#oh also there’s some creepy animal murder happening

[plutosschild]

I’ve been so busy prepping for Halloween that I forgot to do a Halloween drawing so I’ll do one and post it another time but here’s a doodle I did of @sugarlesswriting ‘s fic ‘Clementine’ instead of paying attention to my lecturer x

[yaccbs]

arcane s2 act 2 thoughts in no particular order

i had lots of predictions for this act annnnd most of them were incorrect actually lmaooo

pacing was better than act 1 imo but still definitely suffers from lack of time

vi's drunk enforcer friend literally did...nothing lmao. i don't think we've even learned his name? which felt very weird given how highlighted he was in the pitfighting stuff

when mel started figuring out the puzzle all i could see is the fucking lady trigonometry meme askahdjah

speaking of mel the black rose plot in general im not sure was wise to include given how tight for time everything is, but i guess we shall see how act 3 plays out

similarly i am withholding judgment on the caitvi reunion until act 3, because there is definitely some serious discussion that still needs to happen, which the trailer seems to imply will happen. but rip mattie sorry for all the weird hate you're getting just because you happen to be the rebound

JAYCE. my man. you have never been more interesting until the moment you straight up murdered a man with a hammer and then blew up your ex-bf without hesitation. i'm assuming he spent a year in Hell Land or something and that he promised maybe ekko/heimer that he would fix it all by killing viktor?? idk

but also riperino viktor. i'm assuming he's gonna come back with no remnant of his humanity. not sure if spaceghost skye will be back either. but his utopia cult was definitely creepy sorry dude something there was fuckered

also where are ekko/heimer. why did they not come back. how does the gooball even work

glad to finally get some firm motivation for singed

rictus was a bad person but a good henchman and i was sad he died as quickly as he did, would have liked to see him fight a bit more

i predicted that vanderwick would "wake up" to some extent fighting jinx or vi, but not to the extent he can just like...hang out. the moment it showed the shot of them being a "happy family" i was like oh this is the part where it goes fully to shit, and sure enough!!

uhh isha. tbh i feel very neutral towards her as a character, as she's cute but such a blatant plot device. the animation of her final scene was absolutely gorgeous though

vi. my beloved. uhhh i think she's suffered most from the rushed pacing tbh. we got a few good scenes with jinx but would have liked to see something addressing her alcoholism/very shitty few months and more meat to her reunion with cait. shoutout to her goth look though tbh she looks fantastic in ep 6. hoping we get a lot more vi stuff in the final 3 eps

i really like the cait/ambessa dynamic, more than i thought i would. some level of genuine respect/mentoring but also suspicion/backstabbery

[clavissionary-position]

Gilbert vs. Azel

(crack but also contains some main story and sequel route spoilers)

Azel: (standing saint-like and unbothered at the end of Gilbert’s pointed cane)

Azel: And now that you’ve learned that little factoid, feel free to donate this—(skewers a receipt onto the cane)—exact amount to me. You know my contact information, right?

Azel: God@TheTemple.com. I’m telling you that free of charge, of course. It’s common knowledge, but it’s okay to be embarrassed if you didn’t know.

Gilbert: Hehe. As it happens, all of your other contact information is also common knowledge. (Retracts his cane to glance at the receipt) To me, anyway.

Azel: I’m happy for you. That means there’s no need to send any more rando princes to my country. It must be gratifying for a mortal to be so creepy, I mean knowledgeable.

Gilbert: Oh no! I’m not the one mystically window-watching into every bedroom ever, am I, Mister God@TheTemple.com?

Azel: May I ask why you seem so envious about that? Your current god complex isn’t lacking by any means.

Gilbert: Well, as you know, you can never know too much. Hehe.

Azel: You’d be surprised. By the way I also charge interest on any pledged donations that aren’t paid off in a timely manner. You will find my rates are completely reasonable.

Gilbert: For a prince.

Azel: For a man with eclectic means.

Gilbert: Ah. (smile deepens) While I’m not Silvio, it’s not a bad idea to attack me through my investments. But unfortunately for you, I don’t pay any bills I can’t read.

Azel: Tsk, tsk. It’s not a good look to lie to an omniscient character.

Gilbert: (pouts) I’m not lying. I mean, this handwriting is pen vomit. It looks like a tiny animal tried to imitate what it thinks a human being writes like.

Azel: (maintains his generous smile even though his eye is twitching) I wrote the receipt out in front of you not even ten seconds ago. Had I known you suffered from such catastrophic lapses in memory, I’d have gone to Prince Chevalier first.

Gilbert: Ahaha! Maybe you should have. He’d have ended this conversation much earlier. With much more blood.

Azel: (grimace) I’m happy we can agree on that much, at least. So in the interest of parting ways as soon as possible… (points at the receipt)

Gilbert: How shameless. So you think you get to order an Obsidianite prince around? I almost admire your foolhardy levels of courage. But I think there’s something that needs to be made clear.

Gilbert: Tigers, you see, are at the top of the food chain. They answer to no man. No god.

Gilbert: Sometimes to bunnies, but that’s the exception, not the rule.

Azel: I don’t contest that. But unicorns, you see…

Azel: (appears to glow under the mid-day sun) …are not even on the food chain.

Azel: (eyes sparkling) They prance-fly in their own pastel dimension, unfettered by this world’s foolish ways and uncivilized biologies.

Gilbert: Hehe, that’s a creative way of saying you’ve noped out of reality.

Azel: (under his breath) Your face is a creative way of saying ‘punch me’.

Gilbert: Hm? What was that?

Azel: (saintly smile) Nothing, nothing. Just praying for you.

Azel: (scribbles an extra surcharge to the receipt) You’re learning so many new things today, Gil. I’m sure you’ll achieve a grown-up’s level of knowledge long before you reach a grown-up’s level of physical stature.

Gilbert: You know, you shouldn’t directly plagiarize insults from whatever is popular at the moment. If it’s too mainstream, it loses its bite.

Gilbert: (dramatic shrug) I really thought a living god would be much more inspired than that, but I guess I was wrong.

Azel: I have better things to do with my time than murder normies, stalk bunnies, and brainstorm funnies.

Gilbert: Are you sure about that? That second point, I mean. A little bunny told me about some very interesting dreams she’s been having as of late.

Azel: (serious expression) I’m glad you brought that up. Can you tell your pet to quit stalking me? I’m a very busy man and I have no interest in starting a harem.

Gilbert: (tilts his head with an evil smile) Tell her yourself.

Azel: …..?

That night in the rosy dream world…

Azel: Oh, goddammit, not this goddamn stupid dream again! (kicks one of the columns) Urgh, that hurts!

Emma: Um, A….zel? Oh hey, I remembered your name this time! Azel, are you here today?

Azel: Of course I’m here. If I’m here, you’re here. If you’re here, I’m here. If you have a cure, I’m all ears.

Emma: Aw, that’s a cute poem.

Azel: Shut-up.

Emma: Right, anyway, I’m sorry about this. (points a gun at him)

Azel: …

Azel: …��.

Azel: (watches the crystalized rose on the table begin to rot)

Azel: (sighs)

Azel: Does he want a discount on the bill, is that what this is about?

Emma: (realizes what she’s pointing and scampers to put the gun away) Oh shi… I’m sorry!

Crystalized Rose: (goes back to being uwu)

Emma: I meant to hold out my hand in a truce!

Azel: Truce? I don’t remember being at war with you.

Emma: Apparently we are? Stuff gets twisted around in Gil’s head all the time. Although usually there’s at least a grain of truth to it. But basically I’ll stop stalking your dreams if you stop stalking mine. I don’t know how, but I figure this is a good start.

Emma: (looks up at the dreamy clouds) See, Gil? We’re talking it out. Stop strapping your gun to my thigh while I sleep, please? It tickles and it makes me want to pee!

Azel: This is our dream. He can’t hear you.

Emma: I know, but I heard that if you shout stuff in your dreams, it's more likely you'll remember it when you wake up.

Emma: AZEL IS DEFINITELY THE GUY WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE DOWN IN THE CURRENT STORY ARC!

Emma: I NEED TO STOP CASUALLY TELLING HIM NATIONAL SECRETS!

Azel: (covering his ears) You're the reason I wake up with seven hundred bags under my eyes.

Emma: So... truce?

Azel: Yeah, sure, truce, whatever. (goes to shake her hand)

Emma: (points gun at him again) I'm sorry, I can't let you actually physically touch my hand or Gil will literally kill you.

Azel: THIS IS A DREAM WORLD

Azel: I’m not even going to tell you that your love is cursed. Your entire man is cursed.

[humanradiojmp]

My blind reaction to the Murder Drones Finale Part 1

Contains spoilers

Of course, got to have Cyn’s theme for the world ending. Fitting

Wha- REBECCA?!

The teacher could not care less the apocalypse is happening again. He is such a mood

Well there is no air in space, so it makes sense that there wouldn’t be sound, and that Uzi can’t really talk. communicating with space rocks and screens is a good solution

I like the parental advisory sensor. Do the worker drones have that automatically, or can they remove it at a certain point?

Space ship pilot!!! Makes you wonder though how and why they crashed the first time. got distracted or nervous or something?

I half expected the Wall-e kiss, but forehead taps are still good. got to have that comedic sensor cut off as well. I love this show.

Stop that. get help.

Not the Falling for You theme as they fall back to the surface!

That’s the understatement of the century

The ship being brought in looking like the creepy-ass hand that the solver drones got at the manor is such a nice touch

So J is aware of who Cyntessa really is and working with her. interesting. Like to know her reasoning why

Lizzy could not care less she’s about to die-

Is- is it?

SHE’S ALIVE! V’S ALIVE!!! YEEEEESSSSS!!!!!

Was holding my N-doggo plushy and squeezed him so hard and did leg tappies when I saw she was alive. V is back ya’ll!

With a little bit of Eternal Dream as well. I love this soundtrack and the attention to detail to it so much!

Not the sentinel wearing Beau’s hat. I feel like that’s horrible in a way but matches so well.

I laughed so much when I saw the meme.

And the name for V in Lizzy’s contacts. Wow

So much like V with her initial antagonizing towards Uzi, J sided with Cyn out of fear and a need to survive. She rationalized this was the best course of action, even if it’s siding with the obvious ‘bad guy’. But it’s nice to see J does have some semblance of care for her former team mates. Wonder if she also did it all for their sake as well as her own.

The sunglasses and cool pose. Their so cringe

I really like the animation of how Cyn walks in Tessa’s sink. Like it doesn’t quite fit and she doesn’t have complete control over it. nice touch to the creep factor of her existence

Oh yes, emotional and mental torture and manipulation is simply just ‘hurting his feelings’. It’s tots fine, he just needs to get over it.

And just like with Uzi, he can’t shoot Tessa, even if it’s no longer her. or maybe he knows it won’t work?

Nice little moment, but lesson number one kids – never take your eyes off the enemy, ever. Because then you’re going to get your heart stabbed out of your chest

Trying to push her core back in with no hands is so morbid

Of course she has wings. Why wouldn’t she?

I take back the J cares about her teammates statement. Unless she’s trying to make it less hard on herself?

The callback ping with the hands trying to find them, with N on the verge of a panic attack seeing Cyn clawing him out as well as the manor flashback is just so (satisfied grunting)

And Uzi’s heart trying to leave her chest because of the callback ping, her trying to keep it in but it’s pushing out like the monster from Alien (grunting continues)

Oh shoot, they don’t know she’s alive, and you can see just how traumatized the boy is. I really hope they get therapy after this if they survive. They really need it

You protected her from a trap, but at what cost?

V really was operating on fear, I knew it. I know a popular theory is that V remembered most if not all of what happened before Copper-9 and I wonder now if that theory has been proven true. Because she knew what this thing was capable of, and thought if she were to just follow orders, keep her head low, and not incite any callback of former memories, then maybe, just maybe, everything would be ok. But it never was going to be ok, was it? *draws V in for a hug* you need this. A lot.

Oooh, it was N’s core she was going to eat. Oh no.

Wait, Khan has the solver? Or was that a remote for something? (even watching it back, I’m still not 100% sure)

I really like how Uzi has full control of herself and her version of the solver, and how it’s hinted she has some control over the solver in general with how Cyntessa’s eye flickered purple. I kind of half wished they delved into that a little more in the fight to ensue, as it would have shown a cool mental version of a battle of wills. But…

Second part coming because of character limit

Second part

[oogaboogaspookyman]

Dayum i had a Murder Drones dream bruh

I'll tell ya the clips i remember from it, if any

Soooo there's a point where N is inside a school and he's looking around for sumthin' idfk and he stumbles upon a little girl drone with white eyes and i think jet black hair?? And she's obviously a fun lover that doesn't wanna be here but she recognizes it's a necessity so she rolls with it and does her stuff as told– okay so apparently she's gotta finish some homework about animals, what they are and what they do, the sort, and she's like- talking a lot about her home and how her family has to pay for wifi or sumthin' etc etc and N just goes "oh is that homework? Do you have to describe animals? I can help!"

And then the girl drone (who i'm calling Leni) just goes "yeah it's homework, boring but i gotta do it- it's something about animals, what they do and all- i sortaaaaa didn't finish it because i was bored out of my mind..." And N just spots a Sonic figurine on a shelf somewhere and goes "hey, what if you talked about that guy over there?" He means the Sonic figurine on the shelf, "what does a hedgehog do? Does it like anything? You could describe a hedgehog, it's an animal!" And Leni is just. "Heh, thanks dude!" And my lordy the smile N gives it kills me oughhhh yes baby boy you did a help a girl with homework!!! Uzi is lucky to have you ough

Another clip! There's the typical big dumb creepy guy that puts kids in detention trope! Yeah he just scruffs one like a cat and tosses them onto a hook, hanged like cloth (NOT HURT THOUGH! ALIVE AND HEALTHY!) And they're just "hey dude what did i do?! Get me off this thing!!" And the big creepy guy just. Giggles at 'em as he walks away. Idfk what else happened after that- but it has to do with N???? Did he fuck up????? He's a good boy who did no wrong wtf he stopped killing a long time ago!!! The Uzi simp allegations are exaggerrated!!!!!! Leave him alone bitch!!!!!!!!

So apparently the detention drone is just like. Roaming around the school, and N is just staying out of it's sight at all times– keeping Leni safe from it too because they're buddies now and he's a good boy– and at some point taps his foot on the floor lightly to make a sound to test if it can hear and... It does not. It's big stupid AND probably deaf. Or they're just lucky idk lol

Also Cyn is there too. There's a moment after the whole detention drone shebang where Cyn pops up behind some doors and is accompanied by like- another girl drone with ponytails and black hair that is also Solver infected, and she's already gotten the eldritch claws for hands too so she's probably been infected before even like- Camp Fever, to give you an idea of the time frame, and Cyn is just. "You said "shit" now you're getting punished" and apparently getting taken out of the school is a punishment??? They're just. Grabbed and Cyn fuckin' flies away with them both, leaving them with the rest of the gæng in a like- place with two random drop pods like the ones from episode 1 and 3, and fun fact! V and Uzi are there! They're alive and well! And yes N hugs Uzi first thing, ig Leni gets to meet the rest of the bunch now lol.

Oh yeah there's also Tessa i guess lmfao idk what she's lookin' for now

[thatsauceysauce]

what i think creepy pastas look/act like but irl✨

jeff,Ej,toby,sally,nina

+++++++++++++++++++++

JEFF;

He’s 100% not some ripped dude who’s super buff but i do think he is toned

his hair is probably damaged but not completely fried like ppl say, the accident happened when he was 13 and he’s 20+ now so

his smile definitely has crusty blood and is keloiding

people say he thinks he’s gorgeous even tho in the real story (i believe) he asks his mom if he’s gorgeous and when he looks in the mirror he says you lied

also no way he doesn’t have eyelids, i believe they are probably very cut up and scratched up but that’s it

definitely has stubble

he’s stubborn and i feel like has a husky voice ifykwim

he smells like blood and cigarettes

i js feel like he hates showering unless he gets back from a gruesome night of murders

greasy hair thats very knotted

eyebags go crazyyyy

he has dried blood under his nails no doubt

+++++++++++++++++++++

SALLY;

definitely has somewhat knotted hair

rosey cheeks

oh and she totally likes staying around the adults rather than any children her age (like if her and jeff go out to a convenient store and see a kid her age she defiantly starts to cling to jeff

her hair is like a mix of slightly wavy and straight

she probably has dimples

her legs are scarred up from picking at scabs

yellowish teeth 100% i feel like some are chipped as well

+++++++++++++++++++++

EYELESS JACK;

he definitely is a hairy dude no doubts, back hair, stomach hair, chest hair, arms,legs, etc

hair is probably overgrown, im gonna guess he only gets it cut around halloween so people think his mask and skin is just makeup, along with his face if they make him take his mask off

definitely isn’t jacked or ripped but he is definitely way more toned than the others

i feel like he’s a polite dude if he goes to gas stations or sum but any other time he’s an ass

i feel like he takes bus rides at night just to find victims

his hands have got to be cut up, like there’s no way his hand hasn’t slipped and he’s cut himself

smells disgusting. he showers rarely

if his hair gets too long he does a high pony tail

if he finds notes from people trying to summon him or slender man he definitely keeps them in a drawer or something

+++++++++++++++++++++

TOBY;

dirt under his fingers nails 24/7

yellowish teeth just like jeff and sally

his canines are sharp asf

he’s also a very hairy man

he doesn’t get his haircut very often but he does get it cut at least

he lets his stubble grow out into a light beard and then shave it off

very chapped and bitten lips

smells like oak and dirt

he has to have reading glasses if he’s trying to see things up close

he likes to watch deer and other animals, after he usually kills them.

he’s not big on taking care of himself but somehow has the smoothest face ever

he has decent eye brows but they are definitely being tended to by nina, they’d look horrible without her (not shipping)

+++++++++++++++++++++

NINA;

Her light brown hair is definitely grown out now

her skin still has her burn scars along with jeff’s

sometimes thinks about her brother at night, missing him and thinking how things could have gone differently

she still looks up to jeff in a way, even after all these years

she’s still a sweet girl just not as social..

unlike jeff’s her cuts were stitched up so they healed sooner, somewhat looking normal again..

she probably wears a lot of bracelets, stolen,made,gifted from sally, all that.

showers more then the boys definitely but she’s still pretty dirty

she’s always rockin either a high bun or her icon high pony tail

always has candles going in her room

rather than the others she does prioritize brushing her teeth and hair, sometimes she brushes sally’s too.

+++++++++++++++++++++

this is all and please like it helps a lot and it’s all ways nice to see people liking my work!!

[rollercoasterwords]

hiiiiiii!! i don't have the brain to do or watch anything atm but i would LOVE some movie recs please 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

YAY ok assuming this is coming from the 80s movie post so. here r some of my favorite 80s movies:

ridiculous campy fun:

earth girls are easy (1988) - fucking LOVE this movie!!! such a fun time. horny aliens crash their spaceship on earth + get taken in by a human woman. also it's a musical comedy + the aliens are played by jeff goldblum jim carrey and damon wayans

hell comes to frogtown (1988) - also. obsessed w this one. post-apocalyptic world where society is a matriarchy + humans need 2 repopulate. protagonist is a Manly Man who has been discovered to have a Mega-High Sperm Count, making him a government asset so a sexy military doctor locks him up in a chastity cage 2 conserve his precious sperm. also there are mutated frog people + they kidnapped a bunch of ~fertile~ human women to keep as sex slaves so Manly Man needs 2 accompany sexy military doctor + sexy soldier to go rescue the ladies from Frogtown so he can fuck them <3 also his name is Sam Hell. hence. 'hell comes to frogtown'

clue (1985) - based on the board game!! murder mystery comedy w wacky characters + an ending that is oh-so-fun

weird dark fantasy:

the company of wolves (1984) - the movie that inspired my 80s movie post 2nite <3 creepy fairytale retelling of red riding hood w a bunch of stories-within-a-story so that it ends up feeling like some sort of fever dream matryoshka doll

labyrinth (1986) - one of my FAVORITE movies of all time!!!!! david bowie is a goblin king who kidnaps the protagonist's baby brother as a favor 2 her + then when she's like actually i want him back he's like ok solve my maze then <3

return to oz (1985) - sequel to 'the wizard of oz' that is like. 10 times darker + weirder + creepier + definitely scarred me + my twin when we watched it as children lol. dorothy won't stop talking abt oz so she's taken 2 a mental institution for electroshock therapy. queue dramatic storm + sudden return to oz except the city is in ruins + dorothy needs 2 save the day

horror:

aliens (1986) - sequel to alien (1979) which just missed the cutoff for making this list + i also recommend--but u don't NEED 2 watch it 2 watch this movie. outer space creature feature meets slasher survival horror. xenomorph i love u <3

the thing (1982) - another sci-fi alien horror but this time it follows a group of researchers in the arctic who encounter an alien that can change shape 2 look like any of them. queue paranoia. there's also a more modern remake of this movie if i'm not mistaken

day of the dead (1985) - probably romero's least well-known zombie movie lol but a fun one nonetheless! good if u like 80s movies + zombie movies which. i do <3

the shining (1980) - oooh artsy spooky hotel horror.....a classic to be honest....

animated:

the last unicorn (1982) - ANOTHER favorite movie of all time for me!!!! unicorn who lives in isolation in a forest overhears two humans talking about how there are no more unicorns in the world + is like what i can't be the only one left...so she sets out on an adventure 2 try and find out what happened 2 all the unicorns <3 another movie that scarred me as a child bc of how creepy + dark it was

nausicaa of the valley of the wind (1984) - studio ghibli <3 this is one of my fave ghibli films. post-apocalyptic wasteland where giant bugs roam the earth....amazing

castle in the sky (1986) - more ghibli! girl w mysterious magic necklace meets boy who is searching for castle in the sky. also they are being chased by pirates + creepy government agents. FUN

kiki's delivery service (1989) - aaaaand more ghibli. teenage witch sets out 2 make her way in the world + encounters existential dread <3

classics:

heathers (1988) - veronica decides that she's sick of her mean-girl popular friendgroup + at the same time meets Mysterious New Boy. when she complains 2 him abt her friends he starts killing them <3

the princess bride (1987) - based on the book (which i also recommend!!); i feel like everyone knows this movie but. basically fairytale-esque romance abt a girl named buttercup who falls in love w a farmboy named wesley but then wesley gets murdered by pirates...or so it seems....

ferris bueller's day off (1986) - teenagers decide 2 skip school + run amok in chicago. wahoo!!

[heyftinally]

Do you like Gravity Falls?

I do! It's a fantastic show that really had a LOT of hard work and attention to detail put into it - far more than I'd usually expect from a Disney Channel cartoon, and certainly more than they were paid for.

GF live action rant under the cut, if you're interested:

That's honestly why I have some pretty heavy reservations about the live action remake - part of what made GF so good was the downright BEAUTIFUL animation effects. Recreating that for a live action remake is going to be near impossible without a WAY larger budget than is likely going to be alotted. Add to that the limitations inherent to child actors (and the "Disney kid actor" effect that could honestly be it's own rant), and it's going to be really, REALLY hard for them to pull this off well.

Not to mention, part of what made the show good was that it was downright fucked up. Mounted animal heads on the wall started bleeding. A 12yo was told by a shapeshifter "this is what you'll look like when you die" and shows a physical representation of his own 12yo self dead. His 12yo twin sister almost got murdered in front of him. Their 12yo frienemy's dad had his face physical turned inside out in front of her. This show is FUCKED UP. And it's GOOD. It's SUPPOSED to be fucked up, because that's how you understand just how dangerous it is. This isn't "oh no, we're trapped and don't know what's going to happen", this is "we're trapped and if we don't get out in time then everyone we know is going to be murdered". And the show needed that. It needed real stakes. Because those stakes are why the overall themes hit home so hard.

Also, and this is a much more minor note, but it's worth saying - I'm fully expecting them to either ruin or cut entirely Dipper's crush on Wendy, and it will be to the detriment of the entire point of said crush from a literary perspective. Showing kids - ESPECIALLY boys - how to handle rejection with class AND still be friends with the person after is of vital importance to the 12yo+ audience this show was made for. It literally teaches the viewer that it's okay to have a crush, but it's not okay to be creepy about it and make the other person uncomfortable, and if/when the turn you down you have to be normal about it - here's how to be normal about it.

But the purity brain rot mob will likely flip shit over how that kind of plot line is "predatory" (it's not, Wendy literally has -0 romantic feelings for Dipper and makes it very clear that she's uncomfortable with him being into her like that because she sees him as a kid friend, not a peer), and nobody is going to want to gamble on the brain rot mob, so they're either going to cut it entirely, or make it so short and obvious and in your face that it loses all meaning.

Now, obviously I don't *know* that, and this is all speculation, but yeah, those are my thoughts. Hope you enjoyed the rant lol.

[enbyleighlines]

Leigh plays Tellius prt 23

Ugh. Featured above is what I believe to be the most frustrating decision Radiant Dawn made. Astrid had so much potential! She's from a noble family, but left to become a knight so that she could escape an arranged marriage! (Likely inspired by seeing her elder sisters enter into unhappy marriages.) She's timid, but determined to become stronger. She starts out weak, but grows fast, due to her special skill. The fact that she becomes demoted to Makalov's devoted groupie is so disappointing.

I mean, in comparison to her original betrothed, Makalov is a vast improvement. But that's more of a comment on Lekain than Makalov.

And here we have the most baffling decision Radiant Dawn has made. I don't hate it, I'm just... confused. Why did Devdan change his name? Why is he pretending to be a different person? Did he actually lose his memory or is this a bit? Or is it a poorly designed scheme to keep himself out of trouble?

I don't know. I do wish Devdan/Danved had more story importance. He seems like a cool character. I especially liked his base conversation with Ike in PoR. If only we could have had more of that.

Crimean Royal Knight Fifth Platoon Captain Kieran hath returned!!! I am so happy to see this absolute buffoon. He just reads as so fruity to me. I can't wait to pair him with Oscar again. Those two were monsters in my PoR playthrough. And with Oscar's avoid bonus, they were nearly untouchable, too.

Man, this map took me so long. I went into it thinking that it would be easy. After all, most of the enemy units are fairly weak. Surely my units won't have any issue staying alive.

Oh, how wrong I was. The amount of times Marcia got sniped by an crossbow, or Geoffrey got crit by a sniper... I didn't keep count, but trust me, it was a lot. And it didn't help that the enemy and ally turns took so long, so redoing this map was a trial of patience.

At long last, however, I managed to pull through.

This part of the game is so heartbreaking. The fact that Ludveck actually sent Elincia Lucia's hair... like, that's serial killer behavior right there. And while I do think Lucia looks better with short hair, I would have much preferred it if she didn't have it chopped off against her will by the world's most evil Southern gentleman. That's a massive violation of Lucia's bodily autonomy, meant to humiliate and degrade her, and I'm again sad we don't get to murder Ludveck for this.

I've always wondered what all the people gathered here think. Are they predominantly on Elincia's side, or Ludveck's? I hope it's the former. I know Elincia isn't enjoying much popularity from the nobles, but I hope she at least has a devoted following among the common folk.

And how I pray to remove your head from your body, Ludveck. God, he's so creepy. Why are all the male villains in RD so creepy? They all have such terrible incel energy.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN

I SAID THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN

Gosh, this isn't my favorite cutscene in the game (that happens in part 3), but man this one is SO HYPE. My own complaint is that Soren is the only one who doesn't seem to have a voice actor assigned to him, aside from maybe Rhys. Even Gatrie does a little grunt at one point. But Soren is a main character! At least hire someone to do some quiet chanting in the old language. They did that for Micaiah in the first cutscene.

Oh, well. I'm too happy to complain any further. I'm just relieved to finally get the Greil Mercs back. Part 3 is probably my favorite part of the game, though part 4 is also a lot of fun. It has some of the best cutscenes in the game imo. I cannot wait to see Ranulf animated. His smooth voice and subtle little ear twitches... ah, I'm in love!

[vicky82gargoylesfan]

My Thoughts on X-Men 97 Episode 7 Bright Eyes

Another awesome episode, it was very heavy too. Again it has brilliant dialogue and animation. love the affects of wet hair in the rain.

Spoilers, also thought be best to put a trigger warning for grief, attempted suicide ect.

Damn! I didn't expect the episode to start with Gambit's funeral, I was not prepared for that.

I see Gambit's ex wife and his brother are there. Who's the black and white haired lady.

Nightcrawler is doing the funeral, the eulogy was beautiful.

Rogue is not at the funeral, she's gone Rogue

Oh damn! Rogue certainly trashes that secret base.

Oh cool it's Ross but not totally surprised as another Marvel character appears later.

President Kelly makes an appearance and he's being voiced by Morph's old voice actor from the original series.

I love how Cyclops has his visor round the back of his neck like headphones.

Hmm interesting, Jean has her hair down.

Nice to Amelia again.

I already knew that Captain America appears, I hope other Marvel characters appear.

Rogue confronts him, who is also looking for Gyrich. I just love that he's letting Rogue hold his shield.

OZT - Operation Zero Tolerance, I know that story.

Rogue throwing his shield was hilarious.

Hmm, are we getting a bit of Dark Beast.

Rogue found Gyrich in Mexico, she tries to absorb his memories but we only see a glimpse of Nimrod.

Cyclops and Jean find Emma Frost alive, she survived when her secondary mutation activated her diamond form.

Scott thought Madelyn might have survived but he teared up, pretty sweet of Jean consoling him then.

Roberto tells his Mum that he's a mutant but she already knew and is fine about it but wants to keep it private because money is more important.

Nightcrawler consoling Rogue was so sweet, I love that he called her his sister. Rogue wailing was so heart-breaking and I ended up in tears too.

Yikes!!!! there is actually an on screen murder happening. Bastion kills Gyrich by suffocating him.

Lol at everyone crammed in that elevator and Morph drinking that diet drink.

Oh damn!! Trask wants to end his own life.

Rogue 'killing' him was shocking, she didn't want him to end his own life because she wanted to kill him herself.

Love this shot

I know 3 of them could have saved him but they were probably in shock too.

Turns out Trask isn't dead, he turned into a prime Sentinel and took out Rogue. Hope she's ok, Nightcrawler saves her and we don't see them again

Love the team up moment between Jean and Cyclops. Jean throwing that building into the sea was awesome.

Love the Quicksilver cameo there by Morph.

Yikes!!! Prime Sentinel Trask takes out them out.

Wooo Cable!!!

Scott finds out Cable is Nathan, love the tension there.

So Sinister is working for Bastion. Does that happen in the comics I can't remember.

They find out Xavier is alive. due to getting hold of some Shi'ar technology and Lilandra is announcing her wedding engagement to Charles. So it does look like episode 6 and 7 are happening at the same time, that's probably why Storm wasn't at the funeral.

What is this song The Purple People Eater, I've never even heard it before.

Magneto is alive!!!!!! I did have a feeling he was but he is now captured by Bastion but how did he survive.

Bastion is very creepy, scary villain. That shaving scene was weird. What's he planning to do with Magneto? brainwash him, use him as a scapegoat, what? I'm so confused.

Again great episode can't wait for next weeks episode but i'm very nervous especially its the start of the 3 part final.

[falconscales]

pleeeease i want to hear about that cool oc of yours :D

Talon-dragonbeast you are now my favoritest mutual ever

OKAY so! Basic information to start. Animal is a very very old oc of mine. Her earliest version was like... When I was in first grade. So, lots and lots of changes between then and now.

She's kinda my... Self Insert oc that I just plonk into anything I'm interested in (I have this universe in my head that's been going on for years and that's where she's from :3)

The version of her that I kin (and the version of her I'll be talking about here) is at least three years old, maybe older, I'm not sure. This version is my Origins of Olympus oc (a Minecraft roleplay based on Percy Jackson by the group Originsmcrp)

This got very long so... readmore!

So, just a warning but she is very very cringe. Like, it's 100% on purpose and if I wasn't willing to talk about her I wouldn't have said anything. But like, she is a mary sue self insert oc who I first made when I was like 6 or 7 and this version of her I made when I was,,, about 13 (Falcon age reveal)

(also also quick warning I literally haven't watched Origins of Olympus in years. I probably should especially now that I know I kin her so I can get my memories all straight but I haven't had the time to yet.)

Okay sooo about her. She's a hybrid of two different species (drakins, an original species that at this time looked like humans w/ wings and horns and dragon ears and a tail and scales and stuff that also just adapted to anything) and a dragon (an ocean dragon to be specific)

So... I don't ever think I like... had a reason for her to appear in the Origins of Olympus world, because whoa surprise she's a universe traveler. But she did! at like... ten? or somewhere about that age.

Bryan is a pretty big part of her story, and he finds her like... passed out and super injured right outside of his house or something, about six years before the start of the series. Oh important info, Bryan is a son of Aphrodite (because, Percy Jackson inspired series). He heals her and for the next six years basically raises her. Bryan is Animal's dad :3

Sooo Bryan gets the invite to Camp Oasis, and on the way some creepy old lady gives him a sword and then he (and Animal because she was with him) forget about the lady that gave him the sword. Nothing bad will happen because of this.

So season one is, pretty much the same. Like... there wasn't a whole lot of full on canon divergence, more like... canon but slightly to the left (at least for her oc, I'm still trying to figure out kin memories and I'm not sure how close the kin memories are to the oc lore)

BUT but. So the sword is cursed, and also sentient. It's called the Seductive Rose (referred to as Rose from now on :p) and basically corrupts Bryan. Animal is just... sticking by his side this whole time, because like... that's her dad. There's not much else she can do.

During this the Rose genuinely cares about her, he keeps her safe and away from the worst stuff he does and uh oh evil sword has adopted the kid of the guy it's supposed to kill (or something like that)

Season 1 ends as it did normally, with the Rose "dying" and Bryan being fine but like... everyone hates him lol. Because he did like, straight up murder a few people. So he and Animal go back to his mom's mansion for the next year.

Season 2 starts! It takes place a year after season 1 (and I'm not sure how long season 1 lasted buttt i'm gonna say about a year, so Animal is 18 now.) there are more pantheons than just the Greek one!! Here comes Inpu!!!

Season 2 is... to be real honest I don't remember much about season 2. See what i said about the fact that I should rewatch the series. Yeah. The big important things are this. The Rose now has a body of it's own, Inpu and Bryan start dating (and get married), Inpu has a sibling named Magnus (Inpu is the son of Anubis and Magus is the child of Anubis), Riccaro is Inpu's brother (technically uncle but they are brothers To Me) and he marries Momiji who is the daughter of Inari Okami and a kitsune. I have Got to make a family tree i swear.

So Animal has three dads, zero moms, two aunts, and one uncle (at least ones that she calls that. we're... not getting into the whole family tree thing. I refuse to.)

The Rose comes back with his new body, and so... I think in canon he kills Bryan, But here he's like "hey so like I still wanna kill everyone in this camp but my daughter lives here and likes most of you so I'm good now or whatever." and Drannus (hes a villain and possesses another camper. He wasn't superrr important to Inpu's story iirc (and I watched Inpu's pov for season 2 and 3) so... anyway Drannus kills Bryan, and Bryan's soul breaks into three pieces

There's a five year timeskip between season 2 and 3, and so inbetween that Inpu is trying to figure out how to bring Bryan back to live and Bryan's soul crystal makes three kids: Lotus, Atlas, and Femi. Which are bio kids of Inpu and Bryan. no don't ask how that works. They're about... twelve physically I think, and are about 16 when season 3 starts

SO now Animal has three siblings, yay! and also only two dads, less yay.

Okay so nowww season 3! Animal is 23ish now! I think it gets very canon divergent from here because the Rose isn't evil. But also i don't... remember what he did? Idk. I watched season 1 like four times but season 2 and 3 only once lol. But the important thing is that Lotus loses one of their wings, Animal makes them a new wing because she just... knew? how? to? Don't remember why just that it Happened. Also Bryan is back yay!!

After season 3 things are like, very very chill. Animal can turn into a dragon now because she has enough magic to now? Um... I know that stuff happens after season 3 but I think those are kin memories given that they're more feelings lol, I don't think the oc had stuff happen after that Origins of Olympus wise (.its complicated)

So!!! Incomprehensible ramble about my cringe oc done!!! I love her very much and am also. so shifted rn.

[hello-im-not-a-possum]

A Secret Leak: Storyboards, Scripts, and Spirits.

There were pros and cons to working on 'the Joey Doodles Hobby' at her workplace; nobody suspected that the book and story boards inside the book were anything unusual or extraordinary, she could work in peace in a place that was comfortable and was easy for her to get information on the past workers in Joey Drew Studios. And the people who noticed her side-projects might have pointed out that a few story boards were a little dark for a family show while others didn't make sense, but Audrey was quick to explain away that they were just concepts put on paper, nothing too big or serious.

The cons? It was easy to mix up "Ink Studio" work with "Archgate Studio" work. While the information on Joey Drew Studios workers itself was easy to find, there was still very little surviving information on the people (aside from Joey himself) at Archgate so there wasn't a lot she could use for them. And while many dismissed what Audrey was doing as just a hobby, unfortunately, some people also got interested in said hobby.

"The little devil looks pretty good in that suit," Audrey froze like a deer in headlights when she heard the Art Director's voice behind her. "What special occasion is that for?"

"O-oh nothing!" she closed the sketchbook "I'm just practicing drawing pinstripe clothes and figured he'd look cute in them..."

"Fair enough, he'd look adorable in anything!" the Director chuckled. "But Audrey, there's something I want to talk to you about regarding other things you've drawn that I've been told about... the unsettling things that... bear a striking resemblance to what was found in the storyboards that were uncovered from Joey Drew's home."

"I guess I've found his concepts fascinating to think about." She shrugged. "They might be a lot gorier than what Bendy's known for, but it's not like it comes out of nowhere. Alice's temper can get the better of her, so her going too far isn't out of the realm of possibilities Bendy might be a timid demon who only pulls small pranks in the show, but he's still a demon at the end of the day, he can be capable of a lot more than what meets the eye."

The Director raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, obviously I don't recommend broadcasting this to the public, but taking his final works and expanding on them in private would've been something he liked to see..."

"...And it's in the same vein as Archgate Pictures itself being a labor of love made in his memory?"

"Yes! Exactly!"

"Fascinating, I'll go talk with Mr. Arch about that and see how he feels, who knows, maybe we can use one or two of those ideas in a Halloween special if we tone them down."

"He does love a good Halloween episode." Audrey nodded in agreement.

"And I'll go ask our animator Wilson to see if he can work his magic. He might not be the most talkative or social person, but he has a real knack for subtly uncanny features as well as detailed designs. They might not work the best with that sailor boy character he's trying to push, but maybe he can help with designing a one-off villain."

"Greeaaat..."

Audrey held onto a fake smile while cursing under her breath. She can't believe she forgot about Wilson! She was so caught up trying to handle the balancing acts of work, the Ink Studio, and trying to help Bendy adjust to the real world that the lying, creepy, son of a gun who sent her to the studio in the first place and wanted to murder her to bring his stupid sailor boy to life was just an afterthought!

How does she explain what happened to him without sounding like she completely lost her mind? That he was dead? That he died in the ink world and his body would most likely never be found? Worse yet, what if he didn't die? Or rather, he didn't stay dead..?

"Mind if I borrow your sketchbook?"

"Yes, I do mind, there's still a lot of stuff that hasn't been finished yet." She hid the book behind her back and took a small step back. "Maybe later."

"I see, well I hope we get to talk about this more often. There's some interesting ideas in there."

"Only time can tell. Now if you excuse me, I really need to... ...go grab some lunch! I was planning on meeting someone for it and I really can't miss it."

"...It's five o'clock."

"Better late than never!" She chuckled while heading for the door. "It's a... very long lunch."

Not caring whether the Art Director believed her or not anymore, she went to clock out. Breathing a sigh of relief when she was alone yet taking a glance behind her just in case she wasn't being followed.

"Audrey...."

She flinched and her blood ran cold when she heard him. Turning back to the machine to check out quicker, she was mentally making a plan on what to do; She was no stranger to ghosts in the studio, but they were pretty much harmless for the most part, only scaring people if they bugged them. But Wilson? Wilson was a different case. Oh the stupid machine! Why won't it work?!

"Auuuudreeeeey...."

He wasn't an unlucky lingering specter who stuck around because he had nowhere else to go, he wanted her soul, that was the last thing he wanted in life. It wasn't too far of a stretch to assume that in the afterlife, he'd want her dead. She didn't know how close he was to her right now, what he was capable of as a member of the undead who had been fused with magic ink, or even what he looked like now... Yes! Finally, the damn thing let her clock out! Now she can leave-

"Auuuuuuuuuudreeeeeeeeeey...."

The voice was right behind her now! She could practically feel his breath on her ears!

She felt an ice-cold, four fingered hand on her shoulder and smacked it off while turning to face what Wilson had become-

-Which was a cartoon version of himself but with a halo over his head, most likely to indicate that he is in fact dead as he is the LAST PERSON who deserved to go to heaven. His missing eye wasn't even ominous, it looked more like somebody forgot to draw it on him. He wasn't even an uncanny mesh of human and toonish features like his Wilson-esc form was.

That was... a *lot* less intimidating than she expected. She would've burst out loud laughing if she didn't know what he was capable of. Her mental image of what he was turned into was that of a mangled corpse with globs of ink instead of guts or blood.

"Okay then." She stated without a hint of fear in her voice. "I'm just gonna go now. I have errands to run, see you on Monday unless others can see you like that."

The cartoon man's expression soured as he watched her go from scared to an unreadable (yet obviously not scared expression) just carrying on like nothing happened.

"...My dear, you do realize that I am going to kill you, right?"

"No, you're going to try to kill me." Audrey corrected while heading to her desk to get her stuff, not caring if Wilson followed her or not. "There's a big difference."

"And what makes you so sure I won't succeed...?"

"Past experience, you don't have your Keepers, the Ink Machine's nowhere in the studio..." she listed off. "And Bendy-"

"Wait! What did you say about the Ink Machine?!"

"According to Nathan, it was taken in by the GENT company for repairs."

"...And did he get a deadline for when he'd get it back?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"That stupid old man..." Wilson shook his head as he cursed under his breath. "Doesn't he know any better?!"

"If he knows what it can do, then he wouldn't want it to break when he doesn't know how to fix it. And if he doesn't know what it can do, then it's still important to him and he wants it maintained." She shrugged as she double checked her bag. "If something you put in a museum broke, where would you send it if you wanted to get it fixed?"

The toon opened his mouth to retort but shut it as he couldn't think of a proper comeback.

"Now if you excuse me, I have a train to catch..." Audrey took her bag and left the office, leaving the toon man to stew in his bitterness.

[dominionsweep]

DOMINION SMP SEXYMAN BRACKET: ROUND 2, MATCH 4

So uh, the thing is, I did in fact design these brackets specifically to be mean and also to parallel things in the series? Which is why Shadow's fighting Grady and now Jamie. Oh, hey, also I can say "and why they ourple" again! Neat!

(Remember: Consider your personal qualifications for a Tumblr or MCYTblr sexyman when voting, not just who you like more/who's more popular!)

KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES:

Jamie

Origin: Dragonborn

Elected queen of the server early into Season 1, and almost immediately implements a tax of "give me all your diamonds, yes all of them, all your diamond gear also, and do it every two weeks while you're at it."

Tried to stop everyone from killing the Ender Dragon, failed, exploded, and Came Back Wrong (aka, possessed by the Void). Able to do a really creepy voice filter whenever she wants and starts sacrificing animals to the Void during this time, as well as continuing to hoard diamonds.

Eventually exorcised via the combined effort of all Dominion members. Except she doesn't remember being evil. And then the apocalypse happens, she explodes again, and now she's a resident of the Outer End with no memory of anything that happened in the entire series. So that went great.

Shadow

Origin: Witherborn

Hitman for hire and probably one of the best PvPers on the server, able to hold his own in a 2v1 vs Jamie and Grady at one point. Worked as an enforcer for the crown but could very much still be bought if you know what you're doing.

Struggled a lot with his urges towards chaos. Likes explosions but is technically not a Witherborn by birth and very much had to deal with the fallout of those two sides warring. Has a consistent soft spot for Sneve.

Is currently on a silent, murderous rampage through Season 2 that has only been tempered by the fact that he's taking a break IRL. Only logs in during blood moons, doesn't speak to anyone, and attacks pretty much everyone that gets close. He did give Joy some armor and play Pigstep for Viking, though.

[starlightrows]

Hello everyone! Happy Star Wars Day!

Welcome back to Krax Watches. Today we’re watching Tales of the Jedi

Episode 1 —

Ashoka’s mom is gorgeous

The baby noises are so precious oh my god stop

I don’t know why the accents threw me off a bit, but it makes sense that Ashoka might not have an accent since she was raised in the Jedi temple

This animation and imagery is beautiful

Baby Ahsoka is fully unphased by the blaster shot right by her head

Ahsoka’s mom being a hunter in their society is awesome

Pav Ti talking to baby Ahsoka like a little adult is wonderful

Pav Ti is my fucking hero. Roaring at the saber tooth tiger

Whatever those cat panda thing are, I want one

I did not except the saber toothed tiger to take baby Soka with it

How to Train Your Saber Toothed Tiger

I literally can not handle her teeny tiny little lekku and her chubby wubby cheeks and her big sparkly eyes

It’s giving Diego from Ice Age

8/10 great mini story

Episode 2 —

Dooku’s hair is… something

Starting off kinda creepy ghost town vibes huh

That was a dog. Like a regular ass dog

Yee old saloon

Young Qui Gon looks like the cave man from Ice Age… wtf

Ooh a moral quandary

Cone heads

Blue light saber Dooku, I thought for sure he’s be a green

It’s interesting to see how far back it goes, the opinion that Jedi serve the senate and not the people

Dooku fully yeeted Qui Gon, I was not expecting that

Based on Dooku’s dark brown robes, he’s in the beginning to turn to the dark side phase like Anakin

Damn I was really hoping Dooku had a last name… or a first name? Idk I wanted a full name

7/10 though provoking but I wanted a little more

Episode 3 —

It is so strange to think that Dooku and Mace had an actual friendship

Of course Mace Windu would be a stickler for the rules

I’m sure these Raxus guys are bad guys or something, but their uniforms are cool

I feel like these people definitely killed Master Katri, but like why?

Dooku is in his fuck around and find out era

Ah yes, the beloved purple light label

“I will have the truth” … and the thing from the last episode about irradiating people like the evil senator. Dooku is every bit as blunt and rash as Anakin but like way more graceful about it

Uuugh how things could have been different if Mace was more open minded about the corruption taking root in the Jedi Order

Fun to see some of our favorite Jedi again… too bad it’s at a funeral

I don’t doubt that Mace did not know he was up for Master Katri’s council seat… but also he could have had an idea that he was in consideration

8/10 I love a good murder mystery with question authority undertones

Episode 4 —

How the FUCK would you find anything in that archive

Ooooooh Master Sifo Dias … Kamino???? Deleted?

Jocasta!!!

Yaddle!!!!

LIAM NEESON

Dooku’s been warning them about coming darkness… irony is so painful

Ahhhhhh Dooku hasn’t even met his grand-padawan yet

“You’re always singing his praises”

“They grow up so fast”

Qui Gon’s like… hey I’m concerned about this. Council is like… sounds fake but okay. We’ll do “something” about it…. Corporate mentality. SMH

Oh my god… Why did I not realize when he said Sith Lord on Tatooine that this was happening right after episode one

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH no no no no no

Dooku wanted to turn Qui Gon to the dark side

Is…. Dooku going to fight Yaddle….

Fuck this is such an ugly situation

Can you imagine if Yaddle had used The Force to yank Palpatine’s hood off and exposed him early like this

AAAAAHHHHH Yaddle is so wise. She is stepped down from the council

Oh my fucking god…….. she got smooshed!

Oh just kidding! Fuck ‘em up Yaddle!

Fuck that just hurts my heart so much

10/10 made me understand a lot about Dooku and broke my heart

Episode 5 —

All of Ahsoka’s dads in the same waiting room

Oh mullet Obi Wan, how I’ve missed you

Love this outfit, the white leggings are everything

CALEB!!!!! Dippa!!!!

I feel like Jedi are supposed to have a somewhat parental relationship with their Padawan, and Anakin goes straight to antagonistic older brother

REX! MY BOY!

How did this conversation go? Hey Rex, you and the guys wanna fire some blasters at Ahsoka for no reason? ugh… sure I guess

Fuckin Jesse “Sorry Commader!”

Honestly I feel like Anakin is just taking out some weird emotions or aggression out on Ahsoka

Okay sure you want to protect her by teaching her to protect herself, but there are almost certainly better ways to do that… like giving critique to what she’s doing or modifying the challenge with each round

Damn Rex, face shot

I swear to god if they make me watch Order 66 again

7/10 was a good episode, kind of irritated me because Anakin’s teaching style rubs me the wrong way

Episode 6 —

Not the cold open with Padme’s funeral….

NO Ahsoka was there

Sometimes I forget that Ahsoka didn’t have that many female figures in her life….

“She was my friend”

AAHHHHH the Corrie guard….. but now the Empire is in control…. This is like Bad Batch era

The Corries are like….. uh okay?

REX!!!

I love that Ahsoka did a stint as a farm hand after dropping out of Jedi school

Ooooh she used The Force…. are they gonna nark on her??

Ashla…. That’s such a pretty name

Do I smell….. a love interest???

This is… not going to go well

Ooooooh that fucking brother is a squealer

Oh my god… man fuck the Empire

Who the fuck is this?

Cowboy stand off, love it

I forgot she doesn’t have sabers anymore

Fuck that was cool!

OMG this is how she gets her white sabers!

I wonder how much time has passed?

Woooooo! REBELLION!!!

10/10 it always hurts, but like in the right way to be reminded that the Empire fucking sucks and there is always hope.

Since this was pretty short, I’m gonna watch more stuff. Might not do a reaction post though.

Happy Star Wars Day!

May the Force be with you!

[dinamnealey]

HBO'S VELMA... WASN'T VERY GOOD

(crossposted from https://artofdinam.com/)

Soooooooo… I saw the first episode of HBO’s Velma. You know, the “adult” Scooby-Doo show that doesn’t have Scooby in it, and features lots of “edgy” humour and lots of self-referential mockery, and which fans declared to be the worst thing ever before it even came out.

But I was willing to give it a chance. I’m all for new takes on old franchises, even if I don’t really see the point of Scooby-Doo if the dog isn’t there. (This was apparently an executive decision, mind; the higher-ups at Warner Animation explicitly told the showrunners that the dog was off-limits.)

Besides, I kind of like Mindy Kaling, show runner and also the voice of this incarnation of Velma. She’s not my fave comedian or anything, and she’s done and said some stuff I REALLY don’t agree with… but I adored The Sex Lives of College Girls (also on HBO), and even if Mindy did like one tweet by hyper-transphobe JKR, she was nothing but supportive towards teen actress Josie Totah (whom I mainly know as Lexi from the tragically-too-brief 2020 revamp of Saved by the Bell) when she came out as transgender, and seems fairly LGBTQ-positive otherwise… so I’m willing to accept that this one like was a mistake and not a declaration of hatred towards trans people.

I won’t lie, when I saw the trailer for the show, I thought it was kind of funny. A bit on the nose with the self-referential humour, but still… so It was with cautious optimism I sat down to watch the first episode. And… well, here’s roughly what happened. 

DINA M’S (somewhat parodic, very critical) RECAP OF THE FIRST EPISODE OF VELMA

Velma: Origin stories suck. They’re sexist and stuff. Anyway, here’s my origin story, which doesn’t suck because I’m cool and everyone sucks but me.

Daphne: Hello, I’m a pretty teenage girl in the girls’ locker room. I’m going to go take a shower with my equally pretty classmates.  Equally Pretty Classmates: We’re pretty and naked. Look how naked we are! Daphne: Now that we’ve got the viewer’s attention, let’s turn this communal shower into a discussion forum an talk about how gratuitous nudity in pilot episodes is bad! Other Girl: Nah, gratutious nudity in pilot episodes is HOT. Almost as hot as pointless naked catfights in the shower. Daphne: I’ll give you pointless naked catfight in the shower! Daphne and Other Girl: (Have pointless naked catfight in the shower.) Daphne: This is gratuitous, you slut!! Other girl: This is sexy, you whore!!

Velma: (arrives fully clothed) Velma: (beats Daphne with a stick) Velma: Why are we talking about this and not about race-blind casting in TV shows! By the way, I’m Asian in this show, and Daphne’s a bitch. Daphne: I’m Asian too and YOU’RE a bitch! Other Girl: Wouldn’t it be hot if you two kissed now? Velma: This isn’t Riverdale. We’re not melodramatic enough. Like I said, everyone sucks but me. Velma: (goes to open her locker) Dead Girl: (falls out) Dead Girl: (is dead) Velma: Okay, that girl sucks AND she’s dead.

One short title sequence later…

Velma: (is in handcuffs at the police station) Velma: Well, this is a great beginning to a mystery. Oops, I said “mystery.” Velma: (has a creepy hallucination) Lesbian cops: (enter) Lesbian cops: Hello, sweetie honey sugar pie, ex-friend of our daughter Daphne, whom we totally adore. Velma: You guys suck. My mother disappeared two years ago and you haven’t found her. Lesbian cops: Oh yeah? Well, YOU KILLED THAT DEAD GIRL! CONFESS, YOU MURDERER! Velma: I’m not a murderer, it’s just that I want to kill everyone because they suck. Lesbian cops: Okay, well, you’re still our number one suspect. Now go investigate and find the real murderer. You have 24 hours before we arrest you.

Velma: Lesbians suck. Hey, is that Fred? SWOON. Fred: Yeah, isn’t it so hot that I’m so hot? Fred: (takes selfies) Fred: Who are you, by the way? Velma: I’m Velma. We’ve known each other for years. Fred: Yeah, well, I’m a narcissist or something, so I don’t care. Daphne: (arrives) Daphne: Stay away from my boyfriend, bitch! You killed Dead Girl! Hey, Fred, wanna make out? Fred: Okay. Fred and Daphne: (make out) Velma: I didn’t kill Dead Girl. I don’t know who did, it’s a mystery. Oops, I said “mystery.” Velma: (has a creepy hallucination)

Velma: Dad, I’m being accused of a murder I didn’t commit! Velma’s father: Yeah, well, it’s your own fault. Ever since your mother disappeared, you’ve been lame. Velma: I’m not lame, you’re lame! And you got a waitress pregnant! Waitress: I’m not just a waitress, I’m the owner of the malt shop! But more important… I’m pregnant! Let me pose for naked photos! Look how naked and pregnant I am! Waitress: (poses naked) Fetus: (poses as well) Velma’s father: (takes pictures) Velma: My dad’s taking nude pictures of his pregnant girlfriend, with his daughter in the room. Velma: And the baby in her belly is posing too, making creepy-shaped bumps on her belly. Velma: There’s something disturbing and wrong about this, but I can think what… Velma: Oh, wait, I know what’s wrong here. Velma: WE DON’T HAVE A CAMERA! WHERE DID MY DAD GET A CAMERA?!

Daphne (is making a speech) Daphne: Thanks for coming to this wake for Dead Girl I’m so sad she’s dead. I mean, she was a slut and a whore, but still. Daphne: By the way, while I have your attention, I just want to say Velma’s a bitch. Velma: Fuck you too. Daphne: My lesbian cop mothers told me she was the one who killed Dead Girl! Lesbian cops: Daphhne, we told you not to tell anyone how little we care about the confidentiality issues!

Fred: I’m sad that Dead Girl’s dead, too. OH NO BEING SAD MEANS I’M NOT A MAN! Velma: If it helps, I have creepy hallucinations. Fred: Who are you again? Velma: Still Velma. We’ve still known each other for years. Fred: And I’m still a narcissist. Or have some other condition I’m not sure the writers bothered to define. Fred: Or I’m just a self-obsessed douche. I don’t know. Fred: So what’s this about hallucinations? Velma: Well, my mom was a writer. She wrote mystery novels. Oops, I said “mystery.” Velma: (has a creepy hallucination) Velma: No, wait, this is a flashback scene that reveals my angsty past. We can’t muddle this up with creepy hallucinations. For this one scene, I can say the word “mystery” without having a creepy hallucination, okay? Fred: Um, okay. So… mystery. Velma: Mystery. My mom wrote mysteries. And she was the one who gave me my love for solving mysteries. Velma: Two years ago I solved the mystery of where she hid my Christmas presents. She went out to get me another Christmas present, That was the last I ever saw of her. Velma: The lesbian cops found her car, abandoned and empty except for her glasses and a wrapped present for me. Velma: So I did the only logical thing. I swore off mysteries for good, started wearing her classes, despite not actually needing glasses, and vowed never to open that present. Velma: That’s totally not foreshadowing, by the way. Velma: And ever since then I’ve had creepy hallucinations. It’s because I feel so guilty. My mystery obsession had caused my mother’s disappearance.  Fred: Wow. Learning this made me emotionally connect with you. I even remember your name now. Fred: Well, bye. Fred: (leaves)

Norville: Hey! I’m in this show too! Norville: I know who killed Dead Girl. Norville: By which I mean I don’t know who killed Dead Girl. Norville: By which I mean I can guess who killed Dead Girl. Norville: By which I mean I can’t guess who killed Dead Girl. Norville: DON’T DO DRUGS, KIDS! Velma: Is there a point to any of this? Norville: Yeah. See, before Dead Girl died, I lent her my camera to take pictures in the bathroom at the malt shop. Norville: NOT FOR CREEPY REASONS, OKAY?! I just suspected there to be drug dealing going on in that bathroom. Norville: DRUGS ARE BAD. WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I HATE DRUGS. Norville: But now Dead Girl’s dead and the camera’s missing. Velma: Camera?! OMG! My dad suddenly has a camera! That can’t be a coincidence!!

Velma: (arrives home) Velma: (snatches the camera) Velma: Wait, there’s nothing on this camera but a bunch of pictures of babies dressed as vegetables. Velma’s father: Yes, the waitress and I have been taking vegetable baby pictures. Waitress: That was how we paid for the camera. Velma: There are so many questions here that I don’t want the answer to.  Velma: But if this isn’t Norville’s camera, the mystery is who DID take Norville’s… Oops, I said “mystery.” Velma: (has a creepy hallucination) Velma’s dad: Dammit, Velma, stop having those creepy hallucinations! Velma: I can’t, I’m too consumed with guilt! My mom vanished because of my mystery obsession! Velma’s dad: No, Velma. It’s been two years, so I suppose now’s the perfect time to tell you: Your mother didn’t vanish because of your mystery obsession. Velma: ….she didn’t? Velma’s dad: Not at all. She just ran off because you’re a terrible person. Velma: Oh. Well, that’s different. That’s nothing to feel guilty about!  Velma’s dad: Exactly! No more guilt! Velma: No more guilt! Waitress: And now that you don’t feel guilty, why not start dressing sexy? Velma: That’s an awesome idea!

Velma: (enters school) Velma: (is wearing sexy clothes) Schoolkids: Wow, Velma’s hot now! We love her! YAY! Schoolkids: (flirt with Velma) Girl: No, we don’t! She killed Dead Girl! We hate her! Schoolkids: Oh, okay, then. We hate her! BOO! Schoolkids: (throw things at Velma) Fred: No, don’t hate her! I talked to her yesterday, and she’s just sad. Schoolkids: Oh, okay then. We’re indifferent to her! YAWN. Schoolkids: (ignore Velma)

Velma: (cleans up in the bathroom) Velma: (is wearing her regular outfit again) Daphne: (enters) Daphne: So, Fred tells everyone not to hate you, huh? I guess he’s YOUR boyfriend now? Daphne: Whatever. I didn’t want him anyway. We’ve been together for a year and he hasn’t tried to fuck me even once. Velma: He hasn’t? Is he gay? Daphne: …YOU’RE gay! Velma: … Daphne: And Fred never even lets anyone see him naked! Even in the bathroom at the malt shop! Daphne: (leaves) Velma: That was a weirdly specific note to end on. Velma: OMG! The bathroom at the malt shop! Dead Girl was going to take pictures there!  Velma: And that’s the very same bathroom that Fred doesn’t want to be seen naked in! THIS CAN’T BE A COINCIDENCE!

Velma: Norville! Fred killed Dead Girl and stole your camera! Help me break into his house so we can find the camera! Norville: Okay. Velma: (breaks into Fred’s house) Norville: (waits outside) Norville: (gets bored) Norville: (calls Velma on the phone) Velma: Not now, Norville! I’m in the middle of solving the mystery! Oops, I said “mystery.” Velma: (has creepy hallucination) Norville: No, don’t hallucinate! I love you! Velma: You love me? Hah! That’s so funny I stopped hallucinating!

Velma: (finds the camera) Fred: (enters) Fred: You can’t have that camera! There’s a picture of me in it! Velma: So I was right! Dead Girl did take a picture of you in the bathroom! Fred: Yes… and now I’m gonna do the same to you as I did to her. Fred: (psycho grin) Velma: Help! He’s gonna kill me like he killed Dead Girl!! Lesbian cops: (enter) Lesbian cops: (shoot Fred in the kneecaps) Fred: (falls over in pain) Fred: I wasn’t going to kill her, I was going to bribe her to keep her mouth shut! Just like I bribed Dead Girl to give me the camera! Fred: The fact that I talked and acted like a psycho has nothing to do with it! Lesbian cops: Whatever. You’re arrested for the murder of Dead Girl, punk. Fred: But I didn’t kill Dead Girl! Lesbian cops: Yeah, that’s exactly what Velma said too. We didn’t believe her either. Lesbian cops: Oh, hi, Velma. Guess you’re innocent after all.

Norville: Well, that’s that, I guess. Norville: So why do you still have hallucinations if you don’t feel guilty about your mother anymore? Velma: Because while being a terrible person isn’t a valid reason to feel guilty, being obsessed with mysteries is. And I realized she DID vanish because of my mystery obsession. Norville: Okay. Norville: Hey, what’s this in your garbage? Another Dead Girl: (is also dead) Velma: Oh no! Here we go again!

…yeah, this wasn’t very impressive. I think I see why this show fails. Self-aware comedy really only works if you’re actually self-aware. And dramatic revelations about a character’s traumatic past don’t really have the same impact if you introduce plot twists about them five seconds later. 

There is the core of something half-decent here, but it’s sort of ruined by how the characters seem to be… not so much characters as mouthpieces for whatever criticism of pop culture and fans of pop culture that the writers have. (Trust me, I cut out a LOT of the snarky trope discussions and Velma mocking pop culture cliches.) The entire thing moves much too fast; you’re not allowed to get a feel for the characters and the setting before the dialogue tries to deconstruct and mock them. And as a murder mystery it falls flat because the mystery fails to engage. There’s just no reason to care who killed Dead Girl when the characters are all flat and unlikeable. 

Maybe the show gets better as it goes on, but the first episodeis a definite failure.

[imnobodyuknow]

"Up next is...a couple of pictures made using Mega Anime Avatar Creator."

"...Which totally counts as art. Nothing lazy about that at all, heh heh..."

My turn! So, as an avowed Murder Drones fan, I naturally had to see how two of its main characters, Uzi Doorman and N, would look in MAAC. Unfortunately, creating robotic-looking characters with it is practically impossible, so I went with the next best thing: Uzi and N as humans! (Which, as it turns out, has already been done. 😐)

First, we have the rebellious teen Worker Drone, Uzi:

There's a lot to be said about this young robo-crusader, but simply put, she's your average highschooler who struggles to fit in anywhere or make friends, even with her own dad. She's also into building weapons (and using them), pirating anime, computer hacking, and plotting to destroy all humans, so...kind of a mixture when it comes to relatability, you could say. 😅

But as evil as she might seem, she knows how to handle herself in even the scariest situations (especially when it involves physical combat), and even has a soft side to her, which is, quite ironically, brought out by a drone she meets who's been programmed to hunt down and kill Worker Drones -- the dashing Murder Drone N!

Despite being a literal killing machine, N turns out to be the friendly and compassionate type, and even quite the gentleman at times. He also has a strong work ethic and believes in following the rules...until Uzi's world collides with his, that is. The gradual development of these two drones as their interweaving stories progress is one of the things that makes this hilarious (and somewhat creepy) comedy series so enjoyable, in my opinion. 😊 And if you happen to be a hopeless romantic like me, well...let's just say you won't be disappointed. 😉

As usual, the MAAC versions of these characters differ quite a bit from the originals (or the alternate versions of the originals, in this case), but I think they turned out mostly okay. I wasn't able to recreate the "screens" on their faces (which I love so much, by the way 😊), so I went with the next best thing, which was a shadow over their eyes. I also had to make do with N's hat and outfit, as well as Uzi's railgun and choker, but again, I'm happy with having something close enough to the real thing.

Oh, and in case you're wondering why one of Uzi's eyes is yellow...well, you'll just have to watch the series yourself to find out. 😉 I'll admit I'm not a big fan of the sort of horror and violence included in it, but the incredible look, animation, humor, and (albeit sort of confusing) storytelling of Murder Drones make it a worthwhile sci-fi watching experience in my book! (Not to mention it's free.)

Oddly enough, I didn't realize until a moment ago that the pictures I used as a reference came from a video game that includes them rather than the actual show. 😄

In any case, I gotta give some serious props to Glitch for designing characters that exude personality both as still images and as animated models (even before we include the voiceovers, which add even more personality). Beautiful job, you guys! 👍

And with that...I'll finally shut up about Murder Drones.

...For now, at least.