#its a really good and fun season. i love the variations

[theodoravery]

the thth eps always feel so short but man are they fun

[romancomicsblog]

Movie Redo: Fixing Marvel's Thunderbolts*

Marvel's Thunderbolts* recently came out with a stellar trailer, watching some of our favorite MCU anti-heroes going through the motions while uncovering a mystery and becoming a team.

While many have praised the trailer for its style, action and tone, I have had some problems with the movie from the beginning. For one, the group Thunderbolts* tends to be villains pretending to be heroes as opposed to morally gray characters.

The movie tackles the spirit of this by having several characters fill in classic roles of the MCU Avengers: Yelena as Black Widow, U.S. Agent as Captain America, etc. But this stops at about half the team.

For example, we have three different variations of Captain America. Each are not Steve Rogers, morally gray super soldiers. The main difference is their range of comedic quips.

We also have two different variations of (basically) Black Widow.

This makes the lineup a bit stale power wise, and makes most of the lineup side Black Widow and Captain America characters.

While it makes entering the film easier, this doesn't give us the same feeling of "assembling" characters from the MCU like the Avengers did. The characters should come from many different projects as opposed to 2.

Finally, the team is made up of 7/8 white people. So in so many ways, this movie is suffering from a lack of diversity.

My goal is to liven up the team with characters across the MCU, villains and antiheroes alike. I'd like this team to:

Fill roles of the classic Avengers

Have a wide range of abilities

Reward long time MCU fans for watching along

Lets get started with an obvious question:

Who Stays & Who Goes?

While this group is full of some great MCU characters, too many unfortunately are redundant.

We will be saving 4 Characters, starting with:

1. Yelena Belova - White Widow (Black Widow / Hawkeye)

One of the smartest moves made by this movie is having Yelena be the lead. I love Florence Pugh, and one thing that can differentiate this team from The Avengers is having White Widow be the leader.

She is the clear and funnest Black Widow stand-in, so I will be choosing her over Taskmaster.

2. John Walker - U.S. Agent (Falcon & The Winter Soldier)

Of the Captain America knock offs, U.S. Agent is by far the most interesting.

No hate to Red Guardian's jokes or Winter Soldier's angst, but having a sad, broken not as good Captain America who is not a good man but a perfect soldier, there's so many ways you can go with it. He can be a traitor to the group, the eventual villain or just the guy who thinks he's the leader.

He is also the character we've seen least of the 3, and deserves his time on the big screen.

3. Ava Starr - Ghost (Ant-Man & The Wasp)

One of the most underrated characters in the MCU, Ghost was a highlight for me in the Ant-Man trilogy. With a tragic backstory, skills to match the Winter Soldier and an actual interesting power, I'm really excited to see where they go with this character.

Plus I love her new suit.

4. Bob - The Sentry (Thunderbolts*)

Lewis Pullman is playing "Bob" who is most likely Robert Reynolds AKA The Sentry, a Superman like superhero who struggles with memory loss, and has the power of "a million suns".

Due to the S in the trailer and his general confusion, Sentry will likely join the team, and his archenemy The Void will may even be the main antagonist.

As a powerful longhaired hero, he fills the role of a Thor for our Avengers, which is a definite need.

The mystery behind Bob as well as the inclusion of a new Superman like character is very fun. I do think a need for every MCU movie is an addition of a new interesting character, so Bob must stay.

Now that we have our 4 stays, let's make some fun additions.

5. Agent Dex Poindexter - Bullseye (Daredevil Season 3)

Agent Poindexter fills a couple of significant roles from the Avengers and from the Thunderbolts* who we took off the list.

Like Taskmaster, Bullseye is an assassin, who worked for a puppet master who is still very much alive and around in the MCU. But unlike many of the other killers on this list, he enjoys killing. As the teams resident sociopath, he can be the devil on their shoulder, egging the team on to go further than they have before.

He also nicely fills the teams role as their Hawkeye. The both have perfect aim, have taken on new identities to commit atrocities, and started off as law men.

It also gives all viewers great homework, because everyone should watch Daredevil.

6. Aaron Davis - The Prowler (Spider-Man Homecoming / Across the Spider-Verse)

The Spider side of the MCU has very much stayed in its place due to Sony. One character who has appeared in both Sony and Marvel, portrayed by the same actor I might add, is Aaron Davis.

Aaron Davis first appeared in Spider-Man Homecoming, and if we believe him to portray the same character in Across the Spider-Verse, has evolved into his role as Prowler now.

Prowler with his tech, claws, skills, and general goofy vibe, could fill the role of a Black Panther or Spider-Man for our group, and much like Spider-Man, be the ground level criminal entering this world of Assassins and Gods.

You can also view him as more of a thief than anything else. Like Aladdin or Star-Lord, fitting him into this team but definitely bringing a different perspective as opposed to Bullseye.

I see Prowler as a secondary lead character, one who has Yelena's back over some of the others, and hopefully makes it out of this mission alive.

7. Titania (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law)

Where there are Avengers, there is need for muscle.

Titania is one the secondary villains from Marvel's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, notably played by Good Place actress Jameela Jamil.

Titania fills the role of a Hulk / Captain Marvel to the group as our resident strong woman, but also takes up Red Guardians role as comedic relief.

As a social media influencer and fashion icon, she'll bring a very different energy than our other two heroines. She also has the tendency to back whoever to keep herself alive, meaning she may team up with the worst of our titular team if there is a coup.

Plus I'd like her to dawn her wrestler outfit.

8. Justin Hammer - MACH-1 (Iron Man 2)

With many of the Avengers roles filled, all we need is left is a billionaire genius playboy.

Since his debut in Iron Man 2, Sam Rockwell fans have been clamoring for the actor to return as Justin Hammer. While we have inklings of him in All Hail to to King & What If, having Justin as comedic relief and the teams resident tech expert can add a different flavor to the team.

While Justin Hammer doesn't have an alter ego in the comics, he could take on the role of Titanium Man like he does in the animated show, Iron Man Armored Adventures.

My only gripe is the name is a little too close to Titania, so I recommend he takes on the name Mach-1, the alter ego of the Beetle when he joined the Thunderbolts.

While he is not The Beetle, he is still a villain pretending to be a hero, and several have taken on the name of Mach-1, so I think it'll be fine.

With just a few notable changes, my MCU team is now complete.

We now have heroes and villains from across the MCU, all with unique skills, powers, tools and motivations.

And once they all suit up...

They'll make one hell of a team.

Thank you so much for reading! Please consider following, and check out my socials and other sites here! And let me know: Who do you think should be on the Thunderbolts*?

[buildthoughts]

Bdubs Builds #1

For season 10, Bdubs has been sculpting some picturesque landscapes, but XB recently hired him to build a garden in his Guardian Temple base. When talking about builds people usually break them down into three parts: landscaping, exterior, and interior. This challenge is more of a hybrid; An interior, but instead of making chairs and cupboards, its dealing with plants and landscaping.

Down the first hall, Bdubs frames a bonsai-like tree before a small window. The shape is so distinct on this tree: Bdubs used lots of signs and fences to bend the branches just so and the leaves are in three clumps (but two are connected on the backside so it doesn't feel bare). The wall of bamboo adds detail without being distracting. The path is so good: a broken stone path that transitions to path beneath the tree, the grass and moss build up along the edges where people wouldn't be walking. The use of pots, flower pots, and similarly colored blocks to create larger pot variations is very fun. I love when builders don't just make smaller variants of a thing (boxes, barrels, trees, etc) but also make a BIG fella.

So, originally, XB had thick pillars holding the water elevator and I liked the design of these pillars! But I understand why Bdubs pulled those out and went with a slimmer approach; This freed up more room and the pools of water complement the surrounding garden.

To section off the garden, Bdubs put in an unobtrusive wrought iron fence. This makes a clear break between the reast of the building and the garden without distracting from the garden. Leaves crawling up the pillars and growing from the ceiling are always great. Bdubs tucks in various details like the vines and propagules. I'm not totally sold on the bush using the propagule to simulate a stem? But I can see the potential. The use of buttons on the lamp is neat, I think, because it makes the shape reminiscent of Guardians' spikes.

LOVE that Bdubs incorporated some Guardian iconography into his design. The brick/granite/weathered copper colored are nice because they contrast with all the greens/teals, but are more subdued than bright oranges would, letting the greenery remain center stage.

First of all, for the next hallway, including a doghouse for Bishop is such a kind gesture to XB (irl his dog Bishop recently passed away).

I wasn't sure what the item frames on the pots were meant to be until Bdubs explained it was meant to be like adding a design to the pot. I can see the merit! from straight on, I can buy into the illusion of the green and tan being painted on. But from the side, the item frame and item extruding kinda breaks that illusion for me. Perhaps it'd work best placed against a back wall, like the pots lined up back there. Speaking of which: I love the value variations and subtle shape variety Bdubs created by putting the minecraft pots next to his own custom pots. The various types of shelving holding the small potted plants are also so good; They really sell the idea of the space for me.

[loopy777]

AtLA Book Water Soundtrack Review

You all know how we've wanted this soundtrack for years and suffered through such explanations as 'the original sound files probably don't exist anymore.' Thankfully, Avatar Studios has seen fit to re-record the music of the first season with a full orchestra, as part of what I assume is a media blitz meant to build hype for the live action Netflix remake. But we all know that remakes, even in music, often don't live up to the original. So, how did it turn out?

(Er, the soundtrack, I mean. The Netflix thing hasn't been released yet.)

With a sigh of relief, I can report: It's great!

Thankfully, the sample track didn't turn out to be indicative of the entire album. The composition of everything else is pretty faithful to the original versions, as far as I could tell. In fact, the overall sound is pretty close to my memories of the original music, despite the use of a full orchestra to record this version- with the exception of the drums, which in the HiDef sound files I downloaded sound fantastic and successfully make my floor and walls shake. (I make no guarantees about what you get if you listen to streaming, mp3 files, or the vinyl disks. This is why I pay a premium for FLAC files or CDs.) I loved turning up the volume and getting blasted by the classic Avatar theme in glorious orchestral quality.

Plus, some tracks are vastly improved by these recordings, while also being true to the original. The best example is the Northern Water Tribe entrance music, which I always thought sounded a bit chintzy and repetitive in the original track (but I admit my opinion might be colored by the poor quality of the recordings we have access to). The new version has a much fuller sound and enough variation to justify the length. I suspect this might come down to which of the original tracks used real instruments and which had to rely more on synthesized sound.

I suspect, though, that the vocals on this album are all the originals, and that's why the Koizilla music makes the chorus less prominent; it probably couldn't be mixed together with the new orchestra without sounding bad. In most cases, that's not a problem, but I do mourn that the Kozilla music doesn't sound quite right. But, on the other hand, Mako's singing has never sounded better.

The album has all the music I'd expect of a soundtrack for Book Water. The Fire Nation, Kyoshi Island, and Jet all get good suites that showcase their themes and music, something that just doesn't exist anywhere in the original recordings. The famous stuff -- the opening theme, the Avatar State, the 'into the sunset' peaceful music, the Agni Kai, Aang's antics, the full "Winter, Spring, Summer, & Fall" tune in both full instrumental form and with Mako's singing, and of course the ending credits -- is all here. The season finale is heavily represented, but that's appropriate as those episodes got a lot of new music and all of it is great. And if you've only been able to content yourself with the fan-made soundtracks we've had to piece together over the the years via promotional releases and episode rips, there's some good stuff here that you might never have heard by itself before, like the fun bit of music for June.

And because I'm compelled to nitpick, I'm a bit annoyed by the order of the tracks. I like to listen to soundtracks in chronological order, and while that kind of thing isn't really feasible with something as long and repetitive as a television series season, this album does a serviceable approximation with its order- except for two weird cases. The Blue Spirit introduction comes after the music for his escape with Aang, and the music for the encounter with Koh comes after the music for Aang's arrival in the Spirit World. I assume this is because it makes for a better hi/lo/fast/slow sequence as part of the overall, but I would have preferred the order of their presentation in the cartoon.

So, in conclusion, this is the soundtrack we've wanted all these years, and everyone should stream or buy it or at least pirate it in enough numbers to raise eyebrows. I want the other two books done this way, and I think we as a fandom deserve it, despite some of the fanfic I've seen you people write. ;)

[thatgirlwithasquid]

I was incredibly inspired by @eyedrinktwomp ’s ‘Oculus Argos’ article post because it was such a neat concept so I spent probably too many hours some time creating a leaflet for it!

this took me so long but it was so much fun. i really do think this is an awesome headcanon that would be so interesting to explore the consequences of!!

but here are the pages:

links to the pdfs are here and here if you want a better look, text written out below the cut

OCULUS ARGOS

Stay aware

Stay safe

Stay eye-free

information distributed by the V.C.C.A. on behalf of V.O.I.D.

SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH

Originally discovered in VOID 73, Oculus Argos has since been identified in over 680 voids post its identification by now renowned scientist, Dr Clipboard.

Although initially theorised to be a variation on the common but harmless spotted mushroom pox, vaccinations for the mushroom pox proved woefully ineffective during the infamous eye-pox epidemic of VOID 312. VOID 312 remains locked down to preserve the health and safety of wider VOID populations. Despite this, it is widely accepted to be the primary source of seasonal Oculus spores.

While theories over the origins of Oculus Argos are still widely disputed, one common theory amongst the medical science community is that the disease originated from notoriously dangerous and off-limits VOID 1. This would not be the first instance of a disease breaking free from the VOID's containment to plague masses of VOID citizens.

Whether this theory holds water or not, more research is desperately needed to provide more accurate early-stage diagnosis, a more effective treatment, and a working vaccine to prevent another epidemic of this debilitating disease.

READ MORE on this topic in Dr Clipboard's autobiography: "The Spores Stared at Me, and I Stared Back"

KNOW THE SIGNS

If you have come into contact with an entity exhibiting eyes all over their body, there is a chance you might have contracted Oculus Argos, so it is important to be aware of the signs. (1)

Oculus Argos presents in three identifiable stages (see figure 1 for reference). Being able to identify these as early as possible is vital for reversal of they symptoms.

STAGE 1: eyes only on hands and arms. There will be minor itching and pain when touched.

STAGE 2: Oculus Argos spreads to the legs and some parts of the torso. Itching recedes, offering moderate relief, only to be replaced by headaches, fever and moderate to severe pain.

STAGE 3: eyes encompass the entire body. All previous symptoms either clear or worsen. Mortality rate us high in this stage, with brief relief often being followed by sharp return of all symptoms before total failure.

It should be noted that in 3.1% of Oculus Argos cases, patients exhibit rashes on their forearms pre-stage 1. These have since been identified as irritation in the microscopic openings that will develop into eyes.

RECEIVING HELP

Have you or a loved one started exhibiting symptoms of Oculus Argos? Well, good news; when caught in the early stages of progression, Oculus Argos can be reversed.

Just pop down to your local VOID PHARMACY or call a VOID call centre to be put in touch with a V.C.C.A. approved physician! From there they will help put together a treatment plan to reverse the effects. (2)

After stage 2 has begun (see figure 1) reversing is impossible. But don't fret, there are still options for you:

THE PIT

In collaboration with the V.C.C.A, VOID PHARMACUTICALS has created a one of a kind care facility specifically designed for Oculus Argos patients. Receive all the care you need at the bottom of VOID 324's infamous pit!

State of the art with all the technology needed to aid in your recovery or passing from Oculus Argos, tended to by top of the line robotic staff. Featuring all the comfort and care you have come to expect of VOID PHARMACUTICALS, all while being perfectly quarantined to keep other void citizens safe from your infection.

Open to patients from satge 2-3. (3)

a sponsored message:

"If you already have a later stage of Oculus Argos, make sure to apply eye cream, purchased from most convenience stores, before you come in contact with anyone else. We do not want this to continue to spread for the safety of the public." - V.O.I.D

We hope to see you in the pit soon!

STAYING SAFE

So, when do you need to be cautious?

Well, Oculus Argos spreads through spores that only evolved to survive in colder conditions. In the summer or if your VOID is always warm, then good news! You won't have to worry even if you do come across an entity showing the eyes that characterise this disease.

But in the winter, or in perpetually cold VOIDs you should never approach sufferers of Oculus Argos unless absolutely necessary. If the patient is someone you know, strongly encourage them to apply their protective cream to limit spore production, and always be sure to never breathe the air around them.

Spore production is at its height in each patient from the duration of stage 2 through to the stabilisation (or death) of stage 3. Never approach entities of this stage as they are at their most contagious.

Try to encourage the entity to check themselves into The Pit (see page 3 for details). If the entity is being particularly stubborn and refusing to take the reasonable course of action to sign themselves up for a quarantine, be sure to call in to a VOID call centre and place a report. One of our Oculus Argos specialised enforcers will come and set the situation to rights. (4)

Mortality rates in Oculus Argos skyrocket to 56% after stage 2, so our priority here at the VOID Citizens Care Administration will always be to preserve the wellbeing of our healthy citizens first!

WORDS FROM OTHERS

Clarence B. Monster

"I JUST THINK THEY SHOULD ALL BE SHUT AWAY, THE LOT OF THEM. MY WIFE BROUGHT IT HOME FROM A COWORKER AND IF I'D HAD THE CHOICE TO THROW HER IN THE PIT BACK THEN, I WOULD'VE!"

Anonymous

"I think that the whole thing is horribly unethical. My whole family was forced into that so-called hospital and locked away. I didn't even get to say goodbye when they died, they didn't let any guests see them. And when I contracted Oculus Argos, I found out first hand how cold and uncaring the staff are, and how unsatisfactory the food is. It's not nearly enough to fuel a sustainable recovery. No wonder mortality is so high!"

Wow, what shining reviews! If there was anything to prove our faith in V.O.I.D, this is certainly it.

(1) approximately 13.21% or those who come in contact with an entity with Oculus Argos develop the condition

(2) whole or partial reversal of symptoms is not guaranteed

(3) if stage 1 reversal treatment fails, these patients will also be admitted to The Pit

(4) non-compliants may not be approved for release if difficult behaviour persists

[themosleyreview]

The Mosley Review: The Fall Guy

When's the last time you saw a film that was just fun? A film that's devoid of all political messaging, agenda bias and was just plain, good old fashioned fun from beginning to end. It has truly been a while where a film like that has existed and especially in the action / romantic comedy genres. This film brings that feeling back with a bang in every conceivable way and I was here for it. I never saw the original 1980's series it was based on, but I do appreciate real stunt work and when it is recognized by the masses. Like Tropic Thunder, this film has the fun and hilarious idea of showing you the inner workings of the film industry while highlighting the unsung heroes of cinema, the stunt men and women. Not only does this film feature some excellent action and stunt work, but it features a truly funny and heartwarming love story that is predictable at times, but still manages to be fresh and classical. Fortunately, this film features a cast that has brilliant chemistry to bring it all home.

Ryan Gosling was fantastic and hilarious as the awkward, charming and fun seasoned stuntman Cole Seavers. Not only did he take so many hits and look great in action, but his trademark charm and comedic timing is on full display. Its always fun to see a character's arc of remembering his self worth and what gave him purpose in life. Cole goes through that arc in a sometimes dark, but always in a fun and energetic way. Emily Blunt was fantastic as his former lover and now film director, Jody Moreno. Their chemistry never stopped being magnetic from the opening scene to the bombastic finale. You really feel the connection they had and the heartbreak between them. The best scene between them was during her direction of fiery action shot that brilliantly brought out the painful conversation that usually happens in a coffee shop or side street in other films like this. Jody gets in on the action as well and Emily shows off her often forgotten stunt capabilities. Winston Duke was awesome as Cole's bestfriend and stunt coordinator, Dan Tucker. He was truly having the time of his life in his fight scenes and of course the execution of the stunt sequences "on set". Hannah Waddingham was great and very manic as the film producer, Gail Meyer. She really nailed the always reassuring and manipulative on set producer that has a metric ton of caffeine running through her veins. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was good as the “movie star” that Cole doubles for, Tom Ryder. As Tom, he nailed that typical and over the top version of a movie star that lives the party life and never takes responsibility for his actions. Johnson was hilarious in a good number of moments and a bit sinister in others. Stephanie Hsu was good as Tom's assistant, Alma Milan and I liked that she wasn't helpless during a particular scene.

Composer Dominic Lewis brings the film to life in an epic, poppy and fun spirited way. I loved the many different variations of the classic "I Was Made For Lovin' You Baby" by KISS. Yungblud's version was raspy, full of soul and plays in a perfect moment of the film. I truly love when stunts are showcased in frame and are not cheapened with shakey cam and this film truly showcases stunts and action beautifully. There is a scene that felt like the finale of an amazing stunt show that I would totally pay to go see. This film was a love letter to the stunt performers in the film industry around the world and I had so much fun watching them work. This was definitely the best way to start the summer film season and one of my favorite films of the year. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Anonymous asked: Are you a Mission Impossible fan? I’m not a Tom Cruise fan but it’s great dumb fun. And it has a cast full of talented (and beautiful) women. You seem the type to enjoy a good adrenaline rush of a flick (I’m sure the French have a fancy cinematic term for that)

I am unashamedly both a Mission Impossible fan - of the television series and the Cruise movies - and a Tom Cruise fan.

Obviously being born decades after the original Mission Impossible tv series created by Bruce Geller was first aired in the 60s and 70s, I only had the pleasure of watching the box set episodes later in life. I have to say I loved that series. I loved when they hatched the plan. Loved the fake masks. And of course I loved the Lao Schifrin music - one of the most recognisable signature themes in music and TV history.

Classic television has a bit of a blessing and a curse working on it. Most shows of the Golden Age of television didn't have a structured narrative through-line. The idea that one episode will build upon the next is a pretty modern concept. As such, Mission Impossible had a prescribed routine. Mr. Briggs in Season One and then Mr. Phelps in the subsequent seasons drive to a random location, find a hidden mission briefing that self destructs, discusses the plan with the team, and then they execute the mission.

There wasn't much variation to the structure. Thankfully by season three, they got rid of the silly waste of time where Jim Phelps selects his team - because aside from the random guest the team was virtually the same from episode to episode. The thing that changed was how the team pulled off their mission. It was always a mixture of subterfuge and fancy fakery, but it was always exciting and the great team of writers, directors, and the dynamic cast always kept the audience just enough out of the loop for there to be plenty of surprises and suspense.

It's not that Season One wasn't any good, but you could really feel the show was still working itself out. Steven Hill as original team leader Daniel Briggs is decent enough, but he's just not as interesting a performer as Peter Graves as Jim Phelps. Graves is indelible to the show. But it's not just who leads the team that made the show - it was the great actors who made up the series regulars. Greg Morris as Barney Collier and Peter Lupus as Willy Armitage are always great as the tech masters and inside guys who narrowly complete their tasks with milliseconds to spare. Husband and Wife duo Martin Landau as Rollin Hand and Barbara Bain as Cinnamon Carter really helped cement the show through the first three seasons.

So when I got around to watching Tom Cruise’s first Mission Impossible film I was a little miffed. It seemed like the story bumped off his team - a staple of the original tv series - within the first act and the rest of the film is on Cruise control ie it’s just about Ethan Hunt. But slowly as the other MI films came out I was won over. In fact in my mind I tend to think there are two Impossible Missions Force (IMF) operating in two different universes, just because the dynamics are different. That way I don’t waste time whining on which is better or poke holes in the Cruise films for its lack of purity to the original series. I prefer to enjoy both on their own separate terms.

To me Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is the biggest movie star in our current culture of excess entertainment. That’s my gut feeling.  The definition of a movie star, in my personal opinion, has changed dramatically. There was a time and period when the movie star was defined by the name alone. If a Hollywood star had a film coming out people didn’t know what the film was, they just saw it because of who was in it: Will Smith or Jim Carrey or even Stallone and Schwarzenegger. No one else comes close.

The two exceptions might be Leonardo DiCaprio or Keanu Reeves. I think of the two Reeves comes closest because of the success of the franchises he’s been in - The Matrix and the John Wick franchises - but he’s not a movie star. What I mean he doesn’t behave like a movie star in the sense that he is not immersed in the film business as a business nor does he cultivate his star power (he prefers to travel around on a bus and sit on park benches looking forlorn) in the way Tom Cruise does.

Interestingly there are even few directors that can open a movie on name alone. Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, and Steven Spielberg can still get people into the cinema based on their name alone, but the movie star, not so much. Audiences today want IP. They want franchises. However Tom Cruise has navigated all of that and consistently shifted.

Cruise’s dedication to big screen spectacle, also offset by interesting asides like American Made, and very underrated sci-fi and high concept films like Minority Report, Oblivion (very underrated) and Edge of Tomorrow, brings a sense of anticipation to his films. Maybe we’re there because we expect stunts, or we know that he’ll give nothing less than 100%, or it’s an example of a creatively driven project, rather than a marketing machine, but we still show up. It may not always go right, like the misfiring The Mummy or Jack Reacher (where he felt miscast in both), but Cruise has his sure-fires and his surprises.

When a movie like The Mummy doesn’t work out, he reimagines Mission: Impossible, and he is able to take what everyone loved in the 80s about Top Gun and magnify that to what the audience wants today. Honestly, did anyone expect Top Gun: Maverick to be the box office behemoth it has been? I expected it to impress, to be a good example of Cruise’s fervent passion for as much practical work as possible (as opposed to doing 95% with CGI), but after 36 years, that it’s his highest grossing film ever - and the highest-grossing movie of 2022 - is impressive.

It helps that he almost never 100 percent disappears into his roles; we still get that Tom Cruise smile and stare no matter who he’s playing. And the fact that he still looks like 1980s-era Tom Cruise only adds to the lustre. Indeed when Tom Cruise does it, whether that’s fighting for justice in a courtroom, making cocktails, jumping off a roof, flying a fighter jet,  or even singing “I Want To Know What Love Is” shirtless while wearing leather pants, we’re like, ‘Sure. I buy that.’ He’s relatable even when what he’s doing on screen is so far removed from our reality that it’s insane. There is a grounded matinee idol musk to Cruise’s presence on screen that seems to transcend class and political divides. He’s America’s hero and the nice guy who is tough with a sensitive side, as well as the kind of wisdom that impresses but never intimidates. He’s Hollywood’s fine wine.

Tom Cruise is not only the biggest movie star working today, he’s the last movie star working today.

There are plenty of actors who people recognise, and the right combination of actor and role can still be explosive, like Keanu Reeves. But “Tom Holland as Spider-Man” is a very different thing than “Tom Holland as anything except Spider-Man,” and to some degree, that’s by design. Studios would rather own the biggest part of the equation. Tom Cruise doesn’t need your IP, though. Tom Cruise is the IP. People buy a ticket to see Tom Cruise, and they do that because Tom Cruise has figured out how to be the most Tom Cruise that any Tom Cruise could ever hope to be, and every time out, he does his very best to turn the Tom Cruise up just a little bit more.

When he was younger, Cruise built his career by trusting himself and his image to the very best directors he could find, slowly refining a certain kind of alpha masculine ideal. What makes his late-era stardom more remarkable is how he only transitioned into action movies once he was in his 40s, and he has pushed himself harder than arguably any action star of any age in the last few decades. When you see a Tom Cruise film and you see an insane stunt, part of the kick is knowing that’s really him and that he’s entering his fourth decade of being an icon.

That Cruise almost died after becoming entangled in his parachute in the water in Top Gun was somewhat irrelevant, because it was this first Mission: Impossible where Tom Cruise: Stunt Man was also born. From the infamous wire descent, to leaping out of a window to outrun a surge of water from the restaurant he’d just blown a window out from, Cruise was in on the action.

If audiences didn’t quite get that dedication to being visibly involved in the action then, they certainly would by the time he made the more action packed second film, directed by John Woo. M:I 2 cemented the lure of the Cruise stunt. From mountain leaps, to motorcycle rides and more, Cruise set a new expectation for his work going forward. It was a string to his bow, a selling point, and it has proven a tool of forgiveness and resurrection even as his career has threatened to implode under off screen contention.

I think that’s why we rush to go and see the next Mission Impossible film. It’s not for the thread-bare plot or the fantastic action - although it’s better than most action franchises these days. But it’s the mind blowing stunts which we know is not CGI driven nor is done by a stunt double. It’s done by Tom Cruise himself.

He is the Tom Brady/Mark Cavendish/Ronaldo/Roger Federer (delete as appropriate) of movie stars, not just because of his success, but the longevity of his career, as he has found ways to adapt to each change in the industry while also not giving in to what others have had to do.

The key thing is he adapts just enough to make it fresh. The Mission Impossible films are a case in point. Even as the stunts have got bigger, more dangerous, and more spectacular (as all franchise films must it seems), the characters portraits and arcs have got more intimate and more relatable.

In the MI movies he is of course super spy Ethan Hunt but he’s not super-human. But Tom Cruise’s secret is that even when appearing borderline super-human on screen, there’s still an air about him that makes the viewer want to be him or be with him and believe that’s possible. There’s an old-school debonair swagger and a hot everyman to him that many movie stars lack. Dwayne Johnson is many things, including a mountain of a man and a brilliant business person, but few of us could carry that off or believe that what he’s doing on screen is something we could replicate. Inspire, sure, but we could never be him. With each film the character is finding it harder and harder to be cocky and confident. There is a world weariness etched on his strained face. He barely wins fights and often he relies on others to help him or bail him out. Cruise is self-aware that he is getting older, like his character. It’s these little details which count.

Interestingly, I find his women character also infinitely more relatable than any current iteration of the action female heroine. Marvel are lost in swamp of woke feminist BS where all their franchise films have to be led by the cookie cutter ’Strong Single Female’ - the one who doesn’t need mentoring (because that’s just sexist mansplaining); can pick up a life time of a superior set of skills in a matter of seconds; can beat to a pulp a man much stronger than she is; she never falls, stumbles, or fails like the men do; and she alone saves the day of course. Look at Rey in Star Wars or Captain Marvel in the MCU or even Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character in the latest risible Indiana Jones film and tell me any of that isn’t true.

The women in MI franchise are far more relatable within the context of a hyper-realised film about super spies but not beyonds the laws of gravity. They are strong, independent, smart, sure. But they are also feminine and vulnerable. They fight like skilled women and not prize fighters that play to their feminine strengths (they get punched a lot in the gut and it shows). More importantly, they fuck up and fail, but they still come and help others to save the day. From Emmanuelle Beart to Thandie Newton to Rebecca Ferguson, these are kick ass women but in a much more believable way than any Marvel movie she-heroine. Go back and see these movies and you will see what I mean.

What I also like about him is the vibe he gives off that he cares deeply about his movies. It’s not a cynical exercise in money. Of course ego is a different matter, but I’ll give him a pass because he is the consummate professional and perfectionist about his craft. To me Tom Cruise is one of the few performers today who generally thinks of the audience first. Maybe even to his own detriment. But you can tell with everything he does, in all of his films, there is a different kind of commitment he makes to the audience. He actually gives the impression that he cares about giving his audience a good time.

Moreover, to hear it from Cruise himself, as we did during leaked audio of the dressing down he gave M:I7 crew members who were flouting COVID-19 safety regulations: “That’s what I sleep with every night - the future of this fucking industry!” Cruise makes a grand spectacle of carrying every film on his back, so it’s never in question who calls the shots or who, rather than what, makes the movies cinematic. Cruise’s power as a producer really deserves kudos for this. His steadfast aversion to shrinking theatrical windows for any of his projects, and his continued allegiance to, especially in the case of his flagship franchise, adding more ambitious stunts and exotic locations with every entry.

He doesn’t do television. Don’t you dare ask him about streaming. Other stars have also made that transition to streaming. You might call it selling your soul. Deals with the devil. We’ve seen other films in difficult circumstances, having to change their models to incorporate simultaneous streaming and cinema releases. Dwayne Johnson had seen a decline in box office revenue prior to the pandemic that has seen him go a little safer with more Disney material, as well as become a big fish in the Netflix pond. Cruise however… is all about the big screen experience.

Everything Cruise does is about maintaining his star power in the face of any and all obstacles, from a diminished global box office and studio manoeuvring to his own mortality. His legacy decades since secured, Cruise’s latest impossible mission appears to be nothing less than saving the movies themselves.

For that reason and that reason alone, I will always take time to see a Tom Cruise movie especially his Mission Impossible franchise films. Roll on summer. Cue the Palo Schifrin guitar chords. And action!

Thanks for your question.

[dinotruxparty]

The Dozeratops herd - another dinotrux fanfic thing i came up with

Hiiii so this thingie focuses on Dozers son Ronto, who doesnt have the best relationship with his dad. So when he seeks up the Dozeratops herd in the crater, things get even worse.

"How was i supposed to know that?" Ronto angrily stamped his treadmill on the ground. He loved his dad, but how that Trux could get on his nerves sometimes. Ronto knew he didnt exactly have the best bond with his dad. They never had. He deep down just wanted what the others had. Like Fireball and Ton Ton. Liking the same things, doing joyrides or ore hunts and coming back with the craziest, most fun sounding stories, making everyone laugh and gasp. Showing off their new dents, taking about this new ore vein, making everyone listen to them and laugh. Or what Chase and Ty had. Having so much trust and faith in each other, being able to tell one another their deepest secrets, laughing with each other. Or being a hunting action pack, like Lagoon and D Structs, or even learning about others and how to solving problems proffesionally and without fighting, like Adelynn and Revvit had, and Waldo and Wille too.

Ronto sighed. Why did he exactly have to not have what all his friends did have? Well, at least he loved his mom to bits. Jane had the same mindset as Fireball and Ton Ton, Xee was a good teacher and showed her kid more of the outside world, like Ace. Lagoon and Chase had the same mom and Coralle had just her mom, her dad had died. Ronto felt terrible over it, and how he behaved to Dozer. He knew they were both trying, but it just didnt work out.

"What is wrong between me and my dad?" He asked himself. "Is it me? Is it him?"

His tortool siblings, who were older now, rolled along with him. One started chirping.

"Jack, i know dad doesnt like it when i hang around with craneosaurs. But they are my friends. Swipe and Lily are my best buddies, amd Coralle love them too. They are the best, except for the crew back at the flats. I have lived here my whole life, i know almost everyone my age." He sighed.

Then another tortool started chirping.

"Buffy, i'm not doing that again, we all know how that ended. Ty literally had to hold dad back."

The third tortool chirped.

"Thank you, Shelly." Ronto smiled. "Thats really sweet." Ronto stopped driving and the tortools started rubbing against his treads with their heads. Ronto smiled. He loved his tortool siblings. They got along really well with Dozer and Erin, especially Dozer.

Suddenly he heard treadmills, a bunch of trux approaching rapidly. One of the tortools started chirping in fear.

"Don't worry, Dozer JR, Rollodon - season is in the summer, its fall now. Those are not Rollodons." Ronto drove a bit forward, to see the herd of Dozeratops eating ore they had just dozed up.

Ronto knew those trux. It was Bones' herd. The Dozeratops herd that lived permanently at the Flatirons. There were a lot of seperate herds of different species in the Flatirons, even herds with different species of trux living together, but this was the only herd of Dozeratops. The only other Dozeratops Ronto had seen were those in the variating herds that consisted from different species - those were also the nicest - some loners and some other migrating herds that usually came mid winter and left when spring came around.

"You guys should get back to the garage," Ronto said. "I'll be right behind ya."

The tortools sqeaked and then drove away, leaving Ronto right in front of the herd. He sighed, and drove up to them. They were all eating, when Ronto suddenly heard loud crashing noises.

"Don't you do that with me again!"

He regocnized that voice. It was Bones.

"I'm the leader of the pack! Now get your frill out of my face before i dent it, you screwhead!" He roared at another Dozeratops. Ronto knew him too, it was Tiago. He was always competing with Bones over everything, but mostly lost. Tiago scoffed and drove away.

Bones shook his head. "Amateur," he hissed.

Ronto quickly drove away, when he was stopped by another Dozeratops his age.

"Ronto?"

Ronto squeezed his eyes shut. Oh, now what?

"Hey, tortool - tops. How's your dad?" A familliar voice asked.

"Stop calling me tortool - tops, i hate it", Ronto growled. "And my dad is fine, Axyl."

He wanted to drive through, but Axyl won't let him pass. "You're just like that T Trux, you know? Why do you not wanna fight?"

"Axyl, i'm REALLY not in the mood for this conversation right now, i told you a week ago i'm not doing this with you again, talk normal to me or leave me alone."

"Well, look who it is!" He heard behind him.

Oh, of course Bones out of all trux had to drive up to him now. Ronto felt Bones' claws peak on his treadmills. He sighed.

"Haven't you grown?" Bones mockingly said.

"Nope," Axyl yelled before Ronto could say a word. "He's just like Ty!"

Ronto felt something snap in him.

"Yes," he said, while driving forwards, to Axyl.

"I am just like Ty."

He put down his claws, braking before Axyl.

"I'm very nice, i would rather not fight and i have patience. But if you piss me off.."

He unfolded his blade, smashing it into the ground. "I will take you apart."

And with that, he suddenly drove forwards, smahing Axyl hard in the hydraulics. Who unfolded his blade and slammed Ronto back.

"Look who'se finally fighting!" He laughed while hooking his horns into Ronto's.

Ronto panted. "You bastard!"

He pulled his horns out of the tangle, resulting in a painful scratch on both of their horns. Ronto swung his horns across Axyls face, who dodged and hit him in the face with his blade.

Ronto made a quick spin, giving Axyl a hit with his tail. This was tiring. He felt exhausted already, this was draining his energy. And it was useless too.

Suddenly he felt a painful slam in his side. Axyl hat hit him in de side with his horns.

Ronto shook his head. No. He chased Axyl away with his horns, biting in his direction. "Axyl, can we stop fighting?" He asked desperately, trying not to show how tired he was.

"Why?" Axyl asked. "I almost beat your coppling nut outta your neck. You know damn well you challenged me, you gave me the first hit. If youre gonna fight, then i will too, buddy."

Ronto panted. "Well, i-"

"Is it because youre scared, tortool - tops?" Axyl mocked him. "I'm gonna scare you even more!" He charged at Ronto.

"STOP!!" Ronto yelled as a painful slam in his neck almost knocked him over. He activated his drill and spun it in Axyls direction, shooking him away. He was panting.

"That hurt, you idiot," he hissed at Axyl, who was standing in front of him. Ronto felt a breath shortage. He had pain in his torso whenever he breathed, it felt like he couldnt gasp for enough air. He was exhausted and he felt extremely warm.

"Whoa, whoa, are you okay?" Bones drove up to Ronto.

"I can barely breathe-" Ronto said while panting. "I wanna go home."

"Whats going on here?" A loud voice said.

Ronto looked up. It was Dozer, returning from his crater guard shift.

"Ronto? What did you do?"

"I - fought," Ronto said, feeling hotter and hotter with the minute. "I want to go home, dad."

Dozer looked Bones dead in the eyes. "Who did that to him?"

"You have a giant lance attached to your treadmill, theres no way i'll say anything," Bones stated foolishly. Dozer groaned and looked at Ronto. "You look drained. Come on, we"re getting home."

☆

It was silent in the beginning. Dozer wasnt talking, he seemed awkward. Ronto decided to say something.

"How was your shift?"

"Eh, was fine." Dozer answered.

"Cool." Ronto looked at the volcano. Suddenly a question arose in his head.

"Dad?"

"Yes, Ronto?"

"You think i could... maybe... practice fights with you?"

Dozer looked over to him. "You'd want that?"

"Yeah, i could use it, i guess. Axyl beat me pretty bad out there. I need to give that guy some nasty dents, in his frill or something," he brainstormed.

"No, no, do the same thing he did, go for the neck," Dozer said. "Especially the part at the shoulder. Thinnest metal. Hurts the most." Dozer smiled. "You learned that today, did you?"

"Mmmyeah," Ronto said. They both laughed.

"Wanna practice tomorrow?" Dozer asked.

"Yeah, thats good!" Ronto smiled. Finally, doing something with his dad. This was gonna be fun.

[edwinspaynes]

I'm trying to think of what all my main blorbo's favourite Taylor Swift songs might be. Now the ones I most associate with them - that's a much easier exercise. But what ones would resonate the most with them.

I think that Matthew would really like a lot of the glitter-gel-pen songs because he likes (per CLS) modern and the good-humored. So it's just a matter of questioning which of the glitter-gel-pen songs he'd find the most resonance with. Yeah, Shake It Off is dancey, but would it resonate? Not sure. I'm definitely going with Gorgeous here because I think he'd view it as some kind of Ode to Beauty and he'd just like it, I don't know. He also might TIWWCHNT because it's petty and grudgey in addition to making a great party/dance song. Despite this, I maintain that 1989 is his favourite album for its pop-upbeat vibes. Still, when he's feeling emotional and reflective, Happiness or Dear Reader really does it for him.

Thomas feels like someone who would be a Fearless girlie (gender neutral) at heart because of the fairytaleeque romanticism and general hope that the album exudes. It's also just chock-full of emotions, which obviously is something Thomas would enjoy. I'm assigning him the favourite songs Love Story and Hey Stephen as well as vault tracks like Jump Than Fall and That's When. I also want to say I bet he adores the Lover album and vibes hard with I Think He Knows. For the, you know, absolutely madly-in-love crush vibes.

On the total opposite end of the spectrum, I think that while Alastair enjoys the glitter-gel-pen songs, some of Taylor's rawer, more emotional songs leave him reeling. Tolerate It is the low-hanging fruit because it reminds me of him a lot, but I'm pretty sure that all of Folklore and Evermore really gets to him. He could also sing the songs extremely well because he's a talented musician who sings with passion. I think he'd also like Closure, Seven, Hoax, and Tis the Damn Season a lot. Midnights is another favorite album, especially YOYOK. Probably has listened to WCS angrily, too.

As for Cordelia, I think she's a fun chameleon who loves songs dispersed across eras pretty equally. I think she vibes the honesty in Speak Now hard and would count Enchanted and The Story of Us as favorites. But I'm going to say that I think her absolute favourite Taylor songs are subsequent Reputation tracks Don't Blame Me and Delicate, because they give off the exact vibes that she does when she's in love. I also adore the idea of her and Secret Swiftie James coming up with an entire ballroom-dance variation of Don't Blame Me.

[unforeseen-idiot]

Shovelwarewolf Season 1 Review

Ah, Season 1. It’s definitely the weakest season of the show, but there’s a certain charm to the low budget and short episodes. For these reviews I’m just gonna break it up into categories and than give it an overall score.

Episodes:

Horrorland: Solid opener, had some weird quirks like SWW biting the tv. It takes a little while for Ivan to turn which is nice, helps introduce the character.

Nat Geo: Not much to say, the narrator slays me.

Ski Doo: Not much else to say, I love his description of the buttrock. That guy with the banana befuddles me to this day.

Six Flags: Pretty funny. The lil Donald Trump joke was funny (never stop making fun of him). I like his rant about moving the Wiimote. Also it ties into the next episode which is neat.

Duck Dynasty: Ah yes the mega shovelwarewolf everyone thought would come back at some point. Duck Dynasty the game is one of the funniest games of all time in my opinion. “John Luke, FORGIVE ME!!” Also the “Oh That’s Not Good” track sounds a lot like Stranger Things (probably the synth).

Rudolph: I love this episode. Santa has the greatest villain arc. SWW mimicking the Abominable Snowman gives me life. I also like the the little Carol of the Bells at the beginning.

Music rating: I also figured I’d rate the music used in each season since AJ wrote some pretty good tracks for this series. Plus I have strong opinions on the different variations of the opening and transformation themes.

Season 1 opening: I love it, very subdued compared to later ones. But this is a great composition of music that works any way you do it. Specifically I love the piano in this variation.

Season 1 transformation: Again like the last one, very subdued, I like this one fine it goes a little fast but uses the piano similarly to how the opening did which works really well.

Oh That’s Not Good: Like mentioned above it sounds a lot like Stranger Things in the best ways. I love how it’s used in the scene transition to show Ivan’s hopelessness. Great piece.

Trepak: Not an original piece, just a public domain song used in the Rudolph episode. It works for the scene but I don’t have much to say.

Couch Gag: This season’s couch gag was very simple, just SWW drawing on the whiteboard (on his stomach I guess?) I love it for its simplicity and just thinking of Ivan trying to pass the time in any way possible. I wish we could’ve seen what he would’ve drawn for Duck Dynasty.

Overall: This season was alright. It’s only the weakest since it hasn’t been thought as through as the later ones were and the production value is just a little bit lower. I think it works and provided a great platform for the amazing seasons we got down the line.

[raisinchallah]

sometimes i think about the xena reboot and what i think they should have done and while idk if this is a good idea i think my ideas i would bring to the table would be ok so everyone discusses what do you do with the costumes since it would be a bit tacky to bring the leather bikini look back and so i think how u keep the silliness of the original costumes but keep them very distinct but maybe less boob armor is to lean more heavily into somewhat more historically accurate costume shapes and styles now historically accurate is of course very nebulous since xenas theoretical time period can span such a wide swath of ancient history and i would not want to change that so just u know dig into interesting historical costuming touches but from like everywhere just shit that simply does not look like anything else on tv so then u use really weird fabrics so u have like surprisingly accurate to surviving art and armor pieces type greek hoplite armor but its made out of hot pink pleather or something do you see and understand my vision and then very important next concept is i think they should also dig a bit more into weird and fascinating women from history and myth and xena should meet them inspire them have sex with them have weird history with them be insane exes with them etc obviously some of them should be in love with gabrielle too not just xena #equality i want like some deep cuts just for fun obviously they would have to do the sappho episode but its also a show i just dont know how it would keep the magic going if it was kept to season long plots the whole time like xena pulled off some very good long running plot arcs but always sandwiched between plenty of episodic fare that kept it more stylistically varied and shows that manage lots of stylistic variation and heavy serialization usually lean more onto an ensemble cast that have different types of storylines going on like im sure u could do a fantastic season of xena caught in a nightmareish revenge cycle with callisto and caesar and gabrielle feeling like shes got blood on her hands she can never wash off but wanting to stay with her anyways but u would lose the magic if every season was like that you know..

[asclexe]

hi!! i’m formally asclexe on the interne, but you can call me my irl name which is cameron, or cam, cammy, camyron, ronnie, any variation of cameron ig, and i don’t really care if you call me platonic nicknames! my preferred pronouns are they/them, but it/its or he/him are okay, but they/them mostly. and i’m an aspec lesbian!

go follow and ask my house md ask blog @ask-the-ducklings!! (no seriously no anyone interacts with it and i like attention)

!! I AM A MINOR. !! please do not send creepy asks/comments/messages/etc. if your blog is 18+, make sure you’re comfortable following me or don’t interact at all. idc! please be respectful when interacting with my blog!!

zionists, racists, homophobes/transphobes, fascists, terfs, etc, youre absolutely not welcome here and you probably wouldn’t like it either. fuck off.

but kinds of really nice, cool people are very welcome. and to fellow writers and artists, hilson truthers, and the lovely neurodivergent queer kids like me, y’all get a special welcome. welcome! <33

if you don’t know me irl/from ao3, here’s some stuff about me!

i mostly and will continue to post to the house M.D. fandom (season 6, i don’t give a shit about spoilers ik the ending) but my interests change pretty often. i really like cartoons/some anime, as well. some fun facts about me is that i’m left-handed, an avid papa’s sushiria gamer, a burnt out “gifted” kid, a cat person (i like dogs, i live with a dog, but i prefer cats), i love commentary videos (chadchad is my favorite channel prob), my music taste is alternative/indie rock, i play both the violin (badly) and the electric guitar (well), i’m a huge theater kid (rtc and heathers my beloved), and my favorite fanfiction trope is hurt/comfort / sickfics!!

*will make full text posts later ‘bout this. i like hazbin/helluva, they could be better but i enjoy them, but i am not a vivziepop apologist.

banner credit: https://www.tumblr.com/kingmaxstatic/689659164673409024/finally-did-that-thing-called-making?source=share

and please enjoy the provided picture above of my family dog in my new room (we just moved i swear i’m not boring please believe me)

/___/\ ꒰ ˶• ༝ - ˶꒱ ./づᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊°.~⭐️⭐️ stay tuned, have a good day, and be nice as i am three years old

[specialists-of-winxclub]

It is the first time that I see a stan account of the specialists.

What are your favorite canon couples? not canon? Who would you pair them with in a non-canonical way?

Sorry for the late response! I sincerely did not expect anyone to find this account for the next 5 months lol But yeah! I'm absolutely enamoured with the Special Boysᵀᴹ, so I decided to dedicate a whole blog to them~

To answer your questions:

Canon

It may change in the future (I'm due for a proper rewatch). But, currently, my favourite canon couples are Brella (Brandon x Stella) and Nasha (Nabu x Aisha). Brandon and Stella had some of the most iconic romantic moments, especially in the season 2-3 area. I also love their "It couple" vibe. And Aisha and Nabu were the best couple in season 4. Aisha has always had her sweet side, but Nabu brought out her inner romantic. He was the first to make her so happy and it sucks that the narrative snatched him from her like that.

Non-Canon

Non-Canon ships are where my brainrot really kicks in. I love rare pairs. I have quite a few among The Boysᵀᴹ, but my favourites are Skiven (Sky x Riven) and Naven (Nabu x Riven). They're both variations of the Opposites Attract and Enemies-to-Lovers tropes. However, there are distinctions in the way I headcanon their dynamic. I see Sky and Riven as the type to clash over their differences and similarities at first. But, with time to grow and mature alongside each other, they can become the ultimate power couple. On the other hand, Nabu and Riven have a "meet ugly" but get past it within minutes. They are very different in temperament, but they fit together like a puzzle piece.

Pairings

Finally, you asked who I'd pair them with in a non-canonical way. I've already given non-canon ships for Riven, Sky, and Nabu. So, I'll give for Brandon, Timmy, and Helia now.

For Brandon, I'll go with Sky (Skandon) since I adore their banter in canon. They give Childhood Best Friends and Prince and his loyal Knight vibes. However, I think some angst would look good on them! Like, Sky getting older and suddenly realizing that, at Red Fountain, he and Brandon always watch each other's backs. But on Eraklyon, Brandon is simply expected to sacrifice himself for the prince if need be. Sky reevaluating their whole relationship, from its very inception, even as Brandon tries to reassure him. Brandon not minding the role of Sky's Knight-in-Shining-Armour and seeing it as a noble duty — romantic even. But Sky is unpacking their entire childhood and realizing how insane the arrangement was. How Brandon getting swept up in his place was normalized to the point that neither questioned it for years. How their relationship was conceptualized and built on this lopsided foundation. Both struggle to reckon their personal relationship with their socio-political statuses — Sky unable to see the good and Brandon unable to see the bad (ironically). Wouldn't that be fun? 😊💕

For Helia, I'll pair him with Riven (Rivelia). Riven and Helia are the Red + Blue dynamic. Yet, they don't really clash. Helia joins the squad and the two become roommates (oh my god, they were roommates!). There's some awkwardness at first, but no genuine friction. When it's just them, Riven rarely has any stimulus to get him agitated. Occasionally, he'll enter like a whirlwind, and they do argue sometimes. But Riven's default is quite chill. Helia finds it funny to describe Riven as "quiet and an avid reader" when asked what he thinks of him. It always catches people off-guard but Helia knows it to be (at least partially) true. On the other hand, Riven finds Helia to be more chaotic than he lets on. Riven isn't particularly neat, but Helia's side of the room is always more cluttered than his. Helia keeps accidentally sipping his paint water instead of his tea. He has no sleep schedule, but weirdly never seems tired. He gets snappish when he can't focus or his art isn't going his way. He's sensitive to perceived failure. He can be avoidant and fickle. At first, a subconscious part of Riven thought Helia would be a "Mr Perfect". But he's come to realize that Helia's just "Some Guy" like the rest of them. All-in-all, Riven and Helia have a dynamic where they complement and balance each other out. Helia brings out Riven's serene side. Riven allows space for Helia's messy side.

For Timmy, I'm a little intrigued by the idea of him with Brandon (Branmy). They give me Popular Jock x Unpopular Nerd energy. I'm imagining that, regardless of who grows to like who first, there's some "wall" between them because of their differences. If Brandon falls first, the wall is his attitude. He tends to take the piss out of Timmy at all the wrong times and it gets on the ginger's nerves. Timmy also thinks Brandon's too concerned with physical beauty and not enough with personality. If Brandon confesses, Timmy either doesn't take him seriously or doesn't think his crush will last. On the other hand, if Timmy falls first, the wall would be acquiescence. Brandon is handsome and charismatic. Plenty of people want him, and some of them are bound to be his type. Timmy knows he's not Brandon's type from living with him and is unwilling to "become" it. He's comfortable with himself and knows there's no point in trying to build a relationship on a persona they both know is fake. If they ever get around to dating, it's either very short-lived or lasts forever. No in-between.

And that's my answer~ Thank you for my first ask, Anon! Sorry the response was so long. The last part of your question got me thinking and I just couldn't completely resist the ship brain.

[theultimatenonbinarynerd]

Doctor Who: Horror Of Glamrock Review

Introduction

Having Big Finish free on Spotify is truly a blessing in disguise and absolutely amazing. I do not regret beginning to listen to these now. Something I've noticed is how experimental Big Finish is and I find that a huge strength. This story was very unique and fresh and I enjoyed it alot.

Its hilarious to me that people were moaning about a musical number in Doctor Who when Big Finish did it first in this story. Sure Paul MacGann didn't burst into song but it was quite something and very fun. This is one of the stories that has cemented and helped me understand Paul's Doctor and his complex personality.

What I Liked

There's so much to rave about when thinking about this audio drama.

First I loved how creative the concept was and how unique it was. It embraced it's goofy sci-fi style and was fun to listen to. Although a group locked in a room having to hide from a monster isn't new, this concept absolutely is and it was a blast. Loved how we had to rely on audio cues to get the sense of how terrifying the only ones are. Would love to have these guys adapted into live action sometime but for what they were, they were a great villian.

Secondly, I have to praise the incredible music. Tim Sutton did an absolutely fabulous job scoring as every piece of music was an earful delight. They got the Glamrock music aesthetic down and it was nice to listen too. Campy songs aren't done often in Doctor Who but Big Finish does it wonderfully here. There's another story later in this season that also has great music but it'll talk about it when I review that story. Anyway in short, to rock music fans, your in for a treat. Especially with the campy and fun Doctor Who theme variation at the end.

Again the performances. Everyone killed it and made this fun but weird story wonderful. I have to say that Big Finish know how to create a good side cast of characters and I love them for it. So often I grow little to care for any side characters who appear but in Big Finish they're all memorable in the end. It creates a welcome change that I very much like. Paul MacGann killed it as the Doctor and created a complex Doctor with lots of wisdom but still one who's still eager and desperate to help others. He also perfectly portrayed The Doctor's darkside when stakes got higher in the story. I've found myself really getting attached to his character. Lucie Miller was ace in this story too and Sheridan Smiths portrayal just amplifies the characters brilliance even more. Sheridan Smith walked so Catherine Tate could run. She portrays a character still getting use to the Doctor and his time travel antics really well. Side Characters gave amazing performances too. Bernard Cribbins, I know he did this in 2003 but it tears me up to hear his voice again even if he's in a more villainous and morally grey role, just goes to show his incredible range. Una Stubbs also does a fab job as the witty and sassy waiter Flo, she's so charming that I almost pictured her as a companion. Stephen Gately and Clare Buckfield were wonderful as the Tomorrow Twins and had great chemistry together. Both of them really work well together to sell this dynamic and show their contrasting personalities. Lynsey Hardwick was also great as "Auntie Pat" and I hope she'll appear in other stories. Everyone is great and it's almost impossible to praise anything without mentioning the stellar acting.

Finally Lucie and The Doctors dynamic. My opinion after listening to this tardis team is very fluid but this is one of the stories where they really work. They are much more tolerable than they were in Blood Of The Daleks and they're actually really entertaining. I love how despite being only three stories in they're working together as a team and how much potential for good growth they have.

Overall fantastic, absolutely fantastic.

What I Disliked

Pacing, I love these episodes in the style of a New Who format but sometimes it can cause a lot of pacing issues. One such issue is that it gives us less time to build up the side characters and make us care about any death's that might happen. I know it's suppose to be a Doctor Who story but it still feels a bit fruitless to have character deaths without the proper build up.

Other than that though I really enjoyed it and there wasn't much that spoiled it really.

Conclusion

Another fun and fresh adventure that was a pleasure to listen to it. Its theme blends through the story brilliantly and the villian has a really sinister layer underneath once everything comes together. Doctor Who is at it's most fun when it's embracing it's weird sci-fi campy nature.

I recommend every story I've listened to in the 8th Doctor Adventures range but this one specifically if your look for a fun inventive story.

Really love the 8th Doctor's characterisation and development he's going through in the audios. I loved him in the TV Movie but he's on another level in the audios.

So glad I chose the 8th Doctor Adventures as a start to diving into Big Finish its been really fun and interesting.

The First Season Of The 8th Doctor Adventures are free on Spotify and it has been so worth it giving them a listen. Highly recommend.

Bonus:

I'm hosting a Big Finish listening challenge on Storygraph. My username is Melsage1823 for anyone interested in following.

Just thought I'd set something to motivate me for my first year getting into Big Finish.

Here's the full link to the challenge:

-Melody-

They/Them

[jakesuit0]

Fionna and Cake Review

Mirroring the first episode of the series, “Fionna and Cake” throws us into a new world with absolutely no context. Watching this for the first time with no outside knowledge leaves viewers dumbfounded (definitely check out some reaction videos for this one in particular). Not just from the opening scene, but from Adventure Time’s very first variation on its intro. Natasha Allegri, the creator of Fionna and Cake, sings it. There’s some cool details, like a gingerbread version of Rebecca Sugar replacing the usual Gingerbread Muto, based on her storyboard partner. “Fionna and Cake” ends up being the perfect encapsulation of what makes Adventure Time so special, a feat possibly only matched by the series finale itself. 

It’s super fun seeing alternate versions of the characters, a trend that started here. It’s gimmicky but who cares. The designs are pretty much all superb (thanks Nat!). My only criticism is the baffling decision to make Cake’s eyes white after Allegri’s original art got them right with blue eyes. The casting is just as good. Madeleine Martin (Fionna), Roz Ryan (Cake), Neil Patrick Harris (Prince Gumball), and Grey DeLisle (Ice Queen), make for the best guest voice cast of the series. They sound like the perfect genderswapped versions of the main characters, capturing the core of the regular characters while reflecting their subtle differences. Giving the characters similar but altered personalities really pushes this one over the edge. Fionna is as heroic as Finn, and gets uncomfortable being open about romance like he does. She’s a little more mature and takes situations a little more seriously, as girls mature faster than boys. Cake has the most distinguishing traits. She’s sassier and Jake’s laziness is replaced with a more unfiltered, provocative attitude (“tell Gumball you think he’s hot!”). We don’t see a ton of Prince Gumball, as it’s technically not him for most of it, but he’s the closest to his genderbent counterpart. He even has hints at a darker side, lying about the jelly kinders being alive. Ice Queen is just as creepy and perverted as Ice King, but is more outwardly sinister. When you sound more like Azula than Spongebob, that’s bound to happen. Even her ice magic created clouds are darker and more foreboding. It’s her best and most significant role to date. The characters are just as fun as the main cast are in seasons one and two. If the series was about this version of the world instead, it would still be a great series, and it would have been interesting to see how these characters would have developed differently.

Prince Gumball, like Princess Bubblegum, doesn’t view Fionna as a romantic interest. He invites Fionna to the ball as his “pal”. The age gap is just as much a roadblock as it is for Finn and PB. Ice Queen attacks Gumball with a slush beast. She has the ability to create water and foam, in addition to ice. Ice King lacks this ability, although he probably could conjure liquid water in a hotter environment. This could be tied to Ice Queen’s backstory as a water nymph, explored in Natasha Allegri’s dubiously canon Fionna and Cake comic miniseries. After Fionna seemingly defeats Ice Queen, Gumball flirts with Fionna and asks her out. Cake pushes her to pursue PG, more so than Jake ever does. Cake tags along on the date, as Jake does in “Burning Low” and “Ignition Point”.

They meet with Prince Gumball and Lord Monochromicorn. In addition to having a sick design, Monochromicorn speaks in morse code instead of Korean. I headcanon him as deaf. Too bad it’s his only appearance in the series. It’s funny that the series never acknowledges him as Gumball’s pet/best friend again, like how the PB/Lady dynamic was mostly dropped after “What Have You Done?”. Gumball gives Ice Queen a badass crystal sword. I love how it's just as cool as any of Finn’s swords. They really make sure to put these characters on equal footing to their counterparts. It’s hidden inside a bouquet of flowers, showing that Ice Queen knows what Fionna really likes. I like how it subverts the gender dynamics. Girls can like swords too! She also picks up Prince Gumball a few times which is cool! I did think to myself that there’s no way she has the upper body strength to do that, but realized neither does Finn at this age and I never questioned that! Fionna assures Gumball that she’s not thinking of butts after saying she’ll kick his in a race, meaning that she definitely likes his ass. I’m glad that Cake points out that they were the ones doing the actual work in the race. 

It would be a huge missed opportunity to not get to see this version of the characters sing, especially when they have Neil Patrick Harris. It’s a simple song, but the best of the series so far. The background of the sky with the fireworks, as well as Fionna and Gumball’s hair blowing in the wind, make it truly beautiful. It’s reminiscent of “A Whole New World”. Unlike the scene in Aladdin, Fionna gets to fight during it! I love the blend of action and romance here, it would have sucked for a story about girl Finn to just be a straightforward date. No wonder these characters became so popular. It gave girls a great character to see themselves in and showed that girls can be just as badass as Finn. 

Fionna returns to the treehouse after being asked to the ball as Gumball’s girlfriend. I like the detail that BMO still looks exactly the same, considering he’s genderfluid. Fionna straight up puts on Princess Serenity’s dress. It’s not my favorite Sailor Moon inspired outfit she ever wears, but it’s still gorgeous. There’s some new genderswaps at the ball, most notably Marshall Lee. He was originally going to have a few lines here, but they were cut for time. Rebecca Sugar begged Pendleton Ward to let her work Marshall into the story elsewhere, but he didn’t let up. If this was the only Fionna and Cake episode, I definitely would not have cut his lines. But, I think it’s for the best that they saved something that fans so desperately wanted for another episode. Lumpy Space Prince is there too and it’s funny that he looks exactly the same besides the mustache stubble. We’ve also got Cinnamon Bun with a green dress, a bow, and boobs. I assume CB would have the same name.  

Trigger Warning (Sexual Assault, Feel Free to Skip the Next Two Paragraphs)

The next scene is really intense and I’m glad they somehow got it past the censors. Prince Gumball takes Fionna to his bedroom, locks the door, and starts undressing. It’s a mislead that he’s about to sexually assault her, which is so dark for this show. She backs away and is clearly uncomfortable. They really didn’t shy away from the intricacies of the different gender dynamic, and the danger that girls face from predators. If it were Finn and Princess Bubblegum, it would be just as predatory, but I don’t think Finn would have the exact same reaction. I think he would be shy and embarrassed, but not fearful.  

Ice Queen reveals herself. It’s a great twist and I like that it sidesteps the problematic nature of Gumball dating Fionna. Fionna’s dress being torn in half is great symbolism for Fionna. She can be feminine and wear pretty dresses if she wants while still being a strong, badass warrior. Both sides are Fionna! Cake hears Fionna shouting “get it off me” from downstairs. She also senses that Fionna is in danger. This plays into both the instincts of a pet as well as the duty women feel to protect each other in situations like this. Fionna defeats Ice Queen and frees Gumball. This leaves Cake to find Fionna and Gumball alone in his room, with Fionna’s dress ripped off and his hand on her. Cake immediately jumping to the obvious conclusion is pretty reasonable, even if it is hypocritical that she spent the episode encouraging Fionna to go out with an adult. 

Cake tries on Ice Queen’s tiara, which Fionna knocks off, saying she might “catch her crazy”. It’s interesting because it suggests that Ice King is aware of the effect the crown has on him on some level. Part of Ice King must also see himself as a villain, so there is some amount of self-awareness in him somewhere. I’m trying hard not to address the elephant in the room, but I do like to think Ice King is indeed the one who came up with the finer details and specific lines of dialogue, which is supported by the ending. The real Gumball asks Fionna for a date, which doesn’t make much sense, so I also think that’s just Ice King’s input. Fionna’s mini-speech about not needing a boyfriend and already knowing herself is a really nice ending to her arc in this story. 

Seeing Fionna and Cake profess their love for the Ice King is really jarring on a first watch. (Lord Monochromicorn says “ice” in morse code here!) All of this being fanfiction from Ice King makes the character even more creepy and unsettling. He’s forcing a young boy to listen to his story of a girl version of himself falling in love with him. I don’t think he’s actually a pedophile (“Mortal Recoil”), I just think he’s a fucking weirdo. He put a lot of innuendos in, like Fionna and Gumball emphasizing how large his ball will be and Cake’s tail sticking out at Mo-Chro, in addition to the sexual undertones of the bedroom scene. The episode tosses aside the whole “Land of Aaa” name, an early idea, with Ice King mentioning Ooo in the context of the story. It’s corny but I do wish they stuck with Aaa instead. A lot of the fandom uses it anyway. And yet another episode that ends with Finn and Jake frozen!

This is the most experimental the show has gotten and it’s cool to see them branch out. It’s also the first time Finn only gets a cameo, although his analogue is still the lead. Putting a twist on this world gives the episode license to tell a simple story focused on classic Adventure Time tropes: Finn’s crush on Bubblegum and thwarting the Ice King. Changing the genders of characters is a popular thing for fandoms to do (rule 63), so getting an actual episode with the concept is such a terrific gift for fans. This is one of those episodes that only Adventure Time would do. It paid off, being the highest viewed episode of the first three seasons, and spawning its own massive fandom and line of merchandise. The episode’s outline was much easier and more boring than it ended up being. It called for Fionna going on a date set in a restaurant and didn’t even include Ice Queen. Adam Muto and Rebecca Sugar, who storyboarded the episode, strayed away from the outline to make something much more interesting. 

This episode being Ice King’s fanfiction is pretty ingenious. I understand the disappointment some people felt at breaking the world of a story they were invested in, but this is fixed later on anyway. It also cleverly ties into the backstory behind the episode and the themes of the series. Natasha Allegri, who was the lead character designer for the first two seasons, remaining on the series as a storyboard revisionist for season three, essentially created these characters as fanart, drawing them for fun and uploading them to 4chan. Just like the episode, her comics were a little more adult than the series. They’re hilarious and I consider most of them canon! Her comic of Fionna getting her period is a must read. Even the names of Fionna and Cake were suggested from 4chan anons! Pen liked the drawings enough to want to make it into an episode. There’s so many writers who have worked on the show with their own interpretations of Ooo and its inhabitants, and there’s even more fans with their own headcanons and personal versions of the series. Adventure Time can be whatever someone wants it to be. The series is a success because of all the different ideas brought to the table from a collaborative storyboard-driven show and because it can speak to so many different people. It’s great to have an episode celebrating that. “Fionna and Cake” was born from and is a celebration of fanfiction!

Grade: A+

[blookmallow]

y’all i am so sorry i failed you

i just found this buried a year into my drafts and realized. i never posted my animatronics ratings for last year’s spirit halloween releases. i started it and i never finished it. it’s now closing in on halloween season again and i still haven’t done it. im ashamed. i am so sorry  

ANYWAY, here’s, uh, my. 9 month late 2022 spirit halloween opinions, happy summerween i guess 

Mr. Punchy 

NEW CLOWN NEW CLOWN fuck yes i love a new clown

also for some reason the first sentence of his description made me lose it 

BIG fan of this just from a visual standpoint, i love the colors, love the hair. i like the light-up face on this one a lot, most spirit clowns ive seen fall into either “Clown Who Is A Monster/Creature” (crouchy, hugz) or “Clown Who Is A Scary Guy” (wally, henry hussle) but this one feels very “evil fun house prop” which i really think works for it. im assuming he’s based on punching-bag clowns, which i haven’t seen them do before, but the fact that his body is a Ball also gives me the mental image of him violently bouncing toward you which is good as well. theres a certain manic energy about this guy that im really fond of. i like him i would like to see him 7/10 

Spike

standard zombie torso figure, though it does have some interesting implications given that Stab The Brain is the generally agreed upon best way to deal with zombies, but this guy seems to be doing just fine despite the giant stake in his head. the website description says he got it from his wife attempting to mercy kill him once he turned zombie but she failed so he’s just stuck like this now. it does not explain why stake to the brain didn’t work, though (the implication is that she missed or something but clearly she didn’t. ive never heard of zombie brains having a very specific precise spot you have to hit to kill them, this looks like it should’ve worked to me) 

something about the bLurghHGhRUrrh noises he makes and the little nicely buttoned flannel shirt with jagged obviously-cut-out-intentionally tears at the bottom is very funny to me. i like to think his wife has accepted the situation and he just lives on the porch scaring away birds and stuff now. 5 /10 hes not really anything special but he brings me joy 

Rat Girl

it’s... fine. she’s a Creepy Little Girl. she’s got a rat. it’s not particularly inspired but I don’t dislike it. she doesn’t really do anything but i like the eye movement. 5/10 

Lil Skelly Bones

this is a variation of another animatronic they had previously, same lil guy but now he’s a jumpscare figure instead of a swinging one. not really a fan of stuff that’s Just “jumps out at you” and thats all but he’s pretty cute. love how Small he is. whats even going on here, is he a skeleton dressed as a skeleton?? i don’t know. it’s very cute. 5/10 

Tombstone Terror

on a surface level this is just a tombstone with a skull that pops out and yells at you. it looks nice, it’s designed well, but it’s about as basic as it gets as far as the concept goes. the description for this one really makes it though, because evidently this skeleton’s name is Steve and he used to be the graveyard caretaker who loved his job so much he stuck around after death to continue protecting the graveyard

his name is steve and he loves this graveyard so much. 6/10 its very uncreative as a prop but it gets a bonus point for steve 

The Widow 

this one looks really familiar i feel like they had a very similar one previously? i dont know. anyway she’s very scary looking and the Neck Snap motion is really unsettling to see. one of those rare animatronics that i actually do feel a lil creeped out by and wouldn’t be eager to approach. her description says her husband cheated on her so she murdered him (and her sister, who he was cheating with) but then broke her neck in the process of trying to dump the bodies in a lake, so here we are. 7/10 i dont love it but i feel like it’s pretty effective and my first reaction to watching the video of it was “eugh. i dont want to see THAT again” so props for that 

Betty Sharpe 

lots of blood on this one, very nice, 

apparently she’s some kind of child beauty pageant contestant who murdered all the other girls

i really like the movement in the bag, something about the relatively slow motion and the size of the bag gives it a sense of “what the fuck does she have in there” since it doesn’t seem fast enough or big enough to be a person. gives the impression of a mutilated but somehow still barely alive person shoved in there, which is excellent. her design doesn’t read very clearly though, it looks like she’s wearing some kind of nightgown. i feel like they could’ve done more to make her look like a deranged diva, give her a tiara or something. the face looks really plasticky also. overall i think its a decent concept that could’ve been executed better. 6/10

Young Crouchy

H U H???!?????

this... sure is a choice. i do not understand the decision-making here at all. i like crouchy well enough but did ANYONE want this. it doesn’t even read as “young crouchy” at all, he doesn’t look Younger in any sense and it sounds like the same recording so his voice isn’t different either. it just looks like Slightly Shrunk crouchy. the fact that the original crouchy is so tall and imposing is really what makes him so effective, so this one just looks comical 

the description goes into his tragic childhood where i guess he’s... disabled? which is why he stands like that? 

The pain of growing up orphaned in the streets can only be masked by laughter, at least according to this broken child. With no friends, no family, and nowhere to turn, he had a stroke of luck when the circus came to town. He never intended to scare anyone, but with his broken posture and twisted frame, he was quickly adopted into the traveling circus and immediately found his calling. No amount of makeup could ever hide his sinister grin and sharp, dagger-like teeth, so he finally embraced his true identity as Crouchy and worked to become the show’s most terrifying act!

for one thing that doesn’t come across as a child even remotely at all, and while crouchy always had the “he just wanted to be a regular clown but he was too scary and everyone was afraid of him so he just decided to embrace it” backstory, i feel like this just makes it come across super ableist. “clown who is just really terrifying no matter how he tries” is kind of a funny concept but now they’re saying “his posture and body structure are Weird and Scary so no one liked him and all he’s good for is being Scary” just. feels real bad. and “he’s called crouchy because he has a physical disability that affects his posture” comes across way worse than “he’s called crouchy because we’re not creative and this is the pose he’s in. i mean because its a personal quirk of his” 

then they also follow up this description with “Every good evil villain has to have a tragic origin story!” which just feels SO forced, it makes me feel gross, this whole thing is stupid, i dont like any of it,

i feel like if they had leaned into “this is very silly” more and made this guy be like, Crouchy Jr, His Son, or his mini clone or something and made his voice higher it might’ve worked. a few people in the youtube comments pointed out that this prop could be beneficial as like, a Smaller/More Affordable crouchy if you don’t have the money or the space for the full size one, which is fair, but i don’t know. i just dont like this whole situation i really don’t 

3/10 try harder next time, spirit 

Strawman

spooky scarecrow man!!! i really hope I get a chance to see him in-store sometime hes lovely. love a creepy scarecrow

the design is good, his face design is pretty cool, it looks better in motion his mouth movements are pretty solid

he has a good range of motion in his head and the jerky/stiff movement in his arms works for the character really well whether it was intentional or not. hes interesting to watch. i like him. i think he’d be a great host/introductory figure at the beginning of a haunt or front of your yard or something to greet guests coming in. hes good i like him 7/10

theres also a new Reagan from the exorcist, but i havent. actually seen that movie yet sdfsdf so i dont really have anything to say about the animatronic other than “it looks fine to me” 

Possessed Pumpkin 

i feel like pumpkin man and creepy scarecrow are friends. they go well together. cursed pumpkin patch is a good concept i like it 

anyway we have this guy at my local store right now, he’s pretty Big and solid looking, its a pretty decent design, i like his big claw hands

his backstory kind of clashes with the design concept though, apparently he was... a kid in a homemade halloween costume who got bullied for his costume and then the other kids locked him in a barn at a haunted pumpkin patch so his body got taken over by evil spirits. which is a hell of a story that then makes No sense with the visual, because that is Not a child. nothing about this even remotely reads as “possessed child” at all. so then it comes across as “he grew up into an adult man in this pumpkin patch and just never fucking moved on from that one time he got bullied on halloween as a child” which just makes him kind of sad. pretty good design, poor backstory, 7/10 

anyway sorry if i missed anybody it took me so long to remember this was in here the new arrivals page on spirit’s site is now for this year so i cant tell which ones were new last year anymore :’    ) fjsdg