#i had no real reason to root for the lead(s)

[warblogs17282]

I wonder what mental health services/support and rehab are like in Helluva Boss.

Like we know there's rehab, as seen with Barbie Wire in s2 e5 and Verosika in s1 e3, for alcohol and drugs. But that doesn't really tell us much about mental health services, or show that the rehab is even effective, considering both of them got back into their addictions after they got out of rehab.

So it wouldn't really be a stretch to assume mental health services are quite bad, even more so for a diagnosis. As we both know, Blitz and Stolas are very clearly suffer from mental disorder(s) and/or are neurodivergent. It makes a lot of sense why those two didn't get diagnosed, it would be a problem, mainly it could quite possibly screw up the respective abuse both fathers gave to their children.

Also, considering Blitz did go to a therapist before but never was able to take it seriously really does not paint mental health services in a good light as well, sure Blitz has deep rooted trauma and has developed strong negative habits to try and ignore the deep rooted problems he has, just like Stolas, both of them slipped through the mental health system, got ignored for various reasons, if there's even one to begin with.

Now, Stolas does have those anti-depressants he takes, but without follow up to them with a professional, it really doesn't mean a whole lot, like they're just trying the bare minimum so that Stolas can survive, instead of adding that bare minimum with something else, to create an actual solution that leads to actual healing. Of course the deep rooted abuse of the Goetia, Paimon and Stella in particiular wouldn't allow that actual healing because it would wake Stolas up to the truth, breaking the abuse they had tried so hard to keep up for years upon years. Making Stolas slip through the system as a result.

Finally, we have the alcoholism Stolas has a bad case of, twice in s2 e1, with the second time in that episode Stolas getting blackout drunk to numb the pain, and another case in apology tour, where Stolas gets incredibly drunk, having an entire bottle in his hands at one point, and stealing someone else's drink, leading to that one-night stand which let's be real there's a good chance Stolas is gonna regret that one when he wakes up. It makes sense why he didn't go to rehab for this, while I read somewhere that Stolas finds the alcoholism embarassing, the deep rooted abuse prevents him from seeking help, plus no one else really knows how bad the alcoholism is for Stolas, so no one else can actually say to Stolas 'hey you should probably seek help for this', so he just stays in this cycle of being dependant on alcohol to numb the pain away.

Most likely than ever, the only way Stolas actually is able to get into scope how bad it's gotten and actually get help, it's gonna start by telling/accidentally slipping it to someone, who might actually wake Stolas up to that specific problem in his life, which may also lead into Stolas starting to come to terms with some of the others problems in his life as well he needs to work on.

[red-balloon12]

I just “watched” episodes 7 and 8 of Hazbin and I have a lot of thoughts.

But let’s start off with episode 7

Rosie and Camilla were EVERYTHING this episode. I love them both and I didn’t really have much to say about avails before this episode but like…I loved them a lot. Rosie is an absolute sweet heart (despite her being a cannibal)

Vaggie has wings now….Y E S. There’s SO much visual potential for this. I can just imagine her carrying Charlie bridal style through hell and her expressing with them as. I know a lot of people were confused but I’m gonna give explanations now: Lute ripped off her wings, she didn’t cut them with an angelic weapon which means Vaggie was able to grow them back through “The Power of Love”™️ and sheer will power.

At first I was a bit disappointed that Charlie and Vaggie didn’t actually properly and I was a bit underwhelmed by Charlie’s reaction to Vaggie’s but I’ll tell why I’m not as disappointed anymore.

Alastor was behaving a little bit like Charlie’s father figure in this which is funny considering episode 5. (But I know Chalastor shippers are gonna be weird about it and use the scenes for their fuel. Smh.) Not to mention I can see Camilla becoming a mentor/motherly figure for Vaggie in the future. But oddly enough I can also se Rosie being a mother figure for Charlie too.

Camilla’s song is probably my favorite out of the song list so far and while I’m a little disappointed it wasn’t a duet between her and Vaggie like the first song kinda was, we did get a training montage out of it and the explanation about Camilla defeating an angel leading up to it was freaking cool. (I really like how Camilla’s footwear was used as instruments in the song, I love stuff like that)

And now….for episode 8

I really liked Vaggie’s war outfit, Charlie’s was okay too.

I’m not gonna lie to y’all, I lowkey was kinda rooting for Adam when he was going up against Alastor. I’m sorry but I just…do not like him…or his fans for that matter. And GOD DAMN was it refreshing when Adam broke his staff, that man needed to be humbled….I just wish it wasn’t Adam that did it…cus I don’t like Adam either. And I feel like Alastor’s fans are coping with the fact that their precious deer demon daddy lost to a damn angel. (And yes he did loose to him. Cope and seethe) My guy wasn’t gonna land a scratch on Adam without an angelic weapon, what did people think was gonna happen?? But I’ll give Alastor props for holding out as long as he did.

Speaking of him, the reason why I didn’t mention the deal he made with Charlie yet is because it connects with this episode. So I’m 95% certain he has a contract with Lilith and it had something to do with that stick of his. His staff was probably the source of a lot of his power and it can’t be regenerated because it was broken by Adam’s guitar/axe. That “favor” that Alastor wants from Charlie might be to have her make him a new one, a more powerful one that he could possibly…idk…kill Lucifer or Lilith with? Idk dude, the man’s be scheming. But I’m like…98% certain his gonna be the BBEG by the end of this…and if not him, than Lilith.

CHAGGIE DUET- STARMOTH DUET- I’m so ill about them. This is why I wasn’t so mad about them not talking because of THIS SCENE. At this point, I could care less if people still think they have no chemistry after this or they think they’re boring. They’re real, they’re canon and they are beautiful. COPE AND SEETHE, BITCHES! I just hope they get more original duet pieces and not reprises in S2 but the fact they used the same song from Charlie and her dad is really cute.

I liked Vaggie calling Charlie petnames during battle. Little things like that is what makes these two so nice to watch.

Vaggie Vs. Lute…dispite me hoping Vaggie would be on even footing with Lute, it wasn’t realistic, and I’m glad they kept it realistic. Vaggie was out of practice for YEARS meanwhile Lute was not only going at it after Vaggie’s falling but she was also the lieutenant. But this is where Camilla’s advice came into play. Lute fought Vaggie with vengeance in mind as well as her thinking she was indestructible. This lead to her downfall when Lute was so caught up in mocking Vaggie, she accidentally gave Vaggie time to think of a way to outsmart her. Lute fought hard but Vaggie fought smart and it paid off in the end. And we got that BADASS line from Vaggie at the end of it. I love it when my girl gets W’s.

I’m disappointed how Charlie was overpowered by Adam though. I was so ready for her to throw hands with him. But I can see why this is the case as well. Charlie never really had to go all out before in her life. So she’s kinda rusty and inexperienced compared to Adam and Lucifer. (Also rip Razzle or Dazzle. You will probably be missed) But she did get two good hits which I can appreciate and she was the first to actually do damage to Adam. Something I can also appreciate.

Speaking of which, Lucifer absolutely OWNED Adam as he should. We stan a short king who loves his daughter.

Sir Pent was absolutely ROBBED of his moment by Adam and I don’t care that they made up for it by him going to heaven (I do care but sksnjs I’m still salty) And am I the only one that like…didn’t care all that much for his crush in Cherri? Like, I do like it in theory but the pacing…OH THE PACING IS THE REAL VILLAIN OF THIS SHOW. I wish they had a little bit more build up to that kiss. But hey, at least we have confirmation that the hotel does work. Rip Sir Penny. You WILL be missed.

I don’t know how I feel about Nifty of all people being the one to end Adam. On one hand it WAS foreshadowed at the beginning but one the other hand..it felt cheap(?). Like it would have been more satisfying for say Vaggie or Charlie to land the final blow, from a narrative standpoint at least. But…it was Nifty. And uh…was I SUPPOSED to feel bad for Lute seeing Adam die? I’m sorry but they both deserve to get their wings cut off. Adam was a fun villain but I’m glad he’s dead.

Hopes/Predictions for S2

I want more Early Stage!StarMoth. One of the criticisms people have with their relationship is how little set up they have. The best way to rectify this is to show how they were when they were still crushing on each other. A good example of this is Ruby and Sapphire from Steven Universe. Ruby and Sapphire were already established as a couple for Y E A R S but because we got to see how they fell in love and how they worked in the early days, people got more invested in their love story. So I hope Hazbin does the same with Charlie and Vaggie.

I also want Vaggie on her own. I know this is contradictory to my first want but I’ll explain. The theory as to why Vaggie seemed a bit shallow for a lot of people in the show was because they felt like Charlie was Vaggie’s whole personality which is something that I semi do agree with. So I want Vaggie to pick up a new hobby in S2. Whether it be her doing some dancing or maybe she becomes a musician. I just want more of VAGGIE.

And speaking of…I want Camilla to become some sort of mentor for Vaggie. I mentioned it earlier but I’m gonna do it again. Lute’s gonna come back in S2 and she’s gonna want revenge on Vaggie. We’ve seen how underpowered Vaggie is compared to Lute when it came to raw skill. But Camilla knew how to fend off from the angels and Vaggie did use her advice. I think and hope that if Vaggie keeps on training under Camilla, she can definitely surpass Lute and become a better fighter from it. Hell, Camilla can even help Vaggie deal with her anger issues.

It would also be fun if Lucifer trained up Charlie to be a better fighter (or Vaggie and Charlie can train together. It would make for some good moments between them)

This is a smaller want but I want Vaggie to cut her hair…she looks so much more cooler with shorter hair. And maybe a name change??? Maybe?

I want Charlie and Alastor to fight. It’s probably gonna happen with that deal and all. Some one is gonna suffer and Charlie (after having more experience) is gonna take on Alastor and I want her to remind him why she’s the damn Princess of Hell.

I just want the cast to interact with eachother more. Don’t let it just be Charlie and Vaggie or Angel and Husk. I wanna see how Vaggie and Husk would interact. They’d seem like a pretty chill duo.

I predict Lilith is gonna be the BBEG if not Alastor. She’s either gonna have to throw down with Charlie or Lucifer. And if somehow Alastor reforms, he may throw down with her. Lilith is gonna fight SOMEONE. (And Charlie may have to do a sing-nu-jitsu on her)

I predict Angel and Husk are gonna have to face with their soul binders (Alastor and Valentino) and both of them are probably gonna be rushed.

I predict Lute and Vaggie are gonna fight again and I HOPE Vaggie is more ready for it than in the finale.

I predict either Angel or Husk is gone be next in-line to be redeemed (which means either one is gonna “die” next season)

I predict another standoff between Alastor and Vox…and this time Vox is more cocky since Alastor took a BIG hit in the finale.

I predict Emily is gonna become a sinner.

And last but not least…I predict Vaggie and Charlie are gonna have a wedding at the end of the show.

My “final” thoughts for Hazbin Hotel S1: Pacing and tone shifts were the biggest flaw for this season. Moments, relationships and topics suffered from the poor pacing and while some of the blame goes to the lack of episodes, most of it goes to the writers. I can’t tell you how many moments fell flat due to the rushed episodes. You don’t really have time to breath with this show and the moments that you do get to breath are some of the best moments of the show.

(There’s also bias issues but that’s a separate topic-)

But for what it had…it wasn’t the worst. And I’m actually kinda looking forward to season 2.

[streets-in-paradise]

As I was looking at something else (but related), your post on how much Troy (2004) builds on/is a reaction to earlier movies - especially Helen of Troy (1956), wasn't it?

Because I was reminded again the other day how closely Paris the Musical's first act is based in that movie's events for the same part of the story. (Paris and Helen meeting after a shipwreck, the way the Greek kings are plotting war already, and such.)

And it's just interesting/funny that this movie seems to have had such an effect on later adaptations!

Hi!

I haven't got into the musical yet, partially because I don't listen to/watch many musicals and so I have to get in the mood to pick the two I have yet to check: Paris and Epic.

That being said: you are absolutely right. And the thing is it had such strong impact but this influence remains pretty much forgotten by history. Every now and then, a new Iliad adaptation pops out and people start to make the same questions about why they took certain choices that don't happen in the text without really digging for the root. I got genuinely curious about this topic, so i recently started searching about the history of trojan war on film. Youtube is full of peplum films you can watch for free, so i began watching and rewatching every film adaptation i could find.

I recently rewatched this one again and found out Helen of Troy (1956) is responsible for the following creative liberties that happened in Troy (2004), yet can often get repeated in other trojan war media :

-Paris portrayed in an heroic and/or romantical light. ( Although in this one they made him a full gary stu action hero because it's the 50's. They won't risk it with an effeminate, coward lead guy/love interest.)

-As a direct consecuence, Helen x Paris as star-crossed lovers.

-The idea that the greeks already wanted war with Troy for economical reasons linked to a rudimentary concept of imperialist development.

-Agamemnon and Menelaus as a power villian bros duo that push the war for these interests.

-Menelaus being older than Helen, an irascible man, and somewhat aware she doesn't want to be with him because in this version is a convenience marriage.

-Paris for real going on a peace mission in Sparta and meeting Helen there, not him using a pre existing political conflict as excuse to go find her.

In this point, some versions also took the concept of them meeting after a storm threw Paris like a sad wet cat on Helen's shores. Troy avoided it only so they could introduce both Hector and Paris in the same Sparta scene.

-Trojans portrayed in a peacefull, sympathetic light as a mighty, more civilized city threatened by some barbarian danger.

Not all of the adaptations influencied by it that followed took every single element on this list, like Troy did, to a point where you can literally get the feeling that the ending of the movie is a fix it giving the 1956 the happy ending that was abrutly taken away in its final scene.

However, i find extremely curious that this movie also influenced so many other later portrayals of the trojan war, because it wasn't a successfull one. With a budget of 6 million dollars, it only made 3.5 millions.

Not only it wasn't a box office hit, it's not very remembered. Despite it belongs to the golden age of classic historical epics, it's not a Ben Hur or Cleopatra. It didn't make it to movie history in a similar light and according to what I have read in the standard online sources for movie trivia, some critics teared it to shreds.

One can wonder, ... how a movie with this reception had such huge impact in everything that came later? And yet I have no answer. It failed at its time, but silently made history sneaking into the imaginary of many creators for future versions like a game of telephone. Everyone has been there, but no one mentions Helen of Troy (1956) as an influence of theirs because they may not even realize it.

It's hilarious, it's fascinating. I will be forever intrigued by this fact.

[thechaoticreader]

Feminist Horror Masterpiece or Not Like Other Girls Manifesto?

Maeve Fly Book Review

Title: Maeve Fly

Author: CJ Leede

Genre: Slasher/Horror

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Start Date: July 29 2024

End Date: July 31 2024

Favourite Quote: “I have never understood, and still do not understand the notion that a woman must first endure a victim hood of some sort…to be monstrous. Men have always been permitted in fiction and in life to simply be what they are, no matter how dark or terrifying that might be. But with a woman, we expect an answer, a reason.” Page 130

What Iiked & general thoughts:

Before I say anything else I have to say the cover art is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time, it is gorgeous and I just love looking at it.

I really liked this book and will read CJ Leede’s next work immediately when its published. The atmosphere, the imagery and the scene building was so good, I gained an appreciation of LA through Maeve and it perfectly mixed the disgusting imagery with the beautiful. The characters were also fully fleshed and felt so real. I knew Maeve, understood her, and it was so easy to get into her head space. She is a well-written, complex, interesting character who I couldn’t help but root for and forgive her horrific actions. It’s a love letter to 80’s/90’s horror and LA, with some interesting kills. It’s one of my top reads this year. It’s not perfect but its a book I will definitely recommend.

Criticisms:

I’ve seen a lot of comments about how she gives not like other girls and I agree, however I don’t have a problem with it in this case: she isn’t like other girls…shes a serial killer, we’re not supposed to relate, we’re not supposed to love her. All that to say, I understand why this turns people off, but its not something that turned me off of the book. The book takes a long time to really kick off 2/3 of the book is lead up, then the last 1/3 is pure gore. Personally, I don’t hate slow starts and really need to understand the characters to care about the story, but if you want a fast paced splatter punk then this is not the book. I would’ve liked it to go a little faster and there was a little too much description of surroundings that I ended up skimming.

SPOILERS BELOW

The Ending: I understand why Maeve kills Gideon and it fits with the character, I just don’t know how i feel about it … in the moment I was pissed that he died but after reflecting I realized that its the best ending. Her character is trained to kill, shes had a mental snap and the guy she has complex feelings about that she doesn’t know how to cope with found her bodies, of course she didn’t hear him out. Also if they had ended up together: it would’ve been a dark romance not a horror, if the horrible person gets a happy ending and can suddenly control her urges, that would’ve made me hate the book if we’re being honest. Maeve is a complex, but ultimately horrible person who doesn’t deserve a happy ending and would never be able to control her urges and emotions enough to have a happy ending make sense. So idk I don’t hate the ending but I understand why people do.

The Doll: This is my biggest criticism, I don’t understand why the dolls were there. They were placed in the story randomly, weren’t focused on and didn’t get a resolution. The whole doll ‘storyline’ could be taken out of the book and nothing would’ve changed.

[thealmightyemprex]

Universal Monsters Watch Through thoughts 6

So my watch through of Universal Monster films ends....On a whimper.This was the hardest batch to get thorugh cause the films were kind of meh and I was a little burnt out

26.Abott and Costello Meets the Invisble Man (1951)

So I always heard this was the funniest of the Abott and Costello Monster trilogy ,and while I personally prefer Meet Frankenstein...This was pretty fun .Arthur Franz is decent as an invisble boxer accused for murder,William Frawley has a fun role as a cop ,and the wronged man plot works here.The highlight of the film is the boxing match where the Invisible Man helps Lou pretend to be a boxer.My big complaints are....I dont like Bud here,hes too mean and conniving ,and honestly the comedic premise of Lou getting scared and Bud not beliving him wears thin for me

27.Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954)

So this is really the last film of the big ones,the last Universal monster introduced ,and owing less to the gothic feel of most of the other monsters ,we are firmly in the era of 1950's monster movies .Aside from Frankenstein,The Creature or Gill Man is the monster I have the most nostalgia for,for two reasons :First is when I was very young I actually went to Wakulla Springs for a fieldtrip ,where they filmed the underwater scenes from the movie (And got scared by a tourguide who implied the Creature might be real ).Second is when I was 12 I went with my Moms side of the family to Universal Studios Florida ,and spotted in the gift shop a bunch of Universal Monster DVD's ,but my mom said I could only get two ,so I got the FRankenstein set(Cause Frankenstein was already a favorite) and the Creature from the Black Lagoon set (Due to the Wakulla Springs trip which got me curious to see the movie )....Also due to getting those sets we got a few free tickets for Mummy 3 Tomb of the Dragon Emperor so that was fun .Anyway I watched Creature many times as a kid .....But while I have nostalgia for the film and love the Gill Man ....Every time I try to watch this film as an adult....I just feel it lacks something.The plot kind of meanders ,while the actors are great (Especially Julie Adams as the leading lady and Richard Dennings as the villain )I find the characters stiff and the ending is a big anticlimax .Not even mentioning the fact the Creatures theme is kind of annoying with how much it is used ....That said I do think this IS a good movie ,with excellent underwater cinematagorphy,the cast is exccellent as I said,the scene where Adams character and the Creature swim together is like an iconic movie moment,.....And the Creature himself is pretty great ,with an excellent design and being a monster I feel for .Also props to his two performers,Ricou Browning (For underwater scenes) and Ben Chapman (For the on land scenes ).Also one cannot deny the legacy of the film and influence it had,especially on filmmakers like Stephen Spielberg and Guillermo Del Toro

28.Revenge of The Creature(1955)

I mean...Its alright .I like the premise of the Gill Man being put on exhibit in Marineland in Florida (Also as a Floridian I am so delighted how much Florida has to play in the Universal Monsters verse,also being the setting forAbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein ) ,I feel true sympathy for the Gill Man who is being prodded and detained by scientists and its a pretty well made film.....My problem is I am rooting soley for the Gill Man as I dont give a damn about John Agar or any of the human characters .Also dont like the big ping pong eyes of the creature in this film.Though the film is fun to watch to spot a young Clint Eastwood .Not a bad film,decent sequel but not one of my faves

29.Abott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)

Tired.Thats the word to describe this film,tired .This was the comedy duos last film for Universal and it just feels routine ....But also over stuffed,with Bud and Lou having to deal with multiple factions of characters and the Mummy is barely in it .There is one funny bit where Bud and Lou keep switching a cursed amulet ,got some laughs and its better then most of the mummy flicks but I didnt have a fun time with it .Not even Michael Ansara could save this

30.Creature Walks Among Us(1956)

And at last we get to the final film in the Universal Monster cycle.....And while not a complete dud ,its pretty boring.Aside from the villain being a jealous husband the human characters might as well be carboard and not a lot happens.IT does have a cool premise though with the Gill Man getting burnt and surgically becoming more humanoid....And it solidifies the Gill Man as one of the most tragic of the monsters and the one with the most complete story.Will say while I dont like the movie .....The ending is great and a fitting capstone to this watch through

Final thoughts:This watch through was fun ,there were some duds (Mostly the Mummy movies ) ,but it soldified my love of these monsters ,actors and characters.Might do one more post about my overall thoughts but till then here is all 30 films ranked

The 30 Universal Monster films rankes

30.The Mummys Tomb

29.Werewolf of London

28.Invisble Agent

27.She Wolf of London

26.Mummys Hand

25.Mummys Curse

24.Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy

23.Creature Walks Among Us

22.Son of Dracula

21.House of Dracula

20.Invisible Woman

19.Ghost of Frankenstein

18.House of Frankenstein

17.Revenge of the Creature

16.Mummy

15:Mummys Ghost

14.The Invisible Mans Revenge

13.Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man

12.Dracula's Daughter

11.Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman

10.Creature from the Black Lagoon

9.Dracula

8.Invisible Man Returns

7.Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

6.Invisble Man

5..Son of Frankenstein

4.Phantom of the Opera

3.Wolf Man

2.Frankenstein

1.Bride of Frankenstein

@ariel-seagull-wings @piterelizabethdevries @countesspetofi

@themousefromfantasyland @the-blue-fairie @theancientvaleofsoulmaking

@princesssarisa @amalthea9 @barbossas-wench

[velvet-vox]

The dark side of Steampunk: Nox (Part 2)

Milien spent the entire night obsessively analysing the artifact, instead of sleeping with his wife, and in the morning, he was forced to face the consequences.

Fully immersed by the possibilities given to him by the Cube, Milien is already at work to capitalise on them in order to get out of the vicious cycle he's gotten into by borrowing money to keep himself afloat.

Here's where the milk gets finally spilled and the truth starts to knock on the door. Milien's ego, up to this point, was only the fruit of an inferiority complex set by the inability of his inventions to catch popularity; but now, it's finally revealed that Nox's obsession for the cube and it's constant need for validation from his family is also a result of Milien's antisocial behaviour probably rooted from a societal lack of care for individuality and creativity.

Ironic, since, by this very statement, Nox undermines other people's individuality and creativity to place his own higher. This is a major extreme of Steampunk, when either the society or the industry reigns over the other, the outcome can only be disastrous, as true balance can only be found when the two sides support and complement each other.

This isn't too much of a major flaw for Milien, as long as it gets addressed, it's pretty common for his archetype and it's often overcome by the end of the story.

Ah. S##t. He doesn't overcome it.

These GIFs speak for themselves; the ego boost given to him by the artifact allows for the insanity to take place, even his wife, who he has been shown capable of repressing his negative traits for, can't calm him down anymore; the next time she visits him, Galanthe tries to get Milien to throw away the Cube and go back to his family, but in response, Nox shuts her out of the door, since what she is suggesting would rekindle his inferiority complex and bring him back to square one.

Briefly touching on this particular moment, Noximilien knows the Cube's real name, despite the fact that he apparently shouldn't know what it was right until his confrontation with Grougaloragran 200 years later.

It could just be a continuity error, but I want to give tot the benefit of the doubt this time and assume it's instead intentional; back when we had only season 1, the Eliacube was this mysterious, corrupting entity whose origins were never made fully clear. So, for us to not be able to find any sense behind this discovery of his, leads us to be unnerved by the eldritch horror vibes that were originally backed into the Eliacube's concept.

As time goes by, Galanthe decides to take away her family from her husband, in hope that this will force him to get rid of the Eliacube and go back to them.

And for a brief moment, her plan almost works. Milien is taking the situation seriously, and it's about to abandon everything to go join his wife, but then... Nox doesn't.

I don't really know the meaning behind that owl shot with one weird eye, but by judging the fact that the very next shot is Noximilien's laboratory emitting smog into the air, I'll interpret it as a metaphor for pollution brought by the industrialization of Nox's operation, mindlessly destroying the planet without a person's notice.

I really like how the ticking sound of clocks gets faster before turning into knocks at the door, it makes it feel like an unfathomable amount of time has passed.

As for the reason why the beggar decides to check up on Nox and inform him of his family, I've actually come up with a way better explanation than just simply "the beggar was actually a good person, just a little short tempered and grumpy", which works well enough, but it could be much more compelling;

You see, in the previous part I've said that the beggar is the representation of the strict Victorian society and Milien the freeing Industrial revolution, their clash and tension is what gives Steampunk its meaning and charm; so here, it's almost like the beggar is saying "Bro, WTF? Shouldn't we clash against each other? I haven't seen you in months? What happened?" since, if the clockmaker doesn't want to free himself from the claustrophobic expectations of society, then... what is his purpose in the narrative?

As the rage, regret, and madness of the ensuing moment unfolds, the Steampunk narrative is completely shattered:

No longer Noxy wants to advance society to the next level of evolution; now, he just wants to bring everything back to how it was.

No longer Nox is going to use his inventions to bring wonder and joy to the world; now, he's going to use them to destroy lives in order to restore his own.

Steampunk is dead, and its rotting corpse is now being used as a vessel for the Eldritch Horror narrative that is about to ensure.

Milien is dead; a legend is born.

A terror is born.

NOX.

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[abandonedcyberpunkspidermech]

About Canon Events:

I have some things to say about the Canon Events in Across the Spider-Verse:

(Edited because this got flagged as mature for some reason)

1. How on every Earth was Peter B. Parker on Miguel’s side regarding Miles at any point? Like… the dude said that the reason he stopped being a pizza hobo, got back together with MJ, and had Mayday is an anomaly who shouldn’t have been Spider-Man. And if Miles wasn’t Spider-Man, Peter and him don’t meet (or at least don’t stay together long) and Peter just stays his loser self. Or… desurvivalizes. And doesn’t have a family. I’d get it if Peter was like “look, I’ve personally seen screwed up stuff when Canon breaks, but I’m just trying to figure stuff out for myself since my world apparently broke Canon when we met and is still fine, so something’s a miss”, but he doesn’t do that.

2. The model Christopher Miller put on twitter makes even less sense.

If this model of the multiverse as a web with lines representing realities intersecting at nodes representing Canon Events is to be taken as correct, then…

1. Only a finite number of realities must go through each Canon Event, not every reality as Miguel claims.

2. Each reality must go through exactly two Canon Events, not all of them as Miguel claims.

This “Web” doesn’t even align with Miguel’s claim that all Spiders must go through all Canon Events. That’s not even a Web, that’s a bundle of cables.

3. The morality of the Spider-Verse trilogy is dictated ENTIRELY by how the rules of the multiverse work.

Look, every Spider is a hero, even Miguel. The reason the Spider-Society is against Miles trying to save his father is because they think it will wreck his universe and the entire multiverse, and the only reason Miles thinks it won’t is because he thinks he can “do both”. You’d want to root for Miles, but you need to know what happens if Miles saves his father to see who’s right in this. If nothing bad happens, Miles is right and the right thing to do is save his father and the multiverse. If something bad happens (that can’t be fixed), Miguel is right, Miles can’t and shouldn’t save his father, the Spider-Verse trilogy and it’s hypetrain end with a confirmation that Miles shouldn’t be Spider-Man, and Miles probably has like 3 months tops before he gets fridged/retconned in comics. And just for the record, if the choice is ABSOLUTELY between saving one person and an entire world, Spider-Man will save the entire world. Just ask Insomniac Spider-Man, who let his Aunt May… desurvivalize… so they could work out the antiserum to Devil’s Breath. Once we know how canon works for real, the moral dilemma becomes resolved immediately, and this feels like it could be a weak point.

4. We don’t know enough to confirm or debunk Canon yet.

Okay, yes, we know that Earths 65, 616, 1610, and 42 are all intact despite their Canon being broken in a number of ways, and that’s enough to motivate people into taking action against Miguel, but…

On Earth-50101, after Miles saves Inspector Singh and the quantum hole opens up, the Spider-Society IMMEDIATELY moves to contain it, knowing exactly what it is. And back on Earth-928, Miguel confirms that, if nothing else, THIS is something the Society has dealt with before to varying degrees of success, and Miguel correlates the quantum holes with Canon violations. This indicates that, if nothing else, there is some correlation between the Canon, quantum holes, and perhaps the Spot, since you can see a darkness encroaching upon Earth-50101’s Alchemax before Miles saves Singh and maybe even before Spot gets his power boost (I only saw it once in the theaters). This lead to:

5. What IS the case with Canon?

No idea. You could say that it can only be people within a specific reality who can affect that reality, but that doesn’t explain how Dr. Ohnn stopped Miles Morales of Earth-42 from being but without repercussion. It’s possible that Spot caused Canon retroactively (as in, somehow overheard talk of it, realized it was BS, but decided “Hey, why not try to make this true to be a jerk to Spider-Men”), but time travel is a can of worms, tense trouble, and Internet fights BTSV may want to steer clear front. They might even go with the comics’ Spider-Totem route for all anyone knows.

6. For that matter, how can Miguel predict anything to any degree of accuracy? There are thousands of realities with equally many variables. Being able to predict ANY Canon Event shouldn’t be possible by the mathematical laws of probability.

I may add onto this later, but my point is that Across the Spider-Verse makes its audience ask a LOT of questions that Beyond the Spider-Verse needs to answer to be satisfying.

[pynkhues]

Hey, just wanted to know your perspective on Shiv's decision. There's a huge discussion going on whether the decision was emotionally driven just to spite Kendall? Was it calculated in any sense considering her children's future or getting any power through Tom? Was she seeking Tom (the powerful man now)'s approval?

What do you think? I personally think it was multi faceted and complex and included all the things a little bit and lead her to the decision.

Would she have taken the same decision if she had no idea that it is infact Tom that Mattson's eyeing?

Hey! Oh man, it’s such a great moment and it’s one I’ve been thinking about a lot. I agree with you in the sense that it was such a multi-faceted and complex choice, and one that had many trigger points both in the sense of Shiv’s reality, her sense of power and control, and the real and mangled emotional root of her place in her own family.

Do I think it was strategic? A little, but I think she was passed the point of being able to strategise in part because she was out of time, but also in part because Shiv’s impatience means she’s just not very good at it.

I think one of Shiv’s greatest strengths is also one of her biggest flaws in that she tends not to see the wood for the trees. She’s a big picture thinker, she sees the end result she wants but not the daily machinations to get her there, which we see over and over again. She’s impatient, lives life on the backfoot so is always trying to hurry, overtake, skip steps, take shortcuts to get ahead, and when she’s asked to operate in a system where she’s forced to stop and acknowledge the reality of the moment, I think she can for once see everything for exactly what it is.

Funnily enough, I feel like the telling moment in terms of Shiv in that finale isn’t actually with Kendall or Tom at all, it’s the moment Sandi says yes in the boardroom. It’s the tiniest of beats, which Sarah plays beautifully, and it carries over from Stewy telling Shiv only moments before (after Kendall offers him Chair in their father’s office) that he thinks Shiv can still sway Sandi. We don’t see the scene, and I kind of wish we had, but the outcome is felt all the same. Shiv can’t do it, she doesn’t convince Sandi, the only woman she’s on any sort of equal footing with to vote with them, which means she has no accomplice at that table, no allies, no position, no weight, only brothers who have shown just how quickly they’ll shut her out.

I think its that failure with Sandi that ultimately untethers Shiv, because with that loss comes the loss of any way forwards for Shiv at the company. She’s no longer an heiress of her father’s making or even one of Matsson’s, she’s just a little sister, staring at her big brother, at the best friend he offers Chair to as a joke in his office when she could only play ‘behind the scenes’ so it didn’t look ‘wonky’, the person she’s spent her entire life trying to catch up to and beat, and I think she meant it, what she said to Kendall after.

She can’t stomach it.

If she can’t have it, he sure as hell can’t, and at least with Tom she has some sort of in, she has something. Not an accomplice at the table, but a trap door she could sometimes scratch her way beneath, someone who might not want a relationship with her, might not be loyal, but someone who’s bound to her, if nothing else, and someone who has no use for her brothers anymore.

Shiv would rather break the toy than let Kendall have it, even if she cut her own hands in the process, and honestly, it’s one of the reasons she’s a character of all time to me. She’s a survivor in a way none of her brothers are, but she’s also petty and selfish in the way all three of them absolutely are, and to see her really do what none of them could and cut their strings in the 11th hour was so thrilling to me. She’s kept her in, but she also knows she’s out, but at least Kendall and Roman are too. At least the three of them are locked out of the house together, even if, for a moment, they’re apart.

[pondslime]

find the word wip game

rules: search your wip(s) for the words given to you and share a sentence, then assign words for the people you tag

@visceravalentines MEG TYSM FOR THIS TAG this was so SO fckn fun. what an electric concept!! I shared more than a sentence for each bc I'm a fiend

my words were mouth, fall, dirt, teeth, and open!! cracking my knuckles like wooooooooo let's GOOOO

MOUTH;

from sacramentum (midnight mass // father paul hill x reader)

What happened to Mary in that cave? Alone, having stripped herself of all other pleasures—nothing but her thoughts and the one book she’d allowed herself. Wandering the seaside and building crucifixes out of sticks and roots, tied together by some stray fishing line. Had she looked down on his face, whittled crudely out of stone, and wished for steadier hands to carve his likeness? How many times had she woken with the sound of the sea in her ears? Perched by the mouth of the cave, watching the sky turn from gray to blue to gold to black?

Did she ever see ships on the horizon? What did she think of them? Had she ever thought of flagging one down? And what was the punishment she’d given herself for that?

When did you stop feeling hungry? You couldn’t survive on tears alone.

FALL;

from dancing in the moonlight (an american werewolf in london // david kessler & jack goodman x reader)

“We could’ve gotten frostbite.” Jack mutters.

“In the worst case scenario, yes, I suppose.” David replies, helping himself to a bagel.

“We almost got trench foot.”

“We did not!” David exclaims, laughing.

“That’s why I said almost, poindexter.” Jack counters. “One more night of wet socks and my toes would’ve fallen off. One by one—” He flicks his index finger three times, making a popping noise with his lips. “And it would’ve been all your fault. Good luck explaining that to my mother when we get back in the states. Oh, sorry Mrs. Goodman, I had Jack trekking through miles upon miles of soggy moorland and now he’s toeless. Those socks you knit him, forget about it. Maybe give it ‘til next Hanukkah and he’ll regrow his toes—oh, wait…”

“You’re ridiculous.” David shakes his head.

“Oh yeah? I’ll remember that when I’m decomposing next to you. Toes gone. Rotting.” Picking up the tongs, Jack wavers above the platter of croissants. “Sure you’ll find me real funny then, you schmuck.”

DIRT;

from sometime after midnight (house of wax // bojangles sinclair x reader)

The dull blue glow from the keypad barely illuminates the ground, but you can make out the unmistakable sign of cherry red fluid leaking onto the dirt. A steady trickle of it drips from the underside of the car—and it's not stopping anytime soon.

Your transmission is fucked.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” You exclaim.

TEETH;

from serotonin (house of wax // carly jones x reader)

She pictures her tank top, bloody and tattered, stuffed into a plastic bag labeled with EVIDENCE in bold letters. The prosecutor clicks to the next projection slide and there she is, another picture.

“Who are the women in the photographs? Are they still alive? It’s difficult." The detective on the screen grimaces. "We only have remnants of them. We’ve found teeth…clothes. The trophies they kept of these women will hopefully lead us to discovering their identities. I don’t know how long it’s going to take. But they deserve to have their names given back to them.”

“Carly?”

OPEN;

from a handful of bluebonnets (tcm // thomas hewitt x reader)

He’d been young. Young enough to still show his face, but old enough to know that it was the reason people were staring. He didn’t remember much from that day, just open-mouthed stares and the cow at the county fair with big watery eyes. Black, shining irises eclipsing the thin white sclera, framed with long lashes. She was a regal old thing, standing with her neck held high, ears twitching.

He thought he saw her again once, years later.

Her coat was duller, her head dropping. She’d traded her blue ribbons for slippery red blood, splattered along the wall and running down the grate. You use up all your usefulness on pride and this is where you’re bound to end up.

Maybe she’d been the first one. Spoiled with the heartbreak of a life that never came to be.

tagging @possumteeths, @f1nalboys, @pretty-possum, and aaaaaaa I'm blanking on who else might have wips fdjshjhfdsjhsdf

so!! whoever else wants to do this!!! pls consider urself tagged!!

your words are blood, eyes, sleep, skin, & break 👀👀👀

[a-vampire-culturelover]

Junkclan Introduction!

So after a bit of deciding, I decided I will post stuff for Clangen on my main blog instead of starting a Sid blog I'll probably forget about after a week! I may not be able to do anything like fancy comics or big drawings for it like other blogs, but I really do hope people can enjoy this Clangen thing even without that put into it ^_^!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _

Originating from the far Coast of an Ocean clan named Whaleclan, a group of several rebelling cats flee to the far North of their old home in search of somewhere to call their new Clan.

In a far area abandoned from human interaction, and overgrowth at it's brim, The small group of cats find their new home in the form of an abandoned place for Twoleg Amusement; Starview Park.

After their Leader, Lionmane, slept in a den made from a hole under the Park's statue of it's mascot, Jingles the Cat, a young cat from ages ago granted them Nine Lives, leading Lionstar to both regain faith in her ancestors, and faith in a new, although uncertain figure too.

The Cats of Junkclan, after an year of existing;

Lionstar, Clan Founder and Leader of Junkclan: A long-furred golden tabby and white she-cat.

Lionstar had not always been the Amusment Park Mascot-worshipping Leader of Junkclan, but rather a warrior of Whaleclan, Beach cats from the South of Junkclan's territory. She had always had a rebellious streak, going against her father Barracudafury's words of violence and hatred towards those in need, and went as far as to prank him from time to time in her youth. When her father had mysteriously became leader of Whaleclan, thus implementing rules of no good rhyme or reason, Lionmane stood up along many others and threatened to fight him if he continued. He had unfortunately won, send the fleeing cats far up north, where they found a strange, abandoned place where Twoleg scent wafered faintly from a forgotten past. Lionmane became infatuated with the place's mysterious "Diety" named "Jingles the Cat", and after sleeping under a hole under the Statue, gained her nine lives and began to worship the Statue as some sort of forgotten god of sorts, like a Guide from Starclan itself.

76 moons (9 lives remaining)

Trait: Rebellious

Skills: Steady Paws

Formerly apprenticed Egretleaf

Morningsting, Clan Founder and Deputy of Junkclan: An unusually spotted silver tom with a scar from a broken jaw.

Morningsting had been a young cat of Whaleclan previously, and once was Barracudafury(star)'s apprentice. When his own daughter stood against him and lost, Morningsting and Ferretstreak, two of Barracudafury's apprentices, were sent by him as espionage to take away Lionmane's dreams of peace and hope in her own new clan. Despite his true reason for joining Junkclan, his advice is admittedly well vied, and his hunting skills gained him praise in their new home.

25 moons

Trait: Troublesome

Skills: Helpful insight and good hunter

Waspflare, CLan Founder and Cleric of Junkclan: A long-furred dorsal-striped dark brown tom.

Waspflare had not always been the Cleric of Junkclan, but rather a mere warrior of Whaleclan. Abandoned by his real parents as a kit, he was mistreated by his foster parents, who saw him as weak for his outsider roots. Many helped him through the abuse, although his parents eventually became the Double Deputies of Whaleclan under Barracudastar's rule. Waspflare sided with Lionmane due to many visions and omens that predicted Barracudastar's cruelty, and left alongside many. When they had arrived at the territory and camp, Starview Park, Waspflare had been promoted to a new clan ranking, Cleric; As the First Cleric of Junkclan, Waspflare has the same duties as a Healer, but also blesses members of the clan on important events and predicts their fates, although not without explicit permission.

67 moons

Trait: Insecure

Skills: Prophet

Apprentice: Flowerpaw

Flowerpaw, Clan Founder and Cleric in training: A long-furred golden tabby and white tom wearing a single red poppy on his right ear.

Flowerpaw, soon to be Flowerheat, had once been a kit of Whaleclan, young but bullied by other kits for his lack of courage and will to fight in battle. Two other kits, Jadekit and Egretkit, now Egretleaf and Jadestalk, had been his only real companions due to their support. He had secretly tagged along with the two when they willingly left Whaleclan witlaonmane's group. Now a soon-to-be Cleric, Flowerheart simply hopes to make the right choices and hopefully grow a bigger spine.

13 moons

Trait: Insecure

Skills: Confident with words & Never sits still

Slumbershade, Clan Founder: A dark ginger and white tabby tom with fur covering his eyes.

Slumbershade is the sleepiest member of Junkclan, but also very resourceful and beloved by the kits in his games of Moss Ball and Hide & Seek. He had been called 'Lazy' and 'Unmotivated' by Barracudastar, which had motivated him to leave Whaleclan with Lionmane's group.

88 moons

Trait: Responsible

Skills: Beloved KItsitter and Very Clever

Former apprentice: Jadestalk

Thunder, Formerly a Loner: A speckled Dark brown tom.

Thunder used to live as a loner, but after another cat chased him from his home, he took refuge in Junkclan.

75 moons

Trait: Confident

Skills: Great Speaker and Great hunter

Ferretstreak, Clan Founder: A long-furred dorsal-striped gray she-cat.

Ferretstreak had been one of Barracudastar's apprentices, much like Morningsting, and had also been sent as Espionage to sabotage Lionstar's plan for a fresh start in their new home and this new land. Has a peculiar hatred for Egretleaf.

30 moons

Trait: Ambitious

Skills: Great Mediator and Learner of lore

Apprentice: Robinpaw

Jadestalk, Clan Founder: A gray, slender tom with short fur and strikingly green eyes.

Jadestalk, while childish and stubborn, is well revered in the clan for his upcommance against Barracudastar at the age of 4 moons alongside his moon younger friend Egretkit, and their Tag-along friend Flowerkit. He was revered for his gracious swimming abilities in puddles at Whaleclan, and peered the same in Junkclan during particularly flooded days.

16 moons

Trait: Childish

Skills: Good swimmer

Apprentice: Chaffinchpaw

Egretleaf, Clan Founder: A long-furred speckled pale ginger she-cat, herbs covering her pelt.

Egretleaf was the charismatic, slick and if not "Rizz Master" of Junkclan, and similarly so in kit hood in Whaleclan. Hateful of Barracudastar's cruelty and injustice, Egretkit left with her older friend Jadekit and younger friend and misfit of Whaleclan, Flowerkit on the journey to a new home.

15 moons

Trait: Charismatic

Skills: Good Climber

Chaffinchpaw, born to Lionstar with Outsider Roots: A long-furred white and dark ginger tabby tom with a heart pattern on his pelt.

Born to Lionstar of Junkclan in a fling with a wandering Loner exploring the Amusement Park territory.

8 moons

Trait: Bloodthirsty

Skills: Curious about Starclan and Active imagination

Robinpaw, born to Lionstar with Outsider roots: A long-furred pale ginger ticked and white she-cat with white eyebag markings

Born to Lionstar of Junkclan in a fling with a wandering Loner exploring the Amusement Park territory. Inherited her mother's rebellious streak.

8 moons

Trait: Rebellious

Skills: Quick to Make peace and Fascinated by Prophecies

Deceased Cats: Starclan

Starclan Guide: Apricotpaw

Apricotpaw had once been a young, kind Healer's apprentice of Whaleclan, a clan that lived in a cave by the Ocean was know for the Whale bones of an old carcass nearby camp. Apricotpaw had dreamed of becoming a hero and legend to Whaleclan as a Healer, often imagining her older brother becoming Leader alongside her as well. Her dreams were short-lived when two warriors, Rustbucket and Sharktooth, two old and bitter warriors, had plotted to kill Apricotpaw for seemingly no reason. They had killed Apricotpaw viciously in the night, mauling her into bits and pieces that bad to be taken in many trips to bury outside camp. After her bother Plumwhisker's death moons later, and after Junkclan had been founded, she grew interested and left to guide them as their righteous duty was to.

8 moons (in life) 189 moons (in death)

Traits: Righteous

Skills: Clever and easy runner

Holds a grudge on Timberdusk for their parent's crimes.

Cause of death: Killed by Rustbucket and Sharktooth

Jaykit, Clan founder and child of Lionstar with Outsider roots: A brown and cream colored Rosette she-cat.

Was born to Lionstar and an wandering loner from a fling, died of kittencough.

4 moons (in life) 4 moons (in death)

Trait: Impulsive

Skills: Picky nest builder

Cause of death: Died from Kittencough

Deceased Cats: The Dark Carnival

Timberdusk, Clan founder and Elder: Smoky brown tom with striking yellow eyes.

Timberdusk was an old elder of Junkclan, but once a warrior of Whaleclan, it's Father Clan. When he was young his parents, Rustbucket and Sharktooth, were exiled sometime before he was even conceived, after the Cause of death of Healer's Apprentice Apricotpaw was traced back to them. He had vowed to get vengeance for them and planned for many moons to kill Plumwhisker, Apricot's older sibling and deputy of Whaleclan at the time of his birth. When he had graduated to Warrior, he had planned to go out on a nightly patrol with Plumwhisker and push him off a cliff into the Unforgiving Sea. What he had not realized was that Plumwhisker had believed in him, thinking he would never go to the same lengths as his parents who had genuinely done wrong. Heartbroken at this elevation, he couldn't stop his body from enacting his revenge, and Plumwhisker died, his body found pulverized from the spikes under the cliff. It was deemed an accident and Timberdusk was consoled by others, but truly a changed cat. He retired early to the Elder's den at 15 moons young, and became bitter and sour, his guilt eating away at him for many moons. When Lionmane stood up against Barracudastar and fled with her many colleagues, Timberdusk tagged along thinking he could redeem himself. After his heart attack, Apricotpaw had banished him to the Dark Carnival, Junkclan's version of the Place of No Stars, due to Apricotpaw's anguish and grudges held over Plumwhisker's death.

163 moons (in life) 8 moons (in death)

Trait: Grumpy

Skills: Good fighter

Cause of Death: Heart Attack from old age.

Junkclan's Territory:

[whentherewerebicycles]

oh i am powerfully grumpy today let me list the reasons why to break their hold over me! and then i will list the substantive good things that will counterbalance the grumpiness.

WHY AM I GRUMPY

didn’t sleep well and got up too early (this, as you will see, is probably the root of all other ills)

was pretty cranky with ruthie at 5am because she wouldn’t poop and wanted to just wander around outside & take a little walk instead. which fine but i was so tired and grumpy already haha. and then i always feel like a CRUEL MONSTER after i have spoken to her a bit sharply because she is a sweet little girl and sometimes you just don’t have to poop ok! also sometimes when i have been short with the dogs i am like oh great this is like a two-second glimpse of the lowest setting of sleep-deprived parenthood i bet i am going to handle that GREAT. (you can see here how i was already in that Mood where your crabbiness starts magnetizing all other free-floating crabbiness in the ether towards it)

got a little cranky on the phone with my mom because it felt like she was taking a liiiittle dig at me about the salary cut i’m taking (i don’t think she intentionally was i was just already kind of grumpy and sensitive) 

i am experiencing some lowgrade anxiety about the HSG test tomorrow, partly because i have read that is going to be moderately painful and partly because i am worried it will reveal bigger problems

my lead just straight up stood me up for a meeting today lol... i was on the teams call for 10 min just waiting and then she didn’t respond to any of my messages so i hung up but can’t really wander away from my laptop in case she calls me back... i’ve been just kinda Over It for a while but man it is annoying when she does stuff like this. also lol she did the thing in a meeting yesterday where i offered to review this tiny inconsequential project real quick with my boss and my lead jumped in to be like “to make the best use of [boss]’s time, i think it’s best if i review the content first to ensure everything looks okay” which is code for “i am going to make one formatting change and then schedule a meeting with our boss without inviting you where i imply that your work was so shoddy i had to make MAJOR changes to salvage it.” i was just like sure girl. whatever. enjoy these last few days of getting to powertrip over me. you are so close to being in my rearview mirror forever.

i only have like 1-2 pointless work projects left before my last day (next friday) but they are so pointless and so hazily defined that working on them plunges me into a deep work despair spiral even though i am SO close to being done with this stupid job. i know i need to just pull myself together and finish them but wow. i hate this.

some IRL friend stuff is making me a little bit irritated and i just need to sit down for a minute at some point and decide if/how i want to react to it. it’s genuinely not a big deal it’s just one of those situations where there have been multiple small annoyances that are not exactly anyone’s fault but cumulatively just make me feel a little put-out. however i am aware that if i’d slept 2 more hours last night i might feel totally different about it so i am just bracketing it today.

phew okay. now WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GENUINELY GOOD & MEANINGFUL THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT ARE FILLING ME WITH A SENSE OF GRATITUDE THAT I GET TO BE ALIVE IN THIS WORLD IN THIS MOMENT?

i wrote for 3+ hours this morning and feel really intrigued by the project... not sure if i have a sense of where it’s going yet but it’s been quite a while since i’ve been in that headspace where you wake up and reach blearily for your phone right away because you’re just HUNGRY to review the writing you did the previous night & start working on the new draft. i am very, very much hoping that a change of job and scenery will jumpstart my creativity a bit... i think it’s just challenging to write when literally nothing is happening in your life. you have all this open unstructured time, which means you don’t value any of the time you have (because if you don’t write in THIS empty moment you can always put it off to the next empty moment!), and then you are just sitting at home not experiencing any social or intellectual stimuli so i feel like you don’t get that “lots of ideas sloshing around in my brain... new encounters triggering new ways of looking at or connecting them... back-burner brain stuff simmering while doing other activities” stuff going. ANYWAY this is all to say it feels good to be writing again & feeling excited about writing whether or not this one sticks. i am just happier when i am engaging in the practice of making things even if i am not finishing things.

part of why i started writing again is that i got two extremely long, detailed, thoughtful comments on my last story from another writer that just made me feel so, so good and creatively energized. all comments are soooo good/valued but i feel like there is something extra special about getting that kind of extremely detailed feedback from a talented writer who picks up on why you did certain things and has a very clear sense of the really, really time-intensive revision and redrafting work that goes into weaving multiple layers into a story. i read the comments yesterday and at first was happy but also kind of in a funk about it - like it was SO nice and affirming to receive them but i have also kind of built that story up in my mind to be the best/most fully realized thing i’ve ever written and can sometimes get down on myself feeling like i’ll never be able to top it or even repeat it. but then i read the comments several more times and started thinking about some of the specific scenes or choices the person was highlighting and just remembering how many times i patiently reworked not-great versions of those scenes to just steadily make them better and more effective. and i was just like okay listen. it just takes hard work and time. i have to put in the hard work. i have to invest the time. i have to give up the fantasy that the first version i write (or the second version or the tenth version) is going to be, or should be, perfect. i’m so proud of that polished final work but to get there i had to really keep the draft shitty and unfinished and patchworked-together and rough around the edges so that i could have the flexibility to rearrange things and torpedo what wasn’t working and generate new ideas through new combinations of rough material. so get over yourself and get to work, you idiot, or you really will never make anything again because you’ll have gotten wrapped up in some fantasy of doing things perfectly the very first time. ANYWAY it was a journey haha but those comments got me moving again and it really made me remember again how much i value being part of a creative community where you get to have that kind of engagement with other readers and writers.

i think it’s going to be a stupidly gorgeous day out! and then a stupidly gorgeous next week or two! soooo nice to have nice weather!! spring is here!!! i scrubbed down the deck last night before bed finally and am now just awaiting the delivery of the outdoor rug and side table.

 i had a really, really good catch-up call yesterday afternoon with a former mentee i worked closely with for a few years in my last job. i thought she was probably reaching out to ask about a letter of rec or something but it turned out that she actually just wanted to tell me about how this project she started years ago with me has continued to grow/evolve and has led to these pretty major institutional changes around making caste a protected class at our university. she was just like, ‘i’ve been thinking about you so much all year because everything we’ve been doing is rooted in the research ethos you taught me in that program. and then it just occurred to me that instead of just thinking about you i could reach out to tell you about how much you shaped this work.’ it was just so good to hear from her and so amazing to hear about this stuff she and her co-organizers have been able to achieve in the last couple years!! it made me feel really good/happy (for her but also obviously it’s just nice when people say nice things about your teaching impact!) and i also feel like it kinda lit a fire under me a little bit... like this past year has been so isolating and i think one thing i’ve missed is the way that students’ passionate commitments push YOU to be more engaged in your own life/community and more awake in your own life. i feel like this student in particular always pushed me to be more honest you know... she’s one of those people who is continuously pursuing difficult, important work because she believes it’s the right thing to do and she knows she has the skillset to do it. so i just want to hold onto that feeling you know... like as i begin to become more involved in the life of a campus community again and more connected to students i just want to keep pushing myself out of this period of isolation and into the world to do meaningful work.

[acarrcreations]

Rayman Retaliation behind the scenes...

Cover sketch

When we weren’t playing Animal Crossing, Ikke and I had been working on a few little drawings and animations while together in the first lockdown in 2020. We were stuck in a flat together, Ikke was also in another country and I became really ill, so the story definitely had it's roots in feeling helpless and isolated. This wasn’t intended, but it’s obvious now that I’m looking back at the old notes...

(Some drawings in this post will be done by @ikkeforeal)

Please don't read ahead if you haven't read the story! (contains spoilers!)

< Start reading story here

Campsite sketch.

I originally wanted the first chapter's illustration to be based on this scene but it felt boring.

Rayman was originally going to be paranoid about Razorbeard getting away and having nightmares. He would come across a left over Robot Pirate head during a clean-up operation and look into the night sky, realising how little they knew about the outside world and where the Pirates even came from. This would make him feel small and helpless in protecting the Glade of Dreams.

Rayman with Robot Pirate head.

This was eventually changed as it didn’t feel accurate to his character and instead became a dream that was planted in his head as a warning.

The character Morgan was originally going to be a bigger part of the story. She was someone that had been isolated from the rest of the world. A dark event happened that only she could recall, which was going to be a mysterious and all-consuming creature called The Hunger. Polokus had done a “windows reboot on the world” (as we called it) and paused time so then the mysterious creature was trapped and couldn’t continue. This was connected to him travelling to the Place where all the God’s meet to dream up a new future.

Morgan design and The Hunger.

Morgan was unhappy about the idea of the people not remembering the old world and wanted a real solution to defeating The Hunger.

Rayman was interested in gaining new powers so he could become stronger and Morgan needed him to fight new guardians and gather their masks for her. So she gave him the ability to create spiral doorways and to be able to travel anywhere he needed to be.

The reader was going to be lead in believing that Morgan was going to double-cross Rayman and have him summon The Hunger into the world instead using the masks.

A couple Mask designs.

When the story developed further, I realised that Morgan was going to have to be scrapped and replaced with the Muse of The Poets instead, especially so her connection to Polokus made more sense. This decision made us feel a bit sad because we really liked her as a character, so we decided to keep her as our own version of the Muse of the Poets instead.

The sketch for Chapter 4's final illustration.

Getting Rayman into space was something that we were interested in as then he would be completely in unknown territory. But it was difficult to give him a reason *why* he should go into space and how. The original plan would be to have Rayman pilot an abandoned Pirate warship, but we didn’t want Rayman to be on his own. We decided it would be funny if we brought back Joe the alien from the first game, but also because then we could have a character that would be familiar with navigating space.

Joe the alien re-design. Wanted to give him a more "Rayman 2" look.

In 2021 I ended up deciding to take over the story just on my own since our living situation changed and our lives became busy again, but Ikke was still a big help.

I was stuck with what The Hunger was supposed to be. It didn’t make sense to have a character that had no motivation. If this story was going to be based around the events of Rayman 2, I realised that it could have a connection to the Robot Pirates in some way.

The Robot Pirate "Spirit" sketches.

I then had the idea that it could be the Robot Pirate God that was out for revenge on Polokus for wiping out the Pirates. I really liked this idea and ended up having to rewrite the whole story! (I think it worked out in the end though!)

The Robot Pirate Planet doodles and chapter 3's final illustration sketch.

I could go on and on about every thought I had trying to piece the story together so it made sense but then we’d be here all day. I’m thankful for my friends who encouraged me to keep going.

I decided since the Robot Pirates were going to have a spirit, then that meant they needed their version of Jano. This made for a great idea for the twist in the story.

Robot God design and chapter 6's final illustration sketches.

Ultimately, I really wanted the story to be enjoyed by fans and also able to be read by anyone. I asked my flatmate who isn’t a Rayman fan to proof-read for me and her being able to understand what was going on gave me a lot of confidence for the story.

Sketches for chapter 2's final illustration.

Sketches for chapter 5's final illustration.

Murphy was originally going to be the narrator for the story. I really liked the idea of him being able to break the fourth wall and interact with the comic panels but I had to scrap him when it became a short story instead.

Murphy as a narrator.

Robo-Rayman design.

Old cover designs.

Dang only allowed 30 images per post? Well then. Guess that's all you're getting!!!! :')

Thanks for reading! I'm (probably) never writing a fanfic again, my fingers have crumbled into dust.

[semi-imaginary-place]

octopath traveler 2 again

Partitio ch1. I get what the writers are going for with the evil landowner but if no one has a job he isnt making money either. Like that guys profit is from the labor of the townsfolk. something more logical would be if he trapped them all in long term indentured servitude work contracts. Or as roque said the silver devalued and the mine dried up but this is octopath so we gotta beat someone up for the ch 1 boss. If roque brilliant is so rich and famous how does no one know his name. Writers needed a plot reason for partitio to leave town. This is kinda contrived why lead on papp into buying to land then change the contract rebuy the land and drive the town into the ground. "This town's done for" yeah because you did it in. Buy low sell high he bought high and then ruined his own property value. This is alfyn all over again where i love the character but the story sucks. I actually liked the other ch1s. Ok kicking the bully down is great and all also who hoards all the "taxes" instead of investing it. Also we didnt fix the root problems which are the devaluation if silver and that this is a boom bust mining town the real solution is to diversify the economy. It's not partitio's merchant skills that saved the town we just brat people up.

OT2 is easier than 1 which is a shame since i thought 1 had good balance. They added a bunch of skills in 2 but didn't rebalance things so now it's too easy. I miss the challenge but I wouldn't especially consider it s problem.

Throne ch2: Octopath 1 had this problem where storylines where smashed into same towns so one half is a crime syndicate and the other half a bunch of theater fans. So Orerush has 2 wealthy powerful factions but they seem to exist in separate universes with no interaction. Although ot2 is so far better. Making a bunch of special poison slave collars seems expensive. Huh no combat they're shaking up the formula

Hikari ch1. The dessert city is japanese instead of vaguely fusion middle eastern and indian, that's a new one. Hinoeuma follows a different naming pattern from the usual nature-noun + lands like leaflands or riverlands. Ok a lot of things just happened in the intro hikari's a prince and is hearing voices?? And half brother to mugen. Warring states japan but also like some chinese maybe middle eastern aesthetics thrown in i mean japan throughout it's history was heavily influenced by chinese culture. Ritsu's gonna die. Yup looking at the castle town chinese. Has the emperor's political position grown so weak that he acnt publicly declare hikari as the successor? Standard plot but then also demon possession i like this chapter. Cant really rule over destroyed city, mugens an idiot. "Restore light [hikari] to our kingdom". Huh mugens not even going to try to kill hikari now.

Detoured to pick up merchant. Beat up and robbed a dude of his cherish memento and now i feel bad well no going back.

Castti: classic amnesia mystery. Girl out here being sherlock.

[petri808]

You assume I believe the articles claims. It doesn’t have to be accurate, the POINT of the article is to infuriate and cause anger, and so people will pay attention because too many are not and allowing this genocide to take place. Heavy rains caused flooding, which causes the sewer systems to overflow, which causes bacteria/viral outbreaks, that lead to disease and potential deaths/illness, and because of Israel’s attacks, people in the area are often unable to get to proper medical care. They are diasporas stuck in that area BECAUSE of Israel.

Western media is being wholly biased in their portrayals of what’s going on in the region. That’s called propaganda hun, meant to sway the views to one side or another. I don’t care whose side is saying what, the issues are what’s actually happening and sorry, but carpet bombing residential areas to kill specific targets borders on Geneva violations. You don’t kill a cockroach with a bazooka unless you don’t care what happens to the area around it. There’s plenty enough evidence of the behaviors of Israel and its soldiers committing crimes against humanity coming forward. There’s no arguing it anymore.

The creation of Israel itself is an act of colonialism which we now deem to be wrong. You can’t just march into another country and take it and that’s exactly what the Allies did after WWII. They literally flexed their muscles after the war and stole land. I don’t care about the ancient clan feuds of the area. The Palestinian people became the native inhabitants and that’s it, so be it. It’s not the job of outsiders to disregard sovereignty just because they don’t like something, aka what colonizers do. No surprise that colonist countries thought this was okay to do. It was such a slap to the face of Palestine too. The allies went in and said we’re taking this area to make a new county (Israel), too bad what you think. Oh and by the way, we’re not going to recognize you (Palestine) as a real country but we are going to recognize Israel. What a crock of bull.

I am a native of a place that was colonized and forcibly stolen by the United States, so don’t you tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about. There is NEVER a good reason to usurp another country. It’s always a nefarious reason, mainly natural resources or religious reasons. That said, trying to establish a place for the Jews wasn’t the bad thing, it’s the method they used to do it that’s a big problem and what we are seeing now are its consequences. In the last 80 years the predominant aggressor in this this war has always been Israel, not Palestine, and that’s because of the protection and support of the United States. Palestine isn’t the only country either, Israel has been bullying the other countries in the Middle East too. It’s like the little guy calling someone out in a fight because they know behind them is the biggest, toughest kid in the school ready to fight for them.

And don’t you dare try to say the Allies actually gave a damn about the Jews in WWII and that’s why they’re protecting them now cause that’s bullshit. It was to protect themselves. They didn’t lift a finger to stop Germany’s attacks on Jewish citizens until AFTER Germany breached their borders and started attacking neighboring countries. The U.S. didn’t enter the war until AFTER they were attacked themselves at Pearl Harbor. Not altruism, just self-serving.

The #1 reason for colonialism was to spread the colonizers religious beliefs to the “savage” unbelievers. The other top reasons were because that area had natural reasons they wanted for themselves to fuel the Industrial evolution growing at those times. Hawaii was for its strategic military location in the Pacific Ocean and because the sovereigns were close to England so they needed to act first. The U.S. (among others) did in fact try to weasel their way into Japan as well which is the root of where their dislikes of foreigners come from. The movie The Last Samurai actually does have some historical significance. I am a descendant of the Aizu area.

These posts will never have all the information necessary to make full conclusions, but as long as you understand that, it doesn’t make it wrong to share. It’s not our fault that others that read it lack critical thinking skills because if it’s not shared, it may never be known. This is the benefit of the internet today that information can be spread easier. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when critical thinking skills has significantly waned in the population. I don’t know why they stopped teaching logic in schools, but they need to bring it back.

Oh, last thing, STOP FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC ACTIONS to make a conclusion and look at the whole picture, the whole history. Look at the timeline, the progression, the domino effects because there is ALWAYS consequences to actions, whether positive, negative, or neutral. The things we are seeing in the world are not the result of only the last few years, but likely not the last few centuries of things that have developed and festered and finally exploded.

Ok ok seriously last thing

THE FIGHTING IS FUCKING STUPID! Jews, Christians, Muslims, Catholics and all their spawns are fucking related! These abrahamic religions are like cousins fighting over an estate. It’s fucking ridiculous. No one needs to be right or wrong, just leave each other alone already. Learn to share, you know, like they teach toddlers in preschool. LEARN TO FUCKING SHARE.

[bigkahuna626-blog]

Sailor Moon - Blog Post

Sailor moon has to go down as one of the top 10 most influential anime to have existed from the genre and culture. I remember my older female cousin was absolutely obsessed with the show when they played episodes on Toonami. Having personally seen the impression this show left on American culture through iterations of references in media, clothing, and other merchandise, I can attest to the influence the plot points and its characters have had on the world. Sailor moon follows the story of Usagi Tsukino, a normal teenage girl who finds out her destiny is to protect the world from evil with her gifted powers. The episodes we viewed opened the shows world and narratives, establishing the female protagonist(s) as strong leaders and hero's. 

This show was a strong example of how the change of the stereotypical female narrative in superhero themed media could be altered. By highlighting the female's ability to take the lead role and be the savior, it pushed narratives that expanded on the role of women in the real world. With most media dominated by the male hero architype, this show functioned as an inspiration to girls from which they had few to look up to. Especially in the culture of Japan we see how throughout many stories, the female characters are seen as sub servant and in need of rescuing or being the aid to the main protagonist. This relates from the role of women in the culture of Japan as a whole. The show looks to flip this narrative, and while it does include some stereotypical plot devices. It continues to progressively put the female's ability to be the hero at the story's forefront while also keeping its characters deep rooted in their feminine attributes.  

As a male, I personally enjoyed having a reason to watch Sailor Moon so that I was able to form my own opinions on it and experience some of what many people regard as a culture shifting anime.  

[petalsmooth]

The Bridgerton fandom is beyond toxic and delusional btw.

Particularly Kanthony stans, Benophie stans and yes Nic/Pen, Lukola stans...all of whom have NO bearing on real life careers or performances. Though they can impact moods of the individual actors and their loved ones unfortunately. Which is why most of the actors limit their social media intake or don't use it at all.

Kanthony fans thought they could sabotage season 3. Season 3 surpassed in ratings.

Benophie fans joined with them because bitter not next season, failed too. Now both try to down talk season 3 as if you can hurt it at this point when the numbers are already logged?

Benophie's also running their mouths about how they'll "save" Bridgerton with season 4. Considering Netflix chiefs are crediting Polin, Nic and Luke for not only outpacing in subscribers but by lifting all the other Bridgerton seasons and QC...good luck "saving" anything. But I do guarantee if you all keep this up and don't perform better than season 3 that your words are going to be hung around your nextthe way Kanthony's were. Remember general audience is not the insular toxic Bridgerton audience. You have to impress them...not your insular circles.

I'm not rooting against the season btw...but I do have a long memory.

Bridgerton Nic/Pen stans somehow convincing themselves Nic's career ascendancy began with them and particularly this season rather than back with Derry Girl's. She would have had a larger role in Barbie if season 3 schedule wasn't in way. She was ear marked to have more ascendancy before the season began in printed media because already on rise for last decade. These new roles didn't suddenly appear in last 2 months which Nic herself has said. Which is great for her because I've loved her awhile but there is a reason her career is moving faster than others out of the gate now no longer contracted to have to "lead" a season.

"Lukola" stans who seem to have decided Luke "betrayed" them and Nicola. Since they can't even credibly claim he did so romantically (though how they have tried), insist Luke having his GF at the premiere kept season 3 from being top 3 on Netflix now because ruined all the hard work poor Nic did. You delusional idiots.

First off LUKE did half that pr work because the GA wasn't watching those interviews just for her no matter how delusional you may be to think otherwise. They were watching because of their chemistry. It wasn't NIC's Premiere. It was HIS and NIK's premiere. HIS and HER work. And he damn well can bring anyone he likes to the premiere and if that bothers you...you are the one with the problem. Luke is not the only person in the show that should be forbidden from having people he cares for attend because of delusional stalkers on his tail. This is not the 1940's where the studio controls the actors and the fans get fed lies about their relationship regardless of the actor's feelings and thank God. If you are mad about that form of hard earned progress made decades ago, you shouldn't be watching a show that claims to be progressive to begin with.

Also, bringing her to the premiere didn't do a THING to hurt reception of the show. The only thing it did was hurt your delusion he had broken up with her a few weeks prior which was all the gossip at the time. THAT'S why you are mad and have been mad ever since, because he refuses to break up with a woman so you can continue to accessorize him with Nic to live vicariously through her. You are mentally deranged people who need therapy. You are the same people who rejoiced with he broke up with Jade and thought you influenced that too. You did NOT.

Now I don't mind liking the two and wishing they were together romantically but at this point I'm glad they aren't. I can only imagine if they WERE and DID break up if you treat him this way for having done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG. Forbid actual feelings were involved and hurt what you'd all do then since you stalk and badger and bully and harass and lie and spread malicious gossip and try to hurt him as it is now simply for be friends with her her...which she reciprocates and seems perfectly content with.

Lastly, this group has some half witted theory that if they can't break up his relationship they can torpedo his career...and have succeeded. All because Luke hasn't announced upcoming projects yet. But if only he will hand over his life to them, they will make it all better and its not too late.....and I just want to laugh.

Even if it WERE true, I think I'd rather have no career than be reliant in their toxicity for one.

Second, Luke is not NEAR as open on social media as he used to be or as others are now including Nic. And given way he's been treated by these people wouldn't expect to change just to feed the same masses claiming he is a loser, pedophile (for dating someone in mid twenties' when he's barely in his '30's, and trying to refrain from giving him any credit for season 3' success or pr campaign. Seriously...the spread negativity to force the actor to refute and give you content is SO blatantly obvious and played out as a trick. Good on him for not falling for it.

Third...the idea Luke wouldn't at very least book another play or something on level of what the people who play Phillipa book is laughable to me. Seriously...these people have convinced themselves they've made him toxic gossiping online about his gf to point can't book anything. It's reading to me as delusional as Kanthony fans convincing themselves Polin had no fans. You all really should be best friends, you aren't unalike.

Regardless I am calling these people out but I want to end with saying none of them really are fans of Kate, of Anthony, if Jonny, of Simone, of Benedict, of Sophie, of Luke T, of Nic, or Penelope, or Colin or Luke N. Fans of theirs never would have behaved this way about their characters and these actors who all care and support each other. I find you people pathetic, impotent liars who are consistently ALWAYS shown to be wrong in time and not worth EVER catering to. I look forward to the next two seasons in fact because the two leads of those seasons don't use social media at ALL and it serves you all right. you are going to be suffocated for content and couldn't happen to worse people.

Lastly, in regards to the show....Luke's GF went to NY premiere and didn't affect reception of part one at all. Part two had nothing to do with him or his GF and everything to do with lousy plotting and writing and taking focus off POLIN and minimal scenes of Colin and just generally deciding to have the characters spend the last two episodes not talking, at odds, arguing, betrayed, very little romance and when they were romantic moments all colored by the deception they show hadn't let them work through. I can't possibly imagine why the GA who was told this was going to be a rom com season and romantic was incredibly put off by part 2. Even so still watched in large numbers, it just didn't have the viral effect of the carriage to pull past season 1 and that is on Jess and Shonda and how DARE you put that on Luke. He didn't write the show. I'm pretty sure if he DID and if Nicola DID it would have been far lighter and this deception wouldn't have carried until end of ep 6 and we'd all have been happier.

Instead he got less screen time than Benedict, you know the "savior" of season 4 according to Benophies, who basically had a sl celebrating how overjoyed he is not to commit to anyone. What a wonderful use of resources Shonda/Jess. So glad you chose to make this is the season where you have a sibling surpass the actual lead for screentime despite claiming each sibling gets their own year to shine before stepping back. How well did that work for you? Because I don't see network chiefs bragging about the number of re-watches those Benedict threesomes put up this year? But I'm sure they would have loved more Colin/Polin scenes to go with the Pen scenes and another viral moment like the carriage scene in place of them.

And since I'm ranting I'll go there as well. Those people at Netflix know which characters and scenes are pulling the most views, So does the show. I had heard time again from certain fanbases how other characters and couples were going to have to pull up Polin's numbers to save the season, then when the numbers came out heard it was because they were watching everyone else. Well. the netflix creative exec didn't single anyone else out. I'd love to get my hands on the numbers POLIN was doing next to the mediocre subplots they wrote. My guess is a fairly huge discrepancy. I'd also bet Shonda and Jess were having some regrets didn't put more scenes in for them this season if forced to be honest too.

I'm not against subplots mind you as someone who likes other characters and wishes to see them but the ones this season were very weak or in case of Eloise...maddening as so out of character. Only the Featherington's really shined in theirs. Another problem for season 4 if you remove them from the show, since no one else stepped up in secondary plotting.

For people who prefer little to no subplots, watch Queen Charlotte. That show would have been better if had more and a stronger complimentary cast, as it was the lead story of Charlotte and George was good but other than that not much reason to watch it again which is why I haven't. Reason I always loved season 1 is between both lead and supporting stories held interest. I don't want secondary stories gone, far from it. But I'd like them to be better and not some token always on honeymoon Kanthony, Benedict as Peter pan/threesomes, Eloise with bully Cressida etc...and shouldn't come at expense of telling the stories of BOTH lead characters which happened with Colin. Who SHOULD have gotten to resolve HIS family issues the way Pen did her, and have his innermost thought actually vocalized to someone other than Cressida and Fife along the way.

Kanthony should have had a REAL story (hate their fans, not the couple) and I've said in past could have taken from their book and have Kate with nightmares and tie it into her pregnancy and being a mother and having lost her mother. If you wanted Benedict to explore fluidity, why not START of season? Why did you do it at end when knew leading into his next? SO badly plotted.

If you as a show are tired of the diamond plot, don't make a pale copy of it with a "Sparkler". It was a season of wallflowers and overlooked and outcase people right? Why then waste out time with Francesca and the Queen and Lady D. Lady D SHOULD have been involved with the wallflower plot. Jess' excuse for not being was trash imo. Makes it look like Lady D only cares about the beautiful and powerful the way they've done it, complete character assassination from the book.

Why insist Queen Charlotte have to air first and then not tie in the younger version's struggle with finding a place in society until chess game at the end? You could have linked their stories far earlier and watched that chess game play out from ep 1. Such a missed opportunity to tie threads together. Just as not having Benedict explore earlier meant couldn't tie in brimsley as a subplot.

And I don't even want to start on Eloise again...except she is still where she has always been. No growth at all until maybe last episode or two. The show likes to pretend there were consequences for her, but ere there? The only thing she learned was not everyone was Penelope and would listen to anything she rambled about without listening to them in return. Either have Eloise really walk a mile in Pen's shows on the side of ballrooms unnoticed or bullied, or do the opposite and have her make friends with people who don't just talk and explore the difference between what IS possible vs what she WISHES were possible or hell...I have an idea. Why not have tied her into the Mondriches? People not born to privilege thrust into that world and have Eloise maybe finally catch a clue through them how lucky she's been but also...check some of her more radical prejudices. I don't think anyone believes Alice is dominated by the rule of her husband. Maybe they tried that with Cressida, but Cressida is a bully and falls flat.