#ofmd ep 5

[thefirstpaleontologist]

I love Izzy’s whittled shark too Lucius 🦈

[random-nerd-posts]

I just watched the new episodes of OFMD

My thoughts:

Izzy deserves more love and I love the crew for talking it through as a crew

Also Edward and Stede are talking again, and they're doing well and I love this for them and that they're getting into the groove again

For episode 5! I have many, many thoughts!

Izzy giving Stede pointers made me happy

The curse part was funny and if Jim fears curses, then I'm going to fuck right off

Fang telling Ed to be quiet while they went fishing

LEARNING THAT FANGS NAME IS KEVIN IS AMAZING!

I also almost squealed at work when Lucius proposed to Black Pete and I just they need to grow old together because those two are great.

Also, Stede and Ed kisses again, but that wasn't as thrilling to me as the proposal, but it was great that they're talking again.

[kjthenbee]

god stede’s fruitiness got cranked up to 1000 as soon as he started wearing that red suit. that was the real “curse” (and I loved every second of it)

[blakbonnet]

oh how quickly they grow up

[three--rings]

This doesn't even feel like fanservice though. Like, I'm not a stranger to shows at are explcitly queer. I've watched my share of BL. I know what fanservice feels like and looks like.

This is ...something else. This is like...GENUINE on a level that goes beyond fanservice. Fanservice, by definition is cynical. It's done to appease a market, to keep an audience engaged, so they will keep watching to make everyone involved money.

I feel like what we're getting from S2 of OFMD is...not motivated in that way. Like of course they want to succeed and get to keep making TV and probably want to make themselves money.

But, I feel like this is about actually playing out character stories in genuine ways. It's not unearned, it's not extraneous, but it IS kind. I think after the end of S1 and the beginning of S2 we forgot how kind ofmd can be as a show to its characters.

But letting Ed get to feel like he CAN earn his way back into a happy family is kind. Letting Stede and Ed be together, talking things out is kind, letting them set their own boundaries and terms is kind. It's not doing everything for max drama, which is how dramatic TV and romance tends to go these days.

So it feels like a gift to fans in a way that is rare, but it's not a cynical one. I think fanservice is a very incorrect word for what this show is doing. It's doing what it WANTS to do, knowing it has a fanbase that will support it whether that's torturing its characters or painting romantic scenes under moonlight. And it gets to be both, and I love it so very much.

[saltpepperbeard]

the way several characters have told ed and stede to "shut up" in some way, shape, or form. but when they're both talking to each other, they absolutely cling to every single word. they can't get enough of each other's stories, or ramblings, or little recounts of their days.

[our-flag-means-love]

stede and ed: customer service edition (insp)

[xoxoemynn]

very distracted thinking about Stede braiding flowers through Ed's hair

[apostatehamster]

idk if this is anything, but here you are anyway

[cahootings]

ep5 had the comedic pacing and delivery of an episode of spongebob. and then they bring it home with the most heart rending laser focused perfectly paralleled romantic shit I’ve ever seen. that’s good TV

[mysteriouslybluepirate]

OFMD S2 EP 4-5: Izzy Hands (from a S1 Izzy fan)

I'll admit. I teared up at the Izzy shit in ep 1-3. Not a full-blown cry. But close. I was stressed, and tired, and hurt more than anything. I only cried in my car driving home. It hit, but it was more prolonged.

Do you know what got me crying? Izzy opened that letter, revealing 'For The New Unicorn'. He looks up and smiles. I went from 0-100 dry eyes to crying in seconds. I had to rewatch it because HELL.

The entire episode, hell, debatably from (S1ep4) we see Izzy go through it. Socially isolated and losing his identity. Leading up to S2ep4. Drunk and sad and heartbroken. He tries his best to stay afloat without a lifejacket as his self crumbles around him. He doesn't care anymore. He thinks his life is over. He lashes out because there's no one there to help him.

BUT THEN THE LEG. He cried and I cried during both scenes.

BECAUSE HE IS CARED ABOUT AND HE CAN HEAL!

GOD, and the way that leads into EPISODE 5. Izzy slicked his hair back and regaining some of his own personal identity. Izzy genuinely bantering with Stede, and gently helping him to be a better Captain. The way he desperately asks Stede if Ed said anything else nice about him? Showing that. Yeah, he's not all the way there yet, but he's working on it. The training scene where Izzy just looks on in fascinated horror at Stede's skills? THE LITTE OKAY HANDSIGNAL AT THE END WHEN STEDE USED HIS GRUFF VOICE? He smiles, and jokes, and TRIES. Izzy is pissed, obviously, but he's getting there.

He is kind and caring, all WHILE STILL BEING A PRICK? Him being a total nerd during the curse monologue? Izzy mutters 'rude' and pointedly crosses his legs as Stede ruins the vibe. I laughed harder at Izzy sitting at that desk than I did at most of the jokes in the show. THAT'S MY FUCKING BASTARD!! I'm so happy I saw a character and have been rewarded by showing, yes. He is kind, and trying, but he needs to learn to let himself become new.

I fucking love him. I can tell from the teaser that Izzy is just going to grow closer with the crew (and with himself) and I can't wait. (Even if it means his imminent capture, whoops).

I do think they'll do something with Izzy/Lucius, at least a single happy (Izzy no longer holding himself back from wanting) consensual kiss or genuine discussion about life(post-wedding) to show their growth as characters because I had to pause with the cig and shark interaction. Jesus Christ. I didn't really ship it before, but they are so snarky and it's great.

I'm a bit sad as Izzy's current arc likely means he might not get the big 'fuck you' moment of anger to Ed that Lucius got. Mainly because Con would make me cry, but If Izzy is genuinely just shoving this shit down, ignoring the years that Ed ignored his existence, then...idk.

They purposefully gave Izzy and Ed no scenes and thank god we get a TINY break. Because Ed will try to patch things up, and I don't think it works like that with Izzy. He needs proof that Ed is trying. Add to that Ed ACTUALLY saying sorry to him, and not expecting Izzy to immediately accept it(my theory as to why Lucius pointed it out: Ed will ACTUALLY say sorry to Izzy and mean it. This will heal something for Izzy, and hell). I can't wait for Ed to come back and see him. See him for who he is, a silly prick who is loyal to a fault, who is loved.

This is likely the happiest two episodes we'll get, and fuck, I loved them both SO MUCH. After a rewatch I'll write about the crew. Ed/Stede is actually working for me as we watch them both learn, and Fuck, Lucius/Pete...my darlings.

NOW FOR THE TEASER:

THE IDEA OF SEEING CON IN DRAG AGAIN MAKES ME SO HAPPY! Especially what it means for Izzy. Izzy lets his hair down and has fun with Wee John as he explores what actually makes him happy. Hell, him opening up to being a bit of a masochist as a joke while tied up is...actually my favorite thing (while obvious, given his propensity to put Ed before him in all matters, Izzy casually mentioning 'I like to be roughed a bit up' in front of the crew is the type of openness about himself that I crave). Izzy "cocksuckers" Hands letting himself joke about SEX-GAY SEX(probably)- Kill me now.

(To clarify: I don't think he or Ed ever got off to the abuse, hell, we see Ed flinch away when Anne/Mary do it. That's not the face of someone who knows what that's like as the Sadist).

I just love the way Izzy has so obviously relaxed into a person that he'd never let exist. Hell. I hope Izzy gets to rub this happier version of himself RIGHT in Edward's sad face. I need a 'he was never like this with me' moment of Ed watching Izzy SMILE to parallel Izzy's jealousy in S1.

Con obviously loves this character, you can see it in the performance. He fills the role perfectly, from his ups to his downs. Con smiles and hell, that's not Con, that's Izzy fucking Hands. Striding along proudly pretending his world isn't changing, because it is, and he is healing and I LOVE IT.

I am so proud of our growing Izzy loving community. For some, we've been through a lot of shit. Probably in life, and hell, maybe even in this fandom. Even if you haven't been harassed, you loved Izzy, you saw yourself in him, and I hope you felt the show giving us a big fucking hug.

We grow, we recover, and hell. We get a happy fucking ending (with a few yet-to-be-seen bumps in the road).

[bifairywife]

you guys have no idea how hard i laughed at this scene-

even luffy's "ohhh!" moment after kills me i love them so much-

[blakbonnet]

ep 5 did something to my head like starting from "it's a safe spaceship" to dousing me head to toe in "I'm your captain" and then "cannonball!" and Izzy going 👌 and the "I like that shirt" whispered through lashes and being shot in the heart with "you wear fine things well" to the shoulder shimmy and the thumb fight, I never stood a chance

[johnsspacesuittight]

why am I crying over an absolutely fucking insane man wearing a golden unicorn leg?

[shittywriterbrain]

[thedowneyheart]

Con O'Neill as Izzy Hands in OFMD official photos (s02e01-02-03)

Ph: Nicola Dove