#monk season 5 ep 4

[stottlemonk-moments]

Stottlemonk Moments:

Monk s05e04: "Mr. Monk Can't See a Thing"

[telomeke]

BE MY FAVORITE EPISODE 5 – A PADAWAN IN THE TEMPLE OF ENLIGHTENMENT (AND A NOD AT MARRIAGE EQUALITY)

I consider myself quite visually-oriented, but oddly I've not applied that so much to the dramas I watch, preferring to focus on the text and narrative as though they were a book come to life.

But this scene in Be My Favorite (beginning at Ep.5 [3I4] 1.55, when Pisaeng goes to see Max in the café) is so chock-full of meaningful visual details whacking you in the eyeballs that I've simply got to write about it.

It's not a secret that Max is portrayed as the wise queer elder in BMF. The narrative clearly shows him inhabiting that role, with his queer activism (Ep.8 [3I4] 5.43, Ep.10 [2/4] 2.58) and him doling out advice to Kawi (e.g., Ep.4 [1I4] 3.03, Ep.5 [2/4] 10.07, Ep.6 [1I4] 16.11, Ep.8 [3I4] 4.35) and tough love to Pisaeng (Ep.5 [3I4] 2.53) as they grow into their (queer) identities.

The visuals in the scene at Ep.5 [3I4] 1.55 really reinforce this purposeful portrayal as well.

First of all, the camera angle is pitched low, so that Max towers above all others in the scene, amplifying his physical stature (and drawing attention to his intellectual one as well).

He is also dressed in shades of yellow and rust, which call to mind the robes (that range in hue from saffron to cinnamon) worn by the greatly respected and influential Buddhist monks of Thailand. With this chromatic and cultural context, the colors of Max's wardrobe are meant to signal his seasoned wisdom and authority as he sternly counsels inexperienced babygay Pisaeng. (GMMTV has also used these colors to denote similar higher-thinking preoccupations and orientations in Moonlight Chicken and Bad Buddy as well – see this write-up linked here.)

Now the colors that we see in the café interior are also significant – the abundance of white with yellow and gold/metallic accents is a color scheme that is also used very often in the Buddhist temple architecture of Thailand. You can see this too in the scene where Pisaeng comforts Kawi after the funeral of the latter's dad (Ep.8 [2/4] 4.42):

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.8 [2/4] 4.42 – Pisaeng and Kawi talk on the steps of a Thai temple, most probably after the funeral of Kawi's dad (note the white, yellow and metallic accents)

A Google Image Search for "Thai Temple Architecture" will also bring up many examples; Wat Benchamabophit is a sumptuously typical one. The similar colors in the café are thus playing their part to emphasize the monastic theme and Max's role as the sacerdotal senior in these hallowed grounds.

Among all the pops and pings of yellow in the café décor is a prominent disk (likely a representation of the sun) that can be seen on the noren of the doorway behind the servery.

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.5 [3I4] 2.32 – Max and his halo while talking to Pisaeng

The cinematography has some shots carefully positioned so that the disk appears to encircle (in turns) Max and then Pisaeng like a golden halo – Max at Ep.5 [3I4] 2.32 and Pisaeng at Ep.5 [3I4] 2.47.

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.5 [3I4] 2.47 – Pisaeng and his halo while talking to Max

Significantly, the halo in Buddhist iconography is also used (as it is in Western art) to evoke holiness and/or enlightenment. In this BMF scene we see it first around Max, and then around Pisaeng, which suggests that the (queer) wisdom being imparted is moving in the direction from the former to the latter.

But the brightest splash of yellow must surely be the large sunflowers on display behind Max.

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.5 [3I4] 2.54

Aside from the higher-minded connotations associated with the yellow color, the choice of bloom is significant in a number of other ways. Sunflowers turn to face the sun's illumination as it moves across the sky, and this parallels how Pisaeng has come to the café to seek out Max, the haloed source of his enlightenment.

In addition, various Thai websites (including the Pantip forum, linked here) point out that in Thailand the sunflower is symbolic of steadfastness, which to me aligns well with Max's unwavering confidence in his LGBTQ+ identity and dedication to the cause.

And finally, the Thai words for sunflower (ทานตะวัน, pronounced something like taan dtawan) can be roughly translated as "to resist/oppose the sun", which also fits really well with Max's leanings toward LGBTQ+ activism and the peaceful protesting for equal rights in the face of searing opposition.

All of this fingerpointing to wisdom and high-mindedness is given an additional boost when we look at the prominent Thai lettering on the wall behind Max (that spells out the café's name "เจ-ดีย์", pronounced something like che-di).

More often spelt without a hyphen, เจดีย์ refers to the Thai chedi or stupa, which is also a Buddhist religious building in Thailand (usually bell-shaped and functioning as a holy reliquary and/or a place of meditation) within a temple complex. You can see a painting of a chedi on the café wall next to Pisaeng at Ep.6 [1I4] 6.27:

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.6 [1I4] 6.34 – Max and Pisaeng chat on the café terrace next to a painting of a chedi

The idea that Pisaeng has entered a hall of greater erudition is further underlined by the name of the café on the wall. However, in real life when using Roman letters the café spells its name Jedi, not Chedi (you can see this on their Facebook linked here, and also at Ep.3 [2/4] 6.17 and Ep.6 [1I4] 12.35).

(above left) Be My Favorite Ep.3 [2/4] 6.17; (above right) Ep.6 [1I4] 12.35

And although it's not a Star Wars-themed café, they do have a drink called the Yoda, drawing attention to the café's name as a pun on the noble knights of the film series as well (see this link here).

Remembering that the Jedi in Star Wars canon are a line of monastic, wise, peace-loving elder fighters (Yoda being a prime example), the café name behind Max also calls out to his senior queer activist role in Be My Favorite.

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.5 [3I4] 2.30

Coming back to the colors, it's impossible not to notice the streaks of pink in Max's hair:

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.5 [3I4] 2.49

In Thailand the head is considered the seat of knowledge and wisdom (leading to much unnecessary handwringing on foreign websites around touching a Thai person's head; see this link here that sheds more sensible light on the matter). As for the color pink, it's historically been symbolic of the LGBTQ+ community.

With his distinctive coiffure, it's not difficult to see that Max is being presented as radiating pink knowledge and wisdom. (Also worth noting is that the streaks in his hair fade to a somber gray in other timelines when he is not the sagely elder and/or the narrative has taken a darker turn, e.g., at Ep.7 [2/4] 3.10 when his standing is downgraded to popstar Kawi's put-upon assistant, and at Ep.11 [4/4] 1.45 when Kawi is in the ICU.)

(above left) Be My Favorite Ep.7 [2/4] 3.22; (above right) Ep.11 [4/4] 1.54

‌I never knew that all of this visual signaling in film actually had a technical name, but it does. This is called visual rhetoric, when details in the setting, props and wardrobe echo and amplify the same message being conveyed by the dialogue and drama on screen, and I learnt this from the wise and always-spicy @respectthepetty's posts on Reading the Visual Rainbow (linked here and here). RTP's posts have greatly enriched my understanding and enjoyment of the dramas that I watch, especially Thai BL, and I highly, highly recommend reading them. 👍💖

Anyway, if Max in this scene is the venerated elder imparting wisdom to his rapt congregation (and that includes the viewing audience too; it's not just Pisaeng), what is his message here? I think that there are at least two messages being conveyed.

At the level of the text, an exasperated Max is admonishing acolyte Pisaeng (beginning at Ep.5 [3I4] 2.53) for all of his bumbling around coming to terms with his queer identity:

"Listen. There are wars going on around the world. Our politics are crap. People get locked up because they voice their opinions. Ice is melting at the poles. People are killing people because of race or religion. Who are you? Are you that important? Why do you even think other people would care where you go or what you do?"

But Max's tone and choice of words are maybe a touch harsher than they need to be? Especially in Thailand, where jai yen (ใจเย็น, meaning coolness of heart; see this link here for more explanation) is so important in polite social interaction, his diatribe seems far out of proportion compared to Pisaeng's clumsiness, insensitive as it might have been.

I think this is because it's not actually Pisaeng that is the intended recipient of this rant – the message is actually meant for the larger viewing audience. In Thailand where queer people face considerably less risk to personal safety than in other countries but are nonetheless still subject to discrimination, Max's questions ("Who are you? Are you that important? Why do you even think other people would care where you go or what you do?") are not just telling Pisaeng that he should be worrying less about how others might perceive him, but are also highlighting that no one should even have to worry about been seen as different (and treated differently for it) in the first place.

Because – following the mention of wars, dirty politics, arbitrary detention, restricted speech, global warming and ethnic cleansing – idealist Max's questions can be directed to broader society as well, if you re-phrase them a little differently to encompass all queer people and not just Pisaeng, like this:

"Who are we (to you)? Are we that important (in the larger scheme of things)? Why should other people care where we go or what we do (if it's just us living our lives as private members of society)?"

Max is declaiming that on a grander scale, the fixation that conservatives have on denying queer people equal rights based on fictional, imagined reasons is farcically illogical and wholly unwarranted compared to the actual problems being faced by the planet. At its plainest, the message is: stop objecting to equal treatment for LGBTQ+ people, because surely it must be a non-issue that equality should apply to all, since it harms no one.

And all of this ties in to the second message of the scene, that is trumpeted loudly by the visuals – and it's about marriage equality.

I learnt about the most important part of a Thai wedding ceremony called รดน้ำสังข์ (pronounced something like rot naam sang; have also seen this reversed as sang rot naam) when I looked up a scene in Not Me The Series, in order to reblog a post by @wen-kexing-apologist referencing marriage equality in that BL:

During the rot naam sang, elders in attendance pour water from a ceremonial conch shell (nowadays replaced by a symbolic, cone-shaped vessel) onto the hands of the bridal couple, and this marks the moment when the pair are formally married. During that particular scene in Not Me, various elements onscreen came together (in another example of visual rhetoric) to form an unspoken comment regarding the issue of marriage for all in Thailand (more info in the post linked here).

Since then, anytime something shaped like a cone or funnel appears in a Thai drama, especially in the presence of water, I can't help but wonder if they're referencing a wedding somehow (remembering @respectthepetty's post on reading the visuals, and the scene in Not Me).

And this scene in Be My Favorite (starting at Ep.5 [3I4] 1.55) is absolutely doing just that, especially in the light of Max's little sermon on equality and Thai BL's years-long march in support of queer marriage in general.

When queer elder Max pours water into one of the cone-shaped coffee filters at Ep.5 [3I4] 1.55, the scene has been set up as an explicit visual reference to the rot naam sang, with the filters standing in for the symbolic conch.

There are two funnels in front of Max, but only one gets the water. Both pour-over coffee sets are identical in form, function and capacity (with only a superficial difference in the appearance – one has a metallic frame and trim while the other doesn't). But the funnel on Max's left (despite being the equal of the other) receives no water at all, emphasizing how only cishet couples in Thailand are allowed to get married, while everyone else outside that definition is denied. (The two funnels are actually separate filtration sets placed side-by-side just for this scene.) And then Be My Favorite unequivocally draws a line through this to show how wrong it all is, by having Max's arm physically cross out the visual of the two symbolic sangs or matrimonial conches (one filled, one empty) at Ep.5 [3I4] 2.24.

This is not the only time BMF shows up with drums beating for marriage equality – we see this on the activist signage display at Ep.11 [1I4] 11.27 and also when the doctor sidelines Pisaeng (at Ep.11 [4/4] 0.36) when discussing Kawi's health because he's not a blood relation or a legal spouse.

(top) The activist signage display at Ep.11 [1I4] 11.27; (bottom) the doctor asks if there are family members he might contact regarding Kawi's health, when Pisaeng is right there in front of him (Ep.11 [4/4] 0.36)

Given all of Be My Favorite's focus on this matrimonial LGBTQ+ cause, my hope for the finale of the series is that Pisaeng and Kawi end up in a timeline where marriage equality does become a reality for them (not a prediction though, just wishful thinking). And it's not just their own wedding that I would like to see. 😍

In different timelines, Pear ends up with nothing but heartache for choosing the wrong guy – e.g., Pisaeng absconding before their wedding vows in order to kiss Kawi in a drunken declaration of love (Ep.2 [4/4] 5.46), her relationship with Kawi souring because Pisaeng (apparently) came between them (Ep.7 [2/4] 11.28), and settling for a prison sentence with slimeball Not as her jailer because she's pregnant and doesn't want to wait any longer for marriage (Ep.7 [3I4] 4.00).

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.7 [3I4] 3.50 – a tearful Pear explains to Kawi why she's marrying Not

My hope is for the finale to bestow a Happily Ever After on long-suffering Pear for once. And with all the discourse around marriage equality in Be My Favorite – wouldn't it be a nice touch if her soon-to-be spouse James (whose name pops up on the wedding invitation at Ep.11 [3I4] 0.27) turns out to be somewhat different from the usual boring supermarket box-cake variety?

(above) Be My Favorite Ep.11 [3I4] 0.27

Whether it's trans, lesbian, nonbinary or another option, so many possibilities abound. As long as they make her happy... I can only hope. 💖

‌

[galaxyspark-6e16]

the rest of the season

. . Ep3

Lmk baiting us into tang is great monk

And yeah mk and mei are adhd incarcerated

And that line from season 3 came back ahhhh

Omg did that moving on scene make me cry?

Ep 4

That opening scene with the crocodile was gold haha

Omg the odacity mk

Mk parenting the bunch

Tang you summoned the golden cicada follow it your powers are working

I thought why mk woul use his transformation abilities but turn out he forgot ha

Huh i guess tang being a freeloader has a purpose. Nah I'm kidding our boy love is pig man the greatess chef in his time and tang showing him the chef code would of course rewaken his memories, and did I spot a tiny mk?

And of course pigsy main concern is that he was to cook tang badly and aww they love each other

And damn using food to beat the demons pigsy

And what was that with the vision?

Ep 5

You can't deny it pigsy you're a legend

Mk confirming pigsy his dad AAAHHHHH

PIGSY DON'T DENY IT

Aww seriously when is sandy going to have his moment man

NNOOO MEI'S SWORD

Omg Sandy past backstory?

Pff yeah tang nobody want pregnant this economy

I'm no familiar with the white tiger but can't wait see later

Huh ao lie huh seems at first glance a gentle soul my only reference to him is in osp jttw videos

Chang'e?

Yep

Ohh lbs yep better skiddadle tang 

Damn mei your ancestor is dope

Whoa I forget mo is in the scroll too

And what's this about striking wukong first?

Also I knew azure wasn't so innocent

But macaque you're not thinking of it right?! Right!?

Never judge a dragon by it apparence you be know how their mortal form act

I would die for ao lie

FINALLY MK was wondering where you were this whole time

MMHhHh

Ep6

" Show me the monster" a title that s not gonna make fear for my life

I thought sandy past life was his re carnation not ancestor?

Holy he way different from our sandy

Ohhh my good are we gonna learn mk lore?!!!

Ohh demon showdown

So ait you're teling me there a fondamental read mk is the Monkie kid

Ok at the metion of his parents and childhood he can't remember or doesn't have one

A rock, like mk covers in dirt that found pigsy and give a home? What is happening?

Ok it seem a god (quan yin) is carving maybe wooden animals and giving life to one

Aww I bet the master only get arrogant and hotheaded student that is strict and helps mk because he said please aww

Mk can't handle celestial transportation

I really really want to know how pigsy and sandy met cause their friendship means everything to him

Kinda sad that in the past what defines you is what you are and because of that sandy couldn't be free until mo came along 

And I true man andy has always been there for the others so it's seems faire that they be there for him

Leave it to mk to misunderstand everything ha

He was not born from the stone but he has a destiny

Mk. Monkey kid yeah we kinda knew but still a shock

Mk RUN

 Ep 7 pitiful creatures

Ahh man I feel it's gonna be angst

Shadow mk?

This confrontation feels like mk inner conflict with everything that he went through and everything he discovered and it painful to watch

The fights scene man

Omg WUNKONG about time protect mk

Monkey king you're not helping just calm him

Omg the gang is here

Ohh the past reaching out to wukong through the current heroes is just to poetically beautiful

Prove it wrong by destroying it preset destiny mk

But seriously is mk a stone monkey a divine creature 

GASP wukong I still in the scroll!!

Ep 8 the most intense ep of the season

Honestly I can see why azure lion is getting love, he has a reason, a goal to achieve whether getting his brothers back and making amends with wukong or fighting for a better world Wich make it seem the same goal as lady bone demon but less genocide and more regicide

And oh boy mk pulled a mei s3 I hope he can understand that it's not his fault that any of it happened

Srsly red son can never catch a break

Everyone loves sandy

I think mei needs patience to unlock her dragon did maybe

And omg macaque finally where were you this whole time

Ahh the pessimistic trying to be optimistic for once never gets old

Everyone is fight ehile mk is playing a indie game of macaque

WAiT DID THEY ACTUALLY KILL THE EMPEROR?!

SON! SON?

So what they gonna find a way to free him?

WAIT It END LIKE THIS! ? WHAT

[crescentmoon-flower]

Rewatching winx season 4 for nostalgia and realizing how wierd some things are

Ep. 5

And even though they said they don't want attention, they're flying?

Homeless man cameo at perfect irony point

...I just noticed this but why do they always stand on their toes when in fairy form?

I feel sorry for roxy, imagine being told that not only are you a different species than you thought, but also the balance of the entire world is riding on you.

What are duman's transformation limits?

This whole break in and set a trap is actually clever, if only the trap was better

Cute kiko

Why did they all kneel if only Ogron cast the spell?

Ok that interaction between riven and Brandon was cute.

They kind of already do, except nabu though, he looks like a monk

Well at least helia's got his priorities straight

Also nice world building, gardenia is expensive to live in

Riven defying physics with a newspaper, also smart for looking at newspaper adds

Sassy brandon

You know what, not a bad idea to try mechanics

MR. OIL THE MECHANIC

Also I love how nabu didn't change and still looks like a monk and the mechanic isn't questioning it

Oh my god this is painfully awkward

Did Riven break the hood of that car?

Ok that has got to be illegal or at least questionable, did they file tax before giving blooms parents their investment back?

Eh, I'm not going to question these details

Oh my god musa PRINTED the pictures of Stella half awake

Also this is a very fair concern to have when dealing with animals, they didn't mention some of the darker things that could happen to a pet after adoption but it is always a valid thing to keep in mind

Wow, mitzi is annoying

At least they came to the correct conclusion, but aren't they going to question how the wizards managed to cast the spell?

Property damage nullifies the closed sign Stella put up

I don't think what's good or bad for business is relevant when propert damage or bodily harm are bigger concerns

Did duman have to get close to cat the spell? It's seems redundant and frankly an unnecessary risk

... did.. did anagan get rid of the Sound waves with sound waves????

What even were either of those spells bloom? They did like nothing

ALIENS!!!!! I mean he's technically not wrong though

Ok creative Stella good job

Riven raising good points

Ditching jobs, to shame

Aw naw! Oh my god gantlos sounds adorable

What was gantlos's idea?

Thank you timmy, thievery is bad boys

HOLY SHIT

Ok Riven, and probably all the boys, shouldn't be driving

Oh my god this interaction is so awkward and honestly I feel for mitzi here, she literally knows nothing and suddenly they're at her door

Flirting

aisha and nabu are adorable

Oh no, mitzi and her obsesion

Both stella and Brandon are in the wrong here

"A girl never let's her Prince charming go" Ironic

I mean an actual valid reason for being fired

....I feel awful for only now noticing timmy wasn't there, but also why wasn't he?

Ep.6

Half packed apartment, realistic

I don't know how to feel about watching Stella eat for several unnecessary seconds

Huh didn't expect musa to be the most invested in the book

Also I wish we had more world building for believix, I have so many questions

Noooooo, helia's hair cut

SASSY BRANDON

Ok Riven is my spirit animal

Stalker nightmare

Note, if someone is doing something you don't like and makes you uncomfortable you have every right to tell them to stop, no matter their feelings

Tecna has good points

Aisha your great, never change

Oh my god are they seriously painting with several colours on top of each other wet?? This is a disaster

Uhhhng, this second hand embarrassment is horrible

Thank you tecna for stating the obvious

That's creepy, just knock girls

Roxy you are acting suspicious

What was Stella hanging from?

Well their tone changed drastically

Also roxy, crazy people are dangerous

What is this silent conversation between bloom and roxy

Well that could've gone far worse

You lost one group of loonies and found another

Oh my god roxy needs therapy after this

Also irony for artu to bite duman

I love Cute villains

Bouncy light, makes sense

Aisha? Love you

Creepy duman love it

Holy shit ogron is strong

I love ogro

Get the poor girl some therapy

Roxy your awesome, insult them more

I do actually love believix, it looks really pretty and has a nice concept

Roxy looks pissed

Ah, cliff hanger

[lauwrite1225]

There’s only one thing that really disappointed me this season and that’s how Osferth’s death was handled. There was absolutely no justice in his death. He randomly get’s stabbed and dies in Finans arms and then basically never gets mentioned again? We didn’t see Uhtred’s and Sihtric’s reaction to hearing the news of his death, we got no funeral for him and like i already wrote he was basically never mentioned again. His death just felt so pointless to me. He was basically here from season 2 and formed a great bond with Uhtred’s squad and i guess i just expected his death to have more of an impact on the squad. Because how is it that even Sigtryggr who appeared just at the end of season 4 and for half of season 5 got a way better death than a character who’s been here from the start? Sigtryggr got an honourable death, he got a funeral, we see how big of an impact his death had on Stiorra and he was mentioned quite a few times after his death but Osferth got none of that.. He wasn’t even in Uhtred’s montage at the end. I don’t know i just really hated the way this was handled.

There are some points i agree with you anon, some others i'm a little more mitigated. In general, I do think Osferth's death could have been handle way bettet than it has been, however, he wasn't utterly forgotten once he was dead.

First, the one thing that made me suspect he would die during the season, Finan keeps Osferth's cross. Indeed, if you look at Finan's sword after episode 5, you can see a cross hanging from the hilt of his sword, cross that is in fact Osferth's. You can see Finan holding it when he lays Osferth's body with the Danes killed during the attack of Rumcofa. I had noticed it on BTS pic before the season came out and I thought and stil l think, it is a nice detail. It shows how deeply Finan cared for Osferth's, how he was like a little brother to him, how he was his baby monk.

Finan's guilt carried on for a few episodes. It obviously starts in episode 5 when he says he is sorry and then claims it is all his fault. He carries on in ep 6 when he says Osferth is haunting the man who's responsible of his death (meaning himself) and it shows again in ep 8 when Uhtred wants to go back to Rumcofa and Finan really doesn't want to. He is clearly so close to cry because Rumcofa is where he lost Osferth and he hasn't come to terms with it.

There's clearly a lack of emotion shown by Uhtred and Sihtric. I'm not saying the characters felt nothing or the actors played badly, I just think, just as you anon, that the show could have given us their "real reaction" to Osferth's death. Not just their nervous looks when Finan isn't able to speak.

However, I liked how the lack of Osferth's presence was reminded a few times. Sihtric reminded Uhtred they were just the three of them now to Uhtred in episode 6 and Finan later said four was always their lucky number (credit to @persephones-journey for that one). Besides, Uhtred mentionned Osferth's death to other characters, like Edward, who has shown some empathy.

I still was disappointed Osferth wasn't in the final montage, he definitely deserved his place there. But I recall a good point @solarlotus made, Osferth saw Uhtred as his Lord maybe more than just a friend which might explain his absence.

My final point will be regarding his burial. It didn't really surprise me to not see it. After all, we haven't seen any of Uhtred's men who died before being buried. Neither Leofric nor Halig had a burial scene and tbh i didn't feel like they needed to have one. Osferth I don't know. I like that Ingrith decided to take Osferth to Wessex so he was buried in the place he was born (but i like to imagine she has taken him to Coccham) and I know it would have been hard to have a burial scene with all the boys (cause a burial without his brothers would have been pointless to me) would have been tough to plan within the plot. I'm sad he wasn't given this scene he utterly deserved but i'm not that disappointed about it.

I think that is all for my thoughts, I think we agree on some points and disagree on others, but in general, we both hoped for more regarding our beloved baby monk's death :')

[jenniferstolzer]

Babylon 5 Rewatch ep 2.20 The Long, Twilight Struggle

Sheridan and Delenn receive an invitation to Epsilon III where Draal pledges the Great Machine to the campaign against the Shadows. Meanwhile Londo commits his Shadow allies to one more attack against the Narn, allowing the Centauri to commit war crimes and end the Narn conflict.

Things I like about The Long Twilight Struggle

1, An energy fluctuation happens on the planet and Corwin turns to his coworkers like “There’s something happening. Contact Commander Ivanova” then the camera drifts to a private quarters. A shower is running. We see the steam as we coast slowly toward the bathroom for a tasteful near nude shot of Claudia Chris—NOPE Bruce Boxleitner. I CACKLED.

2, Draal is great and I love him. It worked out that Sheridan is new here to get a refresher on who Draal is and what’s going on with the Great Machine. Also the Great Machine making him younger is a good way to explain why he’s Herman Munster now. I’m guessing he’ll stay young and vibrant until he disintegrates like the last guy.

3, I appreciate seeing Londo’s true colors in his conversation with Refa. He’s tired, both from the trip to Centauri Prime and of all the war and darkness he’s involved himself in. He’s also still mourning Ursa Jaddo from Knives which was a nice callback considering he had a significant moment of doubt and regret in that episode, and it’s good to be reminded that he’s not totally sold on what’s going on right now. It’s also nice that he’s against the mass drivers at the outset but is convinced to go with Refa’s plan because he considers the glorification of his people more important than himself or anything else. He talks himself into doing something truly horrendous, but it’s wrong and his face knows its wrong. And then Refa makes him watch, when he fully intended to hide from what he’s done. Gguhh the pain is wonderful.

4, Watching this in a rewatch hurts so bad. Like Franklin gives G’Kar a warning about the Centauri’s interest in homeworld. There’s the possibility he can stop it.

5, Delenn and Sheridan go down to Epsilon III she is acting super cocky and in control because she wants to impress her crush, even using clever colorful English phrases. Everyone remembers Abasfrigginlutely Damnit. Oh Delenn….

6, Sheridan looks at the inside of the Great Machine and is like  “Lord, I may not go home” and I laughed b/c it looks like Tron in there.

7. The jump-kicking Centauri.

8, The mass drivers really are the most disgusting move. To devastate a civilian population from space is the ultimate ranged weapon. What could they possibly do? Watching Londo watch it happen is peak drama because as disgusted as he is watching, you know he’s as disgusted with himself in facilitating it. The drama is there but also horror on a level few shows can communicate, that of self-horror. The moment earlier where it was established and Londo still had a concept of right and wrong even as he was dealing with the Shadows is pulling full weight here. At the beginning of this season he was a buffoon struggling to stay afloat, in the middle of the season he finds the power and respect he wanted but loses the trust and friendship of the station in the process, and here at the culmination of his choices he sees what he was really willing to sell his soul for. He could have remained powerless and kept his sense of self, but instead he chose advancement and learned to hate what he’s become. It’s just staggering.

9, G’Kar is also pulling full weight in this episode. He’s prepared to go back to Narn, be with his family, and die among his people but he is the only member of the Kha’Ri not on homeworld and being so, he is an in credibly valuable asset for the race now that surrender is unavoidable. The tears in his eyes when asking for sanctuary are soul crushing, and the horror and shame he’s feeling is an inversion of Londo’s… powerlessness and being suppressed despite knowing he could do more verses being powerful and regretting it.

10, The Centauri terms of surrender are so cruel. It’s the turn of a knife that’s already been plunged to the hilt and Sheridan coming in to yank the dagger back an inch like a badass is extremely galvanizing and give Delenn grounds to commit the Rangers to him later in the episode. Also something I want to note about this scene that I think is even more important than Sheridan being a hero, it’s G’Kar sitting in his normal spot in complete despair, enduring Londo’s terms. Londo is dressed in every decoration and medal he’s ever owned, screaming at the top of his lungs like being the loudest makes him the rightest, yet G’Kar is silent. Londo demands G’Kar be removed from the council chambers like an invader. Sheridan replies by recounting the request for sanctuary, resulting on the two fighting over G’Kar’s head, but no one calls the bailiff to come get him. No one except Londo tells him he needs to go. They give G’Kar the chance to move. Even Kosh waits to see what he’s going to do. Will he attack? Will he scream and cry? No. He stands and with every ounce of self control he contains, delivers one of the greatest axefalls in television history.

“No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand. The Centauri learned this lesson once, we will teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.”

11, AND THATS NOT EVEN THE END OF THE EPISODE! I can’t believe this wasn’t a two-parter with everything that’s happened in this one half an hour of screentime. Sheridan essentially tells G’Kar he’s on his side in this war. He offers G’Kar his hand as an ally, and G’Kar considers it saying; “The last time I offered someone my hand, we were at war 24 hrs later” He pauses to make you wonder if he’s lost the ability to trust, then shakes with Sheridan and the look on his face tells something completely different. He still believes he’ll be at war very shortly, but he’s hoping for it. He’s counting on it.

12, Finally we get the introduction of the Rangers and the only thing that can kind of fit on my “Liked less” list. I like this just fine, but there’s something about Delenn who is in charge of a secret sect of warrior monks pledged to side with the Vorlons against the Shadows, turning the control of those monks over to Sheridan without fully introducing him to their existence. To be fair, she gives him partial control and doesn’t hand it over to him, removing herself from the field and I know having watched the rest of the show that she still is the sole figure in charge of the Rangers and is more accurately pledging herself and those in her service to Sheridan’s cause… but the way they read in this episode it looks like she’s giving Sheridan the reins. The next episode is KIND OF dealing with this with the inquisitor, but in general I think we could have avoided a lot of nonsense if she just phrased her pledge more accurately.

13, And this leads me to a theory… that Babylon5 was labeled their best hope for piece, but really it was built specifically as a neutral ground for the staging of the Shadow war. It really is Babylon 5, as in a replacement for Babylon 4 which was used as a warbase. This is why the Minbari co-founded the station, this is why it ends in fire at the end of everything. It’s existence is specifically tied to the the return of the shadows and the drama and diplomacy of the Narns, Centauri, Telepaths, Earthdome, etc etc are events of the universe that happen to occur there. Wihtout the Shadow War, there’d be no Babylon 5, and without Babylon 5 the universe would not continue.

14.

Finally.

The ARMY OF LIGHT

I got teary-eyed

Things I liked Less about The Long Twilight Struggle

The Delenn thing. But we’ll get back to that next episode. And that’s it.

This episode is truly one of the greatest and most emotionally wrenching pieces of television ever created. It’s a silly scifi show with rubber masks that dares to delve deeper beneath the skin than anything else I’ve seen. We see the horror and depravity of war, but we also see the people turned inside out by it and what colors they are within. Ten out of ten. Thanks for breaking my heart. This is why I had to take pause on my rewatch to prepare.

oh by the way @gin-007 and I are resuming our rewatch from 2019.

and I’m putting all these eps up on @b5picanep as well if you want to go back to see previous episodes. 

[impossiblelibrary]

Today's rant brought to you by: Queer Eye Japan, can we all just try to be as kind as they try to be?

After watching the Queer Eye Japan super short season, I wanted to google to see the overall reaction to the show, make sure that my western eyes were correct in seeing the care that was given to the culture. Were cultural taboos, other than being outwardly gay, crossed? So I find this article in the top results and other than the perspective, why tho? Tokyoesque.com had an article with a higher reading level, with surface level appreciation but at least better written.

I can't get over this hate article though. Unfounded, dumb, wrong and incorrect. Do not go forward unless you like that blistering kind of anger from me.

But the reasons just get weaker as the article extends: "Hurts the country it set out to save?" Looking for white savior much? They did not go to save Japan, they gave some free shit to like 4-5 people, think smaller.

Their culture guide wasn't gay enough.

You want to suggest any lgbt insta models or celebrities, use your platform to raises some up?

"There is a growing sexless culture in Japan for married and unmarried people, and it is perilous watching Queer Eye present this without any context behind what is driving this behavior."

Sexiness is what the fab 5 embrace, unfortunately and it was probably discussed behind the scenes of how much talking about sex was allowed or polite and the conversation of not having sex is closer to the tip of the tongue rather than the feeling of sexiness. The West is not the ones blasting that information. It is across multiple Japanese printed newspapers and online stories by now and the "context" is still being discussed and debated amongst Japanese. So I don't think any outsiders should be weighing in or "explaining" this phenomenon. We can repeat what we have been told but guessing at the reasons is not our place. The reasons illustrated by the author of the article seem lacking, a take but not the only one, but who am I to speak on that being in a sexual relationship with someone who pulls from that culture?

Kiko begins to lecture Yoko-san on how she “threw away her womanhood” (referring to a Japanese idiom, onna wo suteru) by going makeup-free and wearing drab, shapeless clothes.

The mistranslation by the subtitles fixed by this author was necessary information. But Kiko didn't lecture her on it, it was brought up by Yoko before any of them arrived, that was her theme, that was what she had decided to focus on. Meanwhile, if you watched Jonathan, he understood there was no time to spend on makeup and skincare so provided her a one instrument, 3 points of color on the skin to feel prettier. That and the entire episode being the 5 treating her like a woman on a date, not trying to hook her up, which is what they did in American eps.

"In teaching a Japanese woman, who already struggles to find time for herself, how to make an English recipe, Antoni is making great TV and nothing more."

So Antoni shouldn't have taught her apple pie because it's too exotic for a Japanese woman. (Can you smell the sexism?)

He didn't make an apple pie, altho Yoko did mention her mother made that for her when she was a kid. He made an apple tartine after going to a Japanese bakery who makes that all the time. Then highlighted the apples came from Fuji in true Japanese media fashion. Honey, American television doesn't usually highlight where the ingredients come from. A Japanese producer told him to do that. So all worries handled within the same ep. She got Japanese ingredients, had the recipe shown to her and then made it for her friends in her own house. Did the author actually watch this show or nah?

"beaten over the head with his western self-help logic. “You have to live for yourself,” he says."

The style of build up the 5 went for was confrontational but in a "I'm fighting for you" way. It's hard to describe, but the best I can say is, a person has multiple voices in their head, from parents, siblings, society, and maybe themselves. By being loud and obnoxious, American staples right there, they are adding one more voice. You deserve this, you are amazing, you are worth it. I know this is against most Japanese cultural modesty, but maybe it shouldn't be.

Sarcasm lies ahead:

Apparently: mispronunciation is microaggressions, not just someone who had a sucky school system. Yea okay, They're laughing at the language not at how stumbling these monolinguals are with visiting another country. Mmhm. Japanese don't say I love you and don't touch and that should stay that way instead of maybe, once in awhile, feeling like they can hug. Yeah, let's just ignore Yoko's break down that she had never hugged her lifelong friend after hugging strangers multiple times. Maid cafes are never sexualized in Japan ever, just don't go down that one street in Akihabara where the men are led off by the hand sheepishly blushing. Gag me. And Japanese men love to cry in front of their wives and would never break down once the wife leaves. I have never seen a Japanese movie showcase that move. Grr.

"I identify as many cultures."

So you're a Japanese man when it's convenient for you to get an article published? Are you nationally Japanese or just ethnically or culturally?

Homeland is an inherently racist word?

"After the Bush administration created the Department of Homeland Security after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a Republican consultant and speechwriter Peggy Noonan urged, “the name Homeland Security grates on a lot of people, understandably. Homeland isn’t really an American word, it’s not something we used to say or say now.”

Yes, let's use a Washington Post article rather than a etymology professor. Yes, the google search results increased after 2001 Homeland Security was used but the word has been around since the 1660s and I've read multiple turn of the century lit on white people returning to their homeland, i.e. the town off the coast they were born in.

"But" is not disagreeing. I think the repeated offender for the author is the not acknowledging the makeover-ees feelings. But, that is how LGBT have decided to deal with the inner voices that invade from society. They are just that, not our own, they are the influence of society, and we can choose, we have to choose, to be influenced by someone, anyone else.

Karamo can't speak about being black when an Asian is speaking about being Asian, even though the Asian gay man was feeling alone. It's called relating bitches, and I'm done with people saying that is redirecting the conversation, it's extending the conversation. That's how we talk, the spotlight is shared, especially when someone's about to cry and doesn't want to be seen as crying, time to turn the spotlight.

The gay monk wasn't good enough, you should have invited the gay politician.

Yeah, causes I'm sure a politician has all the time in the world for a quick stint and cry. They picked a Japanese monk who travels to NY because they had a guest who travels to the West too. Did you want him to stop traveling back and forth? Did you want a pure, ethnic and cultural Japanese gay man who has no ties to the west to talk to this Western educated young man? Seriously?

This is just not how it works in Japan.

Being in a multi-cultural marriage between two rebels, discussions on facets of culture are plenty in my household. Culture should be respected enough to be considered but not held on a pedestal like we should never adjust or throw some things out. LGBT being quiet and private for instance. "Being seen" was Jonathan's advice, and a good one especially for a Japanese gay man that was called feminine since he was a kid. Some gay men can hide, but as Jonathan said, he couldn't hide what he was, he couldn't hide this. So fuck it. Don't hide. It's actually more dangerous for a feminine man to come off as anxious rather than gay and proud. It makes you more of a target if they think you won't fight back. Proud means, Imma throw hands too, bitch.

This is also from the civil rights playbook going back to Black America: never hold a protest or a fight without the cameras, without being seen. LGBT have found the more seen they are, in media, in the streets, the better off we are. When LGBT Americans were being "private" about our lifestyles, we died, a la 1980s. They won't care if you start dying off if they never saw you to begin with.

And hence why I think the author's real anger is from these 5 being seen dancing flamboyantly in Shibuya, in Harajuku, afforded the privilege of doing this safely because of their tourist status, cameras and very low violence rate in Tokyo, loud and obnoxiously. Honestly, they wouldn't have been invited or nominated if they didn't want that brash American-ness coming into their home, just for a taste, at least.

Here's my real anger, my own jealousy: Japan's queer community currently does not have marriage or adoption rights. US does, so we have progressed further. But we are also not that many years from being tied to cow fences with barbed wire, beaten with baseball bats and left for dead overnight. If things are so bad over there, maybe take a few pages from the civil right playbook we took so much time to perfect and produced by the Black Americans who fought first. But so far, I only hear loss of jobs and marriages, which we still have here too. Stop trying to divide us, we are one community, LGBT around the world and we are here to try to help. Take it or leave it, it's not like we're going to go organize your own Pride parade for you.

Rant over? I guess. Is this important enough to be put in the google results along with his. Hell no, anyone with half a mind can see he's reaching more than half the time. And any argument about: this wasn't covered! There are a shit ton of conversations that are not covered in the 45 min they have. They are not a civil rights show, it's a makeover show, doing their best in that direction anyway. Know what it is.

Next blog post, what research I would guess was happening behind the scenes for each of the 5? I'm pretty sure I saw Jonathan doing Japanese style makeup there...

[cheesomaru]

To the whole thing about Mary Sues, I just quickly looked it up and gathered definitions.

This one article really goes into depth, telling both sides of a Mary Sue. I skimmed over it and it basically said what the definitions below will say. However, I’ll leave the link to anyone who wants to read it.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MarySue

Moving on, here are several definitions from different users that explain what a Mary Sue and its’ male counterpart is.

Looking at this, yes, Towa does fit some (even if it’s loosely) criteria of what is a Mary Sue.

But realize that multiple times, the show has pointed out Towa’s various flaws as well.

• Towa being naive.

1. Giving Riku the pearl

2. Relating Homaru’s obsession with addiction to a cellphone

3. Trusting Riku after he gave her the sword that got her captured by the Shogun.

Note: Albeit, all the girls are 14 so they are allowed to be naive since they have room to grow (which may be what season 2 shows). Yes there was barely any character growth in season 1, but we can’t say there won’t be any in season 2 to completely say this part is 100% true.

• The battles

1. Towa may have defeated Kyuki, but she never killed her. Riku was actually the one to kill Kyuki.

Note: This happens because either Towa is too kind, or still hasn’t been able to master her powers. The show has also repeated Towa being too kind in the Feudal Era is a flaw that she should correct, quickly.

2. In every fight, Towa isn’t the only one to attack an enemy. And/or defeat them in one blow. Normally all the girls attack said enemy together to find its weakness, and using their wit find a way to kill them. I will agree though, Towa is typically the one who deals the final blow (minus some cases; Kyuki, Yotsume, Homura, the Pond Demon, etc.)

3. When fighting Kirinmaru for the first time, none of the girls managed to do anything. They were all beaten down, (Towa only managing to scratch Kirinmaru’s face after she got pissed) not being able to defeat him. Sesshomaru was the one to step in and stop the battle.

Note: One of the criteria for a Mary Sue is that she gains mastery of her powers within a short time. And she is able to defeat the op characters of the series with little to no effort. That’s not the case here. But yes, there are instances were Towa can easily manage to do something that Setsuna or Moroha may have taken years to learn (absorb demon energy, manifest her demon energy, use her demon energy to bind, etc.) Another thing, Towa can’t use her dog demon abilities, such as sniffing like Setsuna or Moroha can, right away. Overtime she does learn how to (ep. 1 she’s only able to sniff out Mei because she cries; after ep. 3/4 in the Feudal Era, Towa isn’t able to detect demons because she doesn’t know how; ep. 18 is when Towa learns how to sniff out demon energy (wind scar type of situation)).

4. In the second fight against Kirinmaru (ep. 24), not only is Towa able to go full demon, so is Moroha. There’s a double standard here if you’re judging one character and not the other.

Note: (Speculation) This could be explained because of where the battle took place. In the previous ep. we saw Moroha do an attack only for Toga’s ashes/dirt negate it. It could also work by calming the girls’ demon blood.

Now I’ll move on to some of the other traits a Mary Sue is suppose to have.

• Connections

Here is where it gets a bit iffy since it can go both ways. But let’s start with the definition of unconditional love. It’s defined “as affection without any limitations, or love without conditions.”

1. The Higurashi family would obviously love Towa since they raised her, or grew up with her in Mei’s case.

2. Setsuna didn’t like Towa at the start; she even tried to kill her (ep. 2). Only with time did their relationship grow.

3. Kirinmaru is, in my opinion, neither here or there. He is portrayed as the villain but it’s complicated since he doesn’t act as hostile as the other villains of the show towards the girls or Towa. After ep. 24, he seems like a crazy uncle trying to teach the girls a lesson. And that’s plural, as in girls. Not just Towa.

4. OG cast. Even if the interactions with them are limited, Towa doesn’t receive unconditional love or anything from them the very second they meet. Every character is just nice and polite, as even one of us would be with a stranger. Heck, Inukimi whether she likes the girls or not doesn’t show it and specifically said “I don’t care about them.” So many antis cheered about this and made memes (ep. 23).

5. Riku was portrayed as a mysterious, sort of villain-like character throughout most of the season. He approached Towa out of curiousity and maybe evil intentions. But after talking with her, he was left curious. Towa just piqued his interest. Only after whatever episode it was did Riku express he liked Towa (be it later platonic or romantic).

6. The Reiwa Era bullies can definitely be painted as enemies as they harmed Towa and tried to hurt her family. But that doesn’t necessary portray them as evil in books (since evil is more wicked), as they are just bullies due to their own insecurities. Either way, this is a type of connection so I’m listing it.

7. Zero and the Perils are portrayed as evil, yes. Because they are the various enemies/villains of the story. If we didn’t have them, there would be no story. But with the Perils, not all of them wanted to kill the girls right away just for being Sesshomaru/Inuyasha’s daughters. They just wanted to kill the girls, because they stood in their way. Konton was just lounging, enjoying his view until the girls came to kick him out. Totetsu was eating monks, the girls just stepped in to protect Hisui’s father. Both Konton and Totetsu stated they didn’t even know who the girls were.

Note 1: Don’t anyone start with the comment “that would have been for the best.” What’s done is done. You can give your opinions and views, but that’s not going to erase Yashahime from the internet.

Note 2: Out of the Perils, Kyuki was the only one who tried to kill the girls off the bat. Tokotsu is unknown since we never saw that first battle between him and Moroha.

Now this one isn’t mentioned all the time in every definition, but it does pop up at times. And that is the.....

• Tragic backstory from either abuse, abandonment, or etc.

Towa has none of that. Her only backstory is being separated from her sister. I’m sorry, but that’s not even tragic due to her having the Higurashi family accept and take care of her right away. She wasn’t even negatively affected mentally, emotionally, or physically by this.

Now this is getting rather long so I’ll stop it here. But all in all, Towa is not 100% a Mary Sue.

But if anyone wants to keep saying it that, go ahead and by all means counter this. Please provide examples to since that would definitely help make the Mary Sue case.

Either way, thanks for taking the time to read as it got particularly long ^^”.

Wow!  I hope that Mary Sue!anon sees this, because I am not very well qualified in laying it all out like this! I think if Mary Sue!anon wants to reply, its best they do so on your blog.

I agree I don’t think Towa is a Mary Sue either. She has a lot of battle shonen protagonist traits for sure!

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, March 25

Buffy: So Maggie sends me down into the sewers with one of those blasto guns and the next thing I know it's raining monsters. Xander: Hallelujah. Buffy: And then this gate slams down behind me and I-I try to use the gun but it goes pfft. Giles: You're saying that Maggie Walsh set you up? Buffy: That's exactly what I'm saying. She sent me on a one way recon. Spike: Got to hand it to you, Goldilocks - you do have bleeding tragic taste in men. I've got a cousin married to a regurgitating Frovlax demon that's got better instincts than you. Buffy: What does my taste in men have to do with this?

~~Goodbye Iowa~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for a few new editors! Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! For more information, drop us an ask on Tumblr or contact thenewbuzwuzz on LJ or DW!

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

post script (don’t you miss me?) (Spike, Spike's cousin/regurgitating Frovlax demon, other canon ships, M) by chasingfictions

They Can Never Know (Spike/Buffy, G) by TheSigyn

Kennedy, the accidental hero (Willow/Kennedy, T) by Bl4ckHunter

The Winchesters pounce on the Trio (crossover with Supernatural, Buffy, Warren, Jonathan, Andrew, Spike, T) by Bl4ckHunter

[Chaptered Fiction]

Competitive Teamwork series, Part 2: Conspiracy Vision (Doyle, Buffy/Angel, T) by InsaneTrollLogic

Anything She Wants To, Chapter 1 (Giles/Buffy, M) by ElleV

I've Loved You So Long, Chapter 71 (crossover with Supernatural, Buffy/Dean, FR18) by superslayer

[Images, Audio & Video]

Icons: BTVS/ATS - Various (Harmony, Faith, Giles, Spike, Angel, Willow, Xander, Wesley, Riley, Illyria, Buffy/Angel, Willow/Xander, worksafe) by spikesredqueen

Artwork: boys night :) (Angelus x Spike, worksafe) by sunnyhellcalifornia (crabuncle)

Artwork: Illyria sketchbook piece (worksafe) by spikesbuffybot

Artwork: Spike (worksafe) by railroadz

Comic: The Hero of Three Faces (crossover with Sherlock, Buffy, Dawn, worksafe) by heroofthreefaces (Paul Gadzikowski)

Artwork: Faith - outfit meme (worksafe) by tothetoonandback

Artwork: Reboot Buffy (Buffy, worksafe) by Brendan

Artwork: The gift (Buffy, worksafe) by Koniguen

Artwork: Principal Flutie drawing (worksafe) by GamingGreyhound

[Reviews & Recaps]

[I've pitched BtVS before, but let me give it another try; I am begging you to watch this show] by livlepretre

Welcome to the Hellmouth and The Harvest by stinkybuttbags

First time viewer’s thoughts on season 3 by spicynoodles4

Bad episodes that nobody talks about enough by indigenous_bean

Most underrated Buffy eps? by FairlyFreaksome

Funniest season? by DannyWestbrook97

PODCAST: Still Pretty 149. Lessons (S7.01)

[Recs/ISO]

Buffy ficlet "Springtime" by badly_knitted recced by petzipellepingo

Rec request: laurensshitpost seeks fics where angel draws/sketches spike

Reacting to Reactions – BtVS S3 by Stoney

[Fandom Discussions]

I know the Buffy writers know what a good redemption arc is because they’re doing it for Willow…. Meanwhile, with Spike... by rainandscarves

How ats characters would celebrate their s/o’s Birthday by prose-for-hire

How btvs characters would celebrate their s/o’s Birthday by prose-for-hire

Re: What do you think of genderfluid!Buffy? How do you think would the Scooby Gang and Angel react? by council-of-readers

Dawn & Spike friendship is EXTREMELY good actually by calamitys-child

angel the series’s relationship to btvs [Star Trek comparison] by roadhouseendgame

Angel's “Awakening” Fantasy (cont'd) by LemonBanana, Faded90

Discussion of the finale of "The Gift" (cont'd) by whatdBuffyDo, DeadlyDuo, GothicBuffy, and others

Are vampires "serial killers"? (cont'd) by Clavus

Favorite characters ranked: part 1, part 2 (villains), part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9 by Scuffleboard, paranormalcomstudent, Laedrin, Koniguen, Ronnoc527, brutusjudass, halloqueen1017, vsrcosmetics, rabenstolz

Random Thought [Did the monks know of Spike and see him as of vital importance?] by queensleazy

How do you interpret the "soul lore" in the Buffyverse? by interband96

Poll: What would you most like to see? A total reboot or a continuation or a next generation…? at BuffyForums Twitter account

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

[stottlemonk-moments]

Stottlemonk Moments:

Monk s05e04: "Mr. Monk Can't See a Thing"

[tigerstripes-and-leopardspots]

You asked for this

This post is directed at @kamechan98 ( @vague-and-aloof ).

You wanted recommendations, I can give you recommendations.

Now, because I don’t want to ruin what you have planned for your story, I want to keep my real page of headcanons on hold for a bit. But I think you might find inspiration from this one too.

I made a comment on one of your earlier chapters about how you should take a look at season 11 of So You Think You Can Dance, the season Ricky Ubeda appeared in.

When I first started to interest myself in the world of CATS, along the line I found myself in a binge-watching rabbit hole. I watched the boot of the 2016 Broadway Revival and watched through the entire “What’s New Pussycat?” behind the scenes series. After that, I looked up the actors who played my two favorite cats in the revival. Once I found out the actor of Mistoffelees, Ricky, was a contestant and winner of season 11 of SYTYCD, I went on to watch the whole season.

That is what brought me to this. A list of routines from season 11 with Ricky in them, and a short explenation of how I’m imagining they could mean or how they can take place in your story.

I have a full on Google Doc of this info but I figured I should post it here cause I can’t add videos on google. But here I can at least add a link. They are all screen recorded by the way, so many of them don’t have great quality and are a little out of sync.

The routines of Season 11 of So You Think You Can Dance and what they are in this story.

Template explained

_____________________________ Ep. X - Episode-title

Song Title - Artist (Opening if the routine was the opening number of the episode)

Style: Dance genre

In the Show (How it’s presented in SYTYCD)

Dancer(s): The people who danced the piece in the show (SYTYCD) Story: The story/idea behind the piece the real choreographer had.

In JAFJC (Shortened for ‘In Jellicle Arts for Jellicle Cats’)

Dancer(s): A CATS character who I imagine dancing this piece. Story: What I see the piece could symbolize for either of the characters or if this specific dance is performed sometime in the story.

Video: Link to a video of the routine. -------------------------------------------------

Not every part of the template is shown in all of the listed routines and that’s either because I don’t have enough info about the routine or I don’t have any idea what I want to put there.

The routines are listed in order of appearance on the show. Which means they absolutely do not have to appear in this order in your story.

It’s mostly Ricky’s routines. The only ones he isn’t in is two group routines and one normal routine. Munkustrap almost acts as the role of Travis Wall as the choreographer. Demeter sometimes acts as the role of Sonya Tayeh as a choreographer as well, if she isn’t dancing one of Munku’s (Travis’) routines or choreographed pieces Sonya didn’t make.

P.S. Travis Wall and Sony Tayeh are two of SYTYCD’s most known and beloved choreographers.

The Episode titles are all bolded and every routine ends with an italicised link. If any routine describtion appears without a bolded episode title, it means they appear in the same episode as the routine above it.

___________________________________ Ep. 4 - Audition week in Atlanta, Georgia Us Against the World - Coldplay

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Original Dancer: Ricky Ubeda Story: Ricky’s first audition. Ricky created this piece for his mother as a way to thank her for being by his side through everything. 

In JAFJC

Dancer: Mistoffelees Story: One of Mistoffelees’ pieces he choreographed himself as a way to cope with his magic without using it. He made the piece for his sister Victoria, in the same way, Ricky made it for his mother. 

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rSrn6z9fYfLLt_PrC_kjpJn-vUusxqQR/view

__________________ Ep. 5 - Callback week

Skin and Bones - David J. Roch

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Original Dancer: Ricky Ubeda Story: N/A

In JAFJC

Dancer: Mistoffelees Story: Another one of Mistoffelees’ vent routines. This is one of his more emotional pieces. Represents how Mistoffelees acted in the beginning of the story in a big dip of depression. Repressing his magic and any emotions that can cause him to lose control. An empty shell. Just skin and bones.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HfsM6cJ3i8YLMyhHYc-KmqMiSpVZzloo/view 

___________________ Ep. 6 - Meet the Top 20

Stalker Ha - Kingdom (Opening)

Style: Jazz

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s top 20

In JAFJC

Dancers: Jellicle Students

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K1-z9v-DMvIsuA2lqrLxuYzn2mNSjSLE/view

---------------------------------- Vow - Mieke van Hoek & Meredith Monk

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & Jessica Richens Story: It’s the ultimate connection. It’s more than just love, it’s a necessity. They need each other to survive.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Victoria Story: The dance symbolizes the strong bond between the twins who had to grow up together with a secret such as Mistoffelees’ magic. Victoria has been his only form of support. It’s a Vow to keep each other safe.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1diliXkvcLE3jA0XvfQ7tSkMSx5FPx0HU/view

_____________________ Ep 7. - Week 1

New York, New York - On the Town 2014 Cast (Opening)

Style: Broadway

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s top 20 Story: The reason why this was in the show is because the winner of this season would be given a spot to appear in the 2014 revival of the Broadway musical ‘On the Town’ as part of the price package. This song is one of the opening songs in the musical.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Jellice Students

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p14H7FZelCBJSUDxZF-I87c2t20t_oSN/view

------------------------------ Oh Darling - Gossling

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & Valerie Rocky Story: The one that got away. She’s a mess without him so this is her plea to get him back.

In JAFJC 

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Victoria Story: Even if they have the promise of looking out for each other, Mistoffeles’ stubbornness and habit to shut others out can get in the way of that. He doesn’t want to be a bother to other cats and is willing to give up his own happiness.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S0lvSNc45NXPNl9GSVJv9c5mEzQikxUq/view

_____________________ Ep. 8 - Week 2

How It’s Done - District 78 (Opening)

Style: Hip Hop

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s Top 18  Story: It’s a chess match.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Jellice Students

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JCW1bmX9rW7Kk7U7mf48gUSutrxDYKGG/view

---------------------------------------- I Won’t Give Up - Jason Mraz

Style: Ballroom - Viennese Waltz

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & Valerie Rockey Story: The Vienesse Waltz is one of the oldest and most romantic ballroom dances.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Victoria Story: It’s considered a romantic dance style. But for the twins, the song’s lyrics play more to their strings. “I Won’t Give Up”. Victoria is not going to give up on her brother and his wishes. It’s her open welcome to the new school and to her circle of friends. They perform this waltz at a business dinner hosted by the Deuteronomy’s as a form to promote the school.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DZI6jDeywpnHnDiPFKnFn6JERostY2vw/view

_____________________ Ep. 9 - Week 3

Take Me to the River - Annie Lennox & Heff Moraes (Opening)

Style: Jazz

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s Top 16 Story: In my interpretation, it’s a group of sirens/huldras luring in a group of men into a river.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Jellicle Students

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qLIAIsBO1HDrYlC7164kGzlvXCePvCLt/view

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dilliwaali Girlfriend - Arijit Singh & Sunidhi Chauhan

Style: Bollywood

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & Valerie Rocky Story: A Bollywood guy is infatuated by a Bollywood girl.

In JAFJC

Dancer: Mistoffelees & ??

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w2GjLSSqj-yfL5JgCIRiFyK-_4VYEZ-0/view

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- These two group routines both appear in the same video

So Broken LIVE - Björk

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Half of season 11’s top 16 Story: A group of broken souls in their weakest moment. 

In JAFJC

Dancers: Jellice Students Story: Demeter choreographed this piece and had the help of Jellicle’s freshmen to bring it to life.

---------------------------------------- Love Runs Out - OneRepublic

Style: Jazz

In the Show

Dancers: Half of season 11’s top 16 (incl. Ricky) Story: A group of outlaws who are trying to escape the city.

In JAFJC:

Dancers: Jellice students (incl. Mistoffelees) Story: Munkustrap choreographed this piece and had the help of the Jellice freshmen to bring it to life.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qFbc1OxOlOLCqOWIEGyjTehv1zWb7NhF/view  Reminder: They’re both in the same video.

______________ Ep. 10 - Week 4

Last Moment - Christophe Filippi (Opening)

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s Top 14 Story: Someone has ascended to heaven.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees and Jellicle students Story: A cat has ascended to the Heaviside layer. It could also symbolize the Jellicle’s welcoming Mistoffelees to their school.

Video https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cx2Ew0mdqRn0tHtaYirzLLgHM-_PlJx6/view

---------------------------------------- Like Real People Do - Hozier

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Jessica Richens & Casey Askew Story: They’re in love.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Victoria & Plato Story: They’re in love, Munk! Let them be!

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15KFG6w985xfNN6coFn-JomrYimN04PiP/view

------------------------------------------------------ Turn Down for What - DJ Snake, Lil Jon

Style: Hip Hop

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & Valerie Rockey Story: A witch doctor is trying to bring his voodoo doll to life.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & ?? Story: What would happen if Mistoffelees lost control of his magic like Macavity?

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KgwSnAr0F1-i8zhPdBgBxm33Od1JBhyw/view

-------------------------------------- My Immortal - Evanescence

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s top 7 girls Story: Strong women dancing together.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Seven of Jellicle Art’s freshmen queens. Story: Demeter choreographed this piece for the queens as a form to break the ice with their classmates.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lIhuiY_Ldoyguw4ThtkKHcZtv92Zcg89/view

------------------ Wave - Beck

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s top 7 boys Story: They are the lost souls of the city. They’re creatures isolated in the water.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Seven of Jellicle Art’s freshmen toms. Story: Munkustrap choreographed this piece for the toms as a form to break the ice with their classmates.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-RhNPM8EPzPEjczwKTugAmyeCig1DAAx/view

______________ Ep. 11 - Week 5

Bang Bang - Jessie J & Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj (Opening)

Style: Hip Hop

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s top 10 Story: Takes place at a very colorful saloon.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Jemima, Electra, Etcetera, Victoria, Rumpleteazer, Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, Mungojerrie, Mistoffelees, and Plato Story: Munkustrap gave ten cats free rein to choreograph a piece. He regrets this a little later once they drag Misto and Victoria along.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GtngV-rK1fNMMGsKMTIHSFgcl8w6aRt0/view

-------------------------------------------- Bossa Nova Baby - Elvis Presley

Style: Rockabilly Jazz

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & All-star Lauren Froderman Story: A party where Ricky celebrates his reach to the top 10.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Demeter?

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/123MufOUJYTuGz-HGb58XpZ9f8P6VcH3w/view

______________ Ep. 12 - Week 6

A Place With No Name - Michael Jackson (Opening)

Style: Hip Hop

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s top 8 Story: N/A

In JAFJC

Dancers: Jellicle Students

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1--XPI94Vny-aY13wcisLvinpbjvxd-pO/view

--------------------------------- Smile - Michael Jackson

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & All-star Jaimie Goodwin Story: Having that best friend that picks you up when you’re down that makes you realize that life isn’t so bad and you have so many things to smile about. Ricky is the positive light for Jaimie.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Demeter Story: One thing Mistoffelees have in common with the senior Demeter is that Macavity has influenced their lives in one way or another. Demeter shares the story to Mistoffelees that she used to be in a relationship with him that turned abusive. She fears for his return to this day. She is the second cat (after Tugger) Mistoffelees shares his magic secret to and explains how he’s been forced to keep it contained in fear of being associated with Macavity. This dance piece shows they’re not alone on their journey to find themselves again.

P.S. Munkustrap choreographed this piece as a love letter to Demeter.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fYoisJakIpoScDqfC85EBjSUsimYXy0n/view

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Hægt, Kemur Ljósið (eng; Slowly, Comes the Light) - Ólafur Arnalds

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancer: Ricky Ubeda Story: One of Ricky’s solos

In JAFJC

Dancer: Mistoffelees Story: One of Mistoffelees’ happier solo pieces.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16eV-9bzaEbyhqrfqQzWJBNKGcJicKW8z/view

______________ Ep. 13 - Week 7

Hide (Tropkillaz Remix) [feat. Childish Gambino & Aynzli Jones] - N.A.S.A. (Opening)

Style: Hip Hop

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s top 6 Story: They are rave DJ’s

In JAFJC

Dancers in the Story: Jellice students

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w3F_v738SCGRnGVRPj7wNioEjOD9g2Rc/view

------------------------------------------------------------- I’ve Got the World on a String - Frank Sinatra

Style: Broadway

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & Valerie Rockey Story: A technicolor dream.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Victoria Story: It’s once again one of the routines that look romantic but it’s just two siblings gushing to each other about their crushes. “Can’t you see I’m in love?” Mistoffelees has developed feelings for Tugger at this point.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jSMx2OSLJXXygc1gsHR-1QV7EXpPS9kw/view

--------------------------------- Dare (La la la) - Shakira

Style: Ballroom, Cha-cha-cha

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & All-star Anya Garnis Story: Ricky is embracing his Cuban roots.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Bombalurina Story: The routine that had everyone floored. Bombalurina is a beast of a Queen on the dance floor and always seems to steal the attention whenever she dances with a partner or in a group. The only cat who’s managed to match her intensity is Tugger because of their long history together. But in this routine, Mistoffelees shocks everyone by his ability to lead Bomba in a way that rivals Tuggers. Especially since he’s only ‘dabbled’ in ballroom dancing before. Seeing Tugger’s reaction is one hell of a driving force as well.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XWrlivoMrSOB5DjdHOrbPBOF5dMj5HUM/view

-------------------------------------------------- My Tears Are Becoming a Sea - M83

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancer: Ricky Ubeda Story: N/A

In JAFJC

Dancer: Mistoffelees Story: Another one Mistoffelees’ vent routines to tire himself out with so his magic doesn’t run amok.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fqdKDWW12BF0dVRler7F1wVYEjLKxqLZ/view

_______________________________ Ep. 14 - Week 8, Performance Finale

Wind Beneath My Wings - RyanDan (Opening)

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s Finalists, the Top 4 Story: Love is love.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees, Tugger and two lesbian queens Story: Tugger struggles a little with this routine since he’s not the best contemporary dancer in the school. But after some encouragement, explaining and hardcore training with Misto, Munk, and the two queens, it becomes one of the most memorable routines in Jellicle Art’s history.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10IrWsojMNhfK1Fvd7sw4R_1ZcwAPHw6f/view

------------------------------------------ Voices of Savannah - DJ Chus

Style: African Jazz

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & Valerie Rocky Story: It’s a race between two wild animals.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Cassandra? Story: The exotic cats of Jellicle Arts help Misto bring out his wild side.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s-1uq1f02T9VyS9MrQhWiZCPh0PSmFRy/view

------------------------------- F For You - Disclosure

Style: Jazz

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda and Jessica Richens Story: Shows off the best Ricky and Jessica have to offer.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & ??

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A7ZPwBnBOsHaQwidB0C8dLrZo4V054e1/view

---------------------------------- The Antidote - District 78

Style: Hip Hop

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & Zack Everhart Story: The king of diamonds and king of cloves are battling it out.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Pounce or Tumble or Plato Story: The rowdy toms bring Misto out of his comfort zone.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KUesOuzhjZU-lp9HTzi8NLzD4B78Npx_/view

---------------------------------- Not About Angels - Birdy

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancers: Ricky Ubeda & All-star Kathryn McCormick Story: Ricky has hit rock bottom and Kathryn is an angel on earth. He needs saving and she is that person that changes everything for him.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Mistoffelees & Victoria Story: Being a magical cat who has been forced to suppress his magic almost all his life, it’s not unusual that the thought of ending it all has crossed Mistoffelees’ mind more than once. But Victoria has always been the light and love that saved him from his darkest times. It gets Mistoffelees to fight for the life he didn’t get to have.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ocUAgSo1rcaKTO-5kqGbDiGdnMRq7NMD/view

---------------------------------------- Skin & Bones - David J. Roch

Style: Contemporary

In the Show

Dancer: Ricky Ubeda Story: N/A

In JAFJC

Dancer: Mistoffelees Story: The same vent routine from before but refined. Now it’s more of a ‘I’ve finally found myself’ kind off feeling to it. No longer is Mistoffelees afraid to show who he is.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pOP4SpLoEp0eDT3O6WKViVYG30h5WcHc/view

__________________ Ep. 15 - Finale Week

Doctor Jazz - Jelly Roll Morton & Gregory Hines (Opening)

Style: Broadway

In the Show

Dancers: The reunion of Season 11’s top 20 Story: Just a Top 20 reunion

In JAFJC

Dancers: Jellicle Students Story: Could be the opening to an end of the year showcase. The seniors are supposed to use this to show off what they’ve learned these years as Jellicle Arts students, whether they’re performing or has directed/choreographed any of the pieces shown in this showcase.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nww9Jts7eOEF7yDAPb7HtFl4PTN-HlRb/view

--------------------------------------------------- Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap

Style: A mix of hip hop and jazz

In the Show

Dancers: Season 11’s top 10 and the All-stars Story: Even the smallest act of care for another person is like a drop of water. It will make ripples throughout the pond. A group of strangers at a train station come together little by little, by one act of kindness to another. Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. That’s all whoever has.

In JAFJC

Dancers: Ten of Jellicle art’s freshmen with ten upperclassmen. Story: It’s the students themselves with no help from the teachers that put this performance together to show the world how anybody can care.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13sBS7080RM2OXahgk0tnaD65N0JTTVKo/view

BONUS!

_____________________________ Season 12, Ep. 14 - Week 6

Let’s Face the Music and Dance - Nat King Cole

Style: Broadway

In the Show

Dancer(s): Jaja Vankova and All-star Ricky Ubeda Story: A smooth-talking mobster and his feisty wife get arrested and thrown into a holding cell. She is furious and all he cares about is getting one last dance in before they’re both convicted.  

In JAFJC (Shortened for ‘In Jellicle Arts for Jellicle Cats’)

Dancer(s): ??? and Mistoffelees Story: An alternate retelling of the tale of Growltiger and Griddlebone

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQmyx2mxJE

There you have it.

A few parts of my template is missing on a couple of them as I mentioned. They are mostly the story ideas that I don’t have enough info on or I don’t know what to put there myself. As are some characters who I do not know would fit the best in them.

Apologies in advance if it’s difficult to read. I myself have impared vision and tried my best to make it as easy as possible for me to read it.

Hope this helps and good luck in your writing.

/ @tigerstripes-and-leopardspots aka @tigertail94​

Update: I tried to change the format to make it easier to understand. The difference is I seperated the differences of the show and the story idea so they’re not mixed together. Cause that’s something I noticed when I read this again. Plus I’ve added some more story ideas in both the ‘Skin and Bones’ entries. I’ll try and update this template as soon as I get more ideas.

Update 2: I added the routine of when Ricky appeared as an all-star in season 12. It was easier to find a link to this routine as the whole piece, including rehearsal footage and judges comments, already exist on youtube.

[caerdroia]

fandom tag game

rules: pick five (5) shows, then answer the following questions.

thanks for the tag @devilsss-dyke :-)!

my five shows:

doctor who

star trek

good omens

the adventure zone

the good place

who is your favorite character in #2? 

D A T A

who is your least favorite character in #1? 

uuuuhhhhhhh i think all of the characters have really interesting arcs (except for the women of moffat. moffat can go choke. but im not listing those characters as my least favorite, because i tend to enjoy them when presented in fan content created by people who drink respect women juice). i guess i’d say the monk just because of what he did in To The Death. but i also think he was a pretty captivating character?? how do you choose..

what is your favorite episode of #4?

i’m not sure i can choose a single episode (mostly because i’ve forgotten what happens in each ep) but i absolutely adore the stolen century arc😭

what is your favorite season of #5? 

hrm, season three? i feel like that’s where chidi and eleanor’s relationship really made an impact on me. it was also just a great season to see how they navigated their Second Chance...idk i love tgp bruv

what is your favorite episode of #3? 

the firrrrrst. it’s so good! and of course the 30 minute cold open of ep 3....smh

what is your favorite episode of #5? 

honestly the Very Last Episode is so good...it makes me absolutely bawl but in the best possible way

how long have you watched #1? 

since 2005! i kinda fell out of it around 11, and i fell back in when jodie was announced as 13 loooooool

how did you become interested in #3? 

I knew DT was gonna be in it like a year before it came out and i decided to read the book because the energy of the trailer seemed like something i’d dig. my brother was a big proponent of gomens too because he loves pterry hahah

who is your favorite actor in #4? 

griffin mcelroy and his 2000 npcs who all sound the same

which do you prefer, #1, #2, or #5? 

doctored who.....

which show have you seen more episodes of, #1 or #3? 

i mean percentage wise, i’ve seen 100% of good omens while i absolutely have Not seen 100% of dw....but yes, i have seen More Than Six Episodes of doctor who

if you could be anyone from #4, who would you be? 

m. magic brian

would a crossover between #3 and #4 work? 

taz amnesty but the apocalypse they’re trying to avert is good omens based

pair two characters in #1 who would make an unlikely but strangely okay couple? 

charley pollard and rose tyler...i think that charley ends up in 2008 london (don’t ask how) and she becomes best friends with rose and they fall in love. ALSO martha/eight is the only ship actually. eight adores martha and also in human nature john smith isnt a racist piece of shit because one of the fundamental truths of eight is that he loves martha 😤

overall, which show has the better storyline, #3 or #5? 

honestly? i’m going with the good place. there’s just more personal and immediate relevance in the story they tell and the individual stories and growth of the characters. 

which show has better theme music, #2 or #4? 

OK LISTEN....tng intro is litchrally so iconic and good......but the diversity of taz themes.....bruv....everyone say thank you griffin 

tagging @mothdogs @paintedvanilla @dykeangel @i-run-a-trash-blog @nicheandaccurate if y’all wanna!

[yfere]

Shipping Calculus! Live updates from C2E64

They say that fire exposes a person’s priorities, but we here at the lab believe that a gaggle of overly friendly moaning demons can also do the trick. Thank you to @softazelma, @fyeahthominho, and @alarnia for helping with data entry! Masterpost here.

+500 to The Mighty Nein/Totally Not Anachronisms. Beau invented the phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger,” and also ravioli, with her hidden chef talent. Caleb, having wheeled and dealed with the rich assholes of the Empire, naturally invented the game of golf during his year at the Academy. And Moro watched only half of the first season of Stranger Things. Don’t spoil her, okay?

+150 to Caleb/Astrid/Eodwulf “FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, JESTER, I’ll have you know that Eodwulf who I have never mentioned to you and who was not mentioned in the letter was buff and muscular and strong and so talented whoops that’s not even a physical description anymore but did I mention he was impressive? So if Marion Lavorre meets a black haired blue eyed incredibly eligible and attractive and gifted heartthrob of a man that’s the one you’re looking for BEWARE.” Okay, Caleb. Gone are the days of being content with all the love being directed at Astrid, I see. All right.

+0 to Jester/Beau Well, if an indirect kiss involves drinking from the same water glass, is it an indirect flirt if you both flirt with the same person? Moro became the unlikely receptacle of both these gal’s affections this episode, between Beau’s loud and enthusiastic appreciation of Moro’s criminal hustle, and Jester making sure Moro knows that Jester thinks she’s cute (and that she’ll kill her for lying to them). Beau as usual hyping up Jester’s awesomeness to everyone (in this case Caduceus) who will listen. Shockingly, this episode Beau seems to have acquired the ability to actually fool Jester into thinking she’s fine, which resulted in point loss and meant Caleb instead had to pick up the slack to gracefully get some help for the poor beat up monk. (For him, that’s +6 to Caleb/Faking Injury for Friendship)

-30 to Fjord/Shortcuts Just as when Captain of the Ball-Eater, Fjord is ALL ABOUT running into clear danger if it means shaving one or two days off of a trip. Into the eye of the storm! Into Ground Zero of the Calamity! We care for speed here, not safety!

+18 to Caleb/Jester and speaking of Caleb having a Thing for strong people, how he continues to single out Jester as the Strongest Woman, who even is Yasha, which creates a perfect combination of #ItPaysToBeADamselInDistress and #LovesToBeAKnightInShiningArmor between the two of them, as Caleb begs for assistance getting a horse on his moorbounder of COURSE Jester can do this alone, Jester squashing Caleb adorably and staying there for….a length of time while at Moro’s (I guess Caleb is the type to have people sit on his face huh), and Caleb very effectively pulling his “Oh no, I am so weak and delicate I must have a fainting couch to rest upon for a spell” to Jester’s delighted crowing over how weak he is. Caleb as usual thinking Jester’s out-of-the-box thinking with an aerial view is The Best Thing Ever. Jester wanting to get in on the Healing Caleb Action Caduceus has been hogging with a Cure Wounds, what do you mean Fjord is injured too? (#ItReallyDoesPayToBeADamselInDistress). Caleb’s Worrywarting directed at full strength at Marion Lavorre. +4 to Yasha/Cockblocking for Jester bringing Yasha in on the horse moving action. Point loss for Caleb’s Worrywarting creating Jester Worrying and making her lose sleep. Nein! Not okay!

+17 to Beau/Yasha because as we all know mutilating corpses with Beau is a sure way to her big gooey heart. Also, Beau adopting a Striking Pose after striking the enemy dead, and the Gay Power of that alone probably making Yasha’s rage drop, as she struggles to pick her jaw up off the floor and reorient towards combat.

-10 to The Mighty Nein/The Neighbors as they apparently carry a couplea severed heads in plain view all across town on their way to the Xhorhaus before storing them. According to the local Mighty Nein Neighborhood Watch, this is only the third or fourth weirdest thing they’ve done.

+24 to Caleb/Caduceus as Caduceus continues as always to think Caleb is the solution to all problems always with his cool magic and his alarms, though +5 to Cockblocking for both Jester and Beau who tragically remind him that there are other people out there who can also do things. The slip into nearly calling Caleb “Mr. Clay” instead of “Mr. Caleb” is of note, and someone needs to investigate what he’s been writing in those hearts in his journal pronto. Caduceus making Caleb his #1 priority in battle, #ItPaysToBeADamselInDistress, with his ray of enfeeblement, healing, attacks, and physically standing over the wizard in a defensive stance to protect him! Batting away attacking bats (while Caleb crawls around collecting guano!). Points taken away because poor Caduceus forgets for a moment that the next brightest thing after his own pink hair is Caleb’s. It’s still romantic if you’re saving people from trouble you sent their way, right? Right? Points gained for asking if Caleb is okay after the fight, and for them both being very dark, between advocating for decapitation and threatening Moro and her employee with decapitation, simmer down a second Caleb.

+10 to Caleb/Vulture Culture. Between Frumpkin’s new shape and getting Those Good Spell Components, our dear Caleb, covered once more in gore and shit and Death, is his happiest self. Hopefully he didn’t ruin his new fancy threads.

+2 to Beau/Hosting as Beau practices Manners and Decorum with a “no, sir” to the attacking demons (#CustomerService). Some mixed messages by following this up with pummeling them to death, but An Effort Was Made.

+4 to Caduceus/Nature as he found a new mushroom! Which will definitely not be a bad mushroom in any way.

+90 to Caleb/Cat-Shaped Creatures. There’s the usual spying Frumpkin rigmarole, but it says something about your love for cats when you’re willing to forgive, nay, even love, suspiciously dog-like behavior of gross licking for affection—so long as it’s coming from a cat. Caleb cleverly disposing of troublesome corpses and feeding his favorite members of the M9 at the same time. Caleb also adorably taking Jannick out for a little run on the Fields of Death, and all the Moorbounders coming in clutch as fighting machines (with some wonderful light-based assistance from Caleb, Support Catster Extraordinare), and somehow remaining unscathed during battle.

+45 to Fjord/Jester. Lips. Made. Contact. With. A. Cheek. That is very cheeky of you Fjord, if I do say so myself. Jessie is said, not once but twice, and Jester gets to be her true #LovesToBeAKnightInShiningArmor self as she saves Fjord repeatedly by murdering the demons attacking him, only getting slightly annoyed that he gets in trouble immediately after she saves him the first time. Seriously though, the amount of Goopy Feelings Jester has for saving this poor man….well, #ItPaysToBeADamselInDistress. Point loss for poor Jester failing to look as cool as the knights in the novels as she falls flat on her face with the handaxe strike, but she makes up for it by pounding the creature to death with her spiritual weapon instead, that was totally intentional. Point gains for Fjord being very Pleased with anything and everything Jester got up to, Jester pumping up Fjord’s accent and impersonation skills, contributing to Corpse Interrogation with her own Disguise Self, and the Excellence that was the fake Insta-Death spell the two of them threatened Moro with.

-8 to Nott/Yeza “Tell Veth I love her” does not make up for fucking ditching your husband without a word, Nott, you absolute asshole. Please talk to your spouse.

+13 to Caleb/Fjord/Jester In another great week for this triad, they all prove to be Excellent at Delivering Deceptive Threats, though Caleb is as per usual a little too serious about his contributions (though the other two are uh a bit more on the serious side as well this is a Bloodthirsty Throuple) The Epic Triangle Of Saving Each Other, as Jester rescues Fjord and Fjord hustles to rescue Caleb, followed by Jester’s healing action. Fjord taking joy in Jester falling on top of Caleb, and the both of them being very good about letting the Totally Actually Injured And Not At All Faking dramatic wizard take a short rest for Beau.

+1 to Fjord/Caleb. Most of their points this week were more applicable to Caleb/Fjord./Jester, but the instant “Moro, you got to die” when Caleb Can’t-Switch-Tasks Assassin Wizard suggests it is still very fun. Fjord sort of leaps to Caleb’s suggestions this episode, the ultimate yes-and-man.

+6 to Fjord/Detective Work as he steers the party clear of the Bad Tar Pits, they might have landed in quite a sticky situation otherwise

+20 to Critters/Detective Work, as the cast very loudly run through the Totally Natural Conclusion to the clues provided in the last ep, they Definitely Solved This Themselves, they had No Help From The Internet.

+14 to Fjord/Caduceus. Fjord offers to “loom” over Caduceus’ shoulder and points out that he looks “fleek” like damn, Caduceus, the boy is making an effort for you! As usual they are On The Same Wavelength and good cop/bad cop Moro and co. like pros, no discussion or even a conspiratorial glance required, they know what the jig is before anyone else. Fjord advocating for sending Moro money because that was Caduceus’ plan, no one is allowed to argue. Also being excellent interrogators of corpses together. Fjord is a huge fan of Caduceus’ magical food powers, #MagicalCrush, would “not turn down” Caduceus’ healing, and he kills some bats Cads was slapping around. Unfortunately without the bats Caduceus proceeds to slap a bunch of points out of the ship by saying he “doesn’t care.” That is cold.

+7 to Jester/Caduceus as they do a little awkward dance on the steps to make it around each other, and spending hours annoying everyone else in the party by talking about Cleric Things. Caduceus being impressed over Jester totally lying about being able to talk to dead horses, and Jester going wild over HOW COOL the Corpse Interrogation was. The Clerics Cuddling for comfort when the enemies first attack, since that was definitely what Jester and Caduceus were doing no questions here. Points taken away because Jester’s enthusiasm for Corpse Interrogation sort of glosses over how Caduceus “feels dirty” over the whole affair, they are apparently not too compatible in this area.

-5 to Nott/Yasha as Nott makes a sincere and successful effort to apologize to Yasha for sticking her like a pincushion and trying to be Nice and Supportive with memory games to help Yasha remember the “drow.” But points are drained away into the negatives as Nott goes a little too hard with the interrogation over Yasha having potentially killed people to make orphans (“that’s a cool name” and “Orphie” is terrible and does not make up for this nonsense), and Yasha’s well-received but still terrible allowance of Nott’s alcoholic predilections. They are a wonderful trainwreck to watch.

-20 to The Mighty Nein/Names. As of right now, there appears to be one (1) member of the Mighty Nein in Caduceus Clay who did not at some point either change their name or have some type of Name Angst over what someone else has named them. Though making faces at ‘Ducey might come to count for something, in time.

+11 to Nott/Jester Speaking of Disguise Self Shenanigans, how Nott is the Moro to Jester’s invisible bugbear, making them the logical pairing of the Corpse Interrogation Caper. Jester’s adorable confusion over her nickname being “Little Sapphire” which leads to Nott instantly screeching about how beautiful and perfect Jester is, that lovable dumbass. Nott using the word “shiny” to describe Jester, which seems technically a little odd but says loads about Nott’s affection for the gal, as this is the #1 lover of Shiny Valuable Things in the party speaking.

+8 to Jester/Yasha as Yasha in her sweet soft way also points out how Jester is very pretty and brings up Fluffernutter as a potential badass name that some of the people in her tribe might have been named for. Jester, for her part, directing Worrywarting in Yasha’s direction over how she was recognized and trying to give Yasha control over what they do next and what Yasha wants, though dear Yasha who cannot assert herself to save her life only manages to tentatively say she wants to know what’s going on before saying she’ll do whatever the group wants. (They! Want! What! You! Want! Yasha!)

-6 to Jester/Curtains, which surprisingly don’t taste as good to tieflings as they do to moths. Further experimentation required to determine how delicious they are to goblins, firbolgs, half orcs, aasimar and humans.

-101,019.01 to Critters/Child Poverty. TAKE THAT, CHILD POVERTY! This is how much was raised at the end of the stream, and a deserved kick in the face to all Child Poverty ships everywhere #AntiChildPoverty

[noramachwitz]

i wrote a giant review post and i thought i’d keep the momentum going so here’s a giant review on skam nl under a read more

okay so i have to say i loved s1 and i think nl did one of (maybe even the) best versions of s1 i love isa so much and i loved the girl squad and i was super exicted to see their version of s2 since noah/liv were the only version that i didn’t dislike in s1 and i hate to say it but ... i find s2 pretty underwhelming. and i have for a while. i’m still keeping up with it but honestly i’m having some (kinda big) problems with the way it’s written

(and needless to say these are all my opinions and you can disagree it’s fine etc.)

what it boils down to are these points:

1) plot driven - this season is SO plot driven it drives me mad. somehow the entire plot just happens /to/ liv (and i’m not talking about the SA here of course but everything that happens before that) and somehow almost every decision she does make and where they’d finally show her having some agency is off screen?? i keep feeling like everything that happens happens because it’s the next step in the story and there’s little transition imo?? i feel like i always see plot point a then plot point b but a lot of the times i don’t know what actually happened to lead from one to the other for example i still don’t freaking know why liv actually went on a date with him?? or noah saying his brother can’t be trusted but then still believing him. i just feel like liv and noah both as characters just don’t fit into the way they’re going about this story

2) noah - i think noah as a character had a ton of potential to be really insteresting and different but ... NL changed the vibes around him completely and you have this artsy painter dude who seems quite charming and doesn’t take himself too seriously (which monk portrays perfectly ngl) but they just completely failed to adjust the story so it fits his character better. instead noah (in my opinion i’m very sorry lmao) actually behaves more like OG william than most other williams. he acts the same way, he justifies his actions the same way, he even says a lot of the exact same lines and ... why?? why not fully embrance those vibes and actually change the story as a consequence?? i remember soo many people in the fandom saying they can’t see noah beating up someone and it’s true i agreed but then it happened anyway and these moments just KEPT HAPPENING where i couldn’t see him doing something but he did anyway and i just don’t understand why.

so instead of changing things that were easy to change and would make noah better than william they change things that are unnecessary which leads me to one of the biggest plot devices i’ve ever seen: the death of noah’s mum. when i first realised that noah’s mum dies during this season i was actually pretty excited bc i thought they’d use that to explore him as a character more but!! no it was just a two week plot device to guilt trip liv?? and almost every clip we got during that time was just liv feeling guilty and guiltier and her staring at her phone constantly until she ends up at the wake and we find out actually noah wasn’t even close with her and it didn’t really affect him?? and it hasn’t been mentioned since either??? WHY!! instead of giving noah and liv a solid base for a relationship and use that time to idk get to know each other more and like just to talk it just feels to me like they took the easy way out writing wise

also it’s literally the penultimate episode and noah has had ZERO character development and we still know very little about him but we’re still supposed to be rooting for him and liv?? how am i supposed to do that when he’s so underwritten?? this is all such a shame goddamn it

3) time management/pacing - i have no idea if it’s because i binged s1 or not but you can tell so hard with s2 that they’re on a time limit and it always confuses me what they end up coosing to spend time on. prime example: the sleepover clip. we spend 3 whole minutes (yes i checked) with liv going around that wake having that weird conversation that literally adds nothing to anything and then she finally sees noah we see them sit next to each other and listen to a record and ... then liv talks to ralph on the phone and it just cuts to them getting ready for bed like why spend so much time on unnecessary stuff in the beginning and then when there are finally opportunities for development they’ve got no more time left!!!

in general when there finally is a moment of tension or conflict the clip usually ends and we have to wait a whole day or even 2 for another clip and it just really makes me wish we’d get less of these quiet moments (and while they’re definitely necessary too i just feel like nl actually has way too many of them) and just give us more plot movement instead so we can actually get somewhere. this is less of a problem if you only watch whole eps but since this is skam and real time narrative it just doesn’t work for me.

4) conversations - the lack of converstions REAL conversations between noah and liv is sooo frustrating to me. they’ve basically only had ONE real conversation so far and that was when liv broke up with him. that was the first time they actually /talk/ to each other and ... okay i know everybody keeps saying NL is prioritising liv since it’s her own season and that it’s about her and not her realtionship with noah but i mean that relationship is a big part of her story?? and i still don’t know why liv actually likes noah, i don’t know how she realised that she loves him and we haven’t actually like ... seen them bond??

the conversation i did actually really like was the one between liv and esra when she asks if esra has ever been in love but i was just kinda like where did that come from?? they’d made out twice at that point and that was it?? i guess this ties in with the fact that it’s just plot driven which means i don’t necessarily get a character’s motivations since they explore the plot and not the characters themselves. the other actual conversation was the one liv had with engel but there for me it was another case of Where Did That Come From you know? like engel gives liv this whole thing about how she’s scared of chaos which is true but from a storytelling point of view there was nothing to like ... trigger that realisation? i mean of course theoretically i know that the girls are all close friends and just know each other well but when you tell a story (even if it’s skam that’s based in realism and believability) you need buildup to things and i feel like that something that really lacks in skam nl

5) in general - to me personally it just feels a lot like nl shies away from proper conflict a lot because resolving it would take time which they don’t have but that means they don’t build proper tension that drives the plot forward. and i actually have the same problem with s2 in the OG as well don’t get me wrong but i feel like that’s something they could change but haven’t because nl just?? idk seems scared of changing too much?? they change the characters but not the plot but why? who knows, i sure don’t and it’s not they way i enjoy a story being told

okay to end this whole thing on a more positive note lmao here’s some thing i actually do like about this season:

soundtrack is a+ as always nl is good at that

the cinematography and general aesthetic is just ... so pretty (but ngl i feel like that sometimes comes at a cost of substance)

the girl squad! although i can’t say it’s the best as many other people do because i never would have thought iman missing would be this noticeable but for me it throws off the entire dynamic?? anyway but i do like them

esra!! she’s so great

i just love isa

okay that’s all

[proprhettcies]

Season 3 Finale (274)

S3 Ep 60 (274) gets it’s very own post since the episode before didn’t have anything related to this blog.

GMM Trivia

Last episode of season 3

Pie in the face whoever loses

L-” I don’t like lemon-flavored stuff.”

GMM Trivia Quiz

Answers under the cut. Have fun!

1: The first spot the Wheel of Mythicality landed on was ___.

2: In the episode, How to Make the Olympics Awesome, Link said I ___ my tongue with my teeth.

3. According to GMM, What is the best board game ever?

4. How many episodes of GMM has Link been absent from?

5. “The way to a woman’s heart is through ____.”

6. In Rhett and Link’s Old Secret Tapes, Link interviewed a bed, Minnie Pearl and ___.

7. According to GMM, one does not simply give a ____ to a man.

8. What was the only item that you both guessed correctly in the psychopath smell test?

9. What answer did Rhett keep giving for every song that Link hummed during the Best Movie Theme Songs Ever?

10. What is the first rule of GMM?

11. Have you ever punched each other in the face?

Answers:

1. Rhett impersonates Link

2. Vociferated

3. Risk

4. Four

5. A worm’s anus

6. Chinese Monk

7. C-Section

8. Pickles

9. Superman

10. Don’t talk about Justin Bieber

11. No. (They always teased this in the intro)

[klanced]

here are all my dnd episode hot takes bc i love it so much

I’m guessing that, besides being the team’s mascot/furry, Lance also functions as a tracker of sorts. 

His posture (squatting on the ground), the fact that he looks like he’s holding something (like mayhaps a scooped up bit of dirt), the way he’s looking over his shoulder as he gives the team his Opinion, the way they all seem decidedly unimpressed at his deductions considering he only sniffed dirt- Fantasy Tracker™, Babey!

Anyway, going off that, it looks like the party is trying to track something (a monster? Lotor’s character? Keith’s?).

I bet Pidge’s armor makes her super top-heavy. If she fell over, she’d look like a turtle on its back.

Also I can’t get over her CHICKEN ARMS and her BIGASS double-bladed axe like. She really is going all out huh.

I’m also digging the fact that Shiro is wearing a full-on black cloak in the middle of a somewhat sunny forest while hanging with his crew. King of wishing he stayed home! King of withdrawing from others!

I’m already in love with this episode like this is DEFINITELY going to be one of my top five favorite episodes. I feel it in my nerd loving bones.

I sincerely hope that whatever their riding is some big scary monster that scared the pants off everyone except for Allura, who immediately befriended it. Bonus points if there’s a scene where she rubs its tummy.

Maybe it’s some personification/manifestation of the White Lion? Idk, I never finished Season 5 so I don’t really know what’s up with Allura and the White Lion, but this could be a reference to that ep.

I saw a post where someone said that could be Keith’s character which is hilarious and I fully endorse.

... Y’know what? I bet whatever the team is tracking in the first pic ends up being the animal they’re riding in the second.

This is your daily reminder that I am a BIG lesbian who is in LOVE with Allura! 

LIKE HELLO? THE PURPLE BODYSUIT? FLAWLESS. THE HAIR? CURLED AND FLOWING. HER EARS? POINTER THAN HER ARROWS, AND TWICE AS DEADLY. LEGOLAS SAW HER OUT OF THE CORNER OF HIS EYE AND IMMEDIATELY WENT HOME.

I love her.

But seriously, just LOOK at her. She woke up that morning and she decided that yes, actually, she IS going to be That Bitch™! She’s winning the award for best dressed, and she damn well knows it.

I’m also still not over that one curled bang like UGH. YES. And the purple theme she’s rocking?? The way they almost match her pastel glowing marks? Her arrow feathers???? Cupid lined up the shot at my heart, and Her aim was true!

Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t Allura’s eyes a bit bluer than normal??? Are these.... Fantasy Contacts™?

This is pure speculation, but in my opinion it looks like Allura’s character isn’t a princess. Her armory is fancy, but she lacks Allura’s usual “crown” (it’s not really a crown, but I can’t find the proper word for it lol). Which is interesting! And if true, would confirm some of my meta on Allura lol.

........... I just realized that Hunk isn’t actually bald at the top of his head, but is instead wearing a green hat. And you know what? I’ll take the Rock Lee look over the monk bowl cut any day.

He still looks like Doctor Strange took a vacation in the Earth Kingdom, but y’know what? We still stan. I mean, the beard alone is absolutely legendary, so quite frankly? Hunk’s outfit may be weird as hell, but he still looks good. Case closed! Legends only!

Hunk’s collar is popped because he’s too busy mmmmmmmmmmblockin out the haters.

His belly button is glowing. Absolute legends only.

Also what the hell, Hunk’s sideburns look so good??? His Fantasy Barber™ is a god????? Like OOF, that cut? That fade? Can he please call his barber and ask them to fix Kuron’s hair?? Lol.

Hunk lookes like he’s playing as some kind of monk/sage class, which really tickles my fancy because Hunk as a defensive magic user is (Allura voice) absolutely divine. I mean, just look at that staff! He could either heal you or hurt you with that borderline club, let’s leave it at that.

The longer I stare at his beard the more unbelievable it gets. How did he cultivate such a majestic lock of hair? He has absolutely no facial except for this single 1″ by 1″ square. Hunk is incredibly powerful.

Voltron really wants me dead, huh. Like, they want to loot my wallet from my cold dead corpse and spend my last two dollars at Starbucks. That’s the only explanation for... this.

He looks like if Kaden from Fire Emblem Fates had a baby with Odd from Code Lyoko and that baby raided the closet of Mako from Legend of Korra.

If he has a tail, I will go full on nuclear winter, mark my fucking words.

If his ears so much as TWITCH I will really lose it I am not joking. Voltron has gone TOO FAR, and I will be the one to end it.

Okay I might be imagining things but in the picture on the left, it looks like Lance still has a right earlobe/right ear, so uh. What’s up with that. Does Lance just have four goddamn ears. Are his furry ears fake? Oh my god, is Lance faking being furry kin?

If he has claws tho, I can accept that because that’s cool as hell. I’ll also tolerate Lance having sharp canines, but only if he’s constantly biting his tongue lol.

Lance is wearing quite a bit of jewelry for someone whose clothes look like shit which begs the question of how... he has them. 

If Voltron makes Lance’s dnd character a thief we riot.

Also his facial markings look like Krolia’s which is either a funny coincidence, OR the dnd episode takes place after Keith reunites with the team and introduces them to Krolia, and Lance’s markings are inspired by hers. Which is cute.

I honestly cannot tell if she’s wearing a furry cape or if that’s just her hair, but either way I’m loving it. You go, you fierce little warrior you!

I JUST NOTICED THAT HER SHOULDERS ARE AS BROAD/BROADER THAN HUNK’S NOW GHSKDGHDJGSDGDS

I mentioned this in a different post but I genuinely thought Pidge was going to be a rogue or some sort of magic user, so DPS/Tank Pidge has completely blindsided me and I’m loving every second of it.

Pidge doesn’t roleplay based on her actual self and personality. No, she’s creating Fantasy Pidge™ for a Fantasy World™ which means living out every wild dream she’s ever had!!! She’s chaotic neutral bitch and LOVING it.

She has a DOUBLE-BLADED AXE and it it’s not at least 3/4 her size then what, pray tell, is the point. I want Pidge to heft her axe around like it’s nothing, and then when she puts it down it literally shakes the ground. That’s the ultimate power move.

Lance being a goddamn furry PROVES the existence of other Fantasy Races™ so fingers crossed that Pidge decides to play a dwarven character to explain why she’s so short ghdkjsghdkjs

Pidge looks so happy in the second pic. This really is the best day of her life. 

(ZOOMS IN ON THE SECOND PICTURE) YO IS THAT A CROWN???? 👀👀

Okay but seriously, if Shiro’s character is a prince/king I will EXPLODE!!!! Let Shiro make a dnd character with an unnecessarily tragic and dramatic backstory!! Let Shiro roleplay as a prince on a mission to avenge his fallen kingdom and free his people!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That would also explain why Shiro is constantly wearing a black cloak and hiding his beautiful, perfect face. Because he’s on the run and has to stay undercover, bitch!

NGL, I’m a lesbian but I stared at the second picture of Shiro for a good ten seconds. Mostly because Shiro’s hair looks really, really good, and it’s a balm to my eyes after season 4 and 5.

Also, I just realized, his crown/coronet/WHATEVER is in the same place/represents his tuft of white hair! You can see this most clearly in the first pic :3c That’s so cute!

I’ll admit, I’m a little disappointed because at first, I thought Shiro was wielding a gigantic two-handed sword, which is absolutely badass and kickass. However, on closer examination I can see what looks to be a shield strapped to Shiro’s back (apparently over the cloak, which is weird lol), so Shiro most likely wields a so-called “one-handed” sword.

I won’t lie, for a hot second I thought Shiro might be wielding a club or something because I couldn’t see a sword hilt, but if you look at the left picture really closely, you can see what looks to be a black sword hilt. I did some googling, because swords are cool, and I’d guess Shiro’s sword is based off a knightly sword.