#i fucking love the episode where he leaps into someone with Downs Syndrome too

[breserker]

can you imagine how hard my jaw was on the floor when i was rewatching quantum leap and sam frantically said "that's why i'm here al i'm here to stop the LA Riots!" and al snapped back IMMEDIATELY with "YOU CAN'T STOP THE LA RIOTS, THIS HAS BEEN BREWING SINCE THE FIRST INJUSTICES AGAINST KIDNAPPED AFRICANS, SINCE SLAVERY, SINCE JIM CROW BEAT DOWN EVERY BLACK AMERICAN, THE RIOTS MUST HAPPEN AS A CRY FOR JUSTICE" (paraphrased from memory)

like DUDE? early 90s???

they aired a don't ask don't tell episode in '95 FULL WELL KNOWING they'd lose $100,000 and pulled off the air for good. Like they still held out that they'd make more QL, but they didn't regret doing a full GAYS IN THE MILITARY episode at a time where that just DID not happen. Matthew Shepard was still alive for chrissakes.

fucking. quantum leap, man.

[anerbananers]

Listen, I don’t care

idc who you stan, who you hate, if you ship them or don’t whatever. You don’t have to ship them to understand this. I only appreciate them as rivals and this is hitting me in the face and making me FEEL things y’all. 

the writing of the scenes in episode 23 and just izuku and katsuki’s relationship in general is INCREDIBLY nuanced, complex, and well done! A lot of rivalries in shonen are shallow in comparison to this.

Remember this is targeted at young boys! It’s SUPER important to show them what an inferiority complex looks like, what imposter syndrome looks like. How someone can be a GOOD PERSON and still do BAD THINGS. How not to let people walk all over you. Both of these boys cry and you SEE their tears, feel their emotions. And the mentors in their lives are also there to guide them too. For young boys to see this, I think, is important. This isn’t JUST about jealousy. IJS, this is some grown shit. ADULTS IRL struggle with this. Like, Bakugou’s entire perception of Izu is warped by his insecurity. This shows how intentions and perceptions can be so WAY off. Why communication is important.

And what I love is that Horikoshi makes sure you KNOW the adults and teachers know they have a part to play in this. And it’s a theme of the story that the adults have created some hefty issues here and even if they didn’t start this, they have to take responsibility and properly guide these kids. Not just between these two boys, but in general, culturally. When you have a hero system that has emphasized might over rescue this whole time, it creates this kind of confusion! At this point in the story the hero franchise (b/c it’s a business really) is changing it’s model due to All Might’s retirement.

THAT’S WHY THE HEAVIEST HITTERS FAILED THE FREAKIN’ TEST.

Even the teachers were surprised by this change in approach. They hadn’t exactly prepped their students for this kind of thinking.

Honestly it’s a good change, but of COURSE it trips up kids like Bakugou who only emulated what he saw. Katuski, who you KNOW is smart enough to understand how the system works even as a preteen and study it to the letter. Look at it like this:

All Might saves people because he’s STRONG. He’s fast, he’s overwhelming and in PHYSICAL top shape. All Might has the ability to rescue because he wins first, because he knocks the villains out and then even if he has to flee the scene (because he’s on borrowed time), OTHER heroes can come to help civilians.  But the main thing is he can beat anyone, and that fact ALONE has deterred villains from even TRYING shit until now. His charisma is a bonus, but his incredible power kept shit locked tf DOWN this entire time.

A lot of heroes rescue just fine. But only All Might is able to have such a lasting heroic influence. And his strength and power is the key difference. He’s not just GOOD, he’s the BEST. He’s not just the BEST, he outpaces the #2 hero by leaps and bounds. His strength comes from his heart, ofc, and WE know that, but Bakugou has no way of knowing that. He doesn’t understand how OFA even works. 

The way Bakugou does this is brash, ofc, but he’s questioning what he believes. He’s asking WHY? He’s even asking Izuku because he doesn’t know who else, and tbh in all his anger still has to swallow a lot of pride to do so.

The guilt. Wow. The way that scene was done. *chef kiss* Sometimes when you’re a high achiever and do well in most things, nobody wonders if you need help or support or to get out of your own head. Nobody even thought that Bakugou was blaming himself because he gives off such a strong and assured aura. Which is crazy cuz for me I was like UMMM HELLO? CHECK ON HIM?? 

“I’m weak too, you know.”

SO IMPORTANT. Not only that Katsuki said that, but that he said it to two people I think everyone can agree he’d NEVER want to know this ideally. But he’s just at that point where his emotions are spilling over. He needs help. That’s how he’s asking for help. I was dying man. So beautiful seeing All Might embrace him and understand exactly what he needed to do. Fuck the secret. Explain so this child can be at peace on this! Too much to carry alone! For each and any one of them.

If you narrow Bakugou Katsuki and Izuku Midoriya down to “a bully and his victim” you are missing out.

this post is long because I got in my feelings. Just had to write a thesis paper. LOL. More under the cut! 

I was a victim of bullying. Many times in my life. I’m small, I’m intellectual, I was social and made friends easily but I also didn’t like cliques and some other girls didn’t like that I just hung out with EVERYONE. Some boys did the “i tease you because i like you thing”. Either way, I’ve reconciled with 2 of my bullies in the course of my life. I know a thing or two about how and why bullies do what they do. And this was when I was in elementary school, so I’m telling you also that when you’re super young it’s a bit...different in your mind as you get older. This isn’t to excuse Katsuki’s actions, so let me stop you. But there is a very key difference in behavior between a typical bully and what happened with these two boys.

10/10 times, I was steering clear of my bullies. Even the ones within my friend groups that would start to do the mean girl kinda bullshit. I’d keep interaction with them to a minimum. Even when I wanted to be pretty and cool like them, I was meek and fearful in the way I interacted with them. I’d engage the other girls first and keep my head down. My bullies would approach or interact with ME, clearly seeking to gas themselves up by putting me down or bothering me. I mean, I’m sure others have experiences more similar to our boys here so maybe I’m full of shit, but the complexity with Izu and Kat is that Izuku kept approaching Bakugou with a smile and a laugh, no matter what Bakugo did. This does happen in actual abusive relationships, but for kids and not adults, and I think some folks aren’t seeing the difference. This isn’t like, weird gaslighting and manipulation. Bakugou doesn’t act like a bitch and then turn around and be all sweet on Deku to keep him closeby. Bakugou legitimately wanted Deku to go away, and when he doesn’t Bakugou, in his wild paranoia is like “what does this MEAN???” He attached a meaning to it that was completey WRONG of course, because that’s how anxiety and insecurity work. Now Izuku being the natural beautiful bean boy that is perfect for heroism, is right to do this. He somehow, even so young, could understand that sometimes people need to be saved from themselves. I’m so positive of this. And that ability frightened bakugou so much. In his eyes, he’s being tormented by this kid who sees RIGHT through him and won’t go away. Izuku represents his fear in living breathing form. Every time he sees him, it’s like an irrational reaction. In Bakugou’s eyes Izu might as well have been walking around yelling “KACCHAN IS AFRAID!!!” In his desperation not to be exposed for the insecure and fearful child he should’ve been taught is okay to be, Bakugou decides to be the absolute worst in hopes that Deku leaves him alone. As he’s doing this though, he’s getting positive reinforcement from those around him, which just solidifies this personality trait as a good thing. It’s just a mess!

Again, not condoning, I’m always just amazed at the nuances here. Bakugou was and in some ways still IS a bully (at this point in the anime at least. but in the manga currently i wouldn’t call him this anymore. grumpy? rude? yes. but honestly harmless. the class cares for him and he and izu are civil now)  but also it was Deku’s choice to stick with him. He saw that Bakugou could be better and didn’t give up on him. THAT is a hero. And I think everyone is unanimous on that, and that’s why it bother’s me that people are so divided on Bakugou. I trust Izu’s judgement tbh, more than All Might’s. And both of them, Aizawa too, see that Katsuki can be better, and that he’s TRYING. and that he is willing to change because he legit WANTS to be someone All Might would choose. He’s asking Deku so many questions not just because he’s confused, but because he wants to know so he can do what HE needs to do to match up and make his idol proud.

People love a work in progress. I love how the top dog in a lot of ways is the underdog here. I love that Deku GETS it. That to others he may seem crazy. Who chases after their bully? Who admires someone who said disgusting and hurtful things to them? It’s not stockholm lol. There’s a lot to unpack there but I’m telling you, this is some real shit. It’s well written af! Heroism isn’t about being perfect and wonderful and kind all the time. All Might thinks Bakugou is an earnest kid who can be an excellent hero and just needs some work! Who doesn’t? You do! I do! You are not perfect either. A lot of fans of the series see that patience and they support not just our bright and shining Izu, but also the glowering and loud Katsuki who is growing mentally right now. I think it’s fine if his behaviour just makes you so uncomfortable and brings up bad memories. You can absolutely dislike him, it’s not for everybody! But hopefully you can objectively see why they WILL team up and be a team and the story is supporting that growth. I hope you are not disgusted by it or think it’s lazy writing just because it’s not your cup. Let these kids develop and grow and change! Step out of trope and archetype city and just feel this story arc for the realistic mirror of human nature that it is. Either way it’s a fabulous ride!

[mermaidsirennikita]

You raised good points about bjorn being (probably) the killer of his mother. Though i'd like it to be either ivar or ubbe (or both like 4x17), especially when lag is so arrogant. But what do you think of bjorn's reaction when he came back, when he said "so you had your revenge?" he didn't look pleased, but disappointed and even cold, that might be the reason why he snapped at torvi too (tbh i didn't pity the brand new shield maiden but i felt sorry for the children)

The fact that lagertha acted behind his back and told nothing of her plans, though he obv. knew she wanted her petty 'revenge'. That also might be the reason why he's 'going down' on astrid now because both characters are left in the dark ??? (while torvi gets to know everything)

I don’t know that he was angry IMMEDIATELY at his mother, but I do get the sense that Bjorn’s masculine pride was wounded in that he was kept out of the loop.  I don’t think he necessarily disapproved of the overthrow, but more of the fact that he wasn’t involved at all.  He may even have some issue with the fact that Lagertha is ruling and he isn’t--Hirst seems to have forgotten this, but in 4A Bjorn wanted to rule.  He has more of a right to the throne than Lagertha by birth.  He also may not be entirely thrilled that a clash between him and at least Ivar and Ubbe is basically inevitable at this point thanks to Lagertha; her becoming queen makes the succession issue even more glaring, plus you throw revenge into the mix.  The thing is that Bjorn’s characterization is super inconsistent; he was raised predominantly by a single mother, with whom he CHOSE to leave, and his first wife was a shieldmaiden whose freedom and training (which we actually saw, unlike Torvi’s) he ultimately supported, even if the latter freaked him out a little.  His scene with Torvi was super misogynistic--basically, a “woman get in the kitchen and nurse the babies” bit that seems...  Weird coming from Lagertha’s son.  Again, you could make the leap that this is leading to Bjorn being Lagertha’s ultimate “failure” (though her biggest failure being maternal is a little ick on a feminist level) but I’m not sure Hirst is that smart.  And though it’s a nice bit of poetry that I’d like, I don’t know where it came from.  Bjorn’s characterization from s3 to s4 is honestly baffling.  At this point it seems like he doesn’t give a fuck about any women beyond what they can do for him sexually--unless they’re his mom, and now even that is thrown into question.  Him watching Ivar in his chariot also was framed in a borderline villainous way?  Which is hilarious considering who Ivar is.  It does make sense to me that Bjorn, being significantly older than his younger brothers (especially Ivar) is starting to feel like his good days are passing him by.  He could have been king for over a decade by now.  

Frankly, it might even upset him a little bit that his mother has become queen and is sort of added to the list of people that has eclipsed him in some ways.  He’s not even an earl--a great warrior, but not someone of huge political import on his own.  Again, Ubbe is around 12-14 years younger than Bjorn and Ivar like...  Around 20 years younger.  And they managed to raise a huge army that Bjorn is basically piggybacking right now.  In terms of following Ragnar’s legacy--which has to be painfully present in his mind--people like Ubbe, Ivar, and as much as I despise her in this season Lagertha are much further along than Bjorn.  

I’m not sure what to make of Astrid and Bjorn.  I’m like...  Shit, I wanted Bjorn to get with his stepmom but not THIS ONE.  Aslaug >>>>> Astrid let’s not even play here.  They seemed rather familiar with each other--that wasn’t a first kiss, to me at least.  There’s always the possibility that Lagertha knows but like...  I don’t see her being chill about that, even if Astrid is just a placeholder for her.  I just don’t know what Bjorn and Astrid could be plotting together--unless Bjorn is going full evil and wants to overthrow his mother, which seems like a bit much.  Then again, they definitely emphasized in this episode that Torvi isn’t actually his legal wife, but his “companion”.  Bjorn’s still open to marry someone; and make that someone his queen.  Perhaps Astrid is smarter than she looks and knows that her relationship with Lagertha isn’t solid; and even if it was, it’s not like Astrid can hold any official position as royalty with Lagertha.  For that matter, Lagertha was basically openly hitting on Ubbe in this episode so.  Like.  There’s that.  (Not ruling out the idea that Ubbe will seduce and murder her, because why the fuck not.)  

The thing is that this affair or whatever puts Bjorn’s first encounter with Astrid in a different light--now it seems certain that he knew her then.  Were they having an affair before Lagertha even got with Astrid?  Why?  

Knowing Hirst, it’ll probably be a simple matter of Bjorn having Wandering Dick Syndrome like his dad and Astrid will end up knocked up with Bjorn’s child.  Lagertha will be pissed at first, but seeing as she’s kinda baby hungry (I mean, girl was gonna have Kalf’s demonspawn) she’ll raise her grandchild as her own kid with Astrid.  They’ll name it Gyda II and she’ll be the greatest shieldmaiden known to the land.  The fandom will love her.  

(Alternate theory: Astrid is SUCH a major Ragnar fangirl that she’s boning his son in lieu of him.  Lmao.)