#he deserved so much better than to be hated because the writers can't write complex characters

[histrionics-and-haloperidol]

My hottest hot take is that George R R Martin has no obligation to finish the Song of Ice and Fire series.

Bro let his whole adult life be consumed by SEVEN thousand-page semi-historical-fiction books with a cast of near thirty well-developed, well set-up, well-characterized characters, and a complex and realistic geopolitical enviroment just because he thought a specific historical event should be better known. He deserves to enjoy the money he made in peace, and a lot of people (hell, a lot of WRITERS) whose only knowledge of writing is barely thought-out fanfiction populated by characters whose whole personality is to be horny for the character the author thirsts over, will jump at his throat and scream about how selfish he is just because he is taking time to develop HIS OWN GODDAMN NOVEL????????????

I know its frustrating. Believe me, I have no life, my only reason to wake up in the morning is that George MIGHT finish the series. But it's HIS intellectual property. HIS book. HIS characters. It came from HIS mind. If he wants to chill and just maladaptive daydream about it for the next decade than that is his right and he doesn't deserve the hate he gets just because ya'll can't accept the fact your favorite fictional war criminal who already has seven novels worth of content isn't getting an end? Well, welcome the plights of fiction fandoms. Sometimes, it's good enough just to not fix what isn't broken.

I'm sure plenty of writers here in tumblr can sympathise with the hope to not be harassed over when the next chapter for your story is coming. Sometimes we don't know. People have lives. Struggles. Health issues. Other interests. THEY ARE NOT YOUR FAITHFUL AI SERVANT. THEY DON’T PULL STORIES OUT OF THEIR ARSES. THEY HAVE TO THINK IT, THEN MAKE IT, THE EDIT IT, THEN SEE IF THEY LIKE IT. ITS A WHOLE PROCESS.

We are so used to immediate consuption that we cannot concieve of people taking time to perfect a craft that's meant to be enjoyable to them. And if we're honest, Martin has weathered a lot of fucking bullshit in silence. From fans, to editors, to bosses, to showmakers, he has had his fair share. Much more than its ok to take in silence. Please realize that just because something is out for the public to consume it doesn’t mean that it belongs to you.

[andreal831]

i've been reading your metas and i just love them! i wanted to ask if you had thoughts on valerie and nadia as they were some of my favorite characters from later seasons of TVD and i was shocked to learn that people dislike them (especially valerie!).

also, i read one of your cami metas and i agree that it was so dumb she died when she clearly had more story to go. s5 especially drove me up a wall because i think TO s4 would've worked to set up Legacies. they didn't need to kill hayley and i was so annoyed that they brought caroline in. cami being the angel on his shoulder in the finale should have been utizilied more.

also legacies erasure of hayley as hope's primary parent drove me up a wall and is a cardinal sin of that show. i am starting to suspect phoebe and the show people had a falling out of some kind because legacies barely mentions her. at least freya gets some cute moments (freya being the one to put hope to sleep for transition is beautiful)

Thank you for reading my posts! I'm glad you like them!

I'm not even surprised people don't like Valerie and Nadia. They are both complex women but not in the "Katherine-badass-way" per se. I've talked about before how the writers and fandom tend to only like one type of strong woman and hate on women who dare to be anything else, you can find that here. Valerie also has the unfortunate role of playing a character that challenged a Caroline ship.

I personally really enjoyed Valerie's character and didn't understand how they didn't bring her back or at least mention her since she was the last known syphoner, except for actual children. I like to imagine she's the one Hayley found when she was saving the Mikaelsons. I'll admit, when she first came on screen, she wasn't my favorite. I didn't care for the heretics initially, but they really grew on me which is a testament to the writing/acting.

Valerie goes through so much, being forced to miscarry and killed, then forced to live and travel with the man who made her lose her baby. She is then stuck with a family she doesn't really like or agree with. When she is finally reunited with the man she loved, he is in love with someone else. Despite all of this, Valerie still protects Caroline on numerous occasions and helps deliver her babies.

I didn't like that she kept information from Stefan, not giving him the choice on his life, because she didn't want to lose him. But I can understand it. She had lost everyone at that point and didn't want to be alone.

I think she really was just underutilized in TVD and people didn't like her for getting in the way of Steroline. I can't really find legitimate complaints about her. Most of the hate posts for her come across as immature. I haven't seen one post that talks bad about Valerie that isn't clearly a Care stan (and this is coming from someone who loves Care and Steroline). Valerie never did anything worse than most of the fan faves, but because her actions are ones associated with women more than men (less stabbing and more emotional manipulation), the fandom judges her for it. According to the fandom, she would have been better of running Care through with a coat rack. Oddly enough, Caroline and Valerie aren't that different.

I can't even think of a reason to hate Nadia. I even searched for people hating on her and can't find it. I definitely believe you that it exists, but what is there to hate? That she loved her mother so much she chased after her for 500 years? That when she found her, she was treated terribly but still protected her? She was a good character and deserved better than Katherine.

Speaking of overhated, amazing women. I'm tagging the post I think you are talking about here. I would have honestly been fine with everyone still dying but Cami living and taking care of Hope at the school. A vampire therapist is really what that school needed, especially one as amazing as Cami. I mean if you can handle Klaus Mikaelson, I think she can handle teenagers.

Season 5 just showed that the writers didn't care about the story, they wanted rankings to launch Legacies. What was the point of having Care there? She wasn't even in Legacies until the very end. It just undid so much character development for everyone. The writers attempted to play both ships (they did the same with haylijah/jayley) to get maximum fan satisfaction, and in the end it just destroyed the plot.

Legacies erasing Hope's family is a big reason I've never watched more than half of season 1. Whether you love them or hate them, Hope's family is more than just Klaus and they played a big role in her life. Especially to her since Klaus was hardly around. He was essentially a stranger to her. I hated even in Season 5 how they are all happy at Freelin's wedding. If my mom had just been murdered, I wouldn't have been able to smile two days later, no matter how much I loved my Aunts. Hayley was just used as a prop in Season 5 and even less in Legacies.

I first watched a couple of episodes of Legacies before watching The Originals and I thought Hayley died years before Klaus because of how Hope was grieving Klaus but seemed to not even think of her mom. When I watched all of TO, I was so angry. They died days apart and Hope seemed to be completely over it.

There's definitely rumors about Phoebe and the writers having issues. I tend not to believe rumors but there's a lot of evidence. First, Daniel couldn't shut up about the issues he and the other casts were having with the writers (namely the character destruction, the rush of the seasons, the fact that there was supposed to be 6 full seasons, and bringing on outside characters which took away their screen time). This is even more evident by the fact that Phoebe was a "guest" in Season 5. She clearly didn't want to be there.

I believe it was DRR who stated that Phoebe refused to allow her likeness to be used and the fandom ran with the idea that Phoebe somehow bought the rights of Hayley (she did not, that would be public record). I think this angered the writers/producers even more so they went out of their way to cut Hayley out, even when it wasn't necessary. They clearly could mention her, since they did. But they chose not to because they are petty. They also have the whole fandom blaming Phoebe so they could just sit back and enjoy it.

Thanks for bringing all of this up. I love talking about TVDU women <333

[arttrampbelle]

Don't buy or go by anything nrs be selling in mk12/mk1

It completely ruins all the characters,lore,and build up over the 30+yrs it's been around.

Go by your own stories and be done with it.

Rejecting "canon" and not buying their games is the best thing to do now as a fan.

Besides we got more important things to do than that rn. (Even as a mk fan i hate what they are doing to shang tsung. They are legitimately ruining him by trying to make him like every other fucking character BUT his own)

So yeah your hcs now? Cool,not my cup of tea nessicarly,but I'd sooner take them than whatever nrs is doing atm. For the most part i like what people be cooking.

Because guess what? Fans know they character sadly better than the current writers. Why? Because they give a fuck.

Not all of them truly encapsulates the character. But by god they get his gusto,his energy,and his hutspa so to speak. They understand the fundamentals and core basis of the character. They understand nuance and not making him to be a copy paste of every other villain and antag in the Franchise.

AND THEY DON'T BLAME HIM FOR THE CURSES AND PROBLEMS HE'S IN. mortal kombat is a brutal world. But nrs sure dont fucking act like it. Shang tsung is a fucking survivor. Period. Dark magic is actually honestly in that world,at least it makes sense to be. The fucking most destructive,easy,force. And what better way to dispose of a foe? You guessed it,soul magic and spells to absolutely obliterate your opponents.

Im not saying he didn't have consequences. Oh of course. But nrs writes it now so fucking cheesy and takes the easy route.

Yes he has set backs. But it's not because of his own doing. No. It is technically the gods fault. Thats how it's been. It's actually pointing out that he was put into this position. And they were mad he took a different path. It's legitimately going against what you are told you should do. And doing what you personally feel is right for you not what society or peers tell you is "acceptable"

God ffs people. Shang tsung is so fucking luciferian coded it's not even funny. But y'all at nrs misinterpreted that (and some fans too).

Like i could go on about the complexities of shang tsung and how i feel fucking nrs/boon/and the like do not fucking deserve such an amazing and deep antagonist like shang tsung. But I'd be here all day.

I'll leave it at.

Mk12/mk1 shang tsung sucks outside of his voice and aesthetics. Nothing else of the character is truly worth it. Some ideas for him are best left to be in the draft paper. And never touched until someone with a brain,media literacy and respect can't write him. Whomever that may be.

He can be driven to madness by soul magic. But that's not what kickstarts it. No the gods put him in a corner and the only way out was to rip n tear. Literally. Like he made his hell his home. He was emperor of his dominion. He is lord of souls(basically). Like he said "fine you want bad!? I'll show you bad!!!" And bad he became. But deep down,he doesn't want this. He wants peace. He wants to live,he can't. Because the gods won't let him because he plays the game better than them. Like i have so many fucking ideas for him and i feel that everytime i see someone,fans or offical sources say something that just feels like it could have been for another character and fits another character better. It pisses me off.

Like shang is amazing,but either actually write some for him,and his character,that actually fits or make an oc or write it on another character.

Ugh.

Anyways enough rambling.

Some fans and especially netherealm studios don't fucking deserve this character

I just have so many ideas. And so much to say about this characters persona and the intricacies on shang's mind and good fucking god i wish i could safely infodump with someone. Especially on HOW HE BECAME WHO HE IS AND HONESTLY I HAVE SUCH A CAREFULLY CRAFTED BACKSTORY FOR SHANG TSUNG. And how his well magic works and WHY he's such a master at it. I wish i could infodump with someone fr.

I have so much love for this character. I wanna write for mortal kombat so bad. But at very least for shang tsung.

Good lord.

[shifuto]

felt like writing an actual post after getting through the entirety of Sadistic Beauty + the 2 epilogues in one sitting.. and this is going to look pretty rough because I've been awake for 2 days lmao

(this will be mainly about the Side B story)

the whole series basically revolves around Byun Minho. He's a piece of shit. He's insecure and immature as fuck, he has an inferiority complex and won't measure his words when putting others down so that he can feel better about himself (spoiler alert: it doesn't make him feel better). Every single person in his life dislikes him or come to dislike him at some point. He is utterly alone, but he still brags and cusses, manipulates and lie so that he can get on top. Cool

the long story short of how everything came to be: he and Duna end up dating at some point (because she used to be insecure as hell and, naively, took his "critique" to heart - when he was just doing that out of jealousy since she [and literally everyone else] was a better writer than Minho), he shit talks her in front of others behind her back and that's it for their "love". Duna end up involved with Wookyung (who was eying her from the start and hated Minho's guts) and gets into BDSM thanks to him, yay \o/. Stuff happens and Duna ends up getting an award and, instead of feeling happy for her, Minho is sulking and crying like a baby because he lost. Wookyung sees that and flips the fuck out: that starts this 7 years long obsession of his

throughout the whole story Minho is an absolute piece of shit, who doesn't change, then it looks like he changed, but then it does it all over again. He's impulsive too and that's why he's broke, he keeps on wasting money he doesn't have, he's hoping to get a job if he keeps on buttering his boss up

enters Cha Wookyung, again. He's also a piece of shit. He's a batshit insane piece of shit. He knows Minho's strengths and weaknesses and just exactly how to strike his ego to get him. Without him knowing his involvement, he gets him to quit his job, traps him with promises of money and fame, isolate him from others and strikes. He rapes Minho once but Duna saves him. They get back together briefly, but Minho distances himself when Wookyung revealed he slept with her back when they fought. And this whole drama helped Duna to actually break free from both of them. She never felt loved and she knew she deserved better

at one point, Minho is completely screwed. He has nothing and no one to turn to, and he has no money so he would end up in the streets. Wookyung promised he would help as long as Minho reached out first, which he does

their descent into madness is steady then..

Wookyung thoroughly breaks Minho, physically and mentally. He pushes his "love" and affection as much as he could, through violence and money and more, but he couldn't have Minho's heart - at first because of Duna, but then he realizes that he never really stood a chance (Minho is straight) and he would not have him if not by force. Minho fall into a depression that drives him to attempt suicide, and Wookyung deals with feelings he couldn't understand, things that could not be quenched by power and money alone: how could he make Minho love him back, even though he thought Minho's feelings towards him didn't really matter as long as they were together?

both were deeply lonely, and there was some comfort knowing they had each other but this was not enough at all. Wookyung can't stand the thought of Minho dying (considering he had to see his body) and set him free

but it was already too late. They were already enmeshed irreversibly

there's no happy ending for them. And how they have "changed" happened in such way that would leave them in a codependent relationship with each other because they both feel isolated from their peers, and being together was better than loneliness, even if they were bad for each other

Minho doesn't love him back, but I can see Wookyung becoming someone even more important to him over time, even though he was coerced the whole time

it's likely they'll never experience this kind of twisted connection, devotion and obsession with anyone else but each other, it's likely they will never find that kind of unconditional "love" in other people, either. They can heal, for sure, but that would mean part with each other and I don't think they would want that after everything

this is a great example of two fucked up people so bad for each other but it's best that way so they don't get anyone else involved in their relationship or with themselves

...

I ran out of batteries but I really loved their characterization. Minho is a prideful arrogant dipshit who's turned into a submissive through violence and humiliation; Wookyung is a possessive sadist who people-pleases and pushes his affection forcefully onto whoever he is obsessed with

it's interesting seeing their personalities changing as the story goes on.. a lively Minho eventually stops resisting or caring, falls into addiction, eventually tries to kill himself; a confident Wookyung becomes more and more insecure and unstable, throwing his own career away, much like what he's done with Minho

and another surprising aspect is how, as the story progresses and their feelings get more complicated, the S&M aspect fades away - understandably so, considering a lot of the BDSM in this story is not truly a kink but a tool used for control, coercion and violence. With less need for control, submission and dominance are not as necessary or visible anymore

[merakiui]

For the Ask Game! 🥺🙋‍♀️🌞🤯⏳

if you haven't answered them already 👉👈 I hope this isn't too much for you! 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

It's not too much at all!!! I'm happy to answer more emojis. :D thank you!!!

(ask game)

🥺 Is there a certain type of moment or common interaction between your characters that never fails to put you in your feels?

Oooo there are too many!!! To name specific instances, Riddle's relationship with the reader in DRU always tugs on my heart. He worries so much for her and it's obvious he cares immensely. The same goes for Azul and Cater. All of these people care for Reader, but Reader doesn't care enough for herself. T_T additionally, I like when characters have a chemistry that is so good that they can just share a look and instantly connect and be on the same wavelength as the other. Like Jade and Reader in the upcoming fic. They're both aware that they're using the other for their own benefit, but that doesn't stop them from being friends. And they understand each other (to some degree) because they're both freaks. They play off of one another so incredibly well. I love it. >v<

Also, the trope of "what could have been had [xxx] not happened" always makes me weak. Sea Glass (and its sequel Moonbroch) delve into this trope a lot, especially with Reader's relationship with the man they murdered. At first you may hate him for what he did, but then the fic reveals more human facets to him and suddenly he seems so much better than the trio. It hurts even more when you note the genuine connection he had with the reader before it was compromised.

I also like the interactions Scaramouche and Reader have in another upcoming modern au fic. He's like a grumpy, hissing cat who slowly but surely learns to accept and open up to someone. The entire fic revolves around Scaramouche and his struggles with his humanity and emotions and trauma. He meets his very first friend in the last place he'd ever expect to make a friend. It puts me in my feels every time Scara realizes he's having fun talking to the reader and he quickly stifles that emotion because it's another reminder that he's human. >_< aaaa he just deserves to be loved forever.

And Bittersweet Secret!!!! Reader's relationship with Xiao is so tragic. To a very small degree, Xiao knows it's wrong to confine someone, but he can't let the reader go as they're the only good thing in his life. Without them, everything is dark and lonesome. And the reader is trying so hard to make Xiao happy and get him to smile while living with the fact that they will remain his captive forever. It's such a sad dynamic. :( they both deserve to be happy.

🙋‍♀️ Do any irl people know you write fanfic?

Just one person and it's my best friend. They've listened to my ramblings about various fic ideas before, and I'm always grateful when they exchange ideas with me despite not being into Genshin or twst. :D

🌞 Do you have a preferred time of day to write?

I like to write at night because that's usually when I'm most inspired and focused, but sometimes I'll write in the afternoon if I'm able to.

🤯 What's a genre you struggle with as a writer (ex. romance, action, etc.)?

This may not be a genre, per se, but research papers. Truly the bane of my existence. >:( it's not that I struggle to write them; I just don't enjoy writing them. ;;;;

⌛ How long does it take you to write a fic, or a chapter?

It depends! I wrote Mother in just two hours because I was so inspired after listening to haikara. Conversely, it took nine entire months to write Azul thought 4, whereas it only took a few days to write Azul thought 2. >_< it might just be a matter of how inspired I am, how determined I am to finish a fic, how much free time I'm afforded to write, and also how complex the plot is. Sometimes it takes longer to write fics with complex plots or scenes.

[thechaseofspades]

For your choice of violence, 13, 14, 24???

13: worst blorboficiation

I'm not gonna say this is bad, because that's rude. I will say that I don't understand it. Let me make that very clear.

I do not understand Poe De Spell. I do not really like his character in the show for what he represents. I do not understand why his tumblr time to screen time ratio is so skewed. I just don't get it.

Now, Magica De Spell, I appreciate her role as a villain, and I get that she's very well done as a character. But "for some reason" (I know the reason, I just pretend that I don't) I just can't bring myself to like her. She's such a good villain. I hate her. She's so mean to my favorites. She's so good.

Magica absolutely did not need a tragic backstory. I do not care. I will not budge from this. We spent 73 episodes seeing her do nothing except be funny and be horrible. She is an abusive person. This is canon. This is not something I'm headcanoning into the show. It's how they portrayed her over and over and over. We spent literally the whole show on this point. She does not deserve sympathy from anyone for anything.

So why does this all matter? Because that's what Poe De Spell represents to me. He exists in the show solely as Magica's tragic backstory and why she wants to exact her grim revenge on Scrooge McDuck in the first place. We did not need to know this. This did not need to exist. Poe did not need to exist.

Especially when it's literally the penultimate episode of the entire series. This concept would never appear again, and probably never ever will ever be explored in anything official ever. So why does it exist? To make me feel sympathetic for Magica? To make Scrooge look evil for the plot? To put Martin Freeman in the credits?

It's a fan theory that Lena eventually finds Poe and he becomes a sort of new parental figure for her. It's AU stuff. Lovely. Whatever. But I would much much rather her just leave all of that in the past and just enjoy her new life with her new family. That's what's best for her.

Never mind I've decided that it's actually bad and not just that I don't understand it. Sorry for lying on accident earlier.

14: that one thing you see in fics all the time

Characters elaborate way more than is natural in conversations. Tighten up those sentences. If you want to explain to the reader a complex array of emotions, you can do that without having the character say it directly.

Violet is particularly difficult with this in fics. Sure, she speaks differently than most other characters, but not to the degree that writers will make her.

A lot of times, I'll see her portrayed as overly verbose. Fanon Violet is incapable of using a single contraction, let alone saying a full sentence in a way that is simple, snappy, and pleasing to the eye/ear. We've got to remember that she is just a kid, and will talk like a kid.

My workaround is that when I write out her thoughts and feelings outside of dialogue, that's when I break out the verbose stuff. I also like to think that she simplifies her language when speaking for the people around her to ease communication with others, but that's drifting into hc territory.

24: topic that brings up the most rancid discourse

Oh, absolutely the infamous Della and Louie discourse. There are so many people so passionate for their blorbo and it's just augh. I think it's unlike any other conflict in the entire show. I'm tired of it. They were both wrong. They were both misguided. They made up. They're both better off for it. Leave me alone.

Thanks for the ask!

[dean-winchester-is-a-warrior]

Carla is such an irritating character. I know they want to sell her as a strong independent woman who takes no shit from anyone but all I see in her is an arrogant and entitled one who thinks the world revolves around her. No matter how much shady avery is, as his wife she is a total bitch to him. Youe husband is in a critical financial condition which he might have hidden from you because of embarrassment and inferiority complex (he clearly has one because of the more attractive and daring ex-husband 😆😆), you should understand his stress and try to sit together and talk about it rather than kicking him out of the house and bitching about him with your ex-husband 🤣🤣🤣 Her whole attitude is like- you lied to me, now you have to win me back by worshiping me day and night else I will open the option to go back to my daughter's father who is clearly a better one. Like- I really want her to learn some lesson at the end.😅

Seeing the scene between Avery and Carla gives me the idea of what might had happened between Beau and Carla. Something like this:

(Beau lying in the couch depressed, a half-empty bottle of whiskey in front table, eyes puffed, unruly hairs all over his face, looking terrible (and incredibly sexy 😍)

Carla- So this is it, you won't get up and drink the whole day? Till when it is going to continue?

(Beau ignores her)

Carla- I know you are sad, but you can't do it all day, you are setting a bad example to Emily. Get your ass up and go to work.

Beau - Just... Leave me alone.

Carla (taking a huge breath, folding her arms, wearing a typical bitch face) : Okk. If that's what you want, Emilyyyy pack your bags, we are leaving.

Emily- Wait what?

Beau ( jumping up) - Wait what?... That's not what I meant... Hey hey where do you think you are going?

Carla (Extreme bitch face) : Look, I get it... You are hurt, you can't forgive yourself and all... But I cannot stay here all day watching you sulking. I feel strangled here. I need space from you. Emily needs a dad who takes care of her well-being and not drowning in bottle. So I need to leave.

(Beau continues staring in shock as Carla goes away dragging Emily, to see a man with more money, enthusiasm and attractive career because she deserves better)

Sorry for writing this mindless essay but you know, could not resist.🤣🤣 I would like to see some flashbacks of Beau's past although not sure if it is a plan of the makers. There is a lot to unveil on Beau and without that he keeps on being an underused and lazily developed character which is introduced only to increase the charm factor.

Hey lovely, Nonny!! Sorry, it's taken me a couple days to answer!! Real life during the holiday season can get a little nuts!! 😊

Gonna put my answer under a cut cause I ramble a bit! 😆

I agree with most of what you said here. Carla does seem incredibly self-involved. I feel like the scenario you presented (very well, btw! 👏👏) is probably quite close to what actually happened between her and Beau. And likely she saw it as "tough love", but sometimes tough love isn't love at all, just a way for you to not have to care.

I think though, that part of the reason she's being the way she is with Avery (who, I can't really feel sorry for no matter what - hated him from the moment he let Emily wander off on her own at the end of Episode 2!) is because she's starting to realize just how stupid and short-sighted she was to walk away from a man like Beau just because he was going through a bad time. So, those feelings combined with Avery's duplicity and general skeevy-ness is making her realize her mistake.

I disagree though that the writers don't plan on giving us more backstory on Beau. I definitely think they will. It's only episode 10 this week after all. Then they're going on winter hiatus until January 4! And I just KNOW they're gonna leave us HANGING ona giant cliffhanger!! 😭😭

But, I digress! 😄

We have been getting more and more info about Beau's past as we've gone along, including the info that Emily found last episode. I'm sure the writers just don't want to give it all away at once. I can appreciate that.

And I think Beau is already much more than just a character that's there to increase the charm factor. 😊 I mean, he's definitely charming, that is a part of his personality. *Swoon*

But he's also shown himself to be a bit of a badass, without being an asshole who goes in guns blazing every time. He's shown compassion for criminals, and friends alike. He's a father who obviously adores his daughter and admires her intelligence and independence, but is desperate to keep her safe.

There are lots of aspects of his character that have been revealed. We just gotta be patient to find out more about what he's been through! And like you - I'M DYING to learn more!! 😍😍

As always, thanks for chatting Big Sky and Beau stuff with me! ❤️

[killing-your-favorite-characters]

I just got to the scene in Explorers that inspired my post saying that Chatot was badly written. And now that I have it on my mind, I am extremely angry about it. Like, I wasn’t even reading the dialogue, but just knowing that’s what was written still made me mad.

Anyways, have a nice rant under the cut.

So the scene in question is the one where you and your partner are trying to convince the guild that, hey, Dusknoir is a bad guy and Grovyle’s the good guy and you need the Guild’s help to prevent the planet’s paralysis. And the thing that really makes me angry during this scene is when, after you’re done talking, Chatot refuses to believe that Dusknoir’s a villain. Now, I understand why this was put there story wise. Mostly just to help establish that Wigglytuff is bad*ss. But, it makes absolutely no sense that Chatot is the one who doesn’t believe your story.

There are like, ten members of the Wigglytuff Guild. Anyone of them could’ve been chosen to disbelieve this story. Of course there are some where this would’ve made no sense, like Sunflora or Bidoof. There are two I can think of that easily could’ve been given this dialogue instead.

The first is Loudred. Loudred has been shown to not really believe in the player and partner. (Such as when he remarks that it would make more sense for the player and partner to not recognize a pokemon’s footprint than Diglett, or when you absolutely fail the sentry duty mini game. I did that once (embarrassingly not on purpose) and I highly recommend doing it. It’s pretty easy, and if you still want to get items and poke for the day you can always just reset. I advise doing this on a sentry duty day after the tutorial. The tutorial’s really long and kind of unnecessary so don’t put yourself through the pain of having to sit through it more times than you need to.)

The other person is Corphish. Corphish is basically this game’s Bunnelby. He doesn’t really add anything to the story in the slightest, and if you took him out there wouldn’t really be any consequence. So giving Corphish this dialogue would actually make him a better character. (I feel like Dugtrio might also work, but I dunno. Loudred and Corphish were the first two that came to mind.)

Anyways, this is supposed to be about why I think Chatot was probably the worst person to have not believe the player and partner’s story so I’m gonna get back to that.

The reason why I think Chatot not believing in this story is an example of bad writing, is that when you compare it to some of the main things he does in the it makes absolutely no sense. And, funnily enough, the first example I have can also be used to explain a part in a story where Chatot is really well written. (But I’ve already gotten distracted enough.)

The first example is Bidoof’s Wish. After Snover asked Bidoof to explore Star Cave with him, Bidoof went down to ask Chatot for a day off. When he claimed his stomach hurt, and that’s why he wanted a day off Chatot was very suspicious. And for good reason as later on in Bidoof’s Wish it turned out that Snover was actually the leader of a gang of bandits and he had lured Bidoof to Star CAve in order to steal his money. But, before they could do so the entire guild entered and fought off the bandits.

After the battle it was revealed the reason why the guild was there in the first place, was because Chatot was so concerned with Bidoof’s behavior that he talked the Guildmaster (and the guild) into going after him. And just to have it sink in, I shall repeat. Chatot was so concerned by Bidoof’s behavior he decided to follow him to make sure he was okay.

Now, there are two more examples. And surprise, surprise, they both happen in Brine Cave. (I think about Brine Cave WAY too much.)

So when you reach the halfway point in Brine Cave, Team Skull come in and steal the partner’s relic fragment. And while they’re gloating they mention that they were the ones that made the player and partner’s attempt into getting perfect apples fail. And they then proceeded to run off. And after they ran off, Chatot was so furious that he took off after them. Alone. In a cave that he almost died in years before. Despite the fact that Wigglytuff, his best friend and partner, who he respected greatly, told him to stay with the Player and Partner.

And the last point is that, y’know. He almost died saving the Player and Partner from an attack. And that he had done the same think years ago with Wigglytuff.

So, if Chatot did all of these things, why the HELL wouldn’t he believe that Dusknoir, the guy who literally kidnapped the player and partner right in front of their eyes, before anyone could fight back, was a bad guy. He was so quick to change his mind about Team Skull, and yet he basically had to be forced into believing Dusknoir sucked?

I call bullshit.

[mrscolesprouse]

CONTAINS SPOILERS EUPHORIA!!!!!

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Cassie's mum is the other woman from the story of Maddy's boss. That's why she reacted the way she did saying its the principle.

I also afore Fexco. I can't wait for this week's episode just for them.

My heart is breaking for Rue but Jules shouldn't have cheated. This show makes you feel more conflicted than Riverdale. How is that possible I don't know.

That scene with Maddy broke my heart, she really deserves better.

What do you think about the suitcase of drugs, I don't think they've been flushed?

WOW i love this okay!!

1. okay i think cassie’s mum being the other half is really really interesting and i didn’t think of that, but the only thing is that i feel like there might be a bit of a difference in age but that’s so interesting to think about perspective.

2. I LOVE FEZCO! he deserves the whole world and so much better than what he gets now. and his and lexi’s dynamic is so cute and interesting and i hope they explore them more without rushing and automatically making them a couple.

3. see this is where i feel different about the cheating thing with riverdale. cheating is wrong and that’s that. but because the writing is significantly better than riverdale (say what u want about sam levinson, he’s still better than the whole writers room of riverdale) the cheating was done in a way that…okay this is going to sound awful…but makes sense…kind of. i’m not excusing the cheating. she should not have done that. but you could see it was building up to that, especially with rue’s relapse at the end of last season getting her mixed up in drugs again and all the flirty comments between jules and elliot. the writing of riverdale made *throws up in mouth* archie and betty’s betrayal so much worse because it just wasn’t done well, wasn’t set up well, no build, no chemistry, it just didn’t make any fucking sense.

that’s why we feel so conflicted about euphoria’s cheating, because everyone is going through their own shit, rue and jules’ dynamic right now is not healthy, nor is rue and elliot or elliot and jules. euphoria, even if u think it’s radical in its content (which it really is not, my high school is more like euphoria than riverdale but then again nothing is like riverdale) gets the complex and difficult emotions of teens correct. it understands the complexities of a teenagers’ situations and that’s what makes it conflicting. because you can recognize when the characters have done something wrong and you can feel for them when they’ve received something they don’t deserve.

rue being a drug addict is the toughest of them all because of how she treats her loved ones. we love her and we want to root for her but (as she’s pointed this out) you hate her at times because of how she acts, and that makes you feel for jules, who, even with her own shit, loves rue in her own way. but because you feel for jules, you can recognize why she hung out with elliot so much, elliot who cherishes jules for who she is, and why she felt, at that time, the need for someone who cared about her. i don’t think at that time she was like, fuck rue, i’m going to fuck elliot and cheat on her. i think she just really needed to feel a loving embrace of someone who showed that they cared about her. and rue hasn’t been able to do that because of her drug problem. it’s still very destructive and it’s frankly selfish on jules’ part, but i understand the complexities of it

….archie and betty kissed because it was the climax of a fucking song and they took that kiss and said, let’s ruin every good thing on this show and make it shit.

4. maddy is such a bad bitch i’m so fucking angry with how she’s being treated right now. i really did love that moment with the kid she babysits mother (played by Minka Kelly) but that scene with Nate and the gun was messed up in ways that i could never even imagine. the way he said it was a joke and that it didn’t have any bullets but the damage of him holding a gun to her head and then his own…she deserves better.

5. oh, those drugs aren’t gone. i didn’t think so for a second. if they are, i’ll be really surprised.

sorry that was a really long winded, made-no-sense explanation.

thank you for your ask beautiful person <3

[rappaccini]

ooooKAY unstructured arcane thoughts

first off, no familiarity with the game this is based on so i can say nothing re how it deals with the lore.

animation gorgeous. that hybrid of computer/hand-drawn we've all been wanting for years now is finally here, and it's wonderful.

you can really tell that every single frame is carefully thought out, and rewatches are gonna be gold.

the art style is a great blend of art nouveau and steampunk. the color pops, the light and shadows are excellent. exactly my trash.

..... i'm not a fan of the ost. all the pop songs feel out of place with the world. i also do Not like how every episode has to stop the plot to give us a music video of characters walking around to one of those songs. there had to be a better way to do that.

and the random bursts of experimental animation are cool, but feel like they're for a music video or opening rather than the show itself. it just distracts.

(not jinx's delusions though. they really captured it so well)

i really respect the plot for having the balls to give us a third of the season as prologue. it's absolutely vital and i think a lesser show might've skipped it.

and the themes are great in how they're implemented. subtlety matters.

and i think the three-act structure is interesting. once again, waiting a week for new episodes is better than binging. this is a textbook case of why: give people time to engage, and to get others on board. give it space, and it'll grow.

the characters are the best part by far. everyone's fully realized, nuanced and complex. no one sticks to their archetype, and all their motivations and actions feel completely earned. we have heroes who are douchelords and villains who are incredibly human.

mel really shines when her mommy issues come out, and viktor levels up when he starts microdosing magic meth.

i like vi and cait individually and as a couple but i don't Love them. refreshingly it’s simply because i find others more interesting and not out of any issues with their writing.

ekko's role as the character who lowkey has all the answers to main plot's conflict is great. i respect the subtlety of his inclusion and would like to see him eventually preside over the story.

silco. goddamn. what a great villain. it'd have been so easy to make him a mustache twirler, but giving him that strong code of ethics, and that connection to jinx, was such a brilliant twist. it'd have been so easy to make him her big bad abusive overlord, but making him a genuinely caring and loyal mentor whose toxicity stems from his own trauma and his misguided attempt to protect her.... brilliant.

and jinx. man. yeah, she's the breakout here and she deserves it. what a great character. watching her unravel into villainy was incredible. (also... jinx just is what margot robbie's desperately trying to get her harley quinn to be)

granted..... these writers really struggle with romance.

vi/cait is good. predictable, but good. i am not particularly passionate about them but i am interested in seeing how they grow from here.

the mel/jayce romance was not good. can't tell if they wanted us to think she's just using him for his tech the whole time, or if at some point it turned genuine, but it just felt ingenuine the whole time.

made worse bc both mel and jayce have more organic chemistry with other people. mel/elora and jayce/viktor felt so much more honest and i hate that it seems accidental.

also viktor/sky........ tf was that. dude never shows her any inch of interest, yet the show acts like it's meant to be. i like how her dusting affects him, what with his guilt, but the crush did not need to be there.

.... so i'm gathering that jinx and ekko are meant to have some kind of romantic vibe, and that the writers really wanted that fight to be 'look at how sad these two former friends trying to kill each other is' but i didn't gather that at ALL in the first three eps. he just seemed like that kid from your neighborhood you wait for the bus for together, not an actual close friend jinx had. if thats the case, they fucked up.

so if jinx/ekko is happening, they have to fix that big gaping hole in their history and actually fill it in with the shit they keep saying is there. if they do, i think it could work, though it’d have to happen in a way that doesn’t strip jinx or her agency.

alright yes i know ~the creators confirmed that jinx and silco are entirely platonic, and she acts that way because she's childish~ but that's bull. you don't have two characters have that kind of consistent interaction without intending some kind of sexual subtext. girl straddles his lap several times, they caress each other's faces, and they keep almost-kissing (not to mention the baptism scene where he literally gets her wet). it really skeeves me out that people keep insisting that jinx behaves that way towards silco because ~she's just so childish~. children don't do that, especially not with parental figures. like.... really? how is that better than two adults having a relationship with an age gap.

the ambiguity of that relationship is what makes it so enthralling, and honestly hearing the story keep saying "DID WE MENTION SHE'S HIS DAUGHTER" just feels like the writers trying to cover up what they made. own it fam: he's not her dad, he's her daddy. their relationship is fucked up, after all. it makes sense that it might cross another line too.

i'm in a rare place where i'm totally content with where the jinx-silco vibe leads them. it feels earned and complete.

speaking of accidental subtext, it really does seem like jinx and vi want to fuck each other. the jealousy jinx has towards her sister's gf is.... So Much. on god if they wrote them as childhood-friends-with-crushes instead of sisters you wouldn't have to change a thing. maybe they should have.

in general.... just about everything fires on all cylinders. the writing, the characterization, the pacing, the editing, the animation. this is how you fucking do it.

the best part i think is that this could have easily been another shitty videogame cashgrab, and instead they took the source material, deepened and improved upon it and did something entirely new. it's one of those shows that gives you faith in the state of storytelling.

uh yeah anyway. show great, easily one of the best animated series ever made and it's just on season 1, and i'm in a rare position where i trust the creators to follow through.

[kitkatopinions]

I feel the need to hear your opinion on this since this is something I've been thinking about recently, and it's how crwby handles complex relationships/abuse in their show... It's infuriating.

I can't tell if they genuinely think they are writing this in a good way or if they know they're half asss-ing it and don't care since the fandom will eat it up anyways. Two big examples that come to mind for me in the last volume are emerald & cinder and whitley & jacques. In both instances the the victim never gets a moment of closure or a moment of breaking away from their abuser, nor are either victims allowed to show any sort of 'hesitance' (for a lack of a better term) related to their abuse.

Emerald (despite being all over cinder before Midnight), just conveniently forgets about her for the finale. Same for whitley. He just completely forgets about jacques (the man who manipulated him from birth) the moment weiss hugs him. On a shallow level, watching a victim pay no mind to their abuser is satisfying, but it being so immediate is just unrealistic and takes away from the pain that we are supposed to think these characters have suffered.

One of the worst things about suffering from abuse is how is affects the victims even when they have left the abusive relationship, but crwby seems to want to erase that completely from characters who should experience that for plot convenience.

It seems like the lesson learned from this is "if you were abused, just get over it and be convenient to our heroes or else!" And it's pretty gross imo.

Thoughts?

I thought that I would put these two asks together and take this opportunity to talk about the abuse victims in RWBY and how they're handled. I've tried to think long and hard about what to say about this, because this is an important topic to me and something that's personal for me. I'm an abuse survivor, but I have a complicated relationship with that part of myself and I'm never really comfortable talking about it much. But despite the fact that I've experienced abuse, I recognize that I'm not a professional sensitivity editor, not a therapist, and not someone who's studied the effects of abuse.

I'm simply writing this based on my own feelings and what I've picked up witnessing other abuse victims discuss their own feelings about abused character. There will be RWBY criticism below the keep reading. Please keep in mind that I'm not speaking for all abuse survivors and am only trying to articulate my own feelings in regards to this issue.

The first thing to note is that there isn't one, correct, right way to write an abuse victim in my opinion. Lots of people have different reactions and responses to abuse, the way they were abused is often also different, causing different reactions.

In the first anon, it's noted that Emerald and Whitley both seem to move on from their abuse quickly and with very little effect on them or their stories. Many abuse victims put their experiences on the back burner or 'in a box' to deal with later, or mask and pretend that they're alright or that their abuse just didn't happen. Some of them let their feelings or their anger simmer over time. There are also abuse victims who do just... Move on with relative ease. I'd imagine that's very rare though. (again, I'm not not an expert or any sort of psychologist.)

In the same way, an abuse victim becoming an abuser in their own interactions is something that one hundred percent happens. Cinder, Salem, Adam, and even Blake and Winter have all acted in abusive ways towards the people around them (though obviously Blake and Winter acted much less abusive than any of the villains mentioned.) It might be very hard for abuse victims to not fall back into those patterns of abuse that they've suffered, especially if they go through it at an early age. I'm not very comfortable talking about my own experiences, but myself and my siblings have all had to fight down toxic, hurtful traits that we picked up either through emulating or through survival. And it's hard to do that. Portraying characters who have been abused that lost that fight and might have abusive tendencies or slip themselves is - to me at least - sometimes even helpful in working through my own feelings.

And there are definitely one hundred percent abuse victims who feel like the way they were treated is deserved, that they 'earned' it, that they must 'make up for it.' Oz is in this category. There's nothing wrong with the concept of a character who feels responsible for their abuser or the hurt their abuser has caused to others, there’s nothing wrong with a character who tends to act as though everything is their fault and who thinks very poorly of themselves.

In theory. But the problem is that in application, there are a lot of pitfalls and struggles that come with writing for abuse victims. Understanding, thoughtfulness, and care are not the RWBY writers’ strength, and any time you portray real life issues that strongly impact the real life people involved in them, you have to be aware and careful with the messages you’re sending. This is obviously very important when someone writes for any minority or oppressed group or the issues that they face, but it’s also important to remember when you write for abuse victims, because they do have stigmas around them and deal with stereotypes and harmful portrayals as well. Let’s look at what I consider some harmful or hurtful pitfalls when it comes to abused characters.

Are the abused characters treated as the victims they are? If the abuse a character faces is treated as comical, treated as unimportant, or treated as deserved, that’s an obvious major flaw. Sad to say, but RWBY does not pass this. On two separate occasions, a character is hit by someone close to them in a way that clearly causes them some pain, with Blake hitting Sun across the face for following her, and Winter hitting Weiss for answering a question incorrectly and again for failing in her training (I tend to be more sympathetic towards Blake’s situation, as it is more gray with her clearly thinking Sun had stalked her which is a clear trigger from her own abuse, but this is an explanation, not an excuse and the fact that it was framed as funny rather than something Blake shouldn’t have done and should apologize for is the problem.) They also do not treat Ozpin like the victim when Qrow punches him in the face, having no one call Qrow out for it and having him never express guilt or try to apologize for it. Yes, I know Ozpin had retreated, but they never showed Qrow even make an effort to get Ozpin to come back so he could apologize. . They also ‘redeem’ Hazel and give him a ‘partially right’ storyline despite his openly beating Ozpin, unfairly blaming him for the death of his sister, and insisting that Ozpin deserved to be tortured. On top of this, despite having been horribly abused by the SDC, Adam isn’t treated with even an ounce of sympathy or understanding and Jacques Schnee and the SDC is treated like a more comical-ish nuisance in season seven and eight. This is greatly flawed. Hitting someone because they lied to you or kept secrets from you is not okay, hitting someone because they said something you don’t like is not okay. This should not be treated as funny and it shouldn’t be treated as the fault of the person who was hit for not being a good enough friend.

Are the abused characters mostly villains, when the heroes have never faced it? The reason for this is obvious, although it’s valid to have a villain be an abuse victim, it’s never alright to villainize abuse victims. Making the majority of your bad guys abuse victims and your good guys have positive relationships is in my opinion, harmful. Point for RWBY, this is not the case for their show. Mercury, Salem, and Cinder on the bad side are all abuse victims with Raven being a possible, but unconfirmed abuse victim as well. While Weiss, Blake, Ozpin, and Whitley are also abuse victims, with Qrow and May both being possible, but unconfirmed abuse victims, and Winter and Emerald are both abuse victims who were on the side of a villain and then turned good.

Is the abuse more severe in the ‘bad’ characters and lighter in the ‘good’ characters? If the abuse that the good guys faced is mostly lighter things and the abuse that the villains suffered is worse and more severe, that might send some bad messages that people who suffer more are automatically worse people, or ‘unsalvageable’ or ‘too broken,’ as opposed to the people that ‘there’s still hope for.’ Unfortunately, I think RWBY is almost a tie? We’ve never seen Weiss or Emerald suffer more than a hit, we don’t know for sure that Whitley or Winter were ever victims of physical abuse. Ozpin and Blake’s abuse is worse, however, as they are hunted down by their abusers who attempt to murder them, make them suffer, and hurt their loved ones. They also were heavily emotionally manipulated and victim blamed by their abusers. And on the villain side, Mercury was beat by his father who hated him and stole his semblance (an extension of your soul, I believe, in canon,) and the abuse led to the loss of his limbs. Cinder was forced to work hard labor by her abusive employer and the ‘stepsisters’ treated her badly, and she was physically electrocuted. We see her abuse extend to Salem using her Grimm arm to hurt her, copying the effects of the necklace. Adam was also a child laborer who worked in terrible conditions who got his face branded by his employer, in the SDC, which had to have been anti-faunus charged due to his bull horns. We don’t see Salem ever physically abused, but know that she was mistreated, isolated, and neglected by her ‘cruel’ father. So it’s not quite a tie, there are more severely abused characters amongst the villains than the heroes, but this is close enough that I don’t consider this much of a strike against them.

In the villains, is the abuse they faced given as ‘reason’ for their villainy? As I said before, villainizing abuse victims isn’t the way to go. A good way to avoid this - I think - is not have abuse be the sole reason for someone’s fall into a life of crime or cruelty. This is something that RWBY... Fails at imo. When showing us Mercury’s backstory, we’re introduced to him through seeing that he had just killed his abuser who cost him his legs, and then gets recruited by Cinder who at the very least likely emotionally and physically abused him the same way she did with Emerald, leading to the conclusion that the only reason he’s there at all is due to abuse. However, he’s just a teen and it’s possible that (like Emerald) he’ll be redeemed. A much more condemning story to talk about is Cinder’s. After people had been clambering for a Cinder backstory since volume three, RWBY finally showed us one. But it doesn’t include Cinder meeting Salem, why she joined her, her proving herself, none of that. Instead, Cinder’s backstory was entirely focused on her abusive situation as a child, entirely focused on her suffering. Cinder killing her abusers and then killing the teacher who decided to arrest her for getting herself out of her abusive situation was portrayed as the only needed backstory, the explanation to why she’s a power hungry, abusive, cruel, selfish, and just plain evil person. ‘She was abused’ is the explanation for why Cinder is where she is and why she is who she is in RWBY. That’s highly problematic to me.

In the heroes, are they “the Perfect, Sanitized Abuse Victims?” As I said before, there is no one type of abuse victim, but if someone has several abuse victims and they’re all either submissive, sad, and self-doubting, but gentle and caring and soft or dropped their abuser like a hotcake and never looked back, never seem affected, never really talk about it after they left... That’s bothersome to me personally. Measuring how RWBY is in this particular subject is... A little harder than I thought it would be. Let’s start by looking at the most prevalent abuse victim, Blake. She’s one of the reasons why this is hard to gauge, because for the first five seasons, Blake was deeply flawed and clearly affected by her abuse in ways that made her ‘unappealing.’ Blake was cynical, stubborn, cold, hard to get to know, she didn’t trust easily, she lashed out at her friends regularly, ran from her problems, made choices for her friends, and had a very negative self image. This didn’t stop her from being a good character and friend with a lot of good sides, too, and she had real, important friendships. This was - to me - a really great portrayal of someone clearly affected by their trauma, with lots to work on, who was still a good person. Some of her faults and problems started to get resolved in a natural way through her journey with Sun in volumes four and five, but when season six came around, many of Blake’s other traits suddenly vanished. No longer stubborn, independent, or cynical, and no longer standing up for herself, or really displaying her temper or hardheadedness or her struggles with getting to know people... Blake became more submissive, sad, self-doubting, but gentle, caring, and soft. Sigh. As the first ask mentioned, Whitley and Emerald both seemed to drop their abusers quickly the second they were removed from their lives again. it’s also worth noting that Whitley was treated with nothing but coldness and contempt by Weiss until he ‘proved himself’ by doing something selfless. Weiss did more or less drop Jacques the moment she left her house in V4, only mentioning him or her experiences when she’s using it to talk about Blake, and when she confronted him again in V7, she did so as someone who is proving she no longer cares. Ozpin seems to be the only one still unable to move on from his abuse and the ‘unappealing’ abuse victim. The first anon is right, there’s something satisfying with seeing an abuse victim move on like their abuser didn’t matter. But when almost all your abuse victims do, and one of the only other ones is turned into a submissive and soft support based / romance based character, and the only really ‘unappealing’ abuse victim is someone we’re supposed to see as ‘gray’... There’s something off there, in my opinion.

Were the abuse victims treated respectfully and thoughtfully by their friends, and if not, were they portrayed as wrong? This probably isn’t something that really even needs an explanation. Abuse victims should be able to set their own boundaries and tell their stories only when they want, when they feel comfortable, Their friends should be understanding of this and not force anything from them. In the case of Blake and Weiss, this is handled really well! Their friends let them talk about their experiences in their own time, and they’re understanding and validate their feelings when it comes up (much more common with Blake than with Weiss, who like I said, seemed to move on from her dad quickly after she left.) However, when it comes to Oz... This is all wrecked. Although unintentional (no one knew how deeply tied up with Salem Ozpin was or how intimate the memories they were going to watch were,) our main characters still forced Ozpin’s deepest and most personal secrets out of him in a fit of upset while he was tearfully begging them not to. He was forced to relive his most traumatic experiences in hi-def with other people watching with him, all his secrets and all his abuse wrenched away from him in what was clearly a very painful way. And then no one showed Ozpin even the slightest bit of sympathy or understanding for what he’d gone through, and no one ever apologized for what they had forced him to relive. In fact, Team RWBY were clearly displayed as in the right, and Oz was displayed as completely wrong for not trusting them implicitly. He had to apologize to them, which they acted begrudgingly accepting of as if they hadn’t shouted at an abuse victim after forcing him to relive all his worst experiences.

Are some abuse victims portrayed as bad for things that other abuse victims aren’t portrayed as bad for? Like the second ask says, in RWBY, Cinder and Mercury are treated as villains for having killed their abusers and Cinder is almost arrested for it, it’s considered a step in the direction of their villainy. But Blake is (rightfully) treated as the victim who was forced, who had no choice, who just wanted the abuse to stop. This is hypocritical and fundamentally flawed. I think this is a reflection of the fact that Cinder and Mercury are meant to be ‘bad’ abuse victim, who had violent tendencies and anger issues, and were already featured as bad guys before their backstory’s dropped, whereas Blake was meant to be a better abuse victim who (by season six) was starting to get written as a soft girl who just wanted to help her friends.

All in all, although there’s some things that I think that RWBY did well enough, I definitely think that I would consider their portrayal of abuse victims to be lacking. This is just my opinion and the way I feel about the writing, but there are a lot of ways to look at it. I think overall, I just really wish that the RWBY writers had been a little more sensitive and spent a little longer focusing on the character arcs involved in abuse recovery. (There’s still a chance for Whitley, Weiss, and Emerald to get more focus in volume ten, though, so long as the writers don’t timeskip!)

[spaceorphan18]

What would you say to people who believe Blaine manipulated Kurt into getting engaged? In the season 6 breakup's deleted script, Kurt said that Blaine did that and that he felt forced to say yes. Of course, it's a deleted scene, and there's no true canonical evidence that Kurt feels that way, but I've always been torn on the subject. Kurt's face throughout the proposal was also a little confusing, he looks very overwhelmed, though I can't tell if it's in a good or bad way.

What would you say to people who believe Blaine manipulated Kurt into getting engaged?

Nonny, I think you’ve been reading too much Kurt meta done by people who don’t like Blaine.  ;)

God, this is a total flashback to 2014 when the Better Boyfriend Olympics were alive and well, lol.  Oh, Nonny <3 

Alright, let’s pull up a chair and have a discussion.  

In the season 6 breakup's deleted script, Kurt said that Blaine did that and that he felt forced to say yes. Of course, it's a deleted scene, and there's no true canonical evidence that Kurt feels that way, but I've always been torn on the subject.

Okay, first, let’s talk about this thought.  I’ve bolded the part in this comment that matters -- you’ve hit the nail on the head, Nonny.  

Talking as a writer, I need to say something about scripts, deleted scenes, and other things not done in canon -- a lot of times, in drafts, people write things that may not work or fit -- that’s why they’re drafts.  There’s a reason the scripted break up wasn’t the episode -- because it wasn’t the best way to tell the story they wanted to tell. 

In addition, a lot of that speech in the script reeks of the writers listening to what Blaine-hating Kurt fans had to say about the whole thing.  Glee had a tendency to over do it when breaking the fourth way to address commentary and criticism.  They did this with Brittana fans when Brittany and Sam get together, basically telling the lesbian bloggers to shut up and deal with it.  Doing so in the episode went too far (imo) -- and leaving Kurt’s comments in would have felt out of character and too much meta-ish commentary.  

That said -- totally wasn’t in the episode, and as you’ve said, there’s not true canonical evidence that Kurt feels that way. 

***

Addressing a few more things -- 

1. Blaine being manipulative.  

He’s not.  He does like to be in control of things, but that’s not the same thing as manipulation (and there’s a firm argument about how Kurt has far more manipulative tendencies -- see season 1).  Putting this particular incident more in context... first of all, keep in mind that from the break up to hooking up in I Do is only six months, most of which, Kurt and Blaine I wouldn’t call fully, 100% broken up -- more so just broken.  Then, he’s part of a school shooting, and while it wasn’t a real school shooting, it still has an effect -- he wants to feel security from the love he and Kurt share.  

As for the proposal itself -- Blaine knows exactly how Kurt wants his proposal to be -- and is going a bit overboard on the romanticism.  It’s not motivated by manipulation though.  It’s motivated by the fact that he wants to prove to Kurt that he can meet all of Kurt’s fantasies and demands.  (Which he does btw.)  Blaine does not have a secret agenda -- his heart is most firmly on his sleeve a majority of the time.  

2. The idea that Kurt doesn’t want to be proposed to, married, etc, etc.  

This is a little more complex of an issue to get into in a single ask, but let’s see if I can boil this down to its essence: 

Kurt has stated multiple times to Finn and Rachel that he doesn’t believe in young marriages -- this belief is already embedded in his psyche before he and Blaine get engaged, and part of that stubborn belief (whether it be right or wrong) seeps into his later issues in his own relationship. 

Kurt got very, very hurt by Blaine cheating on him -- and by the time they got back together, Kurt was dipping his toe in the pool while Blaine had already gone into the deep end.  Kurt needed some time to work his way back out to the deep end of the pool, and Blaine pulling Kurt out to the deep end before he was ready didn’t mean that he didn’t want to go swimming there, just that he was going faster than he had expected, and wasn’t given enough time to adjust. 

A lot of time in media, the proposal/marriage is the end of the story.  Here - it’s the middle of the story, and plays a different role in said story.  Kurt has doubts - but not doubts about loving Blaine, or wanting to be with Blaine the rest of his life.  As said in point 2, he got very hurt, and he isn’t ready yet - that combined with his belief that people shouldn’t get married so young (along with a few other issues) is what leads to the second break up.  

That doesn’t mean that Kurt doesn’t love his proposal.  Kurt is very romantic minded -- and the proposal was everything he could have ever dreamed of.  He’s emotionally overwhelmed during the scene, because it’s more than he could have ever dreamed of.  And I’d like to reiterate that this isn’t out of nowhere -- not only have the idea that Kurt and Blaine previously talked about marriage and long term plans for their relationship, but it’s also been set up that Kurt loves surprise proposals, weddings, romantic gestures (see All or Nothing, the episode previous, for high examples.) 

The thing that always gets me about the manipulation argument though... Do people really think that Kurt would ever, ever be manipulated into something he didn’t want to do?  Kurt’s a very strong-minded character, and is not so easily swayed into (or out of) something.  If Kurt didn’t want to get married... if he didn’t want to be proposed to... if he didn’t want the thing, he wouldn’t have let it happen.  

3. The idea that relationships need to be perfect

The whole thing about the Better Boyfriend Olympics was the fact that each side of it felt the other wasn’t good enough for their favorite.  And it stems from this weird idea that in order to be good enough to be a romantic partner for said favorite -- the romantic partner must bow down at the alter of favorite and not ever do anything wrong.  The relationship, to maybe over simplify, must be perfect.  When it wasn’t -- people liked to point fingers and blame the other side.  And come up with anything they could to help prove their point that their favorite was the better one and/or deserved better. 

Man, it was the most annoying thing. 

The thing that I always liked, and appreciated about Klaine was the idea that we have two very flawed characters working through their issues.  Sometimes they sucked at it. Sometimes one of them wasn’t the greatest.  But that made them feel more fleshed out and well rounded as characters.  Relationships can be problematic, that doesn’t mean they’re wholly bad.  They have issues.  People aren’t perfect, and shouldn’t be held to such ridiculous standards.  

Look, Nonny, if you don’t feel the scene, you don’t feel it, and I don’t think anything I say or do can change your mind if it doesn’t. And that’s totally fair and fine.  But -- all I can say is keep in mind where your biases may lie and/or what kind of filters are overlaying your interpretation of the scene.  

If you’d like more reading on Love Love Love, I’d suggest my meta: Finding Kurt Hummel - Love, Love, Love

If you like podcasts, I know we go deeper into the subject on various TDB Podcasts: TDB Podcast List 

Tl;dr version - Blaine is not manipulative, the script should not be taken as canonical evidence of anything, and Kurt was emotionally overwhelmed and deeply touched by a very grand romantic gesture that was presented to him.  

[blackasmidnightcats]

Continued discussion about Sophie's "redemption arc"

Original post from @agathasarmy

@agathasarmy I've moved this to a new post cause I have a lot of feelings and still want to continue this discussion and I hope you don't mind

So anyways...

(this wouldve been also a great way to introduce the concept of legacies, especially with the past vs. present. vs. future theme and it would also parallel tedros’ storyline as they’re both dealing with the fallout of carrying their predecessor’s glory)

YESSSS

All of them have big shoes to fill because of the people who've nurtured and believed in them

One thing I really hated in the camelot years was the lack of mourning that Agatha and Sophie did for Callis and Lady Lesso respectively.

That is the kind of anguish that I was looking for. Just them being children and missing their parent/parental figure and wishing that they could still be someone's child who could look out for them and motivate them when they needed.

Like Sophie remembering that Lady Lesso believed in her the way that Sophie could never do and Agatha remembering how her mother would have wanted her daughter to live out her life with with love and adventure.

Let's not even get with Tedros (that's a whole other meta in itself)

so far all i got was lesso and hester being the best examples of it, but what i also got from them was that Evil wasnt being cruel but serving as the balance to Good like ok???? what exactly does that entail??

Exactly, I'm really frustrated about this because as much as Soman has tried to make us understand that Good and Evil are equals, he has never actually shown us how equal they can be since all the Evil figures that we have are usually helping Good.

I'm really pissed that the Coven's quest involve them finding a new School Master when they have absolutely no need to do that. They should be doing their own stuff instead. It's the one thing I shame Prof Dovey for.

that was what I expected the series would be: Tedros and Agatha as Good because Good always stands stronger together, and Sophie as Evil because Evil is best alone, but not lonely

I stand behind your point about "Alone but not Lonely" quote because if that does not describe Sophie's biggest problem than I don't know what does. She can have all the fans that she wants and build the whole School for Evil in her tribute and pretend that she's a strong independent woman who doesn't need a man but she'll still feel the loneliness seep through if she doesn't have a closure with her insecurities and envy

instead Soman subverted our expectations in the worst way possible since GoT S8 (dont @ me)

I will stand by you with the hate for GoT s8. That was a trainwreck so badly done it imploded on itself. Recently, writers that have big productions have been having a hard time gracefully ending their stories

EXACTLY I JUST KNOW SOMAN’S GONNA BRUSH IT OFF OR BARELY MENTION IT WHEN THIS KIND OF DIALOGUE IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE MESSAGE OF THE STORY THAN SOMAN RANDOMLY INSERTING DOVEY AS TEDROS’ GODMOTHER OR REAPER BEING KING FOR PLOT CONVENIENCE

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. I WILL NOT STOP BEING SO FREAKING BITTER ABOUT IT.

Soman was off with a good start on that one. I would have been more interested with Sophie trying to handle her narcissistic desires vs her need to actually be a decent Dean to all the new students just like how Lady Lesso was for her. Her understanding how to be Evil and be herself would have been a nice read.

if soman had to bring back a trope from the last era, it would be the discussion of dichotomies i.e. Good vs. Evil, instead of the evil lover trope cos aint nobody got the time for that

YESSS

It's still technically the school for GOOD AND EVIL SERIES even if we go to a new era I was hoping that Soman would still have these as the roots but NOOOO.

His obsession with Sophie obsessing over boys that obsess over her is a strong one apparently.

like at this point it’ just really blatantly obvious how much Soman favors Sophie and I wouldnt be that bothered if he didnt sacrifice the plot or the other characters’ brain cells to go along with it cos to this day I refuse to believe that people really would just accept Rhian like that after reading The Tale of Sophie and Agatha

EXCATLY. I HONESTLY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE DECISIONS OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS ABOUT THIS.

Like did no one still understand that not everything is what it seems?!

I am baffled with how easy they trusted a comeplete stranger over Agatha who has proven over and over and over again that she fights for the good of EVERYONE and is perfecrly willing to sacrifice her happiness for theirs.

Like at this point I'm thinking that her fairy tale propably does not do justice for everything that she's been through cause if the other people of the Woods read her story the way we did, there would be no doubt that we would stand behind Agatha for a lifetime

like cmon people we went through this already?? a random hot stranger coming out of nowhere??? ITS THE RED FLAG

In defense with them, (and I am saying this very, very off handedly) Rhian did come around saving everyone's asses and was a pretty decent guy (NOT).

WHAT I AM REALLY SURPISED ABOUT IS THAT THEY WANT A PIECE OF HIM AND HOW EASILY THEY TRUSTED HIM WITH EVERYTHING

I THOUGHT THE POINT OF THIS SERIES WAS TO SHOW THAT ROMANCE WASN’T THE ONLY HIGHEST MANIFESTATION OF LOVE, BUT A LOVE BETWEEN FAMILY OR A LOVE FOR ONE’S SELF WAS JUST AS IMPORTANT????

One of my biggest beefs with Soman's writing. He highlights romance too much compared to platonic and self love. I want a moment with Sophie like the one in TLEA where Agatha was getting stressed about letting Sophie and Tedros grow closer and Soman managed to pretty realistically portray that; Agatha was being insecure and possessive and jealous but she let herself reflect on her actions. She made peace with it and faced it with bravery even though it really hurts her. Because she understood that she would never have closure for this if she didn't let it happen.

AGGIE IS THE BEST. I LOVE HER

Why the hell can't Soman write something similar like this for Sophie.

WHY SOMAN PUTTING THIS AMATONORMATIVE BS IN THIS STORY AGAIN LIKE WE ARE TIRED

In fairness, Sophie getting into ANOTHER romantic relationship I will PASS SO HARD.

But for everyone else that deserves some romantic love (TAGATHA PLS) I will accept crawling

also I like your ideas on what could’ve happened instead, with Rhian being more proactive towards Tedros and Agatha instead of Sophie - it would play well into the Camelot myths and themes that I was really expecting in the new era

I KNOW RIGHT?!?!?!

If Soman could only just get over his Sophie Obsession, then he would understand that Tedros was the perfect target for Rhian's manipulations and Sophie was the perfect target for the downfall.

I have no idea how the hell did Rhian think (but apparently it worked because soman plot) that seducing Sophie would win him the love of the Woods.

plus it wouldve been a chance for Sophie to actively help them instead of tearing them apart like in the last 3 books?? like she’s kinda doing that rn but it would’ve been nice if she didn’t have a hand in stealing their happiness like she’s always done too

Well...for me she doesn't seem like she's tearing them apart anymore but I stand with your point about her stealing their happiness.

This could have been good, good character development for her. Her realizing that she keeps making tagatha miserable and stealing what belongs to them and the complexity that comes with her inner struggle between her envy vs love for her best friends.

PLUS CHADDICK DESERVED TO LIVE INSTEAD OF BEING KILLED FOR PLOT CONVENIENCE LITERALLY IT’S THE WORST DEATH IN THE SERIES NOT COS IT’S SAD BUT COS IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE AND MAKES FOR TERRIBLE WRITING IMHO

"NOT COS IT'S SAD BUT BECAUSE IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE"

SCREAM IT A BIT LOUDER SO SOMAN CAN HEAR IT AT THE BACK!!!!

Soman, I will never forgive you for doing this to this boy.

You could have made Tedros and Chaddick have a falling out. I mean the last time that they interacted was during AWWP and Chaddick treated Tedros as crap. I know that all of us headcanon that these two are each other's best mates but they've barely had significant interactions for me to consider that a case.

They'd be so pressured about not followong the legacy of Arthur and Lance that a small problem could propably tear these two apart.

also, on another point, you would think Sophie would be more sympathetic to Tedros situation given that they’re both leading populations, essentially

plus Sophie learned to understand Tedros’ mind better in awwp??? where the hell did that relationship development went (even if she was Filip at the time)??

I am honestly more suprised at how viciously Tedros seems to treat her.

Like it wasn't that long after TLEA that Tedros was perfectly willing to let Sophie stay in Camelot and even asked her to visit but come his coronation (which was like less than a day after) he keeps on proclaiming about how happy he is with her out his life and in aCoT his distrust for her was off the roof.

Then there is the Handbook ordeal with Sophie just completely roasting Tedros like what happend to the two of you?

I don't even understand Soman's decision about this. It doesn't even affect the actual storyline in anyway. It's just Sophie and Tedros at each other's throats.

Tedros has been treated the crappiest out of the main trio (let’s be honest) as if the game was built to oppose him, meanwhile Sophie gets major Soman privilege and is given the role ONCE AGAIN that could change the game

THIS

It's the reason why I can't even read AWWP anymore. It hurts too much to have to read at how badly the other characters treat him. Just reading the first line of that book gets me anxious.

And PREACH THAT SOPHIE HAS MAJOR SOMAN PRIVILEGES.

This is why I was actually suprised that Soman shared that he planned on killing Sophie off at the end of TLEA but we'll never how that story went

like if the School Years was for Sophie to realize and accept her Evilness, couldnt Soman have decided to give Tedros and Agatha the deciding roles this time around given that, you know, it’s called the CAMELOT YEARS ERA???

Honestly, I just want Tedros to have the most agency out of all the characters. Like make his decisions actually matter to the plot. Make him the center of the plot and revolve Rhian's plans around him instead of being against him cause that's exactly how Agatha's role in the school years era was for Rafal.

The basic formula goes like this;

Sophie important to the Rafal's/Rhian's/Japeth's/hell even Evelyn Sader's plan

Agatha/Tedros are in the way of that plan so they have to go

Agatha/Tedros saves Sophie's ass

Sophie making the big decision

Like didn't Soman say that he didn't want to be that repetitive writer? That's why he changed the ending of AWWP because it was too similar to the first book?

WTF SOMAN?

she’s still out here wanting someone to look at her the tedros looks at agatha (honestly big mood right there) but I wish this didn’t have to be her main conflict

This is actually why I'm not that mad that Sophie fell for Rhian. Because at the end of the day Sophie will be Sophie.

But I agree I kinda hoped that she wouldn't be as guilible

the girl is smart and knows her worth so I can’t really understand why she decided to get ENGAGED to the next person (Hort obviously cant count cos plot) who tells her she looks pretty???

NOW THIS. THIS IS MY BEEF WITH SOPHIE.

I can understand why she'd date him but MARRIAGE?! That was going a little bit too far.

You'd think after her engagement with Rafal that she'd be TRAUMATIZE for the next one.

And honestly it would have been hella funny if she did feel this way. Imagine Rhian nearly getting all that he needed but Sophie just straight up leaves him on the stage cause she's still got issues with it.

Would have been my favorite scene

And Hort, poor boy, he needs character development of his own. I'm not his fan honestly and currently, he's not winning me over.

ALSO THE FACT THAT SHE ENDS UP BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE ROLE OF QUEEN OF CAMELOT INFURIATES ME SO MUCH COS WE WENT THROUGH THAT SHIT IN TLEA???? WHY ARE WE BRINGING THIS UP AGAIN????

THIS. THIS IS MY BEEF WITH SOMAN

Can he not understand that she would be crap as QUEEN?

A parallel I noticed with Rhian and Sophie is that they both completely remodeled their respective castles in their image. Not even considering anyone else. And they both treat their faculty as crap.

Kinda tells us that she really would be crap as queen.

At least the Camelot citizens had enough braincells not to fall for this crap

Every other kingdom in the Woods though. They better be budgeting gold to Tedros and Agatha once they're back on the throne.

(and im so so tired of Sophie stealing Agatha’s Ever After from her, indirectly or not, like cant she just be happy for her best friend and move the plot in some way other than this???)

I really do believe envy is only one of the things that Sophie needs to sort out. The fact that she admitted at the end of TLEA that she does, in fact, feel envious that Agatha gets to be a queen and her little episode in the Ever Never Roundtable about how she's the one with the official title of queen and that Agatha isn't even a princess says a lot.

I wouldn't have minded if Sophie had a slight blackout and just lost it and saying mean things about Agatha but instantly regreting it because no matter what, deep down in the foundations of her soul, she loves Agatha with everything that she has. And is she has the be in a constant battle with herself about this fact then she's willing to keep on fighting. That would have been satisfying to read.

I mean just imagine if Sophie was there when Agatha was leading her army and Hester mentions that Agatha is Queen in the School, in Camelot, or anywhere elsse in the Woods. They would follow her. Willingly.

Sophie would have had a panic attack.

This girl needs to learn that she can't force people to be loyal and follow her by making every physical reminder of how amazing she is but instead she needs to lead and make some sacrifices of her own because she's doing these sacrifices in the benefit of Evil and its future instead of herself.

Sophie appreciating people?? Not only remembering them when she needs something from them??? Like @ soman im not asking her to be the next Mother Theresa but I’ll take this character development pls and thank u

I am all in for Sophie appreciating everyone. If she can't do it for other people, then she better do it for Evil.

[theangrypokemaniac]

Since no one cares about Alola I can therefore say what I want.

Team Rocket's Pokémon are all worthless toss. That's such a surprise from this oafish writing team.

Remember when Jessie and James had two each, to offer variety? Permitting them even that is too much focus nowadays.

We don't what anything interesting going on, thank you. Repetition is what we and they deserve.

Arbok, Weezing, Lickitung and Victreebel are spinning in their graves.

Stufful was missing for three years and she displayed not the slightest pang of concern until its belated invention. Given her temper she ought to have torn the island apart searching for her baby, but no.

Not bothered about Bewear. It shouldn't really be in this list as it didn't belong to them, although catching has no value anymore.

A bit thick are we? Or conforming to the usual parental standards?

Well, she's sufficiently neglectful that she let it out of her sight long enough for it to be crushed under a tree, then was too idle to come to the rescue. In consequence he was obliged to wait days until one of Lusamine's lackeys arrived.

She's 'Mama Bear' though, isn't she?

It's based on a red panda, is partly the colour of a black bear and as strong as a grizzly, but all that is a mere cover for its true nature as a Bear-Face Ham.

The modern pretence is that everyone's a vegetarian (are they balls), and Ursa Major lives on fruit, not, you know, flesh.

Just because it there's no hibernating in the tropics doesn't mean it can get by without a salmon now and again.

The name is stupid, since a red panda is not a bear. A play on words isn't clever if based on what it isn't.

They should've called her 'Pandamonia', or 'Pandour', which is a brutal soldier.

It is at least redeemed by battering the klepto cockroach into the next dimension. Good on 'er.

Mind you, this is Alola, a cesspit of incest, so it's probably some sick arrangement, like Bewear being slipped the length by that previously unmentioned Oakie-Dokie clone.

He's the spit of Jimmy Savile, thus every depravity is on the table.

Where's Stufful's dad? He buggered off too?

What kind of name is 'Stufful'? What's it made from, 'stifle' and 'suffocation'? 'Stuffed'?

Thanks for that. Whenever I see its ovine face I'm reminded of taxidermy.

Were Ursa Minor and Bewear described as mother and son, or were they 'friends'?

A series of games involving breeding and the 'anime' is too squeamish to even imply animals live in families.

I don't care either way for Stufful, but I'd like it better if its mouth wasn't a camel toe.

I understand it's a sea creature, and the contents of the oceans are their own brand of peculiarity, but looks like a limbless, undead spaniel plagued with extra teats. Its 'ears' resemble distended mammeries.

Hey, remember that interesting, original Pokémon James had called Victreebel? Let's do it again! And again! AND AGAIN!

Victreebel is a venus fly trap: an anomaly in nature as a carnivorous plant. It makes sense that the Pokémon version would be a bit more full-on in catching a meal.

New law: Team Rocket are required to collect monsters as ugly as themselves.

Hurting James was its personality quirk, particularly to it, fitting its nature, its 'thing'. It was never meant as a template for most of what he caught in the future.

Something is funny if it happens once, and can be now and again if done with a least a little flair.

Nothing repeated as a constant leaden thud is remotely amusing, but this is an unknown fact to Nintendo bone heads. They think certain events are utterly hilarious in themselves and require no finesse in application.

They have a checklist of moments obligatory to each episode, which explains the plodding lifelessness. Tick 'em off to keep the fans from being ticked off. All we supposedly care about is each gong struck, not how we got there.

At least Victreebel used to vary its behaviour:

Occasionally it even did as told without any chomping preamble.

It didn't do the exact same action every single time it was involved!

Mostly it swallowed James.

How long was it once Victreebel was chucked out on its leafy arse before Cacnea arrived?

Oh look, it's a Grass Pokémon and attacks James!

Sometimes it ate Jessie.

Carnivine got in on the action before Cacnea's run was even up: kick 'em when they're down why don't yer?

Oh look, it's a Grass Pokémon and attacks James!

Now we have Mareanie. Wasn't there a few in between? No, shush, they don't exist anymore.

Every bloody time it came out, it turned round and punctured him.

Every bloody time.

Ah, it's not a Grass Pokémon. That makes it totally new!

Oh yes, it's the complete opposite of Victreebel. It's Poison instead. Not like it at all.

Every bloody time it came out, it'd gnaw his head off.

Every bloody time.

That's endearing.

Oh but it is! It's just showing him love!

As that makes it alright!

If a muscular man squeezed his girlfriend so tightly he cracked her ribs, is that 'sweet' because he 'meant well' but his feelings overwhelmed him? Or is it A.B.H.?

Every bloody time it comes out, it injects James's head with toxin until it swells up into purple pustule of disease.

Every bloody time.

I never took Victreebel's assault as affection. To me they were real attempts to devour James, especially with the accompanying frenzied screech. Interpreting that as a positive emotion is bizarre to me.

At soon as James found it wedged in a Breeding Centre cage and opened the door it grabbed him, which appeared to be Victreebel lashing out in anger for what'd happened in the intervening period.

What Mareanie does is worse than the other three put together. At least they delivered mere bite marks or pinpricks, but it infects James!

Whole episodes of this programme have involved a Pokémon falling foul of Poison Powder and being on the verge of death, with all done to preserve it until Ash hunted down the cure, but now it's a big laugh, apparently.

Not one character ever has the wits about them to carry an Antidote, otherwise the writers wouldn't be able to fall back on the tired old race-against-time scenario, which is no such thing as we know they won't die.

Is it likely that James is always going to end up picking a violent Pokémon, of all the individuals of a race, of all the lifeforms in the universe?

Aren't his allowed to come with their own personality, or is there a set pattern they must follow, and when caught they absorb it, for fear they might be memorable?

Mind you, it's interesting the reactions these abuses provoke:

Victreebel eats James: Aw, it's so kyewt!

Cacnea impales James: Aw, it's so kyewt!

Carnivine chews James: Aw, it's so kyewt!

Mareanie poisons James: Aw, it's so kyewt!

Meowth claws James: Aw, it's so kyewt!

Jessie beats James: Aw, it's so kyewt!

Jessibelle whips James: EEVUL BITCH!!!

Mimikyu should be opposed for breaking it's own world.

To us, Pikachu is the most famous Pokémon, belonging to Ash, the protagonist, and the franchise's mascot.

To them, Pikachu is just another middling Pokémon hundreds of young Trainers catch, and holds no greater value.

It's blatantly a reference to Pikachu's real-life status, acknowledging itself as fiction. No Pokémon would hold the same significance for this design to work but him.

Otherwise why would Mimikyu, when it has the choice of every Pokémon that exists, and, if meant to be a believable world, every Pokémon we don't know exists, choose Pikachu to ape? Why wouldn't it pick a Legendary?

Alola Pikachu is looking off colour.

It's not even this specific Mimikyu, it's the entire species!

What, they work to a hive mind, incapable of individual tastes and opinions?

Do they all hate Pikachu too, even though the entire mouse population of Alola has been rounded up by that loon and trapped in a valley, or were we lumbered with the lone demented obsessive with a severe complex?

Is it well jel that Pikachu's a real one, whereas it can only manage to knock up a bog-standard costume with a face daubed by a chimp paralytic from scrumpy?

Well stop imitating it then! Invent your own design!

Oh come on. The animators can't even do that, hence its creation. You can hardly expect it to display inspiration if born from its absence.

I wonder if it hates Raichu. And Pichu. And Plusle and Minun. And the rest of the Pikachu derivatives, although it is one.

(As an aside, I don't know why Raichu, Marowak and Exeggutor were redrawn for this era, but not Pikachu, Cubone and Exeggcute. Why does the sweaty climate affect only evolutions?) 

Here's an idea: make Shiny Mimikyu have a different get up, not colour.

You can have that free, Game Freak. I'm too lenient with yer.

Presumably, Mimikyu hatches (already dead?) in all its eye-bleeding nastiness, and instinctively reaches for the discarded yellow bedsheet and pack of crayons that just so happens to be nearby, and the scissors to make the peep holes.

Them inbreds know how to litter.

Flippers?

Nah, it's probably hooks.

How is it born aware of a Pikachu's face, and why is it compelled to copy them?

Knowledge of his own ugliness is innate, thus he must cover his nakedness before it lays waste to the forest inhabitants.

Yet if you breed 'em, it emerges wearing it, like the cloth formed from left-over albumen and stained with yolk!

What's it reaching with? Paws?

Mittens?

Oh, and there was a deceased specimen in the series, so it's either a ghost, and nothing but bedsheet, or a zombie, and it's repulsive carcass has upped the ante by putrifying.

Even its name doesn't fit. Apart from the unsightly spelling, what's 'Mimikyu' about? It's not mimicking me.

Mimikyu? It should be Mimikchu!

And you know what? Even Nintendo agree their own inventions aren't good enough, because they made return almost impossible.

They hate these more than they do even the pre-Unova Pokémon, most of whom were condemned to a dark existence within the iron corridors of H.Q. and haven't been seen since.

• Growlie is such a beloved figure in James's life he's been involved all of twice.

• Dustox got pensioned off.

• James was practically bullied into gifting Cacnea to that cloying bitch Gardenia.

• Whilst he still tecnically owns Chimecho, it's as lost to him as any of them.

Remember Seviper, Yanmega, Carnivine and Mime Junior?

Hell, remember Woobat, Yamask, Frillish and Amoonguss?

Or Gourgeist and Inkay?

Of course, since the makers appear to have the Reverse-Midas Touch, Team Rocket still took that useless, wincing lump Wobbuffet to Galar instead of dumping it over the sea. Apparently we're stuck with it forever.

Arbok, Lickitung, Weezing and Victreebel got shafted, but THAT survives?

Yes? That's more the writers do. In current canon these Pokémon never lived at all. Dead memories in the haze.

[mastrrt]

The Tigress Dilemma *fanfiction*

Usually, fanfic writers (such as I) have a hard time depicting complex characters such as Tigress, ergo this lack of this understanding about our characters can lead us to defile their original personalities and characteristics. I'm pretty sure most, if not, all of us are victims to the Tigress Dilemma, and this problem can only be resolved once Dreamworks has finished Tigress's arc. The Tigress Dilemma is basically what I mentioned above. We misinterpret Tigress and that could lead us to writing imposters instead. Now I have seen many fanfics, and all of them vary in the extent of how terrible their Tigress imposter is. I would say that for my fanfics, my Tigress imposter is pretty far off from the original character, but I feel I am getting there... it's a very slow progress, but every increment of time is making me better as a writer. Anywho, I'll be addressing some Tigress Imposter stereotypes. These stereotypes are the ones we want to avoid as much as possible. And if we do so, we can get closer to the original Tigress. Now, disclaimer, I am not here to tarnish the pride of any of you fanfic writers. I'm just here to point out my opinions and hopefully my opinions can do more good than harm. Also, to bring this blog a more positive vibe, I will be writing some Tigress stereotypes that we should all follow. But that'll be on the next post. 1. The 'Punk Girl School Bully' Type of Tigress. (LoA Tigress) Sleeves are for wimps... fat muscles... I got huge front teeth... i'll put your head on the toilet... pig anatomy on the facial region... you punk!... ILLL BEAT YOUUU UP!... girl that looks like a man... Those lines are all inside the ambit of any typical Buff School Girl Bully. And yeah, these types of people aren't the most likeable. Mainly because of their terrible ego and pride, their unmanaged temper, their constant screaming, and the fact that they bully. And these types of characters usually act upon their anger, and these types of characters are usually defeated by their own caprices. Now a lot of times, people usually confuse 'Punk Girl School Bully' as Tigress's characteristics.

For example, a lot of fanfictions tend to write this: Tigress was clouded with anger. How dare this cocky prick make fun of her name like that? She charged at him, trying to land a double fist strike on her belly, but it has seemed that her muscles were so angry that she suddenly turned into an amateur fighter and totally missed the cocky mite's stomache. Now she was even angrier. She gave a frustrated yell and pounced at the prick, driving her feet into a powerful tornado kick, but the man has sidestepped and she was too angry to use that momentum to execute another kick upon landing. Oh she was so so SO angry that everything turned red. Even though the man was merely a stranger, his smart remarks was enough to somehow make Tigress want to tamper him, as if her anger was derived from personal matter. Oh yes, Tigress was so weak that her peace has succumbed so easily to something as superficial as an empty insult. It isn't like she's a warrior who learned integrity, who lived by virtues and proverbs, and learned to swallow her pride the hard way. Nope. She was just the average hot head. "You! You idiot!" She yelled, driving her fist into arbitrary turns and twist with the speed of a toddler's fist in a fit of frenzy. And yet, after delivering such 'efficient' attacks, the man had avoided her punches the Muhammad Ali way. What's next? The rope-a-dope? Is that how weak Tigress became because of her anger? Oh, and since she's sooo angry, she also became majorly stupid! Since she's losing, she might as well become more desperate to win and because of this, she kinda lost 9/10 of her damn brain. It isn't like she had experienced worst before. It isn't like she's been in a tower surrounded by hundreds of adversaries, outmatched, outgunned, out everything, and still managed to escape through a genius idea to catapult her and her Enterprise out the flaming tower THROUGH the toppling flaming tower.

Look, Tigress can be hot head, but she doesn't allow it to manifest in a way that hampers her during battle. She's a warrior who for sure learned patience. Yes, she might have let herself succumb to her anger during the first movie (by trying to fight Tai Lung despite her master's efforts to stop her) but do understand that it was because of that cursed snow leopard that her father was just outright terrible to her, and 20 years of desperation and overwhelming commitment to kung fu led her to think that defeating Tai Lung is the key to Shifu's heart. Watch the Second movie through and through, with the eyes of a scrutenizing critic. If she is angry, it is usually to appear intimidating or lethal. It's a great strategy, escpecially now that her opponents would surely hold back once they hear the low baritone of her growl. But never, never, never, never, I assure you, did she appear angry and let that rage make her a haphazard, stupid, mess.

Also, fanfic writers tend to also write this: Tigress crossed her arms and growled. Po was so annoying! He wouldn't stop babbling about his new dumpling recipe. If he says 'broccoli broth' one more time, she is sure her dormant side would burst. "SHUT UP PO! YOU ARE AN IDIOT! YOU ARE SO CHILDISH! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE THE DRAGON WARRIOR!" And then, Po cried and ran away from the kitchen. The rest of the five gave her a look that could compare to the menacing glare of a thousand men, and they all left her to find the weeping Po. She sneered, she didn't need them anyways. She didn't have a family. And they were no friends of hers.

Tigress is not like this! She values her friends, and she talks to them like friends. Do no potray her the LoA way, because she's not always grumpy... and she is, by chance, grumpy, it's mostly for a reason. When the other five are irritated or even disgusted of Po, you can see that only Tigress smiles. And when she is in an argument, she usually deliver herself in a calm and threatening. Yeah, calm and threatening can be together. Tigress works as a paradox. I think the problem here is that people mistake seriousness and grumpiness as neigh synonyms. DON'T mistake those two different words with the same definition. Tigress is serious, but rarely grumpy in the way LoA/ fancfictions potrays her (just compare KFP 2 Tigress to LoA Tigress (there's a big difference I tell you that (mostly because she doesn't haphazardly turn into a big bish (is this even grammatically correct?))))

2. The Morally Deficient Tigress. I hate you!... you've always been terrible to me Shifu. So I hate you too!... you guys are not my family!... i have no family!... brat times twenty... your spoon is stupid... everyone is stupid... I don't wanna do this anymore... i'll turn evil in six seconds if you don't assuage my ego... cold hearted... insults everywhere... long sullen silences followed by mean comments followed by even more long sullen silences... angst angst angst for no reason... teenage i-have-20-pounds-of-eyeliner-under-my-eyes prototype. this type of imposter Tigress is probably one of the worst forms of Tigress out there. You cannot just ignore that she has been raised by two kung fu masters, one has morals that are so polished and perfect, and the other one with flaws but regardless still wiser than most. She's also follows a regimented schedule of supreme discipline throughout the course of her twenty-eight years, so surely she has been taught hardwork, patience, determination and other virtues that any average olympian athletes would typically have. Despite being called cold-hearted, stoic, perhaps even mean, do remember that she is also a HERO. With a hero's heart and the strength of a hero's mind. You can not simply ignore that she's a good person who had saved, quite possibly, thousands of lives, expecting nothing in return except the heart of her father and a place to reside. Do not mistake badassery with idiocy. Do not make her morally deficient like she's a little child with the mindset of a brat on a bad day.

Here's some examples of this nightmare: "Why do you keep these stuff? You're so childish, you don't deserve to be the Dragon Warrior!" Tigress looked around his loft, threatened by the action figures and the posters of the masters that adorned it.

Po frowned, "But... but... items like these have very big value to me Tigress. Especially my action figures, I cherish them because it's a large fragment of my childhood memories!"

Tigress did not understand. Of course she did not, not only is she whimsy, grumpy, angry and stupid, she also lacks understanding and lessons that can usually be self-taught at the age of twenty. She acts like a little child and that's all her morality is limited to. "No! They're wooden things with no value whatsoever. Stop being a fanboy. Stop being yourself! I can't support you! You idiot."

And she left the room with grandeur ---Sharpei Style with the hint of swagger. Five days later... "It's all your fault why we're here Po! All your fault. It isn't like you made a wonderful plan and I kinda destroyed it after this cocky douche made me angry and I decided to fight him and ditch your plan. And since my dignity got the best of me, it isn't like I'm blaming you 100% on our unfortunate demise when I know 200% that i'm to blame." Po tried to speak, but Tigress continued, "Ya'll should have listened to me! Me me me me! Me me me me!" The end!

Okay okay, it's a little too exaggerated, but you get the point right? Tigress doesn't act like this. She is kind and nice, she's truly supportive even with her doubts, and she loves and values her friends, albeit these traits are not exposed because it's overshadowed by her stoic demeanor. Whatever... sometimes light filters through her facade and you can see her vulnerabilities.

3. The Profesional Becomes the Biggest Amateur. Gets defeated by a few alligators who could barely fight... can't get unstuck from a rope THAT ISNT EVEN KNOTTED NOR THICK ENOUGH TO CARRY TWO POUNDS... can't get out a sticky situation even though she has been through worse... pathetic tiger... no longer has super strength that she has been gifted with. Now I'm just a thread's breadth away before typing a full fledge rant. Yes! I get it. She has been defeated by people who Po can defeat. She has been defeated by Tai lung and Po was able to defeat Tai Lung. But that was because Po was in a special situation, and it was truly only Po who could defeat Tai Lung (I'll adress this in a new post.) Have ya'll ever of this rule, in both film making and book writing, that authors must refrain from degrading everyone's intelligence so that a single character can appear in the caliber of a genius? Basically, what I'm saying is that you cannot make the five (escape Tigress) leagues weaker than their original selves just for the sake of making Po or your main OCs appear stronger. One, that's a terrible illusion that even a blind man can see through. And two, that's just disrespectful for a The Five. Not only are the five overshadowed, but ya'll also heavily disregarded the fact that they are warriors that did a lot. You're forgetting that Tigress can do this

Do not forget that she is the person who can do so much more. If you want a story where Tigress becomes a damsel in distress, and Po is the one to save her, DO NOT get her kidnapped by five wolves. Or ten. Or even twenty. Because this tiger can handle of them easy. Make sure she is defeated by a whole fudging army, or a bunch of hooded warriors who are thousands of years old and are as good as Shifu in kung fu. Make sure her defeat is reasonable and respects what she can do. KNOW what she can do, so that you learn her limits. Give her a challenge, give her a run for her money. Don't make her pathetic just because you want someone else to seem not pathetic. Us fan fic writers say that Tigress is hardcore. Awesome. Badarse. So maybe we should write her that way. Some fan fics I read write that Tigress got defeated because she was hungry or tired and couldn't fight against a few adversaries. I roll me eyes. Bro! You cannot make hunger the reason why she's defeated😂 have you seen what she ate during the first KFP movie? Her meals consists of tea and a small, chewy block of tofu. Please. She had trained her body and mind to resist pain in a way that wouldn't affect her during battle. And don't go destroying her stamina either. If she can go the whole night just battling a bunch of wolves, without even so much as passing out then pulease, don't make tiredness as an excuse. But there are some exceptions though. Like maybe she got tired because she drained her chi. Then that's understandable. So much work.

[the-chronicles-of-a-teenager]

𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚.

     Logan was a perfectionist. He always fought alone, he never settled for something less than what he wanted, and he always succeeded. But then, one day, he lost a debates competition. From his point of view, to someone younger than him. To someone less experienced.

     Logan had a habit of looking down on others. He would sigh a lot when someone said something he thought was dumb, and he would roll his eyes. This wasn't what his parents had taught him.

     After he lost the competition, Logan isolated himself to his room, returning late at night, through the back door, and spending the entire day in a cafe.

     On the day this event took place, he was sitting in the cafe, in the late evening, and it was raining outside. He quietly drank his coffee, sighing often, resting his head on his fist.

     The bell hanging above the door rang. Logan didn't look up.

     "May I sit with you, sir", asked a kindly, middle-aged gentleman, with a soft voice.

     "Sure...". Logan doesn't look up.

     "Are you okay?"

     "Why do you want to know?"

     The man looks at him, and his eyes darken for a minute, which Logan doesn't see. Then, with a polite expression, he replies, "A young man of your standing wouldn't sulk like so".

     Logan glares at him, then straightens up. He looks at the strange man through his glasses, and tries to size him up. The stranger has short, curly brown hair. He's wearing a lab coat, gloves, and a satchel. Behind his round glasses, Logan can see his unusual brown eyes. They appear to have a maroon shade.

     "What ever I do should not concern you". A pause. "Who are you, anyway?"

     "Just a humble traveller", the stranger said with a smile.

     A sigh. "The name's Logan".

     "My guess is... something bad happened to you".

     Logan looks at him while taking a sip of his coffee. "Yeah... well, you're going to pry anyway, I might as well tell you. I... didn't get first place in a debates competition".

     People like Logan can't admit their loses. "Ah, so you lost". And people like the strange traveller say the obvious things to another person's face. Regardless of their feelings.

     Logan blinked. "Yes".

     "Did you wonder why you lost it?"

     "What do you ask that? Of course they gave someone else the position I was supposed to get".

     The traveller looked at him with a harshness in his eyes. Logan blinked in surprise, than recovered.

     "No one just gives someone else a position, unless they deserve it", he replied. "Be honest with yourself, why did you lose?"

     Logan, despite himself, thought about it. Why had he lost? He had memorised the speech he had. He'd asked a friend of his to help him write it. His friend was a writer of great standing, so most of the speech was his work. Logan had memorised it perfectly.

     This he relayed this to the traveller, reluctantly.

     "Exactly. You memorised someone else's words. Whereas I think the other candidates would've written it themselves, because not everyone has a writer for a friend. Maybe that's the reason you lost".

     Logan thought. He sighed. "If you're right, then he's going to pay. I lost because of him".

     The traveller shook his head. "No, only you are to blame for your loss. And besides, ask yourself: was it really a loss?"

     Once again, Logan thought. The traveller had an effect on him, that made him obliged to do as he was told, a rare occasion for him. "Yes, I lost. If I'd got first place, everyone would've appreciated me. Now my friends look down on me for losing".

     "Those aren't your friends".

     "They are my best friends", Logan retorted determinedly.

     "People attract the type of people they are themselves. Those aren't your friends because no true friend would degrade you on your... 'loss'. True friends appreciate your hardwork and achievements, and console you when you lose something. Fake friends appreciate your success, and tell you you're horrible when you lose. What you have are fake friends".

     Logan kept quite.

     "And as for your loss, was it really a loss? You might've lost the competition, but you only learned, and I see that as your achievement. For example, if you hadn't lost, you wouldn't be enjoying this coffee".

     That got a smile from Logan. The traveller chuckled.

     "Just kidding. From what I gather, you're used to winning. You like things going your way. Well, spoiler, life doesn't go your way. Take it from me, a traveller. I travel, and no matter how much I plan, things always go south, yet, I learned to get through them. I want to travel to country A, but because of a series of events, I end up in country B, or C, or D". He paused. Logan's eyes were half closed, but he could tell he was listening intently. He smiled. "We learn... from our mistakes. You made a mistake. You didn't suffer a loss, because today you learned something. The truth about your friends, and the fact that your own hardwork would've worked better. You'll regret not writing the speech yourself. But that regret, that is what's going to fuel you to work harder next time, and work yourself. Trust me, when you win by your own hardwork, that's the best feeling ever".

     Logan took a deep breath. "Why?"

     "... I'm sorry?"

     "Why are you telling me this?" Logan looked up, and for the first time, his eyes were full of respect, and wonder.

     The traveller gave him a gentle smile. "To put it bluntly, you are a person who has a superiority complex. But I can tell, that deep down, you have it in you to change. You feel superior to your peers, and to those around you. If your parents told you this, you'd hate them. I'm a nobody, and an outsider. You don't know me. Hence, whatever I say, you will subconsciously or unconsciously let it effect you. That's just how humans are. We want what we don't have. We believe in what we don't know".

     Logan smiled. He turned his head down, unable to speak. The traveller got up, and walked around the table. He placed his hand on Logan's back, and patted it. "Thank you", Logan whispered.

     "Thank me by changing". The traveller left. Just as he was about to open the door, he turned around and said, "Cody. People call me Professor Cody".

     "Professor Cody".

     The traveller left.

Author's note: I hope you enjoyed my short story. Please don't repost/reblog without my permission. Both the photo and story belong to me.