#i love reading fan theories and interpretations

[lnkedmyheart]

And who gives you or me the right to criticize how fans engage with content or characters? Who gets to declare that fans "don't even like the character" just because they don't fit your personal read of the character?

Let me put it this way. Asagiri looked at real life authors and poets and made what basically counts as fanfiction of them. Would you call them mischaracterization of the original? Asagiri took beast and made Chuuya, Atsushi and so on extremely out of character. Would you accuse him of mischaracterization?

Bsd fans and shippers rewriting and recreating the dynamics or characterization is in no way harming anyone. It's people enjoying fiction. People can and will have multiple interpretations of the same thing. We aren't a hive mind. And Asagiri isn't someone who likes insisting on how things should be viewed. He in fact is open to fans making what if scenarios all they want. Canonically Chuuya would never leave the PM behind for Dazai and fans used to love speculating that he would have for Dazai and later Asagiri talked about an alternate world where Chuuya does leave with Dazai. It's speculative, transformative fiction. You and I do not get to judge people for having fun with fiction. Just don't read it or engage with it.

And no, I don't think you understood me. Chuuya is a minor character in the main series. Just like Higuchi or Oda. These characters are in fact only interesting in relation to the main cast member they are connected to in the main series. That's not unfortunate or tragic. Anime onlys don't exist in a bubble cut off from the rest of the fandom. Yes they may misinterpret certain aspects of their dynamic or of the character. For example the chuuya clone theory which became popular due to a misconception the anime onlys had from a line in stormbringer. But the whole clone thing started because they are indeed getting more information about Chuuya from the rest of the fandom that does engage with the light novels.

Not reading something doesn't automatically mean you know nothing about it. You are still engaged with the fandom, you can still know a solid amount of details even if the intricacies of it are missing.

Can someone genuinely explain what's the appeal of Chuuya as a character and Soukoku for anime onlys? When I first watched the BSD anime I literally couldn't care less about Chuuya and his relationship with Dazai, I only viewed their relationship as those annoying forced canon couples that people only support because its canon but then I found out that a lot of people actually love them???

Also I was expecting a lot more of Chuuya when first watching the anime since my friend who got me to watch it is literally hyperfocused on him but to me he was as remarkable as Higuchi honestly. I don't think bones did a really good job portraying him and he just came off as just another mafia guy to me.

This is not criticism just genuinely don't get the appeal for anime only unless you've read stormbringer or chuuya, dazai age 15 [sob]

[moongothic]

You know, I find it infinitely fascinating how although in the source material Cybersix is meant to be a trans woman (as stated by the authors, though in an... ineloquent way*), I feel like most CASUAL fan-interpretetations I've seen of the character have been that she was trans masculine instead

*My only source here is this video essay from ThoughtSlime where he mentions (47:10) the creators have called Cybersix a "transvestite" in interviews, and the comment section mentioning that the word they probably used in Argentinian Spanish was "travesti", which appearently can/has been used as an umberella term for drag queens, gnc men and trans fems. Because the word is a bit vague and because finding an exact quote from the authors about this is kind of hard, it is still possible Cybersix could've been meant to be a GNC woman (/"female transvestite"), but to me at least it seems more likely she was a coded trans woman instead

Like when you think about it, Cybersix being a trans fem makes arguably more sense. Although she lives and presents as a man in her day-to-day life, in reality she is a genetically engineered "inhuman monster" (internalized transphobia, self-loathing, finding yourself unlovable because of your queerness) and struggles with finding peace with herself/her situation (needing substance (HRT) to exist, something there's nothing she can do to change) and finding someone who will love her for who she truly is (Cybersix). (I'd really reccomend watching ThoughSlime's video tbh, it was enlightening)

And yet you can just as easily read Cybersix as trans masc. Of course there's the bias here to acknowledge; most of the trans fem hinting to Cybersix is something you need to read between the lines, it's allegory, it's subtext. Cybersix's inherent queerness is platantly obvious to anyone watching the series, but the... how do I call it, the direction? Of her queerness? Is not explicitly stated in the animated series. Add to that how Cybersix is just presented as a crossdressing (assumed cis) woman*, and yeah, the trans masc/non binary interpretation becomes very easy to make. But it's not that you can't read into her character to find trans masculinity. Cybersix seems to yearn for a normal life where she doesn't have to fight, she doesn't need substance to live and she can just be A Guy**; a teacher at a school, a co-worker, a friend to the people around her. But due to her inhuman monstrousness (again, internalized transphobia), she can't have that normal life as Just A Guy. She will never have the life she so desperately wants because she will never not be an inhuman monster, a reality she will never be able to escape (queer despair/trans doomerism). She will never be Adrien, she will always be Cybersix. And who could possibly ever love her for what she is. (And even if someone DID learn to love Cybersix, would they also love Adrien equally?)

And I just... I find that so interesting and beautiful. That despite the authorial intent, people across the gender spectrum might still be able see themselves in Cybersix in different ways. How so many queer people might still be able to relate to her and her feelings, even if they don't all perfectly match our own. That Cybersix is for everyone. IDK I think that's beautiful

*A trope that, although not too common, is still recognizable to a lot of people. Sailor Uranus and the Starlights immidiately come to mind as a comparison, Mulan too, and god knows, if you're in a certain age bracket/demographic and you came into Cybersix already familiar with Sailor Moon, yeah the mental connection is going to be there from the get-go (also like, maybe this is just me, but I'm pretty sure I only ever learned about Cybersix and took interest in the series was because it was presented to me as a "The Main Character is a Female Crossdresser/NB afab"-series. And there aren't a lot of series like that out there, so you gotta take the breadcrumbs you're given, y'know.) (I still remember being a baby queer, browsing the "crossdressing genre" on some Very Legal Manga Websites 15+ years ago, desperately trying to find fiction with what I might now describe as trans masc rep because I had a Completely Normal Interest in that. (Note that, even if a series had been labeled with "crossdressing" there was often no distinction if it was a main or a minor character, nor if it was about a fem or a masc. I would look around for shit that seemed interesting and would then have to often read a little ways in to find out what the case was.) To baby me's dismay, most series were about/had trans fem representation (and not nececarily even good rep), and if it was masc rep, it was often presented as 'An Issue that needed to be Fixed' if you get what I mean) (Point being; Yeah, I know I went into the Cybersix animated series with certain assumptions, expectations and/or hopes, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of other non-binary people and/or trans mascs were the same in that regard. And yeah, it's going to be real easy to read Cybersix as trans masc in this scenario, even if that was the opposite of the authorial intent)

**From what I understand, in the comics Cybersix doesn't seem to enjoy her life as Adrien, so this is also a comics vs animated series-issue.

Final sidenote: I just read something on the fanwiki about Cybersix having a baby at the end of the comic series??? So yeah unless the genetic engineering and experiments gave Cybersix the ability to carry a child (fuck yeah good for her) then even in the comics Cybersix' trans femininity would be allegorical (rather than explicitly stated)

[stratostella]

my opinions on translation : i wish the average person who gets into smth translated/localized could have tl theory beamed into their head . bcause i know it'd be ridiculous of me to expect everyone to understand and i don't want everyone to HAVE to spend that time but man. if it were inherent,

[kiwriteswords]

For the trope day could we please see maybe celebrity reader and hotch? congrats btw!

Walked in and dream-came-trued it for ya [Aaron Hotchner x Popstar!Reader]

Ki2k Masterlist||MainMasterlist (not updated, sorry!)|| Ao3||Word Count: 2k|| AN: I keep seeing so much queen Sabrina Carpenter stuff around the Hotch fandom these days; she's who I envisioned reader to be like here--but obviously open to interpretation of whatever popstar you would want to be! I lowkey could never picture this happening, but it was fun, nonetheless. This is also likely my last story I'll do for trope tuesday because they take a lot of time, haha. Unless I do a short drabble!

Tags/Warnings: female reader, speculating bau team!, gossip!!, Penelope Garcia is your biggest fan!!!, you're a superstar who sells out stadiums, even rossi knows this!, mysterious!hotch, more of a fun one-shot than anything too fluffy, very team-focused, non-bau!reader

Summary: Hotch has been in a great mood, oddly enough, and when one day, he hands over tickets to Penelope for her favorite singer of all time--you--the team really begins to wonder where Hotch is spending his free time.

The bullpen of the BAU was unusually animated for a Monday morning. Derek leaned back against his desk, arms crossed, watching Reid flip through files at an astonishing rate while Penelope hovered over both their shoulders, her curiosity practically buzzing.

“Seriously, Spence, you didn’t notice anything different about Hotch last week?” Derek asked, his tone teasing but genuinely curious.

Reid, without looking up from his reading, adjusted his glasses. “Well, he did leave on time every day, which is statistically significant for him.”

“Leaving on time? That’s an understatement. The man was practically sprinting out the door at five o’clock. And he smiled--actually smiled--at me yesterday,” Penelope chimed in, her eyes wide with the thrill of the gossip.

Emily, walking in with a cup of coffee in hand, joined the group. “Don’t forget, he also took a personal day last Friday. When’s the last time Hotch took a day off that wasn’t for something work-related?”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “Exactly! Something’s up. Hotch is seeing someone; it’s got to be.”

Reid finally looked up, curiosity overcoming him. “But who would it be? I mean, we practically live at work. When would he even have the time to meet someone?”

Penelope twirled a strand of her brightly colored hair, thinking. “Oh, my sweet geniuses, that’s the million-dollar question! I could do a little cyber snooping--”

“Penelope, no hacking into Hotch’s personal life,” Emily cut off, her tone half-serious. “But I agree, it’s odd. He’s even been more... what’s the word?”

“Chill?” Derek suggested with a chuckle. “For Hotch standards, anyway.”

The group’s laughter was a mixture of disbelief and genuine amusement, just as Rossi walked up, a knowing smile playing onhis lips. “Talking about our fearless leader’s mysterious new habits?”

Derek nodded, welcoming Rossi into the conversation. “Rossi, you’re the profiler extraordinaire with all the life experience. What’s your read on this?”

Rossi stroked his chin, pretending to ponder deeply. “Well, if I were a betting man--and I occasionally am--I’d say our boy Hotch might just be reminding himself there’s more to life than case files and jet fuel.”

Reid’s brow furrowed in thought. “It’s statistically rare for individuals in high-stress jobs to make sudden changes to their behavioral patterns without a significant emotional or personal catalyst.”

“Exactly,” Penelope squealed, delighted by the support for their theories. “He’s got to be dating someone. This is just like those romance novels where the broody, mysterious man finds love and starts changing his ways.”

JJ laughed, sipping her coffee. “Let’s not get carried away. It could be anything--maybe he’s just taking up a new hobby…or maybe it’s Jack.”

“But a hobby that makes him leave work on time and take days off? That’s not just any hobby; that’s a passion,” Derek countered, his smile suggesting he was thoroughly enjoying the speculation.

The group quieted as Hotch suddenly appeared, his pace steady and his expression unreadable as always. He paused by their cluster, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Morning,” he greeted, a small, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. “I trust we’re all ready to focus on the real mysteries at hand today?”

Caught in their own theories, the team straightened up, mumbling their morning greetings. Hotch’s gaze lingered for a moment longer than usual, giving nothing away.

As he walked off towards his office, Emily whispered to the group, “See? Happier. I’m telling you, there’s definitely something--or someone--new in his life.”

Rossi chuckled, watching Hotch disappear into his office. “Or maybe our esteemed unit chief just decided it’s time to start living a little. Either way, it’s good to see.”

The team nodded in agreement, the mystery of Hotch’s unusual behavior lingering in the air, adding a layer of intrigue to their day. Derek grinned, clapping his hands together.

“Alright, let’s get to work. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll crack the case of the Happy Hotch.”

Laughter echoed softly among them as they dispersed to their desks, the day’s work ahead, but their minds still occasionally drifted to the enigma of Aaron Hotchner’s uncharacteristic lightness.

Days after the team's animated discussion about Hotch's peculiarly cheerful demeanor, Penelope Garcia was in her vibrant lair, surrounded by her kaleidoscope of tech and trinkets.

The sound of a catchy pop song filled the air, and Penelope couldn't help but dance and sing along to the tune, her voice echoing slightly off the walls lined with monitors.

She was in the middle of a particularly enthusiastic chorus when a knock at the door made her jump. Swiveling around in her chair, she saw Hotch standing at the entrance, an amused smile barely touching his lips.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Hotch said, his eyes twinkling with a hint of humor.

Penelope chuckled, brushing off her surprise with a flamboyant wave of her hand. "Oh, it's nothing, Sir. Just enjoying some tunes while I work. You know, fuel for the brain!"

Hotch nodded, his gaze drifting momentarily to the colorful post-it notes of affirmations on her screen. "I couldn’t help but overhear. Do you like this artist?" he asked, nodding toward the speaker from where the music still played, though now at a lower volume.

Penelope’s eyes lit up, eager to share her enthusiasm. "Like her? I adore her! She’s all about empowerment and fun, and her beats are just infectious. Plus, her lyrics are, like, super relatable. She's a total queen!" Penelope exclaimed, not missing the opportunity to promote her musical taste.

Hotch's smile grew a bit as he listened to Penelope’s gushing review. "I see," he said, his voice filled with a warm, curious tone that Penelope rarely heard from him. "Thanks, Garcia."

With a final nod and a mysterious smile, he turned and left as quietly as he had arrived, leaving Penelope staring after him, slightly confused but smiling nonetheless.

She shrugged to herself and turned the volume back up, diving back into her work with the music as her soundtrack, her mind briefly wandering to wonder about Hotch’s sudden interest in pop culture.

"Maybe he’s getting a life outside those case files after all--and a decent taste in music..." she murmured to herself, her head bobbing to the beat as she focused back on her screens, the mystery of Aaron Hotchner adding yet another curious, albeit lighter, layer to her day.

The following week brought an air of excitement that seemed to linger around the BAU, particularly around Penelope Garcia's tech-filled lair. The atmosphere was thick with disbelief and joy as Penelope, unable to contain her excitement, recounted a recent encounter with Hotch to JJ and Emily.

"You guys will not believe this!" Penelope beamed, her hands animatedly waving the prized items in the air. "Hotch--our Hotch--just handed me these!" She fluttered a pair of tickets like they were sacred texts.

JJ and Emily leaned in, eyes widening as they caught sight of the tickets. "No way! How did he even get those?" Emily exclaimed, her skepticism matched by her amusement.

Rossi, overhearing the commotion as he walked in, joined the group, a curious smile playing on his lips. "What's all this about?" he inquired, peering over to see what had stirred up such excitement.

Penelope held up the tickets with a theatrical flair. "These, my dear Rossi, are tickets to see none other than--" she paused for dramatic effect, "--the popstar we were just talking about last week! And not just any tickets--Hotch got them for me!"

Rossi's eyebrows shot up, a clear sign of his surprise. "Those tickets? I heard on the news this morning that they were impossible to get. The show sold out in minutes," he commented, adding to the bewildering nature of Hotch’s gift.

Before Penelope could respond, Derek Morgan swooped in, his hand snatching the tickets from her grip to inspect them himself. "Let me see these," he said, his voice a mix of suspicion and awe. Flipping them over, his eyes scanned the details, and a slow whistle escaped him. "Ladies, these aren’t just any tickets. These are front row. Front. Row. Do you realize how good these seats are?"

JJ laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "This is insane. Hotch pulled some serious strings. Front row to see a popstar like her? That's not just pulling strings; that's a whole concert orchestra at work!"

Penelope snatched the tickets back from Derek, clutching them close to her chest. "I knew Hotch had a secret side to him!" she exclaimed, her previous theories about his recent behavior seeming to find validation. "This is like, the best thing ever. I can't even--"

Emily leaned in, her voice low and playful. "You know what this means, right? You're going to have to get all dolled up, Penelope. Front row means you’ll probably be on camera!"

Penelope’s grin widened at the thought, already planning her outfit in her mind. "Oh, trust me, I will be camera-ready. Our stoic unit chief might just make a fangirl out of me yet!"

Rossi chuckled, shaking his head as he watched the excitement bubble over. "Well, I'll say this," he mused, "it's nice to see Hotch letting his hair down a bit, even if it’s in his own unique way."

“Whoever he’s seeing’s got some serious connections,” Derek shared. 

The group nodded in agreement, the mystery of Hotch's recent behavior adding an unexpected but welcome layer of camaraderie and speculation among the team. As they dispersed back to their tasks, the buzz of excitement remained, the BAU team finding a rare moment of lightness amidst their usual, graver responsibilities.

At the concert, JJ and Penelope stood in the front row, the pulsing lights and thumping beats of the music wrapping around them like a vibrant cloak. You were the popstar that Penelope (and the rest of society) could not get enough of.

Your performance had a cascade of dazzling visuals and soul-stirring vocals that had the crowd roaring with excitement. Each song seemed to resonate perfectly with the audience, a mix of chart-topping hits and beloved classics that had JJ and Penelope singing along, lost in the nostalgia and the thrill of the night.

They felt like they were sixteen all over again.

As the concert progressed, the atmosphere turned electric, each track bringing a new wave of cheers from the audience. You moved with a grace and confidence that commanded attention, your presence on stage both mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. The night was already unforgettable, but it was about to become even more so.

Before launching into the next song, you paused, your gaze sweeping over the crowd with a playful yet intense look.

"This next song," you began, your voice ringing clear over the din, "is a very special one. It’s for the grumpy man who changed my life. He's from here, and guess what? He's here tonight. Supporting me, despite having the most important job out there."

The crowd erupted in cheers, curiosity piqued by your heartfelt introduction. You continued, your eyes twinkling with emotion and mischief, "And because he’s here, supporting me, I want to give a shout-out to someone very special in the audience tonight--Penelope!"

Penelope’s jaw dropped, her eyes wide with shock, and JJ turned to her with an expression that mirrored her disbelief. "How does she know your name?" JJ whispered her voice a mix of excitement and confusion.

Before Penelope could formulate a response, you launched into a flirty, romantic ballad, your voice soaring as beautifully as the lyrics. As yo sang, you glanced toward the VIP section, and with a sly wink and a blown kiss, you acknowledged someone standing there..

Driven by curiosity and an overwhelming sense of wonder, JJ and Penelope followed your gaze. There, among a few shadowed figures in the VIP section, stood none other than Aaron Hotchner. His usually impassive face wore a soft, almost shy smile as he acknowledged the kiss with a slight nod, his eyes locked on the stage.

He was dressed in a black button-up and jeans--a far contrast to his usual attire. He looked relaxed…happy. Maybe not singing along to the words, but he sure knew them. He inspired them. 

The realization hit Penelope like a wave. "Oh my god, JJ, Hotch is her boyfriend? Hotch is the grumpy man who changed her life?" she gasped, her voice a mix of shock and delight.

JJ laughed, shaking her head in amazement. "Looks like we've been underestimating our boss's ability to keep secrets," she said, her eyes twinkling with humor and newfound respect for their unit chief.

As the song ended and you took a graceful bow, the crowd’s applause was deafening. JJ and Penelope clapped and cheered along, their hearts full of joy and their minds buzzing with the night’s revelations.

The concert continued, but for JJ and Penelope, the evening had transformed into something even more magical--a story they would share and reminisce about for years to come, the night their grumpy boss was revealedto be the secret boyfriend of a popstar, right before their very eyes.

[nonightingalesinberkelysquare]

WARNING FOR GOOD OMENS SPOILERS!!!!

FURTHER SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING BOOKS: The Bone Clock by David Mitchell, You Only Call When You're In Trouble by Stephen Mcauley, and Bibliomaniac by Robin Ince.

Edit: Photos by @polychromicron-persei-8 !!!!!

So I'm sure a lot of the fandom have seen the pictures posted by a very lucky fan who saw the production of good omens happening out in Scotland today!!

However what I'm not seeing people talk about is a hidden gem in the reblogs.

SOMEONE HAD MANAGED TO GET A PICTURE OF THE BOOKS IN THE WINDOW!!!

Naturally, I had to go and do my research to see if these books give us any clues or serve any other purposes other than decorative purposes

AND LET ME TELL YOU

These are the the books visible in the window:

I'll go through them one by one

(Please bear in mind, I haven't read any of these books personally!! The only information I have on them are the little bits I found online in a very rushed attempt at research!!!)

Okay firstly

"The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell

Now, this is the one that I struggled to make sense of the most out of the three.

The story appears to follow a runaway teenage girl who is a "lightning rod for psychic phenomena." These visions are said to reorder reality and send her into a real life nightmare.

However,

It also states that there is a boy who eventually crosses paths with her and who's story "comes together in moments of grace and extraordinary wonder"

As I said, I've never read these books and the only link I could begin to make with this is the idea of a "supernatural being meets another supernatural being and what they can do when they're together defies anyone's wildest dreams" story, similar to what we have seen and could see in GO3.

The next book is where it gets FARRRR more interesting (in my opinion)

NOW

THE TITLE? INTERESTING ASF.

IS AZIRAPHALE IN TROUBLE? OR EVEN CROWLEY?

The quotes are literally taken from the amazon listing itself, but I'll just point out the bits that stuck out to me personally.

☆ "is it ever okay to stop caring for others and start living for yourself?"

And I'm skipping a HUUUUGE chunk of the story here so apologies

☆ "Tom does what he's always done - answers the call."

☆ "Thus begins a journey that will change everyone's life and demonstrate the beauty or dysfunction (or both?) of the ties that bind families together and sometimes strangle them."

THAT LAST QUOTE REALLY STICKS OUT TO ME. Personally, I'd say that could possibly relate to the heaven and hell divides?

But furthermore, we were told prior to the whole NG situation that Aziraphale and Crowley aren't talking.. so could that mean that as soon as they begin speaking once again, they have the power to leave heaven and hell behind? Perhaps stop the divides?

And last, but certainly not least

Now, keep in mind that this particular book is nonfiction and appears to be written from the authors own point of view as he aims to visit 100 bookshops in 100 days.

This has a relatively short description from what I can see right now so I'll put it in here

"Bibliomaniac takes the reader on a journey across Britain as Robin explores his lifelong love of bookshops and books - and also tries to find out just why he can never have enough of them.

It is the story of an addiction and a romance, and also of an occasional points failure."

This one interested me SO much because it SCREAMS Aziraphale character development sort of thing? You know?

I really struggled to find any spoilers for this one whatsoever but one website did mention the author's love for vintage books, which he only ever reads as and when, as opposed to focusing on just one book.

I just thought this was SO SO SOOOOO interesting, and if anybody has any differing thoughts/interpretations or has even read the books, the comment section is a safe space to do so!!! All theories/suggestions are welcomed (any hate WILL be blocked, don't test me).

OR MAYBE THIS ALL MEANS NOTHING AND IM JUST CLOWNING FAR TOO HARD?!??!??!

[theunsinkableship1]

DENIAL IS NOT A RIVER IN LUKOLALAND

⚠️DISCLAIMER: This is Lukolaland only. Skip if you don't believe.

Denial is a river in LUKOLALAND?

This has to be a joke, right? Some responses that I have received on my latest posts on TT and Tumblr leave me perplexed. Let me make something clear: I’m not here to convince anyone of anything. You have the right to believe whatever you want, that’s your prerogative. However, this is a Lukola space. It’s a space that exists to celebrate their connection, to nurture it from afar, because it shines brightly and is uniquely beautiful.

I don’t know them personally. I can only judge from what I’ve seen and heard, and I fully acknowledge that my perception is biased. My interpretations come from the way I read into their actions, their words, and their patterns. What I share here isn’t fact, it’s speculation based on observation. The only thing I know for sure is that I don’t know what’s really going on.

First and foremost, they are colleagues and FRIENDS. They’ve said that multiple times, and I believe them. For those who doubt their friendship, I don’t know what to tell you. That’s the foundation here. If you don’t even believe in their bond as friends, this probably isn’t the space for you.

But here’s where it gets complicated: they’re not just platonic friends. You may have missed it, but the signs are there, publicly available. You just need to pay attention. I’m not talking about outlandish theories; I’m talking about what’s right there if you’re willing to see it.

I believe they’re in love with each other. As for their current situation? I’m not certain. But the level of plausible deniability in their story doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe it does to you, but for someone who thinks in layers, patterns, double entendres, and undertones, someone who loves words and has studied communication and PR, this whole narrative is anything but straightforward.

Leaving this much space for misinterpretation is a choice. If they wanted to shut this down entirely, they could’ve done so with clarity and finality. It’s not that they can’t make themselves understood without being misconstrued, they absolutely can. But they haven’t.

It’s wise to keep a level of doubt, it maintains objectivity and prevents overreach. However, when coincidences stack up and patterns emerge, it becomes increasingly unlikely that they’re all mere misunderstandings or products of plausible deniability.

The more coincidences there are, the less likely they are to be unrelated.

On their own, one or two could easily be explained away, “just friends,” “PR,” or “fans reading too much into it.”

When similar themes arise repeatedly over months or years (e.g., their timing, shared themes, subtle nods to one another), the likelihood of them being mere coincidence diminishes.

The concept of plausible deniability hinges on actions that could be explained in multiple ways. However, the more layers of ambiguity and deniability built into their interactions, the more intentional it feels.

The subtleties of their public dynamic suggest a shared awareness of fan interpretations. They know how their actions are perceived. To repeatedly engage in behaviors that could be "misunderstood" suggests either: a) Intentional messaging within safe boundaries. b) A significant lack of care, which doesn’t align with how thoughtful and calculated they seem to be.

Take Nicola’s recent Times interview as an example. She could have ended all speculation right there,

“A lot of people really want me to marry Luke,” she says with a laugh. “We have this gorgeous friendship. We have such a love for one another and this experience that I’ll never have with someone else again. Isn’t it gorgeous that a man and woman can have that sort of relationship with one another?”

but she didn’t. Why? There must be a reason. And no, it’s not just PR. PR campaigns don’t operate on layers of plausible deniability that stretch across years, interweave with personal moments, and rely on such specific timing.

Isn’t it strange that for two people who have been so close, their social interactions have significantly decreased compared to before? Over the past two years, especially after the world tour, they appeared to have solidified a deep friendship. If the intent is to disengage fans from the idea that they might be secretly in love, wouldn’t it be wiser to interact more naturally and perhaps even acknowledge each other’s perceived partners?

From a strategic perspective, a like, a follow, or a simple interaction on social media could have gone a long way in dismantling the Lukola narrative. Such actions would feel natural for close friends, especially ones under public scrutiny. Their reluctance to adopt this approach only adds to the curiosity. Why not lean into a strategy that would be less detrimental and more effective at quelling speculation?

Perhaps they are more active on private social media accounts, but publicly, the absence of these gestures stands out. If the goal truly is to clarify their relationship and put fan theories to rest, this perceived distance feels counterproductive. The choice to refrain from such actions, at least for now, is, at the very least, curious. Could it be that there’s a reason they haven’t done so yet?

Both Luke and Nicola have had ample opportunities to firmly address and deny the Lukola narrative. While they’ve made passing comments about being friends, these have lacked the clarity and directness that would fully quash the speculation. Why leave the door ajar if they truly wanted to shut it?

Their reduced interactions seem to have coincided with the conclusion of the promotional period for Bridgerton. During promotions, they were actively engaging with each other and the fandom, fostering the image of a close bond. The sudden change afterward could indicate a deliberate decision to recalibrate public perceptions of their relationship.

The decrease in public interactions after the “papgate” could be their way of managing fallout from the incident, yet it raises questions: Why would two close friends need to distance themselves so noticeably? It suggests a calculated retreat to reduce speculation. However, this strategy seems counterproductive, as the abruptness of the change has drawn more attention. A gradual shift, paired with natural acknowledgments of their respective supposed personal lives, might have been more effective.

It’s possible they’re still VERY close privately but have chosen to limit their public interactions to avoid misinterpretation, or for privacy reasons. If so, this deliberate choice to create distance publicly could point to a deeper connection they’re trying to shield.

This brings us back to patterns. If you observe their public interactions, their timing, their word choices, the double meanings, they’re not random. These coincidences pile up to the point where it’s hard to believe they’re all meaningless. Their bond transcends the boundaries of PR, platonic friendship, or even ordinary relationships.

If you reason in layers, you’ll see it too. The amount of room they leave for interpretation is extraordinary. It’s not just about what they say, it’s about what they don’t say. It’s about the undertones, the pauses, the way they navigate questions, and even the things they choose to share (or not share) on social media. All of this seems to be deliberate. The picture is larger and more intricate than it seems on the surface.

For example: Am I truly supposed to believe that Nicola, who has a higher degree in English and a major grasp of language, would post a Scrabble board with so many elements that could be interpreted through a Lukola lens purely by coincidence? Yes, she’s an avid player of word games, but let’s examine the board itself. It reflects competent but not advanced gameplay, logical and adhering to Scrabble rules, yes, but lacking the level of complexity, strategy, and nuanced word choice you’d expect from someone of her linguistic caliber or from a player displaying their skill.

For me, this was never just about showing off her love of Scrabble. It felt intentional, like an intended message rather than a casual post. If the goal was simply to share her hobbies or an aesthetic moment, she could’ve easily posted a picture of herself playing Scrabble, perhaps with a pint of Guinness in hand. Or she could’ve showcased a more advanced board to reflect her skills or creativity. Instead, she chose this specific board with these specific words, words that align so conveniently with a narrative many of us have come to associate with Lukola.

And let’s not forget her self-awareness. Why would someone who knows how deeply her posts are analyzed by fans continue to share things that are repeatedly misconstrued? If she didn’t want the association, why add layers of ambiguity, such as the now infamous “the very demure, very mindful” quote? What was the reason?

Just two days ago, she posted a photo in her best of 2024 the phrase "if you know, you know." Let’s be honest, how many Lukola edits have we seen that riff of "when you know, you know"? If this wasn’t related to that, what exactly was the point of the “random” quote?  Is it public knowledge or is it something only some know? Nicola is anything but random on social media. She’s chronically online, she’s clever, and she’s incredibly aware of the narratives circulating around her.

These patterns, Scrabble boards, cryptic quotes, wordplay, and selective ambiguity, don’t feel accidental. They feel curated. For someone so skilled with words and communication, there’s intention behind these choices. If it were just for fun, she could have chosen countless other ways to express herself that wouldn’t leave so much room for interpretation. But she didn’t. And for me, that’s speaks volumes.

I’m mainly talking about Nicola here because there’s simply more material to analyze, her posts, interviews, and public interactions offer more clues and layers to unpack. However, Luke’s activity, or rather, his noticeable lack of activity, is equally intriguing and worth examining.

Luke has always been more reserved on social media compared to Nicola, but his recent silence or carefully curated posts stand out. He’s not just absent; he’s selectively absent. There’s a difference between being inactive and deliberately staying under the radar. For someone who previously shared glimpses of his personal life and participated more openly in fandom engagement, his current approach feels intentional.

When he does post, the content often seems neutral, leaning into professional promotion or generic life updates. Yet, the timing or lack of acknowledgment of certain things, whether related to Nicola or even his supposed personal relationships, leaves room for speculation. It’s almost as if he’s consciously avoiding feeding into narratives while simultaneously not shutting them down.

For instance, why hasn’t he addressed certain rumors head-on, as he has done in the past with other relationships? Luke has historically been upfront about his. It’s a choice.

Considering that Luke has been involved in other projects and worked with other co-stars since the end of the Bridgerton world tour, the ratio of content related to Nicola remains strikingly high. Among the limited glimpses he does share, Nicola accounts for the largest percentage of reposts and interactions. What’s even more telling is that the majority of this content is Lukola-focused, centered on his dynamic with Nicola as individuals, rather than strictly Polin-related, which would be tied to their characters and professional pairing. Yes, she is his MAIN co-star within the Bridgerton universe, but this level of engagement is noteworthy.

This isn’t to say he doesn’t appreciate or acknowledge his other co-stars; it’s just that the weight of attention, however subtle, consistently gravitates toward Nicola. Whether it’s the choice of what he reposts or the absence of comparable attention toward other colleagues, the pattern emerges loud and clear.

If we analyze this through a lens of probability and statistics, the numbers paint an even more intriguing picture. Let’s say Luke has worked with five to seven notable co-stars in other projects and in Bridgerton, if he has been tagged in or had the opportunity to engage with 100 pieces of social media content since the world tour. If Nicola accounts for, say, 60% of the interactions and reposts, despite being one of many co-stars, it defies the expectation of a more even distribution.

For context, if he were equally invested in all professional relationships, the engagement with Nicola might hover closer to 15-20%, proportional to the size of his broader network. The fact that this number is so much higher, let’s conservatively estimate at least three to four times greater raises questions. Is this simply because of their shared Bridgerton fame? Perhaps. But then why focus on individual Lukola moments, bypassing more neutral or inclusive Polin or broader cast content?

From a mathematical standpoint, the odds of this being purely coincidental diminish significantly when you layer in the context:

Nicola has the highest percentage of reposts across Luke's social media activity.

The type of content intimate, personal, or Lukola-specific reflects a curated choice, not random selection.

Even in a professional context, where Polin content would be the obvious promotional focus, the Lukola-centric moments shine through.

Given the numbers and probabilities, it seems less likely that this pattern is accidental or merely reflective of professional obligations. Instead, it suggests an intentionality that aligns with the depth and uniqueness of their connection.

Promotion for Bridgerton Season 3 has come to a halt, creating a quiet period where we can observe and compare how Luke approaches the promotion of his other projects.it could highlight how unique his dynamic with Nicola truly is.

The nature of the content he shares for other projects will be equally telling

By comparing these promotional efforts both in terms of frequency and tone to the patterns established during the Bridgerton promotional cycle, we could gain insight into whether his approach to Nicola was truly unique or simply part of his broader professional routine.

When coincidences pile up, their probability of being just coincidences shrinks dramatically. A single instance might be random, but repeated instances with similar themes, timing, and emotional undertones suggest a deeper meaning. While maintaining doubt is reasonable, the sheer volume of these moments suggests that there’s more at play than mere misunderstanding. It’s not about overreaching, it’s about acknowledging that where there’s consistent smoke, there’s likely some fire. What type of fire is there currently? I’m not sure. Are you? Probably an Eternal flame.

[ahappydnp]

so sorry but ive seen two different things about this now and im very lost, why did people think they were breaking up/broke up in 2012??? pls help me understand, wise keeper of the lore. thank u so much

response under the cut for general 2012 discussion/too long

basically 2012/2013 used to get (and sometimes still is) generalized as this dark and awful time period where dnp "hated" each other and us, when in actuality it was two very young very scared closeted queer people who were in the process of several major life changes at once while also dealing with a new exploding fan base

there's a few big things from that "era" that people talk about:

deleting old posts- around this era dnp deleted a ton of old tweets/formsprings/dailybooths that could read as them being in a relationship. they were blowing up online and had more eyes on them than ever before, not to mention had just starting working with the BBC (where being queer would have greatly affected their careers). also keep in mind dan was still in the closet to EVERYONE, and now he's got tons of fans going through his accounts and sending shit to HIS LITTLE BROTHER on tumblr asking if dan's gay. anyway people decided them deleting early tweets meant they had broken up

dan's customerservice tumblr blog- in the middle of them blowing up and people finding all these old posts, dan in an effort to control the narrative, makes a new blog for people to anonymously ask him questions (: which went about as well as you can imagine for an extremely defensive closeted 20 year old with undiagnosed depression. basically he said some unfortunately things out of fear

the video leaked again- won't get too much into that because of the subject matter, but the yeah the video leaked for the second time except this time way more people saw it/shared it and dnp actually had to respond to it this time. which is. just fucking awful and heartbreaking all around.

phil persona- basically this was the birth of the amazingphil persona that'd follow phil to the quiff era. he became more sanitized and less personable than original phil fans were used to (which got romanticized into uwu he's sad because he and dan broke up and now he's shutting down)

"no homo"- pretty self explanatory...people asked if they were gay (every single day constantly on every platform) and they would say no because what else are they going to say. this one particular vyou where dan's actually trying to make people think kills me (x) god he was so young. but they'd also started doing the "omg i don't want to see you naked/ew people want us to kiss" and the infamous "you need a girlfriend" "my future wife" etc etc.

the breakup rumors mostly stemmed from and became popular/ treated as fact by younger fans who kind of saw them as these fictionalized characters (which i mean not to blame them because they were literal children and youtubers were still so new that people did treat them like tv show characters you could be friends with). it also got turned into more sinister theories like the "dan is abusing phil" ones and "phil is actually gay but dan isn't and just used phil for attention and fame in 2009"

there was also factors like them moving to london in 2012 (and people were CONVINCED they'd stop being friends in london??), people thinking them getting popular would mean they'd get girlfriends like other popular youtubers (shoutout danrific shippers), and most importantly just them sharing less about their personal lives with their audience. like of course they're not going to live tweet their day/location anymore when people are showing up at their house and trying to find their families.

basically, dnp were putting boundaries between themselves and their fans, but the fans interpreted it as putting distance between each other. in actuality the 2012/2013 era was full of some really amazing memories and content and things people loved (literally the photobooth challenge is from 2013!! sleeping phil saying i hate you is from 2012!!!)

in conclusion, imagine building a forever home with your ex lmao

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

might be an unrelated ask with how things are going on right now, but the only way i ever see traitor ace theory coming into fruition is if he destroys yuu's way back home because of how his feelings will boil over (since he thinks being vulnerable is uncool). i've always tried to convince myself that his silly tsundere moments are yume bait, though i really can't deny the fact that yuu is literally everything that his ex-girlfriend is not. they've watched a horror movie together from idia's lab sr (and sending grim all alone to get snacks???) in playful stage, they ride a roller coaster, and if you tell him you like it, he suggests going again again (just the two of them without grim???) bro is not slick with how attached he is to mc.

I have my own thoughts on Ace traitor theory (which you can read here)! To summarize, I don’t believe in it. If Ace betrays us at all, I think it will be in a trivial capacity (like he does something stupid that the rest of the group disagrees with, like taunting Malleus to attack him) and without malicious intent.

He may think being vulnerable is uncool, but I don’t think he’d take an action as drastic as destroying Yuu’s route home no matter how emotional he got. (That feels more like the stuff I see in angst and/or yandere fan works.) Ace gets mad and acts out, yes—but it tends to be in situations where he feels like being has been wronged, not to hinder the people he cares about. His character and his actions the entire story have done nothing but demonstrate that he values his friends and will be there for them until the bitter end, even if he whines about it the entire time.

And well 💦 when it comes to “is this platonic or romantic”, I always default to “it’s up to individual interpretation”. TWST will never give a “canon” ship for Yuu because that would impede the self-insert mass appeal design of the blank slate character. Not everyone wants to perceive X (in this case, Ace) as a love interest. Not everyone wants to perceive X (again, Ace in this case) as a friend. Therefore, there’s always going to baity lines to feed the yume crowd (Michard voice: give me your ur wallets) but lines are also kept plausibly deniable (framed as “jokes”/nor serious) or ambiguous enough to be interpreted either way.

In Ace’s Suitor Suit vignettes, he says this about his ex: “She said the thrill rides were too scary for her […] She vetoed all the action and horror flicks. Hanging out was just plain boring, so I stopped contacting her as time went on.” And indeed, Ace engages in the activities his ex refused with Yuu. They’re watching a horror movie together in Idia’s Labwear vignettes, as well as riding roller coasters and other thrill rides in Stage in Playful Land. Yes, you can interpret these as romantic since they sent Grim off by himself to get popcorn and want to ride again by themselves.

However, that’s not the only possible interpretation, and nor should it be. It could just as easily be argued that Ace and Yuu were just hanging out as friends in a “kicking back with your bros” kind of way (regardless of whatever gender Yuu identifies as). Watching horror movies and going on exciting rides are normal things that friends could do together. There is nothing inherently romantic about those acts by themselves. It could also be said that Ace is lazy and constantly trying to get out of work, so of course he’d pass off the job of getting more snacks onto someone else. The ride thing is innocuous too—maybe the others just aren’t feeling another round, while Ace and Yuu are still on that adrenaline high and want another hit of it. And again, it’s probably framed as wanting to do activities with Yuu specifically to help foster that parasocial relationship and create a sense of bonding with the player.

Of course Ace is attached to us and likes to hang out. We’re his friend, and that much has been established since the prologue. We are naturally a lot closer with him by default compared to several of the other guys (with maybe a few exceptions, like Deuce). Whether you see Ace and Yuu’s relationship as anything more than that is up to the individual!

That being said, I’d rather not talk in terms that imply one ship is “better”, “absolute”, or “more supported by canon” than others 😅 Not just for Ace x Yuu, but any ship, really. It unintentionally frames the discussion like a competition and leaves some people out of the talk if they don’t vibe with it or have different preferences, y’know?

[iphyslitterator]

https://www.tumblr.com/iphyslitterator/781529944758091776/fascinating-phenomenon-that-the-buddie-fandom-is?source=share

My theory: the buddie fandom members are more inclined to reject (and even to rebel) against something that they don't agree with (or causes them pain) and are willing to believe in any sign that may indicate that what they want is in fact happening, even if it's against all logic; while the BT fandom members seem more grounded in reality, recognizing what's happening and being able to accept it (which doesn't mean they can't manifest their disagreement), despite the pain said reality may cause.

is this an age thing (buddies skewing younger and BTs skewing older)? a cultural thing (religious background / education / literacy levels)?

I'm intrigued by this.

Yeah, I've been thinking along these lines, i.e. that it's about the dominant modes of reading in each fandom.

The most prominent Buddie shippers believe Buddie's going canon, and that involves a lot of reading between the lines: the show is sending you subtle messages, the signs are obvious to the skilled ("media literate") interpreter, of course they wouldn't spoil things in interviews. The gifset of alleged season 8 foreshadowing for Bobby's return fits right into that - attention and close reading are supposed to reveal the hidden truth.

I love the point about the tendency to reject/rebel against canon, which is linked to an investment in canon: this thing that you want isn't happening onscreen, and that's unacceptable, so therefore it will, it has to (and it's so important for it to happen, there may be no way to convince you that it won't).

Whereas the Bucktommy fandom did the exact opposite in the wake of the breakup: we both accepted canon and distanced ourselves from it. Even as more people got more hopeful for a reconciliation, our main project in the hiatus was to solidify into a fandom that could survive without the show. At the same time - and it wasn't immediately clear this would happen - we started heavily incorporating 8x06 material into our readings. The prevailing characterization of Tommy shifted significantly. We dive deep into their communication issues. We hated the episode, but we decided to take a lot of it at face value and turn it into a "better" story.

To avoid the "grounded in reality" value judgment for a minute, I'd say the Bucktommy fandom leans more pessimistic. Believing in the Buddie long game requires optimism, faith that the show is intentional and patient. Bucktommy fans are more likely to express cynicism about Tim Minear and distrust in the show; taking the text at face value/arguing that the show "isn't subtle," even if accurate, is related to the general post-breakup wariness. (It's also related to having a canon ship - we never had to excavate it, it was happening onscreen.)

Of course the Bucktommy fandom has also already coped with the sudden loss of a beloved character; a lot of us were processing a lot of grief in November, and I think even the people who were clowning early reconciled themselves to the possibility he wouldn't come back. The irony is that we were wrong, and Tommy did return! But the experience still primed a lot of us to start grieving Bobby and coming to terms with his death quickly. (It's also ironic that we're taking the press at face value, but the Peter farewell tour is so much more extensive than the Lou "exit interviews" that believing it seems like the smart/realistic/pessimistic thing to do.)

I'm unwilling to generalize about demographics without hard data, and I think we overinterpret the age thing. There are plenty of younger Bucktommy fans, and plenty of older fans with the reactions or behavior people sneer at as juvenile. I'd tentatively say the fact that many of our most prominent writers are late 30s or older has shaped the fic landscape, and the unusually high percentage of queer men has influenced the culture. But whether this has any bearing on the Bobby alive vs. dead debate, I couldn't say.

[caldella]

Stolas, Via, and Prophecies:

A Future Destined to be Misread

This is another loooong one! As frequently happens with Stolas discussion: TW/CW for mentions of suicidal thoughts/ideation and abuse.

Important note:

I originally started this as a reblog to this post on @amalthea-13 's blog, but it got long and felt like hijacking a conversation that wasn't mine. (Hope you're okay being @ -ed like this, I can remove if you'd like.) It would feel wrong to post this without crediting it or suggesting to read that post if you'd like, because the discussion was very interesting and made me think on a few points that I touch on here: particularly Stolas' life and how it limited his ability to do/interpret his job. This post here is a combo of my own character analysis, story analysis, and some fan theory.

I feel like I have multiple drafts going RN that were either inspired by or started up at the same time someone else posted something similar, so recognizing that is literally the minimum I could do.

Basically, in this post I'm taking my personal examination on Stolas' Goetian role to read prophecies in the stars: what has come from that, what they've potentially been, and where that might be going in the future of HB. Some of this is reiterating things I've already reblogged before, but here we're putting it in one handy-dandy spot.

Has Stolas Actually Read Prophecies in the Show?

This is kind of what kicked off my idea to post. I've seen discussion a few times on how Stolas has never actively done his job in HB. However, I'm pretty certain he has. The thing is, the very nature of prophecies and how they work is why this might have gone unnoticed. If by 'reading prophecies' what's meant is actually meeting with the other Goetia about them - no, we never saw that. But I'm pretty sure that reading prophecies was what he was doing during the morning of The Circus:

He woke up, speed read through the constellations, then shoved the Grimoire back and moved on. This looked like a quick check-in on what the stars say. So, why did nothing come of it? Why was this never shown again? Because he didn't see anything new and likely hasn't for a long time.

Prophecies are generally rare and about big events. They're not going to pop up every day, or every year, even every decade possibly. They usually don't tell someone when specifically they're happening, either. They can hang overhead for generations, and the Goetia live indefinitely. A prophecy could involve something centuries in the future, and Stolas is only in his 30s. His job involves a lot of waiting for nothing, like constantly refreshing a webpage in hopes to see a few pixels move. Reading prophecies sounds powerful and impressive, but in Stolas' reality, it's tedious and fruitless: a good metaphor for his entire life. It probably reinforced his feeling of being trapped. Nothing changes: nothing ever changes. The stars themselves told him that constantly. Today is the same as yesterday and the day before, and tomorrow will be identical. This is his role, to be repetitive and useless day after day. He cannot avoid it, cannot escape it. The universe itself says so.

In fact, the feel I get is that Stolas found new information so infrequently that he could update the other Goetia every couple of months, and no one was the wiser:

Stolas' Confusion and Uncertainty About His Job

Stolas was both a good and a bad choice to read prophecies. He loves books, loves reading, loves learning. I think he threw himself into his role as much as he could, at first. But Stolas is also a very literal individual. Prophecies are not. They tend to come via metaphors and symbology, or they predict the outcome of something without showing the way things get there. Kid Stolas already had a shaky faith in how well he was going to be able to read them. We might find out that he received training on how to use the Grimoire after this, but being able to see prophecies doesn't mean he can understand them correctly, or even 100% know when he sees one at all. And in a society that considered itself above consequences, I don't think anyone else bothered to delve into what he discovered. They were left with his limited interpretations. Misreading prophecies is a common trope in literature/mythology. And when prophecies exist, those affected by them don't understand them 100% or realize when they're happening: not until the gears are already turning.

Someone like Stolas, who has limited life experience and tends to take things exactly as presented, only received his own viewpoint, which in true prophetic fashion skewed the results.

Stolas' Isolated Lens

Another callback to Amalthea-13's post - I 100% agree that Stolas' lack of faith in his own future and his social abuse/isolation hampered how he viewed on his prophecies, or hampered even getting them in the first place. His life was too above the everyday reality of working class Hellborn like imps, hellhounds, incubus, etc. He was also an outlier in his own social group, too, from the one-two punch of not fitting into their culture and having Stella/Andrealphus continuously degrading his public image. He knew enough about the ways the Goetia functioned, but he stayed uninvolved in their day-to-day pettiness and didn't share his life with them - to an extent where most of them didn't even notice when he wasn't present at a trial about him.

Why does all this matter? Because any prophecies he received have been viewed from this limited, hopeless lens. I think that he and Via both received prophecies, but they were only partially understood, and Stolas has heavily misread his own because he only focused on what was important to him. Having limited people he was connected to, and only one person he cared about at the time, he focused on how the future affected what was most important to him: Via.

More on that in the next segments.

Stolas & Via's' Actual Potential Prophecies

I am one of those who will die on the hill that Loo Loo Land, an episode already filled with foreshadowing of future plot points, gave us Stolas and Via's prophecies right away. Via's are more obvious, because they've both come true by the time we hit Mastermind/Sinsmas:

Via's prophecies:

Her living in the palace without Stolas, Stolas being gone

Stolas going away without her to live with Blitzø

Limited vision again! Just like Stolas, Via's viewpoints were restricted by her life experience and the most important person in them: in this case, her father. It hasn't been explicitly said that she is prophetic, and she might not even know she is. However, I think Octavia took glimpses of the future that might have a bigger reason behind them (like Stolas being absent from the palace) and only saw how that immediately affected the two of them, not what that could signify in the bigger picture.

In fact, for someone worried about losing their dad, she's rather blind to how Stolas wasn't wrong to want bodyguards at Loo Loo Land. Sure, he didn't need them, as the imps that attacked him couldn't do any lasting damage, but she skimmed over the fact that he was literally tied up and accosted multiple times. She thought having bodyguards at a theme park was ridiculous, but attacks on him did happen, even if they were mere nuisances. It didn't occur to her that her fear of Stolas leaving might be part of some bigger picture that was already starting to happen - one that involved Stella, Andrealphus, the other highborn of Hell - that it was more than just Stolas chasing Blitzø.

Which Brings me to Stolas and His Prophecies.

(Sorry the auto-captions from Stolas singing here are not good on YT, so I can't screencap the exact lyrics well)

I am far from alone in believing that You Will Be Okay was a set of a thinly veiled prophecies that Stolas received early on and interpreted from his limited experience/priorities. And I'm by far not the first to post about/try to digest it. But still... if these were prophecies, what do we potentially have here?

His own absence in Via's future

The stars aligning

The Seven Rings collapsing

Creation dying/finding him in the sky

Octavia will be okay

How Stolas Interpreted His Own Prophecies

Stolas doesn't have an interest in perpetuating the Goetia's cycle of power and control. He's had no reason to interpret prophecies in a way that benefits them. No one has really cared about him for a long time, and he's been shown over and over (by his father, by his wife, by their society, by the future in the stars) that he has no power to change things. I think this very literal-minded owl took any prophecies exactly as they were presented and didn't consider symbolic or alternate meanings. And the only personal use he had for them was to protect his daughter, because nothing else mattered at the time.

What Stolas believed he saw:

A future without him: he will be gone, and Via will take over the palace and his responsibilities.

The universe will continue, and the alignment of the stars and all their symbology will be Via's to interpret.

Whatever he's foreseen, Via will make it through. On the last days, when all the things have come to pass, Via will still be okay. Though he will only be there by the stars/everything he's taught her, she will remain until Creation itself is gone.

He has a lifelong history of abuse/isolation, and tendencies that hint at him being passively suicidal. If these are prophecies Stolas received, it's a pretty safe theory that he interpreted all of this as his impending death. After all, he was already forced to produce a "cautionary heir." The whole reason Via exists is in case something happens to him (and we still don't have answers on who his mother is/what happened to her). What else would take him away from Via except his own death? With a dwindling will to live, a wife who despised him, and a culture that barely acknowledged him and would only mourn his loss as a political requirement - there could be nothing else.

When Stolas looked into the future, he thought he saw nothing for himself. His story was not actually his - it was Via's.

Stolas spent his adulthood waiting for his nothingness to end (or as I've had pointed out that I didn't mention - waiting to end his own nothingness). He never moved forward because he had no support or external influence to do so. Never hoped for a better future because everyone around them and the stars themselves - which determine fate, as his job told him - said he wouldn't be there for it. At least, that's what it seemed.

Lack of Discussing His Prophecies

With all this, I think it makes a lot of sense that Stolas hasn't openly discussed prophecies so far in the show. From what he believed, his visions of the future only affected himself and Via, and Via would come through them fine. Stolas has spent his entire adulthood hiding his abusive marriage and his own depression issues from Octavia. if he foresaw the potential of his own death, there'd be no way he'd tell her about that, either. No need to worry her with whatever his fate was going to be. Just make sure she'd be okay to go on without him. No need to suggest research with the other Goetia - they don't care, and the only things that might affect them are the inevitable collapse of the Seven Rings and the End of Days, which none of them could prevent. If these were visions of the future, they only discouraged him from reaching out or looking further.

A Wrench in the Gears of Fate

We can't discuss Stolas and his bleak view of the future without then bringing Blitzø into the equation. Stolas doesn't call Blitzø his light for no reason - he's an outlier that defied everything Stolas had been told about his future. He met him before he started his 'job.' No one planned for them to meet as adults. The stars hadn't said anything about him, either. Stolas suddenly had an outside influence dropped into his life. He was experiencing feelings he thought would be locked away forever. He was making decisions based on himself: what he wanted, and not what the world told him was inevitable. Blitzø was a giant question mark that suddenly appeared on the map of his life.

All these prophecies might have been hanging over his head, and perhaps his end was still waiting out there in the nebulous future. But he could be himself until it got there. He could at least decide who he was in the first place. Besides the choice to be a loving father, he was making decisions for the first time in his life.

And all that culminated in Mastermind: Stolas determined that even if he couldn't change the overarching things meant to happen, he could choose how. He wasn't going to wait for fate to happen to him - he was going to make it happen himself

Misinterpreting/Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

This was such a fucking amazing moment for Stolas' story, with so many, many layers to it.

We obviously have this as Stolas' and Blitzø's big emotional moment that solidifies that both of them are in love. Neither of them wish to move on. Stolas loves Blitzø. He chooses to love Blitzø despite what anyone else would want. He would rather die than be without him. He would die for him. He would love him no matter what, over and over. Always.

On one hand, Stolas took control of his own destiny. He took accountability for his own actions here, a theme that continued through Sinsmas. He fully decided in Mastermind to make decisions on his own terms.

But on the other hand, he still only defied fate by giving into it completely. "If the stars themselves say I'm going to die, then I'm at least choosing how and when. And I choose now."

Stolas still functioned under the assumption that he didn't have a future. His "choice" was to accept that he was meant to die, but to do so in a meaningful way. He would accept the fate prophecied for him by beating it to the punch and causing it. And he only made this choice because he couldn't think of another way to protect Blitzø's life. Part of his choice involved taking accountability for his own actions (like lending the Grimoire to Blitzø), but at the same time, he was forced into it by people like Andrealphus, who had already been waiting to make a trap he would walk into.

And even though he made a choice, he wasn't really allowed to keep it in the end.

Losing Faith in His Own Visions

In my opinion, post-Mastermind Stolas has likely lost all faith in interpreting the future. He thought he understood it. He was supposed to die. Via was going to inherit his place forever. The universe would keep going, with her safe. But, as often happens with prophecies, he read it wrong. Via's fear/future insights came true, and Stolas' vision that he wouldn't be there with her came true, but he didn't die. He has to live through it. Stolas has spent his adulthood waiting for an inevitable end - he accepted it, took control of it, tried to make it happen - and he's still here, still going. He always figured he would be gone as those gears of the universe kept spinning, but now he's still here, experiencing all of it as it turns and turns...

I don't think he's going to discuss prophecies or visions of the future, not for at least some time. He's misinterpreted them so far, and in his eyes it's done nothing but make things worse. The only positive thing he has left at this stage is Blitzø, who he still views as outside of any pre-made destiny the stars told him about. He got lost in that question mark on the map. Now he's not sure what that inevitable destination is actually supposed to be anymore, so why look into it? He's been only wrong so far.

Fan Theories - Stolas' Prophecies and His Future/the Future of HB

AKA I personally think Stolas will choose all over again, but this time fully for himself.

This part is just speculation! I could be wrong on all accounts!

With Season 3 heavily in the works, and theories on the plotlines/character arcs swirling around, I've had my own theories on You Will Be Okay and what it might actually mean, in context of the show's future. Not what Stolas read of them, but what they could hint at for the audience. Side note: I know that the entire HB story wasn't written out way back when S1 first started, but I think it's equally valid to theorize "the HB writers took You Will Be Okay and found ways to interpret it into the story" just as much as "the entire song was written to foretell the plot."

So let's go over some lines!

"It always seems so stark/How silence grows under the moon/Constellations gone so soon"

I don't think Stolas meant/realized this was a little prophetic, but I feel like it was. Once Stolas got involved with Blitzø and the Full Moon arrangement, he kept up less and less on his duties and responsibilities. Metaphorically, he became more silent in his job, and reading prophecies became less and less important. Blitzø was a silent space that destiny had not told him about. As he started to make decisions for himself going into S2, he started fighting against the monotonous fate the stars had pictured for him. Eventually, that led to him losing access to them completely. They're now gone from his life.

"As the stars start to align"

I feel like this is where we are at the end of Season 2. This is obviously a reference to his job, now Via's job, of reading the stars and finding prophecies/meaning in them. And a reference to how he felt his life was destined, written into the stars. But the metaphor of reading the stars can also be taken as where we are currently in the Helluva Boss story - Blitzø's and Stolas' actions for the first two seasons have kicked off some major things that are going to have domino effects as we go. The plot is starting to roll, and the future is taking shape. Stolas' decisions have had a hand in that, and he doesn't even realize how much.

"And if the Seven Rings Collapse/Although the Day Could Be My Last"

I feel like this is where we might be headed in the story. Not a literal collapse of the Rings of Hell, as Stolas has likely interpreted it, but metaphorical. We've had some hints starting at Mastermind that Blitzø surviving the trial - along with his and Stolas' words during it - have caused a ripple effect among the imps and general working class of Hell. The series doesn't shy from showing the corruption that inherently keeps the people of the Rings class divided and repressed, and it's exposing some of the weaknesses that might come into play to mess with that. I don't know if "outright imp revolution" is precisely what will happen, but I think the overarching story is going to involve a major shift in power dynamics that permanently alters how things are run in Hell. But it's not going to happen without major characters like Stolas being in a lot of potential danger to get there. This could also reference how his words in Mastermind have already started that ball rolling - a day that nearly was his last. It was STOLAS who mentioned Blitzø lighting a metaphorical fire in his race. He was an active part in kicking off any plotlines that come from there.

"And when Creation goes to die/You can find me in the sky"

Stolas didn't believe he'd be there for the end of days. And I'm going to be honest - I think he's right, but not in the way he interpreted. Stolas thought he was going to be killed (or if we take his potential suicidal ideation seriously, perhaps he'd reach a point where he would end himself). But I think the final part of Stolas' story - like Season 4 last few episodes end - is going to be different. We have him currently stripped of his powers. IIRC, Viv herself said that Stolas' injury from Western Energy would have a "lasting effect." She also said Stolas will not "physically die" in the show. (If someone finds a the screenshots of these please please share because I'd love to past it in here for reference). The reference to the injury could just mean the scar he now has from it. Or it could mean something else. The not physically dying could mean he might die metaphorically - which could have been losing his powers/identity in Mastermind, or it could not...

For all we know, Stolas is the first of his kind to be stripped of his powers. It seems he's the first Goetia to demand things like a divorce. He's functioning outside the realm of what the upperclass of Hell really understand. Again, uncharted waters, big question mark on the map. I've spoken with a few of you on here about how out-of-touch the banishment itself was. Stripping someone of everything and throwing them onto the streets that hate them would, under other circumstances, just be a more painful death sentence than the outright execution. Yet the upperclass of Hell didn't seem to view it as more than a temporary, slap-on-the-wrist punishment. I'd say it's fair game to say that no one has any idea what that angelic weapon injury might've done to Stolas, nor do they know what another one will do if he is injured again while stripped of his powers. No one really knows what stripping his powers might've done to his body in general. We've also been given what I take as another hint - a pretty obvious reference to Disney's Hercules in Sinsmas, with Blitzø saving Stolas from the ice hydra/dragon in a similar way to Hercules fighting the hydra.

So, where do I think this is heading?

I think Stolas is still going to choose to "die" - but it will be in the form of giving up his immortality. He will choose to die, but this time because it's how he can truly LIVE.

Let's face it, as much as it might hurt Via to process, Stolas doesn't want to live forever. And I'm not even sure how his character might become okay with doing so unless Blitzø magically gets immortality, too. Via is the only thing he cares about right now that will be around that long. He doesn't get along with the other highborn. He doesn't want involved in deciding how others are governed besides letting them choose for themselves. And the only individual he cares for besides Via is very not-immortal. I think, at the end of things, Stolas is going to face a reality where he is no longer immortal, whether it be a new injury that kicks off something in his not-magic body or a side effect of having his powers ripped out of him in the first place, not sure. But I think he's going to have the option to regain immortality, he might even have it back along with his powers for a while. But like in Disney's Hercules, he's going to turn the immortality down to choose a mortal life like Blitzø and the IMP crew. Because a real life to him would include all the things he thought he could never have: people who care about him, a life he chooses, and growing old with someone he loves. A family - like he tried to build with Stella but couldn't.

"When creation goes to die/You can find me in the sky" might be a reference to how he's always going to metaphorically be there for Via until the end of time, but it also might be a hint that HE, specifically, will be a creation that will one day die, but his love for her will live on.

I think Stolas saw most of his prophecies as things that will happen in a future after his passing, but he misinterpreted. They're all instead things he's going to personally live through, just like in Mastermind. Just as Via's prophetic nightmare was about her future, Stolas' visions weren't fully about Via: they were about him. He's not a passive observer of a future without him - he's part of the catalyst that will make it all happen.

As for getting any future prophecies, amalthea-13's post mentioned that he might be better at receiving/interpreting them later in the story, now that he's slowly gaining agency and drive and sees things outside his highly controlled old life. I again refer to that post for any potential, as my ramblings are more on stuff Stolas has already potentially foreseen. TBH I hadn't even considered the option of him having future prophecies, and it's an interesting idea to think about. While I'm more inclined to guess his prophesying is over, things could be really interesting if I was proved wrong - and I've definitely been wrong on plot theories before! Hell, this entire post could be wrong! Who knows for sure?!

Conclusion

That's about it! If you read this whole thing, please take my wholehearted applause, love, and apologies for the length. Y'all know I love this absurd, depressed owl. I'm so nervous for the chaos he's gonna go through in future seasons, but I also can't wait to see it. Time will tell if any of my personal prophecies come true, or if I misread things badly myself instead. 😘

[scholarinbookland]

Like Crazy MV Analysis Part 3: Symbolism and Thoughts

Link to Part 1

Link to Part 2

Thoughts on the MV’s Storyline and Symbolism

The opening sequence being our introduction into the world of this MV gave me my strongest theory about the plot of the MV. My main theory is that the Jimin in Set 2 is the present Jimin, attempting to recall the events of the rest of the MV. This is supported by the quote I’ve included below from the MV shoot sketch. He appears to be wanting to stay dreaming of when times were enjoyable, despite being aware of the underlying rot in hindsight.

Jimin says something interesting in the Like Crazy MV shoot sketch. I haven’t watched the movie Like Crazy, and so can’t comment on the exact scene he’s discussing, but he says that the concept used for the MV is a scene where the characters say something like the dialogue he includes in the opening of the song, which is back-translated in the subtitles of the sketch to, “You don’t have to worry, I won’t leave.” So Jimin himself says that the main storyline of the MV is a crumbling romantic relationship, even if it’s a literary device for a deeper meaning in the song. Again, a disclaimer: I am not saying that this is Jimin’s experience, just the character and storyline he’s acting out. He himself clarified that the MV was a dramatization with a lot of artistic license.

I’ve read the summary of the movie, and basically the couple break up due to an immigration issue, get back together and married, remain separated by the immigration issue, cheat on each other when apart, and then reunite to the open ending of a crumbling relationship. I’m assuming that this scene he’s referencing is either in the portion where the couple are getting married, or at the end of the film as the relationship falls apart. If you’ve seen the movie, please correct me if you’re more aware of what he’s talking about specifically.

The biggest and most obvious piece of symbolism running throughout the music video is the mud. Jimin says in the shoot sketch, “You’ll be able to see my room and my hand turn to mud because of a variety of emotions and memories”. He doesn’t specify what these emotions and memories are, so let’s look at what mud symbolizes.

Depending on the source, mud has a lot of symbolic meanings in literature, poetry, and dream interpretation. Given its placement in the MV, I’m going to focus on the negative meaning of mud and not the positive ones like rebirth, new life, etc. In this MV, mud can be interpreted as corruption, toxicity, stagnation, misery, or chaos. My best guess is that it is intended to be cross between all of these interpretations. The woman who pulls him into drunken escapism is not a good influence (corruption/toxicity), he becomes trapped in a cycle of escapist behavior (stagnation), this behavior gets out of control (chaos), and it ultimately makes him deeply depressed (misery). So the mud is intended to be the most obvious clue that this is not a happy storyline, and that there is an underlying darkness to the whole piece.

The piece of symbolism that I feel we as fans should be discussing more is the use of smartphones and the camera lens itself to represent the intense surveillance Jimin is under. This is the one piece of symbolism that I feel is not a reach to relate directly back to Jimin and not just the character he is playing. Even when Jimin’s character gets drunk and lets his guard down, people are recording and judging him. If he chose to make his character easier to play by also making him famous and surveilled in his private life, as Jimin has been experiencing for over a decade, that was a very pointed creative choice. Perhaps, instead of a visa like in the Like Crazy movie, the character Jimin is playing and that character’s love interest were separated by privacy and surveillance issues, or the difficulty of finding genuine romantic partners when famous.

I do feel that the woman we see briefly in the MV is intended to represent the female protagonist of the Like Crazy movie. The frequent scenes with Jimin wandering the crowd searching for someone, the juxtaposition with the woman in the crowd doing the same during the interlude, and the fade to black as soon as they lay eyes upon each other that felt to me like an implication of a time-lapse gave me the idea that, even if she is representing the escapist tendencies he was going through in the storyline of FACE or his reflection, she’s also a love interest in this MV. So I interpret their encounter as fleeting or unhappy enough to leave him having an existential crisis in the bathroom in the next scene.

The character also seems preoccupied with human connection. If we are not watching the character looking desperately lonely, we are seeing scenes of the kind of human connection that is ubiquitous for young adults in clubs and bars: short-lived friendships, conversations, romantic encounters, dancing together, etc. The whole video alternates between loneliness and needing liquid courage to initiate human interaction, which is something very relatable for anyone on the shyer side or who experiences social anxiety. My interpretation is that the character is not so much afraid of losing the specific relationship with the love interest, but is simply unwilling to be alone in a crowd or at home with his thoughts again.

The final device I’ll touch on here is the use of camera techniques such as blurring out the background actors, the thermal camera, and extreme color-grading to anonymize the crowd in the way memories become blurry after excessive drinking. The way the entire album treats drinking culture is powerful, in my opinion, because despite the prevalence of social drinking, FACE takes a fairly negative tone regarding excessive alcohol consumption. Every time it looks fun, we get scenes of loneliness and depression contrasting that glorification of clubbing culture. Jimin clearly feels using alcohol as a crutch is a bad, unsustainable habit, and he was remarkably frank for a K-idol on how bad of an idea it is to remain on that path.

Jimin was fairly trepidatious about how the acting in this MV would turn out in the shoot sketch, but in my opinion, the combination of his personal acting style and the excellent editing and direction teams he clearly utilized made a beautiful piece of cinematography, that illustrates the central themes of the song perfectly.

Extra Observations

I was aware of Jimin’s tendency to use his head and neck to emphasize certain moves in dance choreographies, but he does the same constantly throughout this video. I initially started a tally for the amount of times his head rolls around, but quickly lost count. It’s so effective from a storytelling perspective, but as someone who also suffers from chronic pain I was wincing in sympathy, because if that many head rolls made it into the MV, how many additional takes of rolling his head were there?

Did he intentionally include a left shoulder liberation in both FACE MVs as a bone to throw to fans?

Did anyone else catch the two books on the table in Set 2? The white one appears to be “Beyond the West:New Global Architecture”, but the only thing I could read on the cover of the grey book is “Atlas”. I think they’re nods to the central conflict in the Like Crazy movie being visas, because I feel that choosing English-language books with coincidentally relevant titles takes a lot more effort than finding Korean books of the right color palette and size.

[elrielffs]

Isn’t it a funny coincidence that Elriel shippers mostly like the Inner Circle, Mor, Nesta, Feyre, Elain, Cassian, Rhys?

But Gwynriel shippers are always (maybe some exceptions) anti-Inner Circle, anti-Mor/Rhys/Feysand/Cassian, anti-Nessian, anti-any main character, anti-ACOTAR (some cases or literally hating almost every main character). But they are ONLY pro-Nesta and pro-Azriel, additionally to pro-Valkyries who are not like the majority morally grey characters

The perfect characters, like Azriel (because we only got one pov and they turned him into headcanon to fit the fanon Gwyn version) or like Gwyn (who can’t do anything wrong) or Emerie-who? That Illyrian woman who was set up since ACOFAS but she can’t be with Azriel so who cares

And then they expect the next book to be: Nesta/Azriel POVs, or Azriel/Gwyn

Yup, it's funny isn't it?

There are plenty of Nesta and ACSOF fans that like the IC and the books. This isn't about them.

But there are some people that read ACOTAR because they heard it was big, it's the next Harry Potter, Twilight, etc, it blew up on Booktok and what not and from either slight curiosity or fear of missing out, or maybe they liked TOG and thought that they would like everything SJM, read the first 3 books of ACOTAR and didn't like it.

Which is fine. Everyone has different taste...but instead of moving on they decided to talk about how bad it is and not in a, oh this isn't for me way, but trying to moralize why it's bad, why they don't like it or the characters when honestly, it's not that deep.

Then comes ACOSF and thru Nesta they have confirmation bias forgetting that Nesta is...not healed for the majority of that book. Most Nesta Stans (not fans STANS) like Nesta when she's unhealed. They don't take into account the last bit of ACOSF. Nesta hating the IC, Rhysand, the NC to them was great because they hate the books forgetting that at the end, Nesta has made peace with herself and NC, IC, Rhysand because it was never about hating them, it was about Nesta. No matter where Nesta was, as long as she remained as she was, she was going to be the same hateful person. I also think a lot of is has people overly identifying with Nesta and retroactively trying to find reasons to dislike the NC like she does at first in order to be, "I'M JUST LIKE NESTA!!"

Not saying that you have to like the NC, Rhysand, and the IC but I mean, if you want to enjoy the books? Probably?? Because people who liked the unhealed Nesta pov want more of that, that's why there's all these theories of Nesta getting more books, Nessian breaking up, etc because they think they'll get more ammo for how the books are bad or the characters or whatever. And that's just not gonna happen.

They forget that Nesta is healed now, she's no longer the nasty mean girl that they can live vicariously through, she's happily mated and in love with Nessian and she is part of the NC and the IC.

And every one knows that for Elain and Elriel that puts a kabash on what they want from the series. That removes the IC hate, NC hate, Rhysand hate...but also they wouldn't get that in another Nesta book anyways.

They like Azriel for now but even with just the glimpse of his POV when he doesn't act like they want, he becomes the most disgusting MC. As soon as the book is out and he's with Elain, they'll hate him too.

There's also alot to be said about interpretation vs author intent and each book falls on a different scale on how far you can pull one or the other and I think for SJM, at the end of the day, author intent is how people should view the book because SJM is an OBVIOUS writer and her work leaves little room for interpretation imo. SJM does not intend for Rhysand to be evil, you can interpret it that way sure, but you are ruining the books and experience of reading them that way.

And that's the crux. If you see the books that way, you see them that way. And that means the books aren't for you but instead of moving on people are hanging on making the fandom horrible (seriously you can't even go to the reddit without supposedly fans hating almost every aspect of this series except for like 3 characters) and making wild theories that are never going to happen because it's based on their interpretation instead of SJM's intent.

And no the books aren’t above criticism but most of what I see isn’t criticism in good faith, it’s just hating to hate.

Anyone can read these books any way they want, it's their time and their money if they buy them but I don't understand spending so much energy on something you just obviously...don't like and hoping it turns into something it never was and never will be. The books are about the Night Court and Feysand and their family and friends and always will be the central focal point.

[pastorfutureletthembe]

I love YINGDU as it is

I don't think I'll read these interviews everyone is talking about :/ I thought hard about it, I've read the general points of it, but I don't think reading them will make me enjoy YINGDU more. Quite the opposite actually.

Me: thank you but no thank you. Later maybe. Love you, still.

I don't understand why they had to get interviewed to clear things up. By why, I mean, this situation is fucked up and I don't get how things got like this in this industry.

First. Can't the fans just wait and see? We're grownups, stop treating us like children who cried to get a lollipop. We'll still be here next year. Trust your fanbase.

Second... in what kind of world were the animators under pressure to the point they created plot holes and new timelines by accident? I'm extrapolating but, for real, how fucked up is it that they decided to rush a show that popular for the sake of airing it early? I'm sorry, was the money we spend on merch every few weeks not enough? I'm just mad at the production, honestly. Because they made a big mistake.

They're rushing in like bulls in a china shop. The character PVs were a mistake as well. They should have been released after YINGDU, to manage our expectations on characters that were yet to be introduced. I used to think it was an actual teaser, a window on how Lu Guang saw them or what they will become because of Lu Guang's meddling with the timeline. Now, I'm starting to think they needed strong marketing to get people's attention.

The whole thing makes my viewer experience less than optimal. So I'll keep writing meta but I won't take these interviews into account. 🧩Meta is for fun🧩, mere interpretation, only fanon, and that's okay. Meta is gamble. Meta is character study and theories on plot twists.

✨And that's okay✨

We're not suppose to write season 3 in advance. So it makes sense to me to keep having fun on what the show and the official content bring us. But as far as I'm concerned, the interviews didn't happen. It's not denial, just-

When I was studying cinema in university, my teacher once told me a very harsh truth: if you have to explain the sequence you filmed, then you didn't film it right. Sadly, in this context, production limitations were at fault but the lasting impression is the same.

Do you realize how insane it is that a creative team has to spell their work out to their fans? How humiliating it must be? There's revealing easter egg, teasing next season, spilling spoilers on accident, and then there is whatever that was. I feel for the creators and animators who worked themselves to exhaustion to bring something as beautiful as YINGDU to life. Because this season? It isn't perfect and it's inconsistent and different but no one can call it ugly. I would lick my screen because the image does look tasty lmao. My heart bleeds for all the people involved in this season.

Meta is trying to understand and noticing easter eggs, honouring the writers and animators' work X

Of course, that's only my stand on the topic. I might take different directions in my interpretation than others, that's all. Aaaaaand? Yes. That's okay 🥰

As an artist myself, I feel like the situation is kind of disappointing for the people who worked on YINGDU. That's why I'll take the canon as it is. I don't want to mourn what could be or should have been. I want to enjoy what is.

Meta is diving in the depth of symbolism X

As a fan, I get that we're happy with every nugget of information on what's coming next. The lore in Link Click is still blurry and while I honestly want to believe it is an artistic choice and will stay under control, I can't help but fear it's the result of bad writing. But. What if it is? Meh, I'm still here, enjoying myself. Because I love this show as it is, I see the flaws and the beauty in it. I'll be there.

Meta is love and each of us expresses it differently X

[thechurchoftheradiodemon]

I've been mulling over something. I read one of Vivzie's interviews lately and I've come to some conclusions about Alastor's character (these are just my own theories, though, so we'll see how everything actually develops in s2).

Unfortunately, I believe, canonically, Alastor is NOT aromantic. Maybe on the aro-spectrum, and deffinitely asexual, but not aro per se. In this interview, Vivzie confirms Alastor's asexuality, and plays with his aro identity saying something like "I don't want to ruin people's fun with him". This could be queerbaiting in a sense (I don't actually think so, when Vivzie is high on queer representation, but aro people are very left behind in the community, sadly).

But she continues to add on that there are plans for Alastor in the future of the series, saying something like "I can't confirm that he is aromantic". To me, this reads like we will see romance in Alastor's life in season 2, wether it's a past lover/romantic interest or a new one I could not say. She would've had no problem in confirming Alastor as aromantic otherwise, and I interpret this as Vivzie not wanting to spoil part of the plot.

I used to think that Alastor's deal would most surely be with Lilith, but, while it could be the case, I'm not so sure anymore (although it could be a fun dinamic). But, nontheless, I think Lilith's and Alastor's 7 year absence and his deal are intertwinded somehow.

My bet, for the future romance plot, is that it could be one of these three: either Lilith, whom the fandom is already considering in a sense; the mysterious Eve, or... Lucifer. HEAR ME OUT. I don't say this as a Radioapple enjoyer. The reasons I think it could be Lucifer are the same that I think it could be Eve (although we know absolutely nothing about her).

Mainly, I draw these conclusions from the early comic Zoophobia, from where we know Alastor's character was taken. In this comic, his character is supposed to have a crush on the character of KayCee, a powerful being with whom he could have made an alliance to reign chaos.

KayCee's descriptions could match either of the three romantic interests I mentioned, but what strikes me more are her defining traits: white and gold colour palette, and the apple. We know not all of Vivzie's characters stem from Zoophobia, and the ones that do have (understandably so) went through important changes through the years, mediums and aesthetics.

BUT these could be some clues into what we might discover in s2 of Hazbin. And, so long, the character we've seen fit this palette and apple motif is none other than Lucifer himself. Eve, on the other hand, is also shown during the intro sporting some sort of apple motif, which could be indicative of her future appearance in the series. But we know so little about her, and, knowing Hazbin Hotel will only have 2 seasons confirmed, I'm not sure we will see more of her.

I personally don't like the idea of losing Alastor as an aromantic character. I'd much rather not see him in a romantic relationship whatsoever in the canon series. But that is not my call to make, and he will always be our ace-king no matter what. Also, that wouldn't mean his story or character will be less interesting or developed. So we'll have to wait and see...

(This is visual representation of me reaching these conclusions, btw)

I would love to hear what other fans think about this, so if you want to leave and opinion in the comments we can discuss!

[etrosgate]

i know i've referenced how chain of memories has had some things lost in translation due to the nuances of jp pronouns a few times on here, but i finally read the essay on the subject and i think this is like.... Actually mandatory reading for every kh fan.

like "you probably don't understand a fundamental aspect of sora's story in chain of memories if you haven't read this essay or played the game in jp" level of mandatory.

yes it's like 300 pages long, because they go through the whole game establishing the facts and then analyzing the implications and ruling out potential interpretations of them, for the sake of being thorough. if you really don't want to read it all (even though i recommend you do), you can read the intro and skip down to the summaries they have at the bottom of each part and get the gist.

it's also like practically undeniable evidence that sora's in love with riku. im actually not being flippant when i say this, or proposing a theory, or exaggerating for comedic effect. im dead serious. i cannot find any other plausible explanation for some of the stuff in here. much less the sheer amount of it. and emphasis put on it.

[neunhofferart]

Howdy, Heidi! You said that some fans picked up things that were done on accident… Were there more scenes like that? Also, were there scenes that you guys made on purpose but fans didn’t pick up / were aware of them? In shipping terms (hihi) and in general terms. Thanks!

I think in every type of media you will inevitably see versions of 'authorial' intent vs audience interpretation that overlap and differ from each other in many ways. (Authorial intent in quotes because in collaborative mediums like film and animation every single person on the pipeline who touches the work probably has a slightly different personal interpretation they're contributing to the final work, even under someone like a showrunner or a director).

Humans are smart and it's in our nature to look for connections and find explainations to questions, so most of the time if someone is putting something down, someone is going to pick it up, so to speak, and a lot of things ARE on purpose.

But this same phenomenon can also lead to us seeing connections in places that even the 'authors' might not have originally thought of while creating the work, and I think that can be pretty neat actually! I don't necessarily think reading alternate interpretations of works is wrong-- it can be very healthy to explore multiple reads of a narrative or a character/character dynamic. On Chaos Theory there were definitely times when we were like 'fans are probably gonna ship this even if it's not the text' haha. Sometimes fans latch onto headcanons you really have no control over. Sometimes things were animated slightly differently from how they were conceived (which is also a natural part of things).

But yes, sometimes I have seen a few other things that were interpreted in slightly different ways from how they were directed or written verbally, but I'm personally of the opinion that it's more fun to leave some things visual and open to a little interpretation rather than beating the words over the audience's head and having the characters constantly announcing 'I'm feeling this because of this!' And going 'this is the only way to interpret the show and the characters and if you don't you're wrong!'

It's usually not a huge deal. I think even as we were working sometimes I'd make connections to myself that weren't necessarily spelled out to us and go 'oh, this is a throughline for this character actually!'

Like for example- if I remember correctly, the original direction behind how Kenji reacted to Ben's apparent death was that it was supposed to the first time he'd ever seen someone he really KNEW seemingly die right front of him, and being unable to do anything about it deeply affected him. Ben is a very important turning point in his character development regardless of which way you read it.

And I think this is actually something that just continued to stack onto his character throughout both shows whenever any of his friends lives are seriously in danger. In Camp when he's still unable to do anything but comfort Sammy while she's poisoned, to deciding it's too dangerous not to trade Wu's laptop for Brooklynn, to eventually throwing himself between the spinosaurus his dad is about to kill Darius with and choosing his friends over his own father and being willing to die with/for them... and then in Chaos Theory it kind of reboots all over again with Brooklynn dying and then his dad dying right in front of him, and his complex of not wanting to be useless and trying to do whatever he can at the expense of even himself to keep the loved ones he has left safe is kicked into overdrive.

I think there are a lot of things like that where the intent is not always verbally spelled out, but the more important thing is that it's still (hopefully) making you feel something.