#i'm not sure where this plot thread goes from here just that it gets even more shitpost

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

Works in Progress Recs

This week, we've got nine (nein) works in progress to ring in the new year with! Check them out beneath the cut, and as always (but especially for works in progress) - if you like them, be sure to let the author know!

A Favor Accepted by Samjoinedthereconcorps (211727, General)

Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Picks up after canon right after the Essek reveal, Essek goes to Rumblecusp with the Mighty Nein and works to earn back their trust. Feelings with Caleb ensue.

Reccer says: The slow burn for the two builds up off of what has been shown in canon but viewed through a Shadowgast lens, making the characterizations feel grounded and accurate. The Mighty Nein dynamic and how the bring Essek into their fold is just great :)

Re-sublimity by OMGitsgreen (18505, Mature)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

What happens when one who should be long dead is suddenly once again in front of you? Their voice, their face, even seemingly their morals and inclinations? A Shadowgast Jupiter Ascending AU, where Caleb while visiting the planet of Roshona with the Nein for spaceship repairs learns his existence itself proves astronomically impossible odds: a true Recurrence.

Reccer says: I'm StreetwiseFool on Ao3. I have ADORED this work for the years since it's latest update. I will adore it evermore. Please give it love, as I yearn for that final chapter. It takes the most fun concepts from the (not so great) film where derives its au plot and makes it SO heartrenchingly shadowgast and spectacular. There's whump, there's affection, all of the Nein are wonderfully done here. Plus I love how they adapted the film's worldbuilding to Exandria's and vice versa. My heart broke in the best way and you can't help but fervently wonder how it'll all play out as you read. I hope the author sees this and knows no matter finished or unfinished I'll love this work forever. I'm stoked for the chance to recommend it.

Wizard Brunch by RainbowBard (25485, Mature)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek gets a mysterious message from a stranger asking if he wants to join him for brunch.

Reccer says: I love this. The idea of Essek meeting and hanging out with Gilmore is something that should happen all of the time.

Fortune's Favor (Fortune's Fools) by Flashhwing (30289, Teen)

Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

Essek gets stuck in the past and meets the M9 while they are still disorganised hot messes. Artagan is along for the ride.

Reccer says: It was probably the first Shadowgast and M9 fic I read and it set the tone.

the golden thread around your neck whispered visions of my undoing by MarsBar2019 (191412, Explicit)

Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

Caleb Widogast does not belong here.

Reccer says: The best sort of plotty smut.

Soak me in your sin by witches_chant (12712, Explicit)

Reccer's Content Notes: Dubcon/Consensual Non Consent

When Essek and Caleb confess that they have had secret, slightly exotifying fantasies about each other, they decide to test it out in role-play. The indulgent weekend brings them closer together, and reveals new layers of both their sexuality and darkness.

Reccer says: Delicious cnc rp between Caleb and Essek!

Cascade Effect by firefright (6867, Teen)

Reccer's Content Notes: Omegaverse

Essek follows the Nein into Aeor, where the already daunting task of saving the world is further complicated by yet another twist in his and Caleb's fractured relationship.

Reccer says: Always here for some good omegaverse! A wonderful take on how Essek and Caleb's relationship has become strained after the exposure of Essek’s lies.

Temporal Shunt (The Art of Vanishing in Place) by Inanerial (43419, Mature)

Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Essek struggles with past trauma and his eating disorder

Reccer says: A wonderful look into a possible Thelyss family dynamic that takes into account the religious trauma Essek might have experienced. The food struggle is real and handled very well.

The Kitchen Sink by mousecookie (17126, Mature)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Modern AU - Caleb has many odd jobs, which means he keeps accidentally running into supermodel Essek Thelyss, who is concerned Caleb might be following him (he’s not)

Reccer says: Very cute and scratches multiple ‘modern AU’ tropes at once (coffee shop, superstar, museum curator, etc)

This is one of our weekly communally-generated shadowgast rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. 

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be featuring BDSM!

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

[doux-amer]

Am I the only person dissatisfied with Irving's arc this season? It may be because he's been my bias since day 1 in S1, but we barely got to see him and when we did, he barely did anything! Yes, he unmasked Helena posing as Helly. Yes, he found out about the export hall and where it is. Yes, he went to dinner at Burt's. But...none of those threads went anywhere in the end, when it comes to moving Irving's story.

Sorry, I love my old man yaoi—and I enjoyed the dinner scene (it's one of my favorite parts of S2) and I got emotional over the farewell scene in S2E9—but I'm not blinded by it and I got increasingly vexed by the writers because it seemed like they were going, "But isn't that enough? :)" Irving felt so passive this season, other than during the ORTBO and even then, I wasn't happy because it felt like his suspicion came out of nowhere instead of being built up after him questioning Helena about the night gardener in the first episode.

He just goes "hm...Helly's not herself" and "hm...something's up here with these two (Burt and Fields)" and then literally does nothing. Who was he talking to on the payphone? What were Irving's plans going to be had he not been contacted by Burt? We had this guy listening to angry, loud metal while obsessively painting the same haunting, black void of a hallway over and over and depriving himself of sleep, with a whole trunk of research. He doesn't seem like he's from Kier (at least that's my interpretation for a few reasons); he seems like he's there for the sole purpose of digging into Lumon. Why did he choose to sever himself? When and why did he decide to investigate into Lumon's misdeeds? What is he trying to find?

It's heartbreaking that Irving and Burt clearly care for each other, or want to anyway because of the glimpse they had of the happiness and love that eluded both of them and continues to, but you're really telling me, this is all we get of Irving this season? It feels like Irving's more of a plot device than a character this season, other than episode 1 and the tender moment between Felicia and him.

That last moment between Irving and Burt touched me (while stressing me out because I couldn't trust Burt fully until the end jflkasdjflasj), but I feel like you learn more about Burt than you do about Irving, other than Irving's desire to be loved and seen which...we already knew because of innie Irving, but I know it's different because outie Irving is confessing that out loud, probably for the first time. Burt tries to wash his hands of his culpability in Lumon's machinations, but he cannot let any danger befall Irving, however much of a stranger Irving is on the outside, so this was his solution to getting rid of Irving: ensuring that Irving is safe and far, far away from Kier. That readjusts and adds to the outie Burt we know so far who's super mysterious!

Meanwhile, we just get Irving shipped off to who knows where. Literally into the sunset! I mean, sure, I would hope that we'll see him in the finale and I'm sure he'll come back in S3 (he has to, right?), but ....??????? Why is he lacking any agency of his own? He feels like he's floating around until the plot needs to move him somewhere. :( I want more of my favorite old man. :(!!!!

[charmac]

"Caution on scene where Dennis sho[ws/ots] video footage of him masturbating a dog & [w/t]hen Dennis holds up a Tupperware container."

I've been wondering if the "him" in this sentence does not actually refer to Dennis (could be Cricket or a new character?). Because wouldn't it say, "..video footage of him masturbating a dog & [w/t]hen HE holds up a Tupperware container." Idk I feel like it's phrased a bit weirdly. But maybe I'm clutching ar straws because I'm struggling to envision a situation in which Dennis would willingly do that (and film it??). He doesn't even like dogs! 😂

I definitely went there as well!

The grammar being wrong really hinges on if it says “when” or “then”. I initially thought it said then, which means it would be strange to repeat Dennis as the subject of a continuing sentence, but if it says “when”, it’s indicative of this being two different shots, hence the re-establishment of Dennis would make sense. (i.e. Page 26 has two scenes, this is a warning of Dennis in scene X where he does the dog, and Dennis in scene Y where he shows the Tupperware container.) If it is one scene, though, stating Dennis twice is odd.

In either case, I think the real ability to interpret this from a grammatical stand point comes down to me (and probably everyone here?) being completely unfamiliar with how FX gives their Practices & Standards Notes to Rob for Sunny...

If the volume of notes is so great that they break it down related to each character (Frank, for example, cos this seems like something they’d soo put Danny through), it would make sense that they’d only name a character who is not the subject of the note. So maybe the heading says “Frank” and then goes by page for each action and warning, using the pronoun to refer to the main subject and naming the other characters in the scene…

But.. are there a ton of notes for Sunny? I mean, you’d maybe think so based on the content of the show, but this is FX, you can do way more here than you can on network TV so they’d likely be subject to fewer notes. In which case it would just be points from the script, by page broadly, and the pronoun “he” would really have to refer to Dennis in a stand-alone paragraph.

So while the grammar does strike me as possibly indicative of greater missing context, it really might just be the result of Sunny being on FX for 20 years now, and communication like this ending up casual and a little rushed. (Like, there’s clearly a missing “the” before the word “scene”, I’m not sure the person writing this even proofread lmfao)

It’s definitely an interesting thread to pull on, though! Dennis does hate dogs pretty consistently. Orchestrating and presenting something like this but not being/refusing to be the one to actually get his hands dirty seems more on-par with his character… but context is definitely gonna be everything here.

And I do wanna reiterate how clear Glenn and Charlie have made it to me (and in podcasts recently) that they really do care about the character’s motivations, and in 16 especially forward, they’re prioritising characterisation over slotting their characters into a role for sake of the plot. If something seems so blatantly out of character, I have faith the context will make it make sense. It’s Sunny, so maybe it will be gross and abhorrent, but it really won’t be out of character.

[narujenreacts]

Will Murder Drones get a Season 2?

Alrighty. So, after GLITCH's post yesterday of Digital Circus that also mentioned "We're also working hard on Murder Drones & will be releasing final episodes soon!", which sent a lot of the fandom (including yours truly) into a panic that this meant these are the final episodes for the SERIES and not the 1st season. However, that felt off to me since GLITCH has been promoting MD as Season 1 and not a short series, which, if it had always intended to be only 8 episodes, it would've been. That's just how it goes in the industry for online series. And I believe GLITCH wouldn't make that kind of mistake in marketing. It'd be different too if it was only promoted as Season 1 for the teaser, but it's been that way up until that Digital Circus post. Hell, here are some of the things Kevin and Liam said during GlitchX:

"I remember when we were coming up with the, uh, this is like way before when, you know, Murder Drones was really, like we were really going for a smaller, smaller show-" - Kevin

"The whole oil thing that was getting set up in the pilot, that was gonna be like a MASSIVE sort of plot thread throughout the season." - Kevin

"Because in terms of importance to kind of where I want the story to go, it just ended up being less relevant." - Liam

"We, um, did the opposite of that. I think the series as it progressed, which I think is - it is intentional, I would say. We have gone from, I think, supremely silly to supremely kind of self-serious." - Liam

"There's so many dog easter eggs if you go and watch through the entire season." - Kevin

"We are announcing the finale of the season." - Kevin

With everything they said, none of it sounds like Murder Drones was intended to be a single season series. Now, this leaves two questions myself and I'm sure some of you have, "Why haven't they announced a S2 yet then and why are they barely posting MD?" I decided to enter analyzation mode and went digging through GLITCH's Twitter and YouTube. What I found was that this isn't GLITCH's first time handling their series like this.

Meta Runner Season 1 (Animated Movie Cut) was released on Aug 28, 2020 and in the description Season 2 was immediately announced since they already had it done.

Meta Runner Season 2 - EP 1: Hard Reset released Oct 16, 2020. The final episode for S2, "EP 10: Fatal Error" was released Dec 18, 2020 and there was no mention of the 3rd and final season.

Want to know when they announced it? Not until Nov 29, 2021. Over a YEAR later.

And before that they barely posted anything of MR. At first it was Sunset Paradise, and then once that series was about to conclude they started posting about MD. A lot. Way more than they have for DC. And when they announced S3 for MR they didn't even mention it was the series finale! That wasn't announced until May 6, 2022, 6 months after S3 was even announced.

However, once they did they made it VERY clear it was the final season. 99% of their posts of MR after that mentioned it was the final season.

So, to conclude my thoughts. I don't think we should be worried. I wouldn't suggest getting our hopes up TOO high, because despite GLITCH handling MD the same way they did MR, there's always the chance MD doesn't get a second season. That way we're not deeply disappointed if it doesn't, but after looking into it I personally feel a lot more confident MD will get a S2. Just be prepared that if GLITCH doesn't say anything, it could be up to a year before they do, but if MR fans could hold out for as long as they did, we can too. Don't forget either GLITCH isn't only working on the first season of DC. They're also working on the pilot for Gaslight District.

[greenthena]

The Eldritch Ball or Aziraphale's Macabre Danse

I'm a huge sucker for dark classical music (I'm using the term "classical" broadly, not referring to the specific period. Music-y folks, please forgive.) As such, Saint-Saëns's "Danse Macabre" is one of my all time favorite pieces. It's spooky. It's intentionally dissonant. It's even got a jump scare! Like, literally, the perfect piece of music.

The story behind "Danse Macabre" goes like this: Each Halloween at midnight, Death enters the graveyard with a fiddle. As he plays, the skeletons rise from the ground and dance through the cemetery, resurrected by Death's power and possessed by his instrument.

In S2 E3, the Bentley plays "Danse Macabre" as Aziraphale drives up to Edinburgh. "What do we do? We play classical music that stays classical music." (And the Bentley listens to him! Because the Bentley is an expression of Crowley's subconscious and wants to please him and make him happy...and I'm sure you can find lots of excellent metas to that end. Or maybe you have another theory about why the Bentley is so pliant toward the angel? I'd love to hear it. But that's not what I'm talking about right now. I'm just getting distracted.)

Why is this song so perfect for a bit of subtle foreshadowing and repeated metaphor? So glad you asked. I have reasons. And evidence. Please, peruse my wares.

In the A Plot of this episode, Aziraphale travels to Scotland to visit a pub called The Resurrectionist. (Ya know, like Death? Like how Death resurrects people in the song? Okay, just wanted to really hit that nail into the coffin.) The pub is, of course, named for a certain Mr. (not Dr., he's a surgeon) Dalrymple, whom Crowley and Aziraphale meet in the accompanying flashback minisode entitled (you'll never guess) "The Resurrectionist." The minisode plot involves Crowley and his the angel encountering young Elspeth, a grave robber who, like Death, releases the bodies of the deceased from their earthly bonds of soil and stone. My interpretation is that Elspeth becomes Death incarnate, first in the process of using her instrument (her shovel) to resurrect the dead, and later when she inadvertently brings about the literal death of her partner, Wee Morag. Rather than allow Wee Morag's body to turn to dust in the ground, Elspeth "resurrects" her, selling her body to Dr. Dalrymple (sorry, Mr. Dalrymple, he's a surgeon, not a doctor), who will use Wee Morag's body for research, which will in turn save the lives of countless others by furthering the field of medicine. A form of resurrection, indeed. There's also the plot thread of Crowley and Aziraphale providing Elspeth with a nest egg to escape the cycle of poverty into which she has been born. This, too, is another form of re-birth. Or, say it with me, resurrection. Alright, you're getting it now.

Okay, now I get to delve into the fun stuff. Let's talk about that cotillion ball, shall we? You know, that danse party where Aziraphale persuades all the shopkeepers on Whickber street to attend a Jane Austen-style ball?

I personally refer to this whole fiasco experience as the Eldritch Ball. On the surface, it seems fairly innocent. The shopkeepers need a little bit of encouragement to attend the Whickber Street monthly meeting, but the angel manages to convince everyone to join with the help of some coercion-via-bribery. When they show up, they're transmuted into Austen-esque characters, from their clothes, to their speech patterns, even to some extent, their perception of reality. This is where it starts to get a little uncomfortable if you peel back the layers. Mrs. Sandwich can't talk about what she does for a living, which is a great comedy bit, but also demonstrates that her speech is being significantly censored and altered by an outside force. With the exception of Mr. Brown (hidden agendas here, Neil? I honestly don't know), all the shopkeepers find themselves in new, slightly-period-appropriate garments. What's really weird, though, is that no one notices the changes. When the dancing begins, to the music of Mr. Anderson's piano and an accompanying string quartet (strings...as in violins...as in fiddles. Remember Death's fiddle?), Nina appears to be the only one who realizes that something is off.

Maggie: This is something new.

Nina: This is something completely bonkers. Are we...? Why is everyone talking like they've escaped from Pride and Prejudice?

Maggie: Just getting into the spirit of things, I suppose.

Nina: The spirit of what things? This is meant to be the shopkeeper association monthly meeting.

Maggie: Hmm. Yes. Now that you put it like that...

Nina: Are we dancing?

Maggie: Yes.

Nina: Did you ever learn the steps to this dance?

Maggie: It's just what we do, isn't it?

Nina: No. No, it isn't. This is something mad. This is their [Crowley & Azirapahle's] fault. They're doing this.

Something is definitely mad. One might even say it's macabre. Aziraphale has become Death the Resurrectionist. He has lured the shopkeepers of Whickber Street through a portal (as Death leads his flock from the world of the dead to the world of the living.) Aziraphale's instrument is his clipboard and pen, held almost as one might hold a fiddle and bow, as he invites the various shopkeepers to the monthly meeting. Once they all arrive, he miraculously gives them new clothes (as Death knits together the bones of the dead), and then proceeds to control their bodies and minds, as though they are merely marionettes. They dance and speak in the way Aziraphale imagines, fulfilling his fantasy of a perfect Jane Austen-style ball (quite literally, the Danse Macabre.)

The shopkeepers have become the dead and Aziraphale controls them until the spell is broken--or rather until the window is broken.

To be honest, I don't think Aziraphale is really aware of how much he is able to transfigure his environment, including the humans who happen to be close by. Or, at least, I don't believe he does any of this with ill intent. He's just a bit blind to anything outside his fixation of wooing Crowley, at the moment. As a result, he creates a situation that is profoundly problematic and unnatural. Just like the dead in the graveyard have no agency when Death plays his fiddle, the Whickber Street shopkeepers are possessed by Aziraphale's intricate romantic fantasy and must dance as long as the music plays.

It is, in fact, only when the music stops, that the shopkeepers begin to realize that something is most certainly weird. The diagetic music (Mr. Anderson & Co.) abruptly cuts off when an approaching demon horde tosses a brick through the bookshop window. Now the spell, or in this case, miracle, begins to break down. While the shopkeepers still appear to be somewhat under the influence of Aziraphale's persuasive aura, a few of them glance down at their clothes in confusion and look around the bookshop, as though waking from a dream. And at this point, after a little finagling, Crowley escorts the humans out of the bookshop and out of Aziraphale's Danse Macabre.

Once the demons attack the bookshop Aziraphale's influence on his surroundings really starts to deteriorate. Throughout the season, he's been able to structure and manipulate reality (sometimes with Crowley's help) to suit his needs: protecting Gabriel, altering the Bentley, organizing the Ball, etc. But once the bookshop, his safe space, has been breached, he loses control of the situation. From this point in the narrative, nothing goes according to Aziraphale's plan. Aziraphale wants to protect Jimbriel, but the former archangel insists on giving himself over to the demons. Crowley leaves and Aziraphale has to defend the bookshop on his own, when he'd expected Crowley to come right back and save him. While defending the bookshop, Aziraphale reaches his "last" resort not once, but twice: first allowing Nina and Maggie to use his books (!!!) as weapons and then blowing up his halo in a last ditch effort to fend off the invaders. This was not on the agenda for today!

Things just continue to go downhill from there, Aziraphale losing all control of the situation. And by the time the Final Fifteen wraps up, the angel has lost his bookshop and possibly his most important relationship. By the end of the season, Aziraphale is no longer Death the Resurrectionist, the manipulator and puppeteer. Now the angel has become the puppet, dancing to Heaven's music.

[porcupine-girl]

Please watch Super Star Academy.

I'm going through my Twitter and saving threadfics and individual tweets I don't want to lose before I delete it all, and I discovered a thread I did when my sister and I were about 1/3 of the way through our watch of Super Star Academy - which is, unironically, my favorite show ever.

So I am reposting this thread here for posterity, and in the hopes that maybe it will get one or two more people to watch this magical, incredible show:

----------

My sister @ bitter_tea and I are watching Super Star Academy, a 2016 vehicle for the guys in X-NINE, Xiao Zhan’s boy band. This will be a thread of why you should drop everything and watch this show, which is on YouTube.

First, the basics: SSA is a… College? But could be high school? For teens with superpowers. The superpowers are determined by your zodiac sign (Virgo Leo etc, not Chinese zodiac). Our protagonist is a girl who’s a Virgo but doesn’t think she has powers.

Ok first off, in the second episode we suddenly leave the school and go into some telenovela shit where some guy is dying and his son has to be born a Leo to take over the company. Rumor is the kid was stillborn two months early.

Then his wife goes and… causes a car accident that doesn’t kill some other super baby and somehow she steals a baby but we’re not sure where she got the stolen baby? But it’s not the car accident baby bc we saw that one saved by its dad???

Then her dying husband names the stolen baby and THAT is the point where you realize this whole thing has been a flashback bc he gives the stolen baby XZ’s character’s name so he is Stolen Baby but somehow his mom was using an iPad back in like 1996.

So XZ is Stolen Baby and the leader of one of two rival gangs in the school. They are both gangs of rich kids, but his gang is the preps and the other one is the punks, which you can tell bc a) they have a rock band and play at the extracurriculars fair

b) The leader has blue hair and c) they go around proclaiming themselves to be punks

At one point the two gangs go head-to-head in a croquet match. Which is… the school’s main sport? Now we’re getting into what kind of show you’re actually watching here.

Also the croquet trophy is MADE OF CHOCOLATE and Protagonist Girl accidentally eats it during the match. No one notices of course, even though she’s sitting there in front of the entire full bleachers.

So Protag Girl doesn’t think she has powers, right? But the school principal happens to eat at the noodle shop she & her uncle run & the noodles she serves him move in funny shapes so he decides she does have powers and gives her an admission letter.

Which he sets right down on a lit stove.

When she points out that it’s burning, he whips another admission letter out of his jacket because he goes everywhere prepared to admit ten new students to his school.

Speaking of her uncle, at one point he’s like “remember what I told you happened to your parents?” And she recounts a story about them meeting on a boat and then her father dying when it sank and he’s like “yeah I lied that’s the plot of Titanic.”

When Protag Girl gets to the school, she’s taken to the Clothing Department, an upscale clothing store where all the students can pick out five outfits and two dresses. Ah, don’t we all remember our first trip to the college clothing department.

Then you never see anyone wear anything but the school uniform or a croquet uniform ever again. No idea where the evening gowns on display at the clothing department went.

But you see, it was a vital scene because this is where PG meets XZ! Because she accidentally goes into his personal dressing room and of course neither of them notices they’re right next to each other separated by only a thin screen until they put on each other’s pants.

So from then on she yells about him being a pervert every time she sees him but he’s the rich popular croquet gang leader so no one believes her, which is fair because she’s wrong.

Side note: I just realized that calling Protagonist Girl PG has the potential to be confusing because that is, in fact, my name. That’s ok, though, because I think it will just make this thread feel more authentic to the incomprehensibility of the show.

PG, you eventually learn, was saved by a little boy her age when she was about 10. She was hanging from a cliff for Reasons and he moved a big rock and pulled her up. He gave her his school badge (of the SSA elementary school) and she gave him her embroidered hankie.

At one point she becomes convinced that it was Blue-Haired Punk. He makes it very clear that it wasn’t him because He Is Punk and Punks Don’t Save People Apparently. But she continues to accost him several more times as if she thinks he’s just forgotten.

Each time she confronts him makes less sense than the last, which is great.

At one point she is walking home in the rain and some Asshole In A Sports Car splashes her with water. Then backs up and does it again. Then is revealed to be XZ and (in all apparent sincerity) is like “oh sorry I didn’t see you” even though he backed up to splash her again.

This matters bc he loans her some clothes. Later, she tries to return them and he’s like “ew no now that someone else touched them I don’t want them.” So she pokes him in the shoulder to make him take off his current shirt. Whatever you think he’s wearing under it you’re wrong.

(Unless you’ve seen this scene)

He is revealed to be wearing a Powerpuff Girls t-shirt. So she pokes that and he has to take THAT off. Luckily though this show is family-friendly so instead of XZ’s chest this reveals…

Another Powerpuff Girls t-shirt!

He and the principal were in the same Boy Scout troop and are prepared for all eventualities.

Meanwhile PG is making friends with a nice boy who is from her same poor neighborhood.We’ll call him Boy Next Door. I worry about BND because clearly she’s gonna end up with XZ but they’re leaning on PG/BND pretty hard so either he’s gonna get his ❤️ broken or he’s secretly evil.

He is in Regular classes instead of Elite classes and I have no idea what that means because I don’t think it ever actually tells us. He has super powers though? And I think PG is in Elite even though her powers still haven’t manifested?? And she’s not richer than him either.

So he’s not in class with her so she has to sit between her only two other friends, who are bf/gf and spend all class literally making kissy faces at each other. They literally say something like “oh yeah we do nothing but this deal with it.”

There a Big Competition coming up! PG has no idea what really is so neither do we. But one of the Mean Girls (who I haven’t even talked about) tricks her into signing up.

Which is terrible! Because once you’re signed up you CANNOT UN-SIGN-UP!! It’s not clear what the consequences are if you drop out, you just can’t.

At this point my husband said something like “oh, it’s the Triwizard Tournament” and we were like oh yeah haha but THEN the principal goes to announce who will actually be competing…

And this is determined by a glowing orb that spits out the names of some of the people who signed up. She is not chosen… but THEN… after it has spit out the number of people it’s supposed to spit out… it spits out another one! And it’s PG!!!!! Dun dun DUNNNNNNN

So now we’re sitting there yelling at the TV “Cheng Zhi’er didja putya name intha goblet o’fiyah!!!”

(That is her actual name, not Protagonist Girl.)

Side note about those Mean Girls: One of them believes herself to be XZ’s girlfriend but as time goes on it is looking increasingly unlikely that he is aware of this.

Also the product placement puts Wolong Nuts to shame. Everyone drinks these blue and pink drinks and at one point the Punk Gang is drinking them and Blue Hair is like “let’s pretend we’re doing an ad” or something &they all start smiling at the camera & extolling its virtues.

Then later there’s a whole comedy of errors I won’t get into with a pizza but the end result is that BND winds up sitting in PG’s noodle shop with some middle-aged lady he doesn’t know. They start talking about how awkward it is and then suddenly she’s like

“Well if it’s going to be awkward, let’s sell these backpacks instead” and turns to the camera to sell us whatever brand of backpack he’s wearing.

One night she goes into this room with a sign on it that clearly says it’s like a study lounge or something that belongs to XZ’s gang. Who have their own study lounge I guess. There are chess boards all over the place?

He comes in and she’s like “what are you doing here?” and I said to the tv “well it does belong to his gang” and he’s like “uh it belongs to my gang.” Through some contrived contrivances they wind up leaning over a desk almost-kissing.

Then somehow (this might not happen til they leave the lounge? I forget) she realizes he has her old handkerchief so HE was the kid who saved her. But she doesn’t like him now so she demands he give it back and then she chases him like… all night long or something

Like she’s still chasing him when it’s light out AND he’s changed clothes.

Then somehow she gets the handkerchief but somehow he’s replaced it with a FAKE HANDKERCHIEF that has some other phrase on it. Kids these days and their handkerchiefs!

In an earlier scene, her uncle is shown knitting in the noodle shop and the pattern in his knitting changes from ? to !! so we’re theorizing that XZ has the same needlecraft-changing superpower as her uncle.

Anyhow we’ve only watched like 8 episodes out of I think 30 (they’re very short though) and I’ve only covered like half the completely unhinged things that have happened so far. Much of what I haven’t explained is because I don’t actually understand wtf is happening.

It’s basically the best show ever produced, you should all watch it.

Now PG’s uncle is drunk-knitting over his shoulder

Also at one point in the middle of an episode, when we haven��t seen the uncle in several episodes, it randomly cuts to him knocking his glass of orange juice down and yelling “oh! My orange juice!” with absolutely no context or explanation and then they never speak of it again.

Also-also the bad guys put PG in a burlap sack, then XZ saves her and proceeds to use her (in the burlap sack) to hit the bad guys.

Basically this show just keeps getting better.

Oh! I forgot! The bad guys attacked XZ with Sissy Boxing and gave him orchid fingers! Don’t ask me to explain, you now know as much as I do.

[veliseraptor]

February Reading Recap

Mostly I read Wheel of Time last month. And by that I mean I reread the first nine books of Wheel of Time last month. (I finished the 10th one yesterday morning.)

So this is a pretty short list because providing a recap of my Wheel of Time reactions per book feels a little facetious to me for some reason, probably because I've read all of them going on five times at this point and my impressions thereof remain pretty consistent across those reads.

I will say that I think my favorites of the first nine books are probably The Shadow Rising, The Fires of Heaven, and A Crown of Swords, even if Lord of Chaos does get special mention for the Enboxening.

The Atlas Paradox and The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake. My feelings about this series sort of...deteriorated as it went on. I thought the first book was good, noticed some flaws but overall enjoyed the second book, and by the third the author's writing tics and particular habits were starting to wear on me. I don't know if this was a matter of exposure, like listening to a podcast too fast and becoming excruciatingly overaware of every one of the host's verbal tics, or if the series itself actually got worse, but...

I gathered from perusing a few reviews that some peoples' objections to the last book in particular were plot-related, which actually wasn't my problem; my problem had more to do with a certain air of self-important self-consciousness to the writing style itself that only became more apparent over the course of the series. Blake's writing went from slightly overwritten but in a way that felt fun to thinking it was truly innovative prose (it wasn't). Overall I don't regret reading the series but I probably wouldn't recommend it either.

Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer. I don't think one needs to reread the other Area X books in order to read this one but I suspect I might've gotten more out of it if I had; I think I am going to do a reread at some point in the not-too-distant future.

I liked this book more than I've liked the other Vandermeers I've read more recently, but I think it did also confirm for me that I just prefer Vandermeer's earlier work (City of Saints and Madmen in particular) to his more recent writing. Maybe that makes me basic or unsophisticated (I have a sneaking suspicion) but it is what it is. Still, this was a weird, surreal ride that resists clear allegorization and I do appreciate that for it.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. I read Bird Box recently and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it, so I picked this one up on a whim as a recent horror that looked like it might have potential. I wasn't sure about the conceit at the beginning (narrated by a child, played to the hilt stylistically as well), but I think Malerman handled it fairly well...it was putting a lot of weight of the story itself on that single conceit, though, and I don't think I came out of it impressed overall. It was fine? But it's not going to stick with me, and as far as 'profoundly unreliable narrator horror novels' I read another one recently I liked more (The September House).

The Failures by Benjamin Liar. I read the acknowledgments after finishing this book (I sometimes do) and the Bas-Lag books by China Mieville were mentioned, which made me do a serious doubletake (and also go 'huh I should reread those' but that's beside the point). I can see it, though - a blurb on the back also compared this book to Jeff Vandermeer's early work, which has a certain resonance too, though I think both other authors are better writers. I'm compelled by this start to a series, for sure! I definitely plan to follow where it goes. It's different from anything else I've read recently; the way it wove together distinct narrative threads out of order without making it clear what their precise order was until late in the game was very well done.

The only negative reaction I had here was to something that also twigged me about Nevernight by Jay Kristoff when I read it (though to a lesser degree here) which is the sense of a writer's narrative voice being a little too taken with its own cleverness. A wry, arch narrative voice can be a lot of fun done well, but if it's not handled impeccably at least for me it can just become grating. While Liar didn't quite reach that point in this book, it's something I was quite aware of and the main detraction from my enjoyment of the work as a whole.

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang. I was excited to trip over this one, because I haven't seen any retellings about characters/figures from Chinese classic literature, but I probably shouldn't be surprised that I was a little disappointed - and in this case I think knowing the source material better might've just made that worse. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly exceptional either: a lightweight novel, without a lot of depth of character, writing, or plot. It was fairly fun, I read it in an afternoon, I can't say much more for it than that. I do hope that its existence heralds possibly more retellings about characters/figures from Chinese classic literature, though, because I probably will read those.

I also wanted more politics and less romance, though that may partly be on me for "shoulda known better" syndrome.

---

Currently reading Trickster Makes This World by Lewis Hyde, which has been on my shelf approximately forever. This will be followed by continuing my Wheel of Time reread, alternating with reading other books because I don't want to just. Mainline fourteen books of one series in three months, even though I could definitely do that.

Not sure what those books are going to be at this point, though. I'm first in holds line for The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard and A Rome of One's Own by Emma Southon, but I'm also eyeing reading The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories (a short story collection of Chinese SFF) or possibly (finally) How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell. We shall see.

[fulltidalwavecomputer]

Oh goodness I found this ARG like... earlier this week thanks to that Wifies guy. I did come up with a small theory of my own, after some thought. It's hard to choose a favorite character since there's only three and they're all p cool, but I do like Smiler/Everette. So glad there's an official name for that guy now.

I put the theory beneath the cut :P

Uhhh well... You remember when Andrew said he knew an Everette? Or the name at least sounded familiar. Do people think that's red herring or? Because I don't think it could be a coincidence or just random info. Look, he says that he never lived anyway snowy and didn't recognise the house, but that world was made for christmas and he noted how old the building looks now.

Funnily enough, we don't actually know that much about Andrew outside of minecraft. Like, he's the main character but we haven't seen parts of his life from an outside perspective like with the other two. And now we're back in his old world with Chris... wonder if we'll learn more about his past now? We know that he has a family and goes to school, and Chris (who lives on the East coast himself) says he lives on the West coast which is presumably referring to America. Other than that, we probably know more about Everette's home life than anyone else's. We don't know which state any of them live in actually, the only one mentioned is Arizona where Oliver moved to and he isn't even really a character aside from a random name drop atm. Btw Arizona a southern-western state I looked it up.

But then there's also the stuff with the Lethe protocol affecting Andrew's memory, and for all we know parts of his memory could've gotten erased before. Accidently or on purpose. Or he just, you know gets older and forgets stuff.

So here's my wild speculation:

Maybe Andrew and Oliver are the same person somehow? Like he could've just been a classmate of Smiler's or maybe even one of the bullies but I don't think so. Neither really work imo. But that got me thinking, what if the reason "Oliver" had to move to Arizona was because his family needed to escape something? I've got no clue how witness protection works but those who are in danger often have to hide their identities right? Both of the other characters have their respective traumas outside of the well-related stuff and it makes sense for Andrew to have past baggage too. There's no real evidence yet but again, there's no real reason for him to bring it up either at the moment.

Or maybe he's been going by his middle name or smth the whole time idfk. I'm not sure why Everette would refer to his friend with a fake name in a video made for him, unless it was a nickname??? Ehhh I doubt it. He'd only know him by his birth name in school. What's really funny to imagine is any memes that might get made about "the biggest plot twist is Andrew isn't even his real name 😱!!" He's only ever gotten referred to as Andrew so far though, if Smiler recognises him then he's keeping his mouth shut.

It's... what actually is the Lethe protocol? Did Chris build it? Why was it made and why does Andrew have a subject number? Chris also had a subject number in Into The Mind... We know he's a tech guy but I doubt he'd be able to create a machine in minecraft that can erase a living person's memory. I feel like there's still a lot of loose threads that need to be tied up, and I'm hyped to discover all the pieces.

Tell me if I'm missing anything because I must confess I've only watched the latest videos after Wifies' summary. For example I didn't actually know Chris had a creeper skin when he played with Andrew, so the bit where his ghost puts on the head didnt quite click on first watch. But yeah, I'm glad I found this ARG because it slaps ✨

...

Also how old even are the characters what is the timeline I- ???

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Dangancember 2024 - Danganronpa Top 24 Class Trials - Number 4: Danganronpa 2 Case 6

//Oh shit! OH SHIT! INCOMING HATERS! ABORT RANKING! ABORT RANKING-!

//GAH! GET OUT! AAAH! Fuck...! Gah...Okay...Okay fuck...Phew...Woah...Alright...

//Look...I fucking KNOW! Okay!?

//I'm not expecting to get RIDICULOUS levels of hate for this, but I am more aware than anyone that having ANY of the final trials THIS HIGH on the list. Especially since I have already said myself that they all have the same problems. And Danganronpa 2's final trial is FAR from exempt of these..

//This final trial often gets labeled as overrated by some fans, who argue it’s too flashy, too convoluted, or too dependent on high-stakes melodrama. It's still anime as fuck, its super long, it's super difficult so suddenly, and it's a massive plot dump. I will deny none of this.

//HOWEVER, I don't know what it is about this case specifically, but the more I look back on this trial, the more I LIKE it!

//We're in what I think is basically the S-Tier of this list. Even if this trial isn't S, it's still the top of A. And the defining factor that decides which of these cases gets this high up is "Which of these Class Trial do I like revisiting the most?" And this is definitely one of them, and I will gladly die on that hill.

//This case takes everything Danganronpa is known for; over-the-top twists, ridiculous logic battles, and moral dilemmas that make you question your own sanity; and cranks it up to eleven. Yes, you’re solving a murder while simultaneously wrestling with existential dread and facing down a genocidal AI.

//Yes, it’s bonkers, and yet for me, it works. Every wild revelation feels like it’s been carefully building from the beginning, paying off countless threads in ways that are surprising but satisfying.

//And that's it really. This is a SATISFYING CONCLUSION. Case 5 isn’t just a great finale; it perfectly captures what Danganronpa does best: mixing absurdity and sincerity into a neon-soaked cocktail of despair and hope.

//Unlike the first game’s ending, which leans heavily on Makoto Naegi’s generic optimism, or V3’s finale, which breaks the fourth wall so hard it practically demolishes the entire franchise, Danganronpa 2’s ending feels emotionally complete.

//And here's why:

//Let’s break down the key issues that this trial, and, let’s be honest, all Danganronpa final trials, tend to suffer from. First up, the obvious one: length.

//This trial is long, no doubt about it. But compared to some of its peers, it’s downright modest. V3’s final trial feels like a four-hour debate marathon, and Another 2’s third trial drags so much it feels like it got lost in a time loop. By comparison, Danganronpa 2’s finale uses its time well.

//Sure, it’s a commitment, but it’s packed with so many high-stakes moments and engaging revelations that I'm rarely looking at the clock. In fact, there are only four trials in the entire series that kept me glued to my seat from start to finish, and this one’s comfortably in that elite category, with the other three being the three trials above this one. Every topic of discussion felt purposeful, and I was never bored, which is more than I can say for some of its peers.

//Next is the dreaded plot dump problem.

//Let’s face it: of all the final trials, this one might be the guiltiest of shoving exposition down your throat. Junko Enoshima is less of an inquisitor here and more of an overly dramatic history professor, dumping lore at every opportunity like she’s trying to hit a word count on her evil dissertation. Unlike the first game’s finale, where she taunts you into piecing things together yourself, this trial often skips the mystery and goes straight to the lecture hall.

//But...at least that plot is GOOD.

//The revelations about the island, the survivors, and the Future Foundation are some of the most fascinating lore drops in the entire franchise. Sure, it’s a lot to take in, but it’s delivered with enough flair to keep me invested, and that’s a big part of why I’m still hooked on this series today.

//The next issue? The ridiculous difficulty spikes.

//This trial hits you with an "Improved" Hangman’s Gambit right out of the gate, which is ironic because the only thing it improves is your blood pressure.

//Let’s not sugarcoat it, "Improved" Hangman’s Gambit is a nightmare minigame in every trial it infects, and this one is no exception. But once you push through that, the rest of the challenges strike a much better balance.

//Take it away ProZD.

//Sure, it’s tough, but unlike some trials where the difficulty feels like a punishment for daring to play, this one leans into "frustrating yet fair" territory. It’s challenging enough to keep you on your toes without making you want to chuck your controller out the window.

//And finally, the most meme-worthy complaint: the anime-esque absurdity of the villains’ defeat.

//Let’s not kid ourselves, this trial goes full Saturday morning cartoon by the end. Hajime literally turns into a golden-haired Super Saiyan and screams “FUTURE!” at Junko until she dies.

//It’s so over the top that it should derail the entire mood. And yet… it doesn’t. At least not for me.

//Instead, it feels triumphant, cathartic, and downright epic. Because even with it, the survivors still face an incredibly personal and difficult choice, confront their inner demons, and ultimately earn their victory. Sure, it’s a bit campy, but that doesn’t diminish the emotional weight of the ending. It’s goofy, it’s dramatic, it’s everything Danganronpa is, and honestly, I loved every second of it.

//These are still ultimately nitpicks that go against this trial and stop it from being one of my absolute favourites, even though it is a Top Tier spectacle for me. And I have one more big, pretty standout issue with this case, before I get into the stuff that I actually love about it.

//The Investigation segment...SUCKS!

//Unlike most of the final trials of the Danganronpa series, the actual "Daily Life" segment of this chapter is pretty long and full of detail and dialogue before the investigation starts. Which makes sense, considering what this trial comes off the back of.

//This chapter hits hard emotionally, coming fresh off the deaths of Chiaki and Nagito, arguably two of the most important and beloved characters in the game.

//Or at least, it should hit hard...if it weren’t so mind-bogglingly CONFUSING!

//At this point, the game fully commits to the twist that the island is actually a virtual reality simulation, and things spiral into absolute chaos. The world starts glitching like it’s running on a bootleg copy of Windows XP. Dead characters suddenly reappear, casually hanging around like nothing happened, and nobody seems to notice or care.

//I spent the first half of this chapter feeling like I’d walked into the wrong save file. It’s only when you enter the locked building that things start to click...or, rather, don’t click...because the weirdness keeps escalating.

//Monokuma, ever the fan of recycling his own shtick, drops a familiar ultimatum: "Solve all the mysteries and decide whether to leave or not." Then, boom, investigation time.

//Now, don’t get me wrong: unraveling the mysteries of the island and the Future Foundation is undeniably cool. But this investigation? Easily one of my least favorites in the series.

//Why? Because the glitches ramp up to such a dizzying degree that I felt like I was trapped in a bad fever dream.

//One moment I’m in the school, and the next I’m teleporting across random locations like that one scene in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 where they're jumping through several space time holes, and it feels EQUALLY AS PAINFUL as it looks!

//And don’t even get me started on the moment the entire world literally flips upside down. Yes, I get it, game, you’re driving home the point that we’re in a simulation. But do you have to give me vertigo while you’re at it!? It’s like they sat in a meeting and said, "What if we made the player understand the story by making them insanely fucking motion sick!"

//Well, mission accomplished, I guess!

//TLDR; This is NOT an investigation. It's an incredibly nauseatic FETCH QUEST.

//The clues themselves also aren't that interesting until you actually get in the trial, and it does open very well with the obvious twist, but we'll get to that. The only clue that stood out to me immediately, and that kind of interested me from the get go, was the fact that Hiyoko looks very different OUTSIDE the sim than she does INSIDE.

//And that's more of just a cool graphic, not necessarily anything that shocked me.

//But even though the investigation is a pile of dog shite, the character dynamics we see, and the way these dynamics carry on into the trial itself, is amazing. This trial not only has some of the best moments for the characters in this game, but vastly improves upon characters that we've already seen.

//Halfway through this trial, Hajime and his fellow survivors are joined by Makoto, Kyoko, and the real Byakuya. And even though their involvement here isn't THAT consequencial, it's still great to see them all back.

//Speaking of Hajime...

//I fucking LOVE Hajime!

//I mentioned earlier how heavily Shuichi is involved in the final conflict of Danganronpa V3, and I also briefly touched on how important Makoto is to the final showdown of the first game. However, I feel like I really missed the mark by not giving Hajime enough credit for how deeply he’s tied into the greater conflict of Danganronpa 2.

//This is, of course, entirely my personal opinion, but I believe Hajime plays a more central role in the story’s conflict than either Shuichi or Makoto. I just love the way Hajime reacts to the insane revelations during the final trial.

//The moment that stands out the most is when Junko casually drops the bombshell that Hajime is actually a fabricated personality of Izuru Kamukura. While the other characters are going to wake up and, you know, probably turn into supervillains, Hajime’s fate is way worse...he's going to be completely erased and vanish forever. As soon as this information hits him, he doesn’t just panic like you’d expect; he has a full-blown identity crisis.

//Hajime’s been struggling with his sense of self throughout the entire game, but this is the point where his existential meltdown reaches DEFCON 1. His anguished screams and his heartbreaking willingness to just give up and live in a world where everything repeats itself are gut-wrenching. Watching him go through this is honestly painful, and I find myself empathizing with him more than any of the other protagonists.

//This, I think, is the reason Hajime stands out to me. It’s not just about his struggle, it’s how human he is in his struggle. And holy shit if Johnny Yong Bosch's voice acting doesn't sell this:

//These two moments in particular are the best parts of his traumatic breakdown ^^^

//But Hajime isn’t the only character who stands out here.

//Alongside the returning gang from DR1, there’s also Junko, who, surprise, surprise, is once again the villain.

//Now, I get it, some might find it a little tiresome that Junko is back as the mastermind, but I honestly think this is her best appearance in the whole series. I mentioned this when discussing the final case of the first game, but while Junko’s twist as the mastermind is certainly cool, her over-the-top, goofy persona kind of makes it hard to take her seriously as the main villain.

//In Danganronpa 2, however, when we encounter her as an AI counterpart, it’s a whole different story.

//Junko Enoshima’s role in Danganronpa 2 is one of the rare instances where a returning villain improves drastically in their execution, and it all comes down to how her presence is expanded and her actions take on a life of their own, literally and figuratively.

//She’s still got that signature cartoonish vibe, and she does still do the very sudden personality shifting, but now her tone is laced with a level of sadism and menace that feels downright chilling.

//It’s as if she’s crossed a line, and in this game, she’s not just the silly, chaotic villain we’ve seen before. She really feels like a true THREAT!

//Especially since her motivations, and what she actually hopes to achieve THIS TIME, are different from the stakes in DR1. Different in the sense that they feel SO much higher, and as a result, Junko feels like more of a monster.

//Junko is essentially trying to secure her posthumous victory by corrupting the Neo World Program and plunging the remaining members of the Future Foundation into despair, as well as take over the vegetable bodies of the people who died in DR2, and "Junko-fy" all of mankind, just as the tragedy is dying down.

//This makes her appear more threatening and influential compared to her more confined role as the mastermind of the Killing School Life in the first game.

//And there are more reasons than just this. Since Junko is already dead by the time Goodbye Despair begins, she becomes less of a direct antagonist and more of a haunting legacy, a force of despair that refuses to fade away. This shift gives her a mythic quality, as her influence looms over every event in the story, showcasing her obsession with cementing her place in history as an eternal agent of chaos. It’s no longer just about what she’s doing now, it’s about how far-reaching and inescapable her madness truly is.

//One of the reasons Junko shines brighter, or darker, rather, in Danganronpa 2 is the freedom her AI form grants her. Stripped of the limitations of her physical body, Junko fully leans into her larger-than-life persona, appearing in absurd and exaggerated digital forms.

//This form really advocates the idea that Junko is a living virus rather than a person. Her essence infects the virtual world, just as it infected the real world with Despair, in ways that make her feel omnipresent and almost godlike.

//This also allows her to interact with the cast in visually dynamic, surreal ways that simply weren’t possible in the more grounded setting of the first game. And as ridiculous as it is, the imagery of an absolutely HUGE AS FUCK Junko NEVER gets old.

//What really sets her apart in Danganronpa 2, though, is her personal connection to Class 77. These aren’t just random students she’s toying with; they’re the very people she manipulated, broke, and used as weapons during the Tragedy. She’s not merely taunting them, she’s forcing them to confront the darkest parts of themselves, the memories she erased, and the atrocities they committed under her influence.

//This makes her presence not only more menacing but deeply personal. The stakes feel higher because the conflict directly ties into the characters’ own identities and sense of guilt. Compared to the first game, where Junko’s relationship with Class 78 felt more detached and her villainy relied on spectacle rather than emotional stakes, her dynamic with Class 77 is far more engaging.

//What seals the deal is the eventual defiance of Class 77. When they choose to stand against Junko and reclaim their identities, it’s not just a victory over her philosophy, but it’s a victory over the very Despair she’s weaponized against them. This resolution gives her role in Goodbye Despair a sense of narrative closure that the first game didn’t quite achieve.

//She’s still the same chaotic, cartoony Junko, but here, her sadistic edge and personal ties to the cast create a version of her that feels more terrifying, more compelling, and, dare I say it, more entertaining than ever. It’s a much darker take on her character, and in this context, she’s far more convincing as the mastermind pulling the strings behind the scenes. It's a subtle shift that makes her presence feel less like a punchline and more like the horrifying force she was always meant to be.

//But I think that's mostly it for the outside context, and to cap this off, let's talk about the nitty-gritty details of the trial itself. I am sorry, but I will be repeating some of my previous points, just to cover them.

//But before diving into the labyrinthine twists and emotional sucker punches of Danganronpa 2's final trial, let’s start with one of the most hilariously sadistic Monokuma moments in the entire series. It's a subtle moment that doesn't last for very long, but it's a good sign right from the get go with the way that this trial treats it's most obvious plot twist right out of the gate in a way that is very entertaining.

//Right at the beginning of the trial, Monokuma insists that everyone clarify one simple truth: the entire world they’ve been living in is a virtual reality. But instead of letting this revelation sink in gracefully, Monokuma drives it home with comedic precision.

//Every time someone tries to refute or question this revelation, he cuts them off with a deadpan repetition of "Because it’s a game!" over and over, reusing the same voice line for maximum effect. It’s like he’s saying, "This is the truth, and I am not debating this with you. Accept it, move on, or fucking die."

//It’s the kind of humor that is both maddening and brilliant, encapsulating Monokuma’s trademark blend of sadism and absurdity.

//Now let’s get to the meat of this trial: the twists. And oh, are there twists.

//First, as already established several times already, there’s the reveal that the world you’ve been inhabiting for the entire game isn’t even real. It’s a simulation.

//It's a very obvious twist if you'd bothered to pay ANY attention to the chapter, but that fact alone is a mind-blower. But the pièce de résistance is what comes next: the realization that the "World Ender," the ominous, evil-sounding organization you’ve been trained to despise and aim to destroy, are actually the good guys, and Chiaki and Monomi were working for them.

//The Future Foundation, the supposed villains of this story, are the heroes. And the bad guys? That would be…YOU! The very characters you’ve spent hours befriending and rooting for!

//I'm just gonna come straight out and say it: The Remnants of Despair are my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE PLOT TWIST in this ENTIRE SERIES.

//Only two twists rival it for me: The Tragedy in Game 1, and the Protag switch in Game 3.

//When I first played this, I entered the final chapters with the mindset of a righteous avenger, ready to bring down the dastardly Future Foundation. But as the truth unraveled, I distinctly remember thinking, "Wait, what? We’re the bad guys? The organization trying to save the world isn’t evil, and we were the problem all along? What the actual hell is happening here!?"

//I just love how it flips the narrative on its head and forces you to confront a deeply uncomfortable truth: the characters you’ve grown attached to were once Junko Enoshima’s most loyal disciples, the infamous Remnants of Despair.

//Before, obviously, Danganronpa 3 went and ruined any tension and emotion we could have with that twist.

//But ignoring it, it's still great!

//Danganronpa 2 explains that the cast of characters were brainwashed into becoming Junko’s pawns of destruction. The simulation you’ve been playing through was created by the Future Foundation, including Makoto, Kyoko, and Byakuya from the first game, to rehabilitate them by erasing their memories and allowing them to live in a paradise free of Despair.

//The twist becomes even more gut-wrenching when it’s revealed that the killing game wasn’t part of the plan. It happened because an AI version of Junko was uploaded into the simulation, hijacking the entire system. Because she planned to take over the Remnant's bodies, and turn every person in Japan/the world, like her. Into Despair.

//Classic Junko plot, sure, and I know that a lot of you might disagree with the notion that this is the best twist, because some could argue that it is presented as so violent, it creates plot holes.

//What I mean specifically is the part where the Remnants salvaged Junko's corpse after the end of Game 1, and replaced their body parts with hers...

//...Also Mikan fucked it?

//But the problem there is that it creates a plot hole because Junko's body was crushed at the end of the execution, so there'd be no body to salvage.

//But the reason why I excuse it personally is because this is a plot hole OF A PLOT HOLE. Junko's execution had her going through every death trap she'd created in Danganronpa 1, all of which had killed the characters on their own. I know Junko is OP, but there's no way she's any more durable than Mondo, or any of the other characters who died here. Any one of these could have killed her at any point, and it made no sense that she survived all of them.

//And even putting that aside, assuming this IS a plot hole, it's not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the trial. Let me break it down for everybody:

//At the beginning of Danganronpa 2, the characters are portrayed as hapless victims trapped in a sadistic killing game. This setup fosters sympathy and camaraderie, much like the cast of the first game. However, the final twist subverts this perception entirely, revealing that these characters were not innocent victims but villains responsible for unspeakable atrocities as members of Junko Enoshima's Remnants of Despair.

//The stark contrast between their apparent innocence and their horrific past actions under Junko’s influence is nothing short of awesome, in a terrifying way, leaving an indelible mark. But this reveal isn’t just shocking for its content; it also serves as a brutal demonstration of Junko’s unparalleled ability to manipulate people into despair.

//The twist ties back to the catastrophic events of Danganronpa 1, Junko’s masterstroke of spreading despair globally. Here, the game goes further, showcasing the devastating depth of her evil by illustrating how she corrupted even the brightest students of Hope’s Peak Academy.

//And Danganronpa 3 enforces this idea, with Class 77 being quite possibly the most integral class to the school at the time, especially with the bond they form with Chiaki and Chisa, and how ripping that away from them was enough to completely break them.

//It's still not great, but I understand the basic implications at least.

//It’s a chilling reminder that Despair is insidious, capable of twisting even the most virtuous intentions into darkness. Junko’s role as the ultimate antagonist is cemented, her terrifying legacy casting a long shadow over the entire series.

//The twist also recontextualizes everything we’ve seen about the characters up to that point. Suddenly, Gundham’s theatrical fascination with death, Fuyuhiko’s violent streak and harsh demeanor, Nagito’s unhinged obsession with hope, and, most importantly, Mikan’s terrifying breakdown in Chapter 3 take on new, darker meanings.

//What were once quirky personality traits or personal flaws are revealed as remnants of their time as Junko’s followers. This added layer of depth makes the twist even more effective, turning each character into a tragic figure grappling with the scars of their past.

//Nagito, in particular, stands out as a character whose behavior becomes infinitely more complex in light of the reveal, especially because he learns the truth right before the trial in Chapter 4. His obsessive pursuit of Hope and simultaneous disdain for Despair now reads as deeply self-aware.

//He knows they are the Remnants of Despair, and he hates himself and his peers for it, and the way that this duality kind of mirrors the player's own conflicting feelings about the cast post-reveal, adding emotional weight to an already loaded twist. It adds an element of method to Nagito's madness.

//Moreover, the twist reinforces Danganronpa's overarching themes of Hope and Despair in ways that, I would argue, the first game didn’t quite achieve.

//The fact that the Remnants of Despair were once Hope’s Peak Academy’s shining symbols of hope adds a layer of profound tragedy. And their journey to reclaim their humanity and hope serves as a microcosm of the broader struggle between these two forces that defines the series. This isn’t just about saving the world, it’s about saving themselves.

//This thematic resonance ties directly into what makes the twist so powerful: it doesn’t just set the stakes for the trial, it sets the stakes for the entire Danganronpa series. The twist paves the way for an emotional and poignant redemption arc for the cast. Despite their horrifying past actions, these characters are given the chance to prove they are more than their despair. This struggle resonates deeply, emphasizing themes of growth, forgiveness, and the ability to move past one’s darkest moments.

//It’s why it’s such a shame we never got a spin-off series exploring the Remnants’ lives after the events of Danganronpa 3. I would have much rather watched THAT anime.

//Seriously, Mod Freeze and Mod Poi, thank you for doing the fandom’s work on this front.

//The integration of the Neo World Program into this twist is another stroke of subtle brilliance. What initially seemed like little more than a sci-fi backdrop for the killing game gains profound significance.

//The program isn’t just a high-tech gimmick, it’s a lifeline, a tool designed to erase despair and offer these characters a second chance. The twist aligns seamlessly with the game’s science-fiction elements, grounding the shocking reveal in a way that feels both logical and emotionally resonant.

//But above all else, what truly elevates this twist, though, are two key aspects: The juxtaposition of innocence and guilt, and the reinforcement of hope as a deliberate choice.

//The game plays on the player’s affection for the cast, built over hours of shared experiences, only to reveal their horrifying pasts. It forces one to grapple with complex questions about identity, culpability, and redemption. Can we separate who they are now from who they were under Junko’s influence? Should they be forgiven, and, more importantly, can they forgive themselves?

//By the end of the game, the characters confront these questions head-on. Rather than succumbing to Despair or clinging to a hollow version of Hope imposed by others, they choose to forge their own path forward.

//Hajime’s declaration that only they can decide their futures is a defining moment, encapsulating the game’s core message: Hope isn’t something you’re born with or handed, it’s something you actively choose. And this decision is all the more powerful because of the twist. It reaffirms the series’ ultimate thesis: Hope, like Despair, is a choice, but one that requires courage and conviction.

//It's just...very powerful. In almost every regard.

//However...it does fall a LITTLE flat in one regard for me. Not nearly enough to ruin it, because I do still LOVE this part of the twist, but it's something that we've already talked about, and something that I feel I need to share my concerns over.

//It's how Hajime, who was revealed to be a Reserve Student, slots into this whole thing.

//This is by far the most horrifying aspect of this twist, and one that really works for it, but the reality is that even though Junko ran this whole Killing Game, the fact is due to her AI status, she could not have done it by herself. After all, someone had to actually get her INTO the Neo World for her to host the Killing Game in the first place.

//Naturally, the big question arises: who uploaded this digital Junko? Enter the grand crescendo of this twist—the person responsible for all of this chaos is none other than…Hajime himself.

//But, of course, it’s more complicated than that. Hajime wasn’t acting as himself...It's revealed in this trial that Hajime wasn't just a random Reserve Course student, and there's a reason why he turned out to be the only survivor. He was, in actuality, Izuru Kamukura, an emotionless superhuman created by Hope’s Peak Academy to embody "Ultimate hope."

//As we later see in DR3, Junko and Mukuro manipulated Izuru, flipping him to the side of despair and effectively kickstarting the apocalypse. The revelation that the character you’ve been playing as is not only part of the problem but the problem is one of the darkest and most compelling twists in the series.

//Now, for starters, I want to say that I really like how well this twist slots into the greater lore of Danganronpa, and Izuru is a well-deserved part of the franchise.

//The Hope Cultivation Plan, and what Hope's Peak's Steering Committee actually DID to Hajime, hits like a ton of bricks because it completely flips everything you think you know about this guy, the school that this entire franchise is BASED ON, and even the concept of "Hope" itself, as well as the idea of Hope itself.

//Hajime, the seemingly ordinary and relatable protagonist, turns out to have undergone a horrifying transformation to become Izuru Kamukura, a superhuman "Ultimate Hope" with every talent imaginable. It strips away the idea that Hajime was just a regular guy thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and instead, his backstory reveals that he was a victim of Hope's Peak's ruthless experiments, sacrificing his entire identity for a twisted ideal of perfection. It's tragic, unsettling, and is especially harsh in the way that this was Hajime's "Hope" for the world, and Hope's Peak EXPLOITED him for it, so what does that Hope really mean?

//This twist also pulls back the curtain on Hope's Peak Academy, exposing its darker side. Up until this point, Hope's Peak is painted as a prestigious school that nurtures the best and brightest, but the Izuru Kamukura Project shows that it’s anything but noble.

//The school literally erased Hajime’s personality, emotions, and memories to create a living symbol of hope; and didn't tell him they were going to do that. And it feels like a process that feels more like something out of a dystopian horror story than a prestigious institution.

//It reframes Hope's Peak as a place driven not by ideals of nurturing talent but by exploitation and control, highlighting the hypocrisy of its mission.

//What makes it greater is that Junko even has a sick as fuck line in this trial that perfectly summarizes this, and how Hope can be dangerous in the way that what people actually define AS Hope, can easily turn out to be another person's (in this case, every other person EVER'S) Despair, and it's this line:

"Do you reaaaaaally hafta sacrifice yourselves to protect the world in the first place? What if the world's hope is different from your hope? Even if the world is happy, it's meaningless if you aren't happy."

//And not only does Makoto not have an immediate response to this line, but Hajime's later actions prove her to be RIGHT. And I feel like not a lot of people realize that this is the very basis that the Kamukura Project was founded on.

//The ENTIRE REASON Hope's Peak was founded was to create Izuru. Because they thought that he would be the Hope of the world. But Junko turned him into the world's Despair instead, and it was very easy because of Hope's Peak's moral corruption.

//The thing they saw as "Hope" was not what the rest of the world saw.

//What makes this twist even more impactful is how it recontextualizes the entire "Hope vs Despair" conflict in the series. Izuru, as the "Ultimate Hope," is depicted as so indifferent and detached that he ultimately finds no value in either ideal.

//This shows that striving for absolute hope can be just as damaging and dehumanizing as falling into despair. It adds a layer of nuance to the series’ central theme, suggesting that extreme ideals, no matter how well-intentioned, can lead to monstrous outcomes.

//And this twist, while not the most standard way to end a character arc, is the perfect cherry on top of Hajime's identity crisis arc.

//He starts as someone insecure about his lack of talent, someone who envies the Ultimates around him, and really falls into depression upon learning that he never had one in the first place.

//But then learning that he was surgically altered into a talent-filled, emotionless being makes his journey to reclaim his identity and humanity all the more powerful. Because he GOT the talent that he sought; just at the cost of everything else.

//By choosing to reject Izuru’s detached worldview and embrace the messy, imperfect reality of being Hajime Hinata, he shows that true strength doesn’t come from talent or perfection but from accepting and valuing yourself as you are. It’s an almighty aspect of a twist that deepens the story’s themes and makes Hajime’s eventual triumph over despair even more meaningful.

//And it's also largely thanks to Chiaki that Hajime was able to overcome this. And if there's one thing that I can credit Danganronpa 3 on, it's what they actually did with the dynamic between Izuru and Chiaki, and how it laid the groundwork for this resolution...PERFECTLY.

//Chiaki Nanami wasn’t just the heart of Class 77. She was also the pivotal force that led to the group’s victory in Danganronpa 2. And I cannot understate that the only reason they managed to attain this victory is because she broke the barriers to speak to Hajime one last time.

//I'm one of very few people who think that as a character, Chiaki is...KIND OF overrated. But just because she's overrated, that doesn't mean she's a bad character. And she IS important to the game. It's just not easy to see how until a lot later into it.

//Even after her tragic death in the Neo World Program, Chiaki's impact lingered. As the AI created to guide her classmates toward hope, she became the catalyst for their redemption. Her steady support, unwavering kindness, and ability to see the best in others made her a beacon of hope in a situation engineered to breed Despair.

//It’s no exaggeration to say that without Chiaki’s influence, the Remnants of Despair might never have found the strength to reclaim their humanity.

//And that doubles for real Chiaki in her brief interaction with Izuru in DR3.

//Junko made Izuru see the power of how Despair affected him, despite his boredom, and how it went against his preconcieved notions. But it was Chiaki's determination, willingness to keep going, and the love and Hope she had for people, despite the fact that she was facing a cruel and absolutely miserable death, that made him rethink things. That made him see the benefits in both sides.

//Had this scene not happened, Izuru would not have been such a neutrally aligned character in the end. He would have been just a straight-up monster of a villain.

//Which, if you think about it, is basically what Utsuro is. Utsuro didn't have a Chiaki. He never saw the benefits or the power of Hope. He was in Despair his whole life, and even after it. But this meant something to Izuru. The tears that showed Hajime was still somewhere in there, meant something.

//Izuru in tandem, Chiaki’s relationship with Hajime is particularly critical, both to the story of Danganronpa 2 and the broader series. From the moment they met, Chiaki believed in Hajime, even when he struggled to believe in himself.

//It obviously did not end well, but that was no fault of Chiaki's own.

//This bond between these two wasn’t just one of mutual respect and understanding, it was a reminder of the power of genuine connection, something the Danganronpa series constantly emphasizes. Hajime’s eventual deevolution into Izuru, and then his reclamation of himself as Hajime, is deeply rooted in the strength he drew from his connection with Chiaki.

//Furthermore, Chiaki didn’t just push Hajime to become the leader the group needed. She showed all of Class 77 that they could rise above their Despair by supporting each other. Her presence as an AI was a guiding force during the trials, and her ultimate sacrifice demonstrated what it meant to choose hope, even in the face of overwhelming odds. When Hajime rallied the group in the final moments of the game, it was as much a tribute to Chiaki as it was a declaration of their collective strength.

//Chiaki and Hajime’s story ripples across the series in profound ways. In Danganronpa 3, her role as a real person solidifies her influence. As the one classmate who never gave in to Despair, Chiaki became a symbol of hope not just for Class 77 but for the audience as well.

//Her loss was devastating, yet it was her memory that ultimately pushed Hajime and the others to fight for a better future. Chiaki wasn’t just a character; she was the embodiment of what Danganronpa is all about. The idea that even in the darkest times, Hope can find a way to shine.

//So with all of this to say, why is this still my least favourite part of the twist?

//It's largely because of Izuru himself, not because of what Hajime goes through, or because of Chiaki's connection to both him and Hajime.

//Do you know how long it takes to beat Danganronpa 2 on average?

//It takes, on average, 32.5 hours.

//Do you know how much screentime and attention Izuru is given in this game?

//Not including the repeat of the scene on the boat with Nagito that we see first from Izuru's perspective, and then from Nagito's, he's ON SCREEN for a total of around 2.5 minutes.

//Doing the math, and putting that into perspective for all of you, that means that Izuru is in Danganronpa 2 for roughly 0.13% of its full runtime.

//And by the way. Izuru first becomes a CONCEPT in THIS CHAPTER! He's not brought up, or eluded to, at ANY OTHER POINT in the game, besides one photograph of the original headmaster that he's named after. Something that has NOTHING to do with Izuru himself.

//Which means that in the main series, this is ALL OF HIS SCREENTIME!

//Danganronpa finale's have a tendency to randomly introduce plot points that never happened before. V3-6 is bad with it as well, especially because it shows a cutscene from earlier in the game that straight up DIDN'T HAPPEN.

//However, as mind-bogglingly terrifying as the Hope Cultivation Plan is, it is by far the WORST OFFENDER of this idea.

//And what makes it even worse is that a screentime that is THAT LIMITED means that Izuru does not get a chance to be an actual character.

//Danganronpa 3, Talent Development Plan, and Summer Camp later try to reprimand this by making Izuru an actual central character...Emphasis on TRIED.

//Okay, to be fair, in the bonus games, I do love seeing Izuru try to establish his own identity by interacting with Chiaki and co. However, it feels very ironic to me that the character who's catchphrase is "How Boring..." ends up being...really boring.

//At least as a character. As a concept, he's BRILLIANT. But as a character, he's nothing, and that's the whole point.

//This is what I was saying when I was talking about Utsuro before. Even though they are equally as stoic, Utsuro has a pretty well-structured personality, and backstory that makes him sympathetic. But Izuru is so one-dimensional, being a being comprised entirely of talent and nothing else, that he's just a function in the grand scheme of things.

//Utsuro is also present for only one trial, but he is in it for FAR LONGER than Izuru is, and he was foreshadowed MUCH better. The hints are, granted, very subtle, but they are still THERE. If you play DRA a second time, you will NOTICE them.

//Not with Izuru and the Hope Cultivation Plan. There's absolutely NOTHING for them.

//Izuru is one of those characters who feels like he should be compelling, but in practice, he falls flat because he’s so detached and lifeless that it’s hard to care about him. The idea of a person who’s been stripped of their identity and turned into a superhuman is fascinating on paper, but Izuru’s execution leaves a lot to be desired.

//He spends most of his time standing around, delivering cryptic one-liners, or just looking bored. While his apathy is supposed to be a reflection of the emptiness of ultimate talent, it ends up making him feel more like a plot device than an actual character.

//One of the biggest problems with Izuru is that he lacks agency or personal stakes in the story. He exists primarily as a shadow of Hajime’s past and a foil to Junko's chaos, but he doesn’t have any strong desires or goals of his own.

//His indifference to both Hope and Despair, how he's experienced the power of both sides though Junko and Chiaki respectively, might be thematically relevant, but it robs him of any drive or personality that would make him engaging. Even his interactions with Junko in the anime, which could have been a clash of two intellectual giants, come off as underwhelming because he just doesn’t seem to care about anything.

//Put simply, it’s hard to invest in a character who doesn’t invest in themselves.

//Another issue is that Izuru’s overpowered nature makes him unrelatable. He’s described as having every talent imaginable, to the point that nothing challenges or excites him. Again, to reiterate, this makes him feel less like a person and more like a concept, and concepts don’t make for compelling characters on their own.

//Even when he does take action, like helping to orchestrate the Tragedy, it feels hollow because his motives are so abstract. There’s no emotional weight behind his actions, so it’s hard to feel anything for him as a character.

//Ultimately, Izuru ends up being more of a plot twist delivery system than a fully realized individual.

//Granted, he is a FANTASTIC plot delivery system, but he’s there to show the dark side of Hope’s Peak Academy and to highlight Hajime’s journey of self-acceptance, and doesn’t stand on his own. Without a personal arc, meaningful relationships, or even a shred of humanity to ground him, he feels more like a missed opportunity than a compelling addition to the cast.

//He is INSANELY COOL as a concept.

//But JUST as a concept.

//Still, as I said, this doesn't stop the Remnant twist from being fantastic. If anything, it serves to double down on how fucked the situation is for the characters. It's the perfect way to pull it off a second time, just as impactful, if not moreso, from the way the first game did it.

//I just love that the game pulls NO punches in showing just how far gone the Remnants of Despair were under Junko’s influence. They didn’t just spread chaos and destruction; they mutilated themselves, committed unspeakable atrocities, and yes, there’s even an implication that some of them…had sexual inclinations toward Junko’s corpse.

//I mean, that one was probably Mikan mostly, given what we know about her now, but it could have been more than just her...

//It’s grotesque, horrifying, and deeply unsettling. A STARK contrast to the lovable, quirky personalities you’ve come to know over the course of the game. So while some aspects of this backstory strain believability, the sheer audacity of these revelations makes them unforgettable, and insanely entertaining.

//So after all of this, let's end it by talking about how the trial ends.

//The solution to defeating Junko isn’t choosing hope or despair. It’s rejecting both and forging your own future. It’s a thematic mic drop for the game, aligning perfectly with its sub-theme of learning from past mistakes and embracing personal growth.

//However, the way this idea is portrayed is peak anime absurdity. Hajime, now back in control of his identity, goes full-on Super Saiyan, screaming the word “Future!” at the top of his lungs until everyone agrees with him and Junko is silenced.

//It’s over-the-top, it’s ridiculous, it's...honestly kind of dumb, and it’s hard to take seriously. But somehow, it still sort of works.

//The sheer silliness of the moment doesn’t detract from its emotional impact; if anything, it makes the victory sweeter by providing a cathartic, if laughable, resolution to a deeply harrowing story.

//And Junko's defeat here is a lot more satisfying than it is in Game 1. Unlike with then, you actually feel like you've beaten her once and for all, and this wasn't part of her grand master plan; especially because in order to beat Junko in a conflict that settles on Hope and Despair, finding a way out that doesn't necessarily aquait to either, is the perfect way to end it.

//So...yeah...This is my fourth favourite trial in the series, and absolutely my favourite ending.

//Despite its occasional reliance on exposition dumps and its plot holes , the final trial of Game 2 is a masterclass in storytelling twists and emotional payoff. It takes the series’ penchant for high-stakes drama and amps it up to eleven, delivering a finale that is equal parts disturbing, thought-provoking, and outrageously entertaining.

//The blend of personal stakes, thematic depth, and anime absurdity cements this trial as one of the franchise’s most memorable moments.

//God bless you Danganronpa 2.

[puffyducks]

DCRC Week #38 (Part 1)

Here once again to take a slight detour away from the main PKNA comics to read the third PKNA Special Issue: The End of the World!!! Seeing as the last two special issues were fun little collections of short stories, I'm sure this one is going to be exactly the same and the menacing title doesn't mean anything :)

OMG IT'S GORTHAAAAN HIIIII BABYGIRL WE MISS YOU POOKIE!!!! This is a flashback so he's not actually back </3

Oh hey look we're on Xerba I'm sure that only means good things

In my heart I really want Xadhoom to be a lesbian and I know she canonically dates a guy but like. Look at Xari. If I squint my eyes hard enough he's a beautiful lesbian too. Love wins.

There are potentially hostile aliens showing up tomorrow but I have a job so I don't really care about that right now

Oh ok so Gorthan was responsible for genociding Xadhoom's planet that's dope I guess. Uuuuh hope Xadhoom doesn't find out about that time he and Donald were hanging out-

So anyways I started blasting

NOOOOOOOO WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING- hey wait hold on I thought their sun was supposed to be blue?

AAANYWAYS while everyone on Xerba dies/gets enslaved, we briefly interrupt your genocide to bring you DONALD TIME!!!! I adore this page I love the way he's drawn here. The little eeby beeby. He's so silly <3

First of all I like the giant supporting hand here, second of all why the fuck does Uno have eyebrows now

DONALD ORB DONALD ORB

Me when I lie. Sorry I don't even ship Donald and Lyla that much but liiike you guys flirt with each other sometimes we've all seen it

losing it over the smug design of this random fucking kid

Listen I feel bad for the Xerbians and all, they're victims to a horrible conquering, but also like... guys you can't be this stupid 😭 no wonder you all got fucking owned

fuckin fruit. what do you want him to sing you a lullaby too??? actually don't answer that I don't think I'll like what I hear

Paperinik Old Adventures (where PK is elderly) will be real in 24 hours

Ok so they just stole a chimp from the zoo I guess

Guys I'm really worried about my girlfriend do you think she's okay (hard cut to Xadhoom getting blasted by the sun)

All jokes aside idk what to put for this section of the comic cause like I don't even have anything funny to say here it's just really intense

mama a girl behind you

Sorry to break it to you pal but that title actually goes to Xadhoo- okay maybe now is not the time oops

NICE TRY IDIOT, AS IF THAT'S GOING TO WO-

Dammit Xarion you're really letting me down here

HOLY FUCKING SHIT HE'S ALIVE

Poor guy got excited for a second </3

Actually if survivors guilt is your thing I know someone who would be GREAT company there-

GODDAMN what a story. And it's not even one of the main chapters! We get a lot of really interesting insight on the downfall of Xerba though. We already knew that two of the Xerbian spaceships were cleared out, but there's still one more that could be out there! We see what happened to Xari which is left vague but still... prooobably not a good fate for that guy. But hey at least there's another Xerbian that's alive! I can't wait for Xadhoom to find out :)

........okay maybe this is the part where I reveal that we never see Xarion ever again and his appearance doesn't get brought up either. And also Kravenn is gone forever too. Idk why they did absolutely nothing with these characters (maybe because it's a special issue?) but like DAMMIT another dropped plot thread that could've been interesting 😭 Xarion was gonna go to the spaceship that's outside of Saturn to grab some data so I guess we can assume he got there and like died of natural causes or something idk. He had a stroke rest in peace.

Anyways I'm finally caught back up BITCH (aside from Ghost of the Grotto which will hopefully be up later today) GET READY FOR RAIDER WEEK THIS WEEK!!! WHOOOO YEAH I LOVE RAIDING

[goldenthreadstories]

Rules & Muse List!!!

{ HELLO! Welcome to my blog, I'm Klemmie. Nice to meet ya! Below is my muse list and my rules for mobile navigations! }

RULES

1.) Hey everyone, my name is Klemmie! I am nonbinary & my pronouns are they/them or she/her, I prefer they/them though! I am of age at 29 years old and have been RPing since about 2010, over a whole decade! Due to my age there might be NSFW on this blog at times but it will always be under a read more and tagged. On this subject, most muses are of age or have a verse where they are, please be aware of this and all main verse ages for my muses are on their bios on the character page.

2.) I am working a job which I usually only have a couple days off in the week and most evenings free. However activity and replies may be slow or low due to the nature of this being a multi-muse blog and my energy levels on any day. I will do my best to pop in at least once or twice a week with the intentions of queuing up any replies that I owe and once in a blue moon do I reply quickly and without queuing. I am also going to be selective on who I RP with at times so this blog is semi-selective, but if I am following you I am interested in writing with you!

3.) I am good with a mix of jumping into things without a plot; such as memes, open starters, random things are good. But sometimes I prefer plotting, even if only a little bit, especially when it comes to a pre-established relationship that isn’t the canon between two characters; this includes children of muses. I am okay with writing with said muses but I would like to have a bit of plotting to this as my version of the muse or muses as parents in question is not the one canon to yours as such, I need to make sure I know whats going on or all your gonna get from my muse is either ’ I have no kids ’ or i dont believe you, so i tend to avoid that if no prior communication has happened before hand! I do also like screaming about plots that both parties might want to do and discuss between us to work out a possible thread idea?

4.) This blog is multi-fandom, verse and ship. Meaning all threads even if tagged as in the same verse for a muse are their own story and thread between our muses, this includes for relationships, unless its a story that has been discussed and plotted between all involved. We are also Crossover-friendly here! I love mashing up fandoms and seeing what happens!

5.) As stated in my first ruling, NSFW themes and topics may be present, if I feel that the topic, even if it’s gore and not sexual nsfw, is too heavy or unsafe to just have out on display I will always put it under a read more and tagged the triggers like; tw;______

6.) Continuing with the point above, I will not tolerate certain things like underage sexual content or abuse or any nsfw content with minors - this goes for muns & muses and hanging, if you are ever unsure of anything please ask me. This is also a if I ever forget or don’t tag something that is a trigger for you please just message me and I will tag them accordingly.

7.) Unless your muse has some supernatural abilities or in my muse’s canon knows things about them, please don’t use information that is like their weaknesses and things like that in our threads until my muse reveals them or it is revealed in a thread, I class this as meta rping/writing/gaming?? and it’s no fun???

8.) I’m okay with multiple writing styles, I don’t have the need for anyone to match my length in replies, I know I can get lengthy at times, but as long as it’s more than one sentence or is appropriate for the type of thread we are writing together, because sometimes even I just want to do shorter threads, though I do prefer more written and longer ones.

9.) I’m more into story driven threads, ones that develop my muses and yours hopefully, ones that develop a chemistry and relationship between them. These are the kinds of threads I prefer.

10.) I’m open to all plots and relationships, just come hit me up and let’s see what we can come up with!!!

11.) For shipping I am a shipper of chemistry, I am here for the development. But if you feel like our muses are beginning to develop something, please message me and we can talk. I am always up for shippy things and all relationships, I prefer them to be developed and chemistry based. I will not force anything onto anyone if they feel like something isn’t there.

12.) I’m no biggie on spelling, grammar is also not too much of an issue, but a clear grammar is preferred. As long as I can read and understand it for a reply we are good. If I am having trouble I will ask you to clarify.

13.) When sending in an ask, please specify a muse, one thing on my anxiety is when I get an ask without some specifying, sometimes I will throw someone randomly if I can but if not I get anxious about it, so unless you state one or that its for any muse I will not answer it, unless I know you & muse or muses well enough to know who it’s from or I have come and asked you to clear up who it was for.

13.5.) So as a continuation to above! If you want to continue an ask into a thread please make it into a new post. I don't mind if you want to reblog it to save it. But if you wish to continue any asks into threads please make it into a separate post - I will do the same if I send in an ask to you and want to continue it!

14.) OOC =/= IC. I will not tone down my muses for anyone, but I don’t agree with their morals and choices all the time. OOC is not the same as IC.

15.) I have a habit of forgetting to reply to threads, if it’s been more than a week since I have replied, give me a poke. I may have forgotten or lost muse, this doesn’t mean we can start more threads and get back to it.

16.) Cool with anon asks & M!As. That’s all folks! Hope that we can write something together soon!

MUSE LIST

Sora Ryuu // the weaver of stories // fandomless oc // bio

Orion // demi-demon travelling trickster // fandomless oc // bio

Torin Nayru // triforce of wisdom // loz oc // bio

Emery Din // triforce of power // loz oc // bio

Leon Farore // triforce of courage // loz oc // bio

Elliot Snow || Hades // fashionly god of the underworld // headcannon based // bio 

Beetlejuice // ghost with the most // canon-divergent // bio

Dean Winchester // hunter and older brother // canon-divergent // bio 

Merlin // worlds most powerful warlock yet big dummy // canon-divergent // bio 

Link // dutiful knight and silent hero // canon & slightly divergent // bio

Zelda // princess of wise knowledge // canon & slightly divergent // bio 

Revali // prideful heart of the rito // canon-divergent // bio

Roxas // a heart of a nobody // canon-divergent // bio

Mark // grumpy end of the world survivor // resident enis markiplier // bio 

Edward Elric // shortfused alchemist // canon divergent // bio

Alphonse Elric // fullmetal heart // canon divergent // bio

Thirteenth Doctor // tinkering protector of earth // canon divergent // bio

Fizzarolli // lil clown imp guy // canon divergent // bio

Yusuke Kitagawa // flourishing artist of the phantom thieves // canon divergent // bio

Wheatley // Charismatic idiot android core // canon divergent // bio

Judai Yuki // travelling duelist // canon divergent // bio

Rias Strongfork Mizuhana // up and coming ceo & siren // canon divergent - borderlands // bio

Allen Walker // test muse \ work in progress // bio to come soon

Qrow Lamia // cottage witch for misunderstood pokemon // pokemon oc // bio

Howl Pendragon // travelling wizard & flower shop owner // canon divergent // howls moving castle // bio

[morgansmornings]

🚢 Boden

This Meme: Accepting @little-earthquakes-rp

~~~*~~~

do i ship our characters together?: yes | no | not yet but maybe soon

< Do I ship them? absolutely. Am I demanding anything? Absolutely not.

I find a certain amount of joy seeing them pick at each other but knowing that they can trust each other to a point. I can't wait to see what unfolds going forward.

HOWEVER do note that I am never going to push you for something that is not in your interest or want to make you uncomfortable. No matter what their relationship becomes in the end, I am happy to be along for the ride.

would i like to ship with you?: yes | maybe, i'm willing to try | no

< I have been reading your other threads, having my own engraved seat in the Peanut Gallery. The different connections always are a spark of wonder that I can only hope to be able to have in the future.

You are talented and I am blown away but how each muse is different and yet so thoroughly rich in history that I can't help but wonder what dynamics we could find and play out.

type of relationship i could see: childhood or high school sweethearts | exes | engaged | married | long-term relationship | crushes | unrequited love | fling | long distance | online relationship | just dating | new relationship | toxic lovers | friends with benefits | Long Time Dating

< Added my own at the end.

I am happy to explore each subject above. And I am happy to have Jayden be the unrequited one. Again this is about writing together and being comfortable enough to try exploring this concept between us and our Muses.

tropes i'd enjoy writing for them: friends to lovers | enemies to lovers | exes to lovers | fake relationship / dating | forbidden love | grumpy and sunshine | star-crossed lovers | surprise pregnancy | second chance | soulmates | amnesia / mistaken identity | forced proximity | secret relationship | slow burn relationship

< They are clearly Grump and Sunshine, and I am so amused by it. Because it just feels right. Tender spots for the other hidden away by their professions and pasts. And it makes me smile every time.

would i rather plot first or jump right in and see where it goes?: develop their relationship first | jump right in | something in between (what specifically?)

< Seeing as they have a semi established Working Related Relationship I think that it would be easy to continue to flesh that out further. Discover boundaries and find common ground between them. Already to me they have such a easy time teasing each other that is so fun to write even if this is just the beginning.

what now?: let's plot something | send me shippy memes | i'll send you shippy memes | write me a random starter | i'll write you a random starter

< Hit me with all the things.

If I have questions I will not be afraid to come to you. To ask you your opinion on things and get approval before throwing anything out there. Because I want to know your thoughts, I want to be sure where we stand in regards to what is happening.

anything else i want you to know about me / my character / my shipping habits: ( put whatever you want here )

< I am a fan of Slow Burns. Mostly because I like watching how Muses overcome conflicts and have those results have a rightful place in that Ship.

Jayden comes with her own brand of luggage when it comes to her past relationships. And that has a place just like it would in real life. I know writing is a means of escape from real life. I do, but Muses are people in their written way and things of this nature can leave scars that are harder to see.

When Jayden loves another person, she loves with all of her. The good and the bad. She will worry about Boden when she isn't there to to watch his back. She wants to be there when he has gone to the end of his rope and be the one to help him when he hits those lows. She would become protective when need be, but also trust him when she knows he has the advantage. Because she does trust that he would not put her life at risk unless it was the last resort.

Again this is my not trying to force anything upon your plate. These are just my thoughts on what could be if you ever felt like trying to discover what a Ship between Boden and Jayden would be like.

[strqyr]

So about Penny coming back after the war, I'm not against it but I'm not support it either it not somthing that will make me drop the series but I don't see a reason to bring Penny back after the story end

I think Penny returne now would make more sense with Penny represent hope and with the nuts and dolts / ozma and salem parawells

i mean, to be blunt, i don't really see any narrative reason to bring back penny at all; there's simply too much else to get through (the crown in vacuo, the summer maiden, the two remaining relics, summer's mission, the list goes on) with much greater relevance to the plot that bringing penny back before the war has ended would feel like an unnecessary side quest to bring back one person while everyone else is still in great danger and there's no guarantee they'll make it out alive. like. i get that they already pretty much prioritized penny's life over all those in atlas and mantle in V8, but that was already little iffy; doubling down is not the answer here.

if anything—and maybe this is a bit cynical of me, who knows—bringing penny back would only tell me that they're not confident in their story, that they need to bring back a fairly popular and non-controversial character to get / keep people watching and talking about the show, in hopes that it will bring even more eyes on it, and to sell more merch.

if they wanted penny to be part of the story post-atlas, there was a very simple answer to that: just don't kill her again.

i'm also not quite sure where this "penny represents hope" angle comes from. there's a lot in the show that you could argue does that, or something similar; for example, ruby believing her plan with the amity message didn't work after all the effort they put into it, only for her to return to remnant to find out it did work, after everything she had been through in the ever after, after she had chosen herself. . . that's a loss and restoration of hope right there, and while penny's death does play a role in it, it's just that, a role; she's not the main event.

and i sure hope they won't go that route, because to follow the ozma & salem parallels thread. . . ruby chose herself, ozma didn't. ruby asked questions what would happen to her if she ascended, not knowing what she really wanted; ozma chose salem, uncaring what reincarnation actually meant for him, how it would change him.

ruby: do they choose. . .? what their next life will be like? blacksmith: such concern for souls you don't know, or. . . is it for yourself?

like. ruby choosing what she'll become upon ascending is direct parallel to ozma accepting his task from the god of light—and the paths they took could not diverge any further. and thus i don't really see a way to bring penny back—if these parallels are fully intentional and intended to go the whole way instead of picking and choosing where it matters lol—without spitting on what came before.

also like. they really can't keep repeating "keep moving forward", have two characters in ozma and salem who are cursed in a way that makes it difficult for them, and then have other characters without that issue work to bring back this One Character over and over again, and still feel like any messaging this show has is genuine, ya know? like if you're gonna go down that route then might as well open the flood gates and bring everyone back, no playing favorites.

[muirmarie]

this is just me being curious, so you definitely do not need to indulge me by replying! but! would you be interested in talking a bit about your writing process 🤔 like do you outline and what do you do after you've finished a draft, how is your editing process, things like that...

You asked this in, literally, October of last year, and I am very, very sorry I didn't reply until now. I'm not very good about talking about writing, tbh! But given it's the thing I am Most Passionate about, I wanted to at least Try. And yet I've spent Months starting different versions of this, and not finishing. So uhhh once again, here goes.

I don't outline, first of all. At least not a traditional outline.

I write everything in one document, as one living draft, and I outline as I go.

Basically when I start a fic, I have some general ideas about it.

Like for the Avery one, all I knew was:

to fulfill the prompt, McCoy was going to be denied food as punishment

I didn't want the crew of the Avery to be the bad guys

something was wrong with the crew

I wanted McCoy to save the day—this was the big one for me

When I start writing, I almost always start with a scene that will end up as the beginning or, more likely, extremely close to the beginning. I usually jump into that scene with zero hesitation or planning, and whatever names I jot down there will almost always stay (although I try to remember to google them before posting to make sure they're not real words with unpleasant meanings lmao).

The way I write the story is kind of like an outline—I jump around a LOT when I write, and as I jump around I figure out what I'm actually writing.

For the Avery one, the first scene I wrote was the one where McCoy was backhanded by Hayes. When McCoy was thinking about what could've happened to Hayes, that was me considering my options, too! I didn't know yet! I didn't know the Berovian flu had anything to do with what was happening, either—I didn't figure that out until McCoy did, and McCoy only figured it out there because I wanted Spock and Kirk to have a presence in the first half of the story, and so I needed to give them something to do, and the something they did was help McCoy and me figure out what was going on, haha.

I cannot stress enough how much I jump around, and how much I figure the story out that way. I find it really lets me thread things through, because I'm not editing to change things in the story, I'm back-filling in spaces I purposefully left empty until I knew what went there! I also reread the story a LOT as I go, which is why it all ends up turning to mush for me by the time I finish a fic lmao, but it means I edit some as I go, and it's what helps me keep the plot straight and what lets me know what threads to pull all the way through a story.

I've mentioned this on here before, but I'm not great at descriptions, or at least, they very much don't come naturally to me. SO I tie my descriptions into my plot and character work. That's something I have to keep an eye on as I write and edit, to make sure I know where everyone is and what everyone is doing. I can't picture things in my head, so I have to track it through when I reread it.

I don't actually change a whole lot between my first and last run through—usually even the very first scene I write will come through almost entirely intact, unless I really badly fail to trust my gut. (aka the Vulcan massage ritual one where I was too in my head about writing again and wrote a, I don't remember, like 800-1200 word intro of McCoy saving Spock from the river and then getting them to the cave, an intro that I had to fully discard, because it undercut all the emotion I needed, and then instead I had to back-fill Spock putting together what must have happened to give it that emotional weight I needed—that was VERY unusual, and VERY frustrating, because I knew better, I just didn't trust myself.)

Usually, though, 99.9% of what I write stays in the story, it just gets moved around and rearranged a lot. I'm a fairly lean writer, so while I very much understand the concept of kill your darlings, my problem is almost always the opposite—if a scene won't lay flat for me, it almost always means that I need to add something earlier in the story, to give it a more solid and balanced foundation.

My final edit is a full read-through, and that read-through consists of three main goals:

I'm looking for the same words and phrases too close together. Because I write out of order, I'll have a paragraph I wrote an hour ago next to a paragraph I wrote two months ago, and I have specific words and phrases I overuse way too often, so I have to go through and attempt to catch all of those that, now that the story is finally in the right order and strung all together, are now sitting way too close together.

Movement, expressions, and emotions. Similar to 1, but this is specifically watching for the way people move and react and feel—I need to make sure those are also not overused, and more importantly that they're not contradictory. I need to make sure the mood and movement flow together in the right order, with the right build. Build is something I care a lot about when writing—it's the way a fight builds, the way cussing builds, the way embarrassment or teasing builds. If anything feels too much too fast, or oscillates between levels instead of building, I'll rearrange or change the wording.

is the big one. That's just listening to the story and feeling the flow. It's looking for paragraphs without enough variation in sentence length, it's listening for awkward phrasing, it's just...hearing and feeling if the story flows right. This is the thing writing advice will tell you to read your favorite stories and listen for, and the advice is right for me, at least—I don't really know how to explain it besides I know if it feels right or not, and that's just from, what, fifteen years of practice and knowing what my writing should sound like, and a lifetime of listening to it in the things I love to read. Flow isn't usually a problem on a final read-through, but when it is, it's a massive problem, so I always look for that.

Some other things...I leave a lot of little hooks in my writing as I go, things that I can pull through if I need to, later on. I love callbacks, I love a good repetition, I LOVE a good payoff if I can swing it. For the time loop one, one of the very last things I wrote was the through line of McCoy having put together Kirk's lunch, and I threaded that all the way back through to the start of the story, because I wanted that eleven course payoff.

Let's see...people are funny, so I want my stories to have humor, but usually don't want humor to be the focus, so re: the build of it all, that's something I'm very aware of when I'm writing—I try to make sure the humor is between the characters, not between the story and the reader, because that allows me to better control the emotions of the scene? As in: I want any humor to be inside the story, not outside it.

Which brings us to the thing I always feel silliest saying: my goal is to make my writing as invisible as possible. I want to coax the reader into an empty plot, and then build the frame of the house around us, and my goal, when I'm writing, is to have the reader focus on a painting I've hung on a wall, and not even notice the wall itself, the wall that wasn't there a moment ago. I want to build the story around the two of us with you knowing. I want to buy in so fully to the story that you can too, and by doing so, I want you to ignore the construction zone we're in and instead focus on eating the homemade meal I just cooked us in a kitchen that's still actively being built as we eat.

I know that sounds silly, but I've never yet figured out a better way to say it! I want you inside the house, not looking in the windows. So everything I do when I write is with that goal, that the seams will lie flat, that the frame of the house will be solid, that I will buy into the story so fully and so absolutely that you'll trust me enough to do the same. That maybe you'll do it without even realizing.

That you'll believe the house has always been here, and that all I'm showing you is a pretty picture I've hung on the wall, a warm rug I've put down on the floor, a glass of wine I've just poured and set down on the kitchen island, the kitchen island that must have come with the house.

It's always been there. We've always been here. Sit down and stay awhile.

(someday I'll sound normal when I talk about writing, but alas, today is not that day. But I'm not keeping this in my inbox for another month as I desperately try to get to better at talking about writing lmaooo, so this is me attempting to learn by doing and all that)

[nellie-elizabeth]

Grey's Anatomy: Hit the Floor (21x09)

Guess which romances in this episode I don't give a shit about? All of them!

Cons:

I don't even want to belabor the point because I'm just repeating myself, but in short? Jo and Link suck and don't work as a romance, and Link was seriously getting on my nerves in this episode. He's weird about the women he dates, he gets too intense about them. This is what ruined the Amelia/Link thing too, except that theirs was a relationship I did enjoy, and this one with Jo is bad and also is supposed to be endgame unless one of the actors wants to leave the show before the other one. I hated the implication that Jo had "never had a stable adult relationship before" because like... I know this show took a giant crap all over Alex Karev on his way out the door, but you cannot say their relationship wasn't a stable and adult relationship before that. Yeesh.

Teddy actually didn't bother me on her own this episode, like, she was being a jerk to Ben but Ben was being super incompetent so her being kind of snappish worked for me. But Owen continues to suck so fucking bad. I almost had to laugh at the moment when he admits to the random patient lady from his past that he has feelings for her. Like, Owen, keep your shit together, my dude.

Lucas and Simone? Nothing bad here, but just boring as usual. Blue and Amnesia Girlfriend From Past? Somehow both boring and aggravating. If I can't have Jules and Mika then I'd like some Jules/Blue or, you know, in my wildest dreams we kick Lucas to the curb and get some Blue/Simone because I like their vibes best...

Lucas's plot thread this week was about having a trauma response to being in a shooting, and he and Amelia have this conversation about the Shepherd family's specific trauma about this scenario... it bothered me that they didn't bring up the hospital shooting, because Bailey was actually involved in a shooting too and surely that could have been a point of connection? Oh well. The moment when Lucas says he's "not a feelings person" after he needs to take a break was really funny to me, because like... oh, you're not a feelings person? Whiniest, most cow-eyed character of the interns? Always angsting about something or other? KWAN is the "not a feelings person," he's the one with the reputation for being stoic. Jules too. Lucas is way too feelings-y, that's like his whole thing. I really don't give a crap about this character.

Pros:

Okay, despite being very grumpy about Link and Jo, I did think Jo's comedic dismay about the very youthful OBGYN doctor having to do her exam was pretty funny, as was Link shutting down his chitchat at the end. That was a cute little bit. And I liked Bailey being there to support Jo, and talking some sense into Link. She's the best.

I kind of like that Ben isn't doing a super good job fitting back into the hospital, I think it's interesting. He's trying to take initiative and fix problems where he sees them, but Teddy's got a bigger picture view of what's going on, and she's trying to remind him that he's still got work to do to earn his position here. It's a tension where I can actually see both sides of the argument and I'm kind of looking forward to where it goes from here.

I also thought it was interesting how the shooter from last year's mid-season finale was handled. This isn't a mass-shooter situation where somebody went on a rampage, this was a person committing a desperate crime out of desperate need, and I appreciate that the episode sort of sat in the nuance of that. You have Jules who has decided to turn inward after losing Mika, get a wake-up call in the form of the shooter's girlfriend, who talks about how her boyfriend has turned inward after a series of misfortunes and doesn't seem to think he can reach out for help.

Another major patient story-line is the teenager whose mother was a Winston one-night stand. Winston and Amelia have to grapple with potential complications of the surgery as it seems the teenager might have lost the use of her legs. They're able to fix the issue, but there's tension between them leading up to it. I like Amelia and Winston's complicated friendship. They have this family tie through Maggie but it's obviously quite fraught, and they butt heads professionally too. I'd like to see them get more scenes together moving forward. Especially if they ever circle back to that Amelia/Monica thing they started to tease, because it would be funny for Winston to be awkward about that...

It's a little hard looking over my thoughts on this episode and confronting the fact that the things I'm excited about are potential story-lines that might take off or become more prominent.... and the "cons" section is just full of every major romance arc the show has going for it. I think Meredith and Mr. Boring are due to come back next week, so I'll have another romance to gripe about then! Woohoo.

6/10

[ewingstan]

6.8 felt like a big point in the story for me. So it seems like a good point to update my overall impressions on Breakthrough:

I think Victoria is a strong protagonist. That said, Wildbow's strength is character arcs focusing on the protagonists slowly but surely deciding to sacrifice their selfhood in order to make the bastards pay. Victoria already lost her selfhood and got it back, and while its probably too early to really get a sense of it, I don't have any clear expectations of what her arc could be.

Rain has had some of the best writing I've seen from Wildbow and his story has been incredibly engaging. But I don't think I understand Victoria's leap to "he's taken big steps towards becoming a hero" stance. He defended himself against a bunch of people who were trying to kill him. Mama Mathers was gonna send people after him, his clustermates were out for blood, he didn't have a safe group anymore except for Breakthrough (who wanted to fight the guys trying to kill him) and March. Obviously he was gonna help fight, it was his best and only chance to save himself. We haven't really seen him have a chance to do something truly heroic for someone else yet. We probably shouldn't; as much as I like Rain, a recovering Christian Identity member really shouldn't be given a position as a cop.

I'm more excited to see where Kenzie goes than any other character right now (I know her ending isn't great, but we can have good times until then right?) She has the most interesting relationships with every other character and has such an unusual perspective on everything that she consistently elevates any scene she's in.

I know we're still early in but it weirds me out how we still know so little about Chris. He's got an interesting if seemingly hard-to-narrativize powerset, he has a lot of active threads out, and he's gotten my favorite line so far:

(yeah i know its corny. It's still extremely my shit). But we still know pretty much nothing about him besides 1) gets along well with Kenzie and 2) is weirdly eager to throw himself into battle. We knew more about Alec even by this point in Worm. What's this guy's deal?

(I know some of this guy's deal. I don't yet know how we get from here to what I know about this guy's deal).

I feel like Tristan and Byron have been waylaid by the plot for the last few chapters, but I want to get more of them, which I'll take as a good sign.

Ashley is usually the most entertaining character in any scene. Her whole deal is catnip to me. I still think her wanting to go to prison is bullshit.

Sveta is a very fun and engaging character who is clearly meant to be overly naive, but at the same time I feel like the text ends up justifying her opinions too often. The paragon do-gooder voice shouldn't be right too often in a parahumans book, it ends up with too many thematic contradictions between it and Worm. Yeah, her being the moral voice does give her a chance to come out and plainly say the underlying thesis of the work:

But there's still weird issues. The big one for me is still the "Ashley and Rain should turn themselves in" being treated mostly as true; Sveta is treated as naiive for this, but only for believing the justice system is complete enough to process them, not for the belief that "serving time" is a necessary part of cleansing oneself of sin. I mean, Amy going to the birdcage was depicted as useless self-flagellation and running away from responsibility! Taylor doing jailtime was a game she had to go along with to flimsily justify her inclusion on the Wards! Wildbow obviously has put active thought into the theoretical and practical shortcomings of the justice system beforehand, why is it suddenly being sanctified? I'd chalk it down to just being Victoria and Sveta's perspective, but literally nothing is pushing back on it besides Kenzie and Ashley is going out of her way and characterization to agree with it. And I know I'm not gonna get a satisfying answer to this because its one of the things that people bring up as an archetypal problem with Ward, but at the same time I can't just accept "fuck you its ward" as a satisfying explanation! I need answers John! What were you doing with this!