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argumentl · 4 years ago

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The Freedom of Expression Ep 6 - 'Antrum', the most cursed movie in history.

K: Hi this is Dir en grey's Kaoru, and The Freedom of Expression..Joe san, Tasai san..

J: Yep

K: I think the viewers already realise this, but we're shooting four epidodes at once. (note:* the covid episodes were aired at short notice after ep 3*).

J: Yes, four.

T: Our clothes havn't changed.

K: Is our positioning ok like this? Wouldn't it be better with you in the middle, Kaoru?

K: Well, next time we could change seats if we want? But, I havn't seen you two in a long time, I thought it would be better to look at you from over here.

J: Ah, yes. If you are in the middle you have to keep looking from side to side..

K: Yeah, so..we could change seats next time...We might even change our filming location?

J: For sure

K: I don't know though...we can carry on without making too many set plans.

J: I see.

K: He's not coming out today, is he?

J: He's not. Let's leave him alone.

K: Well, shall we get started?... Oh, actually, when we finished recording the last epidode, my boss came here, and said 'that was a lie, thats wrong'.

J: Oh, what was it again? He took offense to something written in a magazine.

T:...and stormed over there.

K: He didn't actually angrily storm over there, he apparently went there, not to tell them to write nice stuff, but to get them to write what his band was really like, and he was fine with it then *1

J: Ahh, to stand out?

K: He was quite agitated. *T laughs*

J: No, but its a bit worrying isn't it? From the listeners point of view, you hear that type of story and interpret it as something amusing, the story gets communicated on in that way.

K: Well, theres no fire without smoke..

J: You mean, theres no smoke without fire.

K: Yeh.. Its because he's just a bit scary *the others laugh*, thats why that type of gossip appears.

J: Of course

K: Right?

T: I see

J: Well, we don't know what he was really like back then...

K: I don't either.

J: But he surely wasn't one of those cuddly, happy people?

K: People in bands were just kinda scary back then, right?

J: They were scary, yeah. But they were also really cool, weren't they?

K: *nods*

J: ..in reality....I think they were.

K: We're (Dir en grey) not scary though, are we?

J, T: Uhh... *K laughs*

J: You are not scary, but...

K: We're not THAT scary right? *laughing*

J: You have an incredible aura..

K: Well, lets leave it..

J: Fow now, lets just say your boss wasn't trying to make excuses..

K: Excuses? *laughs*

J: ..he was just trying to tell us that the stuff we said was not true. Right, well lets introduce today's topic.

' "You watch it, you die", Antrum - The most cursed movie in history.'

'Unbelievablely, its to be released in Japan, this incredible movie is to be screened. Filmed in California, America in 1970, the movie 'Antrum'. Rumored to be excessively scary, and to bring about misfortune to those who watch it, it was said that this movie should not be released, but buried and restricted. However, in 1988, it was screened for the first time in Budapest, Hungary, and during its screening, a fire broke out in the theatre and it burnt to the ground. 56 people died in this incident. Since then, whenever this movie is screened, the people involved have suffered mysterious deaths, one after the other. It became a work of art that no-one wanted to touch. Then, we arrive at the present day. After a long search, documentary movie makers Michael Licini and David Amito discovered the 35mm film reel of 'Antrum'. They have decided to screen it with the warning that viewers must take personal responsibility for anything that happens. The movie will be screened this year in venues across the country from Friday.'

K: Ahh, is it okay?...if this kind of incident occurs?

J: It says, if you watch it you die!

T: Its spooky.

K: Whether it lives up to expectations or not, theres trouble either way.

J,T: Thats right.

J: If people die, they're in trouble, and if people don't die, and they get sued for misrepresentation, they'll be like 'What? Arn't you glad you didn't die?!'

T: I wonder what will happen.

J: They say everyone has to take personal responsibility.

K: Well, I'm slightly interested.

J: Would you go and watch it?

K: Hmm, I want to see it, yeh.

J: You're attracted to it?

K: Um, Horror is...

Kami: Nononono! You must not go to see this, you must not go to see this!

J: Ahh, Kami says you musn't, he's worried suddenly....Its not okay, Kami?

Kami: No no, its not. I was quiet so far because I didn't want to have anything to do with this topic.

J: Oh, with this topic?

Kami: Yeh, its really scary.

J: Is this type of thing not good?

Kami: Its not good. I have to work nights..

J: Ah, night shifts? *the others laugh*

Kami: and I work alone.

J: Yeh.

K: Well, yeh, thats scary.

Kami: They say you'll die, I don't wanna die on my night shift.

J: Yeh, but gods can't die can they?

T: Right.

Kami: Well, outwardly.

J: What does that mean? Outwardly?? *laughing*

Kami: We don't die completely..

J: Oh, but from the human perspective you appear to die?

Kami: Yeah, I appear to die, but then am reborn. *J, T laugh*

K: He doesn't need to be scared.

T: Pretty interesting.

Kami: No no, the bit where I appear to be dead..its kinda troublsome.

J: Its trouble? You're a bit nervous about that?

Kami: Yeh, im nervous. Its not good.

J: Its not good?

Kami: Yeah, going to see this movie is not good.

J: But, there is a certain attraction by people to these kind of supernatural, occult things isn't there?

K, T: Yeah, yeah.

J: You know, things that science can't prove.

Kami: Yeah, I know about all of it though.

J: You do?

Kami: Yes, I do. Because, god created everything on earth.

T: Well, yeah.

J: I see.

T: So, he shouldn't really be scared of this, should he?

K: Really, that makes this situation here part of the occult too, doesn't it?

J: This is the occult. *T laughs* Us talking to a god..*K laughing* Talking to a god about movies even!

Kami: Well, there are many types of god aren't there?

J: Ahh, there are many types, yeh.

Kami: Yeh yeh, there are all knowing-all powerful gods...and gods like this one here. *the others laugh*

J: This god isn't very 'all knowing-all powerful'?

Kami: No, im probably in the lower orders.

J: *laughing* Yeh, we know that!

T: He sounds like a salaryman.

J: A hierarchy of gods..

Kami: Well, the middle-lower orders.

J: The middle-lower oders? *laughing*

T: Thats quite low, right? *J laughing*

J: It might just not be limited to recent times, but isn't there quite an occult boom going on now? How do you see it Kaoru?

Kami: An occult boom?

J: An occult boom.

Kami: Well, maybe its because a lot of things have already been solved. As science progresses, we know more...like the Higgs particle, you know it?

J: I've heard the name, but I don't know the details.

Kami: Its kinda like how the source of gravity was discovered. They spin it round really fast and crash it, right?

J: What a simple explanation!

Kami: Its in Switzerland!

T: In Switzerland...

J: They have the equipment to spin it and crash it powerfully, right?

Kami: Yes, yes. Atoms, they crash atoms into one another..and when they crash, the atoms break apart, and various particles have been discovered....and they saw a black hole forming and such. These kinds of mysterious things are really happening. *2.

T: Ehh, Kami, thats impressive.

Kami: So it could be just because of these solved mysteries, peoples' imaginations are swelling and giving them wild ideas?

J: I see.

K: Well, there must be people who like this stuff.

Kami: Wasn't my explanation easy to understand?

J: Yes, it was very well explained.

Kami: Spinning it around and bashing really hard, and then a kind of mysterious feeling...

*everyone laughs*

J: Thst is super easy to understand. Explained in simple terms.

T: Exactly

J: Only by a god..*3

T: Hey Joe, is that okay? *laughs*

J: Kami's awful aspects have transfered to me. *T laughs* The hopless parts. Those parts are showing in me.

Kami: Don't say hopeless!

K *laughs*

J: Oh did you hear that bit?

Kami: I heard it.

J: Of course, Kami hears everything (direct translation: hell ears)

K: This is awful!

Kami: Not hell, heaven.

T: Isn't this fourth time getting tiring?

*laughing*

J: Of course not

T: Actually, ive been to an event before where a spirit appeared.

J: Ehh?

T: When I say spirit, I mean Lincoln. There was a movie about the American president, Lincoln. So I went as a reporter to a weird movie event about it. And there was a medium there who could channel Lincoln so we could ask anything.

J: Wow...so, Lincoln spoke to you in person?

T: The medium started going 'Mmmghh mmmghh' and then 'Ready', so we all thought Lincoln had come to us, and we were told to ask anything, so someone asked 'Mr Lincoln, Mr Lincoln, what did you think of the movie? ..and after about three seconds the medium suddenly dropped down and said, 'Lincoln has left us'.

J: Ehh?! He didn't say anything?!

T: No, Lincoln didn't say anything.

J: Just 'Mmgh, mmgh'?

T: Yeah, and then he fell straight down..and was finished in three seconds. The whole venue had been waiting so eagarly...

J: What kind of article did Tokyo Sports write?

T: About how the venue was....*4

*laughing*

K: That fits well with this show!

J: This kind of chaos. So you were there, Tasai san?

T: Yes, I was reporting on it.

J: Oh really?

T: Yeh, that type of thing happened.

J: I wonder how the medium was after that, after Lincoln left.

T: She's getting paid for nothing.

K: Well, maybe some more accidents happened...

J: Oh yeah, she felt the danger. She didn't research enough before calling him.

T: She should have studied.

J: Maybe she didn't expect that many reporters?

K: Oh, maybe, she thought 'oh no..'

J: Maybe she was shocked to see so many people when she turned up. But the movie company paid her to promote the movie like this right?

T: Yes

J: Ahh, but people will probably go to see this movie right, Kami?

Kami: As for Lincoln coming down, he probably didn't say anything because he planned to speak in English.

J, T: Oh yeah.

K: Maybe

Kami: They forgot how to speak English?

J: I see..he hasn't been called in a long time, so even he forgot how to speak English?

Kami: No no, the medium.

J: Ah, the medium? Ah, I see.

Kami: Even I forget what to say sometimes, as soon as I think about it, and when im listening, you're like 'oh he's gone'

J: Isn't that dementia? Kami, can you speak to dead people like a medium can, can gods do it?

Kami: Gods? There are gods who can do that.

K: But you can't.

J: But you can't?

Kami: No, I can't do anything *J laughs*

J: We can only pray to you?

Kami: Yes, only pray.

J: I reckon I could be a god then too.

K: Yeh, yeh.

J: Its pretty interesting, no matter what your capacity, you could be a god, right? *laughing*

Kami: No, being a god is not about your capacity...

J: Oh, its not, im wrong?

Kami: Are you making fun of me?

J: No, im not! Im just too naive.

Kami: Being a god is something you're born with.

T: Ahh, its deep.

Kami: Being a god is something you are born with.

K: He just said that.

J: Im kinda imagining him with a smug face right now. *K laughs*

J: I havn't met him so I don't know though.

Kami: Even though I can't do anything, Im different from you guys.

J: Ah, you are born different?

Kami: Yes, yes, yes.

J: You exist differently from regular humans?

Kami: Yes, yes, yes.

J: I see.

K: We're right back to the occult now, aren't we?

J: Yeh, this is almost like a Tokyo Sports kind of issue.

Kami: No, you mustn't doubt the existence of god!

J: Oh, you musn't?

Kami: You mustn't! If you do, and you watch this movie, you will die.

J: We'll die?

T: Scary!

K: I wonder if we'll really die?

Kami: So believe in god!

K: Oh, if you believe in god, you won't die if you watch this movie?

Kami: Yeh, you can increase your shrine donation or something..

J: It ends up with money again *K laughs* He always ends up talking about money.

T: Whats up with him? *K laughing*

J: He doesn't have anything nice to say. Its always down to money in the end. With Ghosn he was the same.

T: He was, yeh *laughing*

Kami: Thats right

J: This has nothing to do with the movie 'Antrum'...

K: So there is a subscribe option on youtube right?

J: Yes, if you subscribe for us...

K: I think I should say 'please subscribe', I havn't said it yet * T laughs*

J: Please subscribe, everyone.

T: Please.

K: If we get more subscribers, we can do more things.

J: Right

Kami: Yes, please subscribe.

J: Subscribers will probably...

*sound cuts out*

On screen message :The sound cut out for some reason. We'll let you know what they said. For now, this episode has ended .

*1 - Not 100% sure I understood this story right.

*2 Translating quantum physics isn't my strong point.

*3 Im fairly sure i've missed some nuance here.

*4 Couldn't catch this.

#dir en grey #the freedom of expression #薫 #kaoru #TFOE

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rainbat · 6 years ago

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okay regarding theories for the episodes and tyrus (id love to hear your thoughts!) what if (and this could be too rushed) TJ and Cyrus get together episode four, and the coming clean in seven references them confessing their relationship as an explanation for acting weird/blowing off their other friends?? The only reason I think that might be the case is that “coming clean” has a more negative connotation which I don’t think would be used solely for a coming out, but if it was an explanation...

(2/2) ... for uncharacteristic behavior it might make more sense?? Idk if that was clear or even likely because episode four seems way too early but again I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

Thoughts on Tyrus in Episode 4:

okay honestly this did come to my mind when i originally read that synopsis. I’m like 95% certain Disney wouldn’t have Tyrus officially together in episode 4 just because there seems to be a lot of stuff going on in that episode in regards to Jandi and Cyrus is definitely at least somewhat involved in that plot as we see him in the promo with Andi and Jonah in the hallway and also the GHC at the lunch table listening to Jonah in the cafeteria

that being said, my 5% hangs in the air because i think it would be hella smart and blessed if we did have some kind of hint to Tyrus this episode. Maybe not officially together but something similar to my fic and some other things ive seen floating around where TJ and Cyrus are ‘unusually’ close or touchy in the basketball tryouts scene (most likely in the background).

This would give us some kind of lead in to episode 6 where Cyrus is all of a sudden close enough to TJ that he’s hanging out with his friends. Even if them being very close in ep 4 was ‘platonic’ (LOL) the casual audience kinda needs some kind of hint that TJ and Cyrus are close/kept being friends after the finale of s2. (remember casual 9 year olds still think Tuffy is a thing. again, LOL)

I do agree that the ‘coming clean’ thing seems to have some type of negative connotation but at the same time i am VERY undecided on what is going to happen...im about 50/50 on two different scenarios right now so walk through a little thought analysis with me...

AM’s past episodes and synopsis liklihood:

Let’s journey back to a few episodes...The episode with Cyrus COMING OUT has Cyrus’ name in the synopsis because he has a plot and its a major one so surely... “Cyrus introduces his girlfriend, Iris, to Buffy and Andi” ..oh um okay?? i, uh.. okay disney. Now Cyrus’ second big gay scene was coming out to Andi but of course thats full of a ton of other Cyrus scenes so the synopsis wasn’t expected to cover that one.. what else... Keep A Lid on It?? Cyrus reveals he doesn’t have a crush on Jonah anymore! That’s kinda a big plot change for him? let’s... oh Ham reveals some info and Jonah tries out for ultimate...so okay, he aint mentioned at all

Disney has never ever attempted to reveal gay information in their episode descriptions.. now S3 is taking a big turn but i really just don’t have trust that they ever will. > 1 point to NOT about Tyrus

AM descriptions v promos:

Another thing we can do with episode descriptions is notice HOW SPECIFICALLY they are related to the trailers. There’s always way more in the actual episode than what does down in the trailer, but the trailer and the synopsis like to be tied so they don’t give away any of that information. Now this one is kind of exciting cos it can go either way which is what MAINLY divides my thoughts on this...and ill end up invalidating my statement that disney wont reveal gay in their synopsis..

Trailer: Cyrus and TJ dirt biking and a random new dude... Episode 6 synopsis: While hanging out with TJ’s friends, Cyrus faces a dangerous situation

Hella straight forward, thats gonna be episode 6 and the dangerous situation is gonna be dirt biking, they aren’t tryna lead us on they’re being basic

BUT we are now split on promo time for TJ and Cyrus because we have two scenes: Cyrus looking worried and TJ looking worried, OR Cyrus and Andi/ Cyrus and the Cop. Could go either way? Right? They both definitely SEEM to be something that Cyrus would have to confront and ‘come clean’ about.

it all depends on what happens in episode 6...

dangerous situation, cop shows up, drama. cyrus deals with it and comes clean to his friends that he did ‘x’ in last week episode : easy, classic conclusion

dangerous situation ends up being lowkey and there really arent any consequences other than cyrus being worried/scared for a hot second and that episode slaps us with tyrus for the remained of the screen time (cop scene is another episode)

Both honestly seem like valid options at this point...

First one is very dramatic, which i have a hard time believing a disney show would leave us on a cop cliff hanger for an innocent kiddo like Cyrus

Second one is more likely because the promo/synopsis love making things 10x more dramatic BUT the Tyrus thing just gets me cos i have no faith

no point. Disney is really branching out with their content here, its territory they have never touched and i really cant decide which way they think is less risky (substitute Tyrus for a het couple tho and option 2 is CLASSIC disney drama)

Buffy’s name in the e7 synopsis:

BUFFY. BUFFY. BUFFY. she just has to be the catalyst in all of this because it’s such a good troupe and i believe Terri sees it through... the fact that Buffy is involved in episode 4 with TJ, has what we assume is a small plot with Jonah in ep 6 (TJ), and is stated to be involved in Cyrus’ plot in ep 7 (TJ) just screams Tyrus reveal to me.

“After an encouraging talk with Buffy, Cyrus decides to come clean with his friends”

Andi was involved with Cyrus and the cop in the promo, not Buffy. It wouldn’t say friendS if it was the cop situation because Andi was there and if he talks to Buffy about it as well... he literally only has one other friend to tell (rip bud dont mean to call you out). ALSO 22 mins is not long enough to have a whole leading up to the talk with the cop, the talk with the cop, the discussion with Buffy about the cop, the reveal to his friends. there just aint the time if Andi is also dealing with Buffy drama and Bexie are involved in that plot as well.

Buffy, however, is the person Cyrus confides in the most about his feelings.

Episode 4 essentially serves as a ‘catch up’ for this trio (can we give TJ/Cyrus/Buffy trio a name pls?) and their relationships with each other. If episode 4 proves that Buffy is friendly with TJ now (but still a little snarky pls) then i jump from about 50% to about 75% certain for this plot

It is far more likely that once Cyrus is finally certain Buffy and TJ are okay with each other he reveals his crush. He is certain in episode 4 so he either tells Buffy in the end of that episode, some time in 6, or beginning of 7. THIS OR Buffy is talking about her relationship with Walker and how Andi is involved blah blah and Cyrus listens to her, realises he needs to tell everyone about TJ and everyone finds out at once, including Buffy.

Either way, I don’t see an ‘encouraging talk with Buffy’ being anything outside of relationships. Whether Cyrus makes a connection based on Wuffy or Buffy specifically discusses TJ, Cyrus comes to a conclusion about his relationship

1 point to it IS about Tyrus -- Cop drama just doesn’t have the time and Buffy mention saves the day

So im really really half and half as you can see... It really honestly all comes down to the question : Is Disney more likely to reveal a “dangerous situation/consequences with the police” storyline in their synopsis or a “meeting the crush’s friends/defining a gay relationship” storyline?

#wow #i am so sorry #i spent like #a solid hour on this #help me #andi mack #tyrus #anon #answered #Anonymous

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getoffthesoapbox · 7 years ago

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[FMP!IV] EPs 1&2 - Alone Together at the Edge of the Abyss

Wow, talk about a suckerpunch. I recently completed a rewatch marathon of Full Metal Panic’s first three seasons to prepare myself for the Invisible Victory, and I must admit some regret that I did. These first two episodes might have been easier to bear if I hadn’t just reminded myself of the journey these characters have taken to reach this point. As it was, my heart was completely shattered after I was done watching them, and so there’s nothing to be done but to hash it all out. There is so much to work through here.

It’s not normally my style to follow anime series closely via my blog, so I’m not sure how regular I’ll be (or if this all I’ve got in me) with any posts. I’ve also never read any of the source material, and I prefer to remain spoiler free on that, which means my thoughts will be based solely in what I have already seen. I really just want to process my reaction to the episodes rather than speculate on how the story will unfold (there’s no real point in speculation for a series like this that already has completed source material).

Raising the Stakes

With so much to unpack in these two episodes, I don’t even know where to start. I guess we’ll start general and then get into specifics, maybe. First off, I think Episode 1 of FMP:IV is probably the best episode so far in all four seasons. I cannot get over how intense and tight the writing is, and how much it manages to achieve in such a short span of time.

FMP:TSR left us in a relatively good spot for our lead couple, Sousuke and Chidori. I should think it’d be obvious, but I’m definitely on board the S.S. SouKana and have been since day one. Anyway, TSR left us in a good spot--Sousuke had set himself apart from Mithril and had found the place for his own heart to rest: with the woman he loves and in the life he’s built with her. At the same time, TSR had hinted that Chidori’s troubles were only just beginning, with most of her plotline from TSR remaining open-ended and in a troubling state of ambivalence. However, Chidori seemed to recover once she was reunited with Sousuke, and all was forgotten. But ever since TSR ended, I’ve been hoping to see the rest of the story Leonard’s character introduction promised, and here comes IV to save the day.

It was an absolute delight to see we were going to pick up in IV exactly where we left off in TSR. But this also makes it all the more difficult to watch what’s inevitably coming--this appears to be an arc where both Chidori and Sousuke will be sorely tested, both individually and as a couple. The first episode hammers this home from multiple angles, and all I could think as each blow hit was how much this arc is going to hurt. It’s almost one of those arcs that you might be better off watching once the fifth season has started airing, haha. I don’t have that kind of discipline though. ;)

Our villains this season feel more credible than in the past ones, and the difficulties the characters will be going through seem far more visceral and gripping and organic than in the past. That, plus this season building on the previous three, is going to make for one hell of a tough ride. It feels like we’ve leveled up a bit in maturity, and the themes the narrative’s starting to address are more what one would expect from a story with such a premise. But let me go ahead and dig into the characters, since they’re where all the gold is.

Tessa - Laying down the Law

I’ll get Tessa out of the way first since I’m not a huge fan of her character, though I definitely appreciated her more in IV’s first two episodes than I have in most of the previous seasons. Tessa’s main flaw isn’t really her fault; it’s the writer’s fault--rather than writing her as a capable commander with her own life and love interests, she gets pulled into the harem hijinks for Sousuke which are completely unnecessary given how stunted his growth is as a person. A woman of Tessa’s rank and caliber shouldn’t even notice Sousuke other than as a subordinate, and it lowers the level of the story to have her switch from capable leader into fawning schoolgirl just because Sousuke is the “lead character.” It would have been different if she wasn’t a captain and was just window dressing on the ship, but the story wants us to take her seriously despite also trying to have its cake on the side by shoving her into the “clumsy simpering rival” role.

My frustrations with Tessa’s general direction aside, FMP:IV definitely brought out her better sides, which I sincerely appreciated. We don’t see much of her in Episode 1, but I definitely enjoyed her first scene with Leonard (Leonard brings so much to this series). The scene with her uncle when the communication channels were on the fritz was one of the most intense in the episode, and I genuinely felt like the stakes had been raised significantly and that Mithril was in deep trouble. The set up from her sections really helped set the stage for how isolated Mithril is, and how even more isolated Sousuke and Chidori are because of that.

Episode 2 is where Tessa gets to shine, though. She’s always at her best when she’s with her crew rather than butting into Sousuke and Chidori’s storyline, and this is readily apparent when she steps in to quell a mutiny among the mercenaries. Tessa acts as a mirror for Chidori this episode--while Chidori is clearly a sheltered girl who is dealing with war for the first time, Tessa is the other side of the coin: a young woman who is further down the road of battle than Chidori is and who has seen death firsthand. For Chidori, Sousuke’s battlefields are a fantasy world she enters periodically and then returns to her daily life, but for Tessa this is daily life. And in Episode 2, we see Tessa is more than capable of handling it. She threatens the life of the mercenary who is attempting to mutiny, and her threat is credible. You really believe it that she’ll shoot him if he keeps pushing. This again mirrors Chidori’s inability to accept the war conditions breaking out in her backyard--while Chidori is unable to separate wartime behavior from peacetime behavior, Tessa is fully prepared not only to see lives be taken, but to take one if necessary.

I’m assuming Tessa will continue to act as a mirror for Chidori as this series rolls on--Chidori’s clearly meant to confront the horrors of war, and Tessa has already come out on the other side of that confrontation. Hopefully this mirroring is used to help Chidori’s character rather than for harem hijinks (I will definitely resent it if the story tries to imply Tessa is “better” for Sousuke because she’s in the military--there is no reason a military man can’t find happiness with a civilian woman and it’s not helpful to either of the girls’ characters to use their personal tragedies as point systems for which one is “better” for the boy they both like).

Okay that’s enough on Tessa for now. On to more important things, like Leonard. ;)

Leonard’s Arrival - Diving into the Crucible

When Leonard first appeared and showed an interest in Chidori in TSR, it felt like the real story had finally settled into place. Unlike Sousuke, Chidori is a young woman who has lived a typical life and is reacting to unusual circumstances. Leonard offers her an atypical life and the seductions that come with such a life. Sousuke, on the other hand, fights to protect the life she’s leading currently, though he’ll follow her wherever she wants to go. Because Sousuke is a character who follows rather than leads, the narrative does best when Chidori is at its center--she is a character with strong convictions who is smart and able to butt heads with the villains while also falling prey to their psychological torment. This is the stuff good story arcs are made of.

There is just so much going on in the exchange between Leonard, Sousuke, and Chidori. Leonard clearly has an interest in both characters, though for now his focus is on Chidori. Needling Sousuke is just a bonus for him at the moment.

What I found remarkable about his scene with the two of them is how much lies in the subtext. Chidori clearly hasn’t said a word about Leonard or Leonard’s forced kiss to Sousuke, which creates a barrier between her and him that wasn’t there before, and is something Sousuke actually notices. And unlike Sousuke’s own adventures away from Chidori, this barrier will have huge ramifications because Chidori has more emotional maturity than he does. When Sousuke doesn’t talk about things, it’s merely because he interacts with the world in a factual, logical way without taking emotions into account normally; if someone doesn’t need to know something, he doesn’t tell them unless asked, and then he’s completely honest--there’s no deceit in him. Chidori does not interact with the world this way--when she hides something, it’s because she has something to conceal. And secrets are snakes in a relationship--for Chidori to have them now is the first step toward creating a fissure between her and Sousuke that can then be exploited by their enemies and rivals.

The three of them jockey around each other, with Leonard knowing the most, Chidori having the next highest amount of knowledge, and poor Sousuke knowing jack nothing about anything and trying to protect Chidori anyway. This, unfortunately, allows Leonard to run circles around him. Leonard baits Sousuke into attacking him in order to make a point about the magnitude of the power difference between them. But the target of his psychological attacks is Chidori, with Sousuke as a side effect.

Leonard is definitely Chidori’s villain, though likely she won’t get to defeat him. The scene sets up the conflict between them, and the temptation for Chidori. Leonard views himself as an “elite,” and he thinks Chidori (and likely his sister) should join him in that view. He tempts Chidori to switch her view of the people she loves and lives with every day from acceptance and appreciation to looking down on them. Chidori is likely going to be sorely tested by this, even if she’s firm in her dedication to viewing the people around her as worthwhile--her abilities and powers are growing at an alarming rate, and even if she doesn’t want to become separated from those she loves, a separation will likely occur if the growth continues. It reminds me a bit of Flowers for Algernon’s premise, where the more intelligent the experiment makes the main character, the further away from the people he cares about he grows. Chidori’s going to face a similar challenge here.

But Leonard doesn’t stop with just tempting Chidori--he throws everything and the kitchen sink at her in order to get her. First he attempts to blackmail her (and this will be what works in the end)--he warns her that if she doesn’t come to his side willingly, the town she loves will suffer for it. Then he attempts to create a false intimacy with her by reminding her of the forced kiss, which will have the additional effect of widening the growing fissure between her and Sousuke. Isolating her from the people she cares about is likely going to be a key tactic of Leonard’s--if Chidori becomes dependent on him as the only one who can comfort and protect her, she will have to come to his side by default. If he can put enough doubt in her heart about Sousuke, he’s won half the battle. To accomplish this, he throws out one last barb. To a casual viewer, it might seem that he’s doing this for Sousuke’s sake, but given the staging of the scene--Chidori is the one who’s reactions are highlighted first--it’s clear these barbs are meant for her. He flat out taunts Sousuke about how unfair it is that he’s killed nearly a hundred people and is here living freely. This certainly will be something that haunts Sousuke’s character during this arc, I’m sure, but what’s really going to hurt Sousuke is what this knowledge is going to do to Chidori’s view of him. Chidori’s love and acceptance is what’s being tested here, not Sousuke’s “right” to live freely. If Leonard can get her to doubt Sousuke, he can worm his way in. Needling Sousuke and getting Sousuke to doubt himself is just an added bonus--it’s not the goal as far as I can tell.

Either way, I love what Leonard brings to the table and I’m so excited to see how everything plays out (even though I know it’s going to hurt).

Sousuke - Navigating “Normal”

Sousuke’s got several challenges coming his way in this new arc of the story. His character has grown in leaps and bounds since the beginning--he’s found his place in life, he’s found a woman he wants to protect, and he’s decided where he wants to be for now. This is all wonderful development, but a new test must always arise. The new test comes in the form of how committed he is to his new growth, and whether he’ll slip back into old habits.

The former student council president neatly summarizes what I think is Sousuke’s new trajectory, as well as the key points of conflict that will arise for him. The ex-pres points out that Sousuke himself is in a good place, and is well on track to learning how to live a normal civilian life. The problem is the woman he has chosen for himself eventually won’t be able to fit into that civilian life, because her abilities are anything but normal. Sousuke’s challenges in this arc are going to be how to merge his violent past with his peaceful present and make the most of it while still being able to protect the woman he loves and help tether her to the normal civilian life they both want.

The problem is, of course, that their relationship is going to fracture because of the challenges she’s going to be facing, which will make it harder for Sousuke to reach her, since he hasn’t fully leveled up in emotional maturity yet. Navigating the difficult minefield of psychological trauma and damage is a new challenge for Sousuke, and this is going to be one he needs to learn a bit of finesse in order to get right.

On top of what the ex-pres brought up, we also have Sousuke’s past coming back to haunt him, but in an unexpected way--Sousuke’s ease with war and with killing is going to form a barrier between Chidori and himself, especially when Chidori’s personal life is thrown into upheaval because of it. In his conversation with the ex-pres, the specter of Sousuke leaving Chidori is brought up again. Now, we’ve already dealt with this from Sousuke’s end--when ordered to leave her, he did, and he regretted it bitterly. But this will be a different kind of separation--this will be Sousuke choosing to leave despite wanting to stay with every fiber of his being, for Chidori’s sake. If a new separation occurs, it will because Chidori either wants it or Sousuke senses it would be best for her mental state. This is yet another test he’ll have to overcome, because ultimately they both love each other and they should work through their problems rather than running from each other.

The ex-pres’s “waystation” idea is probably going to be important because of this separation--when Sousuke decides to let Chidori go (for her sake), it will be because he has faith they’ll be reunited later. He’s going to bet on the waystation idea to allow her to regain equilibrium. However, this is going to backfire, because school is the waystation--not their relationship.

Chidori - Awakening

I am so excited about the focus on Chidori this season that I can’t even contain my enthusiasm. TSR was such a disappointment because Chidori wasn’t as involved (the ex-pres is right, this story is at its best when she’s at the center of everything ;D), so it’s an absolute delight to have her taking center stage for IV.

Just like last arc was Sousuke’s growth arc, it is now Chidori’s turn. There is a lot of ground to cover with her. First, she’s going to have to grapple with her abilities and her reality as a Whispered. She’s going to have to deal with the fact that, as Leonard says, she is “special” and with that status comes certain perks as well as significant drawbacks. Chidori’s been in denial about how special she is ever since the story started, and now is the time for her to come to terms with what that means and what she needs to do about it.

As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, she also is being targeted and is at the center of why her normal life is about to explode. This kind of pressure is going to make her question whether or not she has any right to a normal life, especially when it results in harming so many people. We already see hints of this in Episode 2--after her brave denouncement of Leonard, she begins cracking immediately when she sees the results of her declaration: everyday normal people are now being involved in the terrorist battles between her side and Amalgam, and beyond that, her home and the places she’s lived near all her life are turning into a war zone because of her. People are going to die because she wouldn’t play along with Leonard. This is a huge burden for her to carry, and something she hasn’t had to face before because most of the kidnappings were child’s play in comparison to what Leonard and the other Amalgam members have cooked up this time.

On top of this, she’s taking a second look at Sousuke. This is important for her to do in general anyway--before now, she hasn’t really “seen” Sousuke or tried to understand him. She doesn’t know his past, or what he’s done, or anything about him, really, other than the fact that he barged into her life and became dear to her through his ridiculous antics. Whenever she was in tough spots in earlier episodes in the previous three series, Sousuke was always her rescuer and her somewhat dense and oblivious crush. But now she’s going to see him with fresh eyes--Sousuke is not just a nice young man who likes guns, he’s a soldier who is desensitized to death and holds the lives of people he doesn’t know as lower than the lives of people he does know. This becomes readily apparent in Episode 2, when Sousuke drags Chidori away from the injured man in order to protect her, yet leaving the man prone with no one to call for help. With Chidori’s friends in danger in Episode 3, likely this will become more pronounced because Chidori will want to sacrifice herself to save her friends while Sousuke will want to sacrifice her friends to save her. She’s going to have to take a step back and reconsider him as a partner and as a love interest, because his values are a complete 180 from hers, and this is something she’s never truly grappled with before.

Her arc is going to be so painful, but I care not. Bring it on anyway, show!

Chidori & Sousuke - Love Blooming in Adversity

Anytime you get this much romance at the start of a series, you know you’re in for a world of hurt. These two are so sweet they make my teeth stand on edge. I’ve got to take the time to gush over the good stuff and why it’s so important for us to see this before shit hits the fan.

Sousuke and Chidori are in a new place after TSR--Sousuke has realized that Chidori is the one he loves, and they’ve come to terms with each other, even if it’s still unspoken. In IV, after mulling over the ex-pres’s parting words, Sousuke takes a huge step forward and asks Chidori to hold hands. This embarrasses both of them, but the whole scene is so freaking endearing because despite the embarrassment, neither of them wants to stop holding hands. Ugh. Kill me now. It’s too cute for this world. What I love about it too is that even though Sousuke’s not all that experienced as a lover, he’s firm and assertive at exactly the right moments. Boy’s got great instincts.

The mood in the hand holding scene is clearly meant to lead to something more, especially given the UST in the elevator. They’re both adorably determined to see this thing through to its logical conclusion, and their similar wavelengths are utterly precious. These are reminders that these two, when they’re on the same page, are utterly unstoppable in whatever they decide to do. It also will make the story all the more heartbreaking when the inevitable fissure erupts between them.

Sousuke’s little smile when he and Chidori link hands again, and Chidori’s responding glance are just HNNNNNGGGGG. I can’t even describe it, it makes me so happy. I just adore how clearly in love with Chidori Sousuke is. This is ridiculously rare for shounen-based stories, and it makes my heart soar. I also love how honest and assertive Chidori is; she’s a girl who knows what she wants and doesn’t have to pretend she doesn’t. She’s also got this wonderfully coy, assertive, muted sexiness that is so refreshing.

Unfortunately, their date is canceled thanks to Leonard. When we see them again next, they’re in stakeout mode. This scene is heartwrenching in so many ways. We get to see how compatible they are as a functioning couple here. Chidori worries about Sousuke not sleeping and scolds him. Sousuke’s body language here is quite interesting--he looks away from her and doesn’t meet her eyes. Obviously part of this is due to him keeping an eye out for enemies, but some of it (perhaps unconsciously) is avoidance because he knows this isn’t a situation she wanted and he knows he’s pushing himself and that she won’t like that.

Sousuke tells Chidori she’ll be safe once she’s squirreled away at Merida Island. Chidori’s first thought is whether they’ll be able to return home once the coast is clear. Sousuke clearly fears this won’t be possible, due to his own past with protecting the Whispered candidates before Chidori as well as due to the past incidents with Chidori herself. They argue a bit about her abilities, and it’s easy to see their mutual fears coming out here: he is afraid she will continue to be in danger no matter what they do, and she is afraid that her abilities will make her lose all she loves.

What I love about this scene is Sousuke admitting that they can’t rely entirely on Mithril, because Mithril’s goals are antithetical to their own. He gives Chidori’s concerns and fears and desires full credit, which is utterly adorable. He doesn’t dismiss her wishes as silly or childish; he wants to find a way to grant them. When she complains about wanting to keep her life the way it is, he actually reassures her that he knows how important her current lifestyle is to her and that he feels the same as she does. It’s honestly utterly refreshing to see a couple in a story have a functional conversation like this, even while they’re both holding their own secret thoughts and fears, without the typical ridiculous misunderstandings these stories usually rely on.

And at the end he almost asks her to run away with him. This is what really breaks my heart. He wanted to run away with her, this practical dense boy was able to come up with such a stupidly romantic, idiotic plan because he loves this girl too much to let her get swallowed up by Mithril or Amalgam or some other organization. She means so much to him, and he’s will to sacrifice whatever it takes to help her go wherever she wants to go.

But even though he’s at this point, she’s not where he is yet. She needs to come to terms with him first, before they can reach a stage where they can take on the world and its systems together.

Chidori & Sousuke - Comforting Banter

The comedy between these two has leveled up in IV. It used to be the comedy between them was just Sousuke doing something stupid and Chidori smacking him, but thanks to their relationship developing, we’re now at a point where slapstick isn’t necessary because their banter more than makes up for it.

In Episode 1, when they’re walking home together and Sousuke just keeps saying “Yeah” when Chidori’s telling her story about Shiori’s latest boyfriend hijinks. It’s a classic bored boyfriend trope, and for Sousuke to display it is utterly adorable. (Of course, he’s not bored--he’s lost in thought, but the comedic timing is still there.) Chidori gets mad at him and tries to dig for what’s bothering him, but he shuts her down.

There’s another cute little moment at the end of the episode when they’re in the car where Chidori makes fun of his rations. He’s so practical when he tells her to just deal with it. Their banter here makes them seem just like a fond married couple. She’s fondly exasperated while he’s stubborn and no-nonsense. It’s too cute for words.

The last moment before shit hits the fan is the great moment in Episode 2 after Sousuke crashes their car. He pulls Chidori out of the wreckage, and the two of them take cover behind another car. Chidori complains good-naturedly that she’s never going to let him drive her anywhere again. And Sousuke, rather than getting offended, immediately contradicts her and says that whether she likes it or not he’s going to be driving her if its for her protection. He’s not even going to humor her on this one, it’s so cute.

These little scenes demonstrate the remarkable sync between these two characters, and the perfect ebb and flow of their dynamic. I’m endlessly amazed by how naturally they fit together, despite how different they are, and the many sides they bring out in each other. They really are a couple that embodies both the romantic ideal of love and the more practical idea of love--even in the midst of a “destined” romance where they understand each other without words, they still find ways to push each other and grow into better versions of themselves together.

I think it’s so important that the story highlight these aspects of them in the first two episodes, because likely their relationship is going to be tested harshly in the coming episodes, and we’re going to need these reminders that they do have what it takes to make it through the storm.

Chidori & Sousuke - Cracking Under Pressure

Unfortunately, despite all the reminders of how wonderful this couple is when they’re working together, all the flags are pointing toward them falling apart for a while. There’s still some more growth left to be done, and it’s mostly going to be on Chidori’s end this time. Her unfinished business from TSR is about to break out into the open.

Chidori still hasn’t dealt with Sousuke abandoning her in TSR and what that meant for her. Sousuke clearly still doesn’t know what she went through while he was gone, and that’s going to be a pendulum blade above their relationship until it’s out in the open and resolved.

Leonard’s appearance sets the stage for the faultlines to shift in their relationship. His appearance brings up not only the unspoken scene from TSR, but it also carries a reminder that Sousuke is not what he appears to be. This reminder is something that clearly hangs over Chidori for the remaining screentime of the first two episodes. We don’t see it unfold much in Episode 1, but a little hint of it is there: after Leonard leaves, Chidori begins trembling in the aftermath of the shock of seeing Leonard again. Sousuke attempts to comfort her by putting a hand on her shoulder, and she jerks away from him violently, something she never does. It’s a clear sign that the pain and hurt he caused her in TSR and the fears that grew within her during the time when he abandoned her have not been resolved. Deep inside her, she still feels she can’t rely on him for help. It’s easy to forget that in TSR, when she called Sousuke’s name to save her, it wasn’t Sousuke who answered her call--it was Leonard. And Leonard answered with death, bringing death into her life in a way it hadn’t been before. This is something she is going to have to grapple with, and something that’s going to be between her and Sousuke until it’s addressed.

Episode 2 establishes some new fissures forming between them. First, during the car chase, Sousuke is struggling to keep them alive during their fight with the Alastors. Chidori offers to take the gunner position to help him, but Sousuke fiercely refuses with uncharacteristic force. Chidori of course is confused by his vehemence, but it’s easy to see that he wants to protect her from the other side of killing--once that line is crossed, the psychological damage is permanent. So Sousuke’s motivation of keeping Chidori free of war and innocent of its effects forms another wall between the two of them. He wants to be the one who takes on all the burden of war, leaving her helpless and bereft in a misguided wish to protect her from what she can’t escape.

The next crack forms when they’re escaping, and Sousuke opens fire in the middle of an intersection after they nearly escape death by car crash, traumatizing a group of local citizens who tried to help them. Chidori’s breakdown over Sousuke’s inability to value any life above hers begins at this point and continues when a cyclist gets caught in the crossfire between Sousuke and the Alastor. Chidori’s first instinct is to help the man, but Sousuke can’t allow them to rest because they’re still being pursued. Although Sousuke’s reaction is correct in this situation (Chidori standing around is just going to make wherever she’s standing a war zone), because he doesn’t explain to her that moving will help the man more than staying, she begins to have an emotional breakdown because the norms she’s used to are being thrown out the window left and right.

When Gebo 9 arrives at last and takes out some of their pursuers, instead of feeling relieved, Chidori is dismayed. Sousuke, of course, is pleased to see the danger being taken down, and though this is how he’s always been, Chidori is now looking at him with a fresh perspective and is horrified by what she sees. She interprets his smile as delight in their enemies’ deaths, when really it’s just that he’s seen so much death and has lived through so many life-or-death battles that for him the loss of life is nothing compared to protecting the woman at his side. By the time Sousuke boards Al, Chidori can no longer process the war zone her life has become and has a complete breakdown. Even though she’s seen Sousuke fight armored mechs before, she’s never seen him fight people before (despite this being something he’s always done, as a soldier), and the sheer amount of killing she’s been exposed to in the span of what is probably only a few hours on top of seeing Sousuke in his natural element is too much for her to take in. She understandably flips out.

Even with all of this, I do believe she could have overcome her initial concerns if she’d been given space to breathe and think things through with Sousuke. Sousuke doesn’t blame her for freaking out or being distraught over the situation--this was something he’s been trying to protect her from seeing, because he knows firsthand how hard being in the midst of war is. But unfortunately we start to see the beginning of Chidori believing she’s responsible for everything and that if she’d only just done what Leonard asked her to, none of this would have happened. The ending of Episode 2 only serves to highlight that point--now those nearest and dearest to her have been caught up in mix. The pressure’s intense, and Chidori is cracking.

Sousuke’s not going to be able to help her through this before she makes a drastic decision, and after that, it’s anyone’s guess (other than those who’ve read the source material of course) how they’re going to be able to fix what’s about to break.

Whelp, guess we’ll find out in a few hours when the next episode is released, haha. That’s what I get for being slow on this one. ;) I do want to say, though, the opening and ending visuals are heartbreaking and gorgeous and I cannot wait to see everything they’re hinting at unfold. This is going to be fun (I hope). ;)

Until next time!

#full metal panic #full metal panic invisible victory #full metal panic!#chidori kaname #sagara sousuke #soukana #fmp #fmp!iv

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foodieworldmelbourne · 7 years ago

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The Simpsons, doom metal, and the seven stages of grief: The story of Dr Colossus

By Matt Neal Posted April 21, 2018 06:08:40

Photo: A Simpsons-style depiction of Nathan 'Buddha' Johnston, drawn by Glenn Smith. (Supplied: Glenn Smith) Map: Portland 3305 Doom metal band Dr Colossus were on to something. When they formed in 2014 they had found a unique musical niche heavy rock songs about long-running animated TV series The Simpsons which would prove surprisingly popular. Over the next few years, Dr Colossus comprising long-time friends Jono Colliver (guitar) and Nathan Johnston (drums) built a large following by releasing EPs and singles, and toured Australia. When it came time to record an album, they launched a successful crowdfunding campaign that raised well above their target of $6,000. With new third member Mike Findlay on board, Dr Colossus recorded their debut album The Dank and readied themselves for a series of launches. But then Nathan died suddenly. He was 29. 'Why don't we make all the songs about The Simpsons?' Nathan "Buddha" Johnston grew up in the south-west Victorian town of Portland. As a youngster he was more likely to listen to Black Sabbath than The Beatles, and started playing drums in early high school. He met Jono Colliver by playing in high school rock band Emprica together, starting a decade-and-a-half-long friendship and musical partnership. What is "doom metal"?Doom metal is one of countless subgenres of heavy music. Sometimes also known as stoner rock, stoner metal, or sludge metal it is typically characterised by slow tempos and heavy riffs intended to conjure up a sense of doom or dread. Guitars are often tuned down lower than is typical for rock bands. So instead being in standard E tuning, they might be in standard B tuning, which is five steps lower.Black Sabbath is seen as the originator of doom metal. After high school, Jono moved to Melbourne and Nathan moved to Geelong but they continued to play together in bands such as Honeytrap and Kashmere Club (the latter band worked with The Living End's Chris Cheney at one stage). It was while on tour in Tasmania with Honeytrap in 2011 that the seeds of what would become Dr Colossus were planted. Jono and Nathan joked about starting a "slow and sludgey" doom metal band and naming it something "ridiculous and cliched [like] Colossal or Monolith", to which Jono suggested "Why don't we name the band after Dr Colossus from The Simpsons?". "Well, why don't we just make all the songs about The Simpsons?" Nathan replied. A crazy idea was born.

Photo: That makes two of us: Jono Colliver (left) and Nathan Johnston employed their humour, musicality, and love of The Simpsons to create doom-metal band Dr Colossus. (Supplied: Dr Colossus) 'Wait a minute, this is just good heavy music' Jono remembered thinking two things about this idea. One, "that it would be really funny" and two, "that it would never see the light of day". He said over the next couple of years the notion of a Simpsons-themed doom-metal band refused to dislodge itself from their minds, so they eventually took it seriously or at least as seriously as one can take a Simpsons-themed doom-metal band. They recorded an EP called IV, so named because the subject matter came from season four, which featured three somewhat thinly veiled songs paying homage to Jono and Nathan's favourite TV show. The EP tapped into their shared musical preferences and sense of humour, and proved surprisingly popular, not only with fans of The Simpsons, but also fans of doom-metal. "There [were a lot] of people who didn't even realise it was Simpsons-related and didn't realise it was a joke," Jono said. "People [who] liked it thought 'Oh, this is just good heavy music' and then some people were like 'The Simpsons' gags, that drew me in'." Another seven-inch single followed, which was more overt in its references with one track's title coming from a direct quote from the show Shut Up And Eat Your Pinecone. But things really took off when another Simpsons-themed metal band the Ned Flanders-worshipping Okilly Dokilly went viral in a massive way, accidentally dragging Dr Colossus into the spotlight too. "We'd been playing shows, releasing music, being a normal, busy band, and around that [time a] band from Phoenix, Arizona, arrived on the internet in meme form, which was a picture of this band all dressed up like Ned Flanders and they were a 'nedal' band which was a heavy metal band [singing songs] all based on Ned Flanderisms," Jono said.

Photo: US metal band Okilly Dokilly, in all their Ned Flanders-inspired splendour. (Supplied: Okilly Dokilly) "Online just gobbled it up. "These guys had not only taken this similar concept, they'd accumulated millions of followers online in the space of a week and picked up pretty much every major music press and web blog. "We were like 'Awww, that sucks'. We thought that was our only chance and they've nabbed it from us." But Jono and Nathan hit upon a smart way to cash in on Okilly Dokilly's sudden fame, using an unrecorded song Dr Colossus had been playing live called Stupid Sexy Flanders. "Okilly Dokilly came onto the scene [and] the internet kinda blew up on a Friday the next day we were out at the studio [with producer Nic Pallett] and I said to Nic 'Tomorrow can we record a song?', so we recorded the song, mixed it in a day, and put it online that night," he said. "I wrote a press release for it saying 'Dr Colossus have released this track Stupid Sexy Flanders but it's not directly based on Okilly Dokilly'. "We implied there were accusations I kind of just invented this feud that wasn't there. "Our press release was saying 'there's no feud it just happens to be a song we released', which was all true." The Australian online music press lapped it up and began spreading the word about Dr Colossus. "Okilly Dokilly turned a lot of people on to us inadvertently," Jono said. "People who loved the idea of a metal band based on episodes of The Simpsons, they all clicked on those links to check out Okilly Dokilly, but I think they stuck around with us because we were actually creating a body of work at the time and we were playing shows we were a real band that I'd like to think you could have longevity with, and listenability beyond the gag. "That's no criticism of Okilly Dokilly because they were masters of what they did [but] their focus just wasn't as heavily on the music as we were, but yeah, it worked amazingly well it amassed a ton of listeners for us." Tragedy strikes This accidental burst in popularity put them in good stead to record their debut album. Jono and Nathan added a third member, bass player Mike Findlay, and started a crowdfunding campaign that easily eclipsed its target.

Photo: Dr Colossus as a three-piece, just prior to Johnston's death: Mike Findlay (left), Jono Colliver and Nathan Johnston. (Supplied: Dr Colossus) The resulting album, The Dank, attracted positive reviews and interest from a record label in Europe. And then, just as they were readying more gigs to launch the record and mailing out the rewards for the crowdfunding campaign, the unthinkable happened. Nathan died in his sleep, most likely from an aneurysm. He was about five months short of turning 30 and two months away from sharing his first wedding anniversary with his high school sweetheart and best friend Kate. Dr Colossus had played their final gig just days earlier at Cherry Bar in Melbourne. Nathan was remembered as a big man with a big heart who threw himself into his passions, whether it be motorcycles or music. Friends and fans flooded Dr Colossus' Facebook page with messages of disbelief and condolences, as well as sharing stories about their fond memories of Nathan. Jono, understandably, was devastated. "I was [thinking] the only way he really could die is in a fiery motorbike crash, but that didn't really make sense [because] he was at home and he was crook [so] I didn't think he'd be riding his motorbike, but for some reason that was the only thing in my mind that would have ever killed him exploding in a ball of flames on his motorbike," Jono said. "I was in disbelief. "I rang his partner Kate and I kinda knew as soon as her friend answered the phone the disbelief turned into instant and total agony. "The penny dropped that he had been feeling a bit ill and this reality just smashed me in the face. "I was in the process of posting out [album] orders so when Nathan passed away my whole house was filled with this record [staring] me in the face every day, illustrating this absence of him, of him not being able to share the record not being able to hear what people say about the record. "The timing of it was atrocious, no matter how you look at it. "He was far too young." A celebration of Nathan When a band loses a member, there is no rule book on what to do next. Amid the usual maelstrom of feelings that follow a death, Jono and bandmate Mike Findlay struggled with the sense there was "some unfinished business with Dr Colossus that Nath would have wanted to be finished". Eventually they called in one of Nathan's longtime friends and fellow Portland native Josh Eales to take the place behind the kit, as well as Jono's brother Joel as an extra guitarist and for moral support, with the idea of playing some tribute shows to honour Nathan's memory.

Photo: Get with the times, Moe: The new four-piece line-up of Dr Colossus will pay tribute to Johnston at two upcoming gigs. (Supplied: Dr Colossus) "We're all playing with Nath in our hearts and minds and we can feel him in the songs and the way those songs move," Jono said. "The main reason for doing it is we feel like we should it feels like it's a shame to let any opportunity for celebration in these situations to pass you by. "I just hope it will connect everyone around him more." He said the rehearsals had been going well and they hoped the tribute shows would be the start of a new chapter for Dr Colossus. "It feels healthy and healing to be doing it," Jono said. "It's a nice excuse for us, particularly Mike and I to be busy on a project that's so rich with memory that we can reminisce about and be close to those things that Nath did. "It's going to be a different band naturally, but that's cool, that's fine, that's good Nath will always be an absentee member." The "Dr Colossus Honour Nathan Johnston" gigs will take place at Cherry Bar in Melbourne on April 28 and the Barwon Club in Geelong on June 8. All profits will go to Edgar's Mission, an animal rescue charity that was close to Nathan's heart. Topics:music,arts-and-entertainment,music-industry,rock,death,community-and-society,grief,television,portland-3305,warrnambool-3280,melbourne-3000,geelong-3220 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-21/simpsons-band-dr-colossus-death-tribute/9670186

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