#he's so underappreciated even by his creator

[schadenfredde]

And he isn't just all about those traits either! People who say he's dull just don't care enough to look closer at his character.

One of my favourite things about Jonathan is how much he actually subverts typical heroes. Wait, hear me out here.

He isn't well liked by anyone aside from like a small group of friends, and Dio remained popular even until the end. Most heroes are well liked, or if they're not, they gain public admiration eventually, even if they weren't doing good deeds to earn that. Jonathan never got that recognition. He's outperformed by Dio every step of their lives before everything went to hell, and never really escaped living in his shadow even as an adult. He's ignored by his schoolmates and fellow rugby teammates despite having playing a very important part in their victory. Most notably, no one visited Jonathan at the hospital except for this random thug who tried to mug him literally a few days back. His accomplishments remained unknown to the world at large, only passed down through generations of his family thanks to Speedwagon and Erina.

Then there's his colour theme. Despite being a hero, his colour theme is dull and dark, contrasting Dio's brilliant reds and golds. I think that was a really cool subversion of many common good vs evil colour contrasts. Like Mufasa and Scar. Or Thor and Loki.

And speaking of good vs evil, another thing that stuck out to me the most was his fascination with the macabre. Dio may have been the one to use the Stone Mask to turn himself into a vampire, but Jonathan was the one who dedicated his life to studying artifacts like this as an archeologist! Most hero protagonists would actively avoid/destroy dark stuff, or have no idea of their true nature. Not only does Jonathan know feeding blood to the mask activates the spines, he understands it was most likely used to kill (before he discovered its actual purpose), and yet he's genuinely charmed by it. I mean look at him!

That is the face of a man who has fed his own blood to the mask countless times already and still thinks it's super neat to watch it do the thing. What a dork.

If he'd lived I could imagine a really fun series where he'd go on archeological trips with Erina and Speedwagon, hunting for Stone Masks and studying and trying to understand cursed artifacts. Maybe he could even be the one who uncovers the Pillar Men's location. There's so much he could have done and it kills me to know he'd never get the opportunity to do them.

He can be a trickster at times too. Remember when he tricked Dio into basically confessing he'd killed Dario and was planning to do the same to George? Or countering Dio's freezing ability by subtly maneuvering him towards a lit brazier? He even thought about diving deeper into a lake to get to a pocket of air while DROWNING, just to gain an advantage over a zombie. He's actually really intelligent and even cunning at times. The story just does not give him many opportunities to show it like it does for Joseph.

It's actually scary how easily Jonathan could have been the villain, and yet, he just wants to do good, because that's just the kind of person he is. He doesn't want to hurt anyone, and strives to be kind no matter the circumstances.

In conclusion, Jonathan is a really fascinating and nuanced character who goes beyond the typical goody goody hero trope, I can't stop anyone who still doesn't like him but I am begging for you to give him the credit he deserves.

ppl hate jonathan the same way ppl hate superman. ppl just hate hope, bravery and goodness

[pienhime]

Ten Under-Recognized Jirai Kei Characters!

Ive been meaning to make a post on some jirai kei characters that i think are underappreciated by the overseas landmine community! Mostly i think its bc they don't wear girly kei, cybercore, or other fashions associated with us on SNS, and bc their media came out before 2020. So ive compiled a list and an explanation for why i think they're jirai! I have another list for pien kei characters who arent jirai in my opinion too. If u have any characters u think the western jirai comm sleeps on, comment/reblog and tell me who & why!

1. Celestia Ludenberg

Celestia (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc) has screamed landmine to me for like, ever! She's wrapped up in her appearance and at first glance makes the effort to come off as regal and formal. But she frequently lets that disguise slip and shows her sadistic side at the slightest inconvenience, threatening violence and screaming in peoples faces. She's got both a superiority complex AND inferiority complex, and has an unhealthy obsession with gambling, her super high school level talent.

2. Nijimin Anazawa

Nijimin (Mahou Shoujo Site) is super popular in the japanese jirai comm, and its easy to see why. She's easily lovestruck and a borderline yandere (dependent type), murderous and hellbent on revenge, and her magical power literally revolves around manipulating others. She's a beloved idol and a symbol of cuteness, but she's a murderous magical girl? How much more jirai can you get!

3. Mayoi Ayase

Mayoi (Ensemble Stars) is a very interesting character! From his obsession with the occult to his self depreciating behavior to his obsessive and stalkerish tendencies, he's an overall offputting yet charming guy. As an idol, he has fans who have a totally different image of him than the creep (affectionate) he can be at times behind the scenes. Also, not to stereotype, but his favorite sanrio character is kuromi, whos super popular within jirai.

4. Yuri

Yuri (Dokidoki Literature Club) being a landmine seems a little self-explanatory to me. She's a yandere character who's probably the most unassuming of the cast at first. She's shy, smart, kind... and a self-harming yandere with a knife fetish who will literally kill herself if you get involved romantically or reject her.

5. Yoosung

Wow, when's the last time I thought about Mystic Messanger? No idea, but Yoosung feels pretty jirai kei to me in retrospect. In the beginning of the game, hes the adorkable self-conscious junior with an unhealthy online addiction. But, by the end, he's a self-harming yandere who refuses to let the player character go, and is willing to do whatever it takes to secure a happily ever after.

6. Kusokawa-chan

While I have an immeasurable hatred for her creator, Kusokawa-chan (Menhera-chan spin-off 4komas) is a comfort character of mine... for some reason. With a name that means "kawaii trash", her personality is probably predictable. She's human trash, a sadistic asshole with no respect for others who will insult and berate you at the drop of a hat, and turn on a dime on her fans. She tries to cover it up by putting on an exaggerated innocent act and kawaii-fying herself and her life, but she just cant stop herself from exploding on others with no remorse.

7. Azusa Mukami

Admittedly, everything I know about Diabolik Lovers is through its fandom as I've yet to cave and buy the games. But from what little I know, Azusa seems pretty jirai. He seems innocent, fragile even- but has the typical amount of yandere tendencies for the series. He has a self harm addiction, and if you peruse his route you're in for a toxic time.

8. Satou Matsuzaka

This might be cheating because she's so popular on yandere tumblr, but Satou Matsuzaka (Happy Sugar Life) is ultra jirai kei. It's no wonder she's such a popular choice of pfp on japanese jiraitwt! She's obsessed with living out a fantasy saccarine-sweet life with the object of her desire, and given her full-blown yandere nature and her lolicon status, its no doubt shes a toxic partner. She's beloved at her school and workplace for her seemingly sweet nature and cute looks, but her kindness is only for the purposes of manipulation.

9. Kosame Amagai

Again, I'm no expert on Diabolik Lovers! But based on what my friends on yandereblr tell me, this guy is definately a jirai danshi. He's a lover of all things cute, who uses his cute shota-like appearance and polite manner of speech to lure others in. In reality, hes an abusive partner in his route, and takes his anger out on others verbally. He's willing to cry, scream, and threaten over the smallest of transgressions. Of course, he's also a yandere as per series standard.

10. Momonga

Okay so this is only half-serious, but there's a reason Momonga (Chiikawa) is so beloved by jirai girls and often depicted fitting the visual jirai stereotype in fanart. She's ultra cute! But she uses her appearance and acting vulnerable and innocent to try to get away with shithead behavior. She's loud, erratic, and self-obsessed, and often cries when she doesn't get her way. She's obviously the worlds cutest little manipulator, and she knows it.

I hope you enjoyed this list! There's a list for non-landmine pien kei characters coming soon, so feel free to send me asks with recommendations! And feel free to add on to this list in reblogs and comments!

[evilwickedme]

was talking today to a couple of people about gilmore girls and one of them said he doesn't like s6 and I was like. I get it but also I love s6. and he was like, really? and I said well yeah! I feel like s6 is underappreciated sometimes or unfairly hated but so much of it is just the natural conclusion of Rory's characterization for the previous five years, the fact that she'd never been rejected, the perfection-is-the-only-thing-allowed attitude, it makes total sense for her to fall apart and need to rebuild herself, and I think it's remarkably well written. but I also feel like it's understandable to not Get It, because s6 is set up for payoff that would never come - bc s7 didn't have access to the creators' plans, bc s8 didn't happen at all, bc ayitl was too little too late and besides, Jess couldn't even appear in it much bc he was too busy on this is us. I mean whether or not you ship it, although I do, to me it seems obvious that literati was supposed to be endgame, in a clear parallel to Lorelai and Luke. Just like how Rory admonishing Jess' behavior led to his growth by s6, Jess putting Rory on the right path mid s6 was supposed to get her ready for him by a season or two later. this is so obvious to me! but since we get set up with no payoff, it just feels... empty, aimless, and kind of depressing. and that sucks bc it's really just so well written

[lesbiandanhowell]

Dan and Phil Appreciation Week

Day 6 - Favourite Solo Video(s)

Dan -

Let's be honest, it was always going to be Basically I'm Gay.

This video changed my life and deeply impacted me even when I didn't actively watch their videos. Even now, 4 years later this video does so much for me every time I rewatch it and gives me a new perspective on everything Dan touches upon. I tried writing an essay on this video before and it got so personal I felt unable to share it within anyone, because this video and everything it talks about hits very deep for me. I appreciate Dan's ability to tell his own story while also considering the wider implications of being queer and the skill with which Dan navigates these important and sensitive topics.

My second video pick has to be Why I Quit YouTube, because I appreciate the bravery with which Dan made this video, because it is such an honest and important video. Sharing his struggles and hardships as a call out for the injustice he suffered is something I have immense respect for and I really think it is a highly underappreciated video. Literally calling YouTube out for their bullshit and their exploitation of creators on the platform itself was long overdue and Dan being the one to do it made it all the better. I really hope we will one day get all the projects he's dreamed of creating because his mind is fascinating and he has so much creativity that just wants to be shared with the world.

Phil -

All of the Sleepless Night with Phil videos are just, endlessly hilarious to me. I don't have profound things to say about them like I do about Dan's videos, but these videos bring me so much joy and feel like genuinely just hanging out with your friend with insomnia. He talks about the most random things in these videos and yes they are so very fake in some ways, but somehow that makes it so much better? It's like a little stage play and I am the sole audience and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

[bulkyphrase]

AmeriHawk: a Clint Barton/Steve Rogers rec list

A few of my favorite fics from an underappreciated rarepair!

Found Your Husband by sara_holmes (@captn-sara-holmes) (Teen And Up Audiences, 8,824 words, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings)

Summary: Clint was never any good at strategy. He's pretty good at putting his foot in his mouth, though. Never to the extent where he ends up accidentally marrying someone he's not seen in twenty years, though.

Third Wheel or 20 Dates by cakeisnotpie (Explicit, 9,748 words, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings)

Summary: Steve and Clint are the third wheels around the tower. Basketball, classic movies, plays, and late night workouts ensue. Turns out, they may have been dating the whole time.

More below the cut!

Contractually Obligated, at Least Out of Uniform by snack_size (Explicit, 57,833 words, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings)

Summary: A chance encounter in the SHIELD hallway leads Clint and Steve, post-Avengers, to get to know each other better when everyone else is off having adventures. Things develop slowly, and awkwardly, and probably only thanks to one well timed comment by Tony. From there, Clint and Steve try to navigate a new reality, each other, and their various past traumas.

You were good for her by marmolita (@marmolita) (Explicit, 2,364 words, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings)

Author's Note: "This fic is a followup to quigonejinn's Beast of Burden. It may not make much sense if you haven't read that one first, so please do."

Summary: "Clint, I want--" Steve says, pulling back. Clint looks up at him, one hand on Steve's shoulder and one on the side of his ribs. Steve blinks, looks away. "I want you to hurt me."

Ghosts by AvaKelly (@intermittently-ava) (Explicit, 22,931 words, Graphic Depictions Of Violence)

My Note: This fic and the next one are the reason I ship AmeriHawk. Before I read them I hadn't even considered the ship as a possibility.

Summary: "Under the ice, I was awake." When the words settle in his head, Clint feels dizzy with comprehension. And yeah, there it is, the ripping that slices into his ribcage, sharp and painful, as if trying to erase everything that had touched his chest before. He shudders violently. "How are you sane," a whisper slips out unabated, voicing Clint's realization. "I'm not really."

Illusions by AvaKelly (@intermittently-ava) (Explicit, 26,362 words, Graphic Depictions Of Violence)

Summary: Hawkeye looks at him unblinking, unwinds his muscles with an upturn curl of a corner of his mouth that flashes a hint of teeth into the sunlight. He extends a hand, grips Steve's jaw a little too tight. "This is what kills people," he warns, like he refuses to acknowledge it as part of him. It sends a pang of hurt through Steve, because Clint can see a lot, but how can he not realize that it's Clint speaking through Hawkeye's mouth? They are not separate, but of one being, killer and conscience. That is what makes them soldiers instead of murderers.-- Alternate telling of Ghosts from Steve's perspective. Why you should read it: It has about 3 extra chapters from Ghosts of the boys in the tower. Here we dive into what reality looks like for Steve, after the years in ice. The Cat was here.

A Lifetime Of Dreaming by shatteredhourglass (@shatteredhourglass) (Explicit, 15,541 words, Graphic Depictions Of Violence)

Summary: "Clint," someone calls out, and Clint blinks. Alternatively titled 'Clint Barton And The No-Good, Shitty, Very Bad Day.'

If I Don't Wake Up Dead by copperbadge (@copperbadge) (Mature, 30,756 words)

Summary: Clint Barton -- subby, ex-carnie white trash, spy -- isn't the kind of guy Captain America goes for. Nobody informed Captain America of this.

in the day by harcourt (@haforcere) (Not Rated, 2,586 words)

Summary: For this prompt, where Steve is a man out of time, and things really were better way back when. Today, Doms control every aspect of their subs lives, more like ownership than a partnership. And when Steve wakes up, every one expects him to slot neatly into society because he comes from a time when "Doms were Doms and subs were subs," right? Also available as a podfic read by GoLBPodfics (@godoflaundrybaskets)

Chase Away the Winter's Chill by drmcbones (Teen And Up Audiences, 4,461 words)

Summary: Everybody sees Steve as the invincible Captain America, the hero who bounced back from being frozen for 70 years and went straight back to kicking ass and taking names. People forget that he's still a human being who underwent a horrific trauma. So Clint is thrown for a loop when he visits Steve's apartment and finds him in the midst of a panic attack brought on by his first winter since his near death in the arctic. Cue Clint doing whatever it takes to look after his teammate and remind him that he is not alone.

Boundless by AvaKelly (@intermittently-ava) (Teen And Up Audiences, 931 words)

Summary: Steve gets rewarded for his sacrifice with the choice of roaming the world as an invisible spirit while he's frozen and he takes it. One day, he meets a boy and makes a promise.

(my heart is) A Church of Scars by Kangofu_CB (Teen And Up Audiences, 4,384 words)

Summary: "Steve." It was a gentle correction, but implacable all the same. "It's Steve. And you never belonged to Loki because I'm pretty sure you belong to me." He reached for the buttons at his throat and began loosening them, revealing pale collarbones and smooth, hairless skin, but before the stripping could get really risque - and some distant part of Clint was deeply disappointed - Steve stopped unbuttoning the shirt and instead pulled the edges of it aside, so that his right shoulder was showing. A right shoulder that was marred by a very distinctive, starburst-shaped scar. The kind of scar an arrow left. Clint's vision narrowed to pinpricks, and he could feel himself panting in short, choppy bursts. In the aftermath of the Battle of New York, Clint finds something to hold on to.

Another First Kiss by Sineala (@sineala) (Explicit, 22,645 words)

Summary: Clint and the rest of the Avengers are alive and safe, home again after Onslaught. The team is getting back together. Life is great. And, what's more, Clint has woken up to one of his longtime fantasies, come true at last: Steve Rogers is naked in his bed and is very, very happy to see him. Everything would be perfect... if only Clint could remember anything at all about how Steve got there. Uh-oh. Okay, so he has a bit of amnesia. There's only one thing to do: wing it. The memories are bound to come back, any minute now. In the meantime, Clint can absolutely, definitely pretend that he knows what he's doing, who all these new Avengers are, and how the hell he ended up dating Captain America.

[13xwishes]

Adrien Agreste for the character bingo

Character Opinion Meme || { Accepting }

For @strcngered || Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir

Yes, I cheated. Do I give a fuck? NO!

Adrien... is a good character the show threw away. Demoting him to an abused sidekick/trophy boyfriend. I don't need to keep watching after season 3 to know how the route goes. I root for him as much as I can cause his personality is so unique and wonderful, not to mention you want to explore his unlooked background and perspective just because...

Adrien himself is a beautiful person with a way more interesting background as the protagonist. He's a celebrity with little to no control over his life thanks to his over-barring (if not abusive) father. Then becomes a superhero who is very much underappreciated and pushed alot to even physically abused by his spotted female fighting partner (she threw him in a trash can. That's abuse). Meanwhile, he still maintains the sweet personality of trying to be kind, courteous and selfless to people, even strangers. Even to the point of risking his life several times for the people he cares about. He also doesn't get enough support when he needs it because of the bias writing of the show and when it does happen, it get's taken away from him very quickly.

I don't even care about the love square anymore and will never ship it again after taking off the rose colored glasses to see the red-flags in SEASON ONE! (Presents till his 35 birthday and his private schedule is not love. It's STALKING and there's no fucking excuse!)

Marinette doesn't deserve him. Gabriel DAMN WELL doesn't deserve him. The SHOW doesn't deserve him. If I can take Adrien out of the show and put him in another, I'd gladly do so for his sake or just adopt him to treat him better. And i said several times I don't want kids but gods... this kid pulls my heart strings. The writing fucked up alot of characters, but Adrien takes the brunt of it. He is basically the Ken... WITH THE CREATOR ADMITTING THAT!!

There are only three people I can see with Adrien. Either Marc, Nathaniel or my OTP, LUKA.

It's hard not to rant when it comes to Adrien because you know they didn't do him right and you want to protest so much but you know he's never going to get it better in the show. That's why I'll love and support him even just through fanworks because he deserves it. I can't put it in any other way. Adrien is KENOUGH.

[nicejewishcharactershowdown]

Nice Jewish Character Showdown -- Round Two Analysis

We're so back. Happy Jewish-American Heritage Month! Here are the characters that got eliminated in Round Two -- and since it's been a minute, I'm linking the polls to the contestant names.

James Wilson Status: Canon Jew Mazel tov to Wilson for making it to round two, a definite improvement from last year. In the past year I’ve actually started watching ‘House’ cause of y’all, so I think this counts as a win. And his initials literally being J.E.W. is fucking iconic.

Libby Stein-Torres Status: Canon Jew I’m so glad that the legacy of iconic Disney Channel Jewish Rep continues into the modern era. What a bop.

Fox Mulder Status: Pretty Much Canon Jew “Scully, you’re gonna wanna see this.”

Sidney Prescott Status: Transitive Jew There’s something so inherently Jewish already about the final girl narrative, especially when it’s one portrayed by a Jewish actor. Especially in the ‘Scream’ franchise, where so much of the narrative revolves around not knowing who you can trust, who’s your friend and who’s your enemy. Might be a bit melodramatic, eh. At least the transitive property can apply here, thank you Neve for this absolutely iconic line — “I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes”

Bugs Bunny Status: Transitive Jew Remember how Bugs once literally saved Mel Blanc’s life when he was in a coma? What a wonderful relationship between creation and creator. We could technically expand the Transitive Property out to the rest of Blanc’s character catalogue, but there’s something so right about identifying Bugs Bunny as the representative for the Mel Blanc set.

Percy Jackson Status: Interpretive Jew This one’s a bit of a brainchild, so stick with me. Is it transitive from the (underappreciated) performance of the ICONIC Logan Lerman? Yes. Is it because of all the world-saving trauma he went through at such a young age? Yes. Is it because of the iconic motif of water in Judaism? YES. Is it the way Percy always gets blamed for trouble, even stuff he had nothing to do with? Yes. But most importantly, the chutzpah. The way he, and his friends, talk back to the Greek Pantheon. The way they question authority, and the way he in particular paves his way against the fate chosen for him. Constantly fighting for a better world, even if it’s gonna put him in more danger by pissing off some powerful people. I could talk about this for hours, so pull up a chair and start listening to the Lightning Thief musical, there WILL be an essay portion to this quiz.

Seymour Krelborn Status: Canon Jew Have you EVER seen a more nebbish horror musical male lead than Seymour?

Sharpay Evans Status: Transitive Jew Once you find out Ashley Tisdale’s Jewish, the Jewish American Princess vibes radiating off of Sharpay Evans become impossible to ignore. You just KNOW she grew up in the same Hebrew School class as Troy (another Transitive Property Jew thanks to the ICONIC Zac Efron!)

[twistedtummies2]

Top 15 Animated Disney TV Villains

October’s still going, and I’ve already talked about Disney Villains a few times. I covered my favorite portrayals of one of their greatest members, Cruella De Vil, and I also talked about various Disney Villain Songs - first from the movies, and then from other avenues. It was in the process of exploring said “other avenues” that I realized I should probably give some attention to a more underappreciated group of Disney baddies: the ones from their TV programs. We all love characters like the Evil Queen, Chernabog, and Dr. Facilier, but Disney’s television output has created some pretty iconic villains in its own right, many on par with (and sometimes even better than) their film characters. Whether they be from shows spun-off of pre-existing properties, or totally original pieces, the villains of Disney’s TV cartoons are often just as recognizable as the movie characters, with just as much fan appreciation. Yet, despite this, they don’t get as much merchandising, nor as much attention at the Parks: you’re not likely to see characters like Mozenrath or Xanatos lined up alongside Maleficent or Jafar. Well, I think it’s time to give these dastardly adversaries some time in the spotlight. A BIG, FAT WARNING THOUGH: there are actually quite a lot of Disney shows I haven’t seen (and probably will not see anytime soon), particularly more modern ones from the past ten years or so. As a result, there are some popular villains and shows you WON’T see referenced on this list: if you’re expecting to see entries from Gravity Falls, The Owl House, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, or Wander Over Yonder - all of which I know are pretty popular - you’re going to be disappointed. (The only reason I’m including Bill Cipher as a “banner entry” here is because I’m pretty sure if I didn’t reference him at all, someone would try to assassinate me.) Most of these characters come from series produced in the 80s, the 90s, and the 2000s, with a few entries from the 2010s. This is because those are the shows I know best and/or grew up with. While some of these series I haven’t revisited in their entirety in a long time, I HAVE returned to ALL of them, to some degree or another, at some point when making this countdown.

Two quick rules to note: firstly, I won’t be including villains who originated in films, under any circumstances. So characters like Emperor Zurg, Hades, Yzma, and so on - who were all major antagonists in their movies’ respective spin-off series - will be ignored. They get plenty of attention as is, frankly. Secondly, I’m only going to include one villain per show…minus two exceptions. Why I made those two exceptions will be explained when they pop up. With that said, for those of you who are still sticking around and curious to see what series and what characters WILL make the list…sit down, grab some snacks, and ready your remote controls. These are My Top 15 Disney Animated TV Villains!

15. The Birthday Bandit, from Teamo Supremo.

Some of you may recall I brought this guy up on an earlier list. Of all the shows on this list, I’d argue that Teamo Supremo is one of the most forgotten. It’s not a series that has a significantly large fanbase, as far as I can tell; lots of people I know have never even heard of it. The series was meant to be a tribute to the works of Jay Ward, the creator of such classics as Dudley Do-Right, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and George of the Jungle. The plot focused on the adventures of three kid superheroes - the titular Teamo Supremo - as they faced a variety of campy, colorful super-criminals. My favorite of these supervillains is, and always was, the Birthday Bandit. The Bandit was once a humble children’s entertainer known as B.B. the Clown. However, frustrated with his work, and forever bitter about the fact he never got to properly celebrate his own birthdays as a child, B.B. becomes the evil Birthday Bandit: the lord high ruiner of all holidays and special occasions. (Birthdays, obviously, are his specialty, but he also attacked Valentine’s Day in one episode.) Basically, combine the Grinch with the Joker, and you’ll get this character…which is actually a more apt description than you might think. One of the main reasons the Bandit is and was my favorite villain is his voice actor: none other than the King of All Jokers, Mark Hamill. I guess the guy just has a very specific type.

14. Lord Duke Scrapperton, from Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce GO!

I am convinced that this show had to have been at least semi-inspired by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, solely based on the fact that both of these superhero franchises have titles that are so absolutely bizarre and long that you’d think they were thought up by deranged drug addicts. Regardless, this series was a pretty interesting departure for the Disney Channel. Created for the “Jetix” line of shows at the time, which tried to be more “cool” than the rest, this anime-influenced series was yet another superhero adventure show. (Get used to that, by the way, there’s a few more of those to come.) This time, the story focused on a young boy named Chiro, who joins forces with a team of five robotic monkeys (as you do) to stop the machinations of the evil Skeleton King. (Incidentally, the Skeleton King was voiced by the Birthday Bandit himself, Mark Hamill…who also appears in the Honorable Mentions…I’m sensing a pattern here.) While the King was a great main antagonist, my favorite villain was actually the less prominent - but no less memorable - Lord Duke Scrapperton. Initially voiced by Eric Idle (he would later be replaced by Jeff Bennett), Scrapperton is a steampunk cyborg who has replaced nearly his entire body with clockwork technology, and is continually seeking to upgrade himself further. He is also an avid collector, gathering everything from action figures…to living beings. At first, Scrappterton seems eccentric, but rather friendly; however, as his debut episode goes on, a darker, more twisted side to his nature is revealed. The character would reappear a couple more times throughout the series, still seeking upgrades and new things to gather for his boundless collection. Frankly, it’s hard to go wrong with a posh cyborg villain voiced by a member of Monty Python.

13. The Saurians, from Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series.

I don’t know what madman decided to turn the hockey sports film “The Mighty Ducks” into a superhero/sci-fi series about anthropomorphic mallards, living in a hockey-obsessed universe, and fighting reptilian warlords from space. Whoever it was, somebody give them a raise for abstract creativity. In truth, this series as a whole wasn’t necessarily one of Disney’s best, in my opinion, but I also wouldn’t say it was all that bad. The highlight of the show was undoubtedly its villains, the Saurians. This is the first of the two exceptions I mentioned before, as I’m counting the whole main team of villains from this show. The leader of the Saurians was the devilish Lord Dragaunus: a fire-breathing fiend who plans to - what else? - conquer the universe. His second in command was an evil wizard called Wraith, who I can only describe as a combination of Skeletor and the Horned King. Next is Siege, a beefy bruiser and weapons expert, followed finally by Chameleon, a wisecracking, shapeshifting little hobgoblin. Fairly standard characters for a show like this, so what makes them so particularly special? Answer: their voice actors. In the order listed, these four characters were played by Tim Curry, Tony Jay, Clancy Brown, and Frank Welker. For those who aren’t keeping track, now going in reverse order, that means every time these four were onscreen together, you had Megatron, Lex Luthor, Frollo, and…well…TIM CURRY all bouncing off one another and sharing dialogue. I almost don’t care about the quality of the series after that point; anyone smart enough to put these four guys in a room together, in any shape or form, is doing something right!

12. Lady Waltham, from The Legend of Tarzan.

Sometimes a TV Villain can be not only as good, but honestly BETTER than a film counterpart. Lady Waltham is such a case, which is especially interesting because she’s an outlier on this list in one important way: all the other villains on this countdown are recurring antagonists. How often they appear varies from program to program, of course. (Scrapperton only gets three appearances in his respective show, while the Saurians are in nearly every episode of theirs.) Lady Waltham, however, is a oneshot character: she only appears in a single episode. But, man, what an episode! The story is entitled “Gauntlet of Vengeance.” In the episode, Tarzan and his allies first meet Lady Waltham as a rather strict but seemingly decent Englishwoman on safari. This, however, is a false facade to help her get close to them all, as she enacts an elaborate scheme against them: she puts all of Tarzan’s closest companions into cunning death traps, then uses a poisoned dart on Tarzan himself. The antidote to the poison is located on a mountain peak; if Tarzan is quick enough, he can cure himself before the poison runs its full course…but doing so will lead to the death of all his friends and family. He won’t have time to do both. Why is Waltham doing this? That’s where things get especially interesting: it’s revealed that Waltham is the younger sister of Clayton, the villain of the original movie. She blames Tarzan for her brother’s death, and seemingly knows nothing of Clayton’s villainous ways. It’s all for revenge: Tarzan will either die like her brother, or see all of his loved ones perish. Many people seem to consider this to be the best episode of the show, as well as one of the darkest, and I am in full agreement. There were many other villains in the series, including several recurring foes, but for me, Waltham stood out as the single best of the bunch. Her arc in the story is interesting, and she actually proves to be a more complex and compelling antagonist than her late brother, all with less screentime. She may not have shown up a lot, but she’s still more than deserving of placement in these ranks.

11. Shego, from Kim Possible.

Okay, so, I have a confession to make: I’m not a huge fan of Kim Possible. Not because I think the show is bad - quite the reverse - but because I didn’t actually watch much of it when growing up. I think this was because, as a little boy, I had this dumb and silly idea in my head that “girl protagonist = girly show.” Naturally, this was an idiotic viewpoint to have, and in revisiting the show, it’s easy to see why it had and still has a lot of respect, and why the title character was so popular. While the main villain of the series was the diabolical (and delightfully doofy) Dr. Drakken, even as a kid (again, with little interest in the program) I think the villain who seemed the most interesting to me was this gal: Drakken’s henchgirl, Shego. Shego is one of those classic villains who is essentially an “anti” version of the main character. She looks a little bit like Kim, and like Kim she’s a strong, independent-thinking, sassy young woman with many skills and talents. However, while Kim is a heroine, Shego is a villainess: while she has her own strange code of honor, she genuinely enjoys being bad, and often seems much more competent than Drakken or a lot of the other villains in the show. In revisiting some of the series, I found her much more fascinating than Drakken, providing a great “dark mirror” to Kim while still feeling uniquely like her own character. The only reason - and I do think it’s the ONLY reason - she doesn’t make it into the Top 10 is simply that I’m not the series’ biggest fan. To those who would rank her higher, I can hardly blame you: she’s magnificent.

10. NOS-4-A2, from Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.

Buzz Lightyear vs. Dracula. Not a combination I expected to see, but also not one I’m upset about. In this comedic cartoon series - spun-off of Pixar’s “Toy Story” movies, but set in its own unique continuity (the conceit is this is the show that inspired the toy line in the films) - everyone’s favorite Space Ranger has many foes to face. From bounty hunters to evil overlords, there are plenty of ghastly ghouls haunting the galaxy. None, however, are quite as ghoulish as NOS-4-A2. The result of an experiment by Lightyear’s arch-nemesis, Emperor Zurg, NOS-4-A2 was intended to be a weapon used against Star Command for Zurg’s evil plans. However, the robotic monster ultimately went rogue and became a particularly nasty baddy in his own right, with his own schemes of domination and destruction. NOS-4-A2 is an “energy vampire”: instead of drinking blood, the monster primarily feeds on electrical energy. While he primarily targets fellow robots, he can and will also attack more traditional living beings, such as humans, when necessary. Inspired by Bram Stoker’s famed Transylvanian Count, NOS-4-A2 has many of the same abilities: he can brainwash people and machines into becoming his mind-warped servants, turn fellow robots into vampires, fly with his bat-like wings, and is also able to turn non-machines he bites into “Wirewolves.” The character was played by Craig Ferguson, of all people, and was one of the few villains on the series who actually felt pretty threatening, as well as being very funny. The stories he appeared in always felt a little bit darker and more dangerous, and had a delightfully Gothic, spooky tone to them, which made him all the more memorable.

9. Abis Mal & Mechanicles, from Aladdin.

This is the other exception I mentioned, along with the Saurians, where I’m including multiple villains from the same show in the same ranking. In this case, however, it’s for different reasons. “Aladdin” was one of my favorite Disney TV shows growing up. The series takes place between the events of “Return of Jafar” and “King of Thieves” (which were, themselves, basically the first and final episodes of the show; otherwise Abis Mal wouldn’t count here). It covered the adventures Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, and the rest had before the princess and the “street rat” were finally married. Throughout the series, the team faced many adversaries: the necromancer Mozenrath, the evil elemental Mirage, the draconic Malcho, and the God of Chaos himself were all just a few of the more noteworthy enemies Aladdin and his friends had to outwit. However, the two most prominent villains in the series - the “Joker and Penguin” of the Aladdin universe, if you will - were these two. Abis Mal is a bungling thief, voiced by the incomparable Jason Alexander. He first appeared in “Return of Jafar” and continued to be a recurring foe throughout the series. Mechanicles, meanwhile, is a mad scientist, with an Ancient Greek aesthetic, who creates robotic bugs to do his bidding. Both of them were VERY funny villains, and it’s honestly hard for me to say which one I liked more. Abis Mal I think is less threatening and unique than Mechanicles (although I’d hardly call Mechanicles the most menacing of Aladdin’s villains, either), but it’s kind of hard to beat Jason Alexander’s comedic vocal chops in the role. This, combined with the fact he DID appear alongside Jafar in the aforementioned feature probably helps him a lot. Ultimately, I decided to just lump them both together here. Good job to both these bad guys!

8. Don Karnage, from TaleSpin.

“TaleSpin” was one of the weirder Disney shows, just by its concept: it took some of the characters from “The Jungle Book” and reimagined them in a more contemporary universe inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. (Sort of a Rudyard Kipling version of Zootopia.) While the nominal main antagonist of “TaleSpin” was Shere Khan, he doesn’t really count for this list. However, I would argue this guy was really much more the main villain than the infamous tiger, and he DEFINITELY counts. Don Karnage was the flamboyant, bizarrely-accented leader of a band of Air Pirates, who were constant thorns in the sides of Baloo and the other protagonists. Karnage is a vain and EXTREMELY melodramatic pirate, whose ego and bad temper have a tendency of mucking up his plans. He’s actually not really stupid, especially not when compared to the other pirates on his crew, but the combo of his bungling henchmen and his emotions getting the better of him always leads to him being foiled in the end. The character was voiced by Jim Cummings, and this is worth noting because Cummings was actually the talent behind a LOT of Disney’s greatest TV baddies: no less than three of the characters on this countdown were all voiced by him, starting with Karnage. Of the three in question, Karnage is by far the silliest, but he’s more than worthy of commendation: heck, he got to duel Captain Hook, I think that’s worth pointing out on its own terms! (Yes, that really happened, look it up.) The character was recently reimagined in the 2017 reboot of “DuckTales.” There he’s voiced by Jaime Camil. That version was fun, but I think that I’ll always prefer the original rendition of the character, for several reasons. Still, you can count this slot for both, if you like.

7. Dr. Doofenshmirtz, from Phineas & Ferb.

One of the (somewhat) more recent shows to make this list, “Phineas & Ferb” was a rather absurd TV series that focused on essentially two different plotlines, each episode, which would inevitably collide in some humorous fashion in every story. One plotline focused on the titular characters: a pair of brothers who were determined to do literally everything, while their nagging sister, Candace, tried to get them in trouble at every opportunity. At the same time, there would be another story going on involving the family’s pet platypus, Perry. (I’m not questioning it, why should you?) It’s revealed that Perry the Platypus is actually a secret agent in the James-Bond-ian style, who is constantly working to keep the Tri-State Area safe from the machinations of our next contender: the diabolical Dr. Doofenshmirtz. This guy…is an absolute riot. He is HILARIOUS, on so many levels. Even in stories where he does really, REALLY horrible things, like succeeding in taking over the world or whatever, he’s somehow just so lovably insane and…well…just plain WEIRD that it’s hard not to enjoy him. His relationship with Perry is a lot of fun; the series treats the idea of being nemeses almost like a romance at points, which makes the irony all the more hilarious when they’re constantly working to destroy one another. (Think Joker and Batsy in The LEGO Batman Movie, and you’ll get some idea of what I mean.) He’s also a genuinely loving father, with his daughter, Vanessa, occasionally acting as his (somewhat begrudging) henchgirl. With his wild assortment of “-inator” devices, and plots that ranged from Jekyll-&-Hyde parodies to…um…trying to ruin pelicans (“Terrible creatures! What are you, a bird or a garbage disposal?!”), you could always count on this deranged inventor to have something wickedly silly up his sleeve.

6. Fat Cat, from Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers.

I trust that many of you reading this are familiar with “The Great Mouse Detective.” If so, you will naturally recall two of the main villains from that movie: Professor Ratigan - a wily and theatrical criminal mastermind - and his giant pet cat, the spoiled and gluttonous Felicia. Imagine if you took those two characters, put them in a blender, stuck the result in a more contemporary setting, and then had a pair of chipmunks fight the Frankensteinian construct you’ve created. This character is pretty much EXACTLY that. Fat Cat - voiced once more by Jim Cummings - is the leader of a gang of underworld hoodlums, and the arch-nemesis of the titular Rescue Rangers. He lives up to his name both literally and figuratively: not only is his corpulence pronounced, but he is greedy, arrogant, and has a very sophisticated air to him. He’s a pretty straightforward kind of bad guy: reveling in his own devious deeds, and caring nothing for the lives of most other people (or animals), so long as he gets what he wants. And, as you can guess from the image I’ve chosen, he’s rather fond of good old-fashioned death traps, naturally followed by some villainous monologuing. Because it’s just no fun murdering fools unless you have time to gloat and let them stew in their own morbid dread. There’s really not much more to say about this character, he’s just a very fun feline felon. I was honestly REALLY disappointed that he had virtually nothing to do in the “Rescue Rangers” film that came out a couple years ago…but that’s another story for another time.

5. Janja, from The Lion Guard.

This series was a (supposedly canon? It’s kind of hard to tell) spin-off of “The Lion King,” which took place before, after, and even during the events of the sequel film, “Simba’s Pride.” Instead of following Simba’s daughter, Kiara, however, the show focused on the exploits of Simba’s son, Kion: the leader of a group of animals destined to protect the Pride Lands, the titular Lion Guard. Despite airing on Disney Junior, the show had a noticeably darker and more risky tone than many other series that were and are on that block. The Guard faced many adversaries, but arguably the most noteworthy was Janja. This rascally hyena is special partially because he was the main antagonist of the entire first season, and remained a major villain well into the second season…but also partially because he’s one of the few villains on this countdown who goes through a redemption arc. While it isn’t entirely uncommon for villains featured on this countdown to occasionally work with the heroes when their goals align (Shego, Magica, and Doofenshmirtz are notable examples), only three antagonists featured here actually reformed and became good characters. Janja is one of them, which was particularly interesting since, for much of the time before, he was treated as basically Kion’s arch-nemesis. Seeing the character we’d come to know not only as a villain, but as the chiefest rival to our main hero, turn over a new leaf was something rather novel; it would be like if the Joker suddenly turned over a new leaf and became friends with Batman, you just wouldn’t really expect it. However, for all Janja’s faults, he had been shown to have his own set of vulnerabilities, and this allowed him a rather natural shift in a rather short amount of time. Even after becoming a good guy, however, he still had his rough sides, which - while mostly treated for laughs - were still cool to notice. Funny, fiendish, and utterly fascinating, Janja is more than deserving of a spot in my Top 5.

4. Magica DeSpell, from DuckTales. (Both Versions.)

Unlike Don Karnage, where I can definitely say I prefer the original to the revamp, I’m actually not really sure which version of Magica DeSpell I prefer between these two. I did deliberate on whether I should even count Magica, since she technically got her start in Disney comics long before appearing in DuckTales. However, a.) that really counts for a LOT of the villains in the series, so that wouldn’t leave a lot of options left for who COULD make the cut, and b.) I think DuckTales is where MOST people would know Magica from, regardless, so…eh. I think it’s fair. Magica is a wicked witch who acts as one of the main villains in both versions of the series. In the original, she was a somewhat bungling mage who wished to steal Scrooge McDuck’s Number One Dime. Her reasoning is that she believes Scrooge’s famous “lucky charm” could give her greater power and wealth. However, on more than one occasion, her attempts to steal the special little coin would lead to disaster not only for the heroes, but for Magica as well. In the 2017 reboot, Magica was reimagined as a slightly darker villain: an ancient sorceress whose spirit was trapped in Scrooge’s Number One Dime. Via the standard elaborate scheming, she is eventually freed from her prison, plotting revenge and conquest…only to have much of her power stripped from her by arc’s end. She would then return several more times, trying to regain her full power and get back at Scrooge and his family. The original Magica was voiced by the great June Foray; in the reboot, she was played by Catherine Tate. (This was probably due to Tate’s fame as a Companion of David Tennant’s in Doctor Who; Tennant played Scrooge McDuck.) I really enjoy both versions of the character, so I decided to just give this credit to each interpretation together.

3. Negaduck, from Darkwing Duck.

Not all arch-enemies are quite as easy to turn as Janja. Case in point, Negaduck: the arch-nemesis of the titular superhero from the cartoon action-adventure series “Darkwing Duck.” Negaduck is the classic “evil twin” kind of supervillain: a blatant dark mirror to the hero who not only looks a lot like them, but even has a lot of similar personality traits. Darkwing, while ultimately the heroic protagonist, is far from the most saintly of crimefighters: he’s arrogant, selfish, childish, bad-tempered, and occasionally just plain rude. Negaduck is exactly the same way. However, what separates the pair is that, at the end of the day, Darkwing will still make the right choices to do what’s good, and does have a heart underneath it all. Negaduck does not: he is pure evil, plain and simple. He is sadistic, brutal, and downright cruel to a genuinely unsettling degree at times, despite the show’s comedic tone, and he doesn’t care who knows it. He’s obsessed with all kinds of things that deal death and destruction, from guns, to knives, to chainsaws, to explosives, and he rules over the gang of supervillains called The Fearsome Five with an iron fist. Also, unlike Darkwing, who occasionally comes across as a bit of a dimwit, Negaduck is actually VERY intelligent; as cunning as he is diabolical, which makes him even more of a threat. While the show’s campy tone kept him from ever being TOO scary, they got away with a lot in making this malicious mallard a pretty intense threat at times, while also still making him suitably silly when needs be. Just like Don Karnage, the character would make a comeback in the 2017 reboot of “DuckTales”...but we really didn’t get very much of him, so I don’t think there’s a ton for me to say there, especially without giving away some major spoilers. Still, the original is one of Disney’s most classic TV monsters, and more than deserving of placement in the Top 3.

2. Demona, from Gargoyles.

Until sometime within the past few years, Demona was top of the heap for this countdown. There’s a good reason for this. “Gargoyles” was essentially Disney’s answer to shows like FOX’s “X-Men” and Warner Bros. “Batman: The Animated Series.” Seeing how those two shows - superhero programs with a darker edge - were doing in ratings and popularity, Disney decided to create its own show in the same vein, but with its own unique and original approach, rather than basing it on a pre-existing comic series. The result was “Gargoyles,” which combined dark fantasy with superhero action, and told the story of a team of flying creatures sworn to protect humanity from all manner of threats. From mad scientists to immortal warriors to ancient Gods, the Gargoyles fought many foes. However, there were two that stood out among all the rest: one of them was Xanatos, an evil businessman who was sort of the Lex Luthor of the series. And while Xanatos is a really, REALLY freaking awesome villain in his own right…my favorite was, is, and probably always will be this lady, Demona. This rogue Gargoyle woman is kind of what you would get if you crossed both Magneto and Mystique from “X-Men” together: a sort of Gargoyle supremacist who, scarred by past traumas and betrayals, wished to destroy all of mankind, and would stop at nothing to achieve this goal. Demona was a great example of a sympathetic villain: she and the main protagonist, Goliath, had some touching history together, and you knew that her dastardly deeds came from a place of pain. At the same time, however, you couldn’t trust her as far as you could throw her…and even for Goliath, that probably wasn’t very far. Equal parts barbaric and yet extremely crafty, she is and was just as iconic to me as any supervillain from Marvel or DC, and I was always excited to see her show up. Yet she’s still not my number one…so, who is?

1. Varian, from Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure.

I could literally write an entire post JUST about this character, and maybe someday I will. For now, I will try to keep things relatively succinct. “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure” (nee “Tangled: The Series”) was a sequel/spinoff to the film “Tangled.” And, honestly? I think the show is better than the movie, and a big part of it comes from its cast. ESPECIALLY Varian. Part of this is because of his performer, as he is voiced by the remarkable Jeremy Jordan. (That’s Lucifer to you “Hazbin Hotel” fans; Winn from “Supergirl” to you superhero fans; Light Yagami in the musical version of “Death Note” for you anime fans; and a LOT of things for you Broadway fans.) He’s not the only reason to love the character, however. Varian starts off the series as a recurring ally to Rapunzel. However, halfway through Season 1, various circumstances and events lead to this kid becoming the first major villain of the show, ultimately enacting a grand scheme of vengeance in the final couple episodes of the season. This was actually the end of Varian as a villain, proper…but not the end of Varian himself. Much like Janja, the character would later receive a redemption arc at the start of Season 3, and from that point on, Varian became one of the main characters of the series. While he was again a protagonist, his villainous past never really left him alone; there were lots of indications of his dark side, and he had to struggle with both forgiving himself and earning the forgiveness of others. Even if he wasn’t a villain anymore, that villainous side to him remained a major part of who he was. The character was extremely popular with audiences; so popular, in fact, a spin-off series with Varian as the main hero WAS planned, but ultimately canceled. While Varian’s redemption and change to heroism is interesting and admirable, I absolutely ADORED him as a villain, as well, and I kind of wish we saw more of that side of him than we got. I guess some could argue that, since he DID redeem himself, and also didn’t start out as the bad guy, MAYBE he shouldn’t count as highly…but the fact I just love this character so much, in general, eventually won over my decision. I can understand, however, if others would place characters like Negaduck, Magica, or Demona higher. It wasn’t really an easy choice to make, but for these reasons and many more, Varian is My Favorite Disney Animated TV Villain.

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

The Evil Manta, from The Little Mermaid.

ShiverJack, from Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

The Dark Dragon, from American Dragon: Jake Long.

Dr. Jacques von Hamsterviel, from Lilo & Stitch: The Series.

[sarkyfancypants]

Borderlands: My honest thoughts

Warning/Disclaimer: Long rant and personal opinions from someone who knows a little too much about the games and maybe spoilers.

What can be said that hasn't been said about Borderlands? The gameplay is fine but its story has wasted potential? That the fanbase keeps getting rear-ended by the franchise's creator who can't pay his workers right and suffers a meltdown from getting feedback and critiques? That it's been taking a slow nosedive after BL3 as the characters and plots keep getting dumber, slowly losing its loyal fans?

That third statement may be a bit of an exaggeration but I have heard people feeling exasperated about how many tumbles Borderlands has taken with Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (although that's not directly a Borderlands game, much more of a spinoff) and The New Tales from The Borderlands which nearly drove me into tears from how awful it was...

I'm not counting the movie, that's it's own thing, but I'll just say it is equally as disappointing.

I'm gonna start with a phrase I heard someone say:

"Handsome Jack was the start and the end of Borderlands".

Stay with me.

Borderlands didn't have a proper plot to begin with, and it was until BL2 when things started to pick up and you can't deny Handsome Jack was part of the reason it became the talk of the town.

I'm not saying this just because Jack is my favorite character. It's something that I have heard from many different people who have talked about the franchise in general. Jack was, and still is, highly appraised as "one of the best videogame villains" so far. He set an unexpected standard for the franchise that held up throughout The Pre-Sequel and Tales from The Borderlands, up to his definite end.

When Jack died, the franchise died with him. Dramatically put.

Sure, we still had some more of him in The Handsome Jackpot but that's inconsequential I think.

This is not saying that I want them to bring Handsome Jack back.

I don't want them to bring him back.

I feel that he has served his purpose.

But a much wasted purpose. Here is where my issues begin. At the end of The Pre-Sequel we got the cutscene where the Guardian/Watcher warns the VHs of a war. A war that we yet have to see because nothing of that extremity happened in BL3. Who knows, maybe it'll come in Borderlands 4 and 3 was just the setup.

That scene seemed important, and it coming from The Pre-Sequel, an underappreciated game that talks about Jack's transformation to Handsome Jack, the revelations of his involvement in BL1 and the things that then led to the events of BL2 on forward, almost seemed to indicate something. At least in my point of view.

I don't want them to bring Handsome Jack back, but what I do want is to see a follow-up to the consequences of his actions. That warning of a war almost felt to me like the the things Handsome Jack did triggered something big. His meddling was more significant than what Atlas and Dahl did previously, and it would ultimately justify Zarpedon's urgency to bring him down as she was enlightened by Eridian knowledge and supported/guided by the Guardians.

But after BL3, it was almost as if he was simply swiped under the rug and that was it. People only mention him to say how much of a dick he was but that's all of it. No impact, no shred of importance. Just an underwhelming "he was an asshole".

Maybe I'm looking too hard into this and I don't know if anyone else sees my vision, but it is one of the many missed opportunities from BL3, just the same as my bane which has been Troy draining Tyreen to death and becoming the focus for the rest of the game. The signs were there, it was leading up to that, there was even cut dialogue that implied that! But it was ultimately scrapped and therefore wasted.

Like the cutscene after Maya's death, the scene that would redeem Ava from being an annoying brat to a more grounded person with space for character development.

The fact that Aurelia was presented in the trailer as an ally later to be revealed as a one-dimensional villain we have to kill to progress on the story. That one still pisses me off.

I'm also upset that the awesome characters we played as in BL2 were turned into bland npcs that only showed up in DLCs that serve no purpose, with Maya being the only person to actually show serious development only to become the product of a death made for shock value in an attempt to replicate Roland's death. It's so appalling.

Don't get me wrong, Borderlands 3 is a good game and it holds up because it is really fun to play, but the story has me and many others longing for something better.

Oh by the way, did you know the first Borderlands game had a whole third act scrapped out which showed more of Commodore Steele's involvement, grounding her more as a proper villain/antagonist? Yeah, I'm mad too. Shit was already bad from the start.

I will not talk about New Tales, I refuse to think of it as canon. Someone said the best way to cope about its existence is to imagine that none of it is real and it was an in-uneverse film and all the characters in it are in-uneverse actors.

The franchise seems to be in a dire spot and my hopes for the 4th game which was confirmed to be in development, it is making me nervous and I'm disillusioned.

All I have is whatever made-up content I have for myself to still enjoy this franchise that hurts so much to watch it sink like this.

[aheckinmess]

Bullet in a Gun [Snipe] (Angst)

(One-shot 23/? in a collection of My Hero Academia one-shots posted regularly on Saturdays - and sometimes Sundays.)

Read on AO3.

Tags: Snipe, Choku Dan, Pro Hero Snipe, Snipe x OC, Snipe x Reader, Original Female Character(s), Ichijiku Aoki, Angst, And When I Say Angst, I Mean the Cliche Damsel in Distress This Time, I'm Not Sorry, I Committed to the Chivalrous Cowboy Trope, Snipe Rides in to Save the Day, I Gave Myself a Panic Attack Writing This, It Was Worth It, Snipe is So Underappreciated, I Did My Best to Remedy That, We Stay Writing 1.6K Words This Week

Word Count: 1,639 words

Summary: As Ichijiku contemplates life, a villain decides to make her contemplate her life specifically when he kidnaps her to get back at Snipe. As the clock for Ichijiku's life ticks down, Snipe finds a hint left behind as to where she's being held. When he finally arrives, he might be able to save her, but at what cost?

Ichijiku (Tigress)

If I stare at the sky for too long, it almost seems like a cardboard cutout, ready at any moment to fall forward and reveal its Great Creator behind it, spanning out into the dark, expansive realm of space. Will galaxies seem finite in the infinitesimal vacuum of space? Or will they only seem that much bigger with my own microscopic existence soiling the atmosphere? 

Those thoughts plague  my mind before a blue-haired man with tattoos wrestles me out of my rocking chair and through my house to steal me away.

Now, tied to a railroad track and left with nothing but the sky to look at, I’m not wondering about the vast expanse of the heavens any more. I’m wondering what Snipe will think of my absence. Will he think I’m ready to move on from our year-long relationship, unaware of my predicament? Or will he be lost and confused, distraught when he doesn’t find my warning in time?

Death doesn’t even cross my mind, despite the fact that Chameleon makes it very clear I’ll be dying at precisely 3:00pm.

“You’re awfully calm for someone in this situation.”

“You’ll have to forgive me. I’m an introvert and not entirely sure how I should respond to this.” My tone is, in fact, far more calm than it should be. “If this is your idea of catching a date, you’ve got the wrong idea. This isn’t a girl’s idea of a fun time, nor is it what she means when she says she wants to be railed.”

“Shut up. That’s hardly an appropriate response.” I hear him huff out a breath before he continues. “You’re not nearly as fun as I’d hoped. I’d been banking on hearing you scream until you lost your voice.” He drawls, apparating into existence in my line of sight.

What I thought to be a simple blue, turns out to be iridescent scales camouflaging him with every winking beam of sunlight, a kaleidoscope of color with every step he takes. He might be handsome if he didn’t just hogtie me to the tracks.

“I’m so sorry to disappoint you.” I roll my eyes as I glare at him. “But it’s Snipe’s job to make me scream, you know.”

A moment later he’s got a rope tied around my mouth, effectively gagging me.

“On second thought, it’s far too irritating listening to you talk. You have no class.” He crosses his arms across his chest before looking down one side of the tracks. “But don’t worry. You’ll be screaming soon.”

When I feel the ground rumbling beneath me followed by a thunderous horn in the distance, panic sweeps through my chest. Even so, death still isn’t my first thought. Instead, I squeeze my eyes shut and think of Snipe. I think of the sky. I think of infinity and my cat and love letters and regrets and what could have been. 

Only when I see the approaching silhouette of the train do I allow myself a fleeting thought for death.

. . . . .

It’s 2:23pm when Snipe dismounts from his horse. It’s 2:25 when he whips past the overturned rocking chair and bursts into her open door, barely hanging onto its hinges.

It’s 2:26 when he finds the note plastered to her fridge. 

Been a while since we’ve had a fair fight, Snipe. Let’s see if you’re still on your A-game. Your lady dies at three o’clock sharp. See if you can save her in time.

C

Snipe’s world is out of sorts. The world is not in harmony because she should be here and she should be making tea. She should be turning to the door with that blue-ribbon winning smile as he offers her a bouquet of her favorite flowers. She should be gazing into the corral of his eyes that he leaves open just for her.

She should not be gone.

Snipe slams his fist into the wall trimming, using the pain to pull himself back together. He doesn’t have time to waste. No time at all. Time that ticks down with every second he spends rummaging through the house, searching for any sign of where Chameleon might have taken her.

He’s nearly given up hope by 2:35, where he sinks to his knees and reminds himself to breathe. She will not die. She will be in his arms again. She will hide little love letters in his hat-shaped ring box that once housed her engagement ring now sitting on her finger.

Love letters. Without thinking, he opens the box and what should he find but a note? A blue, crumpled sticky note folded more haphazardly than the rest, and on it is a scribbled word in her handwriting: train.

The box falls to the floor and the door slams shut as Snipe leaps onto his horse and spurs the mare to motion, flying through the forest and into the open plains like a bat out of hell.

When a train comes into view, his eyes follow the tracks on an uncomfortably close trajectory towards two figures. He knows even as he urges Kuroashi faster that he won’t make it. 

At 2:59 he aims his gun.

. . . . .

The train is here. It’s close enough to feel the heat from its smoky breath as it rattles the tracks. All sounds drown out from the steady rhythm of chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo until my brain turns the cadence into an ominous Death is coming for you. 

The train is here. The train is here. Death is here and all I can worry about is whether or not Snipe will keep the box for my engagement ring. Will he hold it when he wants to remember me? Or will he get rid of everything so he doesn’t have to remember what he lost?

Chameleon’s timer goes off to the sound of a gunshot. 

Click. Clank. The switch lever swerves with the tracks and suddenly the train zooms past me, still far too close for comfort, but no longer on course to swallow me with its iron jaws. The warmth of the train mingles with adrenaline and suddenly I can’t stop wiggling and whimpering in my restraints, muscles buzzing as I fight to get off these damn tracks.

“More vocal now, huh?” Chameleon hisses, disappearing and activating his quirk just as Snipe rides into range.

“MMPH!” I try to warn him.

But his camouflaged offender sends him flying off his horse and into the dirt, gun still primed in his hand. He’s on his feet quickly, but what can he do? I watch helplessly as Snipe’s homing quirk becomes useless. How does one shoot what he can’t see?

My eyes scour the dirt, searching for footprints and other minute signs of his movement. When a cloud of dust swirls by Snipe’s feet, I thrash in my bindings, desperately trying to free myself and help him. My fiancé’s head arcs back into the ground from his unseen adversary, kick-starting my heart.

Blood drips from his nose as keen, pro-hero eyes start searching for the same tell-tale signs of Chameleon’s movements I’ve been watching for. It costs him a hit in the stomach and his ribs, but he analyzes his foe’s movements to reclaim the upper hand. Snake battles snake in the hot, barren plains while my body quivers with fear.

All it takes is another dust cloud and bam! Snipe wrestles the invisible villain into the ground, appearing to fight air until Chameleon relinquishes use of his quirk.

“Glad to see you’re still in tip top shape, Snipe.” Chameleon growls, turning his glare to me as Snipe pulls out the restraining tape. “But you cut it kind of close, and next time she won’t be so lucky.”

“There won’t be a next time if you’d prefer to keep breathing.” Snipe barks out, his voice feral and sharp.

Snipe gets Chameleon’s hands behind his back and calls the cops as he sprints in my direction. Calloused hands act as a balm to the tremors tainting my muscles. When he cuts the bindings loose, he grabs my face and presses his forehead to mine; we share each others’ oxygen, our eyes promising the other what our mouths can’t say right now - I’m here and you’re safe and I’m not going anywhere.

My life remains finite while stretching infinitely before me, stretching straight out for Snipe. 

I don’t ever want to let him go.

“You’re okay.” He whispers; it’s hard to tell whether he says this for me or himself. “Are you hurt? Did he do anything before he tied you up?”

“A few bruises and cuts.” My fingers card through his hair and slide down his cheek, soaking in every ridge and bump of his body. “And that’s only because I put up a fight before he got me here.”

“That’s my girl.” He grins and the world clicks back into place.

The heat sears my body and pain torments my bones as I become abruptly aware of the world around me. His presence anchors me as I’m swirling dangerously close to the edge of unconsciousness. He catches me with whispered coos, keeping me tethered for now.

“You’re having an adrenaline crash. And, hell, I can’t blame ya. But take a few deep breaths for me, okay, darlin’? Police should be here soon.”

It’s 3:34 when the police arrive to stuff Chameleon in the back of their car and EMTs arrive to check me for injuries. Only when the blinding blue and red lights disappear from my line of sight do I make myself stop counting the minutes.

“Do you want me to take you home?” Snipe whispers in my ear, securing a shock blanket around my shoulders.

“Not my house.” I whimper. “Will you take me to your place?”

“Of course, honey. I’ll keep you safe. Let’s go home.”

Want More Snipe? Try: Hanging Fire in the Pond

[hiccanna-tidbits]

@jackunzel-time

Jackunzel Month Week 1 - The Artist and the Muse

***

You hide your eyes behind the shades Your stroke can make the climate change Your art should see the light of day (you and me a masterpiece)

You never let your colors show Lose your face when we get close I’ve seen you paint, nobody knows (you and me a masterpiece)

You’ve got an artist inside you Come drown in my navy blue Tonight let the artist inside me be you

Baby paint me like a canvas – don’t mind You’re dripping colors on the mattress tonight Dip your brush into the pallet, all mine Make the shades of you and me a masterpiece

Put your body where my heart is My love I’m the muse and you’re the artist Don’t stop Gotta finish what you started Oh, god Make the shades of you and me a masterpiece

You make me Scream in Starry Nights The golden kiss, mysterious smile You never let the paint run dry (you and me a masterpiece)

I’m standing pose for your design Your fingertips, they reach for mine Let’s make a mess and cross the line (you and me a masterpiece)

You've got an artist inside you Come drown in my navy blue Tonight let the artist inside me be you

Baby paint me like a canvas – don’t mind You’re dripping colors on the mattress tonight Dip your brush into the pallet, all mine Make the shades of you and me a masterpiece

Put your body where my heart is My love I’m the muse and you’re the artist Don’t stop Gotta finish what you started Oh, god Make the shades of you and me a masterpiece

Make the shades of you and me a masterpiece

Baby paint me like a canvas You’re dripping colors on the mattress Drip your brush into the pallet And make the shades of you and me a masterpiece

Baby, paint me like a canvas – don’t mind You’re dripping colors on the mattress tonight Dip your brush into the palette, all mine Make the shades of you and me a masterpiece

Put your body where my heart is My love I’m the muse and you’re the artist Don’t stop Gotta finish what you started Oh, god Make the shades of you and me a masterpiece

***

People always ask her at art shows where she gets her inspiration. Come spring, the assortment of pieces she's pumped out during the darker months never fails to amaze.

Streetlights shining through blizzard flurries. Ice on early April buds. Peach, rose, and lavender sunsets through snow-filled clouds. White-topped pine forests so mesmerizing that you can practically feel the stillness and silence of the winter.

Every time, Rapunzel smiles mysteriously and cites another artist.

"He's...underappreciated. His work hasn't ever had its day in the sun. But I've seen the best of it."

She always straightens proudly at the last part. And her customers can't help but be jealous that she gets to see this mysterious obscure talent apparently hidden from the rest of the world.

It has to be hidden, or else Rapunzel's work wouldn't be so uniquely spectacular. More people would paint even the coldest and bleakest of winter nights--even with no holiday lights to shine through the darkness.

"What's their name?" people always ask, hoping to investigate the esoteric artist themselves.

"Jack Frost."

And they laugh, because they think she's just being poetic. Taking inspiration from the fabled creator of ice patterns on morning windows and vast, quiet snowscapes.

If only they could see the white-haired boy just above them, perched on a nearby lamppost and chuckling to himself. Invisible to all the world except the artists who see beauty in his work.

***

HIHI I'M SO SORRY I'M LATE

Heh, you didn't really think I'd forgotten Jackunzel month, did you??? Had a lot on my plate these last couple months but by GOD am I gonna pull through for my children!!! I've been making them November content for 3 years straight and I ain't about to stop now!!!

Anyways this song popped up on my spotify and I was like oh huh. Yeah that's a Jackunzel song all right. And then this happened!

I feel like it could be from both of their POVs, btw! Like Rapunzel is the one we think of as the artist, but Jack kinda is, too--just look what he can do with snow and frost! Art that never sees the light of day indeed ;_____; And "your stroke can make the climate change" like??? Literally Jack??? Also love the idea of him doing little frost designs on her skin and clothes ;_____; Just little reminders of her mans she can carry around for a while before they melt! Especially in the summertime, when she could really use it!!!

But "come drown in my navy blue" is very Jack @ Rapunzel, too. And Punz definitely has a golden kiss and mysterious smile akdjsuilkh

Depending on how you interpret these two and their relationship, you can pretend some of the, er...spicier implications of this song are a metaphor for like. Deep conversations and enthusiastic cuddling if you like XD

Can you imagine Rapunzel actually painting in her bed and getting acrylic all over her blankets and insisting it gives them character??? Shit would be hilarious. Jack would also thoroughly approve of the chaotic and general unhinged nature of it all ajshdksgd

I missed them!!! God, it's been too long!!!

As always, moodboard pic credits available upon request :3

[galedekarios]

thank you so much for your blog. I only found it recently and been scrolling through the pages, enjoying every piece of art and every little bit of information about our beloved wizard! I do believe that it's important to post and share these things bc they evoke such feelings that help us get through some terrible stuff. so thank you again and never think that these things don't matter! it is sad to see how underappreciated some characters are, even by their creators. personally I'm incredibly upset about Halsin and him being the the sort of "tag-along" companion when there's so much more to him, it can be glimpsed even from the very little his character has to share... I'm just hoping that someday all the characters will get their due. and until that we have fanart and fanfiction and all our imaginations! sorry about that little Halsin rant. I love him and Gale both <3 and thank you again.

don't be sorry at all!

i appreciated your message a lot.

i share a lot of your disappointment. i do speak mainly about gale because he is my favourite character. but i do have a lot of these feelings regarding the others, including halsin, as well. especially also considering the things that were datamined about him before the release and his ties to ketheric.

i really thought this was all leading somewhere and it evaporated to... largely nothing, really. it's a shame and it made act ii worse, sadly.

the focus on him as the thirst trap, the bear daddy, does his character such an extreme disservice. the way his dialogue is often set up in a way that the player is forced to flirt instead of exploring his background:

halsin could have been and should have been so much more than he was.

i think this also shows how dangerous it is to base so much of your characters off of the opinions online instead of following through with the narrative and characterisation you as the writers had planned for them.

[astargatelover]

First of all 🐱 bonk

second of all - even though or most likely because I know what you'll be talking about: 🦐

😺 Bonk back!!!

Secondly: I was hoping you'd ask that! 🦐 :D

So, my current shrimp emotion story is (as you know) The Fairytale of the 12 Months, or Das Märchen von den 12 Monaten in German; a little German fairytale movie with just under an hour of runtime, loosely based on a Slavic folk tale of the same name.

The Months have actual human form in it, and I go absolutely feral for them, my heart is overflowing with love. ❤️ The temptation was there to just talk about my fave among them here, but I decided no, I love them all, I wanna talk about them all a little bit.

And here's the twist: The creators of the movie decided that 12 is a bit high a number of main characters (and I'm inclined to agree), so not all the Months have the same importance to the story. But because taking background and side characters and giving them life is exactly my thing, that suits me just fine. So, I'm gonna try to write each Month a short description here without making it possible to tell who is one of the (like 4,5, btw) main characters for someone who hasn't seen the movie. Let's see if I can manage to seem confident enough in the Months I don't have as good a grip on yet and hold back on the ones I already do know very well! 😆 Without further ado, here we go:

January: one of the oldest Months. a dignified lady; not fazed anymore by the crazy antics the others get up to. has her own mischievous side too, though.

February: a bit antisocial and grumpy. snarky, rude at times; deep down, tho, he feels underappreciated (and is he wrong? be honest, when asked to rank the months by favorite, where would February be on your list?); longs to be loved.

March: a go-getter; most tenacious problem solver of the Months. pretty, but practical about it. true to her status as the first month of Spring, she likes gardening and taking care of living things (including her Month siblings, in the broadest sense).

April: lives to honor his month's first day; a prankster, but never a hurtful one. nonchalant nearly to the point where it becomes a problem at times. happy-go-lucky, his motto is “Enjoying chaos keeps away strife”.

May: at peace with himself and very relaxed as a result; hard to perturb (April keeps trying). incredibly kind and helpful, enjoys being of assistance to others; does the majority of household chores at the Months' place because he finds it fun.

June: “full of himself” is underselling June's self-perception; vain, cocky, self-proclaimed most beautiful of the Months. stickler for the rules, highly developed sense of fashion; very focused on himself, the only one he adores nearly as much is July, his love. still cares about the rest of the Months and will fight for them when he has to.

July: just as fashion-conscious as June, but much less self-absorbed about it. fashion designer, very joyful and optimistic lady. most outgoing Month; quite unlike her boyfriend, likes to lend a helping hand whenever she can.

August: shyest of all the Months; very unlike her fellow Summer Months, especially. speaks very softly, if at all. loves nothing more than being out in nature on her own; expert flower crown weaver.

September: just as wild and stormy as her month; tomboyish tendencies. temperamental, brisk. cares more about doing what's right than what is correct (clashes with June especially often because of this, among other things).

October: bookish, curious, bit of a recluse. shy and quiet also, but in a different way from August, more of a shut-in than an outdoorsman (gets along splendidly with her, anyway). a painter.

November: grandmotherly vibes. the only Month older than January; overall very kindly and sweet, also likes making sure her fellow Months are well taken care of. knits and sleeps a lot, the latter not always voluntarily.

and last but not least,

December: calling him “jolly” would be an understatement; merriment personified. Warm disposition despite the coldness of his month. Impassioned interior decorator.

And here is the fam, all lined up in order:

That's all twelve of them! Whew, that took longer than I expected! Still, I'm happy with it. (See how I snuck in everyone's genders? Was surprisingly not easy.)

@people who haven't seen the movie: I'd love to hear your guesses as to who the main Months in the movie actually are! I'm curious how well I did.

And if anyone is interested in checking the movie out after seeing this post: It's available for free online and I've translated the whole dialogue into English! If you'd like me to send that to you, hit me up.

[mothwingwritings]

It is my birthday, and as such, I would like you all (if you are so inclined) to indulge me in this little ask-game-thing I have had on my mind for a while.

Slide into my asks and tell me your most UNDERATED on LESSER KNOWN fictional husband/wife/lover/all three. The key is that they must be underrated/lesser known (not like, Mikey Sano or Baki Hanma, though those are both good choices B)), I only want to see truly underappreciated little morsels. Supply them to me, I need the sustenance. I desire to see them and learn of all the wonderful, hidden babes that exist in this world.  ლ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°ლ)

They can be from anything. Anime/manga, video games, books, movies, tv, a beloved OC-anything. Just make sure you tell me what media they are from and a little blurb about why you like them/what attracted you to them, and if you have any cutesy headcanons for them or the two of you together. <3 A picture is optional!

You don’t have to do this by any means if you don’t wanna, I just thought it might be a fun little thing to do and I am interested in seeing people’s underdog fictional love interests. They deserve a time to shine, and this is your moment to give it to them. ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶

I WILL START:

Husband wise, Bunji Kugashira from Gungrave.

Look at this man. He’s an asshole, crusty, grumpy, and rude, but dammit do I love him. (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥  )づ♡  He’s a cold blooded killer for the mafia, but he has a very strong sense of loyalty. For those with the privilege of being close to him he’s like a protective brother figure (which is my weakness, honestly) and will stick by you through thick and thin, offering his support and protection even if it’s just you and him versus the world. He has had me in a chokehold for literal years and as a bonus fun fact, one of my first ever reader insert fics was a reader x Bunji fic that sadly got lost to the times after my old computer died and the one fanfic site I uploaded it on bit the dust too. RIP. :’)

I was thinking maybe, possibly, by some cosmic luck there would be a small resurgence in Gungrave popularity recently, but no such luck. ^^; It started out as a video game and a new game was released not too long ago, AND it’s from the same creator as Trigun and Trigun Stampede has become quite popular sooo I had my hopes. But it’s all good, I love you Bunji, whether you are well known or not, I am in your court. 😤

WIFE-Leo from SHWD

Honestly all you should have to see is the above image to sell you on the series and the woman herself.  (>/////< " ) Leo is a kindly, buff, affectionate special force operative that fights horrific monsters that alter people’s minds. She’s cool, she’s strong, she’s compassionate, she’s flirty, and she’s an actual milf. I want her to scope me in her arms, dote on me, and smother me with her affections. She’s just… the whole package. She may be a little bit suffocating, maybe even a smidge condescending, but that only makes her more appealing in my book tbh. (´∀｀；) I love her and she’s beautiful and I would let her destroy me, heal me, and then destroy me again indefinitely.

SHWD is also such a cool yuri series and I wish it would get more traction. It has an interesting story, cool monsters, and the entire main cast is all lovable and cool (they are all hot as hell too so that helps).  I personally think it would make an incredible anime (and I am not just saying that because I want to see my various wife’s in action, but that is a part of it loool) and I really hope the series continues, thrives, and gets plenty of support. <3

[frobinfandays]

The voting is over!

A huge thank you for everyone who 1) sent in suggestions for the themes and also for 2) voting. A total of 34 votes!!

Another special thank you to everyone who answered why they ship FRobin! It's always good to remember why we all love this ship so much!

Another shoutout to @pokeharvest for creating the graphics!

Keep your eyes open for the themes!

Why do you ship FRobin?

"your existence is not a sin" and he won my and Robin's heart 🤌

it started in december 2021 as a joke with my bf who wanted zoro to be with robin and when I saw that scene in Water 7/Enies Lobby of them on the sea train I was like "honey I tell you Robin would choose to fuck that guy over zoro any day" and then we both noticed how much chemistry they both actually had. At some point we were both looking at each other and the tv back and forth being like "did you fucking see that" and I literally squaked when the CBT scene happened. So yeah I started shipping them to annoy my bf and I got really hooked by them because of their chemistry, the way they are pretty much opposites personality-wise but share a pretty specific experience to bond deeply, the way Franky reminds Robin of Saul with his words and actions and how that makes her reflect on her life and think of him as a treasure, how they both relate to the other strawhats as their parents, how they know each other so well they can basically predict what the other one is going to say, how he's always close to her and they're both the first ones to protect each other, how even the animators in TOEI ship them so much that they add in little scenes to make situations a bit more romantic (also! knowing that Oda did personally add things in the anime that were not in the manga because he didn't have time or because he forgot makes me wonder how much of those anime frobin scenes were just TOEI animators being silly and goofy or Oda being like "yeah I do kinda like a little romance"), and the way they feel so, so real. I just love them so much -I'm pretty obsessed ngl- and it is a ship that brings me so much joy. also I love frobin because they're basically canon but not technically so yeah I can actually win silly debates online and feel like the best of the worst type of people online lol

Because they are super!

They understand each other on a level no one else does and Franky didn't hesitate to say that she deserves to live during the sea train arc

They are perfect

It's more of a causal thing. I love the content that other creators make of this ship, some of is so cute and soft that how can you NOT like it? Plus Nico Robin deserves to have good things in her life.

Honestly I just love them. I fell out of love with One Piece but they keep me coming back. They're wholesome and good and bonkers and amazing. Overall completely underappreciated!

I love the smart goofball and smart goth dynamic. She's always tired of his shit, but is always amused. He's madly in love and in awe of her brilliance. I also like the idea that they could be romantic, platonic, or kinky.

I just think they are so very in love and nothing could convince me otherwise

I ship frobin because of their dynamic during enies, thriller bark , and they are just cute overall love the idea of them as a couple.

Me encantan como pareja 😍

[kozykricket]

ANIMAL WELL THOUGHTS (+ bigmode dunkey publishing thoughts)

so, animal well came out, and... i remember hearing about it sometime around february or march, but i hadnt realized bigmode was publishing it lol i havent played it yet, but i definitely plan to heres what i know: its a very funky and mysterious game, surreal kinda vibes. if you liked rain world for being a metroidvania but then also deciding to do weird shit with its world and go founky, but you maybe wished it was more about weird funky stuff, then... maybe you'll be interested! ive heard from furyforged, a yter i watch, that through following its development it has given him noita vibes in terms of the mysteries afoot in the world, and how there were even ARGs for stuff like the release date... but its supposedly all meant to be reasonably solvable without the internet? its supposedly quite surreal, and ive heard nothing but "oh my god this is literally one of the best games ever" even from people who i... really thought wouldnt give a darn about a quirky indie game which helps with the segue into the bigmode in the room

so, i honestly forgot dunkey did that whole thing with starting a game publishing thing... and now everyones talking about "wow, the first game that he publishes comes out and its a 10/10 GOTY contender according to most outlets. after we all laughed at him for saying i will only publish good videogames" and i think that no matter how you spin it, that is definitely quite hilarious, and huge congrats to the devs of animal well for having such positive reception. but it got me thinking about ... well, a game being published by someone well known for their career before publishing. by an influencer, content creator, whatever you'd call dunkey, and... like yeah, i suppose the duty of a publisher IS to help spread the word of the game and do the marketing and stuff, so the devs themselves dont have to, but it must be kinda strange to have people not just talking about your game for its pure contents, but talking a lot about DUNKEY and like. HIS achievements. i guess i just... don't want that to overshadow the game itself? i mean, it probably wont since... yknow, people separate publishers and games pretty darn easily. its what publishers do: they give games attention. dunkey said what he wanted to do with bigmode was to like, invest in games that he BELIEVES in and that he thinks SHOULD get more attention instead of just being yet another indie swept under the rug... which is great, because theres too many good indie games that go underappreciated just bc they dont get enough good marketing. it just kinda feels sad being reminded of that though but like, i just hope it isnt confined to being "the dunkey owned publisher, no way funny haha man" out of... yknow. well. i dont want games published by bigmode to be overshadowed by him. ...probably a silly worry though. again people dont say stuff like "oh yeah i really love [game publisher] they did so great" they talk about the devs when it comes to the contents of the game. the reason people are talkin about dunkey is probably because this is the FIRST game for bigmode to publish, and ... that he proved himself right, at least so far i mainly just ... think its a bit of a unique experience, and it makes me simultaneously happy for animal well, and bummed out for other small indie games, knowing that ultimately there are games of this quality coming out and flying under peoples radar just bc they dont get the resources and marketing of a good publisher

edit: cleaned up post