#not to be watching the downfall of a youtuber i used to watch in real time and wish to god my own abuser could receive the same karma

[grimdarkenedhope]

what i wouldn't do to get a certain screenshot of the definition of DARVO into christina's perview.

[clownboymcchucklefuck]

yeah... when you mentioned how much you dislike TikTok i imagine something far worse than misinformation...

But yeah you're right,you can find real fucked up shit in there

I honestly think the downfall of this generations mental health can be linked to Tik Tok actually. And I'm not even trying to sound like some conservative all "grrrr tik tok bad! RAGHHHH" But it honestly is destroying the kids.

First of all, unlike YouTube where you pick what you get to watch, Tik Tok just throws it in your face with one scroll. Rather that it be a dance or bunny videos or straight up g0r3 and other disturbing stuff. I recently re-download it after two years and holy shit is it even more horrible. (Those two Russians, the girl who fell and the step-siblings are now being used as a tik tok trend.)

Tik Tok is also the one with all the "Bring back bullying!!!" Type bullshit and surprise surprise, kids are now lacking empathy because they think they're all bad ass because this damn app is making them grow up too fast and act grown.

I could go into so much more but those are the two main things.

[johndpg]

SPANKING ON TV #6

The General (1998) d. John Boorman

This is a biopic of maverick Dublin crime lord Martin Cahill, who pulled off two daring robberies but came into conflict with members of his own gang and attracted attention from the police and the IRA. Ultimately though it was his dealings with the UVF that led to his downfall. It’s based on a book by journalist Paul Williams. In this scene, Cahill has been sent to a reform school as a boy after being caught stealing. The school is run by the Christian Brothers who oversee a brutal regime of beatings, humiliation and abuse.

A nine-year investigation into Ireland’s Roman Catholic-run institutions in the 2000s found that priests and nuns had terrorised thousands of boys and girls in workhouse-style schools for decades, and that government inspectors failed to discover what was happening. More than 30,000 children deemed to be petty thieves, truants or from dysfunctional families were sent to Ireland’s austere network of industrial schools, reformatories and orphanages from the 1930s until the last church-run facilities shut in the 1990s.

In this early scene Cahill and the other boys in his dormitory (twelve are shown on-screen) have been told to bend over the end of their beds and lift their nightshirts to present their bare backsides for belting. It seems they have to stay in this humiliating position until every boy has been lashed. They aren’t being punished for any particular wrong-doing and it’s clear that this is a regular nightly occurrence. Nightshirts were positively Victorian by 1962, so the inference is that such attire made abuse easier and, indeed, we see this in a later scene. The priest has obviously taken a liking to Cahill and chooses not to belt him; instead, he returns to molest him when the other boys are sleeping but Cahill is able to fight him off.

The film features a number of well-known actors including Brendan Gleeson, Adrian Dunbar, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Jon Voight. Cahill as a boy is played by Eamonn Owens, who was around 14 at the time. Donncha Crowley plays the priest.

It looks like five of the boy actors are belted bare for real; a sixth is heard being lashed off-screen. I thought maybe a plastic strap and sound effects had been used but two of the boys' buttocks are clearly indented when the belt hits them, one in close-up, and all the boys' jumps and yelps as they are lashed seem very convincing. John Boorman is renowned for getting his actors to perform their own stunts, so I suppose this is just more of the same. Goodness knows what casting director Jina Jay told their parents, but I hope the lads were well paid for their efforts. Realising it's being played for real certainly adds an extra frisson to the scene. It’s Kes (1969) all over again, isn’t it.

Although shot in colour, the theatrical release of the film was presented in black-and-white for artistic reasons. A colour print was subsequently made available for television broadcast and home video. There was some Oscar buzz when the film was released but this ultimately didn’t materialise.

Here’s a link to a clip featuring the dormitory scene at 4:40 but you'll have to watch it on YouTube.

And here’s another link to a colour print of the whole film. Unfortunately it’s a Russian dub, so good luck with the YouTube subs.

[utilitycaster]

Hi. So. These are all Easily Searchable Questions but I miss being connected to the fandom...so I figure Id ask the blog I follow whose opinions I have loved reading even though Ive stopped watching CR in general (for no real reason, I just knda drifted away, hence my feeling disconnected). Ive always loved the pantheon of Exandria, and EXU: Calamity is my favorite CR story for more or less that reason, and so I wanna get into Downfall.

From what Ive seen people have said that it doesnt require previous knowlegde of the recent events of CR3 beyond understanding what Predathos is, in your opinion, is that true or would one have a deeper appreciation if they caught up on CR 3 first? Also, in terms of Beacon, what is it? It gives Geek & Sundry Alpha vibes, and I loved Alpha for a lot of reasons, so I was wondering if it was worth it to grab a months sub to watch Downfall via Beacon instead? Also, just for fun, what are your general feelings of Downfall so far?

So, as a person who tends towards completionism I do think yeah, being caught up on C3 will give you a greater appreciation of some nuances, but as with Calamity you can watch it without it and still enjoy yourself greatly. At this point anyway? do not feel like you have to watch a bunch of C3 episodes if you really want to watch Downfall, especially if you're already acquainted with deity lore.

Beacon is a subscription service with some bonus content and some content already available on YouTube or Spotify for free, so yeah, sort of like Alpha (which, no joke, I had for like a month before they announced it was folding). I do think the CR Cooldowns, which are 10-15 minutes of the cast debriefing immediately after the episode and are Beacon-exclusive, are worthwhile, and if you aren't able to watch live/during rebroadcast on Twitch and want to see the episodes week to week before they come out Monday, a Beacon sub is only a dollar more than a Twitch or YouTube sub anyway. Basically, if you were going to get a month of Twitch, get Beacon instead; if you were going to watch live or wait until the VOD dropped maybe wait until like, the Friday after episode 2, get a week's free trial, and use that to watch the Cooldowns.

My general feelings are that it's great; it's hard to encompass everything so you may want to check out #cr downfall on my blog which I've been pretty good about using, and I don't know how much you already know and how you feel about spoilers but in short, I think the premise is even stronger than my already high-expectations, I think it's added an immense deal of nuance to the story of the destruction of Aeor, it's a welcome haven for new theories (I feel C3 has not been super conducive to theorycraft until quite recently?) and I highly recommend it.

[wowitscoldout]

Ok one last watcher post before I move on with my life. This is a big ol rant ok I talk about a lot.

Tldr I'm conflicted and sad but I believe they can come back from this

-

Steven Lim, what a guy yk? I like dish granted. I appreciate Steven Lim for running the company, like. In, I think, a Making Watcher it's said that Ryan and Shane get to dick around on camera because Steven runs the business end of things so im not mad at Steven any more rhan im mad at the others.

I'm mad at y'all. Cause I've seen some vile things said about Steven, like how u wish Ryan and Shane would dump him or how he's ruining everything and how he's completely unwanted and nobody likes him. Which is wrong, u shouldn't bully this guy because he made a bad business decision, try and be mature. Ik some of y'all are like 15 and you're feeling betrayed and abandoned, which is what u should be feeling btw, but that's not an excuse for this behavior.

People are mad at Steven because the shows he's a part of are financially fucking insane. It's an icky thing to watch someone eat fine things and travel no biggie while the rest of us struggle. That's what we're mad at Steven for. Well that's what I'm mad at Steven for. Because the shows he does are elitist and.....just. it feels bad.

This whole thing feels bad and I don't know what to do.

I'm very conflicted. I keep changing my views and not knowing how to feel and not knowing what to think or what to do and the stability that Watcher provides me is gone. So I gotta uh. Find something else. I have a really hard time coping with change and this is a really big change. These guys have been around since before i was diagnosed, and then I watched them through that, and I'm watching them now and I don't know what to do.

This whole thing is scary because everyone's up in arms about it, either trying to remind others that the watcher crew are still people and not monsters or lamenting the loss and potential fiery downfall of one of the greatest things of the internet. So it's real chaotic ykwim? This is just added chaos to our lives and having something that was such a crutch for us all to lean on be taken away so suddenly is frightening.

This is like the ugliest sides of the fandom all coming together at once which is bad for people in the middle lol

Anyway uh I think I'm done. I hope the watcher guys are ok but I also hope they realize that this was not the right move and do something about it. They aren't bad people in my book, I mean. Maybe they are but I can't lose them yet. I'm like 0 for 4 on YouTubers rn so uh. I can't let these guys go, I'm attached to these internet men and I like them a lot even though they're being stupid rn.

This is redeemable. They can come back from this.

[kyndaris]

Deciphering the Language of the Younger Generations

As someone who has always liked the concept of studying the civilisations of the past, I often wonder how future archaeologists will come to see the 21st century. Would we be seen as technophiles with unfettered hubris who sleepwalked the world to its downfall? Or will our stories vanish up into the intangible Cloud - with the only remains of who we might have been merely the physical artefacts of our time?

If so, how will they understand the evolution of our languages? Will the memes we've shared become the basis of their society or will they deem the slang we use in our everyday life meaningless gobbledegook?

I mean, let's be honest, our habit of initialising actual sentences are difficult even for someone in this era to decipher. Sure, you have the ones most commonly used: wyd, idgaf or iykyk, but I have to wonder what a future linguist will make of the below: dypynitgof!

For those who know the phrase I just put down, props to you. It will certainly live on in internet history for a good long while.

Still, why are there so many initialisms floating out on the internet?

They aren't even acronyms (or TAEA for short!)

Sometimes, though, it feels like I'm living in a real world Clockwork Orange with how new fads and memes spring into existence. I certainly don't know what skibidi rizz means. or what the designation of sigma means in a relationship though I have stumbled upon such words because I'm a chronically online Millennial seeking to be in touch with the wider societal zeitgeist.

But it's all so tiring!

And most, if not all, don't make a lick of sense (I also refuse to Google their meanings. It's certainly a rabbit hole I don't wish to go down. I've seen so many things and not all of them have made my life better.

Of course, it helps I'm not the only who is lost when interacting with the younger generations. Although, poor Sorrengail has more Gen Z staff at her workplace than I. Worse, she made the terrible error of mixing Gen Alpha lingo when she was trying to connect with her work minions. I, on the other hand, simply learn from my exposure to the occasional YouTube shorts and Meta reels I decide to watch (TikTok is not on my phone. Thank goodness for that!).

Then, of course, slang is mixed in with shorthand, thus furthering my frustrations when it comes to clearcut communication. I've seen them in emails, messages on teams, rants on Reddit...

It is maddening!

And people also have no idea how to spell! Even published authors or writers for video games will occasionally confuse 'lead' with 'led.' In conversation, people will use 'should of' instead of 'should have.' Or, just to show my age, or, at least, my curmudgeon elitism, terrible grammar. Even though English might be their first, and only, language!

Let it be known that I am one of those 'annoying' texters who use proper spelling and punctuation in all my texts. In fact, I am physically incapable of doing anything less! To use text shorthand in any shape or form is actually painful. I have to use more brainpower to type incorrectly!

Which, honestly, feels very ironic.

Then, of course, there's the prolific use of emojis! Back in my MSN Messenger days, I'd use a few like XD, :D or :( but using them as a replacement of actual sentences? Blasphemy!

I still don't understand how people can use them as their sole means of communications. When I use them, it's a means to express tone. Otherwise, people may misinterpret a sentence I send through as a form of aggression or disapproval (unless, of course, they know me very well). Although, admittedly, my use of emojis is quite boomer-esque. Or so I feel. And which my friends may attest.

Don't get me started on stickers!

Still, it's also important to realise language is ever changing. It is not static. Etymology is the very STUDY of how words have changed throughout history. For example, excitement used to mean emotional agitation and arousal. It was a synonym to being nervous and anxious. Nowadays, though, excitement usually has positive connotations.

A hundred years from now, maybe it'll mean something completely different (if we live long enough to see it). In fact, we might have other words rising in favour as an alternative!

With language, nearly anything is possible.

What was once old can be new again!

Then, of course, there's the whole concept of 'coining' new words to better express ourselves! Shakespeare, it is said, invented over 1,700 new words!

In other news, I composed a faux email for a presentation at work, throwing in as many Gen Z slang that I could. Adopting an 'influencer' voice, I read it aloud to all present on the Microsoft Teams meeting. Some praised it. Others abhorred it. But, no cap, I think I impressed many with how I skillfully managed it all!

Not to mention the variation of Do You Hear The People Sing I sang at the very end (without the support of my colleagues - still a bit miffed about this as it's meant to be sung as part of a chorus) to further sell how our work team is a great area that many should join.

But in all honesty, can we stop trying to make skibidi or fanum tax a thing?

I know I said I was annoyed by 'fam' and 'squad' and 'shooketh' before. But MY GOODNESS, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL!

And don't get me started on people using incorrect 'Alpha' and 'Beta' and 'Sigma' designations to describe people. It's just as bad, if not worse, than distilling people to their biological parts!

Before too long, REAL humans will start growling. Or their noses will become so sharp they can sniff out the scent of pine or a thunderstorm.

If I have to read female, male and mates one more time...

But before I sign off, though, let it be known that language is important. And while I do bemoan how FAR language has fallen, the way governments or people try to control it, is what we should be more careful of. That insidious infiltration of how we all talk, or the limitations of what words we use, can lead down the slippery slope of a dystopian nightmare. Yes, I may have namedropped A Clockwork Orange but the reality of 1984 and A Brave New World also come to mind.

These are not the worlds we want to live in. So, go forth Gen Z and Gen Alpha and invent new words as you go along.

Just maybe not 'skibidi' or 'fanum tax.'

Thank you!

[aroceu]

this isn't aimed at anyone or any post in particular but i do think a lot of people (especially adults - i'll get to why in a second) who don't know a lot about the youtube content creator sphere know that the reason why mrbeast is even popular in the first place, and why the current controversy surrounding him is such a big deal, is because his audience is comprised primarily of children

teens, kids, whatever. the point is that his videos are specifically geared to people without enough life/world experience to recognize a scam or something fake just by instinct, people who are impressionable and have short attention spans and are easy to manipulate into trusting just by smacking "charity" in the title of a youtube video. i would bet that a vast majority of adults, especially left-leaning ones, have never seen a mrbeast video. i haven't either!

but that's not relevant in the controversy, because we were never really the audience in the first place. mrbeast does not care about some progressive adults patting themselves on the back for never being short sighted enough to have watched his videos. but it (the company) does care when swaths and swaths of kids are influenced to no longer be naive enough to take his videos seriously much less watch them, and no longer participate in his bullshit lotteries/gambling/whatever else thing he does as a rich person looking to exploit people for even more money.

i know it's easy to see mrbeast, the youtuber, as just some stupidly successful and financially backed youtuber that rubbed you the wrong way. believe me, i was there too before all this started. but after watching a lot of videos and doing a lot of digging, i feel like it's important to say (especially as an adult who watches a lot of youtube videos) that mrbeast is far more insidious than that. the entire brand is founded on "charity" displayed in a way to appeal to kids' attention spans. mrbeast's content is aimed at children.

and when you add the knowingly hiring pedophiles allegations (on TWO separate accounts!!!!!) not to mention abusive employee treatment not to mention abusive contestant treatment and not to mention just the exorbitant flaunting of wealth (if we want to be real for a second)........ this is not just about mrbeast as an empire falling. this is about exposing someone that children have been manipulated by - and still are! - as someone who is genuinely not good or charitable, no matter what his manipulation has told them. and i think that needs to be mentioned a lot more by us laymen when talking about his downfall.

[radfemsiren]

Hey! As someone who watches a lot of YouTube, idk if you're aware of this guy Chris or Kris who's trans and works for Mr. Beast and it's now being outed as a pedophile. And I would like to say the rumors about him being a pedo have been going around since he came out as trans.

His supporters tried to shut down any criticism against him since Mr. Beast supported his decision to transition. They tried to cancel this youtuber called SunnyV (who I dislike as well, not very trustworthy I admit) for making a video saying Mr. Beast should distance himself from Kris because those rumors about Kris being a pedo can negatively blacklash against him. They said Sunny V was stepping out of line for suggesting Mr. Beast should cut ties with a supposed good friend and that SunnyV was only saying that bc he's transphobic.

Anyway I'm surprised people are finding out Kris is a pedophile now bc the evidence was there for a long time but no one wanted to talk about it since he's Mr. Beast's friend. I would like to point out Mr. Beast's content is obviously target at children and I have no doubt Kris has used his position as Mr. Beast's friend to get access to children.

If Mr. Beast and his team don't publicly cut ties with him, this time for real, I will assume they're enablers and I will be praying for their downfall.

Yes I’ve heard about the situation and I agree with you, they really have to cut ties with him completely if they want to save their career and reputation. They have been protecting and defending this creep for years and it’s not fair that now they can just stay silent when they worked so hard to shut down any criticism of Kris.

Absolutely disgusting behavior, and like the Neil gaiman situation, yet another example of the trans community protecting any privileged white man that identifies or aligns with them. They need to end this pattern of defending predators if they want to be taken seriously.

[golbrocklovely]

Tbf to SnC 25x25 was inauthentic, they had other people filming it, they had other people editing it with them, it was a lot more scripted and it was stuff which everyone else on youtube was doing at the time. Though there were moments within the series which did shine and show the real them, a lot of it felt incredibly fake and plastic and wooden and just soso cringey.

25x25 also felt very rich boys waving money around and show offy to me, which made it rather unrelatable in all honesty and this was the main reason alot of the group of SnC fans I knew online completely stopped watching them. (they stopped watching TFIL for much the same reasons very quickly)

So I can understand when they say it's inauthentic because in truth it was. We get a lot more authentic stuff in their haunted content because they do all of it themselves and its a lot less scripted and less planned out which can also be viewed as a bad thing cos as you said it means they work none stop and take no breaks even when one of them is seriously ill.

I will say I loved parts of 25x25 but overall thinking them talking badly about it is a sign of their downfall like you seem to suggest shows that you don't view their content with quite the same eyes as a lot of the fandom.

Also sorry to burst the bubble but they've always been about the money ever since they started selling merch, so it is mildly amusing you've only just noticed that now.

your idea of authentic and my idea of authentic are very much opposite lol

bc while the content they do now, in theory, is them… so was 25x25, especially the earlier episodes.

before snc started 25x25, they were so EXCITED to film this content. they couldn't wait to post about it, they were hyped as hell to film bc it was fresh and new. that level of excitement, to me, hasn't been seen since when it comes to them talking about the content they make now. maybe with the original hell week. that was about the last time they felt genuinely excited for what they were making.

the first episode was about them getting tattoos that were about one another. it was about them connecting and showing how much they cared about one another. they showed how much they trusted each other by giving one another tattoos. that episode was all about their friendship. the car crash/drifting one was about confronting past traumas, same with the video of sam jumping off the rock in seychelles after breaking his back. the scuba diving video was how to deal with anxiety on a massive scale and really pushing yourself to do something you want to do.

these videos were such a great look into who they were as ppl, something that this fandom has bitched about since day one. everyone wants to be close to snc, and they handed that to us on a silver platter, but too many ppl wanted ~spooky content~. once the reception of their new content died off and ppl weren't watching, snc clearly lost all momentum they had for what they were creating, which is why you get things like the vegas video. like yeah, that was a little braggadocios, but snc aren't exactly poor middle class americans either. they have two fucking mcmansions, one of which they were living in at the time. having money is very much an snc thing. colby's closet is kinda proof of that alone lol

i think it also didn't play out in their favor bc it was the middle of the pandemic and travelling was still a no go. so doing exclusively travel content kinda seemed dumb and irresponsible. and it was. a lot of the content they made, they could have done back home or at least with a lot less travelling. but that mixed with ppl just wanting the same old content from them, even tho it wasn't gonna happen for a while, caused a lot of ppl to dip from snc's content altogether. it also didn't help that being in this fandom at the time was kind of a hellscape.

could 25x25 be a little over produced at times? sure. i won't argue against that. but to pretend that it was less like snc isn't reality, to me. that was them just as much as this content is them. the difference is they had a fire under their ass to make something back then. they had passion. and now this… this just feels like a job. like going thru the motions.

that's not to say i think they don't care about their content at all. clearly they do. but the spark of passion they one had for this haunted content is gone to me. they pigeonholed themselves into being ghost hunters and now are somewhat regretting it. they overwork themselves and have no personal lives. and that is causing them to have burn out that will eventually come to bite them in the ass.

and obviously they do shit for money and views. it's their job after all. i've never pretended to not know that. but there is a difference between "i get to work a job i love and also make a lot of money" and "i'm doing this job bc it makes money, it is what it is". it's the lack of love for the content that is starting to seep thru, imo.

[tonedeafmusiq]

Life's Harsh Lessons: Jimmy's Downfall #ren #moneygame #greed #money Greed will sit you down!!! Come check out Ren's Money Game 3 reaction! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Don't Forget To Like, Comment, And Subscribe For More Music!: https://www.youtube.com/@ToneDeafMusiq/?sub_confirmation=1 ✅Stay Connected With Me: 👉 Instagram: https://ift.tt/vqD8Rax ========================= ✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching: 📀 Breaking Down ‘Service & Self’ - A Tribute To Veterans by DAX ft. Tom McDonald https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM3FovuRDiw 📀 Ren’s 1M Subs: A Journey That Inspires the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUBmR9CF--4 📀 Kendrick Lamar’s Master Plan: How He Defeated Drake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbBETvHWy-w 📀 The Story Behind Wynand Fourie’s Love Healing ft. The Renegades https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOgYiNRIi40 ========================= ✅ About Tone Deaf Musiq: “Tone Deaf Musiq” takes the bass and blends the lyrics to hear what you, “the people”, want to hear. In an era of evolving music, our taste changes, but the chords don't! I am the one and only Tone Deaf! When the music is certified, we say it....and if the producer lied....we are NOT going to replay it! Let’s walk through all the different genres of music, compare styles and take a deep dive into what the artist reveals to us. Join me in a journey of the trending, the unheard, the old and the new as we find real music that makes us stay in the moment. Nothing is off limits and if the music moves me, and I promise you, I’ll break down what it means to me and then let’s see how you respond. Music raised me and we all can’t deny that it’s a major influence on all of us. For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: tonedeafmusiq@gmail.com 🔔 Subscribe to my channel for more great music: https://www.youtube.com/@ToneDeafMusiq/?sub_confirmation=1 ========================= #money #wealth #rich #cash #finance #investment #greed #billionaire #millionaire #luxury #hustle #success #business #entrepreneur #trading #stocks #crypto #forex #financialfreedom #passiveincome #wealthbuilding #moneytalks #financialgoals #moneytips #financialindependence #moneygoals #wealthmanagement #moneymindset #financialliteracy #moneygame Copyright Notice: The Copyright Laws of the United States recognizes a "fair use" of copyrighted content. The videos and this Youtube channel in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, parody, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. All video is for educational purposes only. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. © Tone Deaf Musiq via Tone Deaf Musiq https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZLAqS6CL8QYYZVpereT1bw January 06, 2025 at 03:00AM

[canadiankazz]

Some highlights from a personal 2024 year in review in regards to my fandoms and tumblr stuff

(I'm just really in my feels about New Years, okay?) So, all year long, I reblogged about Good Omens, Doctor Who and Critical Role. Those were consistent threads throughout the year for me.

January: New guinea pigs, Neil and Buzz, joined our family. @kazzsguineapigs Also I got SUPER into Come From Away.

February: Moved into a for real house!

March: Adelaide Fringe! Otherwise not a lot going on. Wait... what's that red shadow on the horizon? April: Oh no... oh boy... got into Hazbin hotel and Helluva Boss in a BIG WAY and my life will never be the same. I dragged @cravatfiend into it with me. No regrets! May: Had a very anxious and depressed month, including a breakdown at work that got me sent home. Got myself a Dropout.TV subscription to cheer myself up. Best Choice, no regrets. Also I enjoyed the FUCK out of the 15th Doctor. June: Used my shiny new Dropout subscription to finally watch Burrow's End. Cried over people role playing as weasels, as you do. I also hosted the Tarot-themed Fang Fest over at @fuckyeahlabynight and ended up writing 24 short fics for it... as you do. Vamily people made a lot of really awesome Fang Fest art and even a zine for it, so I'm really happy I decided to do it this year. July: EXU Downfall, Furiosa, Never Stop Blowing Up. Also, Sable, my black guinea pig, had surgery.

August: Wrote a 33,000 word long Good Omens/Constantine fanfic for DIWS Events. (It has... 14 comments. Less than one per chapter. but never mind.) Also, Deadpool and Wolverine was a thing. Damn you for making me cry.

September: Sort of a forgettable month, except for all the Deadpool and Wolverine feels. Oh... also I shaved my head. That was a thing lol.

October: Celebrated the fact I could decorate and entire fucking house and yard for Halloween for the first time in 20 years. Also I lost my shit over all the stuff Critical Role did. (The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3, and Vox Machina and Mighty Nein reunions.)

November: Got to meet Adam Savage and he was just as lovely as he seems on Youtube. Also... WICKED MOVIE SO GOOD! VAX FINALLY GOT DE-ORBED! December: Wrote and posted for a new (to me) fandom, the Venom films. Read a FUCK TON of Good Omens fanfic for another DIWS event. Also got to decorate a house for Christmas. Yay!

And what's coming up in 2025? More Doctor Who and Critical Role and Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel and Good Omens! Also HADESTOWN and Beauty and the Beast! (yay @cravatfiend !!!) I'm defiantly going to do another Fang Fest... don't know what the theme will be yet though. I may also work up the nerve to write Helluva Boss fic. Fingers crossed. I have lots to look forward to in 2025. Who knows... I may even get brave enough to find a new job.

[yippeecheapdvds]

Last week i watched "Er Ist Wierder Da (Look Who's Back)" (2015) Comedy

This is the only dvd i own that was bought for full price rather than being acquired via thrift store or library sale. I baught it years ago and it used to be the only dvd i owned.

The premise of this is that Hitler is resurrected in October 2014 and with some help from a very dumb man who dresses like Marty McFly 24/7 goes around the country interviewing people, becoming a YouTube/TV star, and attempting to regain his support base, all while the word thinks he's a comedic impersonation instead of the real deal.

This movie was pretty funny. The jokes land, the situations are comedic without going over the top, and the Hitler actor here takes himself seriously, which relay helps with the message. Like a third of the movie is Hitler going around Germany talking to random people about German politics. He also discovers modern technology which is very funny.

Another funny thing is that in the book this movie is based on (which I have read, but it's been 7 years.) everyone exept for Hitler and the goth girl are referred to by last name only. So in the movie, instead of coming up with first names for all the characters they just used the actor's real first names lol. I also liked the downfall parody they did in this, and the part where Hitler strips

The main issue in this movie for me was the cultural barrier. The movie assumes the audience is familiar with modern German politics which I was not. the message of the movie is that Hitler bad, and that modern people should take people like him seriously instead of laughing at them because treating them like they arn't a threat is how they win. As an American, it is very, very hard to watch this and not see a very clear parallel to apply this message to. scary.

Spoilers ahead: How funny is it that Fabian, who is such a huge Back to the Future fan that he has a poster in his room and dresses like Marty McFly every godam day, this man, does not think about or even mention time travel when he meets a dude who looks and acts exactly like Adolf Hitler and claims that yes he is Hitler and has somehow woken up in the future. He also captures Hitler's resurrection (the book makes it more clear that this is a resurrection and not time travel. Hitler mentions his clothes smell like gasoline when he wakes up) on film, purple lightning and everything, and does not notice when it's going on behind him and does not notice when he's reviewing the footage at home. No, he only figures it out when he actually begins to suspect and zooms in on that spot. how did he not see it before? Magic i guess. and then after he does figure it out, instead of being smart about it, he goes around screaming it and flipping tables like a crazy person. So predictably, everyone around him treats him like a crazy person. absolute buffoonery. my freind picked this out to watch and she was flabbergasted by the twist ending and thought it was a bit of a downer as well. Hitler wins.

Overall, good movie. 7/10

[howyoutalktostrangers]

So,

The swirling mist on the surface of Kootenay Lake curled up into the white sky, like a tumbling waterfall in reverse.  

It was early afternoon in late November 2017 and my leg bounced anxiously against the passenger side door while I watched, red-eyed, from behind fogged glass. Ghostly apparitions ascended skyward then plummeted back down, an intricate and tragic pantomime intended for my eyes only. I’d driven this route countless times in the past few years, the serpentine route from Nelson to Kalso, but I was usually the driver. 

Oh-oh, the voices sang, I’m a rebel just for kicks now. Gonna kick it like it’s 1986 now. 

At the cops’ insistence my roommate Bree was at the wheel of my RAV — I’d lost my driving privileges after a series of manic shenanigans — as we rounded the last few bends toward the Balfour ferry terminal. We were en route to the Cranbrook Airport, a few hours away, so that I could flee home to my parents’ house on the coast after an embarrassingly public mental breakdown. 

Bree blew a strand of fire engine red out of her face, quietly focused on her task, while light rain guzzled down the windshield. I could hear the stress in her breathing. She sounded like Tony Soprano.

In the past few days, things had spiralled out of my control. My brain space was a dumpster fire of shame, fury, and manic self-righteousness. I was dressed in uniform bouncer black, with a slick grey tie tucked into a form-fitting vest and a toque pulled low over my bleary eyes. I’m dressing up for my breakdown, that’s what I kept telling myself, finishing the look with a pair of neon pink gas station sunglasses. 

In the previous month I’d lost first my job, then my mind, and now I was losing my home. The whole trifecta. I wanted to handle the continuing descent with a modicum of dignity, but social media was my one final finger-hold. After spending a week jogging panting laps between the hospital and the police department, dumping my drama on whoever would listen, I’d successfully found a way to speak out and do real damage. 

Gloves off, motherfuckers, I typed into Twitter. Omar’s coming!

As a journalist I’d been writing to an audience of 10,000 people twice a week for nearly four years now, becoming something of a mini-celebrity in the tiny mountain town of Nelson, B.C. I was the school board and arts reporter, but also covered a variety of breaking news stories — robberies, forest fires, mental health crises. But about a month earlier, during a routine Wednesday lunch hour, my publisher Aaron had summoned me to his office along with my editor Ed. He didn’t even ask us to sit down before informing me that I was being let going without cause, and saying that perhaps we would get the chance to work together again one day. 

Let go without cause. 

I’d been prepared for this moment, had felt it coming, and had he fired me the traditional way I would’ve been prepared with an arsenal of arguments for why it was a wrong-minded, short-sighted, bullshit decision. But this was a blindside I hadn’t expected, like being dumped via text. It gave no room for dialogue, for human interaction – it was like being expelled from a machine. Exiled, excommunicated, excised. 

Really, it was a cleverly disguised lie. There was a cause, but they just didn’t want the liability and rigmarole that came with admitting that.

They’re all complicit, I decided. The whole Nelson community collaborating on my downfall. After spending weeks therapy-painting in my living room, smoking pot and nursing my rage along to YouTube videos played on repeat, I’d come up with an emotionally satisfying counter-narrative to the one Aaron had offered: my publisher had shut me down to stop publication of two politically sensitive stories, a testimony from two sexual assault survivors and a feature about a recent high school graduate who had died of a fentanyl overdose. 

After three and a half years of reporting on parades, fundraisers, and city council meetings, I’d finally found two stories with teeth, stories that mattered, and that’s why I needed to be silenced. It just wasn’t what the public wanted from their local paper. They wanted the same comfortable stories, told the same way, year after year — not to be brought face to face with the community’s sins, with its toxic subculture. With its evil. 

Let go without cause. It had to mean something more than the literal words suggested; it was like a unsolvable mind-puzzle, custom-designed to torment me. By reframing the situation in my mind, though, I’d recast myself as a tragic hero instead of a meddling stoner dip-shit in the thick of a psychotic break. If this was an episode of The Wire, then I was Omar — Baltimore’s Robin Hood, the only one brave enough to speak the truth undiluted. As the mania took hold, I felt a raw power burbling inside of me. Like a spirit that had been waiting to be unleashed. I was the real Slim Shady, I was Tyler Durden, I was Jaime fucken Lannister. 

You help me lose my mind, the voices sang. And you bring me something I can’t define.

Once we arrived at the loading lanes, Bree maneuvered us past some parked police cars sitting idle in the afternoon drizzle. I perked up, scanning the rest of the terminal like an attack dog. I was living in a perpetual present, with no past or future, and every moment felt drenched with significance. I hadn’t slept in nearly three days, but somehow I was still trembling with energy. 

“What’s going on?” I asked her, wondering momentarily if I was their target. I swept my head to the left, to the right. “Look at all these cops cars everywhere.”

“They don’t have their lights on.”

“Holy shit, there’s what? Like four? They’re parked down both sides of the causeway.”

“There’s one over there too.”

Earlier that morning we’d woken up to a light snowfall, and from the second floor window I could see that the police had returned my vehicle — I’d left it parked diagonally in their lot before charging in to see the Police Chief Paul Burkart the day before. I called down to the station to ask for my keys, and a few minutes later stood in the street talking with one of the constables about everything that had gone down over the previous few days. My social media landscape was scorched earth, with all the people pissed at my incendiary Facebook posts and volatile Twitter threads. 

I have to stay high all the time to keep you off my mind, the voices sang. 

Burkart reassured me that people in Nelson understood what I was going through and would empathize despite my demented vitriol. He wished me luck while snowflakes fell, and shook my hand. I’d never felt so embarrassed. Losing your mind is humiliating.

“Your job now is to take care of yourself. You’re going to be just fine,” he said.

As seagulls shrieked overhead, I wrenched open my passenger door to figure out what was going on at the ferry terminal. I counted at least five cruisers strategically flanking both the loading and unloading lanes, and a trio of uniformed cops standing at water’s edge. I felt like I was in the movie Heat, right before Val Kilmer and Robert De Niro open fire with their machine guns. Something was about to go down, something exciting, and I wanted to be the one to capture it — like Michael Mann, one of my favourite directors. I stretched out my arms and did a few CrossFit stretches, my head wobbling as I pushed away sleep. I needed another joint, or a coffee, or maybe a slap in the face. I felt like a time traveler, like I’d come back from some far away future just so I could live this moment. 

But why?

As I worked my way through the rows of cars, I spotted Cst. Lisa Schmidtke locking her driver’s door, looking hurried and tense. She was one of the officers who traveled around the district to teach students how to hide during a school shooting — I’d taken her photo for a story months earlier. As it turned out, she was also looking to connect with me about a drunk driver I’d reported over the weekend. After nearly getting into an accident with him outside the bar, during my break, I’d actually run into him a second time in the hospital the next day. He was strapped to a gurney outside the room where I was being interviewed by a pair of nurses trying to figure out whether they should commit me or not. 

I didn’t know his name, so I just called him Face Tattoo.

“Lisa, hey,” I said, sauntering over. “I hear you want to talk to me?”

Schmidtke gave her key a quick tug, then pivoted towards me. She had an assault rifle slung diagonal across her chest, and was gazing past me to the ferry that was just entering the terminal. Her brow line wrinkled. 

“Not now, Will. We have to get this guy into custody.” 

What guy?

I didn’t get a chance to respond before she went jogging along the line of vehicles, her gun wagging like a taunting black finger. This is not your job, it’s ours. That’s what Burkart had told me, when I came crashing into his office to tell him all the secret intel I’d compiled since Aaron let me go without cause. I had a list of 25 names, people I could take off the street for good with my testimony, but he hadn’t taken me seriously. None of them had. Everyone was complicit and I was the only one who could see the truth through all the lies. 

If Nelson was Eden, then this was the Fall. Was nobody paying attention? 

It seemed like every day a new crowd was rushing the streets on social media, down in the U.S., chanting in unison: Black Lives Matter! Black Lives Matter! Black Lives Matter! The mass shootings in the States were relentless too, all while Trump continued to rampage his way through the White House. Lately he was playing international chicken with Kim-Jong Un, boasting about the size of the nuclear bomb button on his desk. 

I felt like I was living in a burning building.

“What’s happening?” Bree asked as I sauntered back to the car, the hood of my winter jacket up around my face. She was leaning out of the driver’s side door, and I stopped there to fill her in. I told her everything felt like it was happening all at once, like I had tiny planets orbiting my head like bees, and I just needed a moment to pull myself together. I took a long breath and closed my eyes. 

All I was needed was one calm moment, and here it was. I had something specific to fixate on, learn more about. I was on the front-lines again, reporting from the thick of the action, except now I didn’t have an editor, which meant no censorship either. I was like McNulty from The Wire, a principled but preposterous Baltimore detective known for his heavy drinking, insubordination, and unwillingness to play by the rules. In the fifth season he invented a serial killer to dupe the police department into funnelling city funds in a new direction. I was rocking his energy, making shit up as I went along. 

I’d lived my whole life to become this guy, right here and right now, this goon.

“You stay here,” I told Bree, turning my face toward the rain. “I’m going to find out.”

“Don’t go too far away. They’re going to be loading soon.”

“I won’t be long.”

As I approached the shoreline, I spotted some cops I recognized from CrossFit. I stood just barely within earshot, pretending to contemplate the horizon as they gossiped. It was a gorgeous day, heaven peeking through the dissipating clouds. The rain had taken a breather, and gentle wind kissed my face.

“He’s in the fourth car, middle lane,” one of them said, pointing at the ferry. It groaned and buzzed and clanged as it came to a stop. The cops were gathering together, excitedly bouncing on their feet. One of them was doing hamstring stretches. It was like they were getting ready for a track meet. I’d always admired the police in the Kootenays, and it felt almost cinematic to finally see them in action. 

Earlier that year I’d written a magazine feature for a magazine called Maisonneuve about how they’d successfully arrested a bank robber named Andrew Stevenson back in 2014. I trusted them, and they trusted me to tell their stories — even though the Star was also their department’s most persistent critic. As they fanned out around the cars in formation, some of them with guns drawn, I held my breath. For a moment I wasn’t thinking about my own bullshit, I was just wondering who this guy was and what he’d done. 

Then I saw him. Two cops were frog-marching this sketch case down the line of the cars, roughly forcing him down the gangplank, and I took a quick visual inventory: early 30s, he was scrawny, with a puckered mean expression and a punk rock bleach job. It wasn’t until I spotted the prison tattoo by his left eye that I confirmed who it was: the dirtbag I’d reported from the bar and the hospital, the one I was supposed to talk to Schmidtke about. Here he was, right in front of me again. Insane coincidences seems to happen all the time in Nelson, but I still couldn’t believe it. The universe had hand-delivered this guy into my presence for the third time in three days. 

It was like our souls were entangled, our trajectories caught up together somehow, but he was en route to jail and I was headed for sanctuary at my parents’ house. Chaotic images swirled. What was the difference between him in handcuffs and me, standing here free? 

“That’s him!” I shrieked, before I had a chance to stop myself. “That’s the fucking drunk driver I caught the other night! That’s him.”

I could see in the cops’ faces: oh, shit.

“That’s right, fucker!” I yelled, running out from between the parked cars. “Enjoy prison, fuck face! You could’ve killed somebody.”

The dude’s hateful eyes swung my way. He had meth head energy. Sneering, he thrust out his chest with a toothy smile.

“Fuck you, fatty,” he said. “Come at me.”

By this point I was waving my arms, jogging across the concrete, but I pulled myself together just shy of actually tackling the guy. My chest heaved as they forced him swearing and kicking into the backseat of their cruiser. I was like an angry hobbit trying its best to be intimidating but looking ridiculous instead. I could feel my shoulders getting damp, and I struggled to catch my breath as my pulse throbbed rhythmically in my neck. 

“Get back,” the cops said. “Or we’ll arrest you for obstruction.”

That shut me up for a moment, but right away I knew what to do: call Greg Nesteroff. Dude was my former editor and absolute hero, working at a local radio station, and like me he had a justice boner for holding assholes accountable. During our time sharing a newsroom he’d nailed a man charged with possessing child pornography and had written a fiery editorial calling out a local police officer for punching a woman during an arrest. He’d also stood up for me through a number of work altercations I had with management. Quickly dialling his number, I paced by the car, and I tried to remember the drunk driver’s name from the other night. It was right there, like I could almost say it out loud, but my memory was too messy. As soon as Greg answered I made sure to talk as loudly as I could so both the cops and the guy in custody knew exactly what I was doing.

“I’ve got the radio on the line,” I told one of the cops. “What’s this guy’s name?”

“We can’t tell you that. Privacy.”

“Greg, they got the drunk driver from the other night, from Tony’s Taphouse. They just arrested him in front of everybody, out here at the Balfour ferry. I’m right here, I just watched it happen, right in front of me. I recognized his face tattoo.”

“Sorry, slow down,” Greg said, his voice measured and calm — just liked he sounded on the radio. “What happened, exactly?”

Once I’d filled him in, I clicked my phone off and made my way back to Bree. I was feeling all kinds of uncomfortable emotions, unsure of how to bring myself down, and I squeezed out hot tears as I rocked in the passenger seat. The cars were beginning to start their engines around us, and I could see the extra cruisers begin to pull away now that they’d made their arrest. 

I’ve got guns in my head and they won’t go, the voices sang. Spirits in my head and they won’t go. 

I pulled out my phone and began to scroll through Twitter again, seeing if any of my grenades had found purchase. I stabbed at the screen, retweeting and commenting and engaging with whatever conversation floated up to my face. The Nelson community wanted me silenced, wanted me gone, but I wasn’t going to be a good little boy. 

This isn’t fair, I wrote. You fire me in the middle of a fucking fentanyl crisis?

I tagged anyone I thought might be able to intervene on my behalf, though I had no idea what that would look like, as the cars began to load. Bree maneuvered the RAV into place while I sat in the passenger seat in attack mode, calling out people I had a problem with. I felt like Tyler Durden standing in the middle of Baker Street, my shirt ripped open, begging for somebody to punch me. 

That’s when my editor from Maisonneuve reached out through a direct message. She was in the hospital on the verge of going into labour but took the time to tell me I should stop posting online. Another writer told me “you’re in no state to be giving interviews” and encouraged me to get off social media. I sent her a thankful emoticon and signed out.

“I’m going to pace around the deck,” I told Bree, once the ferry was moving. “I need to clear my head.” 

Kootenay Lake was gorgeous, glass-like, as I walked around the perimeter. Everything was calm except for me. I chatted with a truck driver for a few minutes, then pulled up my hood and started marching laps from one end of the boat to the other. The anger pulsing through my limbs didn’t feel like an emotion; it was more like a physical malady, like a stomach ache or a migraine. My fingers were trembling. My thoughts kept circling back to the same asshole, someone completely unrelated to my current crisis, but for whom I’d carried around a multi-year beef. Cam Carpenter. I thought of Cam living safe and happy in Nelson while I lost everything I love and I just couldn’t fucking handle it. 

Finally I came around to the back, where some loose orange netting was the only thing between me and the water below. Staring down at it, I realized that I could easily jump into the cold arms of Kootenay Lake — I figured my coat would weigh me down enough that I would drown. Then someone else could deal with this.

Holy shit, I realized. That’s a suicidal thought.

It was the first time in my 33 years on the planet that I’d contemplated suicide, and it scared the shit out of me. Right away I knew it was a whole new line that I wasn’t ready to cross, so I quickly beelined back to the car and jumped in.

“Hey,” I told Bree. “I just thought about throwing myself off the back of the ferry. “I don’t want you to worry, because I’m not going to do it, but I’m going to stay in the car, okay?”

She looked at me with exhaustion in her eyes.

“Yeah,” she said. “Stay right there and we’ll get you to the airport.” The Literary Goon

[amusedunderclock]

Backlog: Talking About Movies - TSS (2021)

Originally I posted this somewhere else May 2023, but I'm trying to consolidate right now. Furthermore, when I originally posted to Tumblr, it's system didn't realize I'm talking about a MOVIE and not about anything personal. Because I don't need 4 private messages about mental health, I'm just posting the title screen and calling it "TSS". Moving on.

So I watched TSS 2021. That is the sequel to the 2016 movie, for clarity. I wasn’t motivated to watch it because of GotG 3’s release. I forgot that the Guardians movie was close to coming out when watching this one.

Preamble:

After Batman V. Superman, didn’t care much to see anything DC Comics movies outside of some online summaries. But after Endgame, there were a handful of movies from that brand coming out that seemed decent so I would eventually check them out. Such as TSS 2021.

“You can’t use summaries as a substitute for watching-” I don’t care.

Some think the 2016 movie’s whatever, but the only person I directly knew going to bat for that movie, was a major asshole. To me, the sequel stands or falls on it’s own merits.

When I heard James Gunn was making this, I was interested. Ultimately though, I guess it worked out for him since he now runs DC Comics media from this point forward. I didn’t see that coming. Don't expect much in terms of how I feel he's doing in that role. I don't feel the need to judge until about 2-3 movies into his reboot.

But where do I start with TSS? Overall, entertaining movie. Would rewatch.

Now…back in May, I said this:

"You want a point in DC Comics’ favor when it comes to movies? Well when it comes to their CGI, from what I’ve seen, it’s been consistently great. TSS is no exception. Everything blends together with the real world stuff very well. They did a good job there."

And while I stand by TSS having great CGI…The Flash has now come out. I have seen clips of that. That doesn't erase what good the DCEU has done in the past concerning CGI. But damn, being worried about future CGI from them is not unwarranted.

Obviously comparing TSS to Marvel stuff would make sense. TSS feels like it has a different tone. Maybe that’s just because of one company being more hands off, but idk how WB really operates. Kinda felt fresh to just have more varying and modern music playing in one of these superhero things.

What set it apart from the MCU was the R rating which…yeah it took advantage of that. TSS 2021 is violent, detailed, uncensored. Offset by it’s comedy. Frankly, it’s a funny movie. A lot of the comedy is the villains oblivious to common courtesies, or just uncaring in general. It works.

Think I saw some complaints about comic book accuracy. A complaint with all these superhero type movies. Look to be frank, most of the comics people are referencing for accuracy aren’t exactly Nobel Prize winning literature here. Even when they are notably well written, movies are only 2-3 hours while a comic story can span multiple issues.

That's what I wrote in May. Since then, all of twitter is nothing BUT complaining that these products not being comic accurate means that they're inherently bastardized, worthless, a crime against humanity, and will lead to their downfall. This line of thinking is just begging for someone to make a 110% comic accurate superhero movie that ultimately flops because people deem it too fuckin goofy, nonsensical, or just not that interesting as the hype suggested. I'm not saying all of comic history is bad or the comics didn't do some things better. And I'm not ignoring the MCU's storytelling flaws. But damn, The Spider-Verse movies aren't 1 to 1 accurate with the Spider-Verse comics and no one is complaining about that because they are well written. The Guardians trilogy took SEVERAL liberties, but is called peak despite them.

Comic accurate does not automatically equal well writen and never will. Hell, one of the most popular comic youtubers, Comics Explained, is a person who goes on for hours about entire comic arcs. And he outright criticized "X-Men: Days of Future Past". Saying something like "Yeah people like Days of Future Past , but that's just because they copy/pasted the story from the comics" and was hoping for something more original in future movies. And I don't agree with all of his takes, but if someone who dedicates this much time to comics is saying these things, I feel it's more valid than people on twitter who I can't confirm if they read the comics they're praising.

Back to what I said in May, TSS is good without being exactly like the comic. I don’t understand how Starro being mustache-twirly evil would improve the film short of nerds checking off a list of comic accuracy. And him being Death Battle fuckin "He can blink the universe out of existence" powerful is outright nonsensical. Starro was good for what it was.

Interpretation needs to happen sometimes. That said, actors.

This is the first time I’ve seen Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. It’s not entirely like TV versions, but she made it her own and it works. She was in the role for 6 years, it’s probably expected she knows what she’s doing.

Idris Elba, he’s always been a cool actor. Not entirely something I've publicly talked much about on the internet short of him playing Knuckles and I think Heimdall, but he has good performances. Him being the main character was a good choice. Replacing Will Smith? Yeah, but unlike Smith, Elba is more willing to add more grit to his villain character and it's greatly appreciated.

Cena Peacemaker works here. You really do forget he’s a wrestler and for once in about 20 years, he plays a decent heel. Apparently this is a controversial statement, but I guess I've just not seen Cena all that much in the past decade to really focus on his past during the movie…..

…which is what I said last year.

In 2024, after seeing his lacking comments on Vince McMahon, I don't feel much need to praise him or focus on him in the future. Someone put it aptly.

How his Peacemaker solo series went, I have no idea and now I don't care. If he comes back in the reboot, I can at least see why but I still don't care. Harley and Waller tho? They should be priority to return. Especially those two. They're just THAT great.

The rest of the team are convincing enough as villains.

Although…Ratcatcher 2.

Don’t get me wrong. She is a good actor. It makes sense that she’s in jail for her crimes. But like, remove the rat communicator and isn’t she just a person? Can someone else use the communicator?

I don’t think that’s explained. My attempts to google didn’t answer that. If there’s some TSS interview explaining that the Ratcatcher family can only use the communicator, cool. Otherwise, I question how she’s on the Squad to begin with unless they're (likely) short on villains.

To anyone who may take this out of context, Ratcatcher 2 is a good character, good for stealth, & the payoff in the end is great. Just seems like she wasn’t exactly a nemesis of Green Arrow or something. I feel in another context, the communicator, more than the person, would've been Waller's priority.

Like I said, Amanda Waller is solid. Davis really read that character description and said “Easy”. Her character should show up more in future movies beyond TSS.

Rest of the cast is good. Even if they’re still fucked up for betting on lives, I liked Waller’s people turning on her in order to save a city.

Think only thing left to say is that the story for what it is, comes together nicely. These people are not the Avengers/Justice League, they’re forced to work together and are convicted criminals. The interactions they have feel unique as a result, and not everything works out.

Even some of the dead characters in this movie do have development. They do advance/achieve as characters even if it does cost them their lives. Plus it's a cool movie when it has people both cheering that a monster is defeated, and then has you feeling bad for said monster.

I said this movie should stand on it's own merits and it does. TSS 2021 is a great standalone movie. Usually I would sit here and talk about broader lore, but it's unnecessary. Aside from maybe the Captain Boomerang thing, you can just go into this movie and enjoy.

[tarosin]

the great adventures of y/n tubbo tommy ranboo and george - trampolines and chaos

this is part 13 to the great adventures series

an: so it’s very clear y/ns love language is spending time with people and physical touch, all love mentioned is platonic

you and ranboo settled in rather quickly. However, there was good and bad news the bad news was you both had to isolate which meant when tubbo would go out with the others the pair of you couldn’t go the good news however, was that it would only be for a week and that you could both spend a lot of time together catching up and talking about anything that came to mind making the pair of you grow close. the pair of you would work on the scrapbook with tubbo, this was your favourite thing to do as ranboo would add his own twist to it and often came up with new ideas, you would both stream together for your twitch channel when tubbo was out and when he would come home you would all stream on ranboos channel. you often found yourself helping ranboo film videos for youtube or help him cook when tubbo was streaming. since you shared a room with ranboo every night you would sit on the couch pulling him close so you could play with his hair whilst a random film would play in the background, today was no different you sat on the couch and put bo Burnham's inside on whilst you waited for him to walk over with a blanket so he could sit in between your legs letting you play with his hair

“your hair got long boo…I’m going to try and plait some of it”

“I couldn’t get a hair cut and you know this”

you laughed quietly to yourself continuing to plait some of his hair he would occasionally sigh and pretend he didn’t like it but it was pretty obvious that he was beginning to relax under your touch, you continued plaiting his hair listening to him quietly sing along to the songs. it was moments like this you both loved and appreciated but would never tell anyone that it happened. it was your little secret.

after five days passed you and ranboo were free to go meet with others again meaning you could finally go out and film the trampoline vlog for tommys channel which you spent the last five days planning. safe to say you were excited, you hadn’t been to a trampoline park in a while. you woke ranboo up at 10 am you didn’t need to worry about tubbo as you heard him walking around talking to his phone it took a few minutes to realise he was doing a Twitter space. tubbo sent you a message earlier to let you know that there was a package for you near the door so once you got ready you went to grab it, inside was a couple of shirts, hoodies and hats from your sample merch you were honestly amazed. ranboo walked up to you grabbing one of the shirts and a hoodie.

“y/n these look great wow”

“I got a couple of each size, find the sizes you want and they’re yours”

a few minutes later ranboo walked back into the room wearing your merch

“mind if I wear it for the vlog”

“of course you can ill be showing it on stream later”

and with that you all made your way to the tubbo and began your journey to the trampoline park, it was a relatively quick trip the three of you spent the entire trip talking about stream and youtube ideas.

as soon as Tommy saw you all walk into the trampoline park he ran over tackling you all into a hug

“Hey guys, how have you been! we’re just waiting for George”

“speak of the devil he’s just arrived..ranboo I am not an armrest”

“sorry y/n it’s not my fault that you’re the perfect height to be one”

a few minutes later you all made your way to the trampolines. this is where the chaos began you all didn’t know where to begin, excitement took over and safety when out the window. you and ranboo challenged each other to see who could jump higher

“CATCH ME RANBOO”

“HUH Y/N”

you jumped from the trampoline you were on into ranboos arms (luckily as if he didn’t catch you, you would have fallen)

“thank you boo”

Tommy dragged you all the area where you had to try and hit the person opposite you off of the plank, you stood laughing as tubbo instantly hit Tommy making him fall

“boooo”

“I’d like to see you do better y/n”

“bet..tubbo get back on”

the pair of you put up a decent fight, Tommy ended up distracting tubbo which allowed you to win, you then went against George and won then ranboo decided to go against you

“…haha hey boo looking awfully tall today”

“you look awfully short today”

you then tried and failed to make him fall ranboo on the other hand was able to make you lose your balance however you weren’t going down on your own so you dragged him down with you. after that you stood in awe watching tubbo do tricks on the trampoline

“look at him go he’s like a gazelle”

“I'm sorry ranboo what gazelles have you been watching”

“you don’t know what I’ve seen y/n”

you laughed as Tommy went up next claiming that he could also do that…he couldn’t.

George noticed a box and attempted to jump over it followed by you who only just managed to jump over it as you got distracted on the run-up, up next was tubbo who jumped over it, Tommy tried to jump over it but ended up rolling over it you stood shaking your head as ranboo went next unsurprisingly he jumped over it easily then lied down on the box

“Hey how’s it going”

you and Tommy had the same idea

“we’re going to jump over you ranboo”

“oh no please don’t- OH GOD”

so you and Tommy failed to jump over him and crashed into him

“hey boo-“

“that didn’t go to plan”

“no, it didn’t”

you and Tommy got up and decided to lie down with him you noticed tubbo at the run-up getting ready to jump over the three of you, you all screamed as tubbo successfully jumped over thou all

“holy shit”

“oooohhhh”

“didn’t doubt you for a minute tubs”

you got up and went over to George who seemed to be having a lovely time on the trampolines, you heard screaming in the background and turned around to see ranboo chasing Tommy who decided that the safest option would be to run headfirst into the wall

“what the fuck is up with him”

you all stood on the inflatable safety hazard not knowing which way it was going to turn, this didn’t go well for any of you as everyone but ranboo (because he was filming) was instantly hit by the inflatable you ended up on the floor you looked up to see ranboo looking down at you

“don’t look at me like that boo”

“you really do amaze me”

“I put a rock in your pocket”

“no- what how”

you couldn’t contain your laughter as ranboo pulled out a rock which you did indeed place in his pocket sometime during the trip. you all decided to try again on the inflatable this time it went slightly better…for less than 30 seconds you got hit and dragged over to tubbo and George who had also been hit

“Hello boys”

a few minutes later you tubbo and ranboo tried again this time it went well for you, you managed to pay attention and ignore ranboo who was shouting that he will beat the machine. well, it went well till ranboo got hit as you found it hilarious which ended up being your downfall as you got distracted.

you all decided to have a totally safe game of dodgeball

“guys it’s like mcc”

you and ranboo looked at each other before yelling about how you both wouldn’t know, you decided to aim at tubbo who was focusing on Tommy which allowed you to hit him multiple times

“Y/N I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS”

you made your way over to him tackling him resulting in you both falling

“We are bee boy”

“I hate you”

“love you too”

after helping tubbo up and aiming at Tommy you heard ranboo yelling

“I just got hit in the balls by tubbo...OW AND Y/N THANKS A LOT”

“you’re welcome my beloved”

you sat with ranboo as the others continued to play dodgeball, he tapped your thigh to get your attention, you turned your head to see him holding part of his glasses

“your other pair is in my bag I’ll go get them”

“I’ll come with you”

after ranboo told the others the pair of you made your way to your bag

“thank you y/n…how did you know I’d break them”

“tubbo and I both carry a spare pair on us just in case. we went out to get them on our way to the airport”

the pair of you made your way to the others who were now stood waiting for you

“Woah what the fuck is this”

tubbo tapped your shoulder and whispered that someone is on their way to explain what it was, a few minutes later one of the workers came over and explained how it works and what to do, you all watched Tommy go up you tubbo and ranboo constantly made jokes about him the entire time, you continued to do this as tubbo went up

“can I clickbait this if you die”

“oooh can i”

ranboo went next you and tubbo both tried to hit him with the dodgeballs from earlier however you both missed you watched as ranboo slid down and looked at you

“sup”

“oh god I’m next”

you went next the entire time you made comments about not letting go

“what if I don’t let go”

“I will personally drag you down”

you looked down to see Tommy pretending to get ready to drag you down

“NO TOMMY”

and with that, you let go

“Hello boys that go fast doesn't it”

George went next and screamed the entire way down you and tubbo looked at each other questioning if you heard the same thing before looking back at George

“Are you okay”

one at a time you all jumped off of the mini wall onto the soft landing below, Tommy landed funny accidentally hurting himself

“Tommy I love you but you’re an idiot”

ranboo went next landing in the same pose as before

“sup”

“stylish..real stylish”

tubbo pushed you off before you even had the chance to jump

“TUBBO I SWEAR TO GOD”

“REVENGE FOR HITTING ME IN DODGEBALL”

the others sat down looking up at you and ranboo who was now stood on the wall looking down on them

“jump”

“okay”

“wait what”

ranboo grabbed your hand and jumped off onto the landing taking you down with him

“Why does this always happen to me why not George or Tommy”

Tommy ran off after asking you all if you all thought he could request a song as he returned you could hear mask beginning to play and Tommy trying to sing along whilst running over to you all. you all then spent a good while messing on the trampolines so Tommy had footage to use for a montage after that you all made your way to some chairs so you could have a minute to relax and have a drink. you sat next to tubbo trying not to laugh as you watched ranboo attempt to drink the water through his mask

“oh wait did you just-“

“now your mask is going to be wet”

tubbo and Tommy ended up running off to get more content for the vlog and George ended up walking off somewhere, ranboo looked at you before welcoming you with open arms, the two of you sat in each other’s embrace watching Tommy and tubbo run around the park.

“you doing okay boo”

“I’m alright a little hot”

“that’s expected I mean you’re literally wearing a hoodie and mask with glasses I’m surprised you can even see when you're on the trampolines”

“I can't”

the two of you sat talking for a few more minutes before going back to the trampolines running, jumping and falling over. 10 minutes later you sat with Tommy watching George definitely do something on the floor, you weren’t quite sure what he was trying to do

“wooo go, George”

“thank you y/n”

at this point, it was clear you were all getting tired you all went off to buy a slush before sitting back down in the chairs you were making your way to sit with tubbo however your dear friend ranboo pulled you down to sit with him

“oh hello”

“hi y/n”

“I have a slush”

“as do i “

before you could speak again you heard Tommy and George messing with a walkie talkie, you sat looking at the two of them not realising that ranboo also had one

“give us more trampolines”

“hi George”

as you didn’t expect this you jumped slightly making ranboo turn his head and laugh

“Jesus christ when did you get that”

“well tubbo gave me it I was going to tell you but I wanted to scare you y/n”

after cooling down you all went to the play area, you found a slide and ran to it ranboo not far behind

“y/n wait for me we can go down together”

“okay go behind me”

ranboo got on behind you and held onto your waist so you didn’t go down without him. Tommy noticed this and wanted to join the chain

“We can go down together”

“alright hop on”

“slide trio”

“tubbo…there’s four of us”

not wanting to be left behind, George decided to join the chain

“is everyone ready”

“no”

“don’t care”

and with that, the five of you made your way down the slide, after this Tommy dragged you all to the mini jump area where you all sat watching George have a great time

“I don’t care about the rules”

“you’re doing great”

you all ended the trip at the inflatable safety hazard again, you sat with ranboo who kept an arm around your waist whilst recording Tommy who was just constantly being hit and knocked over even though he wasn’t playing

“just get out just get out”

“get out get out”

“he’s dying”

“I'm using this for clickbait on stream”

later that night you decided not to stream as you decided that you’d rather spend the night scrapbooking and playing random board games with tubbo and ranboo

taglist

@fuzzycloudsz @wtfwriter @bearytime @milkydisaster @dumb-chaotic-bi-energy @uselesssapphickitten @l0ver0fj0y @etheriaaly @xx-smiley-xx @hawarun @kylobensgirl @cawcaw-pretty-thing @reverse-iak @renleicrashed @augustine-is-joy @c1loudee

[cardinal-sukikyo]

My take on Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Slamming on ROTTMNT, I included the pros here but will make a post showing off the positive.)

Pros:

Original April O'Neil is back bby! The first April was black, and a love how they brought that version back. As well as the fact that she was a programmer!

Mystic world??? :OOO

There are a lot of goofs- but a good amount of angst too

Mikey is openly a cuddle-bug

Donnie's sarcasm 4 dayz

Cons:

Raph isn't Raphael anymore. It's a new character.

Leo completely changed.

Raph IS NOT THE LEADER. NEVER WAS

April didn't always know how to fight- she was more relatable when learning and eventually getting to where she is now.

I like the mystic world- but the turtles are not wizards. Stop with the glowing hands.

Their weapons. Not authentic at all.

Splinter is an insult to the OG of TMNT

To bright instead of the colder tones TMNT used to have. New York is dirty and cold- not bring LED lights.

TMNT never was an anime- stop trying to be one.

Too modern

Donnie's sarcasm is also his downfall. He was also more relatable and had a better personality as a simp. He doesn't need to love April, but he had better character development when he had a crush on someone and was the perfect comedic relief.

Nobody feels romance towards nobody. The turtles I mean. They just don't feel human.

Overview:

People may hate me for this, but this needs to be said. They are Teenagers. Teenagers develop crushes that grow or die away. It makes characters relatable and more human. Forget who is attracted to whom. The point is- romantic interests make things interesting and FEEL REAL.

Classic Splinter always was wise and trained to turtles to be silent warriors of the night. They were serious about their job. Splinter was too. He had a wife, he had a brother. Kurai is debatable, but she sure as heck wasn't their grandma. She was a part of the foot!

Raph had anger issues and was learning how to control his emotions and passion. Mikey was bullied and taken for granted. Leo was spiritual, easily got sick, and was the leader. And Donnie was the tech-wiz, the geek, the nerd, the most relatable one. Not a jerk.

There was a turtle for each type of kid. They had spiritual problems, emotional problems, and physical problems. REALISTIC PROBLEMS IN CHARACTER. The new tmnt is... Not. A little bit, but not so realistic for a 10-year-old kid. Not an 18-year-old college student who has to pay off student loans. It feels like they are ripping out "made for kids" just for more views from an older audience. It feels like they are stealing a part of what could've been the next generation's nostalgic, really good show that they grew up with.

Raph's anger is iconic. AND HIS SAIS. WHERE ARE THE SAIS? I don't care that the mystic weapons are better. BTW, how are broke turtles like Donnie getting ahold of motherboards and intense robotic items? GOVERNMENT LASERS, EVEN? He lives in the sewers! He uses what he has! That is why he was authentic! He found garbage and turned it into something amazing! That was so inspiring to me as a kid.

This show is something else. What angers me, is that they call it the origin story. This barely is canon. Its a new form of the story. I wish they wouldn't call it "the rise of" but rather "a new take of". Like "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Retold" or something.

The story is cute. The turtles appeal more to blushing high school girls with their fashion episode. But as a nostalgic cartoonist, I find the good of the show through the "teenage girl" inside of me rather than the "story development / serious cartoonist" side of me. Don't say that I hate ROTTMNT, I don't; it's just too different from the OG and shouldn't be labeled as canon.

Besides that long rant, you can find Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Netflix, Amazon, and Nickelodeon. It's free on Netflix if you have an account, purchasable on Amazon, and you can watch clips on the Nickelodeon website or their youtube channel.