#i blame the newsreader for this

[domithanasia]

when i'm watching the newsreader and they're mean to noelene

[mariemariemaria]

Don't even think Dale is in his villain era tbh he didn't exactly turn the other cheek but if Gerry did leak that story about him and Tim then why would he support him. If I was him I wouldn't be held responsible for my actions

[adreamthatsworthkeeping]

The Newsreader gun episode is doing amazing work reflecting the issue around gun control.

[helen-dale]

(my main blog is @elialys, currently using this sideblog to post my newsreader feels/gifs because tumblr shadowbanned me on sunday for sending s3 to people 💀 anyway, this post was written a few days ago)

~~~~

I took notes on my immediate feelings after watching each episode of season 3 of The Newsreader, it’s helped with the “AAAAAAH” emotions that binging such an intense show cause, plus I figured quite a few of you might share my feels. It’s mostly me screaming, and it’s a tad disjointed as you can imagine, but blame the show for breaking my brain.

SPOILERS UNDER THE READ MORE!!

3.01 Night of Nights

I’ve honestly watched the first two seasons so many times in the past year that I forgot all about that HEAVY DREAD FEELING NEW EPISODES OF THIS SHOW MAKE ME FEEL. And I’m guessing it’s not going to get any better as the season progresses 😭 They truly are so good at creating the scenes with high energy, feeling so IMMEDIATE, and Helen’s anxiety never fails to trigger mine, so 🥲

Speaking of Helen, I’m going to need to rewatch the season a second time fairly fast because as always whenever I watch something new with Anna, I am too busy thinking “SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL” in a loop to pay attention to most of what she’s saying. But she is, I absolutely LOVE the new look in season 3, the shorter hair is perfect, her logie look was gorgeous, she looked so beautiful, and then she looked even better at the end when she was all casual at her house, in jeans and with barely any make up ❤�� ANYWAY, that’s my initial, mandatory gushing about the “Anna is gorgeous” aspect of things.

This episode was a whirlwind honestly, so many things to take in already, many many emotions were felt. I love how they are setting up the pieces for the rest of the season, the way they always do. I already want to slap Rob and protect Noelene at all costs from all those men. Lindsay needs to DIE ALREADY, I swear to god if he’s not run over by a bus by the end of this show 😡

Okay let me gush over Helen a bit more substantially. I love how FAST she was hit in the face by the reality of being back in Australia, with all the network bullshit. This poor woman has so much fucking trauma associated with this industry and the way they treated her, even at the height of her career, being offered this prime time show, she still doubts herself and the legitimacy of it. The way her anxiety took over, her fighting it, I know these are just the first cracks of the season 😭 PLEASE let our girl get a proper diagnosis and proper help by the end of this I BEG YOU SHOW. Needless to say I still absolutely adore the way Anna portrays her, always saying so much in all those moments she has zero lines of dialogue.

Dale. Dale Dale Dale. DALE IS DEAD INSIDE. Him saying he felt NOTHING standing there receiving his award? Him clearly being dead inside while having a man stripping in front of him, at his request? MY SWEET WET NOODLE, WHERE IS YOUR SOUL? I love the fact that I *know* they’re setting him up to being BROKEN this season, and I cannot wait. BREAK HIM. LET HIM FEEL THINGS AGAIN. I AM READY TO HURT WITH HIM.

Serious talk though, THE HELEN x DALE CONTENT IN THIS EPISODE???? 😭😭😭😭 Minute one in the restaurant, you can tell the love is still there. Minute two you can also tell they’re still shit at communicating so hahaha joke is on us as much as on them. Helen saying he was her only non-disaster yet they were pretty disastrous and him just…“I don’t think we were” DALE MY MAN YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME.

Don’t get me started on Helen losing her shit at the logies realizing she was going to “betray” Dale. Her trying NOT TO SAY IT. DALE’S SPEECH 30 SECONDS LATER THANKING HELEN FOR SEEING THE NEWSREADER IN HIM????? 😭😭😭

You know last year I loved talking about how Noelene and Rob’s relationship acted as a foil to Helen and Dale’s (as did Gerry and Carla’s), with them actually talking things through when Helen and Dale did not. This episode was another beautiful example of this, with the focus being put on Noelene being (RIGHTFULLY) upset that Rob just threw the “oh, and my wife” line in his speech when she fucking produced that show, and HERE IS DALE JENNINGS, on stage, thanking Helen for seeing him and making this possible for him, WHEN THEY ARE BROKEN UP AND ESTRANGED.

ALSO, talking of parallels, the hotel scene KILLED ME. I believe it was a VERY DELIBERATED CHOICE by Emma to frame Dale and that man the way she did, because that’s basically how Dale and Helen were framed in that hotel scene at the end of 2x01.

And Helen hoping so hard that they can remain “friends” despite the competition, when everything on Dale’s face tells you “naaaaah not gonna happen” but he smiles his empty smile and says “yeaaah sure” 😭 HE’S GONNA TAPE ALL OF HER SHOWS THOUGH BECAUSE HE’S DALE.

Anyway so much more to say, but I still want to watch another episode before attempting sleep, I need to find myself a paper bag to breathe in.

(just realized I didn’t mention the Dale and Kay thing once, but I think that says a lot in itself, no offence to Kay but NO THANK YOU)

(((Also, I hate the wig. I hate it so much)))

3.02 A New Era

(This ended up being me live commenting this episode because I kept getting so anxious/upset that I had to take breaks)

“Human conversations are not this boy’s strong suit” Lindsay, I hate you, but this does describe Dale a little too well.

Evelyn butting in and listening in to her daughter’s phone conversation with Dale is such an Evelyn thing to do. Also, look, I am aware that Kay and Dale are unsubstantial at this stage of the show and they’re only doing this to get us riled up, but guess what? IT IS WORKING.

Currently taking a pause from the episode because Lindsay is being a fucking ass and trying to feed Helen’s team fake news for her to read on her first show is STRESSING ME OUT I CANNOT DO THIS.

Ugh, the “HELEN’S MENTAL HEALTH” MUSICAL THEME KICKING OFF IN THE BACKGROUND FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON I AM NOT READY.

Aaaand indeed, I was not ready, crying actual tears at Helen losing her shit at work in front of everyone, this is going to be a long season I AM FINE 😭

GUYS EVERYONE IS SCREAMING IN THIS EPISODE WHAT THE HELL I LOVE IT BUT I CAN’T TAKE IT

God Vincent’s comment about how she’s the first woman on a prime time show and we “can’t even see her tits” I want to kill all those men I SWEAR TO GOD

I am dying inside at the PARALLELS of Helen and Dale watching a tape of Helen’s first show, which was shit, while Dale kicked ass, like THIS IS HOW THE SHOW STARTED BUT WITH THEIR PLACES SWITCHED.

I keep having to pause this episode, I’m so upset at Helen being told off by her new boss for having mental health issues that interfere with her work, I clearly did not buy enough tissues for this season. I mean, it HAS to be addressed, she does have to seek PROPER help, but the way it’s just…thrown at her, always, it’s too real and heartbreaking. THE PATRONIZING!!!

Not gonna lie, kinda loving the fact that Dale is learning to assert himself with his man friend he pays for sex and that he’s learning to use those skills with Lindsay. Somehow it’s unsettling and awkward and very Dale and I’m thriving.

I wanted to talk a little about Noelene and baby Hana (and Rob lol) because CONGRATS NOELENE, but right now I’m too busy ugly crying over that scene of Helen admitting to the psychiatrist that she’s been struggling her whole life. Oh this punched me in the GUTS.

That’s my cue to take a break and get some sleep, dear lord, my own mental health is not equipped for this.

~~

Alright, back at at it after less than 5h of sleep, I don’t foresee myself crying less. I’ve been thinking about the first couple episodes over and over, and I’ve realized the start of this season feels skewed. And a big part of it is because of Dale.

In those first two episodes, Helen is more alive than ever, full of emotions that overwhelm her, and you FEEL for her. Usually, I feel that for Dale, too, with his big wet eyes and the constant panic in 2/3 of the scenes he’s in. But so far this season? I feel nothing, except concern for him. He’s just empty, he’s pretending with everyone, at work, with Kay, with Helen. He’s struggling to be in control in any way he can, paying for what I can’t really describe as intimacy, since he’s using those moments to try asserting any kind of control.

Plus, he’s got a terrible wig, but I’m aware that’s mostly me overfixating on it.

I also know something’s gotta give. I’m suspecting episode 3 will do that, one way or another.

It's 6am, let’s gooooo

3.03 Behind the Front Line

HOLY HELL, this episode came for me!!! My favorite one of the season so far, shockingly I know haha, with it containing Helen’s long awaited diagnosis and that famous improv scene at her house.

Let me say it again: HOLY HELL 😭😭😭

I seriously love the way they handled Helen learning what her diagnosis is, from her figuring it out on her own by doing research, to her losing her shit as a result of her psychiatrist confirming it. I’ve figured it was borderline personality disorder a long time ago when I first watched the show and did research before starting to write fanfic about her, because I wanted to understand her better and be mindful in the way I wrote her, and like her doctor said, she ticked so many of those boxes.

Don’t get me started on how Dale reassures her with “All I see is you” to counter her saying he must have seen it, must have known. He’s not brushing off or denying the messiest parts of her, he’s acknowledging them, basically saying it’s always been part of her, and he’s loved her as she was and as she is. Beautiful, beautiful scene, Anna’s acting was insane, absolutely insane, cannot wait to rewatch it in a loop until every frame is carved in my neurodivergent brain.

I am so worried for my boy Dale though, he’s so fucking dead inside. Still practicing sounding normal in front of mirrors, like the beautiful neurospicy human that he is. Helen being surprised that he’s throwing himself a birthday party and him being literally “it’s a social event, it’s a normal thing to do” DALE MY LOVE YOU ARE ALLOWED NOT TO FIT IN.

I do not trust whatever is going on between him and Kay. I don’t understand how anyone can fall for Dale *right now*. Like I get why both Helen and Tim were swooning over Dale in s1 because he was so squishy and nerdy and sweet and full of tears, but THIS Dale Kay is interacting with? HE’S A SHELL OF A HUMAN BEING. He’s just as much of a lifeless husk on the desk as he is away from it and IT HURTS MY SOUL. So yeah, Kay saying “I love the way you make me feel” I’m just??? Also, the fact that she keeps comparing him to her dad, haha. Anyway, I don’t sense this ‘relationship’ going anywhere healthy given the state of things.

Also, LINDSAY???? He didn’t actually give Noelene her maternity leave, at all???? Being a fucking racist???? Crashing the party and having a temper tantrum???? I am not surprised by any of this but god this man deserves a heart attack or a stroke for fuck’s sake.

Noelene is absolutely fabulous, LOVE the way she just said fuck it and gave the story to Helen, then JOINED Helen, like YES QUEEEEEEENS.

I have no idea what to expect for the second half of the season, although I suspect since the first half was more about Helen’s mental health and job, the second half will focus more on Dale’s mental health and job, as in, I’m waiting for him to break. Guessing the 6th and final episode titled “The Fall” might feature a bit of that. Our boy is drinking a lot. Like, A LOT.

3.04 One Team, All Brothers

Ugh. UGH.

I always loved how this show handles complex topics, and this episode was as strong as ever. I’m GLAD Rob’s attitude toward racism was brought to light, Noelene absolutely killed it. Rob’s scene with Deano…man 😭

Equally loved Helen’s journey through this episode, how she’s trying to help but as always she’s confronted to people around her not wanting to stir the pot, and how in the end, she is just another “white woman” because, well, she is. LYNUS THOUGH, so so glad to have more of him, he’s so wonderful ❤️

I am so so in love with the way they show Helen working so hard on not losing it at work, using strategies and calling her therapist like, I can’t remember seeing this side of mental health portrayed on tv like this before, it is so validating. And watching it WORK, watching how it allows her to ground herself. And sure it might not always work, but at least she’s being given the tools to handle those overwhelming emotions, and I’m so proud of her.

Talking of in love, I did not see the “I’m in love with you” from Bill thing coming, but I am here for the drama. I don’t even blame this man, he spent months with her overseas where she was clearly thriving, he got to see the best side of her, and yeah, we’ve all been there, Bill. Curious to see how that’s going to impact the next two episodes because talk about awkward, he’s executive producer 💀

NERVOUS about the Kay and Dale thing. They make me uncomfortable, as stated in my previous comments for episode 3, this is not love, this is them using each other for very different reasons. Nervous about Dale’s escort not being as discreet in the future as Dale hopes he’ll be. Also, EVELYN?? I get that she’s “looking out for her daughter” but what a fucking bitch, as Helen would say.

Also I just gotta say, that bit at the start, with Helen and Dale watching those parodies of themselves :’)) How Helen is just finding it all so hilarious, including the parody of her (which is so funny honestly), while Dale is just…well, dead inside, BECAUSE THAT IS JUST DALE’S DEFAULT MODE THIS SEASON.

God I do hope we start seeing him crack soon, I am so desperate for some EMOTIONS FROM HIM. And I gotta say, this show as always is great at surprising me. 4 episodes out of 6, and so far, none of the ‘ugly competition’ between Helen and Dale I was expecting/fearing from the promo and season synopsis. Yes their shows are against one another, timewise, and yes, there’s competition between networks, but it’s like, in the background, and it’s not seemed to have impacted whatever version of ‘friendship’ they both have at the moment. I put ‘friendship’ in quotes because well, see my “DALE IS DEAD INSIDE” comments. This poor man is just existing right now.

I’m wondering if Helen is so focused on her show and working on herself (as she should ❤️) and just happy that Dale is still part of her life in some capacity, that she’s not yet gone “hey honey, you look and sound a little like a fucking zombie, let’s talk about this”. I’m also thinking, between their schedules and him dating Kay, they don’t actually see each other that often, and never for long. I’m just…I want someone to ACKNOWLEDGE that Dale is not doing well, and I would 1000% appreciate it most if it was Helen 😭

3.05 On the Brink

There is something incredibly sad in the fact that Helen’s comments on air, about how shame and isolation are what makes having mental health issues so unbearable, are being said on a show that takes place in 1989, yet are still extremely relevant to this day, 35 years later. There has been great progress, but not enough. It’s 2025 and struggling with anxiety or depression, or anything of the sort, is STILL so misunderstood by most people, still hush hush.

That being said, I am so incredibly moved, so so grateful, that the show has chosen to bring so much light on mental health through Helen. I’m going to need to process everything in this episode but that was beautifully cathartic, can’t quite talk about it properly yet.

Also, absolutely heartbroken about Dale completely spiraling, between the drinking and the drugs, while being fucking blackmailed. The final episode clearly is called “The Fall” for a very good reason 😭 A little terrified to watch it, as it will be THE END, so I’m going to make myself some lunch instead. But given how beautifully they’ve handled Helen’s story in those last 5 episodes, I absolutely trust that they put just as much care in Dale’s breaking point. I also trust the fact that in the past, whenever one of them broke, the other was there to catch them. And I cannot wait for that.

One last thing about this episode, I feel like Helen turning down Bill is another proof of the progress she’s made. She has a fear of abandonment, she latches on to people who are showing her the slightest bit of love, of attention, even when it’s the toxic kind, and she’s not been shy about seeking pleasure. And here you have this man who’s telling her he loves her, who’s her boss (another pattern in her previous lifestyle), and she says no.

I am so proud of her 😭

3.06 The Fall

This was so fucking hard to watch. The first part of it with Dale’s breakdown, absolutely heartbreaking, I was literally clutching at my face and hiding my eyes at times. The self-loathing was difficult to WATCH, I just…Sam Reid, what the fuck, his performance. It WAS like watching a trainwreck in real time. The part with him hitting himself, and listening to those awful audience comments over and over and over again 😭 This man was in so much pain, and SO touch-starved, needing real connection but not finding it 😭

It did bother me that they made the plot decision to just....let Dale sit on that desk, CLEARLY DRUNK and looking the way he did, when a few episodes ago, Helen was sent home straight away when she tried doing her show while drunk/high. If they couldn’t keep him off the desk at least don’t go live and put the “technical issues” screen on, and DON’T LEAVE HIM ON AIR FOR SO LONG.

God Lindsay really is a fucking villain, him looming over Dale, just…the psychological abuse was so so hard to watch.

He didn’t just deserve to be sacked, HE DESERVED TO BE RUN OVER BY A BUS. That being said I’m extremely glad the show ended with him gone, and Dennis stepping in.

Ugh I absolutely love Noelene telling Helen exactly what she thinks. Not only did she stand up for herself, she also gave Helen the last push she needed to call the shots for HER show.

The image of her being the lone woman at that table full of men once again berating her, was so damn powerful, ESPECIALLY the way she just let them have their trantrum, only to calmly tell them “No” and step away like, QUEEN.

Oh and Helen's "I'm not gonna be punished because I didn't want to fuck you" to Bill?

The Helen x Dale content was so scarce this season, but I don’t actually mind it? Like, the shipper in me mourns the fact that we didn’t get more and will never get more, but I’m a fic writer, I’ll make more 😏 I am 150% happy with the fact that they focused so much more on Helen’s journey through taking care of her mental health, and Dale stepping away from this toxic, TOXIC environment.

Also all the call backs to season 1 guys, I cannot 😭 Her ‘rescuing’ him, the dialogue being almost exactly the same from the pilot 😭😭😭 Not gonna lie the fact that it’s basically how I started my own “helen x dale post s2 fix it fic” over a year ago gives me warm feelings. Also, I am terrible person for thinking this but when Dale told his mum that what was in the paper was true (about him being with men) and he said “I love you, I hope you can still love me” and she said NOTHING? I thought “well I’m not so sorry I killed you off in my fic now” because?!!! 🙃 I’m sure she’ll come around and everything, she STAYED with him, but it's still a gut punch compared to Helen’s “I love you just the way you are” in season 1 after he told her the truth.

Honestly, I didn’t know what kind of ending I wanted for these two as a pair, except that this is what I was hoping for, since I figured there wouldn’t me any romantic ending. Them CLEARLY in each other’s lives, clearly better when they have each other, with me free to imagine that when Dale comes home from Germany, he smooches the hell out of Helen and they get acquainted with her couch again :’))

(you know she's thinking about that couch)

(can we blame her? LOOK AT HIM)

I’m going to need to rewatch this season at least once or twice in the next week to really take it all in. I am so sad that it’s over, overwhelmed with so many emotions after taking it all in so fast, but also very content. I feel they wrapped everyone’s storyline beautifully, and left us on a GOOD, positive note, full of hope.

And again, so beyond grateful for how truly Helen focused this last season was.

God that was so beautiful.

[akajustmerry]

its sunday night so i am thinking about dale jennings!!! i saw a post this week talking about dale jennings of the newsreader fame's biggest issue being that he lacks conviction and its made him into a people pleaser and i agree with that! the op is right he does lack conviction, which is a fundamental element of who he is and why he has become who he is, and why he and helen ultimately Struggle™️. HOWEVER. i don't think his eager unsure responses to situations (ie. being unsure about marriage until gerry brings it up, following helen's lead, etc) come from a desire to PLEASE people. otherwise he couldn't have betrayed gerry or iced out helen the way he did. no, dale jennings is Like That because he has a debilitating disbelief in himself and is afraid of his feelings of bone-deep inadequacy being discovered. his line, "i don't have a sort of place" isn't just about his sexuality. its about EVERY aspect of his life. its the thesis of his whole character. he genuinely feels no matter how far he gets in his career, relationships, whatever the fuck that he should not be there, and any minute someone will catch him out. so he jumps the gun to not get caught. it already happened to him when he was caught with that other gay kid as a teenager and dale let everyone blame the other kid while still internalising all that homophobia from the adults around him and he's full of shame about it. and so much of what happens with dale in the newsreader is cycle of him almost getting caught and wiggling his way out before he can be caught and then internalising the shame of that until he's just a black hole of insecurity keeping everything at arms length so he never has to worry about being "caught"again. and all it cost was his heart and soul. anyways, i am having a very normal one tonight.

[shesnake]

just finished watching s2 of the newsreader bc of you and i'll tell you, i think that i might need a rewatch to understand exactly where dale jennings wronged all these people the way i've seen some comments. besides tim, i think that helen was equally to blame at points with him - they just feel like they'd be great friends but bad partners - and the gerry thing is super complex because i genuinely don't see where else the tim thing could have leaked from and it's a shame they turned on each other when dale had managed to get him air time prior to the gossip columnist's calls. and with tim, i feel like the conflict really just maintained itself at the same scale it was at the end of s1. anyway, the only thing dale sees as valuable from himself is his journalistic skills, he's clearly more lost than ever in relation to his bisexuality and i feel for the guy. the day he unlocks it he's going to be unstoppable.

Hey there! Very glad you watched the show ❤ and you've kind of answered your own question with that last paragraph. Everything following is a (hopefully) more cohesive version of this post I made when season 2 finished:

Dale's professional ambition leads him to wronging everyone. Over the course of season 2, we can see him slowly shedding his principles and journalistic integrity, hoping to reach the status of a newsreader like Geoff Walters. His number one priority is to maintain his public image. He no longer fights for The Story, only for damage control.

When he sees a problem coming, he works harder to save face than he does to help fix the actual problem, leaving Helen to scramble around. He prepares a little joke and practices his laughter in the mirror so he can be unfazed when her interview with Lynus about his Aboriginal perspective on the bicentennial gets cut. On a public level it's incredibly racist!!! And on a personal level he's fucked Helen over. He "handles" Helen by dismissing her bipolar swings as "migraines", treating her mental illness the same way every other man has.

And with Tim... it hurts to admit, but Tim is just a very handsome plot device. A pretty vehicle for Dale's bisexuality to enter the plot. Tim exists solely for Dale to fumble. Sorry Tim.

In season 1, Dale's internalised homophobia becomes the story when his shitty interview skills leads to NA6 platforming homophobic AIDS rhetoric. Dale's delivery of misinformation was an accident, then Geoff comes in purposely to deliver the death blow. Dale throwing Gerry UNDER THE BUS was season 2's death blow. Regardless of whether it could've flipped the other way. He's so cold when he finally speaks to the gossip journalist. HE is the one offering HER the deal to stay silent about his bisexuality, because he knows he's made it.

Dale has always felt inadequate, as a journo and as a man. His clothes have always been too big for him. But by the end of season 2, after sacrificing all these personal relationships that made him more vulnerable, he's reached a point of privilege where the benefits of appealing to his public image outweigh exploiting his hidden truths. He is now The Newsreader. He gets on camera and delivers his bulletin, solo, in a black suit that fits him perfectly.

[nalyra-dreaming]

I was tagged by @o0anapher0o, @aquarines and @pankadoll... and I'm very late with this, too, apologies 😭

Rules: shuffle your ‘on repeat’ playlist and post the 10 first tracks, then tag 10 friends to do the same.

I don't have Spotify, so I used the "favorites mix" playlist, which resulted in this:

There Must Be An Angel, Eurythmics

She's Like The Wind, Patrick Swayze

Walking In The Air, Nightwish

You Can't Hurry Love, Phil Collins

Walking On Broken Glass, Annie Lennox

Alone, Heart

Don't Stop Believing, Journey

You Took The Words Right Out My Mouth, Meat Loaf

Blinding Lights, The Weekend

For Once In My Life, Stevie Wonder

Tagging @originalstarlighttiger, @lgbthenry, @fandomsmeantheworldtome, @fluegelschatten, @penguinsandbats, @mouser26, @madevampselle, @anaid-queen, @silvervinespiderwebs, @emeraldinerosefaedragon and also whoever wants to :))

PS: Current Eurythmics and Annie Lennox obsession is firmly to blame on The Newsreader, juuuuuuuuuust as a note. And "Don't stop believing" will forever and always make me smile because of Scrubs and JD and Turk. :)

[thelioncourts]

I love your Tumblr, and I know you're not just a Loustater in name,like some other But the recent Sam sighting isn't just about the Newsreader���he's also the only one actually present in the writers' room, so of course, he gets a lot of contents. I'm really trying not to be negative or sound like I'm blaming you, but let's be real—there's going to be a shift in how AMC promotes the show. And I'm sure Jacob, or even Assad and Delainey, will notice it too.

I'm sure Jacob is supportive and just think,it's Sam moment now but it's a bit frustrating

I'm not talking about marketing, and I've been very vocal about marketing on several occasions and will continue to be vocal about it if we do see an insane shift as S3 moves ahead; I'm talking about "right now" things, and Sam at the writers room was because he was there for the CCA event and, again, genuinely does have some work to do before the season takes off, work that nobody else will be needed for because Sam is not a professionally trained musician and has to learn lyrics and strengthen a skill and stuff. again, outside of the CCA event - which is tied in to the writers room visit - there hasn't been anything crazy that we're looking at right now.

S3 marketing scares me in so many ways because it is easier to sell a general audience on white male rockstar who wears eyeliner or whatever, and so if AMC marketing pushes that more than they ever pushed the first two seasons, it says a lot about AMC. but AMC itself is not the show and I really hope that things don't become what they have the potential to become. And if they do, I will be vocal about it because it'll be bullshit and not unexpected but extremely disappointing. But, again, if I sit here and preemptively start getting upset about potential 'what ifs' or if I sit here and doom post about things that we don't actually know, it's going to make me miserable and we are in too long of a hiatus for me to do that to myself. Louis means too much to me for me to do that to myself.

if we get to that point, if the S3 direction proves to be disappointing as in it completely sidelines Louis, everyone will hear it from me. I didn't post myself absolutely ugly sobbing to the S2 finale because it meant more Louis storylines and more Louis in general and literally could not get my shit together from crying so hard about how happy I was about Louis for them to sideline him. but I genuinely don't think that's going to happen at all. I really don't. and until I actually see it, I'm going to continue to quote people like Rolin who said 'I own the night' is not an exit line, quote people like Sam who has said in multiple interviews that the changes that have been made have been so good too because it means more of Jacob's Louis, people like Jacob who loves Louis and has said small things about S3 (video at SDCC, that run-in with that fan a few weeks ago, still mentioning IwtV in his podcasts that aren't even about IwtV, etc.) and who has said about Loustat that they've wasted so much time but luckily they've got forever, etc.

[humbledragon669]

S1E4 – Saturday Morning Funtime Write Up P1 - Saturday (The last day of the World) up to The Fields of Megiddo

Please forgive the slight skipping ahead to get the banner for the time period, I’m a sucker for consistency and I like to start this write ups with a pretty picture so all the text doesn’t look so daunting. There’s a lot of narrative to get through in this episode, which is borne out in quick scene changes, so apologies if this write up comes across as a bit scattered. Housekeeping aside, I have something intriguing to point out in the opening scene. Captain Vincent (who in the script is described as William Shatner but seems to me more like a Liam Neesom type) records in the ship’s log that the ship is on course to Havana. Looking at the location of Atlantis on Crowley’s globe from later in the episode, I think they may have been blown somewhat off course:

But then, what would you expect from a cruise ship whose name is the medical term for an infectious disease (measles)? I do rather like the insinuation that cruise guests are so stupid as to believe the ship’s crew capable of raising an entire continent from the deep, complete with its citizens, purely for their entertainment though. Light-hearted as this scene is, it serves as a neat little bridge from the previous episode, where the last thing we saw was the consequences of Adam coming into his power, albeit in unexpected ways. It sounds like the voices are getting stronger and clearer for him now too, seeing as we’re able to make out words and full sentences this time around. And if we were at all unclear as to what exactly Adam’s powers consist of, he spells it out for us, his earnest words underpinned by come creepy child choir soundtrack to really hammer home their meaning:

What I say I true.

Just in case there was any doubt about the intelligence levels of the cruise guests, we have another little dig here in the form of a Facebook post by one of them.

The long-lost continent of Atlantis has suddenly appeared out of nowhere, which means the ship can’t go anywhere, but don’t worry – the Captain has sent a bottle of Champagne to make up for it. Cretin.

For those amongst you who aren’t native to the UK (or don’t watch the news, and honestly who would blame you), the newsreader in this scene is an actual newsreader (rather than an actress playing one) called Kirsty Wark. I think little things like this are really important to contributing to the charm and appeal of the series – it blurs the lines between the story and reality, but also really assists with the show’s relatability.

So, elephant in room question. Questions actually I think.

Why is Gabriel on Earth?

Why is Gabriel jogging on Earth?

Why is Gabriel jogging on Earth where Aziraphale is?

Why is Gabriel jogging on Earth where Aziraphale is, which also happens to be the place where Aziraphale and Crowley had their break-up the night before?

These are all questions I had from the very first watch of the show, and it’s never addressed. I just can’t get my head around any of it, perhaps because I get hung up on wondering if Aziraphale came back to the park or whether he’s still there from the night before. Maybe waiting to see if Crowley will come back. After that I’m not capable of thinking of much else in a logical way because that is just too angsty. What we do know is that Aziraphale is still nervous – he’s wringing his hands. Not nervous enough to not look intrigued by the human interpretation of an angel’s appearance though. Almost so intrigued he misses Gabriel. I can’t quite work out whether his expression says he’s surprised to see the archangel or whether he’s just spurred into action. If it’s the former, then I think we really are in the “Aziraphale has been hanging around the park all night pining” territory. If it’s the latter (which, I’m inclined to think it is, the directions in the script state that he’s looking for someone at this point), I’d really like to know how he knew Gabriel was going to be there in the first place. Either way, I really love the way that Aziraphale starts this conversation in the exact same way that his phone conversations with Crowley usually start (“It’s me.”) – it’s such a casual way to start a conversation, mostly reserved for situations where there is a level of familiarity between the participants that betrays how comfortable they are with one another. It’s also a very human interaction, one which Gabriel does not appear able to understand the nuances of – after all, it is a pretty obvious thing to say isn’t it?

I have to call attention to the level of detail that has gone into the production of this series here, and this time the credit goes to the costume department. They could have had Gabriel running in a very plain set of running clothes, but no – they had to go and add a little hint to his true nature, embroidered right there on his sweater:

So subtle, but it just goes to show how much thought went into every single aspect of this show. It might not be an intricately detailed suit, or a deliberately distressed demon outfit, but this tiny detail is still capable of reminding us of the true nature of the characters we’re watching.

I’m fairly sure that Gabriel’s assertion that the purpose of war is so that they can win it is probably the main reason why most wars are fought. Which is, quite honestly, batshit crazy. Gabriel doesn’t think so though – he can’t understand what Aziraphale’s problem is with this ridiculous catch-22 situation, oblivious to our angel’s very obvious distress:

I find the use of the word “soft” here interesting. I think the meaning of the word in Aziraphale’s mind is very complicated – he’s not really talking about his lack of physical prowess (not my opinion, just reiterating what Gabriel so hurtfully said previously) but his attachment to Earth as a whole, which would no doubt be perceived by Heaven as having gone “soft”. The irony is that his “softness”, perceived at this point by him and others as weak, is exactly what draws us to him as a character, forming an essential part of his make-up as a hero character.

Moving on, it looks like Lesley (the International Express delivery man) is quite the foreshadower of his own fate.

Ours is not to reason why. Ours is to deliver packages.

I’m sure most people will know that the way the second part of this line should end is nothing to do with delivering packages, but should instead be “to do and die”. It’s a very well-known quote, even if it is slightly altered from the original, from Tennyson’s Charge of the Light Brigade, underlining the fact that soldiers should not question the purpose of their service, only to perform their duties and give their life when necessary. Which is exactly what Lesley is about to do with his deliveries, even if he is ignorant of the fact that he’s been drafted as the harbinger of Armageddon.

Quick note: I love that view from Heaven! It’s another one of those little things that you only see for a moment, and if you’re not concentrating, you might think it’s just any old cityscape but let’s take a quick inventory, shall we?

From left to right:

The Eiffel Tower.

Big Ben.

Mountains.

Empire State Building.

The London Eye.

The Shard.

Pyramids.

There are maybe some others (in a later shot you can also see what looks like St Paul’s cathedral), but you get the idea – there’s no way that all of those things could be in one view - some of them are in different continents to each other. It’s a pretty cool view though, I wonder if you can Airbnb up there?

We now have the first firm indication that things are getting tricky for our hero pair. “Earth observation files” you say? That sounds decidedly problematic. I do love how Gabriel genuinely seems to think there would be an innocent explanation for an angel and demon to have met multiple times, though in his defence none of the photos he is presented with show the pair with anything other than neutral expressions. What this exchange does inform us of is that the suspicions surrounding Aziraphale have only been incited owing to his recent comments – he really has been fooling them completely for the last 6000 years, and even when they do catch on Michael’s first thought is that he’s a double agent. Not a bad record if you ask me. I think it’s pretty spiteful of Michael to turn Crowley in to Hell at this point – they must know that he’s not working for Heaven, and would be aware that Hell are probably going to take an even harsher stance towards any descent in the ranks they suspect.

Here we go, another (side) note of appreciation (it’s easy to rack these up when the emotional angst isn’t so high). I don’t know whether the chameleon on Ligur’s head is an animatronic prop or CGI, but the fact that it moves, seemingly independently, is yet another beautiful detail that is easy to miss.

Back with Crowley, we find out that he’s still intending on running. It’s here that we find out that he had a hand in creating some of the component parts of the universe, and we have the first mention of Alpha Centauri as being a favoured destination. It feels like an obvious statement to make that the choice of this particular constellation was owing to it being made of two words starting with “A” and “C” but Neil has been asked this question before and stated that its use was purely circumstantial. I’m not sure I fully believe that but maybe that’s just me. My heart goes out to Crowley in this scene – he looks truly defeated. So defeated that he actually tries to reason with God in a tone that could be described as pleading. And in contrast to Gabriel’s description of the reason for Crowley’s fall (that he was one of the rebelling forces against Heaven), we see here that Crowley’s take on the situation is quite different.

Four episodes in and we’re still being introduced to new characters – hello, Pollution. We are given some backstory about why this Horseman isn’t the traditionally-known Pestilence, and I think I read somewhere that this was a conscious substitution made by Neil and Terry to make it feel more relevant/current but I can’t find that source now. Interestingly, the name for the recipient of the crown is given on the delivery form as “Mr. White”, but Lesley refers to them as “Chalky”, a continuation of the theme that there are many names for each of the Horsemen, all of which allude to the same thing.

I find white to be an interesting colour association to make with Pollution – many of us would associate it with cleanliness and purity, the complete opposite of what this Horseman stands for.

Lesley’s final delivery instructions are communicated in a handwritten note:

He is clearly aware of the connotations of this delivery, leaving a note for his beloved Maud. Quite why he doesn’t just “fuck this shit” at this point is a mystery to me – I certainly would have done. Perhaps it’s a callback to his Tennyson quote from earlier. I do find myself wondering if he might have avoided Armageddon himself if he had just done the sensible thing though – after all, he has been (unknowingly) tasked with summoning the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, without which there can be no Armageddon. What if he had just refused to make the last of his deliveries? Regardless, the sequence representing his death shows firstly the colour starting to bleed out of the footage before he dissolves into starlight – a recurring theme in Neil’s work.

On to lighter things now – here’s Anathema doing that creepy thing of offering virtually unknown children food again. I love how Bryan’s initial concern about the chocolate is that he thinks it’s coming from a witch. Never mind “stranger danger”, what you really have to watch out for is those witches. Sounds like he’s well suited for a position in the Witchfinder Army.

It’s not unexpected that Shadwell has Jerusalem playing in his (gross) apartment, I think he probably plays that recording on a loop so as to continue feeding his delusions that his insanity is driven by a deep love for his country. The particular line of the song playing here (“in England’s dark Satanic mills”) is pretty well-timed though, seeing as it won’t be long until everything in England has a distinctly devilish tone to it. There’s also an irony to Shadwell’s farewell:

May the armies of glory march beside ye.

I don’t really think that’s a good idea, seeing as how they’re perfectly comfortable with wiping out the entire human race for the sole purpose of winning an argument…

There’s another throwback to Adam’s imagination becoming real in the next scene, with the UFO that Newton witnesses having the same design as the one we saw hanging from Adam’s bookcase earlier in the episode:

And I love the use of the theremin in the soundtrack – nothing screams an old school UFO and aliens more than the sound of a theremin!

Side note: the mention of a “neuter” gender by the alien is in the original book, written in 1996. I hope I’m not being offensive by crediting Neil and Terry with being massively ahead of their time in their support of the LGBTQ+ community there, and applaud them for being beacons of what we should all aspire to be.

Secondary side note: anybody else get Douglas Adams vibes from this alien conversation? For me it really conjures memories of a different universe where an alien race showed up to destroy Earth to make way for a new hyperspace bypass…

We’re back with The Them, with Wensleydale kindly reminding us that whales have big brains, for the third time in this series. I think it’s fair to say that we should be aware each of the children have their own distinct personalities, given the scripting and acting that we have seen up to this point. If we were in any doubt though, it’s really underlined by the fact that they each have a different type of ice lolly.

Again I say the level of attention to detail in this show is truly astounding. We’ll see more of it in the next scene where we see Ligur’s chameleon not only moving independently but that its skin actually cycles though a range a colours. That said, I do have a question about the information available to Anathema in the next scene:

The full prophecy on the card shows us a lot more information than is narrated in the show (like how she knew he was a Witchfinder, and that his descendant was responsible for the death of her own). What it doesn’t say is how she knows exactly the date and time of his arrival. That information isn’t even in any of the scribbled notes on the card. I guess we’ll never know how she comes to find this out.

And on that quandry, I’m going to wrap it up for this part of the episode write up. I realise it’s a slightly odd place in the episode to call it a day, but if I finish here I can use the Fields of Megiddo signpost to head the next part (told you I was a sucker for consistency). So as always, questions, comments, discussion – always welcome.

[newsatsix1986]

Dale Jennings - now no longer a future Gold Logie winner! 😉🌟❤️

.

.

Well how about that, everyone! Our Dale Jennings is now a Gold Logie winner! Hip hip hooray! It is quite the achievement; he beat out Neighbours’ Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, as well as Hey Hey It’s Saturday’s Daryl Somers. He must be really, really popular in this fictional version of 1980s Australia! In the real Logies ceremony from 1989, it was Daryl that took home the award, but the Hall Of Fame truly went to Mr Bryan Brown, as depicted by stand in actors for Mr Brown and the late Bert Newton in ‘Night Of Nights’!

It was simply divine that he chose to take his beautiful mum Val Jennings as his plus one. I must admit I got a little tear in my eye seeing her all fancied up and getting to bask in the spotlight. She was so very good in keeping on script when Donna Gillies asked her those probing questions about Dale’s childhood; well, almost! But who could blame her, she was just the proudest Mumma alive!

To think that little boy from Bendigo who was fixated on the news from potentially far too young of an age has now won a Gold Logie for his newsreading is so very special. It was even more touching that in his speech, he thanked our Helen Norville, for seeing the newsreader in him and believing he had the potential to become someone bigger. It was such enormous gratitude to her and I must say that I got a lump in my throat. Watching both of their eyes as they realised they were now in direct competition to one another, oh goodness. It was certainly a hard feeling to nurse.

Now our Rob Rickards must be psychic, because in our Season One he called it early. Dale Jennings was indeed a future Gold Logie winner, and it was the most beautiful round circle moment that Rob’s prediction came true. The cleverness in this show’s writing never fails to amaze me! Well done again, Mr Michael Lucas, well done you! ❤️🌟🤴🏼

[gridwalkers]

ENTRY 0001 // ACE - NOV 2042

I remember the sun before it was red. Before the water wars. Before the Grid. The world was connected back then… Mom and dad believed in the future. The future is here now, and they’re not. They died not long after the Grid went up. Millions perished in that moment. Maybe billions. Everyone with a neural implant ending in ‘02001’ or lower went offline. Lea was just a babe, then. She can’t remember the carnage. But I can… First, horror. Panic. Violence… Then came the disease. Cities filled with bodies, and not enough people to bury them. Rats. The smell. You never forget the smells...

Do you remember where you were? When the Grid launched? I do. I was in the living room, glued to the TV screen. Mom said it would ruin my eyes but I didn’t care. All everyone in class could talk about was getting home to see the live launch. I never went back to school after that.

5PM. Mom was getting dinner ready. The newsman started the countdown. The entire world was watching. Waiting.

“TEN” There was nothing brighter than the smile of the TV newsreader. I think his name was Dan-something.

“NINE” Dad was working late at the university, I wonder if he was watching the launch with the other professors in the break room.

“EIGHT” Footage flashed in realtime of all the people around the world, huddled together in various city centres. Looking toward the sky for the big moment.

“SEVEN” I think I yelled for Mom to come watch, but she said she’d watch the recap with Dad later on.

“SIX”… “FIVE”… “FOUR”… “THREE”… “TWO”…

The newsman never finished his reverse count. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he slumped forward, face-down on his desk.

I heard a crash. Lea started crying. I ran into the kitchen and there was Mom, on the floor. I never knew so much blood could come out of a person’s ears… I remember taking Lea out of her high chair and going upstairs to Mom and Dad’s room. I waited for Dad to come home. He never did.

The next few weeks were a blur. It was blamed on terrorist. Then aliens. Then the government. It took a few weeks before everyone realised it was the Grid.

That was twenty years ago. Countless lives lost. Untold suffering. Scarcity and violence are the order of the day. The Grid watches over it all.

Lea and I have been searching for a way to shut down the Grid. We’ve scoured every region of what was once the United States of America. From the wide-open plains of Confederate Wyoming to the undead-infested swamps of French Orleans and the wastelands along the Gulf.

Tonight we’re camping in the ruins of San Francisco, not too far from where we were born. There’s a trail that cuts north along the coast and into Cascadia.

A source we met back in Orleans some months ago claimed to be the nephew of a woman that worked on the Grid project. Said that the control hub for the Grid is somewhere in Denali Park. So we’re headed to Alaska. Lea’s got a mean aim with the crossbow. I’m not too good of a shot myself—knives and bats are more my speed. Between the two of us the hunting's not that bad.

…I better get some rest. The sun rises in a few hours and the battery in this flashlight cost us two days worth of rations at the last trading post. Lea says I’m wasteful, but there’s no time to journal during the day and this story is our legacy. What better story to tell than your own?

…Northward, baby!

NEXT: ENTRY 0002

[electricsun85]

Episode 1: red over blue

The little yellow jeep ambled towards Bryston Metro, passing vibrant neon lights and whizzing trees as a lively news jingle blared over the radio.

Jase was behind the wheel. Stella soundly asleep with her 'Beast-B; cradled in her arms, while Ichiro revelled in the thrill of hand surfing out the window.

“Good evening, good morning, good afternoon! No matter where you are, whatever you do. So many things are happening in the world today,” the cheerful newsreader announced. “Whatever happens, don’t worry--! Keep your chin up—you never had any control anyway!” she added, only to be abruptly cut off by static noise.

"What’s going on?" Jase muttered, puzzled by the newsreader's unusually upbeat tone. He cranked the volume higher, hearing muffled voices ordering 'Cerys' to stick to the script.

"In today's leading story, Zandau Industries has struck gold again! The tech titan has secured another government grant package worth undisclosed millions -- potentially billions-- through suspected backdoor dealings that could fund the next phase of its Metralis project.

This groundbreaking, paradigm-shifting, mind-bending technology promises to usher in a new era of human advancement..." the news reader continued.

A brief silence. Then, panicked voices followed by rustling of papers being thrown around.

"Cerys! Stop! Is this still live!? Oh NO! No! Cut to commercial! Commercial. Now!"

“The critics? What do they know? They're resentful, uninspired souls! Vision is wasted on them!" she pressed on before being swallowed by static.

Jase groaned. “Ah! Why now? It was just getting good!” he rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to scold the radio like it personally wronged him. He didn’t want to be caught talking to an inanimate object.

Ichiro grinned, watching Jase fumble with the dials. “So much fuss over nothing”.

He wondered why Jase hadn’t realised what was behind the strange white noise that swallowed the radio broadcast.  It was Metralis.

Anything not implanted with ZM’s propriety CORD technology – anything unlinked – was affected. Fortunately, the anomalies were fleeting. Harmless, for now. 

Ichiro’s gaze drifted upward. The unmistakable superstructure of Metralis Tower East loomed overhead, casting long, shifting shadows over the suspension bridge linking the two halves of Bryston Metro. The city hummed beneath them, oblivious.

He could feel Jase signalling to him through the rearview mirror, waiting.

Ichiro sighed. What does he want now? He wasn’t in the mood—but Jase, clearly, couldn’t wait.

Raising an eyebrow, Ichiro finally relented. “What is it?”

Tell me you've seen them," Jase whispered sharply.  He knew Jase was referring to CORD implants – the neural tech fitted into machines, binding them to ZM’s vast network. No machinist -- especially not an tinkerer like Jase could resist the urge of obtaining sophisticated device. Every piece of discarded tech held untapped potential.

Listen, I hate ZM as much as you," Jase snapped, catching Ichiro’s sarcasm before it fully formed. "But the machine isn't to blame—it does what is told. The system can be hacked, the connection severed, reprogramed. Once its off the grid? autonomous."

Ichiro scoffed. “You know, that’s illegal.”

Did Jase even understand what he’s playing with? While Ichiro secretly yearned for a world unshackled from Zandau’s tech empire, it was BOA Institute’s questionable actions on Metralis which haunted him.

Despite his father’s warnings, the Institute—under ZM’s directive—had pushed forward, implanting untested CORD prototypes into every mech on the assembly line. No one asked questions. No one stopped it.

"In case you're wondering," Jase began, with a glint of excitement in his eyes, "That’s what you call human ingenuity— nobody should underestimate our ability for innovation. And we will prevail! The moment we flip the script and turn their own machines against them will shift this tide in our favour. Are you in? “His voice surged with an enthusiasm that resonated deeply within the hollow chambers of Ichiro's heart. 

Ichiro folded his arms, unmoved. “Just how well do you even know your toys, Jase?”

Jase sighed dramatically. “I knew you’d say that.” Disappointment creeping into his voice. “Can’t you see?! The answers are right there, but only those bold enough to act will reshape everything! But what do you know? You’re just a kid, after all.”

Ichiro’s expression darkened. “And what if you’re the tool? Maybe stop pretending you’re not just a cog in the machine like the rest of them! His voice was sharp now, cutting. “It’s pointless. And stupid.”

Jase scoffed, adjusting the rear-view mirror to get a clearer view of his rival. “Besides, it’s not like you believe in anything, Ichiro...”

 “Why don’t you try saying that again?!” Ichiro’s voice rose dangerously. He was giving Jase one more chance to retract his words.

Jase didnt. "Well, things are moving ahead, with or without you.” A slow grin spread across his face. “ You should see what Stella’s Baezyn can do now.”

 Ichiro’s jaw almost dropped.   

“What have you done?!”

Jase saw Ichiro’s spiralling curiosity and laughed. “Relax Ichiro. I just gave it some upgrades. Don’t Tell her ok? Its the DC10 CORD implants, which is a little dated but still packs a punch! It’s on a whole new level!”

Ichiro felt sick. “How did you get them? Tell me!”

CORD implants weren’t just illegal – they were classified. BOA’s research centres kept their full capabilities under lock and key. Ichiro saw them as ticking time bombs.

Jase, leaned back, smug.  “It’s not what you know, Ichiro. It’s who you know.”

Ichiro’s gaze flickered to the backseat. Stella was still asleep, her Baezyn clutched tightly in her arms. A memory stabbed through his mind—Vermillion Square.

The chaos. The near escape. The dawning horror that Stella’s machine could be at the heart of it all.

Lashing tongues of light from a Metralis Tower leapt, as sirens wailed. Flashing lights, broken glass. Screams. People running.

And yet -- no reports, no emergency calls. The next day, a single line on the news: "A minor power outage in Bryston Metro. No further details.”

But Ichiro remembered. The moment Jase made “adjustments” to Stella’s Baezyn, the chaos stopped

Ichiro’s brow furrowed into a deep frown, “So, what happened Vermillion Square, Jase?” he waited, but Jase suddenly looked away. “Tell me you didn’t have anything to do with it.

Silence.   

Unable to contain his patience, Ichiro seethed, “What are you, crazy?! Do you have any idea how much trouble we could get into with your reckless stunts?!”

Jase exhaled sharply. “Nobody got hurt right? It wasn’t supposed to happen. It’s just a malfunction.” He hesitated. “Sorry

But then—Jase’s voice lifted, hopeful. “I’ll get it right next time. If I could just—”

“No more…” Ichiro’s voice cuts through the air like a blade.

“You don’t get it, do you? Nothing’s going to change!” said Ichiro grimly, but the weight of his words crumbled under his own voice.

Jase scoffed. “Does it make you look cool, Shiro? Being grim about everything? What’s your problem?”

“Oh, really? You want to bring this up now?” Ichiro’s voice was razor-sharp. “I’m not the sell-out here.”

Jase’s expression darkened. “Listen here, you little prick—”

As their argument escalated, the two become oblivious to notice the radio flicker back to life. This time, the voice was different. Warped. Distorted.

“…Bryston Police Department is seeking any information … “

“Shiro,” Jase continued, “One day, I hope you realize not every day is a curse, even if it doesn’t seem like it”

“…Suspect is highly armed and dangerous… involved in a string of violent attacks on teenagers….”

Do you know how much the upgrades mean to Stella? She puts her soul into her music—I'm just giving her a whole new sound," Jase insisted, and something in Ichiro snapped. “I don’t care about her stupid machine!” Ichiro shot back furiously, immediately regretting the words as they left his mouth.

“…Report immediately to the nearest police station…”

Ichiro glanced over his shoulder. And froze. Stella was staring straight at him.

 “H-hey, Stella? How… long have you been awake?” he asked, but she didn’t answer.

Ichiro was rooted to the spot, his heartbeat ringing in his ears. He should say something—anything—to explain himself, but the words wouldn't come out.

She hugged her Baezyn tightly, her expression unreadable. That silence was worse than any scolding she could have given him.

“That went very well, didn’t it?” Ichiro heard Jase say as he stepped on the gas and sped past the traffic intersection. That was when they met her.

[prttynrgnl]

Sending questions, hope that entertains you. 🙃 Also, I'm so sorry if I ask you something you've already told me, my audhd memory sucks most of the time lol. Which episode/scene/character/ship on IWTV are your favorite? You can mention two or more if you have problem picking only one like I do. 😅 Have you read the books? If so, how many? What are you looking forward to seeing on the show? P.S. Based on your wishes and not the odds of it actually happening, you can say far-fetched stuff. 🙃

my memory sucks too..like big time so forgetfulness is fully acceptable and this is going to be messy long yapping session warning!!

my fav episodes/scenes..

s1 is kinda blurry so i cant tell a fav episode but ig first episode "in throes of increasing wonder 01x01" i love courtship eras of iwtv sm..both loustat and loumand , and cant wait for the same of nickstat, loustat 2.0 , devil's minion and whoever comes..

unholy family moments are very dear for me...especially the scene where they all dance together and also lestat's murder ( gotta love a family's duality)

for s2 i think "dont be afraid, just start the tape 02x05" i love how it steered the story also it was the *slams the table* i fucking knew it !! episode for me as an armand hater like u when u finally see the gremlin it his tru form that u doubted frm start...the danlou :(( , also the only book easter egg ik "chop my hands off"

but “I Could Not Prevent It 02x07” thats one of the most horrible and brilliant thing i hv ever seen even in my life

"What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned 02x01" is the one that caught me emotionally most and my fav title...also the amount of claudia we hv in this, its emotionally tender like an open wound and also the episode where we just get reminded of the vampires/humans disconnection at i forgot her name but the one they meet at Romania.. “if you were the last vampire on earth, it would be enough. Just you & me. Me & you.” is probably the greatest line ever wrote in television.. but "she could dream" was where i cried tho that scene was jacob's one of the top moments in the series. and but it also hv the most annoying can u two get a room bickering we get frm devil's minion "disregard"

special mention moments

everything lesmand, claudaline flirting, "i fucked santiago too, celeste.... even had an aerobic evening with tuan and quang pham" i love its delivery a lot, i said it already but paris loumand is everything, loustat reunion, madeline turning etc..its going to take days if i mention all

i think that's for episodes & scenes godd its going to take forever before i finish this...god how does people do this

characters and ships

while watching the show my fav characters were daniel and claudia still r but i hated armand then didnt liked him at all but i never shut up abt him too was a bit obsessed... then i found this thing named devil's minion after watching show and assad's interviews got me liking this one...im still obsessed but now im on other side of the love and hate line..

im a can i get everyone kiss everyone pls person, so a lot ships even daniel/raglan, real rashid/dubai trio and armand/santiago (santiago's obsession is so tasty)... i think main one is devil's minion for me i cant seem to shut up abt them...but im loud enough abt lesmand till my non fan frnds know them.. i love loumand, loustat, claudaline but im not that annoying abt them... basically so far im mainly a daniel should be vampire bicycle person and blame everything on assad zaman's i will look at you like u, urself is the star hung upon the shy eyes shipper

for s3...

regular stuff everyone anticipates like rockstar lestat, nickistat, lestat's version of lesmand ff, scraps of dm, loustat situationship era, danstat etc..

i can't wait to drop all these men the second i see gabrielle (like i did with helen/noelene and dale while watching newsreader), i wanna see danstat kiss (fuck actually), raglan and daniel to kiss, post divorce/post partum gremlin armand...im actually curious to see marius and wht he is like and to see how horrible they r gonna make lestat's life with family since writers room loves to dial up trauma 🥲 for now,..

its near 1 am now i started writing this at 11 something 🧍‍♀️oh...i forgot abt books... i started tvl... nickistat is still planning eloping and letting them to do it slowly and take their time for planning... so tvl is currently marinating (like all my current non ao3 reads 🫠)

[helennorville]

people i'd like to get to know better tag game!

tagged by: @ballion, thank you 🙌

last song: besides the lofi jazz im blasting at the library right now.. so long, frank lloyd wright by madison cunningham

favorite color: green and yellow

last book: det sanne og det synlige (the true and the visible... it doesn't have an english translation yet), currently reading kunsten å feike arabisk (the art of faking arabic, also no translaton yet 🙈)

last movie: watched horton hears a who last weekend with the kid. i blame the kid but i picked the movie 🧠

last show: the newsreader season 3!!

last google: "me when i'm 100 years old drawing".... i teach art to elementary kids on wednesdays djfksd

latest obsession: it's food related but the good ole wasa kavring with brown cheese and raspberry jam... scandinavians will Get it

looking forward to: garden work!! the days are getting noticeably longer now and im sooo excited to do some planning for the garden :')

tagging: @seinfeldyke @this-is-a-love-story-isnt-it @elialys @chiefofmilfs @sportsbianism and anyone who wants to do this just say i tagged you lovelies <3

[vole-mon-amour]

You know what? I already read Mindhunter by John Douglas twice & it is that time again when i beg for season 3 of Netflix's Mindhunter. Season three WHEN??? I need it like air and clean water. I NEED it.

God I miss that show so much. And Bill, and Holden, and Wendy.

BTK story when??? Bill and Holden getting their own division when??? Wendy getting her happily ever after with a woman that cherishes her and actually understands how important her job is WHEN??? Fincher, get your ass over here and do your damn job (I am begging)

I can rewatch the show only so many times, but I NEED season 3.

[segue-into-romanticism]

I think Dale's relationships with Helen and Tim are both a mix of passion and compassion but on very varying levels