#narrative comparisons

[writesailingdreams]

I think Usopp was the most under utilized character in OPLA.

Not because Jacob Ramero did a bad job; I think what we saw from him was quite good. I also recall that he wanted to include Usopp's hammer into the fight(s) but it didn't make it into the final cut, so I think he has some idea of how the character fights, functions and feels.

No, the story just didn't give him enough time to shine/show why he was wanted on the crew. He was also the only crew member Luffy never asked what his dream was. Which is it's own bundle.

Because by changing how he (seemed) to feel about his dad, it altered the root of what his dream was before Little Garden. (I'm hoping there'll be more time spent on Usopp in S2). I didn't mind the switch to making him more committed to his mom and therefore Kaya (connections to women with ailing illnesses something something Merry in Water 7).

But this means you need a new root for why Usopp wants to be a brave warrior of the sea. If it's not the pride of a son of a pirate then why?

(I could see a good case made that it didn't need to be changed at all. Which is also fair. Though for me the important thing about Usopp's intro arc/Syrup Village is that he's shown, in the story and by Luffy &co. as admirable despite (or because of) his cowardice (and lies). )

Like Usopp's lies being imaginative ridiculous stories (tall tales) is very important to me. He creates something meaningful from something that, generally, isn't. He's got a lot of what I can only describe as compassion honor that's really emphasized in his desire to protect his home.

And that, for me, was missing. And I'd much rather have had that in some reimagined capacity than pride for pirate dad. (I mean we didn't get either really but it's the response of Luffy &co. to the compassion lies that I miss most.)

[agentravensong]

thinking about how the extra area added on to a pacifist run of undertale, the true lab, is about alphys's past mistakes. how it ends with the story reaffirming that, despite the pain she's caused, the thing that matters is that she has now made the choice to do the right thing. she's still worthy of her friends' love.

thinking about how undertale doesn't expect the player to get a pacifist ending for the first time. how it's more likely than not that the player will kill toriel the first time they battle her, how lots of players don't initially figure out how to end undyne's fight without killing her, etc. what it expects — not even expects, really, but hopes — is that the player, if they care enough, will use their canonically acknowledged power over time to make up for those mistakes.

no matter how many neutral runs a player has done before committing to the pacifist run, the thing that matters to the characters, to the story, is that you've chosen, now, to do the right thing.

compared to alphys, the player honestly gets off lightly, in that you're the only one (other than flowey) who really remembers any harm you might have caused. and any direct guilting the game could have done about it is long past at this point. instead, as undertale often does, it makes its point via parallels: alphys caused harm, and she knows it. she has committed to being better. in doing so, she has unlocked for herself a better ending to her story. and she deserves it. she's forgiven.

those structural narrative parallels are all over undertale, if you know where to look. and that's one of the things that makes it so fuckin' good.

[hyacinthsdiamonds]

From an article published on December 29 2016:

[mythalism]

hmmm. thinking about how veilguard seems to subscribe more to the more traditional "video game as personal power fulfillment fantasy of heroism" than any other dragon age game, except perhaps origins, though origins does it more artfully.

[nellasbookplanet]

The fandom god discussion is interesting, but I feel it’s sometimes hindered by an unwillingness to separate gods from mortal society, or even a sort of over-eagerness to project our own reality onto them, which simply doesn’t work. I've seen the gods referred to as rulers or tyrants demanding worship (which I kinda understand because it’s something Ludinus says in-game, though it’s funny to see fandom corners confidently repeat the inaccurate talking points of the antagonist) but more interestingly I've also seen them referred to as a higher/the highest social class, as colonizers imposing themselves on mortals, the raven queen specifically as new money. Overall these comparisons tend to talk about the gods and their actions regarding Aeor in the past and predathos/the Vanguard in the present less as if they're about saving their own lives and more as if they want to preserve their powerful position.

The gods, by their very nature, are above mortals. They cannot be compared to any mortal ruling class because they didn’t choose or strive for that power and cannot feasibly get rid of it/step down/redistribute it (nor do they actually in any sense rule; killing the raven queen, unlike killing an actual queen, will not end the 'tyranny' of death), they simply have it by virtue of being gods. Saying that’s unfair or unequal and that the gods should be killed because of it is akin to saying it’s unfair a mountain is bigger than you and demanding it be levelled, except the gods, unlike mountains, are living, feeling beings who shouldn’t have to die because some people can’t stand the idea of not always being top dog. Thing is, the gods themselves ultimately understood this power imballance and that they can't help but hurt Exandria the way humans can't help but step on bugs, and thus removed themselves from the equation by creating the divine gate. Saying this isn’t enough and that they're clinging to power is just demanding they line themselves up to be killed.

[ef-1]

If I think about the double standard and the disparity with which the media handled Daniel in comparison to everyone else I may lose my mind.

[murmurlilies]

been playing 1000xRESIST over the last couple days, finished it this morning. genuinely one of the most astonishingly good indie games I've ever played. hell it might be one of the best games I've ever played PERIOD. can't even describe to you the way I felt when I finally rolled credits on it. I feel empty, emotionally exhausted even, but I also feel transformed, inspired. I seriously can't give enough praise to Sunset Visitor for what they've accomplished, especially for their debut title. I'm gonna be thinking about this one for a LONG time.

[a-bad-case-of-the-stephs]

Stephanie Browns time as Robin serves as a direct foil to multiple aspects of Tim Drake’s introduction as Robin and what that accomplishes narratively:

1. Alfred vs Bruce Reactions

When Tim first arrives, Alfred is right there trying to convince an extremely reluctant Bruce to allow Tim to become Robin.

Batman #442

In contrast with Steph, where Alfred is giving his best effort trying to convince a resolved Bruce not to allow Steph to become Robin

Robin #126

Tim and Stephs introductions as Robin have Bruce and Alfred directly switch roles in their relation to Robin: the reluctant becomes the advocate, and the advocate becomes the reluctant.

2. Breaking Explicit Orders to Save Batman

Let’s look at the story which ends with Tim donning his own Robin costume for the first time and being referred to as “Robin” for the first time by Bruce, the story where Tim officially becomes Robin.

Tim is told not to go into the field or put on the Robin costume, but Tim chooses to fight the Scarecrow himself and enter a situation he was told explicitly to stay out of by Batman to save Bruce’s life (and also Vicki Vale’s).

Batman #456 & #457

Bruce tells him sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and immediately afterwards, he is recognized as Robin.

Stephanie’s firing as Robin occurs when she is told explicitly to stay out of a fight, but which she still enters, as she believes Batman was in danger.

Robin #128

Tim’s entrance into being Robin is tied directly to his disregarding orders to save Batman.

In contrast, Stephanie’s exit as Robin occurs once she disregards orders and attempts to save Batman.

3. Secret Identity Knowledge

Tim enters the manor already knowing everyone’s secret identities. He knows “The Secret” from literally before day one.

Batman #441

In stark contrast, not only does Stephanie enter her time as Robin without knowing Batman’s real identity, she leaves her time as Robin none the wiser as to Bruce’s secret.

Despite working as a sanctioned member of the team for a substantial amount of time beforehand as Spoiler, she doesn’t know Batman’s identity when she is Robin and she still doesn’t know when she “dies” in war games.

Tim represents a totality of knowledge in his introduction, he knows everyone’s identity and relationships far before he becomes Robin.

And Stephanie represents a total lack of that same knowledge: she enters and exits the Robin role with no knowledge of “The Secret”.

The entirety of Stephs time as Robin is overshadowed by the unavoidable fact that the normally intensely trust based partnership that is the Batman and Robin dynamic is being subverted and used as a blunt tool. A tool to leverage Tim back into the role of Robin.

Is it any wonder then that Stephs time as Robin foils Tims introduction as Robin?

The contrast serves as a way to explain to the reader why Stephanie cannot be Robin: Steph is the “bad” Robin who portrays an opposite to the “good” Tim Drake Robin introduction. She is in opposition to the “norm”.

Stephanie serves as a reversal, a perversion of how Tim Drake became Robin, allowing Tim to return to the role.

The core tenets of the Tim Drake Robin Introduction Myth must be reversed, deconstructed and undone, so that there is room and opportunity for Tim Drake to rebecome Robin afterwards. So that he can reestablish himself and the norms that Stephanie’s time as Robin has upset and undone.

[roscarletes]

ACHILLES COME DOWN

— the depiction of carlos sainz

lyrics to achilles come down, gang of youths / the iliad, homer / the race.com / sky sports.com / silence of the girls, pat barker / australian gp 2024 / jason with the golden fleece sculpture, bertel thorvaldsen / the fallen angel, alexandre cabanel / speeches for dr frankenstein, margaret atwood

[fictionadventurer]

Book: This young woman was lively, vivacious, outgoing, and cheerfully unconcerned about propriety.

Me: Okay, she seems fun.

Book: She had an older sister who was quiet, thoughtful and proper, but not as beautiful/captivating.

Me: Oh no, I just found my new favorite character.

[ratatatastic]

SASHA LUNDY CLUTCHING ONTO EACH OTHER FOR DEAR LIFE HELLO

THE INHERENT ROMANTICISM THAT IS IN BURYING YOUR FACE INTO EACH OTHER AND CRADLING ONE ANOTHER'S HEADS

CAN YOU HEAR MY WAILS?????? CAN YOU HEAR THEM AT HOW LUNDY IS SQUEEZING SASHAS WAIST??? HELLO?????

[shaylogic]

Let's overanalyze this (◕︿◕✿)

I think part of me assumed that Angie's effect didn't work on Charles because he's a ghost, but I wonder if it's more than that. . .

The redhead heard her boyfriend loving her when he never said "I love you" before

Crystal doesn't remember her parents suck, so she has hope that they're looking for her

Charles knows his parents are living on well without him. Comic Charles says his Dad would be relieved he's dead--he never liked being a father.

Edwin's not affected by Angie either, but we see him looking longingly at Charles the way Crystal looks longingly at the ocean

Edwin & Charles are ghosts, and not necessarily bound to the attachments of the living? But also, there's nothing in the ocean for them, when what they both desire most is on land and close at hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BONUS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[writesailingdreams]

Never been able to see the parallels between Usopp leaving the crew and Sanji leaving. I suppose they both fight Luffy but the reason and context is completely different. As far as I recall, Usopp is the only one who ever leaves by questioning Luffy's authority and saying he had been thinking about it for awhile e.g. that he couldn't keep up with the others (Luffy).

Yes I know there's more complexity to it than that, but he is explicit about the fact that he wants to leave. In comparison, when Robin leaves its "I have a darkness chasing me you can't understand so we must part ways"; with Nami its "we spent time together but it was never for the long haul"; with Sanji its first "gotta go deal with something, don't worry" and then its "you're beneath me, I'm a prince". In none of those statements do any of them expressively say "I want to leave and I will fight you over this issue that you are making a bad decision over"*

There's variety over how to understand what they each mean (with Robin it's figuring out where she stands; with Nami its just sticking around; with Sanji its forcing him to admit how he really feels). None of which would have worked with Usopp -- it seemed clear as to where he stood, sticking around for him was counter to what he was saying, and if Luffy had pressured Usopp to say how he really felt (if what he was saying wasn't what he meant) then Luffy would have dismissed Usopp's conviction to challenge him in a fight.

I could maybe see an argument that the situation with Usopp gave Luffy more insight when Sanji left, but on the other hand, it has more in common with Robin and Nami than Usopp -- someone vanishes without explanation and tries to drive the others away. That's not at all how Usopp left.

*which Luffy is ultimately right about

[waywardsou2]

I will say this once and once only

JAYCE AND VIKTOR

ARE THE NEW DEAN AND CASS

Tell me I'm wrong? You can't.

They saved each other's lives

They have so many parralells

One of them ended up being raised to god status at some point

The other is still fighting to prove he is worthy

Their first instinct is to protect and call for one another

JAYCE AND VIKTOR IS DEAN AND CASS RESURRECTED EXCEPT THEY ARE STILL FUCKING DOOMED

[killugon-truther]

i love killua & gon bc they’d both die for each other, but they need to also live for each other.

[the-way-astray]

would you rather

make out with Keefe OR

make out with alvar

do you hate me