#kinda. one of those ''filler'' scenes

[darabeatha]

 /  I am once again coming to say two words; mocte supremacy

[starz-n-stuff]

Okay so I just managed to finish watching the new live action ATLA series and all I see is people getting mad about changes and this and that but I’m here to talk about my FAVOURITE change made.

The 41st division that Zuko saved being his crew on the ship. I L o v e that to no end. Just the fact that Zuko saved their lives entirely and yeah they’re kinda banished with him but they would be dead otherwise and ahhhh my gods it’s amazing. I think it’s an amazing addition to the story and I’m glad it was put there.

Sure I didn’t agree with some of the other changes but keeping in mind that it’s difficult to adapt cartoon to live action and that a lot of the original episodes when the show was coming out were fillers I think they did well including as much as they could even if it was put in the background. Like that one pub scene you can hear a patron mention that the avatar defeated the canyon crawlers or something along those lines.

Cabbage man was incredible as always 🥬✨

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - All's Quiet on the BL Front

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

May 2024 Wk 3

Ongoing Series - Thai

Wandee Godday (Sat YT) ep 3 of 12 - I love how were getting a solid depiction of two queers just genuinely enjoying sex with each other. That’s actually rare in BL. In this case, it manages to also be weirdly adorable and cute.

Dee is such a tease. I guess Y likes a brat? 

LOOK at those bedroom eyes!

Linguistics corner: when these two are being serious, sweet, or flirty with each other they use rao/nai which is kind of old fashioned and charming and not common in BL. They move pretty seamlessly into gu/mueng and back depending on the style of convo, tho. It's FUN to hear them talk.

Let the fake relationship commence!

My Stand-In (Thai Fri iQIYI) ep 4 of 12 eps - I HAVE THOUGHTS. I'm really enjoying the sinister backbone of this show. I hope they have the courage of their convictions in that regard and lean into a kind of sexy evil revenge narrative. It was a pleasure to watch the break up and I do not want a redemption arc for Ming or a romance for us. Fuck 'em, let’s just ride a revenge train, okay Joe baby?

That’s said, I totally sniffled at the ending scene where Ming (for two years!) has been paying penance cooking for two and waiting alone. Excellent pathos. Now, I understand how they're gonna make this a full 12 eps. And I’m excited about it. Carry on!

We Are (Weds iQIYI) ep 7 of 16 - I wasn't a fan of Winny & Satang in My School President but I'm loving them in this. The thing with Q, Toey, and Chain had me hooting with laughter. I think I’m finally just easing into the relaxed absurdity of this show. The key is not to expect anything from it. Just them being tiny gay idiots.

Two Worlds (iQIYI) ep 10 fin - Someday I’d like to really enjoy a MaxNat show, but today was not that day. (I feel like ever since Between Us I’ve been generally disenchanted with established OG pairs and what they’re bringing to the table. Perhaps that’s a discussion for another day. Cherry Magic excepted, of course.) 

OK, so this final episode, they sure tried to fit a lot in. But that made the pacing better for me. So I kinda liked this weird cliff notes resolution to the story.

In conclusion:

MaxNat do a credible job with a messy script about parallel worlds, gangsters, and strange diseases cured by forest fruits. It sounds confusing because it is. The chemistry is excellent the side pair is entirely forgotten about, and one could drive a Tardis through the plot holes. Still, I found it modestly enjoyable if not at all rewatchable. 7/10 

Only Boo! (Sun YouTube) ep 6 of 12 - I do love how bold and brash Moo is. He’s truly a great character, such an utter outgoing sunshine puppy focused on his pursuit of his older boy. I'm charmed by his utter harmlessness. They gave us a sweet coming out scene, and an awesome supportive mom. Frankly GMMTV has a good track record with moms. (With a few noted exceptions, of course.)

That said, I do keep forgetting this is a GMMTV offering. It just doesn't FEEL GMMTV. Just me?

OMG Vampire (Thai Sun ????) ep 1 of 10 - Starts tomorrow, will report on sitch next week. LeeFrank are back - not unlike the undead. But how do we feel about it? Unsure given their track record.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

At 25:00 in Akasaka AKA 25 Ji Akasaka de (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 5 of 10 - I like it. I like our sulky 2nd lead. He’s pouty, adorable, brash, and adding some much-needed tension to this narrative. The blurring lines between show within a show is a lot of fun. Probably the best I've seen done in BL so far.

Living With Him AKA Kare no Iru Seikatsu (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 6 of 10 - I like that we got backstory, but we also sort of already knew it. So this ep felt a bit like filler. They are wonderful when they’re on screen together but when they aren't it's a bit dull. I hope we just get them together for the next 4 eps. But this is Japan, so I doubt it.

Blossom Campus (Korea Thurs Gaga & iQIYI) ep 1 of 6 - The image resolution on this show (via Iqiyi ) is terrible. Meanwhile, awkward crush. Jock nerd pairing. Dorky. Maybe a bit too much awkward/dorky for me? I'm not sold on this one.

Meanwhile the ordering then not eating or drinking of food continues. Very upsetting.

Boys Be Brave (Korea Viki) eps 5-8fin - This show was just never sure what it wanted to be. Slacker sunshine KiSub moves in with nerd JinWoo, mostly because he knows JinWoo likes him but won't confess and that's never happened to him before. It reminded me of some earlier KBLs like Behind Cut, yes is had bones but not much flesh, so it only just hung together and progressed through not very much plot in a jerking rattling fashion like an animated skeleton. All the story and chemistry was with the side couple and none of the screen time. That just annoyed me. What did this BL want to BE? Who tf knows. I, for one, don’t care, and resolve to think no more on it. 6/10 

Blue Boys (Korea Sat YouTube) - This ended at 4 eps on a cliffhanger. Since this is a very small studio I don’t have a lot of faith in there being a part two. But they have bundled both this BL, and the GL, bingable chunks on YT. So if you want to binge it, it’s there. Just be aware that it ends on a cliffhanger.

My thoughts?

Promising reunion romances full of class and coming out struggles but I grade with what we got, not on expectations, and you know I HATE a cliffhanger. So yeah, it HAD promise but as of now it gets a 4/10 - fatally flawed. I reserve the right to change my mind if they amend for damages.

It's airing but...

You Made My Day (Thai YT) ep 1 of 5 - mini series staring the I Will Knock You couple Tar & Bom, started but I couldn't find it. I also didn't try very hard.

Lady Boy Friends (Thai WeTV grey) 16 eps - reminds me a bit too much of Diary of Tootsies only high school. Not my thing. DNF unless it turns a corner and is truly amazing.

A Balloon's Landing (Taiwan movie) trailer - A frustrated Hong Kong writer, Tian Yu, meets a Taipei street gangster, Xiang (Fandy Fan from HIStory2: Crossing the Line), and the two of them embark on a journey to find the Bay of Vanishing Whales. Along the way, they discover unexpected twists and turns and close bonds, which brings out the message that "there is always someone like you in this world who is waiting for you. This released to cinemas in Taiwan, no word on international release.

In case you missed it

A really really thorough and fascinating article on 2 Moons 2 and what happened.

Next Week Looks Like This:

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

May Releases

VBL (Taiwan) is releasing 4 'Special Episode' epilogues to their 4 2023 shows every Friday this month on Gagaoolala, Viki & Viu. Not sure on search terms or how to find these. (Or, frankly, if we need them.)

5/10 – You Are Mine

5/17 – VIP Only

5/24 – Stay By My Side

5/31 – Anti Reset

5/25 The Time of Fever AKA Unintentional Love Story 2 (Korea movie) trailer - HoTae & DongHee are back but unfortunately not in a cinema near me. Side couple from Unintentional Love Story, same actors, same character names. I love them. I NEED TO SEE THIS.

5/28 My Biker 2 (Thai movie YT?) - trailer

5/30 Knock Knock Boys (Thai Thurs WeTV) - I'm hoping I can get it elsewhere since my WeTV account is inactive, but I do love Best and I'm interested in seeing him in a new pairing. That said, I'm not wild about Seng... so I won't be too cut up if I can't get hold of this. More here.

5/31 The Time of Huannan (Taiwan movie) - May not be BL

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

I'm a sucker for this king of casual claiming. (Only Boo)

It me! (Wandee Goodday)

(Last week)

Streaming services are listed by how I (usually) watch, which is with a USA based IP, and often offset by a day because time zones are a pain.

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire @sunflower-positiiivity @mestizashinrin @bl-bam-beyond @small-dark-and-delicious

If ya wanna be tagged each week leave a comment and I will add you to the template. Easy peesy.

[satcrvz]

CHAPTER SEVEN: did he make you giggle?

navi

this is kinda filler sorry guys . . . very short written part after the 6th photo

"yuuji and nobara stop oh my god" you laugh.

you were laying on your bed before your three friends barge in and start making fun of how nervous you were around yuta. the acting was mostly yuuji and nobara, but megumi added the occasional comment, not wanting to miss out on this opportunity.

"oh my god you're soooo cute i want to kiss you so bad!" yuuji does a very bad impression that sounds nothing like you.

you throw your hands up in defeat, "i never said that?" megumi chimes in, "we know you, you definitely thought it". to any normal person, that being anyone who wasn't yuuji, nobara, or megumi, it wouldn't seem like you're all that nervous. but because you'd been friends with them so long, it seemed like they had a tendency to know exactly what your thoughts were.

"i just know you wanted your little pottery moment", nobara's referring to those scenes in movies where the guy puts his hands over the girls to guide them. was she wrong? probably not. "whatever! so what if i did? let me dream"

the teasing goes from the stream, to what they think you were like at ihop. megumi plays a waiter, nobara does yuta, and yuuji unfortunately took the honors of mimicking you again.

after a certain point of watching them fool around you banished them from your room. you grab your pillow and scream into it giggling at the events of today.

. . .

I'm so sorry guys 😭 once the weekend hits, I literally take a break from EVERYTHING. i did mean to update yesterday, but i was consumed by sleep.

this is kind of a filler chapter, which is on me because of the way i ended the last one. next one, i will deliver trust

tags: @k4romis @soy-garbage @sakyira @dreamxiing @swissy23 @shnzies @captaincyberqueen @fantasycantasy @chuyasthighs0 @mixzimi @milza12 @nahoye @spookyrule @4phskingdom @sad-darksoul @morgyyyyyy @smashingdollz @lunavixia @gaychaosgremlin @jayathelostdragon @h3xi2g0n3 @lysaray

[rowanraven08]

Unsolicited tma rant no one asked for:

I’ve been thinking a bit about exactly what makes me like the Magnus archives so much, cause I’m not really into horror anthology. Yeah, it’s a good aspect of the genre, but it’s never really caught my interest that much. And I consider myself a fan of horror, but I don’t actually like that many horror movies that much. I like it as a genre, and watching video essays about it, about how different horror affects us, that sort of thing. Horror doesn’t even make me scared usually. I’ll flinch at jump scares of course, but it’s pretty rare that I’m watching a horror movie and be genuinely afraid of the murderer or demon or whatever’s on screen.

Tma even took me a while to get into. I started it maybe in October or November? And it took me until January to get even a dozen episodes in. It was good, but I was really just waiting until it got to the good bits that made everyone love it so much. I knew there was some sort of meta plot, and had a cannon gay ship, that was all I knew when I started, and the reason I kept on with it. I hate to say it, but if I didn’t know even that, I don’t think I would have listened to more than a couple episodes, because short self contained stories isn’t what I’m interested in. Especially when there’s a magic Latin book and a coffin with knocking (I thought it would be a vampire or something) or some weird thing luring people into alleys to kill them. I took those early episodes to be generic devil worship sort of horror, that the weird details were added in just to add to the spook. That’s something that tends to bother me with horror movies, when there’s all this dark magic just for the sake of dark magic, and ends with this big question or realization that can’t be solved. And I do understand ending movies with something the audience can’t understand, because the mystery and strangeness can add to the horror. But I really dislike this, I’m all cool with hard or impossible to understand endings, don’t get me wrong, but when there’s no way to theorize, no dots to start connecting, I find that really frustrating. A good example (I can’t find what movie it is, so if someone know lmk) is a movie with the classic family moves into large old house, creepy basement, with satanic sort of imagery. I did actually like most of it, the stairs to the basement were normal, until there was a ball knocked down them when the light was off, and you could hear it keep going far longer than the actual staircase was. That these stairs kept going for who knows how long when the light is off. What I didn’t like was the end, where we got to see what was at the bottom of these endless stairs, and there’s long lines of people in this void, just standing there. But there was no explanation for this, no way to start theorizing as to what this could be, why it happens.

This is what I thought TMA was gonna be. Each episode never really ended with an explanation, or a way to theorize (early on) and I thought it would stay that way. I remember in January I was finally listening to more on a plane ride, and got to ep22, Martin’s statement about Jane Prentiss. It wasn’t even this specific episode that got me interested, not fully. I did like the worms, description of Jane prentiss, all that but it was when I kinda realized there was something to theorize about, that there was actually something going on behind the scenes. And it kept me listening. It was a bit frustrating how slow the season seemed to go, because I wanted to know what the worms were about, and I admit I rushed through a few episodes, again, thinking they were just filler short stories to break apart the real meat of it. The episode I think that really sealed the deal was strange music, specifically the bit between Sasha and Jon, I wasn’t too interested in creepy clown dolls, but that silly little debate over how to pronounce calliope was honestly charming. Like “oh, these characters aren’t gonna be overdramatized horror movies characters, at least not too much.” Once I got to the season 1 finale I was obsessed and basically finished the rest in two or three weeks (I listened to the last 120 episode in a single week).

And good lord Jonny I am SO SORRY I DOUBTED YOU. Because none of it was creepy books or creepy dolls or weird coffins for the hell of it, you weren’t actually left with no idea of what the ending meant. You just had to listen to Jon as he because paranoid and pulled out the red string, pulling all the pieces together for you until we finally got the big picture. I never once expected the fears, or avatars, or that Robert smirk was anything but a weird architecture, that Jonah Magnus was anything but a stuffy old man who founded the institute. And that’s why I think I love TMA so much, is there really is a big satisfying pay out as a listener, I didn’t even put the dots together myself and it’s still gratifying. The slow realization that these episodes aren’t just horror for the sake of horror, they have a reason, an explanation, and it still manages to keep a level of mystery and unknowability that makes you just always want to know more. Re-listening has been genuinely so fun, because especially with later episodes I’m able to connect those dots, and see the full picture as it unravels. The thing in the dark alley wasn’t targeting smokers to be spooky, it was a monster collecting victims to use in a ritual, and that addiction is part of the web.

So yeah, that was probably really redundant, but I just really love that slow reveal, all the little bits you can connect, and theories you can make. Jonathan Sims forgive me for ever doubting your writing, I see now you’re a genius, please give me your brain, I need it for my own creativity. Thanks for coming to my ted talk

[66sharkteeth]

Weekly thoughts on this week's episode-

I dunno. Just kinda sad about this one. I really thought this was gonna be kind of a big episode with the big reunion and stuff? People have been asking for Rex and Shnee reunion since pretty much beginning of this season. I spent a lot of extra time on this episode to try and make it kind of special and it was extra long too. But it ended up getting less likes and comments than the last episode which WAS an actual kind of filler episode. I'm afraid I fumbled it or something. I wanted to make something kind of nice and emotional but I guess I just didn't do it w/ this one.

As for more notes on the actual ep... Finally went back to those dog comments I told people to put a pin in a while ago. It was important for me to address that Desmond wasn't excluded from that school of thought. Desmond's been kind of the representation for internalized hate for most of this series, and this ep was supposed to be a bit of a wake up call for him with Rex pointing it out.

That's all this week. Next week is Jericho stuff, and I know people check out when it's not focused on the main cast, but I don't feel like people were really into this one either so... dunno. i there's some really huge scenes coming up and i hope people are interested again by then.

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

Avatar: The Last Airbender Live Action Thoughts!

-First of all, ya'll need to leave those child actors alone, they are babies and they didn't write the show, nor was it their idea to do it. I have seen way too many people body shaming children; leave them alone they all did well!

-I think Gordon makes Aang just as cute and small and powerful as I always saw him as!! He manages to joke around and be fun even when the storyline is a lot darker and more serious.

-I really wish Sokka was able to be more of his goofy and silly self. I understand why he isn't, and his humor is more sarcasm and dark jokes, but I saw glimpses of him in there! His excitement when he was with the Mechanist, engineering and getting to do something other than be in charge. Also when he has any older brother convo with Katara or Aang. I'm hopeful with time he'll be able to loosen up!

-(Speaking of the Mechanist, my boy Danny Pudi was SO GOOD, I love him, him and his little son).

-I wish Aang would practice waterbending with Katara :( those scenes of them practicing together were always some of my favorites in the series. Just beautiful kataang moments. I'm glad they addressed it but I missed those moments.

-I don't understand how you guys can't be having fun watching this, I get so excited waiting for little moments of lore, or when Jet and Katara were fighting in the forest I was sitting in front of the TV like "WHERE'S SMELLERBEE AND LONGSHOT. OH MY GOD NO IT'S PIPSQUEAK!" It's just so much fun! The colors are beautiful, the effects are gorgeous, and the plot and characters are entertaining. Think about the piece as it's own thing and enjoy it!

-Adaptations are just that; adaptations, and things will be changed! I think so far I haven't minded their changes, I understand why they've been made. There are things to criticize, but I think this is pretty well done.

-Zuko is fantastic; I think all the child actors are fairly good but Dallas' pissy attitude and the faces he makes are so so fun! I feel for Zuko and I'm scared of him when he shows up, and he's just as annoying and bratty as ponytail Zuko should be. His physical motions are fantastic!

-TEO WAS SO LITTLE?? Oh my god, like as a kid I thought the cartoon version of him was kinda hot so when they wheeled that tiny baby in I was HORRIFIED.

-Idk why YOU ALL weren't scared of Lizzy Yu's Azula, but her little smile in her intro scene gave me a lil chill. Maybe it's because I was away when the show first came out so I saw post after post about how bad she was, but I just.... Thought she'd be worse?? She did really well! Ya'll better be careful though or Gaten Matarazzo will come for you, that's his girl.

-So far the mushing of plots has made sense to me. Yes, I miss the silly filler episodes and the traveling the Gaang did, but it allows us to sit in a scene longer, and to colorize the world better, when we're in one place and one plot for longer. I think that's important for this type of medium and this amount of episodes. They might be able to justify more next season if this show does well enough.

-I am OBSESSED with Zuko and the 41st division oh my god, what a fantastic and well thought out addition. The reveal, and they're bowing for him when he comes back was DEVASTATING.

-They we're GIVING us Sokka and Katara best sibling moments, I loved all of them. They are so cute, they just mean so much to me.

-I don't feel Appa or Momo as characters like I did in the cartoon. I'm hoping this can change, because rn they surprise me every time they get on screen. I'm like "WHAT- oh it's Momo, he's here." How are we going to feel Appa's loss as much as we did in the cartoon if they continue to like barely be in it.

-Ken Leung SLAYED as Admiral Zhao, I watched him go literally insane as the episodes went on.

-Aang's imposter syndrome and feeling of failure being focused on I will always enjoy, even if I hope he can be silly next season too. His entire character arc this season just made me want to cry.

-Bro the coloring during the the Siege of the North was A M A Z I N G. The way the color faded in and out with fireballs and the monster koi passing nearby, just so pretty. It looked awesome.

-Making Yue a waterbender? The best. Her freezing Sokka in place so he can't stop her? Heartbreaking.

-Iroh and Zuko paddling off looking for bestie Lt. Jee?? Okay.

-They really grew this show up for us adults that watched it in 2005 and focused in on the really painful moments, themes, and details.

[valc0]

Hannibal rewatch and Baldur's Gate 3 ramblings

I recently re-watched the first season of Hannibal after almost 8 years and since I’m now deep into another fandom (BG3) I analyzed some of the themes of the show and how parts of it could tie in with the story of the game, particularly when it comes to the Dark Urge.

I’m also doing a review because why the hell not. I divided the text into sections for convenience, so if you want to read only the review or are exclusively interested in my speculating ramblings on BG3 you can easily do that.

It’s a long one so let’s start.

REVIEW

THIS REVIEW IS NOT SPOILER FREE AND WILL GO INTO GREAT DETAILS ABOUT THE TWISTS AND PLOT POINTS OF THE SHOW.

If you didn’t watch it and you like thriller/crime/horror please do yourself a favor and watch this show now!

I’ll start by saying season one, to me, is almost perfection. It’s 13 very well crafted and acted episodes and almost none feel like filler (almost but we’ll get to it). The crime of the week structure is integrated with the horizontal themes of the season seamlessly and the story avoids exploring too many parallel plots, making the theming very cohesive.

I remember watching this show for the first time and finishing season 1 in about 2 to 3 days, but I’d never think the same would’ve happened a second time. The first 5 episodes had me in a clutch from the start. Every character is fleshed out and extremely well written, the acting is impeccable, the writing is phenomenal and the visual, even when getting symbolic, never seem gratuitous or nonsensical in their use of analogies and dream-like visions.

The photography is also phenomenal, with great use of contrast that makes the image and scene clear even though it's set in the dark or at night.

If I had to rate the season I think I’d definitely give it a 9/10, and the 9 is only because of two small things that I figured I’d get out of the way first:

(I must remember whoever is reading this that these are my opinions, they don’t mean to offend anyone else differing opinion. You’ll see what I mean in a second.)

Alana Bloom x Will Graham is forced, comes out of nowhere, and makes Will act out of character most of the times.

I’m not getting into ship-fighting, this is not about shipping, I like Hannigram but I have no dog in this fight so this is totally not about it. Episode 8 is great, it has one of the best kills in the whole season and Will deteriorating stability makes for great lines and visuals, other than a lot of tension since he can no longer be predictable and ends up disrupting Hannibal plans.

And though I could attribute the way he acts towards Alana as something he does because of this deteriorating mental state, it doesn’t really feel like it. He seems very present during those scenes and acts weirdly romantic for the reclusive stray-collector, whose primary hobby is fishing and who’s been plagued by visions of death in the past episodes.

I would have rather see them to grow more of a non-romantric connection that may or may not have become romantic in later seasons. It all seems a bit rushed imo.

I also know they are setting up the Alana x Will x Hannibal. Which I’ll be honest I don’t remember liking the first time I watched it...but we’ll see.

2. Episodes 9 and 11 slow the show and kind of drag the pace.

Episodes 9. The totem of bodies is a very striking and memorable visual, but the crime in itself is very bland and the killer only gets a 5 minute scene towards the end which is anticlimactic and kinda too much tell with too little show. It’s honestly a shame because the murders in the previous episodes were very well crafted and paced. This one, not so much. I understand the need to connect the themes of “legacy” and “family” with Abigail’s actions but I feel like there could have been better ways to do that in previous episodes.

Episodes 11. I loved the whole Chesapeake Ripper fake-out, but I’ll be honest I don’t think I needed a whole other episode of Abel Gideon’s story. Didn’t really care for the plot of this and the pace was a little too slow. Good things about this episode are the ending with Hannibal at his most manipulative, and the fact that it starts Chilton’s comedic chain of misfortunes– which cracked me up the first time I watched the show because come on!! this guy is awful and can’t catch a break, you love to see it.

Now that the “bad” is out of the way let’s talk about the good, which is honestly everything else.

Episode 1

Banger of a pilot. Everything for the rest of the show is set up in only 42 minutes if you can believe that. Characters are fleshed out, themes are placed, conflicts are started. By the end of the episode all you want is MORE. I have very little else to say other than the pacing of this one should honestly be studied, a lot of modern series would need the lesson imo.

Episode 2

Interesting case with a lot of great scenes that reinforce the characters and their relationships. You get a first glance at how campy? the show can be, which is honestly something I love, I’m kinda tired of the “realistic to the point of boredom” trend I’ve been seeing lately. Freddie Lounds is properly introduced as the disrupting force she is and we get a jumpscare that made me curse. Sorry, did I forget to mention I’m watching Hannibal and I cannot stand horror? Lmao

Episode 3

LOVE this episode, the way this show makes you feel powerless as you watch the events unfold knowing full well what is happening and who is responsible...amazing! I love Abigail’s character and the very innocent and pristine way she is portrayed when you know later on the truth will come out is chilling.

Episode 4

I remember how grim I found this episode the first time and the feeling returned the second time around. Hated the killer with every fiber of my being and the fact that she kinda looks like Catherine Tate made me die a little. Also the scene of Hannibal making himself a family through gaslighting and creative use of drugs and lies was amazing.

Episode 5

I loved this crime and the way the episode paces the killings. The angel symbology was great, I’m a sucker for catholic and religious themes tied into vicious crimes. The series also introduces Bella, Jack’s wife, which I’ll be honest I don’t remember having a good ending...I don't remember exactly how, but I know I will cry.

Episode 6

Favorite episode by far, the tension in the flashback scene is palpable and when you see Miriam looking at the sketch with the silhouette of Hannibal pacing towards her in the background AAAHGGG- RUN Miriam OMG! This is the episode where you realize how absolutely scary Hannibal’s physicality can be. Mads Mikkelsen is 1,83 (5ft 11) but he feels like a giant in those scenes, like you can do shit about it.

Episode 7

The episode’s case is a botched transplant one and it’s just okay, nothing too spectacular, but the way this series makes me hungry should be concerning, since I just watched Hannibal kill and butcher people who slightly wronged him to make a feast out of them. I’m sorry, whoever is directing the shooting of the food is doing a good job, okay?

Episode 8

My second favorite episode yay! I love this kill because it’s so over the top. Also the visual of a person played like a cello is haunting just as much as the sound they decided to give it. “He had to open you up to get a decent sound out of you.” okay Will go off?!?! A bit sad they took this murder from Hannibal since I believe it was his in the books, but the end fight was worth it (though when Tobias started swinging his impromptu cello string weapon I did cackle because omfg calm down)

Episode 9

See section above

Episode 10

I shat myself watching this episode with all the horror vibes I’m dying please, I’m watching this through my fingers like a baby. I did love this episode though, and the final twist of Hannibal going to such lengths to be sure he leaves NO ONE behind is terrifying. Dr. Sutcliffe even agreed with him and didn’t show signs of wanting to betray or rat him out, and yet in the big scheme Hannibal still found it better to kill him. Scary stuff.

Episode 11

See section above

Episode 12-13

Putting these together because they are the finale and are closely linked to each other. There is no real “crime of the week”, though Georgia Madchen dies at the start of episode 12 and Abigail...dies at the start of episode 13. Will continuously declining psyche is very well portrayed, you really feel powerless with him as his brain keeps betraying him over and over at the worse possible times. Also Hannibal fake-empathy is so uncomfortable to me...knowing the lengths he’d go to manipulate the situation after seeing all the “behind the scenes” is chilling. All in all it’s a good finale though it really doesn’t feel like one. By the end Will managed to see Hannibal’s true colors, but I don’t think he’ll fully understand what he’s fighting against until he actually sees Hannibal in action, so it does feel inconclusive in a way. We do get Hannibal funny naked fursona is all its glory though so, big happy for me!

Now let’s get in my current fixation and tie in some of the themes of Hannibal with Baldur’s Gate 3. YAY!

BALDUR’S GATE 3 – Dark Urges, Bad Dreams and Worse Influences

Let’s get something out of the way first.

The Dark Urge is a very flexible and versatile character which is mostly – if not completely– shaped by the player. We get to decide if they refuse the Urge, with the bittersweet realization they still took all those lives and will have to deal with that guilt. OR we could make them machines of slaughter and death, embracing their father’s plan for them to be the killer they were made to become.

There are other variations of this and from what I’ve seen many Durges have very different characteristics depending on how the player interpreted and played the game.

This to say, all of the following dissertations on BG3 and the themes of Hannibal are my personal view of MY Durge or the way I see the character in general, which is extremely personal and could crash with someone else’s interpretation or headcanon. Keep that in mind while reading, if you see me using absolutes or if I forget an “imo” at the end of a sentence, remember this is ALL In my opinion, none of this is to be considered as a general and all-encompassing statement for every Durge out there.

That said, you’ll be surprised to know in my interpretation the Dark Urge isn’t Hannibal, what’s funny is that the Dark Urge isn’t Will either.

Durge is both characters at the same time, and depending where they are in their journey, this may change.

In the case of Will, towards the end of the series you get a more “start of the game” Durge. The memory loss, the confusing thoughts, the haunting dreams and then this weird hellish creature (Sceleritas Fel) guiding them. By this point Durge is still a victim of their circumstances, they can’t really grasp who or what they are and their mind is in complete shambles.

I can see a Resist!Durge in this scenario, someone completely horrified by their actions starting to question who they are, what they did, and if they can ever change. This point in the game isn’t spelled out as much, the narrator often refers to it but the real extent of psychological damage a Resist!Durge must face is left completely to the player’s interpretation, that’s why I think Will is such a great starting point to understand and visualize the character of Durge from a distant POV.

With Hannibal you get a more pre-tadpole pre-Orin-meddling Durge. Someone who knows what they’re doing and how to get what they want. I personally never saw my own Durge as this calculating, something in the feral way the Urge gets to the character in game made Hannibal a tad too composed to fully be an inspiration for Durge, but I’ve also seen other people Durges as cool and collected killers, and the comparison in that case works really well.

Another interesting characteristic of Hannibal we can see in Durge is the twisted way he thinks in relation to others. Hannibal calls himself Will’s friend, and I believe he’s genuine in his affection since the way he helps Will is in done in earnest.

This helping though, it’s monstrous in all sense. Hannibal lies, literally gaslights Will, meddles with his head and denies him medical help. He manipulates him into killing, only to watch what unfolds simply because he needs someone who understands him. By dragging Will deeper into his world and making him a killer, Hannibal cultivates what he perceives as Will’s true nature and potential, making the man a suitable friend for himself.

It speaks to Hannibal narcissism that he would consider helping someone as making them more like him. But then again that’s also why Hannibal is so drawn towards Will, because he thinks differently and he IS different from him. He doesn’t have the same amount of interest or even respect for someone like Tobias, who’s probably the most Hannibal-like killer we get to see in season 1.

He needs the challenge, he needs to feel in control. And ultimately, though not in an usual sense, Hannibal needs a friend. He is lonely.

This works a lot for Durge in the sense that they may or may not corrupt people around them. As a player we get the choice and power to influence how companions act and react, and this kind of duality of “I like them, I want to help them” and “I want to make them like me” is a good motivation to give a Durge who may, for example, ascent Astarion, or turn Shadowheart more towards Shar, or give Gale a power complex (more so than he already has) ect.

BONUS! And then came Durgetash

In episode 1 Hannibal visits Will and brings him breakfast. While they chat in a honestly beautifully lit scene, this exchange happens.

Hannibal: You know, Will, I think Uncle Jack sees you as a fragile little teacup. The finest china, used only for special guests. Will: How do you see me? Hannibal: The mongoose I want under the house when the snakes slither by.

Did I mention I love Durgetash? Did I mention I go completely feral over unhealthy dynamics and specifically this kind of dynamic?

“The mongoose I want under the house when the snakes slither by.” is an amazing line for Gortash because I do believe the reason he wanted Durge to side with him was that Durge was extremely good at being undetected, and even more so skilled at killing the right target at the right time.

I love the idea of Gortash using Durge as a shield/weapon, and Durge using Gortash to economically sustain and socially shield Bhaal’s cult. I love to think their relationship was born because they were useful to each other and that in this completely selfish ecosystem they somehow found company.

Because I’m sure Durge pushed back. I’m sure they realized they were being used and didn’t like it one bit, and Gortash kept Durge around even though they may pose a threat, for the same reason Hannibal keeps running circles around Will. Gortash needs a challenge. Being head of Bane’s cult means that other than his God, no one else is above him, and I think a man who’s been fighting his whole life to gain control would feel a bit lost when this control is automatically given to him without a fight.

In the same way I think Durge would yearn for something more, something different than what they’re stuck with, which is a dying cult forced to hide beneath the city, and a jealous and over-zealous sister who I’m sure tries to kill them once a week. I think they would get pulled in by the promises Gortash would make. To rule together, above ground, for once not having to hide, getting back the power Durge feels like belongs to them.

The similarities I found between these characters are way more than these but I think I’ll have to make a part 2 of this once I’m done re-watching season 2. I’m aware the series has been out for a while and I’m sure people already made way more interesting and in-depth analysis. I still hope you liked my little morning ramble that turned in a full on essay on the subject.

Thank you for reading!

[10underoot2]

I finally rewatched Queen of Tears Episode 16.

Its given me a lot of clarity on why I didn't like it all that much. The episode feels very filler like, reiterating what I already know, no development nothing to draw me in. So here's a list of thing I really like vs things I had beef with: 

The Good:

- Hyunwoo's understanding of what marriage is is very profound and beautiful. Really appreciate that bit.

- The employees in this corporate sector have been 10/10 throughout. I cannot with how much I love them to bits. Still not over 'I just want to see the rich argue' 😭😂

- Yangi's bond with Hyunwoo is absolutely 10/10 

- I like Haein trying to find the reason of their divorce. It's important for her cause why did two people who love each other want to divorce each other. But again I hate how this wasn't a main cause of comcern around epsidoe 7. Like don't brush over it fam. Don't you wanna know why the man you love and who loved you to bits wanted to divorce you?

- Those last 7-8 mins. Though I wish I had more of them. I needed a linear passing of time. Something like the Germany Montage at the start would've been perfect. But at the very end just 'Way home' playing, Hyunwoo seeing Haein as an angel to pick him up, the familiar happiness and love just spreading around them was beautiful to witness. Really got me teary eyed both times I watched it. 

The Bad: 

- I'm not even getting into the uselessness and bad execution of the whole Yoon Eun Sung plot line since episode 14. 

- Still have no idea why Mol Soo Hee she wanted Suwan dead? Like there's no rationale? Why not kill Hae-in or SeoCheol in all those 20 years as well? It makes no sense to me.

- the episode felt so unnecessarily dramatic. I get it he got shot and was in a car accident but I was so sure he'd be okay? Did not understand or appreciate the over dramaticness also those Yangi shots in that sequence were a little tooo dramatic for me

- I don't like Haein getting back her memories cause they said the hippocampus would be destroyed. It's my fault for looking for logic in the first place but can we please stick to what we established writernim. Also wasn't this the whole problem that she's not getting back ANY memories EVER?!

- The scene between the mothers at this point was also unnecessary. We could've gotten to this realization back in the episode this was brought up the first time. She knew the location and date I don't see how reviewing her album was the light bulb moment.

- I feel super bad for this one but for me even Hae-in's bedside speech, once Hyunwoo woke up, lacked sincerity. As much as she might realize she loves him. He's still a stranger. Who does she miss? Her husband who's love she has no recollection of? The man she loved but she has no idea how she loved him? Take out the loss of memories and it would've hit me like a truck. Like she's not even holding his hand as she waits cause she recently met him. What am supposed to cry over here? What could've been? The pre ep 15 Baekhong I dearly misssed at this point?

- More on the Hyunwoo hospital scene. When he says 'I had forgotten' As sweet as it is I already knew all of it. It was so ill placed I didn't have to see it here.  Also like what does she care? She doesn't remember if you forgot or not in the first place 💀

- The Yangi x Haeina acene in the hospital - what notebook are we talking about? Did I miss something? Did I fall asleep somewhere like what?! Also I feally do like Yangi but I thought all of the scenes with him were kinda forced this episode.

- The conversations where Haein tells Hyunwoo he's perfect. Is it just me or is Haein extremely expressive after the surgery? I can never imagine Haein telling Hyunwoo that he's perfect even if she think so. It was a little off putting for me being introduced to this new character in the last episode. I miss my inexpressible power girl.

- Just the voice over off what happened with Mol Soo Hee would've sufficed but I guess we had to see that SNU degree in action. 

- The turn in Da hye's emotion - as sweet as it was also felt forced. They just showed me earlier she didn't care for him and bullied him. Now you want me to belive she mistook her feeling okay sureeee 🙃

- This is what meant by killing the temperment. They start Hyunwoo's monolougue 'We forgave those who we used to resent and then we cut to this long scene of Aunt Beom ja. Then we have Hyunwoo, then we have his brother's scene. The editing was off here. I wish we had a monologue of just them. It all threw me off so much.

And here's why a sequence of Baekhong was so necessary cause remember the first episode we instantly fall in love and get curious because of that lovely montage of BaekHong Germany scenes. 

All in all good ending, horrible last two epsiode. Kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. It makes me long so much for the show I saw and fell in love with before. I have never felt this way about a last episode, I think I just expected better from this show. 

[zoeykallus]

How do you feel abt the finale? Will you be writing again?🤍

I will be writing again, in fact I'm working on it right now. I still have a lot of catching up to do in the request section, as well as continuing my fics. How do I feel about the TBB finale...? Oh gosh... Well, I can tell you, as much as I love them, as much as I would have loved to see more seasons, the ending of season three was such a disappointment to me. There was so much wasted/unused potential that it downright hurt/frustrated me. Some things felt more like fillers than plot relevant. And as much as I loved to see certain things going on, some just simply angered me.

SPOILER UNDER THE CUT!!!

The following is just my perception, my opinion. It's totally fine if anyone, reading this, thinks and feels different about it. To each their own... I'm usually not that critical about TBB, never have been. But this was the ending, the goodbye, the part where everything comes to a close.

There was such a build up and hints for Tech to be CX 2, partly. Maybe a lot of it was wishful thinking by the viewer, but still. They could have made them reveal, after he was killed, that it was Tech, for example, or reveal it first and still make them fight, leaving them no choice but to kill. There was so much missed potential right there, for real emotion and Drama, that wasn't used. But that's just one thing. Well, yeah the Zillo Beast was kinda cool I guess... But why was it there in the first place? What for, what use did it have? We don't get any kind of info about that... it's just there, for Omega to use it and wreak havoc. *shrugs* wasn't really impressed or happy with that part to be honest. As cool as the destruction was, it was just that, nothing more. It felt like a filler, just put there for Omega to use, without any further explanation before or after. Rampart suddenly wanting to steal the Data instead of getting out of there right away and saving his ass?! Did he really think he could blackmail his way back into the empire? Plain stupid, sorry. Even if the empire did agree, as soon as they had their hands on the data, Rampart would be executed or thrown back in his cell. At least that's what I would do as the empire. He worked for those people long enough to know that. That was just a facepalm Moment for me. Honestly, as much as I despised that guy, I'd rather would have seen a redemption arch about him than Nala Se sacrificing herself to destroy the data and kill Rampart in the process, in a forced scene to make her look badass and make us feel something. ....Oh my god we lost her, but she went out like a badass... gosh I couldn't care less, she died because Rampart is suddenly a total dimwit, if this scene made me feel anything, well, it's anger. He was a Vice Admiral before, can any airhead become that high ranking now? Anyway...

The way Hemlock died was, well, interesting. I did like the little call back with Crosshair steadying his Shot on Hunter's shoulder, like he used to do with Tech, but the rest of it felt... rushed. The intensity buildup was pretty good in parts, but the things mentioned above, ruined it for me. I did love to see all the other clones to get freed though, I was moved to hear/see them ready for one more fight, not leaving TBB on their own. One more time, fighting with and for their brothers, for their freedom and most of all, fighting for something they chose, not for something anyone else ordered them to fight and die for. That part I smiled at with a little tear in my eye.

And the very last scene, with Omega and Hunter. I loved to see them this way, him grown old, her grown up. But I felt miffed about Crosshair and Wrecker not being there. Would Omega really just sneak away and leave them? Maybe she didn't really want to say goodbye or arguing with them about leaving, but on the other hand, I feel like they owed it to each other to say goodbye, to wish Omega luck and have a more emotional moment. Besides, I might be just miffed about the fact that we didn't see old Wrecker and old Crosshair as well.

I guess, after all, it's a Disney show.

All in all, I'm not entirely happy with how things ended. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[galvanizedfriend]

S5 rewriting which season five? what are you re-writing? I have questions many questions

Hi! Thanks for your ask! 😊 Also, apologies beforehand because this is me right now:

I have a toxic trait and that's wanting to rewrite the show. 🫠 I was once talking to @definedareasofuncertainty and we started talking about what TVD would've been like if The Originals had never happened, and we started imagining what season 5 of TVD would've been like in that scenario. We unearthed an interview where Julie Plec 🤢 said that the baby plot was always going to be a part of the story anyway, they just didn't know whether they'd actually get greenlighted by the network to move forward with the spin off. So then we started thinking what TVD would've been like with the magical mystery baby in it, and the S5 rewriting was born. 😂

So it's not what dream S5 would've like for me, but rather a more realistic take on what the show could've been like. Because hear me out.

When you think about it, there are certain aspects of TVD S5 that suggest that Klaus was always meant to be a part of it, which explains why S5 is so bad tbh. Everything feels so very pointless. It's the most forgettable season of TVD, and that's saying a lot, considering how bad some of the other seasons were, because the entire thing is just fillers. If you consider the idea that the Travelers abhored vampires, thought they were abominations and wanted to free the earth from them, then it would make sense for them to want to get rid of the Originals instead of just going for a bunch of teenagers who are at the very base of the supernatural food chain. And if you add in someone pregnant with a mystical anti-Christ, then it makes even more sense that the Travelers would want to obliterate Mystic Falls and everyone in it to make sure the baby wouldn't be born. The whole 'we know what's coming, this child will be the end of magic as we know it' makes much more sense with Travelers than regular witches because how would they know that? The whole concept of Travelers just make more sense to me if we put them up against the Originals. Even the Augustine society plot makes more sense with Originals thrown in. I'm sure Wes knew exactly who Klaus was and would be dying to get an introduction, not to mention the idea that they would've probably had close relations to Mikael when trying to create the ripper virus.

And it also kinda justifies the choice of Hayley as the mother figure, something that never made any sense to me. It's because she was completely expendable. She was barely an extra on the show, so it would be very easy to get rid of her. And in my head, she would definitely be dead by the end of the season. Where the witches caused her death in TO, it would've been the Travelers, except in TVD she wouldn probably not come back as a hybrid, she would've just stayed dead. She wasn't that important to the plot throughout S1 of TO, just carrying the baby around, which to me means that she was never meant to be a central point, but suddenly she had way more screen time than they'd anticipated she would get (also because Claire Holt decided to leave the show), so then they had to figure out how to write her as a lead.

Anyway, the source of all of this are the voices in my head, so take it with a grain of salt. 😂 I just think there are CLUES about the fact they did mean to write those two storylines as one at some point.

And that leads me to the fact that everything pointed towards Klaus and Caroline being together in S5. That part wasn't even subtle, S4 was a huge build up to them becoming a thing. And I think it would start with them kissing in that last scene of S4, Klaus showing up to save the day and Caroline's ass and gifting her with allowing Tyler to come back to town (I'm sure that would've been a greater discussion between them if he had stayed on the show for the final episodes prior to that, plus it would be more meaningful if Klaus was actually in town 😂 What was he going to do to stop Tyler anyway?).

So in my rewrite they'd start the season by showing the two of them had spent a hot secret summer together. Then school starts and Caroline sort of expects things to go back to normal because it's conveniente to her and how she excused herself in her guilty head, by rationalizing it all as a summer fling. She's leaving for college, where she will be rooming with her two best friends, and Tyler is expected to join them at some point even though she hasn't had any responses from him all summer, and in her mind, Klaus doesn't fit into that. There's no way to reconcile a romance with the big baddie and still lead the normal-ish life she expects to have. Klaus is obviously pissed off because he knows Caroline is in denial, and there's also the fact he's way too proud to be someone's dirty secret. Meanwhile Caroline is miserable and faced with the harsh truth she'd been denying all summer which is that she likes Klaus a lot more than she expected to but she's terrified of what everyone would think of her (and I personally think the next step in Caroline's TVD development would really be to let go of how much she tried to please everyone all the time just so they would like her. She had been on this journey since S1, of 'trying to become a better person' by shaping herself to meet other people's expectations, and it was about time she realized that she shouldn't have to change who she is in order to be liked or accepted, she shouldn't have to beg to be anyone's priority, which then leads back to Klaus and the fact he always admired her big personality, flaws and all, and the fact she gets to be 100% herself around him is a huge part of why she feels so much more at ease with him than she did with Tyler, for instance, but I digress).

While they are caught in this crossfire of sorts, him sulking in MF and her pretending not to sulk in Whitmore and having to deal with the mysterious new roommate's death and all, Elijah shows up with someone he just rescued from the hands of an angry witch mob in New Orleans: pregnant Hayley. And that's where the two plots would come together.

Obviously the whole baby thing would've been a much smaller plot within the whole of S5 than it ever was in TO, for obvious reasons. But it would be a point of contention between Klaus and Caroline and it would tie in the several different running storylines of the season at the end. I'm thinking Caroline would probably be the one trying to save Hayley and the baby from the siege of Mystic Falls at the end. And obviously, by the time we get there, with Tyler having come back and tried to kill Hayley, and revealed the secret to the whole town, etc, etc, Caroline will have come to terms with how she feels for Klaus and the two of them will be unapologetically together.

In a broader sense I also think this would offer a good chance to explore Elijah's character and his relationship with Katherine and everything she meant to him. The fact he wasn't there when she dies (and Klaus was) was just baffling to me. We see him him giving up on her in a 1 minute scene and that's it. Bringing him back to MF under these circumstances would create a much broader opportunity to explore what is his character's eternal conflict of family duty x self satisfaction, where he would realize that in order to keep the whole home situation in control, and mantain Hayley hidden and as secret, he'd have to stay away from Katherine, and then eventually she would die, and he would realize he'd once again missed a chance of being happy for the sake of his family while Klaus gives fuck all to fatherhood and all that.

I ALSO think it would've been so much fun if Caroline would invite Klaus instead of Katherine to help cure Stefan's PTSD. Klaus would have the time of his life tbh. And this is 100% my wishful thinking, but Klefan is real in my heart and it was about time the show incorporated that into its canon (although I very much doubt they'd ever do it, the cowards).

I'm so sorry for how long and rambly this is. 🥲

[rubydubydoo122]

Just wanted to tell you that I read 9 out of the 11 chapters of In Every Universe Still I Rise yesterday. I haven't left a single comment because each chapter left me so drained, as if I were the person that would be put to rest or has to watch his other variants die over and over and over again until the end of time.

I didn't know where this would be headed to but there are so many small ways in which you see that Dick's and Bruce's relationship with Jason is rebuilding. How they begin to see each other again. It feels so natural.

I love how the other Jason's are like this embodiment of goodness and yeah, innocence too, which is always painfully stripped away from them. There are the obvious ones, like the lamb and the angel. The kid on the street, the toddler. A hero, a martyr. A kid whose life was decided by a poll.

I can't make myself read the No Capes Au one yet. Because that Jason has no idea. No idea of vigilantism. Of the dangers that that life style brings.

Yeah, I understand the story being draining. It is very dark, and I find myself needing to take multiple breaks while writing.

I'm going to be honest, I have two endings in mind, and I haven't set my mind on how the fic is going to end, but I'm leaning towards one specific ending and.... I'm not going to spoil it. Even the friend who I've been talking to since I've had bulletpoints on a doc doesn't know how the fic is going to end, and I think it'll probably shock everyone.

Since there wasn't much of a plot to this story besides angst, I think it allowed me to focus on the characters relationship with each other more. From the acting strictly professional with each other in the first chapter, to Jason and Dick having their banter to lighten up the mood, to the first breaking of those walls all three of them have put up in the graveyard scene. Then there's the Lamb, the Baby back to back, and we see Dick and Jason let themselves fall back into being family. (I would say that their banter is definitely sibling banter, but the Wings chapter was more of the vunerable side to being a family especially during tough times) We also see in the hotel that Bruce is trying to comfort Jason, and it's something Jason desperately wants, but he doesn't let himself fall back into being Bruce's son. Then they go to the universe where Bruce, Talia, Jay and Damian definitely resemble a nuclear family, and Older more traumatized Bruce kinda just absorbs that energy, and we see him have a conversation about Jason's death with Jason without blaming him for it. And Obviously Dick caring about weather Jason lives or dies and all that Jazz. And just that little scene where Jason, Dick and Damian are sitting on the swing and Jason leans his head on Dick's shoulder for comfort. Then there's the, what I like to call the filler chapter, where Dick and Jason have their sibling banter and Bruce punches the Joker variant for saying Jason deserved to die, and I'm not gonna lie, I loved writing that chapter. The Dark Knights of Steel AU didn't really have much family bonding, but the No Capes AU... you haven't read that yet, but read it and come back to this post and tell me what you think. It's kinda like the last piece of the puzzle Jason needs to view Bruce as a father again.

[watchtowerindistress]

the empath and the eldritch horror (3/5) - sparrow!ben x empath!reader

Summary: Alphonso and Jayme were dead. Sloane was kidnapped. Ben was supposed to be Number One. He just didn't know whether to feel more at ease or challenged that the little Empath wouldn't stop crossing his mind and path.

Word count: 4.7k

Warning: fluff, kinda angsty, language, smut (mutual masturbation, unprotected vaginal sex)

Author's note: This series is officially back in progress 😅 I would have dubbed this chapter as part of the i'm not done arc, but you guys wanted this to be chronologically included in the series. So, this is between chapter one and two and is set during episode 4.

I don't know if this was the best smut I ever wrote, but it's been a long time since I wrote something sexual. At least, it feels very teasing. So, not a lot has changed between those two.

I was so scared of not writing enough for this chapter, but look at this 🤣 Still, feels like filler though.

Please don't think too hard on this ability 😅 It kinda reminded me of Emma Frost or a Succubus. 😈

Please please please for the love of God write a small comment or reblog this.

Series masterlist

~ Ben POV ~

This wasn’t happening. He was supposed to be Number One. To lead the Sparrows and do a better job than Marcus ever did. And show his dad that demoting him was the worst mistake he ever made.

Now Alphonso and Jayme were dead. And Sloane probably too. Or detained if they were so lucky. Ben didn’t trust the Umbrellas not to do something rash.

Ben just didn’t see the old man coming. The Umbrellas—he could take care of them. They were replaceable and stupidly tried to avoid conflicts they knowingly provoked.

Damn amateurs. If it weren’t for the little one and … Eight.

Speaking of the little Empath…

Ever since Fei and him debriefed their dad about the absolute mission failure, Ben couldn’t just let it go. Even after a few hours, his feet led him back, hoping to get a glimpse of the walking firebomb. What he saw instead surprised him, although it shouldn’t have.

The Empath who had been elusive during the fight. Or plain massacre as he liked to call it since pulling the wildcard out of nowhere felt like a foul trick.

Ben wouldn’t have minded seeing you in action again. Maybe he would have pulled you to the side and watched how you reacted to his tentacles making an appearance.

Ben didn’t get to really see you in action when you and your family first arrived at the Academy. At least, not personally. Still, he loved replaying the scene of you using your powers against Marcus in his head. Served him right for thinking you would be an easy target.

Before his mind would get sidetracked again, his eyes followed you as you were taking a stroll in the bright of day. Ben leaned his shoulder against the brick of a shop, hoping to appear inconspicuous every time you looked around.

Smart girl for remaining vigilant after the death of two Sparrows and being trapped in a timeline you weren’t supposed to be in.

Ben passed the civilians on the sidewalk, zeroing in on the figure wearing the bright summer dress under the jean jacket. If he wasn’t who he was and your family hadn’t just killed two of his siblings, he would think you were cute. Still, Ben shook his head to ward off those wayward thoughts.

He pretended inspecting the display of books in the window of the shop, watching you linger near the clothes rack out of the corner of his eye. Ben crossed his arms, facing the bestsellers again.

He was still debating with himself what to do with you once you were within reach. He would consider it fitting to kidnap you—again—as your family didn’t see anything wrong in holding Sloane prisoner.

Ben’s gaze slid to the sidewalk again—to find it empty. He furrowed his brows. Being on the lookout for the little Empath who probably intended to play a trick on him by spying on him from around the corner, like the little she-devil she was. His suspicions rose with every step he took, cautiously walking to the spot you harbored previously. His head swiveled around. But there was nothing out of the ordinary.

It was like you had turned into a ghost, turned invisible when he wasn’t looking. Ben narrowed his eyes, listening to the soft breeze shaking the leaves in the trees. Feeling it ruffle through his hair.

Something soft brushed against his shoulder, giving off the illusion of a phantom touch. Ben grumbled, shrugging his shoulders to get rid off the feeling. A slow, tingling sensation wandered from his shoulder to his neck, leaving goosebumps in their wake. With a careful motion, Ben turned his head, finding nothing that would stir his interest.

He felt it before the voice whispered into his ear. “Are you doing something you’re not supposed to be doing?”

Ben turned his head to where the voice came from. Instantly knowing it was yours. Too many thoughts were rushing through his heads, like how you were doing this. Instead, he chose a direct approach when he spoke to the invisible form. “I’m not playing your little mind games.”

Your voice shifted around him with every movement when you said snarkily from behind, “No? Are you more into the stalking game?”

Ben scoffed and shook his head. “I’m not. That’s ridiculous. You think you’re so special?”

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a bad liar?”

Ben shook off the shiver he got from you whispering so intimately into his ear. He ground his teeth. “Depends. Do you always want to be right?”

His fingers twitched the longer you remained quiet.

“I’m sorry. I heard what happened.”

The mere reminder let heat rise in his cheeks. Ben clenched his jaw. He didn’t need your compassion or your comfort. He just couldn’t let his guard down around you. If you were anything like your family, you would use your charms to distract him and gain the upper hand before he could blink.

“Sorry that you weren’t there to kill my family yourself?” He shook his head derisively and snapped his fingers like he just remembered something. Not caring that he probably appeared like a crazy person just talking to air. “Right. I forgot. An Empath who doesn’t use her powers to hurt or even kill people. What good are you even for, Number Eight?”

The voice of his father echoed in the back of his head, haunting him. Bringing to mind all the times he committed a grave faux pas during training or didn’t behave in a way which was becoming for a Sparrow. Every second of silence from your end made him want to take it all back. But there was not a chance he actually would.

You slowly turned visible in front of his eyes. Ben had to blink at seeing the softness in your eyes.

“What do you want, Ben?” You said wearily.

Ben smirked, his eyes shifted into something lifeless. “Many things. Why don’t we just start with justice?”

You sighed. “Kill him, you mean? We don’t get all the things we want in life.”

Recognition lit up his eyes. “So, you know that man.”

You exhaled almost with disappointment. “So, I’m dealing with More vindictive Ben. Lucky me, huh?”

Ben narrowed his eyes. “You actually think your family wouldn’t have to face the consequences for what happened?” He hissed through his teeth.

“When will this end, Ben?” She inquired tiredly.

“The moment when you guys accept your fate. You escalated the situation in the first place.” He gestured with his hands the causality. “Escalation—consequences.”

“Someone’s looking at this from a very black and white agenda. We can end this right now. No one has to die for people to accept you as a formidable leader.”

Ben leaned towards you. “There’s no psychoanalyzing me while I’m threatening you. Give me what I want and maybe I’ll be a bit lenient with you.”

“That was you threatening? Do you know that your idea of threatening feels a lot like flirting?”

He covered his ears. “Don’t put words in my head, little demon.” Ben sighed. His eyes met the diner around the corner and instantly tried a more casual approach. “You hungry?”

You waved your arms. “Still just an emphatic illusion who can’t eat or drink like this.”

Ben smirked, hoping to tempt you a bit. “You could just come out with your real body, you know?”

“And have you kill me? That’d be difficult to do since I’m taking a bath right now.” Without waiting for him, you already walked ahead.

Ben lingered a few seconds, slightly distracted from the image you painted in his head. “Little demon,” he muttered before entering the diner after you. They took their seats by the window before he ordered himself a milkshake and a burger with some fries.

Ben decided to pick up the conversation where you left off. “What makes you think I want to kill you?”

You placed your arms on the table between you, leaning forward. “Then explain why you were following me.”

He shrugged. There were some things he didn’t want to consider what he would’ve done if he had encountered you for real.

“Are you sure you weren’t trying the same thing by kidnapping me … again? Your sister is safe, in case you were wondering. Well, more or less. Allison is not the safest bet. But Sloane has Luther keeping her safe at least.”

“Well, that doesn’t ease my mind, in case you were wondering. You people don’t have the best track record when it comes keeping your promises.”

“Right. Takes one to know one.”

He grumbled to himself before leaning back against the plastic cushions. He ignored the presence of the waitress who brought his order and felt himself frown at your expression.

“He says ‘thank you’,” you stated with a self-asserted air, eyeing the server before sending him a harsh glare.

“Thank you,” he murmured barely above a whisper.

The moment when she was gone, he could finally relax. Feeling grateful for the little moment of privacy again.

The smirk tugging on your lips didn’t set his mind at ease. “Just so you know, only you can see or hear me right now.”

Ben rolled his eyes at your little deceit. “Only me?”

“I would need to concentrate real hard to reach other people, but yes. I’m in your head, Ben,” you whispered huskily.

Ben dug into his burger, relishing in the taste and instantly noticing your expression. “Come on, I know you want to try this. Get out of that bathtub, dry yourself off and just have a taste.” He absolutely loved the idea of knowing something else about you which he could use to his advantage.

You eyed his ordered food with a gleam in your eyes. “As much as this is tempting, maybe I don’t trust you right now.”

He scoffed loudly. “And kill you in a diner? Don’t be ridiculous.” Ben rolled his eyes. He rubbed his stomach and mused, “Just look at this delicious milkshake.” His hand slid the drink to the middle, hoping to allure you with a small indulgence. “You forget, ever since you were with us Sparrows,” he crooned mockingly, “I know you love food.”

It surprised him when you just chuckled. “That’s your idea of torture? Should I feel flattered and special enough that I was noticed by the great Ben Hargreeves?”

Ben narrowed his eyes, scoffing. “Someone thinks so highly of themselves.”

“Of course you would say that.” You smiled knowingly, leaning your chin on your hands. “You like me.”

“Sure, keep talking, little Empath.”

A dreamy expression lingered on your face. “You do, it’s actually quite nice. I managed to tame the brooding Ben.”

“I’m not brooding,” he mumbled defensively under his breath.

“You are. And that’s why you like having me around. You enjoy my company. You know I’m the only one that doesn’t hold you to the standards as the rest of my family, or maybe even yours. You like being Ben, with no expectations. Asshole Ben, mean Ben.” You smiled with that wide smile on your face, almost happy at the thought. “Grumpy Ben.”

He shook his head, snorting. “Whatever. Just go bother someone else.”

You pouted. “Damn it. I was this close,” You pressed your fingers together. “To get over here.” With that, the illusion evaporated.

Ben felt the corners of his mouth twitch at your little moments of cheering him up before a titillating sensation started on his shoulder. Slowly, it went further towards his neck when he felt your hand stroking the sensitive skin.

“Stop that,” he grumbled. It was only half as fun if he couldn’t even see you.

You merely chuckle in response, letting your breath tickle against his ear.

Ben exhaled heavily when he closed his bedroom door behind him. After the shower he just had he dried off his hair with a towel and mindlessly threw it into the hamper in the corner. Ben pulled down his shirt until the material covered his torso and found his respite when he lied back on his bed, closing his eyes.

Sloane was back and they got the bodies of Alphonso and Jayme. So, that was a small win. If one could call it that. To gain their edge back, Ben passed on the ultimatum to the emo kid and the big ape. At least there were some good things that happened during this shitty day. Bumping into you kinda worked in his favor. Sometimes he wished he could get a better read on you when you didn’t wear your heart on your sleeve.

Ben exhaled heavily.

“So, this is your bedroom, huh?”

Ben felt like he was going insane. First, his mind wandered to you and now you materialized like that. He certainly hoped this wasn’t one of your abilities. To have someone think of you strongly enough and you would be conjured like a demon.

Ben opened his eyes, turning his head toward where your voice came from.

It felt like you were haunting him, Ben realized when he saw you sitting on the side of his bed, scrutinizing your surroundings. “It’s very you. Like the poster of yourself.” Your voice turned deeper, mocking him with your impersonation. “Hey, Ben. You’re absolutely awesome. Don’t listen to the others.”

Your eyes met the display of books near his bed, quietly chuckling. “And you called Marcus a nerd,” you commented with a normal voice again. “Someone’s an artist, huh? Aren’t you full of surprises?” As much as your delighted smile soothed him, Ben couldn’t take any chances. Before you could mock his means of recreation, Ben tried to divert your attention.

“What are you doing here?”

You shrugged, sending him a cheeky expression over your shoulder. “What? You chose to stalk me and I can’t return the favor?”

After your afternoon together, Ben could admit with recognition that if he narrowed his eyes just enough, he could see your figure almost emanate that golden shimmer. As you projected yourself across the city to play tricks on him again.

Ben sat up, not appreciating your little games to get to him. “This is different.”

You leaned forward with a glint in your eyes. “Why? Is this too personal for you?”

“You’re damn right it is. You don’t see me rifling through your stuff in that crappy hotel.”

You narrowed your eyes with understanding, smiling to yourself. “But you want to. You’re so weird, Ben.”

Why did he feel the need to defend himself? “It’s not weird. It’s called being vigilant and careful. And stop invading my head.”

You rolled your eyes. “Oh please, you would know if I was in your head. You’re just such an easy person to read once you’ve deciphered all the little clues.”

Ben waved a hand, not needing the reality check that he was easier to analyze than you were. Not needing to know that you could use it to your own gain if you should choose to.

“Fine, you’ve made your point. Now leave.”

With an ease, you stroked your hair to the side. For a second, he hated himself for finding you beautiful with that dim lighting hitting you just right. Ben’s fingers itched to feel that graphite at his fingertips just from watching you. He saw the outline of a tattoo on the back of your neck and detected a few lines, feeling eager to get a better view to perceive it in all its splendor.

Ben cleared his throat, turning his head away.

“I’m sorry, you’re right. I was just trying to tease you.”

A mocking smile grew on his lips. “Whatever, I don’t care. My command still remains. Now, shoo, evaporate. Whatever it is you do.”

You rolled your eyes. “Jesus, you’re so grumpy in the evening. I thought your mood would be better, with Sloane being back, and everything.” You inched closer on your knees, intending to move away.

“You’re the one making me grumpy,” Ben snarled.

“Sure, I am.”

Ben narrowed his eyes, watching you try to scoot over the edge of his bed by picking the longer route. He groaned, throwing his head back.

“You’re so annoying.” Ben felt his abdominal muscles tense when your fingers held on to his stomach for support. He eyed the hands bracing against him, more surprised by the sensation of your touch than your willingness to get close to him.

Ben furrowed his brows while muttering quietly under his breath, “I thought you’re just an illusion.”

Wariness spread on your face. Probably wondering why he wanted you to stay. To be honest he didn’t know either. “I am.”

“Then why can I feel you?”

The shrugging of your shoulders seemed almost timid in nature.

“My body works in mysterious ways, Number Two. Let’s just say, I can make it as real as possible. Make you believe I’m touching you even when I’m not really here.”

There was something electrifying and addictive about being close to you. Once a greedy thought hit him, Ben leaned forward. His gaze was hypnotized by your mouth, finding it utterly tantalizing. He licked his lips before staring into your eyes again. “It’s Number One, actually.”

Ben was giving some seriously tempting vibes. His eyes gleamed darkly as he watched your face. You swallowed thickly, feeling his hands teasingly stroke your hips, almost like he was trying out the feel of your corporal form. You felt the tingling sensation from his touch, like the feeling was your own. It was like touching something real, but the surreal feeling still followed.

You eyed his luscious lips, whispering, “Pity. Kinda liked calling you Number Two.”

His breath exhaled against your lips. “I think you like calling me Ben more.”

“Sometimes I like you even more when you’re not talking at all,” you whispered, trying not to sever this spell you both were under. Hoping not to break this rare moment of this bond.

Something twinkled in Ben’s eyes with the spoken challenge that followed. “Then give it your best shot in shutting me up, little Empath.”

Everything inside you tingled like you were experiencing a new sensation. Stroking his cheek, you carefully traced the scar on his cheek, watching Ben’s pupils dilate until his eyes were pitch-black. Absolutely loving how dark his eyes could get. Ben almost mesmerized you with his ability to not turn away from you, silently watching your every move. You told yourself you were merely curious, to find out how this would feel like. To enhance your abilities. While your body laid in bed and your spiritual being was sitting in Ben’s lap, enjoying his ministrations.

Before you could talk yourself out of it, your lips met his. Involuntarily, your throat let out a whimpering sound, adoring the softness of his lips. You closed your eyes, opening your mouth to let your tongue dance with his.

There was a low rumbling sound in Ben’s throat. Your fingers stroked through his wet hair, massaging his scalp with your fingernails. His hands tightened around your waist, hiking up your shirt.

You heeded his silent command by unbuttoning your chemise until you were only clad in your bra underneath.

Impatiently, Ben yanked off his shirt, revealing his naked torso. While he showed his physique, he teased with a smirk, “You know, you could be here right now. Get out of that damn bathtub.”

“Not in a bathtub. I’m laying in bed right now.”

It could be said that Ben’s upper body was too distracting for his own good. You groaned, finding it hard to concentrate. “Why do you have to look so good?” You felt compelled to stroke his rippling abs, delighting a bit in his small groan and feeling it reverberate in your whole body.

Ben was seriously making it hard for you not to like him. Or at least his body did the work in making you feel something for him. The longer you rubbed Ben’s chest, your clit started to throb wantonly with need.

“You’re welcome.” Ben spoke huskily, smirking arrogantly. “Tell me what you’re wearing right now,” he said, losing his casual pants in the process.

You let yourself get swept away by him as you discarded your short pants down your legs. “Just in my underwear,” you teased with a small smile.

“Saucy minx.” Ben started chuckling arrogantly before pulling you close at the back of your head while pressing open-mouthed kisses against your lips. “Are you touching yourself?” He panted against your mouth. A startled noise came from Ben’s throat when your hips rubbed teasingly against his crotch. You felt your sex clench when that sound shifted into a moan of appreciation.

You nodded. “Yes.” Feeling the hardness in his boxer briefs with every movement of your gyrating hips.

“Say you want me to touch you,” Ben whispered against your lips before letting them wander sensuously towards your neck, making you go crazy with want with every breath he emitted against your skin. Leaving wet kisses behind.

Oh God why did he have to entice you so bad?

A whimper released from your throat as you tried to relieve the pressure by rubbing against his hardening crotch. You nodded mindlessly.

“Use your words. Say please.”

You rolled your eyes, shoving him backwards until Ben snorted with laughter. With his unruly hair spreading on his pillows. His hands didn’t let go of your hips, instead let them roam and touch whatever he could get in contact with. Ben licked his lips and watched in fascination as your fingers unlatched one of his hands and slid it underneath your panties. Letting your wet juices coat his fingertips. Ben could only groan at the sensation of your arousal like it was some tangible proof for your carnal need towards him.

You leaned forward, brushing your lips against his neck while sucking on a sensitive spot. “Please, Ben Hargreeves, Number One, oh great Cthulu, just finger me.”

His fingers moved in circles around your swollen clit while his other hand kneaded your covered bottom, making you gasp and rub against him. Needing to feel more of him. Craving more of that delicious tug from your dripping cunt. You absolutely could stay in this moment forever with Ben’s fingers slipping beneath your panties and palming your butt.

“You know, I don’t feel very appreciated with your sarcasm,” Ben grumbled against your throat. To prove his point, he completely let go of you by placing his arms behind his head, relaxing further on the pillows. “Show me then. Maybe I’ll do you a favor later, if I feel like it.”

You rolled your eyes, unceremoniously dropping your panties. “You’re such an asshole.”

“As you keep telling me.” Ben drew out his hardened cock out of his boxer briefs, tucking the material around his waist. His gaze never left yours while he started massaging his member.

What a cheeky jerk he was for making you work for it.

Kneeling down at the edge of his bed, you made sure that Ben had a clear view while you drew circles on your clit. Just the debauchery of it all instilled you with a deeply sensual and gratifying sensation. You licked your lips, feeling your breathing pick up the longer you stared into his eyes.

Ben was enjoying your little show immensely and threw his head back while not losing sight of you. Your eyes zeroed in on his Adam’s apple when he swallowed. Ben smirked salaciously, breathing heavily. “But you like me.”

Keeping your eyes closed, you threw your head back. “Just stop talking.” You could only depend on your sense of hearing as Ben’s hard member made slippery noises while he kneaded it furiously. Feeling the heat in your body grow, you yanked down the straps of your bra until you were entirely nude.

The silent stare from Ben stopped you in your tracks, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

“Get over here,” Ben exhaled a breath. He dragged down his underwear, throwing it on the floor.

Slowly, you crawled over to him until you were sitting in his lap again, with your fingers sweeping his hair from his forehead. However, that content feeling which filled you at the touch he allowed was short-lived when Ben propelled you underneath him.

You gasped and your eyes widened at Ben’s unexpected move. Slinging your thighs around his waist, you let out a hum, enjoying the feeling of your legs rubbing against him. “Someone really can’t stand to be on the bottom, huh?”

“Be quiet,” Ben hissed before he slowly thrust inside you.

You sighed deeply, tightening your hands around his shoulders for support. A whimper released from your lips when Ben pulled you closer to him. With every single thrust, he slid even deeper when he held your legs against his chest.

The veins in Ben’s neck protruded with the exertion he committed, letting out quiet moans the more you clenched around him, losing yourself in the sensations of bliss. Not realizing that the spot where you touched him began to glow with golden energy,

Ben’s hips stuttered, clenching his fingers around your thighs. “Oh shit.” He opened his eyes in astonishment when in an almost serious voice, he said, “Do that again.”

You did it unintentionally. Licking your lips, you felt uncertain, having never done this before during sex. You gasped when Ben hit a certain spot, making your walls clench before your fingers brushed against his neck. Just like that your own emotions were bleeding into him, projecting your ecstatic state onto him. Enhancing those sensations tenfold for him.

You grew even wetter if that was possible once the sounds of Ben’s blissed-out groans hit your ears. Obscene sounds of your groans and bodies slapping together filled the room. Your sex clenched around him like a vice.

His hips faltered before he panted heavily. “Tell me you’re close.”

Throwing your head back, you nodded with a humming sound, pulling him close until Ben’s lips were on yours. Suddenly you felt your body shimmer with ecstatic energy before a soundless moan came out of your mouth. Warmth spread through your whole body.

As soon as your emerging orgasm erupted, your eyes adjusted to the changing surroundings of the hotel room your body was actually lying in and Ben’s bedroom. The illusion you tried to uphold kept flickering until your consciousness was pulled back underneath Ben.

The first thing you focused on was the sound of Ben groaning while his face contorted into a confused frown every time you flickered back to him.

You felt him pull out of you before something wet squirted against your skin when Ben ejaculated on his lower stomach. “Oh fuck.” Ben leaned back with exhaustion, trying to catch his breath.

You chuckled, relaxing next to him and enjoying the view of a Ben whose cheeks were heated from the strain and who stretched out his limbs, needing a few seconds before he would be himself again.

You laid down on your front, letting your fingers dance on his warm skin. And maybe—just a tad—you wished you could’ve had the real thing just now. “I like speechless Ben.”

Ben let out hoarse chuckles before he turned his body away to clean himself up with a tissue. He pulled up the sheet until it covered the two of you again. You still thought it was sweet of him despite the knowledge of not needing the added warmth.

Ben’s body language certainly was more at ease as his bones stretched out. He raked a hand through his messy hair and let out a sigh when he gave you an uncertain look. Ben opened his mouth to speak.

Before he could mess it all up, you shushed him by placing a finger above his lips. “Nuh uh, don’t ruin it. You were either going to say the sweetest thing ever or utter something hurtful just because you can’t handle intimacy.”

Ben was taken aback when you leaned towards him to have one last taste of him since this would remain a one-time thing.

The moment your lips were no longer on his, Ben shook his head before commenting, “You’re fucking confusing.”

Tagging: @cherryinsalemverse @mellowstatesmanhandsempath @ravenmoore14 @blackmagicwoman @lelaamela @kit-k4t

[by-ethan-fox]

So I saw Gundam Seed FREEDOM...

... and honestly it defies analysis.

I will avoid spoilers for major plot elements in this write-up.

I'm a huge Gundam fan. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has followed my work for a long time, as I frequently bring it up, even in entirely inapplicable situations.

But even though I've been a fan since the late 90s, I'd never had a chance to see any of it in the cinema - so when AllTheAnime organised a special short run of the movie for UK theatres, I jumped at the chance.

What I saw surprised me.

To clarify, I'm not one of those Gundam fans who hates SEED. Sure, I love the UC, but I'm not gonna lie, Wing was my genesis within the fandom so I'm as likely to watch G-Gundam as 08th MS Team, though I do lean towards the grittier side of the franchise, with War in the Pocket being my favourite entry.

But most relevant to this is that while I enjoyed SEED, I've always been critical of Destiny for some really bizarre plotting that, frankly, kinda left the CE timeline in a mess. Like many fans, with the show having been off the air for nearly two decades, I gave up on the idea the movie might exist literally years ago.

With all that out of the way...

The movie does exist. Finally. And is it good? Bad?

The weird thing is I don't know what to say, and that's weird for a writer.

It's awesome. It's terrible. It's goofy. It's clever. It's idiotic. It's bizarre.

But it's over 2 hours long and, honestly, I was never bored, which I guess is a success?

Perhaps most surprisingly, the movie expends ZERO ENERGY on helping you if you haven't seen the near-100-episodes of CE anime which came before this. Like, if you haven't seen SEED and or Destiny, you are just utterly fucked. The show wheels characters and plot-beats from the prior material in-and-out in a manner I could best call aggressive. I last watched Destiny about ~7 years ago, and I'm a self-admitted Gundam nerd; but even I had to look up a few things on my phone afterwards.

Then, fan-service. Of both kinds. All sorts of things get pulled out of cold storage for the movie... But it works. Though that also stands as a testament to how this is, in the truest sense, a 2004 anime throwback. I actually heard some people in the cinema groaning at some of the Gainax Bouncing going on; but then given the jiggly silhouette in EVERY OPENING TO SEED, frankly it would've been stranger if it had been absent.

I think the movie has loads of problems. Even by CE standards, some of the storytelling was really goofy and dare-I-say-it, "cringe". It recycles probably too much and certainly doesn't stand on its own as a piece of media (though that's not so much a failing as a clear, conscious choice).

Also... It has that "anime movie" thing where the plot feels a bit filler. The first time you have this new guy on the scene with shock-white hair, being all edgelord as he talks about war and destiny and fencing or some other weird metaphor you kinda see the entire movie unfurl before you. If you're a longtime anime fan this isn't so much your first rodeo as your daily commute.

From there, the story takes numerous predictable turns, dips liberally into melodrama, sets up some great Mobile Suit fights, with relatively few surprises (note, however, I'm not saying "no surprises", as there are some, and also, I'm not suggesting it's tedious).

And yet...

It's fun.

It's really, really fun.

That's the crux of all this. That's what really matters. And honestly, when that new theme comes out of the speakers, sounding in perfect key with the types of music that ran through SEED's run, and Kira's onscreen, and he's locking onto a dozen targets and beams are spamming everywhere and everything's exploding in that weird pink way that things in SEED explode...

Have you ever tried to play a videogame from the 90s that you haven't played in years? And do you know how touch-and-go that is?

Gundam Seed FREEDOM is, if I'm to compare it to anything, like that.

But thankfully, it's one of the times when your memories might have been optimistic, but they're not wrong. That game may be a bit crude, a bit rough around the edges, and have more boob and ass jiggle than you recall... But it's good. So good that you find yourself sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of your console, grinning like an absolute loon, until it's 2am and you can no longer feel your feet.

If you have fond memories of the SEED era of the Gundam franchise, don't miss it.

[optiwashere]

Is there any part of baldur's gate 3 that you dislike? I know you enjoy the game, but most fans of the old games I see are very critical and you're one of the few that I've seen that seems to love it.

First of all, this is a very fun question, anon! Thanks 💜

Secondly, you're experiencing illusory correlation when you connect "previous BG fans" to "those that dislike BG3." It's further compounded by the fact that most people only get really loud when they're disappointed/upset, and the people that are happy tend not to post as virulently or constantly about said topic. Millions of people have played BG1/2 and then a good chunk of those folks went on to play BG3, so think about all the people you aren't seeing when you see a post like that.

Anyways, there are things I'm either bleh on, annoyed with, or dislike about BG3. I'm too old to expect perfection.

Some of the things I don't like:

Callbacks to BG1/2 like Sarevok and Viconia, though that is more WotC's fault than Larian's, and this goes double for Abdel Adrian being referenced at all in the game. Those books should have been memory holed.

The uneven nature of all the companions' stories. Some have tons of dialogue, reactivity, and the ability to let the player choose to give the companion the choice of how they handle things, with the player's own choices affecting the companion's decision. Others are in a semi-broken state (Minthara) or feel lacking despite being great characters (Wyll) that deserve those choices.

5E D&D is a bad system down to its bones. Its flaws are openly on display in the game; the only reason that the tactical gameplay feels any good is because Larian is very skilled at crafting memorable, enjoyable encounters and they hacked in a dozen different homebrews and house rules to make the damn thing feel any good. BTW, 2E AD&D was a mess for wildly different reasons and the old real-time w/ pause system is conducive to spamming filler encounters, so it's not as easy as saying "old game better" for me.

The lack of companion banter in Act 3 when compared to the previous acts. Hell, even Act 2 has a fair bit less than Act 1.

The way that some companions feel kinda hollow when you're not actively engaged in their romance. More platonic connection! One of my favorite scenes in the game is the platonic stargazing with Gale. Let me dance with Wyll without it being romantic, let me go on a friendly night on the town with Karlach, let me experience some of these scenes through the lens of friendship. I know that this is probably one of the more time-consuming tasks for the team at large, but it's one that I would love to see some day.

The character creator is lacking in body types, facial structure for various ethnicities, and a truly broad scope of what trans/non-binary bodies can look like. However, I'm incredibly grateful for what we did get and I will take one small step if that means it becomes more and more common in RPGs. I'll fight for more, but I will be happy with what we have in this game.

Is BG3 the bestest, most greatest CRPG of all time? No. Do I love BG3? Yes. Is it my favorite BG game? Ask me that question in ten years.

[ungoliantschilde]

Highway to Hell, 1979

The American division of Atlantic Records had already told AC/DC that they would not release Dirty Deeds in America back in 1976. After the band’s relentless touring had built a monumental following, Atlantic added insult to injury. They told Malcolm and Angus that they couldn’t work with their older brother, George, and their mate Harry Vanda as producers for their next big album. Atlantic suggested some asshole that worked with Hendrix. That didn’t work. The band found a guy named Robert “Mutt” Lange instead.

They got their first platinum record because of it.

Mutt pushed them to make their most polished record to date. Review sites constantly rate this one higher than Let There Be Rock and Powerage. The sites are wrong, but I get where the idea is coming from. Highway to Hell is the prototype for every AC/DC record from then onward.

The title track is spectacular. It’s arguably AC/DC’s signature song. Those opening chords immediately tell you who’s playing.

“Girls Got Rhythm” is absolutely undeniable. An infectiously danceable hard rock song. Love that track.

“Touch too Much” is another jam.

“Beating around the Bush” might have the best rhythm guitar track of any AC/DC song.

“Shot Down in Flames” is the most ‘Bon Scott-esque’ song ever.

“Get it Hot” might be my favorite on the record.

And “If You Want Blood” is a banger.

“Love Hungry Man” is ok. It’s skippable. Not a bad song, but it’s filler.

“Night Prowler” is forever going to associated with the Nightstalker killings in LA. Someone found an AC/DC hat near one of the crime scenes and it kinda went from there.

Highway to Hell is the prototype for an AC/DC record. 3-4 greats, one absolute icon, and the rest is good but not memorable.

I said in my Powerage post that Bon’s death was not a shock. Everyone saw it coming. Before they went on tour of the UK and Europe in the winter of ‘79-‘80, Bon went home to his folks. His brother recalls seeing empty liquor bottles in every room, every day. He went out on a banger. Highway to Hell was his final statement. It went Platinum and catapulted the band into the stratosphere of music history.

In my opinion, he’s maybe the most perfectly chosen frontman for a band ever. He exemplified AC/DC’s sound. He didn’t have Brian Johnson’s talent, range, or power. But Bonny was THE GUY. Rock in Peace.