#i love symbolism i love SEASONS 🤌🤌🤌

[chernabogs]

Love that Malleus' bday is Jan 18. Winter is always associated with sadness and emptiness in a literary sense (the quote 'everything pretty dies in the fall' doesn't exist for no reason), so for one of Lilia's happiest and worst moments to occur in arguably one of the darkest seasons is 🤌🤌 delicious.

Just the image of him kneeling at the top of cradle tower, clutching Malleus close to keep him warm as the cacophony fades and the deafening silence that snow brings returns. Maybe some snowflakes even fell, not that Lilia noticed, and the winter-topped mountains looked a little less lonely in that moment. Maybe he held Malleus close both to keep him warm and to assure himself this was real. Maybe he didn't even notice the cold, both due to the joy of the moment and Malleus' warmth.

Then it's all taken away. That representation of sadness and emptiness rears its head once more as Lilia is left to descend back into the dark, snowy landscape on his own, with the faint glow of cradle tower barely lighting his way until he can see it no more.

Idk, winter just seems like it was the perfect season for that entire scene.

[o-wild-west-wind]

okay, here’s my actual thoughtful post: I get why people are upset about the finale…I really do. but I want to mention that there’s a bigger picture to this story that’s missing if you’re zooming too close onto Izzy as a character, and I’m honestly so grateful that the show stuck to the thematic arc it introduced in season 1 because, as per usual, it’s about the themes 🤌 and this show never skimps on the symbolism!!

so here’s the thing: the primary themes are toxic masculinity (& it’s opposite, queer joy); trauma; love as a healing force for the above; and, title alert—DEATH. because it’s so much more than a cool title!

now, Izzy has always represented something metaphorical about all of these points; most directly, he’s always represented masculinity, and s2 has been an arc of toxicity deconstruction. but crucially, he’s also represented all that for Ed, who is the deuteragonist of this show. because—don’t forget—Stede and Ed are the show.

I’ve always doubted myself for feeling this after seeing how fandom saw Izzy as a third romantic figure (which like by all means have a blast in your fanfics I don’t care it’s about joy at the end of the day and pursue that as you want to), but after hearing something about djenks referring to Izzy as a father figure, it confirms a major point for me—Izzy is also in a lot of ways a parallel to Ed’s dad, and a representation of the trauma and guilt Ed felt from that formative killing. for so long, Izzy was an aggressive shadow in Ed’s life, and a tangible reminder of those daddy issues—someone telling him what to do, keeping him Blackbeard—and the beautiful thing is how that changed this season, how Izzy became a version of masculinity that could love and be beautiful and make good from the hurt, the literal poison into positivity. someone antithetical to his own paternalistic force, healing our daddy issues one drag show at a time. BUT, Izzy is still thematically representative within Ed’s arc—and by also representing the trauma that made Ed “Blackbeard,” it does make smart writing sense as to why Izzy died (NOT saying you can’t be sad about it—stick with me for a moment).

because here’s the thing—as aforementioned, this show is also about DEATH. killing is the root of everyone’s trauma, and reconciling a relationship with death is the ultimate arc Ed and Stede are both on, with the ultimate path of learning to live despite its inevitability. there’s a reason it was such a huge thing that Ed couldn’t personally kill, and then in this episode killed so many people with his bare hands in the name of love—and there’s a reason that was framed as a good thing. and there’s also Ed’s (and arguably Stede’s) active suicidality, which has been a huge force driving this season. these are characters who see death as this all-consuming thing, and they see their own deaths as the only solution. death is the traumatic force driving almost everything about their being for so long—and its reconciliation is everything for them, the greatest sign of growth. so Izzy’s death, and everyone beginning again with love—healing each other with love—is a cap to it all. it’s death as a positive force, for once. it’s death as love, not trauma. it’s death as something that will always happen, but this time not forced by your own hand. it’s a death to everything toxic, to what “Blackbeard” represented, and all the while a sort of rebirth. it’s kind of a death to…death? it’s functionally like the real physical moon replacing the giant romantic imaginary orb: it’s taking the thing that’s been artificially morphed in Stede and Ed’s heads and making it real this time, with all the bittersweet emotions that come with tangible reality.

and honestly, I’m glad that it was tragic and emotional. I didn’t think I’d be so devastated to see Izzy die, but it really did get to me, especially because of everything he said to Ricky and then to Ed. but think of it this way: Izzy and Ed might be romantically compelling because they were toxic and charged (and I hope people still enjoy everything they get from that dynamic in fan work), but imagine if the show had actually gone in that direction—where would it take us thematically? it would kill the thesis; it would be love as chaos and entertainment, but not healing. instead, this show gave us something so much more powerful: a legitimate, fully-fleshed trauma arc.

trauma hurts. Izzy’s death hurts. but that’s okay. that’s great, actually! it means the storytelling was effective—that Izzy’s arc made you feel something. and i know this won’t be every viewer’s experience, but honestly? I’m glad I can have this grieving process in such a beautifully framed light in the safe space ship of this show, because let’s be real—death, real life death, fucks you up. and let me tell you, I could’ve used this show during so many episodes of grief in my life. but here it is now, reminding us that our grief and trauma doesn’t define us—and WHAT a powerful thing for queer love, especially, to be presented as the thing that heals us all. ESPECIALLY when so much grief and death in this community is woven so deeply with the trauma of our identity.

so grieve as you need to, but don’t forget to turn the poison into positivity 💛 because that’s what the show is telling us—choose live, despite!

[cursecuelebre]

All about me!

I just feel like it’s time to put a little post about me!

My name is Ashlyn and I’m from New England America, my pronouns are She/Her ~ Age is 22 - I am bisexual ~ Neurodivergent

I’m a pagan and a witch based upon my ancestry, Hellenic polytheism and Norse/Germanic paganism and witchcraft.

I’m mostly started out as a tarot reader then became a witch and a pagan, I practice mostly folk magic and Ancestral Magic. Right now trying to find a traditional magic practice. I do a lot of knot magic and needle work presently.

My guardian animal: I don’t know if that’s the correct term but Bears 🐻, I always had dreams/nightmares about bears since I was little and when I did a tarot reading on what my familiar spirit is the bear came up.

Why I started this blog?

I guess the main reasons to keep a digital record of my experiences, thoughts, lessons, etc. to share my experiences so I thought maybe it can help people find what they are looking for and learn about it. Also a chance for me to learn about other people’s perspectives and ideas. I’m always open to learn more and share more information the best I can.

Also I like to swear in my blogs because I like to, I don’t do it excessively but it’s prevalent if you aren’t comfortable with it.

My hobbies!

I read a lot. Not just one subject, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical fiction, Non-Fiction, and Classics. I might post some book reviews and recommendations on this blog. My favorite book is LOTR it’s my cozy and feel good book, Tolkien also had a lot of pagan inspiration for his stories.

I also write! Short stories to writing long stories about whatever comes to mind. I write fantasy and historical fiction, but also horror and thriller. At times I write poetry. Sometimes when I’m bored use my tarot for a creative writing project.

I like to do crafts. Especially when it comes to paganism and witchcraft. I sew and embroidered poppets, sigils, or symbols. I wouldn’t say I’m neat with a thread and needle but I get the job done.

Video Games I love Halo, Skyrim, Fallout, AC Valhalla and Odyssey, Animal Crossing, Red Dead Redemption.

Hiking and Foraging in nature

Witchcraft and Tarot cards (obviously)

My Likes!

Season: Autumn

Holiday: Yule/Saturnalia

Music: Anything that sounds good to me: Right now Opera is my most listen to. From Opera to Oldies to Folk music to Heavy Metal to Pop songs. R&B is a guilty pleasure of mine and a couple of rappers and hiphop artists. So again I kinda like everything.

Animals: I love cats I have three of my own, Rabbits, Squirrels, Deer, Horses, Bears, Ravens. I like any animals but those I wanna say are my top ones 😂

Insects: don’t necessarily like them but spiders and moths are pretty neat, but Honeybees or bees in general are my favorite they’re quite special to me. Hopefully one day I start beekeeping.

TV Shows: Penny Dreadful was amazing if you like dark horror, witchcraft, in a Victorian setting that incorporates a lot of classic horror stories like Frankenstein and Dracula highly recommended it with Eva Green and Helen McCoy. I don’t have a favorite movies or tv shows definitely but Legion, LOTR, Immortals, Harry Potter movies, the show Vikings. Are great and anything like it just 🤌

ASMR/Meditation ambiences

Smell of burning wood

Tarot cards and reading and finding anything that I can do with them that is new

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Polka thoughts

I think ThoughtfulC is onto something here, so I started thinking about what @thoughtfulchaos773 said and this came to mind (thanks for the inspo btw):

So, here's how I connect these Polka thoughts dots:

Symbolically speaking Carmy, who was going through his blue period 🔗 and dragged Syd down with him bc they ARE connected even when they aren't and that's what happens when you love someone, whether you admit it or not...

Cut down indeed all joy from his life and he’s sick right now, as I thoroughly described here 🔗and foresaw here 🔗. That's what the polka dots represent, both happiness and sickness. And that's why Storer chose them to make a visual point throughout this season. Polka dots are a pattern, Storer loves them, so here are my 2 cents:

Source: Shutterstock's Blog on History of Fashion

Throughout this entire season, they were barely on the same page on the menu, which represents their emotional connection, 🔗 right?

Please note that no matter how disconnected he was from his heart which in his case is like being dead inside because he leads with his heart, just like Syd, he never stopped praising her cooking.

And as we all know since S1, Carmy’s emotional connection is through food and cooking

and not only was he disconnected from his emotions heart (he was blocked as I mentioned here, 🔗which has to do with him not choosing Sydney the polka dots sauce), and from Syd, he was also disconnected from his own food and his own cooking and as we learned in the finale, that resulted in THE BAD REVIEW:

They both lead with their hearts and therefore, since their hearts were 💔 this season the food was not perfect either. He was stuck here 🔗

But here’s the catch and silver lining:

If we dig deeper we find out that Polka dots also mean this according to Eastern tradition, which Storer mentioned here and there since S2, and Syd seems to be intuned with

Source: au.coeur.du.japon.com

Carmy was moving in circles throughout this entire season, that's why it looked like no progress was made. Well, actually, I beg to differ, but this was basically the cliffhanger → Carmy's breakthrough 🔗

As the article above says: the circle symbolizes ETERNITY in Western culture, as well. These symbolisms do not cancel each other out but rather complement each other because Storer's view is holistic.

So the events that we saw in this ep, which is the culmination of the whole season of death and rebirth:

Are initiating a domino effect that will bring about PERMANENT CHANGES in all the characters involved.

And Syd's polka dots represent exactly that (bears repeating):

We haven't seen the re-birth/light/harmony part yet, (which I'm sure will include a heavy element of Sydcarmy) we only saw the funerals and labor pains in S3. But the Polka dots Syd sported are a good sign. We will see the rest of that Polka dots symbology Storer planted in plain sight soon. Either in S 3B or S4.

Syd is 🔗 the twist ❤️🤌

Remember to follow my tag #Gingerpovs 💋

[falllpoutboy]

okaayyy okay ok. here’s how i want it to go down.sydney’s giving carmy the cold shoulder immediately post s2 finale bc he fucked up and left her and richie to run the ship by themselves. i’m really torn on whether i want them to have the all important argument in the beginning of the season or towards the middle of it) buut he apologizes profusely and she warms up to him again when he makes it up to her by going on that food tour. mhmkay some episodes pass and they’re alone either in the kitchen or his kitchen and they’re working on something and he just so very casually drops an ily in the middle (or the tail end) of a conversation. literally just like “ha ha love you syd” and she’s just like this 😳😳 and he’s also like 😳😳 and then he rubs his fucking chest in the sorry sign symbol and things get even more confusing on both their ends when she does it back but it’s apparent that syds like huh is he sorry that he loves me? or is he just sorry he said it out loud? did he even mean it? so it’s awkward for a hot minute between them (the potential for angst? 🤌🏾🤌🏾🤌🏾)

marcus’ mother dying brings them back together and they end the season on good and flirty terms after getting good reviews by a critic (as foreseen by that now deleted s3 sneak peek) but s4 is where it gets juicy. i really want a mid season kiss LOL just they’ve been building towards it and then BOOM in private carm grabs her and plants one on her and she’s like 😳 at first but then she kisses him back and they break apart after a minute and then they very pointedly never mention it again for like a few episodes after

[the-wild-wolves-around-you]

Hi hello IM HERE TO PESTER YOU JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Top 5 current songs on repeat 👀

And also…

Top favorite Erika/Jade moments cause I love and miss you 🥺💕

AHHHH ok this is my second time typing this out bc tumblr deleted the first draft 😤

But omg you’re gonna get me cancelled for the song one ☠️ BUT ILL DO IT FOR YOU MY LOVE 😩

(To speak my truth Ive just been listening to taylor swifts newest album this last week 🙈 ITS A GOOD ALBUM OK! AND IT WORKS PERFECTLY WITH ALL MY BLORBOS 😩 but ill add some of my other top spotify contenders 😂)

Top 5 Songs on Repeat:

1. Fortnight by Taylor Swift (the 80s synth vibe is just too good, my brain has latched on to it.)

2. Too Sweet by Hozier (MY IRISH KING 😩 honestly his whole newest album is just banger after banger but i particularly love screaming this song while dancing around my kitchen 💃🏻🕺🏻)

3. Time in a Tree by Raleigh Ritchie (This artist is actually the actor who plays Louis in Interview with the Vampire! All of his music slaps, but the vibe and lyricism in this particular song is just 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼)

4. Growing Sideways by Noah Kahan (His whole album Stick Season is a no-skip for me but this song gets me EVERY TIME 😩)

5. First Class by Rainbow Kitten Surprise (LOVE all of rks, they’re queer and their music honestly fucks in a 70s rock band kinda way 🤘🏼)

NOW ON TO THE GOOD STUFF

Top 5 Erika/Jade Moments: 🥹🥰

1. OKAY THE FIRST HASSSSSS TO be watching kris play pontius pilot and fucking up the whip noises for jesus ☠️ I think about that shit ALL the time and it always cracks me up when it pops in my head 🤣

2. Anytime we had weekend sleepovers and got pizza or your mom made jalapeño poppers while we watched anime 🥹 (EXCEPT FOR WOLF CHILDREN IM STILL NOT OVER THAT SHIT 😩)

3. When we would be writing fanfic in the library instead of studying for APUSH and the librarians would shush us 😅 OR TRY TO SEE WHAT WE WERE WORKING ON ☠️

4. Getting high (ALLEGEDLY 👀) and walking to go get food on the drag 😎 I MISS THAT PHO PLACE SM😩

5. When you made me those shoes with all my fave fandoms 🥹 (Kakashi’s eyes, supernatural anti-possession symbol, LOTR script on the bottom) I still have them on a shelf in my closet 🥰🥰

AND HONESTLY ANY OTHER TIME IVE SPENT IN YOUR COMPANY bc I love you very much and miss you even more 😘

[daomaikeng]

rating and reviewing BLs i have watched so far (unupdated as of april ‘23)

hi this is just a post that i wanted to include in my page but it was getting too long lmao. this is just like a list of all that i’ve watched so far, in order. i won’t be including their plots here, but there might be spoilers. these are just my opinions in case someone new wants to bond over shows and wants to know what i thought 🤌🏽

we best love (both seasons) - 10/10. first BL that i watched, lowkey changed my life. absolutely obsessed with it, comfort series that i keep rewatching. absolutely amazing acting by everyone involved.

history3: trapped - 8.5/10. tang yi. no words. beautiful acting and cinematography, the plot was handled pretty well and i was pretty much broken by the last episode. jack and zhao lian are my children. i’m still obsessed with the OST, i listen to it multiple times a week. just goes to show how much a good soundtrack can still keep a show in your mind even if you watched it months ago.

bad buddy - 1073392729/10. HOE MY GOD. where do i start. all i’ll say is i’ll never be the same, this series is IT for me. THE show for me. nothing will ever come close. one day i’m gonna meet p’aof and cry on my knees. i will never be able to put into words just how much this series means to me, or just how important it is to me, or just how influential this has been for my life. i’ll never be able to get over it.

2gether the series - 6/10. didn’t watch the second season because s1 was so disappointing even if i finished most of it in one night. brightwin are cute and all but they were giving brothers i’m sorry 💀 their chemistry just sizzled out halfway. and they both need acting lessons i’m sorry

love in the air - 9/10. fort thitipong simp forever. first show that i watched while it was ongoing. came for payurain, stayed for prapaisky. although it’s lowkey rapey (which is to be expected from mame) i loved how well they handled the characters

tharntype - 6/10. started because i had heard so much about it, but abandoned it halfway. aside from the dubious consent (again, mame, people can’t consent when they’re asleep), the internalised homophobia got too toxic

star in my mind - 7.5/10. joongdunk are adorable, but they could’ve done a little more with the plot. the Feels™️ were lacking a little bit. cute show overall though. and i’m one of the five people who will die on the hill that seanmaitee are canon and deserved an official kiss

semantic error - 8.5/10. first KBL that i watched, finished it in one day. very beautifully done, all the colour symbolism etc was interesting as hell. pretty cute, although i do wish we could’ve gotten more fluff

love mechanics - 8/10. saw a short on yt and was convinced about the angst. boyyyy was i wrong, it was so much more angsty than i thought. highkey toxic and unhealthy too, but i’ll let it go. forever simping over p’bar. the parents angle was annoying but eh. i will say though, i had to take a lot more breaks while watching than usual, it became too much at points. we did get a little fluff at least though so

my tooth your love - 9/10. yes i hate the title. very very nicely done, the perfect representation of how trauma affects you even when you’re older and just how much it holds you back. convos about mental health, therapy, not letting your lover treat you like shit, AAAAA 🤌🏽🤌🏽 finished this in one day too. they didn’t magically have a moment where they forgave each other and kissed after confessing. they both worked to prove they were in this for the long run, and xun’an didn’t hesitate to hold bai lang accountable for being a jerk. really breaking all the BL barriers sjdhsjh 😭😭 the only part that annoyed me was his dad beating him up like hello?? he’s 30?? 💀💀 fucking vile. but bai qing is an icon and i love her and i would die for her. simp for alex speaking in english randomly. him and rj deserved more scenes and they need to be canon now!!!!!

roommates of poongduck 304 - 7.5/10. i had heard SO much about this so i had high expectations but i was kind of let down, i mean we really only got them together in ep 7. the chemistry, acting and side characters were great but tbh i feel like i’d have loved this a lottttt more if it had been a little spaced out, more episodes, had better conflict resolution and just better overall detailing. still a cute watch though

currently watching:

never let me go - this series is going to break me, i already know. phenomenal acting, symbolism and cinematography. every wednesday you can find me crying because it is just so excellent, the brainrot is real. can’t wait for more episodes

my school president - OBSESSED with them for real. they’re the toned down version of bad buddy, which i have proven in a post. can’t wait for them to be their high school’s power couple. very very wholesome

those are all for now! i’ll keep updating this post as i watch more. my to-watch list is already overflowing but i’d love your recommendations too!! and i’m always willing to scream about any given show so feel free to join me. :) x

[angelthefirst1]

What are the 'signs' of your coming Lord?

Merry Christmas 🤶 🎅 🎄 Bethylers 🌟

Beth is coming soon...

Years ago, I started seeing Emily post clues to Beth's return on her instagram, as well as Norman...

Not just on their instagram, but also in other shows and movies they work on.

To start with many on team delusional couldn't see the connections, couldn't see that they were dropping hints about her return and Bethyl.

Some even said we shouldn't look for clues outside the show...

And that's fine, everyone has different views on it.

However, I saw Beth and Daryl imagery and lines being repeated in other forms of media and projects to a degree that couldn't be ignored.

I also saw that they are paid actors, who have everything scripted for them. They are contacted and have obligations to meet.

If AMC still has contact with Emily (which is entirely possible) then they would also have a say in the projects she takes on, scripts, lines and posts she puts out as being part of her overall job.

Year's later, many have come around and it's commonly accepted that they do indeed drop hints to us through instagram. Now with the 'Talking Sherm' skit, it might be sinking in for others, that this world of clues is much larger then many originally thought, even red carpet appearances are planned to a degree.

And that's where I thought we should talk about Santa Bootcamp 🤶 🧑‍🎄

We all know Beth's Character is heavily linked to Jesus, and many recognise the resurrection aspect of Jesus, as being part of her story.

Since it's Christmas, I thought it would be good timing to talk about the links to Christ's return, Beth's return, and Santa Bootcamp...

Jesus's disciples knew there would be discernible 'signs' pointing to his second coming.

Luke 21.24

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves.

Matthew 24.3

The disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end (coda) of the age?’”

We all know Daryl's famous line...

The Signs 🤏🤟🤙🤌 are all there...you Beth/Emily, and Daryl just gotta know how to read em.

In Emily's latest movie Santa bootcamp, her character 'Emily' can read and speak sign language...

Daryl, back in Alone, linked him and Beth to being "close" (close to a return or reunion) when the signs are all there and they are able to read them.

The use of sign language is a very important play on the signs pointing to the return of Christ, and so they have used it in turn with 'Emily' in Santa Bootcamp and of course Daryl we know, is now very capable at reading the signs too.

When the "signs" were first introduced even Daryl couldn't read them and needed everything to be spelled out...

But now, at the end of season 11 he knows how to read em.

Symbolically representing Jesus, they are pointing to the signs leading to her return, just like with Christ..

Matthew 24.30

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

We also saw with Daryl and Beth the link to Santa and Christmas 🎄 when they were fighting in Still.

Emily in Santa Bootcamp plays the role of 'Mrs Claus' 🤶

While the main male lead role, who is Emily's love interest, plays Mr Clause.

The romantic lead is also a chef who worked in a Michelin star restaurant. 🌟

Michelin Stars originated in a country best known for its passion for cuisine – France.

Lastly watch this clip below to see a retelling of the Alone 'What changed your mind' scene...

🌲Joy to the world 🌎 the lord is come 🎶 🎵

Merry Christmas to all, enjoy the time with family, friends and food...

🎄 🤶 🌲 🧑‍🎄 🎄

[daredevilexchange]

Want to be featured here? Head to this page and fill in the form!

See what this is about here, or if you’re using the app here.

What’s your fannish ID? Just Shelby! I like to use my actual name across all platforms so people can find me easily! 

What types of fanworks do you create? I make a lot of digital art! I really enjoy drawing fanart of characters! Most of the art I create gets turned into stickers and prints that I sell in my Etsy shop (theshelbylernershop)! I really love drawing expressions and looking at the small details in a persons face. It’s amazing how dramatically an expression can change with just a simple line stroke here or by moving the eyebrow up just a millimeter. And there’s something I call the “special move” that takes a portrait of someone going from “just some guy” to “oh it’s the character!” Which can sometimes be just moving or adding in the tiniest detail. I love that!! I have branched out a bit into making TikTok skits where I incorporate some comedy stuff and drawing stuff! It’s a lot of fun!

What are your favourite types of fanworks, when you’re not creating? Definitely art!! I LOVE the art that other people create! I have so many prints saved on my Etsy because there are just a ton of talented people out there! I also appreciate how there are very serious and beautiful pieces that look like they belong in the louvre and then like…spicy avengers pinup art….which also belongs in the louvre😤🤌 also TikTok because the people there are so funny!!

What do you like in particular about this fandom? You see what got me into DD wasn’t the post-NWH craze! About a week or two before the movie came out (I hadn’t heard any of the speculation of DD making a cameo), I decided “hey let’s watch that Marvel show with the blind guy in it…people say it’s really good!” And then when I saw NWH, I was halfway through the first season and was like 😳 Omg Matt??? From there it’s just been a downward spiral. I LOVED the series and symbolism of it. I’m really into “dark religion” (I blame Supernatural for that) and so the symbolism in the some of the shots and themes just *chefs kiss* I love it. The anachronistic feel of it is super satisfying to me as well. You have churches (which are classical, clean, holy etc.) as a backdrop for a bloodied and bruised vigilante. Sister Maggie cleaning Matt’s knuckles after a fight was something so perfect to watch. And of course after completing the series, the scenes in the church with her hit so much harder. I love the humanity above all in the series. And I love that people love that too. Matt is just a guy (“a really good looking guy” hehe) and showcasing the fact that he is first and foremost human with human thoughts, feelings and emotions is just so refreshing. I mean this series showed two grown men crying during an argument with each other, can’t say I’ve seen that in other marvel productions. I could go on and on about things that made me fall in love with this show and these characters but those main themes are my favorite. In terms of the people in the fandom, they’ve all been so creative and funny and welcoming and I love being a part of it!

Do you like participating in fan events? I like participating in group events because it brings likeminded people together! I ESPECIALLY love conventions because it gives you an excuse to leave the house in full costume and go talk with other enthusiasts. I think when you have something you like and have no one to talk to about it, it can feel a bit lonely! But when you have these events or online campaigns, it can make the experience a little more fun since you have other people who like the same thing!

What about your creating process? To get my creative ~juices~ flowing, I like to go through my “sh*t I wanna draw” album on my phone! I save pictures or poses to an album from Pinterest so when I want to draw, I have something for inspiration! I do like to listen to music and watch a TV show I’ve seen a bunch of times while I draw but sometimes I go for hours in silence because I’m so in the zone. Sometimes, especially when watching DD, I’ll find screenshots of particular scenes that I like or facial expressions I find to be particularly unique and draw those out! I don’t always finish them or clean them up but they’re fun to do!

Do you interact a lot with other fans? I don’t interact with a TON of other fans mostly because I’m so new to the fandom. Most of my interactions take place on TikTok just because people are more willing to comment and joke about things there. I find Instagram and Twitter to be more “silently enthusiastic” about fandom culture, at least on my account. I’d love for people to be more vocal about their thoughts and ideas! Like hey…come say hi!

Is there any particular piece you'd like to showcase for this post? I picked my “God’s Soldier” piece for the post because I spent a lot of time on it and it’s definitely my favorite piece I’ve created for DD!

Do you have other fandoms you’d like to talk about? It might not be a surprise to say that I started in the MCU as a Bucky Barnes simp. I’ve been a casual Marvel fan ever since I was a kid watching Spider-Man with my older brother. But when Wandavision came out, I did a little rewatch of some of the films and had my eye caught by a certain angry old man with one arm. I LOVE Bucky’s tragic history and story arc and just everything about him. So naturally I’d have the same love for another guilt-ridden, tragic guy. I keep seeing people call it the “Bucky to Matt pipeline” and how’s its a straight line. Also I think the two have some pretty funny similarities: -both are played by 39 year old, foreign-born, dark-haired actors whose first and last names start with the same letter (Sebastian Stan and Charlie Cox) -both characters signature look is only seeing half of their face (top half and bottom half) -both characters first and last names start with the same letter (Bucky Barnes and Matt Murdock) -both are filled to brim with guilt and blame themselves a lot -both have blonde and generally happy go lucky besties -both actors are literally the complete opposite of their characters Those are just some things I found to be funny, I certainly have a type when it comes to MCU characters! 

Is there anything else you want to tell us about yourself? Let’s see….I’m 22, a Cancer, she/her, I have a bachelors degree in traditional animation and am going to be graduating with my masters in entrepreneurship this spring. I love to draw and I have own an Etsy shop :)

Where can your fanworks be found? https://shelbylerner.tumblr.com/ https://instagram.com/shelby.lerner?r=nametag

Thank you, @shelbylerner​ !

banner by @context-is-for-kingpins !

[ID on a white background, four black triangles that look like spotlights from above. Each illuminates one of the Defenders silhouetted in white: Jessica, Luke, Danny, Matt. A hand on the left is holding a pen writing the words Content Creator Spotlight. There is a little Punisher skull on the pen. End ID]