#i NEED a gifset of this speech

[altruistic-meme]

im still rolling on the floor about willes "no you're right is not that bad. except i lost the love of my life and got the school closed and probably killed my mom. but yeah Felice it's not THAT bad" speech. he's such a fucking drama queen.

[kingslionheart]

HEARTSTOPPER — 3×01

[beastlymessofmine]

Boorman & Graydon ep 1-2

[liam-summers]

I feel like we don’t really talk about how there’s a through line from “I Will Remember You” all the way to “End of Days” and a resolution to Angel turning back time so he can prevent Buffy from an untimely death. (I acknowledge that the following was probably not intended by the writers, but I think there's sufficient evidence in canon to support this theory.)

In "I Will Remember You", the Mohra demon says the End of Days has begun, which leads Angel to go see the Oracles to confirm if this is true and asks what will happen to Buffy. The Oracles say she will die, sooner than she would have, and Angel asks them to take his human life in exchange for hers:

Jump to Season 7, in an episode titled "End of Days", Angel shows up with the amulet that would ultimately lead Buffy & Co. to defeat the army of Turok-Han and the First Evil. (S7 frames the battle as a war between evil and good, with the slayer/potentials as soldiers for good vs the First's army of Turok-han as "The Soldiers of Darkness")

So...if Angel had remained human in IWRY, Jasmine and Wolfram & Hart would've no longer had any interest in him. They would've never brought Darla back as part of a scheme to turn Angel evil, Angel would've never done the Trial and earned the second life that Darla ended up not being able to use at the time, he would've never spiralled and slept with her, Connor would've never been born, Jasmine would've had to find some other way to bring herself into the world (she needed Cordelia AND Connor to make it happen), the Angel Investigations Team would've never prevented "world peace" and Wolfram & Hart would've never offered them a job as a result, which specifically included the amulet that Angel brings to Buffy in the finale (that W&H was hoping he would wear). In turn, Buffy & Co. would have faced the army of thousands of Turok-Han, and more than likely died, with the rest of the world quickly following. (End of Days, literally)

And actually, now that I'm on the topic, I think there's also something to be said about the First Evil's introduction in "Amends" and how it specifically targeted Angel and Buffy. In my opinion, the First Evil was not only trying to get Angel to kill Buffy, but it was also trying to get Buffy to kill Angel. It was trying to manipulate them with the dream sharing, driving Angel crazy with ghosts from his past, trying to make Buffy believe that Angel was a threat and needed to be killed, but at the same time actually working to make Angel give in and turn evil and kill her, because it knew that the two of them would play a major role in it's ultimate demise. It's also interesting that Buffy's speech to Angel in "Amends" ends up becoming the motto of Angel's own journey on his own show, which he exercised in IWRY (choosing to continue fighting, even if it meant making hard and painful choices)

(screenshot from this gifset by @buffysummers)

and the episode is often seen as a backdoor pilot for Angel the Series.

A line that is especially relevant here is: "Maybe this evil power did bring you back, but if it did it's because it needs you. And that means that you can hurt it.", which he DOES end up doing...4 years later.

There’s also this:

Again, I realize that none of this was probably intended or planned, but I do find it really interesting that we can clearly see a domino effect/through line originating directly from the specific events that happened in each of these episodes. And I think it's especially beautiful that the end result had so much to do with Buffy and Angel defying destiny through the power of their connection, their love, their shared mission/values, and their impact on each other...all things that the forces of darkness greatly underestimated.

[knickynoo]

Well, I was sufficiently enabled for the idea, so here it is: ✨Alex P. Keaton's Top Neurodivergent Moments✨

The funny thing is that the amount of time I put into scrolling through my encyclopedic mental inventory of Family Ties scenes, compiling these moments in a list, making gifs, and finding past gifsets/analysis to link back to makes creating this post one of my most neurodivergent moments. Good for me.

These will be organized by season (easier for me than trying to rank on a scale) and are in no way ALL of the moments. I'd need like...15 posts for that. Also, tumblr only allows 30 images/gifs per post, so I'm going to include links to past posts when possible.

ENJOY!

• Alex gets his first-ever failing grade and immediately decides to quit school

Exactly what it says. Alex strolls into college all bright-eyed and confident and ends up a broken shell of a guy just a week or so later. The prototypical Gifted Kid from the moment he learned to speak, Alex cannot handle anything less than perfection. Getting the first F of his life shatters his entire self-image, and he wants to drop out of college entirely.

• Alex's friend Doug announces he's getting married, and Alex spirals into despair. As one does.

The entirety of the "Best Man" episode is one big Alex displaying neurodivergent behaviors moment, honestly. There are a whole lot of Alex-centered plots that are set into motion because A Change happens, and he just cannot deal with it, and this is one of the best examples. Alex is so distraught at the suddenly altered dynamic that he wanders the house like a lost soul—sad and confused and needy. He walks in on Steven's shower just to give him a hug, offers to go shopping with Mal and play dolls with Jen, and also draws up a seven-year contract for his other friends to sign to ensure they stick to their regularly scheduled card games, lest they also run off to get married and destroy his life.

• Alex P. Keaton: child development expert

When faced with the news of another sibling on the way, Alex has some very nurturing advice at the ready for when the baby is crying.

• The Keatons all laugh at a funny story. Alex is not amused.

This is one of my favorite Alex scenes of the series. Uncle Rob shares a memory of the time Steven was young and got in trouble because he started rebelling against the system and refused to write his name in the designated spot on his school test papers. The family shares a hearty laugh. Alex, king of black-and-white thinking and lover of rules, is deeply upset.

I love him so much. He genuinely cannot see how they're enjoying such a story. The Name Spot is for names. And his father dared to write in the Not For Names Spot?? Jail for Steven.

He's so ridiculously autistic.

• Alex's favorite childhood toy

It was a cardboard box. I can't quite put into words why this sets off my ND radar, but it does. Maybe it's the being attached to unusual items thing that's common with autism? The intense fixations that make other people go ????

The Alex and Ba-ba plotline provides some wonderful Alex Lore.

• Mr. Mustache

Yeah, those intense fixations? In the "Fool for Love" episode, Alex grows a mustache and legitimately cannot speak about anything else for the several days that follow. He's asked to present a speech at Mallory's homecoming dance and centers his entire speech around his mustache. He's unable to have a conversation that doesn't involve mustaches. It's incredible.

• Everything in "Matchmaker"

Alex is so sweet in this one. After Mallory comes home crying after a bad date, Alex promises to help her find a great guy. Unfortunately, putting someone who struggles socially and with processing emotions in charge of your love life isn't exactly a great fit. Alex uses the power of science to craft a formula to find Mallory's perfect match (he isn't), then tags along on their date and helps foster a very natural environment (it isn't) for the relationship to flourish (it doesn't).

The episode ends with a great scene between Alex and Mallory that shows just how well Mal understands the inner-workings of her big brother's head.

• Divorce is tough. Alex has some advice.

The Keaton kids are shocked to learn that their Uncle Rob is divorcing their Aunt Maureen. As Jen and Mallory reel from the information, Alex helps to reframe things.

He then pulls out the Special Interest Card and compares the divorce of their aunt and uncle to a "failed merger, not unlike the breakup of the phone company—although obviously less emotional. Nothing more than a natural fluctuation in the marketplace of love and marriage."

And the thing is, he IS impacted by the news. He just hasn't the slightest clue how to actually process it. So, a simple failed merger it is!

• You had one job

Mallory needs some croissants for a fancy get-together she's having with her poetry class. Alex helpfully offers to go pick them up.

Now, I debated about this one because there's part of me that's like, "Hmm, did Alex purposely do this to annoy Mallory?" Is this just a jerk move? But you know what? It stays on the list because the whole "I personally don't like this thing and struggle to see how anyone else could. Therefore, I will get the thing I like" is (for me) a relatable aspect of being ND.

• Every single second of "A, My Name is Alex"

For real, though. This episode is a deep dive into how Alex became the person he is, and it is FILLED with "flashbacks" of an intensely neurodivergent child whose issues were made worse by the people around him. (Mostly teachers and peers. Steven and Elyse did their best with him, but I do also have some critiques of the way they parented him). Anyway, he represses his emotions to the point of a meltdown

And then there's this

Full coin gifset here. Also, I made posts on the full episode, which can be found here and here.

• "Alex has a weird body"

That's Mallory's explanation to Andy as to why Alex can't help her when she needs someone to model one of her latest clothing creations. She says Alex's head is too big for his body, and those words, unfortunately, find their way back to him. In a mini plot reminiscent of the mustache one, Alex proceeds to obsess over the comment.

And I mean, I think being told your head is too big for your body would make anyone insecure, but it's the way Alex handles it. He's unable to have regular conversations for a while because he can't stop fixating on the size of his noggin'.

Both of the "Read it and Weep" episodes fit in this list, to be honest

• An accurate statement by Lauren

I've got to include this because it really does neatly condense a lot of who Alex is

So true, bestie.

And then, to wrap this whole thing up, there's all of this

And this is just what I can fit in this here post without going over the limit lol. Obsessed with the way MJF played Alex.

Thanks for reading ✌️

This is me with Alex, btw

[poetic-mac-n-cheese]

It probably already exists but I need a gifset of Buck's speech to Chim and Maddie in 2x08 about how they are clearly a couple because they do all of these things together with the parallels I know exist from later seasons with him and Eddie.

[savethegrishaverse]

We’re back with our next round of prompts Third Army! This week (January 14th to January 20th) we want to talk all about “resilience”. The theme of always coming back, the theme of making things our own.

We will never give up, we will never die out. And to aid that we are going to give out prompts and boost content about our Grishaverse, and we need your help! Come join us, send us your fanfics, post your art, and make sure to use hashtag #Third Army so we can see each post!

Writing prompt: "Genya felt like a statue as she sat at the head of the council room's table. She felt marble and cold and distant, but David's hand was across the table and out of her reach. She was alone here as she prepared to give her speech, but she had to do her best. She had to make the Triumvirate proud and win over the councilmen of Ravka, lest they continue to claim Nikolai a monster."

Writing prompt: Why not make an “incorrect quotes” post for Shadow And Bone! It can be a modern social media AU or a text post from the canon era, whatever you prefer!

Writing prompt: It’s a staple in the fanfiction community, but for good reason. Take your favorite ship and throw them in a “flower shop right next to tattoo parlor business rivals” AU! 

Art prompt: We've seen Dan Zollinger's art of the Saints, now draw your favorite Saint in your own style.

Art Prompt: Kaz says he will tear Pekka down “Brick by Brick” - let’s see that again, but with literal building bricks! Reenact a scene from Shadow and Bone/Six of Crows in lego form!

Photoshop challenge: Jesper says that maybe he likes Wylan’s stupid face - let’s photoshop that “stupid” face on all sorts of different things! The more bizarre the better!

Photoshop challenge: Let’s practice tailoring with Genya! Give the Shadow and Bone characters makeovers - maybe the Darkling is going through an emo/punk phase (it’s not a phase Baghra) or how about giving Alina a nice cottage-core makeover. Maybe even give Inej a kpop idol dream aesthetic!

Mixed Media challenge: Some of the iconic Crooked Kingdom book parts made it on screen, but not all of them! Why not draft up a gifsets/art/edit to show a Crooked Kingdom scene we haven't had on screen yet?

Video edit prompt: Compile together your favorite highlights and quotes for a "the Shadow and Bone cast once said…" video edit!

Question/Answer prompts: In the Lives of Saints, we learn to apologize and forgive - among other things. We also learn to stand our ground. Never apologize for campaigning for what you love, but maybe we should at the very least send an apology message to the poor Netflix social media managers who got caught in the crossfire of campaigning?

Every week I want to ask people to share happy/hopeful stories about Grishaverse and the campaign. Let’s talk about the friends we’ve made, the kindness in the fandom, and any moments of hope we can share to keep our spirits strong!

[cleolinda]

Weekend Links, March 17, 2024

My posts

We have had another Trespasser Weirdness Incident at my house, so. Suffice it to say that the Hot & Vintage Movie Women tournament is my primary coping mechanism at this point, and bless @hotvintagepoll for all their work. All 257 polls are up, although many of them have already closed on a rolling basis these last two weeks. Hedy Lamarr vs Sonja Henie was the very last one, and it is a blowout like I have not seen since the time I asked if people throw away their movie theater trash. I think round 2 starts a week from Monday? I would like to apologize for reblogging every single poll, except that I’m not the least bit sorry. 

I posted propaganda several times--sometimes just because a contestant didn’t have much and I wanted to chip in (still in play: Juanita Moore and Martha Sleeper). But I also showed up specifically for Norma Shearer, Claire Bloom, Tallulah Bankhead, Deborah Kerr, a little bit for Joan Fontaine (poll here), Julie Christie (on my mom’s behalf), Gene Tierney, Paulette Goddard, and Ava Gardner. My loyalties will shift as we see who progresses, but I'm wearing the Ava jersey at this point.

Reblogs of interest

A couple of serious links:

The Jewish filmmakers who won an Oscar for The Zone of Interest, a Holocaust film, used their speech time to condemn what’s happening in Gaza. (It helps to read the quote as “as men who refute {their Jewishness and the Holocaust} being used as justification.” “Refute their Jewishness” jumps out weirdly at first glance and confused people.)

I can’t tell if the JKR defender/Holocaust denier in this ask knows they’re lying or just really didn’t know that transgender health books and surgery did, in fact, exist, and that the Nazis targeted them. If you need photographic evidence for future discussions, here you are. Side note: Don't believe everything your favorite childhood author tells you.

Posts that are not serious links or hot lady polls:

Of course, this week we celebrated the Ides of March. (Happy birthday to... Chocolate Guy Amaury Guichon??) Featuring:

Southern Mark Antony

If Mark Antony was Gen Z

“Oh not you as well, Brutus!”

Also, happy birthday this fine St. Patrick’s Day to Hozier, who was on the Wiggles once, and has a new EP coming out this Friday. Please join me in not being the least bit normal about it. 

The bredlik that the Fairy vs. Walrus debate needed

“Started tone matching my Iraqi corner store guy,” bless everyone involved

A fanfic summary that will hit you like a brick to the face

“Intrigue, Ink, and Drama Grip the Fountain Pen Community”

The Arthur Conan Doyle approach to fic comments

The Kate Middleton Mysteries (”The extent to which this is not Philip Marlowe’s problem is unbelievable”)

Noted power couple/chaos elementals Merchant Ivory

Help improving color in your art

Doggust 2023: the art of Jonathan Wesslund  

Video

Honestly the best part of “I’m Just Ken” at the Oscars for me is Margot Robbie fighting for her life not to laugh

This domino project is honestly really upsetting to me, lmao (THE TIME IT MUST HAVE TAKEN!!)

Death: the bees told her

Puma chirps

A seal’s relaxing ice bath

The sacred texts

The reason we celebrate the Ides of March on Tumblr

Happy birthday to the Old as Balls gifset

A cat’s dating profile

Personal tag of the week

pixel art, because there are some incredible artists on here.

[buginateacup]

there is really no replacement for hearing Chris Hemsworth's Dementus screaming batshit loquacious speeches in an aussie accent so broad you could play footy on it

But I still need all of them in gifsets immediately

[ajaxbell]

Maiden Holmes: the jianghu Scooby Gang is on the case!

I picked this cdrama up simply because of Zhang Linghe's face and because I saw a gifset of the kisses. But what an unexpected delight!

The premise is essentially a woman, Su Ci, disguised as a man to become a cop with a secret agenda to investigate the false charges that killed her family. While investigating a case she teams up with war traumatized Prince Qi who has his own problems at court. But in a mistaken identity romp she doesn't recognize him (while she's also carrying around comics of his adventures lol). They are joined by young woman doctor/poisoner/coroner/forensic pathologist, and by the world's greatest himbo. Together they form a jianghu Scooby Gang and solve a bunch of seemingly unrelated cases that start to connect to each other, and conveniently connect to both Su Ci's ultimate goal and Prince Qi's problems at court.

The villain is obvious and over the top. The plot is wobbly at best. But the cast really saves this show. Zhang Linghe is way better than he has any business being in his first drama, just fresh out of engineering college. He outshines all the more established actors in the cast. But over all the cast has chemistry and the story hits the right notes of found family, of a team of experts competently doing their respective jobs, and manages the comedy they are given well (the more dramatic and intense emotional beats are as wobbly as the plot).

These characters are a group of kind, interested people who seem to do their best for the victims they encounter. But they also each go through their own emotional moments in realistic ways, shutting out their friends, and isolating. But every time the friends show up, offer true support, and receive apologies for not being initially trusted or let in. There's an ongoing theme of being both accepted for who you truly are and of being loved for it whether platonically or romantically. And this is really the core of what makes this show better than it should be.

There's something just very sweet and good-natured about their friendships and how they treat each other and everyone in need they encounter. It makes this show a joy to watch and honestly a bit uplifting. Like at the end of rough day sitting down to see these friends be nice and helpful and concerned just really felt like a balm. And while the rougher emotional points didn't always hit, a lot of them did, due entirely to this cast and how well they made me feel they were really friends. Most the comedy beats are right and truly funny, but also the comedy never hits a mean or punching down note either. Which for me ends up being part of what actually made this show great for me: it's actually really subversive.

Is it subversive on purpose or accidentally? I'll never know but it was really enjoyable. The first half watches like a good bl. Yes it's based on the misunderstanding of Prince Qi believing Su Ci is a man. But that does not stop Prince Qi from standing too close and looking sick with longing. It doesn't stop the classic cdrama underwater 'kiss' to share breath. Zhang Linghe plays this without any indication that it might be weird or uncomfortable for Prince Qi to be attracted to a man. While the show plays it for comedy, the comedy is Su Ci being really confused about what is happening, and in their friends' response to (perceived male) Su Ci and Prince Qi as a couple.

Even more subversive, while it's played (joyfully) for comedy, all the friends' responses are uniformly welcoming and supportive of these two 'men' becoming involved. Particularly the world's most delightful himbo character making an impassioned speech about his support of them. (Truly not just for this scene, but this himbo character is maybe one of my all time favorite TV characters? Just incredible work by the script and the actor.)

Eventually Su Ci's gender is revealed and Prince Qi takes it without blinking and goes to work to make this world more feminist and accepting so she can continue do her job as a detective for the court even after her gender is exposed. After this point in the show the script weakens a bit, sacrificing some character development to making people act the way the plots needs rather than totally true to the established characters. But throughout Prince Qi seems to not care about gender, or any outside perception of his relationship regardless of the gender of his partner. And it was just relief a to watch. What a good character he turns out to be. So supportive of anything his partner wants, in a way where he seems to truly enjoy anything she does, and just looks so pleased with how smart she is. He looks pleased for people to think he's in a gay relationship. He looks pleased when she does her job well. He looks pleased when she dresses up for him. And some of this has to be Zhang Linghe's acting work. Especially when he starts bring a level of smolder and longing that seems possibly (and I'm not complaining) overly steamy for the lightweight comedy level of this show.

Anyway I would absolutely call this show queer friendly and accepting in a way crossdressing deception plots often never achieve. That combined with these kind, good-natured friends, and the world's best himbo character really combined to make this a fun, sweet watch. So yes, I'd recommend, but don't go into expecting quality, or consistency, but it is sweet, light, and fun. Just a little treat to balance out the darker things in the world if you need distraction.

[langernameohnebedeutung]

For ages now I wanted to make a gifset with Blaine's final speech in the last episode and how it pertains to all the other villains on the show, I really need to get to that

[charlotte-of-wales]

Tumblr’s got me in gif jail 😭 here’s the gifset for Leonor and Sofia’s speech: https://www.tumblr.com/charlotte-of-wales/753722631883276288/princess-leonor-and-infanta-sofia-make-a-speech-in

when they won’t show it on the feed it usually means one of the files is corrupted so I need to go back and re-do the whole set but I’m lazy 🥲 there’s the link if y’all wanna interact with it 🫶🏼

[asexual-squidward]

We need a gifset of howmany Michael Emerson roles have had him talking about a specific set of ‘rules’

Saw - Zep followinh Jigsaw’s rules/instructions

LOST - Ben following Jacob’s instructions and the island’s rules

Person of Interest - Finch’s speech to the FBI about his ‘rules’

Fallout - Wilzig’s speech to Lucy about the Wasteland having different rules to the Vaults.

there’s probably more, idk about Leland

I just imagine Michael getting a script, seeing the word ‘rules’ and going “oh god, *again*?”

[authorangelita]

3. What’s your least favorite episode?

4. Do you have any favorite fandom media you’d like to recommend? (Fic, edits, art, etc.)

9. What is one of your favorite scenes?

Hi! Thank you for the asks!

3. What’s your least favorite episode?

Of the whole series, it was definitely Right + Wrong + Both + Neither (S04E06).  I haven't watched it in a long time, but I remember being very bored with the whole Russ' past love story.  I was also not a fan of Golden Lancehead + Venom + Pole Vault + Blood + Baggage (S05E07) because I hate snakes, so I don't rewatch that one either.  I love Frankie though, so that makes me sad.

Of the Jack era, it's a toss-up between Fish Scaler (S01E14) and Magnifying Glass (S01E15).  They each had some good moments, but I thought the storylines in both were weird and didn't really fit with the show.    

4. Do you have any favorite fandom media you’d like to recommend? (Fic, edits, art, etc.)

Oh, boy.  Let's see.  All of @anguishmacgyver 's gifsets.  I especially love the series about Mac's complicated relationship with oxygen.

For fics, there's so many good ones.  Two of my most re-readable are:

In Extremis by gaelicspirit – Mac and Jack on a research ship that's overrun with pirates.  There's a lot of quality h/c including a drowning and resuscitation.

Let's Be Enemies by Ridley C. James – Mac has appendicitis on a mission with his team and Oversight.  Quality Nana Beth stuff at the end – Nana Beth is the best. 

9. What is one of your favorite scenes?

I love the quieter one-on-one Mac and Jack scenes.  The one from Corkscrew (S01E08) where Jack convinces Mac to stay behind is probably my all-time favorite, but a very underrated scene, imo, is from Chisel (S01E09) where Mac calculates how much paper they need to stop a bullet. 

Honorable mentions to the Jack Dalton family reunion speech, also in Chisel, and the scene in Compass (S01E19) where Mac almost stabs his thumb with the SAK while telling Frankie why he enlisted. (I made these videos too but Tumblr will only let me upload one, so let me know if you want me to put them in separate posts :) )

[souharuweek2024]

Rules & Guidelines

Hello, friends! This post will serve as a notification board for the participants so let’s dive into it, shall we?

⚠️ The event will be open for everyone to post their works throughout the week from September 8 at 00:00 to September 15 at 24:00. ⚠️

▼ Participation is open to anyone allowed to have an account here, but be warned for adult themes. Any work format is ok. Fanfiction, poetry, vid, gifset, art, playlists… what have you~

Edit: apparently submissions are NOT limited to tumblr users, so if you choose to participate make sure you use a valid email account where I can reach you (just in case I need clarifications for your submitted works. I WILL NOT use your email for anything other than that, rest assured!)

EDIT Edit: nope! My mistake. you do need to be logged into. Seriously, tumblr? You are so annoying… 😞

▲ Prompts are merely guidelines and you’re both free and encouraged to work with them as you see fit. I’m excited to see how the participants will mould each prompt into their own vision and selected medium. Yay!

▼ Your participation piece must be original and published for the first time. It must also, be created by you as in: a) not stolen and b) not made with AI. Please.

▲ The Day Prompt used for a work must be clearly mentioned on it and you can either submit your work directly to this blog or post on your own blog with the tags: souharuweek24, souharuweek2024, souharuweek

▼ That said, please also tag your works properly: Don’t leave for example, a NSFW entry without mentioning what it is. I will try to revise the works but slip ups may occur since I’m currently hosting the event alone. 😗

▲ Themes of abuse, non-con/rape, gore and shota/pedophilia are prohibited, so please do not enter with works like that. (I highly doubt anything could be too trigger-y to not make the cut but still, Im just saying…)

Both SFW & NSFW are a-okay, though.

▼ Finally, please refrain from any kind of dismissal/hate speech/drama stirring toward the characters, ship, show and of course, it goes without saying, to the other participants and fans. Be kind and patient with one another, we’re here to have fun, after all. :)

★ I will reblog late submissions to the event up to one week after, so don’t be discouraged if you think you can’t make it in time and follow the days… :)

◆ If you need further clarification or are unsure about something, asks are open for everyone, so don’t hesitate to send any questions you may have. No matter how small or insignificant you may think it is, I’ll gladly answer it! 🤗

Keep it on board and have fun creating! 💕

[princeescaluswords]

(contd2) And then in S4 he only trusts/remembers Scott when he's deaged, he's ready to die for him when he thinks it's inevitable, and ofc later there's his whole thing about only coming back *for Scott* and not for the town (or anybody else in it). Idk, I just find it so funny how insistent he is about his motivations and how his admiration and affection for Scott overshadow his connections with literally anybody else and people?? Don't get the memo?? HE MADE SEVERAL WHOLE SPEECHES ABOUT IT!

Hey, do you remember this scene from The Wolves of War (6x20)? I do. It is the culmination of a story that began in Wolf Moon (1x01). What started as "We're brothers now." ended in "No. Came back for you."

When that scene first aired, an individual made a gifset of the scene. Within the first twenty or so reactions, there was a reply to it. I remember it as much as I remember a splinter dug under my skin: "As a Sterek shipper, I reject this." I'm sure it's still out there somewhere. We could find it no matter how bad Tumblr's search engine is, if we put our minds to it.

Of course, several people responded to the reply with what you might expect, explanations of shock, dismay and outrage that a self-identified member of a group with the motto "Derek Hale Deserves Nice Things" would look at a scene of deep friendship between Derek and Scott and "reject" it. My response, though, was different. My first thought was "How the hell is that relevant to Sterek?"

If you take the concept of the Sterek ship at its basic principles, it's the idea that Derek and Stiles are not only sexually compatible, but uniquely positioned to enhance each other's lives and fulfill each other's emotional needs. I can fully get behind that. I think that there is definitely an aesthetic argument to be made for the pairing; it seems the fandom agrees with me.

My enormous and undying problem is that when you examine the overwhelming Sterek content created, there is an undeniable aspect to it that adds a completely unnecessary complication. For some reason, Scott hate (or at least the idea that Scott is an impediment to Sterek) is a major component of the Sterek fandom. And that just doesn't track. Derek and Scott have conflicts at the beginning, but given the situation that is unavoidable. On the other hand, as you have so carefully pointed out, they grow into a mutually beneficial friendship. How can the fact that Canon Derek and Canon Scott come to mean so much to each other interfere with Sterek? Scott and Stiles's friendship is the beating heart of the show, even as it is Scott's story, so much so that Stiles has to be mentioned repeatedly even when he's not present on the screen. How can the fact that Canon Stiles and Canon Scott love each other so much be seen as an impediment to Sterek?

My premise: it is not, and the prevalence of anti scott hatred in the Sterek fandom has nothing to do with shipping Derek and Stiles, and everything to do with racism.

Take the example above. I could see it, maybe, if Stiles had been living in Beacon Hills and standing in the background, and Derek had specifically proclaimed that he had only come back to Beacon Hills for Scott, then it would be reasonable for a Sterek shipper to have a problem with the scene. But that didn't happen. Stiles was not only no longer in Beacon Hills, he came back to Beacon Hills with Derek. There is nothing in that scene that infringes or diminishes or prevents Sterek. So why the hostility?

There's nothing in canon in any of the relationships involved -- Scott and Stiles, Stiles and Derek, Scott and Derek -- that is hostile to Sterek shipping.

It can't be because Scott said a few mean things to Derek in the early seasons. For every slightly mean thing Scott said, such as "Then they had a reason" in Magic Bullet (1x04), Stiles said two to three, such as "Oh, is that contagious? You know what, you should probably just get out." or when he tells Scott that Derek is beginning to smell like death when Derek is sitting right next to him, or "You know, that really doesn't look like anything some echinacea and a good night of sleep couldn't take care of." all three of which happened in the same episode.

It can't be because Scott resisted accepting Derek's leadership, because for every time Scott rejected Derek's guidance, Stiles undermined Derek's positions openly.

It can't be because Scott took antagonistic actions toward Derek, such as deceiving him about joining his pack to save Jackson's life in Raving (2x08) or valuing Allison's life over Derek's discomfort in Master Plan (2x12), because Stiles literally tries to convince Scott to let the Argents kill Derek to stop Peter in Formality (1x11) and for Allison to shoot Derek "preferably in the head" in Venomous (2x05) because he valued Scott's and Lydia's life over Derek.

It can't be an aversion to queerbaiting, because the show had multiple significant gay relationships. For every scene that made us question Stiles's sexuality, there was a scene which put Scott in a similar situation. Derek never had a scene like that, but even so, all three of them only pursued women romantically.

It can't be because Tyler Posey once said something negative about the ship overwhelming all other fandom activities, because both Tyler Hoechlin and Dylan O'Brien said things inimical to Sterek as well.

So, there's got to be a reason that a major component of Sterek shipping, superfluous to the ship itself, is hostility to Scott McCall and his actor. Some factor that drives some participants in a ship to viciously hate the main character who is canonically not an impediment to their ship and enables the rest of participants in the ship to tacitly support it.

BUT IT'S NOT RACISM.