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tiffgeorgina · 5 years ago

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alright trailer thoughts

watch it here slutties: https://twitter.com/SHOBlackMonday/status/1216778009044291585

1) HOLY FUCKING SHIT IT’S HERE THIS FEELS SURREAL

2) HOLYYY SHITTTT

3) but actually let’s get it. this song bangs showtime stays on their excellent editing.

4) trying to analyze showtime’s trailers is like trying to grab smoke so this is going to be extremely barebones for a while.

5) somebody drives off with the busted up limbo, but we can’t tell who it is yet bc their face never comes into view. they’re wearing a gray suit tho, so it may become more obvious who it is once the episode itself is out.

6) mo is being dramatic asf which as of 1x10 is perfectly in character lmfao

7) bro what the FUCK did you do to your hair i gotta ask fuck the 80s. also there’s this character on IMDb tagged “Vanessa (hair like mo)” so that makes more sense now maybe?

8) establishing shots that almost make me think mo is hiding out in california. since we know his orphanage story is bullshit, maybe he’s visiting family? maybe this is where that marcus wainright iii character comes in? since i dont think he’s in the trailer?

9) keith is living. almost has out-of-the-closet energy. i bet that scene of him roller skating is either after a) he comes out to his wife and divorces her or b) he gets a call from mo and flies straight out to cali to meet up with him.

10) the editing is so good you guys holy shit they jsut never quit over there do they?

11) a shot of mo in some suburb. could be a family member or a friend’s house? which again leads me to think he’s in california.

12) there’s this TV show called “America’s Most Unsolved Crimes” that mo shows up on bc he’s being solely blamed for the crash. how dawn and blair managed to avoid any blame whatsoever is beyond me, but mo is an excellent scapegoat since he confessed on record. no idea who the guy sitting on the desk talking about him is tho, since he wasn’t announced as one of the new guest stars. probably just a one off. maybe this is where “reenactment dawn” comes in from the IMDb page?

13) mo is bringing back the 70s and i do not like it. when i said the 80s were cool bc nobody knew how to dress themselves This Is Not What I Meant.

14) he wouldn’t just casually play basketball with some random kids, these are probably either his cousins or his nephews or the kids of a friend. again leads me to believe he’s in california, possibly visiting marcus? it would make sense. either that or we finally get some real concrete background on mo that isn’t total bullshit.

15) keith is in contact with mo. it’s hard to tell if keith went to cali to see mo or if mo came to NY seeing as both are extremely suspicious. assuming mo is in cali that is. keith is definitely going to get mo back in the game. speaking of mo, this entire first 30 seconds is Mo-centric, so i bet mo’s arc is going to be plottier than blair or dawn’s in 1“A” (showtime doesn’t really have A and B arcs for this show bc there’s no midseason hiatus i just like the terminology)

16) throwback thursday lmfao

17) no idea who this guy shooting/probably fake shooting is?? like no idea. could be nothing of importance and just a transition filler/tone setting moment.

18) the heat is on motherfucker! let’s get this cat and mouse shit im ready for it!

19) here we go here’s dawn. back at the jammer group. back at DAWN AS THE PRESIDENT HIRING A BUNCH OF WOMEN???????? BIIIIIITTTTCCCCHHHH I LOVE TO SEE IT. INCLUDING DEANNA CHENG (she’s friends with casey which means she’s friends with half the cast we should’ve known she wasn’t going anywhere) AKA THE SALES CLERK WHO HARASSED DAWN IN 1X02????? YES BITHC

20) then wayne and yassir fucking it up (nice facial hair wayne it’s hideous kjsfkjdhg) and the women throwing paper at him??? LKJRHGKLJSERH????

21) blair and tiff dressed up??? guys. they’re going to some rich people gala thing. this is what i was talkinf about. im almost certain this is how blair and harris meet. their wives are gonna see each other after not having spoken in years bc of whatever but they used to be friends so they go to talk and the husbands and dragged along and *closet case to closet case communication sounds*

22) ok now BLAIR’S on the exercise craze? i thought that was just gonna be dawn like in s1 also how long is this exercise montage in the show bc there are some things a god fearing lesbian shouldn’t have to see. this weird mirror talking shit feels like voyeurism from this perspective i feel like i shouldn’t be seeing this.

23) she’s still topping him??? after all that??? aight yk it’s part of the dynamic

24) tiff is wearing the same dress in “you do, hunk” as she is in the bit where they get out of the limo and deal with the paparazzi so i presume that workout scene is immediately before that gala thing im establishing a #timeline

25) the skants reveal??? we call that PLOT DEVELOPMENT i love a good callback to the first season

26) the shocked gasp i can’t tell if it’s good or bad. also does this mean tiff’s starting her own company? since georgina is liquid?

27) larry telling dawn that mo’s on his way back for revenge? spliced with mo staring at the wall like he so frequently does while smoking? mayhaps this editing went off also i never thought i’d say this but the brotherfucker has a point mo is gonna pop off when he sees yall again

28) FBI wyd........ that’s a lot

29) that falling out last season bit: blair’s definitely talking about tiff’s parents, and im almost certain andrew flubbed right there and improvised over it by saying “autumn.” well im appreciative of that bc a) it’s funny and b) it indicates when this is going on a bit. it’s not like we’re two years in the future or anything. this is probably gonna start a couple of months after the crash and that’s it.

30) no idea who blair is talking to tho since i can’t see the woman’s face. could be one of tiff’s friends? idk. also nice hair tiff

31) that ball spinning around like a gumball in a machine? weird transition but aight. also immediately after, dawn is in the lehman office, again no idea why. probably the same scene as larry telling her that mo is plotting his revenge but idk why she’s there.

32) that shot of a plane coming into JFK? now im near certain that mo is in cali it would make so much sense please showtime just MAKE SENSE.

33) confetti and mo’s entrance? you know what it’s what i should’ve expected tbh it’s all so delightfully in character EDIT: THE CONFETTI IS NOT BEFORE MO’S ENTRANCE. YOU CAN SEE DAWN’S CLOTHES CHANGE COLOR, IT WAS JUST AN EDITING TRICK.

34) mo’s just gonna pull up, zero fucks, in the middle of the day. much different than how i thought this scene would go, with a lot of betrayal and drama involved instead of this bitch just pulling up. now idek if dawn and mo are in contact before this, when before i was almost certain they would be.

35) what blair says here is definitely not the first thing he says when mo walks in, i can tell from the editing. also im near certain that blair doesn’t say “bro.” it sounds edited in/done in post (his voice pitches up a lot there when that’s usually a beat when your voice would fall), so i wouldn’t be surprised if blair curses a lot there and they just had to edit it to stay in the green band.

36) ol polluted waterfall lookin ass jshgkjfdhg mo quit lying that hairstyle is not popular fuck off

37) im loving this tagging order tbh. paul scheer getting tagged in the trailer is just. what he deserves. do we consider keith a protagonist now? he’s in all the promo material by name and face now.

38) regina and andrew look so good god yes also the editing is so GOOD fuck

39) keith (hand holding emoji) blair

getting hit by random vehicles

40) NO THE LIMBO FUCK SHIT THESE CARS WERE NOT MEANT TO LAST almost looks deliberate :eyes emoji:

41) what’s keith doing with this barbershop quartet wtf

42) almost certain that’s tiff singing? based on 1x09 this oughta be good lmao

43) THE HEEL CLICKING IS TAKING ME OUT HGKJDHFGKJFD. could this be mo and marcus? who knows?

44) look at all the cash wtf what’s all that cash for? ah shit here we go again

45) tiff entering another dimension followed by dawn doing what is certainly a mountain of coke? kind of poetic cinema ok

46) ok dawn’s wearing that green suit again from my icon so??? what does it mean what does it all mean

47) who is mo squaring up with tf? is this marcus? i can’t tell in this lighting maybe it’s fake shooting guy idk also where the fuck are they? some party? but not a rich ppl thing just a thing? idk

48) guys. we have it. the fucking airdate. i have been stanning since the first fucking episode almost a year ago today and finally we have an airdate. respect to the new stans but yall dont know what seven and a half months of network radio silence in regards to your current obsession feels like. @hatimbinaba msged me and said we had a date and the shot of adrenaline i felt was like nothing else. serotonin is currently stored in the black monday and now the serotonin is stored in the ME. Sunday, March 15, 2020, 10 pm motherfuckers. put that shit on the calendar. also looks like we have a slightly earlier timeslot which is nice.

49) and to top (ahah) it all off we have blair just straight up gay panicking at the end. that’s definitely tuc and june and if yall have been following yall would know that tuc is playing blair’s love interest and june is playing tuc’s wife so this is all very jghsrkjghs im rly excited for this scene. no way of knowing if this is before or after blair and harris get together but it’s still kshgkdjhgdkj. rich people golfing? more like rich people existing lmao. also where’s that onion video i need to find the onion video fuck this is just like the onion said would happen. i will post it and make memes later.

50) then blair just gets hit??? by the golfcart?? and there’s this scream that is definitely not the scream of andrew, tuc or june so??? whose scream was that??? did they add that shit in post??? tf???? also tuc and june barely flinching is really decapitating me kjshkrjdg

51) there’s no way of knowing if tiff is also at the golf course, but if she isn’t? then it’s just blair and his canon love interest and canon love interest’s wife???? which is so funny “hey come play golf with me” “oh is anyone else coming?” “ya my wife” “you’re so stupid i have to question how you’re even still alive”

52) WHEEWWWW AND THAT’S IT YALL!!! BUT A COUPLE MORE THINGS. some distinct absences: no known shot of marcus (which is wack yall would think they would want to plug the hell out of dulé hill) and very few shots of harris and corky. why. promote your newcomers some more tf.

anyways that’s all on this long ass post. @ mutuals expect more freakouts xx love yall this is unedited just raw emotion

#black monday #andrew rannells #don cheadle #regina hall #trailer #showtime #slander

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winchester90210 · 5 years ago

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The BH 90210 Rewrite. 1x02: The Green Room

Masterlist

Read the previous chapter here!

Chapter Summary: Sparks fly when Y/N meets the school’s resident bad boy and experiences L.A.’s oceans for the very first time

Pairing: No one yet :)

Warnings: Swearing, Dylan McKay

Word count: Roughly 4,700

Disclaimer: My work is not to be reposted or edited without my expressed written consent. (Reblogging is fine and encouraged!!)

A/N: First episode down, folks! Tag list is below. Let me know if you would like to be added! This was super fun to write, I’m looking forward to the future dynamic between Dylan and Y/N :)

“Yo, West Beverly! It’s T.G.I.F. In a major way today, ‘cause the sun’s shinin’! And yours truly is stoked for some major tanning this weekend so check it out! If life’s a beach, then why not live it?! This here’s D.J. Mike M.C. The voice of rhyme and reason on KWBH…” The D.J’s voice rings through the schoolyard as you walk up with Kelly and Donna, sun beaming bright and early.

“Kelly, Y/N!” Brenda shouts, walking up, Brandon at her side.

“Hey!” You greet her, smiling.

“Brenda, hi.” Kelly stops, holding her new, very expensive purse at her front.

“You guys remember my brother?” She gestures towards Brandon. You and him exchange a knowing look, causing a shy smile to creep up on your face. Yeah. You might know him.

“Hi, Brenda’s brother,” Kelly smiles, wind blowing her bangs away from her face. You mutter a shy “hi” to him.

“Brandon,” He corrects, offering a “hi” to all three of you. His eyes wander to you as Brenda speaks.

“So, what are you guys up to?”

“This weekend? Working on my back. I spent last Saturday lying on it, so my tan’s totally uneven.” Kelly shares as the wind picks up.

“Hah, at least you have one! I’m starting from scratch.” Brenda laughs, fixing her dark chestnut hair.

“Me too, Wisconsin doesn’t get a lot of sun this time of the year or…ever.” You agree, slinging your red tote over your shoulder.

“You two should start this weekend, Secos beach will be a major scene.” Kelly begins, but she’s cut short by Brandon.

“Great. Look, I’ll see you guys later, okay?” And with that, he’s running off into the school.

“Actually, I should get going too. See you guys at Secos!” You’re already turning to leave when they offer their goodbyes. You catch up with Brandon and follow him into the WBB printing room.

“I was wondering when you’d waltz in here,” Andrea states, her tone agitated and demeanor…not so friendly.

“Well, good morning, Andrea. So nice to see you too!” Brandon barks back, softer than Andrea was, but still with a bit of a bite. “Hi, Ms. Rye!” You both follow Andrea over to the printer. Oh god. How were you going to tell them you BROKE the school’s only laptop? And following that up with telling them you don’t have the money to pay them back? You were dead meat. You dreaded what was about to come, a pit in your stomach.

“Our ace sports writers, always a pleasure.” Ms. Rye responds, red curls bouncing on the shoulders of her chiffon shirt as she turns away.

“Here, Ace. Your next assignment.” Andrea snidely remarks, handing him a paper and turning away. Brandon claps his binder closed. Everyone was tense and you hadn’t even told them the bad news yet. Not a good sign.

“Sorry, Chief. I don’t do editorials.” He follows Andrea over to her desk, while she holds a pencil in her mouth. “Especially when they’re called 'From the Midwest to West Beverly– A Transfer Student Speaks.’” He grumbles. You and Ms. Rye watch them bicker, letting yourselves be entertained.

“So change the title…or get Y/N to help!” Andrea practically laughs in his face, turning away to work.

“A little help, Ms. Rye?” Brandon calls out, still facing Andrea.

“I’m just the Adviser, she’s the boss.”

“Brandon, just try it! You might be surprised by what happens!” Andrea argues, “Besides, you’re too good just to cover sports anyway.”

“Really, you think?” He wasn’t buying it. He knew when he was being buttered up. He could smell it from a mile away.

“She does. And so does she.” She points to Ms. Rye, and then to you. Brandon looks at the two of you, his eyes lingering on you just a little bit longer.

“You’re alright,” you joke, smirking at him. He pauses, in thought. The clicking of the printers and keyboards fill the silent space.

“Ok, fine. I’ll try it,” He concedes, turning back around.

“Great. Deadline’s tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? That’s one day.”

“And a night!” Andrea replies.

“Andrea, I think it’ll keep till Monday,” Ms. Rye interjects, “Have Y/N work on it as well, she’s bound to have a fresh perspective on the situation too.”

“Morning. First thing!”

“You are relentless!” Brandon shouts, a playful tone behind his voice as he walks out to get something from his locker.

“Thank you.” Andrea counters, sitting down behind her computer.

“Hey, Ms. Rye? I need to talk to you about something.” Oh god. Here we go. This is where you die, isn’t it?

“What is it, Y/N?” She asks, glancing at you as she fills out paperwork. You feel overwhelmingly nauseous. Hey, maybe if you throw up everywhere you’d get pity forgiveness.

“Uh…I loaned out the school’s laptop the other day and it sort of…broke.” You swallow what felt like a boulder-sized lump in your throat. You grab your tote and place it up onto the table, frantically searching through it. “But I can pay to replace it! I just have to find the money!” You check your bag, then your pockets. Pulling out what you expected to be a dollar bill, you hand it to the adviser, until you realize– it was in fact not a dollar bill. It was the check. How the hell?

“Oh! Uh, paying to replace should be fine. You might have to work a few shifts in the library…but you should be okay,” she tries to soothe your slightly panicked behavior. You let out a long sigh of relief. Just add: Fight Steve Sanders onto your to-do list today.

“Awesome. Thank you,” You thank her, an apologetic tone lacing your voice. You pick up your assignment, placing it in your folder. “I told Brandon I’d meet up with him in the computer lab, so I better motor.” You speed walk down the hall, almost getting launched into Brandon by some guy pushing you out of his way.

“Hey,” You smile, leaning against the cold metal lockers.

“Hi,” He smiles back, closing his locker but his eyes almost never leave yours. You both walk down to the computer lab, getting a jolt whenever you two brush arms or hands. Stepping into the dark room, Brandon walks behind a freshman, hard at work. “What is it?” He asks.

“Floor plan,” the freshman responds, a proud smile on his face. The program sings and hums as he continues.

“What for?” You question, joining Brandon behind him.

“The perfect dance club!”

“I see you’ve done your homework man,” Brandon compliments.

“Looks are deceiving. I’ve never set foot inside a club! Everytime I try, I get carded,” The blonde freshman responds. A fake I.D. would fix that, you think.

“How’d you design it, then?” You ask, studying the computer as Brandon walks around the table, setting whatever he was dropping off down.

“I used my imagination instead of my experience,” The freshman smiles. Two rough looking seniors round the table, and begin to mock him.

“Oh, how sweet!” The one in the Letterman jacket speaks up, “How touching!”

“A little dork with big dreams!” They both walk on either side behind him.

“But no experience!” The Letterman jacket slaps his hand on the nameless freshman’s shoulder, spooking him like a deer in headlights. Oh god. Why did people have to be such dicks? Let the boy design his night club. You and Brandon watch, you notice him becoming alert, like he’s ready to jump into it at any second.

“At least I’m not the missing link,” the boy responds.

“What did you say?!” And with that, the poor, sweet freshman is yanked out of his chair by his shoulders and pulled close to that damn guy in the jacket. That must have been Brandon’s cue, because he jumps out.

“Hey, hey, hey! Take it easy, guy!” Brandon shouts.

“Where’s that erase command anyway, huh?” The senior in the gray long sleeve says, looking at the keyboard. Oh, you dick.

“Touch that board, my friend!” A fifth voice comes out, turning around from the back of the room. “Please, touch it.”

Oh, shit. Who was he? Pompadourian hair cut, single small hoop earring, the classic leather jacket and white tee. He joins the two asshole seniors at the other side of the room. “You know, the tragedy of this country is that creeps like you two end up running it,” you were in awe, watching how they let go of the boy and backed into the corner. God, this guy was totally hot. Yet, the one in gray still tries to mouth off.

“Yeah, losers like you end up–”

“Let me tell you something just…so you know in advance. I am not in a good mood today. In fact, I’m feeling a little hostile.” Oh-hoh-hoh shit. Were you blushing? You felt like you were blushing. Who was this guy?

“Woah…” and with that very intelligent comeback, the seniors scurry off. The pompadour nods in approval at the freshman’s computer.

“You’re doing a good job, kid! Keep up the good work,” he nonchalantly pats him on the back and just like that, he’s gone. You walk around one side of the table while Brandon goes around the other, both meeting at the confused, frightened boy.

“Your friend’s pretty cool,” Brandon says, a hint of suspicion in his voice. And totally sexy, but yeah. Cool. Let’s go with that.

“Yeah, no kidding,” You agree.

“I’ve never seen the guy in my life.”

Later, you and Brandon track down the… ahem…alluring mystery guy from earlier, finding him alone sitting on the stairs of the school, book in hand.

“Hey,” Brandon calls out, getting the guy’s attention, “My name’s uh, Brandon Walsh.”

“Brandon Walsh,” the guy repeats, it’s as if he was dissecting it. “Scotch or Irish?”

“Both, actually. By way of Minnesota.”

“What about you?” YOU?? Oh my god he’s talking to you. Words. Mouth. Move lips.

“Y/N. Y/L/N,” You respond. “From…Wisconsin.” You get nothing but silence as he looks at you, practically examining you.

“Listen, what you did to those two nimrods back there was great,” Brandon starts, stepping up a few stairs.

“Yeah, well, I just don’t believe in winning through intimidation,” He looks to Brandon, then to you. “Unless, of course, I’m the doing the intimidating.” He smirks and you feel a nervous giggle crawl up your throat. You couldn’t help but imagine how you looked right now. Blushed cheeks, dilated pupils, arms crossed.

“Are you hungry? I got next period off, all three of us could go grab a bite.” Brandon Walsh, ever the gentleman. The man scoffs, sun in his eyes.

“Yeah, let’s do lunch,” He pauses.

“Don’t see much water in the midwest.”

“Ton of lakes, not a lot of oceans,” You counter, brushing a hair behind your ear.

“My sympathies,” He stands up, striding down the stairs, “Come on!”

“Where we going?” Brandon asks, following him while you’re at his heel.

“Field trip.”

You pull up near the beach, listening to the waves, the birds…everything. Woah. You should’ve seen this sooner.

“I don’t know, Dylan, there’s this editorial we gotta write,” Brandon says, wind blowing in his hair. Man, he was cute. A surfer takes notice of the car.

“Yo, McKay!” A second surfer stands up.

“What’s up, bro?! Get in the green room!” The green room? What the hell was that?

Then, a third surfer, this time a girl, joins. “Come on, Dylan! Let’s catch some waves!”

You watch Brandon as he watches the beach in awe. “Man, I dreamed about this place!”

“Who doesn’t? Welcome to paradise, man. Welcome to your dream come true.” You had a feeling this little crush on the bad boy turned surfer might come back to bite you in the ass later. But hey, what’s the worst that could happen?

Before you know it, all three of you are in the water. Dylan on a surf board, you and Brandon on boogie boards. You’re totally kicking Brandon’s ass, by the way. You’ve only wiped out like, twice. You liked watching him trip back into the water with the giant flippers on his feet. He wasn’t very good, sure, but he was trying. And looking mighty fine while doing it. He watched you, too, as you managed to nail every single wave perfectly. You’re on your next wave as he gets crushed by the last one.

“WIPEOUT!” Dylan yells, causing his surfer bros to yell with him. You end up near Dylan after the wave, watching as the blonde girl helps him up.

“Yo, Minnesota? You all right?!”

“I love this!” He yells back, wet hair falling in his face. You’re wading the water, shaking your head and giggling at his excitement.

Then everything settles down after a while, Brandon and whoever that blonde chick is are sitting in the sand talking, meanwhile you’re swimming and talking with Dylan.

“So, Wisconsin, huh? What’s there?”

“Uh, Cheese, lakes, football, drunks,” You’re only half joking. You listen to the waves washing over the shore. You don’t think you could get tired of this place.

“How’d you end up with Minnesota?”

“What do you mean?” You ask, cocking your head at him in confusion.

“I mean, how’d you end up dating him? Was it his squeaky clean charm?” You let out a laugh.

“Me? And- and Brandon? No. We aren’t…No.” You laugh like that’s the craziest thing you’ve ever heard. He nods, studying you again. Really wish he would quit doing that.

“But you want to be.”

“No! I- Brandon and I…are friends. Nothing more. Nothing less. Got it?” You try to please your case with him.

“Then why does he look like he wants to jump your bones half the time?” What?

“…That’s just his face.” This time Dylan laughs.

“Whatever you say,”

That night, you found yourself in the backseat of Dylan’s car again, parked outside of the Walsh’s house. You had to majorly lie to get yourself here, but it’s not like you were doing a B&E. You were just going to hang out…with some friends. Some male friends. Some really hot male friends, sure. But still friends. Brandon interrupts your thoughts, hopping into the front seat.

“So, did we get daddy’s permission?” Dylan asks.

“Nope. We got mom’s,” Brandon shoots a smile towards the both of you. His stupid dumb face and his stupid pretty smile. Ugh. You hate him. You worked on the editorial with Brandon for most of the day, you could handle him at school. Anywhere outside of it though, you get giddy and shy. You hated it.

“So, is this what you call the sunset strip, man?” Brandon asks, as you both stand outside of what looks to be a nightclub, with Dylan’s radio blaring random rock music.

“No, that’s what tourists call it.” The surfer guys from earlier skate up, spinning around.

“Oh, maybe he’ll get hip by graduation,” One jokes.

“I think he’s fine right now,” Sarah says, waltzing up to Brandon, smile on her face. That bitch. Wait. Stop. She’s not a bitch. You know that. Why are you thinking that?

“I bet you do,” one of the guys says. You huff, quietly, but Dylan takes notice.

“What are you two doing here?” Dylan asks, walking up to them and away from his car.

Same thing you are– waiting for something to happen.“

"Yeah, well, it ain’t happening here. Come on.”

“Where you going?” Sarah questions.

“Anywhere but here, you want to come?”

“Yeah, sure Dylan, I’d love to!” She was SO nice. She had done nothing to you. Yet…you felt like you had to throw up anytime she went near Brandon.

“Hey, she goes where we go!” The doofier, brunette one of the two speaks up.

“Isn’t that her decision?” Dylan cocks his eyebrow, keeping the typical coolness in his voice.

“Oh, well, uh, you heard him. Decide!” Oh, Thing 2 speaks up as well. Wonderful. Sarah stays silent for a moment. You can’t believe she gets pushed around by those guys. What dicks.

“We’ll follow you,” She decides.

All 3 of you hop into the car, you in the back, the boys in the front.

“What’s this?” Brandon picks up a thick black book from the center console.

“Ah, a little leisure reading,” Dylan brushes it off.

“Byron– the collected works?”

“Mad, bad, and dangerous to know. That was him and that’s me.” The whole bad boy thing would almost be cheesy if it didn’t work so well. Almost.

“Hey, do your surfer buddies know you ready poetry?” You comment, arm resting on the back of their seats.

“Oh, those bonehead wouldn’t know a poem if it walked up and bit 'em,” He laughs, “Except Betty, she’s cool.” Dammit. She’s so cool.

“She doesn’t think so,”

“She would if those guys didn’t treat her like a doormat. Hell, we all think we deserve something better, but…Betty really does.” You all exchange looks before the meatheads talk again.

“Yo, McKay, where we goin’?”

You pull up to the Bel Age hotel, neon signs and water fountains at the entry way.

Dylan leads you all in, acting as if he’s sneaking you guys in on a mission or something. Clasdical music plays throughout the building. Sarah and Surfer dude #1 goof around by the sculpture they pass, looking through it and making faces. You all simultaneously sit down in the lobby. Brandon parks himself at Dylan’s ear.

“What are we doing here?”

“Visiting friends.” Thanks, that’s not vague at all. You give Dylan a look. “I thought you people from the midwest were supposed to be so sociable,” he jokes. “Come on,” He says, springing up from the couch as his group follows him. You and Brandon are the last to follow him. He huffs, getting up hesitantly.

“You alright?” You ask, watching his anxious demeanor.

“I’m fine…thanks,” He gives you a reassuring smile and you trek down the hallways together. Again with the sneaking. Huh.

“Uh, so, Dylan. These friends of yours know we’re coming?” Brandon urges.

“Of course!” Dylan responds. Yeah, like he’s crazy for asking that. You’re galloping and sneaking the halls like some weird special agents. You all stop at a room and watch as Dylan shakes open the door. “Voila.” Oh. Okay. Maybe you were doing a B&E. Great. He opens it, slowly. Peering around the dark room he adds, “Well, don’t just stand there. Come on!” He looks around the room curiously. “Where do you suppose…ah!” He flicks the lightswitch, “let there be light.” His friends gasp as they see the luxurious room. Paintings, flowers, chandeliers. Furniture that probably costs more than you do.

“Oh, this is so outrageous!” You and Brandon both stay behind, feeling wary about this whole thing.

“Hey, don’t just stand there. Come on in!” Dylan welcomes you like he owns the place.

“Come on, Dylan. Let’s get out of here. Go grab a burger or something,” Brandon practically begs, hushed tone.

“Hey, I got a better idea,” He muses, picking up the landline, “Let’s stay and grab one.”

“Dylan…” You trail off, this was not how you expected your night to go.

He ignores you, calling into room service. “Room service. This is…room 211.”

“Dylan, come on,” Brandon cuts through.

“I’d like six cheeseburgers, please. Medium well,” he turns away from the phone, “Is that all right with you guys?” They give him the go ahead and he continues, “Yeah, six orders of french fries…” and then it all clicks. McKay. The Bel Age hotel. You don’t know how you didn’t realize this sooner.

“Alright, that’s it, I’m out of here.” His voice is tense and frustrated.

“Minnesota, really? You gotta relax.”

“Look, if I relax I’ll do it in my own room! Not somebody else’s!” Brandon rants…he would be right. If it wasn’t Dylan’s place.

“Hey, Brandon, wait.” Sarah stands up, walking over to him.

“For what? To get busted for breaking and entering?” Again, he would totally be right if the circumstances were different.

“It’s just for fun,” Sarah adds.

“Not where I’m from it isn’t,” he states, jaw clenching.

“Come on, Brandon, stay with me.” This girl was really getting on your nerves. I think that might be your cue to leave. Brandon shakes his head, walking out the door.

“I should go too,” You comment, joining your midwestern friend at the door.

“Hey, come on, stay,” Dylan pleads. “You better make that order for four,” he speaks into the phone, chasing after you and Brandon.

“Hey. Minnesota, Wisco, wait up!”

“The name’s Brandon! Brandon Walsh, it’s scotch-irish, remember?” Oh, he was pissed.

“How could I forget?” Dylan tries to calm him down. A cart with dishes of food rolls by.

“Excuse me, when your order’s ready will you be eating up in the terrace or in your suite?” The man pushing the cart turns to Dylan.

“Upstairs is cool, Tony, thanks.” You see everything click for Brandon as Dylan takes a fry from the dish.

“You live here,” He realizes shaking his head.

“Dad’s corporate pad. It’s mine when he’s out of town,” He states nonchalantly.

“And how often is that?” Brandon fumes

Okay. Better to stay silent during this. He has his claws out.

“Often as possible,” He replies, “You see, my parents, they’re not exactly into parenting. But oh- shh! Don’t tell them upstairs, wouldn’t want to spoil the fun.”

“No, no, we wouldn’t want to do that,” He snaps, a defined tightness in his voice. He turns around and starts walking away, and you follow him.

“Well, stick around! Henry downstairs makes the best french fries in town,” Dylan bargains, making Brandon turn back around. “Brandon, Y/N, come on. You wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation.”

“You’re right. I wouldn’t want to ruin the only real thing you’ve got,” He retorts, “You coming, Y/N/N?” You shoot Dylan an apologetic look, and start walking out again.

“Y/N, wait,” Dylan stops you. “You’re really going to let him run you out of here?”

“I’m not letting him do anything, Dylan!” You argued.

“Please, you’re leaving because he’s got you wrapped around his little finger,” he snorts, “Not to mention the entire time you were here you were jealous and crabby.”

You laugh. “Jealous? Of what?”

“Brandon and Betty!” Wow. He’s..totally crazy. Where the hell did he get that from?

“That’s crazy! I’m leaving because I want!”

“Fine, then leave.” He concedes, tone sharp, taking a step closer to you.

“Fine, I will!” You mirror him, stepping closer.

“Fine,” he takes another step.

“Fine!” And so do you.

“Fine.”

When the word leaves your lips you can see him tense up, like he’s restraining himself. You gaze at each other, intensity behind both pairs of eyes. He moves forward, causing you to back off. “I should get going.” And this time, he doesn’t fight it. He just sighs, watching as you run out of the hotel and back to Brandon.

The day comes, and you’re walking down to Secos beach with Brenda at your right and Kelly and Donna at your left, enjoying the breeze and the commotion.

“This is great,” Brenda smiles. You readjust the beach bag in your hands.

“This is bogus. I don’t see a single person that I would want to talk to. Besides, I’m freezing,” Kelly complains.

“Well, you should’ve dressed warmer,” Donna tells her.

“Donna, I didn’t pay a small fortune to look like an eskimo!” Kelly argues.

“Um, I have to go check on my brother, he doesn’t know anyone else here,” Brenda walks down to the beach while you’re all stopped by Steve.

“Hey Kel, Y/N/N,” He greets you, “Warm enough?” You roll your eyes and walk right past him, not letting Steve be the thing that ruins your day.

You sit in the sand with the rest of the girls. Kelly has her arms crossed, shivering from the wind.

“This party is totally beat,” she says.

“Does that mean we’re leaving?” Brenda quips back.

“It means I am,”

“Me too,” Donna agrees. The three of them stand.

“I’ll go find Brandon,” Brenda says, brushing herself off.

“I’ll meet you over there, Bren,” You stand up, making your way over to your new friend over in the ocean, board in hand.

“Wisco, hey,” He sets his surfboard upright in the sand as you walk up to him. “About last night…”

“Don’t worry about it,” you wander a little closer.

“It was supposed to be fun. If it wasn’t well, I apologize. But it was supposed to be,” There’s something so genuine, so penitent in his voice.

“I know your intentions were good…misguided, for sure. But…sweet.” The overcast clouds and wind cool your skin as you speak.

“Sweet?” He asks, raising an eyebrow at you as you cross your arms.

“You could’ve taken us to a random 5 star hotel instead of your suite. It would’ve upped the thrill factor for you, but we would’ve gotten busted. So you didn’t. Brandon sees it as a way of keeping your reputation in tact and your record clean. I see it as a way of keeping your friends safe but giving them a good time all the same. Call me crazy if I’m reading too far into this, but…” The breeze blows your hair out of your face as you wait for his reply. The wind and the overcast skies leave you chilly.

He looks at his feet, leaning against his board. Sighing, he looks at you like he wants to speak.

“You’re not crazy.”

You give him a gentle smile. “You’re not nearly as mean and brooding as you think you are, Dylan,” your voice is soft as you put your hands in the pockets of your dress. You turn to meander off, but he stops you.

“Do you want to try it again sometime? You know, hanging out?” He asks.

“No B&Es?”

“No B&Es. Not even fake ones.”

You laugh softly, and nod. “I’d like that.” You turn and go off, and he watches you as you leave.

You walk over the Brenda and Brandon’s side of the beach, going to offer them a ride home, since you saw Kelly skidding off with Donna. You expect to see them talking, maybe lounging in the sand. But what you do is Brandon, carrying a soaked, unconscious girl out of the water. Your eyes go wide. What the hell. Is that…Betty? You run over there as fast as you could, the only thing keeping you down the sand beneath your feet.

“Oh my God, is she alright?!” You call out, your heart racing.

Beverly Hills Memorial Hospital.

“So you’re sure she’ll be okay?” Brandon asks, fidgeting with his fingers.

“Thanks to you three,” the doctor says, folding his hands. “Her body temp had already dropped two degrees from exposure.” It felt like a weight lifted off your shoulders. You may have been a little cold towards her, but you never wanted anything to happen to her.

“Is that normal?” Brenda inquires.

“Depends on what your definition of normal is. It happens all the time to alcoholics.” Oh, no. Everybody tenses up.

“Are you saying she’s an alcoholic?”

“Nobody drinks that much for fun,” the doctor sighs.

“Yooo, West Beverly! It’s that day of the week again, and this is D.J. Mike M.C.! Now listen up, cause this song ain’t dedicated to the one I love, but to the local heroes who busted a rescue move on Secos beach this weekend and saved someone’s life! Way to go, homies!” The DJ’s voice rings through the speakers at West Beverly once again as you stop a familiar face in the hallway.

Hey,“ he smiles.

"Hi,” it’s a comfortable silence as you walk to class together, at least at the moment. His face scrunched up lightly, like he’s deep in thought.

“How do you feel about Dylan?”

“Uh, he’s pretty cool… why?”

“I was just wondering…,” He trails off, “Steve thinks you’re sleeping with him.” Your jaw drops.

“What the hell? Where’d he get that from?”

“Well, you know Steve. If a girl and a guy make eye contact they’re automatically doing it,” Typical Steve, I guess.

“So by Steve Law we’re…” You trail off.

“Married,”

“Oh, yeah, obviously,” you jokingly concur as he puts his arm around you in a casual manner. You walk down the hallway together to your first class.

“Oh, yeah, obviously,” you jokingly concur as he puts his arm around you in a casual manner. You walk down the hallway together to your first class. Yeah, you could get used to this.

@be-patient-be-good @lilo-1988 @mpmarypoppins @fangirl-imagines @bevelyhills90210

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angsty-nerd · 5 years ago

Text

Echo-inspired Season 1 Playlist

So I’ve been meaning to share this for… a really long time. But I’m kind of glad that I waited so long because I found a bunch more songs to add and ended up doing an edit on this playlist this weekend, so this is where it landed. It’s a bit of a beast—40+ songs. (And it’s my shorter Echo playlist… I have another one I’m still playing with that has all of these, plus the show’s soundtrack songs, plus recommendations that I’m still considering for future Echo use…so this is the reasonably lengthen one…haha). If you just want to go to Spotify and check it out, here’s the link.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/14ZIHN2MwjfgFbA6yF3RAO?si=5vPkiahyQw-voaZjqMLWsw

If you want to read my rambles about the progression of the songs and why I picked them, along with some lyrics from each one that make me think of Echo, that beastly monstrosity is below the cut for you! Here’s just the track list:

1. Armor - Sara Bareilles 2. People Need a Melody - the Head and the Heart 3. A World to Explore - Joshua Radin 4. Missed Connection - the Head and the Heart 5. Summer Years - Death Cab for Cutie 6. It’s OK - Natalie Taylor 7. Something American - Jade Bird 8. Anchor - Novo Amor 9. Harvest Moon - Neil Young 10. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band 11. Silhouettes - Oscar Blue 12. The Storm - The Airborne Toxic Event 13. The Space Between - Dave Matthews Band 14. Walls - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 15. Ruins - Jade Bird 16. The Last Time - Taylor Swift feat. Gary Lightbody 17. Run No More - the Talbott Brothers 18. Wild Heart - Bleachers 19. Dream - Bishop Briggs 20. Lullaby - Lord Huron 21. Watch Me - Labi Siffre 22. Grew Up Fast - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 23. 17 - Jade Bird 24. Your Hurricane - Death Cab for Cutie 25. Lose that Light - Folly and the Hunter 26. Such a Simple Thing - Ray LaMontagne 27. Make These Colors Real - Hush Kids 28. Surrender - Natalie Taylor 29. I’ll Be Your Mirror - Clem Snide 30. Courage - P!nk 31. Easy - Camilla Cabello 32. Day Too Soon - Sis 33. Truly Madly Deeply - Yoke Lore 34. Side by Side - Layup 35. Electric Love - BØRNS 36. Duet - Penny and Sparrow feat. Stephanie Briggs 37. Atlas: Two - Sleeping at Last 38. Another Story - the Head and the Heart 39. Come to this - Natalie Taylor 40. Six Feet Under - Billie Eilish 41. Hello My Old Heart - the Oh Hellos 42. Poetry by Dead Men - Sara Bareilles 43. Recovering the Satellites - Counting Crows 44. The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson

PRE-SHOW

1. Armor - Sara Bareilles

Stolen from Carina’s Liz mix, and obviously heavy on the Ortecho vibe in general. I might associate it a little more with Rosa back in the flashbacks, being proud of Liz and protective of her.

You think I am high and mighty mister Wait til you meet my little sister

2. People Need A Melody - the Head and the Heart

This song just gives me images of Max sitting at home over the years, listening to music, and then Bright Eyes comes on and it just takes him back to that day in the desert when he was lucky enough to be openly in love with Liz for one day before everything went to hell. 💔

All those books in your head, Is that all this really was? Just a role you play that you could hide behind Is it what you want? To bury yourself away Before your time goes I don’t want a love that holds us back I don’t want a life that I can’t have

Cause people need a melody to open their eyes Like a key to a memory frozen in time Holding onto everything, you’re stuck in the past Boy, when you gonna learn the world moves fast?

3. A World to Explore - Josh Radin

Liz leaves on her road trip, pushing the past away, and moving forward into her new life.

Yesterday rains came Everything’s changing The past has closed its door Well I know there’s something more I know there’s so much more So far to go On this open road, a world to explore So far to go On this open road, away we go

4. Missed Connection - the Head and the Heart

Somewhat self explanatory, I think. Mostly I just think of Max staying in Roswell haunted by all of the what ifs, and how close he and Liz came to being something real.

Did you find what you were looking for? Had to open every single door I get the feeling you’ve been here before From a missed connection Don’t tell me I lost a step Criss-crossed in the wrong direction Found myself in a conversation From a missed connection

5. Summer Years - Death Cab for Cutie

This is, like, my #1 Max over the 10 year gap song. I just hear him all through it, haunted by Rosa’s death and the coverup, heartbroken by Liz’s sudden departure, and trapped in his life.

Sometimes I’m overcome by every choice I couldn’t outrun… And I wonder where you are tonight If the one you’re with is a compromise Cause we’re walking lines in parallel That will never meet and it’s just as well

6. It’s Ok - Natalie Taylor

You know in the pilot, Max says he used to think about what he’d say if he ever saw Liz again. Meaning he didn’t really anymore. Meaning at some point he let go of the hope of her returning to Roswell. That’s kind of where my mind goes listening to this song.

It only hurts me to live this way Holding on to yesterday… Close my eyes, you’re gone And I’m the only one still holding on It’s ok I’ve got to let you go

7. Something American - Jade Bird

I have an old-school song fic just waiting to come out inspired by this song… I hear a lot of different things in it. Mostly I hear Max and the memory of Liz and Cameron in it. With a little bit of Kyle thrown in too.

In my dreams I find The stars align and they all collide And it’s you and I back in time It feels so right But you don’t call me now And I don’t think too much about you When she’s not around I can feel you’re lonely

PILOT

8. Anchor - Novo Amor

Max’s reaction to Liz finally coming home & hoping she’ll stay.

I hear your ship is coming in Your tears a sea for me to swim I hear a storm is coming in My dear, is it all we’ve ever been Anchor up to me, love

9. Harvest Moon - Neil Young

Max gets that brief smile on his face when he’s watching Liz dance in the Crashdown, before he lets her know he’s there. And this is what I hear going through his head in that moment.

When we were strangers I’d watch you from afar When we were lovers I’d love you with all my heart… Because I’m still in love with you I want to see you dance again

10. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band

It honestly took me a long time to get on board with adding this one, because it’s such an important OG Max/Liz song. But a while back in one of her Q&As, Carina said that if she could give the pilot a title it’d be this, and even with this different version of Max and Liz it still is the perfect song and perfect metaphor for their experience in the pilot.

Lost for you I’m so lost for you You come crash into me

11. Silhouettes - Oscar Blue

I mean….

Do I need to say anything more? Okay, well here are some lyrics to emphasize my point.

She’s a diamond in the coal Something that enchants my soul Graceful and captivating Just one glance and my mind is invaded… So should I try really really hard Or just keep loving you from afar… Oh can we walk into the sunset Until our bodies are silhouettes Cause busy days cause busy lives And maybe you’ll just keep on walking by Are my hopes just gonna suffocate in my doubt Or am I being my anxious self drowning my chances out

SO MUCH FOR THE AFTERGLOW

12. The Storm - the Airborne Toxic Event

I definitely stole this from someone else’s Echo mix…but take it as a compliment! I definitely see a little bit of Liz coming home in this song, both from her perspective and Max’s. But in my playlist’s narrative I also see this as being kind of like the end of 1x02, when Liz makes the decision to stay and investigate Rosa’s murder.

I surprise myself sometimes The way the days unfold and this road unwinds You tell me you see it too And the miles seem like inches when I think of you It’s been 25 days since I’ve been gone 25 weeks since I’ve seen my home I spent 25 months chasing this song and all of this time I’ve been alone Then you walk right through the doorway You tell me you’re here to stay

TEARING UP MY HEART

13. The Space Between - Dave Matthews Band

So if the last song was the end of 1x02, that means now we’re in the awkward, heartbreaking period where Max is pouring his heart out, and Liz is pretending to feel nothing because she doesn’t trust him. 💔 Which is basically the running theme for the next few songs…

You cannot quit me so quickly There’s no hope in you for me… The space between the wicked lies we tell And hope to keep safe from the pain… We’re strange allies with warring hearts…

14. Walls - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

My brother played this song while we were driving from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon in February. It was the morning after Smells Like Teen Spirit aired, Liz had just told Max that she never wanted to see him again, and I heard this song for the first time and said to myself, “YES.”

All around your island there’s a barricade That keeps out the danger that holds in the pain Sometimes you’re happy sometimes you cry Half of me is ocean half of me is sky But you’ve got a heart so big it could crush this town But I can’t hold out forever even walls fall down

15. Ruins - Jade Bird

Just…I think about Max and that painful scene between him and Liz at the end of this episode, and how much her accusations throw him off. And the resulting explosion that caused the blackout.

How do we have to do this again? I’ll tell you how I’m feeling You’re like a cryptomaniac trying to connect the dots and the facts How do we have to be here? ‘Cause these hotels, I just can’t relax The more I bend, the worse that I snap I feel like a goddamn maniac

Tell me what did I do to deserve somebody like you? It’s too hard to tell the truth nothing’s real and nothing’s rude I’m just a product of my emotions and they’re all setting off again… You sure you wanna do this now? Oh, you sure you wanna do this now?

'Cause I mean it when I say that I don’t understand And I mean it when I say that I’m not sure who I am 'Cause one minute I love you and the next it’s all in ruins One minute thinking of you and the next my mind’s in ruins

WHERE HAVE ALL THE COWBOYS GONE

16. The Last Time - Taylor Swift feat. Gary Lightbody

Very much the Crashdown “how do you truly feel about me” scene.

Find myself at your door just like all those times before I’m not sure how I got there all roads, they lead me here I imagine you are home in your room, all alone And you open your eyes into mine and everything feels better And right before your eyes I’m breaking No past, no reasons why just you and me This is the last time I’m asking you this Put my name at the top of your list This is the last time I’m asking you why You break my heart in the blink of an eye

DON’T SPEAK

Don’t Speak is one of my favorite chunks of this playlist. I love the pre-pilot set of songs, this set, and then the Recovering the Satellites to the end set the most out of all of this whole thing. Just thought I’d share. Also 3 of my 4 favorite episodes. Hmmm… 🤔

17. Run No More - the Talbott Brothers

So, this is kind of my interpretation of Max’s POV after learning that Isobel sent Liz away. I feel like that knowledge and the realization that Michael and Isobel had manipulated the biggest heartbreak of his life, and lied to him for a decade about it, kind of freed him in a sense. And for the first time he felt like he could stop hiding and release his guilt. If Liz hadn’t been in trouble, I think he would have gone straight to her and confessed everything.

It doesn’t get easier the further I run It gets harder to carry the weight of what I’ve done I am speaking from experience I don’t wanna run no more

18. Wild Heart - Bleachers Pretty much same themes as above. These two songs to me are kind of the combo of that determination in Max. Above is more focused on his guilt and wanting to reveal the truth. This one is more about his love for Liz and his determination to find her and protect her and love her.

As I sat with the echoes of lies that I told I felt young, never changed by crooked hearts… Well, everything has changed And now it’s only you that matters I will find any way to your wild heart

19. Dream - Bishop Briggs

I don’t remember who did a fanvid to this…was it Mo? It was wonderful and it’s perfect for the end of this episode. Max running to save Liz from Wyatt Long and wanting to come clean to her, even though he knew it would likely still make her turn away from him. Liz breaking down at the end…sniffles.

Oh, I had a dream that you couldn’t hear me screaming Trying to tell you everything but it wouldn’t stop you leaving I wanna wake up where your love is 'Cause your love is always waking mine

I wanna break down where your heart gets So torn it’s almost breaking mine I wanna lay here, lost and bitter So long, I feel like I could die I wanna tell you what my truth is But it’s buried down inside

20. Lullaby - Lord Huron

I heart this song… and I think it speaks to Liz in this episode so much. The danger she puts herself in, Wyatt!Noah coming after her, Max desperately wanting to protect her…

You arrive along with the sun Where have you been darlin’? What have you done? You were out finding trouble again There’s a fire in your eyes and there’s blood on your hands Come inside and lie down to sleep You ain’t gonna run and you know that you’re beat Rest awhile, they’re coming for you There’s a price to be paid for the things that we do

Fall asleep and forget all your troubles Dream of laughter and old friends and lovers Dream of when you were innocent

SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT

21. Watch Me - Labi Siffre Early in the episode, when they were happy and innocent. I feel like this song just kind of captures that young love, high school vibe.

Watch me when you look my way See me smiling, be my night and day Touch me in your own sweet way Feel me tremble, you take my words away All of the time I love you Make you a rhyme, I love you

22. Grew Up Fast - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Here’s another Tom Petty song from my brother’s playlist that we listened to on the way to the Grand Canyon on the day after this episode aired. I heard it, and immediately thought of the Pod Squad (and Liz) and how the incidents surrounding Rosa’s death kind of forced them all out of their youth and into a traumatic adulthood. Also I think it kind of bridges back to the present with Max telling Liz the story of Rosa’s death and her reaction towards him at the end of the episode.

We grew up fast when lies were just a fact of life We grew up mad cause we never had a home… Hey, my brother I’ve got no fight with you, I just can’t lie down Hey, my brother I’ve got no fight with you, I just can’t lie down No, I just can’t lie down, I just can’t lie down Well, you know who I am So don’t treat me like I’m someone else… You never talk like that to no one else You never scream like that for no one else

23. 17 - Jade Bird

This…just…the look on Max’s face when Liz runs out after telling him she never wants to see him again. It’s like his heart is breaking all over again.

You asked me to be yours, well you’re tempting fate How I left a promise but it’s one I can’t make Lord knows it’d kill me if you walked away But darling my lies, they hide you from the pain Stay, let me explain why I act so mean Don’t look away, baby, it’s not all that it seems I’m so afraid that you’ll just get up and leave My heart will break like I’m 17

I SAW THE SIGN & BARELY BREATHING

24. Your Hurricane - Death Cab for Cutie

“Liz Ortecho is my hurricane.” Max is such a ball of anger and angst in this episode. This song may lean a little more on the anger side than really played out in the episode, but I still think it works, considering that Liz spends much of this episode creating the serum.

You used to be such a delicate kid A lonely fish in a sea full of squid So I can’t blame you for leaving how you did You just fell off the grid 'Cause heaven is a hole in the sky The stars are cracks in the ceiling of night But you can’t be your own alibi As hard as you try It’s a tired refrain you’re singing over and over again As you try to explain who’s at fault for your mistakes But I won’t be the debris in your hurricane

25. Lose That Light - Folly and the Hunter

I don’t recall where I got this song from…it may have come from someone else’s playlist. But it makes me think about how rough of a go Max has it in Barely Breathing and how Liz is, like, the light that kind of guides him through it, that he has faith in to save his sister.

In my arms you fell, after fighting tooth and nail. The convictions you have are all gone now. You followed that trail, just to take a chance and fail. Do not let that dark voice call you out Even if it gets hard, don’t lose that light…

26. Such a Simple Thing - Ray LaMontagne

I see this as the end of the episode, when they are so close to being on the same page, but Liz is still afraid and still puts up that wall. Max sees how amazing she is, how she’s willing to fight to save Isobel for him. And Liz is beginning to feel it as well, because the drive to do it for Max, to comfort him, was so powerful. “My heart is like paper” = Max, “yours is like a flame” = Liz.

Tell me what you’re feeling I can take the pain Tell me that you mean it That you won’t leave again Tell me what your heart wants Such a simple thing My heart is like paper Yours is like a flame

SONGS ABOUT TEXAS

27. Make These Colors Real - Hush Kids

This song just makes me think about that vibe all through Songs About Texas prior to the kiss. The heart eyes looks, the touches, how close they are to going there, even though it hasn’t happened yet. This is also the only song I couldn’t find lyrics for online so I transcribed as best I can, but I couldn’t figure one line out, so I just left it off the post! Sorryyyy…

I guess you win, I guess I’ll see you around again Locked eyes, brushed hands. I’ll lie and say we’re only friends Yes I want you but I don’t want to Cause I can’t hold you when I want to So maybe I’m selfish, maybe it’s reckless Maybe I’m out of my mind

Ooh you make me weak you, you make me seek you You’d make me dive down to the depth of your ocean Ooh if I could hold you… I’d make these colors real

28. Surrender - Natalie Taylor

Throughout this whole episode I feel like there’s a general sense of Liz giving up her fight against Max. She can’t hide how much she loves him anymore. She hasn’t quite decided to be with him yet…but throughout the episode that wall thins more and more until she finally does give in to him.

No one will win this time I just want you back I’m running to your side Flying my white flag, my white flag… Whenever you’re ready, whenever you’re ready Can we, can we surrender I surrender

29. I’ll Be Your Mirror - Clem Snide

I’m pretty sure this came from another Echo playlist…because it’s the perfect song to represent Max’s speech to Liz to reveal how well he sees her.

I find it hard to believe you don’t know The beauty you are But if you don’t let me be your eyes A hand to your darkness, so you won’t be afraid When you think the night has seen your mind That inside you’re twisted and unkind Let me stand to show that you are blind Please put down your hands 'Cause I see you I’ll be your mirror, reflect what you are

30. Courage - P!nk

That split second before Liz decides to grab Max and pull him in for the kiss…

See, I let the light in the darkest places Let the sun shine, pain goes away Nothing is permanent for me Have I the courage to change?

31. Easy - Camilla Cabello

It’s almost ridiculous how Echo’s first kiss this song is. Like, seriously, Camilla? Do you watch RNM? Are you an Echo shipper? Is this your own personal fan song?

You really, really know me The future and the old me All of the mazes and the madness in my mind You really, really love me You know me and you love me And it’s the kind of thing I always hoped I’d find

Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy Touch me 'til I find myself, in a feeling Tell me with your hands that you’re never leaving Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy All I know is you, heal me when I’m broken, heal me when I’m broken All I know is you, saved me and you know it, saved me and you know it

32. Day Too Soon - Sia

Liz making the choice that it is finally the right time for her to stop running. Okay, Max has been waiting patiently, but for Liz everything has finally perfectly collided.

Pick me up in your arms Carry me away from harm You’re never gonna put me down I know you’re just one good man You’ll tire before we see land You’re never gonna put me down You’ll risk all this for just a kiss I promise I will not resist

Promise you won’t hold me down And when we reach a good place Let’s be sure to leave no trace Promise they won’t track us down

Now I’ve been running all my life I ran away, I ran away from good Yeah, I’ve been waiting all my life You’re not a day, you’re not a day too soon

33. Truly Madly Deeply - Yoke Lore

Awesome cover of 90’s song? Check! Super romantic to the point of almost cheesy? Check! It’s got Echo getting together written all over it.

I’ll be your dream, I’ll be your wish, I’ll be your fantasy. I’ll be your hope, I’ll be your love, be everything that you need. I’ll love you more with every breath, truly madly deeply do I want to stand with you on a mountain I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me

I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING, CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA, CREEP

34. Side By Side - Layup

Sadly, I don’t have a lot of songs for this chunk of episodes for Echo. But they’re finally together, on the same team, being awesome, so that’s pretty much all I’m getting at with this song.

And so, now I go down all these roads with you, my home And now, I’ll keep you close I hope you know - I love you most So here I walk by your side, oh, on our own time Oh, we’ll be alright, as long as we stay side by side From the coldest nights to warmer degrees we’ll get by You and I, side by side

RECOVERING THE SATELLITES

35. Electric Love - BØRNS

I mean… Alien!God Max channeling all that lightning to get the job done is fucking sexy. And then he just marches home to worship his love the way Liz deserves. *nods firmly*

Baby you’re like lightning in a bottle I can’t let you go now that I got it All I need is to be struck By your electric love Baby, you’re electric love Electric love Rushing through me I feel your energy rushing through me…

36. Duet - Penny and Sparrow f/ Stephanie Briggs

Echo love scene. Just ignore that Liz is not wearing a dress. Everything else fits. And the chorus? *chefs kiss* “Because I’ve seen you and I know you”...ties right back to their first kiss and Max proving to Liz that he isn’t holding onto some high school fantasy. “And I’m not going anywhere”...it breaks my heart because it was 100% true in that moment…but hours later Max is dead. 😭

I bet your shoulders can hold more than just the straps of that tiny dress That I’ll help you slide aside when we get home I’ve seen 'em carry family and the steel drum weight of me Effortless, just like that dress that I’ll help off I bet your back can carry more than just the weight of your button-down One by one, they’ll come undone when we get home I’ve seen you carry family and all my insecurities One by one, they’ll come undone when we get home

Because I’ve seen you And I know you And I’m not going anywhere

37. Atlas: Two - Sleeping at Last

This is, like, the most Max song ever. Especially where his head is at right at the end of Recovering the Satellites after he and Liz make love, when he is straight up in worshipful puppy mode. It makes me both 😍 and 😭, because I love how much he loves her, but I know how unhealthy his devotion is, and that it leads to him dying.

Sweetheart, you look a little tired when did you last eat? Come in and make yourself right at home stay as long as you need Tell me, is something wrong? If something’s wrong, you can count on me You know I’ll take my heart clean apart if it helps yours beat It’s okay if you can’t find the words Let me take your coat and this weight off of your shoulders

Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you with every single thing I have Like a tidal wave, I’ll make a mess Or calm waters, if that serves you best I will love you without any strings attached It’s okay if you can’t catch your breath You can take the oxygen straight out of my own chest I know exactly how the rule goes put my mask on first No, I don’t want to talk about myself tell me where it hurts I just want to build you up, build you up ‘til you’re good as new And maybe one day I will get around to fixing myself too I don’t even know where to start Already tired of trying to recall when it all fell apart I just want to love you, to love you, to love you well I just want to learn how, somehow, to be loved myself Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you without any strings attached What a privilege it is to love A great honor to hold you, love Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you with every single thing I have Like a tidal wave, I’ll make a mess Or calm waters if that serves you best I will love you without any strings attached I will love you without a single string attached

38. Another Story - the Head and the Heart

In my head this is another afterglow, Max manic on love & power and it pushes him to do something crazy song...I both see he and Liz happy together in his bed in the morning sunlights and flickering firelight...and Max deciding to heal Rosa. 😍😭

These are just flames burning in your fireplace I hear your voice and it seems as if it was all a dream I wish it was all a dream I see a world, a world turning in on itself Are we just like hungry wolves howling in the night I don’t want no music tonight

Every time I hear another story Oh the poor boy lost his head Everybody feels a little crazy But we go on living with it

39. Come to This - Natalie Taylor

Liz crying over Max’s body 😭😭😭. There is no heart eyes here. It’s all just paaaain. 😭😭😭

How can this happen? How can this be? There is no ending, there is no peace The darkness is so close The light so quickly goes And now it’s all gone Now it’s all gone Will you hear me when I speak? Do you feel the pain with me? I’ve tried to be so strong I thought that hope would come But you’re not here

Oh, the darkness keeps its grip Oh, how’d it come to this? Oh, please come back Please come back

40. Six Feet Under - Billie Eilish

More Liz crying over Max’s body…and just love and pain and death and sadness. 😭😭😭

Retrace my lips Erase your touch It’s all too much for me Blow away Like smoke in air How can you die carelessly? Our love is six feet under I can’t help but wonder If our grave was watered by the rain Would roses bloom? Could roses bloom?

POST-SEASON 1

These are just kind of my headcanon songs of various post-S1 reactions from Liz at various different dark moments.

41. Hello My Old Heart - the Oh Hellos

I see a lot of people attribute this song to Liz at the beginning of the show, but I think it’s more appropriate at the end of the season. I’d love it if they use this song in Season 2. I see it more as Liz putting the walls she had at the beginning of the show back up again after loving and losing Max, which would break my heart. But I think it’s how she would cope while he’s gone and then those walls would come back down.

Hello, my old heart It’s been so long Since I’ve given you away And every day, I add another stone To the walls I built around you To keep you safe

Oh, oh, don’t leave me here alone Don’t tell me that we’ve grown For having loved a little while Oh, oh, I don’t wanna be alone I wanna find a home And I wanna share it with you

42. Poetry By Dead Men - Sara Bareilles

I can see this scene in my head. I can see Liz and Max both longing for this scene in their head. Just the simple domesticity of drinking coffee together in the afterglow, while Max reads poetry to Liz. Except that he had to go and die first and that just fucking sucks. So I hear some anger and a little bit of “don’t let the door hit you on your way out” in this song, and I could see Liz occasionally just having moments of anger in her grief where she feels this way. Briefly.

By the time you hear this, who knows where I might be Singing about another near-miss love that ended incomplete I was ready, but you weren’t So jump with your net from this bridge you’ve burned I wanted to tell you things, all the secrets I’ve been keeping I saw it in front of me, but then you just kept disappearing A good dream, almost, now I tell your ghost

I wanted to be your girl in a white T-shirt Over coffee, stirring in the cinnamon While you read me poetry by dead men I wanted to be your girl with your hands on my skin Stirring in the cinnamon While you read me poetry by dead men

43. Recovering the Satellites - Counting Crows

This is one of the few episode titles where the lyrics actually get to me, like in a plotty way. But not necessarily from what happens in the episode, so much as the idea of Liz questioning later whether the brief moment of love she had with Max was worth all of the accompanying pain. 😭😭😭😭

So why’d you come home to this sleepless town? It’s a lifetime commitment, recovering the satellites All anybody really wants to know is When you’re gonna come down, when you’re gonna come down But we only stay in orbit for a moment of time And then you’re everybody’s satellite I wish that you were mine, I wish that you were mine

44. The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson

Definitely stole this from someone else, but it’s perfect and I love ending with it, because even though it’s loaded down with all of the pain we’re feeling at the end of the season, it also has a little twinge of hope and possibility for that future day when Max comes back (which we all know he will)! So in other words, it’s 😭😭😍😍

The sky looks pissed The wind talks back My bones are shifting in my skin And you my love are gone My room feels wrong The bed won’t fit I cannot seem to operate And you my love are gone

I’ll never say that I’ll never love But I don’t say a lot of things And you my love are gone

So glide away on soapy heels And promise not to promise anymore And if you come around again Then I will take, Then I will take, The chain from off the door

#music of my soul #rnm echo music #rnm echo

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ralfstrashcan · 6 years ago

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Warlock Magic Mysteries

How does magic even work?

That is actually an excellent question with, let's say, less than satisfactory answers from canon. I'm talking about that ley line mess that is 3x02 since this is the only instance I remember where that matter is addressed. Canon aka Magnus says “Healthy ley lines are the energy source for all magic, seelie and warlock alike, but they can become corrupted.”

This statement has two implications, both of which confuse me to no end.

1) Why the hell do all warlocks keep talking about 'their' magic if appearantly they all just suck the same magic from the ground? Or at least need a connection to the ley lines to do magic – a bit like you need a spark (magical disposition) and fuel (ley line energy) to start a fire (spell). Why do the magics look different?

Angry red/orange for Magnus, sleek light green for Lorenzo. (Also Magnus's face I can't. Ok sorry.) Does every warlock add a personal color? I mean I'd buy that from Magnus in a second, and Lorenzo probably too, but why would the other warlocks do that? Seems a little excessive. And also how does that work with the whole Edom Situation. Are there better ley lines in Edom (since Magnus needed to go there to be able to close the rift in 3x20)? Does that mean a warlock is always just as fancy as the ley line he taps into??

2) No ley lines, no magic. We know the Institute is built away from the ley lines

so there seem to be huge areas not covered by ley lines. Yet we see Magnus do magic at the Institute without any problems and it's never mentioned that maybe a place could be bad for doing magic because there are no ley lines.

One possible solution is that warlocks need to recharge (be it magic or “energy” you need in addition to magic to perform a spell) on the ley lines once their supply has run out. Then they can do magic from everywhere, ley lines or not, as long as they are charged. I'd even let myself be convinced that being stored in a warlock's internal supply bowl somehow 'dyes' the magic and, like, customizes it a bit? And therefore Lorenzo could recognize the corrupted ley lines had a specific signature and track it back to the person who did it. (Allow me this dig, he says “You think I don't recognize Asmodeus' handiwork when I see it?” and like.. it was Lilith... Lorenzo, you're a loser.) The same spell done by different warlocks is distinguishable by some kind of warlock signature.

Okay, so far so good. But then I don't understand

a) why a corrupted ley line would have an influence on a warlock who's still stocked up on magic. The fact that Magnus and Cat and every warlock at Lorenzo's party was immediately affected implies that there is a constant link necessary between warlock and ley line while doing magic (which, again, would make doing magic at the Institute impossible).

b) how magical depletion and strength sharing works. In 1x02 and 1x06 we see Dot and Magnus respectively using up too much magic, leaving them exhausted. Dot even says “I've been portaling all over the city looking for Clary and my magic is dangerously low” which, if she could just walk 5 meters and stock up her supply on a ley line, why is she whining? So apparently recharging from a ley line isn't easy and requires some effort? It seems ley lines like to torment you when you're not even tapping into them but at the same time make it super hard for you to siphon a li'l bit from them? Confusing.

It gets even more confusing when strength sharing comes into play. In 1x06 Magnus uses up almost all of his magic and is on the verge of unconsciousness until Alec swoops in to lend his strength. Meaning... taking strength from a person is easier than taking it from a ley line (assuming Magnus has a ley line in access-distance from his loft, which I assume because Magnus is not an idiot)? This doesn't make sense to me. Because shouldn't it be easier to tap into a whole big-ass ley line than into one very contained person with very limited energy? Since this is the natural way to do it and all. If it really were easier to tap into a person than a ley line there would be tons of warlocks keeping slaves to enhance their powers, right? Just like there are blood dens for vampires without morals, and vampires keeping their personal pet humans that they feed from 24/7? Yet no such thing is ever mentioned. And even less slavishly, warlocks don't have familiars either, which... ok I don't really know what familiars do, traditionally, beside being a cute animal sidekick, but usually they help channel magic or something.

Speaking of magic, if warlocks use ley line energy to power their spells, then I don't really understand what Magnus was even doing taking strength from Alec. I mean, it seems a little far-fetched that Alec has ley line energy flowing through his veins, right? Why the hell would the, I don't know, life energy of a shadowhunter be the same as a weird energy line that courses through earth? Are they interchangeable? Does any type of energy do the trick? Could Magnus use electricity from the socket?? Absurd.

But! There is actually an explanation why Magnus uses Alec's shadowhunter energy even if it's not a substitute for ley line energy: Magnus drew on Alec because he was exhausted, too exhausted to tap into the ley line (since that requires energy), so he restored on Alec's normal life shadowhunter energy so he had the strength to tap into the ley line again. The magic flowing into Luke wasn't from Alec directly, but ley line energy that Magnus was pulling again thanks to his little refreshment at the Alec Drink Table. And yes, I'm aware that this sounds like utter bullshit, but to me this makes more sense than that Alec has ley line energy flowing through his veins.

Another thing supporting this weird two-energy-theory is the fact that whatever spell Magnus was doing was insanely strenuous. Magnus is ass powerful, okay. He is the High Warlock for a reason. He moved his whole appartement block without breaking a sweat (1x04), he singlehandedly kept up wards that, when he left, had to be sustained by multiple other warlocks, he summoned Greater Demons as if it's nothing, closed rifts between dimensions..... if whatever spell he was casting to keep Luke alife managed to exhaust him to the point of passing out this must be some really really huge magic. So, with all due respect to Alec, it seems a little unrealistic that his energy alone would be enough to maintain that spell for more than a few seconds. ANYWAY here is my point: If Alec really was just functioning as a li'l crutch so Magnus could tap into the ley line again and this whole strength sharing didn't cost Alec as the donor all that much, then it seems even more unlikely that warlocks don't keep around animals to help them through difficult spells. Is this whole line of reasoning just a self-indulgent explanation of why it's unfair we were deprived of Chairman Meow? Maybe. (I mean a cute cat as familiar, who would pass that up?!)

Still, no matter how you slice it – if ley lines transport magic or specific ley line energy, if you can store it and carry it around with you or need a constant connection to do magic – it all amounts to this: This whole ley line business is a mess full of contradictions. The terms are blurred, there seem to be weird interdependences and no one understands what's going on. Of course all these inconsistencies could be explained by someone just completely screwing over the mechanics of magic between season 2 and 3, but that would be insane, right? I mean, why would you do that? Just for that one action scene in 3x02? Sounds really far-fetched to me.

Magic & Immortality

Moving on to something else entirely. In 3B Magnus will have, spoiler alert, lost his immortality along with his magic and... what. Why. Leaving aside that with this whole ley line mess it's a little difficult to determine what Asmodeus even did, I mean, if Magnus doesn't have his own personal magic store that Asmodeus took... did he steal Magnus's ability to tap into ley lines? What would he do with that? And how do you steal an ability from someone? Can Magnus just relearn how to wield magic? *sigh* Well, magic, so probably not. Whatever the Plot needs.

Anyway, leaving all that aside. The fact that Magnus loses his immortality as a consequence of losing his “magic” only makes sense if his immortality is a result of his magic. And if it is.... does that mean any warlock could just not let his magic manifest that way and limit himself to a mortal life span? Because that would be some interesting news.

It could of course be that Asmodeus demanded Magnus's immortality and his magic as two seperate things. But I find that hard to believe because a) easy for Magnus to bargain that Asmodeus should choose only one thing, not two and b) why would Asmodeus take Magnus's immortality when he can watch him suffer without his magic forever instead? Because I definitely got the feeling he didn't take Magnus's magic because he desperately needed the extra fuel, but as a punishment for Magnus refusing his offer to rule beside him.

To be honest, I always thought that the immortality was caused by the demon blood and not by magic. I came to that conclusion because 1) there are in fact magicless warlocks in the books who are still immortal (and while, yeah, the books are the books and the show is the show it's still supposed to be the same universe, right?) and 2) because of the vampires. They are immortal, too, and they don't have magic (no, Encanto does not count as magic like seelies and warlocks have it, that's just a handy party trick). Sure they don't have demon blood, just some weird demon infection or whatever, but. Demon infection. Not magic infection. So it seems the demon infection is what turned them immortal. (It didn't happen with werewolves for whatever reason, possibly Plot Convenience, or because it would be too much to have all downworlder races be immortal. Or because werewolves are pretty much human while they aren't shifted whereas vampires don't have a shifted and an un-shifted mode. Their change is permanent; turning into a vampire includes dying and waking up again, so it stands to reason that the transformation they undergo is more profound than the one werewolves undergo.)

So yeah, I think I'm pretty justified in assuming that immortality is a symptom of demon components in your body, not of magic. And if Asmodeus didn't make a blood transfusion and refurbishend Magnus's bone marrow I don't see why suddenly Magnus's immortality should be gone.

Same with his eyes btw. This technically counts as speculation but. After Magnus returned from Edom his pretty cat eyes were nowhere in sight. And if Asmodeus didn't put a glamor on him as a parting gift or gave him contacts (which I think we can safely rule out) it means he lost his warlock mark as well?? And just.. no. A warlock mark is a physical feature. Why would it disappear? If he had horns, would they have fallen out? That's just stupid. It's like saying that just because Magnus lost his magic he's no longer a warlock. That's not true. Sure, wielding magic is an important part of being a warlock but it's not the only defining feature? That's like saying a de-runed shadowhunter is no longer a shadowhunter (or nephilim if you want to get technical, since 'shadowhunter' is just the job description.) A de-runed shadowhunter might not be able to access the angelic power, but there's still angel blood cursing through those veins. That, or Maryse is really stupid since she asked Alec in 3x10 to get her a seraph blade, and like Jace said in 1x01 you need angel blood to operate a shadowhunter sword. I don't think she wanted to fight Lilith with a hilt.

So a warlock is a warlock is a warlock, magic or not. And warlocks have warlock marks. And I know this is futile and we'll likely be robbed of more cat eyes from Magnus in 3B (until he gets his magic back at least). I'm just already pre-emptively lamenting the unfairness of it all, okay.

Warlock Mark

Talking about warlock marks, those things are a mystery. When do they appear? Because while that baby under Iris Rouse's care already had fishy eyes

the narrative heavily implies that Magnus's cat eyes only appeared when he was nine.

That, or it took his mother nine years to figure out what his strange eyes meant, since after finding out she immediately kills herself. I mean, this still could be the case but what the hell would tip her off after almost a decade when staring into her son's cat eyes for nine years didn't do the trick? (In the shadowhunters wiki it is also explicitly stated that his mark appears only when he's nine years old and his eyes just look unusually bright before.)

How do manifestation of warlock mark and having magic correlate?

We know for a fact that Magnus had magic very soon after his cat eyes make an appearance - when he finds his mother his eyes aren’t on display, meaning he’s hiding them with a glamor (which, impressive and also thanks for that kick in the feels, that Magnus felt the need to hide his eyes this early on in life).

Maybe the warlock mark developing is a sign of the magic manifesting, meaning warlock children develop both at the same time. An argument against this is that magicless warlocks with warlock marks seem to be a thing, so magic isn't necessary for the warlock mark to appear.

What’s indicative of this theory however is a) if Magnus had magic since either birth or several years before his cat eyes developed then it really shouldn't have taken his mother so long to figure out that her son wasn't an average human boy, like the magic didn’t tip her off but the cat eyes were the final clue. Uh-huh. b) why else would Alec suggest that Magnus wasn't in control of his powers when attacking his stepfather (which happened very soon after his cat eyes developed)?

If Magnus did have his magic since birth / several years ago then he should be in control by nine years, right? So Alec probably meant that Magnus was just growing into his power and therefore didn't have control yet.

It is possible that Alec meant his statement in the sense that in this extreme situation Magnus lost the handle of his magic, but keep in mind that he explains it with “You were just a boy” and not “It was an exceptional situation.”

I don’t think it makes evolutionary sense for baby warlocks to have magic already if intense emotions can unleash their magic beyond the warlock's control. How would mundane warlock-parents ever make it out of their child's first years alive? Imagine a toddler with magic having a tantrum. He would totally level the whole village. Repeatedly. Even a warlock parent would have their hands full with a child that holds so much destructive power.

Personally I always assumed a warlock was born with a warlock mark already (since they are physical features) and developed magic later on with like 5-7. But I get that that couldn't really be the case for Magnus because Plot and he had to get his mark late, and I could be convinced that the appearance of warlock marks varies, like, some have them since birth (like fishy eye kid or Max, who was born blue) and some develop them later on in life – kind of like wisdom teeth: some get them with seventeen, some when they’re well over twenty. Though in that case I would expect the warlock mark to be a necessary condition for developing magic, meaning there's no warlock with magic but yet without mark.

If so, in what time frame after birth do warlock mark and magic manifest, at the latest? Could you go like 20 years of your life without knowing you're a warlock? That's creepy.

Headcanon though: There once was a warlock who aged til 40 before he received his mark and magic, and since he had a midlife crisis at the time he did pretty dumb shit and died after like two days. That's why

has become a winged word in warlock society.

Spells

Talking of the different ages in which warlocks learn how to wield their magic: It always irked me that Magnus had to study physics for decades, get three PhDs, research with Henry Branwell for years just to finally invent the portal, but Madzie who, sorry, probably doesn't know shit about physics can open a portal like a pro. So either all that fancy knowledge wasn't necessary to create the portal – then I wonder why the hell it took Magnus so long – or to invent a spell you have to really understand it but once that knowledge is unlocked to the world everyone can use it easily and doesn't even need an incantation or Madzie is a frikkin physics prodigy OR this works similar to, idk, my laptop. I don't know shit about how it works but I can use it just fine because one day I went into a store, put some cash on the counter and got this amazing tool in return. Do warlocks have to buy the ability to open portals from Magnus? Can he like, implant the necessary physics knowledge on how the portal works into their heads with a spell or a potion? Wtf I have so many questions.

There's another thing: Lorenzo says in 3x02 to Magnus, “More importantly, you know how to use [Asmodeus's] demonic magic.” The statement itself is confusing. Is Lorenzo talking about certain spells? Or a magic signature? Or a power level? Are there certain areas of magic you can't learn unless you go to the Asmodeus School of Evil? Are there demonic ley lines you can only access if you have Asmodeus's DNA? I don't have the faintest idea, but I'm just throwing this in here for good measure.

Conjuring/Summoning Things

I'm not talking about portal travel, because I covered that already in this exhaustive (hah) post. Summoning something seems different from portal travel; instead of opening a pathway from A to B it seems specific items desintegrate from where they were just to reappear somewhere else. And while most of the time it's pretty clear that Magnus just teleports stuff around, like when he steals Alec's stele in 1x09

or when he brings over Ragnor's stuff

there are instances where it is less clear, for example when he serves Alec wine in 1x12

or when he presents Max with a present in 2x08

Like, did he prepare that glass for Alec in advance, stow it away out of sight just for this move, or did he conjure a glass from the cabinet / drink cart and wine from the bottle, all in the same spell? Did he wrap that present beforehand or did he wrap and summon it in one go?

Leaving those minor instances aside where it doesn't really make a difference, there's also this moment from 2x17

and just..... what. Magnus even says that this is from the Cape. Did he just steal a whole ass table from a restaurant? The table is set, so either he ordered the waiter to set a table for them, stack food on it and just leave it there or he stole the table from other patrons that were just about to dig in. What.

I mean, people would notice that, right? I'm pretty sure I would notice if I was at a restaurant and suddenly a table vanished. This isn't exactly keeping the shadow world a secret. And while, yeah, only shadowhunters are contractually obligated to do that, it lies in the best interest of downworlders to keep up the secrecy because uuuuhh humans are very trigger-happy and would probably start hunting them all down if they globally learned about their existence.

Leaving that aspect aside there's another problem I have with this. How exactly does Magnus summon the table when he needed eye contact to teleport Alec's stele?

One could argue that he only stood there to keep an eye on Alec and warn Jace in case Alec noticed anything but a) what are the chances of him being quick enough to warn Jace if Alec takes an unfortunate look at his empty jacket pocket and b) standing in front of the office makes him suspect #1 and he wanted to avoid Alec finding out about his involvement at all costs. So he wouldn't have hung around there if he could have teleported Alec's stele away from somewhere else.

Back to the Cape table, how the hell did Magnus summon it without having it in his sight? All other things – the wine, the present, Ragnor's stuff – were things that were stored in his loft, and that he himself placed wherever-they-were before summoning them. It makes sense that he could get those without looking at them.

But a table? From a crowded restaurant, probably miles away? Please.

Therefore let me introduce my favorite headcanon. Magnus can summon things, which means teleporting them from somewhere else, and he can conjure things, which means creating them from thin air. And this is actually what he does with the Cape table, tableware, candle, lobster and all. And yeah, I can already hear you all yelling about Gamp's Law and how it's not possible to conjure food with any nutritional value from nothing, and that it might be possible to transform but not create something from nothing because physics, but 1) that's a different fandom and 2) it's magic.

So in conclusion I want to ask one very important question:

What's the point of magic if you can't screw the laws of physics?!

(Gif Sources: 1x09, 1x12, 1x12, 2x08, 2x17)

#shadowhunters #some episodes #magnus bane #alec lightwood #lorenzo rey #luke garroway #asmodeus #madzie #dot rollins #catarina loss #jace wayland #malec #magnus bane's cat eyes #magic #musings

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agentelmo · 7 years ago

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The X-Files MSR Analysis Series: Season 1 Episode 3

“Squeeze”

Previous episode analysis - 1x02 Deep Throat.

This episode is basically How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Mulder and Scully edition. Mulder is forced to confront the fact his FBI colleagues mistrust and mockery of him makes it difficult to work with others, whereas Scully is beginning to feel tainted by association and has to examine where her loyalties lie. Oh and some dude can squeeze his way through tiny holes to murder people. That happens too.

So we start with Scully having lunch with an old Academy friend - Tom “Scumbag” Colton who insinuates that Scully should be focusing on progressing her career rather than toiling away in the basement looking for aliens with Mulder. Now I don’t say he’s a scumbag for ragging on Mulder, I say he’s a scumbag because one of the first things out of his mouth is to tear down a supposed friend for getting a promotion before him. Hey Colton if this “Marty” guy is such a loser, what does that make you? HUH? HUH?

Also, he ragged on Mulder. What a butt nugget.

Dude, shows what you know. 20-odd years later and she’ll still be tapping that spooky ass.

Now in a rare moment of vulnerability, Mulder uses sarcastic, mock-shock humour to act oblivious to the fact he has any kind of negative “reputation”. But it’s a front - a defence mechanism to deflect the fact he actually is, at least a little, bothered by being labelled “Spooky Mulder” - seen as a kook; him and his work never being taken seriously.

It was no doubt a painful fall to go from the FBI’s most lauded profiler, to being considered a madman and a laughing stock. So he has become the master of deflection using deadpan sarcasm, when he feels vulnerable, to shield himself from the kinds of comments he anticipates Scully’s academy friends have expressed to her. But just for a moment, he doesn’t shield himself. He is openly vulnerable when he reveals to her that he does care by asking if she thinks of him that way too.

He’s looking for some kind of reassurance from her, and I think she sees that - she softens as he asks the question, which we don’t get an answer to, but we all know that she doesn’t think that way about him. As much as she hates to admit it, she clearly finds him quite endearing; hot and endearing... Mulder, for the love of God, stop pouting. The woman has to concentrate.

Also, roll it back a second... is Mulder checking Scully out for a moment before they start talking? His eyes are roaming... seriously, look.

Yeah, he’s deffo checking her out. Again, I really don’t think he’s especially conscious of doing it - which makes me love it even more.

Something else that happens in this scene, which unfortunately for Mulder, plays right into Scully’s building inner conflict about her career path, is his outright embarrassing her in front of Colton by playing up to his stereotype of being an E.T. loving nut bag.

This coming hot off the heels of Scully defending Mulder to Colton. She gets that he’s joking, but look at the way she widens her eyes when she realises what Mulder is doing. Poor Scully. She get’s his deadpan delivery is a joke - Colton somehow doesn’t. Oops.

I’m British, it’s spelt grey. FIGHT ME.

Poor Scully, look at her face at the end, apologising to Colton with her eyes. She’s mortified and Colton has just had his opinion of Mulder set in granite.

The next scene in their basement office is quite interesting to watch because it sets the blueprint of so many of their future interactions. They are feeling their way around each other, and learning how their polar opposite methodologies can work together effectively.

This episode is especially important in that regard, because Scully is clearly torn between wanting to do it Colton’s way - “by the book” and Mulder’s way - following the truth no matter where it leads, even if things turn to the fantastic and unconventional.

She’s drawn to Mulder in that regard, just as he’s drawn to her. She’s a woman of science, after all, and any scientist worth their salt has to be open to all the evidence no matter how challenging, but boy does she ever find it challenging.

She has moments - moments of awe at how Mulder puts the pieces together, and then it’s like she catches herself, remembering that they have to answer to the FBI, and her inner sceptic emerges to keep them both on the straight and narrow. As Mulder himself will later proclaim in Fight the Future - her strict rationalism and science repeatedly saves his ass and keeps him honest. So while it might be a frustrating process at times, it’s a necessary one, and Mulder appreciates that.

I also love that this scene introduces the Scully classic preamble. “Are you suggesting...”

Ok before we move on, a couple things to add.

One. Personal space again. Mulder, can you please stand closer?

Her face. Seriously, she must be able to feel his body heat from that distance

Two. I love how when Scully mockingly comes up with a crackpot theory based on what Mulder is saying, she actually hits the nail on the head more often than not. She gets better and better at this over the years, to the point she really does know what he’s thinking as he’s thinking it.

The final piece of dialogue in this scene is interesting, because Scully tells Mulder he’s not wanted on the case, that his theories are the reason he’s hidden away in the basement, to which Mulder retorts that she’s in the basement with him too.

Careful, Mulder.

That comment seems to hit a little too close to home for Scully. After Colton’s ribbing and Mulder embarrassing her in front of him, she does appear to be seriously considering if she wants to be Mrs. Spooky for the long haul. With the possibility of reassignment lingering in her thoughts, she can’t help but wonder if doing this with Mulder down in the basement is what she really wants.

Oi. Mind. Gutter. Out.

Mulder suggests that they have their own investigation separate from Colton and you can see the cogs turning for Scully.

She knows she will have to make a choice soon, and poor cute!Mulder has no idea, he’s placed his trust in this new, unexpectedly wonderful partner and the idea that she might ditch him doesn’t appear to have crossed his mind in the slightest.

But ditch him, she does.

So little side note, isn’t it weird that Scully is asked to come up with a profile for the killer? She has no background in profiling that I am aware of. So the fact that she comes up with a behavioural profile for Colton’s investigative team is kind of odd, right? I mean, I’m British so what do I know of how the FBI works, and I’m a psychotherapist not a psychologist (there’s a difference) so equally what do I know of building a forensic psychological profile - but I found that strange. Especially since Mulder is the hot-shot profiler between the two of them.

Still, as strange as it is - what’s stranger is watching Scully present her profile to VCS team.

This career-driven side of Scully is not something we often see. She clearly enjoys the recognition and praise from her colleagues but the conflict shes feeling only deepens when they allude to her using her success on this case as a way to ditch Mulder and the X-Files. She has a loyalty to Mulder now, that she cannot ignore, and hearing their comments bothers her. They don’t know him like she does - she’s becoming protective of him; and of their partnership.

Her change in body language says it all really. As much as she’s questioning whether she wants to remain working with Mulder, I think she’s also now questioning if this is where she belongs too, with people as small minded and closed off as this. Mulder has opened her eyes to something, and as frustrating as he can be, his boundless passion and willingness to challenge convention appeals to her much more than conformity does. You only have to take one look at her rebellious decision to join the FBI to understand that about her.

Now it’s time for Mulder to act a little insecure... Scully didn’t agree to Mulder’s suggestion that they investigate separately. She decided to ditch Mulder and work with Colton and the VCS. You think Mulder might have been a teenie bit wounded by that? Just a lil bit?

Watch out Scully, there’s a lost puppy following you.

Think about it, they’re at the location of previous murders. This is the office building from the opening of the episode, right? So why is Mulder there at all if he doesn’t believe the murderer has any reason to revisit the location of past murders?

He is specifically there for Scully, and to make this point to her - that she’s made the wrong choice in working with them; that she’s wrong about the case, and that she’d have half a clue if she’d read the X-File. Read between the lines here - she’d have half a clue if she’d stuck with him instead of them. He’s half trying to win her over and half resentful of her choice to ditch him.

It’d be kind of sweet really if it wasn’t so arrogant. Because turns out, Scully was actually right.

I like how Mulder doesn’t make a fuss over admitting he was wrong either. He isn’t defensive or put out, he simply states it as a matter of fact. Someone raised that boy right.

Hmm... well, kinda.

The next scene is great - MSR gold. In fact, it’s a breakthrough for the Mulder-Scully relationship. It’s where she makes her choice and decides to remain loyal to Mulder and their partnership - she chooses him over them, and it’s not hard to see why.

I’ll let you take a moment. Deep breaths...

All done?

Years after the show ended, this image of him with a dark, brooding look on his face as Colton suggests taking Scully away from him lived on, clear as a bell, in my shipper heart.

It’s not hard to see why Scully chooses Mulder over the VCS. They’re closed minded, and unwilling to even hear let alone investigate alternative theories. As sceptical as Scully can be, she at least hears Mulder out and applies her scientific brain to the theories he presents. Whereas these guys dismiss Mulder out-of-hand. That’s not the kind of scientist - nor the kind of investigator Scully wants to be.

Also, those guys were being douchbags towards this man she feels protective over now. As previously mentioned, she knows him in a way these guys don’t and so even when maybe Colton and his cronies have a point, she and Mulder are in a bubble together where she feels she is the only one who hears him, and she feels a responsibility to him now. This develops deeper and deeper as their relationship grows. To the point where they outright confess to each other repeatedly that they are the only one they feel this way towards “you are the only one I trust” etc. This scene, is the genesis of those grand declarations in later seasons of the show.

Colton, bless him, tries to act as Scully’s protector; thinking she’s still on his side but she rejects him - he’s the one on the outside now, not Mulder.

We’ve heard people’s opinions of Mulder when he’s not been there, but to see first hand what I imagine Mulder has had to deal with for quite some time, it makes you as the viewer protective of Mulder too. Scully is the audiences’ champion, throwing her lot in with Mulder - they’re a team, and this is the first time she makes it clear to the FBI world that she’s not just following orders - she’s on Mulder’s side.

Go girl.

Now it’s time for your shipper hearts to go a flutter... It’s Mulder vs. personal space again. Coupled with a rare admission of attachment to Scully.

So wait, wait... back up. Did Mulder just admit that he was winding those guys up because he felt threatened by their attempts at taking her away from him?

That’s... like... quite unlike him, isn’t it? To outright admit he is attached to her. I mean, he struggles to acknowledge his feelings generally, so to just admit this to her like this feels oddly out of character. I mean, I love it - I will take what I can get, but look at Scully’s face when he reaches for her pendant and she realises what he’s saying.

We need to see that expression in hi-res.

Again, on the page it might not have meant to sound like Mulder was admitting he has an emotional attachment to her now, and Scully on the page, might not have meant to react like she’s just been told she’s the only woman in the world, but the acting by these two conjures up an undeniable sexually tension behind the words.

Isn’t it glorious?

Then that is immediately followed by Scully telling Mulder in not so many words, “I’m team Spooky.”

I love you, Scully. Look how happy Mulder is. Again they are in their bubble together - she’s the only one who hears him and is willing to open her mind to his way of thinking. At this moment, Colton and a conventional FBI career has lost. She chooses Mulder. It’s over. She’s a card carrying member of team Spooky now.

#GoTeamSpooky

They’re finally on the same page, working together and when that happens it’s magic. Straight away they corroborate their theory that the murderer is Tooms. Oh right, I haven’t mentioned that guy yet, huh.

They’re so great together as investigators, it’s fun to just watch them put the pieces together, challenging each other to refine their theories, never intellectually threatening one another, only raising each other up.

I love how Mulder sums up Scully’s theory of introjected sociopathic values being passed down through the generations of Tooms’ family.

They go to investigate Tooms old apartment and there’s some great classic moments here, not necessarily MSR, but certainly a few great character moments. Also, this iconic shot.

So character moments, the first one is with Scully being a total badass and going down into the creepy murder dungeon first. She doesn’t even flinch - she’s straight down that ladder... also, her hair touches Mulder’s face.

Not that I think such trivial things are important at all. *whistles*

Not to mention this classic Mulder-ism.

Glen Morgan and James Wong certainly have a way with dialogue.

Things progress quickly from here, Tooms steals Scully’s necklace right from around her neck as he dangles from the ceiling of the murder dungeon, which sets her up as his next liver and onions victim.

Mulder thankfully works this out and rushes to Scully’s apartment, arriving just as Tooms attacks.

This is another dynamic that will oft be repeated in the show. Some crazy psychotic killer targeting Scully, and Mulder arriving just in the nick of time to save her. It’s a little cliché, but I have to admit, it also brings the two of them together and delivers on some great MSR moments, and it’s not like Scully doesn’t do her own fair share of saving. It’s just not usually because some mad man has decided to target Mulder and murder him in his bathroom.

People seem to try to murder Scully in her bathroom all the time. I always wondered why she never moved. So many creepy things have happened in that apartment.

Also, since Tooms’ ability is to contort his body to fit through small spaces, why doesn’t he just slip out of the handcuffs? I mean, it makes sense that he doesn’t since Mulder is pointing a gun at him, but he’s yanking away at the cuffs, presumably to get free, but we know that he can easily do it if he wanted to. Weird.

Then we come to the end, with Mulder musing about how people spend so much money on security systems trying to feel safe, but that when he looks at Tooms he realises that it’s not enough. He’s disturbed by him, and Scully notices this.

It’s here we see one of the first examples of how they comfort each other with touch. Whether its a rub of the arm, a hand hold, a hug, a kiss to the forehead... they develop this language of reassurance and care towards one another, and this is one of the first times we see it.

It’s kind of amazing to go back and watch these episodes and see all of these firsts.

And that’s it for Squeeze. Wow, seems each episode I do the longer these get! But this was a pretty special episode, in that it’s a true classic of the series, the first truly golden episode that, amongst many others, is held up as one of the best in the entire show’s run. I hope that my next episode won’t be quite this monstrously long, but hey, I hope you guys enjoy reading it all the same, because I have such fun writing it.

Next up... 1x04 - Conduit.

Edit: FYI, I slightly altered my analysis from the original post with the help of this fantastic Anon’s feedback.

#the x files #xfiles #txf #txf gifs #favorite msr moments #msr #msr analysis #x files msr analysis series #mulder and scully #fox mulder #dana scully #gillian anderson #david duchovny #glen morgan #james wong #tooms #eugene tooms #squeeze #txf 1x03

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theragamuffininitiative · 7 years ago

Text

Winn Schott - He Protects the Stars (a S1 masterpost)

Me, rambling about my favorite cape-less hero, in chronological order. This is an appreciation post for anything and everything I can mention and that is all.

Episodic breakdowns under the cut.

This post will be reblogged as I add in episodes.

1x01, Pilot

Jack-of-all-trades #1: Head IT Guy at CatCo

Does not push after being turned down for a date. (which, btw, considering how her dates goes, I can’t help but think Kara would have had much more fun having a chill friends night watching a movie with Winn)

Afraid of heights, meets Kara on the roof anyways. WHAT THE HECK WAS SHE THINKING SCARING SOMEBODY LIKE THAT, JUMPING OFF A ROOF.

Immediately ready to listen to whatever Kara is about to confess and validates her trust, and accepts his friend for exactly who she is - all the time??? #supportive friend

Jack-of-all-trades #2: Tailor (later says that “the Supergirl suit sucked” but that Kara didn’t need it to be amazing anyway.) Still. Makes her supersuit after a few...errors. Also works on this project for days to get it right.

Jack-of-all-trades #3: Hacker

Admits when he’s wrong: “a cape aids in aerodynamics!”

1x02, Stronger Together

tbh, Winn doesn’t get a lot of attention in this episode but

Encourages Kara after her first big mess-up, telling her she’s going to get better, and everything will be ok. #supportive friend

Is Supergirl’s information source and cohort, helping her fight crimes. Can you imagine early Kara Danvers trying to decide which emergencies to respond to first? (Later joined by James) #hero

Obviously jealous of the obvious attraction between Kara and James, but keeps his distance and doesn’t make things difficult.

Jack-of-all-trades #4: Mathematician/Tactician, instantaneous rattling off of an ambulance weight and the amount of newton force Supergirl needs to use in order to, as James puts it, be gentle. #genius

1x03, Fight or Flight

Creates the team’s first base of operations.

Writes and implements an algorithm that is somehow capable of sweeping an ENTIRe CITY for traces of radiation??? So that Supergirl can find one particular villain?? #genius

“This isn’t on you, Kara.” #supportive friend

Is the one to find Krull. -Because of making a connection between radioactivity in Chernobyl and MOLD (it’s a real thing btw) #hero #genius

Steps in and saves Kara from getting in trouble with Cat. #supportive friend

Okay, but whether or not you ship them, Kara and Winn are having so much fun dancing in this scene, they are too happy. Also, making Kara laugh when she’s stressed. Also, looks to Kara when James interrupts and doesn’t make a fuss when his dance is stolen.

Jack-of-all-trades #5: Dancer - how many IT guys you know who are also comfortable on the dance floor

Empathetic/Perceiving: “Hey, you okay?” the second Kara walks in and he can tell something’s wrong, and then makes an effort to cheer her. #supportive friend

1x04, Livewire

Righteous indignation at Leslie’s slamming of Supergirl/her costume/everything.

HE WAS GONNA SPEND THANKSGIVING ALONE GUYS not really relevant but HE ALSO ENDED UP SPENDING THANKSGIVING ALONE IN THE END ANYWAY??

Does his best to make that dinner go well for the Danvers. #supportive friend

His little “grateful to be included/thankful for you” speech.

1x05, How Does She Do It

watches the phones for Kara so she can go Supergirl stuff. #supportive friend

Jack-of-all-trades #6: Reluctant Babysitter - despite feeding Carter nothing but junk food, is actually the responsible one looking out for the kid the whole episode. -James sat in the same space and didn’t notice the kid leaving apparently, soooo.

apparently makes a habit of camping out in Cat Grant’s office to play video games on all her monitors???

“Winn, you’re getting killed.” - “Every day, kid.” will never not be a line that doesn’t hurt.

“Hey, you alright?” Empathetic/Perceiving again when James is having trouble with Lucy. #supportive friend

Figures out where Carter went immediately. #genius

Is trusted enough by Kara that she abandons intel to pursue something else on his word - and it pays off. #hero

Probably is responsible for Carter gaining a sense of humor.

1x06, Red Faced

Another too-small Winn episode

Is alarmed and against the idea of breaking into the DEO database - as one should be. “That’s treason!” Initially refuses, even knowing it would earn him points with Kara.

“You’re the only one that can help us.” Alex’s words, not mine.

Relents and hacks the DEO anyway for Alex and Jeremiah’s sake. (yes, Kara, pulling the dad card was a dirty pull) #supportive friend

Not relevant but: Winn just casually/insistently pushing James’ arm out of the way of his computer screen after James sits on his desk.

“Wait, does the robot fight mean that game night is cancelled?” #priorities

Finds out about Jeremiah, and is the one to figure out that Hank redacted the files. #genius

1x07, Human For A Day

No, wait, he actually is The Best IT Guy for the job: gets CatCo back up and running in a matter of a few hours after an earthquake. #genius

Supergirl’s #1 Fan and always takes offense when she’s snubbed.

“That’s the story. Ordinary people like you, used to doing mundane and small things, finding themselves in the midst of a crisis doing something extraordinary. Heroes.” Cat said it, not me.

So the first time I saw Winn’s reaction to Kara and James hugging, I thought he was being pretty selfish. But his first words are to remind Kara about Lucy. And even if it’s out of jealousy, he’s concerned. Because he is right when he says Kara can’t have a normal life - she’s shown she doesn’t want one. Winn, maybe better than James or Kara herself, understands what that means. The superhero doesn’t get the guy is a lesson he’s been teaching himself, so of course it’s going to be how he reacts. James has a girlfriend, and Kara would never be able to settle into a human existence.

Is stressed after answering phones for Kara for a bit, but is the one to communicate to an entire floor of trapped people what they need to do, and that they’re going to be rescued. #hero

Uses a screwdriver in the track to keep the elevator door open. Idk if you’ve ever worked with elevators, but that takes maneuvering. #genius

He reaaaaally doesn’t like heights guys.

-BUT pulls people out of the elevator shaft anyway. #hero

Can I just point out this is the second, and will not be the last, time Winn has watched his friend(s) plummet to their inevitable doom?

Not here to justify Winn’s rudeness at the end of the episode, but Kara getting all cuddly with the guy she’s attracted to when he has a steady girlfriend is not a good thing. If it were my friend, I’d be disappointed in them too.

1x08, Hostile Takeover

So not only does Cat call Winn a handsome little Hobbit, she trusts him, and knows that Kara does too. #she gets it

“No one knows the computer systems better than you.” Kara said it, not me.

“Shouldn’t we be focusing on the whole Psycho Aunt Astra is back in town for round two thing?” #priorities

I’m 95% certain Winn’s passive-aggressive turns in these few episodes was a red herring of foreshadowing him to be a villain and I’m vaguely disappointed they didn’t do it a little more because red herrings and foreshadowings are my fave.

If Winn was petty like people sometimes think, he wouldn’t be hanging out on his break with James. Anyone who has lunch or coffee breaks with coworkers knows this is true. #supportive friend

Comes up with the plan to get Armstrong’s files and evidence against him, and runs the whole operation. #genius #hero

“What are you guys doing here?” “Saving the day!” ...okay those were Winn’s own words but he’s not wrong.

gosh he looks so happy to be sticking it the man here #hero

“You did it.” ^_^ #supportive friend

NOT REALLY RELEVANT BUT JAMES TELLING WINN TO RISK SEEKING AFTER KARA GETS ME EVERY TIME, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW THOSE RELATIONSHIPS GO RIGHT AFTER.

1x09, Blood Bonds

A good Winnisode means additional hashtags

Not really relevant, but the whole scene where Kara is freaking out about being “normal” is genius and hysterical. “Are you having a sTROKE??”

When James says he didn’t find anything out from Max Lord, Winn immediately knows he’s hiding something, though Kara is oblivious, and immediately calls him out on it, though he waits for Kara to leave, giving James the benefit of the doubt. #the most empathetic character on television #genius

“Kara’s a little too trusting to notice when you’re lying, but I’m definitely not.” Not many people have given him a reason to trust them. #protect him

James: “they’re targeting Kryptonians” Winn: “Including Kara.” #supportive friend (Credit to James for being on the same page.)

#DoesNotWantToBreakTheLaw

James: “do you really want Kara to find out you let me do this all alone?” Um. No. Bad. #too loving and forgiving and easily manipulated for his own good

Hacks Max Lord’s "not state-of-the-art security, it Is The Art” security, in a matter of hours. #genius

“You can’t kick lasers, can you.” #the snark

Stands in the way and successfully stops Kara at her angriest, the most dangerous we’ve seen of her yet, from going after Max Lord in a blind rage and doing something terrible. Bonus of Kara yelling at James that “you can’t stop me” and turning to the doorway to find Winn blocking her path. #supportive friend #hero

!!! watch that scene again.

Kara: “I almost did something today that I would have regretted for the rest of my life.” J’onn: “What stopped you?” Kara: “My friends. The DEO keeps you human. They do that for me.” #hero #supportive friend

“Eh, it’s why you keep us around, right?” #self-deprecating smile

Can I just take a moment to appreciate Winn’s wardrobe? Especially that fine choice in pants. 10/10 Okay, we’re good.

1x10, Childish Things

Oh here we go, friends, here we go, this is gonna be long. Full disclosure this episode is mostly sucker-punched emotions

Winn’s voice introducing the episode, yes please.

*insert mini rant about how this is The Worst prison ever (discounting Arkham of course), with horrible safety and security procedures and it’s a wonder they kept the Toyman in there as long as they did*

kudos for casting Henry Czerny as Winn’s dad, he actually looks like he could be Winn’s dad

Winn already looks distracted and sad in his first scene, trying to figure out what the special toy delivery means.

*insert mini rant that Agent Chase is actually pretty incompetent as an Agent and that’s a crying shame*

Winn and Kara’s whole relationship in this episode is about not wanting to change something good. Winn didn’t tell her about his dad because he didn’t want her to pity him

“He wasn’t always crazy, in fact he was a good dad - he was normal.” This is one of the things that causes Winn so much pain, thinking his dad was fine and then just completely snapped without warning, that this could happen to Winn too. I need to point out that Winn is probably wrong, as everything we see about Winslow points directly to a history of emotional abuse and manipulation. I don’t think he was ever actually a good dad. This explains why Winn never sees it when his friends/others emotionally manipulate him now, as James, Mon-el, Alex, Kara, and Lyra have all done at least once. #too loving and forgiving and easily manipulated for his own good

All of the things Winn says describing his dad are things that Winn faces too, hence his fear of becoming like him. #protect him

“You have a homicidal maniac in the family too, so you know where I’m coming from.” #self-deprecating smile

Immediately confesses about the toy as soon as he talks to Kara. (Thank you Kara, yes good) #hero

Talking into the wire. #NERD (I can’t use that every time, just - he is a nerd.)

Wouldn’t confront his father without Kara’s support. #protect him

Creepy place, but makes me think about the time Winslow must have spent there with his son, playing games, and winning toys. Kudos for the sign that says “one way” pointing the other direction as Winn is walking in.

Immediately tells his dad to turn himself in. #hero

After everything, even hating his dad, Winn just wants to help him in the best way possible. #the most empathetic character on television

Feds burst in and Winn just wants to stop anyone from getting hurt. #hero

Kara’s really good in this episode, being a true BFF, have to put that out there. Regardless of their relationship particulars, she is very much the best thing that has happened to him. #supportive friend (Kara edition)

Crossing his arms defensively while talking to Agent Chase, but immediately relaxing his posture when talking to Kara.

Also: “Are you sure you’re alright?” #supportive friend #the most empathetic character on television

Kara’s “I don’t normally...inhale” may be the best line in the entirety of this show??? XD

#DoesNotWantToBreakTheLawRevisited

Kudos to Jeremy Jordan for taking the extremely melodramatic line “this is my burden” and making it work.

Making corny jokes to get Kara to laugh when he’s the one who needs to be cheered up. #supportive friend

Figures out where his dad is, but despite not wanting to involve Kara, doesn’t do anything stupid, and instead waits to tell her so she, the superhero, can take care of it. #genius

Aside: Winslow Schott Sr is completely cracked like wow

Mad at himself for endangering Kara and immediately wants to call the feds. #priorities

“Well then what’s to stop it from happening to me?!” is so awful ouch. Also, Kara trying to console him and ending up saying exactly the wrong thing. Sucker. Punched. #protect him

This. Whole. Scene. Hurts. Too. Dang. Much. To. Talk. About.

I want to point out that the whole terrible kiss is not completely and only Winn’s fault. Yes, he kissed her. Yes, that was wrong. But he has been in no way subtle about his feelings for her, including: asking her out, telling her she’s what he’s grateful for, saying “this is why you’re not into me” right before finding out she was Supergirl, that little peck on the cheek, Kara saying things like “we’re linked too” and “I would be lost without you” and etc when he is in an extremely fragile emotional state. Yeah. Poor kids.

At once - AT ONCE - apologizes, and excuses himself and honestly with emotions that high, that’s the very best thing he could have done.

THE POOR BOY. #pROTECT HIM

HIS DAD WAS LYING IN WAIT. LIKE. HECK. NO.

The whole scene between the two Schotts. Winslow pretending he cares even while he has his son drugged and tied to a chair. Nobody stole anything from Winn and his father except his father himself. #protect him

The conflicting fear and rage in Winn though. *flops*

UM I NEVER NOTICED BEFORE BECAUSE I JUST ASSUMED THEY WERE ZIP TIES BUT WINN IS TIED TO THAT CHAIR BY THE TOYMAN’S MURDER YOYO

“How did this happen to you” may be the most important question Winn has ever asked of anyone in his life, to understand how his dad could become this and if he might become it too, and his dad completely ignores him and doesn’t answer.

Winn: “I am nothing like you.” Winslow: “Don’t underestimate yourself.” That’s it. I’m dead.

The panic on his face as he looks at Dunholtz, his target, and the steely resolve that comes when he looks at a child, someone who will be hurt if he doesn’t go through with this.

And even then. Even then. Winn can’t bring himself to actually hurt someone. #hero

I still am not sure if he says “I’m sorry” to Dunholtz for going to shoot him, or if he says it for the entire room, because he can’t go through with the awful deed and it’s going to kill them all. #the most empathetic character on television

Even after all that stuff Winslow said, he very calmly and coolly activates the bombs that will kill everyone, including the son he pretends to care about, because it really is still all about himself, and about his revenge. #NOT COOL WINSLOW

Apologizes to Kara again and comes clean about it all finally, it’s out in the open. Good.

That sigh at the end. He’s so upset, but there’s also relief. He doesn’t have to hide anything anymore. Now whatever happens, happens. *hugs him*

Last thing: this line gets me every time, and I know it doesn’t mean a thing, but it’s there, it happened. Kara telling Alex: “I screwed up with Winn. I might have ruined something and I don’t know if I can fix it.” Fix it, kids, please. Because Kara and Winn as brotp or otp is life.

This is the longest episode breakdown of this post. You’re welcome??

And that’s all for Part 1 of the masterpost. Tumblr hates how long this has gotten, so I guess I’m going to make a Part 2 for the last half of the season. This line here will turn into a link once I have that post started.

#winn schott - he protects the stars #ragamusings #rags watches tv #winn schott #appreciation post #superglue #jeremy jordan #supergirl

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