squint. “But seriously, that means a lot coming from you.”

“Hey, give credit where it’s due,” you shot back with a grin. “You’ve got this way of making everything feel so real. Like when you’re in pain, we’re in pain. When you’re in love, we’re falling right alongside you.”

“Wow,” he said, shaking his head as if to clear it. “I don’t know what to do with all these compliments. This is the best therapy session I’ve ever had.”

You laughed, crossing your legs and leaning forward slightly. “Well, I’m glad I could help. But now I’m curious—how did you prepare for a role like that? I mean, it’s so emotionally intense, no?.”

“It was a lot of journaling, a lot of talking with Luca about backstory and motivations,” Drew explained, his tone more thoughtful. “And honestly, I kind of drew from real-life experiences. Not the exact ones, obviously, but just feelings of vulnerability and… wanting to be understood.”

“That’s beautiful,” you said softly, your smile turning tender. “It’s amazing how much of ourselves we pour into these characters.”

“Exactly,” Drew agreed. “And sometimes it’s terrifying, but when it resonates with people, it feels worth it.”

“It definitely resonated with me,” you assured him. “And I’m sure with countless others too.”

“That’s really nice to hear,” he said with a soft smile.

“How was it for you to work with Luca? Because I remember it being one of the highlights of my career.”

Drew’s eyes lit up at the mention of Luca Guadagnino, and he leaned forward slightly, as if the memory itself was a magnet pulling him closer. “Oh, working with Luca was… incredible,” he said, his voice laced with awe. “He’s got this way of creating such a safe, open space on set. It’s almost like he’s not just directing—he’s inviting you into this world he’s building in his head.”

You nodded eagerly, your own memories of working with Luca bringing a nostalgic smile to your face. “I know exactly what you mean. He makes it feel like you’re collaborating on this deeply personal piece of art, rather than just executing someone else’s vision.”

“Exactly!” Drew said, gesturing animatedly. “And he has this way of pulling things out of you that you didn’t even know you had. Like, he’ll ask you one simple question, and suddenly you’re diving into this emotional rabbit hole.”

You laughed, tilting your head in agreement. “He asked me once, ‘What would this character, Maren in my case, dream about?’ and it completely changed how I approached the next scene.”

Drew’s mouth dropped open in mock surprise. “He asked me the exact same question!”

“No way!” you exclaimed, your laughter spilling out in disbelief. “I love that! It’s honestly such a deceptively simple question, but it opens up so many layers.”

“It really does,” Drew said, chuckling. “And then you’re sitting there like, ‘Okay, now I have to rethink everything I thought I knew about this character.’”

“It’s kind of genius, though,” you added. “He makes you work harder, but not in a way that feels forced. It’s like… he trusts you to figure it out, but he gives you these breadcrumbs to follow.”

“Exactly,” Drew said again, his tone growing softer. “I think that’s why his films feel so intimate, he gets the human part so right.”

You smiled, letting his words settle in the air for a moment. “I think that’s what makes working with him feel like such a privilege. It’s not just about telling a story—it’s about feeling it.”

Drew nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “And those are the moments that stick with you, you know? The ones where you felt something real, even if it was just for a moment.”

“Completely,” you agreed, your voice soft with sincerity. “Those moments are why we do this.”

For a moment, the two of you sat in companionable silence, the weight of the conversation settling in the cozy studio. Then, Drew broke the quiet with a grin. “Okay, but did Luca make you do those impromptu rehearsals at, like, the crack of dawn?”

“Oh my God, yes!” you burst out, your eyes widening. “I’d just roll out of bed with zero coffee and somehow be expected to pour my soul into a scene.”

Drew laughed, his face lighting up. “Right? It’s like, ‘Good morning, here’s your emotional breakdown for the day.’”

You laughed along with him, the shared experience adding another thread to the easy camaraderie forming between you. “But honestly, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

“Same,” Drew said, his expression softening again. “For Luca? Anytime.”

“Absolutely,” you agreed, your eyes locking with his for a moment before the warmth of the studio light reminded you both that the cameras were still rolling.

Drew shifted in his seat slightly, his expression thoughtful. “You know, it’s kind of wild—hearing you talk about all these incredible experiences. You’ve been doing this for so long, and yet it’s like you’re just getting started.”

You tilted your head with a small smile. “That’s sweet of you to say. But yeah, I guess I have been in this industry for most of my life. It’s all I’ve ever really known.”

Drew’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s crazy to think about. I didn’t even consider acting until after college. You must’ve been, what, ten? Eleven?”

“Eight, actually,” you corrected with a chuckle. “My first role was in this little indie film. I was basically just the kid who ran around in the background eating ice cream, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever.”

He laughed, clearly amused. “That’s adorable. And now you’re the Hollywood It Girl. No big deal.”

You rolled your eyes playfully, your laughter light. “Oh, stop it. But yeah, it’s been a journey. Growing up on sets definitely shaped me, for better or worse. Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like to have a more ‘normal’ childhood.”

Drew’s smile softened. “That must’ve been such a whirlwind. I can’t even imagine starting that young. I didn’t even think about acting seriously until high school.”

“Oh, I’ve read about that!” You said, your voice lighting up. “You were all about sports growing up, right?”

“Yeah,” Drew admitted with a chuckle. “I was your typical small-town kid—baseball, basketball, you name it. I was convinced I was going to go pro in something, but clearly, that didn’t pan out.”

“Well, I think acting suits you pretty well.” 

“Thank you,” he says with a soft laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “But yeah, the real shift happened in high school when I joined a drama class. It was all Samuel Beckett and absurdist plays, which at the time I thought was the coolest thing ever.”

You leaned forward, intrigued. “So that’s what pulled you in? Drama class?”

“Pretty much,” he said with a nod. “And then I went to Western Carolina for college. I double-majored in English and theater, thinking, ‘If this acting thing doesn’t work out, I’ll at least have a backup plan.’”

“That’s so realistic of you,” you said with a laugh. “Meanwhile, I was ten, telling anyone who’d listen that I was going to win an Oscar one day.”

“And look at you now,” Drew said, gesturing to you with an almost reverent smile. “You made it happen.”

You chuckled, a bit flustered by his admiration. “Well, not quite, just an Oscar nominee for now. But thank you. You know, I think your journey’s pretty incredible too. A double major? That’s no joke. And starting later in the game like you did… it must have felt like a slow burn, but it’s clearly paid off.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Drew said thoughtfully. “It was definitely a slower burn for me. I didn’t land my first real gig until I’d been auditioning for what felt like forever.”

“I think that makes your journey even more special,” you said, your tone sincere. “You came into it with all this life experience and maturity. It shows in your work, you know? There’s this depth to your performances that’s just… rare.”

Drew’s ears turned a little pink, and he laughed softly, glancing down at his hands. “Wow, you’re gonna make me blush over here.”

“Good,” you said with a teasing smile. “It’s only fair after all the compliments you’ve been throwing my way.”

He looked up, his grin sheepish but warm. “Touché. But seriously, hearing that from someone like you—someone who’s been at this for so long and is so insanely talented—it means a lot.”

“Well,” you replied with a playful tilt of your head, “I think it’s safe to say we’re officially mutual fans.”

Drew laughed at that, the sound easy and genuine. “I can live with that.”

The conversation shifted into more comfortable territory as the two of you shared experiences, trading stories about acting and the film industry. Drew, now feeling at ease, leaned forward with renewed interest.

“You know,” he began, a thoughtful expression crossing his face, “I've been thinking about how different TV shows and movies are, especially when it comes to the pacing and character development. Like, in a show, we have to maintain this ongoing energy for the characters over multiple seasons. But with movies, it’s a totally different vibe, right?”

You nodded, understanding immediately where he was going. “It’s definitely a huge shift. With TV, you’re given time to build on a character slowly. Every episode is another chapter, so you can explore new facets of them and keep the audience hooked for longer periods of time. But movies, they’re this intense sprint. You have to get everything across in just two hours or so, but in a way that feels just as layered and satisfying.”

Drew's eyes lit up with excitement, clearly passionate about the topic. "Exactly! You have to balance the action and suspense while still giving the characters these moments of vulnerability. Over multiple seasons, you can really let them grow and change. It's like a slow burn. But when you're doing a movie, you don’t have the luxury of that buildup. It has to be this concentrated emotional punch right from the start.”

“That’s one of the biggest challenges of film, for sure," you agreed. "In a film, every second counts. You can’t afford to waste a moment. But I think what’s also interesting is how both mediums can explore a character’s journey from different angles. TV shows can dive into their backstory in more detail, but movies... they really need to hit those emotional beats and leave an impact without dragging it out."

Drew smiled, clearly engaged in the discussion. “In TV shows you need that perfect balance of suspense, character development, and personal growth. And then, at the end of the season, you drop a huge bombshell that leaves people wanting more.”

You laughed, raising an eyebrow playfully. “Sounds like you’ve been doing some serious thinking about it. What’s the secret to keeping the audience hooked without losing the depth of your character?”

He leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “Well, I think it’s about letting the characters evolve with the story. You need to make sure the audience sees the human side of your character, even when they're in these crazy situations. It’s what keeps people invested in the long run.”

“You’ve really got the process figured out,” you said with a smile. “But you’re right—it’s a different rhythm for TV. With a movie, you get to go deep quickly, but with a show, you have to keep it dynamic and varied. And let’s not forget, you need that cliffhanger at the end to make people binge-watch the next season.”

Drew’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “You’re giving away all the secrets! Next thing you know, people will be expecting a cliffhanger every time they watch a movie."

“Well, movies and TV are both art, but they demand different approaches,” you said, “and you’re doing an amazing job balancing both. I’m honestly so excited to see where your career goes next. Both worlds are lucky to have you.”

He chuckled softly, clearly humbled. “Thanks. I think I’m just lucky to be a part of both. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be in a show that gets people talking for days?”

“Right? You’ve got Outer Banks, which has such a dedicated fanbase, and then movies like Queer that touch people in such a different way. It’s amazing to watch your versatility.”

He leaned in slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. “I’m just trying to keep up with you. Honestly, your transition from action to more emotional roles is inspiring. I hope I can pull off something even close to what you’ve done with your career.”

Your smile softened, your voice sincere. “Well, you’re already doing it, Drew. You’re already there. It’s not just about the roles—it’s about the heart you put into them. And you’ve definitely got that.”

Drew’s smile faltered for a moment, the weight of your words sinking in. His gaze softened, as if he were truly reflecting on what you’d said. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms but keeping his eyes on you, his expression thoughtful.

“It's crazy, isn't it?” He began, his voice a little quieter now, “The idea of giving so much of yourself to something that feels so... intimate. But when it works, when the audience feels it too, there's nothing like it.”

“Exactly,” you agreed, your voice a little quieter now. “That's the real magic, when the audience feels like they know the characters, like they're right there with them. It’s not about the plot twists or the fancy sets—it’s about the emotions that we build and share with them.”

Drew nodded thoughtfully, his gaze drifting away for a moment before returning to you. “Speaking of emotions, I just saw your new movie, We Live In Time,” he said, his voice taking on a softer tone. “It’s one of those films that stays with you, you know? It’s raw in a way that makes you uncomfortable, but it’s also beautiful. How did you tap into that for Almut?”

Your expression softened as you thought back on the experience. We Live In Time had been a journey—a raw, almost therapeutic one. “It was an emotional rollercoaster, honestly,” you said, leaning back slightly, letting the memory settle in. “I think the hardest part was showing that moment where her whole world shifts. It was such a raw, profound type of emotion I had to channel in order to do justice to the character and her experiences.”

Drew sat back, letting the weight of the conversation settle. “I think that's what makes your career so incredible. You never just play a character. You become them. And you take us with you. Every heartbreak, every triumph, every moment of doubt... we feel it all with you. That's what makes your work so powerful.”

You met his gaze, feeling the depth of the conversation linger between you both. “It’s all about connection, right? Connecting with the character, with the audience, and with the emotions that we all share as humans. Because at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to make sense of time, love, and the moments we get.”

Drew smiled, his expression genuine and soft. “Well, you’ve definitely made sense of it for me. We Live In Time—it’s not just a movie. It’s a reminder to cherish what we have. And that, in itself, is something special.”

You smiled back, your heart full as you let the words sink in. “Thank you, Drew. That’s really sweet of you.”

You both shared a comfortable silence for a moment, before Drew broke it with a playful grin. “You know, it’s clear you’ve mastered the art of vulnerability on screen, but I can’t help but wonder—did you ever have moments on set where it was just... impossible to take things seriously?”

You laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Oh, absolutely. In fact, as a kid, it was all impossible to be serious,” you admitted, shaking your head at the memory. “I remember this one time during a scene on set when I was probably around 9 or 10. We were supposed to be doing this emotional scene, and I had to cry on cue. But instead of crying, I couldn’t stop giggling. It was a dramatic moment, and my co-star was all serious and trying to get through the scene, but I just... lost it.”

Drew raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Giggling during a dramatic scene? What happened?”

“Well, my director, bless her heart, kept trying to give me these 'serious actor' looks. She was this no-nonsense kind of woman, and she had this way of narrowing her eyes when things weren’t going well. I tried my best to hold it together, but then my co-star—who was way too good at being serious—looked at me and just gave this super intense stare, and that was it. I burst out laughing right in the middle of the take.”

Drew chuckled, shaking his head. “I can just picture that. You were probably trying to hold it together, but it must have been so hard with all that tension in the air.”

“I swear, the more I tried not to laugh, the harder it became,” you continued, grinning at the memory. “It was one of those moments where you’re like, 'Why am I even here? I can’t do this.' But somehow, I got through it. The director had to take a deep breath, and we did a few more takes. Eventually, we got it done, but I think we all were on the verge of cracking up the whole time.”

Drew let out a laugh, clearly imagining the scene. “I can’t blame you. I feel like as a kid, you have no filter. Everything feels like a joke, and it’s so hard to be serious when everyone else is trying so hard.”

“You have no idea,” you said, your voice still light. “There were so many times I’d be doing a serious scene, and I’d start thinking about something random, like a certain meme or a funny sound someone made on set—and then, bam, it was game over. I’d be holding in a laugh like my life depended on it.”

Drew smirked, leaning in a little. “I totally feel that. I mean, as an adult, I still have moments where I struggle to keep a straight face. I once had a scene where I was supposed to be super intense, but the prop guy was standing just out of frame, and he made this ridiculous face at me—completely threw me off. I couldn’t stop laughing, and it ended up taking hours to finish the scene because we kept cracking up. Honestly, I think the crew started to get annoyed with us after a while.”

“See?” you said with a grin. “It never really changes. Truthfully, the older you get, the harder it becomes to hold it in. But then you look at the footage and realize how much fun you actually had, and that makes it all worth it.”

Drew nodded thoughtfully, a playful twinkle in his eyes. “Yeah, that’s the thing. Sometimes it’s the moments you didn’t plan for that end up being the most memorable. Like when you have a laugh on set, and suddenly you feel closer to everyone, even though you’re supposed to be in character.”

“Exactly,” you said, your smile widening. “There’s something so beautiful about those unscripted moments. It reminds you that acting is, at its core, about connecting—whether that’s through laughter or the heavy stuff. And even though I had my fair share of giggling fits as a kid, I think those moments taught me just as much as the serious ones. Maybe more.”

Drew leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “It's funny how those little moments—like a laugh in the middle of a serious scene—can end up being the ones you remember the most. I think those are the ones that make the work feel real, you know?”

You smiled, your gaze distant as you reflected on the years of working on sets. “I know exactly what you mean.”

“Yeah, like those unscripted moments,” Drew added, his voice quieter now, as if the weight of the sentiment lingered in the air. “They give the performance an authenticity that you can’t get from just following the script to a tee.”

You nodded, the words hanging between you like a shared understanding. “Exactly. And as a kid, I was so focused on getting it ‘right’—on being perfect—that I missed the beauty of just being in the moment. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how important it is to let go of the idea of perfection. It's in those mistakes, the wrong takes, the bloopers—that's where you find the truth.”

Drew's expression softened, his eyes meeting yours with a sincerity that made your chest tighten. “I think it’s key not to be afraid to show the mess, the imperfect parts of a character, because that’s what makes them human.”

A small chuckle escaped you, the warmth of the moment filling the studio. “Right? We’re all just a little bit of a mess, trying to figure it out, but that’s what makes the journey worth it. We’re constantly learning, constantly evolving, and we bring that to our work. The growth, the mistakes—it all shapes us.”

Drew nodded, his gaze shifting as if reflecting on those same ideas. “Yeah, and the growth never stops, does it? Just when you think you’ve figured it out, something new happens, and it challenges you again.”

“That's the beauty of it,” you said, your voice quieter now, the bond between you both deepening. “The challenge is what keeps it exciting, keeps you moving forward.”

Drew grinned, a playful spark lighting his eyes once more. “Well, I guess we’re both lifelong students of this thing called acting, huh?”

“Absolutely,” you said with a laugh, the lightness returning. “And just like any good student, we’ll always be learning. Who knows, maybe we'll even get better at not laughing in the middle of dramatic scenes.”

Drew let out a hearty laugh, nodding enthusiastically. “I think that’s going to take years of practice, honestly.”

You both shared a moment of genuine laughter, the warmth of your conversation filling the space around you. You leaned back into the chairs, the laughter still lingering in the air, a sense of camaraderie that made the space between you feel comfortable and open. You continued sharing stories, moving seamlessly from one experience to the next.

The conversation began to slow, the easy flow of stories fading into a comfortable silence, as you both shared an unspoken understanding. The light laughter that had filled the room now felt like a warm, lingering hum between you.

Drew shifted slightly in his chair, his gaze turning toward you with a subtle, thoughtful expression. “You know,” he began, his voice softer now, “I really hope we get to work together sometime. I think it’d be incredible. It’s the kind of thing where I can already imagine what it’d be like. Just... easy, real. Like this.”

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, but you kept your composure, offering a smile that spoke volumes. “I’d love that. If you receive a call from your manager these days… maybe I had something to do with it, so be prepared.”

The air between you both was charged, the quiet intensity of the moment not lost on either of you. There was something unspoken, something deeper that neither of you addressed outright but that seemed to hang there all the same. The connection was undeniable, yet it lingered in the silence, unspoken, but clear.

Drew finally broke the spell with a playful grin, his eyes flicking back to yours. “Oh, I’ll be ready. Can’t wait to see what magic we create together.”

You returned his smile, your heart racing ever so slightly, though you kept it hidden behind the ease of your words. “I’m sure it’ll be something incredible.”

As the interview wrapped up, there was a lingering sense of something unspoken between you both, an attraction that neither of you had to mention but was so clearly felt. The kind of connection that could only be hinted at, but would never truly fade. It was the kind of moment that would stay with both of you long after the cameras stopped rolling.

“Thank you,” you said softly as the final moments of the interview started to loom, your voice carrying a depth that reflected everything unsaid between you. “This has been amazing. Honestly, it feels like we’ve been talking for hours, and yet it still doesn’t feel like enough.”

He nodded, his expression soft but genuine. “I feel the same way. This has been one of the most honest and open conversations I’ve had in a long time.”

The crew began to pack up, signaling that the interview was at its end, but neither of you seemed in any hurry to break the moment. The usual chatter and movement around you felt distant, as if the two of you were in your own world for just a little longer.

“You know,” Drew said, his voice quieter now, a hint of sincerity threading through, “I think we make a pretty good team even just sitting here talking. Imagine what we could do with a whole script.”

Your smile softened, and you nodded, the words feeling right, but the undertone of something more—something unsaid—hung in the air. “Yeah, I think we’d be unstoppable.”

The moment stretched between you both, filled with the kind of comfortable tension that comes when you realize you’ve shared something real. Something that felt like it could turn into something more.

You both stood up, a final, lingering moment before the usual goodbye. Drew extended a hand, his gaze holding yours a beat longer than necessary.

“Take care, okay?” he said, his voice warm, like the words carried more than just a polite farewell.

You shook his hand, the warmth of his touch lingering just a moment longer than expected. “You too, Drew,” you replied, your voice soft yet carrying an undercurrent of meaning that mirrored his own.

As you turned to gather your things, you couldn’t help but glance back over your shoulder. He was still standing there, watching you with that same thoughtful expression, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. The faintest smile curved his lips, as if he were replaying the conversation in his mind.

“See you around,” he called out, the words simple but loaded with promise.

“Yeah,” you said, meeting his gaze one last time. “See you around.”

Walking away, you felt a peculiar lightness, as though something intangible had shifted, leaving you both exhilarated and curious. It wasn’t every day you met someone who made you feel seen in such a profound way, and as you left the studio, you found yourself smiling, a quiet hope blooming in your chest.

And for a fleeting second, you allowed yourself to wonder what could come next.

[ordinaryschmuck]

Hey, do you remember this irritating little turd?

Yeah, that one. From Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends. Remember how it was frequently annoying how he was constantly antagonistic towards his friends, made his own best friend be constantly annoyed by him, and was just sometimes the worst character in the show? Turns out that there's a reason for that.

Apparently, Craig McCracken WANTED Bloo to experience this neat little writing trick called "Character Development." But Cartoon Network, wanting more of an episodic sitcom, gave a big fat no to that idea. Because they wanted this series to have no continuity, they had to make sure that the characters couldn't develop. And that is...nonsense for a number of reasons.

#1

These shows came out the same time as Foster's:

The continuity wasn't MAJOR with these shows, you can still watch any episode at random from either of them and still have a good time. BUT they still had this sense of subtle progression where characters, villains, and little touches in the story. Granted, they're both more along the lines of action adventure stories instead of sitcoms, but KND is a lot more or less the same as Foster's in terms of characters going on goofy adventures and being a comedy for kids. It just so happened that the comedy could be taken a little seriously at times. Besides...

#2

Sitcoms CAN have character development and continuity. You can watch any episode of either of these shows too, BUT there's a noticeable sense of character progression and continuity from all of them. Sometimes it's something simple as a character dating someone else at a certain point or a change in location or even when a character is working a certain job or not. Character development and continuity can still exist and work in making an episode enjoyable without previous context, but seeing these characters grow, even in subtle ways, is great. Mainly because...

#3

Character development is NOT a bad thing. Far from it, in fact. If anything, it makes watching a show more interesting as you can look back at how a character USED to act with a fond nostalgia of "Man, remember when they used to act like THAT?" And then look at how they CURRENTLY act with the sense of, "Wow, this character's really grown up in the last few seasons." And while it feels SLOW in some cases, it gives the sense that the character can learn, grow, and BE BETTER despite how they might have started off. Even Foster's understood this, because...

#4

The Show HAS character development AND continuity. Like how Cheese just didn't exist in the show until a certain point and became a main stay for the entire series. Or how Goo was introduced as another main stay character. Not only that, but after her introduction as this overly imaginative little girl, she learned her lesson to cool down her over imagination so she wouldn't cause the exact same problems in the future but still faced a NEW problem with her imagination that she and the others could learn from. Like it or not, that IS character development AND continuity. It's just that other characters can experience it instead of Bloo. But fine. They wanted to make Bloo a stagnant character who never changes? Sure. I can accept that...Except for one last thing.

#5

DID THEY HAVE TO MAKE HIM SO IRREDEEMABLE?! In fairness, the bus episode IS entertaining, but that still shows how Bloo, as a character, went through regression instead of development. He's not the same as he started in the first season. Heck, he's not the same as he was in the FIRST THREE EPISODES. There, he was written as brash and a bit immature, but still apologetic and polite in certain spaces. He was even about to object to Wilt giving him the bed, but Wilt was too polite to let Bloo refuse his offer. If this was the Bloo in future seasons, he would have guilt tripped Wilt into giving him the bed and would have been the first to suggest Wilt would sleep on the floor.

If the show wasn't allowed to make Bloo develop, I can understand that. Networks and studios can kiss all the asses. But when it got to the point where I couldn't understand why Mac was friends with Bloo anymore, it leaves me wondering why they had to highlight his worst qualities instead of his best ones? To quote MY favorite character in this show, "I'm sorry, but that is NOT okay." The writers have my sympathy, it's not easy trying to appease your network overlords while still making the show good. But if Bloo's an example of anything, it's that studios should trust showrunners more and that character development is NEVER a sin.

[mythicaldemigoddess-of-deltarune]

Buttercup Lifts Couch & Mammon Becomes A Dad...? (2024)

------------------

Credit for Steven Universe Series goes to Rebecca Sugar

Credit for Hazbin Hotel & Helluva Boss goes to Vivienne "Vivziepop” Medrano

Credit for Invader Zim goes to Jhonen Vasquez

Credit for Undertale & Deltarune goes to Toby Fox

Credit for Transformers goes to Hasbro & TakaraTomy

Credit Transformers Animated Series goes to Sam Register & Matt Youngberg

Credit for The Powerpuff Girls goes to Craig McCracken

Credit for Danny Phantom goes to Butch Hartman

------------

if anyone is wondering, Pink-Pearl is suppose to still look like her original gem humanoid but she is also suppose to be a Moth, and well if Lonely-Pearl was a Moth in her corrupted form, it would make sense that Pearls in a Crossover between Helluva Boss/Hazbin Hotel and Steven Universe, they would be Moths but still look a bit how they originally looked.

I want to call Pink-Pearl by the nickname "Vollie" but it's okay not everyone calls her that, and it would be interesting in a Crossover Fanon Timeline she forms a friendship with Verosika.

and yes I gave that Soundwave a bow on their head, it is suppose to be one of those Sound-Wave copies of the Original Sounwave.

I have had the idea for a while, that Lancer mistakes Mammon as his Dad, just in a different outfit...

I worked on this drawing around January and I'm just now posting it on February...it was not great a few days ago, I know during my trying to write a theory that has to do with Sari that of course has to do with a Crossover with Hazbin Hotel and TFA...

the connection kept going on and off, and yeah I ended up noticing a bit too late that I forgot to put the word "just" and well it is called "Hazformers Theory: What Sari Could Be Doing With Her Autobot Friends MIA" but even when I was trying to write it, the connection kept going off on me, and it was only making me more mad and feeling not so happy...so even when I got lucky and was finally able to post it, but when I wanted to log back on to fix and edit what I notice I forgot to put down on it...and yeah I had finally got around to it today...

but I was having some trouble logging back on, which I think it was because of the connection going off and on me again, and it might of possibly messed up my password, cause when I did try to use it again today......it didn't turn out too well, I still couldn't get on and at some point I had to make a new password just so I could post not only some new fan theories, but also this drawing and that

I seriously wasn't having a good day, I couldn't really get to sleep and well I do feel a little tired right now, it doesn't help that what happen was I guess a bit stressful...

and anyway Peridot is being Feral and is suppose to have Doe Ears and a Tail, like Peridots end up with Deer like appearance.

Alastor ending up adopting her and having her on that very thing that we see her have on her in one of the episodes of Steven Universe, well it can be one of the ways to keep her from running off when she gets all feral...like it only comes off if she calms down and doesn't act all feral.

and even when you make the drawing big, to read what is being said...

here is what Mammon is saying...

"when did I become a Dad…? I don't remember having a kid…unless Stella has been keeping it a secret from me. oh man, do I need to marry Stella?! I'm NOT ready yet!!! I need to call Stella and tell her to pick up our little acciden-…cough I mean Son."

also in this drawing, Buttercup Utonium is 22 years old, so this is the much older future self of Buttercup.

I think I will post one more thing, than I will be heading to bed to get some sleep...I rather post it now than wait until either tomorrow or in a few days...plus if I'm able to, I may talk more about that Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss Theory that has to do with Soul-Partnership Contract...

anyway hope some find it funny that Lancer thinks that Mammon is his Dad, and making Mammon very confused...also I like the Mamtella ship between Mammon and Stella.....their ship name still sounds like a type of food you put on toast, and I don't know if many will end up using that Mamtella ship name or not, so far I'm the first to call those two by that ship name. XD

[signor-signor]

Trending 27th - March 2024

Talking to Craig McCracken

If you had a chance to talk to Craig McCracken, what would you say to him that not only complements him on the work he’s done in the past 30+ years, but also reassures him that there’s still interest in the plans he made for S3?

As someone who grew up watching Cartoon Network in the ‘90s, I would tell him…

“Hi, Craig-o, pleased to meet you! I’ve known your work since the early-mid nineties. I believe you were involved in 2 Stupid Dogs and Dexter’s Laboratory. It must have been a real treat getting to know some history behind Hanna-Barbera. I know it was for me. When I first saw a piece of your own work, it was on the side of a box of Fruity Pebbles promoting World Premiere Toons - one of the characters was Bubbles of the PPG. I gotta say, you’ve been one of my inspirations growing up.”

When it gets to the point where I talk about WOY, I would say this to him…

“I remember when I got into Wander Over Yonder. When I first saw your early sketches of him, I thought of Cantus the Minstrel from Fraggle Rock. And what can I say? I’m a sucker for anything related to Muppets. How about Jack McBrayer? He’s the perfect choice for the character’s voice! WOY marks the first time I got to hear Jack sing. It’s the show that provided the springboard for shows Disney apparently loves best, specifically Star vs. the Forces of Evil and Big City Greens - those shows wouldn’t have been picked up if it wasn’t for Daron Nefcy and the Houghton Bros.’ involvement in the first season. It’s also the first show where Andy Bean provided music for a TV series and where people like Noël Wells got to try their hand at voice acting. The show has made a lot more history than you can possibly imagine, so please don’t take it too lightly.”

Now comes the part where I talk about the elephant in the room, or rather, the ape in the space capsule…

“To be honest, I really looked forward to watching episodes of the show during its run. When I looked at your announcement about the premature cancellation and the plans you’d made for that third and final season, I was totally perplexed. Disney let Fish Hooks go on for three seasons regardless of content - was that because no one turned deaf ears or blind eyes to it? I always assumed they’d treat WOY the same way they treated FH.”

“Somehow it just doesn’t feel right to let your show bite the dust just because the “higher up bosses of bosses of bosses” didn’t see the need to make more, especially not after you made most fans aware of the existence of the plans for S3 and led them to believe it was guaranteed to be amazing. Why do you think I haven’t given up on WOY? And why else would I have Kid encourage viewers to watch the show (Kid Cosmic was great, by the way, one that definitely ended in victory)? I cannot think of any other show that was canceled one week before S2’s premiere, seven months after the S1 finale, five months after writing on S2 wrapped up, five months after your pitch for S3. You, Craig, are one of the most experienced cartoonists in the business and you don’t deserve to be treated like this.”

“To let you know just how determined I am to right this wrong, I worked four months on an Illustrator piece featuring over 140 individuals, built a LEGO Star Nomad (when I showed it to Dave Thomas (@owner-of-wendys), he said, “Dude… that Star Nomad is incredible. Well done!”), and wrote a pre-S3 shorts idea where Andy the Watchdog interviews refugees on the ex-secret planet. Heck, I even had to figure out what Star Force Enforcement Force look like and how the plot of S3 might play out.”

“@peepsqueak started the SaveWOY campaign, and I’m seeing to it that it shan’t be in vain. I know you’re busy with your other projects, but there is still a show waiting to be completed on your own terms. Until the time comes, keep making people smile! Darkest times call for sunniest of smiles!”

[quartings]

College Adventures Special Episode VIII: Interview with Lauren Faust!

I promised I'd get to meet a big name in animation, and here she is! This semester I managed to get into a class taught by THE Lauren Faust, creator of MLP: FiM and DC Superhero Girls!

Sadly, I'm not a die-hard fan of any of her series, but I tried my best to get and compile information that fans would be interested in!

Back when she was working on MLP, Lauren was grateful that her fellow TV coworkers gave her freedom to tell the story she wanted to tell instead of letting to toy marketers bully her. (According to my friend, the show sold out a lot more once Lauren left, though)

A change from executives she wound up listening to: Originally Pinkie was a pegasus and Rainbowdash wan't, because Lauren thought wings would make Pinkie's hyperactivity stand out even more. Their species eventually got swapped in the final cut of course.

Lauren really wanted DC Superhero Girls and Wander over Yonder to be 22min shows, but executives forced her to make them 11min. Shame, because I do think being 22min would have been better for both.

A big reason of why Lauren always wants to make "Girl shows starring girl characters made by girl staff" is because executives often tell her that animation is for boys only and to make her shows more "boy-oriented" (Seriously, with people still like that in this day and age, it's really a lose-lose scenario)

I also got to see the pilot animatic for her rejected Netflix series Toil and Trouble! I don't think I'm allowed to say too much about it, so I'll provide a non-spoiler review!

The pilot was really fun and the animation+writing much more mature than Lauren's previous shows. It did a good job at making the characters really likeable, too! Toil is a great protag and her voice actress did an amazing job! My only issues are- the first 5 minutes are VERY exposition-heavy about the rules of magic, ghosts, and familiars. The third act goes by a bit too fast, too- Toil literally says the moral of the story in way too much detail, then solves the problem pretty easily soon after. I wish the pilot was split into two episodes, so both these issues could be automatically solved- it would also give the show's many side characters room to breathe, too!

Despite Toil and Trouble being cancelled, Lauren is pushing on ahead and continuing to work on more unannounced projects!

Her favorite series that she's worked on is Foster's Home, because she feels that she and her husband Craig both contributed equally to it! She also really liked the relative freedom she had in directing action on DC Superhero Girls.

I was surprised to hear she didn't have that great a time working on MLP because of the creative restrictions from higher-ups. But she's still really happy and grateful the show got such a dedicated fanbase!

While she's fine with fandoms, she dislikes the idea of pandering to them with fanservice or validating headcanons. She said if there was any of that in her shows, someone else on the creative team did it, not her.

Her storyboarders on MLP originally didn't take their job seriously because they were making a "little kids show", so Lauren had to whip them into shape and make them try harder.

Re. Foster's Home: The "Frankie is an imaginary friend" theory is false. None of that was ever the intention from the writers.

For DC Hero Girls: Originally, Cheetah's dad was supposed to have hunting trophies in his room. But because British censorship laws mean you can't show trophy hunting in cartoons (even as a bad thing the bad guys do), they had to negotiate it down to make sure none of the trophies were of endangered animals in the final product.

But yeah, those are the highlights from my time with Lauren Faust! Hope you all liked it- and if you do want to hear more about Toil and Trouble, let me know! I'll see what I can do! But that's not all- I've actually been scheduled to meet up with another very famous animation showrunner in the coming weeks, so expect another big interview post very soon!

[fredseibertdotcom]

Larry Huber, official Oh Yeah! Cartoons portrait, 1998

Larry Huber.

Starting out in the cartoon business at 40 years old was pretty daunting. I had worked on some very short form animation in my previous lives, but cartoons? Completely different. Characters, layouts, storyboards, voice acting... A whole new world. When I first met with Hanna-Barbera’s senior staff –veterans all– I told them the truth. 

“I watched, and loved, cartoons as a kid. I don’t know much about making them. But, the good news is that you do. So I’ll listen to you about what we ought to do.”

At least, I thought it was good news. But honestly, pretty much only Larry Huber stepped up to help. And he’s been stepping up in my cartoon life ever since.

Larry’s a complete pro. He came to Los Angeles and studio art and animation, started in the business in the early 70s. He knows everything about the actual making of cartoons, which is great. But, better yet, he’s got great judgement, and though he would like to convince some people that he’s a curmudgeon, he’s one of the most caring and generous professional a newby, or a professional, could have as a colleague.

And that’s what he’s been for me. Actually, and more importantly, it’s what Larry has been for dozens of folks who made short films and series at my productions. Starting as the supervising producer on What A Cartoon! (he even designed the opening titles), coming on as my co-executive producer on Oh Yeah! Cartoons and Random! Cartoons, and continuing to help filmmakers on individual shorts at Too Cool! Cartoons and GO! Cartoons, and series spin-offs like Bravest Warriors and Bee and PuppyCat.

Larry’s got the obvious skill set –art, animation, storyboarding, directing, producing– but, I have to say what’s always blown me away is his instinct for filmmaking story. Obviously, there are a lot of ways to tell a story, whether it’s a short story or a novel. But, a film story has it’s own logic. And honestly, Larry is one of the few people I’ve met over the years that really gets it. I’m jealous, because I don’t really. At least, not like Larry.

And wow, what a mentor. My instinct for years has been that if you can pair a veteran professional, with the right first time wanna-be, usually young, professional, the results could be spectacular. Larry is the absolute proof. From Donovan Cook/2 Stupid Dogs, Genndy Tartakovsky/Dexter’s Laboratory, Craig McCraken/The Powerpuff Girls, Butch Hartman on all the shorts he did that led to The Fairly OddParents, Rob Renzetti/My Life as a Teenage Robot, Pendleton Ward/Adventure Time... I could write a whole post on just the young’uns he’s mentored. Including me (though I’m only a few minutes younger than him), I didn’t even know what a layout was before Larry filled me in.

With all the help he’s given others, it would remiss of me not to mention Larry’s co-creation, with Bill Burnett, of the fantastic ChalkZone, his series that ran on Nickelodeon for 40 episodes in the 2000s.

OK, I’ll spare you on the warm person that Larry is, a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, collector of HO trains and a cowboy and Civil War fan/scholar.

To me, Larry Huber made my professional life worth it. Thanks bud!

I’ve posted often about my mentors, the people I’ve learned the most from. And I’ve noted how often how many of them beg to differ as to whether or not I should credit them as such. So, I’ve calmed down in my titling. But still…

Larry Huber illustration by David Feiss

[fearsmagazine]

FOLLOWERS - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Terror Films

SYNOPSIS:  “What starts as hilariously bad YouTube videos develops into a warning to the world about a shocking new strain of supernatural serial killer. Jonty, a failing influencer with an ambition to reach over a million followers, will stop at nothing to become famous. A new start at university brings with it hopes of a resurgence in his popularity when a demonic presence appears in his student house. Jonty decides to stream his and his housemates’ experiences with this supernatural entity to gain the fame and fortune he’s most been craving. But at what cost?”

REVIEW: FOLLOWERS leans heavily on “from the producers of Anna and the Apocalypse and Monsters.” I gleefully jumped into this film due to my enjoyment of “Anna and the Apocalypse,” a Christmas zombie musical. I loved it! There is a bit of that spirit running through FOLLOWERS, but it is a bit more mean spirited.

At its core it is a “found footage” film with a bit of a twist to it. It has this slight feel of “Big Brother” meets the BBC series “Ghosts.” The main focus, Jonty, is an influencer who is trying to regain his status and followers after his previous nefarious actions. The supernatural elements of the tale are more for window dressing. The story is more of a cautionary tale of influencer culture and the lengths they go to obtain and maintain followers. One of the truths they spotlight is how many of these followers might be aware of the scam these influencers are running and still go along for the ride against their better judgment. There are some interesting moments. I was not sympathetic for any of these characters. I did like the villain setup, but what she is actually doing is trying to create a spectral servant, much like a classical zombie.

Other than the principle cast, the majority of the other actors are social media people and 70% of the film was shot by the actors. As such, the majority of the effects are visual. Given everything done over the years by the J-Horror Films, who took it to a new level, the effects here are solid, they’re just not scary enough. The film doesn't cut too often to the folks who are trying to piece together their version of the story as to be distracting. The cinematography is decent, the score helps serve as a reminder you're not actually watching a found footage film and the locations are functional but nothing special.

I enjoyed the cast, especially the four principals. Harry Jarvis brings a lot of energy to his role of Jonty Craig. He is so unlikeable, but yet there is something charming about the scoundrel. Actress Nina Wadia’s Becky Dubar has a great character arc. Clearly there is something weird about the character but she delivers this slow transformation that adds a nice air of mystery and suspense to the film.

Unfortunately, director Marcus Harben passed away before the US release of the film. In his time as a filmmaker he made ten films. Even though it utilizes some tried and true elements, FOLLOWERS has a fresh feel to it that blossoms in the final act. Harry Jarvis and Nina Wadia bring a lot of energy and creativity to the film that keeps it an entertaining and engaging view. The overall tone isn’t exactly a horror film. It’s more of a plot device that allows them to explore the larger themes of influencers and social media. Come to think of it, that can be a real nightmare!

CAST: Harry Jarvis, Loreece Harrison, Daniel Cahill, Erin Austen, Nina Wadia, Orion Lee, David Sterne. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Marcus Harben; Producers - Giles Alderson, Steve Jarvis & Tracy Jarvis; Cinematographer - Alan C. McLaughlin; Score - Jim Lang; Editor - William Honeyball; Production Designer - Alice Cousins; Costume Designer - Leena Mistry; Visual Effects Supervisor - Ben Honeyball. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/GejB82nnqGY RELEASE DATE: On Digital and On Demand March 24th, 2023

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[dailyblognews]

Tips to Engage More with Palm Springs International Film Festival

Camelot Theater, situated on celebrated Palm Gully Drive in Palm Springs is home of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival every year in mid to late May. The festival highlights film understandings of a large number of the great secret books composed by Lyons during his lifetime. These works went from the dark to the varied and normally were seen through the eyes and the point of view of the lawbreakers about whom he composed. His works were intensely weighted with wrongdoing and the sexuality of the period. Lyons, a previous Palm Springs city councilman helped to establish the festival with his companion Craig Prater in 2001. The Festival goes on for three days highlights numerous b-films from the forties and fifties and incorporates interviews with Hollywood stars some of whom acted in them. Afterward, Lyons added more current films, for example, Raw Fiction in 1994 which he got a kick out of the chance to call Neo Noir.

Lyons was brought into the world in Los Angeles in 1946, moved to Palm Springs when he was eleven and graduated school in 1967. He worked in the privately-owned company for a period and afterward started to compose secret books. In his most memorable book The Dead are Tactful, he started his vocation long interest in the shabby side of crime. The New York Times praised his sharpness of his style, the flawless preparation and the aversion of hokum. Lyons facilitated the yearly festival dressed for the part. He frequently wore purported hoodlum outfits and the crowd wearing horde clothing too. He frequently welcomed other secret essayists, for example, Mickey Spillane and Hollywood entertainers, for example, Rhonda Flemming and George Montgomery who gazed in the film The Brasher Doubloon to join in and address gatherings of his fans.

This year my significant other and we intend to go to again as we typically do, love the highly contrasting noir films of the 50's time. We are particularly restless to see the screening of Trial in Fear the Blake Edwards coordinated film featuring Glenn Portage and Lee Remmick. This year’s opening was facilitated by Stephanie Powers, star of the hit TV series Hart to Hart which co-featured Robert Wagner. Miss Powers will be available for the appearance which was delivered in 1962 and will likewise remain for an interactive discussion as does all of the Festival withHarold Matzner. A bunch of Hollywood stars have recently gone to the festival including June Lockhart, Wear Murray, who showed up in a Hatful of Downpour in 1952, Julie Garfield, little girl of John Garfield who showed up in the 1952 creation of He Ran As far as possible and Tommy Cook, entertainer and maker of Cry of the City delivered 1948. Mitchell Sussman has been a TV maker for the beyond a quarter century. In that time he has created experience travel programming for such organizations as Movement Channel, PBS, Fox Sports Net, Star television and numerous others.

[toointojoelmiller]

^Me trying to put my thoughts on this into words

Okay prepare for massive amounts of copium:

A lot of people struggle with the difference between Part 1 Ellie and Part 2 Ellie.. I don’t. I wish she was happier lol don’t get me wrong (if I had my way it would be J+E + moon ranch forever), but to me the contrast between Part 1 and Part 2 Ellie is unfortunately a pretty natural progression…

Part 1, despite the devastating ending, is a HOPEFUL story – it’s really about Joel finding his reason for living again, and loving Ellie. Ellie is the light – literally the hope – that leads him out of the darkness. She’s also fourteen, and we see her through Joel’s sort of lens and we are always being reminded of her youth. She’s got this “mission” (making a cure, making her immunity mean something other than she survived when her bet friend/girlfriend died) that is guiding her and keeping her steady despite all of the attachment trauma and grief she is struggling with that should really bog her down more than it does (and of course, it eventually does, once her mission comes crashing down). I think this is well represented in Part 1 and in the HBO series, even though the versions of Ellie are slightly different.

Part 2 is about what comes next, because love is never enough. It’s about how life is painful and messy, and how sometimes that is BECAUSE of what love does to us... and how you can’t love ever without it ending in grief… and in particular, just how destructive the pain of loss can be when your ONE PERSON is gone. Ellie’s different because she’s grown – her dream of a cure is dead – the world is just a lot darker, at 19 vs 14. Joel loving Ellie with all of his heart wasn’t enough to keep her from getting hurt by the world (just like in real life, no matter how much parents love their kids bad shit WILL happen to them, and life WILL punch them in the face like it does for all of us). Joel loving Ellie so unconditionally and giving her love was more than she knew how to handle, really, (orphan things), and she can’t understand his “betrayal” for what it is – an act of love. When he’s gone she is LOST, and ends up modelling exactly what she learned from him… fall apart. Take out your enemies. Make people suffer for what happened to the person you love.

So, to ME – the progression of Ellie’s relationship with violence feels pretty natural.

Here’s why I don’t personally take issue with the violent heart bit they added to the HBO show -

I feel like (pretend) Craig and Neil suck at explaining themselves LOL.

Ellie in Part 1, due to the world she has grown up in and her experiences, is at risk of engaging with violence as a coping/trauma sort of response thing. Gives her control in a fucked up world. Lets her protect her people. Just like Joel. They live in a world that basically requires violence from you – otherwise you and people you love will die. And Ellie knows that – she saw it first hand, killing Riley. And all of the violence and death that came after.

I know Craig made that comment saying “David’s right”. The way I take it is not, “David is right, she is a violent person” or “she loves to hurt people”… I take it as David recognized how Ellie has a fighters/survivors heart – and that means she is CAPABLE of great violence. Which not everyone is!! (Hence how Joel and Ellie are our bamf anti heroes). To David, violence is always a justified thing if it leads to you getting your goal, and he looks at people as either worthy of living in this world (fighters/leaders) or not (sheep). So he sees Ellie as “a violent person” with a “violent heart”. He’s a monster, and he isn’t capable of understanding the relationship Ellie (and Joel) have with violence, where it is born out of LOVE and suffering and loss. There’s a difference there that David totally misses. But his comment about her proclivity to “violence”, not too far off the mark imo.

Super curious to hear if any of y’all agree or disagree w me.

YES I AM COPING HARD WITH THIS. LIFE SINCE PART 2 IS NOTHING BUT A COPE.

massive TLOU 2 spoilers

I hate this “violent heart” shit. Apparently, Ellie seeing Joel brutally tortured and murdered while she is held down and forced to watch is not enough to explain her murderous rampage in TLOU 2. They have to tell us she’s also doing it because because she’s irrevocably, uniquely fucked up and violent. And who is the person to deliver this message? The pedophile that tried to rape and murder her. So will David be vindicated in season 2? It seems like he already kinda was. Yes, Ellie brutally killing him was supposed to show she’s fucked up and violent. Chop a pedophile up a bit more than necessary because you are traumatized, terrified, disassociating, and desperate for it all to stop? Sorry hun that’s really fucked up I guess you really do have a violent heart. I’m glad we had the illuminating words of a serial groomer rapist cannibal pedophile cult leader to tell us our protagonist is a bitch. In a story where we’re supposed to have empathy for the characters, one of them gets labeled as “violent” as if they’re demented. The creators said this “violent heart” stuff was meant to set up Ellie’s arc in s2/the 2nd game so wtf??? I hate to be pessimistic but it really seems like the writers are steering the show towards an “Ellie proved David right” moment.

[cool-island-songs]

do u have any more fic recs? 🥺👉🏼👈🏼

Oh GOD anon, so many! I'm going to do Creek but it won't be comprehensive, as I've been reading Creek fics since I was 13 and so much has been deleted. If there was a specific ship you were interested in instead, please feel free to send another ask. Also, I love to talk fic and SP generally! Send me asks/dms whenever

This is quite long, but I’ve bolded and hyperlinked most author names and fic titles for easy access. I should note I was out of the fandom entirely from ~2010-2020 and my memories of that first time around reading fic are spotty at best. I will almost certainly add fics as I remember them, and will append those to the orphaned/misc. section at the bottom

- Just recently found AndThenIDied who has a zombie Creek fic from 2012 that is in progress and rly cool, Rotten (previously “He Likes His Rare”). Also ft. Bebe/Tweek friendship/zombie ass-kicking partnership. This writer also has a few oneshots, my faves being Lunch Break and It Had to Be You.

- apollos writes one of my favorite Tweek voices; the rhythm of his speech is perfect and the judicious use of exclamation pts rly effectively conveys the way he struggles to control his volume/outbursts. The multi-chapter Love in the Bodies of Elephants Too is my fave canon-compliant fic to tackle the “fake dating“ ambiguity trope that cropped up in the wake of TxC. It makes sense that Tweek would have everything but the acknowledgement from Craig that they are gay boyfriends deeply in love. It’s just rly heavy and beautiful and one of my all time faves. Also love oneshots Doctor’s Orders and Second Act Breakup (Third Act Makeup), and the devastating Swimmers in the Sea of Inevitability (one of my fave Creek angst fics). This author has a good deal of Style and Kendy too

- applecrumbledore’s Seven days of alien summer. I’ve rec’d this before and I’ll rec it again. Perfectly encapsulates that nostalgic small town vibe of early South Park (alien abductions certainly don’t hurt). Stan describes C+T as “easily two of the weirdest guys they knew. Craig was a science geek who smoked like a chimney and never smiled. Tweek was bratty, cynical and utterly charming; the worst thing about Tweek was Craig [...] They were inseparable in a way that was half deeply romantic and half Children of the Corn.” V refreshing to read a fic w/ Style and Creek where they aren’t excessively at odds (and one that reflects Stan + Kyle’s canonical preference for Tweek over Craig). Cartman is also so spot-on

This author has two orphaned Style-centric fics, neither of which contain explicit Creek, but I’m going to link them here bc the author confirmed these are their fics in AO3 comments and someone messaged me last time I mentioned knowing what they were: the amazing dirt wizard (the only time I’ve ever been into Cryle) and missed connections (contains side Kyman)

- Captain Dude (Handbag Murder) is an excellent writer and I recommend checking everything out. I conceive of Craig quite differently, but it’s hard to care when everything is so internally consistent and well-fleshed out. There are 3 recurring themes in the cap’n dude catalog to which I’m v drawn: the exquisite pain of unrequited love, not knowing where you stand, and dry humping. This author is also uniquely skilled at articulating that very teenaged phenomenon of having outsized romantic/sexual expectations and then finding the reality to be something else entirely, as in the multi-chapter fics Tinder Surprise and COSMIC ORDER, NATURAL LAW. My personal faves are unfinished multi-chapter The Ex and oneshots Joyrides through the second circle, Leave the Lights on: An irrational fear of the dark. (absolute fave!), ChaosTheory, This doesn’t constitute proof that blonds have more fun, and (UN)Speakable. PRISM (non-shippy, doomsday setting) is also great. These are all top Tweek/bottom Craig

- @cheylouwho has a lot of great Creek fics, my faves being Mine, Mine, Mine and the Pastor and Imp series. The former is a play on yandere Clyde, which was apparently a meme ~2014. I have questions about yandere Clyde but also instinctively love it. It’s as if the Cryde community came to life and was like I will k i l l that little blond bitch if u write one more uwu fic w/ him and my Craig!!! Linked the author’s tumblr acct above bc I’ve found her posts about SP fandom past informative. She also runs the South Park Fanart Archive tumblr

- Already rec’d Del’Mareve’s your princess is in another castle, which the author describes as “an AU in which everyone can kick some ass”, but I’ll rec it again and again for one of the most fascinating interpretations of Tweek I’ve read. His dialogue is so spot-on and I love that he’s sexually fluid. There are great Craig/Tweek fighting scenes, and their opposing moral outlooks come into conflict, which I always find compelling. This writer also has an interesting Tweekstophe oneshot Viens Avec Moi and a Bunny oneshot on that ff.net account

- Eerily writes so beautifully. My fave is The Gentle Sin, and I also love the unfinished multi-chapter Small Lifeforms. Also, Oculus??? Are you kidding me???? I have so many regrets at leaving the fandom when I did reading fics like Oculus. Name above links to the AO3 acct - here’s the ff.net acct

- Flynncantation’s unfinished multi-chap Down the Rabbit Hole, a mysterious fic w/ a non-linear narrative and supernatural elements. It’s quite different as Tweek has so much going on in his life that has nothing to do with Craig, that Craig can’t necessarily help him with, and that may even preclude Craig being in his life. I recommend checking everything else out too. I particularly love oneshots Kicking In ft. nasty bottom slut Craig, Step On My Heart (I Like It) ft. Pete Thelman POV, Dick Sucker Tucker, Drag Me Away, Double Bluff, and Along Came Earth.

- gremlinteeth’s Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space - fic where Craig and Tweek never speak after their fight in T vs C. Lots of violent homophobia, but it helps bridge the gap between old South Park and new in a way. The Tucker family vibe is so homey and sad and divorced, and I love this Laura Tucker. There’s no real smut, but the sexual tension is amazing. Craig is so in love with Tweek, and absolutely terrified of all that entails. Contains the best depressed alcoholic Stan and subverts a lot of tired SP high school fanfic tropes all around

- @guineasaurusrex���s ongoing multi-chapter What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? - a unique and beautiful reinterpretation of the fake dating trope w/in a never-met college AU setting. Contains the most realistic depiction of Tweek’s parents’ emotional abuse I’ve read. The abuse isn’t dramatized; it’s actually quite a funny fic that just happens to capture that aspect of Tweek’s life like no other. As w/ gremlinteeth’s fic above, I didn’t even notice the lack of smut bc the chemistry between Craig and Tweek is so palpable. Above all, I love how easily Tweek sees through the front Craig puts up that has everyone else fooled, but doesn’t at all realize Craig isn’t used to being seen that way. I love Craig’s vulnerability tbh; it’s one of the most beautiful things ppl zero in on in the Creek dynamic imo, when Tweek can see parts of Craig no one else can.

I also rec the two other guineasaurusrex fics on AO3 - the hilarious two-shot Signs Point to Yes, and the unfinished multi-chapter Plain Sight, also v funny and different

- No one particularly needs me to rec hollycomb. If you’ve ever searched the SP ff.net or AO3 archives and sorted by kudos/faves, you know about hollycomb (as well you should)! Her style is so distinctive that, reading her fics now, I know for sure I read them as a teen despite memory loss from that time. Style was usually her focus, but I recently found two Creek oneshots on her livejournal I don’t think I’d read before: Fight or Flight and Instinct and Innovation. In addition to the oneshots themselves, I rly enjoyed her replies in the comments as I’ve been reflecting lately on the drastic power imbalance common in the Creek dynamic of the mid-late 00s. She mentions in one comment conceiving of the Craig and Tweek relationship as a sort of naturally occurring D/s dynamic

The main reason I read Style/K2 was that I’d get sick of the one-sided nature of the Craig/Tweek relationship as it was commonly written in the mid-late 00s. In a good chunk of these fics, there would be little to no attempt to establish what, if anything, Craig might get out of being w/ Tweek. I appreciate these hollycomb oneshots, her Style-centric Leave the Pieces, and I Came a Long Way to See You by @skrtomg for actually delving into Craig’s motivations for wanting to be with Tweek. All four paint a compelling picture of a dominant asshole Craig who needs sweet pathetic bb Tweek just as badly as Tweek needs him. He needs to be needed, for someone to think him strong and capable. The SekritOMG fic goes the extra length of giving Tweek a diagnosis that accounts for his extreme dependence on others, and it becomes apparent that Stan and Kyle understand little about the inner workings of Craig and Tweek’s D/s relationship, just as Craig doesn’t see any appeal in their normie vanilla domesticity (also just rly love the bit where Kyle conspicuously checks out Craig’s dick and probably balls. Good for him tbh).

My fave hollycomb Craig is film hipster virgin Craig in Other People’s Tupperware. This fic feels like a glimpse into a version of Craig that doesn’t have a Tweek to make him feel strong and sane in relation to. The nature of that sort of dynamic is articulated more explicitly in hollycomb’s That Was Now and This is Then from Token’s perspective: “Tweek is supposed to be the needy one, but that's why Craig loves the kid and built this whole dysfunctional empire around him: Tweek is Craig's emotional scapegoat. He freaks out so that Craig doesn't have to.“ Kink Meme chapter This Means War also contains some reference to the Creek dynamic w/in the broader context of CATG vs the main four (Stan joking that CATG “were twisted versions of their own group”). I def recommend checking these fics out, particularly if you’re interested in seeing imo the best iterations of this particular Creek dynamic that was popular over a decade ago, and remains influential to this day.

- IDRC’s The Ring. This is the most himbo Craig I’ve ever read and I love the way Tweek is imagined as a young adult here. He has serious trust issues and a dramatic little story about Craig from when they were kids, but it plays out in a way I found v realistic. Also, Boxer Tweek! Boxer Craig! Angry fighty sexual tension and lots of drunk/himbo sex

@ladyfeldspar is a long-time Creek fic writer I’m positive I read back in the day. My fave is oneshot Crushed bc it portrays Craig pretty typically for that time (Tricia calls him a f*ckboy in TFBW for a reason!), but Tweek is more forward than was the norm for ‘08. The only fic I can recall to make the point that Craig’s reasons for liking Thomas are a terrible basis for a relationship. I rec checking out this author’s catalog; the ongoing multi-chap Wrong Number has a v different Craig than in the above oneshot. Every update, my desire to head on down to the self-esteem store and pick some up for me and Craig increases exponentially. Once I find out where it is, it’s over for you hoes 😔

LWTIS oneshot To All The Demons Under My Bed for a light-hearted imp Tweek/reggo Craig oneshot. I just think this is a v well-characterized Craig. Alien fic The Importance of A Well Maintained Spreadsheet (And A Good Label Gun) is also cute

- mareepysheepy's unfinished multi-chapter From Ashes. Many imp Tweek/pastor Craig fics portray the dynamic as Tweek maliciously tempting Craig into breaking his vow of celibacy. This is different, and at the same time the version of that that makes the most sense to me going off of their usual personalities in canon. The past Cromas dynamic is also unique, far more fleshed-out than most, and I stayed up all night reading this the first time. Love all this writer’s fics, esp oneshots Right Message, Poor Delivery, A Canopy Dotted With Stars, Family is What You Make of It, and Along Came A Spaceman, the Craig POV counterpart to Flynncantation’s Along Came Earth linked above

Quite like Mattycakes’ Meth Baby, Tweek Hated Parties, and Love Bites, among others

- I've already rec'd metrophobic's Tweeker Nation at least twice, but I love the whole metrophobic oeuvre. Metrophobic writes my absolute fave Tweek and Craig voices. They’re both such weird nasty little sluts and so sickeningly in love. I often find myself rereading Empty Spaces which is based on an old kink meme prompt about spanking Tweek to orgasm. I like how metrophobic's Creek sexual dynamic developed after this one, as Tweek is a classic sub/bottom in this, and I hc him as at least a bratty sub (he just runs his mouth way too much not to be, but that is a somewhat newer development). But as someone who was shipping Creek back when their fanon dynamic was largely extremely imbalanced, it's wild to read something that slots Tweek into a trad sub role, but fully articulates the way the sub is always ultimately in control. He also has his own life outside Craig in a way that subverts the older common Creek dynamic where Tweek is just some Craig hanger-on. I find this piece to be a fascinating and nuanced bridge b/w old and new Creek dynamics (also hot). Other faves: Grown-Up Abduction Isn’t Funny Either, The Right Time (“I dunno if I can say it again yet,” Craig replied. “That took a lot out of me.” - Craig after saying ‘I love you’ for the first time T~T), this take on imp Tweek/pastor Craig, Little Glass Flowers, Poor Baby, Solicited Dickpics, and Certified Organic.

If a fic writer can sell me on a character or ship I didn't gaf about previously, I think they got somethin' special, and metrophobic got me on Clenny in Guts and Pumpkin and Honey Bunny

- PBJellie similarly got me caring about Butters and Pip in a way I just hadn't previously in fics. There’s no attempt to elide their flaws or make them any less annoying, and they’re all the more human and engaging (and, quite frankly, themselves) for it. The characterization is always on point for a wide range of SP characters, and the setting feels like SP in all its sleazy glory. Interesting Pip/Tweek dynamics in Collectively Unconsciously Composed and in Oats We Sow (both A/B/O multi-chap fics), as well as in A Tale of Two Roommates ft. obnoxious bratty grad student Tweek.

Other faves: Strictly Business, Laundry Day, Going Going Gone, humor oneshots Craig Tucker Hates Green Beans and The Noirette

- As w/ hollycomb, I probably don’t have to tell you about Qindarka’s Aisle 10 (it’s the most favorited fic in SP on ff.net), but I’d never read it til last year, having left the fandom right before it was first published. It’s amazing. Tweek is his own, fully fleshed-out human being, rather than a spare appendage of Craig’s, and he knows it! This little speech of his always blows me away:

“No, you never care. About anything. Least of all about me. You’re just curious, because I’m this weird twitchy kid that steals sh!t, am I right? Am I interesting, Craig? Am I adorable? Wanna make a movie about me?”

He’s the anti-manic pixie dream boy, and it’s so good. It honestly feels like they lifted sassy Tricia directly from this fic when they finally gave her lines in The Fractured but Whole (and after reading cheylouwho’s post about former fans going on to work on the show, I’m not so sure it’s out of the question). I also really like this unfinished short fic by the same author: decent fiction

-rachhell has excellent fics w/ a more traditionally dominant Tweek, including Out of The Woods, drabble collection little sins, We Might Be Exactly Like We Were, tons of Creek in this 2017 Kinktober collection, and the extremely painful degausser. That last one hurt my feelings and made me hate deploying gizmo Ike in phone destroyer lmao. Exquisite angst

- Sun_Sparks‘ everything is fantastic, esp the cute multi-chapter Practice and Execution, sexy oneshot Mr Right Now (ft. top Tweek), and I really love A School Reunion which looks to be abandoned, but has a really funny & fun drunk Stan

- @tlinrookie​‘s ongoing multi-chapter This Must Be the Place and oneshot The Block which seems to be set in the same verse. I love the Kenny/Tweek friendship dynamic in the former and overall how well this author depicts intimacy. There’s so much palpable love and warmth in the sex scenes. Countdown is another fave and I suggest checking out the whole catalog

- towards‘ fics delve deeply into Tweek’s meth addiction and mental health problems. My fave is the short but powerful oneshot All good things. This is another of my top Creek angst fics

- tweeksqueak‘s Hale-Bopp is so good and weird. I love aliens in SP fanfic

- I love @wintergrew‘s SoT trilogy The Thief (in progress rn), but my fave is the recently completed Kill All Your Friends. I never even had an MCR or vamp kid phase. It was just really good. Recent oneshot Storms is also excellent. I really admire how well this author does a kind of ensemble cast of characters

- Wiw has some great Creek fics, my faves being oneshots How To Not Manage a Store and Drillenisse

Orphaned/miscellaneous fics I love:

- non-con pastor Craig/imp Tweek oneshot Head’s A Crying Wasteland

- hilarious oneshot Boyfriends Close-Up with a Wide twAngle Lens Wearing Hats

multi-chapter unfinished You’re the Blood, I’m the Seed - past non-con & CSA - very heavy, but well worth it, as it is a fascinating and well-written and -characterized fic

- Talk Like Crab, Taste Like People - Tweek was adopted by crab people, like what more do you even need to know

- alright alright has 8 works w/ Craig and Tweek that are locked, but worth checking out if you have an AO3 account

- unfinished multi-chap Underground by leopharry is also locked, but I love this Craig. he feels v on the spectrum to me in a realistic way. boxer Tweek!

- demonhunter Tweek/reggo Craig oneshot spirits in my head and they won’t go

- oneshot do you like fish sticks by VagabondDiesel - not remotely shippy, but I love a psych ward setting and T+C both v well-characterized

sunflower yellow doesn’t even begin to describe you by xShieru

Intoxicated by IvoryWhiskers - from 2006!

shake off your flesh. by murkmurks - v different imp Tweek interpretation w/in a fascinating old south inspired setting

Parental Supervision by Enisy - Craig brings home a girl and Thomas Tucker is v confused

Monotony and Rhythm by X180

Feeling Strange and Looking Rotten (and also everything) by scarlettshazam

Overrated by Kafrazel

edit: ppl/fics I couldn’t find at the time/forgot due to brain of swiss cheese

- @thelotusflowers‘ whole body of work - my faves include gently (have read this like 5 times), The Short Film, how do you know if u r gay, and her amazing collab with @lexis-grey Glad You Came! Here is lotus’s AO3 - she also has much Cryle and Stenny

- the aforementioned LexisGrey and her wonderful fic Claws and Guns - it contains catboy Craig, so stop what you’re doing right now and go read it! - as well as her unique fake dating fic Fake it till you make it, and sweet soulmate AU oneshot The Symbol of Love

- @cityoffireflies​ writes a fantastic feisty Tweek and I recommend checking out everything, but my faves so far are the Two lives intertwined series, cute oneshot Dunk, rife-with-sexual-tension oneshot 7 Minutes in Heaven, and the fabulous slutty revenge Tweek fic that got me screaming in this author’s comment section, What If. The Tweek rarepairs, and Twomas, and other Thomas ships, and miscellaneous beloved blond boys from one-off episodes have never been better loved and cared for than in this author’s fics, and it’s a beautiful thing

damn expensive eggs - my fave fic is looseleaf and liquid fiction, also has a few fics w/ trans guy Tweek. I rec checking it all out

ripped open by 8inthemourning

rly love Out of This World (Babe) and this Creek Tumblr Prompts collection by scribespirare

cocoacremeandgays’ Three Sides series (quite dense w/ heavy subjects) and beautiful oneshot The Black '81 Ford Thunderbird   

@hagspice​‘s everything, including Your Mileage May Vary ft hot twunky baker Tweek, Let Me Entertain You, Impure Thoughts, and wonderful oneshot High Voltage ft. Craig bottoming for the first time

@otherluces‘ awesome band au fic He’s With the Band - also loved The Best Man. Please check out all the Luces fics - there’s beautiful Clenny 😭 Twoken fic w/ bg Creek Maybe This Time may be my fave

@alice-intheunderworld‘s The Bitch is Back - ghost Kenny, ghost Kenny!!! - (co-written with @jewboy-kahl, whose Head Over Heels I also loved), stoned CATG oneshot I’d Be Your Next Choice, Right?, and v cute flirty tattoo artist Tweek in oneshot Rocket Man('s Ass) - AO3 acct here

Plasma_gore(FanFictionIsMyWeakness) - I Want It To Hurt A Lot, Actually (amazing HS fic with unique, well-grounded characterizations. It feels extremely authentic to the high school/young adult experience, and is also the first time I’ve ever been like ‘Yeah, alright!’ about Staig, which is a side ship), as well as the sequel After Thunder Comes Rain (Please Don’t Let This Hurt Anymore.), and wonderfully filthy smut oneshot Sexcapades

the un-titled series by Aquaphobe - unresolved is the main work in the series and seems to be ongoing. A lot of deep, well-fleshed out Thomas going on here which I am always here for, and I love the way that trope where Thomas is kind of a device to cause jealousy in Tweek is given real grounding. Fascinating stuff going on w/ Kenny’s deaths and the unreliable narration as well

Really love Slowly, Thru a Vector (past ref’d CSA/non-con), and cute and funny oneshot tweek doesn't wanna make some real motherfucking money by Tweekpuncher

DoAsIWill has the great long multi-chapter The Roommate, but my fave is The Strength of Suction ft. Goth Tweek!

zombie fic Destroyer by sadboys. Was also v intrigued by As if I’d tell you. feel like these Tweeks are uniquely well-fleshed out and autonomous in so few words

Craig’s New Car by Pinkclip (also a great Kyle solo oneshot on there) 

@englishknightsky’s sweet and cozy sickfic Get Well Soon, among other oneshots

UrsaMajorStories - love The Gods Watched Over us for a unique take on Incan Craig/explorer Tweek, as well as the locked hypnosis (!!!) smut fic Mesmerize Me

Shared Psychosis - interesting take on another character becoming aware of Kenny’s deaths, also ft. BPD Kenny and psych ward setting which I love

[sleepymarmot]

Glass Onion

Yes, I had been waiting for this movie for a while and dropped everything to watch it the day of release. What about it?

Liveblog

Is it bad that I’m already like “I want all of these people to die”? Well, maybe not Lionel I guess.

Lol a bit of sci-fi to justify the actors not wearing masks for the entire movie

Is the bad CGI robot some kind of Star Wars legacy? :D

Aww, poor Benoit Soo, one of the guests plans to murder the host for real, and invites a detective to frame another guest?

It’s been 30 minutes, can people start dying please (Not Andi though, that’d be uncool)

Love the scenery, and Craig’s outfit is nice

Cool shot where Andi has the same expression as the Mona Lisa

“This is reckless. And you’re gonna get somebody killed.”

Okay, so far we’ve established the motive for: Peg, Duke, Lionel, maybe Claire. What about Birdie? And the random guy hanging around? And Andi? Is Andi automatically disqualified because we saw her destroy the box? That could be a real alibi or a red herring.

Nooo, so awkward, I can’t watch this Oh, he did it on purpose, that makes it a bit less painful

Huh, he didn’t mention Andi in the monologue...

Oh good, exactly an hour into a murder mystery, someone finally died! Yes, yes, of course it was an attempt on Miles’ life, I thought we’ve already established he’s who everyone wants dead. Cool trick to keep Norton among the active cast, I thought it was weird for the most famous actor to play the victim. (It’s nice to see Norton again btw, I wondered a while ago why I hadn’t seen him in new movies recently.)

Lmao the lights! Now this is fun

Oh no, Andi! :(

Plot twist!! Well now he's responsible for an innocent woman’s death, that’s going to give him a motive to find the killer

This shit is wild

Hell yeah she’s alive!!!

Is she going to attack the Mona Lisa?..

I feel bad about the painting. The way this was framed as a triumphant moment has the same energy as that Tumblr post about destroying famous paintings because rich people like them.

Review

[Additional spoilers for Knives Out, The Last Jedi, Midsommar, and The Handmaiden]

The film takes too much time to get started. The characters are too flat to carry it until the plot actually launches. Only gets good after the plot twist. The secondhand embarrassment scenes are excruciating.

The plot: “rich people bad, the detective teams up with a pure-hearted woman of color and helps her win”, take two. Are they going to make a whole franchise out of this? Not a great foundation for murder mystery: just look for the most entitled white man and that’s your killer.

Benoit Blanc himself, though, is a good character to build a movie series around. A classic independent detective with a kind heart and a taste for adventure — I want to see more of him. Many people have said it already, but I want Blanc to replace Bond as Daniel Craig’s #1 role.

The biggest strength of the film were, of course, all of the clever and fun twists and reveals. As you can see from the liveblog, I was misdirected very successfully and loved it every time.

And now for the biggest flaw of Glass Onion in my eyes. Just like Knives Out, this film has an extremely fun outer layer wrapped around the heart that I find a genuine downer. Most of the shallow, annoying characters got off scot-free, and what was harmed the most in act 3 was an innocent painting. I’ve already seen The Last Jedi, I don’t really need the same ending scene as the Canto Bight storyline — except worse because the writer doesn’t see the difference between “rich asshole’s property” and “priceless piece of art”. Which is a bad enough take to see on Tumblr, but straight up baffling to encounter in a high budget movie, written by a professional filmmaker. (Amazing timing, though. How did they manage to release this not only in the middle of the Musk major meltdown/Twitter takeover but also soon after the Van Gogh soup discourse?)

In retrospect it also reminds me of a couple of other famous scenes with a female protagonist involved in destruction, and the comparison is not in Glass Onion’s favor. Midsommar also ends with the heroine and a huge symbolic fire, but it’s a horror/drama, and the event takes not only the lives of those caught in the fire but the soul of the heroine. The Handmaiden, on the other hand, features a scene of art destruction that is genuinely positive and cathartic, but the nature of art and the role it plays in human lives is radically different.

[Edited to add] I’ve seen people who liked the ending defend it by saying that people are more important than art. The thing is, if this were framed as the trolley problem — if destroying a priceless work of art were presented as the only way to save an unknown number of lives — I would feel differently. Instead, the film seems to want the viewer not to value the Mona Lisa just because the rich amoral characters do value it.

In a more Watsonian and practical sense, I don’t see how this is a win for Helen. She was the one who burned the painting. The fuel played only a minor part, the painting would have been destroyed just the same without it (in fact, that’s what expected Miles’ lighter to be for). But even if it were otherwise — okay, so this new fuel can easily cause a fire; well, so can electricity and gas if you’re not careful! Not great for PR of this specific product, but not a death sentence either. Most importantly, it’s the person who committed arson that will be charged for it, not the person who unwittingly provided the fuel for the fire.

I did have a good time, to be clear! Very worth watching unspoiled. The release was timed well: the overall lighthearted tone, clever twists, vibrant visuals (bright colors, stylish outfits, idyllic location) make this a good holiday movie.

I’m having trouble with a numerical grade (the worst part of IMDB and Letterboxd is that they make me care about grading, even though it doesn’t work with how I think about media at all). Glass Onion feels like a 7, but I gave Knives Out a 9 and they don’t feel two whole grades apart.

[louisupdates]

After a series of big signings last year including Louis Tomlinson, 5 Seconds Of Summer and Craig David, BMG is set for another strong performance in 2022.

So far this year, the company has already announced a big deal with Rita Ora, as BMG continues to attract stars previously signed to major labels. Following albums with Columbia and EMI, Miles Kane recently released his first album with BMG, while Johnny Marr’s LP on the label is out this month.

The company’s roster has expanded along with its streaming presence. BMG maintained its 1.3% market share on Track Streams in 2021, according to Official Charts Company data. The company registered 1.64 billion streams, a 4% year-on-year increase.

“We're really pleased with the growth in our streaming business in ’21,” said Gemma Reilly-Hammond, BMG label co-head and vice president of marketing. “It was definitely something that was a key strategic objective for us to do.

“We’ve really strengthened our streaming team. James Farrelly joined us [from Marathon Artists, as director of streaming], which was a great hire, he's been brilliant, along with Simon Rugg [senior streaming manager] who was with us already, he’s also brilliant. They have done a great job of strategising and mapping out the plans. So it's down to roster and strategy, and I think both have come together beautifully actually. “

“We’re really pleased with how we're working with the DSPs, we've got a much firmer footing than we've ever had,” she added. “We're seeing some great results, not just in terms of volume of streams, but also editorial support across all the DSP partners. So yeah, we had a really good year and took a massive leap forward, I would say, on streaming last year.”

BMG had success on DSPs from launch with KSI, as well as growing Kylie Minogue’s streaming business since her signing.

“Kylie has been amazing,” said Reilly-Hammond. “Disco versus Golden, in terms of the streaming, has shown remarkable growth. We’re so happy with the streaming results, it just keeps going and going. The global footprint that's now been carved out - again - for Kylie is phenomenal.

“What we're really pleased with is that we're not just seeing growth in streams, we're seeing very meaningful growth in followers as well. The core audience and the engaged audience has grown dramatically for Kylie on Disco. So we're exceptionally happy with that too. We’re seeing lots of growth across all the key metrics for numerous projects. So we figure that we're doing something right there.”

Reilly-Hammond confirmed that BMG will continue to build the roster with signings in 2022, following a series of big deals last year.

“We’re ambitious,” she told Music Week, highlighting the impact of Duran Duran. In October, the band peaked at No.3 in the UK with Future Past, which has sales to date of 36,160.

“Similarly to Kylie, what we've achieved with Duran Duran and how that's evolved, the results we've seen from that across the world we're really pleased with,” said Reilly-Hammond. “We've had some really strong successes with more to come.”

BMG’s eye-catching signings last year included two global pop acts who are now independent following spells with major labels: Louis Tomlinson (formerly with Syco/Sony Music) and 5 Seconds Of Summer (Universal Music’s Capitol).

“We've started on 5 Seconds Of Summer, we’ve kicked that off already,” said Reilly-Hammond. “We put an anniversary track out in December, which marked their 10-year anniversary. It's a track that went out to fans, and then we'll look to kick everything off fully a bit later this year.”

“We can't wait for Louis [Tomlinson], it’s a really significant signing for us, we're looking forward to bringing that out in the world. So we’ve got lots ahead of us.”

Following a highly successful spell at Insanity, Craig David has now moved to BMG. Ahead of the album, 22, released on May 13, Craig David’s MNEK collaboration Who You Are has peaked at No.39. It has so far spent 12 weeks on the chart (107,930 sales - Official Charts Company).

“Craig is a big one for this year,” said Reilly-Hammond. “Who You Are, the track that we put out last year, has just been really sticky. It's just stuck around and has been performing really well for us. So it's a really good indicator of what's coming and for the album in May. Craig and his management team are fantastic to work with. So we're enjoying that one very much.”

[toondisneypunx]

Movies and TV shows I have been watching recently (March 2022 - July 2022)

1. Dog (2022)

Rating: 8.5/10

I absolutely loved the storyline and especially, the journey. I loved how they showed how emotionally attached the dog was to the owner. I cried at the end of the movie. 

2. Turning Red (2022)

Rating: 9/10

I thought I was going to hate this movie because of how cheesy the synopsis seemed. However, Pixar and Domee She have proven me wrong with this movie. I loved how while the film tackled topics such as puberty and menstruation, it also showed great elements of Chinese culture. All the pop culture references from the time period were also spot-on. 

3. The Batman (2022)

Rating: 9/10

I am personally not the biggest fan of DC Comics, but I quite enjoyed this movie. The directing was absolutely consistent to the tone of the film. The only complaint I had is sometimes the movie felt too prolonged. 

4. Amphibia (Season 3b)

Rating: 10/10

The last of Amphibia was absolutely amazing. The finale made me cry and I’m am glad I got to understand King Andreas’s backstory. 

5. The Owl House (Season 2b)

Rating: 10/10

There's a lot of suspense within the latest episodes of The Owl House. Each episode would leave me wondering what would happen next in the show. I also loved how much development the character Hunter had. 

6. Little Witch Academia (2017-?)

Rating: 9.5/10

While I don’t usually watch anime, I quite enjoyed this series. I loved the story and characters and noticed how The Owl House was heavily influenced by this show. 

7. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Rating: 8/10

I really enjoyed the horror elements of this movie. However, most of the plot was unclear and all over the place.

8. The Bad Guys (2022)

Rating: 7.5/10

I loved the art style of this movie, as well as the concept. My biggest issue with this movie was the predictable villain plot twist, as well as reliance on toilet humour and trends. 

9. The Powerpuff Girls (1998) (Season 1 only)

Rating: 10/10

Definitely one of Craig McCracken’s best works. I loved how even though the show stuck to a certain vibe, it was not repetitive at all. I was unable to watch the other seasons because my Hulu subscription got cancelled.

10. Lightyear (2022)

Rating: 6.5/10

I was excited for this movie because we would understand the origins of Buzz Lightyear, however, it was underwhelming. Even though Pixar usually does a great job with their movies, Lightyear felt bland and did not follow the plot well. The Zurg reveal was also underwhelming. A few positives are the animation style and the voice acting, though. 

11. Stranger Things 4 (2022)

Rating: 10/10

I have kept up with Stranger Things since the release of the second season in 2017. The fourth season, while it was a long wait, did not disappoint at all. I enjoyed all the horror elements as well as the new characters such as Eddie Munson and Argyle. 

12. Minions: Rise of Gru (2022)

Rating: 7/10

I had low expectations for this film because the original Minions movie felt like a cash grab. However, I enjoyed all the 70′s references and actually laughed at a few scenes. I was glad to learn Gru’s origins as well. The biggest downside to this film was the predictable and stale plot. 

13. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Rating: 10/10

I have put this movie off for so long and I finally watched it. I am a huge fan of Beetlejuice and this film captures the same vibe, as well as casting Winona Ryder in it. The film is entertaining and brings mystic to the story. 

14. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Rating: 9/10

Thor: Ragnarok is one of my all-time favourite MCU movies. I’ve anticipated for this movie since it’s announcement and it did not disappoint. I loved the introduction of new characters, such as Zeus and the humour was well fleshed out. 

[fantomcomics]

What's Out This Week? 2/9

Another week, another bumper crop of great comics to peruse!

Norse Mythology III #1 (of 6) - Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell & David Rubin

#1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman and Eisner Award-winning comics legend P. Craig Russell breathe new life into the ancient Norse stories by taking readers through the creation of the Nine Worlds to the epic origin and adventures of Thor, Odin, and Loki all the way to the end of life-Ragnarök. The sea giant Aegir avoids having to throw a banquet for the gods by setting Thor and Tyr off on a wild quest to find a cauldron and pitting our heroes against a multiheaded giantess, fire-breathing sea serpents, and more bizarre mythological creatures.

Hellboy & The B.P.R.D. 1957 Forgotten Lives One Shot - Mike Mignola, Chris Roberson & Stephen Green

Hellboy and Professor Trevor Bruttenholm team up for some quality father-son time at a New York potter's field where they try to unravel the mystery of a spectral being haunting the packed graveyard. Upon arrival, the two of them quickly realize there may be more things haunting the buried poor at the mass grave than meets the eye . . .

Land Of the Living Gods #1 - Isaac Mogajane & Santtos

It is said that when the world dies, the spirits of the first people will return to witness the last days of humanity. Well, the spirits have arrived, and the end is here. But not everyone has given up hope. Naledi, a teenage girl living in the deserted city once called Johannesburg, has always believed that there is a land, hidden away in time where the gods still live. And where there are gods, there are miracles. Perhaps even miracles that are big enough to save our dying planet. And so, after a lifetime of isolation, Naledi will head out into the unknown with little to hold onto but her faith - and her magical pet plant, Buyo.

Faithless III #1 (of 6) - Brian Azzarello & Maria Llovet

The final act of Azzarello and Llovet's erotic thriller masterpiece! Nine months after her mysterious disappearance, Faith suddenly drops back onto the map. While the art world debates whether her disappearance was a piece of performance art or all just a publicity stunt, Faith retreats to Louis's studio to recover from her journey into the unknown. But Ginny begins to realize that something is very much amiss with Faith. Where was she for nine months? And why does Faith suddenly seem so obsessed with Ginny's son Jacob?

Life Zero #1 - Stefano Vietti & Marco Checchetto

Where were you when the cloud arrived? Where were you when the world changed forever? Where were you when people started dying? Ablaze is proud to present Life Zero by Stefano Vietti (Dragonero) and Marco Checchetto (Daredevil, Avengers, Old Man Hawkeye, Wolverine), with colors by Andres Mossa (Wolverine, Avengers, Secret Wars 2099). At the limits between science fiction, action and horror is LIFE ZERO!

Cult Of Ikarus #1 (of 4) - Jenna Lyn Wright & Karl Slominski

Tossed out by her foster family after one-too-many rides home in the back of a cop car, Hunter packs up and sets out on a mission to find out who she is. A mysterious book - her only link to her parents - leads her to discover a covert world of magic and danger running parallel to our own. One punk rock show, two whiskeys, and three vicious vampire assassins later, Hunter's on the run from the ancient, deadly Cult of Ikarus. Hunter came looking for answers. What will become of her once she gets them?

Archie Love & Heartbreak Special - Thomas Pitilli & Various

AN ALL-NEW ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY PERFECT FOR FANS OF ARCHIE'S MODERN COMIC SERIES! Join Archie and his friends on a date night at the Riverdale carnival! First up, Betty wants to know: If Jughead was interested in dating, what would the perfect date look like? Jughead shares his POV on love while Archie and Veronica's relationship is on the rocks! Can Kevin Keller help Archie save his romance? Maybe not, since Kevin's caught up in his own romantic dilemma, and is worried about being in over his head on his own date! Who will end up together? What relationships are on the verge of collapse? Who will find true love?

5 Seconds Before The Witch Falls In Love GN - Zeniko Sumiya

A magical enemies-to-lovers yuri romcom! Solitary witch Meg likes to be mischievous and make trouble in the forest for her nemesis, Lilith the Witch Hunter. But when an altercation goes sideways, and Meg turns Lilith into a cat, a cascade of unfortunate events means witch is now responsible for saving witch-hunter! Sparks were flying between these antagonistic ladies before-what will their relationship be like after this cat-astrophe?

Whatcha snagging this week, Fantomites?

[indigoperegrine]

Esquire Magazine: Ben Whishaw's Disturbed Dramas

The actor has built a career portraying both troubled young men and national treasures. He talks to Esquire about playing junior doctor Adam Kay in the BBC’s adaptation of This is Going to Hurt, why he is drawn to disturbed characters, and not standing still for too long.

Olivia Ovenden for Esquire

Ben Whishaw is in the market for a new way to unwind. When the pandemic took hold in early 2020, he returned from filming in Chicago to London, where he lives with his partner Mark Bradshaw, a composer for film and TV, and, as a distraction from the news, pursued an interest in developing photos. He wasn’t very good at it, but there was something appealing about the way it demanded his total attention. “I’m thinking, maybe I should go climbing?” he says tentatively on a Zoom call from Paris, where he is shooting Passages, the new film from American indie director, Ira Sachs. “Very good for the body. It uses all of you,” says Whishaw. “In fact, I’m going to find a climbing wall and go immediately.”

Climbing is ripe with metaphors for Whishaw’s approach to acting, a career that he treats as a series of challenging moves, coupled with a determination not to look back-wards. When we speak in December, he still hasn’t seen No Time to Die, the third film in which he plays Q to Daniel Craig’s 007.

“I hate watching myself,” Whishaw says. “I’m always so disappointed. I know you just have to get over it and I’m not the only person in the world, but that’s how it feels to me. I do think if you were really satisfied, if you watch some-thing like, ‘Fuck, I’m so good in that,’ then that would be pretty weird.”

Even at 41, there is a teenage restlessness about Whishaw, dressed in a black hoodie and hiding behind contorted arms when reaching for the right words. He has kind eyes but a serious face, though the seriousness is often dispelled by bouts of laughter. He has spent the morning working on a Russian accent and at one point stops to apologise as he can hear the Slavic intonation he’s been practising invading his head. In real life, the actor, whose credentials include studying at Rada and, to great acclaim and aged just 23, playing Hamlet at The Old Vic, rarely strays far from softly spoken RP.

Read the rest at Esquire Magazine.