#lea bridge

[keepingitneutral]

B1 C Warehouse, Lea Bridge, London, United Kingdom,

Courtesy: The Modern House

[londonadayatatime]

The sun sets on Walthamstow

[lyxchen]

Genuienly I can't get behind all the Squid Game promotion stuff Netflix does. It's kinda gross to me. All the Squid Game events in different cities where you get to play the games and people go around taking pictures with the pink guards and idk posing sexually or calling them 'daddy' and don't even get me started on Squid Game The Challenge. Like no hate to the people taking part in this, they're just having fun but I just don't think this is cool. I don't think seeing kids costumes of players and pink guards is cool. I don't think recreating a show in real live and taking out the bad parts, the parts that are there to send a message is cool and fun. I know a lot of shows have serious themes and I'm not against fandom for Squid Game at all and I also think having fun with the show in fandom without always bringing up its serious messages is totally okay (I do that too) and I also think that Netflix can of course promote a very popular show. But I think once it gets to a point where Netflix makes it silly and cutesy is when it has to stop. Netflix going around different citys and putting up the Red Light, Green Light doll and having random people on the street play the game is just... For what? For promotion? For money?? Of course it's for money but I think it's kind of so gross. Nothing else is irl promoted as much as Squid Game is. I don't see nearly as many events for Bridgerton or Stranger Things. But Netflix RECREATED this show about Horrible Things happening to people, who don't know how to help themselves anymore stuck in a system that is actively working Against them, with real live people stuck in similar situations. For Entertainment. And you know who gets the most money out of it?? Netflix!! A show about poor people taking huge risks to get a better and livable life and in the end Netflix is still the one making all of this money off of it. And they're squeezing every last bit they can out of this show. And it's so disgusting to me. Again I'm not blaming people who take part in this, who go to those events. I just think Netflix shouldn't be making these events in the first place

[yetanotherhiddlestoner]

Side by Side (Potential spoilers) Fragile and Sam about to Jump. Just wondering how everyone feels about them.? Do you ship them or just see them as something else.?

[artbycaryn]

some death stranding 2 photos

[cippicat]

Waiting for Death Stranding 2

Chissà come mai...

[lyxchen]

Okay so I've heard this said a bunch of times and I'm gonna admit I thought like that too for a while but no, Gi-hun did not win the games because he was lucky. A lot of people think that's how he won because he never killed anybody but that's really not the point. Gi-hun won the games because a) he's smart and is able to look at things from a different angle, b) because he is a good and kind person who also believes in others and c) because of the goodness and care get got back from other people.

In the first game he survived because Ali saved him and that wasn't luck, that was Ali being a good person and helping somebody not get killed. Ali could've not caught him, let him die, he didn't even know Gi-hun at all at that point and he put himself in more danger too by having to hold on to a person while standing completely still but he still saved Gi-hun because Ali is a good person.

In the Dalgona game he quite literally Was Not Lucky. He decided to go with the umbrella which is the worst shape to pick and he probably would have died if he hadn't looked at the game in a different way and decided to change his strategy. Gi-hun is smart. He is also optimistic and so he tried something new and found a different way to beat that game.

In the third game he survived because he was smart and kind enough to listen to Il-nam. The other people in their group dismissed him as just an old man speaking but Gi-hun didn't and that way they had a good strategy to beat the other team. The same goes for him listening to Sang-woo's idea of running three steps and then stopping, which ultimately was what saved them. His group also chose him as their leader (who, as Il-nam said, needs to not seem weak or loose hope because then the whole team is doomed). His team trusted in him and his optimism and they were right to do so.

In the marbles game he won because he was once again kind and decided to team up with Il-nam and also because in the end Il-nam decided to "sacrifice himself" for Gi-hun because he showed him kindness before. Yes Il-nam didn't actually die but he also knew that Gi-hun had cheated and still let him continue on to the next game, probably because Gi-hun had been good and kind and caring towards him before, even though he really didn't have to be. Gi-hun also didn't know this but by teaming up with Il-nam he inadvertently ensured that Il-nam had a lot more fun in the games than he would have had, had everybody just ignored to "old, fragile man". Gi-hun was good to Il-nam throughout all the games and it ended up saving him in the marbles game.

In the fifth game it's only some small moments as Gi-hun isn't really involved in the game because he's the last number but still it wasn't just luck. First of all he was kind enough to give the number 1 to the player that asked him for it. Yes, that number was bad but he didn't know that and had he been selfish enough to say no to that other player he wouldn't have survived. Being the last to play in any game can end up being bad for you, still he decided to give up the number he picked because the other player asked him to. Secondly he also survived that game because Sae-byeok was kind enough to remind him of which glass tile to step on after he had forgotten which one it was. It's only small but she didn't have to tell him and still she did. Sae-byeok btw is also good to him because before that he was good to her and protected her (even though he was angry at her at first) and that way he was able to gain her trust.

Lastly he won the Squid Game because Gi-hun was kind to Sang-woo and because Sang-woo deep down was still a good person. There were probably many reasons as to why Sang-woo decided to kill himself in the end but part of it, I'm sure, was also because Gi-hun was a good friend to him. I mean Gi-hun was even willing to give up all the money and go back home with nothing gained if it meant that Sang-woo didn't have to die and would be able to come home with him. Gi-hun deserved that win and that money and in the end Sang-woo knew that. He also knew that Gi-hun would make sure to take care of Sang-woo's mother and that he wouldn't just take all the money for himself because Sang-woo knew that Gi-hun is a good person. (Gi-hun technically also won the Squid Game because he was good at it which is also him being smart)

So in conclusion and I hope y'all haven't stopped reading yet: Gi-hun didn't win the games because he was lucky. He didn't just sit around doing nothing and won anyways. He won because he was smart but even more importantly he won because of the kindness and goodness that exists in humans and that is especially present in him. He won because he had empathy, because people trusted him, because he got back from them what he gave to them first. He never killed anyone and we can clearly see that he Could Never kill anyone in those games but that's not his weakness. Just because he didn't let himself get corrupted and turned into what the games wanted him to turn into doesn't mean he won because of luck. Him not playing by those subtle, hidden rules that are made to force him to be bad, to not care about others and to give up his kindness actually means he was better than the games. He won because he didn't let them turn him into a monster. They tried really hard and they failed and that's how he won!! But also on top of that he also won because he isn't the only good person in this show. He also won because other people helped him, were kind to him and gave a shit about him. Each and every person that helped Gi-hun didn't have to do that. They all could have not helped him, Ali could have not caught him, Sae-byeok could have not told him which one was the correct glass tile, hell, she could have Lied to him about it and the only difference it would have made for the other players would have been them being one more dead person closer to winning all that money. But that's really not how humans are and act which is why all these people helped Gi-hun, helped each other in small or big ways and in the end his own kindness and the kindness that exists in other people is what lead to Gi-hun winning. That's not luck. That humans being good

[hawkmothmoon]

DEATH STRANDING 2: Post Game Thoughts

Yep. I’ve already beat the main game of DS2. I had a week of PTO I needed to use, which aligned perfectly with DS2 coming out and also got the 48 hour early preorder so had a bit of a head start.

Non-spoiler overview:

I think DS1 (especially the directors cut) is still my favorite game, but I LOVED 2. I thought the story was a little tighter in 1; but much more ambitious in 2.

DS2 tackles some very heavy and very timely topics in regards to bodily autonomy (esp of pregnant people), grief, trauma, AI, violence, colonialism, expansionism, American exceptionalism and culture… but also more timeless topics, like the family we are born with, the one we make, cultural connections with the dead, spirituality that is not bound by any one religious belief, etc.

It feels like while Kojima maybe pulled back some of the weirdness and heavier messaging in DS1, he went full throttle in DS2. It’s bold, it’s bizarre, it’s an emotional wrecking ball to the heart, and it’s also very, very funny at times. I laughed harder at this game than any other I can think of recently. It also absolutely devastated me.

There are SO many characters in this game, and they’re great. I think the standout performances in this game were Léa Seydoux as Fragile and Troy Baker as Higgs, with a shout out to Norman Reedus for amping up his performance as Sam and for Jonathan Roumie’s frequent comedic quips as Dollman.

Spoilers below and also screenshots!

WHEW. Where to even start.

Prior to playing the game, from the trailers I had a couple of theories: one that Tomorrow was somehow Lou, and two that Fragile was dead.

If we get a Directors Cut, I’d like to see a little more in Mexico. Now granted I just finished the game less than 24 hours ago and need to go back to Mexico to complete orders and the like so maybe I’ll learn more; but it definitely felt like Mexico was just a stop on the way to Australia.

I feel like there could be some really unique stories in there relating to Mexican and Mesoamerican history and culture and how it relates to the Death Stranding. If we do get a DC I hope we’d get some more Mexican characters to meet and learn more about how Mexico dealt with the Death Stranding.

On a much more grim note: Neil told Lucy the UCA was sending him into Mexico to smuggle brain-dead women in for building the chiral network which is fucking HORRIFIC.

I was sad to see Deadman go, but was excited when he then popped up again as Actually Deadman to take over Heartman while he was sleeping. Kind of weird to do it without asking, because I feel like Heartman would be like “yes of course you can take over my body for three minutes!”. Just like with Mama/Lockne, the veil between the living and the dead fluctuates in this world.

I was instantly suspicious of Charlie and The President. Charlie for being a weird creepy mannequin and The President for being so…I dunno, he just gave bad vibes! I ended up being wrong about Charlie (and then Die Hardman came back and gave us a WILD song and dance number which was so chaotic but I loved it); and right about the president.

I did love Dollman, although sometimes it felt like he was over explaining things. His comedic lines were fantastic though, and I was glad to bring him on the adventure.

Tarman I liked, although I did snicker when he said something like “HANDS ARE FOR HOLDING AND MAKING CONNECTIONS” yes thank you Tarman. I thought the backstory scene with his son was well done. And tar kitten! Precious bb angel!

Rainy was such a cool character. Ngl I was super worried about her baby because pregnancy is such a strange thing in this game. I loved her sunniness and patience with Tomorrow, her incredible healing timefall, and overall her presence was so beautiful.

Tomorrow: girl I know you’ve got that heart shaped birthmark on your arm! I know you’re Lou! Could we get a DS3 with Lou as the main character? I would love that. I loved how Tomorrow was somehow this like Matrix anime badass with these incredible temporal powers.

Fragile: Oh, my heart. “We will be with you, always.” You’re killing me Kojima! Even though I mentioned I figured Fragile was dead from the trailer (and that she was unaged and able to touch Sam because of…. Idk Kojima Chiralium Beach Logic), I then figured she was alive! But she was dying the whole time basically. Even though she and Sam never said “I love you” to each other, you knew they were thinking it.

Higgs! Oh Higgs, you motherfucker. Troy Baker acted the FUCK out of Higgs. He’s way more diabolical, way more cruel, and also way more over the top. I’ve seen stuff about him being A Bisexual Disaster and like, yes. Especially at the end when he’s lamenting spending thousands of years on the Beach without Sam, Amelie and Fragile.

Also his SINGING VOICE? Gorgeous.

Female friendship: I loved that Rainy, Fragile and Tomorrow had this wonderful girls group thing. They had special powers and all had suffered in varying ways because of it but they supported each other and were so lovely.

Other random bits:

- I LOVED that we got to tackle animals, put them in boxes and bring them to an animal reserve run by the band CHVRCHES. Like Pokémon, but with wildlife!

- Another Pokémon moment is that we can catch BT’s and summon them to fight other BTs. I use the SHIT out of this. Ohhhh four Bestia (lion) Catchers are gonna come shooting out of the tar and try to bat me around like a sad cat toy? IVE GOT MY OWN GIANT MURDER CAT!

- the new BTs are great and I can’t wait to order the art book for this game

- the little mouse chiral creatures are so cute, I would go out of my way to avoid driving over them

- I hate the spider creatures

- The Pizza Chef is my favorite NPC

- the gothboard (coffin hover board) is absolutely my favorite method of transportation

- I loved the cameos from Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel, the Phillippou brothers, and Ma Dong-seok

Anyway, I’ll be off to decompress from all that by building some damn roads! They’re mostly done, but you know how it is— gotta keep on keepin’ on.

[higgspvrticle]

the beautiful landscape of death stranding <3

[callmeriver-art]

A piece that can be incredibly difficult to see, but think of it as a magic eye picture and see if you can find the BT from Death Stranding

[sketchyorsomething]

I love how Lea makes fun of Sven

[setaphil-edits]

Death Stranding Director's Cut

"Once, there was an explosion, a bang which gave rise to life as we know It and then came the next explosion."

[tapiocadefuego]

Clifford Unger

[buttercatrhoscribbles]

Thinking of magnus archives crosscodee

[deathisreborn]

Death Stranding (2019). Kojima Productions.

[gatutor]

Lea Padovani-Lloyd Bridges "Tres pasos al norte" (Three steps north) 1951, de W. Lee Wilder.