#like. spoiler alert but i did know enough about the show to know about hannibal the cannibal. but the reveal was CRAZY

[saff-rons]

watched season 1 ep 1 of hannibal and. yeah. i Get It now. not sure why i never watched it before this but if i didn't have to wake up early tomorrow i would have binged it tn bc i am so beyond compelled my god........

[reireichu]

I have been seeing Alana as a character who Bryan tried really hard to write according to NBC bc apparently giving Will a conventional girlfriend makes him likeable and The Show Is Not Gay It’s a Crime Drama! and part of the way through, the character had lovely nuances inserted by the actor and by the writing—her relationship with Hannibal felt organic in that perfect alibi and also logically, they worked together for years, she respected him, he’s probably the sanest man in the room for her if you look around at all the hopping murdering agitated loons around, I TOO WOULD RUN INTO THE ARMS OF MY EDUCATED EUROPEAN MENTOR—

And then realise that all men are trash, psychopaths are everywhere and why not take up with the hot lesbian with a deranged brother and help enable her women’s rights and wrongs. Listen there’s a lot to be said there, but most importantly I wish they had enmeshed some form of killing Abigail/forced hysterectomy induced by crazed men who only know toxic love into the narrative but that’s just me.

Oddly enough, I feel like some of that ‘obligatory girlfriend’ vibe transferred to Will. He attempts to have an obligatory girlfriend and then an obligatory family and a conventional life—he has to do it because society and the rules of normalcy (NBC lol) said so, which is why he’s resentfully doing it and feeling so wrong about it because it’s disjointed as fuck but sure okay, this is what makes me normal right—you know, until some guy guts him with a knife and gives him a c-section scar and murders their surrogate baby like she’s lamb led to the slaughter.

Will tried very hard to be normal and it fell flat and you know what, nbc had to suck it because no one can really buy this man wanting the white picket fence life. Maybe if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, the other ducks won’t notice that he’s a fucking mongoose lol.

SPOILER ALERT EVERYONE REALLY FUCKING NOTICED.

Idek this ramble is basically me saying, Will really can’t be with anyone who isn’t really messed up and the obligatory girlfriend vibe thrown in there was funnily enough meta in that he just became so detached to it despite going through the motions like uhm, did you guys get married for insurance purposes maybe???? That I would believe.

Side note, I’d totally write an obligatory girlfriend character only for the sake of her reading Will and Hannibal the riot act because for the love of god, this sweater was SCOTTISH CASHMERE, it’s dry clean only—BLOOD PROTEINS RUIN THE COLOUR.

What the hysterical fuck am I even saying anymore.

if you could pair will and hannibal with any other women on the show, who would it be? of course in terms of "we were obligated to do so" because if I could pick I would pick none hahaha but since it seemed that they were obligated....

If we absolutely HAD to, I'd rather Will and Bev, they had better chemistry and she was a much more pleasant and interesting character than Alana. But the industry is incredibly awful and disgusting and would never pair up Hugh Dancy with her, they went for the obvious beauty standard which was an actress that actually looked like his sister lol. I'm not gonna say Margot, because although a woman, she is gay. But if she wasn't, I think they'd be perfect, actually. Georgia might have been interesting, too, but again, disgusting industry, they would *never* do that. And Chyoh, too. Which I guess they did it for a second lol. For Hannibal I think Bedelia is fine. Can't think of any other female character that matches his energy. But also he's so malewife I can't even picture him with something other than a hot little dude.

[darling-i-read-it]

The Great Red Dragon

3x08

Hannibal Lecter x reader x Will Graham 

Hannibal Re-Write Series Masterlist

Word Count: 2.9k 

Warnings: spoilers for hannibal, murder, dead bodies, blood, surgery, canniblism  

Author’s Note: I LOVE will graham and you can tell in this chapter i kinda went ham with my absolute adoration for him. Usually i try and hold back but im to sad to tonight so here is this love letter to will graham 

I used some direct quotes from the script so some things may seem familiar 

Official Episode Summary: As events jump forward three years, Jack seeks help as he pursues Francis Dolarhyde, AKA `The Tooth Fairy Killer'.

I don’t own these characters. They belong to author/director 

Tag List (is always open!) : @llperfectsymmetryll​ @ericacactus​ @vlightning95​ @sweetgoodangel​

(not my gif) (can you tell i love will graham. i feel like its excessive now but he is so handsome in this episode and every epsiode but this episode too) 

Alana Bloom sat on an uncomfortable chair. The divider between her and Hannibal Lecter was a thick, clear plastic. To Hannibal they were sitting together at his desk. To her, to the reality of her, he sat in his jail cell. The two of them seemed comfortable with each other once again, now that there was no way Hannibal could lay his fingers on her again. 

It was the only reason Alana agreed to stay. 

“Congratulations, Hannibal. You’re officially insane.” 

In front of Hannibal were different and various papers. A newspaper sat there, detailing a family slaughtered in Buffalo. 

“There’s no consensus in the psychiatric community what I should be termed,” he said.

“You’ve long been regarded by your peers in psychiatry as something entirely Other. For convenience, they term you a monster.” Hannibal’s eyes flickered up, away from his papers and on to her. She had cleaned herself up since they were last close. The suit she wore made her look distinguished. Her hair up in curls. Sophisticated. 

“What do you term me?” he questioned.

“I don’t. You defy categorization.” 

“Do you still prefer beer to wine?” he questioned. She pursed her lips, remembering bad memories.

“Stopped drinking beer when I found out what you were putting in mine.”

“Who,” he corrected. She gave the slightest of nods.

“Who.” She paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts. “This means you’ll be spared the federal death sentence. They had enough to convict you dozen times over.” 

“A baker’s dozen. Lest we forget Mason Verger. You’re welcome.” 

“You’re welcome Hannibal. The needle was guaranteed. But you beat it all on an insanity plea.”

“I’m not insane.” Alana nodded. She understood that.

“You know that and I know that. A dozen or a baker’s dozen, enough people have died.” 

“You haven’t,” he pointed out simply. 

“A promise in waiting, isn’t it? A promise you intend to keep.” 

“I always keep my promises.” His lips flew into a small smile. Alana simply adjusted her spot in the seat.

-

“Get out of my chair, Frederick.” 

Chilton stood up from Alana’s chair. Since she had become the director of the asylum things had been changed. For the better. Chilton was crooked, despite his frequent placing in her chair. She walked over and sat down at her desk and reorganized the documents that Chilton had been messing with. 

“Shall we join hands in prayer of gratitude? ‘Thank you, Father, for allowing us to remove this monster, monster of monsters, from your flock. Thank you on behalf of the souls We will spare of pain.’” Chilton stood at the other side of her desk now. 

“Thank you on behalf of the monster.” She leaned back in her chair. “Was that the magisterial We?” 

“It’s our cabal, yours and mine. Hannibal Lecter will spend the rest of his life in a state institution, watching the diaper cart go by.”

“We lied. You wrote a book of lies,” she pointed out.

“Not difficult to see lies flying above my head, but it is almost impossible to shoot them down,” he pointed out. 

“You should be lucky that Y/N is a respectable woman. She should have sued you for what you insinuated between her and Hannibal,” she pointed out.

“You say that only because you couldn’t sue me for speaking the truth about you and Hannibal.” He dragged a finger along the desk. “I wasn’t invited to the wedding though.”

“You held the groom at this asylum when you ran it,” she pointed out.

“Still. I put the actual murderer in jail.” 

“I’m pretty sure they did that.” She picked up her pen. “Either way, Hannibal will shoot down your lies. He’s written a brilliant piece for The American Journal of Psychiatry.” 

“Everything he writes is always about problems he doesn’t have,” Chilton said. 

“What he’s written is going to be your problem. It’s not so much an article as it is a rebuttal.” She smiled to herself. “He has an acid pen.” 

-

Will stood out by the shed. The dogs were balancing around him, running around and barking happily. Will was bundled against the cold although you had been the person who threw all of the layers at him. The dogs kicked up the snow. He was repairing the fence out there, something to keep busy. 

He looked up the gravel driveway and a black SVU came down the track. 

He let out a sigh, caught by the cold. 

Jack Crawford came out of the car.

-

“Don’t want to talk inside?” Jack asked as Will handed him a mug of hot cider. Several stray dogs lay and mill at their feet as Will leaned against the porch railing. “Don’t want to let me inside. Come too far to let the cold stop me, Will.” 

Will pursed his lips.

“Bold of you to show up.”

“Where’s Y/N?” he questioned.

“Making dinner. She didn’t hear you coming up and was, lucky for you, unaware I was making two cups of cider.” Will was relaxed but his tone was uneven. 

“You don't want to talk about it here,” Jack said.

“I don't want to talk about it anywhere. You’ve got to talk about it, so let’s have it. Just don’t get out any pictures. There’s no point in doing that.” 

“How much do you know?” Jack questioned.

“Two families killed, in their homes, a month apart. Similar circumstances,” Will said. You and him and passed the newspaper to each other at breakfast. Looked into it. 

“Not ‘similar’. The same. You ever think about giving me a call?” 

“If I ever thought about it Y/N would divorce me on the spot. But I didn’t think about it,” he admitted.

“You know what it is,” Jack said. 

“I didn’t think about calling you because I didn’t want to. I don’t think I’d be all that useful to you, Jack. I never think about it anymore. I don’t believe I could do it now.” Will looked down at the lakeshore and Jack pulled out two pictures from his jacket pocket. He flipped them out on the table. Will looked down at them. 

“All dead. This freak seems to be in phase with the moon.” Jack tapped the photos. “Killed the Jacobis in Chicago almost four weeks ago. Full moon. Killed the Leeds family in Buffalo night before last. One day short of a lunar month. If we’re lucky we have a little over three weeks before he does it again.” 

“Will!” Your voice carried in from the home. Both men looked over. 

“Looks like your luck has run out Jack.” You opened the door to alert Will that dinner was done. Upon seeing Jack you stopped. For a moment you were wordless. You looked down at the two pictures on the table, at Will, and then back at Jack. You recognized those people from the newspapers. You took in a deep breath and held your composure.

“If you want to by any chance keep your head I would recommend picking up those pictures, putting them back in your pocket, getting off my goddamn porch and driving your car back to where you came from,” you said evenly. “And give me that cup of cider.” Jack handed it to you and you snatched it, allowing it to spill on your hand without a reaction. “We need Will’s help. More of these families are going to die,” Jack said.

“I’m not going to let this happen again. I let it happen once.” 

“You would sacrifice families lives for the miniscule chance one person gets a little hurt?” You stepped forward to him but Will lifted his hand. You stopped but you were still pretty close. 

“If that one person is Will then yes. He’s saved enough lives.”

“He isn’t going anywhere,” Will said. You looked up at him and stepped back. 

“Dinner is done,” you said and turned back into the house. Jack and Will shared a look.

“So,” Will started, pushing himself off of the balcony railing. “Joining us for dinner?” 

-

You sat beside Will who was at the head of the table. Jack observed the house. It looked simplistic, comforting. On the small shelf by the table were picture frames. Each one of both of you. One when you were fishing, a small fish in front of your face as you laughed. One of Will by the fireplace in the Baltimore house. A couple from the wedding of the two of you looking happier than Jack had ever seen. 

Jack had been at the wedding. Will invited him discreetly and because you were so distracted by your own happiness you couldn’t fight. You looked amazing. It had been a long time coming that day and when it did come everyone celebrated. There were even pictures of you, Margot and Alana on that day, cheering to a new beginning. 

“People dump small dogs here all the time. I can give away the cute ones, rest, stay around and get to be big ones,” you muttered, petting the dog at your feet. 

“You’ve always been a sucker for strays,” Will said.

“You’re not fooling anyone Will.” You stabbed at the plate and took a bite. Will placed a hand on your thigh and kept it there. You put your hand on top of his destreetly. 

“Got a nice life here,” Jack said. 

“I’m lucky here. I know that,” Will said. 

“Surprised there aren’t any kids yet. Bella and I wanted them but with my job we could never fit it in.” The mention of Bella would make you sympathize with him and he knew that. Despite having calmed down a bit you still held up a good face. 

“We have a lot of dogs although I can’t say we haven't been trying,” Will said. His face flushed a bit but you were so mad still you couldn’t even be flustered. Will knew there were some things you needed to say to Jack that you couldn't’ say in front of him. “I’m going to take the dogs out to pee.” He tapped your thigh once more before letting his hand leave as he stood up from the dinner table. You nodded numbly as he left, watching him go.

Your gaze went back to Jack. 

“When you came into his classroom that day I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt but you failed me Jack. Countless times, you failed me.” 

“You left me there to die In Florence.” You smiled. 

“A fond memory.” You placed your fork down carefully. “You’re going to take him no matter how much I want to kill you for it.” 

“I have to. I’ll make it as easy on him as I can. He’s changed. It’s great you got married.” You nodded.

“He’s better and better. He doesn’t have nightmares anymore.” You paused and collected yourself. “He was really obsessed with the dogs for a while. Now he just takes care of them. He doesn’t talk about them all the time. Doesn’t worry about them.” 

“I know what it is I’m asking Y/N. And I wished to God I didn’t have to.”

You smiled slightly at what you were about to say.

“If he decides to go, and that’s a big if, he will not be going alone.” Jack nodded slowly. He figured this would happen. There was nowhere he went you would not follow.

“I know.”

“And you’re willing to deal with me for as long as it takes to get rid of this killer?” 

“If I have to.”

-

You sat on your bed. The world was quiet out here. You loved it. Will loved it. It was why you got it together, your first joint home purchase. Will was taking off his shoes and you put your arms around him from behind. 

He cuddled his head against yours. He could feel your breath against his skin when you spoke.

“I don’t want you to go, you know that.” 

“I don’t imagine you’ll let me go alone,” he whispered. “But you know if I go, I’ll be different when I get back.” You nodded.

“I loved you at your worst and I’ll love you for the rest of the time you’ll let me,” you promised. You kissed him tenderly and his hands rested on your cheek, moving your body with his other hand so that he didn’t have to crane his neck. 

-

Darkness moved around the bedroom peacefully. You slept beside Will but he was awake. He looked over at you and then slid out of bed. He pulled open a drawer quietly and took out a letter. The envelope is addressed to Will and Y/N, through the FBI. He hadn’t shown you this yet. He wasn’t sure if he should. 

But you had felt him get up. Years of feeling when he was having a nightmare trained you for that kind of moment. You sat up and slid out of bed. Will looked over to you.

“What’s that?” 

“I wasn’t going to show it to you.”

You walked over to him and put your arms around him from behind. You looked at the letter and the second you saw the handwriting you froze. 

“Is it directed to you?”

“Both of us.”

You took it from his hands and stood up straight. 

‘Dear Will and Y/N, we have all found a new life, but our old lives hover in the shadows, like incipient madness. Soon enough, I fear Jack Crawford will come knocking. I encourage Will, as a friend, not to step back through the door he holds open. I don’t doubt Y/N will protest against this ever happening but in case her will is not strong enough I must promise that there is darkness on the other side of the door and madness is waiting.’ 

You handed him the paper. 

“I’m calling the girls from down the street. Their teenagers will watch the dogs.” 

-

Will and you looked through the Leeds house. The two of you looked at the bloody remnants of what had happened there. You weren’t there to observe though. You were there for moral support. 

His eyes were shut for a while. You watched him stand there. You were silent.

Until he opened his eyes and a deep breath left his lips. You quickly approached him and hugged him tightly. He hugged you back, catching his breath in your arms.

-

“Jimmy you’re the light of my life,” Jack said.

“I know. The print’s smudged. Came off Mrs. Leeds eye. Never did that before. Never would’ve seen it, but it stood out against an eight-ball hemorrhage,” Jimmy explained. You, Will, Jack, Jimmy and Brian all stood in the morgue together. He kept stealing glances at you and Will whose thoughts were elsewhere. “I just...I can’t believe you’re back. I’m surprised you're back.”

“I’m surprised Y/N didn’t drag Jack's dead body in here,” Brian said. He hit Will’s back. “Welcome back.” 

-

Jack looked up from his desk to see Will and you standing before him. You were both looking at the information sheet. 

“You were asking about the dog. Last night, a vet called the police. Leeds and his oldest boy brought it into the bet the afternoon before they were killed,” Jack explained. 

“What’s going to happen to it?” Will asked.

“Please don't worry about the dog.” Will smiled a bit.

“What do you expect me to do?” he whispered. You smiled at him. Ever the sweetie. 

“Best you can, that’s all. Busyworks been a narcotic for me sometimes, especially after I quit the booze. For you too, I think,” Jack said. 

“There’s something else we can do,” you started. You paused for a moment. You and Will had talked this over just briefly but you understood it was what you needed. “We can wait until Will is driven to it by desperation in the last days before the full moon. Or we could do it now, while it might be of some use,” you finished. 

“Is there an opinion you want?” Will nodded slowly.

“We have to see Hannibal.”

3x09

[salvatoreschool]

Vampire Diaries Universe: The 25 Best Characters, Ranked

For the first time since 2009, we’re entering a fall season devoid of any new offerings from the Vampire Diaries universe. And like Stefan Salvatore without his daily diet of forest friends, we’re insatiable.

Like so many longtime TVD enthusiasts (those of us to whom the word “thesmatos” really means something!), we’ve spent much of quarantine revisiting the weird, wonderful universe — from Mystic Falls to New Orleans and back again. We’re suddenly spending a lot of time with characters we haven’t seen in years. And we’re having a lot of feelings about them.

In celebration of the franchise’s 11th anniversary, TVLine has assembled another totally non-controversial ranking, this time of the 25 best characters from the Vampire Diaries universe — a category that also includes familiar faces from The Originals and Legacies. (In Legacies‘ defense, the franchise’s latest offshoot hasn’t been around as long to endear itself to us, but that didn’t stop four Salvatore School students from making their way onto our list.)

In lieu of new content from the TVD universe this fall, TVLine is looking back at our 25 favorite characters from the entire franchise, including stand-out favorites from its two spinoffs.

SPOILER ALERT: This ranking discusses major plot points from all three shows. If you haven’t finished The Vampire Diaries (Season 1-8), The Originals (Season 1-5) or Legacies (Season 1-2), proceed at your own risk. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

25. VINCENT GRIFFITH

Thanks to the magic of body swapping, the Mikaelson siblings have inhabited multiple physical vessels throughout the years, but none have remained in the family’s orbit quite like this Southern gentleman. Powerful, thoughtful and downright Shakespearean in his delivery (Yusuf Gatewood, ladies and gentlemen!), Vincent always has the greater good in mind. And as we learned in The Originals’ series finale, he helped Freya and Keelan pass that good along to the next generation.

24. LANDON KIRBY

Even though we’re still getting to know him, there’s already so much to like about this pure-hearted Mystic Falls townie. Not only is he the franchise’s first-ever phoenix, but he also looks like he could pass for Damon and Elena’s offspring — and that’s never a bad thing. We could tell he had a long future in this universe the moment he danced with Hope in The Originals’ final season. (So far, so good!)

23. JENNA SOMMERS

Like so many paved paradises, we didn’t fully appreciate what we had with Jenna until she was gone. Her death marked the end of Elena’s innocence — which is saying a lot, considering she was still mourning her own parents when The Vampire Diaries began. And if we’re being honest, Jenna was the ghost we were most excited to see again in the series finale. (For the record, Joseph Morgan has apologized on Klaus’ behalf for killing Jenna several times.)

22. TYLER LOCKWOOD

The First Son of Mystic Falls was kind of a jerk when we met him in The Vampire Diaries‘ first season. He was arrogant, aggressive and reckless — so it actually made perfect sense when he was revealed to be a werewolf. Fortunately, Michael Trevino’s character developed a little more nuance from that point on, especially via his Romeo and Juliet romance with Caroline. (After everything that’s happened since 2013, can you believe that they were once in a love triangle with Klaus?)

21. JEREMY GILBERT

Elena’s little brother (er, cousin?) went through a number of different, wonderful phases during his tenure in Mystic Falls. We loved him in The Vampire Diaries’ earlier seasons as the human embodiment of all things emo (he literally dated a ghost!), and we… um… appreciated his unexpected evolution into a shirt-ripping, wood-chopping vampire hunter.

20. CAMILLE ‘CAMI’ O’CONNELL

The Clarice Starling to Klaus’ Hannibal Lecter, this brave bartender was able to tap into the show’s darkest, most complicated character’s psyche in ways that no one named Mikaelson (or even Forbes) ever could. She helped him conquer a number of his demons in the few short years they spent together on The Originals, and like most people who play a significant role in Klaus’ life, she suffered the consequences. (Side note: Are we the only ones who really dug Cami as a vampire? Justice for that short-lived story arc.)

19. SHERIFF ELIZABETH FORBES

Of The Vampire Diaries’ many maternal figures, none put us through the emotional ringer quite like Caroline’s mother. We weren’t her biggest fans in the show’s early seasons, given her penchant for hunting the undead (including her own daughter), but hey, what was this show if not an endless series of redemption arcs? Also, if you don’t get a little choked up when Caroline felt her mom’s presence in the series finale, you don’t have a soul.

18. FREYA MIKAELSON

The long-lost fifth Mikaelson sibling was a little rough around the edges when we first encountered her on The Originals, but the poor woman was in the midst of escaping a centuries-long imprisonment, so we cut her a little slack. And we’re glad we did, because Freya has since become one of the strongest, most inspiring and all-around likable characters in the Vampire Diaries canon. #FreelinForever

17. MARCEL GERARD

While it’s easy to get swept up in Marcel’s charm and swagger (we were robbed of a second karaoke number, by the way!), it’s important to remember just how far back his time with the Mikaelson family goes. When you consider that Klaus literally freed Marcel from slavery and raised him to lead New Orleans as his right-hand vampire, it adds a whole other layer of tension to their passionate power struggle on The Originals. Though he’s treated like an unofficial Mikaelson sibling, Marcel often feels like more of a Mikaelson than Kol — and definitely more than Finn.

16. REBEKAH MIKAELSON

Arguably the funniest (and most glamorous) member of the Mikaelson family, the woman Damon once referred to as “Barbie Klaus” never fai to tell it exactly like it was, beginning with her thoughts on then-lovebirds Stefan and Elena. (“Honestly, I don’t get you two as a couple.”) And Bex only became more complex as the years went on, from her desperate desire for humanity to her undeniable love for Marcel. Just don’t call her insane — she prefers “spontaneous.”

15. ALARIC SALTZMAN

In hindsight, Alaric’s journey from hot history teacher to hot headmaster of a supernatural school makes perfect sense. Still, it was impossible to predict back in The Vampire Diaries’ first season just how much of an impact the man formerly known as Warner Huntington III would have on this franchise. A drinking buddy to some, a father figure to others and a literal father to a lucky pair, Alaric has truly woven himself into the fabric of this universe like few others. (That said, we still wouldn’t recommend dating him if you value your life.)

14. SHERIFF MATT DONOVAN

Only one full-blooded human survived all eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries, and you’re looking at him. The pinnacle of mortal goodness, this blue-eyed patriot hasn’t always been on the same page as his vampire brethren, but that’s only because he didn’t want to see any more his friends and family get eaten. And we can sympathize with that!

12-13. LIZZIE AND JOSIE SALTZMAN

Asking us to choose between Jo (by way of Caroline) and Alaric’s daughters is an impossible task, which is ironic, considering the Gemini twins are literally destined for a fight to the death on their 22nd birthday. Besides, these sisters have always felt like a package deal, from the moment we witnessed their birth on The Vampire Diaries to the day we reunited with them as teenagers on Legacies. (They also popped up in The Originals’ penultimate episode, putting them in the prestigious category of characters who have appeared in all three series.) Despite their inherent connection, Lizzie and Josie really have grown into two very different people, a journey we hope will continue for years (and shows) to come.

11. MALACHAI ‘KAI’ PARKER

The fact that this remorseless, pork rind-loving psychopath ranks so high on our list speaks volumes about actor Chris Wood, who brought a refreshingly sassy vibe to The Vampire Diaries’ sixth season. The guy was so likable, fans were even ‘shipping him with Bonnie… as if that poor girl hadn’t been through enough already! You also have to give Kai points for longevity — even after his head got knocked off, he managed to make two encore appearances on TVD (Season 8) and Legacies (Season 2).

10. HOPE MIKAELSON

As we mentioned with Lizzie and Josie earlier, we feel like we’ve watched Hope grow up before our eyes… because we have. Given the epic circumstances surrounding her conception, birth and upbringing, an adult version of this character had a lot of hype to live up to, and Danielle Rose Russell has proven herself more than up to the challenge. Imbued with her parents’ best qualities, Hope’s power and passion make her both a formidable foe and an invaluable ally. Besides, Legacies showed us what the world would be like without Hope, and it was not a good place.

9. HAYLEY MARSHALL

We can’t even think about this fierce, fearless mama wolf without shedding a single tear. Hayley’s story was basically one long tragedy, from her complicated marriage with Jackson to her tumultuous relationship with Elijah. And then there was her untimely demise in The Originals’ final season, which… actually, let’s not talk about that. From the moment she gave birth, Hayley’s heart belonged to Hope, and it was in her most extreme maternal moments that Hayley’s true strength was on display. That’s how we’ll remember her.

8. ELIJAH MIKAELSON

Suits? Pressed. Hair? Immaculate. Vocabulary? Thicc. With his smooth moves and cunning intellect, Klaus’ extremely respectful brother could do it all — well, except keep the people he loved from meeting horrific ends. (Seriously, this guy’s track record for dead lovers is right up there with Alaric’s.)

7. BONNIE BENNETT

Simply put, this is the witch you want in your corner when things go south. Endlessly powerful and selfless to a fault, Kat Graham’s character spent eight agonizing seasons sacrificing herself — often literally, hence her multiple deaths — in order to keep her friends and family safe. No amount of bloody noses or dead boyfriends could stop this badass from crushing her enemies.

6. CAROLINE FORBES

Getting smothered to death was honestly the best thing that could have happened to Caroline, who evolved from a basic, boy-crazy cheerleader into a bad-ass vampire overnight. And that was just the first phase of her franchise-long evolution into the empowered, globe-trotting mother of two she is today. She’s also responsible for all of The Vampire Diaries’ memorable musical moments, from her sweet song for Matt to her devastating performance at Sheriff Forbes’ funeral. (Now if only she’d pay her old pals at Legacies a visit…)

5. ELENA SALVATORE

She may not have Katherine’s chaotic flare, but Elena deserves credit for carrying much of The Vampire Diaries’ dramatic and romantic weight for six years. And for that pink hair she experimented with in Season 4. On top of that, Elena also rolled with the punches better than almost anyone. (You’re vampires? I’m a doppelgänger? Now I’m a vampire? Now I’m human again? Now I’m in a coma? Sure, let’s do this.)

3-4. DAMON AND STEFAN SALVATORE

Two sides of the same brooding coin, these brothers were as proficient at breaking hearts as they were at breaking necks. And while their love triangle with Elena will remain the stuff of TV legend, their relationship as brothers was revealed to be the real heart of The Vampire Diaries in its final two seasons. Honestly, it’s too hard to choose between them, so we’re not going to.

2. KATHERINE PIERCE

Come on, when were you not excited to see this leather-clad lunatic on your screen? Deliciously twisted and infinitely more interesting than her human doppelgänger, Katherine was behind many of The Vampire Diaries’ most jaw-dropping twists, from her iconic encounter with John(’s bloody fingers) to her long-awaited return in the series finale. Honestly, putting Katherine on hell’s throne in Season 8 was merely a formality — she was always a queen.

1. KLAUS MIKAELSON

The man, the myth, the legend. To think that the monster who slaughtered poor, defenseless Aunt Jenna on The Vampire Diaries is the same person who gave it all up to save his daughter on The Originals… well, there isn’t a clap slow enough to commend that kind of growth. (Again, Joseph Morgan is very sorry about the whole Jenna thing!) By the time Klaus evaporated on the streets of New Orleans, it felt like we had explored every conceivable nook and cranny of his existence, from his traumatic childhood to his fatal romances — and we relished every second of it.

[stellardeer]

been watching "You" lately because my roommate put it on, and I had avoided it previously because I'd heard some negative things about it from people on here (it's told from the perspective of a man stalking a woman in the beginning which made me uncomfortable at first but i kept watching anyway and got sucked in), I wouldn't recommend it to teenagers but the writing is really compelling and it's really good if you like shows that make you go 'WHAT is gonna happen next??'

(more opinion/possible spoilers under cut)

(cw: stalking, killing, [unrelated to show] sexual assault mention) The reason I say that it's not for teenagers is because the show does kind of normalize the stalking/murdering to a degree, to an extent that might put wrong ideas into the heads of younger people who are still learning and developing. And I use the word "normalize" instead of "romanticize" or "glorify" because the show does repeatedly remind you that none of the main character's actions are okay, the response from all of the other characters is negative, none of the characters are going "aww it's okay what you did because you did it for love :)", which I believe is where the line is crossed when writers intend to make a negative behavior seem good. When I say "normalize", I mean that they're giving his perspective on his actions through his inner monologue, and his attempts to explain everything away and make it rational definitely give off the idea of like "People who do bad things are damaged too and not necessarily the monsters we think they are" and maybe even a little bit of "what if i stalk and kill people as a coping mechanism?? :(" And that's maybe not an idea that we want to be putting into the heads of young, impressionable people. Not saying that adults can't be affected too, but I think that it's less likely to change the mind of an adult, unless someone already thinks that way in which case they might just feel validated.

THAT BEING SAID THOUGH, I'm recommending this show because I think the storytelling and directing is phenomenal from a purely technical standpoint, disregarding the content. If you like shows with crime/mystery or just any story that leaves you wanting more, then it's a good show for those reasons. I don't necessarily think that it is the responsibility of the entertainment industry to show us 100% wholesome content at all times, and if there are already adults out there who think like "what i'm doing is fine because i'm doing it for the right reasons", then I don't think that avoiding showing that perspective in fiction is going to reverse that thinking. It's true that it may make it harder for people to justify their own actions if they never feel validated by a piece of fiction, and if you believe that is the right way to handle media then I can't really argue with that and I understand why you wouldn't support a story like this. I'm not trying to say "We should be promoting this show on every billboard across the world!" I'm just 1 person recommending this to my few meager followers who might actually even read this post, who may or may not enjoy media that depicts crime/violence.

If you've read this far and you have decided that this piece of media is not for you, then I definitely understand that, especially if you're someone who has experienced interpersonal violence of that kind, it could be very triggering. The first episode opens with the main character/narrator meeting a woman and then immediately stalking her for what I think is several weeks? (timeline slightly unknown) And the first season ends (spoiler alert, skip to next paragraph to avoid) with him murdering that same woman in what could be considered a crime of passion. It's terrifying to watch as a woman/woman-adjacent person. It makes you feel like nothing and no one is safe. I felt the same way about 13 Reasons Why in the end when (also spoiler, but not for 'You') the character who committed multiple sexual assaults WENT TO TRIAL was NOT convicted despite being FOUND GUILTY, it was infuriating and triggering to me, so if you have had a stalker and don't think that you could watch a show in which a stalker/murderer basically gets away with it (altho i dont fully know since it isn't over yet), then I would not recommend this for you either!

NOW FINALLY ON TO WHY YOU MIGHT LIKE IT, contains minor spoilers about general content but no specifics This is not a show like Hannibal or Dexter, about a serial killer who can't stop himself (I haven't watched those shows so sorry if I'm wrong). It's a show about a quote-unquote seemingly "normal" guy who essentially accidentally let his life get a little out of control, but ends up repeating the same patterns every time he thinks that he's out of the woods. Which, who knows, maybe he IS just like Hannibal or Dexter, who probably also think that what they're doing is justified somehow. But in 'You' this character is not someone who seeks to harm people, he doesn't want to harm anyone, he usually doesn't even plan to harm someone it just happens in the moment but he doesn't know what to do about it after. His goal is not to harm, his goal is love, and he ends up harming people who get in his way of his love.

I will say that I was put off by the first couple episodes because this man is just obsessively watching this woman from afar and claiming it's because he wants to make sure she's worth it before trying to date her, and I kept watching because I'm like "surely this will end poorly for him. surely justice will be served", and after a couple episodes and the twists and turns that ensue, I'm like.. well it's not ending in justice necessarily but what the FUCK is happening I need to see where this will go.

And then things get worse and you think "Well surely NOW he will get caught and there will be consequences??"

And somehow there are still no consequences. And eventually you find yourself (I use general 'you' because my roommate agrees) not necessarily rooting for him, not in a sense of "Wow I hope you get what you want and every bad thing you did is justified and never discovered and you live happily ever after (:" but it's more like... "Please just stop doing bad things. Please this one time just walk away and don't do the wrong thing. You can still salvage this. It's not too late in this one instance. REALLY you should be turning yourself in for what you've done, but it's not too late to avoid doing more harm!"

Which, again, is where it may get kind of dangerous, since even I went from "Wow this guy is fucked, i hate him and anyone like him and they should all die" to "Okay I get that you're messed up, but can you just fucking stop?" Throughout the series I just keep turning to my roommate and basically reminding myself out loud "he killed people, wtf" The show doesn't really let you forget, either. Again, it's not like the writers of the show want you to forget what he did and forgive him and let him be happy, they repeatedly remind you that he has done unspeakable harms, and then just when you think it's over and the jig is up, he manages to make it out unscathed.

If you've seen Death Note, it's very similar to the way that's written. In Death Note, you get Light's inner monologue. You almost want to support him because he's convinced HIMSELF that what he's doing is right and hearing his perspective almost convinces YOU that he shouldn't be punished for what he's doing. Death Note is a little different because Light is trying to "save the world" whereas the MC of You is just trying to fall in love, so you might find it harder to sympathize. However, the storytelling is pretty much the same. And what happened to Light? Justice caught up with him. He got what he ultimately deserved, no matter how much you might have wanted to root for him. It's a little harder to root for the MC of 'You' because his end goal is not as "noble" as "ridding the world of evil" or whatever, but I think that's better. It's easier to hate and fear him, especially if you feel like it's something that could happen to anyone. It's something that could happen to you. Which is why I think they chose the name 'You' for the show. For that matter, the you could even be the main character. He just seems like a normal guy. He's just trying his best to survive and make meaningful connections like anyone else. This could be 'You', given the right(wrong) circumstances.

Anyway, I've written a whole lot, glad I put it under a cut, but if you've paid attention to my blog at all you'll probably know that I don't normally talk about media too often on my blog, I'm not too much into "fandoms" or ranting and raving about the stuff I like, so I feel like the fact that I feel compelled to tell other people "omg have you seen You?? can we please talk about wtf is happening in this show??" is honestly reason enough for me to recommend to others and say "it's good!"

But I felt like all these caveats were necessary! Because I do remember seeing a lot of negative reactions from Tumblr users when the show first came out due to the nature of the content and its presentation. If the story were told from the perspective of the women, it would be a horror story. In fact, it wouldn't even be a horror story until the very end when the love-interest finally discovers what's been going on. It would be more like a boring love story until you finally found out "omg he was stalking her? how disgusting!" But that's how it is in real life, too. Real life horror stories aren't always actually horrible until it's too late. You often don't see the atrocities coming when they're committed by someone who you know and trust. That's how the majority of traumas/tragedies go.

By telling it from the bad dude's perspective you get an interesting story, you see how scary it can really be, you see how easily someone's good intentions and average crime-free life can turn sour by a few poorly calculated emotionally-driven decisions. You see how the trauma is created from the actions of authority/parental figures. There is a repeated theme throughout the show of neglected children, and the the people that they can become when it goes unchecked. I feel like that biggest takeaway from the show is that every child should be shown love and kindness. Lest they grow up to be fucking serial killers.

[chronotrek]

761. [DIS] The Vulcan Hello

SCORE:

(3/5 stars)

It's a little hard to separate my impression of The Vulcan Hello and Battle at the Binary Stars since they flow together into a complete narrative. I suspect outside of CBS's interference insisting this be a streamed show and wanting something to entice broadcast viewers to sign up for All Access right away that we would have just treated this as a 2-hour single episode premiere like prior Trek series. I'll try to do my part and just focus this on the first episode despite having watched both back to back. The title theme has some cool elemental visuals in keeping with Bryan Fuller's style (think Hannibal or American Gods), but the music doesn't feel like it will ever become iconic. I can't recall a tune to hum along with like I would with the other series. Instead, it seems more to hint and echo at motifs of better themes. Title music doesn't have to be Jerry Goldsmith's hum-a-melody style, but it's nice when it is. At least it's not Rod Stewart.

The Klingons have been visually redesigned and it's probably going to take me some time to get used to it. Klingons do tend to have a history of getting reworked every couple decades, so it's not without precedent. The difference is that the makeup job done here does not appear, to my layman's eye, to be something unachievable in the nineties, when I consider alien design for the later seasons of TNG or all of DS9. So while the first Klingon facelift was both budgetary and an advance in makeup, this seems arbitrary, making Klingons different just to make them different. I'm also hoping we're going to see more clothing that resembles their leather-bound look from series of yore, because right now it looks like they're all wearing ribcages. I could see it being this particular ship's garb, but once we delve further into the other Klingon houses we'll see what they look like.

I'm not getting a strong sense of Starfleet unity from this crew. I gather this crew is not the final crew based on promotional materials and the ship being named the Shenzhou, not the Discovery, but even so, I don't get the feel of an intrepid crew of brave explorers. Instead we see a timid and cautious crew (embodied in Science Officer Saru) only kept together by the measured hand of Captain Philippa Georgiou and the hybrid passion/dispassion of First Officer Michael Burnham. We're a hundred years out from Enterprise and ten years until Kirk's five-year mission, but it feels to me more like we're hot on Archer's heels and a long way to go before we get to a Starfleet prepared for alien menageries and salt vampires.

It's May 11, 2256, and my 271st birthday. Captain Georgiou and Commander Burnham are on a planet entering an 89 year drought. In order to save the native population, they blast through bedrock down a well to break through to the aquifer. They're unable to hail their ship, the Shenzhou, due to a dust storm, so Georgiou has them walk in what appears to be circles, but she's actually drawing the Starfleet chevron in the desert so the Shenzhou can see them and pick them up.

The Shenzhou goes to make repairs to a damaged relay on the edge of Federation space in a young binary star system. Saru, the lanky Kelpien science officer (it took them long enough to cast Doug Jones in Star Trek) believes the relay was intentionally damaged, and Burnham is inclined to agree due to Starfleet's reputation for rapid repair deployment. If someone wanted to lure out a starship, it worked. There is an object that is actively obscuring optical sensors in an accretion disk, and Burnham volunteers to make an EVA flight out there to inspect it. She loses comm signal once in range of the object, but finds an ornate stone and steel sculpture. Once she lands on it, it seems to react to her presence, raising spires all around her, and she is confronted by another humanoid in an EVA suit. She looks at his insignia and his bladed weapon. He is Klingon. He charges at her, and she fires her suit's thrusters to get away, knocking his bat'leth into his chest in the process and cracking her visor.

On a nearby cloaked Klingon vessel, they have retrieved the body of the dead warrior and T'Kuvma, the captain of the vessel, leads them all in the Klingon death ritual, staring into his eyes and yelling to Sto-vo-kor that a great warrior is coming. Unusual for Klingons, they actually take great care of the body, wrapping it in a shroud and sealing it in a sarcophagus that they place on the outer hull of the ship, where it is among thousands of others. This is new Klingon behavior. T'Kuvma speaks of a prophecy and of Kahless, wanting to unite the great houses of the High Council and restore the Empire. His ship appears to be populated with outcasts, including an albino named Voq, Son of None, who volunteers to "light the beacon" and proves his faith and devotion by holding his hand to fire.

Burnham dreams of her childhood, being raised and taught on Vulcan as a human, with Sarek as her instructor. She appears to be the sole survivor of a Klingon attack on a Federation colony and while she attempts to embrace the logical nature of Vulcanity, the death of her parents is something she cannot emotionally shake off. She awakens in sickbay, where she's being treated for radiation exposure, and aborts the treatment mid-process to run to the bridge. Her suit's recording systems did not function at the beacon, and so none of the crew know of the Klingon presence. She convinces Georgiou to go to red alert and lock phasers on the beacon, which causes the Klingon vessel to decloak. The captain orders her to return to sickbay to complete her treatment because she needs to be living if things escalate.

Starfleet Command orders the Shenzhou to hold position and wait for reinforcements, and Admiral Anderson personally berates Burnham for bothering "a warrior race we've hardly spoken to for a hundred years." Starfleet is hoping for a diplomatic solution to this Klingon incursion, but Burnham argues they only understand strength and violence, an attitude that gets her accused of racism. They hold position, and then the beacon is lit. To call it a beacon is a bit of an understatement. Despite the Shenzhou being a starship with windows that ought to be able to filter out significant quantities of light for flying near stars, they are effectively blinded by the beacon. Filters at full leave nothing but white in the viewscreens, and the beacon broadcasts on multiple frequencies, including audio ones. Shutting down the comm system still has the ship's sympathetic vibrations from the beacon.

Burnham calls Sarek on Vulcan and asks how the Vulcans dealt with the Klingons, since they've had a peace with them for a long time. She brings the advice to the captain. Before formal dialogue was established between the two species, the standing policy of Vulcans was to fire first at any Klingon vessel they saw, to communicate in a language they understood. Burnham wants them to fire everything they have at the Klingon ship, but Georgiou will not fire first and chews Burnham out in her ready room for becoming insubordinate on the bridge and being cavalier with wanting to engage her crew in battle and death.

I suspect Burnham has a long way to go to reconcile her hatred of the Klingons with her Vulcan upbringing, but it's not here yet. In a desperate move, Burnham mutinies, neck-pinching Georgiou in the ready room and ordering the bridge to lock weapons despite Saru's protests. Just as she orders to open fire, Georgiou returns to the bridge thanks to Burnham's weaksauce technique and belays the order, training a phaser on her mutinous first officer. Before another move can be made, the beacon's call is responded to, as a fleet of 24 Klingon warships warp into view.

SPECULATION

T'Kuvma appears a different and more spiritual leader of Klingons, showing reverence for dead bodies. It doesn't last, since by Worf's time, Klingons are back to considering dead bodies empty shells for disposal, while still highly spiritual, considering the belief in Sto-vo-kor. This appears to be a much different religious order.

Since this is on the outer edge of Federation space, are we about to see the formation of the Federation/Klingon Neutral Zone?

It's an interesting choice making a woman of color use the racist dogwhistle "it's not race, it's culture." I suspect we're going to see a series arc of Michael coming to grips with and overcoming her ingrained prejudice of Klingons.

NITPICKS

Why couldn't Burnham and Georgiou have beamed closer to the well? Bet they could have been in and out without having to draw a beacon and exposing the local population to a starship in low atmosphere.

The binary star appears to be a recent merger between the two stars, but even so, the accretion disks of each star appear too fixed to their parent star. There should be a lot more material that's bending toward the center of gravity between the stars.

Why couldn't Burnham warn Georgiou about the Klingons using the Sickbay intercom?

The Klingon redesign definitely makes them more alien, but the complete removal of hair is a problem to me, since to Klingons, hair is a symbol of virility.

Sarek mentions there being a "new star in the sky." While the beacon certainly makes use of subspace to call in the Klingon great houses, the light from the beacon must be limited to light-speed and therefore nobody would be seeing this "new star" for years.

FAVORITE QUOTES

T'Kuvma: That is why we light our beacon this day. To assemble our people. To lock arms against hose whose fatal greeting is "we come in peace."

Georgiou: It's hard to imagine you've served under me for seven years. I think it's time that we talked about you having your own command. Burnham: I'm grateful, Captain, though I would be significantly more so if I thought we had any chance of returning to the ship.

Burnham: How did they find us? Georgiou: I set a star.

Georgiou: Saru's Kelpien. He thinks everything is malicious.

Saru: As Science Officer, I can provide a far more concrete and detailed analysis than simply reading data off a monitor.

Georgiou: Mr. Januzzi, contact Starfleet Command. Send an encoded message. Tell them we have engaged the Klingons.

Voq: I will light the beacon. T'Kuvma: Speak your name. Voq: Voq, son of None. T'Kuvma: You have no family blade of your own. You cannot assume the birthright of a noble house. You are unworthy. Voq: I am worthy not by blood, but by faith. I serve the light of Kahless. I am reborn in his flames.

Saru: Your world has food chains. Mine does not. Our species map is binary. We are either predator or prey. My people were hunted, bred, farmed. We are your livestock of old. We were biologically determined for one purpose and one purpose alone: to sense the coming of death. I sense it coming now.

Burnham: 240 years ago, near H'Atoria, a Vulcan ship crossed into Klingon space. The Klingons attacked immediately and destroyed the vessel. Vulcans don't make the same mistake twice. From then on, until formal relations were established, whenever the Vulcans crossed paths with Klingons, the Vulcans fired first. They said hello in a language the Klingons understood. Violence brought respect, respect brought peace. Captain, we have to give the Klingons a Vulcan hello.

Georgiou: Battle is not a simulation. It's blood and screams and funerals.

[unicron-risen]

Get to Know the Blogger

I was tagged by: @skelenator-rainbow

Rules: Answer the questions in a new post and then tag blogs you would like to get to know better.

Nickname: Aden or Unicron

Star Sign: Sagittarius 

Height: 5′4″

Time right now: 11:00 PM on the dot! 

Last thing I googled: “Barboach” I wanted to double check what level it evolved at.

Fave music artist: Uh... I don’t really have one in particular? I like a really eclectic variety of music and artists, sometimes I like a lot of an artists work, sometimes I can only really stomach like one song of theirs. I guess if I had to choose one based on just liking all their music, then it would be the Protomen.

Song stuck in my head: For the last few days it’s been “Who’s Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist and I“ from Next to Normal and “America“ from West Side Story.

Last movie I watched: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2! Saw it in theaters with Sis! I laughed, I cried, I went home glad I watched it. And may have geeked out about the end credits scenes.

Last TV show I watched: Pokemon Sun and Moon, and Yugioh! Vrains! at about the same time.

What are you wearing right now: Green shirt and a white lacy skirt with a brown faux leather belt and striped ankle socks.

When did you create your blog: It was my birthday-present-to-me a few years ago... uh... so I did some digging and I made my first post in 2012. Wow. Almost 5 years.

What kind of stuff do you post: Basically anything that catches my interest. Mostly fandom, funny text/image posts, stuff like that.

Do I have any other blogs: Yup! I have a NSFW side-blog, and a blog for my second-hand fandom stuff. Both are purely fandom stuff, and also much less frequently updated.

Do I get asks regularly: Nope! Very rarely I’ll get friends popping in to talk, but usually my askbox is empty.

Why did I choose my url: So @jaybingu and I met through the Transformers fandom (the bay movies) and we’d roleplay together. A running joke was that I was Unicron and he was Primus. When I got my tumblr, I decided to go with that.

Gender: Cis female.

Hogwarts House: According to Pottermore, Hufflepuff. Which, kinda? I’d like to think I’ve also got Ravenclaw tendencies. But hard work and loyalty are admirable traits too.

Pokemon Team: I have a word document dedicated to this very thing. I have so many teams! But my Alola team is Decidueye, Lycanroc (midday), Mimikyu, Salazzle, Alolan Ninetales, and Ribombee.

Favorite color: Purple!

Average hours of sleep: Erratic as all hell. uh, if I don’t have to get up early to take sis to work, I can get 9ish hours. If I do have to get up, closer to 6 hours.

Favorite character(s): I have way too many for a ridiculous number of fandoms, so here’s some of the ones that come to mind: Stiles from Teen Wolf, Ichigo from Bleach, Hermione from Harry Potter, Kusanagi from Yugioh! Vrains (I know there’s only two translated episodes out so far but he’s still my fav shhhh), Obi-wan from Star Wars (gdi second hand fandom), Will Graham from NBC’s Hannibal, Ash Ketchum from Pokemon, Senju Tobirama from Blackkat’s Naruto fics, Jesse McCree from Overwatch, and Lance from Voltron.

How many blankets do I sleep with: Not counting the ones I use as extra cushioning on my mattress? Four. Sometimes five in the winter, but not as often since I got my space heater. Spoilers: I am a blanket hog. I will cocoon myself in blankets and emerge a resentful-to-be-awake but alert butterfly.

Dream job: If I could be paid enough to support myself and my family I would 1000/10 be a professional animal cuddler. Give me those baby kitties and puppies and reptiles. Birds may perch on me! Just no insects or arachnids. I would give them love and affection and not have to clean up after them and get paid to do it. Or I could be a professional writer, but the deadlines would murder me.

Following: 401 blogs. And, knowing me, that’ll keep increasing as my interest change.

And tagging: @jaybingu, @nerdgasrnz, @ahogehope, @thewhooshyone,  @monsterdib and @dammitjimkirk

you don’t have to if you don’t want to or don’t have the time to fill one of these out!

[sunreddreamer]

Secret Santa

Here’s my gift for http://mochibuni.tumblr.com 

A Soldier He’s Proud of

Shifts of moonlight fell through the crystal ceiling. The ballroom was crowded with noise of small talk and waltz music. Many couples in fancy clothes danced following the music, ignoring the cat in the balcony ignoring the scene.

Artemis stood there almost part of the night, melting in the background. He was watching the room with an uncomfortable sense of having stepped into an old memory. It was like watching the Silver Millennium come to life all over again.

But tonight he couldn’t afford to be nostalgic, not in the middle of a mission.

He easily spotted the woman. Black hair, bright blue eyes, beautiful, and according to Mercury’s report deadly.

Lady Christine Fortmeé looking striking in her deep blue designer dress smirked cruelly before approaching a petite blonde.

Artemis rolled his eyes. Villans always did that evil smirk thing, perhaps they couldn’t help it.

And there, in a pure white dress was her, shining as brightly as the moon that night stood princess Serenity. An old bald man with a prominent belly had an arm around her shoulder whispering things on her ear. By the alarmed look on her face, Artemis guessed it was something along the lines of… well whatever pervert things that perverted old drunk men said this days to girls that could very well be their daughters or ugh granddaughters.

Will he have to intervene?, he hoped not, that could blow up his cover of innocent-cat-liking-his-paws-minding-his-own-business-that-just-happens-to-be-in-a-fancy-party-in-honor-of-her-Royal-Highness-and-soon-to-be-queen-Serenity.  Fortunately for him Lady Fortmeé approached them answering to the princess silent plead for help.

“Now, now Lord Kensington, you’re monopolizing her Royal Highness. I’m afraid I will have to steal her, there are many guest tonight that are eager to meet the princess”.

“Nonsense Fortmeé!, we’re having the most delightful chit-chat about about beautiful dresses and dressing dresses and undressing dresses” The man said in a drunken slur.

The princess nervously grabbed one of her twin long traces of hair looking almost ashamed to the floor trying to avoid the pervert look Lord Kensington was throwing at her.

“Oh Alfred! I’m sure your wife will be thrilled to know about this dresses, should I call her?”

That phrase did the trick. A few minutes after Lady Fortmeé had managed to drag the princess to the balcony where Artemis just happened to be. The cat smirked internally. Now this was a first row.

“Sorry dear, Lord Kensington can be a real bother when he drinks. Did he say or do anything inappropriate?”.

Serenity giggled lightly, a light blush coloring her cheeks. “I think he was trying to be nice… you know in his own way”.

“Dear goodness, you’re too good for this world. You really can’t say anything bad about anyone, can you?”.  Serenity smiled shyly, starting to groom her hair with her fingers.

Noticing the nervous habit, the woman smirked creepily again. Artemis noticed that the way she gazed at the princess made her look like a predator playing with his prey before making the final stroke. Yep that woman was just creepy, and Serenity looked completely oblivious to it.  

“Sweet, sweet princess, so innocent. You really don’t realize the effect you have on people. I think half of the men in this room are already in love with you”.  Said the woman tracing with one of her nails the bottom lip of the younger girl almost, almost too roughly.

Yikes. Artemis couldn’t conceive how all this people couldn’t see how obviously evil this woman was. I mean Hello? Hannibal, The Joker, Regina George … any movie with a villain ever?

Even without Mercury’s investigation he could clearly tell this woman was textbook evil. But apparently that was obvious to anybody but him.

Serenity’s eyes widened, with an alarming look she shook her head furiously. “Of course not, I mean I’m not... I’m nothing like you… beautiful and sophisticated and…”  The woman silenced her putting one of her long fingers in her lips. “Shhhhhhhhh, princess you just don’t realize the power you have, to attract, to lure, to... manipulate”.

Artemis snorted. Lady Fortmeé looked at his direction alarmed. Oh shit, time to look like a cat Artemis. Think, think! What would a cat do in this situation? Ah yes yes!

“Meow”

“But I would never do that!” Serenity said almost too loudly getting back the woman’s attention. “Manipulate people I mean”.

Lady Fortmeé smiled at her condescendingly. “Of course not sweetheart. That’s why I say you’re just too good for this world. And perhaps that’s the reason my brother is so mesmerized by you”.

Aaaaaaaand here we go the brother.

Serenity blushed furiously. “Your brother, he’s here?!” Lady Fortmeé smiled pleased. “Oh yes dear, he asked me to deliver a message: Meet me in the gardens in fifteen minutes”.

“Should… should I go?” The princess said, the perfect mix between hopeful and hesitant.

“Of course!, don’t make him wait. He’s very nervous you know? he wants to ask you something”.

Artemis rolled her eyes for the twentieth time that night. This was way too easy. Spoiler alert!: the creepy brothers are plotting against you. He’s going to ask you to marry him so he can be crown king, steal the silver crystal or both.

“Ask me something? what is it?” Serenity said frowning in confusion, the picture of innocence.

Scratch that. Artemis rolled her eyes for the twenty first time that night.

“I don’t want to ruin the surprise, just know that tomorrow is going to be a great day for you, for my brother, for me, for all of us”. Lifting lightly the princess chin, Lady Fortmeé kissed her softly on the forehead, right in the moon shaped birthmark, symbol of her royal lineage.

“See you tomorrow sweet princess”.

And then she left, completely ignoring the white cat that observed her with a penetrating gaze.

Precisely fifteen minutes later well hidden in the bushes of the gardens Artemis saw clearly how a young man approached slowly to the young blonde woman he was supposed to look after tonight.

“Serenity!” He called her. With a little scream of glee, the princess run after him. Throwing herself at his arms, letting herself be engulfed in a tight embrace.

“My prince”. She greeted him with a tender contemplation.

And that’s the brother. Artemis whispered in his hiding spot.

“I missed you, my princess”. He dressed in a smart black suit. Tall and handsome, not only handsome, Calvin Klein underwear model handsome.

“I missed you more Christian”. Artemis noticed that he had a striking resemblance to his sister, except for his dirty blonde hair.  

They kissed, it was short and chaste, still Artemis felt the urge to barf.

“Your sister told me you wanted to ask me something”.

Ah!, there it was. An opening. Was that guilt in his eyes?

“Yes! I, I do… come”. He grabbed her by the hand, and then he knelt before her.

“Serenity, I never imagined that one day I could meet someone like you. For me this is like a dream. When you unleashed the power of the Silver Crystal saving us all after the great catastrophe all those months ago, you gave this world hope, light, a second chance to build a better world.

I remember when I first saw you on t.v for the first time, you were so young, and yet so pure, so powerful, so perfect. I didn’t believed in love at first sight but it was Serenity it was, you finished me with just one look.

But you were so far away, out of my reach, you were a goddess and I was just a mere mortal. I didn’t dare to hope… but then it happened, thank god for my sister position in the old french government. The meetings with all the world’s leaders started and she was one of the lucky ones selected to start the dialogues with you. And then I met you and I understood that you were more than a goddess you were a girl, you were kind and good and sensitive, you are just so good. And I fell in love all over again. I don’t know why because I know I don’t deserve you but you fell for me too.  Next month they are going to crown you Serenity, you are going to rule this world. I mean you’re going to be Queen of the  world for fuck’s sake. And I’m afraid. Afraid that you will leave me behind, afraid that you will forget me.

So please, please, please, before that happens, sweet princess. Accept my hand in marriage.  

Wow well, that was a confession. Artemis saw the princess face, she had started sobbing in the middle of the speech. Tears of sadness and happiness ran freely down her cheeks. She knelt and hugged him like her life depended on it.

“I could never, never forget you Christian… I yes! yes! yes! I want to marry you” Laughing he lift her up, spinning her, kissing every space on her face, drying her tears. Then they engaged in heated passionate kiss.

Now Artemis wanted to barf. Ugh, disgusting. One can only live with a certain amount of clichés in a lifetime.

“Then tomorrow. I don’t want a show, a great party, the press, I just want you. Let’s marry tomorrow just you, me and some witnesses in a little church. Please say yes”.

“Yes! Christian, I’d marry you right now, tonight in jeans if you want, I don’t care, I just want to be with you. I want to be with you, be officially yours, your Serenity before I become Queen Serenity”.

“Very well my love, don’t worry about anything, my sister… Christine is going to help us. Leave everything to us. Tomorrow at eight we’ll pick you at the hotel. Don’t worry you just need to be there”.

“Ok, I’d be worry if it was just you, but I trust your sister enough to know she’s going to pick the perfect dress for me”. She said teasing.

Christian laughed and kissed one last time. “Then I’ll leave you now, I have to tell my sister, there’s a lot of things we have to plan”. And with promises about a bright tomorrow he left.

When he was completely out of sight, her lovestruck smile faded being replaced by a smug one.

“So, what do think Artemis?”

The cat came out faking choking noises. “I think I’m going to be sick Minako.  Yikes, I think his tongue was in your throat. Did you really had to kiss him like that?”.

“Mmmmmmm no, not really. But he’s super hot so why not?”.

“He’s literally trying to kill you”

“Still hot”

Artemis rolled his eyes for the one hundred and fifty time that night. “Whatever you say Serenity”.

“Well that confirms Mercury’s report”. Minako said, loosening her two buns, realising her blond hair. Then she pulled out the watch she discreetly kept under her gloved hand. “Venus and Artemis here reporting”. She said with a clear voice.

“Venus, this is Mars. How was the party?”

“Beautiful my dear pyro friend, he proposed. We’re marrying tomorrow”. At the other side of the line Mars snorted. “Well that was easy”

“Too easy, nobody can resist my pure-and-oh-so-innocent-but-still-incredibly-hot act” Minako said putting a hand on her forehead in a classic dramatic pose.

“Aha, whatever you say Venus” Said Mars with her classic unimpressed and judgy look.

“Oh hey! hey! is Neptune there?” Mianko was giving little jumps of excitement.

“No, she’s in a meeting with Jupiter and Uranus right now, the catched some members of the Dark Moon Clan terrorist group this morning, lowlifes. They are interrogating them right now, you know wink wink, nudge nudge and quotation marks interrogating them”.

“Awwww they always get all the fun”. Minako said pouting.

“Well you got to make out with the enemy Minako, I don’t know why you’re complaining” Artemis pointed out.

“Ugh! Minako! can you please stop fraternizing with the enemy?”

“I’m not fraternizing, I’m just enjoying the enemy’s body, there’s a big difference there”.

“Aha, whatever you say Venus” Another judgy look. 

“Anyways, as I was saying, Uranus just reported that the Dark Moon members confirmed the identity  of Christian and Christine Fortmeé. That pretty much confirms Mercury’s theory. Couple of radical brothers against the new regime of Crystal Tokyo, they join the bad guys, a.k.a the Dark Moon Clan, plot to kill Serenity, trying to make her fall in love with the boy, steal the Silver Crystal, murder her bla bla bla. But of course they were not expecting…”

“Moi, and my superior acting skills” .

“Yep. Tomorrow in your wedding, the high ranks of the Dark Moon Clan are going to arrive, and we’ll all be there ready for the fight. And ta-dah! Goodbye Serenity’s assassination plan”.

“Cool, then see you tomorrow Mars. Just… please be early or I’m going to get kill by my sister-in-law and her evil bosses!”. Trying to act as casual as possible and failing.

“Don’t be silly Minako! We’ll be there, just in time to grab that scum. We’d never leave you alone”. And just like that Mars was gone.

“Not just your sister-in-law. I think your fianceé is trying to kill you too Minako”. Artemis said yawning.

“Nah, not the boy, he really is in love with me”

“Oh? And how do you know”

“I’m the goddess of love. I know that look. That whole confession thing?”.

“Great tears by the way, for a moment there I almost believed you”.

“Well, thank you. The thing is, I think he was not entirely dishonest. Bet you 50 that tomorrow he’s not capable of betraying me, he’s going to do something stupid like jump in front of me and die in the process or something ”.

“Deal. But ouch! that’s going to be a really bad way to go. Poor boy, can you imagine? dying for a women he think he’s in love with that actually was playing him this whole time with her (scarily) amazing acting skills”.

“God Artemis! first you hate him now you’re feeling pity for him?”.

“I never said I hated him, I do pity him”.

“Well do not pity him, he’s the enemy”.

“You did say he is not going to be able to harm you”.

“No, probably not, but he’s still a threat to Usagi, he and all those Dark Moon fanatics. I can’t afford to feel pity for potential threats. And sometimes the best way to destroy potential threats is through their hearts”.

“Wow Minako. You’re a cold woman”. The cat said joking.

“I’m a soldier”. She responded seriously. Artemis sobered up sensing the mood change in her mistress. He climbed on her lap and rested his little head there. 

“Sorry, sometimes I forgot that you’re still a girl. You shouldn’t have to carry all this responsibilities you know? Being a decoy, fights, murder…”.

“Maybe, but it’s my choice. This is what I can do to protect my loved ones you know? My best friends are warriors? I’m happy to fight beside them. My best friend is going to become the queen of the world? I’m happy to be her decoy if that can spare her assassination plots and the disgusting comments of an alcoholic pervert bald buy”. She said winking at him.

Artemis sighed and bow his head. Sometimes he felt really useless. “In that case, I’m really honored to serve at your side My Lady Venus”.

[nightmareonfilmstreet]

The FRIDAY THE 13TH That Never Was [Screenplay Summary]

New Post has been published on https://nofspodcast.com/friday-13th-script-nick-antosca/

The FRIDAY THE 13TH That Never Was [Screenplay Summary]

The horror community was delivered a great blow earlier this year after Paramount Pictures and Platinum Dunes announced the cancellation of Friday the 13th Part 13. Planned for release this Friday the 13th, the bad news came just before production was set to begin. Supposedly, the decision came after the box office results of Rings (2017) but fans still hope the success of Friday The 13th The Game may help revive the project. Attached to the ill-fated project was screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners, Contraband), but there was another script circulating two years earlier that from Channel Zero creator and Hannibal writer, Nick Antosca. Shortly after the film was axed, Antosca tweeted that the script had found it’s way online.

Drilling straight for the mainline, he strikes gold in his re-imagining of what a Friday The 13th film could be after almost 40 years of terrorizing teens at Camp Crystal Lake. Avoiding any attempts to expand or explain Jason’s origin, Antosca’s Friday The 13th: 3-D, throws fans back into the 80’s with a picture-perfect slasher that feels as at home in the era as it does in the genre. The script contains more direction and camera movement than your average screenplay, but only in service of explaining the mood and look of the film he is narrating. Antosca’s voice is that of a life-long horror fan (like yourself) who was given the opportunity of a lifetime, and wanted nothing more than to write the best Friday the 13th possible. I’m of the opinion that this might have been one of the strongest installments in the franchise, and I was completely on board at Page 1.

Opening on a gorgeous sunny day, the last day of summer camp 1988, as our counselors narrowly save a young boy from drowning before partying the night away. Naturally, there is some sexual tension, mild drug use, and a foreboding tale of a murder-most-foul. Lead by Frank (the groundskeeper) the counselors head across the lake to take a quick look the creepy, abandoned campground of the original Camp Crystal Lake. And in a foolish display of teenage rebellion, Greg (our smart, immature jock) curses Pamela Voorhees at the top of his lungs- loud enough for anything (or anyone) in the woods to hear him…

Desperate for a little alone time, the couples decide to split-up to get a better look of the camp. Greg finds a familiar hockey mask, Frank stares into the woods, and Sloane takes a bracelet she finds buried in the dust. When they regroup, Frank is gone *gasp* and the second canoe is nowhere to be seen. Rather than make two trips for everyone to arrive safely, Dylan and Vanessa opt to walk back through the woods. BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO FRANK??!? After a quick delay in a gazebo to “stay out of the rain” we follow Dylan and Vanessa separately after they split-up on their way home. Taunting us with both as potential victims, we cut back and forth between the two, unsure of who is about to come face-to-face with certain death. SPOILER ALERT! It’s Dylan. Bye-bye Dylan.

The next morning, back at camp, the counselors are waking up in various stages of undress, getting ready to face the day. Vanessa spots a figure watching her as she showers but she and Kevin hit a dead end following the muddy boot prints that lead away from the showers. Getting on with their counselor duties, the group puts on a quick show for the parents arriving to collect their kids, and begin the process of closing up the camp for the season. The counselors head into town for supplies, and to report Vanessa’s forest-dwelling stalker to Sheriff John. Of course, he’s no help but they do meet a nice, but possibly crazy, older woman with one arm that knows all about “Lunch-Lady Pam”

Back at the camp, Head Counselor Ian Duckworth and Nurse Nicole are smoking weed as they play a few rounds of Strip Go-Fish. On his way back from pinching some of Weezer’s secret stash, Duckworth comes upon a hulking figure peering through Nurse Nicole’s window. Duckworth tries to shoo him away with the first thing at arm’s reach, only to find himself at the business end of his own shovel while The Talking Head’s “Sax & Violins” plays overtop.

  When the troop returns to camp they get to work building a campfire, unfazed by Duckworth’s absence. Vanessa doesn’t feel safe staying that the camp but no one is that interested in leaving just yet, so the boys raid the sports shed for anything closely resembling a weapon. To Vanessa’s dismay, Dylan never shows up to say goodbye. The night progresses as last nights at summer camp always do, and we watch the group from someone’s POV (Point of View) as they counselors let off steam. Weezer heads out to the water slide for one last bowl as everyone crawls toward bed, for a variety of reasons. As the sun rises on a new day, we see that Weezer has spent the entire night smoking dope before heading into the water for an early morning dip.

Kevin and Sloane wake up in each others arms and Sloane tells Kevin about the nightmare she had during the night. She dreamed it was raining, only the rain turned to blood covering the entire camp. And then…he appeared. The boy that drowned years ago. They split up to get ready for breakfast but Kevin soon calls everyone out of their cabins when he discovers Weezer’s body by the shoreline. Everyone immediately heads for the truck only to realize Brad and Amber are across the camp taking down the archery range. Shit! Just as they are planning the fastest, safest way to collect Brad and Amber, Kirby asks a very unsettling question: Why is there a goalie over there?

Cutting between the group fighting for their lives, Amber & Brad’s emotional break-up, and Nurse Nicole sound asleep, the camp is chaotic. Scattered, looking for keys and clinging to life, the group looks on in horror as Brad and Amber make their way back to camp, unaware of what awaits them. They narrowly escape, thanks to Nurse Nicole’s blind charge into the mess hall expecting breakfast, finding only swift and certain death. After collecting the keys from Greg’s body, they crash the car trying to run Jason over on their way out. Amber is picked from inside the car as though she were at the bottom of  jar of olives. Jason crushes her head with his bare hands, and the rest of team run back to the camp looking for safety.

After a brief tussle with Brad and an axe, Jason staggers back into the woods. Expecting him back any minute, Brad, Vanessa, and Sloane try to coax Kirby back from the floating dock she’s been hiding on because, ya know, no man left behind and whatnot. But Jason returns- and he’s got a pretty good idea the girl he’d hoped had drowned in the lake is hiding somewhere. Kirby looks on in horror as Jason walks deeper and deeper into the lake until only a single trail of bubbles disappears under the dock. Kirby musters up the courage to dive off, and tries to swim for shore….tries.

The remaining counselors (Brad, Sloane, Vanessa) have no choice. They have to walk through the woods, past the old Camp Crystal Lake, to get to the main road and escape. No sooner do they make it onto the old grounds does Jason come barreling through the woods after them. In a hurried race for their lives, they happen upon an old, unkempt house. Linda King (the one-armed local) answers the door and ushers them inside to call 911. Hooray! While Vanessa screams into the phone, Linda can’t help but notice the bracelet Sloane is wearing. Where did you get that? she asks, but before she can answer, Jason has broken into the house!

Brad is tired of running, and the police are still on their way. The three grab everything they can to fight this unknown force of nature stalking them but nothing phases him. Brad plunges his axe deep into Jason’s back but it barely slows him down. Linda tries to shoot him point-bank with a shotgun only to be beaten with her own prosthetic arm. They hit and stab and shoot Jason with everything they have and gradually, he weakens.

The police and paramedics arrive soon after. Vanessa, Brad, and Sloane are swept away for assessment while the police walk around the crime scene. Coroners are lifting Jason’s body into the morgue van as Sloane tries to make sense of the crazed massacre. The police assure them that their attacker is most certainly dead as the morgue van pulls away in the background. The police think the Voorhees boy is tall-tale, nothing more than a spooky story, but Sloane knows in her bones that the nameless killer stalking them is none other than…

In broad daylight, Jason hacks his way through dozens of police officers, innocents standers-by, and tragically, Brad. Unfortunately his skull was no match for Jason’s new bone-saw, but his death does give Sloane and Vanessa time to duck away. Sloane traps herself in the backseat of a police cruiser, but when Vanessa attempts to free her Jason sneaks up behind her, bashing her skull against the roof. Sloane is ripped from the car, helpless and defenseless, but a thought occurs to her as she stands before this towering giant.

Jason is grotesque, baby-like and full of blood thirsty rage. but just before he can squeeze the life out of her, BAM! BAM! Vanessa appears with a shotgun to save the day. Our Final Girls both know he’s only down temporary and waste no time hijacking a squad car to ride off into the sunset away from this nightmare.

  Fin.