#in contrast to certain other Netflix shows

[heartstopperthoughts]

Consent is just as important in same-sex relationships as it is in straight relationships and for whatever reason, media generally seems to value consent (if at all) when it’s between a boy and a girl.

I’m just so, so grateful that Alice Oseman has shown healthy communication, mutual respect, and consent in Nick and Charlie’s relationship! Because honestly it’s not shown enough.

...

[auras-moonstone]

could you write something about jack and shy!reader where they’re working on a romcom together and she’s very closed off with him bc she likes him and he’s always going to her trailer to hang out despite her being very quiet

okay so i may have reached a new level of cheesiness with this one shot but i kinda love it??? hope you do too🫶🏻💓

the tower at midnight — jack champion

word count: 2,394

pairing: jack champion x shy!fem!reader

summary: jack and y/n are working on a rom-com together. because of her shyness and crush on him, y/n is really closed off and jack is determined to change that.

WHEN Y/N AUDITIONED FOR THE ROLE OF ANNA IN THE NETFLIX ADAPTATION OF ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, she would’ve never ever—not even in her wildest dreams—imagined that the boy who played Étienne St. Clair (the love interest) would be Jack Champion, her celebrity crush.

Jack knew he had soft spot for her from the moment they met, at the cast presentation/meeting. Y/N had been standing awkwardly by the door because, just like him, she had arrived earlier than the rest.

“Hi, you must be Y/N” he gave her a wide smile, showing his perfect teeth and cute dimples. Y/N couldn’t believe he was even more perfect in person.

“Hi… yes” she shifted awkwardly. Her nostrils caught the scent of his strong and sweet cologne, and she instantly became addicted.

“I’m Jack! Nice to meet you! I’m really excited to be working with you” Jack’s voice was the complete opposite of hers—loud, excited, confident, steady.

“Thanks, me too” she sent him a soft smile, which was enough to send Jack’s heart beats on a marathon.

“It’s your first acting role, right?” he asked, interested in knowing more about the girl. Y/N nodded shyly. “Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll do amazing! I know it can seem very intimidating, but you’ll be okay”.

“Thank you” Y/N smiled gratefully. She was completely entranced by him, by his kindness and by his warmth.

“What are you listening to?” he asked, eyeing the earphone that hung from my neck.

“Um, the Mamma Mia soundtrack” she replied, cheeks red as she offered him one of the earphones. He beamed at her, and accepted it. They both sat together in comfortable silence, humming to the ABBA songs as they waited for the rest of the cast.

JACK THOUGHT THAT BY THE PASSING DAYS, Y/N WOULD WARM UP TO HIM AT LEAST A LITTLE. But he had been totally wrong, she even became more reserved than the day they met.

He only heard her voice when they were doing a scene, and it was weird to see the contrast between them when they were playing Anna and Étienne—two friends who were clearly into each other—and the real Y/N and Jack—two people who didn’t interact at all behind cameras. It was like living two lives, and Jack liked what he felt with Y/N when they were doing a scene together. Her eyes held a certain spark when she looked at him, and she blushed so prettily and her soft voice was just so enthralling… she was a great actress and Jack was beginning to think he was really not acting the attraction towards her at all.

Little did he know, Y/N wasn’t acting either. She liked him, a lot, and wished she wasn’t so shy because she really wanted to spend more time with Jack when the cameras weren’t near them. But Y/N knew she would make a fool of herself, and would be extremely obvious about her feelings, and weirding Jack out by her little crush was the last thing Y/N wanted. So, she stayed in her own little bubble while she enjoyed his company during the interactions between Anna and Étienne.

But Jack was not going to let it stay like that. And, one day, after they finished a scene, he followed Y/N to her trailer.

“Hey, do you mind if I stay with you?” Jack asked as she opened the door.

Y/N looked surprised “No… it’s okay” she said in a low tone. Jack smiled and held the door open for her. “Thanks” she muttered, her stomach squirming. He really was perfect.

There wasn’t a conversation at all. And one might think that would’ve been awkward as hell, but it wasn’t. Y/N felt comfortable, and Jack enjoyed her company even when they didn’t talk at all. So they did the same the next day, and the following one, and soon it became their little religion.

Y/N wondered why he kept going—not that she minded, of course. But he could spend his free time with other cast members who actually talked to him, and instead Jack sat in complete silence with her for minutes, not even attempting to make a conversation. She couldn’t help but ask.

“Why do you do this?” her question surprised him, and he paused the game he was playing on his phone.

“What?” Jack asked confused.

“You know, sit with me everyday, when I’m the most boring person to hang out” her voice was little.

Because I like you, he was tempted to say. But he didn’t want her to run away “You’re not boring. Sometimes conversations are overrated, you know? And it feels nice to hang out with you, you make me feel at peace”.

Y/N blushed. No one had ever said that to her ‘make me feel at peace’. Most people left her alone when they got the memo that she didn’t want to talk. Jack didn’t. “I… feel the same about you. I’m comfortable with you, and it’s… funny to watch you furrow your eyes when you are struggling at your game” she admitted, letting out a small laugh.

Jack’s smile appeared almost as a reflect. She had no idea how much he liked her “And I think it’s funny how you squirm whenever a kissing scene comes up in your book”.

Y/N’s body grew hot. “I just like when the characters finally kiss. I get invested a lot”

“Have you read Anna and the french kiss before the adaptation was announced?” Jack asked.

The girl smiled, she loved talking about rom-coms. “Of course. It’s one of my favorite romances. In fact, it enters my top five”.

“Oh, let’s see. Tell me your top” he asked, moving to sit next to her.

“At number five, Kisses and croissants—which like Anna, is set on Paris—, then The Happy Place—it’s really heart wrenching but it’s so good—, The do-over—I love it, it’s very original—, Anna and the french kiss—I absolutely love the whole Paris exploration and the romance and friendship between Anna and St. Clair is impeccable… and then, my absolute favorite is-“

“Wait! Drumrolls” he interrupted her, before making the sound.

Y/N laughed “Better than the movies, of course. Best romance I’ve ever read”.

“Oh, I know that one! I’ve been fan casted as the main character” Jack said.

As if I didn’t know, she said internally. He was the perfect Wes Bennet, and now that she actually knew him, she couldn’t deny it. “I know” she confessed.

“Really? What do you think?”

“The fans clearly make a good point” she said. How was he getting her to talk so much? She never felt like that towards someone. When she was around Jack, she wanted to make conversation.

Jack saw how passionate Y/N was about books, so he hold onto that topic. He loved hearing her voice, and her enthusiasm. “Tell me about this character. I’ve never read the book”.

And so Y/N talked about Wes, about how similar he was to Jack. And said boy was on cloud nine, not only was Y/N talking to him, but he was complimenting him. Well, she complimented Wes, but she mentioned lots of times how he and Jack were literally the same person—so the compliments were towards him too, right? And he loved it.

THEIR DYNAMIC COMPLETELY CHANGED EVER SINCE THAT DAY ON THE TRAILER. Jack noticed Y/N had grown more comfortable and confident around him, though she did have moments of shyness—especially when he threw praises at her. That’s another thing that changed: Jack wouldn’t pass the opportunity to shower her with compliments. The first one had slipped out of his mouth, she just looked so gorgeous on that skirt and top, that he couldn’t shut up. At first, he cursed at himself thinking it was going to make her uncomfortable, but then she blushed and gave him a little smile and Jack knew he had to tell her at least one nice thing every day. He realized that flattering her was his favorite activity, and he was very addicted to her reactions.

Maybe it was all in his imagination, but he had the feeling that Y/N liked him back. The blushing, the glances, her little stiffness whenever he got too close—it could be just her shyness, he knew it, but the hopeful part of him told him it was more than that.

“Y/N/N?” he interrupted her reading. That was a new activity they had—Jack asked Y/N if she could read him ‘Better than the movies’, and she couldn’t say no when he pouted. So she read to him during their breaks at the trailer.

“Yes?” she looked down at her lap, where Jack’s head was resting.

“Are you doing something tonight?” he asked.

Y/N frowned “No, why?”

“I just realize, we are in Paris and we didn’t get to explore much. Just the places we have filmed at, and it sucks because it is such a beautiful city”

“So…?”

“Right. Well, I was wondering if you wanted to explore with me tonight. We leave the set earlier today, so it’s a great opportunity. We can have dinner, and then visit some touristic places” he tried to speak confidently, but he was practically screaming on the inside.

“Yes, that sounds really nice, actually” she nodded, not thinking much of it. Jack cursed at her calmness, guess she didn’t understand he was actually asking her on a date.

“Great. It’s a date” Jack said, paying attention to her reaction. Her jaw fell open, and the grip on the book loosened letting it fall to her lap—or Jack’s face to be exact. “Ouch!”.

“Shit. Shit. I’m so sorry, Jack” Y/N apologised, body turning warm with embarrassment.

“You could’ve just said no, you know? Didn’t have to hit me with your book” he joked.

“No, no. I want to… I want it to be a date” she said softly. “Did I hurt you?” she touched his nose carefully.

“Not anymore. The pain is now long forgotten” Jack said looking her in the eyes. She turned her head away, they were too close and he was making her extremely nervous “I love it when you blush, did you know that? I… I like you”

“I got the hint ever since you randomly started to tell me compliments every day” she confessed.

“So you knew that I liked you?” Jack asked surprised. She nodded shyly “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Y/N shrugged “I’m not good at making the first move”

“Well, I am” he smiled smugly, leaning closer to her. He was going to kiss her. She had even closed her eyes, waiting for the feeling of his lips. “No”

Y/N opened her eyes in confusion “What?”

“You like romance, don’t you?” Jack asked, she affirmed with her head “We are in one of the most romantic cities in the world and you’re a fan of romantic comedies. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we have our first kiss in a trailer when there are so many beautiful places where we could have it?” he left Y/N completely speechless. “I’ll pick you up at 8, gorgeous”.

Y/N swooned. This guy was taken out of a romantic novel, there’s no other explanation.

WALKING AROUND THE CITY OF PARIS WITH JACK FELT LIKE A FAIRYTALE. They bought a disposable camera and took pictures of everything—when they went to The Louvre, to Le arc de Triomphe, the Luxembourg Gardens. And now, they were at their final stop before heading back to the hotel. Of course, they had to end their little exploration with Paris’ most iconic monument—the Eiffel Tower.

“Holy shit” Y/N said in complete awe. It was completely dark—as it was midnight already—so the tower shone brightly. The warm flashing lights of the monument reflected on Y/N’s starry eyes and Jack was completely taken by the view—her, of course. “This is completely mesmerising, Jack”.

“I know” eyes never leaving her eyes.

“Excuse moi” the voice of an old woman interrupted them. Y/N turned around and smiled warmly at her. She asked something in french that Jack couldn’t understand, but Y/N nodded and took the phone the woman held in her hands.

Y/N took a picture of the lady in front of the tower, and smiled at her as she handed the phone back. The unknown female looked at Jack, who was watching them with a grin, and said something to Y/N that made her blush and laugh.

“What did she say?” Jack asked curiously when Y/N came back to his side.

“She said that you were very handsome and that we make a great couple” Y/N admitted, smiling lightly but not quite looking at him from embarrassment.

“That was a wise woman, then” Jack smirked. “I didn’t know you spoke french”

“I studied it at school, so I can speak it quite well” she told him.

“Can you say something to me in french?” he was dying to hear her voice in that accent.

Y/N turned around to face him and, with an air of confidence, she said “Tu es le plus beau garçon que J'ai jamais vu. Je t'aime beaucoup et je suis amoureuse de ton sourire et de tes beaux yeux”.

With his jaw almost reaching the floor, his eyes roamed from her eyes down to her mouth, completely bewitched by the sound of her voice and the movement of her lips. He didn’t recognise one word that she had said, yet his heart felt like jumping out of his chest.

“Wha-what does that mean?” he whispered breathlessly.

“I said… You’re the most beautiful boy I’ve ever seen. I like you very much and I’m in love with your smile and your beautiful eyes”

“And-and how do you say ‘Can I kiss you?’ in french?” he asked, fingertips caressing her full lips.

“Je peux t'embrasser?” she answered.

Jack smiled “Yes, of course you can”

Y/N laughed “Dork” she whispered before pressing her lips against his.

Y/N didn’t quite know how Jack manages to make her feel absolutely fearless. But she was in love with the feeling, she was so in love with him that she might stop breathing. She was in love with his cheeky smile, his sweet disposition, his understanding self, his silly jokes, his touch and his loving gaze, and now, one hundred percent, with his kisses.

“I’m in love with you too” Jack said against her lips.

[trekmupf]

Evil Cube from outer space

Pro

Spock being a good leader & Sassy boy

Shatner getting his sweaty sporty chest out again. I mean the entire workout scene, McCoy ignoring the red alert and kirk video calling Spock shirtless and sweaty

and Kirk literally walking around the entire ship without a shirt and shoes???

“What am I a doctor or a moon shuttle conductor?”

the way bones sits on the bridge railing

our crew sitting in the conference room for hours, slamming back coffee

Bailey is a great and important part of the episode: we see his decline (along with McCoy), it's realistic and well contrasted to the senior staff on the bridge, and his arc comes full circle in the end

I love it when McCoy is literally standing behind Kirk in the captains chair

the fact the dummy alien makes you think this is the worst alien design so far and then it DOES turn out to be a dummy is great

Not only in theory but generally shows important mechanics on the ship: How the characters / crew work together and who does what

especially the way kirk relies on both Spock and McCoy to advise him, challenge him and back him up in their very own way; also the way they clash but come around again after, it's all so rounded

also shows who kirk is as a captain: calm, level headed, rational but empathetic, thinks deeply about major decisions and is conscious of his role and responsibility; and also so smart with how he handles the crisis and outplays his opponent; the way he leads his crew, the way he refuses to give up; but his anger and emotion also keep him very human

the fact that he decides to save the former enemy is so Kirk, I love him for it (knowing how he continues to value life and what it will cost him later on)

special effects (I really implore you guys to check out the original special effects if you've only seen the Netflix / DVD versions, it's on youtube)

The sounds on the bridge, little beeps and boops, are such a great atmosphere

“ a cube is blocking the ships way for half an episode” shouldn't work and yet the characters, music and editing really hold the tension up during the first half

the second half is even more tense and puts the characters under such stress until the plot twist in the end that relieves that tension in a great and satisfying way

good scoring and dramatic music

Con

Was filmed earlier than most others, so the inconsistencies are back (clothes, roles, characters, camerawork)

Bashing Yeoman Rand doing her job served no purpose and was unnecessary sexist; didn't like McCoy's comment either

Counter

shirtless kirk

brains over brawls (technically there was no brawls option)

superior alien race studying humanity

Quote:

"You know the greatest danger facing us is... ourselves, and irrational fear of the unknown. There's no such thing as 'the unknown,' only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood" - Kirk

"Has it occurred to you that there is a certain... inefficiency in constantly questioning me on things you've already made up your mind about?" - Spock "It gives me emotional security" - Kirk (the way they look at each other drives me insane)

Moment: Kirk pulling the entire Corbomite story from thin air

Summary: A tense episode about a terrifying and hopeless situation putting pressure onto our characters and revealing their core characteristics and strengths as well as highlighting their relationships with each other, with a great plot twist to round out the episode. It also openly and directly tells us what Star Trek is about and its philosophical and ethical core messages – the best episode so far and one of the best in general.

Previous Episode - Next Episode - All TOS Reviews

[concerningwolves]

today's disconnected but related Thoughts are about how stories should exist within "containers", and how problems in long-running TV series are typically introduced when the writers don't use those containers properly. I'm struggling to articulate it in a coherent order, but:

● an audience needs to be able to see some kind of boundary enclosing the story, otherwise it doesn't feel satisfying. This is why we have set plot structures like Freytag's Pyramid and Fichtean Curve which so many stories follow. Most storytelling formats lend themselves to this – novels, certain comic books and graphic novels, plays, and films all have a beginning and an end. You open the book or enter a theatre or switch on the telly, and you experience the story, and then it ends. The story might live with you afterwards, if it affected or resonated with you or made you want to analyse it, but if the creator did their job well you'll at least feel closure with it on a mechanical level (i.e., plot and character arcs have conclusions that you can see fit within the framework of the story, even if personally you didn't like or agree with something). The Good Place is an example of a TV series that did this very well, because the writers had a set vision for the series and they executed it.

● A lot of TV dramas and serials operate on the premise of being ongoing – a story that stretches on without any defined end in sight. This can be done well, but sometimes the story gets bloated and stale, or it ends up like separate swatches of cloth instead of an interwoven tapestry. I'm not saying this means every TV series automatically fails to tell a story in a satisfying way, or even that the series that don't are inherently bad. It works differently from books or films, and therein lie its strengths as a storytelling medium! For one thing, TV is excellent for character-focused stories, and these can go on and on for ages and still be enjoyable and entertaining (even if not "good" by critical artistic standards). There's also more flexibility in TV than in a film; the ongoing format lets writers string out rising and falling tension, and focus in and out on different plots/subplots across a far larger scope.

● The way these shows work is the overarching medium of the series contains smaller stories in the form of plots. The boundaries between one plot and the next usually need to be permeable, too – a plot arc should conclude satisfactorily, yes, but the things that happen in it ought to resonate with the larger narrative afterwards, otherwise it'll feel pointless to the audience. Ghost Whisperer is an example where the creators failed to do this, repeatedly: each of the five seasons introduces a new concept which seems to be building towards some kind of climax, and then... doesn't. Characters vanish from the story never to be mentioned again. Huge events that ought to have life-altering consequences for the characters only have consequences for a few episodes, and then it's swept under the rug. The series had its appeal in a fun concept and lovable characters, but was let down by the execution. By contrast, medical drama Grey's Anatomy has been going successfully since 2005. It has some continuity issues (like interns vanishing without explanation) and some plots are better than others, but on the whole it takes its status as a long-running story seriously and does it quite well.

● The streaming model and the way TV writers are treated is a factor, too. Even where the boundaries of a story have been pre-defined and could be executed well, the creators often don't have the chance. (and I'm sure the same is true of long-running manga/comic books/graphic novels, although I'm focusing mostly on TV here). Ratings, network politics and actors' personal lives/ambitions have a huge impact on what happens to a TV series, and the popularity or apparent success of a series doesn't always guarantee its continuation. Just look at Netflix's habit of axing series after 2 seasons! Or at Good Omens, which despite being written by Neil Gaiman, having a huge fanbase, and a pre-set story which would be concluded in three seasons, hasn't yet been officially greenlit for season 3 (afaik). The industry has created an environment where stories are commodified, and that's not an environment in which stories can flourish.

[dg-outlaw]

'The Penguin - Episode 1: After Hours' Review/Thoughts

** Mild Spoilers Ahead **

So I'll start off by saying, I'm not a big fan of mobster/drug lord movies and shows. Same goes for the rich people/corporate shows like Succession or Billions. Basically, if the general premise is; these people are rich and/or powerful, come watch them betray, kill, and/or be assholes to other people and one another to achieve and maintain that wealth or power, and there's likely to be no justice had... then yeah, not for me. If anything, watching Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) was more about catharsis than entertainment for me. IYKYK.

Obviously, I know there's more nuance than that when it comes to many of these shows and movies as there's also outstanding performances and interesting storylines, but something about them reminding me of the injustices and/or corporate greed of the real world just puts me off most of the time. If I'm going to watch media like that then I usually have to be in a certain mood for it or I'm hooked by the characters.

Early previews of The Penguin gave me the same mobster vibe as many crime shows. There will be no heroes, no Batman, and likely no real justice, but being in the Batman and Matt Reeves Bat-verse, I wanted to give it a shot.

Is The Penguin different from other mobster crime shows? Yes and no. No, in that it still has all the mobster show flavor and if it weren't in the Batman world, I'd maybe give it a pass, but because it is Batman and Gotham, then yes, there's enough interesting flavor here to keep me wanting to see what happens next.

If you're not aware, this series takes place soon after the events of Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022). Carmine Falcone is dead, Gotham is still recovering from the flood caused by The Riddler, though it seems the parts of Gotham mostly affected and still in disarray are the lower-income areas, and Batman is... probably napping? IDK, but it'll be interesting to see how Batman gets interwoven into this series or is generally not present.

Colin Farrell returns as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin... or as he's referenced in the series, Oz Cobb, and he's looking to make a name for himself.

Without getting into the details (as there are likely a million legit summary reviews of Episode 1 online now), Oz quickly sets things in motion that starts a series of dominoes falling that may or may not result in his downfall before he even begins his climb to the top of the crime world, and I guess this is where the show finds its intrigue. In my mind, it's very Breaking Bad in the sense that you keep watching just to see what happens next. Will our protagonist get caught and meet a horrible fate or will they actually get away with it and achieve their goals... and at what cost? And why am I rooting for the bad guy? But instead of just fumbling down into the depths of the crime world like Walter White, Oz wants this, he wants to be on top, but the question is, has he bitten off more than he can chew or will he finally take hold of the brass ring?

Ultimately, I think it's the Gotham world and characters that has me wanting to see more and to see how it all plays out. This is not to say that the performances aren't great or the characters aren't intriguing, and Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone is definitely scary, even if she's not comically accurate as a some giant mountain of a woman, but again, part of this is knowing the characters from comics and other media depictions. I don't need the full Penguin backstory or to know all about the Falcones and Maronis, the comics and other media have done that setup already, but it does help with investment IMO.

Also, I love the grime of this Gotham and also how it's contrasted with the wealth and cleanliness of other parts of Gotham, especially outside of downtown. The creators understood the assignment for this show and it definitely plays a part when it comes to motivations. This Gotham isn't one note and I'm glad that it doesn't look like some clean set that takes you out of the world and reminds you that you're watching a TV show, like so many streaming shows and movies do nowadays. Yes, there's violence and language and Farrell, once again, disappears into the role of Penguin, but there's also some humor in this show. The humor fits and doesn't feel forced, but it also allows the audience to breathe for a moment and enjoy the experience.

So, I think if you're a Batman fan, you know these characters a little bit, and you want to go into a show that is likely to not have Batman or any other heroes, I say, jump in and enjoy. But if you're not as familiar or are a casual fan, and you're not really into crime/mobster shows, then this might not be for you.

Also, new canon (I think?) that The Penguin is a fan of Dolly Parton or at least has a mix CD of 'Go out there and get it' songs, is so fun. I still HC that Parton's "9 to 5" is a Duke Thomas song he plays every morning before getting ready for patrol, but having that little extra character note for The Penguin was a nice touch and gave a new character, Victor, a little more insight into his new boss.

[spacevixenmusic]

What's your opinion on the subject of filler and episodic television? Is it "dying" as some have bleated on about? Are stories that keep up plot momentum better or worse?

By "episodic," I don't strictly mean that there's never any continuity so much as the Myth Arc across a given season is flexiable enough so certain episodes can be ordered a certain way with enough care. By contrast, any given Netflix series may be episodic but with a set order that cannot be flexible.

First off, we have GOT to clearly define the word "filler" so people can stop misusing it. "Filler" occurs when a show is being adapted from a different original source (typically manga, games, or visual novels), but the studio ordered more episodes than are needed to complete the adaptation, and writers must create additional episodes full of stories NOT included in the source material in order to "fill" the episode quota. You can usually spot this in extremely long-running anime series when the plot catches up to source manga (Dragon Ball, One Piece, Bleach, etc) and the writers have to get creative while they wait for a new volume of source material to be released.

Anyway, what was the question again? Oh right, episodic shows.

Serial vs episodic: neither is better or worse, they're two different types of storytelling, and they work to different ends. I'm a fan of both honestly!

Episodic shows only seem to be "dying" because there's been a huge rise in the popularity of serial shows lately. If watching reaction channels has taught me anything, it's that modern audiences have started really undervaluing episodes that don't drive the plot forward or reveal new Lore or Character Development. And y'know, it's fine to have a preference for serial shows, I get that, but I don't understand the sheer disdain for light-hearted episodes or self-contained adventures that don't lead into something bigger. You can blame Marvel movies if you like, but I blame TVTropes and CinemaSins and Youtube comment sections personally. These places have fostered and created a generation of people who LOVE feeling they're somehow "smarter" than the show they're watching, rather than just, y'know, watching the show and coming to their own conclusions all the same.

I have a special fondness for episodic shows that take on a mini adventure every episode. A staple of my childhood was a show called Mighty Max, about a kid who fell into the possession of a magic baseball cap that could open hidden portals that took him all over the world. Every episode, he and his two semi-immortal guardians would be tasked with saving people from weird B-movie sci-fi and horror creatures, which required them to travel to foreign countries on the regular. Max would get a message that the world was in peril and have to find a portal located in some completely random location, - for example, the frozen food aisle of a local grocery store - that would drop him off in the middle of the wilderness in Sumatra or an ancient castle in Scotland or wherever. By the end of each episode, the world would be saved and Max would try to get home before curfew so he wouldn't get in trouble with his mom, and before the credits, would take a moment to talk about the geography and culture of the place he visited in that episode. No overarcing plot (just some occasional recurring villains), just a classic case of Putting A Guy In A Situation, and it played a huge part in my love of travel and culture and geography, which then led to my love other multi-cultural media, like Cowboy Bebop, The Fifth Element, and Adventure Time.

^ That's the sort of thing modern audiences seem to dislike though. Episodic shows aren't "dying" so much as people are just less fond of them than Serial ones these days.

[thegayhimbo]

Stranger Things Hawkins Horrors Review

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my other Stranger Things Reviews. Like, Reblog, and let me know what your thoughts are regarding the show or the upcoming season! :)

Stranger Things Comics/Graphic Novels:

Stranger Things Six

Stranger Things Halloween Special

Stranger Things The Other Side

Stranger Things Zombie Boys

Stranger Things The Bully

Stranger Things Winter Special

Stranger Things Tomb of Ybwen

Stranger Things Into The Fire

Stranger Things Science Camp

Stranger Things “The Game Master” and “Erica’s Quest”

Stranger Things and Dungeons and Dragons

Stranger Things Kamchatka

Stranger Things Erica The Great

Stranger Things “Creature Feature” and “Summer Special”

Stranger Things Tie-In Books:

Stranger Things Suspicious Minds

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 1 of 3)

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 2 of 3)

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 3 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 1 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 2 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 3 of 3)

Stranger Things Rebel Robin Book and Podcast (Part 1 of 2)

Stranger Things Rebel Robin Book and Podcast (Part 2 of 2)

Synopsis: Set between seasons 3 and 4, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Erica, Nancy, Robin, and Steve are all trapped inside in the Video Rental Store after the power goes out on a dark and stormy night. With nothing better to do to pass the time, they begin telling each other scary stories and urban legends surrounding Hawkins......

Observations:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!! 🎃☠️👻🍫

This'll be a shorter review than usual since this was a fast read, but man this book was a lot of fun! The premise itself (i.e. certain main characters from the show trapped in the same location interacting with one another) is worthy of an entire episode from the show, and it's disappointing that Netflix and the Duffer Brothers never thought to film a stand-alone Halloween or Christmas or Holiday Episode (similar to what BBC Sherlock did). Even if it didn't tie into the mythology of the show, just seeing certain characters converse with one another when they barely do on the show would have been something I (and plenty of other fans) would have sat through.

The premise of this book is similar to the short Halloween Special comic I reviewed several months ago (you can find the link to it above), except that was set before season 1 and only featured one scary story told by Will to his friends. By contrast, this book takes place in-between seasons 3 and 4 after Steve and Robin get the job at the Video Rental Store, the Byers Family and El have moved to Lenora (meaning they aren't in this book), and each of the characters here get to tell their creepy tales.

The structure for Hawkins Horrors is similar to horror anthology series like The Twilight Zone, Creepshow, and Tales from the Crypt. It also reminded me a little of the Goosebumps series R.L. Stine wrote in the 90s. The big difference is while Goosebumps was tailored towards kids and had elements of comedy to balance out the horror, the stories told by the characters in Hawkins Horrors get pretty dark and gruesome, and some of them even end on chilling notes. This is not a feel-good book.

Each of the stories are urban legends surrounding Hawkins that the characters either insist are true (even though it's implied they aren't), or at the very least have some details tweaked. What's neat is, if you pay close attention, some of the urban legends told are similar to other famous horror stories, and arguably paying homage to them. Robin and Steve's story about the monster under Lover's Lake is the premise of Stephen King's "The Raft." Erica's story is similar to the plot of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (right down to the protagonist in a wheelchair seeing something he shouldn't have) except the climax takes a horrifying turn and the ending is ambiguous about the protagonist's survival. Mike's story comes off as a combination of Child's Play and The Twilight Zone episode "Living Doll." Matthew J. Gilbert wrote this book, and it's pretty clear he's a major horror fan. I wouldn't be surprised if he took inspiration for some of these anthology stories from other famous ones, and brought the Stranger Things charm to them.

On top of that, the book acts as clever foreshadowing for certain events in relation to certain characters in season 4. Nancy's horror story takes place at Pennhurst Asylum, where she will later go with Robin to learn about Victor Creel and what happened to his family. Steve's story about the monster under Lover's Lake hints at how he'll eventually gets dragged through the lake into the Upside Down:

Dustin's story is centered around D&D, and even references the Hellfire Club and Eddie (though Eddie is just referred to as "The Dungeon Master" at this point). Even Erica's story, about the only sane person who tries to warn others about how dangerous someone else is, has parallels to her being the only one at the town hall meeting in season 4 who stands up to Jason and calls bullshit on his attempts to paint the Hellfire Club as a Satanic cult.........only to get dismissed when most of the adults in the room agree with Jason and turn into a lynch mob as a result.

Hawkins Horrors was released on May 3, 2022, a few weeks before the first volume of Season 4 was dropped. I would not be surprised if Netflix and the Duffer Brothers told Matthew J. Gilbert plot elements from season 4, and gave him permission to subtly reference (but not completely spoil) said plot points. Even though I saw the show before I read this book, I still enjoyed the foreshadowing. Well played! :)

The stories were entertaining, but I was more invested in the interactions between the characters. Two of my favorite moments are at the beginning of the book, and towards the end when Mike starts telling his tale. The first is this interaction when everyone shows up minutes before the Video Rental Store closes, much to the annoyance of Steve:

Then there's this fun bit where Mike trolls everyone while the storm is raging and the power is out 😂:

It's also pretty amusing when one character tries to tell their story, and the others either question if it actually happened, starts poking holes in it (much to the irritation of the character telling their story), or even calling out when, from their perspective, the tale has a lousy ending:

It's interactions like this that make the book enjoyable. I'm glad we get to have most of the characters hanging out as friends without there being a crisis from the Upside Down that they have to deal with.

Overall, this was an entertaining read, and a fast-paced book. High recommendations to check it out when you can!

And once again, Happy Halloween everyone!

[geekgemsspooksandtoons]

My review of Hilda season 3

A proper review. One without spoilers. I've been thinking about making this today. I'm still going to not tweet or post a lot; I want to keep my word on that. I'd rather retweet some important stuff. But I want to make a review on the entire season and give out more reasonable thoughts.

Yesterday, after two years of waiting. The third and final season of Hilda finally premiered on Netflix. And I have some stuff to say about this final season. Including as someone who's been following this show for five years.

I'm going to be honest, despite this final season only being shortened to 8 episodes. With 7 regular ones to the finale being legit movie length in a way. And whatever issues I and others may have with it. The final season of Hilda delivers an emotional final chapter for this show. Including this time, focusing more on Hilda's family which also introduces a new character by the name of Great Aunt Astrid.

And what makes this season interesting is that compared to the other seasons and the movie. This is not based upon any books. This is all new territory that surely still surprise a lot of people.

I want to admit something. And again, I am not trying to spoil anything huge. But considering the season is shortened. I was hoping that certain characters would get expanded upon or well, we get to see them one last time before the show ends. Mainly where they are now after the events of The Mountain King. I'm talking about characters like Erik Ahlberg, the Bellkeeper, the Marra and some others.

It's disappointing we don't see more of them. But to be honest, in exchange for that, we get a final season focuses more on the two characters I consider the heart of the show. And that's Hilda and Johanna, who is also possibly in her biggest role in the show yet considering she gets a lot more focus this time around. And to be honest, with how the story goes throughout the season. I actually prefer that much more than whatever else.

Would I have liked it if they did 13 episodes again? I wouldn't mind. But I still loved what we got. And honestly, I think some people are merely disappointed that this season, we get answers to some things to stuff people didn't want answered. But to me, I try to keep my expectations in check, and I rather see what the writers want to showcase to us. And honestly, the fans like me can explore some "Loose ends" in our own stories. And to be honest, it's not like this stuff is eating away at us. The Mountain King felt like a fitting closure to the show. But I'm so glad season 3 exists because of what it decides to explore and ending the show on such a beautiful note.

All the actors do a fantastic job as always. Such as Bella Ramsey, Daisy Haggard and everyone else. Especially with the time skip they decided to do. Having these characters grow up a little bit to me is a good decision. To showcase these characters are still growing. Yes, I'm one of the people who didn't mind Hilda growing a few more inches.

The show still has its very funny moments. But what was surprising about season 3 is how well...this is possibly the darkest the show has gotten. And somehow the scariest. Which may sound really stupid. But I swear to God as the show goes on. With the unraveling mystery about these "Two hooded" figures. There are times I legit worried for these characters.

I even felt like there was a contrast in tone between chapters 1 and 2. With chapter 1 feeling like a fantastical return to this world I've loved watching. And chapter 2 I swear, I feel like I'm watching something akin to Silent Hill. Which sounds like a very stupid comparison. And then there's chapter 6 where I am scared for these characters I have cared about for so long. It really says a lot even in a show like this, and the fact this isn't based upon any existing material. It gives you a feeling when you've grown attach to these characters and seeing them in some of these situations. Whether harmless or not.

I swear, I felt uneasy during certain moments. Because I now understand a certain friend of mine and whoever else. I just felt even more genuinely worried for these characters. In fact, there is a scene that I told my best friend RySenkari, "I HATE THAT F***IN SCENE!" not because it was bad or anything. But because let's say my...the show really tugged at my heartstrings or something. Because there was no way they were going to do that, you don't do that to me.

In a funny yet sick way of looking at it. I think I went through my "Mr. Stark, I don't feel so good." moment because again, I hate that scene in the finale.

Yet that also grows into how far these characters have grown since the first season. How much they have changed since we first met them. And it's a beautiful thing when see them succeed.

The soundtrack by I think it's still Ryan Carlson is still powerful as always. That I want this soundtrack to be released on YT and Amazon Music soon. It's likely the best the score for this show has ever been. Also, the main theme by Grimes is beautiful as always.

Also, I've been wondering about changing my header/background images again. The ones you see on my Tumblr and Twitter accounts. I'll even do the same for my PlayStation profile's background.

The animation is fantastic as always. The scenery is beautiful as always. I feel like I have nothing else much to say. But it's merely me just loving this season. Yet compared to the earlier ones, I feel...hesitant to rewatch it. Again, this may sound stupid. This is the tensest the show has been. And the writers somehow made this more intense than some things they pulled in season 2 and The Mountain King. Those mad geniuses. And this is a show that's geared towards kid but everyone in general. That speaks volumes of how good the writers are.

And while there were some reveals that I feel little bothered by. But I still liked what they delivered. Again, that finale...that finale is something.

Again, despite it being only 8 episodes. Season 3 is pretty an emotional final journey for the fans of this show. A humorous, yet pretty scary at times adventure that pretty much makes you cry over these characters if you've become attached to them. It had that effect on that. I talked about my reaction. I'll admit, I do think maybe my...Autism might've had an effect of how I reacted. It likely did, but I'm not going to bring that up again. It's something I just wanted to mention.

I'm wondering if I should say anything else. But I want to be done with this review. I don't think I have nothing else to add other than the fact if you've haven't watched Hilda yet. I highly recommend watching seasons 1, 2, The Mountain King and season 3 right now. If you have time that is. December is the perfect time to watch this show. I talked about how this show feels kind of perfect to watch it during this time of year. I assure you; you will not be disappointed. And hopefully, if you've read my reaction to season 3, you'll understand how I felt.

And especially with how stressful the last few weeks have been. Watching Hilda again is always a great thing. I'm still not leaving this fandom. I will always love this show. But right now, I'm going to take it easy a bit. I'm not going to post a lot, make any manips and whatever else. I'm going to try to relax a bit. It's weird this time around I have a job now in the morning and I couldn't or well...I didn't want to lay in bed after I finished the show. I stood up all night after finishing it. Luckily, I took a 5-hour nap before that.

Again, thank you Luke Pearson and everyone who has worked on bringing this beautiful show to life. I'll never forget this. I'm always going to cherish what you all made. You made me and others so happy with what you've made.

[cinnamontails-ff]

Post 10 gifs from 10 of your favorite shows and tag 10 people

Thank you so much for the tag @davenswitcher ❤ I want to be super clear here that this is going to be my favorite shows - not necessarily the ones I think are the most impeccably written, but the ones that hold very real real estate in my heart. Also, heads up: There will be a lot of anime because I was a geek long before that was cool.

1. One Piece

Gonna start with a cheat because yes, the anime adaptation is rather meh past a certain point (Toei's at least; let's see what WIT does with it), but damn, this story is etched into my soul. It's the first story I ever remember theorizing about, trying to predict what Oda would do next. I grew up with it and, in contrast to so many other shonen anime, this one grew with me. It's so very special to me and I will never be the same after it ends.

2. Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood)

A flawless story from start to finish. I could write all my life and never rival what  Hiromu Arakawa did here.

3. Gossip Girl

The early seasons of Gossip Girl were peak television and Blair Waldorf will forever be an icon.

4. A Place Further Than the Universe

Girl friendships at their best. I am not a crier, in general, but this one makes me bawl my eyes out every goddamn time.

5. Haikyu!!

Here's a little something about me: I love stories about athletes. Maybe it's the overachiever in me, I don't know, but goddamn, do they get to me. Would take a bullet for Bokuto any day of the week.

In line with the theme:

6. Cobra Kai

Yes, it's been going downhill since Netflix bought it, I know, I know. But never will you find a more original, more shamelessly entertaining take on all your martial arts fantasies than in this show. Also, Sensei Lawrence curing Miguel's asthma by telling him to pull himself together will never not be iconic.

7. Gravity Falls

A summer with Gruncle Stan would fix us all, let's be honest.

8. My Roommate is a Cat

A grief-stricken, socially awkward author adopts a cat and learns that the world is so much bigger than his work deadlines. Do I have to explain why I relate to it? Also, this cat single-handedly inspired 99% of Objection's lines in MA.

9. Parks & Recreation

The ultimate comfort show. The perfect example why sometimes, it's better to go small rather than big.

10. Avatar - The Last Airbender

This one needs no words. Except for this: Zutara totally should have happened.

No-pressure tags for @karinamay @purdledooturt @pickel182 @shockdowndefiance @kittenintheden @nerdallwritey @forget-me-maybe and whoever else wants it!

[theanimeview]

[Anime Review] Dragon’s Dogma: Compare And Contrast

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 2

By: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a game I hold near and dear to my heart. It is a Japanese action RPG in a high fantasy setting where you fight Harpies and Ogres, with the end goal of slaying a Dragon who has stolen your heart (literally). Is the story the best? Not really, but there is definitely something there to make you think and it is serviceable with a fantastic class system that keeps me coming back to replay it over and over again. In fact, throughout the years it has become one of my obsessions! This is why I viewed the release of the Dragon’s Dogma 2 showcase with such excitement, as I thought about what could be improved for the series. So, with my growing anticipation, I decided to finally watch Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma and compare it with the game it is based on, which is what you are about to read below.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 1

Episode One: Wrath

In comparison to the game, I can see where the story team is going with the plot. Not everything is going to be an exact copy story-wise, nor should it. Some things work better in the medium they were created in and need to be redone in order for them to fit into another form. Especially when, in the game, you create your character and go on a quest that’s the same for everyone who plays. With Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma, you’re now following Ethan, who has his own past and his own path that is very different from the game.

For example, both settings for the game and the show start in a small fishing village named Cassardis. Yet, Ethan is in the forest when the dragon arrives rather than your character in-game being in the village as it happens. This is to coincide with Ethan’s backstory as a hunter in the forest rather than as a fisher, like every other person in Cassardis.

However, both have a key moment, wherein the protagonist picks up the sword and attempts to attack the dragon. This is vital to the Dragon’s Dogma story as it is the sole reason why the dragon chooses to make them (Ethan and your character) an Arisen. However, the reasons for taking up the blade are different between the game’s protagonist, player, and the anime’s protagonist, Ethan.

In the game, your character is doing it to protect your home and its people. This results in the mitigation of greater harm to the village due to your courageous sacrifice. For Ethan, it was an act of wrath, while focusing on the loss of his family and home.

This difference brings me to my next comparison: the naming of episodes for the story’s progression. When I saw that the episodes are named after the seven deadly sins, I was quite perplexed. This is not a concept in the game. I mean, you can attribute some characters to certain sins, but it’s not an overt, overarching theme when it comes to the story. This idea ends up weighing down the show as they try to shoehorn the sins into each episode, mostly unsuccessfully.

In terms of judging the first episode on its own, one thing I noticed immediately was the CGI, which does not bode well when it comes to first impressions. The animations are stiff and often appear to be emotionless, making it difficult to relate to the characters. Meanwhile, the dialogue doesn’t help with this problem either—in fact, it makes it worse. With repeated uses of trite lines, such as “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” it’s hard to take it seriously.

There were also some awkward moments, such as Ethan and Louis (an orphan Ethan and his wife had taken in as their own) having a conversation with some guards while walking past them at a considerable distance.

Overall, I give this episode a 4/10. In terms of story, it wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t special either. Also, at this point, the CGI and stale dialogue had me quite dubious of what was to come.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 2

Episode Two: Gluttony

This is where Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma strays far from the game in terms of geography and story. In the game, there are only 2 towns: Cassardis and Gran Soren.

I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous to have only 2 towns in a fantasy game, but a lot was cut out of the game during production due to budget constraints. So, I understand adding more villages for the show to make it more interesting. However, in terms of the Pawn, Hannah, they do stray quite a bit compared to the source material. This change is less understandable.

Her vocation, or what you might call “class” are significantly changed between the anime and game. There are nine vocations in the Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen game, starting with the base classes of Fighter (sword and shield), Strider (dagger and bows), and Mage (staff). Then you have the upgraded versions of those vocations with the Warrior, Ranger, and Sorcerer. Next are the mixed classes, such as Assassin or Mystic Knight. Hannah is very obviously a Magick Archer, she uses a bow and magick (as it is spelled in the game). This is an issue conflicting with source materials because Pawns can’t be any of the mixed classes, only the Arisen have this option.

Not to mention the writers decided to make her detached in a way that is heartless and inconsiderate. While Pawns in the game lack a true will of their own, they simply follow the Arisen wherever they go and are always trying to help the Arisen regardless of the quest.

Anime-Hannah, on the other hand, doesn’t care to help anyone and only wishes to commit to the quest of finding and slaying the dragon. A stark contrast to Pawns in the game as they give advice on current quests and don’t complain about wasting time.

Returning to the episode, my judgment is that it is very bland, with more predictable dialogue and obvious story beats. For example, there is a corrupt mayor who is starving the townspeople and using a Cyclops as a tool to seize all of their belongings and food in order to satiate his gluttony. It was simply a classic case of “Evil, just because.”

The mayor was so comically evil that it even caused an eye roll or two and the “twist” at the end didn’t fare much better. I sighed in disappointment as the townspeople became the embodiment of gluttony. This episode is a taste of the template that the show follows throughout the rest of the season:

Something bad is happening → Main characters help → Someone or something represents the sin the episode is named after → “twist” → character(s) for the episode die or is/are afflicted → the end

There are very slight variations to this format depending on the episode, but this is what it all boils down to, and it becomes redundant almost immediately.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 3

Episode Three: Envy

Disclaimer: MATURE CONTENT WARNING – This episode review contains content that we at The Anime View do not think is suitable for everyone. Possible triggers or subjects include sexual assault and suicide. By clicking “Read More,” you understand that you may encounter such content. Reader discretion is advised.

Wow, this episode was hard to watch (and not for the reasons that were probably intended)! Before I get ahead of myself, let’s compare it with the game. So far, I appreciated that the monsters looked exactly as they did in their source material. I’ve also noticed a trend in which some characters are loosely based on characters from the game.

For example, the mayor from the previous episode vaguely resembles Fornival from the game—a greedy, rich man who will gladly step on the downtrodden to get what he wants. In this episode, there is a woman named Elizabeth who is reminiscent of the game’s Madeleine, a merchant who flirts with her clients and is trying to make a fortune. However, there really isn’t much else to compare.

When it comes to the story in the anime, a couple is being escorted by two guards when they are overrun with Goblins and the wife, Elizabeth, is sexually assaulted by said goblins. This scene didn’t feel necessary and I believe the show could have suggested what was happening rather than outright showing it on screen, particularly when the assault feels so out of place from other episodes.

It was poorly done in another way too, as the other characters didn’t seem that concerned for her despite her screams. Their reactions were stiff and would be more fitting if she was simply trying to fight them off on her own and needed a little assistance.

Sure, the guards were busy fighting off Goblins themselves, but there could have been more urgency and horror in their voices or expressions as they called out to the husband, Theo, to help Elizabeth. Because of that, it felt like there was a dichotomy between the show making a big deal out of the sexual assault by focusing quite intently on it, all while the characters’ reactions downplay the event. Making the entire scene feel strange and at odds with itself.

I also have issues with the “twist” at the end. After Theo has his heroic redemption by saving Elizabeth from a Griffin, he stabs his wife, so that she will always be with him. Then she lovingly remarks, “I was always yours,” even though she actively tried to cheat on him with Ethan due to Theo’s lack of bravery during her assault scene earlier in the episode.

Theo then decides to stab himself and end his own life, so they can be together again? I end this as a question because it isn’t very clear what his intention was and I’m only assuming. The entire moment felt undeserved and unoriginal, like a strange Romeo and Juliet situation without having spent an entire story with these characters or connecting with them. I was simply left with the thought: “Well, glad that’s over with.”

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 4

Episode Four: Sloth

The episodes feel very paint-by-numbers at this point and are a real drag to get through. During this episode, I heavily considered not finishing the show. However, to make a full comparison between the game and the anime, it was imperative that I finish the season. So on I watched!

Ethan and Hannah find themselves traveling through a cavern where people are addicted to a moss, causing them to laze about. This episode did a poor job of making me feel any kind of empathy for the characters that Ethan and Hannah are trying to help. Perhaps it was the stiff CGI, or the painfully predictable dialogue once again, but either way, it resulted in a complete lack of emotion in the characters and more apathy from me. Even Ethan’s rage felt like there was no tension in his body, just angry faces with no power behind his attacks.

It is at this point in the show that Hannah is expressing more care and concern for humans, while Ethan is beginning to experience a lack of empathy for them instead. The change starts almost immediately and becomes more obvious by the next episode. However, considering there are only seven episodes in the season and the lacking quality of its writing, it realistically couldn’t have had a more natural progression.

In comparison with the game, there are a few discrepancies. This episode revolves around moss that these people are using habitually as a drug. The problem is, in the game, there is no moss. There’s a curative called “Moss Poultice,” but it’s not made with actual moss, nor are there any notes about recreational use. In fact, there are no recreational drugs in the game. The closest you get is ale.

Then, while fighting the Hydra, we have our male lead, Ethan, go into some kind of “berserk” mode, with glowing red eyes and uncontrollable growling. This is certainly not in the game. There is no “rage meter,” so to speak, for the Arisen—this is exclusive to the show.

Not that rage-mode is inherently a bad thing, just that I find, as a huge fan of the game, it creates a disconnect and makes me think of other series rather than the source material.

In addition to my previously addressed discrepancy that Pawns can’t be Magick Archers, Hannah not only uses a skill exclusive to that vocation, she uses it incorrectly. The skill in question is “Magickal Gleam” and it creates a bright light. However, in the game you use a bow to release it while Hannah casts it with her staff. A small gripe, yes, but I feel details such as this are important to keep straight. Lest anime fans decide to pick up the game and find themselves confused.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 5

Episode Five: Greed

For this episode, the guards, Balthazar and Simon, return as they are hired to kill a Lich in order to free up a route for safer travels. In the process, however, Balthazar becomes cursed with greed and impales his best friend, Simon, foregoing his morals and code of honor.

There isn’t much to compare with the game. Yet again, it strays far from Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen in favor of a confused plot about the betrayal of friendship and ethics while being cursed with greed. However, I will say that I did care a little bit about the returning characters, Balthazar and Simon, as we had some time to get to know them. It still doesn’t mean their “tragic” fight to the death made me feel anything other than boredom, but it was nice to see them again regardless.

The animation, in the beginning, made me laugh as the Lich’s army of Skeletons running looked very silly to me. There was also a discrepancy between the quote “It burned everyone’s homes to the ground,” and then showing buildings still standing.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 6

Episode Six: Lust

In this episode, Ethan and Hannah decide to rest at an inn for the night. When a Succubus imitating Ethan’s late wife seduces him, causing him to get lost in his memories of her. Until he snaps out of it and slays the monster. The plot felt shoehorned, like this whole episode was just an excuse to have a lust theme somewhere in the season.

There are no real game similarities in this episode, aside from the act of killing a Succubus. As a result, I didn’t write many notes other than “There really isn’t anything to note anymore,” and “The sex scenes are very uncomfortable and awkward.” There just wasn’t much else to point out. However, there was something that kept coming to mind as I was watching the show, and that’s Berserk.

Okay, here me out: In the first episode of Dragon’s Dogma, we’re shown the death of Ethan’s pregnant wife and adopted son, making him lose everything right before his eyes. In turn, the loss causes him to swear vengeance against the Dragon. Then, we have episode three, “Envy,” when it comes to the Goblin scene with Elizabeth, which is reminiscent of the disturbing Trolls from Berserk. In the fourth episode, “Sloth,” Ethan starts going into a state of complete rage, as does Guts in Berserk. Moreover, in this episode, “Lust,” we have a monster disguising herself as a human to fool men into intimacy. The part that reminds me of a scene in the first Berserk manga is when Ethan kills the monster after having just been intimate with her. The CGI also doesn’t help in separating the two, either.

The game, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, was very much inspired by Berserk and there was actually a merchant that sold the armor of Guts and Griffith from The Golden Age Arc movies as an in-game promotion.

I’m not saying it’s bad to be inspired by Berserk, in fact, I feel that inspiration can be a base for great things. The game itself is basically a love letter to Berserk! The problem is when, in the case of Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma, it feels like it is trying to replicate the series rather than be inspired by it. As what tends to happen in cases such as this, is you have dark tones with blood and death, but no philosophical bite; no characters with depth and complexity; and no worldbuilding to make these story elements make sense.

Dragon’s Dogma, the anime, has a philosophy and it’s “humans suck.” The characters are bland and barely have a pulse; they’ve built a world with little history and no geographical coherence; and because of the poor writing, I cannot help but compare it to better work out there. Everything feels tacked on and yet so limited at the same time.

Episode Seven: Pride

Finally, the fight with the Dragon arrives, it’s the episode I’ve been waiting for. The reason this episode is important is because, in the game, this is the beginning of a series of choices that reveal a lot about the Arisen, the Dragon, and exposes the actions of the previous Arisen.

In the game, the fight with the Dragon isn’t simply something you’re building up to, it’s a peek behind the curtain before the full reveal of his purpose later on as you progress. The Dragon isn’t just some incarnation of evil with a taste for destruction. He has an objective, which is to choose the Arisen. When you pick up the blade to protect your small village, it is just as imperative as fighting the Dragon after a long journey. Your character is chosen specifically to kill him, as the Dragon’s existence is to find the next god. His divine purpose is exemplified by the fact that he is weak to the dark element and has resistance to the element holy.

By killing the Dragon, you then eventually get to proceed in fighting the Seneschal (the god of the game) and thus, taking their place if you defeat them. In this world, all of the energy and life is made by the Seneschal, as that is all they provide—creation and energy. However, after a while that energy becomes stagnant, causing the world to fall to a similar static state. Thus, the need to send out a Dragon to choose the next Arisen (a candidate to become the next Seneschal).

In the game, before fighting the Dragon, he gives you the choice between rescuing your beloved (the person who loves you most or hates you the least) and killing him. Or to sacrifice your beloved and he will go quietly, letting everyone think you defeated the dragon and making you the ruler of the land.

What happens if you don’t have a beloved? Well, for your character, it’s impossible as it is a forced mechanic. However, in the game there is an Arisen named Dragonforged who did not have a beloved and was simply left with the option to kill the Dragon, but failed in his attempt.

So, as a player, your only choice is to sacrifice or fight. This exemplifies the choice of the well renowned Arisen before you, King Edmun, as this is where you figure out that he chose not to kill the dragon and instead sacrificed his beloved to rise to the throne.

In the anime, the fighting sequence is out of order in comparison to the game. Even though it felt wrong considering I’ve fought the dragon countless times and know the battle by heart, I was able to withhold such feelings and understand that the order in which the battle happens isn’t so important.

What is important is the Dragon’s reasons. The anime does explain that Ethan was chosen to kill the Dragon. However, where the show falls flat in its explanation is in how they portrayed the Dragon as killing simply to kill. Relating it to Ethan as though he is killing the Dragon just because he can. This portrayal is very reductive not only for the Dragon, but for Ethan as well. I highly doubt Ethan would go out of his way to kill the Dragon for no reason.

As for the beloved, Ethan no longer has one as his wife was killed. It was strange but nice to follow an Arisen without a beloved, as it is forced on you in the game. It caused me to watch more intently since I didn’t know what to expect.

Judging the episode on its own merit, the use of pride as the ultimate sin that was committed by Ethan makes no sense to me. It seemed more like wrath than pride and it felt like a punishment after completing what he was meant to do. Not only that, but the idea the Dragon was trying to push that humans are full of sin and it was shown across Ethan’s journey was very obvious and didn’t make the entire gimmick feel any less unoriginal.

Though, the worst part is when Ethan turns into the dragon due to his committing sin, that being pride. In the game, the only time you are turned into a dragon is when you are bested by the Seneschal, off to find the next Arisen. There is no gameplay, it’s just a simple cutscene, but it shows the dragon’s holy purpose and expresses that Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is cyclical. As the game is an endless loop:

Seneschal creates Dragon → Dragon creates Arisen → Arisen fights Dragon → Arisen Fights Seneschal → Repeat with new game+

Meanwhile, in the show, it simply ends on the Arisen becoming a Dragon as though that is the only option, making it feel finalized, yet also incomplete. What is the purpose of the Dragon? Why bother creating another Arisen? These are some of the questions the show has left me with as the ending lacks any real meaning or reason for anything to happen the way it did.

Source: Dragon’s Dogma, Episode 7

The Conclusion

Well, there you have it! My entire review of Netflix’s Dragon’s Dogma and how it compares to the game is finished. Now I feel like I can truly put to rest this awful anime from my mind and continue to look forward to Dragon’s Dogma 2, set to release on 22 March 2024.

If you made it this far, Thank you! Please consider subscribing for more content and/or tell us what you think!

[purplemys]

Go Back Couple/Couple on the Backtrack, Why Every Couple Here is Great and Why The Secondary Love Interests Add Well to The Story

Part 1 because of image limit.

Go Back Couple is a korean drama uniquely about a divorced couple getting sent back in time to fix their mistakes and redo their regrets.

The main characters are Ma Jin-joo and Choi Ban-do.

The introduction to the story was honestly great. I got more invested when this lovely wedding happened. Look at them!!!

The first thing I knew about Jin-joo and Ban-do was that they're very happy and easy-going with each other. Ban-do is silly, energetic and a little awkward. His father-in-law didn't seem to like him, unlike his mother-in-law who was so fond of him from the look on her face alone. Jin-joo was obviously smitten.

The hard cut from them walking out from their wedding to them walking out of a divorce courthouse just made me raise my eyebrows. Like that was such a stark contrast.

The episode goes into further detail about what their life was like after around 18 years of marriage. They were tired and miserable and of course, they were taking it out on each other. I wish I could show more pictures but google and netflix hate me so just take my word for it when I say these two are some of the pettiest, rudest people I've had the second-hand embarassment of watching. Jin-joo dumped Ban-do's work journal into the sink after he forgot to get her an anniversary present. Ban-do was being rude to her in general. Absolutely horrid.

I think some of you might be wondering "Why should we root for such awful people?" Well, unlike certain media out there with such unlikeable leads - After and its sequels. This pattern of behavior eventually gets addressed and fixed. It's important for characters to have flaws and yes, flaws because episode 1 intro conveyed Jin-joo and Ban-do to be very sweet, nice people. What happened then? (god I wish I have pictures)

Ban-do's job essentially turned him into a subservient dog for the higher-ups, he'll bend over backwards to please them if it meant a possible raise. This showed me Ban-do's other flaw is being a people-pleaser and he was desperate to keep providing for his wife and son.

Jin-joo was a very tired housewife. She did everything and barely did anything for herself. She felt tired and looked the part. All she wanted was a break and for her husband to give her proper time and attention. The only flaw I could think of with Jin-joo was that she wasn't good at communicating her problem but immediately resorting to petty insults and destruction of his property.

This lack of proper communication between them culminated in Jin-joo breaking down and asking for a divorce when he couldn't be contacted (becuse his job is shit) and someone sent her a pic of Ban-do with another woman (that he didn't know) and she immeditely assumed the worst, which wasn't exactly her fault- her husband was often home late, barely paid attention to her, and when he did, didn't respect her as much as before. Yeah, sounds hella suspcious.

The scene here was so gutwrenching because I knew Ban-do didn't mean to hurt her in that way. He was a bit of a douche but he wasn't a cheater and he was about to go home and apologize with flowers for their anniversary when she called and asked for a divorce, not even giving him time to explain. Yeah, he also had the right to feel that way.

Aight. They got divorced after this. Seo-jin (their son) was likely with Jin-joo's sister for the time-being. Where do we go from there?

Well, the scene of them throwing away their rings was awesome and google wouldn't give it to me. The way they threw their rings away was very reflective of their characters. Jin-joo was sad, lamenting about how this wasn't how her life was supposed to go, letting go of her ring by dropping it outside of the bus on her way home.

Ban-do was in his room at his old parent's house, angrily wishing they never met and throwing his ring out the window, reflective of his brash nature.

Bippity boppity fuck the space time continuum, they were sent to the past of 18 years earlier, with their memories in tact.

Them remembering their current lives at 20 years old is the key to their character development later on.

Cue past shenanigans, Jin-joo and Ban-do being petty as fuck especially after they found out that they remember their current lives. After some time of them being really petty to each other, some might think "Why are we still supposed to root for these people to get together?"

I think I wasn't supposed to. They made up their minds to try and pursue other people and I figured, nah, this isn't about them as a couple anymore but them as people. Jin-joo and Ban-do got married when they were 21 or 22. They were still their 20s selves, that being their worst versions. Jin-joo was stuck up and bratty and Ban-do was impulsive and brash.

Enter the secondary love interests. Jung Nam-gil and Min Seo Young.

Nam-gil was closed off and elusive, prefering to keep to himself. Seo Young on the other hand was sweet and friendly.

I'll be honest, I got worried that they'd make Nam-gil a better option than Ban-do and Seo Young to be a real bitch deep down but no, neither of those things happened which was a pleasant surprise.

Nam-gil was great. He was awkward and despite his appearance, carried around this aura of inexperience to him. The reason why I don't think he would have been better for Jin-joo is because of when his attraction to Jin-joo started. While Jin-joo initially pursued him, thinking she was his first love that he never got over, she eventually stopped when he gave her a cold warning to "stop her weird obession with him."

Nam-gil started getting the real feels when he got into physical contact with Jin-joo twice. He saved her both times and she worried about him in return. Especially with the incident with his hurt ankle, she started mothering him, if you will and he got so smitten with this version of Jin-joo. While it's nice that he finds Jin-joo sweet and caring and he wants to return that (by asking her for her time, trying to defend her honor, gifting her things), their dynamic was more like her nurturing him to be a nicer person (by asking him to reciprocate people's affections and efforts) and him trying to pursue her to no avail.

His character added something to Jin-joo's. She understood that she was well, a brat who treated him like shit that one time, then assumed he was obsessed with her, then only wanted to get with him because of his status in the current life as a billionare historian.

Throughout the story, first loves's types and strengths were discussed. Jin-joo wanted to be someone's first love because it was supposed to be special. She truly became his first love in this timeline and she decided no, she didn't want him to be alone forever pining for her like she initially belived.

She wanted him to experience a life outside of her because he was a good, warm person deep down and that he deserved happiness.

And he does at the ending. 😭 Look at him! He was with his kid in that shot!

Min Seo Yeong was Ban-do's first love.

Go Bo Gyeol and by extension, her character excuded innocence, softness, and grace fitting for the ballerina dancer that she was.

Seo Young wasn't as troubled and complicated as Nam-gil but she wasn't shallow. She was a popular school dancer, weighed down by the pressures of academics and theatre by her parents.

She greatly benefitted from having Ban-do in her life, pushing her to have fun and stepping out of her comfort zone. She started eating more, expressing herself more, getting outside of the house, walking around.

Her character change was all thanks to Ban-do finally working up the courage to talk to her and pursue her. Unfortunately, this backfired. His efforts at taking care of her, lecturing her (like Jin-joo did with Nam-gil), and barely physically pursuing her afterwards, led to her seeing him less like a boyfriend and more of a father figure. And he took it well, all considering. All this bonding with Seo Young, give us a little more about Ban-do's character.

He thought of himself as an average guy with nothing interesting going on, no hobbies, no special skills, nothing. He forgot his love of films since he pursued Civil Engineering, contrast to him telling Seo Young to do whatever she loved in the career she was actually passionate about.

[purpleheartskies]

For now, I'm going to include a note in some of my posts asking that people not reply or reblog with comments or tags that do things like:

insult the writers

claim "bad writing"

say things like "the show is dumb", or "we're not supposed to see it that way", or "it happened off-screen [even though we have no proof]" (if there's no proof that something happened off-screen, it's not canon)

say that s5 was rushed and not written properly and/or the s5 finale is the "real ending" because the writers thought that the show wasn't going to be renewed (which the writers have outright refuted and which is illogical given their decisions for the plot, characters, and characterizations in s5)

say that the writers are too afraid of the majority of the fans to have the story in s6 go any way that might upset these fans, or that Netflix is affecting the writers' decisions or forcing them to give fan service. (I know there's usually politics involved with networks and production companies wrt show runners having creative agency, but the consistency in the storytelling style and characterizations indicates that the writers still have the same level of the creative agency as in early seasons.)

any dismissive statement about the writing of the show

These types of comments and tags minimize the contents of a post and effectively shut down conversations about important topics related to the characters and their character journeys.

I enjoy healthy conversations and debates, and I'm used to certain CK fans dismissing my opinions and posts because I'm a "Robby fan". But, most of my interactions with fans after s5 just have me tired of not being able to talk about the story itself and the storytelling without people minimizing what I'm saying with their negativity and condescension towards the writers and the writing.

I know a lot of people are upset with how the story has gone so far. I'm also not happy with a lot of the narrative decisions. I've also mentioned before that I'm not happy with a lot of the messaging so far. However, the nuance in the storytelling is still there. It's been pretty consistent since the start. The characterizations have been consistent too. So when people say "bad writing", I disagree. I think of bad writing as gaping plot holes, inconsistent characterizations, incongruous timelines, etc. I don't think of narrative decisions that I don't like as bad writing. I recognize how the story is framed, but framing is just one aspect of the story and is a tool for storytelling. The context, subtext, and a lot of what we have in the story itself tells us so much that is in contrast to the framing. This show has some of the best indirect storytelling I've seen in a show. I find the storytelling and characterizations to be really interesting, and I hope to keep discussing Robby and his story without my posts being dismissed.

And tbh I wonder where people's imaginations are. This is a fictional story, and a lot of things can still happen. For example, I actually don't think the baby plotline is meant to continue. If you take the time to analyze the story, it's pretty obvious that the baby was used as nothing more than a plot device this season for a few negative reasons, and this new "family" itself isn't meant to be a/the "happy ending". That's all I'll say about this plotline in this post. I'll see how some of my new posts do before I share my full thoughts on this plotline in a later post about how and why I think things may go a certain way. In general, I want to keep talking about the story as if it's a story.

Robby and his journey represent certain people in society and the traumas and struggles they experience. So far, the story and other characters haven't been too kind or sympathetic towards Robby, and sadly, the world and society irl aren't too kind or sympathetic towards many people who have similar situations to Robby's. I think his story is important, and I want to keep talking about it. I want to keep the conversation going about the important topics being explored in Robby's story.

[marinaiguess]

just finished watching sonic prime so why not share my thoughts on it? before i start rambling, i suggest you go watch it on netflix, it definitely deserves a watch.

now

Technicalities first (if i can call them that). So, judging as a viewer and not as a sophisticated critic who has read cinemtaography books, I’d say the show’s direction overall is pretty good. It’s nothing special but it’s pleasing and keeps you interested. The direction, the angles, the camera changes regarding placement and focus are well coordinated with the writing and each emotion each scene tries to convey. So, really, nothing new (i wasnt expecting a sonic show to make groundbreaking ways of storytelling through cinematography), but I believe it is worth mentioning because it plays a huge role on how one views the show. And there were many moments where I realized that a certain angle made the scene look more tense for example.

Animation! I think we all liked the bouncy styled animation, contrasting the hugely popular disney/pixar styled animation (which is good, dont get me wrong, but the animation tecnhique used in prime fits sonic a lot more imo). Also, the facial expressions are part of what made the show so great and enjoyable and I love how much emphasis they put on them, literally perfect. The details in animation, like the animalistic behaviours of sonic and co. and how they were depicted (ears twitching for example) are all very important and im glad they were implemented. And, I know a lot of us are focused on the facial expressions but we shouldnt forget abt the background as well. There definitely was attention to detail, details that were everywhere and completed the overall image of the show.

Music! the music is good what do you expect me to say like, oh that major g in the pirate scene made the scene look more tense but if it was a minor f it would make it a bit more sad and thus more fitting- no. the music was good. not surprised and props to everyone who worked on the music but i just dont think theres anything to add LOL.

Voice acting! Voice directing-wise? Really REALLY good, i wasnt expecting great performances but i was proved wrong and im happy about that. Now, for the main cast seperately? Devon has done an EXCELLENT job with his lines. His sonic voice is a combination of Roger Craig Smith and Ben Schwartz i believe but it’s also unique and very fitting for sonic, despite me not liking it at first. Brian as Eggman is meh for me, very good voice acting skills but i didnt like it that much. Ashleigh as Tails fit surprisingly well and idk why. Kazumi for rouge was a really good one, bringing rouge back to her sa2/heroes era and not the overly sexy and seducing voice she has in the games (i know its abt voice direction as well but yeah). big is meh, i dont like it. knuckles is pretty good tbh. and now, shadow the hedgehog. yes. ian did an excellent job voicing shadow and i LOVE LOVE LOVE his voice in prime, makes he’d sound like that in the games as well. i’ll stop now or i’ll start fangirling. 

Characters! I like the characters and sonic’s crew. the way the show’s written so far though has made me care about the post-apocalypse characters more than the other shatterverses. like, i like them all, yeah, but i care more about nine and knucks and rebel. maybe that was the point. also,HHHH WHY NOT BLAZE? why not silver? hoping to see them soon but PIRATE WORLD? there was a purple cat and a brown raccoon there but it wasnt blaze and marine. lost opportunity. (and rouge should have been the captain in the pirate one fr fr)

And finally, writing. I’ve seen a lot of opinions these days. Here’s mine. Good characterisation. Yes, it might surprise you but the characterisation is actually good. for every character. including sonic. maybe in a different post i could talk about every character but for now, i wanna talk abt sonic. bouncy, energetic, talkative, honest, lively, adhd coded, cheesy sometimes, reckless, extroverted who wants to work on his own from time to time. this is actually sonic. someone who loves his friends but doesnt listen to them cuz he has no patience. someone who conveys his emotions with actions and puts words aside. someone who likes to lay back once in a while, but not when the whole world is broken to pieces. someone who wants to save everyone, puts everyone above him and his needs. someone who cant stop talking, making witty remarks and jokes despite the given situation cuz he never gives up and is always hopeful and optimistic. frontiers gave us a different view of sonic’s character but it’s a very different situation as well. yet, if you carefully compare the two, you’d see how much things they have in common and how prime! sonic is very well written. 

overall writing is okay. characterisation is very good, interactions between characters are very good but some could have been better(some moments were too short for my liking), easter eggs, there are many and are greatly appreciated, many details, the recap of the prev episodes was really funny and clever but I feel like we were deprived of some great opportunities. like, eggman nega with eggman instead of the chaos council. thats just an example. and im not too salty abt it cuz it’s mainly a kids show and it shows. im glad that its enjoyable for adults like me as well though.

thats all folks. no one asked for this but youre getting it anyway.

[richincolor]

Book Review: Queen Bee

Title: Queen Bee

Author: Amalie Howard

Genres:  Historical Fiction/Romance

Pages: 368 

Publisher: Joy Revolution

Review Copy: ARC by publisher

Availability: Available now

Summary: Lady Ela Dalvi knows the exact moment her life was forever changed—when her best friend, Poppy, betrayed her without qualm over a boy, the son of a duke. She was sent away in disgrace, her reputation ruined.

Nearly three years later, eighteen-year-old Ela is consumed with bitterness and a desire for . . . revenge. Her enemy is quickly joining the crème de la crème of high society while she withers away in the English countryside.

With an audacious plan to get even, Ela disguises herself as a mysterious heiress and infiltrates London’s elite. But when Ela reunites with the only boy she’s ever loved, she begins to question whether vengeance is still her greatest desire.

Review: If you love the Bridgerton show on Netflix, you’ll love this book. It was so much fun! This was another one of those times where I intended to read the book slowly but was so drawn into the drama that I couldn’t put it down. I was smiling all throughout as Howard contrasts Ela’s heart-wrenching betrayal by Poppy and her life immediately after with the implantation and acts of her plans for revenge. The novel is somewhat an “enemies to lovers” trope as Keston Osborn (the duke’s son) somewhat played a role, unwillingly, in in the events that led Ela being sent away by her father. Being that Keston has no clue Ela sees him as an enemy makes for a lovely twist on the trope and great romantic tension.  

I won’t give spoilers as to how Poppy completely ruins Ela’s life (and you will absolutely hate her for it), but after the event Ela is sent away to a strict religious boarding school where, despite the harshness of the headmistresses and their routines, she mends her broken heart through the friendships she makes with other girls who have been sent away, and develop an almost mother-daughter like relationship with a Church, a woman who lived on the grounds. It is also where Ela concocts her plan for getting back at Poppy and ruining her life. With Church she creates her alter ego, Lyra Whitely, and manages to return to London for the summer social season and the Ton. Her plan seems flawless - ingratiate herself into Poppy’s social circle, then bring Poppy down, and restore her own family’s social status. Now you might be wondering, won’t anyone recognize her? I had that thought initially and well, let’s just saw Howard does a great job of explaining Ela/Lyra’s deception. I was so impressed with the detail Ela/Lyra displayed in her plan and was rooting for her to win. And while Ela/Lyra is focused on revenge, she is not a cold-hearted character. As she is enacting her plan and creating friendships with Poppy’s friends, whom Poppy is a typical mean girl too, Ela/Lyra’s conscience forces her to examine her true motivations as she realizes that her revenge would end up hurting more than just Poppy. She finds a sense of community with certain members of the ton and she questions whether or not to continue with her plan. This internal conflict that Howard writes for Ela/Lyra is another reason why I was so drawn to her. The novel really examines whether revenge is truly ever worth it and the power of forgiveness, which Ela/Lyra learns through her newly developed friendships. 

Since this one of Joy Revolution’s first publications, I have to mention the romance between Keston and Ela/Lyra. But…I don’t want to give any spoilers away so I’ll just say that part of Ela/Lyra’s growth towards forgiveness comes from her new relationship with Keston. They had been good friends before  Poppy used him as the catalyst for the betrayal, but when they reconnect, their attraction and chemistry is still just as strong. I loved their scenes, both when they were younger at the sweetness and innocence of it all and when they were older and able to truly challenge each other as young adults. 

Overall, this is a great read if you love historical fiction romance, enemies to lovers, and a good revenge story. I can tell you how much I loved it and what I recommend by this conversation I had with one of my students:

Student: *whispers* Do you have any romance books I could borrow? 

Me: I have just the book for you! *hands her Queen Bee*

Go buy this book! I guarantee you will love it. 

[remythologise]

which show? 👀 (if you're comfortable sharing!)

Yeah of course! I mean that sort of thing definitely applies to shows like the SPN finale in particular, but I was talking about Tiger & Bunny an anime-original show which had a first (really tremendously tightly & well-written and very inclusive for anime) season back in 2011. It’s a superhero anime that’s SUPER cool especially for the time (heroes being sponsored by companies & run by capitalism but still really wholesome and optimistic in tone despite the darker themes unlike The Boys, lore really tight, characters SO unique and fun). Being an a) very good show and b) incredibly gay show, it was pretty popular and got a couple of movies, but only got a second season this year. HOWEVER, this second season has been basically ignored partially I think because of the ten year gap and Netflix distribution/release (really bad for anime in particular imo.)

Anyway the second season weirdly really toned down the emotional core & gay vibes between Kotetsu and Barnaby, the eponymous Tiger and Bunny, which is kind of odd because… the show isn’t homophobic at all it has queer rep* (*if again, problematic in s1/movie when they clearly didn’t really know how to write certain identities and play on problematic tropes) and actually toned UP the gay vibes between like. Literally every other character. So people feel a little let down by that for sure and as usual it feels a little like queerbaiting. But that’s not the main issue I had with it, that’s more to do with the writing...

[Spoilers & details under read more]

The writing in the second season is just bad. There’s issues with like… almost every aspect of the story, which REALLY irked me because the first season was SO good and SO tight as I mentioned before. The new characters are much weaker and the focus is totally diluted across a very roughly written plot and filler. (Contrasted to S1, where pretty much every episode had a great role to play in character development and/or plot.) It’s not terrible and it’s not unwatchable, but I did feel like the ending was a slap in the face which kind of highlighted the weaknesses of the second season generally.

So the emotional core is Tiger and Bunny’s relationship but since the arc of that kind of ‘finishes’ itself in s1-movies, I guess they kind of didn’t feel the need to do much work on their relationship or the characters themselves. (BTW, There are lots of interesting things they COULD have done with this but chose not to.)

The character arcs for Tiger and Bunny are REALLY weak in the second season - Tiger’s is like, ‘what does it mean to be a hero?’ and Bunny’s is like, ‘am I happy?’. The end of the show basically answers this with Tiger saying ‘even if I’m not a superhero, I’ll retire and help random people, maybe,’ and Bunny LITERALLY getting asked ‘are you happy?’ by a talking doll (weird and creepy.) to which he replies. ‘Maybe’.

I find the answers to both those arcs really unsatisfying. The main reasons I’m mad the ending apart from that can basically be broken down to two things:

First, the after-credits scene takes place in the future in which it shows us a plaque of Tiger and Bunny with defined end-dates to their partnership. This pretty much nixes the possibility of a continuation starring both of them (even if the second season was successful enough to merit a continuation of some kind, which I don’t think it is). This is what I was really talking about when I said you DON’T need to show a definitive character ‘life path’ to end the story, especially when it leaves on such an unsatisfying note (see above re: character arcs). It’s the ‘ungenerous’ ending people talked about with Supernatural, like let the heroes ride off into the sunset - if you know your fans love the characters together, you don’t need to show us that they retire/die if it’s unhappy and apart. Let their story continue in people’s imagination!

Secondly, the character arc endings ACTUALLY really go against everything we’ve been told about Tiger and Bunny through the show, and not really in a way that implies growth. Tiger and Bunny aren’t like, toxically codependent - but they’ve been shown to be happier around each other, PARTICULARLY Bunny. Bunny suddenly deciding he might be happy WITHOUT Tiger at his side (especially when it’s not even something he’s had time to get used to!) is absurd. Multiple times he’s said he doesn’t want to be a hero without Tiger and cried about it. ‘Maybe he’s happier’ now his buddy is retiring and he has to go on without him, and he’s randomly crippled but still somehow able to be a hero (???). Yeah. I doubt it.

And as for Tiger’s character arc, his character is such that he would ALWAYS try to be a hero no matter how little power he had - his monologue at the end was so weird, it was like ‘maybe I’ll try and help people on a smaller scale now and then, I don’t know, I’ll figure it out.’ Super vague and unsatisfying. There’s no reason he can’t find ways to be a hero a la Tony Stark if he doesn’t have powers (partially what he was doing anyway). NOT TO MENTION they literally SET UP ways for it to be possible for him to get his power back (Mattia’s science stuff) but instead have him randomly lose all his power.

There’s a lot of characterisation weirdness in the episode, not just the ending - for example, Tiger and Bunny watching someone THEY KNOW commit suicide and barely caring about it. It’s just really abnormal for Tiger to not make more of an effort and fuss in that sort of situation, no matter who it was or what they’d done. (And don’t get me started on the disservice done to that character, Yuri Petrov.)

This being the final ending (given the plaque) really sucks, the ending in 2011/movies was SO much better and really understood the spirit of the franchise, the characters, and writing an ending that makes long-time fans feel satisfied.

Would love to be proved wrong about this and have a season/movie that addresses the issues and plot holes like Ouroboros, but I doubt it 😭

Shout out to some spectacular weak writing choices this season though, like everything from ‘NEXT that has a brain that can solve everything but none of our plot holes’ to ‘whatever happened to the second league heroes? oh well!’

[jeanmoreaux]

I suppose it’s because of my own preferences….but I do wish shows would, well, show more platonic relationships being explored, how certain characters work with their own specific dynamics (Nina and Kaz, Jesper and Inej, maybe even Wylan and Matthias—- just seeing contrasting characters interact is always so fascinating in fiction and such a waste to leave unexplored, things that another interpretation like a tv show could alter to be different and better) —-

and actually with romantic relationships as well! I’ve been through the YA phase growing up Twilight era and all and what I know for sure is that it would be so much more fun and better in general, for audiences to find what connects a romantic pair together aside from the very obvious fact that they’re ‘supposed’ to be together via the author’s machinations and especially aside from physical attributes alone, or hypersexuality

…. with the recent sab series which has trashed a lot™️ but good Lord, the actors are doing their best but the script and directing makes me choke

This was very long I apologize!!!!

no, this is so true! also goes for the platonic relationships in the tgt storyline. would have loved to see more of nikolai and alina or nikolai and mal or genya and alina or whoever tbh… but they simply don’t have the time for it—i mean they barely have the time to really develop the romantic relationships. it’s all very messy because of the lack of time and space to tell the story properly. and that’s in turn due to structural problems as well because they cannot rely on being given a third season or a spin off, so they have to mash it all together in a way……. they have no opportunity to add and explore relationships that aren’t necessary to the plot. we’re gonna see stuff like this more and more if netflix and other platforms don’t adjust the way they let people produce shows.