#i'm sure i'll have more thoughts later

[yenntrash]

My issue with Arcane S2

(Disclaimer: I think S2 is still amazing. Just much weaker than the first) I let my mind rest a bit, and I finally figured out what left me feeling... Flat. Not sad, not disappointed, just flat. It's the change of focus. Arcane season 1 shows us a very personal conflict between two long-lost sisters and the people around them. Their conflict is mirrored by another of much larger scale: that of the cities of Piltover and Zaun. In season 2, the conflict is made yet larger. People are not fighting for complex socio-economical reasons anymore, no, now they are fighting to save the world. Now, uniting everyone against a bigger threat makes for some kick-ass battle scenes, sure... But was it really necessary? I just feel like there was still plenty to say about the relationship between Piltover and Zaun. I feel like there was a way to make a compelling and powerful ending by still focusing on this lower-scaled conflict. I mean, that whole thing sure FEELS huge throughout season 1. Instead, season 2 felt... Like a superhero flick or something. A great one, sure. But season 1 was so much more than that! And another symptom of this change of focus is that as we move away from the conflict that birthed them, Vi and Jinx become secondary characters in their own story. I don't dislike Vik and Jayce, but when did they become the main focus? I just don't feel like the relationship between Vi and Jinx had a proper conclusion... I mean, the show starts with them on that bridge! They're the ones we follow for the first three episodes! The apex of season 1 is all about them too, as we are left to wonder what the ramifications of Jinx's actions will be! How will the cities be affected? Did everything change forever?!! And then, in three episodes, we swipe it under the rug and as we make way for the Viktor show. Hell, can you believe it? He's so important that he even manages to make the cities come together! Take that, Silco! He even indirectly makes some lasting change by putting Sevika on the council! Meanwhile, Vi and Jinx are fighting Vander... And for what? It doesn't matter. Jayce and Ekko save the day. Thank you for coming, girls! You didn't think that you were involved just because you're starring in the opening, did you? The more I write the less I like it... It's still great. Season 2 is amazing. But season 1 was next to flawless. Season 2 is high in the sky, but the drop still really hurts.

[alexisrosemullens]

TATTOO. They kept this tattoo for Eddie and I'm 👀. This is a very interesting choice to not cover up this tattoo. I'm not sure how recent it is for Ryan but they usually only keep his band. And now to keep this one that say "Find a way". Interesting indeed.

[purrpickle]

Okay, okay, I have too many disjointed thoughts in my head, so I am going to compile them here instead of posting smattering of posts here and there:

Pin throwing stones into the pond after stating she was heading to the kitchens... Icon. Iconic. So relatable.

Then Anil angrily picking up a stone and throwing one into the pond before stalking away because her kiss was interrupted and her archenemy was there? Peak cinema. Such good parallels, too, with how Anil treats and acts her feelings for and about Pin versus how Pin treats and acts her feelings for and about Anil. A+!

That little Pin flashback. I stated it already, but it made me tear up. So good, so painful. Wow.

That night at the Pine Palace, from Anil comforting Pin to through the puzzle scene, truly felt to me the first time that Anil and Pin fell back into their old friendship and rapport. They were finally comfortable with each other, and you could see the friendship and closeness they grew up with still there! That intimacy. Sure, Anil was still flirting, but I think demonstrating to Pin that the girl who truly cared for her was still there and not just taken over by this new flirt monster (who seemed to be flirting with everyone else too, mind you), it really made Pin relax and be open and welcome to Anil again. And they needed that.

Speaking of that night at the Pine Palace. Pin wearing purple, a mix of pink and blue, showing how open and accepting of what's going to happen. And Anil, wearing her blue checkered dress with the pink lines? Spoke to me of being in control but also allowing Pin back in and welcoming her. Ugh, from someone only peripherally aware of color coordination and theory and all that, I still picked up on the significance of their colors and cheered! The visual storytelling!

And... Yeah. That kissing game. Unlike a lot of Anil's previous flirting which always felt to me like Anil doing it to Pin, this truly felt like Anil doing this with Pin, and that distinction truly makes all the difference. It was the perfect time for that to happen with the two of them - Pin still feeling a little vulnerable from being terrified in front of Anil but also feeling reassured from that vulnerability because she knows Anil will be there for her like she always used to be, and Anil feeling accepted by Pin because, without even a single thought, Pin still turned to her and buried herself into her arms when she got terrified, seeking her out, seeking what only Anil could give her, out. This episode really maneuvered both girls into exactly where they needed to be to make this happen and feel real and right, and it was perfect. So perfect.

Their chemistry and intimacy. 'Nuff said.

[oxventure-text-posts]

I'm gonna be honest with you guys, the urge to do the same thing I did with the oitd silhouettes, aka slap text posts onto the art with no knowledge of their canon personality other than what they did in the trailer and pulling from the fandom's perceived personality for them, for the new oxventure characters revealed in that trailer is so real

[thecourtofteeth]

so I just finished s7 and...

wtf was that?

[elitadream]

Okay.

One more Bowser drawing and then I'll go right back to making Mareach fluff. Pinky promise. 😌💟

[the-knight-of-destiny]

i wanna make a longer post on ratgrinder discourse later, mostly just because i think there's a lot of interesting things to dig into in regards to the topic but

sincerely, looking at stories from different angles and perspectives and trying to understand the ideas of others is something i love, but there is one part of the "debate" that frustrates me dude so many of you people are putting words in each other's mouths

[5mcsinatrenchcoat]

Seeing people drop everything and running back to BG3 because of the new patch is kinda eye-opening because I think. I might genuinely like DAtV better. Personally. For myself.

Probably an incredibly hot take but what can I do.

[accirax]

so... exciting announcement... i was hired to work on Reality Resort as a storyboard artist!

for those of you who haven't heard, Reality Resort is a Total Drama-inspired show on YouTube, produced by Cove and animated by Odd Nation Cartoons. its pilot episode just dropped a few hours ago!

to be clear, i didn't contribute at all to the first episode-- i was only hired about a week ago to contribute on episode 2 and beyond. speaking of, it'll be a lot easier for us to make episode 2 and beyond with more support for the show, so please consider checking out the pilot if the show sounds up your ally. the team is super cool and welcoming, and i've had a ton of fun with what i've worked on so far.

as for this blog, given that i'm now part of the show's staff, i won't be making any sorts of speculative content about Reality Resort or any of the other planned shows in the Reality Gauntlet. this is obviously because i know things the average viewer doesn't, and because i wouldn't want anything i was genuinely blindly speculating on to be interpreted as fact/a hint. however, Disventure Camp content (as well as all of the usual stuff) will continue as normal! (other than that i now have a bit less free time :,) )

anyways, i hope any of you who do decide to check it out will enjoy! as Cove has said in the comments, the first episode isn't perfect, and there are still plenty of quirks to iron out in the future. but, i think that the future of the show is looking bright, and i and the rest of the team appreciate any support you're willing to give. :)

[unproduciblesmackdown]

maybe bsol is that time jen tepper mentions when she was so upset about a review of a show of joe's that she broke a glass (&/or threw it out a window)

[youremyonlyhope]

why won't my brain shut up why won't my brain shut up why won't my brain shut up why won't my brain shut up

[seaofreverie]

Wanted to start working on projects for my part-time school this weekend but instead all I have the energy to do is lay in bed and play mario kart or lay in bed and listen to music

[imagine-nerd]

The fucking disconnect is so real.

[vocaloid-song-showdown]

the poll for how to arrange the brackets just finished with proceeding as originally planned winning!

so, without further ado, here are the lineups ^^

note :: songs with a * next to them may require a content warning. i'll provide specific warnings as soon as i have the time, but as of now please proceed with caution

main matchup bracket ::

alice of human sacrifice* by yugami p / fear garden* by chaa

magnet by minato p / romeo and cinderella by doriko

world is mine by ryo / world's end dancehall by wowaka

triple baka by lamaze p / the disappearance of hatsune miku by cosmo p

meltdown by iroha(sasaki) / luka luka★night fever by samfree

fire◎flower by halyosy / trick and treat by oster project

daughter of evil by mothy / dancing★samurai by kanimiso p

rolling girl by wowaka / matryoshka by hachi

madness of duke venomania* by mothy / alluring secret ~black vow~ by hitoshizuku x yama

senbonzakura by kurousa / outer science by jin

doubleganger by kulfiq / mikusabbath by utsu p

jinsei reset button by kemu / common world domination by pinnochio p

the fox's wedding* by masa works design / tokio funka by takamatt

heat haze days by jin / patchwork staccato by toa

six trillion years and an overnight story by kemu / lost one's weeping by neru

aishite aishite aishite by kikuo / echo by crusher p

setsuna drive by taki yoshimitsu / yoake to hotatu by n buna

a fake fake psychotropic by kairiki bear / therefore you and me by tadanoco

my r* by kurage p / i'm glad youre evil too by pinnochio p

chururira chururira dadada by kurage p / mkdr by deco*27

blessed messiah and the tower of ai by hitoshizuku x yama / 86 by dasu

law evading rock by neru / nakakapagpabagabag by dasu

sand planet by hachi / ghost rule by deco*27

monster by kira / hated by life itself by iori kanzaki

cause i'm a liar by mcki robyns p / honey i'm home by ghost

hole dwelling by kikuo / bring it on by giga

meteor by divela / seraphim on the ring by mitchie m

the court jester by thquib / casino by azari

king by kanaria / villain by teniwoha

lower by lanndo / phony by tsumiki

higanbana milk tea by vane / scapegoat by ghost

queen by kanaria / bug by kairiki bear

honorable mention bracket ::

electric angel by yasuo p (original), giga (giga arrange) / freely tomorrow by mitchie m

po pi po by lamaze p / go google it by wintermint p

black★rock shooter by ryo / bacterial contamination by kanimiso p

i like you, i love you by gevanni p / first love academy • school of true love by nem

(also a quick general note ! i don't have everything ready for a formal polished reveal at the time of posting this. i plan on updating this post with links to the songs and also a visual bracket when i have the time. they'll definitely be up soon, so make sure to check back in a bit for them ^^

i'll also make sure that reblogs are turned on for the final version!)

[valiantarcher]

Some assorted and random thoughts on Dare by Tricia Mingerink.

I was far too slow on the uptake (I had the pieces but they didn't click together until idratherdreamofjune mentioned something about it), but I do like the western prairie setting of the world. It's a nice change from mountainous and forested fantasy worlds, and an even rarer aesthetic and costuming choice!

I was kinda 'eh' the first few pages, but near the end of chapter one, I started getting a little more interested and then chapter two started and Renna showed up and I was hooked.

Renna is great. She reminded me a bit of Blanche Brier in how she lives with both faith and fear, wishes to be braver/bolder while still wishing her younger sister would be a bit more cautious at times, and still does the right thing even if it's excruciatingly difficult. I was also really amused by her half-hoping Leith would die and recognising that while she might want to pray for that, it would be wrong.

I also love Brandi (though her name threw me for quite a bit), especially her sneakiness with the Daniel stories and her fearless faith.

THE DANIEL STORIES. I loved that that was how the gospel began to be presented - not with what people usually think of as the obvious point, with Jesus - but with the stories from Daniel that got Leith intrigued and recognising his sinfulness and that there was something different and desirable about the Christians caring for him. Also, how Leith went through Genesis and the first bit of the Pentateuch to have enough of a foundation to understand why Jesus came and THEN went to the Gospels - that's a reading order that is used with people curious about or searching for understanding, and it was neat to see.

I didn't like Shadrach's argument about how Leith's prayer for courage being answered and God answering the prayers of His people meant Leith was a child of God already. God uses both Christians and non-Christians to work out His will and the immediate answer or lack thereof of prayer isn't a proof-positive or negative of salvation (or predestination).

Which was another thing. I think it could've had a bit more nuance/slightly better explanation (and the whole thing with Leith's father didn't seem to quite hit right somehow?), but predestination in a fantasy novel??? It's more likely than you think!

ALSO! The life and importance of the body of Christ felt real! Renna and Brandi (and their aunt and uncle when they returned) having family devotions and Brandi whistling psalms tunes going to do chores! Abel as pastor and caring for his flock, specifically going out to minister and check on them when they had paused services! The church services and fellowship lunch in between!! Again, these sorts of things often seem to end up either missing or just a one-off scene in Christian fantasy, and I really appreciated how they were included here.

Oooh, one more: the variety and diversity of opinions on rebellion vs. resistance vs. submission (and I appreciate the distinction made between the first two especially) is also really rare and was neat to see. Somewhat irritating because not all the arguments were great and almost no one shared opinions, but really neat to see still.

Moving on to a different subject, I also appreciated the sidestepping of the love triangle(s). They can be well-done, but they weren't needed here by any means and would've made things messy on a lot of fronts, so very happy they didn't materialise. Even happier that they were sidestepped without making either Shadrach or Jolene mean, thoughtless, or unkind!

I really enjoyed that Shadrach and Leith got to build up a friendship. I liked that Leith had a friendship with Martyn already (or the very narrow and slender friendship they could have as Blades :( ) as well, even if Leith is aware he won't be able to keep both friendships the same as they have diametrically-opposed foundations. :(

I appreciated that Leith's and Renna's interest in each other really only started to show up by the end. Granted, I do think they could've waited longer - it really hasn't been THAT long :P - but I am glad it didn't show up faster/stronger.

I understood why Leith left Renna a knife and it was very sweet in intention and ended up being somewhat practical, but also: HOW DUMB CAN YOU BE??? IT'S A MONOGRAMMED KNIFE THAT'S PART OF A SET!! If no one notices that Leith is missing a knife, someone might eventually notice that Renna has a Blade's knife with Leith's initials on it. :| And because he left it with her at the end of the book and no one noticed before then, it's gonna come back to bite them in the future.

[bossladytae]

~