#i mean i knew they domesticated him but i didn't know they full on stole his t-cog

[transingthoseformers]

Huh, I didn't know the DJD did that

So what happens if you take out someone's t-cog while they're in their altmode

Are

Are they just stuck in their altmode now?

[frevandrest]

why do you think robespierre preferred to live with the duplays over living with his siblings?

That's a question for the ages! My guess is that they privided a more comfortable domestic arrangement to him than Charlotte could. Robespierre was the eldest and always caring for his siblings. Now, suddenly, there is someone to care for him! Not just one person, but a household full of women ready to care for him. That must have been appealing, especially since the person who was supposed to do that (his sister) sounds like... not the best in that regard.

Look. I love Charlotte (probably one of my fav figures from the revolution), but everything we know of her points out that pampering her brother and catering to him was not her forte. That woman clearly had opinions about things and interests beyond domestic stuff (no matter what she tried to pretend in her Memoirs), AND she was a Robespierre, so very eager at voicing her mind. That would mean constant bickering with her brother(s). They bickered even without living together, so imagine if they did.

But Charlotte obviously wanted Robespierre (and Bonbon?) to live with her, because she saw this as her right - to be the one running their household. And it WAS her right as an unmarried sister of bachelors. Duplays were very clearly taking her role away from her. Only unlike Charlotte, I don't think Duplays stole her right - it was what Robespierre chose, and I wonder if Charlotte realized it.

So I don't think that Robespierre refused to live with her; it was more that he didn't want Charlotte to run his household (and she knew and it was killing her, because my girl also had attachment issues, ok?) I feel he would be okay if Charlotte also lived with Duplays, which is something she tried but of course it didn't work and tbh, I am not sure if Robespierre ever understood why (idk if he ever tried, tbh? Sounds like women/domestic drama that he didn't want to go into).

But this is just my guess. I could be very wrong. Maybe it was actually about politics and Robespierre vs Charlotte political disagreements, which would make it mega interesting to me, but not sure if we have any clear sources/indications for it. What we do know is that politically, Duplays were closer to him than Charlotte. So maybe there is something to it, too?

[stray-tori]

"Mastermind" Thoughts

hmm i think this finally broke the "this episode is the new best episode!" streak that S2 has had thus far.

Critic points:

Ice Boy's plan was weird - what would he get from Blitz being executed? He should have ensured Stolas would show up, his original plan made no sense considering his goal? I understand he didn't want Stolas to be there during the testimonies but he should have definitely arranged to have him show up, right???

(more of a question) How does Stella know so much about Stolas?? Why does she know about the book deal, and why does she know they had a fight?? HUH (but ig Verosika knew abt Full Moon too somehow so. WHO KNOWS. maybe Stolas is in all the magazines)

A little bit rushed. Was hoping for things to be subdued a bit before we go back into Stolitz territory, but I trust that this will not magically fix them.

I think this episode would have benefited a lot from having a break between releases with shorts releasing. Even though the shorts we have were kind of ret-conned by Blitz moping around post-apology-tour and apology tour being the next day from full moon so they can't have happened there either; I still think this needed some time to breathe. Some time for Blitz to function again (we do have the hint that he has been functioning) and to show them existing on their own.

I know that Blitz was under stress but Stolas did say "less than legally" irt their deal, so I kind of thought Blitz knew that it was somewhat illegal -- I'm surprised he didn't try to go "Why would I steal the book, I have a crystal bro". This episode feels written as if the crystal didn't exist - they could have used it to escape to the mortal realm, and Blitz could have at least attempted to "hide" the book usage. It's likely that Ozzie has records on when his crystals were officially handed out and it probably would have been refuted, but idk... feels weird that it didn't come up.

Why did they believe the assassin's testimony just like that, come on now.

Also I'm GENUINELY surprised the angelic weapon they got from Striker in S1 didn't come up here. I was like, super convinced they'd show it during the hiding segment or it would come up here as sort of evidence that Blitz was plotting to kill Stolas?

But also why was this needed, wouldn't it have been enough to be like "yeah. i gave him the book, it was illegal" - like why make your crime seem unnecessarily big? This feels more like a plot thread towards pilot Stolas, who was using Blitz to enact power moves on earth, seemingly.

Generally it just feels like there's some missed potential to bring together various plot threads here and it makes me a bit sad. (Maybe I just missed what happened to it)

edit: IMO the easy fix here would be to just have Andrealphus ENSURE that Stolas shows up by sending him a messenger or something of the sort.

If I was to give my own pitch, I think you can still hit a lot of the same plot beats by doing the reverse. Stolas being accused of lending his book out and Blitz trying to take the fall for him by saying he stole it, he forced Stolas, etc. (i.e. trying to STOP him ruining Stolas' life even more than he already has in his eyes) - but ultimately failing and then Stolas gets banished just like in the episode proper.

Loved:

Blitz screaming for Stolas, ugh the DESPAIR!!! My beloved

Stolas being a dramatic lil bitch

IMP found family :((((( Blitz would take the fall for them every time!!!

Domestic/Hurt-Comfort Stolitz despite my gripes is very cute, i can't be too bitter. It still feels weird seeing it happen, because I've seen this a lot in fan-works and I'm simply not used to a work actually being this fanfic-y (and I mean this in the best way possible).

STOLAS SAW THE PICTURES WITH BLITZ' FACE SCRIBBLED, i doubt this season has space for this but PLEASE S3,,,,

And a joke I did during the watch that I thought was funny:

"get ready for a life on the run gang" (Blitz crashes the car)

Me: "Well it's a life on the RUN, not a life on the DRIVE"

[mistwraiths]

3 stars

Ever wants to dance but her parents want her to be a doctor. Her parents also signed her up for a special summer camp in Taiwan. At camp, Ever decides to find herself and break all the rules her parents had. Boys, drinking, and more. But what will she choose when summer ends?

Loveboat, Taipei is a book that I wanted to love but there's too much that pulls me back from it. It's really hard to rate because there are parts I genuinely liked and thought were cute or good. But I also cringed or felt like some things were not so good.

There were several really good topics in this book. Finding yourself and discovering your roots, culture, and where you come from is. Doing things that make you happy and passionate. It talks about racism and the pressure of being a first generation American and feeling like you don't belong. Of parents' expectations and the firsts of life (first love, first kiss, first time, etc). There's touches of mental health and domestic and emotional abuse.

Some of those things were gone over in depth really well. But somethings felt a little flat like the mental health, the domestic and emotional abuse, etc. The writing was a bit cringe too sometimes. Words like "Gah! He's gorgeous" or "Agh!" just made me go: what did I just read. To be honest, the book focuses so much on Ever finding herself and boys, that I think it kind of let's the book down. Because... most of the characters aren't too likable or at least they all seem to do things made me balk. There's also a very messy love square thing going on.

Ever seems to have a bit of a loose moral compass. She seems and acknowledges that she apparently seems to like guys that are with other people. Dan might be an exceptional because she liked him before but he gets with her friend and she's still into him and jealous. She also immediately thinks: "oh I could use Xavier" as the guy to break her first with RIGHT AFTER her best friend Sophie breaks up with him and it's incredibly clear that she still likes him. Sophie isn't a peach but we'll get to that later. She basically uses Xavier for her first time and while I support women claiming their sexuality, it doesn't sit right that she basically does it knowing full well that he has feelings for her and it probably means something to him. And she's just like peace out, we'll only be friends afterwards. She's also always falling down for someone who is supposed to be graceful.

Sophie was a character that I struggled with. The book very clearly wants you to like her a lot, then feel sad for her, mad at her, sad for her again and then forgive her. Sophie knew Ever was checking Xavier out a little in the beginning and literally jumped on that. Not only that but Sophie not only stole something that was basically for Ever, but lied about or essentially purposely mislead about her relationship with Xavier. I do feel sorry for Sophie having family pressuring her to be a good girl, to find a rich boy and get married because she's poor and doesn't want to grow up that way. But that doesn't excuse her behavior. Sophie feeling angry and betrayed at Ever kissing Xavier like right after they broke up is understandable, but what wasn't okay was her distributing all Ever's nudes to everyone and slutshaming her. And then Sophie's alone and then a boy hits her, and Ever forgives her for everything (like kissing a BOY is the same thing 🙄). I just really had a hard time with all that.

Xavier is obsessed with Ever and gives her secret drawings, gifts, etc even though he technically is with Sophie at the time. Rick is all over the place emotionally, and later we understand why with his struggles with his girlfriend. The whole mental health plot is a good one but it does feel a little brushed over too quickly.

When it's good, it's good. I enjoyed Ever's love of dance and choreography. I liked her struggles with not feeling like she belongs and with her identity and future. How she struggled against her parents and with them. The budding romance between Rick and Ever is cute! "With you 1 + 1 equals exponential," is so fucking cute!!!!! I really enjoyed her growth of concerning her and her future, and to speak up.

I just didn't like big chunks in-between or certain characters. The whole almost car accident and her dancing literally with a previous dislocated shoulder that was just put back and an injured ankle was probably the most craziest thing so I guess that says something.

It was still enjoyable but yeah. This book kind of went all over the place with me.