#guys i rewatched the liberation army arc

[schpeenor]

y’know… spinnerdabi…

guys what if i gave up on drawing forever and instead posted dumb stupid memes and screenshots while preaching they’re spindabi-core.

[longtimewish]

Actually I wanna do a rank of the final arcs for real (spoilers ahead!)

Shogun Assassination: 9/10. The arc that made me start Gintama. I wish I could watch it again for the first time because some moments just don't land the same anymore; the first time I watched 305 I was SOBBING, on rewatch it didn't hit me that much. STILL is the best reveal that Sorachi has ever done, truly peak writing. Because Gintoki's past ends up stealing the arc I had forgotten how awesome Zenzo, Sachan and Shigeshige's storyline was, the second you get them away from Gin they become the coolest supporting characters of the show lol.

Farewell Shinsengumi: 10/10. Literally a perfect arc. Sorachi's best serious arc, I caught up with Gintama when the second episode dropped and following it weekly not knowing what was going to happen permanently altered the chemistry of my brain. This was the real turning point of the story because it showed us that the characters couldn't simply go back to the previous status quo and had to finally face the consequences of their past. The Okikagu and Ginhiji moments seemed straight out of a fanfic at some points (I still cannot believe that Sougo saving Kagura from falling off a cliff even though he was risking his own life - with her even YELLING at him to drop her so he wouldn't fall too - is something that canonically happened). Katsura allying with Kondou and Matsudaira was one the best things to ever happen in the series. This is the third time I watch this arc and Nobume and Isaburo's story still makes me cry. I Just. Love this arc so much.

Rakuyo: 8/10. My problem with this arc is that it is an arc, because there are like three separate plot lines that have nothing to do with each other and could have easily been divided into two arcs. I loved Kagura's development and finally fully learning about her past; Kamui is still the most underwhelming character of the show for me but well his presence was necessary so I'll forgive all the screen time he had. The Joui 4 should've been on the final arc, loved their moment but in retrospective it's incredibly random that the arc about Kagura's family is outshined by Gintoki's high school reunion.

Silver Soul (first cour): 6/10. On rewatch I realized I completely misremembered this arc. In my memories this was a serious arc with comedy moments, when in reality is totally a comedy arc that gets serious at the end. My biggest problem with this part of the arc is that right after establishing Utsuro as the series' final boss, Sorachi introduces as this arcs' villains the Liberation Army, a faction that not only we never have heard of before, but also that has NOTHING to do with Utsuro. So every fight against these bad guys do NOT get our heroes closer to defeating the Main Bad Guy, which makes this whole part feel like a side quest. My second problem was Baka Oji's backstory because what the fuck was that. Takasugi just having the uniform he used as a teen laying around is always going to be funny for me.

Silver Soul (second cour): 6/10. Bansai is unironically one of my favorite side characters and I will be forever mad at his ending :))))). If I already thought that introducing the Liberation Army at the end of the story was a mistake, Sorachi's insistance in showing us the bad guy's sad backstory proved me it was the WORST mistake of the arc (Hideaki you have a fantastic cast of characters teach us more about them instead!!! I don't care for this guy and I won't feel sorry for him!!!!). The fight against Utsuro, however, was very good (gotta love the power of love and friendship defeating evil). Time skip is def the highest point of this arc, I still remember how insane was waiting weekly for the manga to see what had been of a character, truly a time to be in the fandom. However after all the character are reintroduced the quality drops again because for some reason we are delivered some of Gintama's most unfunny and repetitive jokes for like four episodes straight?? (with the exception of the "trial" segment of the last episode, that was funny as hell).

Semi-final: 6/10. First episode SUCKS, truly a low point in Gintama's humor. Second episode, however, was peak comedy and the Shinsengumi's last moment at the centre stage, so I really enjoyed it.

The Final: 8/10. Does anyone remember what a MESS was the publication of these chapters in the manga?? To be honest back then I was a bit disenchanted with the story, waiting months for a bit of a fight wasn't that exciting. So I'd never truly appreciated that this part is actually good, definitely the movie format improved it for me. Also shout out to Gintama for having the gayest final battle of all time, I was never a Takagin girlie but WOW there was just no heterosexual explanation for that scene. The final chapter just being a series of gags about endings didn't do it for me in the manga BUT I think in the movie it was done better and left me a better impression this time. Also I want to kiss on the mouth the anime studio person that added the five seconds Okikagu interaction that basically confirms that their relationship has permanently changed and that now they are actually closer than they were before.

During 2015-2018 I was utterly OBSSESSED with Gintama, like it lived rent free in my mind 24/7, and while I did follow the manga and read the ending when it dropped I hadn't watched the The Final movie (that's been out since 2021 I think??). Anyway flashforward to the last two weeks, my bestie who also had Gintama brainrot and me started a rewatch of the final arcs and yesterday we reached to the ending and WOW this shows is still one of my fav pieces of media of all time and watching it gives me an immense joy that can get me through really bad days huh

[jbk405]

The Ryloth arc and the perspective of war

I rewatched the three-part Ryloth arc of Star Wars: The Clone Wars last night, and for the first time I noticed that this arc seems to deliberately inspect -- and then deconstruct -- the idea of a “clean war”.

The first episode, “Storm Over Ryloth”, portrays a very clear, simple conflict.  Apart from the combatants, nobody else is involved.  The goal is unambiguously noble: Break a blockade so food and supplies can be distributed to the starving locals.  It’s in space so there’s no bystanders, no civilians, and no infrastructure or resources to worry about.  It’s like a naval battle in the real world, out on the deep sea so the only participants are the soldiers partaking in the fighting.  Since we’re the Good Guys and they’re the Bad Guys, all that matters is defeating them because there’s nothing else to worry about.

The second episode, “Innocents of Ryloth”, comes down to the planet’s surface and suddenly it’s more complicated than that.  We’re fighting to liberate occupied territory, so we need to watch out for noncombatants and also for the territory itself.  The Separatists use the twi’leks as human shields around their weaponry, and Obi-Wan Kenobi has to specifically warn his troopers from too much collateral damage in the cities so the twi’leks will still have a place to live after the liberation.  Even though we’re still The Good Guys the cumulative effects of war -- refugees forced out of their homes and starvation from isolation and exposure from broken infrastructure -- are suddenly just as real as the enemy blasters, and so war is more than just killing the enemy.

The third episode, “Liberty on Ryloth”, gets even closer and for the first time asks if we even are the Good Guys.  On the surface it’s easy to say yes, we’re fighting to liberate Ryloth from a Separatist occupation, but do our goals actually align with what the twi’leks themselves want?  Mace Windu has to forge an alliance with the local resistance to finish the fighting, and it’s clear that their long-term goals are not identical.  Who is truly ‘in charge’, the local resistance leaders or the government-in-exile working with the Republic?  Both want the Separatists gone of course, but what about after they’re gone?  Even if you take it for granted that the Republic isn’t as oppressive as the Separatists, what about when the realities of the larger war impact this tiny front?  If the Republic needs to use Ryloth as a staging area for another front, and the twi’leks don’t want to become a base for the Republic Army, will the Republic just leave without complaint?  Or will they suddenly become another occupying power?

Suddenly it’s not all so clear-cut.  Actions -- even the “right” actions -- have consequences that can cause misery and destruction all on their own.  Even in victory the people you’re supposedly fighting for may suffer, and maybe they don’t exactly want your help in the first place.

This arc was based in part on the Liberation of France during WWII and all the complications therein.  The Nazis were obviously the bad guys, so the people fighting against the Nazis were the good guys, but does it just stop there?  The French Resistance and the Free French Forces were often at loggerheads.  Both worked with the Allies, but were also used by the Allies.  The French civilians were often caught in the crossfire between combat forces, and infrastructure was decimated throughout the country.  Many promises for after the war were broken, including by the new French government towards its former fighters (Especially promises for liberty/equality for the French colonies that supplied so many of the Free French Forces).

Starting from a distant remove, a “clean” battle, the arc gets closer and closer until its staring the complicated nature of war right in the face.

[mysterylover123]

BNHA Rewatch: Episode 57 “Rescue Exercises”

mysterylover123

aka The One With Rescue Exercises. Title basically says it all.

Wow what a waste of resources. I’m realizing that Tomura, if he hadn’t been so traumatized, could’ve had a very lucrative job sparing them expensive explosive equipment. What could have been.

Ah Deku is so thrilled. This is his thing. Saving to win.

LOL HUC. They’re such a clever idea. I wish the series used them more. This is the kinda material I signed up for when I started watching BNHA. How to teach being a Superhero.

Ugh why must we do this. I do like the idea that everyone in Class A thinks Deku is some kind of sex god because of this (they’re right). On the other hand, it’s Mineta. So it’s automatically stupid.

Deku is not responding to a hot girl waving at him like this. I think his gay is confirmed.

Uraraka’s annoying crush counter: 12. Deku is again scared of a girl, and Ochako just gets jealous of him.

Nagamasa apologizes to Katsuki so I instantly like him. Also WOW Kirishima may be the only guy in Class A with a waistline more fabulous than Kacchan’s.

Todoroki trying awkwardly to make friends with Inasa Aw.

Ooh Deku notices Tododeku moment?

Jesus Uraraka just ask the guy out already! Or are you actually just jealous that he gets so many hot girls? The way you’re eyeing Camie is making me wonder if you’re really as straight as you claim to be.

“Damn extras” really Kacchan? Kiri and Kami are still damn extras? That’s harsh, man.

Yeah yeah Naga that would be cool if Ibara didn’t have the same power already. Also I kinda ship Nagamasa/Inasa a bit, since Inasa is Deku level of Fanboy over him in this scene.

Deku screws up a little here, but immediately recovers because he’s the best and that smile saved my life and made my small heart grow three sizes that day.

This is clever, of course, speaking to Nana Shimura’s philosophy about saving a person’s heart as well as their lives.

Deku is just the best.

Uraraka’s annoying crush counter: 13. OK she finally gets rid of it in this episode (for now), but seriously, what was the freaking point of all those annoying repetitive scenes reiterating her feelings if she’s just gonna get rid of them in the end? 

I have no idea what the point of this is, honestly, except to prolong the “will they or won’t they” for no good reason. 

It also ends up creeping me out because if that imitation theme, since Uraraka is still trying to be just like Deku and hasn’t learned a goddamn thing.

She’s only bailed out from failing here by Momo, and frankly I think she should’ve had to fail here so she could learn a lesson, like Todoroki and Bakugou, and change a bit, and stop falling into the same pattern. Because she still hasn’t figured it out, as of the time of this writing. Nothing’s changed. She still just wants to be like Deku and hasn’t learned to see him as a flawed, human being who she genuinely connects with and loves on a personal level beyond hero-worship. And that’s a bad thing in HeroAca. So unless the series actually does the hard work of changing their relationship and letting Uraraka mature and learn what it really means to love someone (which is not hero-worshipping them from afar and trying to be just like them, whatever Toga might say), I can’t ship them. I just can’t get behind it in canon. I like the fanon for it, where the positive aspects of their relationship are focused on, with maturity and grace. But in the show…they’ve got a lot of work to do, if they’re gonna be an endgame couple. (And frankly, she has a long way to go before she can supplant Kacchan in Deku’s eyes as his confidante, hero duo teammate, and object of greatest admiration).

Ah Inasa is great at wind!

Seiji is so hilariously out of touch.

Momo is just the best and we don’t deserve her.

Oh look isn’t Uraraka doing so much better now she’s decided to pretend she doesn’t like Deku dammit Ochako why can’t be cool anymore.

HAHA WOW BAKUGOU. I mean, you know what it feels like to be kidnapped and in need of rescuing, would you wanna be talked at like this? OK in hindsight, maybe he’s projecting his own feeling of inferiority onto these people - it’s himself he’s mad at, in the end, after all.

I’m really jealous of that HUC guy right now. Why does everyone get to be carried by Deku except me.

And now Ganga Orca. Ooh that fierce little smile on Deku’s face. I love it.

Episode 57 is ok. It doesn’t entirely feel like a complete episode, actually, because it’s so much a transition between two parts and an exposition dump about what part 2 of the exam entails. But there are some strong moments in it here and there, it’s full of adorable Deku scenes, and moves the plot forward nicely.

BKDK CORNER:

Nothing really, just the usual contrast between the two. Notably, both screw up in the rescue exercises at first, but Deku gets yelled at in return and ends up learning from his mistake. They’re definitely foils, as  always. Though in this arc, Deku has the advantage, because he’s been starting to embrace that other side of himself, and Katsuki still hasn’t.

BEST GIRL OF THE EP: I’m gonna go with Momo again.

RANKER: Weird and Whacky  BNHA institutions

5 The Business Course at UA

4 The MLA (Meta Liberation Army)

3 Hero Online Network

2 JP Hero Billboard Chart

1 HUC

[quirkwizard]

Comment Response #4

From the Love of La Brava, @underwaterrain said: i thought the same at first, that it was a very lazy quirk, so yeah, louder for the people in the back

This confuses me. Are you agreeing with my analysis, or agreeing when I said I first thought it was lazy?

From Math With Quirkwizard, @jordan-angel said: Sir, will that chart be on the exam?

Yes, it will be. There will also be a essay section about the failings of the Meta Liberation Army and the History of Quirks. 

From this, @fishin-lakitu said detective and his sister have very similar quirks but they aren’t the same (i think one is stronger than the other) so I think adjusting them could be fine?

I get that, but what the person was asking for was “the exact same Quirk”. I’m fine sibling having similar Quirks, but I don’t it could be exactly the same.

From this, @exhausted-drone said: Oh my lord

I’m not apologizing for it.

From this, @just-some-random-trash-can said: I think whickh quirk is the more powerful of the 2 depends on the user.Dabi's body is not suited for a fire quirk and that's why it's a disadvantage.If he's body was fire resistant he would be able to use a quirk with a higher flame output for as long as endeavor can use his hellflames making it the superior one 

I always assumed that it was a natural drawback of the Quirk, having it be an exchange of power for safety. Kind of like “Gas” and “Somnambulist”. Yes, “Gas” is more powerful in range and effectiveness, but is considered inferior for the amount of risk it poses to the user.

From Class 1-A: Tiered by Panel Time and Character Development, @thevegetablewhichnoonedaresname said: but can we move Jiro up to mid or high mid? Imo the school festival puts her on maybe Tsu's level. She hasn't gotten a whole lot of time to shine, but when she did, it was notable. Plus, I was just rewatching the first season, and considering none of the side characters do much at all, she's one of the first ones we really get to see in action along with Yaoyorozu and Kaminari and a couple others. I'm also gonna say that I really appreciate your putting Yaoyorozu with Uraraka and Iida. I feel like a lot of people miss her arc, maybe because it's in the background, but it started getting built up in the first season! Anyway long story short I love Momo and thank you for respecting her XD 

The thing about Jiro is that I really struggled to think of anything she did. She fought at the USJ and in Sports Festival, but by that logic, I should bump all the other students up because they fought as well and Jiro still did not do much in either. I was also going by the manga, which she did not do much in either.

And I will never miss out on an opportunity to praise Momo. And no matter how many people seem to hate her, this is a hill I am willing to die on.

From Original Quirk #14

@micshinobi said: S t o n e F r e e !

Actually, the Quirk was much based around Doflamingo from One Piece, specifically his ability to manipulate people’s bodies.

@bignuttie said: Very happy to see your own takes on quirk creation again and not just the marriages.

...While I am the first one to agree that I have been asked a lot of Quirk Marriages, I have done plenty of Original Quirks. This is just one that was not prompted by someone else.

From this, @dwebble-downer said: This is very jojo

The sheer Jojo energy that radiates off that man is nothing short of menacing.

From this, @indecisofan said: Its because some think they are hot. 

At least you are brave enough to say it. But to be fair, Dabi is pretty hot. I mean the guy creates fire, how could he not be?

From “This is Villainy”: A This is Halloween Parody

@rippedteabag said: I love it so much

@ninja-my-cat said: I love the original song but i would absolutely love to hear a cover/parody of this version

Maybe that should be one of my events: compiling an album of all the songs and parodies I did.

From Tail/Creation Quirk Marriage:

@sokumotanaka said: Ojiro is not a nobody, rude

@udonutseeme said: Don’t you dare call him that ರ╭╮ರ

Given how the word “rude” has been used as of late, I’m just going to assume it is a synonym for “honest”.

@shushtaouk said: I always thought that since he can control the intensity of the sound waves his vocal chords produce (taking frequency into account) , he could also logically immitate any voice? (it should be way easier than just make his voice really loud) He could use that to gather information from villain. Tbh sound waves can be very destructive when cleverly used. Wish the author could give him more complex abilities

I don’t think that’s how “Voice” works. Present Mic seems only capable of amplifying his voice, not adjusting it’s frequency. That’s why he’s always yelling and has sound amplifiers like speakers and megaphones as a part of his hero equipment.

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 226: Oh Shit We’re Caught Up

Previously on BnHA: The still-captured Giran warned Re-Des that the League wasn’t going to give a shit about rescuing him, and reminded him that if the League sicced a Noumu on the Army they were as good as dead. But Re-Des was all “nah they don’t have any Noumus to sic at the moment” and give an annoyingly thorough summary of his deductive reasoning. Meanwhile in the town, Kizuki, a.k.a. the Rita Skeeter of BnHA, pestered Toga for an interview. She seemed to have done her research, too -- she knew Toga’s age, and that she ran away from home after graduating middle school. None of Toga’s friends or family saw it coming, apparently, and Kizuki -- whose quirk allows her to turn anything she touches into a bomb -- wanted to know the deal. She allowed Toga to suck up some of her subordinates’ blood, then promptly exploded it. She then asked Toga why she’d abandoned her normal life. In response, Toga smiled one of her crazy smiles and was all “a normal life? what’s that?” Lol okay. Anyway, the last few pages were peppered with as-yet-unexplained flashback scenes, so I’m guessing we’re about to find out just what makes this girl tick at long last.

Today on BnHA: We explore Toga’s backstory in a series of flashbacks. Basically her quirk gave her a fascination for blood which her quirk counseling never properly addressed, and so one day she just snapped and killed a dude. But she was such a cute little kid though. Whatever Toga I still love you. Anyway, so back in the present, Kizuki tries to psychoanalyze Toga and makes her out to be a victim of a society that doesn’t have a place for her. Kizuki says that Toga will become a martyr for the Liberation Army’s cause. But Toga is all “fuck that” and breaks free of Kizuki’s clutches, transforming into Ochako using the last of the blood she took back during the forest arc. Kizuki mocks the seemingly useless transformation, stating that she knows Toga can only change her appearance on the outside. Unfortunately for Kizuki, this isn’t entirely the case, as it’s revealed that while transformed, Toga is able to use the quirks of whoever she turns into. She proceeds to float Kizuki way up into the air and then release her, splattering her onto the ground. Like, she’s definitely dead now, oh shit. Anyways so it’s pretty awesome, albeit grisly as all heck. Now to wait for the rest of the League to follow suit and kick some Liberation Army ass.

(As always, all comments not marked with an ETA are my mostly-unspoiled reactions from my first readthrough of this chapter. I’m caught up with the manga now at chapter 226, which, wait, this is chapter 226. Oh shit lol. But I’m posting this a week after I first read the chapter so any ETAs will reflect that.)

okay so we’re opening with a flashback to a news story or something?

injured but didn’t kill? that doesn’t sound like the Toga we all know and love :’)

hey what the

is Toga not her real name??? didn’t we get confirmation from Gran Torino back during the Pizza Delivery mission? what’s up with that

(ETA: this is really weird, though. they never once refer to her by name during any of the flashback scenes. maybe this is just for stylistic purposes? I don’t think her name is supposed to be any sort of big secret but who knows?)

anyway so yeah

that just means she lub him, guys. that’s just how she is. poor Saito

(ETA: btw Caleb Cook pointed out on his Twitter that this looks to be the Deku lookalike from the previous chapter. so if he was one of AFO’s kids, that’s kind of interesting that AFO had no issue with Tomura hiring his son’s killer later on. I don’t personally think there was any AFO relation though.)

oh wow

rude. that’s my best girl you’re talking about. she’s just a little vampirish, what? Vlad King can make people’s blood fucking do tricks, and you don’t see anyone accusing *him* of being devil spawn. smh

awwwww

cats do this all the time and people fucking love cats! I’m telling you, these are double standards!

oh hey we’re back in the present

so Kizuki is all “so you think you’re living normally? lol you weirdo” basically

and she’s looking at the smiling blood-covered Toga and is all “so this is your ‘true face’“

she’s calling her “the very embodiment of the dark side of superhuman society.” girl what

okay look, I’m not saying Toga doesn’t have a screw or two loose. and yes, she is very fond of blood. but if we’re going to call someone the literal embodiment of the dark side of society then can I interest you in a few other choice candidates, though?? Toga is what we like to call Mostly Evil. there’s a big difference between Mostly Evil and All Evil! Mostly Evil is Slightly Good! whereas with All Evil, well, with All Evil there’s usually only one thing you can do. (accuse them of being the protagonist’s Secret Dad.)

anyways

nooooo my sweet demented child is coughing and teetering onto the ground

jesus it’s almost like she’s been FUCKING BLOWN UP FROM THE INSIDE OUT good grief

and now Kizuki is all “you poor thing.” hey Kizuki you can fuck off right now thanks

HEY

LADY UNLESS YOU WANT TO CATCH THESE HANDS YOU HAD BETTER STEP AWAY FROM MY POOR HURT CHILD AND STOP TOUCHING HER FUCKING FACE

-- oh shit, though!!

[flips open notebook; clicks pen] don’t mind me lady please continue

I mean, I would imagine one of the goals of the program would be to embrace the fact that you’re different. that’s hardly an isolating thing in a society like this one where everyone is so unique that the established word for their superpowers literally means “individuality”

(ETA: on a reread, it actually sounds like the program is intended to do just the opposite of that and the goal is to get everyone to fit in. how the hell they expect to accomplish that in a society where everyone has wacky abilities is beyond me! no wonder the program has issues if this really is the case though.)

but anyways I’m sorry to interrupt, please keep talking about quirk counseling and how it didn’t work for Toga while I sit here and quietly take my notes

you guys oh no she’s too damn cute. I can’t

oh boy

?? and why the hell not, though? sure it might freak some people out that she likes her steaks a little rarer than most, but I don’t see why they couldn’t have accommodated this the same as any other quirk. people donate blood all the time; couldn’t she have gotten a legal supply for her own medical needs? the live animals and such are a bit weird, true, but again, it’s not all that different from what your cat would get up to given half the chance. I feel like they could have found other outlets for her to channel some of that bloodlust, while helping to sate any physical cravings with the aforementioned donated blood supply. if you ask me, whoever counseled her dropped the ball honestly

(ETA: and her parents, too. this makes me want to rewatch the first season of Dexter actually. too bad Toga’s parents weren’t like Dexter’s dad.)

anyway let’s watch society fail poor Toga

well that didn’t take long

see this seriously doesn’t make any sense to me though. IT’S QUIRK SOCIETY, GUYS. NO ONE IS FUCKING NORMAL. WHY CAN’T YOU BE BETTER PARENTS. HOW ABOUT THAT ONE THOUGH

I honestly can’t decide if I’m glad we got more insight into Toga’s headspace, or annoyed that they went and gave her Secret Angst. the problem is I don’t think she needed Secret Angst in order to be a good character, or a likable one. I’m not so sure I really like the implication here that It’s Not Toga’s Fault, Because Society Failed Her. like, I’ve talked about my feelings on this kind of thing before. I prefer It Is Her Fault But She Owns It Though. just because I like when characters take responsibility for their own shit and it’s not just excused or handwaved

but on the other hand, Toga is the type of character who doesn’t need redemption so much as rehabilitation. so it is good to get some kind of an idea as to why she went off the rocker, in that respect. idk. I have mixed feelings, maybe by the time I post this recap I’ll have sorted it out more in my head lol

(ETA: yeah so after reflecting on it some more, it’s more like she was always the way she is, and was just repressing it, and then one day got tired of repressing it. being told she should act one way when she felt like her true self was someone totally different. so it’s not really “society fucked her up” so much as “she was already a little kooky and they just failed to properly address it until it was too late.” so that’s fine, I guess. it’s about what I expected. and hey, at least we got some cute Baby Toga scenes out of the bargain, so.)

anyway now Toga’s making to stab Kizuki and shouting at her to shut up. oh damn

OH DAMN

(ETA: oh you might want to be careful with that Detnerat merch though, lady. seems to be on par with Hammer Tech in terms of reliability.)

DID YOU BLOW UP TOGA’S FUCKING FACE HOLY FUCK

HOLY SHIT SHE REALLY DID

if that’s the case then why are you guys trying to kill her

oh for fuck’s

said sacred text will gloss over exactly how she died though, I suppose? you guys are such fucking hypocrites. you act like you’re the saviors of the world bringing freedom to everyone, but those ideals only seem to hold up so long as they’re convenient. “blah blah blah society is so evil and doesn’t care about people like you. meanwhile we will straight up murder your ass, but never fear, your death will help ensure that no one else has to endure the cruelty of this apathetic world”

like, imagine beating someone with a stick, while screaming at them about how society wants to beat them with a lot more sticks just like this, but not to worry though because their death will make sure no more people get beaten to death with sticks by society. I’m really bad with metaphors you guys, but do you feel me though? just, fuck these guys so hard

I like that Kizuki apparently seems to think Toga is actually dead, though, because honestly. she should be, lol

...or maybe she doesn’t think that, because now she’s asking Toga to correct her if she made any mistakes with her conjectures

and Toga is rolling out of her grasp and ducking off!

GO TOGA!! RUN LIKE THE WIND! I DON’T LIKE HER EITHER! EXACTLY, YOU’RE NOT UNFORTUNATE, THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING. she’s trying to make you out to be some helpless little victim, but it’s like, bitch, she chose to be evil in order to live her best life so go fuck yourself

TOGAAAAAA

THANK YOU!!! FUCK OFF WITH THAT SECRET ANGST BULLSHIT. STOP ACCUSING HER OF FAKING IT LIKE YOU KNOW HER SO DAMN WELL

she says that just as everyone else kisses people that they like, she sucks blood from the people she likes

EYYYYYYYYY

YESSSSSSSSS TOGA THIS IS WHY YOU’RE MY BEST GIRL

oh my god. okay so someone sent me an anon ask early Thursday afternoon (ETA: this was last Thursday April 25; I read the chapter on the 26th) to the effect of “the mystery has been solved; she CAN use quirks”, so I’m getting an inkling that we’re about to see Toga do some zero gravity bullshit and I’m here for it. but unfortunately I’m spoiled for it. please give me time to read the new chapters when they come out, guys. since I’m writing down my reactions, I’m not able to just read the manga on my phone as soon as chapters come out; the whole process takes me a good hour or two usually, and I prefer to read on my computer since the keyboard comes in handy when I’m typing out a novel in response to whatever bullshit is happening lol. so with work and everything, that usually means I don’t get around to it until the late afternoon/evening most of the time

anyways I know I probably sound bitchy but it’s not really a big deal. but I just wanted to bring this up now, because if and when Horikoshi finally reveals Kacchan’s hero name 17 years from now and I get spoiled on that before I read it, that’ll be a different story lol. I will rampage, guys. or more likely I’ll just learn to turn my asks off on Thursdays and Fridays until the chapter is read! anyways!

-- hold up, quick question, can Toga heal herself by transforming into someone else?? it just occurred to me, and I need to know right this instant

so Kizuki is all “I see, you keep a stock of blood!” and I was like “duh” but then I remembered Kizuki didn’t read the Basement arc. so

oh

well that answers that. shoot

-- except hold up, again! because Spoiled Me knows that’s not actually the case! she can use quirks too! so maybe it can heal her. I mean, this lady didn’t even know until one chapter ago that Toga used blood to transform, so I don’t know where she’s getting all this “I’m well aware!” bullshit from. you don’t know shit

so she’s laughing and mocking Toga and saying she probably just wanted to look cute when she dies

...I mean, I was about to get indignant, but in all honestly why did Toga transform into her though?

so basically she transformed into her because she envies her? is that why she listed her on her list of People She Officially Likes?

but her saying that she wants to get closer to the person she loves makes me think she hasn’t given up. if she’s anything like All Might (you know, because everyone is always comparing Toga to All Might), thinking about Izuku is probably helping motivate her to stay alive!

lol, yep

and oh shit I think the thing is happening!!

holy fucking shit, wait up. I was all “so what, she’s going to float her to death?” and then it all of a sudden occurred to me just how fucking deadly Ochako’s power actually is, which I never thought about before because this deadly power was safely in the hands of the sweetest, kindest girl in existence who’s never tried to use it for anything remotely sinister aside from that one time she tried to crush Bakugou with hundreds of rocks

but like, she could float her all the way out into space, if she wanted! but the much more likely option, especially given that this is a series where falling from things actually hurts, is that she could simply float her up and then fucking splatter her on the ground holy shit

aaaaaaand up she goes!

yeah that’s right lady. “only her appearance changes” my ass

holy shit

SHE’S ALREADY SO HIGH, HOLY FUCK THIS IS TERRIFYING SHE REALLY IS GOING TO DROP HER ISN’T SHE

now she’s running around and tagging all the rest of them too!

holy shit!!!! I can’t! my brain’s going like a mile a minute because not only did Toga just get 1000% deadlier, but Ochako did too, retroactively! and just, so much newfound respect and awe for my girls

HOLY SHIT

SHE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW??! you seriously never once realized this this entire time??

quirk counseling has failed her in more ways than one. she could have gone to U.A.! she could have made an amazing hero. honestly she still could aside from the fact that she doesn’t want to. (and also, y’know. the murders. and such)

ahhhh now she’s coughing up blood, so I guess that’s a no on the “can she heal” question then

honestly that makes no sense if it only transforms her on the outside. half of the outside is based off of what’s inside! if you’re changing appearances that should mean your entire body transforms. particularly if she can use quirks! it means her DNA is transforming too

but whatever, for the sake of enjoying the story I’ll just shut up about this now though

anyway so Kizuki is all “it can’t be”, just as thousands of villains have said before her, usually immediately after it was incontrovertibly proven to them that Yes It Can Be Though

she’s asking if Ochako’s quirk got stronger just now because of her fear of death

and Toga is all “nope”

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT

SHE DID FUCKING SPLATTER HER, HOLY SHIT!? HORIKOSHI ��LET’S CHOP OFF ALL FIVE OF HIS FINGERS!” KOUHEI STRIKES AGAIN

and fucking lol at Toga thinking she’s just like Izuku because her body is all beaten up and dying. :’D Deku you’re such a terrible role model

and so I guess she’s fully on board with Tomura’s whole “destroy everything” plan now, then. well shit. I wonder how quickly they’ll be able to heal her up. what with her being so absurdly powerful all of a sudden, I wonder if her injuries will have a lasting effect on her ability to use her quirk, similar to what happened to Aizawa after USJ. might be a good idea honestly

lastly, “cute is evil” makes absolutely no sense, but damned if I’m not 100% on board with that slogan. just something about it that I like. or maybe it’s just due to the context here, lol. whatever it is, I’d buy a coffee mug with that printed on it

and here we go. so that’s it for new chapters until May 10th or thereabouts. if only there was something coming out in the interim that could tide my superhero cravings over. like a new Avengers movie or some shit. lol

(ETA: I have to hand it to Endgame, it’s done its job distracting me and then some. I’ve seen it twice now and it’s just as devastating the second time! I’m just about finished working my way through the five stages of grief now though, so we’re good. but now that I’m done wallowing, I need my villain arc to come along and cheer me up again. come on Tomura. do your thing boy.)

[head-and-heart]

The 100 Highlights - “Sleeping Giants” (5x03)

Hey, guys! It’s Kate back this week to recap the latest episode of The 100, “A Dad Story”, by listing some of my personal highlights of the episode. I have to say, every single episode of Season 5 so far has been super solid and this episode is no exception to that. Can’t wait to dive into this one!

Can I just start off by saying that I love how tastefully they have been implementing music into the show this season so far? I absolutely love Tree Adam’s score and its honestly weird sometimes to think that we had an entire two seasons without his genius, but I also think there’s power in not using any music at all for certain scenes. It creates a different vibe (and it becomes more effective when music is used). My one beef with the score in previous seasons has been that there were certain scenes I felt music wasn’t required, and that scenes would actually be more powerful without it (such as in the scene where Bellamy finds out Octavia is “dead” in Season 4 - I felt the music was detracting from his cries of grief). But I have noticed this season that they have quite a few scenes, compared to usual, where the music is used extremely liberally if not at all! And it gives a different vibe to the show - reminds me of TWD a bit at times. I love it.

Hi there. Charmaine Diyoza is joining Niylah, Luna, and Jaha on the list of characters who have the most soothing/pleasant voices to listen to on this show. It’s hypnotic. Honestly. God.

I’d like to take this moment to say that Emori and Raven’s friendship and trainee/mentor relationship is EVERYTHING!

The dramatic irony of Bellamy and the others listening over the radio and thinking the woman they are talking about is Octavia ... it’s A Lot

“She’s a feisty one. Pretty too.” Yasss that is my QUEEN

I have to say that the new characters we’re getting this season are possibly the best new characters we’ve ever been introduced to. Kara Cooper was amazing. Charmaine is a chilling, smart, yet reasonable antagonist and every line she says is fascinating. Madi has so much character potential, and McCreary is just the right kind of sociopath that can fuck our heroes up and ensure the show is always interesting (and also the kind of villain I feel JR has been so hesitant to incorporate into the show in the past, with the whole “there are no good guys” everything-must-be-morally-grey stance). Not to mention Zeke, who is just like ... everything I could ever want guys. THE NEW CHARACTERS ARE JUST SO GOOD. And the acting has been REALLY strong.

CHARMAINE DIYOZA IS SO FUCKING COOL AND RUTHLESS AND BADASS AND I ALREADY LOVE THIS NEW ANTAGONIST. She manages to be both authoritative and intimidating without ever having to raise her voice or pull out a weapon. That’s power. 

Seriously fam, I can’t get over how awesome these new characters are. We really hit the jackpot this season. They’ve opened up so much room for future story by introducing all these new people.

I really love how they have managed to show just how close the members of the ring are with each other while also demonstrating the tension between everyone, and all the ways that they can push each others buttons. There are so many layers to all the dynamics up in space and I am pleasantly surprised by it because, with how the season has been described, it sounded like the factions were going to be spacekru as a unit vs the bunker vs Clarke/Madi vs Eligius. But by showing all the conflict within these small groups, it creates potential for allegiances to shift around more than I was expecting. The bunker is built upon internal chaos, Eligius is far from being a unit (with a handful of loose canons and Zeke thrown into the mix to switch things up), Spacekru has some conflicting opinions/beliefs, and even Madi and Clarke are not completely on the same page about how to deal with the new threat. It’s really exciting all the different things the writers might do with that.

The scene where they find the cryo chamber felt like it could have come straight out of a scene from the mummy, where one character walks past a coffin and disturbs one of the dead. And when Kodiak’s eyes popped open, it was like a mummy awakening from the crypt. There was just something so eery about the vibe in there. The suspense was glorious.

“Murder ... murder ... arson resulting in murder ... armed robbery ... resulting in murder” I love one (1) comedian

Great-great-grandpappy Blake had four pHD’s. Bellamy is descended from a family of nerds: confirmed. I love winning.

The debate between Bellamy, Raven, Murphy and Echo over what to do with the sleeping army was just so tense and SO GOOD. Every single one of them had a good point. This is The 100 handling moral dilemmas at their finest.

“Clarke didn’t die just so we could go back to the ground and make the same mistakes.” THIS IS BELLAMY AT HIS BEST - THIS IS WHAT HIS ENTIRE CHARACTER ARC HAS BEEN LEADING TO. THIS MOMENT. He finally got to face that sleeping army of 300 once again and had the opportunity to choose differently this time. And he did. isaythatsmybabyandimreallyproud.gif

ZEKE SHAW IS AN ANGEL I FREAKING LOVE HIM. “Believe it or not, this is the best conversation I’ve had in over a hundred years.” HIS SMILE IS THE CUTEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN Y’ALL HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I WANT TO JUST HUG THIS KID

But seriously, let’s talk about Zeke Shaw. Hearing someone take about life before the apocalypse is just ... wow??? I didn’t know how good it would feel to find a character that we can actually relate to, that understands our time. Hearing him talk about being an altar-boy just outside Detroit, being a fun-loving adventure-seeking kid with a Harley Davidson, made my heart warm.

“God, I miss that bike. More than most of the people.” First of all, relatable. Second of all, my heart hurts. When you think about it, Zeke’s story is pretty tragic. Leaving his whole life behind only to wake up a hundred years later to discover that everyone he once loved is dead and the world is irreparably changed. Imagine how fucking jarring that would be? Even if he doesn’t show his sadness much, I’m sure he must be feeling it, if his reminiscing is anything to go by.

HIS SMILE IS SO BRIGHT. WHEN DO WE EVER GET GENUINE SMILES LIKE THIS. LIKE, GOD, I MIGHT BE FALLING IN LOVE WITH THIS GUY

I’m never going to be over how awesome these new characters are fam. They’re so well-rounded already I’m shaking

“Start with how the world ended.” “Which time.” MOTHERFUCKER I’VE GOT CHILLS. HOW TO BE A BADASS WITH TWO WORDS: A GUIDE BY CLARKE GRIFFIN

“I left Clarke behind to die and I can’t - I’m not doing that again.” MY BOY GOT CHOKED UP IT’S BEEN SIX YEARS AND HE’S STILL SO AFFECTED BY HER LIKE F UCK

But real talk, that BR scene was beautiful. Their relationship has been chronically strained in the past but it really feels like they’ve built a true partnership up in space and I’m super here for it. They’re a good team, and they have a bond that kind of reminds me of a sibling-like bond (one that’s not as fucked up and dysfunctional as what the Blakes have). I really loved it.

“There wasn’t an escape pod.” “...Wut” Congrats, you PLAYED yourself. What a classic Murphy move dam

“You know what, you’re right: dying alone would have sucked.” I LIVE FOR THESE SEASON 2 PARALLELS

Real talk though: I may not ship them romantically but Lindsey and Richard have hella good chemistry and Raven and Murphy’s scenes together always pop so this is a GREAT sign for 5x04

“Just breathe” Bellamy Blake is the daddest dad to ever dad you heard it here first

BELLAMY AND EMORI BELLAMY AND EMORI BELLAMY AND EMORI 

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SMILE MORE BRIGHT

“She’s just a kid.” Bellamy, this is the most on brand thing you have ever said.

“Bellamy. Clarke knew you would come.” CUE MY SCREAMING AND FLAILING HOLY F UCK I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DIE WHEN MADI AND BELLAMY MET BUT THE FACT THAT SHE RECOGNIZED HIM ENOUGH FROM CLARKE’S DRAWINGS (and JUST him) OH MY GOD. This is the fanfic meeting of my dreams. 

Madi: *grabs Bellamy’s hand* Me: *dies*

“Madi ... no.” “Madi, no.” I LOVE TWO SOULMATES

“I won’t let anything happen to Clarke. I promise.” Even after all this time he’s always looking out for her. And Madi just trusts him. So easily. Ugh my heart.

BELLAMY STEPPING OUT OF THE HEADLIGHTS LIKE AN ANGEL. BELLAMY HOLDING UP THE BEST DAD IN THE UNIVERSE MUG. BELLAMY BARGAINING FOR CLARKE’S LIFE. BELLAMY HOLDING CHARMAINE’S ARMY AGAINST HER. BELLAMY PERFECTLY BALANCING THE HEAD AND THE HEART. BELLAMY. 

i’m turned on

Let’s be honest though that “Best Dad in the Universe Mug” is the MVP of the show for sure. That mug has singlehandedly carried the whole season. Riley who? Nothing but respect for my new fav character.

No offense but Clarke immediately dissolving into tears on the floor at the sight of Bellamy is highkey relatable. Me too bitch the fuck

SHE.

IS.

BOOM OUT MOTHERFUCKER

okay okay okay I gotta backtrack though because when Bellamy says those words he is literally JUST staring at Clarke, right into her eyes. Because those words were not for Charmaine, they were for Clarke. So she would know just how important she is to him. So she knows that, even though they have aged, their connection has not. I mean, fuck. 

THIS EPISODE WAS SO FREAKING EPIC GUYS. IT WAS POSSIBLY EVEN BETTER ON REWATCH. IT WAS JUST SO GOOD. 

And 5x04 is gonna kill us all so expect some WORDS from me next week. Byeeeeeeee