#i KNOW them bitches are worth watching. i know i will LOVE the new seasons. i know ill be obsessed with them

[teplejtrouba]

i have no idea what's wrong with me but i can't start watching the new ofmd season. like i want to watch it, more than anything, it's one of my very favourite shows. i couldn't wait to see it. but now?? i just can't start. it's so infuriating.

[harrysfolklore]

how is piastri sis feeling with this being carlos last ferrari race? cuz i’m feeling emotional

AHHH CARLOS' LAST RACE WITH FERRARI 🥺 im so emo but also really really proud of him. and so is our girl piastri sis. enjoy!

READ LITTLE BITCH HERE

The motorhome is quiet, the usual post-race bustle muted by the weight of finality. Carlos sits on the couch, still in his race suit with the Ferrari logo that's no longer his, staring at nothing. You watch him from the doorway, heart aching at the emotion written across his face.

"I can hear you thinking from here," he says softly, not looking up.

You move to sit beside him, taking his hand. His fingers automatically intertwine with yours, a habit now.

"I keep thinking about what I said," your voice is barely a whisper. "At the beginning of the season. About hoping you wouldn't find a seat."

"Mi amor-"

"No, let me finish," you squeeze his hand. "Seeing you now, knowing how much the Ferrari exit hurt... I was so cruel. So insensitive. Just because I was angry about Oscar-"

"You apologized months ago," he turns to face you, eyes soft. "Went we grabbed sushi and said you were sorry for being harsh."

"I know, but..." you touch his face. "Watching you take that last lap today, seeing how emotional you were on team radio... it just hit me again how horrible those words were. How much you were already hurting when I said them."

He catches your hand, kissing your palm. "I wasn't exactly kind to you either back then. Or to Oscar on track."

"Still-"

"No, listen," he pulls you closer. "That comment? It led to our first real conversation. When you apologized, I knew something had shifted. And now look at us."

You lean into him, remembering how that sushi outing led to him kissing you after, and changing everything forever.

"Besides," he continues with a small smile, "I did find a seat. Williams is excited to have me. And more importantly..." he kisses your forehead, "I found you."

"Smooth little bitch," you murmur against his chest.

"It's true though," his voice gets serious. "Leaving Ferrari hurts, yes. But this year? Getting to know you, falling in love with you? It's worth every painful moment."

"Even when I was being a protective sister?"

"Even then," he chuckles. "Though I prefer when you're being a protective girlfriend now."

You look up at him. "I'm so proud of how you handled everything this year. The Ferrari news, the criticism, the uncertainty... you stayed professional through it all."

"Had someone pretty amazing supporting me," he pulls you into his lap. "Someone who went from hating me to loving me."

"I never really hated you," you protest. "I just... strongly disliked your on-track decisions."

He laughs properly then, the sound chasing away some of the melancholy. "And now?"

"Now I strongly like everything about you," you kiss him softly. "Even your questionable racing moves."

"Hey!"

"Kidding," you stroke his cheek. "I'm so excited to see you at Williams. They're lucky to have you."

He holds you tighter. "Will you wear their merch next year?"

"Of course. But I'm keeping one Ferrari shirt."

"Oh?"

"Your race-worn one from today," you smile. "For memories."

His eyes get emotional again. "I love you. So much."

"I love you too," you rest your forehead against his. "Ferrari chapter is closing, but we're just getting started."

He kisses you deeply, pouring everything he can't say into it.

Later, Oscar sends a photo to the group chat Of Carlos's last Ferrari lap with you watching from the garage, wearing his team shirt.

"From enemies to this. Still wild."

Carlos saves it immediately because sometimes the best endings lead to better beginnings. And sometimes "I hope you don't find a seat" turns into "I hope you never leave my side"

[bigblab-talktotalk1]

I feel a lot of people misunderstand Portia in why she ask about Colin's love

One thing I find really disheartening about reactions/opinions on this episode is the conceptual clap backs of "Did Debling love her?!?!"

🙄😮‍💨

Because that response makes me feel someone is missing something in the storytelling. As a response, it has never made sense to me, because.... he never had to!

'Lord Debling was a reasonable match." This guy has acted in every single way The Gentleman. This guy has money, this guy came to Lady Featherington like a respectable adult and asked for Penelope's hand, this guy will be absent, and so THIS guy also Won't Hurt Her! She laid this out in episode 4, To Portia he is an IDEAL catch.

Then comes this news of Bitch-boy Colin (painting from a Portia-esque perspective), that she read IN WHISTLEDOWN!! He does not hold water with her 🚫 This Season, all she has seen of this dude is that he is a flirt. "The most desired man of the season." Regardless of what she thinks Penelope's feelings likely are, she only sees that Colin is NOT serious about her. Freshly back from galavanting across the sea, she does see Colin as serious PERIOD. All the letters Pen wrote, All the teas at Bridgerton house....for years Portia has watched him NEVER WANTING HER! Yet somehow an engagement occurred some time between her daughter leaving a party and family breakfast the next morning... 🤨🧐 Chat shit right?? Her mind must be screaming: HELP ME UNDERSTAND! (In a snarky, passive aggressive way - because she's the one)

---

Portia has a right to feel awful disrespected that Colin "I'm a gentleman" Bridgerton didn't come to her first. Like they don't have beef!! 😳 He's been engaged to someone from the Featherington household before, yet... there was no wedding. But Pen (who she thinks of is having less attractions than Marina) somehow is different?

You know who extended the olive branch to the Featherington name to help saved them from drowning in the social ruin of the reveal of Marina's pregnancy? DAPHNE! He was mad at Marina sure, but you know who he showed he didn't care what happened to while he turned his back? You Penelope!! 🤷🏻‍♂️He could have helped soften the blow like Kate, Edwina, and Anthony tried to do after their failed wedding. But he didn't. And that's who Pen threw away an entire future to gamble on?? 🫨😣

---

And while Portia doesn't know it yet, the fault for them being in that super precarious social is the SAME EXACT fucking person who is standing in front of her like she don't smell her own shit!! (personal mad when sitting in Portia's perspective)

---

THAT 'S the guy Pen wants Portia to celebrate, who Pen believes is a better choice. Portia's looking for the better. "What more can you ask for?" she says an episode 4. The only thing Penelope seemed to believe held her back from commiting to Debling as her husband is this 'Love' nonsense. So if Colin is the Superior choice, he must be giving her what she thought was missing from a marriage, something she thought Debling couldn't provide!

"You have it?" - Portia.

Penelope says she's SURE he CARES about her. But 'care' wasn't the exceptional parameter? To be so certain that you just threw away a good 90% qualification-meeting gentleman, you must have heard this truth that gives you that 10% to match the fantasy were "LOVE"(which Big P don't believe in) is. Right? You thought, you know, but what did he say it??? Has he told you he's giving you what makes choosing him over Debling worth it? Are you getting what you gambled for?!

Portia looks DEFEATED because Pen is betting on fantasies and wishes, without even the vocalized proof of Colin's feelings!!!!!!

"Oh Penelope"= "Girl I feel bad for you", "you sweet summer child." She's repulsed that Pen was SO short-sighted.

I feel like while her reaction is extreme and harsh, it really isn't too difficult to imagine a semi-reasonable parent (with Portia's trauma) may be distraught hearing that their daughter chose to follow a career in ..... like the Arts, that she loves (Colin), when she already had a place at Yale law School (Debby). Without Colin's declaration it's like she mailed in her withdrawal letter and is packing to move into an artist collective commune -- without a lease! Not even guaranteed a spot, setting fire to your previous life plans! It is not right, and it is not okay to treat your children as if they need to live their life as you would. However, for someone who holds security above all Pen has thrown away her last chance at a good life. Pen has shattered a chance at bedrock that Portia knows Pen don't even understand how much she should value! Portia has shielded her from how it feels to watch the ground you've built your life on crumble from underneath her. The fear of having no husband, no son, and no money. Which I think adds to the anger in her tone.

Debling never NEEDED to love Penelope. Why he was a better, more secure match than Colin was everything BESIDES love. What makes Debling a valuable prospect has a very little overlap with what makes Colin Penelope's first choice. Therefore trying to grade them on the same standard..... it doesn't matter if Portia cares about love, it doesn't matter if Debling would EVER say he loves Penelope. So while it matters if Colin has told her that he loves her, he's the only one who has to.

---

I do not think she is right all the time, or even often. But one can likely tell from the above that I'm a Portia Featherington fan. I'm a fan of food in tummies and shoes on feet. Did she decide she needed big bucks to eat and dress the way she wanted.......👀🙄

---

As someone who looks at Colin as an insecure 23-year-old male... He is my baby. I defend all his big emotions. When he's having a temper-tantrum, I let him kick himself tired. I'm never villainizing him for basically anything he says or does because..... I know he's really a soft boy. And I know Pen doesn't mind. But that doesn't mean we can blame Portia (without having the audience view) for seeing him differently.

[bridgerteon]

Although I'm a multi shipper, I wanna join Polin Week as tribute and support. And I think I'm late for favourite show quote. :)))

[I can't make gifs (I don't know how to), write fanfics (I'm a horrible storyteller) nor create mood boards (I'm more of an analytical person than creative, since I'm a STEM person). Instead I would provide an essay as I'm pretty good at it.]

My favourite from Penelope is from The Choice (Season 2 Ep 6) when she chats with Colin about purposes:

"I am certain you will find your purpose one day. Everyone must eventually... [About her own purpose] Of course not. But I imagine it to be something both animating and satisfying. The type of venture that speaks to not who I am but rather who I am to be. My purpose will challenge me to be brave and witty. My purpose will propel me far beyond the watchful glare of my mama. My purpose shall set me free."

It explains that everyone has a purpose, even for women in a regency era. Though she is technically Lady Whistledown, she wants to have her own goals in life and wants to achieve it by herself. Fortunately she does in the end. She presents herself to the whole Ton that she is Lady Whistledown and that she wants them to know how awesome she is. This actually makes me feel so proud of her for her journey from meek to confident. I also evoke with her as I also share the same sentiment.

As for Colin, my favourite quote from him is short, but made my heart break for him. It's in Joining of Hands (Season 3 ep 7):

"Then what good am I to you?!"

It displays his vulnerability. It displays his self-doubt and thinking pessimistically how anyone could ever love him. Just him, as a emotionally intelligent, soft, and caring person. From the beginning Colin wants to be taken seriously or want others to see him for who he truly is. But ever since Marina's Deceptive Engagement Scandal and his Boring Travel Stories, no one ever respects or listens to him, except for Violet and Penelope.

Penelope is the one who sees and loves him as he is, and she doesn't want him to change. But ever since she is LW, he is spiralling in self-doubts and lack of self-esteem. He realises that Penelope has a purpose, she knows who she is, and knows what she wants (link back with Pen's quote above), while he doesn't. He thinks that out of all the men in the Ton, why him? Why does she choose him? As a pawn like Marina? Payback for kicking Lord Debling out? Out of spite? What does she see in him worth loving? Would Pen ever take him seriously? Would she ever be his partner? Would she ever love him?

Luckily Penelope helps alleviate his doubts by confessing that she loves him (during the Modiste Bitch Off), and that she tells the Ton that she is LW. She is doing it because Pen loves Colin and his family. She is doing it out of love. She doesn't want to keep secrets anymore and is free to be with him proudly. Now he realises that she loves him unconditionally and without judgement, hence his love confession. It makes me feel so elated that Colin has finally found a partner, where both will love and support each other in anything.

Overall, I love the journey of friends-to-lovers in Polin. It does give me the satisfaction that they are FINALLY TOGETHER! I'm excited to see their new journey together as a married writer couple. :))

[bengiyo]

Don't Care for an Old Man's Underwear Ep 11 (Finale) Stray Thoughts

This watch made possible by @isaksbestpillow.

Last time, Daichi's dad came back into the picture and dumped a heaping pile of homophobia right on top of our favorite boy. Daichi, despite all his courage and conviction, balked before his father. No one was able to say much to Daichi; not Madoka, not Makoto. Makoto wasn't sure how to interject himself in this situation, and hesitated because he wanted to move properly. At work, there was discussion about people being downsized and laid off, and how that ruined relationships once a man could no longer provide. Meanwhile, Kakeru is struggling with the ethics of makeup after he helped his friend pretend to be a kind of girl she isn't. Finally, when no one else seemed like they could talk to Daichi, Kakeru reminded us that he's Makoto's son and meddled directly. We left at Daichi's dad being horrible to Kakeru, and Makoto stormed off to confront the man once he found out.

I really like how vile this final villain is with his presentation as reasonable and principled. He uses a soft tone, but he's constantly turning things around to be cruel. He made his son suffer, and he was rude to Kakeru. I almost wonder if he provoked Kakeru just so he had the leverage to demand the Okita family stay away from Daichi. He's an excellent villain, because you have to use all the empathy and compassion the show brought out of you to resist this man's flawed logic.

Wow, Makoto gets it. I am gonna cry because I'm so proud of him for not losing his conviction.

Madoka, my guy, what are you doing? This is a big problem you should face together.

Oh, Kakeru, you were so harsh to everyone all season about how they talked to you. It's hard to talk to people isn't it?

OOF Mor is also dealing with the expectations of society at large. We're really building to a finale.

And now Mika might be losing her job!

My family is in crisis!

Truly so special that Makoto has finally reached an understanding with his family that he realized what was wrong with each of them.

No! Don't ruin the sanctity of the park!! Gays, get it together!!

"Why are there so many obstacles to overcome if you're gay?" Bitch, me too, the fuck!!

It did feel like a barrier had formed between Daichi and Makoto. I'm sad and frustrated.

Y'all are gonna kill this old man.

Okay, what bad news did Furuike get, because my man just reiterated that when you grow up your heart dies?

Oh, Furuike, you've come along as well. Responding to the info that Shimura realized what was going on with him that she should be promoted is excellent growth. I also love him reminding Makoto that he's not dead yet. Life is still worth living.

I love Makoto recognizing that he was asked to be the matchmaker. He needs to know that the rules of the society can be turned for the betterment of people even in the modern age.

KAKERU'S TELLING SHIZUKA HIS FEELINGS OVER MAKEUP

"Making noise to help you forget is also what friends are for." Y'all I'm overwhelmed.

"If I'm ever unsure of myself, I'll ask Kakeru-tan to do my makeup." STOP MAKING ME CRY.

Actually so important that this show reiterates that even straight people get rejected constantly by others for failing to be what others want them to be

Of course Moe's full pen name is Pectoralis Major Huge Melons. I love her.

I'm so happy to see Makoto and Mika talking about things over chores together. I'm so proud of Mika, too.

Save us, Carlos!!!

YES, MEDDLE!!

Wow, this is the best show I've ever seen. The Okita family showed up exactly as themselves, with their passions plain, and stood before Daichi in front of this cruel man. Makoto demolished that man entirely, and said plainly that he is cruel to his son.

Daichi said it! If I change myself like that then I won't be myself!

Don't let the door hit you on the way out!!

So thankful that this show gave us that scene between Mihoko and Daichi. Sometimes we have to accept that people important to us won't accept us, but we must remember that we have those who will.

Way to release the tension with an old man's underwear and his kids dunking on him.

THEY SAID THE NAME OF THE SHOW! FINISH YOUR DRINKS!!

Of course Makoto is a crying, sloppy mess during the wedding. I love him.

What a beautiful finish.

Final Verdict: 11, Television Can Still Be Good. Truly, I don't know how else to describe this other than as one of the most important things I've ever watched in the last 20 years of engaging with stories about queer people. Seeing the Okita family reveal their passions and blast Daichi's dad like Care Bears as Makoto tells him he's a cruel asshole jumping to the front of the line to beat him up. This show earned every single beat it hit, and it was so lovely to watch a show where every character had goals and challenges. It wasn't just about making sure two guys have sex. This was a story about friendship and community, and it had strong ideas about how we make ourselves suffer for the betterment of others and yet no one is happy. This is one of the best things I've ever seen. Please go watch it.

[what-gs-watching]

“Well, I was made of snow, and now I’m made of….not snow.”

So I finally got to see my nephews last week and it was wonderful and they’re so cute and I squeezed the shit out of them but my sister and I were incredibly disappointed that I ended up heading back home the day before HOT FROSTY premiered on Netflix.

Friends. I love Christmas movies (did I write a post about my favorites last year? Yes). I love TERRIBLE Christmas movies. We watched a bunch of the new Hallmark ones while the kiddos took their naps and they were awful and predictable and I love that about them. But I don’t have the Hallmark channel at home, so instead,  every year I get excited about the new ones my various streaming platforms have decided to cook up.  

There are some gems out there honestly (no seriously, go read the old post) and then there are some that are on the bad side of absurd. I’m struggling to decide where Hot Frosty lands.

Wherein, a creepily buff snowman comes to life in an idyllic small town (Ted from Schitt’s Creek!!!) after a cute diner-owning widow Kathy (it’s obviously Lacey Chabert, OBVIOUSLY) wraps a scarf around his neck. That’s it. That’s the entire premise. 

Kathy meets the snowman, who decides to call himself Jack because he stole an outfit with the name stitched on it, and then they just, do a bunch of random stuff while Jack tries not to melt? And he says he needs to keep the scarf on at all times because he thinks it’s keeping him alive but like, that’s never tested? And she’s trying to keep him away from the town’s Sheriff because to get the clothes he’d accidentally shattered a window to the second-hand store, and had streaked naked by an old couple while doing so, which is apparently the height of crime in this town. 

Which means I’m leaning more toward the bad side of absurd. But it’s worth a watch wherein you’re doing something else and it’s on in the background, mainly because:

There’s Craig Robinson! And Joe Lo Truglio! (The sheriff and his deputy.)  And a bunch of references to other Netflix Christmas movies that were giving me life. At one point, Kathy scoffs about the idea that Jack is actually a snowman by saying  “yeah and I’m the queen of Aldovia” which is A Christmas Prince call out.

Later, she sets Jack up at her house to watch tv to keep him out of trouble and when she turns it on, it’s playing Lindsay Lohan’s Falling for Christmas and Kathy says something like “she looks just like a girl I went to high school with” which Y’ALL, I will take any Mean Girls reference anywhere anyday anytime I absolutely fucking love it.

They also sneak in a scene from Single All The Way into the tv background so yeah, I’m a geek for all of that. I’m never not gonna be charmed by random easter eggs of things I enjoy. Netflix really knows who the fuck is watching this movie. Which I’m a little offended by. But oh well.

HERE’S the thing though. Maybe I’m getting crotechy in my old age but like, I’m starting to be offended by these storylines where a dude magically comes to life and then falls in love with the first girl he encounters. Like, they make it a whole thing to keep talking about how Jack has only been alive for a few days and at one point he tells her he loves her and shes’ like “yeah no that’s not possible” but then at the end they’re in love??! She also makes a big speech about how she hasn’t been taking care of herself since her husband died of cancer and she can’t really love anyone else until she starts loving herself but then LIKE A WEEK LATER, they’re in love. 

I get that this is the whole point. I get it. Bitches want Christmas magic love stories where absolutely ridiculously unrealistic things happen because that soothes us, I guess? It’s supposed to scratch some weird thing deep in our estrogen-soaked brains?  But like, I’m finding I can’t stomach it like I used to.

Is it weird that I’d rather see them be friends for awhile? Like, why can’t he come alive during one Christmas season, she decides to help him get a life together once he becomes human (even though he only became human because she kissed him, whatever we can write around that) and then after a few more Christmas seasons where they do a montage of them like being friends and working on themselves and whatever else, THEN they fall in love?

I was strangely hopeful when she gave that speech about needing to take care of herself but JUST KIDDING, YOU GUYS! You can ignore all of your problems when you meet a snowman/turned jacked dude because he somehow teaches himself how to fix your roof. He’s handy, so everything is gonna be fine and it’s not weird at all that you guys jump into a relationship even though he’s never had A REAL LIFE before! That’s what gets me. It’s like, you can have the perfect boyfriend as long as he has absolutely no other life experience and you can just encourage him to be whatever person you want. 

It’s not Stockholm syndrome but it kind of is? Why is this romantic, again? 

Though I have to shout out Lacey Chabert’s eye fluttering - DAMN that girl can flutter them lashes. Like, wow.

I probably should have waited to watch this until I was in a more blissed-out-Christmas state of mind. That’s on me. It’s good eye candy and it’s good for seasonal background noise and it’s KIND of cute, like it’s ALMOST cute and maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood. 

Basically, if you’re wondering if Ted from Schitt’s Creek has gotten hotter, you’re in for a treat, and that’s just gonna have to be enough (spoiler alert: he erotically helps get a car unstuck from a snowbank. Enjoy!)

I'm just glad it's that time of year again. Hello, Christmas movie season!

[solar-wing]

Generally speaking, I'm anti live-action anything. That includes the Winx Club reboot.

I did see the OG from season 1 up to 3 where I think I left mid season. But I was mostly watching it for Sky, Brandon and Timmy.

I only know that Sky is in there, and probably Brandon. So my question is if it's worth watching it

BTW, this ask came mostly out of the fact that I read your story and I'm intrigued.

oh gurl.

where do I start? First, Brandon and Timmy are actually not in the show. I added them in myself because it personally just did not make sense why they weren't a part of it. Riven is in the show, and as far as cute as Sky? It depends. Do I think he's cute? Sure… would I personally consider him attractive enough to write a story about him…😬 probably not.

and let me be clear! that is not shade or meant to be shady in any way. He's handsome, just not my kind of handsome. as far as my review…oooh I feel I might get mixed reviews on this one, cause I actually watched all the original version of Winx (cinelume or RAI English, 4Kids and Nickelodeon) and the Nickelodeon adaptations up to season 6.

yall…i liked it.

WAIT! WAIT!! WAIT!!! LEMME EXPLAIN MYSELF!

I'll start with what I didn't like.

both Bloom and Stella are tied for my favorite characters in the animated series, each for different reasons. so I was very unhappy seeing how Stella was a bitch for like a majority of the first season (expectedly…I literally predicted this from watching the previews of the show) HOWEVER… this also ties into one of the things I actually loved about the show so I won't harp on this too much.

I didn't like that Tecna wasn't added to the show. Kind of feels incomplete without her, but then when I see the context of the show and the plotline, I see the reasoning behind why she wasn't added.

Now, this is also in the same boat as the first one, but the new character they added, Terra, which I saw as a somewhat replacement for Tecna as compensation I also have mixed feelings about. Cause do I like Terra as a character? Yes. Her storyline is also good but it wasn't really strong enough in my opinion, but she definitely grew on me from the first episode cause I related to her a lot. Some people see her as a cheap way to show their being inclusive and diverse with her being a plus-sized character, but I didn't really see it that way. I just feel they could've done a much better job with her character, especially considering they were essentially replacing both Tecna and Flora with her in the first season. Thankfully, Flora was added as a main character to the first season after only being mentioned in the first.

This could be a spoiler so I won't say too much, but what they did with Headmistress Farah Dowling (who's basically the equivalent of Ms. Faragonda in the animated series) was foul and so infuriating. I actually was pissed at that cause she really did become one of my favorite characters and the way they did her at the end of the first season, only to pull that lame-ass bs in the second season as compensation. absolutely not. in fact, they'll be hearing from my lawyers with that one.

truthfully, if I'm being honest, Sky's storyline almost didn't make sense to me at times. LIke there were literally moments where I was like, if it wasn't for Bloom and Stella, literally what are you here for? that could be a niche opinion, but it did make doing his end of the story when I was writing it a bit harder cause I basically had to fill in a lot of gaps for myself.

Now, this one. This is probably in my top two dislikes of the show. So we all know that the transformation sequences are a big part of the animated series? Right? …right right. Okay, making sure we're on the same page. So, I can't lie and say I wasn't expecting them to do some kind of ode to it at some point. bro… to this day, I can not watch that one scene from the final episode of the first season with Bloom without VISCERALLY cringing on the inside and out. even writing about it at this moment is making my skin jump. girl… the build-up to the scene. the silent moment as Aisha surrounded Bloom with the water from the fountain or pond, or wherever the hell she got it from, THE BEGINNING NOTES OF THE MUSIC…I damn near punched my computer screen when I was watching it the first time, that shit spooked the fuck out of me so bad, I literally had to pause the show and wait 10 more minutes before I could keep watching it. and here's the thing! it doesn't necessarily have the whole thing of putting them into different outfits or anything, but what's crazy is… the whole transformation sequence is not even that bad. like they low-key did have an impossible task cause trying to recreate the transformation sequences from the animated Winx series (charmix, enchantix, believix) in a dramatic and serious tone like this show, preventing World War II would have been easier. Cause how am I supposed to be all in on this serious, intense drama, sucked into the story and intensity of it all, and while sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my fingernails and whatnot, I'm suddenly blasted with: IT'S THE POWER OF CHARMIX, THE MAGICAL LIGHT…🧚🏽‍♀️🌈✨🌟☀️💫🔥💦🫧THE POWER OF CHARMIX, AND YOU WILL SHINE BRIGHT!🔥💫🌟🌈💥🧚🏽‍♀️🫧SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY! LIGHT IT UP THE SKY! 🔥🪽💥🌈💦🌙🧚🏽‍♀️✨☀️IT'S EASY IF YOU TRRRYYYYYYYYYYY!🔥💫💥🌟🌈🫧💦🌙🧚🏽‍♀️ like it really was not an easy feat, and while I applaud them for their effort…that shit was still cringe and triggers me to this day. The one in season two was better in my opinion, but still cringe, just less than the first one.

lastly, and this is kind of my gripe with a lot of shows nowadays, it felt way too rushed. like 6 episodes??? to go through that much plot??? I feel like I didn't get enough time to soak the world in, really get into the magic and feel of it. I didn't get enough time to see the characters develop their relationships more with each other cause they were so busy trying to push the story forward in six episodes. what I strongly hate about this new modern age of TV compared to what I grew up with is how we've gone from a place of creating context, filling in details, giving seeds planted in the show and from the show to the audience space and room to grow. Now, it's all about a "less is more" mindset. And from a technical and budget mindset, I understand, the show is heavily dependent on 3d animations, CGI, video and audio effects, etc. which cost money, on top of other production-related costs. but when you have shows like Supernatural, Once Upon A Time, CHARMED, literally doing MORE with LESS, there's absolutely no excuse. Of course, I'm aware, that a lot of it comes back to corporate profit and greed, but it's still very sad to see. truthfully, it's my opinion that with some rewrites and edits to the script, plot, and some characters, if the cast and production team had been given the dedication, time, and room they needed with a show like this being a live remake, truly it could've been a smash hit not only for the generation that grew up with it, but the generation currently growing up with it.

now as far as things that I liked/loved.

immediate top three from my list was Stella's storyline which is why I wasn't too mad at her being made into a bitch compared to her animated version. at first, I was thinking like, ah rich, pretty, spoiled princess is a total bitch and completely jealous of the new girl stealing her man…typical and lazy. But then they expanded more on her story, I saw hints of the different dimensions of Stella early on, they brought in her MOM instead of her dad as her main influence, showed that dynamic and relationship between them, AND baby, I was damn near sobbing with Stella at one point. I went from being at her to being right beside her, ready to knock anybody that came at her sideways left and loose. like literally everything I described earlier about things I miss from TV they did back in the day with shows I had growing up, they somehow managed to do with Stella in those six episodes, and girl, I was rooting for her from that point forward.

continuing from there, and this is not a shock, I really love Terra as a character. I feel like I related with her a lot because me and her are sort of the same. We're sweet, and fun, and go extremely out of our way to serve and please other people, a lot of the times to our own detriment. We're both from jump very loyal people who will fight tooth and nail for the people that we love. And where I struggled for a long time was learning how to stick up for myself the way she did. How to protect and stand up for me and not allow myself to be manipulated, taken advantage of, or mistreated. One of my favorite moments was (spoiler alert ahead) when Musa went to Terra to admit she was interested and dating her brother, and Terra was like girl, please. I question your judgement but girl…please. Like Terra did not give a fuck that they were dating, but the thing she appreciated was that Musa was upfront with her and didn't lie or try to be sneaky behind her back (at least from that point. Or even when (another spoiler alert ahead) when she confronted her dad about him lying to her, and literally said, bitch I got you in a logic trap, don't try and gaslight or pull the parent/instructor card on me…will forever give her ones and flowers for that. I literally tell people over and over. I'm a direct person by nature. I don't do well with subliminal, shady, or behind-the-scenes shit. And when you do subliminal, shady, behind-the-scenes shit to me or at me, not only will I lose all respect for you immediately, I will 100% retaliate in a way that is not very sweet, fun, and self-sacrificing as you may be used to. you push me far enough and gone is the kind and friendly person you're used to. nope, now I'm about to be a bitch, a petty one at that too, and it shocks people every time because they don't expect it from me. and that's what I feel is the same from Terra and I love her for it.

this was a major one for me…but I loved, LOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEDDD when I realized they dropped the gender dynamics from the animated series, opening the door to both girls and BOYS being able to be fairies and both boys and GIRLS able to be specialists. I could have screamed, cause that was one thing that lowkey always pissed me off with the animated show. I get it was a show made for girls and at the time (early 2000s), obviously, that kind of stuff wouldn't have flown over well, so to see it now was literally like a breath of fresh air.

obviously, this is something big for me. The overall storyline they were going towards with Bloom, the mystery behind her power. her family, and the Dragon Flame paired with everything else happening around them was very enticing and I was very invested in it. Actually, if you pay close attention to how I'm writing out stuff in this first installment with this story, and future parts, you may get hints or ideas at where I'm going with the overall plot of my story.

obviously, them bringing Flora in the second season was a big thing for me. I felt like if you weren't going to have Tecna, at least bring in Flora, even though she lowkey is like one of my least favorite of the 6 winx girls in the animated series. which is a bit ironic and funny when you think about it because in the live-action version, she's actually one of my top favorites compared to the other characters. I can hear the flora stans organizing now...

I also love the idea the added notion they did of magic being emotion-based, and because of that, it's much easier to lose control and with that, much harder to reign it in because it's amplified by your emotions. again, like with Stella's story…ugh beautiful, 10 out of 10, five stars, and the academy goes to…type shit.

lastly, and this is kind of a repeated point, but the characters really did do it for me. I feel like they really had something special going where there was generally no character I ever disliked. like actually, Valtor from the second season, did a really good job of making me hate him, which is a good thing cause it just goes to show how much effort and dedication everyone put into this series, and I really wanted to see where they were going to take things. so all in all, there's definitely things I either didn't like or felt could be improved in the show, but I really did think it was a good show and was very excited to see what would come from season 3. I still got beef with whoever made that decision to play in my face talking about, for season two, we're gonna get extra crazy and give you guys a whole whooping SEVEN episodes… bitch…

don't fucking play with me. one extra episode? ONE?!?! ya'll couldn't even splurge for a least 10??? 10 really that hard to get to??? I can't with Netflix. and speaking of Netflix, they still need to meet me outside. They're literally one of the main reasons why I don't start shows until I see they're at least a few seasons in. CAUSE what you not finna do is think you gon leave me on a cliffhanger after only two seasons…

bitch I believe in violence. matter fact… IT'S THE POWER OF CHARMIX, THE MAGICAL LIGHT…🧚🏽‍♀️🌈✨🌟☀️💫🔥💦🫧 THE POWER OF CHARMIX, AND YOU WILL SHINE BRIGHT!🔥💫🌟🌈💥🧚🏽‍♀️🫧 SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY! LIGHT IT UP THE SKY!🔥🪽💥🌈💦🌙🧚🏽‍♀️✨☀️ IT'S EASY IF YOU TRRRYYYYYYYYYYY!🔥💫💥🌟🌈🫧💦🌙🧚🏽‍♀️

[liebgirl]

barbie movie romances (only the good ones mind you) as ships i like because i know everybody lovesssss the niche comparisons i make when i don't have work in the morning <3

clara and the nutcracker from the nutcracker- i mean i know this is about to be a recency bias situation and not a reflection of my true heart maybe but like. can i go with speirton on this. clara was the sugar plum princess all along... she had all she needed to save herself all along! hell it was you first sergeant!

rapunzel and stefan from barbie rapunzel- well ty and kit.... not my fault kit is rapunzel coded i didn't write the guy! yeah they're always gonna be more disney tangled than barbie rapunzel but like the spirit is here. you get it

annika and aiden from magic of pegasus- WEBGOTT!!!! yes this is the reason i made this post i'm watching this movie rn and thinking about webgott...... i cannot explain this one you just have to know... aiden calling annika "princess (derogatory)".... and then still saving her ass every time.... crazy stuff! watch this movie!!!! the way they're completely different yet always evenly matched!! ughhhhh!!!!!

ro and antonio from the island princess- this too can be genyalina for those with the eyes to see...

annalise and julian from princess and the pauper- wouldn't be right at all if i didn't go with merlin and arthur bbc merlin... first of all arthur believes in duty the way priests believe in god so jot that down. that happened to my buddy annalise. you literally understand. unless you haven't seen barbie princess and the pauper and then i just feel sorry for you. like sincerely my heart breaks for you, it must be horrible to be you never having experienced the triumphs and epic highs of barbie princess and the pauper. there are ZERO defeats or lows btw.

erica and dominic from princess and the pauper- i actually can't say this one. there's a tv show... and i have been watching it since last may and i WAS going to tell you guys about it when i got to a specific season and a specific character showed up and that was going to be like, the moment i would decide if the show was really worth people knowing about via me. but um. i seem to be very slow at watching tv these days. and i still haven't met this girl. anyway there's some other bitches in that show and i'm drawing comparisons and shit. complicated stuff. there's secrecy there’s class divide... yeah.

genevive and derek from the 12 dancing princesses (my favorite of all time btw. in case you care)- winnix coded. to me <3 so genevive is a princess and derek is the royal cobbler and when he's delivering the princesses new dancing shoes and he saves genevive for last and hers are the most detailed and beautiful and she's like wow derek these are lovely.... and derek's parrot is like he was up alllllll night perfecting those for you btw! and derek is like bro shut uppp um don't listen to my parrot i spent a normal amount of time on your shoes because i'm normal about you.... and genevive is like oh.... ok (kicks rock) they were OBSESSED with each other and EVERYONE knew it.... and mind you, love saved them in the end, if you even care

odette and daniel from swan lake- kara and lena supergirl for sureeee. when daniel is hunting in the enchanted forest and almost shoots swan odette right before she transforms into her human self for the night... lena's distrust of supergirl because she knows their family history doesn't bode well for them.... the double identity... you get me!

barbie and ken from fashion fairytale and a fairy secret- xena and gabrielle to be honest. what if we were just hopelessly devoted to each other all the time for no reason other than i just like you and want to hang out forever <3

mariposa and carlos from mariposa- the thing about mariposa and carlos is that they do not even know each other and barely interact but they are sooo significant to the story because they are intellectual matches.... she goes on a quest in his stead! because she is the only one who can match what he knows! and it's awesome. and this could be jack and kate lost if the writers of lost would stop trying to push their pro sawyer agenda on me...

barbie and kevin from barbie diaries- gonna pull out something crazy and say tabby and imogen pretty little liars original sin. tabby you would have loveddddd kevin barbie diaries......

PLEASE ask me to elaborate on any of this. i could go on if you let me. of course, who could possibly care about this this is probably my most niche post yet.... oh well <3

[3416]

This is gonna be a long message, so hang on, lol

THANK YOU for saying what I've been too afraid to say re: mitch's contract vs. auston/willy. Like, yes they all want money and it would be stupid to assume that they didn't but - out of the three - mitch is the one i actually believe wants to play in toronto for his entire career.

not to say that #34 or #88 don't love the team/city and want to stay, but mitch is literally a toronto guy. his whole life and family are here and he's about to have a baby. i 100% believe that his desire has always been to be a leaf for life, but apparently some parts of the fanbase don't see that.

also the fact that he's the only one who gets shit for wanting to be paid. why should he need to take a "discount" for the sake of the team, when other guys (who aren't playing as well, may I add?) are getting paid whatever they want? sorry, rant over. it's just been bugging me for ages!

i don't totally agree because i think all of them would like to play in toronto forever. i just don't believe auston and willy are somehow ~more sincere~ in that bc of the way their deals were done or the fact that they came from somewhere else and "chose" here. like any of them could conceivably go anywhere at this point. mitch has said just as many times he wants to be a leaf and sees himself being here. but the framing of his contract is much less objective and everyone knew it would be but that doesn't make it less annoying.

willy squeezed them for every penny he could get and got a full no move for his entire contract after ppl bitched abt mitch having it for a single year on the end of his deal, lol. he didn't take a discount, he would've held out as long into the season as necessary for them to meet his number. he's lucky brad wanted that shit done and was also new lol. auston doesn't want to commit to anything longer than 4 years bc he knows the cap's going up and wants more when it does, which is gonna be an insane amount of money. it's a bit riskier for him to do that knowing his injuries but also. he scored 69 goals last year, lol. he'll be at a premium regardless. he has flexibility with term and won't give the leafs any benefit when it comes to getting him for cheaper later... he'll milk them for what he's worth and that's fine by me, idgaf. both of those contracts are fine, esp considering the production % the core puts up like... they earn their contracts lol.

mitch does love toronto. wanting to be paid by them doesn't negate that. but in everyone's little stories about who actually bleeds blue and white or whatnot, the ironic part is that only mitch has the history with them that a lot of the longterm/local fans think is what makes someone a real fan. he grew up doing the things all these longterm/local fans did. he's always watched the leafs, wanted the leafs to win, dreamed about being a leaf. the leafs and toronto as a place are baked into every part of his existence from birth, not just his hockey career. people should be rooting for that.

[lazarus-harp]

okay, so. escape the night : the movie ... watched the video a little while ago and it's only fitting i share my brutally honest thoughts! they'll be put under a read more.

first thing's first, i did kinda see this coming. considering how tight lipped joey's been about calling it s5, i had a feeling it would be called something else which. viola! while it might not be a season whatsoever, i do think chronologically it'll take place after the events of all stars, which makes it the closest we're probably gonna get to a s5. there wasn't any talk of this being a 'spin-off' which is also worth noting.

ah okay so ... not gonna lie, i don't think it was a good move to lead fans on. maybe joey didn't see it like that! but that's kinda how it feels like. all those promos and teasers and everything etn twitter has said was entirely false -- since none of those clips are from the movie and was more so filmed for hype. i truly think joey should've just been honest from the jump instead of building anticipation, and letting people straight up believe we were getting a trailer or an episode today when there's not anything concrete filmed. i don't see how this was a good idea whatsoever! fans would've been eager to contribute even without all the false hype. if we've been around for more content despite the four year hiatus, we'd be willing to help out with a movie. honestly, this news would be way more exciting if fans hadn't been led into expecting something else. i just don't see why they thought this was the best course of action?

this might sound mean but i don't like the idea of fans having a say in the movie, like at all. i get it! it'd be fun, it'd show the community he cares and appreciates them, but to me fans getting involved in projects never ends well. it'd be one thing to have them appear on set, have their names be in the credits, but to actually have a hand in the casting and parts of the script? this does not bode well to me. while i talk obsessively about who i'd love for etn to bring back and how they should let me in the writer's room, this is usually a joke. i like seeing authentic projects! to see what the creators themselves come up with! and i've mostly loved what joey's done for the show so far. it just feels like this is such a dangerous position to give fans, who would've paid 350 dollars for this, because it can so quickly turn into a mess. on one hand, imagine you pay so much money to have a say in these things only to not get a single person in your dream cast into the final project? and on the other hand, imagine having someone who's paid you so much and then having them demand a pick that you're not really into but say yes to anyway. i would hope there's some clear boundaries in place and a mutual understanding, however i simply think this is better off not being a thing entirely. though i'll acknowledge this is partly due to my own distaste for a majority of old etn fan opinions and behavior. if i was gonna have anyone work on the movie there'd only be a select few i'd trust! i don't know, this feels like it's going to be such a wild card and not in the best way.

at least joey looks hot and handsome in his 1950s attire ... and him having a whole studious side to him was fun to see. but also? this man doesn't have a single thought in his head. he really was like “what's that mean? a box inside a box?” and kept acting confused when the obviously not human waitress turned out to be evil and weird. what did he expect?? he makes it seem like he knows he's in pandora's box ( says something like, “i'm trying to get home.” in the promo ) only to be shocked when evil things happen. i love you joey you stupid bitch <3

when the waitress asked if he was waiting for someone i was like MAT???? sorry i couldn't help myself i miss him so bad and i'm sure joey does too.

kinda got my hopes up thinking the new building he was in was the s1 estate but no ... it's the crimson manor apparently? which, also, might not be apart of the movie? so why are they selling merch of it? i digress, but um, i cannot believe we'd go back to another small location for this glance into what a movie could be like. this is pandora's box and you're telling me that all that's there is some manor and a diner? there better be more locations because we need to go big or go home. personally, i'm still attached to the idea of pandora's box opening for real and causing havoc in the real world -- forcing areas to be trapped in different time periods and such. it'd be a bigger scale thing while staying true to the foundations but what would i know? i'm not in the producer's circle ( thank god for us all ).

did enjoy joey's hand getting stabbed. i wasn't expecting it! and i would enjoy a movie purely because we'd see more of a maiming element rather than threat = instant death. we could get scars! i am quite fond of this idea to be honest. plus it's fun to see joey just react, instinctively, and be allowed to fight back. him picking up glass with his bare hands to attack the waitress? i like the idea ... it reminds me of when alex in s4 just started swinging on the egyptian men. give me more guests fighting back! give me more of them crawling across the floor and showing off their raw, survival instincts that are now so ingrained into them as people that they don't know who they are without it. it's fun!

i'll end it there for now, but full disclosure : i haven't eaten yet! so if this is a little everywhere i'm sorry. i knew if i didn't get my thoughts down asap i'd forget entirely and change my mind later, which is fine, but i wanted everyone to see my initial feelings. please note that none of this is said with malice! i love joey and etn and i'll still watch this movie when it comes out, maybe even donate to some degree, however all that love and respect doesn't negate my criticism or weariness. a movie could be really good! this could be exactly the newness the series needs. but my emotions are a little everywhere regardless.

[mrsbsmooth]

So we know you love Lewie 💗💗 Any thoughts on the other islanders, the season so far, the twin twist? And what steamy fics can we expect from you 🔥🔥My request is for a threesome with Ozzy and Marshall 🥵👯‍♂️ Wait, am I Kat?! 🤣

tbf a LOT of the islanders are fire this season, so I’ll take them all! Ok, FB has turned me into thirsty Kat.

I MEANNNNNNNNNN

Honestly, thoughts are all over the place. But thank you so much for asking!!! Here they are as of today:

The Game:

The first 3 chapters - 8/10 I was going to give it a 7.5, because of the repeating dialogue and a few spelling mistakes, but so far, I think it's better written than Seasons 4 and 5- maybe on par with S3 which is a season I really enjoyed. I'm really liking how Amelia seems to be responding to how you treat her, especially if you look at the scripts. Whether or not that will affect her actions remains to be seen.

The MC - 8/10 I gotta say... she's pretty cute. It does take some fiddling to get her the way you want her, and some of her facial expressions make it look like she's had botched lip job, but overall, she's definitely prettier than S4 and S5. (Except your S5 MC ^^ wtf she's so pretty???)

The LIs - 9/10 So far, I'm really liking what I'm seeing. Yeah, some of their dialogue is the same. But I think they're different enough in personality and where it matters that it's not as noticeable as it was in say, Season 4, where James and Bruno shared a whole heap of the same dialogue, but it was clearly written with Bruno in mind, so it just seemed OOC for James. We've got a cocky dancer with a hopeless romantic streak; a golden retriever boyfriend with a soft spot for his Nan; a funny, cheeky skateboarder with a 'why-don't-you-make-me' level of flirt; and also Ryan is there. The personalities are distinct, the character designs are great, I'm really looking forward to finding out more about them

Overall design and concept- 7/10 I gotta say, I'm optimistic. It's starting out really strong for a new season. I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea, as it's a little 'gimmicky', but that's the road Fusebox are going down with the past few seasons. They're not just doing an 'open play' like S1, 2 and 3 where you come in as an OG and play all the way through. 4,5, and 6 are all 'themed', and I think having a twin in the villa is a cool concept that'll be worth exploring. It's been easy in previous seasons to just play for yourself, and say 'fuck these hoes' and just take whatever LI you want. But when it's your own sister, I think it'll make it harder to go after what you want - a moral dilemma with a family flavour. I kinda love it. Plus, if you have an identical twin that's as hot as you are, I doubt this is the first time you've had men confused about which one of you to pick💀

The Islanders:

Bella - hot. flawlessly hot. incredible rack. Her character design is absolutely gorgeous, and she is gonna be a fan favourite for sure. She just seems so fun, similar to Cora from S4, but more mature and ready for a romantic relationship. Can't wait to watch her bloom.

Grace - FB I will never forgive you for not making her a LI. I want her, those curves just *chefs kiss*. But honestly, if anyone's gonna be my bestie, I'm feeling it ith Grace. Yeah, she seems to like Ozzy, but she doesn't seem like the type to get her claws in and latch on for dear life a la Kat or Hope. Let's just hope and pray and beg that they're not making a brown girl villain again.

Ivy - I told y'all from the moment I saw her that I didn't trust this bitch. She looks too much like my cousin and my cousin is a backstabbing skank. I'm loving the concept of her though, this super type-A girl who (I almost guarantee) is either going to a) get kicked out early for being too picky, or b) have the most beautiful redemption arc where she ends up with a guy who ticks exactly zero of her boxes but she falls for him anyway. However, given Fusebox's history, I'm gonna predict she's the villain for about 2 days, then gets booted, same as Lexi from S4.

Jamal - Boys with J names 🚩... but honestly he seems nice. He's my backup LI at the moment. I'll see how things go with my #1 and might start again with Jamal instead. I think you're gonna get some wonderfully steamy scenes with this one. He's giving Bobby x Arjun, and that is something that deeply appeals to me. Cheeky, cheeky, cheeky. He's a saucy little minx and he's gonna be trouble, I just know it. Love his design, love his character so far, really happy.

Lewie - I thought he was a little baby-faced to start with, but honestly, I look at him and my brain screams husband. I'm getting Bruno x Gary x Ciaran from this one, and oh dear me, if that's not a combo that makes me swoon IDK what is. Love him so far, he's such a sweetheart but I love a footy lad.

Ozzy - I'm suspicious. I know he's already captured a few peoples' attention, but I was a little dismissive with him and he seemed a bit... red flag-y. Just a little too arrogant, you know? A little too flirtatious for someone who's very aware of how into him Grace is. I did like that he'd never had a one night stand though, although not sure how that meshes with the celebrity he apparently hooked up with in the dance studio? Because in the challenge he said he'd never dated a celebrity, but he also said he's never had a one night stand, so did he have a celebrity FWB????? The stories just aren't adding up to me. I don't trust him. Also his jaw's too sharp. And his flirty face looks like Rocco from S2. This one:

🥴

Ryan - Literally who? I keep forgetting he exists. Take your Timothee Chalamet ass away. IDK why but I'm getting Nicolas vibes from this one. 0/10 do not trust. It's something about the face.

Fics:

You want steamy fics? The @litgwritersroom asks are open, just sayinnnn

[ninadove]

i can’t pick a snippet but whatever meta you want from sometimes it’s worth it all to risk the fall! and good morning, nina! 💗🦚

Good morning Noctie! 🌅

Yes, let’s talk about the sword-fighting fic while I procrastinate writing another fight scene.

Ask game here!

One thing about me is that I absolutely love short stories with a twist ending. Give me a reveal in the last few lines that reframes the entire work in a brand new light, and I will be giggling and kicking my feet uncontrollably.

Sometimes It’s Worth It All is my attempt at recreating this kind of narrative. And, of course, the twist comes from Felix.

By the time he enters the fray, Kagami is exhausted from twenty-four hours of fighting for her life… But also from months of watching her world crumble around her following her mother’s murder. She’s accepted that she spent her entire life tangled in an elaborate web of lies, and that she alone can see through the deception.

But… That’s not entirely true, is it. Like many abuse survivors, even as the fog progressively lifts from her eyes, she’s still held back by a few persistent convictions:

Before he even gets a chance to speak, Felix is introduced as a monster, and well. It doesn’t help that he’s been sent to kill her, does it. Yet, as soon as he opens his mouth, he warns her against her own prejudice:

In canon, too, Felix is constantly navigating others’ perception of him and proving them wrong. He’s a Sentibeing lost in a world that wants him dead, but also just a regular child; he has a PhD in identity theft; he’s a manipulative little bitch, but is constantly searching for the truth; he masqueraded as a hero, only to become one on his own terms.

But in the context of this fic — Kagami hasn’t seen season 5! She doesn’t know the themes! And so, her natural instinct is to believe he is trying to tear her newfound rebellious spirit to the ground before ultimately getting rid of her, 1984 style:

If Felix was genuinely trying to torture her, it would be easy for him to land a blow on an already exhausted target, to accompany his little rant with actual physical pain. Instead, he is careful to stay out of range of her blade, but never strikes back (Get it? Strikeback?), except to disarm her when she pierces through his fan.

What he’s actually doing here is trying to uncover who she is as a person, and pushing back against the wonky convictions she still has left.

Which of course culminates with the realisation that she is, in fact, just like him, and the decision to commit treason for her:

Because of course he would. As much as I leaned into Felix’s moral ambiguity earlier in the fic, this is the only option that makes sense for his character: he’s willing to put everything and everyone at risk to rescue his kind.

The broken fan is, of course, an allusion to Pretension, and how easily Felix rearranged his entire moral compass to stand by her side. In every universe, Kagami is his priority: he’s always going to choose her, whether it means abandoning the fight of his life or starting what is absolutely going to turn into a civil war.

Kagami has never been shown mercy in her life before, much less this level of insane devotion. From the moment he chooses to spare her, her worldview shifts entirely, and this is of course most visible in the way she refers to him: abandoning his title to call him by his name, and even catching a hint of Argos magenta in his eyes.

They see each other now. Everything is going to be OK.

[voxiiferous]

🎶 -We never have enough lol @shadowofthehost Astor and the boos!

You gave me two so in return you can get more than 1! (Also because I wasn't sure which I liked most!

(...okay so they're ALL sort of angsty...)

Be Mine - Tusks

I will like to know you better You linger unfamiliar It's 4 a.m. and I'm left wandering Tilt your lights I see your colours Slams me back to all I want A curious and unforgiven love Do you want to be mine

A bit of a repetitive song but the lyrics there are work well!!! Like this is them wayyy at the start. It's that first night, they don't know each other, but they can be pretty certain it's not a great idea. The lights, the colours??? That's Vox. And an 'unforgiven love', that's just Astor and Alastor about Vox. Like clearly something is there, but what?

Continuing from that I give you another one that lyrically FITS

Night Shift - Lucy Dacus

I mistakenly called them by your name I was let down it wasn't the same I'm doing fine, trying to derail my one track mind Regaining my self-worth in record time But I can't help but think of your other in the bed that was mine Am I a masochist, resisting urges to punch you in the teeth Call you a bitch and leave? Why did I come here? To sit and watch you stare at your feet?

This is giving me that like... immediate post that first night vibe. You know, where Astor is experimenting, sleeping with someone else. Because surely all electricity is the same right? ...And it's not. Like ideally it would be more sped up and high energy, but I had to go for the fact that the lyrics fit!

The last is more Vincent and Astor

Exile (No Going Home) - Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts

I feel a shadow passing over me That could stay for ever more Like a wave I'm breaking far at sea And there's no one to hear the roar And the days are drifting into seasons They're the hardest I have known A million spaces in the earth to fill

This is both Astor in New York-- especially verse 3 (the above is verse 1)-- when they think that they're on Earth and that was just... the choice they made.

And Vincent like... two months into his choice to stay in Hell. Like the shadow that could stay forevermore is clearly Astor, but it's the realization that he's staying in Hell. He's not going back to New York (because flaws or not, there is a part of Vox that will always adore it!) And not only is he staying but he's human, and having a moment where it all catches up seems to make sense! The fact that it's a duel only makes it work that bit better!

[chevelleneech]

I have only seen the clip thus far, but Eddie saying, “I think so.” to Kim after she asks him if Shannon was the love of his life!?!?!?!?

Not to be a bitch about it, but is Tim aware of what he and his staff are writing!? I don’t know if he was around when Eddie said going on dates with women feels like he’s being forced to perform, but the fact that instead of retconning that and having him say something like, “Yeah, she was, and I’ve been forcing myself to makeup for what I lost by pretending another woman could fill the hole she left.” he chose, “I think so, but I didn’t know it at the time.”

Bullshit. I’m calling bullshit. Yes, I may end up eating my words, but that answer only further adds to the canon fact that Eddie Diaz has no idea what his feelings for Shannon are or were. When Eddie first came into the show they had a chance to write them compelling and hash it out, but they killed Shannon off. Fair enough, it happens in most dramas anyway. But to then have Eddie go through relationship after relationship where he panics or feels like he has to fake it to make it through, then have him date his dead wife’s doppelgänger despite having a girlfriend!?!?!?

It’s giving “throw a dart at the board and see what sticks”. It’s giving no sensible resolution, because what do you mean Eddie thinks Shannon was the love of his life? Why doesn’t he know by now!? Him choosing to pursue Kim despite knowing she looks like Shannon, should have given him the answer. Why would they choose to make him unsure?

I’m rambling, and it could very well be pointless because again, I haven’t watched the episode yet, but that clip pissed me off, lol. Because if Eddie isn’t going to be queer and realize all his uncertainty is because he never loved Shannon to begin with, and was instead forcing himself to pretend to be in love since heterosexuality is what was expected of him, then I don’t know what to expect, and I’m not sure it’ll be worth all this drama.

Because Marisol will either forgive him or leave him, but it won’t be interesting either way. If she forgives him, then nothing changes, does it? He’s still in a poorly written relationship with a woman the writers don’t know what to do with. If she leaves him, he’ll be single and likely end up in a new relationship with a new woman by the end of s8. If Eddie does not end this season realizing he is also queer, even if he doesn’t act on it and chooses to continue pushing it down in s8, then his entire arc was pointless, because what is the other option?

Or are we supposed to pretend like spending an entire season on him finally moving on from Shannon was good writing, FIVE SEASONS AFTER HER DEATH? Don’t get me wrong, had they actually done it well, I’d be fine. Grief takes time and Tim was clearly pulling on past season threads, but an emotional affair with a doppelgänger that takes place over two and half episodes, only after he has a silly little heehee haha arc about not wanting to have sex with Marisol because she was a nun for like a hot second.

No, because even remembering that pisses me off! How did we go from “I have catholic guilt and can no longer fuck my hot girlfriend— whom invented already fucked at least once— because she was a wannabe nun some odd years ago.” to “I am broken inside and sought out my dead wife’s look-a-like to gain emotional closure.”

If this isn’t leading to a queer Eddie storyline, then he better be single and an absolute emotional disaster by the end of this episode and he struggles with something worthwhile. Losing Chris to his parents because Chris saw Kim and feels betrayed or something. Anything, I beg!

[vicky82gargoylesfan]

My Thoughts on X-Men 97 Episode Tolerance is Extinction Part 1

Another great episode, the action and fighting scenes were awesome. Nightcrawler was amazing in this episode.

Spoilers

Oh Cool Professor X is back in the line up but no Storm yet.

Hmm, Jean has her hair up. I'm glad to see her and Scott are working things out now.

Cool cameo of future Polaris and Rachel.

Oh damn, so the Genosha Massacre had to happen, so they can't stop it with time travel.

Oh damn, Bastion leaked the news that Xavier is alive.

Oh no, Rogue is still out, possibly in a coma. I did have a feeling she would still be unconscious, as she wasn't seen in any of the new shots from the final trailer. It looks like she not physically injured, as Wolverine can heal her. But it looks like she's affected mentally.

I just love this interaction between Nightcrawler and Jean. Jean telling him that even though Cable is not her son but she has all of Madelyne Pryor's memories of being pregnant with him but he is Madelyne's blood and we can see her getting a bit teary eyed. Nightcrawler telling her Blood is Blood, family is choice, as he was abandoned by Mystique and says Rogue is his adopted sister and are close.

Erm, why is Magneto strapped to an X and in his underwear?

Oh you stupid Woman, Val Cooper is alive and working for Bastion but it does seem to not know what Bastion's plans are.

Trish arrives to apologise to Beast, i'm surprised she was allowed in the "basement area" of the Mansion.

Cyclops, Jean and Cable find out more about Bastion. Jean using Psychometry on finding out Bastion's backstory was awesome. His parent's were seen in the 2 part episode One Man's Worth.

Oh wow Dr Doom!!! With the speculation that we could be getting Onslaught, does this mean The Fantastic 4 could make an appearance in season 2.

Sorry I don't know much about Zemo.

Oh my gosh!!!!! Bastion has got prime Sentinels everywhere, he even changed his own Mother into one. So they are mostly sleeper cells, some people volunteered and most were done against there will.

Oh Damn!! even Trish is one and even took out Beast.

Love the transition between scenes.

Morph changing into Juggernaut was pretty cool.

Jubilee and Roberto being chased in the mall by these Prime Sentinels, is a little similar to Jubilee being chased by Sentinels in the 1st episode of the original series.

Wolverine fighting Prime Sentinels in the sky was great.

The Prime Sentinels watching Rogue was creepy

Wolverine and Nightcrawler fighting the Prime Sentinels was awesome, love seeing Nightcrawler using 3 swords. Also as the humans are robots, they can go nuts in slicing them up without being too graphic. But they are so tough they can put themselves back together.

Awww, Nightcrawler is protecting his sister and teleporting the Sentinels out the room.

Seeing inside Nightcrawler's teleportation was amazing.

Roberto has been using the Danger Room to control his powers and learn to fly, which is pretty cool since he doesn't live at the Mansion but is allowed use there facilities.

Lol at Jean being a parent and putting seatbelt on Cable.

Another Blackbird destroyed, love that Cyclops keeps his car in it.

Love the Summer's family moment here with Cable shooting the Sentinels, Jean controlling the car and Cyclops blasting through the mountain.

Love the fist bump between Father and Son

Oh man, Roberto's Mother is bitch, she let the Sentinels take her Son and Jubilee away.

Val let Magneto go, she knows that what Bastion is doing is wrong. I just love her monologue and says Magneto is Right.

LOL Magneto flying to the North Pole in his underwear is hilarious.

Oh wow!!! Magneto just used a EMP to shut down the world, which is actually bad, as it would kill millions of people.

Holy Crap!!! Spiderman!!!!!

Oh wow, Silver Samurai and Omega Red.

At least the Prime Sentinels have been taken down, I wonder if they will change back to humans again. I know they were in the comics but these ones are lot different.

I just love that Wolverine and Morph are drinking beer.

He's back, pretty funny that he crashes his spaceship into the mansion, making it even more destroyed.

Professor X "I hope, I'm not too late" LOL, yeah bit late yeah.

Love Morph's smiling at seeing Xavier back.

Xavier calling back his X-Men gave me goosebumps.

Can't wait for next episode and hopefully Storm will be back.

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi dear librarian! 1/? I was wondering if there's a term to describe a phenomenon that plagues so many films nowadays and partially responsible for the downfall of BBC Sherlock and MCU: it appears that the creators/screenwriters are afraid of or uncomfortable dealing with strong negative emotions. It's very obvious in Sherlock S3,S4, and MCU after Infinity War. They immediately interrupt an emotional scene with a quip, joke, or a solution. It really disturbs the plot flow, emotional buildup,

2/? and the tension of the show. E.g., in Sherlock S3E1 the reunion scene and the underground scene, in S4 the ghost Mary non-stop quips before the emotional hug. In S2, they really shouldn't have revealed Irene or Sherlock survived immediately after the event. I don't know what the writers were afraid of. Without a proper buildup, the resolution doesn't feel satisfactory. I'm very happy that in GOTG 3 they avoided this problem and it's probably the only MCU film worth seeing recently. 3/3 Another example is the Thor series. I know Thor 1 has many plot flaws, but they got the aesthetics right and with a Prometheus type of self-sacrifice, it feels like a proper fusion of technology and mythology. But later they wrote Thor as a laughing stock for his depression and in his own 3rd and 4th film, every remotely serious emotional scene was undermined by something. Just why?! That's part of the reason people say MCU doesn't feel relatable anymore. Thx for reading and stay cool!

Hey Nonny *HUGS*

Thank you for this insightful ask, and my answer is essentially this: shareholders and studio meddling, and probably bad writing by people who think they know better. A lot of the MCU, for instance, is SO boring and repetitive right now because they're too afraid, it seems, to stray from "what is safe", stuff that won't have people bitching at them, or they're trying too hard to recapture what made the Infinity Saga so amazing. They spent TOO long being praised and in turn stopped trying so hard, and under Chapek, dude was a greedy bastard who worked Feige to stress. I'm glad that they pulled back, it seems, and I hope it stays that way, hopefully so they can make new movies up to the quality of GOTG 3 again. Studios like Dreamworks and Indie studios are taking risks, and it's paying off, because people are bored with the sanitization of Disney and Marvel. Everything has to have no true villain in Disney.

That's not to say I don't still enjoy Disney, I do, but Marvel as-of-late has put out more flops than fantastics. And I suspect some of it is studio and shareholder meddling. It's a miracle Gunn got to do what he wanted for GOTG3, and I'm glad he did. With Thor 3 I feel like Taika got raked over the coals because he had to follow whatever plan they wanted for his vision. I dunno. Marvel for me is so hit-and-miss these days.

As for Sherlock... I think part of it was BBC meddling and another was ego-tripping, because Mofftiss continually put out winner after winner of seasons, so they thought, because just the TWO of them got an Emmy for TAB, well, they're good enough to get it for a WHOLE SEASON! (which, for the record on my opinion, I think Mofftiss are better at ONE SHOT episodes, not an entire series on their own... they run out of ideas and then throw whatever their weird fanboy fantasies want, and without a third writer to reign them in, we get S4). So yeah, that's what I mean by bad writing as well. I BELIEVE Moffat or his wife owns Pinewood Studios that they film in, so like... it's literal studio meddling, LOL. But yeah sometimes a writer or director can also be too big in their britches, and whatever they say, goes.

So yeah, I dunno. It's honestly a mix of everything and fatigue with the unoriginality of content these days. I think that's why I don't really watch anything anymore unless a trailer REALLY grips me, or it's recommended to me by a Lovely. I stick mostly to old-faves because I know I won't be disappointed, or fandom-related content.

What do y'all think?