#i was listening to the s2 soundtrack and this killed me

[demontouched]

brothers and sisters see where you been (ekko paiting older vi for powder/ekko seeing mylo and claggor again)

and if you loved the journey more than the end, go ahead (ekko returning to his universe because he loves powder and wants to fix things only to lose jinx)

just turn that hourglass around and count to ten (ekko pushing his anomaly to the max 10 second rewind)

this aint goodbye no more (the 10 seconds saves the world from the future jayce was sent to)

nah, it just began (zaun becoming a recognized and possibly independent nation)

[are-you-fucking-with-me-rn]

okay so I always wanted to work on a show soundtrack so here's some songs I would put in s2 because since its probably maybe not gonna happen these can be canon in my head

Stupid Cupid by Connie Francis - okay so imagine if you will. The episode starts out jarring, maybe some payneland smooching out of nowhere, makes you go back to the last episode thinking you missed a scene. But then Edwin opens his eyes, he's lying on the ground or something, and is immediately thrust into the middle of a fight scene(this is where the song starts playing). He had just been temporarily knocked out and had some dream sequence or something idk. The fight scene is in a fancy restaurant or smth and it's close to Valentine's day and it's all decorated with hearts and stuff. This song is diegetic, playing in the restaurant.

Flaws by Bastille - I'd probably put it during end credits/end of the episode. It feels very transitional to me. It's a song on the Charles playlist so of course it's gonna play after a scene with Charles heavy lore or something. Maybe Charles's dad dies, and the song starts at the beginning of the funeral scenes. Then, long after everyone's already left, Charles goes and stands in front of the gravestone and his mom is just there kneeling in the grass in front of him and doesn't know he's there and yeah. It's like, the start of Charles's Actually-finding-peace-and-confronting-trauma arc or smth.

Girls on Film by Duran Duran - good for a montage of like Crystal adjusting to having rich, showy parents. She thinks maybe if she helps them out with their big projects, which she assumes the old her didn't do, maybe they'll start seeing her and caring about her like parents should. Going to grand openings and being photographed/interviewed, being in the public sphere all the sudden. Crystal's overcompensating for being a major jerk in her past life and is now bending over backwards to be nice to everyone (which, from experience, isn't exactly healthy either)(aka she's gone the "obsess-over-being-good-enough" route that Charles's gone down)(yikes).

The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen - I honestly have no vivid images for this one. I just like the song, I think it matches the mood of the show. Maybe something about Crystal and David? A final confrontation? Cus I saw someone (I'm sorry I forgot who) say they thought it would be interesting if Crystal's powers get "contaminated" by David cus he's still buried by the tree. So like a final standoff.

Swan Upon Leda by Hozier OR Eurydice by Eugénie - I think s2 would be more about Charles' journey the way s1 was more about Edwin BUT i'm also curious about Edwin's life. Something happens where Edwin maybe ends up at his old house, or relives his memories and it's all in slow motions and more calm than Charles's in ep4. They're not all bad, but Edwin was different and outcasted and the likes. George Rexstrew said himself that he thought Swan Upon Leda described Edwin really well, but also Eurydice gives off a sort of melancholy floatiness that fits with a boy 100+ years dead reliving an upbringing that now seems to foreign to him, and yet is ingrained in every part of himself.

Since listening to music is my #1 hobby, I will probably find more songs down the line and add on, but this is what I got for now.

[ellenchain]

I hope I'm not bothering you with all the asks.

Does Playground have a playlist or some songs that remind you of it?

My two cents are Fantastic from the S2 soundtrack, but also Killing Me To Love You by Vancouver Sleep Clinic and Disease by Lady Gaga!

Oh no, you're not bothering me at all with your messages! I'm always happy when I go on tumblr and my inbox shows a number ❤️

I've actually listened to the Arcane soundtrack up and down (both s1 and s2), so you're already pretty good with Fantastic! And I also stole the title of the comic from a song 🤭

I didn't even know the other two songs you mentioned! I really like the song by Vancouver Sleep Clinic 🤩

I don't actually use Spotify, but I've put a few songs that I've listened to while drawing in between into a playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/119YY4EARO18gIdlOPAIOY?si=5Np4in37SaK2YhibpElv_Q

However, these are songs that are not necessarily jayvik songs - they just fit the mood of playground 🤭

[demadogs]

ok i MAY be crazy reaching rn but im listening to the st soundtracks and i just noticed something interesting.

there is a very specific line in california dreamin that i never realized applies so much to the show.

“you know the preacher likes the cold. he knows im gonna stay.”

i just rewatched season 2 and “he likes it cold” is a huge reoccurring fact. it was the key to disconnecting will from the mindflayer.

and i know there is big meaning to this song choice compared to others bc some GENIUS on tiktok that i cant find now :( made an edit to this song with the final scene bc they realized that EVERY LYRIC IN THE CHORUS FORESHADOWS EXACTLY HOW THE SEASON ENDS!!!!

all the leaves are brown

and the sky is gray

i’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day

i’d be safe and warm if i was in LA

——————

i’ve always been obsessed with this revelation but the verse about the church had always tripped me up. until now.

“stopped into a church i passed along the way, well i got down on my knees and i pretend to pray.”

the church might represent will “stopping” in the upside down and pretending to pray could refer to s2 will being a super spy. his “pretending to pray” was spying back on the mindflayer, saving hopper, and using morse code to talk to everyone. he was pretending to still be the mindflayers slave and betrayed him.

“you know the preacher likes the cold. he knows im gonna stay.”

in this case i think vecna is the preacher. he likes it cold. “he knows im gonna stay” could reference the fact that will was in the upside down the longest. barb died right away and brenner in s1 says 6 people total were taken. why was will the only one that survived? why did vecna hang on to him instead of just killing him immediately? the lab even went to the effort of faking wills death so they’d stop looking for him!! vecna knew that will would stay. but why?

i dont even really have a conclusion to this. the only thing is if this is correct and was intentional its very focused on s2 and the mindflayer and their connection so maybe it could mean that in s5 will might be in a similar situation as s2.

all of this could be WAY outta line and its actually just a california bop that the duffers wanted to use. but “the preacher likes it cold” really got me thinking. i used to hear that verse and try to decipher what the church line meant that i completely disregarded the blatant “he likes it cold” reference.

[gyarucoded]

reviewing loki s2 ep4 (major spoilers!)

i was bit hesitant thowards this ep cuz i started noticing how this season parallels the previous one, which went very downhill after ep3 however, i think it seem to get better this time? 🤔🤭 this is so far my fav episode and hopefull they'll keep this energy for the last 2 eps. ok let's get into it:

i don't think this was timed like this on purpose but love how we're 3 days away from halloween and this episode fits with it so well. i could be biased as a horror fan but i loved the eeriness (is that even a term?)

brad you stupidass why are you listening to ravonna when she clearly doesn't care about any of your lives on the time line 😭

ooouu the box scene 😧 not miss minutes' psycho ass smiling like she's getting creepier each ep- also as someone who watches gory movies i expected to see what was left of all the prisoners but then i remembered disney tries to keep shit as "family friendly" as possible altough i am not complaining cuz it's a lot more cinematic to just hear the blood droplets & it leaves space for our imagination!

why does it feel like b-15 is lowkey the true leader of the tva now? i can definitely vibe with that.

"which way, wizard?"

B-15 is strong af for not throwing up at *that* scene but ig she has seen more gruesome sights before.

i just know ppl gonna ship o.b, casey & victor as a poly-couple and i'm a 100% there for it lmaoo

even sylvie calling it "bromance" like miss ma'am's gay radar was going havoc, and her smile when HWR death was mentioned plss🤚 😭

i know sylvie meant well when she snapped at mobius for yk, "not reading the room" but i still felt kinda bad for mobius cuz i can deffo see him as the stress eater-type.

loki mentioning thor !!!!

the parallels between thor & jane and loki & mobius hmmm.....hmmmm...

what sylvie said about anhiliation & starting from scratch reminded me of thanos in endgame, sry baby 💀

well despite of that, still think sylvie is in the middle of her positive character arc/development

we're also witnessing loki's growth !! (notice how in 1x04 mobius told him to grow up?) he's possibly even more mature then he was in the sacred time line but that was due his sctripted fate of being a "loser" that sabotaged him from more rational choices but now he's free to think & do what he wants n i love that for him.

goodbye miss minutes i assure you that nobody's gonna miss yew. 💁‍♀️

now why did x-5 had to ruin that wholesome moment this badly ><=$^[_=

despite of sylvie & loki not fully agreeing on moral issues and stuff, i enjoyed them working together, it was finally sylvie's turn to show off her magic 😋

loki was so soft & reassuring with victor timely only for him to be spaghettified ?? i knew they'd probs kill him off but i didn't expect it to be such a weird & immidate death 😭 kinda sad cuz i don't think they'll bring that version of him back.

idk how to feel about ravonna getting pruned. not sure she'll get redeemed cuz it's too late for that now but pruning doesn't kill an invidual so it's likely that her story doesn't just end here.

love the soundtrack in this series generally but in the latest episode it's outstanding ! natalie holt truly added her whole 🐱 into this ost 🙏

the cliffhanger is absolutely killing me, i'll have to absorb all the theories until next friday like i fr cannot wait ngfddjfsvbm

[oxymoronish]

tagged by @aeolianblues, thank you! You've got much better taste in music than me loool

list 13 songs you’ve been listening to lately

The Show Goes On - Bruce Hornby / The Range (from The Bear S2 soundtrack, which is looooovely)

ONE MORE TIME - blink-182 (i've listened to this so many times in the last few weeks pfff. makes me weirdly emotional..)

The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years) - Fall Out Boy (i'm seeing them live again in december HOLY SHIT)

logical - Olivia Rodrigo (one of my favourites off her latest record)

Clean Slate - the mountain goats (looking forward to the new album)

GRAVEYARD SONG - Jeff Rosenstock (and speaking of new albums, this was a fantastic release as well ahhhhhh. love love rosenstock)

Doo-Ba-Zoo - Joff Bush (is this from the Bluey soundtrack? yes. is it catchy as hell? yeah...)

Just Like Heaven - The Cure (played on The Last Of Us, that's why it's in my library)

Common People - Pulp (i've been catching up on older eps of 6Music's Indie Forever recently, and Pulp comes up a lot)

Chaise Longue - Wet Leg (used to be quite eh about this song but i'm into it now lol)

Killing Me Softly With His Song - Bastille (from their MTV Unplugged session, a fun little cover)

Things I'll Never Say - Avril Lavigne (i'm Always listening to Avril lol, those two first albums are on constant rotation)

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith (from my work playlist askldfjsdf i get free reign of the music in the autopsy room on weekends so i chuck in some popular stuff for the medical assistants)

Not tagging anyone but feel free to snag this. ta

[girlfriendsofthegalaxy]

tuesday again 4/11/2023

more concise than usual. don't get used to it.

listening

the trombone is an underutilized instrument in indie rock. this is a delightful music video, the vocals bother me a lot less now that i know they're deliberately going for a robotic effect.

if you liked the Killing Eve soundtrack (largely brought to you by Unloved and Junoire), that sort of very smooth lightly psych-rock flavored thinking woman's music to smoke clove cigarettes to while slouching around used bookstores, you may like this song! reading this back it sounds kind of snotty but sometimes you need a french woman main character song to make doing errands feel like being on a secret mission

i found one of their previous albums, Psycho Tropical Berlin, sort of a one-hit wonder with Hypsoline (the credits song for As Above So Below) but it really is a fucking banger

i want the album art as a shirt So Bad but not enough to pay $25 shipping from france about it.

i think this was off the spotify weekly discover playlist? can't imagine where else i would have run across it

-

reading

remember the vampire-adjacent private detective novels i was reading? not the ones from last week, the earlier ones. the author alexis hall chucks you a free short story Sand and Ruin and Gold if u sign up for his mailing list.

i think the orca comparisons are a touch heavy-handed at times, but the imagery in this thing...i really am a sucker for the rot of a coastal tourist trap. i bear no fondness, but i do give them a weary nod of acknowledgement. this town is a construct for other people to enjoy. i typed out a very long thing about how the economics of tourism shaped the town and everything about the civic calendar down to the school year, but--it was not really meant to have real residents or be a real place. there was absolutely nothing to do and nowhere to hang out without paying for anything in the off season.

It was just after closing on Reunification Day, the last of the stragglers gathered up and banished back to their world. A spiral of faded, plastic bunting from the celebrations had blown into one of the pools. I went to get a pole to hook it out but heard a splash and turned in time to see Nerites leap from the water in a gleam of skin and scales. The wind whisked the ribbon from between his fingers, and he reached after it, his body twisting sinuously in the air before he crashed into the pool again.

I’d never seen him—or any of them—move like that before. The jumps and slides we taught them were supposed to mimic their natural behaviours, but they rarely performed them spontaneously. And this was something else again: a wild leap and an ungainly splash, more beautiful to me than the most perfect bow or spin because it seemed so absolutely heedless.

He surfaced again, almost vertical, spinning in the pale-grey spray, one hand catching for the bunting’s tail. A tug, and it tumbled from the sky, nothing but a lifeless piece of string.

i am beginning to remember that all the shit that really sticks in my brain is in short stories and novellas you (general, including me) have never heard of.

-

watching

star wars resistance. i am finding this far more enjoyable than the bad batch or the mandalorian bc it has something of a storyline that it sticks to, even though most of the runtime is a teen... he's not really a teen, he was a new republic pilot so he's probably like twenty but in my heart he's like fifteen. part of the appeal of ds9 for me was a very consolidated set of recurring background characters and getting to see that there are other things/factions/people all working for their own ends. baby's first practice spy mission.

the ship design is really killer: it asks and answers the question "what if a pirate spaceship was also a galleon?"

i find myself excited to watch the next episode, which is not a familiar feeling when i watch star wars stuff. i really hope s2 holds my interest as much as s1 did.

why am i doing this? i have seen all the star wars except for: most of the LEGO stuff, most of the addendum and errata for tcw (including the crystal crisis arc), the holiday special, and most of the droids and ewoks animated shows. like i am Really scraping the bottom of the barrel here, even though i'm not really sure why this show fell into such obscurity.

-

playing

a bit cranky with weird west, bc i think to get past this stealth level i will have to dismiss my companion (can't seem to knock out guards unless i'm standing up, the companion AI has a very loose definition of "staying close" and is only "invisible" if you're also crouching, and you can't direct your companion to stay put in one place OR to stay close/stay crouched permanently. i may have exhausted most of the appeal of the world on my first fifteen-hour run through the first story. i am more than a little disappointed bc i did have a fuckton of fun in those fifteen hours and was expecting the good times to continue.

-

making

still halfheartedly poking away at the baby blanket, less than half a repeat this week and i don't feel like getting up, digging the blanket out of the catproof bag, and putting enough lights on for a real photo. this is repeat 7/10 tho so we are slowly approaching the end

[iam-lnt]

fans in star wars fandom can say anything about the series and shit but one thing no one can deny is how the MUSIC SOUNDTRACK is simply splendid.

i love how reoccurring themes can pop up while im shuffling soundtracks together. it feels more because the themes mean more in the context, like

the very cliche imperial march with the dark side and binary sunset with the light side

Omega's theme and the Bad Batch theme representing the respective person

Thrawn's theme with the organ (rly matches his personality yknow)

and what's better is that reprising theme can show the GROWTH in the theme e.g.

Omega's theme reprising in tbb S3 ending ("I am ready") is brighter and more grand whist comparing with the first appearing of her theme;

Satine's theme reprising when Maul killed her with a more tragic tone and ending sense to the tone.

Force theme appearing at the tcw S7 mando arc for Ahsoka to show her doing what she believes in.

the composers responsible for many of the scores have done amazing jobs. such amazing jobs. tbh the music of star wars can never disappoint me

Star Wars love grand brass melodies, tension build up via strings and percussion for the vibes. honestly just listen to rebels S2 ending "Where the sun sails and the moon walks" and "It's over now"..........peak star wars is in the music *chef kiss*

(yes i am a orchestra kid)

[maayan00sh]

taylor swift's "folklore" as a soundtrack to the ineffable divorce

i just watched season 2 last week and i processed it the way i do every emotional breakdown: by listening to taylor swift. so here it is, an analysis of how every single song on folklore is actually about aziraphale and crowley (WARNING: THIS IS REALLY LONG AND MOSTLY SAD)

the 1: for me this is aziraphale post-s2, thinking about crowley while absolutely playing light how devastated he is. you could very well read it the other way around, but this part truly rings aziraphale to me: "I persist and resist the temptation to ask you, if one thing had been different, would everything be different today?"

But we were something, don't you think so? Roaring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool And if my wishes came true It would've been you

cardigan: for me this is crowley post-s2. not only because aziraphale is famous for cardigan-wearing (and for crowley being his favorite), but specifically a) "I knew you'd come back to me"--because I truly believe he believes this, no matter how much he hides it, and b) the subtle anger behind "when you are young they assume you know nothing"--because that's emblematic of the condescension crowley has always felt from heaven.

But I knew you Playing hide-and-seek and Giving me your weekends, I I knew you Your heartbeat on the High Line Once in twenty lifetimes

the last great american dynasty: okay this one is definitely the biggest stretch but can't you just imagine a femme-presenting crowley fucking up a small 1920s new england town like this? "she had a marvelous time ruining everything" indeed, she did.

They say she was seen on occasion Pacing the rocks, staring out at the midnight sea And in a feud with her neighbor She stole his dog and dyed it key lime green

exile: this is what inspired this whole post, because EVERYTHING about this duet is immediate s2 fallout. "all this time, we always walked a very thin line"? "all this time, i never learned to read your mind, i couldn't turn things around"? PLEASE.

bon iver's part is crowley, completely blindsided by aziraphale's betrayal:

And it took you five whole minutes To pack us up and leave me with it Holdin' all this love out here in the hall I think I've seen this film before And I didn't like the ending You're not my homeland anymore So what am I defending now? You were my town, now I'm in exile, seein' you out

taylor's part is aziraphale:

I can see you starin', honey Like he's just your understudy Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me Second, third, and hundredth chances Balancin' on breaking branches Those eyes add insult to injury

"he's just your understudy"--this is the metatron (or heaven as a whole), temporarily filling in crowley's key role in aziraphale's life. aziraphale KNOWS crowley would be totally jealous, but he's tired of "balancing on breaking branches."

my tears ricochet: absolutely crowley upon meeting with aziraphale again post-s2. no matter what the context, he's determined to remind him or just how badly he fucked up.

reading this from crowley's perspective is just SO MUCH:

And if I'm on fire, you'll be made of ashes, too Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe All the hell you gave me?

there are layers of references to crowley's Fall here, but also to the end of their relationship:

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace 'Cause when I'd fight, you used to tell me I was brave

there IS no home for crowley anymore, but it's almost like he takes pleasure in knowing aziraphale must be miserable in heaven:

And I can go anywhere I want Anywhere I want, just not home And you can aim for my heart, go for blood But you would still miss me in your bones

...

You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same Cursing my name, wishing I stayed You turned into your worst fears

mirrorball: aziraphale through the ages, literally doing The Most to attract crowley's interest and attention (magicianry anyone?!)

"hush, when no one is around, my dear"--this is a reference to how they've had to maintain a facade of plausible deniability over the years, but "i'm still on my tallest tiptoes, spinning in my highest heels, love, shining just for you"--i'm doing everything to show you what you mean to me.

"i'll show you every version of yourself tonight"--he's tried over and over to show crowley the goodness that he completely believes is still inside him.

And I'm still a believer, but I don't know why I've never been a natural, all I do is try, try, try I'm still on that trapeze I'm still trying everything to keep you looking at me

seven: this song is crowley reminiscing about the origins of their relationship. as we know, he might not even remember much of anything pre-Fall ("though I can't recall your face"), but despite that, despite the fact that nowhere (in scriptures) is their love story written down--"just like a folk song, our love will be passed on."

the sweetness of the lyrics also speaks to me of their past, quiet moments with each other where things were simple, they indulged in earthly pleasures and no one needed to know:

Sweet tea in the summer Cross my heart, won’t tell no other

august: another crowley reflecting post-s2. "august" is the little window between s1 and s2 when they were able to "not really" pretend--"august slipped away like a moment in time." despite the fleeting pleasure ("august sipped away like a bottle of wine"), it was never going to be permanent ("'cause you were never mine").

Back when we were still changin' for the better Wanting was enough For me, it was enough To live for the hope of it all Cancel plans just in case you'd call And say, "Meet me behind the mall" So much for summer love and saying "us" 'Cause you weren't mine to lose

this is me trying: in my imagined s3, when aziraphale comes back and is trying to make amends, this will be his anthem.

I've been having a hard time adjusting I had the shiniest wheels, now they're rusting I didn't know if you'd care if I came back I have a lot of regrets about that

that is, his new position in heaven? absolutely was not what he hoped it would be. not being sure if crowley would still be there for him like he once was, knowing that he messed up, constantly thinking about what was and could have been...

And it's hard to be at a party when I feel like an open wound It's hard to be anywhere these days when all I want is you You're a flashback in a film reel on the one screen in my town

illicit affairs: once again, crowley's heartbreak post-s2. (many people read this as a song about infidelity, but i see it as being about a secret relationship and the way it destroys the people in it. "take the words for what they are--a dwindling mercurial high, a drug that only worked the first few hundred times." whatever they had, however real was, it's dwindling now. it's gone.

this is 100% about the emotional toll that keeping their relationship a secret from heaven and hell has taken:

And that's the thing about illicit affairs And clandestine meetings and stolen stares They show their truth one single time But they lie and they lie and they lie A million little times

as long as aziraphale keeps believing in the moral rightness of the hierarchy of heaven over hell, they have no choice but to lie about the full extent of their relationship. and that is what makes aziraphale ultimately leave for heaven and leave crowley broken behind him.

And you wanna scream Don't call me "kid," don't call me "baby" Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me You showed me colors you know I can't see with anyone else ... And you know damn well For you, I would ruin myself A million little times

invisible string: can it be? a happy love song?

obviously, this is about the "invisible string" that keeps pulling them together over the years. i read it from aziraphale's POV tonally but could go either way. "hell was the journey but it brought me heaven"--honestly this is equally applicable to gabriel and beelzebub.

Time, mystical time Cutting me open, then healing me fine Were there clues I didn't see? And isn't it just so pretty to think All along there was some Invisible string Tying you to me?

mad woman: this is not a dynamic that i really see happening, but i can imagine a fanfic where heavenly!aziraphale essentially gaslights crowley about their past relationship and this is crowley's emotional response.

Every time you call me crazy, I get more crazy What about that? And when you say I seem angry, I get more angry

epiphany: in general i think this song is about trauma. for me it invokes specifically the trauma of crowley's fall/the great war, because "with you i serve, with you i fall down." of course, we don't get a lot of them talking about this explicitly, because "some things you just can't speak about."

despite them living for literally ever, they always seem to be on the brink of some crisis that re-awakens crowley's primary trauma of being expelled for asking questions.

Only twenty minutes to sleep But you dream of some epiphany Just one single glimpse of relief To make some sense of what you've seen

betty: this gives very much "aziraphale comes back to the bookshop post-s2 and asks for forgiveness" vibes, which... I don't know exactly if that's how I believe it will happen, but i certainly think "the worst thing that i ever did is what i did to you" applies.

But if I just showed up at your party Would you have me? Would you want me? Would you tell me to go fuck myself Or lead me to the garden? In the garden, would you trust me If I told you it was just a summer thing? I'm only seventeen, I don't know anything But I know I miss you

peace: oh, this one hurts. crowley reflects post-s2 and wonders if he was ever really enough for aziraphale anyway. "i never had the courage of my convictions as long as danger is near, and it's just around the corner, darling, because it lives in me"--if they were together, they would always be hounded by heaven and hell, just for being who they were, and in the past crowley has definitely tried to hide out of fear from hell. if that's the only life he can give aziraphale... is it enough?

But there's robbers to the east, clowns to the west I'd give you my sunshine, give you my best But the rain is always gonna come if you're standin' with me

hoax: another heartbreaker for post-s2 crowley. somehow these lyrics feel so specific to them, too. "your faithless love's the only hoax i believe in"--feels like a dig at aziraphale's failed career as a magician. "don't want no other shade of blue but you"--aziraphale's blue eyes in heaven. "my only one, my smoking gun"--the 1941 gun trick. "my kingdom come undone"--the collapse of our side.

Stood on the cliffside screaming, "Give me a reason" Your faithless love's the only hoax I believe in Don't want no other shade of blue but you No other sadness in the world would do

the lakes (bonus track): i read this as aziraphale daydreaming about going back to crowley almost immediately after choosing to go to heaven. "i'm not cut out for all of these cynical clones, these hunters with cell phones"--he immediately feels how much he doesn't fit in with heaven's bureaucracy. "i've come too far to watch some namedropping sleaze tell me what are my words worth"--this almost feels like a reference to the bookshop, the other archangels sneering at what used to be his home, his everything.

against that backdrop, he dreams of the romantic landscapes of his victorian novels, and of course, of crowley with him again.

Take me to the Lakes where all the poets went to die I don't belong and, my beloved, neither do you Those Windermere peaks look like a perfect place to cry I'm setting off, but not without my muse--no, not without you

And that's it! I hope you didn't cry as much as I did making this post! Or, if you did, that you now have some cathartic music to listen to about it!

[silanth]

God, I love Fridays. A lot. Every Friday is a new adventure for me, it's always the day. Why? It's definitely because it's the day of new Spotify releases. This Friday is a special day for me. One of my favorite musicians released a song and this song is so gentle, so sweet and heartwarming I just... I just can't. I listen to it all day long and cannot find my inner peace until I scream about it here.

Synecdoche Montauk is a talented man who was born in Moscow and is currently living in London. The guy is a poet, and his lyrics are remarkable. His texts are thin like ghosts, allegorical, transparent, and allow the listener to interpret them freely. His voice is a lot like Arnor Dan to me, and I love Arnor Dan. Synecdoche Montauk is an experimenter who rejects genre boundaries and is quite successful in doing so. He is indie, he is neo-classical, he is the soundtrack to an unmade movie. Synecdoche Montauk is light and darkness, tenderness and despair, and always - love.

(I am still very happy and proud about the fact that this king was a jury member during my graduation at Moscow University of Music)

Well, about the song. The lyrics are written in Russian. Back then, I was a fiction translator from English to Russian. I love music and I love words. So I decided that translating the lyrics of the song into English would be a delightful activity for me. I would really like you to know what this amazing musician sings about. It's worth it.

(I can't help but say that right now I'm hyper-fixated on Good Omens S2 and this song is my personal head canon soundtrack, sorry not sorry)

I am not a native speaker of English. Please forgive me if some of the phrases turned out strange. I put in a lot of effort to do my best.

"The Good Guys"

Hold me close, keep me away from people

A shadow is drowning in milk of the ceiling

The good guys are coming to kill the other good guys

Avoid following them and don't become crazy

Don't let me down

Please keep yourself warm and don't love in vain

Take care of yourself

(Bridge)

Hold me tight like you stole me

After Heaven, it's gonna be Earth again

Therefore, my friend, I tied myself tightly* to you

A pointless gesture, an endless joke

We robbed ourselves innocently

All the gaps will be filled somewhere there

No traces will be left here

You'll wake up suddenly in the middle of the night

Goodbye, my dear friend

In my hungover dream I run

But no matter what I do, I always find you

In every fairy tail about darkness

* In the original lyrics Synecdoche Montauk uses an idiom "namertvo" that is impossible to translate into one word. I could translate it as "I have mortally bonded with you" but it seems that this is not enough. The original sentence translates to 'I tied myself to you so tightly that only death can separate us', and it is harrowingly beautiful.

[superineffable]

MOVIES/SHOWS I'VE WATCHED — 2024

(not necessarily ones that came out on 2024 just ones I watched on 2024)

(started actually writing the list on March so hazy details for some)

(will edit throughout the year i really just want a tracker)

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Taylor Tomlinson: Have It All (2024) ☆☆

~ Good! Fun! I enjoyed her other two shows more, but this was fine too :)

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Hazbin Hotel (2024) ☆☆☆☆

~ Oh the songs!!! The songs are so fun and good and I'm obsessed with all the songs. The story's fine too, heaven and hell topics are always fun to hear about no matter how repetitive it can be at this point but it was okay. I still listen to the soundtrack even though it's been a while since I've watched. (Particularly obsessed with "wait! what.are.you.saying? let. me. get. this. straight. you go downthere and kill those poor souls????" it keeps playing in my head)

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Pirates of the Caribbean (full series) ☆☆☆☆

~ Rewatch! Missed Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner and ended up watching the entire thing again. Glad they're not making another because the story's obviously done and the last two ones kinda felt lower in quality than the first ones but the first ones were so good so they still get four stars.

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Missing (2023) ☆☆

~ This was more fun while I was watching it compared to after I watched it? Not sure if that makes sense but I enjoyed the plot twists while it was happening, it's just that finishing the movie and processing the whole thing made me feel underwhelmed?? But I liked the way that throughout the story you could see bits and pieces of hints about what the story really is. Not something I'd look forward to rewatching, but it was fun to watch !

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Elemental (2023) ☆☆☆☆☆

~ Been a while since I've watched a Pixar film and I really liked this. This was sooo good and I wish they could explore the stories of the world more because it seems very interesting. This could have had a whole series after it too but there isn't any :(

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Moving (2023) ☆☆☆☆☆

~ I was soooo late to this kdrama considering it was something I was looking forward to so much because Cha Taehyun was in it! Loved all the powers and all the backstories! I have no complaints and no notes but I really am hoping rumors of a completely different cast for S2 isn't true and that they would elaborate on the story with the same people, just add more into the mix if needed. Need to see more of CTH's character pleasee let him learn his powers more.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) ☆☆☆☆

~ Rewatch! Still a comfort film for me. I miss my Roald Dahl books

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Make Some Noise (Season 1&2) (2022-2024) ☆☆☆☆

~ Finally got a Dropout subscription!! But yes this was the first ones I immediately went to watch. All of them were great, some prompts weren't relatable/something I was familiar with so there were down moments for me but that's on me!! Special mention to the Plunger that didn't make it to Beauty and the Beast movie, the two Liam Neesons who had to trade their daughters, and the Fisherman who fought God in an arena full of creatures.

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Game Changer (Season 1-5) (2019-2023) ☆☆☆☆☆

~ I was going to pace myself so I don't finish it all in one month but I had to keep watching. Not a single episode missed I enjoyed every single one!!! Currently watching S6 (as of writing this) and also still good! I'd say S4 is my fave season overall? Special mention to my favorite episodes, The Official Cast Recording and Escape the Green Room

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 1 (2023) ☆☆☆

~ Honestly deserves more stars but I can't get past over some of the scenes they've changed from the book that didn't need to be changed. I will probably need the next season to fully appreciate the TV version more because I'm still stuck with the mindset that the TV is a book adaptation, when it really is it's own thing at this point. I love that there's more Sally Jackson appreciation though! And Percy is incredible I actually feel like he's the same Percy from the books.

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Doctor Slump (2024) ☆

~ Was looking forward to this too much because I like the lead actors but something about the way they tackled mental health in the latter parts made me less interested in the drama and honestly the best friends were more fun to watch. Felt like the script was too messy and I really just forced myself to finish it at the end. They were cute when they were getting together tho

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When I Fly Towards You (2023) ☆☆☆☆☆

~ This is the cutest thing ever?? The leads really only had one (1) major problem and they grew from it and became better at being with each other. I also liked that the other characters also had backstories explored and not just a secondary love line. There are a bunch of cliches but it's a romcom so I love that. Zaizai also just strongly established her cute, easygoing, loveable,and fearless character right from the start til the end and I love her!!

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Hidden Love (2023) ☆☆☆

~ Context: was told this was out around same time as WIFTY and competed with it and this was I think received better so I decided to watch it second but that was the wrong choice cause I would have liked WIFTY more either way. There's the (very confusing) age gap thing which, thankfully, they addressed but then they started to lean into it which left me ?? about it but that was really it. I feel like the other backstories apart from the main love story was not as well done as it could have been, but it did have some really good moments. Liked the acting though, they're both very cute! Loved the brother & sister duo as well.

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Physical 100: Season 2 ☆☆☆

~ I liked the camaraderie I saw from Season 1 cast more (even though its a competition) but I think the Season 2 games were more fun to watch them play. Don't really have much to say about it but I didn't really have much of an expectation going into it since I know there were issues with the way they ended last season. I think they were a bit more fair & transparent this time though! If they do another season I hope to see like a category basis type of game? Similar to semi-semifinals in S1 where they get to choose which games they think they'd do best in. But S2 was better in terms of showing different members at least because honestly I didnt know who the S1 finalists were until they were already in the finals, but at least Amotti & Beomseok were known from the start.

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The Marvels (2023) ☆☆☆☆

~ I have started to not keep up with MCU (starting with last two episodes of She-Hulk, so noting that in case I forget and want to catch up) which, honestly, devastating! But cannot blame myself because I don't like the discourse people have surrounding the movies anymore. Anyway, I don't care what other people think! This was a fun one! Sure, there were things that could have been elaborated on (what happened to the water planet???) but I never thought about all that back in the earlier MCU films because I always just thought they'd address those later on or I'd look for fics if I really want answers like a normal person! Point is: it was fun to watch. Loved all three Marvels and I think they were so cute together. Waiting for their next one!! (Hope there is still more because I heard lots of people didn't like it, same thing for Eternals, and now Eternals isn't going to be followed up on?? Huge middle finger to those people who took more Makkari content away from me!)

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Dimension 20: Fantasy High (2018-2019) ☆☆☆

~ Kind of a low rating, but that's because I'm still adjusting I think. I am onboard with the whole story, but it really felt like so many things were being set up for future storylines, which isn't bad!! Very expected, since it's the start of the entire series, so I really could argue for a 4 star rating on this one. I'm just not fully settled in yet with listening/watching to D&D campaigns because this is the first time so I'm sure I've missed a lot of things, but that's on me!! It was a good run though and I've already started with the Sophomore Year, which I think I'm enjoying more? So excited!

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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One ☆☆☆

~ I stupidly made the wrong decision to think this was the first MI movie bc someone told me this was the first I didn't realise they meant it was the first part !! That's on me though :) Anyway, bc of that I didn't get some things which is why I will be watching the whole MI for a bit more context lol But for now, will give it a 3.5 rating since it's something you can watch in passing, just casually, even if you know nothing about it. It's okay! Interested in seeing the second one. I like the built in dynamic that the three guys have already, fun stunts and etc!! Will revisit once I'm done with other IM. [Done with other IM: I CAN'T BELIEVE ILSA'S DEAD THEY REALLY CAN'T KEEP A FEMALE TEAM MEMBER HUH! Gonna raise the rating to 4 because I think it's on the same level as Fallout, but sliiightly better because it's building up to something more. Though I think if the continuity sucks for the next film, my view on this would go down by association haha]

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Abigail (2024) ☆☆☆

~ Not as terrifying as I thought it would be, it's still kinda a horror/thriller. I think my favorite is just Abigail tbh and Sammy when she turned puppet. The whole ballet in a violent way is so good I very much enjoyed that! It's another movie you can watch casually, but ending's not enough for me. I think I would've liked to see Abigail & Joey become friends after no matter how messed up that would be hahaha. Might also enjoy a second part to it!! Alisha Weir you are so talented and wonderful, I'm so excited to see more of your work when as you grow older.

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Mission: Impossible (1996) ☆☆☆

~ Not as fun as I expected? Very cool spy things but story itself was pretty predictable. I thought it would give more origin story of Ethan Hunt, which I think I would've enjoyed more. Didn't expect a 'suspected to be a spy working against them' right off the first film though! Anywayy, kinda low because the recent one has a bit more humor which huh makes me enjoy an action film more. This is more serious and you can feel Ethan's less experienced about it. But still probably the best choice for casual watch if you're good with an older film

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Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) ☆☆

~ Okay! Rating this lower by one star but I can't explain why. It's okay, but some parts of it felt dragged out, though I can't pinpoint which. Liked the stunts in this one more than the first! Also they really made a lot of use of the face mask thing they do this time around which definitely one of the best things they have in this series. Also can be watched casually, but probably wouldn't be my first choice.

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Mission: Impossible III (2006) ☆☆☆

~ First one with Simon's character!! Benji!!! Finally!! Tbh I think he's the character I like seeing interact with Ethan the most. Or my favorite character in the series in general. Not sure why yet. Ethan's wife is so cool but I really suspected her a lot at the start because of how some scenes were shot,, she was really cool at the end though. Would like to see her more. I think this one was a bit better than the other 2, but still a bit dead on some parts. It was okayy !

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Wicked (2013 Version) ☆☆☆☆

~ Been a long time coming. Watched the slime tutorial on youtube (with Donna Vivino & Alli Mauzey)! Performance was obviously amazing, Alli is known for being hilarious as Glinda (based on the comments) which is evident in the show. She really pulled off all the comical moments and it made the show so much more fun. The story itself was good! Not much to comment on for me, except I wish Elphaba and Glinda stayed in touch and I didn't really have much of an opinion on the love story haha,,, I just maybe would have liked a more friendship based one than having a love story mixed in because Elphaba struggled to be friends with anyone from the start. But the songs were great and I'm excited to see the movie now!

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Very Important People: Season 1 ☆☆☆☆

~ The only reason I even deducted one star is just I wish they'd gone more crazy in the costumes. Ify & Zac's costumes were the kind of level I wanted but I'm hoping more of that next season (which I'm already expecting). I love Vic so much, they're the best host for this. The lore of Vic is so fun to unravel. My fave ep (apart from Ify & Zac's) are Anna's and Izzy's!! They have pretty simple costumes but really made the whole thing so fun. Anna's Princess Emily was such a great start and I didn't know what to expect from Izzy's but I loveee the lines she gave. Veryyy hopeful and excited for the next season.

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Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2013) ☆☆☆☆

~ THIS ONE WAS FAMILIAR. I think I might have watched it in a hotel somewhere in passing. But the Burj Khalifa scenes were iconic. The car park scene was fun. I think it's the best so far cause there's no dead scene as far as I recall. ALSO I spent a lot of time getting disappointed with the lack of continuity bc I really liked his wife and she's just gone (I was literally going "Where's his wife :(" the entire first half) bUT OMG SHE WAS HERE! CONTINUITY!! I like the story. This might be the best one in the series, but hoping the next one is better.

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Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) ☆☆☆☆☆

~ BEST INTRO SO FAR. And also best so far!! Topped Ghost Protocol I think. This had eveeerything I wanted and also I think the main reason I enjoyed this was because of Benji and Ilsa. Benji will continue to be my fave, I just really like his character and I'm glad he was more involved in this one. Ilsa was amazing!! She was so fun to watch and her situation was so insane. I liked the whole plot, it was exciting right from the start up until the end. This is really setting my expectations up too high for the next one.

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Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) ☆☆☆☆

~ I feel like this was the one where you can just feel the relief after they dealt with the bomb. They've had bombs in the past but this had a lot of cutting it close. JULIA, YOU'RE THE BEST! YOU'RE THE REASON THIS HAS 4 STARS AND NOT 3! I didn't expect her back but I'm so happy she was in this one despite it being short scenes. I don't think it topped Rogue Nation, I think it's mostly because of Henry Cavill's character? I hated him from the start and it was pretty obvious right off the bat he wasn't on their side so I just didn't like seeing his character in any scene lol...Alanna was fun! I'm glad she's also in the next movie. Ilsa was also greaaat.

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Tarot (2024) ☆☆

~ 2 stars sounds bad but it's really not that bad. It just feels like a last choice for a movie to put on but at least it was still a choice. It was a very obvious type of movie where you just knew logically the tarot readings were foreshadowing their death, so it was a matter of how they were going to show that. But I'm not really a fan of overly bloody and violent deaths on screen (unless deserved lol) so I had to look away several times. And the ending was,,, not as satisfying as it should have been. Not a very memorable movie, which is a shame cause I kinda looked forward to it.

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Atypical Family (2024) ☆☆

~ I'm kinda annoyed because I watched this with two episodes left to come out so I was really excited because the story has been great and the chemistry of the characters was great, and just the whole power concept in general was nice. It was like Moving but less action and more day to day life, which I guess made my expectations too high since I loved Moving. But the last two episodes were the ones that missed for me. The ending especially??? It felt like they needed at least one more episode. Like they barely wrapped anything up and it kinda sucks. If they'll do another season then maybe my rating for this would go up, but idk I'm just finding the ending to have kinda ruined the whole thing for me. Not satisfying to watch at all.

[a-moth-to-the-light]

Summer of K-pop Tag, 28-31

[introduction/full list of questions]

Felt terrible yesterday, but we're doing a bit better this morning :) Listening to the new Itzy album really cheered me up, I think! "Cake" definitely could have been better--like damn it could have been a "Yeppi Yeppi" if the production hadn't been so amateur-sounding--but I'm used to liking the group's b-sides a lot more, anyway, and the album didn't disappoint. The NewJeans style on "None of My Business" suits them really well, for one!

Also, currently trying to decide if I should reread Heartstopper before I watch S2??

Current Obsessions:

Psychic Lover -- Itzy (i never get tired of rock itzy!)

Kill Shot -- Itzy (oh my GOD this would be a perfect song, if only they didn't keep saying "swish swish")

Más Lejos -- Atalhos (i wish my life was the kind of movie that this song would be in the soundtrack for)

Coming of Age -- Maisie Peters (no but this would be so fun at karaoke???)

Dance the Night -- Dua Lipa (if you get it, you get it--and are also probably a huge betty who fan)

Blame it on Me -- Twice (they can SING.)

Turn it Up -- Twice (was stuck in my head all weekend)

Cool About It -- Boygenius (also stuck in my head all weekend)

Questions of the Day: what do you think of mamamoo’s “egotistic"? do you still listen to it?

This was one of the songs that got me into k-pop!! I remember the way, when I was first obsessed with "Egotistic" in 2020, I would find myself dancing along to it without even trying to--at that point, I struggled with feeling very disconnected from my body, so being able to just lose myself in dancing, to feel so completely in tune with my physical self, was huge for me. And I get why my younger self chose this one to dance to--Mamamoo sing the hell out of "Egotistic", somehow sounding even better than my (already high) expectations for them, and you really can't lose with a dembow beat!

I don't listen to "Egotistic" much anymore, though I still enjoy it when I do--I think it's just been replaced for me by Mamamoo's calmer tracks, like "Emotion" and "Self Camera" and Hwa Sa's "Bless U". I still have a taste for high-energy dance music, but I'm not as obsessed with the style as I used to be!

what’s your favorite song from thrill-ing by the boyz?

"Nightmares". I don't really like when this album tries to be ironic, as if the members are laughing at the songs as they perform them--some groups can make that work, but I'm not sure The Boyz can. I just end up feeling like, why am I listening to this song, if you don't even care about it? In contrast to the title track, then, I like that "Nightmares" feels genuine in its silly moments. It doesn't feel like someone is on the other side of the screen, holding up a sign that says "laugh! this is a joke". Instead, it feels like it's primarily meant to be a nice-sounding song (the vocals are awesome!), with some jokes hidden in there to reward repeat listens.

what’s your favorite song with the word ‘summer’ in the title?

"Our Summer" by TXT. It's such a sweet, tender song, and that wholesomeness has secured it a special place in my heart for years now!

what’s your favorite song released this month?

"Shhh" by Kiss of Life! This is such a perfect match of song and performers--I can hear so much confidence in every second of "Shhh", and that just makes me want to listen to it again and again!

what’s your favorite question from this challenge?

The summer memory one! Songs and memories have always intersected a lot for me, but while brainstorming for that question, it was kind of wild to realize just how clear of an image a song can bring to my mind--I'm someone who doesn't remember things very clearly, especially not visually, but I guess music is a better memory aid for me than I had realized!

[seghs24]

Just finished Centaurworld S2! My thoughts:

Music was nice but I prefer the S1 soundtrack I think. Idk I'll probably fall in love with it when I listen to the soundtrack again.

Ohhhhh my GOD the fucking Fandom episode. Do people really ship Zulius and Glendale????????

Durpleton's backstory was really upsetting. At first I thought him adopting the Minotaur was just haha funny joke but then it's like. Jesus Christ. He wanted to prove that he could be a good, caring father and not awful like his dad.

Also Horse giving Ched a little kiss on the head....... My fucking heart

I'm SO SAD Horse didn't go look at Zulius' backstory. Really would love to know what was up with him and Splendib. Wish they got together For Real and not just like, vaguely implied they're a couple now.

C.......Ched has a crush on Zulius!???!??!?!??

The fucking birdtaur (Bayden?) that got turned into a monster is absolutely horrifying :)))))

The Nowhere King is still creepy as an elk!

Also love that the dude started an entire war and killed hundreds of thousands of people and centaurs because he was too anxious to ask out a girl. How do you fuck up that bad my guy!!!

The last episode made me cry and now my head hurts :(

Overall I SUPER enjoyed it please watch it if you like haha silly cartoons that end up being absolutely horrific and terrifying

[turtlegirlave]

So this has a ton of opinions which I usually stray away from but i really let all my opinions out here. Also there is definitely fact mistakes, probably name mistakes and some incorrect singing terms in here, I wrote this at 2 A.M. with a limited knowledge of theater I’m just trying to get a point across.

Why s2 of hsm the series should have been newsies instead of beauty and the beast:

They say straight up in the show “we need a real Alan Menkhen musical” and they pick beauty and the beast instead of newsies, a literal Broadway stage production???

At first I assumed it was because the cast was primarily male, but that isn’t even a reasonable argument. 1)as shown by s1 when a boy played sharpay, gender doesn’t matter when being considered for a role. 2), a cast with multiple male leads would give the gay men in the show a chance to shine, instead of shoving them to background roles like Chip. Not to mention Carlos is a dancer, and newsies is a musical driven by choreography. 3), since nini moved there are only like 2 lead females anyway, which works for the 2 female roles in newsies.

Casting Wise, the play works SO MUCH better!

Ricky: jack kelley is a much better role for him than the beast for many reasons. First, their personalities are very similar with the mischievous main teen vibe, so the role would be like Troy where Ricky can slip into it easier. Second, it fits him better vocally. It is very clear from listening to Joshua basset sing that he has a relatively high vocal range, and singing low notes or in a deep voice doesn’t come as naturally to him. Jeremy Jordan has a similar vocal range, where he stays in higher octaves and more rarely uses a deep, monotone voice (at least never to the beast’s extent). Ricky would sound perfect singing in Jack’s vocal range. The beast, however, sings almost exclusively in an extremely deep, monotone voice that Joshua cannot easily perform.

Ashlyn: not only does she look quite similar to Katherine, but they have similar personalities as well. Also, katherine’s high and bubbly singing voice would sound lovely with Ash’s, which is also high and bubbly but often softer. This would allow her to push herself to sing louder and more confidently. And she still gets to play a smart bookworm lead female role.

Kourtney: she was born to play miss medda larken. Mrs. Potts’ debut song “beauty and the beast” is a soft romance ballad, which does not match kourt’s stadium reach, strong, powerful voice. “That’s rich” not only shows off her vocals better, but matches her personality and voice much better with the grit and power behind it. Also, Mrs Potts as a character is the soft, motherly type. Miss medda is a rambunctious, empowered, “I got men if I want em but I don’t need em” kinda woman. Which role better fits the girl power, loud, activist, personal cheer squad type person that Kourtney is?

Carlos and Sebastian: not only would this stop shoving the gays and only interesting men other than Ricky to background roles (sorry big red), but it would show off their talents. Seb would make a wonderful crutchy, with his innocent nature and likeness to the character. It would also give him a chance to flex his vocals and sing a duet with Ricky in Santa Fe, further developing the friendships in the show. Carlos could play really any of the main boys, I mostly think he would kill in this due to his dance and choreography skills, which newsies really emphasizes.

Big red: PLEASE this boy would be perfect as Ben Cook’s role (can’t remember the newsie’s name). They’re both the kinda dumb but endearing friend type, and he leads “king of New York”, a song with a killer tap dancing break, which is the whole reason big red wanted to try out! His chemistry with Ricky as crutchy would make that a fine role for him too, but since Sebastian has stronger vocals I think it’s better for him to take a more prominent role while big red relies on his dancing skills over singing.

Gina: though there’s no more lead girl roles, I think she would kill it as mr. Pulitzer. They could add some spice to the character through her insane dance skills, and she would play a great “cunning yet intelligent buisinesswoman” type. This dude also gets 2 or 3 songs, and honestly I don’t remember who she plays in Beauty and the beast so idk.

EJ: I admit Gaston is a perfect role for him and I can’t fit him into newsies well. He would play a good spot conlin, though it is a significantly smaller role. No one really cares about ej though so small loss.

Plot valuability:

doing newsies makes literally way more sense. Firstly, they are kinda planning entering this show last-minute compared to the competition, so to pick a show already written and choreographed for stage production would really save time. (Even though it would still need work to be condensed for a high school production). Second, miss Jen is so determined to stand out from the crowd and win the contest so she picks... beauty and the beast? One of the most popular Disney movies (and honestly with one of Alan’s weaker soundtracks compared to tangled, Aladdin, and the little mermaid imo). Having them do newsies, especially when switching up gender roles like casting Gina as Pulitzer, would actually make them stand apart from the dozens of schools performing Disney movies. It would also give a significantly more impressive vocal and dance performance, since the songs were written for Broadway singers rather than actors. The set is also more cheap and condensed, while still looking professional, which would help with their “we’re too poor and late to afford a straight-up aquarium so let’s do the most with what we’ve got.” Putting the characters in these roles would also not alter their development or main story plots much, besides strengthening certain friendships and pushing aside less popular characters (ej). It would also give more rep for the gays as well as switching up gender roles. Imagine, the gay guys get actual things to do in the show and aren’t defined by the sole plot of “my boyfriend rich” relationship drama! (I love these two but I am a tired ace). Also jerjor performs in both this and tangled the series, so it’s a double whammy for Alan menkhen representation.

Marketability: I know the musical has to be widely known and appealing to viewers. People watched s1 because they love hsm. People also love beauty and the beast, so viewership may raise with fans of the movie. Newsies doesn’t die here, though. It is a very widely popular play among theatre people, and existed first as a movie musical so it isn’t exclusive to theater kids. Also, fans of Newsies are generally between their tweens and early twenties, the exact age demographic for the show. Beauty and the beast is a classic and more widely known, but also doesn’t draw in large numbers of the exact age group you want. Also, the fact that newsies is a little less mainstream only helps the plot point of them choosing it to still have something well known while also standing out from the competition. Doing beauty and the beast is not only an awful choice for casting that limits the actors vocals or is completely out of their range, but it also makes them blend in with the crowd.

Final notes: beauty and the beast was IMO the worst choice for the play this season. Movies like Aladdin and tangled both have very energetic and loud soundtracks that allow these characters to belt their hearts out. Beauty and the beast has a very folksy, quiet, ballad type of track that limits the actors. The only actor that I think sings ballads better than big booming tracks is Nini, who isn’t even in the play this year. Ricky also sings great ballads, which is why ballads that are still slow but also emotional and powerful like “Santa fe” or “something to believe in” (which would sound AMAZING in his and Ashlyn’s voices) fit much better than the deep voice of the beast that he can not comfortably sing in. Also, the beast has very few songs whereas newsies would allow him to belt his heart out in nearly every song with that lovely voice he has. The age range of the newsies cast (that characters are supposed to be 17) fits better with these very teen actors than a movie about old fashioned French young adults. Really newsies was the best musical choice for this season, but I also believe beauty and the beast was the last one they should have chosen.

(After reading comments I rescind my statement that beauty and the beast was the worst choice, but it’s still second to newsies imo)

Feel free to debate me in the comments or point out my mistakes, I’m very open to other points of view

[strangerthings4theories]

Katabasis and Anabasis: Billy Is The God-King Who Dies and Lives Again, Pt. 1

I’ve already offered evidence that Billy is a Christ figure. Mythologically speaking, the story of Christ fits into a larger tradition - that of the god-king who dies and lives again. This is an ancient mytheme that occurs over and over in wildly disparate cultures. It just really speaks to us for some reason, no matter where we’re from. If you want to tell a story that packs a punch, you can’t go wrong by tapping into this ancient myth.

With Billy, the Duffers have done precisely that. (Intentionally, imo.)

Proving it will take some work, so I hope you’re ready. ;) In this post, I’ll explore the extensive king symbolism that Billy has already been given. In my second post, I’ll explore his extensive god symbolism. In the third, I’ll explain the concepts of katabasis and anabasis and show how they apply to Billy.

>>In S2, Billy is a king in the making.

Billy may be a scruffy street rat when we meet him, but he has grand ambitions. From the second he struts into S2, he’s shown as having one primary goal: replace Steve Harrington as “King of Hawkins High.” He constantly stabs Steve in the back, undermines his manhood, and claims superiority in everything from playing sports to bedding women. And he does so with startling intensity.

We need only a handful of scenes to see this dynamic in action.

In our first scene with Billy and Steve, Billy’s just beaten the school’s keg record. “We have a new Keg King!” proclaims Tommy, Steve’s former hype-man. As the crowd chants Billy’s name, Billy struts inside, where he catches sight of Steve across the room. He then approaches him, climbing up onto a symbolic royal dais to present himself as a challenger to the throne. “We have a new Keg King, Harrington,” Tommy crows, informing us that the record Billy broke was Steve’s.

Old King, meet the new King.

In their next scene, they’re playing basketball, literally competing with one another. Billy seizes the chance to taunt Steve. “Harrington, right? I heard you used to run this school. […] Then you turned bitch.” He punctuates his taunt by shoving Steve to the ground and scoring a basket.

Undermine Steve’s manhood? Check. Imply his days as king are over? Check. Show him you’re gonna take his place? Check.

As if to emphasize the point - that Billy’s after Steve’s crown - the Duffers give us another basketball scene, this time with “Push It To The Limit” as the soundtrack. Here Billy taunts Steve by asking, “What? You afraid the coach is gonna bench you now that I’m here?” Then he shoves Steve down again, scores another basket, and comes back with an outstretched hand, presumably to help Steve to his feet. 

Not so. He just wants to undermine Steve further by suggesting he's incompetent.

“You were moving your feet,” he says. “Plant them next time. Draw a charge.” With that, he shoves Steve down a third time and walks away.

In the shower scene that follows, Billy offers a superficial olive branch, except it’s patronizing and dripping with disdain. “Don’t take it too hard, man,” he says of Steve’s breakup with Nancy. “Pretty boy like you’s got nothing to worry about. Plenty of bitches in the sea. Am I right?” Then he walks away with a parting shot: “I’ll be sure to leave you some.”

These scenes paint a picture of two alpha males vying for authority. The dialogue refers to kings and rulers, Steve and Billy literally compete at every turn, and Billy symbolically kills Steve by shoving him to the ground. By the time he offers his “olive branch,” Billy clearly believes he’s won. He’s King of Hawkins High now, with everything that entails. Steve’s once-loyal subjects are now his, and he gets first pick of the women. Steve has to make do with the leftovers. 

>>By the beginning of S3, Billy has settled comfortably into his “kingship.”

Alas, poor Steve. While he’s been reduced to pauper status, dishing out ice cream for children and struggling to land a date, Billy has ascended to the symbolic throne of the Hawkins Community Pool. In his first scene, he emerges gloriously into the sun, with the perfectly coiffed hair of a spoiled monarch. Then he struts to the throne the lifeguard chair from which he will rule the citizens of Hawkins. Along the way, he spots a citizen breaking the law, and he lets his displeasure be known. Loudly.

“No running on my watch! I catch you running again, and you’ll be banned for life. You wanna be banned for life, lard-ass?”

Brutal. But Billy is king of the pool, and the king has total authority.

He even has a symbolic harem: the middle-aged women who wait at the pool every day, clamoring, “Pick me!” “No, me!”  When Billy chooses Karen, he’s picking her out of the harem. She has won the favor of the king.

That night, as Billy drives his royal chariot Camaro to their meeting place, he’s smiling and laughing. He has everything he (supposedly) wanted in S2 - power, glory, sex. No one can dim his star.

Then the Mind Flayer strikes. Like an assassin, He waylays the king’s chariot Billy's Camaro on the road, then symbolically kills him by dragging him into the underworld the basement of the steel mill.

At the height of his powers, the king has been dragged off his throne. It’s a fuckin’ good twist, full of high drama and mythological meaning.

>>Even after he’s been “killed,” Billy’s kingly spirit shines through.

Yes, he’s the Mind Flayer’s puppet when El meets him. Still, their meeting is framed as the street rat visiting the prince or king in his castle. He’s presiding over a royal banquet for his subjects the Holloways, in a room decorated with gold and elegant chinoiserie. His hair is still beautifully coiffed, and he’s wearing a princely blue shirt.

(Here, have some graphics, because this is one of my favorite looks for him EVER)

In addition, lions are mentioned multiple times in Stranger Things. In S1, Nancy compares the Demogorgon to a lion: “And it seems to hunt at night, like a lion or coyote.” In S2, Steve tells Dustin you can pursue girls aggressively like a lion or stealthily like a ninja. (THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LINE OF DIALOGUE! I’ll make a post about it eventually.)

For several reasons, I’ve come to believe Billy is the lion of Stranger Things. 

1) His coloring is similar.

2) The sound design of the Camaro incorporates the roar of a big cat. (So does the sound design of the Demogorgon. Just fyi.) Listen to the Camaro in the first few seconds of this clip. Hear the roar? :)

3) When El comes to him in the Void, he’s made up to look like a lion: dark shading around the eyes, a golden “mane,” tan skin.

4) The Void scene evokes the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. El is Daniel, trapped in a symbolic cave with Billy, the lion who just might eat her.

This is such common knowledge it hardly bears mentioning, but lions have long been regarded as regal, noble creatures. They’ve been called “king of the cats” and “king of the savanna.” Even Christ himself was called “the Lion of Judah.”

A lion is the perfect symbol for Billy. He’s fierce, lethal, but ultimately noble at heart. Piss him off, and he just might eat your face.

By showing us his kingly “lion” side in the Void, the Duffers are saying his star may have been dimmed for now... but it’s still hidden deep inside him, waiting for the chance to shine again.

In my next post, I’ll explore how Billy evokes not just general god symbolism, but three gods in particular - Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, the three brother-gods of Greek mythology.

»»————-　✼　————-««

The “Billy Is Alive” Meta Series

For updates, follow the hashtag #billy is alive meta

[stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale]

How would you rank telltale's other games (not including twdg)?

Of the ones I've played, from best to worst imo:

1. Tales from the Borderlands. Listen, I've never picked up a Borderlands game, never had any real interest.... but I love this game. While twdg is my favorite from Telltale, I genuinely believe this game is the best thing they ever put out and I will be forever pissed that this didn't get a sequel. Great characters that actually grow and develop relationships with one another, antagonists that are enjoyable and hateable [in a good way], great story, great writing, choices that matter.... overall amazing game. If you haven't played it, go get yourself a copy. Do it, do it now, play it and have fun.

2&3. Batman s1 & s2. I believe s2 is the better of the two, but s1 is still one of the best from Telltale. I'm not a big Batman gal, I don't really get into the DC world, but like with tftb, I adore this game anyway despite not being super familiar with the source material. Anyone who has watched my streams of s2 in particular knows how emotional it makes me. I just.... Bruce and John Doe's relationship throughout the season just gets to me, it's so well done and heartbreaking. Also, I love Bruce as a playable protagonist, he's fucking great.

4. Game of Thrones. Yes, really, I'm putting it this high. I'm actually shocked that I enjoyed this game as much as I did because again, I didn't watch the show, didn't read the books, not a fan of the source material. I went into this blind. While it has a slower start where I felt like I had to force myself to really pay attention otherwise I would get lost, once I had a grasp of the characters and the four storylines, I could relax and get immersed and enjoy the experience... well, "enjoy" is a loose term, I suppose. Also, it has a certain choice later in the season that actually haunts me. I still think about it to this day. Like... I had to pause the game, I had to breathe, I had to cry to chat during the stream I was doing, it hurt me deeply and I haven't let it go. Holy shit.

5. The Wolf Among Us. I love this game. Bigby is one of my favorite playable protagonists in any Telltale game. I love the aesthetic of it all, I love the character designs despite a lot of the characters not actually being favorites of mine. I love a good murder mystery. It has an amazing soundtrack. I do feel like this game is held back a bit by some of the side characters, and the reveal of who the big bad really was is.... ehhh, could've been better. Still totally worth playing, though.

6. Minecraft Story Mode. Uuuuggggghhhhh...... and we have a huge drop off. I can't with this game. It's awful. It's boring, it's slow, the characters have one-note personalities, the plot is dumb, Jesse isn't allowed to have a character because they gotta be vague so you can project yourself on them which I don't love, it's riddled with fake choices that don't matter, it feels passionless, and there didn't need to be eight episodes. Oh, and it has one of the most botched death scenes I have ever experienced in a game. Like... I have little to nothing positive to say about mcsm. It feels nothing like a Telltale game, it feels a knock-off but it's not and I hate it. There was one choice that I kinda liked, the one where you gotta decide which armor to wear but whoever's armor you take, they're left defenseless which results in them getting killed. I like that you have six Jesse's to choose from in terms of looks.... um.... Lukas was okay? The murder mystery episode with all the dumb youtuber cameos was probably the best episode of the eight. Again, I streamed this game... ask anyone who was there how miserable I was the entire time. It still pisses me off that THIS got a sequel but Tales from the Borderlands, Game of Thrones, and Wolf Among us didn't. It infuriates me that it made more money that those better games. I just.... UGH.

7. Guardian's of the Galaxy. The only reason this one is below mcsm is because I literally couldn't finish it. Not because it was so terrible... no, I physically couldn't finish it because it was a broke mess. I kept getting stuck and soft-locked, I had to back out of episodes and then go back to pick certain choices because some choices just don't work and break the game. Another one I streamed, and once we hit what...? the end of ep3, I believe? we got stuck and I gave up and just read from the wiki of what happens at the end of the episode, and then just moved on to ep4..... only to have it fucking break halfway through ep4 with no way to continue other than to restart the episode from the beginning and pick different choices that wouldn't break everything and I just..... I couldn't do it. I read from the wiki for the rest of the game.... it was ridiculous. I can't believe Telltale actually released something so broken. And it wasn't just my copy, a lot of people had the same issues I did. For as much as I fucking hate mcsm, at the very least I was able to finish it.

Those are the ones I've played. And no, I haven't played mcsm s2 because I can't get my hands on a copy and I'm not willing to watch a playthrough. I never want to touch that game ever again. I would rather play Life is Strange: Before the Storm than mcsm and that's probably the biggest insult I could give it. Ugh.

But yeah, the other games are great, highly recommend.