#i think season 1 was my favorite.... it was the most lighthearted and the least complicated and i personally just like the original team

[maibeenot]

Last one about TUA season 4, for now.

(I talked about this in the tags of one of my RBs before but I wanted to elaborate)

I don't like how they keep trying to make Five a badass.

I find it especially frustrating as doing this constantly, bogs down any form of character development we could've had from Five.

For whatever reason, the writers seem to be allergic to acknowledging Five's biggest character flaw, his arrogance. Five always has to be right. He always has to be capable of everything and never needs any help. Despite the fact that Diego also has a very similar flaw (and is punished for it consistently), Five's seems to go completely untouched.

(A part of me thinks that the reason why they punish Diego so much more is because he comes off as the hot-headed impulsive one. While that's true, it certainly doesn't negate Five's ability to make mistakes or be incompetent)

Instead, they keep trying to invent a new flaw for Five in that; he is obsessed with the apocalypse. In reality, he's not obsessed with the apocalypse. He's obsessed with keeping his family safe. It just so happens that their most immediate threat (in his eyes) tends to be the apocalypse. (I really don't understand what they're trying to get at with this, especially considering the fact that he already has an extremely apparent flaw)

While this isn't an issue I take with season 4 specifically, it has definitely amplified this issue like crazy. Five's arrogance is vaguely addressed by his siblings in season 1, but it never seems to get him in trouble? Or at least he doesn't seem to have learned from it (except for the time-travelling thing from when he was 13, and when he bled out also in season 1)

Season 1 (and 2) handled it the best out of the four. Five never seems to ask for or accept help unless backed into a corner (telling Viktor about the apocalypse, asking Klaus to help him get the prosthetic eye). Or if he is literally incoherent or unconscious (him passing out from blood loss, him being drunk and telling Diego and Luther about what's happening).

And outside of that, Five's arrogance still had brutal consequences within this season (him not noticing Viktor's declining mental state because he was so sure about the apocalypse (but this was partially because this man tunnel-visions like crazy)).

(there are probably more instances of this with s1 & 2, i just can't think of them off the top of my head so tag them if you'd like)

Season 4 is extra mean with this. From the 'Five getting to work for the CIA at 19' to 'Five randomly figuring out what's causing the end of the world with a bunch of other Five's' while he was off moping.

And when he does make mistakes, it's not because he's actually not capable of everything and anything.

Noooo, Ben really really sneakily stole the marigold and spiked the sake. Five couldn't have possibly noticed. (and none of the other siblings for that matter)

Noooo, it's because Luther is actually super smart in figuring out that Five's boss is a Keeper (no shade to Luther btw, I like him. They just don't treat this moment as Five being a complete dumbass).

Oh no! Five (and Lila) can't figure out a way back from the metro! Never mind, another Five managed it.

Five being a homewrecker? That's him being an asshole, not incompetent so it doesn't count (lighthearted).

Five's arrogance one of his defining flaws, yet it's not really challenged. The fact that he gets away with a lot of bullshit is simply because he can! When he doesn't face failure, he doesn't find growth. He doesn't learn to stop being self-destructive just because he thinks he can do anything. He doesn't learn to reach out.

This stunt in growth is obviously not only present in Five but also everyone else. I just find his to be particularly grating since he's my favorite.

Feel free to add your thoughts to this, not just about Five's fucked up character growth but everyone else's too!

(I'll make long a ass post/video essay going into detail about all of them one of these days)

I'd love to read them :)

[ace-reviews]

Fall 2024 First Impressions Digest Part 1

I've been streaming a lot more often on my YouTube channel (which you should go subscribe to and watch and like all my vods and leave comments I won't read) so I don't have the time or energy to watch everything this season, so here's my one-to-two sentence impressions of the stuff I did watch.

Tying the Knot With An Amagami Sister: I dropped this one about 10 minutes in. It was boring.

Acro Trip: it's like if Gushing Over Magical Girls was a bit more genteel in its horniness. It's very cute and funny. Definitely recommend checking it out, especially if you like magical girl stuff.

'i learned all about it playing critically acclaimed mmorpg final fantasy xiv'

Uzumaki: It's about as good a Junji Ito adaptation as we're ever likely to get, which sounds like damning with faint praise but I did enjoy it.

How I Attended An All-Guys Mixer: Fellas, is it gay to think a drag king is hot? In any case, the title is a lie: it wasn't an all guys mixer; it was 3 guys and 3 women in drag whom we are meant to presume are cis but I'm pretty sure Suoh at least is a trans guy, since he presumably arranged the thing so his 'oh we didn't have time to change after work' excuse doesn't fly. Either way, it's a pretty cute show but doesn't seem to be licensed for streaming by any Official Sources it's on Hulu.

KINOKOINU: Why is the anime about the fucking pink mushroom that turns into a goddamn bipedal dog that sets shit on fire so fucking dour? If you want to watch an anime about a depressed, orphaned author in his 20's who lives in a Japanese-style house and has a nosy blond editor, whose life and mental health start to improve after meeting a cute critter, just watch My Roommate Is A Cat instead.

they played this moment 100% seriously. how the fuck do you play a moment like this 100% seriously

NegiPosi Angler: This anime starts with an suicide attempt and ends with the protagonist's home being destroyed and it's still a hell of a lot more fun and lighthearted than goddamn KINOKOINU.

DANDADAN: I'm already familiar with this one since I've been getting caught up on the manga. You probably don't need me to tell you it's good, though, since it's the most hyped anime this season.

365 Days to the Wedding: I read this manga while it was running because it's by the same guy as The World God Only Knows, which is one of my favorite manga of all time. It's a cute little romance between two very autistic people, both of whom are working adults and not teenagers. I like Dandadan but this was my most hyped anime this season. Check it out.

[readingbythestreetlights]

mattdrai fic recs - masterlist

always check the warnings and tags for yourself before reading!! i will probably update this whenever i find a new mattdrai fic i really really enjoy, so be on the lookout if you’re interested!!

by request of @keyshui @whirlpool-blogs & @capsvsducks

medium-to-long fics (in no particular order):

1. slip under the tongue into translation by lighthousetowers ~ 32.2k words ~ mature: the quintessential mattdrai fic, at least in my mind. the vibes are wonderful, the chemistry is palpable, matthew learns german.

2. gather your broken lessons and move by rumandwhine ~ 30.4k words ~ explicit: cathartic, set in the 2028-2029 season, mattdrai figures some stuff out, davo does some best-friending.

3. comment for engagement by RippingOffZeppelin ~ 27.9k words ~ mature: matthew makes a youtube channel for PR purposes. a fic i had so so much fun reading. pretty lighthearted.

4. head above water by yourblues ~ 91.1k words ~ explicit: as far as i’m concerned, this is canon. this fic will make you feel every emotion. the slow burn and enemies to lovers hits hard. by far one of my favorites on this list. it’s a necessary read for any mattdrai fan, and i’ve personally reread it countless times. iconic quotes, iconic story, iconic scenes. i want this story to be engraved on my headstone when i die. also make sure to check out the author’s playlist on spotify after— it’s wonderful.

5. Growing Into Someone by blaahaj ~ 46.4k words ~ explicit: matthew goes to germany during the lockout… leon’s already there. these two figuring out their stuff in a foreign country *chef’s kiss*— a truly fantastic fic that i adore. the slow burn slow burns for sure.

6. Muscle Memory by blaahaj ~ 21.9k words ~ mature: i don’t even like most amnesia fics, but i love this one. memory loss on matthew’s side. this view of mattdrai is so cool while they learn to love each other again.

7. but please (don’t) bite by orphan_account ~ 52.7k words ~ mature: an alternate reality where leon and matthew were unprotected and thus drafted by the kraken. the slow burn sure slow burns (if i remember correctly). also features some cool cameos by one of the lomls: the wonderful braden holtby.

8. Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M. by irrelevanttous ~ 11.9k words ~ mature: leon slips up and tells matthew he loves him. matthew does some thinking. cool take on how they got together.

9. The Day Leon Draisaitl Swore Never To Buy Another Apple Product Again by irrelevanttous ~ 9.3k words ~ explicit: mattdrai figuring their crap out kinda, lotsa spice. smexy with a plot??

10. the kids are alright by lighthousetowers ~ 55.8k words ~ mature: matthew is a preschool teacher, leon’s still an oiler, a meet-cute and adorable romance ensue! the characterization is so cool, as it dives deeper in than just “matthew’s a nuisance, leon’s serious and slightly moody” and shows the two of them in a relatively new light. an amazing and enjoyable read!! plus, this is one of my favorite authors!!

shorter fics (in no particular order):

1. i got a bad idea by canoodles ~ 5.5k words ~ explicit: from the 2020 all-star game onwards. as the author put it: leon accidentally fucks himself into a relationship with the enemy. those early mattdrai vibes when they were both still in alberta.

2. A Reunion, a Beginning, and the Thief of Awkward Silences by puckedup ~ 3.3k words ~ mature: leon misses matthew being in alberta. they play each other in florida and things happen. some chirping (flirting???) (it’s hard to tell with these two) and overall a fun story.

3. sweet like honey by indydriver ~ 3.6k words ~ teen and up: chirping, flirting, and the gray area that exists between those two things. fun and lighthearted.

4. retrograde by ohtempora ~ 1.5k words ~ mature: leon’s first time in matthew’s florida house. matthew is learning to adjust sorta kinda. the author describes it perfectly in their author’s note, about how florida’s weird vibes transferred to the fic itself. it’s so wonderfully written with a super consistent tone and a really interesting view into matthew transitioning from calgary to florida.

5. found arms to fall right into by orphan_account ~ 6.3k words ~ mature: just super fun, matthew and leon are sort of fake maybe-dating??? this fic also has perfect amounts of brady and davo. a really enjoyable story that i really really recommend.

6. Hourglass Theory by puckedup ~ 1.3k words ~ not rated: fluffy, soft, soft boys. aftermath of mitchy and chucky’s lil brawl and pietrangelo’s slash on leon.

7. Emergency Contact by blaahaj ~ 1.8k words ~ teen and up: funnyyyy, quick chick flick, just a fun little mattdrai moment, established mattdrai.

8. Privileged Information by blaahaj ~ 3k words ~ teen and up: sequel to Growing Into Someone. fun fluff and an enjoyable little snippet/add-on to the series.

9. what my heart just yearns to say by puckthisshift ~ 6.3k words ~ mature: as the author aptly puts it: idiots to lovers. matthew understands some german dirty talk, shenanigans ensue. a super fun, quick read.

10. cut by daisysusan ~ 2k words ~ teen and up: established relationship, the writing style is SO GOOD, matthew and leon’s chemistry is tangible, alternate 2023 playoffs, the two are just adorable with each other.

11. In Which Leon Recognizes Tkachuk in a Dick Pic and Has Some Explaining to Do (But Only to Himself) by irrelevanttous ~ 8.1k words ~ mature: oilers shenanigans, jealous drat, realizations, davo being the best bff, a fun fic.

12. Should’ve Given You a Reason to Stay by scruffylou ~ 1k words ~ not rated: super short, a bit emotional, aftermath of matthew signing with the cats.

13. portions for foxes by wheelsnipecellysboys ~ 5.2k words ~ explicit: the chemistry is so well-written— i love the two of them in this story. sexy times and also emotions. matthew in florida and the 2023 asg.

14. break the news (you’re walking out) by kiwilies ~ 1.5k words ~ teen and up: such a captivating writing style. perfectly showcases the tension of moving from a location you’ve known for years to somewhere brand new. such an interesting dynamic between leon and matthew, while at a bit more than 1k words, doesn’t dive extremely deep into their relationship. very enjoyable fic that has a lot of artistry implemented by the author. so so cool.

[justablah56]

Dndads?

DNDADS !!!! I'm assuming you're asking me like . what it is n shit . if not . my b . bcs I am about to give you as big of an infodump as I can without spoiling anything lmao .

anyways hello my dear follower , my beloved dungeons and daddies (not a bdsm podcast) is my favorite thing ever <3 it's usually very loosely a dnd podcast , season three tho switches into the call of cthulhu system .

season one is 69 (nice) episodes about four normal world dads and their sons who all get sucked into faerun , a dnd world basically , through a portal while trying to go to their kids soccer game lmao . they end up losing their kids and basically the whole season is them trying to find their kids and then trying to find a way back home with tons of little side quests and detours that they take along the way . most of it is super comedic and lighthearted and it's also just fucking insane sometimes but it also has a lot of super compelling emotional moments and iughencmd it's so good oh my god .

season two is a continuation of the world created in season one , but now the players are playing as the teenaged grandchildren of their original dad characters , and it's heavily influenced by season one so you can't really listen to it on its own . season two is 50 smthin episodes of these teens basically trying to clean up the world after the things that their parents (aka , the kids from season one , aka , the kiddads) and their grandparents did between seasons to try and fix things and kinda ended up making everything worse cbnsndnsnd and it kinda starts off with the kiddads all going missing and suddenly these teenagers are supposed to be in charge of everything the kiddads were originally doing to fix everything . season two is I think a bit less comedic than season 1 , but it does have like . twice as many of those absolutely fucking insane moments lmao , and it does still have a lot of cool emotional moments and ougjfj it's all so good .

a lot of what I post abt usually has to do with this sort of untold season that happened between seasons with the kiddads . a lot of people are very attached to the kiddads , and to me a lot of it is bcs these are the characters we've known for the longest and we've seen them as kids and we see how the events of the first seasons shaped them into the adults they are in season two and man . it's just so cool . season two gives us a lot of small hints to stuff that happened between seasons , and we get a few flashbacks , but there's a lot of stuff that we don't know , and there's so much speculation abt how things happened and it's a very fun sandbox to play in chwndnsnmxx anyways .

season three started just a bit ago , there's 3 episodes so far . they switched who was the dm and so it's a new universe with no relation to the first two seasons , and could pretty easily be listened to on its own . season three is set at some point in the 1950s , and the four characters don't really have like . a solid thing they can all be described as . there's like . a teacher and a weird wife and a car salesman and a teenager . they're great . but it's these four characters who are all in a bowling league together and they're kinda figuring out that hey weird stuff is happening around here and there's monsters and just a ton of stuff and so far it is absolutely hilarious , I love it dearly <3 every character is just . fucking insane . and the dynamic is great , it's just awesome and I personally am having a blast with it so far

ok anyways . thats dndads lmao . if theres anything more specific you want to know literally pleaaaaase ask me and I will be soooooo excited to tell you cndnmxmdmd I'm completely and utterly obsessed with this podcast , I've listened to it . so many times . I will talk about it any chance I get , it's just great . I love it . and that's not even to mention the wonderful community here on Tumblr !!!! it's a relatively small fandom , so for the most part everyone at least recognizes everyone else , and everyone is just so awesome , ive made so many friends through this fandom , its great

[forgottentothefog]

The S2 Finale WAS 'Cruel' (We are not overreacting)

I've been seeing a lot of people be called 'sensitive' or 'unable to handle fictional character deaths' because they were upset about Izzy's death, and might have called it a betrayal, or mean, or cruel when they were really emotional. And first of all, people are allowed to be genuinely sad at fictional characters deaths, and they are allowed to complain about them if they feel they weren't done right.

But here's the thing— Izzy's death WAS cruel, it WAS a mean thing to do to the viewers, and anyone who feels betrayed by Izzy's death has both a right and a reason to feel that way.

Now before you roll your eyes at me for being overdramatic, please just hear me out for a second. I won't bite, I promise.

OFMD is generally classified as a rom-com, the producers and cast themselves have said that it is a rom-com, season 1 certainly met all of the requirements for a rom-com, and the majority of viewers believed that they were signing up to get invested in a rom-com!

Sure, there were some scenes in season 1 that were dark (the toe-eating scene comes to mind), but they were levied by the goofy, fun characters and a ridiculous amount of plot armor. Overall, season 1 was a silly, lighthearted queer rom-com with a few dramatic/emotional scenes sprinkled in to add a bit of weight.

Many of the viewers who allowed themselves to get invested in the show's characters and relationships did so because it WAS, primarily, a comedy, and expected a season 2 containing more of the same. Many of the viewers (especially me), only allowed themselves to become to emotionally invested in the show because it was a comedy, and with that comes the comfort of knowing that your favorite characters will get to stay alive and ultimately have a happy (or at least neutral) ending.

People who want to see their favorite characters die tragically, who want sad endings, are not the target audience of rom-coms. People who want to become emotionally devastated when their favorite character dies are not the target audiences of rom-coms. People who specifically want to avoid these things, for whatever reasons they have, watch rom-coms because rom-coms are not supposed to contain these elements.

OFMD, intentionally or not, mislead its viewers into thinking that their favorite characters, their comfort characters, would be safe in the end, even if they lost a limb or two getting there.

Major Character Death has its own warning on ao3 for a reason. There are many people who just cannot take that emotional blow, or do not want to take it.

I understand that many of you are okay with these tropes, but I would like you to consider that there are some people who aren't, and these people thought that OFMD, advertised by fans and cast alike as a comforting queer joy rom-com, would be a safe place for them to get emotionally invested in characters without incurring surprise emotional damages.

Izzy Hands is not one of the two main characters, but he is an important supporting character that had a significant role in season 1, and even more so in season 2. There were many people that loved this character, that were emotionally invested in him, that saw him as a comfort character, and expected him to be okay in the end because OFMD is supposed to be a COMEDY!

And now these people are having to deal with the unexpected death of one of their favorite characters in a genre that is not supposed to kill off its main cast.

I allowed myself to become emotionally invested in Izzy because I thought that it would be safe for me to do so. If I wanted my favorite character to die tragically, I would be watching a drama/tragedy. I watch almost exclusively comedies for a reason, and that reason is that I am very bad at handling sad endings, and I do not want to get invested in media that will give a tragic ending to one of its most beloved characters.

So yes, people are right to be angry at Izzy's death, and killing him off was a cruel thing to do to an audience that was expecting a funny comfort show.

[itsasweater]

HSMTMTS thoughts before season 4

So I recently finished my re-watch of season 1 through 3 before the final season airs so that things are fresh in my memory. I wanted to make a couple of posts on my thoughts on the seasons in general and possibly some specific topics like the characters themselves. This one will be about each season.

Season 1:

I hadn't seen this season since when it originally aired and let me just say, it was kind of a grind to watch. I feel like the season didn't really start until the Homecoming episode which was ep 5. I also forgot this season had 10 episodes. The whole Nini/Ricky/EJ triangle storyline didn't really hit for me. Ricky's home problems with his parents, everything changing around him (which he clearly hates) and how he dealt with that was probably the best storyline of the season, as sad as it was to see his character go through it. The music in the season was decent, Nini had some really good. I think a lot of nostalgia comes in to play with the way people talk about season 1, it is overhyped. I also think a lot of it has to do with the very weird Jolivia obsession that still to this day for some reason resides in the fandom, I see the PFP's and twitter user names smh. Overall, new shows tend to struggle out of the gate and need a while to find the right path so I'm at least glad that they got more seasons to continue that journey instead of being cancelled like many shows do without getting the chance to do so. It certainly seems like they were not sure whether they would get renewed or not after season 1.

Season 2:

It really is a shame that this season has the most episodes because I feel like it is definitely the weakest season. It was a struggle to get through this season on the re-watch. I appreciate what the cast and crew went through while filming this season though because I know they started filming in Feb 2020 and stopped in March because of the pandemic and had to return towards the end of 2020 until March of the next year with under strict conditions. So, maybe the pandemic played a role in the quality of the season but I feel like this was even the casts least favorite season with the way they talked about it. Nini's YAC storyline felt out of place and just didn't keep me engaged, the lighting for this season was also very dark lol. I do think this season did a nice job of continuing to show Ricky's struggle with his home life from season 1 and the fact that things were still changing in his life which the show continues to mention just how much he hates that. Ashlyn getting the leading role as Belle was nice and her dealing with her insecurities about that was good. The season Finale fell flat though, it seemed rushed and I think it was ranked as the worst episode in the whole series. This season did however have 2 of my favorite songs of the whole show, the trio of Kourtney, Gina and Ashlyn coming together to sing 1-2-3 was great. The 4 main characters (Nini, Gina, EJ and Ricky) singing Second Chance was so good, they meshed well together.

Season 3:

This season is probably my favorite. I know some people in the fandom don't feel the same about the season because it felt different from the first 2 but I think that is a good thing. Sometimes shows need a change of pace and they did that with this season. Making it a summer season out of school at a camp was something different and the show had a different tone because of it. It was definitely more lighthearted compared to season 2 and the cast seemed to have had great time filming together. Also going from filming in Utah to filming in LA was probably a nice change for the actors since most of them are based in LA. I know the whole documentary storyline thing was an adjustment for people but they clearly had a plan for it to be a springboard for the plot in season 4 and connect them together. Besides that, Kourtney's anxiety storyline was a highlight for me as I'm sure lots of people could relate to her, the phone call with her mom was great and I'm interested to see if they touch on this more in season 4. Some of the disappointment in the season comes from favorite characters not being in it like Seb and Big Red which is understandable but it's also realistic that not everyone in the group would go to the same camp in the summer, when people usually have different plans. Also, the show clearly felt like they weren't as important to tell the story in season 3 which was used too set up season 4. It was nice that Big Red, Seb and Miss Jenn did make cameo's though, with how big the cast is and the length of the episodes that are not that long it's hard to fit everyone in with meaningful storylines. The additions of Maddox and Jet this season were probably the best new characters that the show has added during the 3 seasons, the actors playing them are great as well and seem to have really bonded with the cast which is really nice to see. WDYKAL was probably my favorite performance of the season, it was very non Disney like lol The tension and chemistry was kind of crazy lol I feel like they could have shown more of the Frozen performance but Kourtney playing Elsa was also a great moment in the season. I'm really excited for season 4 because they seem to be going with a really META storyline for the season and I'm excited too see how the documentary from season 3 has affected the characters.

Anyways, this turned out longer than I intended it too but these are my thoughts on each of the 3 seasons after my re-watch, I will probably make a couple more posts on singular topics like the characters or the ships later. I'm always up for discussions, so if you have anything you want to say please do. I know this place can get out of hand when discussing this show within the fandom but I have thicker skin than most and I don't mind having a discussion but I also understand I'm not the norm lol

If you have read all of this, thank you. If you at least read the title of the post, thank you. Even though you will not see the thank you lol

[comicaurora]

I've recently finished Leverage and Leverage redemption and am in the process of casually rewatching it. (Thanks for introducing me to FMAB and ATLA too btw) I just want to ask you a few questions about it, like: What are your favorite things about each character? What are your favorite things about each relationship. What are your favorite things about the group? How do you feel about the sequel? How do feel about the romance in the show? What are your favorite running jokes? Thank you

hoohoohoo, it's like an essay prompt but about something I actually like

What are your favorite things about each character?

Nate: to be honest, kind of a hard sell - definitely the protagonist I like the least, intentionally so. That said, when they're dealing with a really hateful bad guy it's always fun to see Nate turn all his asshole powers against them and get really smug about it

Sophie: extremely insightful! fun to see it weaponized, extra fun to see her very gently use it to try and help the rest of the team live their best lives, especially Parker

Parker: oh how easily Parker could have been an Obliviously Sexy Unhinged Harley Quinn type, and instead we got the first thoughtfully written explicitly neurodivergent female character I've ever seen. Never infantilized despite it being a frequent plot point that the others help her through her difficulty in social settings and with processing loss. Full-fledged character in her own right, grows and becomes more comfortable without ever having her neurodivergence "fixed". she's a great character and I find her writing refreshingly free of red flags or "oof" moments. love that she's good with kids and teaches them Crime in the first ten minutes of hanging out

Hardison: literally the only normal person in this group and I say this as a compliment. everyone else is at least kind of a james-bond-style superspy with borderline preternatural abilities but hardison is the only character I trust to order a coffee without making a scene. unconditionally the emotional heart of the group and the only character able to openly admit that he likes the other characters, which is vital in a group of Edgy Loner Crime-Boys.

Eliot: joke answer, the hair. real answer, I love any character who turns themself into a weapon and stoically accepts that they'll never be anything else again. "Incredibly simple, but in the same way that a sword is simple." Adds a beautiful substrate of angst to all of his funny or lighthearted moments, as underlying it is a character who concluded long ago that he's irredeemable, and because he thus considers himself entirely disposable and even irrelevant is now determined to spend the rest of his life making the world a better place. Also, one of the only Edgy Badass Lancer types who is incredibly overt about how much he likes and cares about his teammates and never even jokes about "bah I'm better off on my own I was just passing through etc etc."

Harry: just an absolute wet noodle of a man. Love that he's taken Hardison's role of "only normal human being"

Breanna: absolutely love how bad she is at the social grifting side of things, because that is 100% accurate to every tech person I know

What are your favorite things about each relationship?

There's a lot of relationships and I'm not about to highlight all 10 OG pairings plus the 9 new pairings added by Harry and Breanna, so instead I'll just highlight my absolute favorite underrated one, which is Parker and Eliot. They have this odd synergy where they're both by far the most physically dangerous people in the group and also the most scarred by a country mile, and they have this kind of unspoken camraderie about it that only gets overtly highlighted in Season 4 Episode 1, "The Long Way Down Job." Everyone else in the group is a person, they seem to think; people they want to protect. But the two of them are tools and weapons, and that means they can do the things that people can't. Also within this synergy there's a good foiling dynamic where Eliot has basically seen it all and come to terms with everything under the sun, while Parker is comparatively extremely hyperfocused and rather sheltered and is constantly grappling with new situations. Underrated dynamic.

What are your favorite things about the group?

They just hang out sometimes! It feels like they keep existing when the camera's off them. Valuable screentime is spent on them just chilling and chatting, getting dinner together and bringing up more wacky offscreen hijinks. A story that's relentlessly All Action And Disrupted Status Quo All The Time starts tuning you out after a while, but it's the slow, peaceful moments that make us invested in their success and in them being able to help the innocent-victims-of-the-week.

How do you feel about the sequel?

Loved the first season, tentatively optimistic about the rest of it - I've been burned before so I'm taking it slow.

How do you feel about the romance in the show?

Parker and Hardison's thing is cute and compelling! Big fan of how it doesn't override the other dynamics and isn't treated as intrinsically more important than the rest of the gang's relationships. Nate and Sophie's thing feels a little more plot-mandated and tbh Nate is kind of an unlikable fuckhead so I'm not sure why Sophie was so hung up, but it wasn't too disruptive and it was always very funny seeing them play a dysfunctional couple on a grift

What are your favorite running jokes?

"Dammit Hardison." Parker pushing people off of things. Someone asking Eliot if he knows about some niche thing or random bad guy and then it flashes back to him getting waterboarded in Area 51 or whatever and it cuts back to him mildly going "yea". Wil Wheaton is in this show and everybody hates him. "It's a very distinctive [thing]." Harry, walking befuddled sunshine man, being like "yes I know all the inner workings of this specific niche evil lawyer thing, I was a bad guy remember?" to this group of expert crime boys and somehow surprising them every time

[maya-matlin]

Okay, so I had to send you a third (fourth?!) Degrassi ask today despite promising I'd limit myself to one...yes, I'm hopelessly addicted to both the show and your thoughts on it :) How would you rank all of Clare's canon romantic ships from your personal favorite to least favorite? Same questions for Maya and for Emma! (The 'protagonist/final girl' Degrassi types tend to have every male character into them at some point or other lol, so you'll have a lot of choices when ranking ships for Emma and Clare!) I love you for sending me asks and will answer when and if I can formulate a coherent thought!

Clare Edwards: (Fair warning, I'm going to disappoint you with my answer):

1.) Clare/Drew (In all honesty, I don't think any of Clare's romances were completely right. But I genuinely think Drew came the closest to being what Clare needed. Clare is a very serious person who can easily get lost in romanticism and logic without allowing herself to take a breath and just enjoy the moment. Everything always had to be "all or nothing". But with Drew, things could be fun and lighthearted and just.. normal without needing to be some "epic love" or larger than life thing. I loved the close friendship that developed between them and the opposites attract dynamic. It really sucks that they were robbed of having a real relationship and that her baby wasn't his. If nothing else, they would have made healthy co-parents)

2.) Clare/Jake (Controversial choice, I know. It's not the best relationship or even the one with the most depth, but this is another relationship where everything didn't need to be so serious all the time. Obviously, they weren't compatible and could have never lasted due to wanting different things for a relationship. That's before you factor in that their relationship ended for good because their parents got married and it was really awkward)

3.) Clare/KC (It's the nostalgia. They were very sweet in season 8. I hoped for an embarrassingly long time that the two of them would get back together, up until season 12 when KC unexpectedly left the show. In hindsight, their chemistry wasn't the strongest and KC wasn't anywhere near ready to have a real relationship during his time on the show. But I preferred KC for Clare over the next guy)

4.) Clare/Eli (I'm so sorry. I genuinely think Eli was one of the worst things to ever happen to Clare. Their relationship had both extreme highs and lows but at the end of the day, I think Clare put up with a lot of disrespect and maliciousness from her self-imposed soulmate. I realize that early on, a lot of Eli's behavior could be attributed to his undiagnosed bipolar disorder and continued grief over his first girlfriend. But then, this behavior continued for the rest of his time on the show. When things went badly for Eli or Clare did something he didn't like, she suffered the brunt of his worst behavior. Coldly calling Clare a whore for sleeping with Drew while she was single was the last straw. I'm happy you were able to enjoy them. It would have been a lot easier for me if I felt the same way. Clare had grown so much over the years, yet her spine wasn't strong enough to realize her worth.

Maya Matlin:

1.) Maya/Zig (I can't be objective about these two. They're my all time favorite couple in any work of fiction. I loved their development and what they brought out in each other, for better or worse. Easily the best slow burn or friends to lovers arc ever attempted on Degrassi)

2.) Maya/Cam

3.) Maya/Miles

Emma Nelson:

1.) Emma/Sean (Honestly, most of Emma's relationships are either terrible or forgettable. Even though I believe Emma and Sean were incompatible in the long run, they were really cute in the early years. I'd like them even more if they hadn't gotten back together in season 6)

2.) Emma/Spinner (They had cute moments and would have worked way better had their romance not been shoehorned in at the literal last minute. Unfortunately, choosing to have them get married and declare their eternal love all in one movie turned most fans off)

3.) Emma/Chris (I thought this worked really well as a rebound romance, but it was never going to last. I also hated the slut shaming after Emma's fling with Jay)

4.) Emma/Kelly (Inoffensive, but mostly unnecessary. Liberty was right there and had been single since JT, yet they felt Emma needed another love interest)

5.) Emma/Damian (See above, but even worse. That guy clearly saw Emma, Manny and Liberty as interchangeable. No one asked for this)

6.) Emma/Peter (Emma compromised her morals and threw away her loyalty to Manny because she thought Peter was cute and felt more empathy over his tiny bedroom than Manny's revenge porn floating around the internet directly because of Peter, who took advantage of and attempted to blackmail Manny into a date)

You're welcome, by the way! I'm still trying to answer your last ask. I'm not ignoring it. I just need more time to get my thoughts together.

[matchamenace]

I posted 880 times in 2022

That's 880 more posts than 2021!

38 posts created (4%)

842 posts reblogged (96%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@bcyoureallthatmakessense

@dxncingwithastrxnger

@electricwalkman

@theamiableanachronism

@1980s-jean-ralphio

I tagged 648 of my posts in 2022

Only 26% of my posts had no tags

#fave - 71 posts

#fanart - 34 posts

#lovely mutuals - 31 posts

#matchamenace - 29 posts

#halloween - 26 posts

#matcha blogs! - 22 posts

#shane madej - 19 posts

#fall - 18 posts

#spooky season - 18 posts

#matcha asks! - 18 posts

Longest Tag: 138 characters

#everytime i think about him i get the weirdest mixture of joy and sadness and i just wanna curl up in a ball and cry and/or possibly vomit

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Who is your stranger things tumblr bestie :)

Oh man I don't have just one bestie, but the peeps I'm closest to are probably:

@dxncingwithastrxnger

@bcyoureallthatmakessense

@claire-de-lune

@purpleangelsele

Of course there's plenty of other blogs I adore that I just haven't interacted with as much, but perhaps one day that'll change 😌

7 notes - Posted November 26, 2022

#4

Got covid booster #2 this morning. Already starting to feel cruddy. 😭

8 notes - Posted November 14, 2022

#3

MY DARK DASH IS BACK

OH THANK GOD- MINE TOO 😭 I don't know how I ever tolerated light mode in the past ahaksks

8 notes - Posted November 16, 2022

#2

Fuck, Marry, Kill

Hopper

Murray

Steve

🥰😌

OH FUCK WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME CLAIRE??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

AHSHSJDJDJDK OKAY!! Kill Murray for sure (he's one of my least favorites, sorry not sorry 🙈) Fuck Hopper 😜, Marry Steve 😘

Ok this actually wasn't hard at all lmao. Just very telling... 👀

11 notes - Posted October 25, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Who are some of your favorite Mileven blogs and why? Let’s spread some positivity and smiles on this fine Friday🌻🐛🌼 then tag 3 other blogs to keep the smiles going.

Oh goodness!! Let's see here agsjsksksk

@dxncingwithastrxnger ABSOLUTE KING 👑🔥🔥🔥 Nothing but good vibes and the fluffiest fics and headcanons you'll ever read!! 🙌 They put SO much thought and care into their posts and are just such a pleasure to interact with 😋💕 Honestly my go-to if I'm looking for lighthearted, feel-good content. (ILY ALEX!!!!!!!! 👋)

@purpleangelsele ACTUAL CINNAMON ROLL ✨ (Sweet with a hint of spice 😎👉👉) Probably one of the friendliest people I've met online lol! Doesn't matter what I post, I can always count on Sel to give me some sort of engagement and I fkin love it!! 🤣 As for their content it's mostly fun and cute headcanons, but they definitely don't shy away from the occasional hot take or petty post 😌 Tons of personality. Great sense of humor. LOVE THEM!!! 💜💜💜

@mikes-pineapple-pizza Incredibly articulate and astute observations!! 🙌✨ Has a knack for breaking down a variety of ST topics (including, but not limited to Mileven) in a way that's intelligent, but also very chill and unpretentious. Idk. Their content just really speaks to me and I think they're super cool. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Fr tho, this person could make a podcast just analyzing anything in the show and I would EAT IT UP!!!! 🔥🔥🔥

@claire-de-lune Ah man the duality of Claire.... 🤣🤣🤣 Deliciously petty, but simultaneously has some of the sweetest and unique headcanons to offer! 🥰 A VERY passionate Mileven defender who won't take shit from nobody, but an absolute delight to have on your side 😜💕

@lenorahills @fricchead @rllybritrlly @pumpkingface BITCHIN' ARTISTS!!! Each have such cute and unique illustration styles, and it's ridiculous how excited I get everytime they post new content asksksk 🙈💕 As an artist myself, I could not recommend them more 🙌

Anyway I think I'm gonna end descriptions here, but here's some other Mileven blogs I adore:

@truessences @teafiend @flamingfalcon3 @bcyoureallthatmakessense @pjo-fan17 @elsmike @crisperia @reganx2 @mikewheely

It definitely doesn't end there, but I'm feeling lazy today, so I sincerely apologize to anyone I might've excluded! I still love and appreciate you all!!! 😘

25 notes - Posted October 15, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[lunareyes-shifts]

Part 1: My DR

this one is the owl house!

I've changed a solid bit of the plot, but the biggest change is gonna be me having titan powers and the collector sticking around! least for a few years

I'm super excited for my first day!!! Such a rabble will be roused. Exploring the Boiling Isles and hanging out with Eda and King.

I imagine it as kind of a cozy halloween thing, where it is definitely creepy sometimes, but it can be a lighthearted creepy.

My absolute favorite place in my dr has got to be the owl house itself. Hooty, Eda, King, Luz, right there near the beach? What's not to love?

After our follies at the coven day parade, I trip over my cape. Eda notices me struggling once we’re home and starts teasing me about not looking cool when I'm tripping over myself, and i say that it's a mom's whole m. o. to think their kid looks cool no matter what. Mini panic, freeze after realizing I called her mom, and I take off my cape. age old “Uh, hah, nevermind!” and I hide away upstairs

Next day, I head downstairs, there’s a sweater on the table made of the witch’s wool. There’s a note Eda left me on top that says 'what’s an m. o.?' and it’s my look for the next couple of seasons

Since I won't be comin' back, my safe word is "waiterium", so I'll just head back to my waiting room.

Part 2: My DR-self

Tyde Amantestrello (Clawthorne-Deamonne-Noceda-Whispers)

hehehe art dump soon for dr looks

My voice is Steven Universe's, from SU future!

I end up mutated and can do magic both with typical witch casting and titan magic.

Part 3: My shifting journey

Gosh, how did I find out about shifting? I don't quite remember, but I think it's because I crossed paths through astral projection's subreddit.

My first shifting attempt is one of my closest on records. My script was pretty bare, but I did no method. Recited four different affirmations, and I started smelling humidity, which is one of the signs I scripted. I felt wind, and I opened my eyes too soon. this close.

Something that gives me motivation to shift is the idea of my best friends and my lovers. Spending time with people to learn more about them is amazing in my head, 'cus yippee for connection! So headcanons and pieces of fanfiction that delve more into characters get me super excited, all stimmy and such.

One piece of advice I'd give shifters is to give robotic affirmations a go. Personally, I've felt the most confident in shifting when I started telling myself that shifting is so easy, I'm a master shifter, to the point of catching myself whenever I think anything but.

A challenge for Reality Shifters!

Reblog this post & answer these questions, you can totally skip whichever ones you want, this is just because I like hearing about other people's DRs .:)

Part 1: Your DR

What is your DR? Is it a TV show, a movie, a book, or maybe an original situation?

If your DR is based on pre-existing media, did you change anything, or did you add any details?

What are you most excited to do when you shift there?

How would you describe your DR's aesthetic?

What is your favorite place in your DR?

If you scripted scenarios, which one is your favorite?

What is your safe word/action?

Part 2: Your DR-self

What is your name in your DR?

Who are you in your DR? What are your defining traits?

What do you look like in your DR?

What do you sound like in your DR?

What's an interesting fact about your DR-self?

Part 3: Your shifting journey

How did you first find out about shifting?

What was your first shifting attempt like?

If you've shifted in the past, what was your favorite part of your DR?

If you like to use online meditations, which are your favorites?

If you like to use online subliminals, which are your favorites?

What is your favorite shifting method?

What is something that gives you motivation to shift?

What is one piece of advice you would give to other shifters?

the end :)

[swallowtail-ageha]

Do you have favorite anime shows?

Yes! I used to be super into anime a few years ago, but now my interest and attention span has kinda dwindled so i'm not exactly up to date to the new hot animes (i do plan however on starting both Frieren and Dungeon Meshi)

If i have to make a list of my favourite animes, those would be (putting them not in a [most favourite-least favourite] order)

1- Shingeki no Kyojin. Hooly shit i think it was the first anime i seriously watched. The SnK manga was also the first one i ever purchased at like ~11. I just have so many good memories related to that manga

2- DOROHEDORO. God i. I think that animanga was tailor-made for me. It is extremely gorey, but also in a non edgy way. The tone is very lighthearted and the entirety of it's cast has it's spotlight. Also the character design is top notch and the ost makes me go insane

3- Tokyo Ghoul! Another childhood classic of mine (but that's more the manga than the anime) again i have so many memories about it including me doing my ghoul sona again at age 11/12. Good times

4- Pluto! I have never ever watched Astroboy in my entire life BUT i was also a huge fan of Urasawa's 20th Century Boys and Billy Bat so i decided to read it and when the anime adaptation came out i was "oh. They couldn't make it more perfect". Seriously tho, the animation, the story, the characters, the critique of the gulf war (since it was first released in the middle of it)... it couldn't be more perfect. Also Atom looks like my cousin so he's my special little boy

5- Shinsekai Yori. This is a weird one. I don't think that like. I'd actually recomend it to someone else. It's extremely slow paced and the whole subject matter is heavy. It's a dystopian novel-turned anime and i think that the pacing does get affected negatively by this. But if you're in for an heavy watch. Watch it. Please. The finale is one of the most poignant finales i've ever seen in an anime and i still think about it years later

5- Akira! While again this is one of those adaptations where the story had to be cut due to the rest of the manga still not being written, it holds up extremely well. Also the animation is gorgeous and last year i traveled to Rome to watch it at the Space Cinema for it's 35th anniversary and it was a spiritual experience. I do not think i ever looked away from the screen, even if for a split second

6- Vinland Saga! I don't have much to say about it especially to avoid spoilers since the anime is not over yet, but god. Thorfinn. I thought people were exaggerating when talking about his character development but he is genuinely wonderfully written. Also i loved the way season two ended with the poem being played while showing the characters of both the past and the present (and i don't remember if it was there in the manga? I think it was? But also the anime version is more cinematic for well. Obvious reasons)

7- Re:Zero! One of those things that i definitely shouldn't have watched as a preteen lmao. I am not a coneisseur of isekais, so i can't really fully appreciate the subversion aspect of it, but i love Subaru's character and the witch lore intrigues me so much, so if i ever get my hands of the novels i'll read them

8- Higurashi I do know that the anime compared to the novels absolutely sucks (iirc they cut a lot of content?) but i think it upholds very well on it's own (not like the umineko anime lmao). Also i had watched it when i was going through a very hard period of my life, so it's extremely dear to me

And that's it for now! Probably if you'd asked me this a few years back i would have replied with more shounens a la jjk and bnha, which i do still like (jjk way more than bnha) and for whom i had a hyperfixation on it, but again my tastes have immensely shifted and i think that overall these animes have made way more impact on me. Other two animes i really enjoy are FMA and HXH, but again while i recognize that FMA is a wonderful story and i do rank it quite highly it doesn't quite scratch my itch, and i constantly switch forth between loving and hating HXH (mainly due to the fandom's obnoxiousness in treating it like a piece of russian literature)

Have a nice day anon!!!

[kihteyu]

3, 5, 9, 13, 17? For the asks game

3. Favorite episode? Why? Ramble as much as you'd like.

OOH There's so many!!! If I had to pick just one, I'd say Hollow Mind. It's a lot of people favorite I think but it's because it was such a good episode! It's so intense and we find out a lot of information during it. We find out that Belos is actually Philip (and human). We find out his backstory, albeit through ruined/burned pictures of him and Caleb. We find out that Hunter is a grimwalker and that Belos has made dozens of them and killed them all. We find out about the Draining Spell and how Belos is planning to commit literal genocide. It's the perfect culmination of everything we've been learning in the first 2 seasons up until that point and it answered all those questions in such an interesting (and horrifying!) way by having them go into Belos' actual head.

It was definitely the darkest episode in my opinion. Watching the draining spell almost kill all those witches, Luz absolutely breaking down when she finds out she'd helped Belos find the Collector, Belos literally trying to kill Luz and Hunter (and Hunter actually seemingly dying for a moment) only to just barely get away, Hunter breaking down and running off into the woods...It's just not easy to watch two poor kids get traumatized like that. A lot of the horror aspects definitely make it a memorable episode at least.

Also, the reveal where kid Belos transforms into actual Belos was the freakiest and coolest thing I've ever seen. I legit yelled at my screen when I saw it for the first time.

(And also, that extremely minuscule crumb of Dadrius content we got with Darius being concerned about Hunter being in the mindscape is impossible to not mention, given how much of a sucker for Dadrius I am.)

5 -Already answered!

9. If the show had a full three seasons, whats something you genuinely think would happen? Not a wishful thinking, what do you think is something that would've happened?

I think we would've actually had the Bat Queen come back into play. Eda still had her whistle and I genuinely thought it would be used in the finale but then nothing happened. We also never really found out the Bat Queen's past, despite it being hinted that we would when Luz told her she would help. We can probably assume she was a Titan's palisman but then there's the whole logistics of "why would a Titan even need a palisman" or why she's the only one of her size left. The whole Bat Queen situation is a dead storyline that I feel would have been concluded if they actually had time for it.

13. Which season do you like best?

Season 2. Season 1 was fun and light for the most part but during the S1 finale, everything took a slightly different turn and the show started to get darker and the actual overarching conflict started to actually present itself more after that. I mean, we barely even saw Belos in S1 until the finale. I just love that point where seemingly lighthearted shows suddenly change tone and explore darker themes. It's so intriguing to me.

17. Character you want to like, but don't? Why?

I really had to think about this one. Kikimora. Not in the sense of liking her as a person but just liking her as an antagonist. Her whole drama with Hunter just seemed like a petty, childish feud for the most part and I didn't really understand the point of it for the longest time. I like the comedic potential it provides for fan content but in the actual show itself, I didn't care for it.

I did like the fact that the show kept almost redeeming her, only to take it back and have her go back to being evil again. It is nice to have a character like her who doesn't really care which "side" she's on, as long as she can gain from it. It just so happens that she thinks she can only gain from being on Belos' side.

She seemed pretty one dimensional for the most part until the very end where she helps King find The Collector and we find out that she knew about the grimwalkers the entire time. I really wish the show explored more about that aspect of her and what else she'd been aware of and the extent of it. I think if we learned more about that, she might have been a more interesting character for me but we just didn't get the chance and so it's hard for me to care about her.

Thanks for asking!

[dominijoyce]

For the watercolour asks: golden deep, cadmium orange, and cobalt blue spectral :)

OKAY SORRY FOR TAKING THIS LONG TO DO IT LETS GO!?

Golden Deep: What’s your favorite season?

Spring!! The temperature here is just right, the weather is right, pride month is in spring, some other things that matter to me deeply also happen in spring (currently autism awareness month!) and just in general good amount of sunshine, healing from seasonal depression, trees bloom, overall amazing time at least here!

Cadmium Orange: What do you like to do on your days off?

[Lighthearted:] Not to sound rude, but at least for few more months every of my days is a day off. No work no school for few months because of private life.

But personally, usually I just like to chill, play music, destress and stuff. Take it easy. Funnily enough I tend to be most productive on days where I am already busy so somehow days off were never "creativity time" for me.

Cobalt Blue Spectral: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been to?

Two places.

1) It is this park in my girlfriend's hometown that just felt, felt a feeling of awe I cannot describe. Not saying where it is, I don't need to doxx myself.

2) I have this memory of when I was 13 or so I believe. I visited Denmark and we took a car trip to a bigger city nearby (I cannot for life remember the name, looked through biggest cities names and Vejle rings a bell but when I googled the photos, it didn't feel familiar). When we were near said city, we parked our car for a moment on top of this hill. I walked out was in awe as I was able to see the entire cityscape just from that spot. It felt amazing, feeling so small and yet so big as I could see each part of this city and so many colorful buildings that way next to each other. That is a memory I remember very fondly and I don't think I have ever been to a place that made me feel the same way yet.

[aerequets]

can you give me some webtoon recommendations? name some of your favorites! :)

i am here to answer folks 😎

all of these webtoons can be found on webtoons.com! I'm not sure about the whole daily pass thing they've got going on (which sucks tbh) but like,,, you could probably find it online illegally. NOT THAT I CONDONE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY HAHAHAHA ᵖˢˢᵗ ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ˡᵒᵒᵏ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ

I'll split these up between completed and in progress :) most are still in progress though

COMPLETED

1) Gourmet Hound (166 chapters)

this is like, my all time favorite webtoon. it follows Lucy and her quest to find all the chefs that left her favorite restaurant, Dimanche! it’s a really heartfelt story and the food illustrations make you really hungry, so make sure you have a snack before you sit down to read it. each character’s name is also food-related, so that’s pretty cool too! and the diversity in this webtoon is AMAZING. it’s the only webtoon i’ve ever read that has a hijabi character in the main cast. the development is done really well and it explores themes of loving and letting go. all in all, it has a bit of everything. i personally love food-related things, and this centers around it, so i was set LOL

(also a bonus is that this webtoon has NOT succumbed to daily pass hell, so you can binge read the whole thing. legally.)

2) Hooky (200 chapters)

if you like stories of witches, this is the one! the summary and beginning chapters are deceptively lighthearted. DO NOT BE FOOLED! the story really develops further on and explores numerous conflicts, a big one being (if i remember correctly) witch vs. nonwitch. if you like to see struggles between two sides, not a good-and-evil but just people-who-want-the-best-for-themselves-and-their-loved-ones type of thing, this is good for that. also, sibling love! the two main characters are Dani and Dorian, and while there is someee romance, i like how this story centers around the siblings first and foremost. ALSO THE ART??? I LOVE HOW THE AUTHOR DRAWS SETTINGS SO MUCH and am unabashedly jealous because i am completely incapable of doing so   just like,,,, even if the story doesn’t pull you in, you can at least stare at each panel for long stretches of time.

(unfortunately succumbed to daily pass, but you can read it on mangaowl or manganelo!)

3) Spirit Fingers (167 chapters)

aww, this one is cute. Amy is 18 and lacking in self confidence (her family definitely doesn’t help). but HEY she joins a wacky art club!! without her parents knowing!! HECK YEAH!! unfortunately it takes more than joining an art club for her to learn to love herself (it is a long journey after all!). i love this webtoon because it explores the problems of multiple people, not just amy: her high achieving brothers, her mother who had to give up her dream, the different members in the art club, Amy’s girl friends. the art is unique and has a cool watercolor-y texture! and the main couple is just adorable, too. if you’re an artist especially, i recommend this because that’s a big theme and you get to see these characters expand their art styles! which is very cool!

(you can read this one fully on 1stkissmanga)

now here’s where the majority of my recs are:

IN PROGRESS (all can be read on webtoon.com)

1) The Makeup Remover (currently 71 chapters)

i look forward to this every tuesday and friday because oh man!!!!!!!!! idk about you guys, but i am thinking about beauty standards A Large Amount of the time, especially when i consume media. and this webtoon is all about beauty standards (specifically in Korea, but still applicable like. everywhere). Main character Yeseul ends up having to partake in this beauty competition and, with her experiences through it, she begins seeing makeup and beauty standards for the huge role they play in society. i said it already but i LOVE LOVE LOVE this webtoon because it really challenges you as a reader to think about your own perspectives. why do we find the things/people beautiful that we do? what shapes our perception? how much of it is marketing, and how much of it shows in our daily lives? what assumptions do you make about people based on how they look? AGHH im sounding like an essay prompt instead of a reviewer but man. if you like webtoons that examine society through a critical lens (gosh i sound like an english teacher), this is the one. 

2) Odd Girl out (currently 261 chapters; on season 2) 

okay, first and foremost: if you’re NOT into long winded drama, this probably isn’t it for you. i will admit im not a fan of long problems that get dragged out, especially in a school setting, but i did keep reading this webtoon and i am glad that i did! the character development here is amazing and ONE CRUCIAL THING is that the whole first season (which is many, many chapters. at least over 100) focuses on the friendship between our main 4 girls. if you don’t wanna wait for a romance storyline (which comes in season 2), then you’ve gotta have the patience of a saint. i loved this though because lots of romance webtoons cast friendships aside or use them to further the romantic plot. platonic relationships are great to read about and this one does it masterfully! main character nari is resilient and emotionally strong, and it’s great to see her ruin her enemies

3) Cursed Princess Club (currently 110 chapters; on break before the final season)

this is another one about beauty and societal expectations, but in a fantasy setting! it’s really funny and the cast of characters is heartwarming. Gwen is a princess, but she doesn’t look like the typical princess. she accidentally stumbles upon the Cursed Princess Club, which is exactly what it sounds like: a club for princesses that have been cursed and are trying to find their self worth despite not being conventional princesses! now that i think about it, this is like a lighthearted mixture of Makeup Remover and Spirit Fingers. although while i do say “lighthearted”, this webtoon has its fair share of mysteries and exploration of deeper topics. but its funny throughout

4) Brass & Sass (currently 83 chapters)

ahh this one is really cute and the art is cute, too! i also like how this has a diverse cast. high schooler Camilla kinda sucks at band, but dangit if she’s not passionate. Victor is some type of musical prodigy but he’s a brass-hole (hahaha get it. no that’s not original i ripped it from the summary). now i KNOW I KNOW, the whole “perky girl and asshole guy” is so overplayed BUT DON’T FRET! this isn’t the type of story where the girl “fixes” the guy, or where the guy is an asshole to everyone except the girl. believe me, the character development and relationship development in this story is SPLENDID. there’s no real antagonist. it’s just a bunch of high schoolers trying their best to make themselves and everyone else happy, and that’s hard! the story is carried more by the characters than by the plot, but it works well in this case since the characters are strong and each one has a presence. 

5) Surviving Romance (currently 10 chapters)

this one is relatively new compared to my other recs but it’s by the author of the Makeup Remover so yaknow i had to hop on it. BUT IT IS VERY DIFFERENT! first off, it’s a horror, so keep that in mind. the best way i can describe it is a mixture of the standard “girl falls into a story” genre, Groundhog Day, and zombies. Yeah. Bascially, Chaerin is our main girl and she’s in a romance story that’s she’s read a bajillion times, so she knows the day has come for her male lead to confess his love! except he doesn’t! because he becomes a zombie instead! hahaha well that sucks! it’s only got 10 chapters but i am very into it, and it seems to be taking an emphasis on platonic relationships, so i am very closely watching 👁👁

6) The Witch and the Bull (currently 60 chapters) 

another witch story! and the art is GORGEOUS. more witch + nonwitch conflict, too! our main dude, Tan, is the royal advisor and he’s hella bigoted against witches. our main girl, Aro, happens to be a witch. and Tan needs her help to make him into a human again (because he got turned into a bull. that is worth mentioning). this is a very barebones summary and there’s a lot more that goes on, but that’s the general gist of the beginning!

ANYWAYS. this got very long, predictably, and i rambled for each title, predictably. i’ve got more that i’m reading, but i really like these 9! i also made comments on the art for a lot of them, which might not matter to some people, but i feel like my art was very impacted by each webtoon i read. if you’re an artist i recommend finding a webtoon you like and studying the art; try implementing parts you like into your own style! 

anyways, i am FINALLY done talking. bye yall 

[thespoonisvictory]

Please explain why Schlatt is the best character on the SMP.

(Alternatively, I would be really interested in hearing more about your dislike for Quackity's produced lore. Personally, I love it, so I'm really intrigued whenever someone says that they're not fond of it).

as much as I love schlatt, I think I'll answer the quackity question, because I've been meaning to.

first of all, I think I should clarify that I'm definitely biased, because my favorite streamers, outside of the dsmp universe, tend towards semi lore, or, at least, not whatever quackity's doing. I'm used to it, and people tend to not like change lol.

second of all, I really do like quackity's produced lore, but I don't like certain aspects of it, and find myself preferring semi lore in general. I don't think he should stop doing it so much as I think he should use it as an occasional technique rather than conveying near 100% of his story with it. big q is very talented and I commend him for taking such a bold approach, which I think pays off in some ways.

third, to me, semi lore is any lore that breaks the fourth wall in that it isn't trying to be something other than a minecraft stream, it's all in first person, and none of it is prerecorded. for example: most of wilbur's pogtopia streams are semi (or casual) lore to me, because he'll thank subs and joke with schlatt about getting techno a girlfriend, but it's still largely in canon.

anyway, in true jenny nicholson fashion, let's kick off with a numbered list.

1. this post, by patches, explains a bit of why the lore streams can get a bit disconcerting to me. the dsmp have always had a bit of charming awkwardness in their improv, because these are for the most part just Some Guys acting, and under the guise of a stream where it's just a Streamer Playing Minecraft, it fits. but the highly produced nature just- creates such a disparity between the quality of the cinematography and the acting that it's a little weird, y'know?

2. in some cases, semi lore allows for dread to be built in a unique way. during the exile arc, tommy would have lighthearted streamer jokes and bits, shout out subs, pretend like things were normal. he never acknowledges that his situation is messed up, that his condition is getting worse, that things are falling apart. it's a quiet, sinking, horror that creeps along over the course of weeks. it's important to the viewer that we are there every day to see the slow progress, to understand why tommy gets pushed so far down. besides the impracticality of 14 highly produced lore streams, you would lose a lot of the subtlety there.

the smp is such a unique medium in that the stream style itself is so telling. when tommy actively doesn't acknowledge what's happening, it makes the abuse that's occurring seem so much worse. when wilbur drops little hits about his depression or his plans in between lighthearted, ooc jokes, it lulls the audience into a false sense of security.

imagine a version of the 'forming las nevadas' story where quackity does it over the course of four nights. the slow realization of his manipulation tactics disguised by an unassuming stream format, because it's still quackity, joking around and laughing until he approaches the next person and he shifts into his 'persona'. when he finishes the conversation, we watch his face fall, his smile fade, as he walks back to an empty las nevadas. it would build hype, not to mention taking less work, and letting the audience see a bit more of quackity's humanity.

3. I mentioned it before, but it just straight up takes less time. I'm willing to wait, of course, but there's something to be said about the merits of pacing and being able to throw together a lore stream last minute. take, for example, tommy's death. it wouldn't have been nearly as impactful without the rushed, oddly somber flurry of livestreams that came after. jack didn't need a highly produced montage of him standing by tommy's grave as the seasons passed, of his planting flowers everyday. what turned out to be effective was just- him, walking around, coming to terms with his grief, completely silent for periods of time.

it was mourning. plain and simple, with no embellishment or evil villain music, shockingly earnest.

I don't think you could replicate that raw, undone feeling with a prerecorded, pre-produced, semi-movie. it feels like all of a sudden jack's pov was important enough that he had to stream, and there it was.

you could argue that this could be planned beforehand, but I think more often than not, that's a. not really feasible, and b. going to take away from the organic nature.

we all like candid shots, 'authentic' vlogs and influencers. to me, this is just one more extension of that rule.

4. under the same idea, you can make more. we spend more time with the streamers, and therefore the characters, and get to know their more human side. wilbur, for example, is deeply humanized by little things that you just couldn't really fit into a lore stream: his dynamic with niki, all his little moments of hesitation, his banter with tommy and his true love for l'manburg. who c!wilbur is is built up over hours and hours of comments and suggestions and one-off statements, and we just don't have time for that in quackity's lore. the transitions are snappy, filled with beautiful shots, but they don't allow for as much depth of character as that awkward little walk from place to place, that quiet monologue they do to themselves.

it's not impossible for you to do that, as with c!quackity and c!charlie serving as a 'morality pet', but at this risk of repeating myself endlessly, it's more earnest and organic in a sense.

5. last, I just really like multiple povs. one of my favorite bits from s1 is the fundy spy arc, because of how effectively multiple povs are used. streams where wilbur is deeply, deeply distraught over fundy's betrayal but thinks fundy doesn't care, while fundy is deeply, deeply distraught over wilbur's prior treatment of him but thinks he doesn't care. and you could watch both at the same time! quackity's pov isn't as personal when it uses third person, which is a bit sad because I think it's a unique aspect of livestreaming every perspective.

(I'm so sorry if this isn't coherent or makes any sense I'm very brain dead and tired from speedrunning three essays yesterday)

basically, I think quackity's lore style is good for big, grand events, occasionally. it's very cool to watch, definitely builds hype, and can make certain things easier, such as coordinating a bunch of people or doing special effects.

but for building a plot and establishing character dynamics, I really prefer semi/casual lore.

[adrianicsea]

going for the low-hanging fruit, saw for the movie ask

favorite male character: lawrence gordon my beloved. idk what to even say about him at this point like i've written a 130k and counting fic from his pov! he's everything to me... i just find a lot of resonance in the idea of being someone trapped in their own reputation and someone who's ALWAYS known what they really want out of life, but feels like they aren't allowed to have it or ask for it. i felt that way a lot when i was younger bc i felt like i couldn't come out to ANYONE in my hometown-- it was a smaller town, and my dad was a relatively prominent figure in the community. and also like. i don't really know when or if i would have figured out i'm autistic if i hadn't gotten so attached to lawrence so i have him to thank for that.

favorite female character: amanda! i've said many times that i think she's the most complex character in the series and i will say it many more times to come. she also has the neatest, most resolved narrative arc out of anyone in the franchise, and she's just like. god!!! when the women are deeply flawed and tragic characters and are allowed to be messy and fucked up! LOVE HER! and also at this point i'm convinced that saw X is going to be about her. which is exciting but also scares the ever-loving shit out of me i can't lie

least favorite character: either john or hoffman. john is literally just the devil incarnate he's so hypocritical and vindictive and evil and manipulative. and then hoffman is just like. L + ratio + inconsistent writing/characterization + missed opportunity to offer meaningful narrative critique of police/police fraternity culture + played by costas mandylor

prettiest character: as much as my heart wants to say lawrence the sad fact is he was not having a very good hair day in. well in 1 OR 7 tbh. so i'll say adam because god knows i went through something the first time i saw him sucking on that cigarette

funniest character: based on vibes alone i wanna say strahm bc like legitimately WHAT is his fucking deal. but since i've not seen 4-7 i will say adam. when it gets busy at the saw bathroom and the twink starts getting bitchy and mean

favorite season/movie: it HAS to be saw 1! legendary iconic changed the game etc

favorite episode/scene: probably either the love scene (and subsequently john's awakening) from the first movie or the flashback to amanda setting up the bathroom trap in saw 3. both of them are just such GUT-PUNCHES

favorite romantic ship: chainshipping has my heart, just like adam has lawrence's, now and forever

favorite family relationship: lawrence and diana as far as what's canon, but i do love the more lighthearted take on things where the apprentices are all a big (mostly) happy family

favorite friend ship: adam and amanda..... oh what we could have had

worst ship: i'm tempted to say hoffstrahm but only in the sense that it's a ship of the two worst dudes you know. speaking seriously though i have to say i once saw a fic tagged as hoffman/amanda and my soul was shriven from my body