#maaan fuck the phantom of the opera

[hopeforchanges]

okay hot take here don't bash my head in ... Sauron and Galadriel ≠ Orlok and Ellen

idk am i the only one who doesn't see it? i stayed away from speaking on the topic cause i didn't feel i had all the information to engage in any meaningful convo but now that a good amount of time has passed and I have listened and read other people's arguably passionate stances on this (which is great! i love when people enjoy something, it gives me joy too!!) i must say .... i don't get it lol

let me explain myself:

I get that certain aesthetics or vibes might overlap (dark, brooding antagonist vs. a luminous, female protagonist), the comparison completely falls apart when you dig into their actual characterizations.

Ellen as a Symbol of Maidenhood vs. Galadriel as a Warrior

Ellen is basically a paragon of feminine virtue: she's all about purity, innocence, and ultimate sacrifice. She represents a kind of moral ideal that aligns with the trope of the "selfless maiden." Sure there is darkness in here but like ... where? lol in the words of one of my favorite complicated female characters of the silver screen: "I can't see it, I can't touch it, I can't feel it. I can hear it, I can hear some words but I can't do anything with your easy words."

Galadriel is a warrior, a soldier, a power-hungry monarch. She was born a princess into a life of great privilege. Galadriel is ambitious, vengeful, and actively pursuing power. She definitely embodies characteristics that are more commonly associated with male domination. I love both the feminine in Ellen and the masculine in Galadriel. They just don't overlap imo.

Orlok’s Selfish Awareness vs. Sauron’s Delusional “Vision”

Orlok is unapologetically monstrous. He’s a selfish predator who knows exactly what he is and doesn’t care. He’s not trying to justify himself or claim he’s “saving” anyone—he just feeds on people because that’s what he does.

Sauron thinks he’s doing the right thing. In his mind, his actions are about order, preservation, and the “greater good.” That lack of self-awareness is huge—it makes him a completely different type of villain. Orlok leans into his evil; Sauron justifies it - doesn't even think he's the evil force - definitely not in his story.

The Core Dynamic Feels Wrong

Ellen and Orlok’s relationship is built on fear and revulsion. Ellen sacrifices herself to stop Orlok—she lures him to his doom. There’s no room for ambiguity there; he’s the predator, and she’s the prey.

Galadriel and Sauron are equals. None of them can land the killing blow because they don't want to, not because they can't. Their dynamic is tangled up in grudging respect, power struggles, and even a weird sort of kinship. Galadriel isn’t diminished or destroyed by Sauron like Ellen was by Orlok; quite the contrary. Galadriel was empowered by Sauron, healed through him (at least in the show which is the medium i am basing my opinions on, not necessarily the tolkien legendarium). That's why it's so funny to me that in season 2 he can't figure out why she won't say yes to him when she used to drool over his mortal form and so he transforms into Glambrand as his big fix cause he thinks THAT is what the issue is lol you were her friend, dumbass, that's literally it. you supported her and believed in her when no one did and couched her so she could achieve her goals - helped her self-actualize.

There are no such layers and complexities in Ellen and Orlok's relationship. Plus, the fact that he came to her first when she was a kid gives me the ick, sorry. it's giving phantom of the opera. and i HATE phantom of the opera (the original book by Leroux, the musical kinda slaps tbh)

TL;DR:

Yes, Ellen calls Orlok a deceiver, but that’s where the parallels end for me. Ellen = pure, selfless sacrifice; Galadriel = complex, power-driven warrior. Orlok = evil and knows it; Sauron = evil but thinks he’s the hero. Their dynamics are fundamentally different, and the Orlok/Ellen comparison just doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

If I’m missing something, feel free to convince me otherwise, but for now? Nah, I don’t see it.

[sammyoliviawatson]

30 songs

I am on a long train ride home rn so I actually have time for the tag game! Thanks so much for tagging me Sev @slightlyintimidating, I really enjoy doing them! =))) 1. A song you like with a colour in the title. “Blue Eyes” by Mika Also “Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen” by Hildegard Knef (For me it shall rain red roses, but that sounds more graceful in German) 2. A Song you like with a number in the title. Haha - “Eins und eins, das macht zwei” by Hildegard Knef a terribly cheesy and cliché love song, but by Hildegard Knef which makes it all the better. Go check it out, this song (and Hildegard) is amazing. (The title translates to “One plus one equals two” but refers to people, as in like one plus one equals a couple/ lovers. 3. A song that reminds you of Summertime. “Escape (the Pinã Colada song)” by Rupert Holmes (maaan, that song) 4. A song that reminds you of someone you'd rather forget. “No sleep for the dreamer” by BOY No no no no tearing up god no why 5. A song that needs to played out loud. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA 6. A song that makes you want to dance. “Sway” by Pussy Cat Dolls My god that song the innuendo my god I need to dance a Tango to that at some point. 7. A song to drive to. Elvis. Everything by the Kind of Rock and Roll. But for the sake of this list I choose “Guitar Man". 8. A song about drugs or alcohol. What do you expect of me? I'm boring. Okay okay “Strawberry Fields" by the Beatles. 9. A song that makes you happy. Sooooooo depends on my mood. But I’ll just go with the generic “Happy" by William Pharell because it’s true too NO “Lass die Sonne scheinen" by the Wise Guys (translates to let the sun shine, and the song is about how you MAKE the sun shine in your head when there’s every weather (also emotionally) besides sunshine. This song is amazing.) 10. A song that makes you sad. “Fairytale” by Sunrise Avenue also “Ich will zu dir" by the Wise Guys (the title translated to “I want to (go) to you” aw god no that sounds awful and doesn't have half as much melancholic meaning as the German title does. It also implies “I miss you" but like in a stronger way because “I" can’t bear to be in a place you’re not in, everything draws me to you. It’s about a break-up I suppose and how one feels soon after.) 11. A song you never get tired of. Phantom of the Opera. Everything in it. 12. A song from your preteen years. “YELLOW SUBMARINE” by the Beatles. I have no idea what was on the radio when I was in my preteen years, but that was what my dad was listening to. 13. A song from the year you were born. “No Diggity” is the only song I know 14. A song you'd love to be played at your wedding. “All I ask of you” from Phantom of the Opera. Although no, actually I will probably propose with that song. Even though I don't have anyone to propose to, and I am aware that I am a cliché lesbian with that. I already know how to sing that song in its entirety…Also at my wedding I will need to hear the song “This" by Ed Sheeran. And if someone performs “Read all about it" by Emeli Sandé I will bawl my eyes out but in the best possible way.

15. A song you like that's a cover by another artist. “Crazy little thing called love” by Maroon 5. Also everything by Postmodern Jukebox. 16. A song that's a classic favourite. RETURN TO SENDER! ADDRESS UNKNOWN! THERE’S NO SUCH NUMBER! NO SUCH ZONE! by Elvis 17. A song you'd sing a duet with someone on Karaoke. PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and also RISE LIKE A PHOENIX (a good friend of mine wrote a beautiful beautiful second voice to that and we actually sang it and we also sang Phantom of the opera together although we still have to sing a duet together in front of people but I would love to do that one day!!! Our voices mesh very well together, both very classical in sound. So phantom of the opera is really perfect for us. Anyways....) 18. A song you like from the 70s. I don’t know? You expect me to know what time the songs I like are from? Well, you expect too much from me. 19. A song that makes you think about life. “What do I know" by Ed Sheeran 20. A song that has many meanings to you. Sev, I hope I may steal your song because that is also very true to me. So “I will survive” by Gloria Gaynor 21. A song you like with a person's name in the title. GRACE KELLY  by Mika HELL I LOVE THAT SONG 22. A song that moves you forward. In which way though? I shall choose “Three little things” by Jason Mraz 23. A song you think everybody should listen to. MY OWN SONGS no, joke, I didn't publish anything anywhere at all. Hm. Let me think. Okay what the hell “Das Wasser" by Wise Guys (the title just means “the water" and the song is about reaching an oasis in the desert after a long, long journey, who knows how long, maybe days, weeks, months, years even and about just jumping into that water and how that feels. I mean it’s obviously a metaphor but yeah. That song is amazing and means so much to me.) 24. A song by a band you wish were still together. You think I know that much about bands? Well, you thought wrong. Oooooorrr I could just say Beethoven to mess with you. 25. A song you like by an artist no longer living. Ummmmmm yeah I'll go with Beethoven's fifth. Or Carmina Burana? There is too much good stuff out there. No, no, I choose Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata because that piece is fucking magnificent (and I have started learning how to play it!!!) 26. A song that makes you want to fall in love. All songs. No. Sorry. I am currently in a state where I want a relationship. Sadly. I wish I could be a 100% happy single and I am 100% happy, but when I'm in a relationship I am 150% happy so - yeah. I am not a good single. Annnnyways. “Ein Kompliment” by Sportfreunde Stiller 27. A song that breaks your heart. Everything by Adele pretty much. But probably “Love in the Dark”. That might be tmi but WHO CARES the content of the song is half the reason me and my ex broke up (but like I was Adele and she was the person she’s singing about). What a self-conscious bitch with shit-ass commitment issues. Sorry. It was mostly a good relationship until the end, I just gotta bitch sometimes. 28. A song by an artist whose voice you love. Adele. And Kristin Chenoweth. And Hildegard Knef. And Marlene Dietrich. But probably most of all Ella Fitzgerald. I choose her song "Mr Paganini", it is so beautifully funny and masterfully sung. 29. A song you remember from your childhood. “Singing in the rain” by Gene Kelly. I remember dancing on the carpet in our living room to that song and them spinning so long until I would fall over from losing my balance. I was a happy child. 30. A song that reminds you of yourself. Ahahahahahaha "Glitter and be gay" from Candide, I still love Kristin Chenoweth's (and my) version most. This was soooooooo much fun I love music so much my god. And there was suprisingly much German music in there =) I’ve been listening a lot to Hildegard and Marlene lately =)

NOW I MAY TAG PEOPLE MUAHAHAHAHAHA (I love you guys):

@whos-to-know, @piscesbuffy, @pixiesstolemysocks, @randomreindeer, @cassiopeiasara, @monsterintheballroom, @pandorabox82