#i blame the halloween episode for doing it first

[recurring-polynya]

Just wanted to say, I love your fics and have really been enjoying Damage History. Also wanted to share this funny picture from my workplace because I think you would enjoy it.

Poor Renji.

(thank you for sending me this, i enjoyed it very much, and also thank you for the kind words! 💕)

[twst-hottest-takes]

So. . . Basically I am loving the idea of the new Halloween event! I do have a couple of hangups, but it's nothing that breaks the game.

First off the premise!

Another book-based event! Much like with Stitch in the beach episode, it looks like Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero are all going to be characters that our chosen cast interacts with!

While this will be a lot of fun, I am a bit sad that this means we likely won't get officially "twisted" versions of these characters (barring Skully but we'll get to him). Also the book-based event means that, likely, whatever happens can be considered semi-canon at best because everyone will just end up with amnesia and forget the whole thing happened in the end which is a little less fun.

Next up!

"Skully J. Graves"

Not much to say at this point. Love him. Love his design. Gojo is reincarnated and I'm not complaining. I can't wait to see how he interacts with the casts of NRC and Nightmare Before Christmas. How will he fit into the story?

Being Twisted from the Pumpkin King himself (confirmed by Yana Taboso!) I wonder exactly how he'll be as an antagonist to our boys, if at all.

And of course the new cards!

~Fabulous~

~Chef's Kiss~

~Mmmwwwwaa!~

I was hoping for a different group of SSRs, but I won't harp on that too much. The guys look great! We've gotten 2 Jamil cards in a row now with his hair down and I think he looks great! Sebek is so dapper in that hat, and he was one of the characters I hoped would get a gold card for this Halloween. ~And LEONA. WOW. Man, he looks awesome in an eyepatch. Like, I know he doesn't need it, but that is actually the PEAK of his character design.

IT ONLY TOOK 5 YEARS FOR SAVANACLAW TO GET A HALLOWEEN SSR!

I was honestly hoping that Jack Howl would get it because he's so neglected (HIS LAST EVENT CARD WITH A GROOVY ILLUSTRATIONS WAS PORT FEST!) and Ruggie and Leona generally get more attention than him, but Leona is fine for now I guess (Stop stealing Jack's cards!). The card looks great and Jack can always have one next time. He isn't in this event which is a pity, but at least that means next time is open for him! (We're running out of characters to rotate into the SSR slots. . .kind of frustrating actually.)

As for the rest of the cards: They look great too! Honestly, I'm happiest to see Vil, Azul, and Malleus get the R cards they so deserve (mostly Vil because he should have had one last year!). The one thing I agree with in terms of negative aspects is that Idia does seem a little lack-luster for an SR card. I think we're just very used to his Phantom Bride attire and this is kind of a downcycle of that look so I don't blame people for being underwhelmed honestly.

Also, Trey is out of R-Card Hell! Good for him. :)

Final thoughts and hopes for the event?

I think it's funny that they need to specify it as Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas.

I think that each of the SSRs will get a featured character to have alongside their chibi battle sprite. Much like Stitch is with Lilia and Floyd. (A leaked image has Sebek with Zero, so I think the safe bet is that Leona will have Jack and Jamil will have Sally.

All of the overblotters are in this event, which is the first time I thinj this has happenes on Halloween so you can tell this one is going to be special!

And that's just about it from me as far as first impressions go! One last thing before I go though!

I have this cockamamie idea in my head that since this one is such a big deal--given the featured film theme--I really, REALLY, would like the idea of this being the next Halloween event to get a 2-part release. Like how the first 2 years were Halloween 1/2, I think ALL THE BOYS should get the chance to dress up fancy and hang out in Halloweentown! It's a pipe dream, and highly unlikely, but there is another character we didn't see in the teaser that could easily be twisted for a new bishie in a second part to this story!

(EDIT! I HAD TO RECAST THE POLL TO MAKE IT GO FOR LONGER THAN A DAY!)

[rottenpumpkin13]

Pumpkin!!! Are you hyped for Angeal??? And do you have any predictions for what might go down between this dastardly duo on their first mission together? Will Sephiroth get lectured into oblivion for reckless behaviour? Will Genesis get a mention? I’m so curious to hear your thoughts 🖤

My thoughts are all over the place, so I'm afraid I'll sound woefully incoherent 🤡👍 uhhh let me see

• Fathers looks like it could be a central theme. Sephiroth's flashback in the Halloween event last year + Angeal's bond with his father, the Buster Sword, all of it looks like it can be packaged neatly into one angsty package.

• The plot likely takes place around the time of Angeal's father's death, either way we could see how the loss affects him + He'll definitely explain the Buster Sword to Sephiroth.

• Hojo/ Angeal's father comparisons maybe ?? Angeal appears to have a loving relationship with his father while Sephiroth's relationship with Hojo is [insert screaming noises] so there could be room for added resentment there.

• If they talk about their childhoods, we'll learn more about what exactly Sephiroth endured under Hojo's "care" + mentions of Genesis AND, WHAT I'M DYING TO KNOW, what Angeal's childhood was like, how deep in poverty they were, I want details so bad asdfghkfl

• Angeal wants to be friends, Sephiroth's instinct is to isolate himself because he's grieving everything that happened in episode 1.

• Angeal could mention how he and Genesis looked up to Sephiroth when they were kids. Sephiroth explains that Shinra fabricated his image. Angeal then says something like "Then prove yourself on this mission and give me a reason to be in SOLDIER because of you." Cliché but it's Angeal.

• Angeal will face immense pressure as he leads Sephiroth and the situation in Wutai. He'll doubt himself, things will go wrong, he'll blame himself, and something happens where Angeal and Sephiroth have to work together to get out of a tight spot. (It would be fun to see).

• Sephiroth doesn't like to be filmed at all.

• Angeal making Sephiroth laugh/ smile 😭 Sephiroth finally knowing what it's like to have a friend his age, except Angeal is a huge dork too.

• Kinda specific: When Angeal asks Sephiroth about his father, Sephiroth has an unsettling flashback/allusion to Hojo.

• Even more specific: I still think Angeal's going to get asked questions by the camera man and mention Genesis ..

Extremely specific, please don't listen to me:

• Third party group/ insurgent group/ whatever makes an appearance.

• Someone getting hurt because of fire.

• The illusions they see cause a brief rift between them.

• Sephiroth being immersed in an illusion and Angeal having to pull him out.

• The missing people end up being in a cave.

[s10127470]

Danny Phantom vs. Hazbin Hotel: Afterlife Designs

Happy Halloween folks!

This is my first time doing a special post for a holiday.

And for today, I wanted to have this discussion about a topic I had with some friends.

Specifically about two animated shows that both focus on an afterlife.

A poorly-defined and explained afterlife.....

Those two shows are none other than Danny Phantom and Hazbin Hotel.

However, one is able to get more across about that afterlife simply through its character design, while the other doesn't.

And if you haven't guessed already, it's the former.

But before we discuss how DP is able to get across more about its world simply through its character design (along with just having far better ones than Hazbin), first we need to talk about why both these shows have poorly-defined afterlives.

Danny Phantom’s was the result of conflicting visions.

Those being between the show’s infamous creator Butch Hartman, and its main producer and developer Steve Marmel.

Butch wanted the series to be relatively episodic and comedic, while Steve wanted it to be a little more darker and put more emphasis on story and world-building.

This resulted in Steve, along with most of the Season 1 and 2 crew, to leave the show.

There’s also the fact that Nickelodeon didn’t want them to mention the obvious, hence why despite the show being about ghosts, there was hardly ever any mentions of death in general.

And this wouldn’t be the last time they’ve done something like this.

Fellow Nicktoon, Avatar: The Last Airbender, famously killed off the character Jet, who was a one-off character in Book One before becoming a major character in Book Two.

When making his death scene in the episode “Lake Laogai”, Nickelodeon wanted the crew to make this scene more ambiguous.

Which the crew themselves would go on make fun of in the penultimate episode of the series, “The Ember Island Players”.

In the case of Hazbin Hotel, this can be all blamed on VivziePop.

Viz is famous for not exactly being that good at storytelling.

And this is especially the case when it comes to world-building.

She has a bad habit of revealing major details about the world in her chats and streams, and then never bothering to actually implement them into the show.

And when she eventually does implement those details (whenever that'll be), who knows if she'll even keep those details intact.

But with that out of the way, let's talk about the actual character designs.

Color Scheme:

Color schemes are crucial for character design because they directly influence how viewers perceive a character, conveying their personality, mood, and even their role in a story.

The ghosts of Danny Phantom and the sinners of Hazbin Hotel have a primary color: Green and red.

Largely thanks to the realms they inhabit: The Ghost Zone and Hell.

The sinners of Hazbin have been heavily criticized for their heavy use of red in their designs, and the fact that it's prevalent with many of the characters, can make looking at them a bit tiresome.

But the ghosts don't have that problem....

While their primary color is green, if you notice, the amount of green each ghosts has tends to vary.

Some have green eyes like Penelope Spectra, Ember McClain, The Fright Knight, Johnny 13, Walker and even the titular Danny himself.

Some have green hair like Kitty.

Some have green eyes and hair like Skulker and Youngblood.

Or in the case of The Dragon Ghost, scales.

Some have green skin like The Lunch Lady and Technus.

Hell, some don't even have any green like Vlad Plasmius, Sidney Poindexter and The Box Ghost.

Ghosts also have other colors to help balance out of the green.

Skulker for example is primarily made up of gray and black, with a little bit of blue and the aforementioned green.

Another thing that makes the green works is that it's shown to be part of the ghosts' physiology.

While you could argue that this applies to the sinners as well, since they have red in their eyes and hair, but look at these background characters.

There's hardly any red on them.

So this only really applies to the main ones.

(And also yes, just like everyone else, I do agree these guys have far better designs than the main cast).

Body Types:

If you know Viv, you'd know that one of her biggest criticism is her lack of body diversity.

Her characters are infamous for being INSANELY skinny.

Sure you'll get some characters like Adam, Verosika Mayday and Vortex, but they're the expectations.

Actually now I think about it, I think Helluva Boss has more diversity in body types present.

Most of the secondary characters and even I.M.P. themselves have differing body types from each other.

But the ghosts....

Actually, scratch that....

EVERYONE in Danny Phantom have unique and differing body types from each other.

The Danny Phantom characters would definitely pass The Silhouette Test.

The Hazbin characters would barely pass.

Outfits:

A character's outfit can really go a long way.

As it can tell you what a character is like by just looking at them.

Each of the main ghosts get this down right.

Even if you haven't watched Danny Phantom, one glance at each of these guys have already tell you what their deal is.

Skulker is a high-tech hunter.

Sidney Poindexter is a nerd.

Ember is a rockstar.

Johnny is a biker.

Technus is a technological genius.

Desiree is a genie.

Walker is a prison warden.

And The Box Ghost is a total loser.

But if someone who hadn't watched Hazbin Hotel looked at the characters, I'd highly doubt they would be able to get a read on what their deal is.

Maybe except for Charlie and Husk.

There's also the fact that a good chunk of the main cast causally wear formal attire.

Which doesn't make them stand out from each other that much.

Some of the ghosts' attire also give hints to when they lived/died.

Desiree lived during The Ottoman Empire.

The Dragon Ghost lived during The Middle Ages.

The Lunch Lady and Sidney lived during the 1950s.

Johnny and Kitty lived during the 1970s.

And Ember lived during the late-1990s/early-2000s.

The sinners unfortunately lack that.

They don't really have anything that would hint or allude when and where they lived or died.

Physical Traits, Powers and Biology:

One small but strong detail that really makes and breaks the ghosts and sinners are their physical appearances.

While this does get a little muddled for Danny Phantom come Season 2, there is a pretty solid explanation for it.

Throughout Season 1, the major ghosts we're introduced to were either humanoid or animalistic in their physical appearances.

This was a small but subtle detail to imply that the ghosts were, well, the spirits of humans and animals that were once among the living.

However, everything changed with the introduction of Clockwork, the master of all time.

This was quite strange, since he was a ghost.

This only got stranger with the introductions of ghosts like Frostbite and Undergrowth, who despite being ghosts, were notably more monstrous than the ones introduced in Season 1.

However, I think having ghosts there are just monsters or Eldritch-like entities is actually pretty cool.

It really helps makes The Ghost Zone feel like it's own universe and not have it completely be connected to Earth.

Plus, this was actually kinda intended from the beginning.

In the pitch bible for Danny Phantom, The Ghost Zone (originally called The Unreal and eventually Ghost World) was not only suppose to be an afterlife, but also a realm of fantasy, being home to monsters, Eldritch beings, and even mythological creatures.

It seems that for Season 3, Butch decided to go back to that concept.

Mostly like to continue avoiding having to state the obvious.

And given that he would go on record years later to say that ALL of the ghosts of The Ghost Zone were just monsters, I can believe that.

The best showcase of this is in the episode, "Boxed-Up Fury".

In that episode, Danny seeks the help of the actual mythical Pandora, who had her legendary box stolen by Box Ghost, who used it so that could FINALLY be taken seriously by everyone.

Along the way, he faces off against a wide array of monsters from Greek mythology.

These included a hydra, a gorgon, a centaur, a minotaur, and a cyclops.

I think the reason why people took a problem with many of the new ghosts was because the show itself never really explained which ghosts were the souls of the dead and which ghosts were just monsters.

As for the sinners, they're explicit said to be a sub-species of demons that were once humans but died and were sent to Hell.

But with that being considered.....would you be able to see that by just looking at them?

Due to how monstrous and animalistic they look, it's hard to see the sinners as being the living embodiments of once-living humans.

Made even worse with the fact that none of them have any canon backstories to possibly explain their appearances.

Or at least any that have been shown IN THE ACTUAL SHOW.

I know Danny Phantom has a similar problem, but remember, they were being restricted by a creator and a network that were too cowardly to address the damn obvious.

What's Hazbin's excuse?

Hell (heh heh), the sinners could've just easily been regular demons and it wouldn't make much of a difference.

Another thing to note about the ghosts and sinners are their biology.

The ghosts are able to fly, turn invisible, become intangible, immortality, and possess superhuman physicality.

Plus most of them to possess some kind of special ability.

Like Skulker and his ecto-skeleton with a variety of weapons, Desiree and her wish granting, and Johnny 13 and his Shadow that causes bad luck.

The sinners are......kinda lacking in this regard.

They have special abilities (albeit not as flashy or impressive as the ghosts), a few have the ability to transform into larger and stronger forms, and have animalistic tendencies.

And while we're on the topic of biology, we need to address the demon elephant in the room.....

As I just mentioned earlier, the ghosts are immortal, since they're dead.

And with the fact that the sinners are the souls of the dead, you would think they would be immortal too.

But if you've watched the show, then you'd know that isn't the case at all.

Although sinners can't age (dead and all), they can be killed via the use of the angelic weapons.

Who thought this was a good idea?

Just like Mantis said, this makes no sense!

Plus it's totally redundant with the fact that the sinners are already DEAD!

I know some people are gonna bring up Coco, which had The Final Death.

But there, it made sense.

Those living in The Land of the Dead would fade into oblivion after getting forgotten by everyone in the human world.

But in Hazbin, what's their excuse?!

And don't even get me started on how Sir Pentious dies and ends up going to Heaven.....

Also before we move on, I did wanted to bring up a few cool things about the biology of the ghosts.

In the TV movie, "The Ultimate Enemy", we find out that....

-Although ghosts can't die, they can still age, albeit slower than humans.

-Even though they can't die, ghosts can still be badly injured. As we see with Future Ember (who had her vocal chords destroyed) and Johnny (who became a paraplegic).

-Ghosts can even reproduce, with the reveal of Box Lunch, the daughter of The Lunch Lady and The Box Ghost.

As for the sinners.....

They can't age, but they can still die (once again, makes no sense).

And as far as we know, they can't reproduce.....

Which is for the better because the last thing I need to see is Angel Dust being able to have kids.

Anyway, that's all I have for now.

I wanted to do something special for Halloween.

Let me know what you guys think about this post.

And also, let me know if there's anything I missed, because I feel like I missed something in this post.

But until next time.....

[sogoodtoheritsvicious]

it’s tiiiiimeee

i haven’t watched this show in full in five years 😵‍💫but it’s october and i was gonna watch thee byeler episode aka 2x02 on halloween anyway so i thought i might as well rewatch the entire show and make it everyone’s problem

forgot about the jumpscare being right at the beginning

baby will <3

they were all BABIES and now they’re all grown and the damn final season still hasn’t premiered lmao

dustin was so adorable

“it was a seven.” “huh?” “the roll, it was a seven. the demogorgon, it got me.” the way will was incapable of lying to mike, GOD, i feel sick

fun fact: will’s adorable little “see you tomorrow!” is immediately what made him my favorite

“kiss your mom ‘night for me!” lmfao

forgot how damn good the jumpscares are

gonna need mike to see will with a gun at least once before this show is over

“damn,you look like hell, chief!” “oh, yeah? well, i looked better than your wife when i left her this morning.” HELP

“lonnie used to call him queer.” “is he?” FUCKING HELL, HOPPER 😭 i completely forgot about that scene lmfao

EL, MY BABY

benny was such a good man :( he didn’t deserve to die

that poor dog was so hated irl 😭

“you think we got a problem here?” my brother in christ, a boy is missing

“i’m the only one that cares about will!” mike loves will so much, i’m gonna cry

i completely forgot about hop’s daughter

mike sneaking out while steve’s sneaking in 😭 this show is also a comedy

winona ryder the actress that you are

chapter 2

maybe i’m going to find out in this ep i can’t remember if they ever investigate benny’s death or link it to everything else that was going on

“stop it, you’re freaking her out!” “she’s freaking ME out!” lucas was the only real one in the beginning

poor baby. el didn’t even know what privacy was before this moment.

“oh, you can speak!” she gets that a lot 😭

mike and el had so much potential as friends, FUCK the duffers for ruining them by making it romantic. now they don’t even seem like they like each other

i hope s5 focuses on more on will and lucas’ friendship

jonathan was such a good brother

brenner. always at the scene of the fucking crime.

mike naming his dino ‘rory’ because he roars 🥹

FUCK BRENNER ALL MY HOMIES HATE BRENNER

karen was such a good mom in the beginning

i hate lonnie with a passion, he’s an abusive piece of shit who should’ve been killed off

i don’t blame lucas at all for the way he was acting with el at first

“one kid goes missing, the other one runs wild? some real fine parenting right there.”

they kept pointing out so many similarities between will and el, i can’t believe they didn’t go anywhere with it

“can’t ask a corpse a question.” die. just die.

nancy: *losing her virginity*

barb: *losing her life*

chapter 3

“no one breaks in here.” yeah, they just break out

love jonathan but steve wasn’t exactly wrong about the pictures

joyce byers the mother that you are

mike wanted nothing to do with el once they found will’s “body” but we’re supposed to believe that he loved her the second he saw her in the woods.

chapter 4

i can’t believe they showed that mike has all of the drawings will has created and expected us to be normal about it

“screw his funeral!” “what?!” TEARS

jonathan loves joyce and will so much 🥺

steve was such an unbearable asshole

can we PLEASE talk about charlie being able to hold his own with winona in that scene about will’s body? we already know winona’s gonna blow it out of the water but he did just as well

completely forgot about mike doing el’s makeup this episode dkfkgjd

“where are you from, exactly?” “bad place.” 😭

that troy scene still sends

“the kid is dead. end of story.”

they put too much pressure on el. i hope when all this shit is over she’s able to just be a normal kid.

this show used to be so fucking good

i love how hop tries lying to the state trooper and when that doesn’t work he just knocks him the fuck out 😭

I FUCKING HATE LONNIE

i’m so glad they had jonathan realize that joyce was telling the truth about everything that was going on instead of just dragging it all out.

chapter 5

hate lonnie for taking advantage of joyce when she’s clearly in a vulnerable position

“wait until we tell will that jennifer hayes was crying at his funeral” lmao

all this season is showing me is how severely they’ve robbed us of joyce and will scenes in future episodes

“man, these aren’t real nilla wafers.” mr. clark must think they’re horrible friends, i’m crying. dustin is right, though, fake nilla wafers suck.

“it might even swallow us whole.” and that’s exactly what’s happening by the end of s4

“he’s wanted to go to nyu since he was six. years. old!” she should’ve killed lonnie right then & there

can’t prove it but jonathan fell in love with nancy the second she shot that can on her first try

jonathan clocked nancy’s ass BAD in the woods

forgot just how much lucas hated el this season

byeler and jancy have paralleled each other too many times for it to just mean nothing in the end.

chapter 6

the jumpscares in this show are top tier

what i love about this show is how it still has me holding my breath even though i already know what’s going to happen

“i don’t wanna be alone. do you?” “no.” i was gonna say he wouldn’t be alone cause joyce is there but i remembered he doesn’t wanna tell her til it’s all over

early jancy were so awkward, i love them <3

“i could have been killed!” “which is exactly why we need her. she’s a weapon!” but mike loves her at this point, right?

lucas loves will so much, it’s a shame we haven’t seen much more of their friendship

“you’re my best friend, too.” “okay :D” dustin looked so happy 😭

“what’s the weirdest part? me or the bear trap?” “you, definitely you.” pls

jonathan beating the shit out of steve was so satisfying

“only love makes you that crazy, sweetheart.” i’m not even gonna say anything. you all know.

we don’t give mike enough appreciation for being such a selfless person. he did everything he could to find will, he almost killed himself to protect dustin, he let el live in his basement without even knowing her, etc.

“she’s our friend and she’s crazy!” i love dustin with my whole heart

BABIES 🫶🏼

chapter 7

“if anyone asks where i am, i’ve left the country.” this season is really reminding me why mike was my favorite in the beginning

i wanna hug el so bad

“our son with a girl?” ted, to mike:

“a psychotic child broke his arm!” “a little girl, chief. a little one.” “that tone! do you hear that tone?” “honestly, i’m just trying to state a fact. it was a little girl.” this entire exchange is sending me so bad

“you couldn’t take jonathan byers.” get his ass!

it was such a great choice to have joyce be the first one to ever give el comfort because she’s such a soft, comforting person and i can’t think of anyone better

chapter 8

made it to the finale! gonna be honest, i didn’t think i’d get here in only two days but this show sucked me in the exact way it did the first time

“go to hell.” joyce is everything

waiting til this episode to give flashbacks on hop’s daughter was an excellent choice

steve just wanted to apologize to jonathan and now he’s an exasperated mother of seven. life comes at ya quick!!

choosing not to acknowledge that scene beyond this for the sake of my mental health

el is a badass but she shouldn’t have to be

brenner should’ve never made it to season 4

these kids acted their ASSES off in this show

GOD THIS JOYCE, HOPPER AND WILL SCENE

you’d think everything that went down would make nancy and karen care more about mike and pay attention to him but it doesn’t. mike deserves so much better.

will is in a hospital bed worrying about jonathan’s hand. I LOVE THIS KID.

byeler hug <3

they all really wanted to tell will about jennifer hayes crying 😭

“her name’s eleven.” “like the number?” he sounded baffled lmaooo

getting will back must’ve been so bittersweet for nancy

hop keeps throwing away lit cigarettes and all i keep thinking is that he’s gonna start a wildfire eventually

mike’s soft ‘see you, will’ 🥹

the camera!!

“your wife doesn’t have time to cook for me.” pls

the byers family 🫶🏼

my love for this show has officially been revived. rewatching this reminded me why i loved this show so much in the first place. the acting is amazing, especially from the kids, the writing was great, and the fucking jumpscares were incredible. i’m so excited to start season 2!!

[peoplesrazor]

So, I wanted to address some of Lily's opinions in one of her videos. I know the video in the link is a year old, but I choose it for a few reasons. First, if anyone wants to claim that I just don't like her for criticizing "my show," then The Owl House is the show to do that with. Secondly, this video is about Hunter, a character I started a bit lukewarm on, myself. And lastly, the actual relevant part of the video is mercifully short. I've provided a link to the video, but I'm not going to use time stamps, since it's, again, short.

Lily's Video on Character Potential

So, after her introduction and blaming fan's reactions to character potential on theory videos (without providing evidence that is something that is happening with Hunter,) she gives us her own theory. Which is that people like Hunter for what his character could be, not what his character actually is. Then she says she doesn't like him because he has no purpose in the story.

Okay, that's an opinion. I disagree, but it is stated as more of an opinion than in later videos. She also takes the time to let us know through onscreen text that he is rendered in "every color of the urine spectrum." Lily, we know you hate white blond dudes, no need to diss the color yellow like that.

Culling through the nonsense, her basic premise is that Hunter doesn't do anything in the story and is merely stapled onto other characters. I could point out all the times he does effect the story, but let's just argue the "stapled" thing. Because I think I have a good counter for that, as him being paired with the other characters is where I started to like him and understand him as a character.

Hunter isn't stapled to other characters. Hunter is a mirror into other characters. He has Luz's interest in wild magic and inability to cast spells like other witches. He has been called a half-witch like Willow and shares her insecurity about not being as skilled as others. He is a prodigy like Gus and has the same pressures and anxiety. And he shares the same kind of abusive upbringing as Amity.

Lily claims that everyone gets overshadowed by Hunter in their shared episodes, save Amity. This happens, she says, because of white favoritism; something she has accused the show of doing before. Even if I don't feel he overshadowed anyone in any of the episodes he shares, I can offer a much better explanation for why Amity stands out more in Eclipse Lake.

It's her episode. She's the hero we are following this go around. Kiki and co are obstacles, the titan blood is the MacGuffin, and Eda and King are the sidekicks/comic relief. Lastly, Hunter is there to be Amity's foil; because the episode deals specifically with traits they have in common. They both come from a background where affection is a reward for success. The both feel that if they fail, they will be disappointing someone who thinks they are special.

Make no mistake, without the interference of Luz and the others, Amity would be this kid in two years.

She further says that she likes Hunter better when people other than Dana Terrace write for him. Hunter does seem to be Dana's favorite, or at least one of her favorites. We know he was one of the shows original characters when it was conceived and one Dana has said is a lot of fun for her to write. Still, I don't think the difference is because he's a creator's pet.

I think the episodes Lily is talking about are the ones when he's acting more like the Golden Guard. That the whole Golden Guard thing is a mask for his insecurities is something the show takes the time to point out to us. Look at Thanks to Them, for an example. He gets scared about going into the abandoned house to look for Belos and says that didn't happen when he was the Golden Guard. Luz gives him a Halloween mask they find and he bursts through the door with the same bravado and, indeed, the same line as he when he first confronts Luz. He doesn't take the mask off, either, until Luz calls him family and he breaks down.

The Golden Guard is not, and was never, who this kid is. This was who he had to be to survive his indoctrination. This is why, Lily, it doesn't matter if he had a "destiny" to betray Belos and why it is telling that he still couldn't leave until he committed treason. Did you not watch the episode with him and Gus? You show clips from it and it's one of the episodes you complain about. He was still having trouble convincing himself he did the right thing by leaving. That's how brain washing works.

The rest of the video is her rambling about other things. There is actually a whole section on Sylvanis and then one on Luz's arc later in the series that I won't go into here. Lily, if you really, really don't understand what a negative character arc is, I can go into it for you.

[sidekickjoey]

Thoughts on S5E5 The Witches of Pennbrook, re: Jack and Eric's plot.

Disclaimer: It's a silly Halloween episode. Kids were hyped up on Halloween candy tuning in for some TGIF fun, and I 100% think that's why this episode has some iffy logic and writing at times. I'll give the pod that. However, beyond the silliness, I think this episode is MASSIVE for the friendship between Eric and Jack, as well as a big testament to Eric's character as a whole moving forward, and I really think Pod Meets World missed an opportunity to dive into both aspects here.

Here's why:

This episode plays out two important lessons. The first involves Eric, playing the role of a friend who has to decide what's more important: putting a friend's wellbeing first, or sacrificing that friend's wellbeing for the sake of their larger friendship. It's a pretty common dilemma for teens, but also I think anyone who's been friends with someone not in a great relationship can relate as well. You don't know if it's your place to step in or how they'd react, and you feel a lot of guilt because you want your friend to be happy but your immediate actions/feelings point to the contrary in their mind. Eric was really happy Jack found someone and also excited he wouldn't feel so left out anymore, but the second he realized that Millie was ill-intentioned, his good heart (that we've seen from S1-S4) told him to put Jack's wellbeing first. He was desperate to show Jack she was a threat and putting him in a bad situation so he could get out of it. His sadness when told to back off was that guilt/worry forming. It's a testament to Eric's character that he chose to not let the guilt/worry eat him alive and didn't blame Jack or act like he was being a jerk, instead going out to protect him regardless of outcome. It's also a testament to his character that he reacted so kindly about the situation when Jack came to his senses, acting like putting Jack first was a no-brainer in his mind instead of laying into Jack for his poor judgment. THAT is important -- albeit tied up in a more comical rather than emotional bow, but still important nonetheless, and something that pretty much sets the groundwork for their friendship moving forward.

The second scenario, Jack's, displays another pretty common situation/lesson. Jack shows how easily we take for granted when our friends look out for us, or how blind we can be to how much people truly care about us. Jack was so caught up in his relationship with Millie and his larger inability to fit in that he completely missed Eric being an incredible companion and friend right by his side. He threw himself into relentlessly protecting this one ounce of happiness that he thought he found because he was scared to let it go, and in doing so, he just cast aside his friend and went way-too-in way-too-fast. It isn't until he's in trouble and Eric looks out for him to save him that he notices what he has and how poorly he acted. This is a good lesson on why it's not good to let yourself fall into that trap, but also an example of how easily it is to get sucked into it. How we're human, it happens. It's also one of the first most prominent times we see Eric be Jack's moral compass, which is a theme that definitely continues into the later seasons and beyond that to Girl Meets World.

Even if you don't go into anything beyond friendship for the two, if you just examine their friendship for what it was here, I think this was a big episode for them. I wish these two lessons/themes hadn't been outshined by the silliness of Halloween for the Pod Meets World crew. They are a nod to the core of Boy Meets World that, contrary to belief, still runs through Season 5's tone shift.

[nickandcharlie135]

My idea for a (unnecessary) sequel to Blink. I wrote this at 3am as I couldn’t sleep. 😅

Blink 2: Electric Boogaloo (not final title 🤣)

Cold open: Sally Sparrow walking in town with 14/15 year old daughter is approached by an elderly woman who says “it’s not your fault” and “I don’t blame you” before giving a look to her daughter and walking off. Daughter brushes it off but Sally knows better than that. Sallys phone makes a noise - it’s a proximity alert that someone is approaching Wester Drumlins! She quickly runs leaving her daughter behind who tells her to “stop being paranoid”. Sally reaches Wester Drumlins but its too late - construction crew has already demolished the house and removed the 4 Weeping Angels from the basement! No longer looking at each other, they are free to move and as Sally gets one last look at them, a construction worker walks in front of her, obscuring her view and one of the Angels looks at her smiling before they all vanish! Sally is left there terrified of what’s to come…

Dr Who intro

… One Year Later

Sally and her daughter’s relationship has deteriorated as Sally has become even more paranoid that the Angels will return! Daughter now lives with Dad who is now also separated from Sally.

Alone, Sally has spent the last year preparing for the Angels return (similar to Halloween film).

Story continues as a psychological paranoia esk with people questioning Sallys sanity as she thinks she keeps seeing the Angels out of the corner of her eye - she is as they are stalking her.

One day, daughter is walking home from school and as she turns to take her usual shortcut through a graveyard, she is stalked by an Angel. She knows about them but never really believed her Mum until now when she blinks and it moves. Frightened she starts to run until she trips, turns around and the Angel is right next to her, screams and cuts to black.

Sally receives a call from ex saying daughter hasn’t returned home. Sally knows daughter’s route home from school so meets with ex at the graveyard to find her school bag on the floor. In the distance they both see a smiling Weeping Angel before it vanishes in the fog - the Angels have their daughter!

Unable to go to the police as they wouldn’t believe them, Sally believes they would take daughter to the ruins of Wester Drumlins where this all started years ago. At midnight she receives a call from daughter but instead of her it’s the voicemail lady speaking (the Angels are communicating using her voice) letting her know when to meet and to come alone.

Before leaving, Sally watches the old footage of the Doctor wishing he was here to help. Unknowingly she wishes so hard that a message travels to the Doctor’s psychic paper!

As Sally approaches the ruins of Wester Drumlins, the Doctor is there waiting - she doesn’t recognise him at first but after psychically connecting with her she sees all his faces since their last encounter.

Happy ending - They manage to defeat the Angels and rescue her daughter and the Doctor leaves.

But who was the elderly woman at the beginning?

Sad ending - They manage to defeat the Angels and rescue her daughter but just as they’re about to leave, one Angel manages to touch the daughter and sent her back in time. Shocking both Sally and The Doctor who gets a flashback to Amy/Rorys exit!

Sally takes a sledgehammer and destroys the remaining weak Angel leaving the Doctor to collect the remains.

Sally begs the Doctor to fix this, that he can fix this can’t he? Angrily saying he should fix this before leaving. The Doctor looks up to the camera looking angry and tears in his eyes and says “I will” before cutting to black.

The episode ends with Sally sitting alone in the graveyard when the same elderly woman sits next to her. She confesses that she is her daughter now all grown up. Sally breaks down knowing that she has missed so much of her daughter’s life and the episode ends with the daughter telling Sally what she has spent her life doing.

The following episode is the Doctor looking for the origins of the Weeping Angels as he plans to stop them from ever coming to be - if it’s at all possible.

Connection to Timelords and the Division. The early days of the Universe. The Doctor at his most angry and determined. No fear of what the Angels can do.

Episode ends with him managing to stop the Angels from existing and him returning to Earth to find Sally walking in town with her daughter all happy.

However time has changed and there will be consequences for the Doctor and the universe.

Also possible that Amy/Rory are now alive in the present?

Thoughts? 🤔

[fumiyami]

FUMIKAGE TOKOYAMI

HEADCANONS!!

(or an excuse for me to dump all the thoughts my silly little critter mind thinks into your silly little critter mind!!)

1. autism!!! (I don’t have autism but I saw someone on tiktok headcanon him to be autistic so yeah!!!🤩🤩 if i’m not allowed to like headcanon him to have autism since I don’t have it then pls tell me!!)

2. dyslexia! (no specific reason for this just saw someone else headcanon him to have terrible spelling)

3. listens to mitski

4. dark shadow killed someone when they were both younger (possibly his grandad?) and it’s stuck with Fumi [like in that scene in Ep 44 roaring upheaval where when DS was going wild he said “get away from me!! you’ll die!!”☹️☹️]

5. he and dark shadow both had grudges against Hawks during the first week when they met him (birds hold grudges☺️☺️☺️)

6. gives crystals to those he likes (platonically or romantically your choice!!) like penguins do with rocks

7. HATES when someone ignores him. biggest ick ever (kinda canon cuz when Hawks ignored his phone calls and stuff during the vigilante arc and when izuku was just daydreaming about kacchan and accidentally ignored Fumi)

8. definitely got annoyed by class 1A (mostly Mina and Denki) once when he was eating chicken or something and they struck up a conversation about cannibalism (saw this in a fic I think??)

9. once got caught in his room doing a demon ritual (he revelled too much in the dark)

10. if he were looking for a romantic partner, he’d definitely go with someone who’s the complete opposite of him due to most birds liking shiny stuff (probably someone like Aoyama but I’m a multi-shipper so I’m fine with anything!!)

11. speaking about birds, most people think him to be a crow or a raven BUT he more resembles a Koel bird!! (thank you to someone on Tiktok who pointed this out, I will give you my liver☺️☺️)

12. I don’t have many headcanons for his parents but I imagine them to be..not the greatest people ever😰 (thought of this from when he mentioned in the school briefs how he’s never been to an amusement park before and I know that could be considered normal but hear me out u guys🤯🤯 I want my goth son to have angst)

13. favourite colour is purple, favourite number is 7 (I’m tweaking yall)

14. takes Halloween SO seriously (me too bro me too)

15. SOO ticklish but he vowed to take this fact to the grave (only dark shadow knows and they use it against him like “Fumikage if you don’t let me chew on Mr Aizawa’s scarf I’m telling everyone in class 1A that you’re ticklish”) OR SOMETHING

16. maladaptive daydreamer (I’m projecting with this one u guys!!)

17. knows the entire dance to Rock Lobster by The B-52’s on justdance unwillingly

18. his fav song changes a lot but at one point it was Goo Goo Muck by The Cramps

19. has to stop dark shadow from demanding pets from everyone in class 1A (it’s a daily routine)

20. knows a bunch of bird puns (blame the other silly bird man for this one😡😡)

21. won’t let anyone in his room UNLESS he’s super close to them (like how he tried to stop class 1A going into his room in the dorms episode)

22. (aged up Fumi for this one!!) the complete opposite when he’s drunk and/or high (like super chatty, energetic and giggly) is this realistic??? I haven’t been drunk or high before so idk😓

23. tolerates physical touch (like hugs and stuff) but only from those he’s super close to (or all might in that one episode!!)

24. the first time everyone in class 1A saw him without the choker on some of them (mina and denki and possibly Kirishima🤗🤗) asked him where his neck went..

25. absolutely knocked out when sick/feverish!! like incoherent mumbling, just super weak and dizzy and everything!! (I’ve been reading too much sickfics😰)

26. squawks involuntarily when caught super off guard and the first time it happened was in the class 1A dorms in front of everyone and he was so embarrassed he didn’t speak for a week

27. fluent in some random cool language (like Latin or something equally as cool!!😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎)

28. if he did have a human head then he’d dream of having every piercing on there as possible

29. has a mix of human hair and feathers so he’s gotta do like both brushing and washing it with shampoo and conditioner and stuff but also gotta preen with preening oil (birds naturally have that off of their tail feathers I think but like he doesn’t have a tail so😞)

30. you cannot tell me this man isn’t a writer like with the way he speaks it should be canon!! I can imagine him doing poems and stuff but also turning to other ways to write…(he makes sure no one in his life will ever know his AO3 username)

31. favourite sonic character is Shadow the hedgehog

32. stares outside and just zones out which resulted in the time he once accidentally spaced out while staring at someone (a character of your choice) and was so embarrassed after

33. speaking about embarrassment, he gets embarrassed super easy!!

34. is so painfully awkward around most tiny children (he’s warmed up to eri though after finding out they both have a shared love of apples)

35. sometimes cringes on what he says but knows he can’t take it back (it’s okay my son I’ll still platonically love you!!)

36. hates the fact that he’s been asked by people (TODOROKI.) if he’s Hawk’s brother or relative or something but hates it even more how Hawks barely denies it😡

37. gets his gothic mannerisms from both dark crystal (a pro hero who we can assume he idolises who is mentioned in the school briefs i think) but also a relative like an older sister!!

38. has crazy good intuition

39. is really surprised whenever someone mentions how cool or great dark shadow is since he never really heard that growing up (thank you Izuku!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

40. communication is SO important to him

41. finds it really hard to open up because of feeling like a birden (get it? “bird-en”? haha🙁🙁🙁)

42. he’s super close friends with mostly the heteromorphs of 1A like Koda, Shoji and Tsu but also friends with others who aren’t like Iida and Jirou

43. LOVES conspiracy theories

44. doesn’t cry often but when he does then you know it’s serious😞😞

45. HATES the fact that he has teeth (cuz it looks weird considering how he has a beak) so he’s vowed to never smile with his teeth

46. the type of person to say happy birthday the MOMENT it hits midnight on your birthday :))

47. used to be afraid of flying but made sure it wasn’t noticeable in front of Hawks

48. was genuinely surprised when he saw that the ones in 1A who saw dark shadow go wild didn’t like blame him or anything like how others have in the past🤯

49. dark shadow’s name is super simple because Fumikage had to pick it when they first manifested and since I can imagine he was super young when this happened he wasn’t very creative

50. whenever he and dark shadow play any type of board game together, he has to stop DS from eating the pieces when they’re losing

I got kinda unmotivated towards the end since I was so tired when I wrote all this but i’ll probably have more headcanons in the future!!🙀🙀🙀if y’all have any headcanons about him then please comment them cuz I always love hearing more!!

[daniishep]

Honestly I think that after just one watch, Halloween 3: The Guest Who Wouldn't Leave, might just be straight into my top 10 US Ghosts episodes. The sheer insanity of it all, Pete now being stuck with Carol, poor man just can't catch a break, then him 'meowing' the Jaws theme, both failed seances, Thor just wanting to tell Flower he loves her - and to ravish her, Sam and Jay just trying to have a normal party and it not working, the reveal that Flower didn't get sucked off, but is trapped in a well (can't wait to see how they get her out, may I humbly suggest a ghost chain formed of all the ghosts, just for the image that presents).

But one of my favourite moments in the episode involved these three (pictures beneath the cut)

The whole scene of them in the kitchen while Sasha and Nico freaked out and believed that Sam and Jay were going to kill them and their reactions had been laughing so much, their deliberating over whether to tell Sam, the utter nonchalance with which they saw Carol's corpse, Isaac's facial expressions while Hetty and Sass were doing their deliberating. It took me right back to the very first Halloween episode when they (with added Thor) attempted to blame Thor burning down the gazebo on the local kids. You just know they would cause so much chaos if they could get away with it and we should have more scenes with just the three of them.

[savagebisand]

Let's do a deep dive into the complexity of Mew and Ray rebounding on each other and how it leads to a huge necessary parting of the entire core four.

It reaches a head at that cursed Halloween Party in this ep. Because y'all. We've had sweet and bitter but today we really saw it blend together and I think this whole series tackles the futility and perseverance of love and connection but we really saw it during episode eight at it's peak.

There is literally no room in my heart for hating on Mew over Ray right now because like Mew has taken every opportunity to insist that Ray isn't controlling or changing him, Mew is changing, Mew is saying fuck it so what to everything he despised before because he's tired of fitting in a box. it has nothing to do with Ray other than that Ray makes it easy. Ray won't judge because he cannot as he's done everything Mew is trying. Mew himself is telling everyone he's a grown ass man who is coping with shit the best way he can right now and Ray just happens to be the only one not trying to restrict him or tell him how to cope. the others blaming Ray for Mew's spiral is just what's easiest for them to swallow the truth. they don't see that Mew is using Ray's unconditional love as an excuse to be the worst version of himself because to them Mew is the only vulnerable one. So let's unpack all that shall we?

Ray on the other hand knows full well that Mew doesn't love him or want him as anything other than a distraction but he's humbly accepted his role. you can tell when Mew only kisses Ray in front of Top, when Mew can't tell Ray he loves him back that Ray knows because he knows Mew, Mew does not and can not love Ray at least not the way Ray imagined Mew could. but it's alright. because for once when Mew is falling apart he's picked Ray to get to stand fiercely at his side and give him arms to cry in. all Ray wants is to feel important and connected to Mew some way and so when Mew asks for cigarettes and coke and drinks and parties, Ray doesn't question it because if he did he loses the little limited space Mew has let Ray reside in whilst everyone else has been pushed aside.

I mean hell Ray even tells Sand that Mew and him "have to see if things will work between them first" when Sand insists Ray has had his dream come true getting to be with Mew. he insists they aren't serious yet but instead seeing how things go, that Mew is at least letting them try and that's good enough. The way Ray talks about it, you can tell he doesn't believe Mew will let him stay around as a boyfriend for long. It's not just because it's Sand he's talking to, there's this understanding in how Ray addresses it. He's okay with it because all that ever mattered to Ray was trying, was having the concrete proof that Mew and him don't and can't work in romantic love instead of Mew's half assed denials.

Ray understands perfectly his role as Mew's supporting character, he isn't blind like some insist. In fact he's got more in common with Nick and Sand than people would like to recognise. Remember how Nick insists that Boston "doesn't have to love him, doesn't have to make nick his priority, he just cannot hate him?" Well that's very much Ray now that Mew has given him the time of day. Everything is still all about Top and Ray can tell but as long as Mew is happy to pretend his spite overrules his lingering love, Ray will play along. I think its very telling in the moment when Mew says this:

Literally right in front of Ray's face and Ray says nothing about the fact they're supposed to be a "we" not an "I" right now. They're supposed to be playing the hosting couple, a united front. Yet here Mew is proudly proclaiming he doesn't need anyone anymore because he's learned to only care about himself for once, he's happy on self destruct because at least he only has to be his own priority and worst enemy. No one else gets to set his rules and break them and let him down except for himself.

So yeah Ray knows exactly where he stands but, look, as easy as it is to blame him for playing a part for Mew and not recognising Sand's love, we have to also bear in mind that Ray stands in this very fragile precipice currently where his loyalty to Mew is the difference between total alienation and having at least somebody from the broken family of the core four still remaining. Mew easily tossed Boston and Top aside, ruthlessly, and he will do the same the second Ray takes any high ground over Mew's actions because Mew will waste no time reminding him how much of a hypocrite he'd be right now.

And yes it's wrong that Mew is using Ray as collateral damage to his first real break up induced sad manic girl break down but in grief we become people we don't recognise. We go numb. I don't think Mew realises fully how detrimental it will be to rely on Ray right now as he cracks before he heals, he's too caught up in going through motions, one all nighter to the next. One revenge plot to the next. He does his best to protect Ray by insisting to Cheum and Top these are his own choices and consequences to handle but when your loved ones see you a certain way, they very staunchly refuse to recognise when you make choices they don't like for you.

Cheum and Top are kinda hypocritical for blaming Ray and not noticing their own flaws in their bid to "protect" Mew but it does make sense. They can't reconcile this new Mew with the one they have grown to understand and care for and rely on. It is far easier to look to the nearest external factor influencing Mew and pin everything on that. It doesn't make it right but it does explain their motivations. They can't see Rays complexity the way the viewer can so it's far simpler for Cheum to say Ray is careless and too greedy so he can never just settle. For Top to insist Ray can't love Mew if he keeps negative shit around Mew whilst forgetting he can't exactly be one to talk when Mew wasn't much better off with him.

Basically they're all getting to that point in this journey where they have to sit with some hard home truths about their friends and themselves and really no one is to blame anymore for anyone other than themselves. No one is responsible anymore for anyone but themselves. It's no longer a blame game and more a time to sit and ask questions about who they are and why they let things get to this point. It's the only chance they stand at not spending the rest of uni totally lost and alone. The only way they might all find a way back to each other, stronger than they were before, different yes, a little broken yes but stronger together.

I think this episode did a particularly beautiful job at showcasing how love remains and prevails even as things shift and recalibrate. Mew is downright vengeful to Top but Top quietly takes it all and refuses to quit when Mew pushes him away the way he gave up on Mew before. He stands steady and strong and he's the one who carries Mew to bed and cleans him up and gets him comfy. Treats him like he's precious finally and refuses to leave.

Boston is told by everyone he has no right to show his face but he insists he has to be there anyway, even as he challenges Nick for daring to approach him, a part of Boston clearly wishes Nick had told Ton about his project because he wanted to share the celebration but Ton can only hear Nick bragging that he's moving on to better things whilst Ton still keeps company with red solo cups in a hidden room, stuck in the sidelines. And yet Boston can't find it in him to treat Nick spitefully, the best he can do is dismissive. He still shows up in a panic on that staircase, helplessly searching for a way to save Ray even as he knows it's all too broken to fix.

Cheum explodes on Ray like a mother or sister whose lost all hope not once but twice but it comes out of a place of concern, a desperate final plea that if they really aren't enough then Ray has to want to help himself. And as hypocritical as we may find her for saying Ray is careless to those around him, she's not wrong that Ray, the night of the party in particular, has only dedicated himself to Mew. She knows now that none of her hopes or wishes for the boys to be better and focus on doing the best for themselves will ever be enough alone to make them care more about friendship and futures than sex and love. She's realising how little she noticed about how deep the cracks ran and she's having to struggle with that but she still begs Top to save Ray from a place she knows will take him to the point of no return even as she chooses to walk away.

Hell Sand and Nick don't even want to be at that party but against all odds they turn up because they owe it to themselves to save face and at least try to move on. To be mature and talk to the people that they've hurt and who have hurt them instead of burying their heads. Boston and Ray are cold to them and yet they don't leave. Sand still turns back and tries to protect Ray because even if he pushed him to the ground earlier and told him they're over. He can't watch Ray rot in prison when what Ray really needs is rehab. When thats the worst place Ray can go.

Top even helps Ray avoid jail time. He says "sorry for my friend" and even if his motivation is more to help Cheum or to do this because Mew will totally tip off the edge if Ray goes down, he gains nothing from this. There is a genuine flash of concern and recognition in his face as he watches Ray cry and scream that actually maybe they aren't so different. Maybe both of their realities are pitiful and lonely.

It's just so interesting that even as things come to a close and we can tell these characters are going to split apart and take some distance, abandon each other and pray it means they come back one day able to show up better for each other as friends... they still choose love, against all odds. It's a bittersweet goodbye because they're all angry and hurting and confused about who they are and why they're behaving the way they do but even in that final moment as Cheum pulls the curtain closed, she's that last string to break when Ton has been forced to pull away and so has Top, and we can tell Ray will try to cling to Mew a little less as he battles with Cheums harsh truth that maybe he really is bad for Mew and maybe Mew really isn't enough for him. They all show up to protect Ray and each other one last time. Even if it's hopeless.

Because love and loyalty remains unconditional even if they don't like the versions of themselves they can see right now. Because even when you don't agree with choices your nearest and dearest make, even when you can't forgive it, they will still always be your broken fucked up little family.

[sandrayofsun]

Gagged with a capital G - EP. 8

Holy mother of God I don't even know what happened to me when this episode ended. I think I ascended to heaven and back. This is going to be a long post filled with thoughts and feelings (and I have no one else to talk about this to) so buckle up!

Starting off with this first scene... not even 2 mins in and I was already tearing up. This entire conversation was so interesting to me because BOTH of them are fully aware of their feelings, yet neither one is willing to speak up. Ray is "happy" to be with Mew, and Sand is "happy" that Ray finally got who he wanted (supposedly🙁).

Major props to sand for standing his ground during this conversation even though you could see unshed tears in his eyes (go First!!!!🤞). You can feel the love he has for Ray simmering beneath but also the dejection that he feels towards seeing that Ray picked Mew.

This is not the face of someone who is happy with the decision they made. Khaotung really stepped up his acting in this scene because I swear I saw like 18 emotions go through him all at once (slay my king!!🤌). He has formed such a strong attachment to Sand and is now realizing what it means to have chosen someone else (and I don't think he feels too good about it).

THIS WHOLE SEQUENCE!!!!! Sand asking for Ray to let him go, and RAY LOOKING AT HIM LIKE THAT!!!! This had me seriously gagged to the core, I didn't even know what to do. Looking at it simply, they are both just sad. Sad at the fact that they know they can't be friends, but also won't admit their feelings, but it bothers them that they don't have each other😭. Seeing what unfolded afterwards with Yo and Plug was even a bigger eye opener for them because it was a direct parallel.

~~~MOVING ON!~~~

I think all of us got a little excited we we're going to get the "now that you've walked into my life..." scene, however, I actually really enjoyed this scene in between everything else that was happening because it shows Ray's dynamic with Sand during a regular time, right after showing his dynamic with Mew (pre-halloween). It gives us insight into the fact that despite Ray being with Mew, it still isn't enough for him. He is still wondering why Sand won't answer his messages, and still wants to spend time with him, even though they had that conversation at the bar and Sand asked to be let go. Ray can't/won't let go of Sand. *Bonus cute Ray pouty face*

What's funny to me is that Ray doesn't even realize what it means that he craves Sand's company. He has no problem verbalizing that being with Sand makes him happy (also in their bar conversation🧐) and isn't shy about asking to spend time with him. Yet, Sand still calls out the fact that Ray can spend time with Mew, but Ray doesn't even acknowledge it. Even using the excuse of Mew not being able to play instruments as a justification for seeking out Sand.

^^^^ I mean seriously look at that cute little face rn. I don't even blame Sand for folding like a wet tissue because I too would fold.

~~~MOVING ON PT.2~~~

The entire SandRay Halloween party sequence was BONKERS. I must applaud FirstKhao because they are mopping the floor with the other couples as far as chemistry goes (no shade to the other couples!!! I'll touch on them in a separate post).

POSSESSIVE RAY STANS STAND UPPPPP😩!!!!

Finally we have Ray witnessing the consequences of his actions. Literally seeing him looming behind Sand and the other guy, pushing him away, questioning Sand about what he's doing, saying he wants to sleep with him, then kissing him to establish dominance over the other guy. CHEF'S KISS😮‍💨. Now, obviously anyone with eyes can tell this behavior is toxic, but I simply have not seen this possessive side of Ray with anyone, not even Mew. It was nice to see Sand getting a little bit of attention in that regard. Was it healthy? No. Does Sand deserve better? Yes. But was it hot as hell and real as fuck? 100%.

FIRST KANAPHAN THE MAN THAT YOU ARE😩

He looked good enough to eat in his costume (I'm sorry I had to say it or I was gonna scream lol). I don't blame Ray for seeing his (boy)friend flirting with someone else while looking like that😭. Anyways, Sand standing his ground ONCE AGAIN was so elite of him, he refuses to be number 2 and I am here for it.

Listen guys... Say what you want but Ray ate this little bit up lmao. I chose to take this as progress in a way because Ray is finally bringing up the feelings between the two, and Sand made himself clear that he will not settle for less than first *no pun intended*. I must also state that I found Ray's possessiveness funny lmao because he had literally JUST kissed Mew (love of his life or whatever🙄) and then goes and get's pissed at Sand for even looking at someone else. And also kisses him?? Did he really need to get rid of Mew's kiss that badly🤨??

~~~Last scene hehe~~~

Sorry this post ran a little long but if you made it this far you're Sexy.

Sand throwing literally any beef he had with Ray out the window and into the rubbish bin to help him made my heart ache a little. No matter what Ray does, Sand will always be his emergency staff, no complaints, no conditions, no questions asked. Going as far as to lie to a police officer and coming up with excuses to help him shows how far Sand is willing to go for Ray. I hope this is something the Ray takes note of and appreciates.

This whole part honestly was pretty hard to watch, especially with the police brutality that a lot of people face around the world. I think the show did a good job of showing what this can look like on a smaller scale, and calling attention to it.

It once again showed Sand's loyalty to Ray, trying to hold on to him when the cops grabbed him, and telling him to stay still. Putting myself in his shoes, idk if I could bare the visual of the person I love getting handled that way.

Overall, this may be my favorite episode of the entire series. and I will say that it finally felt like FirstKhao were getting the screen time they deserved.

I physically gasped when I saw the preview for next week's episode because we're getting communication, and uninterrupted SandRay road trip (yeehaw😎).

Sorry again for this long post

See you guys next week!!

[grigori77]

Critical Role, Campaign 3 Epsiode 112

Ah, the Halloween episode. This is gonna be fun ... and ... OH MY FUCKING GODS ... so they're ALL Nic Cage ... oh yeah, OF COURSE Liam's the Mandy Cage ... and Ashley's got some poison VX gas from The Rock ... meanwhile Sam ... of dear fuck Sam ... that's just too much ... and of course I've ALREADY worked out which one Marisha is ... perhaps THE WORST Nic Cage of them all ... and I love Con Air, so thanks for that one, Travis. Not to mention Matt's is awesome too ... Raising Arizona for the win ...

Seriously Sam, that costume is just TOO DISTURBING ... O.O ... this is some genuine nightmare fuel ... please don't wear THAT throughout the whole game ... fuck ... I'm starting to think that genuinely might be the case ...

I love how Liam DOES NOT ASK any of them to start mirroring his actions, Taliesin just starts it on his own and then Laura and Ashley start doing it all on THEIR own and it's adorable ... XD

Thank you all for addressing the problem with Sam's make-up ... that is gonna be SO HARD to ignore over thh course of the game, Samuel ...

Yup ... here we go ... the gameplay is ALREADY derailing and we're still on Matt's recap ... XD ... also I wonder how bad it's gonna be for Marisha once she has to start READING DICE ...

Nice crack at the Schumacher batsuits ...

Aha ... oh, so Ashton and Fearne have actually truly for real done the nasty? It's about fucking time, you two ...

Pancakes and waffles? Yay! The perfect start to any day ... oh, and cookies too? Nice one, Jester!

Travis INSTANTLY forgetting to use the newer Fjord accent instead of the older ... meanwhile Jester is TOTALLY already onto Ashton and Fearne ... and Liam's busy having a conversation with himself ... LOL

Chetney lives! Okay, then ...

Some confusion about what the plan is now, then ... clearly there's some fuzzy heads among the group after the night before ...

Imogen quickly draws a map ... Sam (as Veth): "How is it?" Ah hell ... first performance check of the night ... serviceable ... okay, then ...

Sending a message to Rashinna, then ... oh dear, are we having trouble with the count? And npw Jester's invading Imogen's mind with her intrusive thoughts ... oh boy ... watch Laura Bailey learning JUST what it's like being on the receiving end of another Laura Bailey character ... XD

Oh shit ... Rashinna hasn't gotten back to them yet ... Matthew, what's happened? Oh Matt Mercer ... you GIT!!! That was not funny ...

"Look for Gaz"? Hmmmmm ... the Villums? Okay, then ...

Dorian making a meta crack about their costumes when discussing the disguise idea ... LOL

Oh dear ... and now the disguise conversation becomes more serious as we're now uncovering the inherent problems of what available choices there actually ARE ... hmmmmmm ...

Laudna gives Sprinkle back to Jester ... who then tries to cover for the fact that Fjord accidentally DESTROYED PATE the night before ... O.O ... yeah ... here we go for Deception checks on BOTH OF THEM ... oh boy ...

Sprinkle is PLEADING FOR DEATH right now and I can't blame him ...

Pate returns! And it turns out he doesn't bear a grudge, clearly. Far as he's concerned it was just a macabre game ...

Turning into guards, then? Might be smart ... and some Bormodos for the smaller folk? Yes, that's smart ...

Good point ... IS THERE anybody upstairs in the store?

Yes, time enough for ONE Suck ... decisions, decisions ... something tells me Dusk Hunger might be worth holding onto, if I'm honest ... rollies, then? Hmmm ... Ashton, then ... okay ... goinf for Fire, then ... so he straps into the Harness and starts sucking up Dusk Hunger ... nuts ...

Some nice new effects for Ashton, then ... meanwhile Jester's now jealous about THEM not having a Harness too and immediately demands Caleb makes one ...

Caleb and Veth having a serious conversation while Sam is wearing THAT FACE ... ye gods ...

So ... try another one? 20% chance of the Harness breaking, but they ARE rolling towards the endgame ... hmmmm ... that;'s a yes, then ... and so ORYM is going to suck up Ishta, the very blade that killed his husdand AND father-in-law ... O.O

A permanent +2 to Wee Man's Dexterity? Holy shit ...

Does the Harness survive? Hmmmm ... it doesn't go bang YET ... but it was close ... hmmmmm ...

One more? Up to a 40% chance now ... maybe not, then ...

Yasha punches Braius in the face ... of course she does ... and he elbows her back ... hmmmm ... so ... that's just, like, a little pep-up, then?

Leaving the Tower, then ... so they're now all crammed in the cellar again ...

So they're going to teleport again, then ... hmmmm ... meanwhile Caleb activiates the disguises ... ruining Dorian's attempt at creating his own ... LOL

And Jester casts Pass Without a Trace ...

Zhesh! Hello there ... nice to see a familiar face ...

"Transference"? Hmmm ... I mean it sounds like an opportunity, really ...

Trickling out in groups, then ... and there's a storm out? THAT could be helpful, too ... the Dust Pit Delta, then? Sounds like a plan ...

Imogen and Orym leading the way through, then ...

Interesting ... a shrine to Exandria? Strange things to find here, all round ...

Planerider Ryn! She's here! Can they rescue her? Is this going to go down REALLY BAD?!!! O.O

So, planning a distraction while they try a Greater Restoration ... hmmmm ... this all sounds like apretty tall order ... I have a bad feeling this is gonna be a MAJOR distaster ...

Fjord creates a phantom red tornado while activating his Marine Layer ... oh boy ... here we go, then ... and they're creating general widespread PANIC ... meanwhile Imogen casts a blanket Telepathic Bond across the group ...

Ah ... so two of them are staying put ... great ... and now Dorian's getting in on the act ... oh, so it's actually WORKING? Hmmmmm ... okay, now what?

Caduceus tries out his Greater Restoration while it's all going off ... and now she's back ... missing a fucking arm! Calm Emotions? Hmmmmmm ... now what? Cure Wounds at Level 4? Let's see if THAT works ... O.O ... 25 points of healing ... and now he's trying to calm her down ... oh boy, this is all getting really chaotic all at once ... wait ... did she just TELEPORT AWAY?!!! Fuck ...

Imogen tries to Message Ryn ... oh boy ... she's in a random dark spot ... hmmmm ... so it was a Dimension Door? Meaning she's still close by ...

Oh crap ... something;s coming? Might be a good idea to get the fuck out of here ...

A full grown vidulch? SHIT!!! Oh, that's not good at all ... O.O

Okay, so ... looks like they dodged THAT bullet ... but there's more? Hmmmmmm ... so it's just CHAOS out here right now ... maybe they can continue to just sneak through, then ...

Jester messages Ryn ... oh my fucking gods ... this woman will go INSANE from this one ... oh ... so Ryn's just rolling with it? Okay ... guess she really IS a cool customer, that one ...

And now the storm's getting WORSE ... great ... time to move, then ...

Watcher Amido? Hey! Yeah, another familiar face ... this is their way in, then ...

So they just have to find a way to tunnel through into the tunnels, then? Hmmmm ... Jester turns herself into ... a diremole? Really? Intriguing ... Veth is not convinced this is actually gonna work ... I dunno, it looks all kinds of intimidating ... okay, this seems to be working out after all ...

So ... that worked, then ... the way is open. Braius is impressed.

Great ... this doesn't look all that promising any more ... can they still get through here ... oh ... okay, maybe they still can, then ... yeah, that's it ... the city itself ... so there's just the window? Which is WAY UP IN THE AIR ... crap ... maybe not, then ...

Okay, so NOW what are they gonna do?

Imogen sends a Message to Gaz ... oh boy ... I forgot what he sounded like, Matt that is BONKERS ... LOL

Thankfully Orym's RIDICULOUS Perception saves the day again ... so THAT'S the way, then ... and now a return of Taste of Tal'dorei ... XD

Damn ... Dorian has a point here ... DO THEY have a viable escape plan if the Moon ... EXPLODES?!!! O.O

I love how Caduceus' abject terror is everybody else's perfectly chilled ... LOL

So ... they're REALLY going to just DROP DOWN from here? Seriously?

Oh ... Arcane Gate? Smart ... go Fjord! That's the ticket ... and Jester just INSTANTLY SWOONS over how awesome her future husband is right now ... :3

Group Deception check ... hmmmmm ... and EVERYBODY except Robbie has to roll TWICE ... oof ...

Okay ... trying to make their way as inconspicuously as possible through the streets ...

Oh hello ... GAZ!!! Nice to finally see you again ... phew!

So ... CAN WE trust him? Is he on the level or IS HE a traitor like some suspect? O.O

Sounds like Liliana gave him a hell of a going-over ... and he's actually SPEAKING to them verbally rather than through telepathy ... wow ...

Accelerating plans, then ... but they do still need SOME flexibility ... hmmmmmm ...

Fearne goes to listen in on Gaz making contact with Rashinna ... 17? Nice roll, Ash ... oh, this sounds like quite the journey ... watch out, Fearne ...

Wow ... Gaz wasn't very bright BEFORE, but now he really is kind of DUMB, isn't he? But yeah, seems he really is on the level, at least ...

Jester offers Gaz a cookie ... awwwwwwwww ... and he's NEVER had sugar before ... wow ... :3

Dorian gets Gaz to explain the WHY the Volitiona are doing what they're doing ... oh boy ... his extremely simplistic explanation is kind of adorable ...

Meanwhile Jeter's created a sugar junkie ...

"The Hallowed Cage"? Try not to jump ahead in the narrative, guys! O.O

Short rest? Short rest. Yeah ...

Meanwhile they do NEED TO contact Vox Machina NOW ... yeah ... might be best. MAKE CONTACT guys!

Imogen Messages Allura ... so they're ALL READY ALREADY?!!! Okay, so ... best to make a start ASAP?

So ... whatever they're doing, start in one hour? Hmmmm ...

JESTER makes the reply ... oh boy ... yeah, Allura reacts VERY MUCH as anyone would with one of HER Messages ...

Going to break, then ... and when they're back it's going to be from the perspective of VOX MACHINA!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

Oh my gods ... the pantyhose and the diapers ... Matt, you cheeky bugger ... XD

Only FOUR at the table? Right now it's just Laura, Ashley, Travis and Marisha ... in their ORIGINAL seats? Cool ...

So it's just KEYLETH right now ... hmmmm ...

She goes looking for Vex ... oh boy ... this should be fun ...

Okay, so ... we're a little back in time, then? Interesting ...

Yeah, I think BOTH OF THEM want to get Vax back ... well, at least as much back as they CAN get him, at least ...

Man ... too much FEELS right now, guys ...

So Grog and PIke'll likely both be in the pub? Yeah, sounds about right ...

They haven't HEARD from Scanlan yet? Hmmmmmm ...

Keyleth is covered in sticky bees ... O.O

Yeah, the titles were SO COOL, KIki. You did SO FUCKING GREAT there ... XD

A CLERICAL pub? Fascinating ...

As expected, Grog and Pike are already pretty far in their cups ... XD ... drunk Pike is always fun ... and they're up to old tricks, again ...

Grog thinks "piety" means he has pies ... yeah, that's about right ... LOL

Keyleth conjures a goodberry pie for Grog! Awwww ... :3

So ... Pike and Scanlan are going through another fivorce? And she can't even remember WHICH NUMBER it is? Blimey ... and so they CAN'T get hold of him because of it? Great ...

Jeanine? Awwww ... she sounds very sweet ...

Oh ... the Earrings? Neat ... yeah, try that, then ...

Yeah, Percy's a really good dad ...

Holy shit ... Marisha's having a hard time remembering how to actually PLAY a druid now ... it's been a while, of course ... so she just tries to SCRY on Scanlan instead ... which is resisted? Nuts ...

Pike x Scanlan = "it's complicated" ... like, the very DEFINITION ...

Matt's just having so much fun just WATCHING Travis getting to be Grog again ... XD

Tary? REALLY?!!! That'd be pretty sweet ...

Wow ... even VEX can't remember who Tary got married to ... XD

Flamespeaker Cerkonos? The leader of the Fire Ashari? Hmmmmm ... might be worth a go ...

Oh shit ... ROBBIE'S playing as Cerkonos? Oh, that's so cool! And yeah, Robbie Daymond really is INCAPABLE of playing a character who isn't, like, A TOTAL SNACK, and I love it ... XD

"Sir Grogory Strongjaw" ... Keyleth: "He added a few syllables." Yes. Yes he did ...

Nice going of Vex to just cut to the chase while Keyleth's fumbling talking him into doing something he was ALREADY planning on doing anyway ... XD

Pike's like me, thoroughly enraged by the idea of not finishing a book ... O.O

WHITESTONE!!! Welcome home!

And the Sun Tree! D'awwwwwwww ... :3

The Slayer's Cake! Yay!

A half-elven girl? Is this who I think it is? Oh my gods IT IS!!! Vesper! Hiiiiiiii!!! Oh my gods ... and she's ALREADY swooning over Cerkonos ... XD

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Gwen! Hi sweety! :3

Percival! Yay! Taliesin returns to the table ... meanwhile is the old grouch mellowing a little? Or is it just when he's around Vex?

SCANLAN was Cerkonos' favourite? XD I like that ...and he's VERY BAD at the sexual jokes ... which in his case come across as slightly more risque dad jokes, clearly ... LOL

Oh ... so Scanlan WAS travelling with Dr Dranzel's troupe? At least until Percy stopped caring to keep track of him, anyway.

So Keyleth tries to Scry on Kaylie instead ... not a whole LOT of luck there ... apparently she's asleep ...

Crisis Orbs? Hmmmmmm ...

"The Triple" ... oh, I like that. That's very effective ...

Pike tries to Message Scanlan ... and the others try to convince her to say she's HORNY for only him ... I mean yeah, that might work ...

Matt calls Sam backl to the table ... okay, so that means Scanlan's answering her, then ... okay ... is he having sex right now? At least he said he was in Wildemount ...

Oh boy ... she really is SO BAD AT THIS and I love it ... LOL

Ttat's a pretty non-specific location still ... but at least he's clearly NOT having intercourse, then ...

Pike: "He asxked if it was a booty call. I don't want to respond to that." Grog: "Well we are actively trying to contact him." Pike: "You're so smart, Grog."

Homing in on Scanlan and the troupe ... looks like they MIGHT be able to make it, then ...

Wow, Percy and Vex' kids really are all just COLLECTIVELY adorable, aren't they? :3

The Mask? Percy's mask? Is No Mercy Percy coming along for this ride?

Grog reverts to type and immediately gives himself a massive psychic shock ... Percy you clever and very evil bugger ... you have such a dark sense of humour, I love it ... XD

Awwwww ... I love Percy and Keyleth's friendship vibe SO MUCH ... XD

Setting out through the Sun Tree, then ... and Keyleth of course HAS TO still give a big of ceremony for their departure. And a fond farewell to the De Rolo kids ... awwwww ... but it's also giving me feels ... O.O

I really do hope this isn't the last time one or both of them will see their children ...

Stepping through, then ... and Grog tosses little Vax his petrified poop ... oh boy ...

Stopping the troupe before they get too far away ... and now Vox Machina are finally back together again ... plus one ...

Oooooooooh ... a bit of a glow-up for Scanlan, then ... wait ... oh my fucking gods ... HE'S A FUCKING CENTAUR?!!! Oh ... THEY'RE ALL CENTAURS?!!! What the fuck, guys? O.O

It's TRUE POLYMORPH? Oh shit ... isn't that, like, REALLY HARD to remove?

Cerkonos loves the idea that Scanlan now has a genuine horse cock ... wow ...

Trying to explain what's happening and what's at stake ... oh, yeah ... actually that might work. Vax IS Scanlan's best friend, telling him about him being trapped in the orb would probably do the trick ...

Come on you two, just MAKE UP already ...

I can't believe it's actually GROG who convinces him to come ... but yeah, that worked ...

And THAT'S it for the night? Cool. Does that mean we're starting wit them next time? I could get behind that, definitely ... this has been SO MUCH FUN ...

[snowangeldotmp3]

dear lucas; from max

hehe i have more letters. anyway, this is from my kas!max wip, and these letters are supposed to be holding back a little bit like max was in the series, as these were supposed to be written around episode 4. this is my first Real time writing for max, so please be kind lol. again like with the dear barb letter (which you can read here) it will be in first person, and will be posted to ao3!

Lucas,

Hey, stalker.

You know what this means if you’re reading this.

I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I just didn’t know how. I’m sorry I kept pulling away.

And before you start, don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault, and you couldn’t have stopped this. Vecna is just an asshole, and I was a bad girlfriend. A bad friend, too. Friends don’t lie, or whatever, but I did. I said I was fine and I wasn’t. I’m sorry for being a bad friend.

I heard about the game, by the way. I listened to it on the radio. I can’t believe your Hawkins High’s star player now.

I should’ve been there.

This is about to get really sappy and gross, and if you tell anyone I swear to god I will haunt your ass, Sinclair.

I’m glad I came to Hawkins. Sure, every six months there’s a world ending threat and now one of them is directly attacking me, but, I’m still glad I met you guys. Hawkins was new and scary, not just because of the monsters.

You asked me, about two years ago, in the back of the Palace Arcade, “Do you accept the risk?” Do you remember that? Back then I thought that it was just a story, that you were just really, really into the nerd shit that you and your friends had created and just wanted me to play along. I hadn’t realized it was a serious thing until the junkyard. Until I saw the monsters for real. Then I understood.

I’m glad I accepted the risk. I’m glad I got to meet you and the rest of the Party and become part of your weird little friend group. I don’t regret it. Even if it seems like I should, especially right now, especially with what happened in the summer. But I don’t. I don’t think I would change anything about how we met. I would still accept the risk.

I do want to make him pay, though. The shit head behind all of this. He’s been doing this shit the whole time, the Mind Flayer, the Spider Monster, and now all of this. You have to swear to me, Lucas. You’ll make him pay. You and the Party and Steve, Nancy, and Robin. Shit, El too. She probably already knows that something is up even if she doesn’t have her powers. You all have to make him pay. Not just for me, either. Everybody who’s been affected by this. Will, Nancy’s friend, all of those people last summer, Chrissy, Fred, everyone.

This letter is the hardest one, besides the one I wrote for my mom, and I’m glad you’re all asleep right now so you can’t see me crying like a baby trying to write this. Don’t laugh at me. I’m really gonna miss you guys. Our movie nights, or sneaking into the movie theater and the drive in or walking downtown and just talking or planning our Halloween costumes together. (You have to go as the Green Lantern this year. Especially if I don’t make it out of this. I don’t give a shit what Mike plans.)

I’ll miss you most, Lucas. You are such a good person, you’re so kind. You were there for me and wanted to be there for me when I didn’t want to be around people at all. I know it’s cliché to say, but you’ve got a heart of gold, Lucas. You have never given up on me. And I know that if you’re reading this it means the worst has happened, but I’d like to think you didn’t give up on me then, either. That you were there until my final moments.

You are my guiding light. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you were there for me. I hope whenever you hear Kate Bush, you’ll think of me, Stalker.

From,

Love, your girlfriend,

Mad Max.

[silver-dragonborn]

I saw some hotd spoilers on TikTok and while I would normally feel ashamed for watching them, this show is such a fucking dumpster fire that I simply do not care anymore. With that being said, here are my thoughts. Out of respect, I will not post commentary in my tags.

-) Aemond telling Helaena to saddle up only for her to tell him to kindly fucking fuck off and coldly predict his future where he will die alone.

"B-but Helaena loves her brother!"

Correction. Loved. She loved Aemond until he killed Lucerys which set off a chain of events that got her own son killed in retaliation. I'm sorry, but if my asshole brother told me to fight for him after his decisions led to the gruesome death of one of my babies, I would spit in his face for the audacity.

"Will you burn me as you did Aegon?"

"That is a lie."

"I saw it."

Helaena was done playing around. No riddles. No musings. She was grieving and angry and lashing out at the jackass responsible. Helaena refuses to fight a losing battle and plus, she no longer trusts Aemond so why the fuck would she ride beside an emotional time bomb with a geriatric dragon that refuses to listen to him?

-) "It's all a story and you're but one part in it. You know your part." Gave me chills. Phia was SERVING in this episode and knowing what I know about Helaena and her ending, I'm praying we'll see more of her. Daemon's final vision in Harrenhal bore some fruit as I got to see a haunting glimpse of Daenerys and her dragons...Night King looked like a leathery Halloween costume from a general store...not my cup of tea.

-) Aemond throwing a hissyfit and putting his disgusting hands on Helaena to force her to burn Harrenhal with him was nothing new to me. You've seen how he treats members of his family...Helaena and Alicent are no different. Also, imagine being raised for YEARS to hate your sister and being trained to fight her only for your mom, the one responsible for your upbringing, deciding to throw in the towel and sue for peace. Yeah, I don't blame Aemond for feeling betrayed by Alicent who RAISED HIM TO HATE HIS SISTER.

-) That scene with Alicent and Rhaenyra...I'm sorry, but that was total bullshit and out of character. The fact that Rhaenyra was written out to be the disgruntled spouse listening to her wife's apologies was ridiculous. Rhaenicents will count this as a win, but to me, it's poorly written-fanfiction. Even when Alicent was "apologizing" and "baring her soul" to Rhaenyra she still justified her bullshit (go figure). Now, NOW, after humiliating Rhaenyra at her wedding, allowing a murderer to walk free, plotting against her, and TORTURING HER FOR YEARS, SHE WANTS TO RUN AWAY FROM IT ALL?? Lady, you sealed your family's fate the moment you wore that green dress. Alicent wants to flee from the problems that SHE created and I was fucking GOBSMACKED that she practically betrays her "favorite son" in favor of opening up the city to Rhaenyra without bloodshed. Kudos to Rhaenyra for sticking to her guns to cut off Aegon's head. I know anti-Rhaenyra stans will screech that this is proof she was always going to kill him and refuse to believe that Rhaenyra, having lost a son and a daughter, wants vengeance for her dead children...honestly, what do y'all expect??

-) I half-expected Aemond to fly over to Dragonstone, bend the knee to his sister, and hug it out. Y'know...like in every fix-it fanfic ever where Rhaenyra forgives those usurping murderous cunts and strives to be a better sister because it's all her fault that her siblings are SAD and not pure, sweet Alicent's fault for turning them against her in the first place.

-) We finally see Sheepstealer, but no scene of Rhaena claiming him and flying in the skies. Seriously, what the fuck? We get a pointless scene of Alicent treating with Rhaenyra on Dragonstone, but nothing for Rhaena? I swear, the writers add in these pointless scenes to avoid anything to do with the twins. No, we just see her staring bug-eyed at Sheepstealer while Hugh gets extra screen time with Vermithor.

-) I'd say the only scenes that stood out to me were Daemon bending the knee to Rhaenyra, Helaena's predictions, and Team Black gearing up for war.

-) Anyway, this episode was insane and not in a good way. The Rhaenicent agenda and the constant need to portray Alicent as this misunderstood angel who just wants her best friend back are dragging this show through the mud.

[plantsarepeopletoo]

Only Friends Music EP6 part 2/2

Part one covers the first half of Ep6, or you can find other episodes on my pinned comment.

This is a series of posts taking a closer look at the music of Only Friends. Reminder: Playing with the music is like body language, it moves with the conversation. Verbal says something either through lyrics or something like a song title.

[3/4]

Song: Dark Premonitions by Jon Sumner 

Scene: Ray confronts Boston at his house

Type: Vocal, Playful

Starts after Ray yells “You slept with Top”. Another way of seeing Boston shutdown and he turns it back on Ray, saying Ray would be just as evil as him if Ray tells Mew. All the while minimizing and deflecting anything Ray throws his way.

Boston gives Ray a view of the future where he’s the villain for doing what is right. And this feeling makes Ray pause before telling Mew the truth.

Fun fact: the mirror has news clippings on it, one has Halloween in big letters, another might say Halloween is coming.

Song: Too Dusty (Live Version) by Blood Red Sun  Scene: Ray and Mew in the bathroom Type: Vocal

Lyrics in show:

[Verse 1] You got me acting out, you All tenderness is out the window What you do to me when the cold bites blue is straight cruel, mmm Oh, it has to be you leaving writings on the wall You promised me roses and hungry heads but, now there's only madness (Got me feeling dusty) (Got me feeling dusty) And I can't even whisper in this haunted scene oh take my hand and wake me Please Tell me it's a dream (dream) the worst kind you've ever dreamed [Chorus] Don't wanna lay anothеr night, here without you Don't wanna walk another milе, (I just can't) please don't make me do it I, I've got too much to lose I've got too much to lose Too much to lose [Verse 2] Now lay me in the wilderness, to dry out bits of your sweet caress I can't weep no more Willow trees have died, and the last Horned Lark will fly (Got me feeling dusty) (Got me feeling dusty) Please tell me it's a dream (dream) the worst kind you've ever dreamed

It starts in the bar bathroom scene, and most of the song in the show, except the last two lines. playing so softly it’s almost a background sound like you’d hear in a bathroom at a bar. The song is mournful, wishing for release of the old feelings even while hoping for the lover to not leave them. Death, drought, nightmares through out the song, and he just wants to be released.

“You’ve got me acting out” basically is what Ray will do, even though he’s trying to save himself and Mew. He’s fighting with himself, Mew told him that they can’t be friends if he can’t leave the old feelings, Boston and Sand both think that he’d tell Mew because of those feelings. He’s at risk of losing everyone if he tells Mew.

Later, when he does tell, he seems so heartbroken, assuming Mew would also believe it's because of those feelings. "I'm ok, I've always been ok" - "I just want you to be happy, even if I'm not part of it"

Song: ร้ายก็รัก by Joey Boy

Scene: Mew's party, Yo and friends are singing along to Joey Boy

Type: Vocal

Lyrics they sing:

I guess good guys only exist in… "Where?" "In Yo’s club!" A bad guy like me is doomed to misery I guess good guys only exist in fairy stories (You should’ve said “Yo’s club”) I’m a villain, no matter how much I love you, I must die eventually In the end, he’s the one who has your love

Mew's acting strange for what we know in the story, as everyone else is celebrating and singing along to the song. Good guys really only exist in fairy stories, and everyone is going to face their wrongs.

Song: Bursting Into Life by Harper Rey Scene: Ray criticizes everyone Cheum Type: Vocal

Starts after Ray says Cheum always complains to us you don’t have time for her, and she doesn’t understand your indie films. Ray’s finally moving, not just silently taking all the bad energy around him.

Song: Blame Game by GEMINII  Scene: Ray gets punched by Mew Type: Vocal

Lyrics not in show:

Stop fighting Done lying For closure Can we turn this last page over? Talk about it Can’t go round it It’s not over Everything is moving slower  They cling on to the blame Cause it’s all (Can we turn this last page over?) They have left to do Moving on from the pain Cause it’s all (But, everything is moving slower) They have left to do More, then thousands On the horizon I swear we’re trapped in Everything we feared is happening

Ray brought everything to the surface. He kicked everyone’s sandcastles down. The only person he attacked personally was Sand, and even then it wasn’t anything sacred that Sand shared with him. Now he’s trapped holding the blame, he became the villain in their stories like Boston was in his. 

“Everything we feared is happening” is an interesting line, since Boston was afraid Ray would tell Mew about Top, Nick is afraid Boston will leave him, Mew was afraid of Top not being serious about their relationship, Top was afraid that Ray and Mew were more than friends, Sand is afraid Ray will choose Mew, and Ray is afraid that Mew will push him away. Sand already pushed Ray away, so Ray hurts Sand like Sand hurt Ray. Sand doesn’t want Ray’s money, but if Ray keeps repeating it, maybe Sand would get how it feels to be accused of something over and over. 

They’ve all made prophecies that have come true, and now everyone holds onto the blame.

Maybe once they let go of that blame and start actually being honest with themselves, they can move forward. 

[4/4]

Song I’ll Do It All over Again by Mindme  Scene: April and Cheum make up, Boston and Nick in bed Type: Vocal

Lyrics:

I see you struggle Like butterflies in water Can’t get moving forward I see your shoulders Weighed down by armor You don’t need that protection

Lyrics not in show

I would walk on glass I would run ten thousand miles and more I would give my eyes if you lost your sight I would run through fire I would carry you through the heat I would do it all again if you needed me to Wish that I could Take away your pain Like sunbeams in the rain Oh we’re family Where ever you go I’ll follow What ever you do I’ll handle I would walk on glass I would run ten thousand miles and more I would give my eyes if you lost your sight I would run through fire I would carry you through the heat I would do it all again if you needed me to Oh, oh I’ll do it all over again Oh, Oh I’ll do it all over again I would run through fire I would carry you through heat I’ll do it all over again

Song starts as April asks Cheum to not lie, that her words mean so much.

I see you struggle Like butterflies in water

These two lines play as April and Cheum hug, their problem fixed as soon as Cheum stopped blaming Ray and owned up to her own words.

The scene switches to Boston and Nick in Nick’s room halfway through the next line, as they lay silently in bed. Nick and Boston are stuck, unable to move forward since Boston refuses to talk. Ray exploding at the club has upset Boston more than he’s willing to say to Nick, the one person who would listen and accept.

In the show, the lyrics are Nick’s feelings “I see your shoulders” Nick rolls over to put his hand on Boston’s chest, “weighted down by armor” Boston moves Nick’s hand away, and “You don’t need that protection” plays as Boston rolls away, shutting down Nick’s comfort.

Boston’s armor is his minimizing, reflecting blame, his masks, and here, the disconnect. Nick would walk on glass and follow Boston across the world, but he can’t fix anything if Boston turns away from him. You can’t force someone to love you, even if you walk through fire for them.

Song: I Used to Be Free by Fleurs Douces Scene: Song Mew puts on after lighting candles Type: Vocal

Lyrics heard in show:

Feeling caged Unsafe Lights are out I'm fading Angels Call my name Move on Just move on I'm falling so deep, deep below I'm not alright Can't get no sleep, time's too slow I can't keep fighting I used to be free, but now I'm just old Losing my mind It's all in my head, it's all in my head Not too long ago When I still felt joy Not a pressure on my chest Try to find a Way to Control it I don't wanna live a life like this I'm falling so deep, deep below I'm not alright Can't get no sleep, time's too slow

(beginning of next song overlaps and drowns out the rest)

I can't keep fighting I used to be free, but now I'm just old Losing my mind It's all in my head, it's all in my head

Mew lights candles and we get a sickly green glow, the song is haunting and it draws Top into the bedroom. “When we love or get attached to anyone, it’s hard to get over that person. Don’t you think” Mew asks Top.

Not too long ago When I still felt joy Not a pressure on my chest Try to find a Way to Control it I don't wanna live a life like this

Mew took control of the situation, he didn’t give Top a way out, and he proved that it is Top’s voice on that tape. The refusal to want to feel this pressure, this despair, is what drives Mew’s actions in the next episode.

I like how the next song, cold-blooded drowns out the rest of this song. It's angry and decisive, Mew has made his decision. Mew is ready to hurt Top as they start to undress.

Song: cold-blooded by King Sis  Scene: Top and Mew start to do it in Mew’s bed Type: Vocal

Lyrics not heard in show:

I lay you to rest in pieces No picture on a T-Shirt Like you never existed I’m done being a victim This is my villain era, look out I go hard from my heart Play with her, it go down Now you blocked Shhh Don’t make a sound Don’t wish you no harm But I hope that no good come around In my space there's no cheaters allowed I gave you my word Try it again you gonna lose your girlfriend The nerve To think I wouldn’t disappear from your life Cold-Blooded Boy I’m cold-blooded All this blue ice water in my veins Memorial service in your name Cold-blooded You are trying to spin the block now Bring flowers to my job now Oh you realized what you lost now I been pressure, never stop now But I’m way too good at goodbyes Bet you thought grass was green on that other side Guess what I’ll help you decide Tattoo'd on my tears No I swear that you won’t catch me crying Got no reasons left to rewind I gave you my word Try it again I’ll put you on the bench Do not disturb To think I used to dream of being your wife Cold-blooded

The beginning of the song starts after Mew asks for one more gift and turns to undo Top’s shirt. Given this song, that gift might be front row seats at Top’s funeral. Or at least a close up of Top’s shocked face when he finds out about the tape. As the song says:

I’m done being a victim This is my villain era, look out

Top messed around, and instead of doing what he should have done, which was go to Mew with his concerns with Ray, he decides to fuck Boston.

Song: The Vice by Hampus Naeselius Scene: Mew confronts Top about the tapes  Type: Background, Playful

Top’s vice, his wrongs, are brought to light and at first Top falls back to his habit of not telling the whole truth. Mew voices his concerns, his insecurities, angry at the betrayal of a friend and a lover at the same time. The song ends with Mew saying he can’t trust anything Top says.

Honesty and Sincerity are a major theme of Only friends, as the first song in the show says,

Because I know you are honest Someone like you I've never met Take it, take all of my heart It's all yours

Right now the only couple at the end of Ep6 is April and Cheum, who, after their problems were laid out onto the table, were able to start to fix them. Top and Mew’s bewitchment has been broken, and Sand and Ray’s fragile connection has shattered. Nick and Boston, in Ep7 are completely apart, but it’s still early, and I’m not sure how the show is going to direct their path. 

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That's it for EP6, thank you for reading! Thank you @rocketturtle4 for your patience with me this episode.

Here's the master list

Here's a link to EP6 part 1