#heard there’s a reboot I’m excited to watch it

[cloudy-whales]

I love toxic yuri

[lueurjun]

“ let’s just get married ” | heeseung and jay.

the boys reaction to you suddenly professing that you would in fact, like to get married.

. . . . . . . ꒰ HEESEUNG ꒱ ,,

give him a sec

he’s rebooting

his mind went through an unplanned update

because clearly there’s something wrong with it since he swears he just heard you tell him you wanna get married

“hUh?”

you don’t seem to catch onto his confusion in the slightest

because you’re just sat cheesin

you after breaking your boyf 😃

“like… in a couple of years?”

you shake your head, still grinning as though you just won the lottery

heeseung gulps so loud you can hear it from half way across the world

it’s true. i heard it from here.

to be honest—bros petrified

not that he doesn’t want to marry you

he has visions of it

breaking news! lee heeseung is really that’s so raven confirmed!

but now it’s perhaps a little too early for him

still the look on your face had his heart shitting itself

because you look so excited

and telling you to wait would probably break your heart

which lee heeseung would never do

cos then he’d have to go through me. and i have watched kung fu panda. i know my shit.

so he wraps his arms around your waist and draws you in until your foreheads are touching.

cant see his panicked expression if he connects foreheads

and with a thudding heart, he manages to choke out a reply

“then let’s get married.”

imagine i wrote ‘then marry someone else’. oof the drama would be out of this world

now it’s your turn to be panicked

because the reality of it all comes crashing down on you like a thundering avalanche

and suddenly you’re pushing him away

“i don’t want to.”

hA NOT YOU REJECTING HIM AFTER SENDING HIM THROUGH EMOTIONAL TURMOIL

heeseung just blinks at you

because weren’t you the one who proposed this idea?

what do you mean ‘you don’t want to?’

now he’s hurt

because why don’t you want to marry him?

“is it something i said?”

he’s frowning now, resembling a puppy that just got kicked

“no! no! it was just in the moment-you know? you just looked perfect and i felt perfect with you and i got carried away. that doesn’t mean i don’t want to marry you in the future! i think we should just wait.”

heeseung breathes a sigh of relief and pulls you back into his arms

“i’m so glad you think so because i am not ready for marriage yet—but with that being said, i will stick the biggest diamond on your finger when i am.”

compensation for making you wait—heeseung is in fact a sugar daddy 💸

he holds you tighter, and your gaze shifts to his ring finger, a fleeting moment of daydreaming how handsome he'd look with a wedding ring on

your mind is suddenly alive with visions of what married life with heeseung would be like, a flurry of images quickly cascading through your imagination

and suddenly, a familiar feeling tugs in your heart

cheekily, you grin up at him

“i’ve changed my mind. i wanna get married again.”

lord help him

. . . . . . . ꒰ JAY ꒱ ,,

did somebody say something?

no really…did they? he had earphones in and heard absolutely none of what you said

me every minute of everyday

he’s bobbing his head to his music without a care in the world

thriving in — unmarried — life, unburdened by any adult responsibilities or worries

he’s truly blissful

until you yank those earphones out of his ears and peer down at him with a scornful gaze

you could’ve sworn he had paused his music when you entered the room

“hey baby.”

i have been watching a lot of drew starkey edits and his ‘hey baby’ is imprinted in my mind so it must be applied to jay. i do not make the rules.

his face is lit up with an endearing smile, his eyes full of affection as he looks lovingly at you

which makes you smile and gaze back at him with the same expression

“i said, would you marry me?”

naturally, jay assumes that you’re just thinking about the future

which is totally natural in a relationship

so he doesn’t think anything of it when he shrugs his shoulders

“i’d marry you tomorrow.”

same. i’d marry you better than him tbh

now jay loves you

his love for you is as constant and timeless as the sun's relationship with the sky

but he wasn’t being literal. marriage is a huge step and as much as he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you

he felt he was still too young

you didn’t seem to realize that it was just an expression because you started beaming

and jay, not realizing you had taken this literally and assumed you just liked the idea of marrying him in the future, beamed back at you

“great! we should look into venues—no! why don’t we fly to vegas? how does one elope? jay! we should look into eloping.”

at first, he's simply enthralled by the sound of your voice

but then the words register and suddenly he’s hyperventilating

he’s so real for that

“wha- el-eloping? like-in the future…possibly in like five years? maybe seven—”

“no? now! you said you wanted to get married tomorrow and i’ve been thinking that maybe we should? i mean, i don’t want anyone else and imagine married life jay! it would be perfect!"

married life with you would be perfect

jay would love nothing more than to wake up beside you every morning, a wedding band adorning your finger and sharing the same last name

he’d love to introduce you as his spouse, the idea of it alone gives him butterflies

but marriage is a huge commitment

“i mean it would but right now?”

hearing the panic in exchange for excitement, the bubble surrounding you pops

and suddenly, you’re no longer the embodiment of happiness

but disappointment

forget ksi and tommy fury, im gonna be in the ring with jay if he doesn’t marry the life out of you

his heart shatters at the look on your face and that alone has him reconsidering

he plans to marry you in the future, might as well keep that gorgeous smile on your face and push the date forward

“you don’t wanna marry me?”

he reaches out to you, taking your hands in his and guiding you to sit next to him. the closeness is almost overwhelming, and you can feel the warmth of his body as he pulls you onto his lap

bro i’m blushin rn!! look away. i don’t want you to see me like this

jay wastes no time showering your face with passionate kisses, eliciting an gradually forming smile from you

“no. no-i do wanna marry you, more than anything! but it’s just a little early, we can wait a few more years. time with you flies anyway so it won’t even be that long of a wait technically, we’re just… a bit too young yet.”

he’s right, and you hate admitting it

nah don’t fold bae. get that ring 💍

slumping your shoulders, you nod your head with a sigh

“i guess you’re right. i got a little too carried away. i’m sorry, i didn’t mean to pressure you…”

jay shakes his head, planting a kiss on both of your cheeks, then your nose and then finally, your lips, though he lets that one linger

that alone manages to lift your mood drastically

“how about, we settle for a promise ring?”

your heart swells with emotion at the sweet sentiment and you find yourself unable to resist leaning in and gently pressing your lips to his once more

after a moment — or several — he finally pulls away and laughs

“i take it you like that idea?”

“i do”

[emilybahu]

WIP Wednesday

Hey peoples, so, I’ve got a little something for y’all! I made this post months ago about Tommy’s brain just short circuiting when he sees Buck in an apron for the first time. I’ve been slowly but surely adding to it, so I’ll share a nice little piece of it with everyone!

This part is rated Mature,

Without further ado:

Evan seemed excited when he opened the door. “Hey, Tommy,” he said, smiling as he pulled Tommy into the apartment and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I would hug you, but I’m a bit of a mess right now,” Buck said, gesturing to his messy apron.

Tommy’s brain needed a second to reboot because ‘damn, Evan looked fucking hot in an apron’ It wasn’t quite something he thought would get him going, yet here he was. No thoughts, just his gorgeous boyfriend with an apron on, hugging his waist perfectly… maybe this was something they could explore later, maybe with a little less clothes underneath the apron…

Tommy willed himself to get it together and get his mind out of the gutter before giving his boyfriend a peck on the cheek. Then, with a wink, he said, “It’s okay, Evan. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time for that later.” Well, maybe not entirely out of the gutter…

With that, Evan blushed and smirked, lightly slapping Tommy’s chest, and said, “Cool it there, babe, we haven’t even eaten dinner yet...” Then he winked and turned away, walking back towards the kitchen. Evan gestured for Tommy to follow him, adding, “Speaking of which, dinner is almost ready!”

Tommy followed Evan into the kitchen, leaning against the island and watching him sway slightly to the music that was playing. If this were to come up later for any reason, he’d say that he tried his hardest to keep his hands off Evan until after dinner, but he couldn’t help himself. So, Tommy pushed himself from the counter and sauntered up behind his boyfriend, slowly sliding his arms around his waist and placing his chin on Evan’s shoulder. “What’s for dinner, baby?” Tommy asked before lightly kissing Evan’s jaw, nuzzling into his neck, and beginning to sway with him.

Tommy heard Evan sigh and felt as he leaned into him and said, “Mmmm�� Just some lasagna and cheesy garlic bread.” Evan turned the extra sauce on the stove to a simmer and put down the wooden spoon he’d been using. Tommy watched as he lifted his now free hand to lightly caress his face and scratch the back of his head. Tommy smiled into the side of his neck, then lightly kissed it.

“That sounds delicious, Evan,” Tommy said, squeezing his hips gently.

“It’s Bobby’s recipe, and it’s always delicious when he makes it.” Evan smiled fondly and giggled under his breath at Tommy’s fond expression. “I made one last week as practice for Eddie and Chris…” he trailed off.

“Oh, and how did they say it was?” Tommy questioned.

“Well,” Evan turned in Tommy’s arms to face him, “They both said it was delicious and that I did a great job.”

Tommy smiled, “Well, that’s great, Evan; I can’t wait to try it!”

When Eavn spoke again, it was in a playful, almost flirty tone, “And they said that if I, per se, were trying to woo a certain someone, this would be a good choice.”

Tommy hummed, closing his eyes as Evan rubbed his palms up his chest slowly until Tommy felt his arms slide over his shoulders, lightly wrapping around his neck. “Evan Buckley, are you trying to woo me?” he said with a wide smile as he pulled Buck closer.

“What if I am?” Evan answered with another question.

“Then I’d say that you’re doing a pretty good job, baby,” Tommy crooned, sliding a hand up Evan’s back.

“And If I said that I want to kiss you right now…” Evan breathed as Tommy’s hand reached the nape of his neck.

“Mmmm… I wouldn’t be opposed,” Tommy said, leaning in.

Tommy felt Evan as he leaned in, lightly brushing their lips together before sighing when their lips caught in a soft kiss. Tommy melted into the kiss, pulling his boyfriend with him and stepping backwards until his back hit the counter where he’d been leaning earlier.

Tommy couldn’t care less about the countertop digging into his lower back or the sauce from Buck’s apron possibly getting on his shirt. He wanted as little space between him and his boyfriend as possible, so Tommy pulled him closer again, beginning to deepen the kiss as he felt one of Evan’s hands glide into his short hair… Then, the shrill sound of the oven timer went off, which caused Evan to pull away and rush toward the oven.

And If Tommy basically whined at the loss of his boyfriend’s touch, that was only for him and Evan to know… Evan chuckled a little as he turned away from the oven, holding a delicious-looking lasagna, and set it on a potholder on the counter and put the garlic bread in the oven. Then he closed the oven door and stepped back over to Tommy, who had a slight pout on his face.

“There's another 10 minutes until the bread is ready, and the lasagna needs to rest,” Evan said suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows with a slight smirk as he trailed a hand from Tommy’s chest to his face while wrapping the other arm around his shoulder again.

“And what do you propose we do for those 10 minutes, Evan?” Tommy asked, hands creeping back to Evan’s waist and pulling him close again.

“Less talking and more kissing, babe. Time is ticking. We’re nearly down to 8 minutes.” Buck said softly as he leaned in.

“Mmmm… Bossy,” Tommy joked into the kiss, groaning quietly as they picked up where they’d left off a few minutes ago.

Tommy pulled Evan almost flush to his chest, deepening the kiss as one of his hands slipped into Buck’s back pocket. They pulled away for a breath, and Tommy flipped their positions, causing Evan to make a sound somewhere between a groan and a moan that drove Tommy a little bit mad. He knew Evan was incredibly turned on by the manhandling, even if it wasn’t a lot; Tommy also knew that Evan found the firm grip on his hips at the moment very hot, and he voiced as much.

Tommy heard his boyfriend breathe, “Fuck, Tommy, yes,” long and drawn out, and watched hotly as Evan threw his head back.

Between kisses to Evan’s neck, Tommy hummed, “Yeah, you like it when I push you around a little bit, baby?” as he pushed him into the counter more.

“Hmmm… Y-yeah huh, Tommy,” he heard Evan hum. Tommy looked up to see his eyes fluttering as he mouthed over the juncture of Evan’s neck and jaw. Tommy began sucking a mark to that spot, and Evan moaned, “Mmmm ah! You’re so hot, babe, fuck…” a hand finding Tommy’s hair as his sentence trailed off.

Tommy pulled away, pressing a light kiss to the mark he’d left before whispering into Evan’s ear. “You don’t even know what you do to me, baby. God, I just want to devour you,” he said gruffly, pupils blown and hungry as he hauled Evan into another searing kiss.

Tommy was about ready to pick up his boyfriend, put him on the counter, and ravish him when the oven timer sounded again, slightly bringing Evan out of the moment. He tried to chase Evan’s lips as he hummed against Tommy’s while pulling away and walking toward the oven. Tommy was upset because he had gotten carried away in this moment, and now he’s keyed up. The last thing he wants to do is sit down and eat dinner, even if it looks and smells delicious.

He scowled, “Goddamn garlic bread,” he grumbled out, just barely loud enough for Evan to hear.

To be continued…

Thank you for reading, I actually have a few WIPs at the moment, so definitely let me know if you’d like to see more! Let me know what you think!

[planet-crait]

After repeatedly seeing posts about A New Wish and some angsty content from the original show making me super nostalgic, I decided to cave and watch the Fairly Odd-parents A New Wish.

I think for sanity’s sake I’ll be breaking things down episode by episode to give my thoughts as sort of a live reaction? We’ll see how that goes but for now, I’ll start off with a broad, so far I’m liking what I’m seeing. The show is fun and silly and does really capture the spirit of the original which these days certain companies *cough*Disney*cough* can’t seem to manage.

I do have some questions and gripes which I’ll mention later but they haven’t made me enjoy the show less because I know things may get explained later on and it is the first season so I get maybe not wanting to show their hands on this stuff yet. If you want to see my spoiler thoughts they’re below the cut to avoid spoiling people who haven’t seen it yet.

I feel like I should start off by admitting I have seen spoilers so I know about certain things throughout the season but not how we get their and the spoilers I saw actually have me excited to see what happens. But I wanted to be fair and be upfront about that as we get into this.

Right off the bat two things simultaneously occurred, I was immediately in love with the intro song, but for some reason was very confused about it playing at the begining of the episode. I don’t know why I was certain the original the song didn’t play before the episode but for the official first episode it does so I think I may have either A. Been confusing it with the pilot which never plays the theme song or B. Mixing it up with RW/BY who for the first episode of a new season plays the intro at the end of the episode (or some combination of both).

This is not a negative just a funny thing that threw me off. I was hoping for more of this new style and it feels way too short and I was kind of sad it ended. I love the new singers for the intro and like the style it uses I don’t know how to better word it but I really enjoyed it and was sad because it felt shorter then the original and uh spoiler alert it is by a solid ten seconds with the original clocking at about 45 seconds and the new clocking in at only 30 seconds. I don’t know why they cut out 15 seconds because overall the new version follows the flow of the original. I may go through the songs more closely side by side to see if their is a verse missing or it’s just sung quicker for no other reason then I’m curious and I want a longer version of this new one (or at least the singer for the new one to do more songs because I love their voice). I enjoy Hazels section being her own thing and making different rapid fire wishes than Timmy to potentially be giving us a glimpse of her personality. I know there is a dry themed episode and she wishes for fries so maybe it’s a stretch I’ll find out but regardless I enjoyed it. (If someone knows who sings the intro please let me know lolz).

I was worried I wouldn’t like the animation style for the show, with reboots or sequels the animation is either hit or miss for me but it was fine nothing like mind blowing but it was fine nothing really stuck out to me either way so I call that a win, especially after hearing rumors about the really tight animation budget for this first season.

Hazel herself is a solid character, she feels like a little kid trying to navigate a lot of sudden changes and is struggling to figure out her way through. I empathize with Hazel strongly actually as someone who loved suddenly before the second grade to a new school where I was not liked at all by my peers so I really relate to Hazel here in that respect. Hazel has a lot of personality shining through here in the first episode which I admit she really needs that to stand up against the legacy Timmy holds for the original series.

On a side note, I had heard a lot of people discussing how Timmy seems to be haunting the narrative and I honestly didn’t expect to notice that exact thing right in episode one. Maybe because I was told about it I was really looking out to see it showing, but I quickly noticed little things like the picture of Timmy’s room in Cosmo and Wanda’s house and the brief mention of their previous godkid and retiring after them.

Again this really could just be nostalgia talking here (seeing a lot of Nicktoons Unite content on other socials lately lolz) but it stuck out to me and so far I think it works? I feel like him not showing up for a while but still feeling his presence is a really smart choice. Maybe my opinion will change but for now it works because so far there isn’t a need for Hazel to know about the Godkid before her. I’m intrigued to see if and how he might naturally come up but for now it works for me. I admit I may cry if he shows up ever but again. Nostalgia lolz.

One quick question, I heard this guy was confirmed to not be Timmy on twitter?

If anyone has that tweet confirming that I would love to see it because as everyone notes he looks exactly like the older Timmy from season one of the original so I was confused when I originally saw the screenshot floating around and would love some clarification because I don’t really use the bird app much anymore.

Now onto the gripes I briefly mentioned earlier. The first big question that kind of hung in my mind was, how come Cosmo and Wanda get to just…decide to be Hazels Godparents? I know it would bog down the story they wanted to go with to try and work around this but the original show repeatedly established fairy godparents are assigned to kids who need them, so…why do they get to pick their next godkid especially since they’re retired currently? This is the stuff I know technically isn’t needed because sometimes story just has to story but it’s bugging me. Again it doesn’t hurt the show necessarily at this point of writing this but it’s something that threw me off that I expected to have something for. Maybe it’ll be explained later maybe not it’s not a deal breaker but just bugs me as someone who loves seeing world building stuff in stories.

I also have to wonder how the heck have Cosmo and Wanda not been caught with how blatantly they use magic. Hazel repeatedly notices them using magic before she knows they’re fairies. In the original show we see them function as “humans” with using magic significantly less than they do. Why aren’t they concerned about Hazel seeing them do Magic? This could have been a story decision to firmly establish for anyone new to the series that they’re Magic and such but it was an odd choice to me.

The other main question I have is how they’ve gone 10,00 years without ever hearing someone say “I wish” before Hazel said that in front of them. Do they not run into people annoyed at a bus stop wishing for their late bus to show up? I assume they’re only compelled to grant wishes of kids but have they not been around a kid wishing for something ridiculous around them? Or do they need to feel like the kid needs them? Again this is one of these “this is a kids show so it’s probably being yadda yadda’d past so the story can story but I don’t think it would be a fair review if I didn’t mention these things I noticed.

However, I do really like how the show establishes how whole her parents clearly care about her but her mom specifically falls into being g a therapist for her vs a mom for her which causes her to put pressure on Hazel to not talk to them. I think it works well to show us how and why Hazel needs Cosmo and Wanda. And Wanda questioning Hazel when they catch her running away and getting her to admit what’s going on felt very in character for both of them. As I said earlier I feel like the creators really did maintain the spirit of the original show and that’s really nice to see.

Hazels wish and the result both also work overall well. Making her a fly so she could fly and also match the specific verbiage of her wish was fun. However the reveal about how weird their body parts are was uh…a choice. Not a huge fan but again this is a children’s show so I know some things just aren’t necessarily going to click with me. On an unrelated note, ATLA set me up to spend the entire section of Hazel flying through town for someone to exclaim “My cabbages!” And given both are Nicktoon shows, I feel like it had to be intentional.

Now why Cosmo and Wanda didn’t change Hazel back in the hallway or something is another strange choice but I suppose they couldn’t have had the fun hijinxs if they didn’t and Hazel wouldn’t have been able to talk to Tony if they didn’t but still. Confused on the why they did that. It is a kids show but I feel like even kids shows can still tie the lose ends a little better. At least the hijinks were enjoyable and seeing Wanda failing so spectacularly at small talk was pretty amusing. And yea you could argue they hammed up Hazel and Tony’s talk a little but I can forgive it because they’re trying to make the message clear for kids and that’s just a thing that tends to happen in kids shows. I’ve seen it done far worse in the past so credit where credit is due here.

Upon rewatching I also had to question why Cosmo was so traumatized by living in a fishbowl for 7 years since their castle was huge and they could go their whenever they wanted so it being small being the issue was…a choice? I don’t think it’s meant to imply they have negative feelings towards Timmy specifically but again, just a note that threw me off a little.

Still in the end I do really enjoy Hazels excitement and interest in Cosmo and Wanda’s apartment. Again world building me is wondering are they paying rent? How? Can they poof money into existence to pay rent? Is that allowed? The stupid things most people don’t care about that I do because well brains. But in the end Hazel is a fun character with a lot of personality, Cosmo and Wanda are fun and cute which was a huge draw in for the original and it’s great to see carry over. I wonder if someone on the team is a fan of Undertale given Hazels shirt matches like perfectly with Frisks.

I just hope no one tries to tell me I’m Cosplaying Hazel wrong when I go out as Frisk. Either way I’m excited to go onto episode two.

[silverfoxphil]

lawyer and forensic linguist wip (#1)

“Lester, a word?”

Phil startles in his squeaky chair, the loud noise it produces attracts the attention of all the officers in the room. He imagines what the scene must look like from their point of view: the unapproachable Mr. Howell, stopping by the glorified cabinet Phil has been using as a desk and speaking directly to him.

“Do you have something for me to look over? Give a listen to?” Phil asks as they step outside, he pulls his thick baby blue cardigan tighter around himself. The air is gelid and the sky is covered by a thick, uninspired gray layer of clouds. Despite the weather, Mr. Howell's face is steadily turning redder and one after the other, drops of perspiration run down his temples.

The lawyer clears his throat and takes a deep breath, he closes his eyes for a second and then quickly raises his head to face Phil, “I’ve… Uhm,” he starts. Being loud and overly confident is part of Howell's job description and Phil has never seen him out of work, so it's almost shocking to experience a version of him that seems so unsure and quiet. “I’ve heard your birthday is coming up.”

Phil's eyes widen behind his glasses, “Right.” He responds, watching intently as the man in front of him reaches in the inside pocket of his black, corduroy coat and pulls a small rectangular box out of it. Phil feels himself short-circuit, he stares at Howell’s large hands holding the dark green case until he quickly reboots and extends his own hands to accept it.

“Wow, thank you so much, Mr. Howell...”

“Dan!” the other immediately says in almost a knee-jerk reaction, correcting him, “Just Dan is fine.”

“Oh, then please call me Phil.” Phil turns the box in his hands, his eyes dart up to look at the solicitor's face, but the expectant, excited look he finds there makes him avert his eyes immediately. “Wow,” the box is opened and inside it there's a pen, one of those fancy, smooth things Phil has only seen in the hands of people who make infinitely more money than he does. “Dan, this is a beauty, you really shouldn't have!”

“You don't like it?” Dan's face falls, he steps imperceptibly closer, “I can exchange it for something else, but I thought…” he stops himself, Phil picks the pen out of the box and tries the weight between his fingers, he is getting ready to reassure the man in front of him, but the other starts speaking again before he can continue. “I thought you could use it and maybe, think of me while you do.”

Phil's jaw goes slack and his hand holding the pen is encased into Dan's wider palm.

The heavy, metal door beside them is pushed open with a great deal of ear-splitting creaking and the hand that had settled around Phil's is torn off him and quickly hidden into a pocket.

“Well,” The lawyer squares his shoulders and takes on the same curt demeanor Phil usually sees on him, “I won't disturb you any further.” He steps closer, he looks down at him for a moment, letting Phil feel all the extra inches in his height and then runs away.

Phil turns to watch him scramble back into the police station. Pj is halfway out of the door, looking as confused as Phil feels. “What was that?” he asks with a chuckle.

“I’m not sure.”

[bvckleyydiaz]

So excited for the new blog!

✈️ Emily x Fem reader

Prompt: “Remember when we first met here?” “Yeah, of course. That was the day when you spilled coffee on me and apologised profusely but all I could think about was how gorgeous you are and how great it would have been to get your number.”

when i tell you that i screamed when i found out who you were--

lovey, i have been following you for the longest and to know you requested something lil ol' me?! i can't even

here you go, my love! thank you so much for being my first request!

title: first impressions

summary: you and your wife, emily, reminscine about the day the two of you first met.

pairing: married!emily prentiss x f!reader

word count: 282

warning(s): none, just a lot of fluff!

a/n: this was so cute to write!

Lazy nights in with Emily were your favorites, by far. You just get to enjoy each other’s presence and be with each other. This is one of those nights, the two of finishing off a bottle of wine and watching the Ghostbusters reboot with Melissa McCarthy.

“Em,” you start.

She hums, acknowledging that she heard you, and looks down at you. “What is it, baby?”

 You turn your body to face her. “Do you remember when we first met? My first day as an agent?”

She laughs and presses a kiss to your hair. “Yeah, of course. That was the day that you spilled your coffee on me and apologized profusely. But you know what?” She pauses for a moment, her brows furrowing like they do when she’s thinking. “I wasn’t even worried about my shirt being ruined or the coffee dripping down my chest. All I could think about was how gorgeous you were in that moment and how great it would have been to get your number.”

You bury your face into her shoulder, desperately trying to stifle your giggles. “I still feel bad about that. You loved that shirt.”

“I’m actually glad it happened.”

You look up at her incredulously. “You’re glad that I spilled coffee on you?”

She nods. “Yeah. I mean, I got to meet the love of my life because of it.”

You did not expect such a sentimental response from her because Emily’s not usually the type to get sappy on you. You feel a slight sting behind your eyes.

She tilts your chin up and kisses you softly. “I love you, Y/N.”

Sniffling, you smile back at your wife. “I love you too, Emily.”

[smilingformoney]

Rickmas 2023: Day 9. Missing Star | Alexander/Reader

Read now on Ao3 or below the cut:

The knocking on the door was incessant, and Alexander rolled his eyes when he heard a voice calling through the door.

“Sir Alexander! The panel started five minutes ago, they’re waiting for you —“

With a huff, he picked himself up from the couch and stomped over to the door, opening it so suddenly he caught the poor event steward on the other side by surprise.

“I’m not bloody coming, clearly,” he hissed.

“But, Mr Dane, the fans are expecting you —“

“I. Don’t. Care. Tell them I’m sick or dying, I don’t care, just piss off and leave me alone!”

He slammed the door closed on the shocked steward’s face, and you peered up at him over the back of the couch.

“That poor steward was only doing his job, Alex.”

Alexander waved his hand dismissively and pulled his robe tighter around his torso.

“If his job’s to disturb me when I’m with you, he needs a new career.”

He returned to the couch where you had previously been cuddling and watching TV, and you slipped easily back into his arms.

“You’ll have to show your face at some point. They didn’t pay for this hotel room so you could sit in it all day.”

“Trying to get rid of me?” Alexander snarked, and you shoved him playfully.

“You know I’m not. You can get away with skipping the group panel, but you’ll have to make it to your solo panel. Else they might send Jason to drag you out.”

Alexander scoffed. “I’d like to see him try. He acts like he’s so tough, but I can tell you, his fight scenes are almost entirely done by stunt doubles.”

“And yours aren’t?”

“Of course not,” Alexander said proudly. “I’m a real actor. I do all my own scenes.”

“Well, good thing you do all your own sex scenes too, else we’d never have met,” you said, grinning up at him cheekily.

He smirked and held you in tighter, remembering the day you’d met on set for a film of his, he the lead actor and you the intimacy coordinator for the sex scene he’d filmed. Somehow, with a stunning Hollywood actress nude on the bed with him, it had been plain old you the acting legend had had eyes for.

“Really, I just don’t want to put that bloody thing on my head today,” Alexander admitted. “Honestly, do they think people won’t recognise me without it? I do have other roles I’m known for without the stupid chicken head.”

You laughed, knowing full well that your boyfriend would set fire to that key part of his costume if he could, yet he’d chosen to participate in the Galaxy Quest reboot. Secretly, he liked the role and even the people he worked with, but he’d never admit it.

“Oh, but think of the applause you’ll get when you step out onto the stage! All those people there to see you. I know you love it, Alex.”

He scoffed, but he didn’t correct you. You leaned in closer to him, resting your head on his chest, and he placed a kiss to the top of your head (which had fortunately never been the victim of chicken head, although he had threatened you with it a few times).

“I’ll go to the solo panel, I suppose,” he sighed. “Only so I can talk about Death to Secrets coming out next month.”

You scoffed. “Yeah, good luck getting a bunch of sci-fi nerds to care about a depressing drama about a dying old man. Hey, kids, come see my exciting new film where I spend two hours staring out a window dramatically - ow!”

It hadn’t hurt, but you were more surprised than anything when he reached around and slapped your arse.

“Disrespect my art and you disrespect me, you know that, [Y/n].”

“Oh, sorry, sir,” you said teasingly. You sat up slightly and kissed him, which immediately softened the hard stare he was giving you.

“Hmm… good thing I love you, isn’t it?” he said.

Even after so long together, it still made your heart leap when you heard those words from him. He was such a grumpy old man, yet for you he was soft.

“Yes,” you agreed. “It is a very good thing.”

[empressawesomecoolness]

Doctor Who: The Ultimate Speedrun Marathon - Series 1 (2005)

Eccleston as the 9th Doctor seems to be a big fan favorite, including among my Whovian friends, so I was especially excited to start his era. Needless to say, I was very impressed! This series really brought Doctor Who out of its ‘80s era funk and into the modern age, so its importance deserves the praise, which I’m about to give in truckloads.

General Thoughts

Right out the gate, Christopher Eccleston was the perfect actor to take on the role! From what I’d heard of the 9th Doctor before watching this series, I assumed he’d be very serious, edgy, and overall just a grimdark take on Doctor Who. The early 2000s was ripe with franchises and reboots like that, so I was pleasantly surprised to see just how three-dimensional he was! I was mainly familiar with Eccleston from the 2010 TV movie Lennon Naked, which he was fucking awful in, so to see him so perfectly embody the Doctor gave me whiplash ngl. He does have darkness in him, which comes out in relation to his Time War PTSD and his hatred of the Daleks, but he’s also really lively and snarky in most moments. Such a great character all around! If Paul McGann makes you fall in love with the Doctor’s personality, Eccleston makes you understand it.

I assume the tragic backstory 9 mentions throughout this series (regarding the Time War, the destruction of Gallifrey, and him being the last of the Time Lords) was a retcon made for this series in particular, since the 8th Doctor was on his way back to Gallifrey at the beginning of the ‘96 TV movie. Maybe he was just visiting the rubble idk. I could be wrong, but I include this just to mention that I assume lore retcons will probably be rampant from here forward, so I’m cool with that.

Moving onto this Doctor’s companion, there’s a few. The main one we follow is 19 year old Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper. I was familiar with Piper as Brona/Lily in Penny Dreadful, which she was great in, so it was cool to see her again in a very different role. Rose starts out really wayward and flat, but over the course of the series and her adventures with the Doctor, she grows more involved with the world and becomes happier as a person. It’s a cool development that really cuts to the core of what the Doctor represents as a traveler and explorer of all things exciting and hopeful. Dr. Grace Holloway gives her a run for her money as my favorite companion so far, but Rose is really interesting and overall just a great human protagonist for us to tag along with.

Along with her, there’s also Mickey (Ricky?) Smith, played by Noel Clarke, and Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman. With Mickey, I assumed he’d just be a throwaway character, as a teenage boyfriend Rose leaves behind for good to move onto greater things, but he comes back again and again, with a lot of development that really surprised me! He grows from a pretty flat and lame guy into a character with a lot of agency and intelligence. His angst over Rose leaving him for time/space adventures was also really sad :( I felt bad for him honestly, but he grows beyond his need for Rose and comes into his own right

Captain Jack was really fun too. Reminded me a lot of Firefly. I expected him to be one-off character too, but he sticks around and is really fun to follow. It’s cool to have another snarky space/time adventurer around for a little bit. He’s also a bi king so that’s dope as fuck

Back to the 9th Doctor himself, I really liked the parallels drawn between him and the Daleks. This might just be a coincidence, but I think the interior walls of his TARDIS look a lot like the outer shell of the Daleks. Just thought that was a cool detail.

Speaking of his TARDIS in general, the more industrial look contrasts with the 7th & 8th Doctor’s warm homely TARDIS. The spindly concrete pillars and the shiny metal walls/floor are really striking. It’s like a modern-art exhibit. It’s both very 2000s and very classic looking.

Favorite Episodes

Aliens of London

World War 3

The Empty Child

The Doctor Dances

Dalek

The End of The World

Favorite Moments

“You would make a good Dalek”….. omg chills

Rose being there for her father’s death was really sad and moving. That whole episode was great, but that last moment was especially effective

“Kill yourself.” lol

Charles Dickens having his own sort of Scrooge-esque arc was really nice. A bit sad knowing that he would die a year after the episode is set, but still bittersweet and nice.

The Doctor’s joy after realizing everyone finally gets to walk away okay in episode 10 was great! It’s an amazingly emotional moment for someone who’s gone through so much loss and grief, and Eccleston plays it perfectly. Everyone lives!!!

Rose getting super glowy TARDIS powers was cool as hell for her development into a hero in her own right, as well as being dope as fuck overall. I’m gonna assume/headcanon that the “Heart of the TARDIS” that appears in the finale is the same as the Eye of Harmony that appears in the TV movie.

That final regeneration scene… So cool! I’ll miss Eccleston, but he made the most of his time as the 9th Doctor. The way David Tennant also makes his appearance uniquely his was super funny. Just kinda commenting on his new teeth and then shrugging it off.

Alright, that’s it for Series 1, as well as the end of Eccleston’s run as the 9th Doctor. It was a fun ride and an amazing start to this fresh new beginning to the franchise, but I suppose it’s time to move on with him. Now, onto Series 2, with David Tennant taking over as the 10th Doctor.

[obsidianpen]

I heard that HBO is making a HP reboot how do you feel about it? R u happy about it?? Mixed emotions? For me I’m kinda excited for it since it’s gonna be a show so each season is based on the books but I’m also scared bc it’s a reboot I can’t put my faith on it. All remakes are kind of trash if I’m being honest and I’m gonna miss the original cast. I just have a feeling it’s gonna fuck up like what Disney did with the Percy Jackson show yea that was a disaster and the fans were delusional 😬😬Also if it comes out will u watch it?

I suppose I don’t have a lot of feelings about it. I would watch it if we had HBO, maybe… for as much time as I spend writing HP fanfiction I feel pretty disconnected from the original fandom. I haven’t been excited about anything that’s come out since the last book, if I’m being honest

[chibivesicle]

Trigun Stampede - Episode 6 - Wolfwood’s tragic backstory, now? Eeeehh?

Episode 6 dropped yesterday and I had only enough time to watch but not anything else.  After watching it, I just felt meh wringing my hands about how when I first heard about the reboot at Anime Expo last summer I was so stoked for a more through Trigun anime.  And we get this version from Studio Orange which I really wanted to be an enjoyable watch - buuuuuut - meh.  You’re killing me Studio Orange.

Since I didn’t have time to get to it yesterday, I pestered my good meta friend Merdopseudo to see what she thought as well, so I’ll be highlighting some of her points here as well since she’s great at catching things I miss or summarizing well.  As indicated by my summary title, I’m quite confused why they decided to lead with Wolfwood’s even more tragic backstory in this version of Trigun than in the manga.

We start off the episode with a fleeing masked member of the Eye of Michael (though they haven’t been named yet) who tries to kill Wolfwood and fails as he destroys the man.

We get even red eyes as he lines up his aim before the man dies.  And he’s wearing his sunglasses even at night!  Wow, maximum badass.  Why? Wolfwood needs to be a maximum badass, that’s why. Furthermore, so many scenes in this anime seem to feature full moons all the time.  Just an observation.

After the opening we return to the quartet in the November News Bureau SUV.  In the backseat, Vash and Wolfwood are pouting over something and Meryl jokingly asks if they are having a spat over candy.

This line feels like it was delivered in poor taste.  I get she’s trying to defuse the situation but are we to think this is due to Wolfwood shooting Rollo - last night?  Or a few days prior?  What is our pacing? What day of the week is it?  How much time has passed?  Any clue would help us out here Studio Orange.  I’m going to take the easiest option and say that they are pouting about the fact that Wolfwood killed Rollo - last night.

Roberto then suggested that they need to finish their job.  This would mean abandoning the SUV and taking the Sandsteamer to July and I guess check in with a Bureau office there?

He’s clear that he wants Meryl to take the steamer but it was vague if he was going to go with her or if he wanted her to take it for safety. Uncle info dump isn’t info dumping this episode much.

They end up separating from Vash and Wolfwood who both board the Sandsteamer.   Wolfwood gives Vash shit for seeming to have no emotional connection to Meryl and Roberto - which really it a valid reply.  It hasn’t been that many days that Vash has known them.

It has been even less time for Wolfwood to know Vash and he’s sticking to him like crazy glue, again being an ass.  Honestly, there is NO chemistry between Vash and Wolfwood in this version, Vash runs and tries to not kill people and Wolfwood gives him shit and kills people.

Meanwhile, Meryl is working hard to convince Roberto that they need to continue to track the Humanoid Typhoon.  Interestingly, that she doesn’t call him Vash, but by his destructive nickname here.  She pulls out the photo with young Rollo asking Roberto if he’s scared.

We don’t get a clear answer from Roberto if he’s actually afraid - I felt he isn’t afraid of Vash per se, but instead realizes that his youthful appearance is some sort of indication that dangerous stuff surrounds him.  More that he wants to avoid Vash out of a sense of - I dunno - not dying.  This episode will frequently use the word monster to describe Wolfwood a lot and Vash as well.  This is the writers trying to get us to connect the two of them and make us feel that they should be friends and a dynamic duo - which they aren’t currently.

We see people at the Ferry Terminal waving to those on the steamer which in this version is called the Humpback.  Interesting shift, as in the original the Sandsteamer was known as the Flourish and was a Humpback class.

In other versions, children were excited when it came, being Sandsteamer nerds.  I’ve been following too many historical sewing/clothing youtubers for the past few years and I keep getting vibes that the clothing for normal people in this sci fi series is more 1910s-1920s and not late 19th century western dress.  The boater hats, suspenders, knickers, newsboy caps, lack of women with bustle action etc.  I know it is a future sci fi series, but it does seem that they tried to modernize the clothing to at least be early 20th century to fit the sci fi vibe more.

On the steamer there is a route map telling use they are leaving the Terminal - which literally is just a single terminal in the desert?  What?  Ports develop around such locations but this is just a terminal. 

It is also hilarious that the Terminal starts somewhere in ‘Central America’ crosses part of the Great Sand Ocean, there is the Hopeland Orphanage in ‘Africa’ stops West of ‘India’ and then loops around ‘Australia’ only to reach July in ‘Southern China’.  Really guys, you just took a world map and smooshed and distorted the proportions.  We also get to see a tall man with the modified Zia-Cross symbol of the Eye of Michael in Stampede. 

Back when I first saw the early previews, I caught a glimpse of what was his back in an action shot and my first thought was - what? Are they using a Zia in the anime when it has some important symbolic meanings?

Stampede has been clear it has shifted very far away from the Christian aspects of the original work.  Since this is based on a Western style anime/manga we get this mixed vague symbol which I’m certain is a visual hybrid with the Zia.  If one were to travel through the Southwest as a tourist, you would inevitably see a Zia in some form with the most obvious being that of the New Mexico state flag.  The flag is yellow with the red Zia in the center representing the Zia sun symbol.  This symbol originated from the Zia Pueblo but has come to include more Pueblo groups, Hispanic native New Mexicans to just New Mexicans.  You live in New Mexico?  Lots of government documents, logos and all sorts of stuff will have a Zia symbol.

A simple way to summarize it is that it captures New Mexico culture - for example a cycling racing team is known as Zia Velo and they represent southern New Mexico.  However, if the Zia is applied out of a New Mexico/Pueblo context things get stickier.  I also think with a Japanese audience, a symbol which is built on groups of four wouldn’t work for the viewers so they took elements of the Zia from a Southwest inspired image board and called it good.  Four is the number of death for East Asians versus for the Zia, four is a scared number that captures key elements of life.

Anyhoo, I got distracted by the interesting looking symbol for the religious group on our desert planet.

Vash finally gets around to directly asking Wolfwood what his job is and he replies that he’s babysitting him. From Wolfwood we can understand that it is his ‘job’ to make sure Vash gets somewhere.  Or at least those are the orders that Wolfwood has.

Their conversation doesn’t get very far since Livio appears on the scene almost immediately and shoots at both of them.  We have a much more clean cut and slick looking Livio with a slim build and his two smaller guns along with a modification on his face and a mechanical sounding eye.

Vash fights back and it able to get close enough to fire at point blank range, but of course doesn’t.    We know he doesn’t want to pull that trigger, but it seems none of his modified opponents could care if they are in a tight spot.

It takes a little bit of time for Wolfwood to recognize who this man is and it ends with him asking if he is Livio before the title screen flashes. 

The anime then takes a shift to a 2D style of animation with silent film style titles showing how Livio came to the orphanage and Wolfwood was the longer taking care of the ostriches.

As Livio settles in, Wolfwood becomes his friend trying to get the crybaby to stop feeling sad at missing his parents.  He gets him to help out in the bird pen, and there is a cute sequence of them becoming childhood friends.

Older Wolfwood, tries smoking like an adult all cool and shares it with Livio who coughs.  We get a close up of Wolfwood running off with Livio hand in hand where in this flashback Wolfwood has a much darker skin tone in contrast to Livio being exceptionally pale.

We get it, there was a time when Wolfwood was cute and he was friends with Livio.   The flashback goes back to the present and Meryl and Roberto chasing after the sandsteamer when the Bad Lads gang shows up on sand sail boats.

They are taking this idea of the Great Sand Ocean quite literally and I don’t know how I feel about this.  I’m still wondering why it even exists but this is a sci fi desert series paying homage to lots of other sci fi desert tropes.

Interestingly, we have no idea if the Bad Lads Gang have taken Meryl and Roberto hostage, just that they’ve been surrounded.  I also guess there will be no scene with Kaite, the son of the chief engineer of the original Flourish.

Wolfwood’s flashback continues that he’s been selected as a ‘Child of Blessing’ just like Rollo by mysterious church.

There is a weird psychedelic flashback were Wolfwood is a test subject and shows S+ levels of possibilities.  This is clearly a term added for the Japanese audience as the States does not have this type of ranking which is a trope specific to Japanese media.

The original Trigun did not make references to S+ and I honestly don’t remember the term coming up in Trimax either.  We get that Wolfwood is subjected to all sorts of crazy stuff and due to his response to the treatments he’s a good candidate for furthering efforts.  Just like the breakneck pace of the anime, his own physical development is rapidly accelerated - much more so than with the manga.

We still don’t have a clear timeline, but if he’s ten or eleven at the start, but he’s I dunno twelve now?  As the original anime put it, he was taken in as a child and trained by Chapel the Evergreen for ten years before striking out on his own for an unclear amount of time making his age over twenty.  The manga has the unclear timeline where you’d think he was around twenty at the end, but maybe seventeen.   Either way, manga and ‘98 anime Wolfwoods were more emotionally mature and had seen things.   This version of Wolfwood might be a super-powered twelve year old for all we know. Which I am not a huge fan of this angle.

For fun he’s stuck on an inverted cross examine room table and called a monster for emphasis. Yeah, let’s slap some basic Christian imagery down but it has no meaning since that’s been cut out in this version.

Of course, being likely only twelve, he tries to escape his now adult form declaring he’s returning to the orphanage before getting caught.

As I stated previously, I wasn’t a huge fan of younger Wolfwood in the manga since it has a character disconnect where he had this world weariness that did not match his age nor life experience.  But I could forgive that a little since we saw him as an older teen training under Chapel.  Now, he’s a man with a child’s mind.  Yeah.

With his attempted escape, he is only stopped by Legato.  This is another huge deviation from the anime and manga since Legato doesn’t even know what ‘Chapel’ looks like in the manga.

Their first encounter was at the Church at Jeneora Rock and the assembly of most of the Gung-ho Guns.  In contrast, he’s immediately on guard since Vash told him about the strange and dangerous man he’d encountered on the bus to May city/Augusta.

For the sake of oversimplifying the plot, something that Merdopseudo and I had been predicting, Legato is the one who reveals that all things lead to Knives.  The Eye of Michael is not an independent organization!  It is all a part of Knives noble plan for the the future.  This is lazy writing.  The whole regenerative capsules and religious assassin organization were independent of Knives and only worked with him due to a shared goal of sorts.  Legato tells Wolfwood he’s been signed up for the Eye of Michael.

And apparently, since Wolfwood still has willpower to fight Legato, it makes him unique and declares that he doesn’t believe in any god.

Wolfwood has gone from being a flawed, trapped principled man with some sort of religious core to an atheist.  Okaaaaaaay Studio Orange - not sure where you are going with this at all. 

Legato brings in Livio who wanted to join Wolfwood and it is clear at the moment that Livio’s backstory has been completely retconned and he’s the younger brother character for Wolfwood to worry about.

Legato comes off as bizarrely cold and unemotional in this version.  In the anime he was a man clearly bent on a dark and destructive agenda, but I would not call him unemotional.  If anything Legato had a huge amount of pretentious pride in his nihilism.  It was a defining feature of his character and in the manga his intense emotions and nihilistic tendencies were even more over the top. 

This Legato - just a cold blooded robot.  Conrad shows up with his own Project Seeds jacket in white, symbolic of his role as a staff scientist.  It also has me wondering how old he is in this version.  Our Doctor has to stop Legato from killing the promising young Nicholas for the greater goals.

The flashback ends and Vash and Wolfwood are arguing again as Vash is interfering wanting to help.

Vash managed to pin down Livio in a rather smooth action sequence with lots of empty shells bouncing around as he tries to figure out what is up when he calls out Wolfwood’s name.

This catches Livio’s attention who says that he needs to catch up [to Wolfwood] and easily launches Vash off into the air while Wolfwood randomly declares that he can’t let the two of them kill each other.

So, when did you become friends with Vash, Wolfwood?  You only showed up in episode four and here in six you are his friend?  You’ve had no bonding!  There was no foray into the desert to rescue a child or bus ride.  No tournament or situation with a runaway kid where your philosophies aligned and clashed.  You haven’t gotten drunk together.

But hey, we now have Wolfwood’s flashback and we know he cares about Livio his adoptive younger brother who can’t kill his other friend Vash. This. Does. Not. Work.  I see two random men in sunglasses who just argue with each other.

Zazie the Beast and Livio approach the Sandsteamer as Legato reads the ‘bible’ of the local religion and the two characters mock Wolfwood and his pinch.  Legato has decided emotions are for losers and Wolfwood has those pesky emotions!

We get it, Wolfwood is different and you are having fun watching him suffer.

They drive close enough to the Sandsteamer that Legato is able to stop an internal mechanism inside the the locomotive that causes it to veer off course.  It seems that Legato has leveled up in his own abilities instead of manipulating people to do things against their will.

I guess Legato is officially an ESPer instead to make him easier to understand.  I will miss that manga scene with the transport truck and the Calvary and the blood dripping onto the sand below. 

By diverting the steamer, it now is on a collision course with the Orphanage - which is apparently the entire town?  This is as confusing as the Terminal being a Terminal alone.

At the same time the Bad Lads Gang have appeared.  And with our simplified plot we know - they were brought here by Knives.

Why do Legato and Zazie the Beast care what Wolfwood does next?  If they see themselves above human emotions why do they care at all?

And with that the episode ends on a cliffhanger. 

We will learn in episode seven what happened to Meryl and Roberto and perhaps the man himself will appear.  B.D.N. that is!

My immediate reaction to this episode -

Wolfwood’s backstory was way too soooooon!  Far too soon!  Was this even earned Studio Orange?

For a few points, I’m going to tap some of my conversation from my good meta friend Merdopseudo.

1.) A good stand alone episode.  Technically, and by itself this was a good episode.  Merdo points out it is fine as an episode but its structure is also its weakness, indicative of the issues that have plagued the series.  Where does this fit in the overall structure of the story?  What purpose does it serve in advancing the plot?  The episode is fine.  You can watch it and be entertained.

2.) Wolfwood’s backstory is unearned.  We get Wolfwood’s tragic backstory far to early into the plot.  He appeared two episodes ago, seems to be a dude who is rude and will kill if necessary.  We don’t know what it at stake for him.  What does he do normally?  Where is his moral compass?  What is he doing in this whole mess.  Why do we even care?  Right now, Wolfwood is a kid with a big fucking gun and apparently had a friend named Livio.  The found brothers trope also falls flat despite the technically excellent 2D silent film flashback.  The backstory in this episode is just ‘put there’ in an attempt to humanize this version of Wolfwood.

3.) Vash and Wolfwood are not friends. Yep, I will continue to say this.  They are not friends.  Wolfwood is an annoying guy following Vash around because those are his orders.  They have not bonded in their adventures, nor have they argued about how to act.  They both jumped into save a girl, rode the bus to May city/Augusta.  They in the anime had more bonding at the competition and fought over the rights of the individual versus the rights of the collective.  In the manga the bonding is a bit later but still happens over several volumes and Wolfwood gets tied into Vash’s heroic antics from time to time.

4.) The pacing is paradoxical.  This is Merdopseudo’s best point.  With the predicted 12-13 episodes, this story needed tight-super tight plot beats.  Instead, individual episodes are slow while the combined episodes are rapid leading to this disconnect.  This is the best highlight of the writing problems that have plagued this series from the start.

This ties into what I have also been most critical of - the pacing.  There is no room to breathe between episodes yet, certain episodes linger and waste time on things which are unnecessary.  This is a lot of the CGI scenes of how E.G. drove his wheel or how Rollo was watching Vash dodge and stuff like that.  Or the man with the lights guiding the Sandsteamer out of port.  Just lots of strange shots that visually look cool but don’t help the story.

Which gets back to Merdo’s theory that this is all just a demo for Studio Orange for future projects and investors.

And as this continues, I become more pessimistic that this indeed is the purpose of Trigun Stampede.  Studio Orange took on Stampede because it was a low risk project.  They updated the look for a more modern audience and don’t have to worry about upsetting the original fans of the anime or manga since it was domestically a flop and obscure.  Clean it up with characters that are for the domestic audience, simplify the plot beyond recognition and make it dazzling to the eyes.  It is only 12-13 episodes, it will pull in better projects in the future.

Studio Orange isn’t going to care about the non-Japanese, specifically very likely vocal American fanbase.  We aren’t there buying the new merch at Animate. Hell, it is currently and annoyingly out of print with Darkhorse here in North America.  Why keep all the elements that made it a smash hit elsewhere?  It doesn’t help their bottom line.

Thus, Trigun Stampede is a product that does not take the elements of the original anime from Studio Madhouse and the lore of Trigun Maximum to deliver a cohesive product that gives us the magic sauce that made the original so good.  It was never their intention to present us with faithful adaptions of the original series and characters.  They clearly don’t care for the original themes, character morals, questions, struggles, successes, failures and sacrifices that made the original such an emotional high hitter.

Quick character notes:

1.) Our dud duo - Meryl and Roberto.  For once, Meryl sticks to her guns and is able to guilt Roberto into continuing.  Good for her, but doesn’t amount to much in terms of plot.  She stood up for herself and made a valid argument and her senior colleague agreed.  Wow.

2.) Vash.  Is more assertive with Meryl and Roberto away from him, and finally asks Wolfwood what his deal is.  He has some decent fight scenes with Livio but honestly, doesn’t do much else in the episode due to the Wolfwood heavy plot.

3.) Wolfwood’s premature backstory.  Fails his character greatly.  Wolfwood is a character of great nuance, moral struggles and lots of questioning in a good way.  We see none of that and get his backstory upfront almost as quickly as Vash’s.  This attempt to humanize him without knowing him does not serve his character.  This also doesn’t work with his previous religious associations which are why he was a more powerful character in the original versions.  We know he believes in God, though he’s not naive enough to believe that faith in God will solve his problems.  If anything he sees that humanity’s flaws and dark sides force humans to become devils at times (a line both used in the anime and manga).  The anime leans in much harder with the priest aspect of his character with his first and last confession in the church before he dies.  The manga instead has him die at peace sharing a drink with Vash as he’s ‘thanked’ by the younger children of the orphanage.  Either way, both of these endings for him show that he’s a man who has a moral code derived from a very Catholic theology and he struggles with balancing that with his own actions trapped between powers greater than him.  He has a clear line between acts of divine beings such as God and Angels and how it is impossible for a single individual to meet those and instead must learn to live with their actions and how painful it is to directly contradict your own moral code.

4.) Legato Bluesummers is a ‘robot’ with a bad haircut.  This version of Legato is not the nihilistic, self-destructive one of the anime and manga.  He mocks others and sees himself as superior to orphans like Wolfwood. He wants to watch a moral quandary but does Wolfwood really have a moral dilemma? Is he religious or is he reading a religious text to mock it due its emphasis of faith and emotions?  Like Wolfwood, his power is also much greater, if this were the original he would have made that random train engineer dude destroy the moving part while dying in the process.  Now, he just goes ‘whoosh’ and it breaks.  Boo - I miss his sadistic tendencies. 5.) Livio is another ‘robot’.  But with a hangup to be like Nicholas!  I bet.  Unless, he also gets a long flashback, his character has been likely completely retconned to the extreme.  Lazy writing would indicate that Razlo the Tri-punisher was a result of his mind splitting due to the experiments.  That’s my prediction if we do get his backstory.  Not due to other things . . .

6.) Zazie the Beast.  Is weird.  Look, I’m playing cat’s cradle and I made a spider web.  Humans are so dumb, mwahahahahahaha!  I’m also filling in for Leonof the Puppermaster with my insect spycams/drones.

My snark is coming out in my character responses here, but really are these characters with depth or characters checking boxes like a game of Bingo.  I’m curious to see how many of my predictions pan out in future episodes of if they will leave us in the dark. 

As far as themes, this episode doesn’t really have one that stands out. Other than adults treat children very poorly in this place and even if you are a masked religious woman, you have to have big tits.

[quietwingsinthesky]

(Transmasc-rose) Have you ever heard that they were, at several points during the old who days, going to make the Doctor and the Master brothers? In Planet of Fire the Master says "Won't you show mercy to your own ..." which the director and producer of the episode both said was intended to end with "brother", and in the scrapped reboot they were supposed to be half-brothers.

It seemed relevant to your interests.

u must imagine me kicking my feet and blushing and twirling my hair. 🥰 yeah. yeah, i know.

like. okay first lets get out of the way how fucking funny it would be if they ever backtrack their way into this twist again somehow. the utter chaos that would unleash upon the thoschei section of the fandom. imagine that one anime that just got a cousin reveal after a decade of yaoi but by the magnitude of like 50 years of doctor/master shipping. it would be so funny to me, i wanna peek into that universe.

but like god. god. there is something so appealing to me about this idea of them as star-crossed siblings. it’s the spn fan in me, it makes me insane. what if you grew up next to this boy, your worlds revolve round each other, and then as adults, you can never be that close again, you won’t even call each other siblings anymore. just childhood friends. someone you once thought you knew.

i have not seen Planet of Fire (classic who? i’m assuming. and im now very excited for that episode specifically for um. normal reasons.) but Something about the master being the one to bring it up, to call on a brother’s mercy…… thinks about last of the time lords with canon siblings doctor & master. because something i’ve picked up watching doctor who is just how Certain the doctor is that the master will survive, despite all odds, that he’ll find a way back. (something the master has always proven him right about.) and that’s such a powerfully resonant feeling with having a sibling. imagining a world without them is like imagining a world without air, in my eyes, so of course, if we put the master in the role of the doctor’s brother in this scenario, of course he will survive. wah the way it just slightly changes the framing of all the little things, the way this scenario takes the master’s childish “i win” and twists it as old as a sibling rivalry…

im such a sucker for sibling tragedy, i really am. i know im also the haha incest guy, which can be a component of the tragedy, but i really do fall to pieces for just the pure platonic stuff, too. it’s unreplicable, the intensity of that pain. and then. okay, every time i speculate on timeless child stuff, i preface it with me not having seen it just Knowing the basics and making shit up according to the lore ive gathered BUT. but. if ever there was a storyline that would have benefitted from them being siblings over them being childhood friends turned rivals, i really think it would be that one. because it digs into the core of it, of the lie, the unknown rift between them that drives the master to ruin. and god something about them being adopted siblings (without their knowledge) but the doctor still being stitched deep down into the Master’s bones, the core of them wrapped around the Doctor’s existence. the way it both matters so fucking much that this is the lie their bond is based on, but also how can it matter. how can it matter. when she’s in his blood anyway, she would have been if they’d been born together or like this. (and that he isn’t. or maybe, more accurately, that he thinks he isn’t and never will be.

oh, my soul for a version of this show where the master has been calling the doctor brother/sister/sibling all this time without the doctor reciprocating except very rarely, when they’re at their most emotionally vulnerable together (like the end of time ‘stone cold brilliant’ monologue. sorry. getting distracted.) and then suddenly. the master stops calling her that. like come on, that would be such fucked up foreshadowing, i can’t be the only one who thinks that would work so well. it’s all about the framing, all about the very slightly different context that friends versus siblings gives them to flavor the tragedy. the endpoint may be the same, but the pain is different, does that make sense?

and. and also i think it would be hot if they were. so. you know. there’s that. i’m not going to deny that i’m Like That. im a freak who enjoys when familial obsession spirals beyond control and into a horrible, outcast kind of love. they’re renegade time lords, for fuck’s sake, let them do a little incest for funsies. 🤭 drop a story of them at the academy always being a little too close, always making everyone else uncomfortable because of how inseparable they were. 🤭🤭 let the doctor avoid bringing up how they’re related so they don’t have to explain this shameful thing to their companions only for the master to flaunt it because the doctor wishes they could forget it, stop feeling these things, stop wanting the master. 🤭🥴🤭🥴🤭

to be clear, this is. obviously not something id actually want on the show, or would ever be on there, they’re not gonna put time travel incest on disney+. (hell, i don’t even think the siblings twist is preferable to the dynamic they already have except in the specific scenario it would have created for ttc between them.) but like. its fun for me to think about <3 i love when the doctor is filled with an incalculable amount of shame for their own actions—actions they keep repeating because its the master and the doctor needs them—and the master has fun tormenting them about it. but incest flavored this time :3

(as anytime i think about thoschei incest i Need to plug this anonymous fic that lives rentfree in my brain: connection. its sooooo. 🥴🥴🥴 oh they are gonna make me ill.)

[adultswim2021]

The Boondocks #31: “It’s a Black President, Huey Freeman” | May 2, 2010 - 11:30PM | S03E01

I just had this thought: Is this the first direct reference to Obama in an Adult Swim program? Actually, according to the Boondocks wiki, Obama was first mentioned in a season two episode. I don’t know what point I’m making, exactly. I am not demanding an allegorical episode of ATHF where Shake runs for president. Which, I heard was the plot of the first draft of Shake Like Me.

I recall watching this episode randomly on TV back in 2010, back when I was under the impression that I didn’t care for The Boondocks television show. I probably made that claim about other episodes. This one, too, though. I vaguely remember seeing this episode and it cementing a more positive outlook on this show in general. 

Presented mostly as a documentary being shot by Werner Herzog (his voice, anyway, I forget if he’s supposed to be playing himself or not) about the Freeman family’s reaction to Obama’s candidacy. Huey is reasonably wary of the hope being felt by his fellow black dudes. He’s described as a domestic terrorist (retired), and caused Obama to come under fire after it was discovered that they were myspace friends.

Most of the episode deals with different characters reacting in different ways to Obama’s victory, and slowly becoming disillusioned for one reason or another. Despite being vindicated on some level for his lack of excitement, Huey is a controversial figure throughout, making headlines just for answering “Eh.” when he’s asked if he’s excited for America’s supposed new direction. 

This one isn’t consistently funny, but has pockets of really great stuff. Like, I thought it took a little while to truly get going, with the documentary stuff almost giving you the impression that this is the repiloting of the series, or the first episode of a reboot. I guess it has been a while since season two. Like, a little over two years. Damn.

Well, that makes this one pretty friendly to a first-time viewer, giving each character a moment to shine and plainly display what their dang deals are. Huey’s politics might not come off as all that well-defined from just this episode alone, but people of the era could easily project someone like him onto his demeanor and fill in those blanks. I guess previous episodes do actually help out in that regard. Anyway, it’s a tough tightrope walk. At least you could say this episode doesn’t come off as particularly preachy. 

I’ve pointed out some tepid flaws, but I really admired this episode, and it does have some huge laughs. Thugnificent’s bits are particularly very funny. Towards the middle of the episode, he has a song with Will.I.Am called Dick Riding for Obama. It’s really fucking funny. The gag where his pants split after he gleefully shakes his ass when Obama wins is so goddamn good. Robert Freeman hanging a Mission Accomplished banner in his living room also got me. Damn, that little stretch going into the first commercial break is so good.

Lotta cultural references in this, including a cameo from Bill Mahar. The Boondocks is a pretty culturally relevant show, unlike most of the stuff on Adult Swim, whose cultural references usually wade in a particular pool of 80s movies and other dumb-guy schlock. I’ll say that a lot of the references in Boondocks go over my head, and I learn about them after the fact by looking at the excellent Boondocks wiki. This is because instead of being an Adult who pays attention to the news, I watch cartoons. Rather than copy and paste the references I didn't get into my write-up, I invite you to check them out for yourself by going to your local library.

MAIL BAG

I’m sorry to jump ahead, but are you keeping up with the apparent falling-out between Eric Andre and his writing partner Dan Curry over Johnny Knoxville? Curry alleges Knoxville tased him like a week into that ABC prank panel show that Knoxville and Andre were part of, causing Curry a broken bone, and Curry further claims Andre told him not to make a big deal about it. He also claims Andre canceled some of their book tour over this dispute.

Sorry to disappoint, but I knew nothing about this! I saw a commercial for that show during the Oscars or whatever and I remember tweeting out "Johnny Knoxville has a new show coming soon to ABC TV" to zero likes. I mean "posted on X". not "tweeted out". It's called X now

[omgeto]

hi empress 😋😋 can i be nosy about your manga collection !! what series have you collected the most for? also, i saw you’re a shojosei enjoyer <3 have you read yubisaki to renren!! are you excited for the anime coming around next year, OMG ALSO. i heard kimi ni todoke is having a reboot for 2024 too!!!! I’M EXCITED ABT IT AAA!! anywho, it’s nice to meet you ueueue, you have such a cute theme . . i’m gawking <3_<3

FINALLY OMG IVE HAD THIS BLOG FOR 18 DAYS AND UR THE FIRST TO ASK TO ABOUT MY MANGA COLLECTION MY PRIDE AND JOY I even got some new (non manga additions) today actually 🤭

AND YES I HAVE INDEED READ YUBISAKI TO RENREN (it is yet to be in my collection though) and I will immediately watch the anime when its out. and yes kIMI NI TODOKE ABSOLUTE FAVE (even tho when I first watched it I quit halfway because of the slow burn and decided to just read the manga instead) the theme song ALWAYS gets me in my feels like really and truly

but to answer ur question the series ive collected the most for is technically demon slayer but that was a box set given to me by a friend SO the actual answer is my pride and joy nana which was super super hard to collect and one of my favourite things EVER (I recommend watching it/reading it if you haven't) NANA I LOVE IT SO MUCHH

manga collection under the cut ahh go crazy

but yes as u can see a got a little todo plush today, and a liddle yor cable hugger AND I GOT MY FIRST ANIME FIGURE MY BABBYYYYY SUGURU

[writebackatya]

1. Currently my favourite fic of yours is "I Think We're Alone Now." It's funny, everyone feels in character, and I'm excited to see what happens next!

12. I've reread "The Three Caballeros (And Della)!" and some chapters of Indiquack.

2. Speaking of Indiquack, my favourite chapter so far would be "Ground Control to Della Duck." So many great things about it. If I remember correctly, Webby, Lena, and Violet end up in like a Jumanji type board game and appear out of it in the middle of Della smoking weed. pretty funny. and then when the boys catch her. yeah, its a good chapter and I think this was the first thing I ever read by you.

1. Thank you so much!! I really love writing that one. I just love writing the adult characters be able to do adult things when the kids aren’t around. Someone like Della should be able to let loose and have fun with her friends every now and then. And always happen to add more Fendra stuff cause frankly Gandra deserves more love! As for what happens next; gonna have some more DuckTales characters make their cameos and this:

12. You don’t know how badly I wanna write the next chapter of The Three Caballeros (and Della)! If it’s the next thing I post that’d be great. The plot hasn’t even truly begun in that one!

Also happy to hear that some chapters of Indi-Quack! are being re-read! First DuckTales fic so it’ll always be near and dear to my heart.

2. And Ground Control to Della Duck! is your favorite!? Thank you! I’m still proud of that one because I really think it does a great job starting off Indi-Quack! and showing what I wanted to do with that series

One of my favorite tropes ever is when an adventure is going on and/or happens off-screen and DuckTales did that a lot so I wanted to do that! And yes! Their adventure was indeed inspired by Jumanji (except it’s called Quack-A-Rooney!) I did that little bit of meta humor where Della recalls an adventure she and Donald had when they were kids was similar to Webby’s cause DuckTales is a reboot and Jumanji had its reboot! Also! I really wanted to imply that Della and Donald’s adventures were like the 80s cartoon and Webby saying “A baby elephant” was a reference to my first ever DuckTales media I ever watched, the DuckTales Movie. I just thought that line was so funny as a kid

And funny enough, the boys catching Della smoking weed was the inspiration for the entire story. I was joking around with my bro while we’re getting high of course saying that the boys catching Della getting high

I think we originally joked that Dewey and Louie would be like “Oh boy that means we’re allowed to get high too!” while Huey would be like “Oh you must’ve heard about the legalization of marijuana” and then Della would respond with “Weed’s legal now, huh? Cool.”

[fabulaee]

*shaking and trembling* CHIA CHIA CHIA HI BELOVED HIHIHIHIHI HOW ARE YOU FEELING AFTER THE TRAILER DROP FOR P3 RELOAD

ALSO I LOVE YOU SM MWAHHHHH ♡♡♡♡♡♡

OH MY GOOOOD XAN BB I STILL HAVW TO WATCH BUT I HEARD P3 REBOOT WAS A THING AND I HAD TO NYOOM THE TAGS TO SEE IF ITS TRUE!!

Tbh I’m not over how they’re bringing this back bc it’s so iconic! Mister Minato Arisato Makoto Yuki 😭🙏🏻 and the gang I miss them so much! The way I had a mini mind montage of the gang. I’m really excited with what things will change for this version of the game

WWWW SENDING ALL MY LOVE TO YOU TOO! 😭 I hope you’ve been doing well like I HAVWNT TOLD YOU BUT APRIL SHOWER VERNON GRABBED ME BY THE HAIR LIKE HE LOOKED SO HANDSOME I HOPED YOU LIVE (bc I did not! Shua looked so hHwhshw MY HEART P L S)

[bowtiesnmusicals]

Here is my recap of the To The Max (Adler) episode of the podcast.

Jenna makes a joke that Kevin is the special guest. Kevin says grim…you couldn’t do better then me.

Max is probably the only cast member that was actually in show choir. Kevin said he was the most qualified person on the show. Jenna said she is surprised they didn’t audition him for Puck. Kevin said Robert Ulrich had a vision and really nailed it. Kevin said he trusts Robert Ulrich.

Max talked about his son. He said he is talking up a storm into planes, garbage trucks and construction vehicles. He said they a re battling to get him to sleep in his own room.

Max talked about the writers strike. He said he is trying to figure out life amongst the strike. He is producing and acting. Kevin said it is interesting because the last time the writers strike happened Glee happened. It worked out for them last time. Maybe a reboot. Max said maybe he could be a shoe(schue) in no pun intended. The mentioned a reboot. Max joked that he wouldn’t be invited back. Jenna and Kevin said same that they also would just be watching. Max mentioned a podcast called Strike Talk. It’s all about the strike. They also had a whole conversation about mini rooms which is like a show writer and two writers that write an entire season of a show instead of like a team of ten writers. This is much like how Glee was for the first two seasons. It was just Ryan, Ian, and Brad. Glee was also unique in that it was 22 episodes and not 8, 10, or 12 like many shows that might use a mini room.

Jenna asked Max about his audition for Glee. Max said he was doing the valet/restaurant/day job game. He was working at Macaroni Grill and missed a shift for a callback for a Montana Meth project. Meth was a big problem in Montana and they were trying to battle that through PSAs. He booked this gig. He was fired the same day he got into SAG. He worked at another restaurant and was doing bit on Ghost Whisperer and What About Brian. He had an agent and begged him to get in for a series regular on Glee. He mentioned that he and Jenna were the only people in show choir. He was a huge show choir person in high school. They toured and competed. He sang and danced. He went to the Bahamas and Chicago. He lived the Glee life. He loved Nip/Tuck. He would have parties at his parents house and friends houses. When he heard the creator of Nip/Tuck was doing a show about show choir he was like please please get me in. Kevin said nothing is more specifically right for you. Max said right, right but in the world of Hollywood they didn’t see him. They didn’t see it and didn’t think he was right. He dropped his headshot off every week at Unique A casting. They brought him in for two lines one day for both Karofsky and Azimio. He had to read for both parts. He coached on it for 2 hours. It was the big monologue where he talks to Quinn and Finn. He was like who is this guy and why is he saying this and wanted to stand out. He waked in so prepared and there were like 45 dudes and he saw Ashley Angel from O-Town and was like I’m going to go back to the restaurant game. There is no way they are going to go for me. He went in and did his thing and Robert in the room said I think you are the guy for this. This never happens. He was like that was the best read of the day, I think you are my choice. Max was like this would be a dream come true, give me two lines I want to be on this show. There’s was already this hype and buzz that the show was going to be shooting to the moon. He was pumped just to get on. When he got the call he was doing Richard II with the Shakespeare group Porters of Hellsgate where he met his wife. Jenna asked if he was doing this in LA. Max said yes. Kevin said acclaimed actor. He was like if he can do Shakespeare he can bang out these two lines on Glee. So he got the call and it made his day and then went on to change his life.

It was really exciting and he had no idea where it would go. It was just two lines and the biggest thing about it was the slushee. He was called in advance to practice with a dummy. Jenna said he was the first slushee thrower that he was the og. Kevin said there were slushee’s in the pilot and that someone slushied Lea. You didn’t see there face though. Max said the prop master was passionate about the slushees. They had started with rubber pieces but it bounces off the face. They will heat it in the microwave so it won’t be so cold but it wouldn’t read. Then he said f it we are going to use real slushee but don’t miss you’ve only got one take. If you miss your are going to mess up the clothes and make up and the set and everyone is going to be pissed. He came in and they adjusted it to Cory’s height. He was like go for the nose we want it to explode all over the face. Don’t get the chest. Don’t get the chin. There was so much pressure. Max was like what I’m an actor. I’m not a slushee thrower I don’t know what is going to happen. He said the prop master would be in a corner stirring and waiting for Cory to come around the corner right at the last moment Max was like I better get it right and luckily he did. Jenna said he threw a lot of slushies. Max said he got slushied once but he had zombie make-up covering his face so it wasn’t as bad. Kevin said must be nice. Jenna said were you guys slushied in the same episode. Was it the Super Bowl episode? Max said yeah they were coming down the hallway in their letterman jackets and they were slushied by the Hockey players. Kevin that hockey team that you ere originally a part of. Max said yeah there was that yeah I think so the hockey team turned football team. Kevin said all the sports. Max said something about a change of heart. He was an athlete or jock.

Kevin asked how did go from you getting these two lines to you becoming a huge central figure to the entirety of the series. Max said first of all thats very nice. Kevin said your characters influenced one the biggest characters on the show and that he had an incredible and crazy storyline through all 6 seasons. Kevin said he loved that it all started with Max dropping his headshots off at the casting directors office and him getting called in and workin on those two lines. He asked did they call him back for Azimio and Karofsky back for another couple of lines here and it just evolved. Max said he only thought there was that one and every actors dream that they notice something and ask him back but he was like what can they notice in two lines. Then he got the call they wanted to bring him back and he did the Supercuts line. He was like great I will come back. He was like if I can get enough of these I can quit the restaurant. Max said it was the dream because he was a fan of the show. Cory welcomed him with his gigantic heart and arms. He introduced Max to his mom. Max said it was five episodes for the first season.

Max said he remembered the season 2 premiere party at Paramount. Someone turned to him and was like this is for cast only. He said he still wasn’t recognized as part of Glee even though now he had done 5 episodes. Ryan came up to him party and like kind of secretly is like we just wrote something really special for you. Jenna joked on episode 21. Max was like a rainbow slushie or magical slushie. Then he got the script, someone would deliver them an actual paper script. It was Never Been Kissed where Karofsky kissed Kurt. He said it was outstanding because he had coached this whole time about what is this guys problem. What does he want? Why is he being a bully? He tried to understand bullies. He was giving it so much more then he felt he had to but he is so glad it developed into something that felt real and grounded. It gave him purpose for doing everything he had been doing. In his mind it was natural jealousy that Kurt gets to sing a song and be in a show choir and I’m a jock and I am going to bully you for that. But then when it was revealed these were the reasons it got so much more complex and so much more depth. Max said he knew people like that in high school. It was kind of a dream come true. He said Dante Di Loretto had been cold to him and Dante watched the rehearsals for the locker room scene. It was the first time he smiled, gave him a nod, patted him on the back and handshake. Max was like okay this means something and he took it very seriously and is happy with the way it came out. Kevin mentioned they just watched the episode and that him and Chris were phenomenal in the episode. He said Karofsky was beating the shit out of Kurt the whole episode. Jenna was like wow that is intense. Max said there were times when he was shoving Chris into the locker bay and someone in the crew would say can you not push him that hard. Let’s just take it easy. Max was like I’m sorry I was trying to make the sound and get into it. He felt so terrible and was like are you okay, I’m so sorry. He said he definitely beat him up and he pushed Darren gate in that episode.

Max said that was a big one and right after that it was crazy. He got invited with Josh Sussman and Patrick Gallagher to go to D.C. to the Kennedy Center. He ws getting a sense of what the main cast had been living with. He said it changed overnight. The world became different through his eyes and it was crazy how that happened. He said he remembered getting invited to a cast and crew screening and Brad saying I think you are going to be really proud of the episode. He said Kevin after the screening ran into his arms for a big hug and it was validation. It was like welcome to the show. Kevin said it is one of those things. It’s so hard to get a job. You are happy to get your two lines and then to watch someone come on the show. It’s hard to be the person that pops in and out. It really is especially when it was an ensemble cast that was really close. He mentioned they talked to Josh Sussman about this and how those two related to each other because they had a similar trajectory on the show. He said to see someone get given that storyline and then be so good and the care Max had with Karofsky the entire time. He said we got to watch our friends sing and do these crazy scenes and were always so proud of each other and to see someone like Max just bring it seemingly going from oh I am just going to say a mean thing and push someone against a locker and then here you are with this really beautiful and sensitive storyline. It meant a lot to see that as a friend and fellow actor and just being fan of Max’s. It was special. Max said thank you and it felt special. He said even now it will be tough to find a role that is awesome and complex and nuanced and on a show that gets that many ratings and eyeballs. He said he has shot stuff before that and since then that you when you are shooting it you are like who knows if this going to see the light of day. Who know how many people will watch. He said it was exciting being on the Glee set knowing that what we are doing is going to be watched in a few weeks by 14 million people or whatever it was and it like this will change some minds and change some hearts. It will influence people and maybe save some lives. That was the biggest thing. It transcended just a role on tv to making a difference. He started getting letters, emails, messages of people saying they had seen some gay people portrayed on tv but they weren’t the masculine jock that you didn’t see coming. Thank god for this because they feel validated and seen. It was things were their family had disowned them and after seeing this episode they understood now who they were and reached out to patch the family back up. He said it was insane to just be a part of it. It made him take things more seriously. He was representing a lot of people that didn’t feel seen or heard which is the whole point of the show.

Max said what was so weird about that is that he never had the Ryan sit down or like this is what we are going to do or lets talk about what people are feeling about it. He said he would try but he would’ve get much of a response. He mentioned Life of Pi. He said he just wants that lion to look back and acknowledge him. He was like thats Glee. There was never anyone that was like hey we did it or good job on the storyline. It just kind of ended. He was like did just that happen and still waiting for that closure. He said he understand what they are talking about because he has been the bigger part of shows and its like you bond more because you spend so much time together. The guest stars are great and awesome. It’s like in high school where you can go the same school but unless you have that one night of partying where the truth comes out. You have that bond and talk about it the next day. Its like he’s in my science class but were not like that. He said he understood the pecking order. He said weird that the outside world was like you are on Glee and a cast member and doing it. He was like am I though. He was straddling the fence of when will I be back, will I be back. He was like am I going back to the bread lines. It was a very weird unstable 6 years but also the most exciting and rewarding. He said he is still trying to deal with that.

Jenna said he had such a big storyline even after the initial kiss to the big episode where you attempt suicide. It is a massive undertaking. She asked what it was like when he read that script. Did he know that was coming? Did Ryan drop any nuggets? What was the response? Did it shift at that point? Max said it solidified his place on the show. He worked with his coach and was like this guy in a small town worried about his sexuality getting out there, his dad, society. In reality he would probably think about suicide. Max was like they would never do that on a Fox musical comedy. So when it actually came to him he was like oh my gosh and thank you to the writers for doing this character justice and showing what could happen to someone in that situation and in that position. Let’s be real about it and let’s really touch lives and save some hearts and change peoples minds and open peoples eyes. He said it was a brutal episode to film. It’s as a very dark space. He had to understand what would lead to someone committing suicide. The hopelessness and not having anyone to turn to and being at the literal end of your rope. It’s dark. He said he remembers sitting in the golf cart with Brad Buecker right outside the studio for like an hour. He was telling Max really vulnerable things about his life and mindset and where he’s been. Max was confessing stuff to him about when his mom passed. It was a very emotional talk that put him in a great space to go in and film. He knows he is representing people. At this time Fox sent him to Dr. Phil, Access Hollywood, and Dr. Drew. He was out there talking about teen suicides and cyber bullying. This was the forefront of when Anderson Cooper and Ellen and everyone was talking about cyber bullying and teen suicides. He was like this is crazy that he was playing this role at this time in the world and that this might not ever happen again. It was huge. He said the biggest reward was that the Trevor Project flashed their hotline at the end of the episode and the calls went through the roof. It was the highest percentage of people that reached for help after that episode. He said to be a part of that was incredibly rewarding and an honor.

Keviin said how lovely it was that during Never Been Kissed and On My Way he had Brad Buecker at the helm both times. He is the most thoughtful and generous person. He asked if it was helpful because he was there for the advent of Karofsky real journey having him be a through line. He said the Dante and Ryan’s were doing other things. Buecker was editing the show at the same time he really knew all the characters so so well. He asked if he found that as an actor to have Brad connect those dots for him. Max said he absolutely loved working with Brad. He said he thinks it was the first time that he worked with a director that was an editor. Kevin mentioned Never Been Kissed was Brad’s first episode. Max said there must ave been 20 different takes for the locker room. He said it was so fun because he came through one door and Chris came through another door. He said Brad would go back and forth between Max and Chris and give them idea of things to try. Max said it was fun because they got to try everything he was feeling and didn’t have to hold back or try to get it right. He said he wanted to work with Brad again. He said the same thing with On My Way there was already that trust built in. He was like I don’t know how many tears you can get out of me. He said it was really great working with him. He said Brad treated where he walked through the locker room and saw fag on the locker and he was like its going to be in slow motion and I want to see your life leave your body. The way he shot and pushed in and cue Cough Syrup. He said he got emotional watching it. Brad and Max got invited to Sacramento for a couple of years and be a part of a program called Directing Change because of that episode. All of these high school students were making short films about mental health awareness, stigmas, and suicide prevention. Brad and Max were there to represent, they spoke to the kids and judged the videos. Now they were in the real world talking about these issues from the storyline. It took on a serious part of his life. He wanted to understand what he was talking about because he was talking to real kids going through it. This is more then just memorizing lines and showing up. It was a crazy time.

Kevin said it is crazy to think about how when the show came out and it started to do well they became conscious that x number of people are going to see what we are doing right now. When they did the first 13 episodes no one had seen anything but the pilot. He said knowing that you are doing these really serious things and then having a 3 week turn around. He asked in those 3 weeks did you ever get scared or nervous because every time he was on screen he had some really heavy shit. Kevin said for us they were like I am excited for my parents to see this musical number or I get to get out of the chair and dance. For Max, he was acting through some really tough things. Kevin said he got scared for people to see some things. He asked what was going through Max’s head knowing that 15 million people were going to see this. Max said excitement and there was no fear. He moved out to LA when he was 18 right after high school. He was like everyone was saying they were going college and he was like I’m going to LA an see what happens, don’t laugh at me. He was like I better make it because there was no plan b. He said to be on a dream show with a dream creator knowing people are watching it. He said all his high school friend were watching it. He had a big support base from family and friends. His wife Jenn studied theater in London with this guy Jeremy O’Keefe who ended up being a casting director. He overheard while he was working at a restaurant talking about how he also bartends at a bar called Silver Spoon. They had a back room where they would have Glee Nights. He said he things it was a gay bar. They would show Glee hand have drinks. Max was like you know I’m on that show. Jeremey said come on by and so it became a thing where Max would go with 20 friends and they would watch the episode and have drinks. He said he remembers when he got Never Been Kissed there were people that were like is your dad going to be cool with this. You are kissing a dude on national tv. What are you going to do? He said he didn’t even think about it until he was confronted with it. He was like no, I’m an actor, and a kiss is a kiss. Lips are lips. A storyline is a storyline. He didn’t really think about that element of it. He just thought about the character and the instinct of why he has been doing what he’s been doing for a year and this release. Kevin said he too it so seriously. Max said it almost felt like he was shooting a different show. It was crazy they were putting it in this episode. Jenna said we always say the Kurt and Burt, the heavy and heart of the show and then you have the clowns. It was sometimes two different shows. Max said that is what worked. Through the circus of that you have that little notice of let me pound you in the heart with this. He said it reminded of that American Beauty scene where Chris Cooper kisses Kevin Spacey in the garage. He said that scene rattles him still and was like that was powerful. He said if they can come anywhere close to capturing that feeling of just the release of what this guy must be feeling wondering what it feels like to kiss a guy after 16 years or whatever it is. Let’s show that release. Then he found out Ryan knew people like that in high school. Brad Falchuck had a friend named Dave Karofsky that messaged Max on Facebook. He’s not at all like the character. It was very rewarding and he was excited to do that storyline. He said it was more negative before Karofsky exposes what his deal is and then it became like thank you and I feel scene. He said this was a crazy ride.

Jenna said speaking of a crazy ride his storylines get crazier. Kevin said they don’t remember season 5 and 6 but mostly 6. Kevin said someone tweeted that they knew this is when I knew Glee went off the rails, when Karofsky and Blaine started dating. Kevin was like this happened. Kevin sand no offense to you or anybody he doesn’t know what happened with him and that he doesn’t know anything. Jenna said I don’t know where we were at that time. Max said they had checked out and were just along for the ride. It was a long time ago and they were a long time in and it was a cyclone blur and it was wild. Kevin said tell us about that experience. Max said at that point I’ve done what I’m going to do. The serious stuff with this character that is going to make an impact has stopped. The show has changed and the world has changed. He was happy to be along for the ride, happy to be a part of the show, happy to keep seeing everyone and keep putting on the jacket, and happy to have an income and be working. He said it was fun at that point. He said there was so much pressure on those earlier episodes. He said everyone would be having fun at base camp and he wold be in his trailer doing breathing exercises. He had one shot to nail this and represent hundreds of thousands of people. Kevin said these assholes are singing lady Gaga and I have talk about suicide. Max said I wish I was singing Lady Gaga. He said there was a freedom in that and they had each other and having fun. He was like this was on me and I have to nail it or I am not asked back. There was a very big pressure until season 6. He was like there is Jane Lynch telling me and Darren are related with a family tree at a restaurant. He said love Darren and that they hit it off from the beginning during Never Been Kissed and said they are still close. He was like this is insane but I get to work with you, my buddies and work with you and Chris and cool directors and have a good time. He said it was fun to be a part of it without the weight or pressure of what it was at that point. He mentioned that he got a nice happy ending that didn’t result in a suicide. It is okay to be out in the world and happy, to date , and go do line dancing at gay bars and be out there. It gives people hope that there is a life and a world that will accept you. People will understand you and feel free to reach out to people and try things. He was appreciative of that and that it didn’t end in a tragic way. He just had fun. It was weird thing. Him and Blaine dated. Jenna said Tina tried to date him too. Max said it was a good time.

Jenna asked Max what is the feeling that Glee leave him with. Max said longing. He said he knows that is kind of sad. It was a great time in his life. It was a huge hit show and all the perks that came with it and being seen for your work. He said it was like listening in a bottle. Who know if or when it will come again. He is a parent now. Everything is different now. He said he can’t believe that happened when they were in their 20s. They were footloose and fancy free. What a time. There won’t be a show like again. it won’t really be the same. it was very cool to be with people the same age and going through it. He looks upon those times very fondly. He said he wasn’t in the trenches or the drama as much as the main cast. It’s been all good for him. He misses it. Jenna said that’s awesome they are grateful to have him. She said watching it as a viewer vs an actor in the show it’s really different and profound. They get to see the work he put in and how serious he took the role and how he approached and it really paid off. She said they are really grateful for him and his time not he show, and what he shared with everyone and coming on and hanging out with them again and his friendship. Max said the feeling is mutual. He said thank you for everything you guys did on the show. Jenna said they were just clowns on Glee. Max said thanks for having me and congrats on the show. They said they will voice memo him if they have questions during the podcast. Max said bring it on and that he will be standing by. Kevin said thanks and that it was so good to see him. Max said it was so good to see them and thanks and to take care.

Jenna asked Kevin if he knew that David Schwimmer quit tv right before he got Friends. He quit and went back to Chicago to do theater. Marta Koffman and the creators of Friends were like we wrote this with you in mind. You have to come back and do it. He had a bad experience on another tv show and was like never again. They were like we promise this will be different just come back. He was like alright if you wrote it for me I will come back. Kevin was like see what happens when you are good. Max is just good. They had no idea he had all that formal training. He said you are sweet man and keep it up you are so talented. They said they will have to have him back. That they have so many more questions for everyone.

See you next time.