#it's genuinely very interesting and not a depth of insight that i was expecting! it makes their dynamic so much better

[daphneblakess]

god it's that claudia's journals were always her way of rejecting her purpose being to serve as louis and lestat's marriage-saving baby. there's no such thing as an objective account in this story but hers is the closest we can come, because she has no reason to self-censor despite louis' discomfort with it. her final entry is when she chooses a wholly new life with madeleine over forever having to live alongside and deal with the fallout of louis and lestat. the entire trial is everyone choosing louis over her except for madeleine. and the final memory of her that will be committed to the record is the version where her burnt corpse is dragged back out as collateral between her fathers, one last fucking time

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

EVERY WEEK I WILL POST VARIOUS REVIEWS I’VE WRITTEN SO FAR IN 2024. YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY GOODREADS FOR MORE UP-TO-DATE REVIEWS HERE.

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147. Megumi & Tsugumi Vol. 4 by Mitsuru Si--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

LISTEN. I thought this manga was only four volumes long! Imagine my heartbreak when we are left with that damn cliffhanger and nothing else because volume five isn't even available to order in English.😭😭 This is why there was a slight delay between when I started this and when I finished it. I put the book down and stared at it with anger and sadness for a few days before finally picking it up to finish the side story.

I loved that in this one, everything seems to be coming together! There is more understanding between the MCs and their love is more clear to one another than ever before. Communication levels are high! But then THAT conclusion. Screw Megumi's father. Seriously, screw him.

Also, the side story was adorable as always. I love that couple!

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148. Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the things I will always enjoy in Rebecca Serle's books is the magical aspect weaved into the contemporary and otherwise women's lit genre. It's just the barest touch of what-ifism that makes one wonder if people out there in the real world are getting to experience this magical realism.

In EXPIRATION DATES we get an MC who carries more than just her magical secret, but whereas the ability to see how long your romantic relationship is going to last is in the synopsis, the other is a spoiler that I will let you experience blind. The expectations and pressure every time the MC gets a new relationship deadline was enough stress without knowing the other thing.

I knew immediately who the MC's true love interest was going to be, but I enjoyed the journey for what it was. Sure, this wasn't my favourite Serle novel, but it was still fun and full of depth. I like that EXPIRATION DATES begs the question of "what would you do if you knew the end-date of a relationship? Would you simply go along until it's over, or would you ignore it and try to make it last as long as possible?"

Relatively short, surprisingly insightful, and with a very unique approach to love, Serle's newest novel was a quick and heartfelt read. Despite the heavier undertones, I think this would make a great summer read to carry in that beach bag.

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149. Run Away with me, Girl Vol. 1 by Battan--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While the artwork made me a little wary, the synopsis fully pulled me in!

Reading the story from both perspectives was so sad, especially because it's so obvious that there are feelings there between the two MCs, but that societal expectations to have the husband and the kids is overriding the pure love.

While I first thought that the one character was cruel for the way she was treating the other MC, I later came to realize that it was her own form of escapism. I think this brings into focus the idea that we sometimes do need insight into both perspectives before coming to any conclusions.

Also, screw the fiancé. What a horrendous human being. He's a bully and I can't wait to see him fall on his ass.

This felt like such a nostalgic read, especially when the story starts with the life-changing line about growing up and being adults, instead of letting their love blossom beyond high school. I need more, especially after that ending!!!!

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150. Punch Drunk Love Vol. 1 by Moscareto,Okdong(Illustrator)--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Listen, one of the funniest things we could have gotten with PUNCH DRUNK LOVE is the dual perspective. I LOVED watching these two characters playing off each other without knowing.

I was genuinely laughing through a good chunk of this manhwa, especially because of how ridiculous the characters were. Plus, the classic "take off the glasses" trope where the character is suddenly way more attractive without the glasses.

It was spicy, of course, but the story around those scenes and even during them was hilarious. I'm very much looking forward to reading more of this, especially to see how the manager falls for the MC.

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151. You, With A View by Jessica Joyce--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had heard great things about this book, so I went in wary. Expectations can sometimes be a silent killer. BUT. BUT. Joyce's YOU, WITH A VIEW was such a happy surprise (despite it being a heavier read exploring the process of dealing with grief and the bigger changes in life.)

From the very beginning, I loved the interactions between the MC and the love interest. That animosity that carried over from their teen years was GREAT. Especially because it's so obvious that it's not as reciprocated as the MC once believed. Also, the meddling, adorable grandfather? *Chef's Kiss*.

I love stories with road trips because we know we're going to get the "one bed trope" and the character growth that can only really happen in close proximity. Watching these two fall in love was perfect, especially as we also learn more about the MC's grandmother along the way.

And you know, despite the secrets living between these two characters, I DID love their communication when they had finally had it. It was honest and raw.

I also may have cried with this one because man, I never thought I'd be relating to the grieving a grandmother theme. Which I know sounds ridiculous, but I honestly thought my grandma would be around for a lot longer. And you think that you're fine, until that one moment where you're not because you're remembering again that they're not just in another country but they're actually gone. Grief is a wild process and Joyce does a beautiful job of it in this--especially because of just how important the MC's grandmother was to her. Joyce treated the topic with the gentleness and honesty that it deserves.

The love interest was also such a great character because he's dealing with his own version of grief. Life is ever-changing and it's not always for the best and these two characters show us this in their journey.

Definitely a new fan here. Will check out her next book!

___

152. Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CANTO CONTIGO was such a beautiful ode to not just music, but also to family and the Spanish language. The amount of Spanish in this book made me so, so, so happy--especially because it wasn't translated right after it was used.

I admittedly know close to nothing about Mariachis, but I LOVED learning more about them in this book. I didn't know there were competitions in the US between schools. That was freaking cool.

The MC had such great character growth, especially when one considers that a lot of his flaws were stemming from the pressure and grief he was still trying to overcome. I think the biggest blessing for him was being moved to a different school, simply because of how open-minded the new environment was and how it forced the MC to face the less than great parts of himself.

The representation in this book is beautiful. Not only in how much queerness lives in these pages, but in the exploration of what it "truly" means to be Mexican. I read a really great essay collection about identity and how racism seeps into what it means to be a latine person. When the love interest's identity in CANTO CONTIGO is questioned because he's Black, it reminded me of that collection. I think this was an important addition to the story because those who ignorantly assume that being Latine means you fit one specific aesthetic will have an opportunity to be thoroughly corrected.

Also, phew, that enemies to more trope? Yes, please. The tension between them was incredible, but I also loved that the love interest inspired the MC to be a better version of himself. Their love was the perfect backdrop to this story, since it pushes forward so much positive change and self-love. And please, the Trans-rep! LOVED.

I highly recommend CANTO CONTIGO. You may cry, but hey, sometimes the best books make you want to cry. Also, it might make you want to create a playlist.

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153. House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo--⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have FINALLY read this book. I have had this on my shelves for over a decade.

While this wasn't what I was hoping it to be, I can definitely see the appeal. It's got some scary aspects and interesting moments, but it all kind of passed by in a blur and it took me a while to truly find my way in this story.

I am intrigued, however, to see where it goes. You know that past me collected the whole series. And if the rest books are like this one, I know I'm in for a wild time.

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154. How to Say I Do by Tal Bauer--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

HOW TO SAY I DO was pure romantic magic. I don't even know how else to write this review.

The way my heart beat for these two characters. The romance, the heartbreak, the yearning, the realizations, the communication--please, this book is a pure gift and Tal Bauer is a romance god. HOW TO SAY I DO was so exquisitely beautiful that I felt my heart beating for these two long after the final page.

And the way Bauer writes the ending? Please, I could feel the waves of love and respect weaving through the words.

I wish this book was available as a physical book so I could proudly put it as a trophy on my shelves. I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of my favourite books of this year.

I want to ask Bauer who hurt him because the way he wrote the yearning in this book is so beautiful and I felt it deep in my bones. Ugh.

Okay, I need to stop. But this book. THIS BOOK. Pure magic.

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Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts?

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Happy reading!

[spiritualscamsunveiled]

Exposing Corey Creech: "Corey, the Ascending Master"

I want to share my experience with Corey Creech, who sometimes goes by "Corey, the Ascending Master" and claims to be a life coach. Unfortunately, my encounter with him was far from professional, and I feel it's important to warn others about his dubious practices.

Tarot Reading Disaster

One of the services I opted for was a tarot reading. From the outset, it was clear that Corey Creech didn't have a clue what he was doing. His interpretations of the cards were vague and generic, lacking any depth or insight. It felt like he was making things up on the spot rather than providing a genuine reading based on any real understanding of the tarot.

Negative Vibes

From the very beginning, I got a bad vibe from Corey Creech. His demeanor and the way he conducted his sessions felt off. Instead of feeling guided and supported, I often felt uneasy and suspicious of his intentions. This negative energy made the experience even more unpleasant and unproductive.

Public Perception

There are negative reviews on platforms such as Ripoff Report, where clients have expressed dissatisfaction with his services, describing them as superficial and unhelpful. One review specifically noted that Corey provided unstructured and superficial sessions, failed to deliver the promised clarity or guidance, and appeared more interested in self-promotion than addressing client concerns​ (Ripoff Report)​.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my experience with Corey Creech, the self-proclaimed "Ascending Master," was disappointing. The sessions did not meet my expectations, and I felt they were not worth the investment. If you're seeking genuine guidance and support, I would recommend exploring other options.

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (Mirkin, 1997)

A few months ago I got an invitation for a 10th anniversary reunion gathering for my undergrad, and after being bombarded with dozens of Whatsapp messages over the course of a couple of hours, I made the very wise decision to put the chat on mute. I had no interest in going, as the thing reeked of a fundraising opportunity, and I had too much negative baggage from not fitting in with my classmates and not having had very many friends at the time, on top of feeling totally unsupported by my university with respect to the job hunt. So I had no real interest in going to something to talk to a bunch of people I didn’t like while likely being hit up for money for a program that was already pretty well funded. Yet I did find myself checking the chat for updates periodically, so I suppose I hadn’t totally quashed a certain curiosity about how others were doing.

Over the years, I’ve learned to not worry about comparing myself to others and be happy with where I am professionally and personally. And at least in the former, I think I’m doing pretty okay. I work in a field where I ostensibly use my education, and my current role at least has been pretty tolerable in most respects. But when I log in to my Linkedin periodically (anywhere from a couple of months to over a year, the longest stretch having been the time I made two years worth of job updates to my profile), and notice some of the fancy titles of people I went to school with, and a certain pang of inadequacy arises. It’s silly, I have no interest in pursuing another role or drastically changing my career path at this time, but I suppose such feelings are unavoidable and one of the reasons I avoid logging in for long periods of time in the first place.

A lot of movies about high school and college are about the value of the experiences one undergoes in those years, and I often feel at a bit of a disconnect, as quite frankly, I didn’t have a lot of the same experiences (the side effects of being an antisocial weirdo and an outsider in multiple respects). So I appreciate that this movie serves as a kind of dark matter coming of age movie, that it channels the absence of those experiences, the resulting feelings of inadequacy of not having kept up with all the expected life and career milestones, and the way long-term, fulfilling friendships can still bloom and survive without those things.

So the movie does offer a fair bit of wisdom and insight on top of being an engaging comedy. To take a few words from Roger Ebert:

“Comedies are hard to make well. The proof is in how many are made badly. This one is light as a feather and cheerfully inconsequential, and most of the developments are predictable, but it has charm, a sly intelligence, and the courage to go for special effects sequences such as a weird run-in with a limo. And then there's that three-way dance number at the reunion. I can't believe how cute they look. Honest.”

Listen, you fill the soundtrack with Devo, the Go-Gos, Bananarama, and I’m already having a good time. But this was also made when they still shot these things on film and bothered to light them, and has costumes in eyepopping colours and dark brooding ones as well. It is astute about the ways clothing can either mask or express one’s personality, and the extent to which it can do either one. The heroine’s business suits are less convincing than their shiny dresses, and Janeane Garofalo’s all black getup better serves her sarcastic demeanour than the cute mango print foisted on her in the coda. It’s also astute about the ways a movie can reflect one’s beauty, with none other than Alan Cumming undergoing two transformations in ways that slyly satirize the makeover trope common in the genre. And while it is occasionally glib (I think a better movie would have extended its generous gaze onto the mean girl and mined her for depth), there is a genuine warmth in the friendship between the heroines and some of the other characters too.

[emeaentrepreneur]

Boohoo: Empowering a Global Social Generation with Pioneering Duo – Mahmud and Carol

A ‘Global Social Generation’ is a generation of multicultural people with a unique perspective in approaching, viewing, and understanding things in the world. But, what does affordable fashion even mean? In simpler terms, affordable fashion is clothes that can be both expensive and high-quality fashion that follow global fashion trends, or they can be high-quality but inexpensive to purchase. It can also follow and incorporate sustainability initiatives and instill eco-friendly strategies into its core operations. 

Global Social Generation, which is also known and referred to as Generation G, is the group and community of people whose presence covers most of all social media platforms. Millennial and Gen Z fashion follow a fast fashion industry as it is very popular amongst young adults. Thrifting or purchasing clothes from stores whose business models are built on the mass production of inexpensive clothing in huge quantities. With social media platforms available at the fingertips of all people around the world, social media marketing strategies by fashion and apparel companies, independent designers, and clothing label stores, are widely adopted to have a better reach and engagement with customers among other advantages. 

Encouraging and inspiring people to accept and love their bodies and feel good in clothes that empower them, is a prioritized aim and factor that benefits all parties in this generation. As this is a good thing, the fast fashion industry is here to stay with the adoption and integration of sustainable fashion initiatives. Therefore in this article, we will discuss in-depth about two Co-founders who wanted to be ‘Fashion Game Changers’ by building a brand that leads online fashion on a global scale. At Boohoo, the Co-founders – Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane strive towards a future where potentiality, ambition, strategy, fun, and trendy fashion empower and encourage women and men to feel confident and realize their true potential with their affordable fashion business approach in fashion, apparel, and lifestyle. 

About Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane – Co-Founders at Boohoo:

The two co-founders of Boohoo Group are Mahmud Kamani who is the Executive Chairman and Carol Kane who is the Executive Director. Boohoo Group was founded and launched in the year 2006 in the United Kingdom and has since taken to social media platforms with the help of social media influencers and other influencer collaborations. Boohoo.com is one partner brand under Boohoo Group where 12 other partner brands are being actively operated.

Mahmud Kamani – the Executive Chairman, states, “I genuinely believe there’s no greater company to work for because of all the amazing people at the heart of creating our success story”. “Expect the unexpected” commented Mahmud, who alongside Carol Kane built Boohoo Group and started 13 leading British fashion brands under it. “We are the fashion game changers, disrupting the market and challenging what our brands are capable of achieving. With huge potential, big ambitions, and a clear strategy, we aim to lead online fashion globally” – states Carol when asked about the brand. Starting from almost nothing, Mahmud and Carol now have Boohoo Group in their arms and are the drivers and inspirations for change and success. 

For more interesting insights and reads, visit The Europe Entrepreneur. 

About Boohoo:

Boohoo.com is one of the 13 leading British fashion brands under Boohoo Group. Co-founded in 2006 and led by Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane, the Group strives to ‘provide great clothing for everyone, everywhere’. Boohoo is a fast-fashion retail brand established and headquartered in Manchester, Greater London area, in The United Kingdom. 

Vision Statement – “To empower a global social generation to look and feel confident, for every day and every occasion, and do so affordably.” 

Boohoo is a global brand targeting a 20’s something age group that believes in an ‘affordable fashion for all’ approach. Providing retailing services such as buying clothes from customers as well as ‘delivering on-trend, high-value fashion with speed and convenience’ to customers and fashion enthusiasts, sharing the purpose of being – “The No.1 Destination for 16-35-year-old women”.  Boohoo establishes four fundamentally important pillars that provide the support and steady foundation of the brand, and they are – Empowering customers and employees at Boohoo by setting in place a judgment-free culture, Mentoring and supporting customers and employees in their personal and self-realizing journeys, Supporting and instilling positive change by addressing mental health concerns, Educating customers and employees in sustainability futures by creating awareness in ‘reducing the impact of fashion’. 

In educating, empowering, and inspiring Boohoo’s customers and other stakeholders, in ‘Fashion for Every Body’, social causes are driven with the help of social media platforms and its social media influencers. With over 17 million people around the world, Boohoo has 40% of its audience equally shared between the UK and the US. The brand shares its statistics which show that over 127 units of clothes are sold every minute, over 1.8 million parcels are distributed and shipped every month, and around 21.7 million units sold in a year to over 189 countries worldwide. 

The online presence of Boohoo can be researched by their audience through a downloadable app that works in 5 languages and is accessible in 14 countries. Many famous influencers and big stars in the entertainment industry have collaborated with Boohoo, and some of them are – Zendaya, Megan Fox, Paris Hilton, and Gemma Collins (GC). Looking ahead positively to collaborating with more reputable, famous, and influential collaborators, Boohoo is on a mission to – “Become the global leader in the fashion e-commerce sector and are passionate about doing this in a way that respects people, customers, suppliers, stakeholders, investors, and the world”.

Visit More : https://theeuropeentrepreneur.com/boohoo-empowering-a-global-social-generation-with-pioneering-duo-mahmud-and-carol/

[gffa]

For the anon who asked (and anyone else wandering by, if you’re interested), this is still a good starting place for some of the older books I’ve liked.  If you want something from the last two years, my favorites have been: - Padawan by Kiersten White has dethroned Wild Space as my Second Favorite Star Wars Book (For None Shall Ever Surpass The ROTS Novelization By Stover), where it’s bright, adorable, and charming and very much about Obi-Wan Kenobi as a character.  It’s still a young reader’s book, don’t expect depth beyond that, but within that structure, the book gave me everything I wanted, where Obi-Wan is figuring himself out, he’s adorable in his interactions with the other young kids, and some truly excellent interactions with other Jedi Padawans. - Brotherhood by Mike Chen is a solid read for the Obi-Wan chapters!  I have a lot of issues with the Anakin chapters (they work if he’s an unreliable narrator, if you take them seriously they’re fucking y i k e s, but also this book was supposed to be about Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship and yet Anakin barely even seems to care about Obi-Wan and it’s not until the last 25% of the book that they even have any real scene time together), but the depth this book gave to the Cato Neimoidians, the really good Obi-Wan thought process stuff, are well worth it.  Just.  The Mace stuff absolutely has to be unreliable narrator stuff because otherwise I’m going to throw the book across the room. - Stories of Jedi and Sith is an anthology of short stories and not all are great, but both Barriss and Qui-Gon’s stories were some of my favorites, and the Obi-Wan & Anakin one was solid.  While the rest of the book was pretty forgettable (as in I can’t remember anything about them), those three are great insights into the characters, great looks at the world they live in, or just fun stories. - The Princess and the Scoundrel is a book I had a good time with!  The Han chapters kind of drag and it doesn’t fully earn its ending, but the Leia chapters sparkled with both the looks into her character, the mix of both anger and compassion, her fiery determination just as much as her gentle love, and the way she struggles to deal with New Republic politics.  What could have been just a mindless promotional material for that cruise experience, actually was worth reading for the Leia characterization! - I’m enjoying Phase Two of The High Republic, in some ways more than Phase One (though, I couldn’t tell you why), where Path of Deceit really did it for me as an opener to this era and The High Republic ongoing comic (the one that started in 2022, which just had its sixth issue come out last week) have been genuinely fun.

So I’ve been wanting to get into reading Star Wars books and have no effing idea where to start. Basically I’ve read the novelizations of a couple of movies, Jedi Apprentice everything and Rogue Planet because of my obsession with Obi-Wan back in the prequel era... and that’s it. Oh, and a few comics set in the Rebellion era.

Do you have any recommendations on where to start or just some good reads to start with? The obi-wan obsession is still alive and well if that’s a factor... anyway, thank you!

I’m going to include both canon and Legends in this list, because if you want more than, like, two recs for Obi-Wan stories, you’re pretty much going to have to dig into Legends, too.  Plus, they’re genuinely good stories and that continuity has a lot of value and great stuff! - Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover, which I assume you’ve read already but just in case you haven’t!  The characterization for Anakin is really the selling point for this novelization + Stover knows how to deliver a killer line or twenty, it knows how to really pack a punch to the feelings and make that movie an even better experience. - Wild Space by Karen Miller has a lot of issues with the structure of it, it feels like two books stitched together, it doesn’t earn its ending, it prioritizes whump over staying true to the canon, it doesn’t really quite get the Jedi, but MAN is that book quotable as all hell and so dramatic and an absolute scream of a read, so it’s still one of my favorites to this day.  Miller’s work tends to be very iddy, but if you like that stuff, it’ll be stellar. - From a Certain Point of View: A New Hope by various authors.  The first anthology was absolutely stellar for the three prequels characters stories, the Yoda pov, the Obi-Wan pov, and the Qui-Gon pov are all must reads.  The Motti story is also the funniest thing I have read in my life.  (I, uh, to put it mildly do not recommend the second/ESB anthology.) - Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott is an audiodrama and it’s a lot of fun and gives us a nice sketch of what the Jedi Temple was like, what Dooku’s time as a Padawan was like, and a really good look at Asajj Ventress’ character as she tries to uncover Dooku’s past. - Choose Your Destiny: An Obi-Wan & Anakin Adventure by Cavan Scott is very much a young readers book but I loved both characters here and there were some really hilarious moments in it.  It’s just fun to read. - Force Collector by Kevin Shinick is set in the sequels era and it doesn’t deal with the prequels characters much directly, but it is a lovely look at a Force-sensitive young man trying to figure out what the Force is telling him and to rediscover the actual truth about what happened to the Jedi Order, not what the galaxy says happens.  A lot of cool worldbuilding here that I loved! - Dark Rendezvous by Sean Stewart is probably the best book for the Jedi, as well as for Yoda and Dooku feelings, but all the Jedi get really good moments in this one, definitely read this! - Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover is focused on Mace, but again he brings his A-game to Star Wars and it’s an excellent read overall. - I haven’t finished either Labyrinth of Evil or The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno, but I’ve liked everything else I’ve read of his and I’ve heard good about these ones! - I’ve heard good about The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes, though, I haven’t read it myself yet. - Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston has a bit of Obi-Wan and Anakin it, a couple of short scenes from Obi-Wan’s povs (like a single page short) and mostly Ahsoka occasionally thinking of them, but I enjoyed this book a lot for the look at Ahsoka’s character. - I have greatly enjoyed both Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule (definitely read this one first) and A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland, which are about the Jedi Order set about 200 years before the prequels and they’re set in a golden age where the Jedi are shown to be much more revered by the galaxy, there’s a lot more good faith going around, and yet you can see exactly how the cracks in it all are first appearing.  Lots of really good worldbuilding and fun action and Jedi stuff! If you’re looking to expand beyond the prequels or looking for some comics/etc. recs, I have a handful of posts that may help you out here, here, here, here, and here..

[cinebration]

Sherlock Holmes Fluff Alphabet (Sherlock Holmes x Reader) [Request]

Will you do a Sherlock fluff alphabet please? 🥺—Requested by anon

I hope you like it anon! This was really difficult to write, haha.

Warnings: none

Gif Source: dailyhenrycavill

A ctivities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

Activities!? There is only the work, else Sherlock goes mad with boredom. As such, he brings you along when working, valuing your insight but also enjoying your proximity, so long as you don’t get in the way.

B eauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

Intellect and wit are by far and away the aspects Sherlock most loves about you. You are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, certainly, but Sherlock values the hidden depths beneath.

C omfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

Sherlock struggles with emotional intelligence. Thus, he has one of three reactions when you are in distress: 1) He can’t understand the feeling, 2) He panics because he doesn’t know what to do, or 3) He wants to provide a fix-it solution. As your relationship progresses, he learns the ways in which to help you specifically, committing to heart and perfecting the methodologies that best aid you.

D reams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

Ever a pragmatist, Sherlock has already factored you into his life for the future. He does not want or expect children, but he will (begrudgingly) admit he finds the idea of having you to speak to and grow old with over the decades a warm, not altogether unpleasant feeling.

E qual - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

Sherlock very much prefers things to occur along the plans and designs he conceives, but the intricacies of relationships elude him, thereby placing him on uneven ground with you. As such, when it comes to facets of the relationship outside of his experience, particularly with the emotional, he defers to your expertise—with a high level of skepticism, of course.

F ight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

Despite his determination to avoid emotionalism, Sherlock is not immune to experiencing things deeply. Arguments in which he feels he is the afflicted party will turn nasty, as he does not understand how to keep the emotion in check in the heat of it. Afterwards, once the heat of the moment has passed, he is likely to apologize—mostly out of embarrassment for letting things go too far. If you are the afflicted party, however, he may not understand why the fight is happening and will either brush it off or suffer from confusion so deep you will be arguing to a wall.

G ratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

Sherlock can be very grateful (inwardly)—assuming he notices. While the man is capable of noticing minute details that escape the eyes of normal men, the motive behind it is what’s crucial. As such, noticing things in his home will only matter if they pertain to a case or pique his concerns that someone is riffling through his things. Only big, flashy changes are likely to catch his eye enough to elicit a comment or two.

H onesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

Sherlock is a vault of secrets—but only because it doesn’t occur to him to share. Much of what he withholds aren’t really secrets anyway, just information about plans and cases that he’d rather let sit around in his mind, unvoiced. However, a little nudging and genuine interest in his work can coax information out of him until he learns that talking things over with you is more helpful than letting it all sit in his brain.

I nspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

You most definitely have changed him, allowing him access to his more emotional side and opening him to the world of true partnership.

J ealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Sherlock may experience jealousy if a strong enough, insidious seed of it works itself under his skin. In general, he is unlikely to react with jealousy if he sees you speaking to another man, as he will invariably draw up reasonable, rational explanations as to why you are doing so; additionally, he trusts you implicitly. If, however, enough aberrant behavior occurs, he may be seized with concern and jealousy, the latter of which he is little equipped to handle well. This may result in tense situations and irrational behavior.

K iss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Sherlock has little experience with the physical aspects of relationships, requiring you to take charge at the outset. However, as he grows more comfortable, you’ll find Sherlock a quick study.

L ove Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

His first confession of love may fly over your head due to how clinical and rehearsed it is. How were you supposed to know that “I do not mind your presence, and I find your contributions useful” was the equivalent of him saying, “I love you”? The thing is, he doesn’t want to admit it—just as much as he does. Love is something he always proclaimed to despise, and yet…

M arriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

Marriage isn’t something that immediately comes to mind for Sherlock. If it does, it merely serves as a social convenience, possibly one pressured by his brother Mycroft for the sake of propriety. Deep down, in parts of himself he may not easily acknowledge, however, Sherlock finds it nice to be officially married to you, for everyone to see that you are his.

N��icknames - What do they call their s/o?

He calls you by your name. Sometimes, after marriage, if he feels rather cheeky, he may call you Mrs. Holmes.

O n Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

Love plunges Sherlock into a riot of emotions he doesn’t know how to handle. It’s a phenomenal feeling—and also the worst. He wants to revel in it and simultaneously flee from it. The most obvious clue he is in love is general agitation; the lulls between cases are worse when he’s away from you. And when he is with you, he locks up, caught in an internal battle between wanting to succumb to the feelings and berating himself for feeling them in the first place.

P DA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

Public displays of affection are a huge offense in the Victorian eye. All public interactions are defined by modesty and humility, with only high praise being the closest to “bragging” anyone can ever get. Sherlock, a pragmatist, will quickly and readily admit to his relationship with you once it has been firmly established. Know that it’s likely the public already knows even before an official declaration, as gossips abound.

Q uirk - Some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship.

Sherlock’s deductive ability is a double-edged sword. He may not notice new things around the house at first, but he will always notice new or unusual things about you. You are, to some degree, a perennial obsession, a case he’ll be “solving” for the rest of your time together. While in some senses that is flattering, in other senses it’s frustrating. He isn’t jealous or suspicious, but if he catches a different type of mud on your shoes than usual, he’ll jump to conclusions or ask you questions until he’s satisfied with your answers.

R omance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

The idea of romance is something best left to the Romantics of the Romanticism era, in all senses of the movement. Sherlock’s romance includes quality time spent with you, whether that be solving cases together or reading in front of the fireplace in the evenings. Sharing his thoughts is the most intimate he can be emotionally.

S upport - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

Sherlock is your ardent supporter. While he is aware of your skills and limitations, he stands by your side once you reach a decision. Leading up to that decision, however, he may offer dissenting opinions or advice, but he does so out of love. He wants to ensure you see all sides of the problem before settling on a solution.

T hrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

Sherlock likes routine at home because his cases are anything but. Having certain systems in place at home, such as stable meal times (when he’s present) and daily activities you share (such as reading together), allows him the mental energy he needs to solve his cases.

U nderstanding - How good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

Sherlock knows everything there is to know about you; as mentioned above, you are a low-key obsession, a case he will be “solving” for decades. As such, he makes it a priority to understand you as best he can. That does not mean he is overly empathetic, however; he spends more time trying to intellectually understand problems than emotionally understand them. As time passes, he becomes more empathetic—but only in relation to you. If he is a tuning fork, you are the instrument to which he is attuned.

V alue - How important is the relationship to them? What is its worth in comparison to other things in their life?

As time and the relationship progress, Sherlock comes to value the relationship highly. Would he give up his work for it? Not likely, but the devastation of losing you would certainly take its toll on him. As such, he does his best to maintain the relationship.

W ild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

Because of his observational skills, Sherlock will notice what you notice. That is, he will follow your gaze to things, scrutinize your face, etc. If he catches you admiring something in a window, he will surprise you with it later.

X OXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

Behind closed doors, when the mood strikes him, Sherlock can be very affectionate. He treats it, however, as a curious phenomenon, one to experience and then view from a disconnected perspective. That is, he will catch himself reaching for you, touching you, tracing your profile with his eyes in bed, and then wonder, Why? Why am I compelled to do this? And then start all over again.

Y earning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

It takes much for Sherlock to miss you. That is, if he knows where you are or when you both will reunite, he is less likely to experience your absence as anything other than temporary and treat it as such. However, if you go away to the country to visit your family, he will devolve into chaos in your home, throwing himself into the most tangled of cases to preoccupy himself so as not to think about how much he misses you.

Z eal - Are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind of lengths?

In most cases, “great lengths” means emotional intimacy that Sherlock never imagined he would experience—or even knew he could experience. However, if harm should come to you or you should be put in danger, he will burn the world down to save you.

[nix-whythisfilm]

Long-Running Shows I Urge Everyone to Watch

Long-standing shows are known for their continuation of the story, it gives depth to all the nuances of characters and story that we can discover in the course of the story. With these shows having over 70 episodes, it is pretty sure to leave anyone with an impression.

The Mentalist (2008-2015)

This award-winning show was one of the classic shows with psychology being used in crime, and the protagonist here is a mentalist. A mentalist can be briefly described as a person with good knowledge of psychology, with other things like cold reading and general knowledge of people's behaviour and society. This show is family-friendly with minimal gore, a fair amount of violence and a running plot for seven seasons. The episodes moved in a fashion where they had active cases to solve in the CBI, but there was also a bigger case that was the big picture throughout the season. This show has a good pace and very rarely tires the audience.

This show is a personal favourite considering it was the first-ever series I ever watched nearly six years ago, it was engaging back then and is exactly that captivating even now. The main character was a con man initially but has now joined as a consultant for the CBI department investigating murders. The characters are all original and fairly do not fit into any stereotype. That makes it interesting because Patrick Jane, the protagonist, is constantly poking at them with his observations of them that they might not always be candid about. It actually gives a new outlook and perspective on people and the human mind through the course of this show. 

Merlin (2008-2012)

A curious perspective to the classic story of King Artur and the wizard Merlin, this series is extremely old-school and a genuine change of pace from the mainstream shows. The show is set in Old England with the characters just stepping into the world as youths and trying to find their place in the world. Being a relatively old show, the graphics of the fantasy elements are a little obvious, but otherwise, it is a good series for a family watch. The story moves slowly, each episode being moralistic in nature, till the plot moves into the details for much more of the structure of the myth.

It was slow at the start, which made me think it would be a tedious watch. But then, the show connected in a way that cannot be explained in simple sentences. The slow lives that are shown on screen, with a lack of technology and simple dreams of living, get alluring. While I didn't like the ending of the series it makes sense considering everything in the plotline. But then again, there is always a possibility of an alternative story. Merlin is light-hearted but also has the immense pressure of being the prophecy. Then there is Arthur, brought up with everything at his beck and call, despite having no real companion. What really made them a great pair in this show was that Arthur always stood by Merlin, and Merlin was the only one to call Arthur's bullshit.

Teen wolf (2011-2017)

A show that was heavily called out for the stereotypes and cliches it represented in the media, it knocked off all my close-minded expectations when I watched it. While the show is about teenagers who gain supernatural powers in high school, it also involves the stories of other characters who are more than just stereotypes and give an insight into a different scenario. The series is slow in the beginning and moves much faster after the first two seasons. It is mostly fantasy and romance drama, including bits of horror in the later seasons. It is an incisive and heartful show. Something that stood out in the series was the friendships, the decisions they had to make, and everything that felt homely old-school.

The series quickly became my favourite after I got attached to the characters. And I find everyone who watched the show does get attached to the characters. Another favourite thing about the show was how stupid they all were. Yes, stupid and petty. But it was what made it more authentic and believable because as much credit the adults might give teenagers, they are still kids learning the way of the ways of the world and their roles in it all. And this show spoke very well for most communities included in the show.

Suits (2011-2019)

Having heard so much of this show from everyone, I know the hype was well-maintained. The first episode blew me away and everything thrown into the show was like an experience in itself. A genius hustling boy and an experienced lawyer looking for growth in his business. Being one of the first shows on law and business that I watched, I still believe that it is one of the best of its kind. The show has incredible women in power and nuances of business that can be easily recognized and appreciated. The characters are all unique, and each case that the duo learn to handle feels like a lesson that anyone can learn.

Unconventionally, I watched the Korean adaptation of the show prior to watching the original show. While all the original fans judged me for it, I liked the order I watched it in. The adaptation has the actor blowing us away from the beginning, and the show also has a different arch for the romance. Another significant thing that the series stars is the Duchess of Sussex, Megan Markle. It is an insightful perspective into the world of lawyers, corporate and hustlers. And as such, the show might always stand as a standard for its calibre.

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Highly spoken, the game of thrones is based on the book series of the same name. The books are written by George RR Martin and are collectively called the Song of Ice and Fire. The show had raged across the internet and popular culture for over a decade, it is completely outlandish with its authenticity and the story it brought. While the setting is similar to the world of the Inheritance Cycle written by Cristopher Paolini, this show is much more raw and mature than the latter. Fans and critics have plenty to speak of in this series, but one thing that can be mentioned is the individuality and details that were given in each scene for every character in the tale.

This show was a rebellious genre for me, having been so restricted for its nudity and age restrictions. While the show does have ample nudity and sex scenes with more than enough violence and gore, I believe it was all pieces of the puzzle which would have seemed vacant if it were all left out. The nudity in this show invoked my way of seeing human bodies aesthetically rather than something so precarious and objectified. While there are all sorts of things included in the show, from incestuous relationships to betrayals and found families, this show won over the hearts of over eight million people for a reason. A reason that can only be found by experiencing this show of a lifetime.

The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

This show was a sensation when screened and is still running on numerous OTT platforms. It has vampires, witches, werewolves and more. Now, while it is common for this genre to be attractive to teenagers and horror enthusiasts, it can also be watched by anyone interested in drama, romance and fantasy. The show has elements that are more than just one genre by having spanned over that many years it also had an evolution of the characters. What initially started as a horror and fantasy teenage series went on to become a fantasy show that showed incredible stories that were more.

I was sceptical while starting the show, with the books that I read being extremely taxing and disappointing. But the show was many folds better than the book ever was. It does have questionable morals in the beginning, but nearly all the characters have turned out better than the written archetype of them. The show also evolved considering the trend each year and the maturity expected of the characters as they grew up. There are innumerable opinions on the show everywhere, but to be honest it is a good watch. Numerous audios are trending that are from this show, and truly the dialogues were exceptional. There are times it gets tedious with the drama and then there are times the show exceeds expectations to leave an effect on us.

The Originals (2013-2018)

This show is a continuation of the Vampire Diaries series and starts off with the story of a complicated family. Initially antagonists in the prequel, the Mikaelson family is over centuries old and vampires that have an enthralling history. This show unpacks more of their history and the impact they have on their community, along with the head member of the family being a unique type of a vampire. The protagonist is cunning and morally questionable throughout, which is what keeps the story gripping and outlandish. There are similar family tropes in The Vampire Diaries but what makes this different is that The Originals is set in New Orleans and is NOT a high school drama.

This show was wildly different to anything that I had ever watched before, and the protagonist was an art connoisseur. He spoke of the city and his favour for painting which really put a perspective on how I perceived both. They have shown parts of history that were affected by vampires and the supernatural which makes so much sense. Though the books written by E.J Smith do have the characters, the story does not have the same trajectory. Another thing that was emphasized repeatedly is how every family is complicated but sticks through thick and thin.

How to get away with murder (2014-2020)

Having finished this show just now, I can say it was as intense as any show I have ever come across. There was plenty of violence, gore, and sex, considering it is a crime show involving law students who work for a criminal lawyer. While the show seemed very flaky on the morality of their actions throughout, in hindsight, the show makes much more sense and connects all the possible dots without any plotholes. The show ended with a lot of emotions and a full of the journey of the characters, just as a friend mentioned.

The show was a lot considering it throws us headfirst into a murder in the first scene. It had a narration style that was addictive and mind-boggling at the same time. The characters started off flimsy with bare personalities that all seemed stereotypical. But as the plot enhanced, every individual grew into people that could not have been predicted. The violence and the gore are a little outrageous, but in the end, it all fits like an intricate puzzle. The show focuses on the lives of numerous women, with the protagonist being an ambitious older woman who also has a disastrous personal life. It also showed perspectives on people of colour and queer sexualities. It inherently normalised homosexual relationships and an outlook of how closeted people function.

[nothankyousirr]

my opinions on the different mbti types (from an intj)

enfp - you can be good to hang around in moderation. i appreciate your charitable nature; how you aren’t one to pass judgement, but that also leads to a lack in understanding one’s depth. i appreciate how easy it is to befriend you, you’re able to keep the conversation without any expectations on my part to contribute, and although you can be stupid and impulsive, it’s to a point where it’s almost fascinating, which makes it somehow nice to be in your presence. in moderation, of course. you can be very draining at some points.

entp - you’re funny to watch, but actually conversing with you can be...confusing? i do appreciate your ability to see things from other perspectives, but sometimes you need to take a step back and understand the overall reasons behind those perspectives. confidence is important, but don’t get too over zealous, we all have things to improve on.

enfj - i cannot understand you. at all. you’re so nice, it seems like you have some sort of ulterior motives. i do not trust you, you are just so warm i feel like i’m being judged every time i talk with you, or are even in the same room as you. your general demeanor is just so kind it’s threatening, you need to be less optimistic.

entj - a lot of people hate you, which i can understand on their part, but i appreciate your approach to things. with every entj i’ve met, no matter my friend’s/peer’s opinion, we’ve always had a mutual understanding of some sorts. although, i do see a lot of naivety; which i’m 99.9% sure none of you will ever admit. i admire your drive, your confidence, and things along those lines, but some words of advice; you can’t change anyone. as hard as you try, some people are just stuck the way they are, unfortunately. it’s something i’ve had to learn as well, but a lesson i think would do you well.

infp - you are adorably killing yourselves with every move; like small puppy who’s favorite toy just happens to be laid perfectly in the middle of ongoing traffic. your impulsivity hurts me deep inside. please, just try to be aware of your surroundings, at least a little. i know, ironic coming from me, but it’s all i could ask. think out your actions, just a bit. i know life may suck, but take it upon yourself to change that, instead of just falling victim to your own hurt. i wish i could just pick you up and live your life for you, it hurts to see you do these things.

intp - i like you. your humor is refreshing as well as your insight, you just cannot stay organized. you take pride in your discombobulation; your lack of care, which confuses me. because of that, it’s hard to empathize with you when you have troubles, because it could’ve been easily prevented. it makes me upset for you when i see you do this. it doesn’t come from a place of trying to overly pressure you, rather a place of care. i hope that can be acknowledged.

infj - i enjoy your presence, you are just are hard to get. i always seem to upset you in some way, so i implore you to be better at communicating those things. your productivity and insight is very much appreciated, i feel your anxiety is holding you back. we all experience anxiety, it’s a valid human emotion, of course, but don’t let it dictate your life. confidence is important, you’re allowed to acknowledge your accomplishments. also, i implore you to think deeper in terms of morality. why do you believe those things? what is the axiomatic rout of those morals? by understanding that, you gain a better understanding of the people around you. the people you deem to be bad, may think they’re good by their own definition.

intj - from one intj to another, i feel like there is a lot to grow on. we tend to be very book-smart, but oblivious when it comes to how people work, including ourselves, but just because those things are acknowledged from mbti posts and whatnot, that does not give any excuse to avoid improvement. knowledge is important if we ever want to achieve our goals, and having that insight can make things a lot easier. as much as it seems like time is easily slipping away from us, taking control and trying to pick up on those details we may normally be ignoring, may teach us something valuable. it’s also important to take care of ourselves. i find routines are an easy way to remember to do so. having designated times for everything helps maximize the amount of time to get things done, while also taking care of your needs. and give yourself breaks. having fun, relaxing, etc. can also be productive in itself. not everything that’s productive isn’t what’s directly seen as such.

esfp - you can be a lot. its very hard for me to truly understand you, and i get the impression that you feel the same about me. i feel like there’s a lot of miscommunication. we’re practically complete opposites, not just literally (intj-esfp) but in practice as well. what you find fun and what i find fun is so drastically different from one another, i feel like it’s impossible to truly have a meaningful time with each other. from both parties.

estp - i like your confidence. your humor as well. i feel like we get along quite well, although it can be hard at some points because i tend to live in the future a lot, while you’re the “go with the flow” type. that is appreciated, though, and i feel like there’s a lot to teach each other. that’s just a matter of taking the time to communicate with one-another and be understanding.

esfj - i like you, from the sidelines. i appreciate the way you think, i’m just not sure if that is reciprocated. i tend to come of very strong, which i think is quite anxiety inducing for you, but you’re very passionate about the things you enjoy. i do think it’s important for you to have more insight, though. the world is vast, and an understanding of it can be very beneficial to you. 

estj -  your drive is commendable. you’re very confident, know what you want, which i appreciate. i do think it’s important to take a step to think about things further to acknowledge the nuances in things, instead of dismissing them as confusing. not everything is as blunt as you’d like, and may take a bit of critical thinking to truly understand. things happen, yes, but why may they do that? is there anyway to prevent the things you don’t like from happening? those questions are something i think are important to keep in mind.

isfp - for lack of a more kinder way of saying this, i dislike you. i wouldn’t go as far as to say i hate you, but i am very frustrated with you. you tend to dismiss things for the main reason of someone just “being that way” without taking into account any other factors that may come into play for that behavior. with the isfps i’ve met, you’ve seen my behaviors as “trying too hard to be a certain way” or “pretentious” without truly understanding why i act the way i do. it gets frustrating. your very confident, but in thoughts that are lacking in insight. take a second to learn about what you’re talking about before you say things. for my own sanity.

istp - even though you seem like you’re about to kill yourself with your approach to things, you always some how get it done, which is respectable, yet fascinating. you’re surprisingly very fun, even though from the outside i wouldn’t think we’d be at all close friends. you’re not one for deep conversation, rather the kind of conversation that always leave’s me feeling refreshed. it’s important to sometimes take a break, and you’re the type of person that i can easily have that with.

isfj - you’re very adorable. your moral standpoint to most things can be a bit frustrating at some points, but you make up for it with your kind demeanor; a genuine kindness as well. your happiness and drive to help people is a commendable quality, just don’t let people walk all over you. you tend to be a bit too charitable, when sometimes it’s okay to recognize that people just aren’t the right match for you. it’s okay to take care of yourself. i know i come off strong and that can be a bit intimidating, but i promise that it comes from a place of care. be confident in yourself. to truly be able to take care of the people around you, you need to take care of yourself first.

istj - i respect you and your approach to things. i think there are a lot of things we can learn from one another. your ability to easily figure things out from your surroundings is admirable, and it’s interesting the way your mind works. i haven’t met many istjs (of my knowledge) but i think we’d get along quite well from the information given to me.

[autobotmedic]

a-life-revised​:

Megatron pauses again, and then sits with that for a moment. How does one.. explain writing from a standpoint of someone who was not allowed?

After a moment, Megatron answers, almost hesitantly.

::When I.. when I write, I’m never going for the right.. thing. I write with my chest. If I am angry about something, I describe it, the way that I see it, in a sort of… it’s an itinerary for me.

Sometimes it takes time to get the correct feeling, perhaps, but you’ll know when it’s the one. Writing in the way you’re asking, it’s not just an artform. It’s quite literally a feeling. If I see, say, Rung, caught in the light, I don’t say, Rung was caught in the light.

I may say, oh, Rung was bathed by the golden glow of the rays, or perhaps wrapped in sunny halo. I may describe the way his paint job changes, that for a moment he is divine. Perhaps they are exaggerated, perhaps even greatly, but that is only to emphasize my great love of him, my fondness.

Don’t use your processor a terrible amount for this- don’t overthink it. Take a moment and focus on your feelings for this person. Really sit with them. If it becomes overwhelming, take a break and come back.::

    Ratchet did not expect a swift response. He understood it was not a simple question, and when the reply did come, he focused entirely upon it without distraction.

    A record of emotion... The very idea was intimidating, but nonetheless noted. The advice of taking time, and not necessary having the best the first try, he could handle; he took his time with many projects and tests, given a choice. Exaggeration representing depth of emotion was an interesting note, logical, but there had certainly been times that Ratchet read words in his private research that was so extravagant, it sounded fake. To him. Perhaps it was entirely genuine, but Megatron’s, on the other servo, certainly was.

    [ That is a beautiful example. I am glad you spoil Rung, as he should be. ]

    The most concerning piece of advice, was the last of it. Oh, that would be difficult.

    [ I don’t know how to turn off overthinking. Perhaps that is my primary obstacle. ] He thinks all the time, constantly, there is no escape. [ I will focus on overcoming that, if I can. Thank you, for your insight. If you have additional thoughts later, or published recommendations (your own or others), I would read those as well. ]

[devintrinidad]

I read the Lexington Letter (the supplementary material that’s available for free on Apple Books) and there’s so much insight! Normally, I’m of the opinion that series shouldn’t need materials outside of the main source, but I was pleasantly surprised and delighted. (There’s also a LinkedIn profile for Lumon Industries???)

Spoilers:

Anyway, the main takeaways that I got are:

Innies are definitely childlike in nature. We’ve seen in that in the show: Dylan is like a little brother always annoying the rest of the crew and always expecting rewards, Irving is basically the know it all kid who goes by the book and definitely asks for homework, etc. 

Peg (our protagonist) is somewhat shocked that her innie is called Peggy. This is because Peggy was her childhood name and hasn’t been called that in years. 

The Letter goes into great depth about the work of the refiners/incentives, etc. We’ve seen this in the show already, but it’s an affirming source for how weird and eccentric the company is. 

The Letter also states that Peg is making 4x as much money as a bus driver for simply categorizing numbers.

At one point in time, the code detectors weren’t able to detect symbols/drawings. Hence, the reason why Peg and Peggy weren’t caught in correspondence because no one knew about Peg’s childhood language she made up with her sister. (I’m pretty sure all symbols are now prohibited because the detectors have since been updated). 

(Also... it’s implied that some memories might come back to those who are severed. Was Peggy naturally reintegrating? Or was knowing this secret language a passive ability?)

The file names are heavily implied to be names of cities. The Lexington Letter is a reference to Peggy’s assignment that she worked hard on. Merely two minutes after finishing her file, six people died in a car explosion. What is most astonishing is that it happened to Dorner Therapeutics (rival and main competitor for Lumon Industries). Peg says that it must have been corporate espionage, citing that several of Dorner’s prototypes had been destroyed. 

So, it seems that the emotions elicited from refining directly affects the city from the file they are refining? Something like that.

What is most interesting is that Peg herself even states that Lumon has hands in a lot of pies.

When she had first discovered Lumon was offering job opportunities, she was experiencing a lot of negative emotions from her previous job as a bus driver for kids. She said that she “hated her job” or something to that of affect and the radio began playing the ad. 

The ad itself was vague about what the employees were doing, but there was emphasis on “changing the world” and “changing your notion of work”.

Also:

There was also email correspondences concerning the Lexington Letter. The corresponds were Daria Thorne... and Jim Milchick.

So, which begs the question: Does Seth Milchick from our original MDR the brother/relative to this Jim Milchick stationed as a news reporter?

Seems like it’s true... Lumon definitely has their hands in many pies. 

The Lexington Letter also includes the Handbook for MDR and it’s genuinely interesting. The reason stated that people can’t go to different departments was because they wanted to minimize spread of infection/sickness. They even went as far as saying that the employees should wash their hands ten times a day. 

Very interesting.

Anyway, if you’re interested, you can find and read the short story yourself. It’s honestly really well written and gives Peg and Peggy a nice, well rounded character. The lore is fantastic and I can’t wait for next week’s episode! :D

[make-a-little-mischief]

PART ONE

Flashback to July 2021: Mary watches The Nutty Professor for the first time - the catalyst for her ongoing love affair with Jerry Lewis.

Flashforward to now: Mary has sufficiently re-watched, analyzed, and absorbed The Nutty Professor and now has an irrepressible need to talk about how great it is, and with that, she says in her best Rafiki voice, "IT IS TIME....”

So let’s take a wild, wonderful venture into the kooky, colorful, complex world that Jerry Lewis created and put on screen back in 1963. Let me be your tour guide as we forage the frames, scour the scenes, and traverse the triumph of comedic cinema that is The Nutty Professor. There are so many treasures, both big and small, and the landscape is simply starry with the kind of rare brilliance that only Jerry Lewis can impart.

As with the majority of Jerry’s movies, despite some preconceived notions and expectations, this will be far more than just a superficial exploration of a silly sixties comedy. It will be a genuine, in depth tribute to one of the defining movies of the past, present, and dare I say incalculable future. While I would not be considered ranking among the likes of the Eberts and the Roepers - hi, Mary - not a professional movie critic, how do you do - I feel that I can offer an engaging and insightful perspective - and will do so with a bit more appreciation and a lot more kindness.

This journey I want to take you on over the upcoming series of posts is meant to be informative and thought-provoking - full of “ooh”s “aah”s and “mmhmm”s - and we will definitely also have some fun along the way. I love this movie and I want to celebrate it all - from the technical to the artistic to the “I really love that” moments. My aim is to cover every interesting element, every pertinent particle that makes up the very CELLuloide of the movie. I am charged up and ready to get a (hopefully positive) reaction. So without further ado let’s light the fires, get the liquids flowing, set the test tubes spinning, and fill our beakers up to the brim with a hearty serving of Jerry Lewis’ The Nutty Professor - it’s gonna be a real gas.

I say, that was sort of a corker.

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***Mary would also like to take a moment to recognize her sister Lauren for introducing her to Jerry and to The Nutty Professor, and her dear mum Lisa for holding the record (at least in our house) for "most repeated viewings of The Nutty Professor to the point that she probably can tell you how many times Dr. Warfield's face twitches in the first scene with Professor Kelp" - both of whom contributed some marvelous ideas and observations for this series. Brava to you both.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now-

*dramatic music plays*

IN THE BEGINNING….

*dramatic music intensifies*

DUM DUM DUUUUUMMMM………………….

*crescendo and silence*

There are opening credits, so let’s talk about them.

Starting with the title of the movie because it’s simple, it’s genius, it’s perfect.

And it’s also a “hidden in plain sight” easter egg.

The word “nutty” carries two meanings here -

Zany, bonkers, goofy, a little “out there”, maybe a little overexcitable, basically everything describing Professor Julius Kelp as a character; it’s his energy

The 60’s slang for cool, hip, awesome, a word “one of the in-crowd” might say, someone like Buddy Love; it’s also his energy

Gasp! The call is coming from inside the house! Or in this case, the twist of the movie is covertly implanted into the title! Jerry, you smart cookie, I see what you did there. I love it so much that I even used it as inspiration for the title of this series of posts - “Crazy Chemistry”. “Crazy”, as in: “outrageous”, “wild”, “impressive”, or the ‘60’s slang for “cool”; then of course “chemistry” pointing to the appeal and charm of the movie and how effectively all of its components work together, or you know, “chemistry” as in, chemistry, the thing Professor Kelp does and teaches.

Ok now that I’ve thoroughly explained the joke, let’s move on and get into the opening title sequence.

There are a few things happening throughout that serve the purpose of setting up character and plot. Jerry provides the viewer with some simple but effective visual storytelling aids that plant important seeds for entering the world of the movie. One is a repeated focus on the character Stella who eagerly watches Professor Kelp perform experiments for the class.

We don’t know who she is yet but from the shots of her that single her out from the other students it is hinted to the viewer that she is someone of importance. We also get a sense of her as a character - she seems invested in learning, she is fascinated by Professor Kelp and what he is doing, and she is very attentive to him. The shots of Stella imply that there is either presently or that there is the potential for a connection between her and Professor Kelp. Stella is immediately framed as not only someone of importance in general but also as my mum suggested, “it hints that it’s ‘about her’ in the sense that this is a love story and she is central to that playing out”. All of this is inferred in just a few short clips with nothing but facial expressions and simple blocking.

Speaking of Professor Kelp, we also learn a bit about our main character during the title sequence. First, he’s a little bit clumsy.

Second, he is very knowledgeable about chemistry and he’s a bit of a performer for his students.

He is also hidden from sight of the audience in every shot; we don’t see all of Professor Kelp until about three and a half minutes into the movie. There’s an air of mystery and anticipation around the character - What does he look like? What are we going to see when his face is revealed?

Little do we the audience realize that this is all foreshadowing the Jekyll and Hyde twist later on in the movie. There are certain specific crossover traits in both characters that we first see in Professor Kelp. Additionally, as pointed out by my sister Lauren: “the same technique of shrouding a character in mystery, hiding them from view of the audience, building anticipation, and then finally revealing them is used later on with Buddy Love”. When you rewatch the movie you see all of the ways in which Jerry sets up the twist and the character of Buddy, starting from the opening credits. More on that in a later post…

Continued in part two

[catiuapavel]

Lanselot Tartaros

Why I like them

I love Lanselot because he’s such a reasonable villain, willing to compromise, to opt for mercy, but simultaneously his ambition and beliefs are deeply rooted in an insidious yet realistic kind of evil.

Why I don’t

Reborn has given me the perfect answer to this: His voice. Even more so his English voice which is the bottom of the barrel. I feel a bit bad for the VA, he’s just not a good fit, unfortunately. I also don’t know what direction he (and most of the other actors) were given but he sounds like he’s reading his lines for the first time and changing his intonation and delivery as he goes... which sounds dreadful.

I also don’t like his Japanese voice (which is marginally better) because unfortunately I had a specific idea of what he should sound like - a deep smooth and calm voice, with an extremely monotonous tone - and this isn’t it either.

Favorite scene

His battle in Barnicia castle. This is the fight I’m the most excited to re-discover with the remake. I’m hoping for a nice mixture between the difficulty of the SNES release which made you work hard to triumph over him and the depth of dialogue from the PSP remake.

It’s my favourite specifically on Lawful route since having Ozma and Hobyrim in your party will give you an interesting insight on all three characters and their relationships.

Having Ozma’s input of him after she served under his command is interesting on her part (because Ozma’s desertion is very much about preserving her allegiance to Lodis and setting it on (what she believes is) the right path) but I also think she delivers some of the best criticism Lanselot has had directed his way.

Favorite line

“True freedom is not granted from above, it is won from below.” 

There is a lot of resonance between this entire dialogue and the rest of the game, and this quote specifically carries the themes of the game very well.

That being said, on a more personal note, there is a line in the same dialogue opposing it which I like because Lanselot makes his school of thought very clear with it:

“The people have no need of dreams, we give them all they need. - And what is that, pray tell? - A strong, unwavering ruler.”

It’s a very grim way to end whatever debate he was having with Hamilton.

OTP

I previously answered for Catiua already and it’s entirely one-sided on her end. Of all the characters in Tactics Ogre, he has the sharpest understanding of her and it makes their dynamic really compelling to me.

He also adresses by her name and very directly after their meeting in Golyat (which is the only time he calls her “princess” iirc) which creates a sense of closeness you wouldn’t necessarly expect. But then again, that feeling of care is what Catiua wants.

Brotp

Likewise I already answered this for Balxephon - but absolutely Lanselot/Balxephon. They have such a subtle entente. It makes me feel like they go way back and I think the circumstances of their first meeting and how their relationship developed would be a compelling topic to build upon.

Head Canon

I think he wakes up at 4am at the latest. I’m convinced of it.

Unpopular opinion

The perception of Lanselot has been completely marred by this sorry excuse of a prequel and people are genuinely twisting Tactics Ogre’s canon and Lanselot’s actual character to include it and my unpopular opinion is that there is no room for Knight of Lodis in discussions about Let Us Cling Together and Lanselot Tartaros.

A wish

A part of me is glad CODA gives more spotlight to the other Dark Knights but I’m a bit let down his dialogues weren’t that interesting. I’d have liked an exchange between Catiua and him in Golyat. It’d have raised the bar.

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen

oh-god-please-dont-start-aknowledging-knight-of-lodis-existence

I’m glad that Matsuno seems to pretend it doesn’t exist and has just consistently dismissed the topic to this day (I’d do the same if someone took my story and wrote... that) so I’m directing this at Square Enix. Please don’t ever do anything with Knight of Lodis. Don’t even port it. That’d already be too much.

5 words to best describe them

Resourceful, civil, authoritarian, deceitful, stern

[jurassicparkpodcast]

Camp Cretaceous Season 5 Spoiler Review | The Jurassic Park Podcast

Hey everyone – and welcome to my in-depth Season 5 review of Camp Cretaceous here on The Jurassic Park Podcast! In this video we are holding back on none of the details from the newest season of the show – so make sure to avoid this article if you haven’t had the chance to catchup on Season 5 yet. With all of that said – let’s dive in!

The first thing I wanted to touch on in this article is the character growth – as this is something which I feel got the right treatment in the fifth season of the show. I love the fact that we finally get a relationship between Sammy and Yaz – exploring some of the intricacies that we can go through when we are discovering ourselves and our own identity. This was handled in an incredibly sensitive and respectful manner and is something which felt like a genuine and grounded portrayal of representation within the show. Hats off to the creators for finding a way to be inclusive in such a meaningful way. The rest of the characters in the show get some fantastic development too. I love how we explore some conflict between Brooklynn and Kenji in this season – and also love how Kenji attempts to find his way as he balances the expectations of his friends with the expectations of his father. The characters were handled really well this season and I am happy we got some good growth for them in their final adventure.

A negative which comes from good character growth, however, is that it feels like the overall plot and story of the fifth season isn’t as strong as it could have been. The real core of the story is the tension between Kenji and his father – and this is something which plays out throughout the duration of the story as we learn more about Mantah Corp and what they have been up to. Whilst this does provide some interesting insight into how other genetics companies have been behaving within the Jurassic universe, it doesn’t quite go to the depths I would have hoped for in the fifth season – and it ultimately feels like another story about chaos ensuing on an island which is plunged into chaos. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t have any problem with this concept in isolation – but I find it hard to enjoy the more confined nature of this story after Jurassic World Dominion opened up the wider world and showed us what was unfolding across the globe. Granted, Camp Cretaceous does still take place between Jurassic World and Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, but I feel like there was perhaps a missed opportunity to setup a more interesting story arc for the final season here.

With this said, I absolutely adore the inclusion of Daniel (Kenji’s Father) in this season as I think he was incredibly well written in this series. I really love how throughout the season we can see hints at Daniel’s true nature – ignoring Kenji in certain moments, but also manipulating his son and taking advantage of situations like the date with Brooklynn to try and emotionally exploit him. We get a sense of the kind of man which Daniel is – and this makes me very curious for the wider canon. Was he attempting to manipulate Simon Masrani whilst he was working with him? Perhaps some of the technology stolen on Mantah Corp island was obtained before the park even closed? These are certainly things which are hinted at throughout the fifth season, and I would not be surprised to learn that Daniel was playing a longer game through his relationship with Masrani. I really enjoyed how this character was portrayed – and am very interested to think about where he may be by the time we get to the events of Dominion. Men like Daniel don’t tend to stay locked up in Prison for very long, after all.

We go from an aspect I really enjoyed to an aspect I was severely disappointed by – the return of the Barbasol Can. When we talk about ‘bad fan service’, this is sadly exactly what this sequence felt like – with the characters literally just randomly finding the Barbasol Can itself in a muddy mound whilst they are crouched down on the floor. Yes, the characters did discover the Barbasol Can near to an area where several Dilophosaurus are encountered, but this didn’t make this feel like any more than an on-the-nose nod to the original Jurassic Park. I have to admit – I was really disappointed with the way this was handled in the show and wish that they had omitted its inclusion entirely. There have been several proposed ideas for stories about how the Barbasol Can could have been recovered and I wish that the door had been left open to explore those in the future, rather than closing it in a shoe-horned and sadly far too brief moment. With that said – I did appreciate the choice of character who stumbles upon the cryo-can, something I will touch on next!

I’m not going to make the full joke – but it is true that we have Dodgson here. I really enjoyed Dodgson’s inclusion in the fifth season of Camp Cretaceous – showing that even before the events of Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, this character was working behind the scenes to prepare BioSyn to take advantage of InGen’s failure. I really loved how the character’s portrayal in the show felt in-line with the way he is presented in the Jurassic World Evolution 2 DLC – creating a man which feels impatient, but also excited when it comes to discovering new things on Isla Nublar. Whilst the legacy of the character and his relationship with Dennis Nedry could have been expanded upon a little in the show, I have to admit that overall, his inclusion was one of the real high points of the fifth season for me. Dodgson and the growth of BioSyn more broadly is something which I find incredibly compelling – so I would love to see more of this in future Jurassic media.

One thing which I found myself wanting more of in the fifth season was dinosaur and location variety. The fifth season of the show acts as a little bit of a trip down memory lane – with season favorites like Bumpy, Toro and the Spinosaurus returning for the final act. Whilst it is nice to see these animals back on the screen it is at the sacrifice of new animals – with the only new animal appearing in this season being the Nothosaurus. The animal has a couple of interesting moments in the show but there is nothing groundbreaking here – and I certainly wanted more. Introducing Lewis Dodgson and BioSyn also made me hungry to see more of the Dolomites Facility and the Pyroraptor, the Giganotosaurus and the Quetzalcoatlus. We never see any of these animals in the show – and whilst they didn’t necessarily appear here, I think it would’ve been interesting if we had learnt that one of the animals which appears in the valley in the Dominion had been a Mantah Corp creation. It’s like I said in my non-spoiler review – this is fundamentally more Camp Cretaceous, and I’m not entirely sure that making it more of the same was an adequate way to close out the series.

We get another welcome inclusion in the fifth season with the return of Dave and Roxie from Season 1 – accompanying Darius’s brother, Brandon, as the trio embark on a quest to revisit Isla Nublar and attempt to rescue the kids. I enjoyed how our time with them felt like a callback to the event of the series as a whole – uncovering Mitch and Tiff’s camp, and also finding the campsite which they built in the ruins of Camp Cretaceous. I would have loved to see more of these characters on the island, however – as it felt as though their quest to rescue the kids was cut a little short. I think seeing more of Dave and Roxie and their emotional reaction to revisiting a Nublar which has fallen into ruin and disrepair since they were last on the island could have made for a really compelling narrative – helping to provide insight into the emotional toll the collapse of Jurassic World had on the employees who worked at the park. Don’t get me wrong – it’s nice seeing them back, but I wish we had spent a little bit more time with them and perhaps had more of a set-up for them returning to the island alongside Brand.

Lastly, we have the ending for the show – and this is something which we have been building to since the end of Season 3. The kids make it home and become known as ‘The Nublar Six’ – making the news as kids who survived on Isla Nublar after the Jurassic World incident. We then get a sneak peek at where they end up – with Bumpy and Ben still on Mantah Corp island with Mae Turner, Brooklynn investigating Lockwood Manor, Kenji helping to continue to fund Mantah Corp Island and Sammy’s Family’s Farm, and lastly Darius – who is out giving talks on dinosaurs as he follows in the steps of Alan Grant. We then have a moment where Darius encounters a Brachiosaurus outside his window – indicating that dinosaurs are now out in the wild. I enjoyed how this ending tied up to Jurassic World Dominion – but I can’t help but feel like this ending would have been more impactful for me had it come after Season 3. Season 4 and 5 do some interesting things but ultimately feel as if they are a detour from the same ending that we were on route to reach at the end of the third season.

So that brings a close to our coverage of Camp Cretaceous – and what a journey it has been! It’s been fascinating seeing how far the characters have come over five seasons – and I enjoyed how many different plot threads and narrative elements we got to explore over the course of five seasons. I really enjoyed this show – and think it was a successful first outing for Jurassic in a televised format. I hope that in the future we also get a more mature live-action television series for fans of the franchise – and have my fingers crossed that this is opening the door for more expanded Jurassic in the future.

That’s my thoughts on Season 5 – but what are yours? Let me know your comments below and stay tuned to The Jurassic Park Podcast for more content in the near future!

Written by: Tom Jurassic

[eppysboys]

Can you elaborate on how you feel about the lyrics book eppy? If it helps at all I'm a huge paul fan and I pre-ordered it on the spot GENUINELY THINKING 'omg this will finally be some illuminating stuff that will clear up so many misunderstandings about his artistry' and uhhhh it just turns out he's even more damaged/repressed/arrogant/good at lying to himself/clueless about how he's perceived than we all thought?

Hi anon!

I want to preface by saying that my regret about buying the book was definitely more about my personal money situation than anything else, because it was definitely a LOT of money to spend on something I didn't know the contents of and whether it would be worth it. My bad, that's all on me. I did not have high hopes for anything deep and personal to be revealed. I suppose I expected more new photos, some new stories, maybe a bit more fleshing out of some of the usual ones that are brushed over. I haven't read the entire thing yet so this is just my impression of it so far:

It's interesting that this book is titled and advertised as about 'The Lyrics', when it seems like Paul is the most enthused and engaged when discussing music (which is a pleasure to read!!!) The way he writes about the musicality of 'And I Love Her' compared to how he actually came up with The Lyrics, for example, is a little jarring for someone who might have picked up the book to know a little bit more about....the lyrics. It's a kind of juggle between analysing singular lyrics, basic biography/establishing the scene and music analysis - which is great but it often comes across as lacking in depth especially when it comes to...the lyrics. I think once you've grappled with the fact that this is more of a biography/collection of anecdotes and thoughts about and relating to his songs and life, it's easier to enjoy it rather than feel like you've missed something.

I think the thing that people have been reacting negatively to is that there is a lot of filler - context for the song that is very basic - but it's like it's establishing context for the insight that never comes. It's ghostly. It was a bit strange having some songs be more like chapter titles for an interesting facet of Paul's personality or an anecdote from around the time he wrote the song (that apparently wasn't at the forefront of his mind when he wrote it) rather than the name of the song you were about to learn more about the construction of.

"Sometimes you write to get a sort of feeling rather than a perfectly ‘correct’ lyric. Sometimes the lyric can be secondary to the feeling."

The idea that there's something underneath the mask of the anecdote or the 'Ray Charles' feeling or whatever it is.....but never getting the answer that is sort of established is there...lurking... but not for us to know... is a little :/ Does $100+ entitle anyone to Paul McCartney's deepest thoughts and feelings and secrets? No. But it'd be nice to walk away with a sense of some solid insight gained and not reach the end of a paragraph feeling like the magician has made your wallet disappear (i'm fine, i swear). And there are many 'new' things to enjoy in this book! Lovely insights and stories etc. I don't get a profound sense of understanding Paul or 95% of the songs much better than I did, but you could account that to me being a very big Paul nerd in the first place.

To be frank, I don't think there was enough new content and depth to justify the price at all. I know it's Paul McCartney and it has to be $$$$ because he's a legend and yadda yadda yadda, but it's quite disappointing? I can remember buying one of the Jim Morrison books containing a collection of his poetry and journal entries and memories from loved ones and it was a massive amount of new content - quotes and images and all sorts of things, and it was $50 when it hit the shelves. Idk, just thought it was worth mentioning that it was odd to me how bare this book was for the price.

The epic highs and lows of this book are delightful. Some quotes from this book have me absolutely like 🥰 and then others are just..... I'll put it this way, it's like that image of a weathered lounge singer kind of rambling with false-modesty about their past experiences they've told 100 times with this vapid kind of air to it and everyone in the audience is just :| waiting for the next song. ("I’m actually quite a fan of ‘ordinary’. I hope in many ways it defines me, and so also many of the songs I’ve written. Don’t get me wrong; I like extraordinary people and things, but if people can be great and ordinary at the same time, that to me is kind of special") It's that kind of vibe. And then there's the more wtf moments which are little gems sprinkled throughout the book that are horrible and hilarious and wonderful.

Random thoughts and things:

He made no mention of sex when describing 'Eat At Home' 😤 Unacceptable!

The Stuart facing the wall at the Larry Parnes audition story just had to get in there, eh? 😂

did you know that Brian was gay gay gay and middle class???

"It sounds like I got drunk, and then I was arrested by a rozzer with a pink balloon tied to his foot, and it’s just daft, but you can also read into it that pink could signify something like a certain gayness." You could read it like that. I guess. Whatever.

^This absolute dork of a man 💖

I love our brave little soldier, writing about the things no one else dare to. I also enjoy the fact he brings up Liza Minnelli right after the gay talk. I adore this oblivious straight man.

I think, to end this off, there's gaps between casual fans, less-than-casual fans, little historians/super nerds and obsessives - and this book had to be crafted with the ability to satisfy as many people as possible while still retaining the privacy and peace-keeping that Paul obviously values dearly. He obviously wanted something a step above a traditional biography (or MYFN) that would take him through the timeline of events rather than delve too deeply into his own psyche and into the gritty uncomfortable parts of his history. I think fans would love and appreciate and respect if he had done that - but it's totally understandable why he wouldn't want to or even feel the need to. He's still loved and appreciated and respected.

Incoming tangent: Fan culture over the years has become more about acquiring the hearts and minds of the celebrity - the parts only you pick up, the things only special fans notice and discuss. People flock to tumblrs who can discuss in depth their view of their fave's psychological makeup as if they are superior for knowing. People even brag about beliving they 'get' Paul (and other beatles for that matter) better than other fans and actual family members. It's important to be mindful of when the line is being crossed, and when assumptions are being presented as fact - like assuming Paul wants people to pick through his history and draw certain conclusions that are not the ones he usually presents in interviews/books. That's some qanon shit. Basically: He doesn't owe us an in depth analysis of certain things but in this fan culture it's understandable why being closed off about things has gotten Paul some backlash. More specifically, it's understandable why the traditional narratives being spun over and over when there's a clear case for certain things being more complex is frustrating for fans. I identify with that frustration, for sure, but really, what can we do? If it doesn't matter to Paul, why should it be so stressful for anyone else? What right do we have to the whole truth? What right do we have to Paul's soul? He's at a point in his life and career where he can shape his image exactly how he wants, and he has done just that. He's built our home and here we are, throwing shit at the walls like monkeys :')

[crusherthedoctor]

Can you list anything you unironically like in the games (and cartoons and comics) that you don't like?

I won't bother mentioning music, since that goes without saying and is to be expected for a Sonic game... unless you're Chronicles.

Sonic Adventure 2 (mixed gameplay-wise, annoying story-wise) - While I prefer Sonic's SA1 levels for a number of reasons, I still think his and Shadow's gameplay in SA2 is fun on its own merit. I also don't mind the treasure hunting gameplay returning or how big the levels are this time around, since Knuckles and Rouge are still fast and not '06 levels of slow. It's mainly the gimped radar that creates the unfortunate domino effect of making them a problem.

- Introduced Rouge, one of my favourite characters for how playful she is and how she's a lot more nuanced and intelligent than you'd expect.

- Some genuinely good scenes, like Eggman's trap on the A.R.K and Sonic escaping from the G.U.N. helicopter.

- Had some good ideas going for it, like the Pyramid Base and the Biolizard as a scientific monster instead of an ancient one.

- Despite my thoughts on the backstory itself (or rather, its execution), Shadow has enough depth and subtle qualities and occasional unintended hilarity to stand out from the typical dark rival characters you see in media.

- The Last Scene's music in particular is one of my favourite cutscene tracks in the series.

Sonic Heroes (mixed gameplay-wise, loathed story-wise) - The gameplay is fun when you're not being screwed over by repetitive combat, overly long levels and/or ice physics.

- Boasts some of the most consistently Genesis-worthy environments in the 3D games, up there with SA1's and Colours'.

- The in-game dialogue that isn't the same tutorial drivel repeated ad nauseam can be interesting, funny, etc.

- Reintroduced the Chaotix, which provided me with another character I quite like in the form of Vector.

- Bringing Metal Sonic back in full force and front and center in the plot after a long absence (not counting cameos and the like) is a perfectly fine idea. Just... not like this.

Sonic Battle (decent yet repetitive gameplay, mixed story-wise) - Emerl's arc is compelling, and it earns the emotional weight of having to put him down at the end.

- While some characters are iffy (read: Amy), other characters are extremely well-handled. Shadow is probably the prime example.

- Gamma's belly dance healing animation is fucking hilarious.

- When I was young, and the game was first announced, I was really excited about being able to play as Chaos. This proved to be my downfall when it turned out he was arguably one of the worst characters in the game due to being slower than me during the writing process, but I still recall that excitement fondly.

Shadow the Hedgehog (comedy classic) - The sheer amount of legendary stupidity this game has going for it makes it practically impossible to actually hate. It helps that it's not quite as white-knighted on the same level as '06... usually. You know you're in for a unique experience when you hear a gunshot every time you click something in the menu.

- By extension, Black Doom never gained an unironic fanbase like Mephiles/Scourge/Eggman Nega did, which means I'm a lot more willing to take Doom's dumbass brand of villainy in stride. He even has a unique design... a terrible one that rips off Wizeman granted, but alas, even that is a step-up from Fridge Shadow and Bumblebee Eggman.

- Despite being... well, Shadow the Hedgehog, some of the environments would fit right in with any other Sonic game, like with Circus Park, Lava Shelter, and Digital Circuit. Even the Black Comet levels look pretty cool.

- This game understands amnesia better than IDW does.

Sonic '06 (what do you think?) - The obvious one: Shadow's character was handled pretty well, even if it came at the cost of everyone else being a dummy and being forced to interact with Mephiles.

- Like SA2, there are some good moments, like the Last Story ending sequence with Sonic and Elise.

- In the greatest form of irony ever, I like Solaris as a concept and design(s), and its backstory has potential to serve as a parallel with Chaos without being a complete ripoff. Iblis sucks, Mephiles sucks, but I'm fine with Solaris.

- Introduced legendary characters like Sonic Man, Pele the Beloved Dog, Hatsun the Pigeon, and Pacha from The Emperor's New Groove.

The Rivals duology (apathetic outside of Nega-related grumbling) - There were some cool zone ideas in both games that were sadly let down by the restrictive and limiting gameplay. I particularly like Colosseum Highway for thus far being the only full-on Roman level in the series instead of merely having a couple minor hints of Roman, and Meteor Base for the unique scenario of the space station being built into an asteroid. These level concepts and others deserve a second chance IMO. (At least Frontier Canyon got a second chance in the form of Mirage Saloon, amirite?)

- Ifrit has a better design than Iblis. Not saying it's amazing, but the Firebird motif it has going on is a lot more interesting for a fire monster than the Not-Chaos schtick they had with Iblis.

Sonic and the Secret Rings (a very frustrating gaming experience) - Erazor Djinn, A.K.A. Qui-Gon Djinn, A.K.A. Dr. N. Djinn, A.K.A. I'll Take It On The Djinn, A.K.A. Not From The Hairs On My Djinny Djinn Djinn, is one of the best villains not associated with Eggman in the series. He's a Mephiles-type character done right, and there's actual weight and reason to his actions, however sinister or petty.

- I don't have strong opinions either way on Shahra as a character, but the Sonic/Shahra friendship is sweet and well-handled.

- The ending is one of Sonic's greatest moments. The sheer contrast between how ruthlessly he deals with Erazor and how comforting he is towards Shahra speaks volumes... Still gonna make fun of the mountain of handkerchiefs though. (Before anyone lectures me, I understand the significance of it and can even appreciate it from that angle... doesn't mean I'm not allowed to poke fun at it. :P)

- Another game with some redeeming environments. I love the aesthetic of Night Palace, and Sand Oasis looks gorgeous too.

Sonic Chronicles (my personal least favourite game in the series) - Uh...

- Um...

- Er...

- I like Shade's design?

Sonic Unleashed (overrated game and story IMO) - The obvious two: the opening sequence and the Egg Dragoon fight deserve all the praise they get.

- Seeing Eggmanland come to life was an impressive moment to be sure. While part of me does feel it didn't quite measure up to what I had in mind (ironically, the Interstellar Amusement Park ended up being closer to what I had in mind), it still looks badass and works well for what it is. I also don't mind the idea of it being a one-level gauntlet... key word being idea.

- Obviously, the game looks great. Not a fan of the real world focus (real world inspiration is fine, but copy-pasting the real world and shoving loops in it is just unimaginative), but it can't be denied that the environments look good.

- This game pulled off dialogue options a lot better than Chronicles did, since they didn't rely on making Sonic OoC.

Sonic and the Black Knight (just kind of boring all around) - Despite my gripes with the story (Merlina wasn't nearly as fleshed out as her unique anti-villain status deserved, which ends up severely undermining the ambition of the plot in more ways than one, and the other characters go from being useless yes men for King Arthur to being useless yes men for Sonic), I will admit it provides interesting insight into Sonic's character.

- Like '06 and Secret Rings, the ending is very nice... well, aside from Amy being an unreasonable bitch ala Sonic X at the very end.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (apathetic) - The admittedly few new concepts sprinkled within had promise. They may not have been as fleshed out as they could have been, but level concepts like Sylvania Castle and White Park, bosses like Egg Serpentleaf and the Egg Heart, and story beats like the Death Egg mk.II being powered by Little Planet, all could have been brilliant had they been better executed.

SatAM (apathetic outside of SatAM Robotnik-related grumbling) - I'm not a fan of the environments on the whole due to them looking too bland or samey, but there are some exceptions that look pleasant or interesting, like the Void.

Sonic Underground (apathetic) - The character designs make me feel better about myself.

- Does "large quantities of unintentional meme material" count as a positive?

Sonic X (mostly apathetic outside of Eggman's handling) - Helen was a better human character and audience surrogate in her one focus episode than Chris was throughout his entire runtime.

- Actually, most of the human characters not named Chris were legitimately likable. Including everyone in Chris' own family not named Chris. Hilarious.

- Despite arguably having the most Chris in it, I actually don't mind the first season that much, partly due to slight nostalgia from seeing it on TV when it was new, but mostly because Eggman actually acted like a villain for the most part, and certain other characters weren't quite as flanderized yet. It's season 2 and onwards where things started going off the rails IMO. (Incidentally, Helen's episode was part of season 1...)

The Boom franchise (apathetic) - Along with Chronicles, the games provide yet more proof that just because someone isn't SEGA/Sonic Team, that doesn't mean they're automatically more qualified to handle the series.

- The show had some good episodes here and there, and Tails' characterization was probably the most consistently on-point out of the cast.

- Despite not exactly being favourite portrayals for either character, even I'll admit that many of Knuckles and Eggman's lines in the show on their own were genuinely funny.

Archie Sonic (pre-reboot is mostly terrible, post-reboot is mostly... bland) - Whenever I doubt myself as a writer, I think back to Ken Penders, and suddenly I'm filled with a lot more confidence.

Sonic the Comic (apathetic) - Fleetway isn't a comic I tend to recall much of aside from how much of a loathesome cunt Sonic is, but IIRC, Robotnik's portrayal is pretty good. Different, but good.

IDW Sonic (stop pissing me off, comic) - Putting their handling aside (and being too obviously "inspired" by MGS in the latter's case), Tangle and Whisper are good characters IMO.

- Same goes for Starline, before he was killed off-screen and replaced with Toothpaste Snively.

- Execution aside (noticing a pattern?), the zombot virus was a fine concept on its own and an interesting new scheme for Eggman.

- I get to remind myself that I've never drawn scat edits and posted them publicly on Twitter.