#on loving problematic things

[shepscapades]

99. Pathetic — Blame Candy

My palm's pressed up against my face My brain is scattered all over the place I'm working harder than I need to be Because you won't allow my life to be easy Ooh, it's problematic even though you'd profit too You're having trouble sleeping, and I think I know why 1460 days since we were alright But now you're just pathetic, I said it You are pathetic

Ooh, I've been sitting on this one for so long! The first 8 or so songs on dbhc X's playlist portray the gradual deterioration of Xisuma's psyche throughout season 8 under Android 24's command and control; Pathetic actually comes right after Again & Again on the list, as Xisuma's dread turns to self-deprication spun by 24's demands and manipulation. His self-appointed derpiness kind of becomes a weapon turned against him, and the playful self-bashing becomes something 24 canonically uses against him (see: Evil X always calling Xisuma a derp, and 'foolish axolotl' etc) to admonish his efforts and ideas.

Even though this song is on Xisuma's playlist, I imagine most of the lyrics (namely, the ones bolded above) are coming from Android 24, coming from an annoyed, flippant, and demeaning place.

[artbyblastweave]

Funniest thing I've seen recently, and not funny in a ha-ha way, more funny in a "the endless entropic void gnawing at my will to live" way, was somebody asking around for alternatives to Neil Gaiman, in the light of Neil Gaiman's ongoing fall from grace. As though what we're currently sitting through isn't the collapse of the carefully curated "Good Guy Neil" image that caused people to parade Gaiman as the same kind of preferred progressive alternative to, say, Rowling. As though we won't be in the same goddamn situation in a few years or months, with some number of the new progressive sci-fi/fantasy darlings- not all of them, to be clear, but at least some of them- when their impeccably-curated marketing implodes in on itself and they're revealed to be the same kind of sex pest or abuser. Can you not see the wheel to which you are strapped. The game of human pinball you are condemning yourself to with this mindset. Maybe you do see, and you're just resigned to taking it one soul-crushing disappointment at a time, one "I never would have guessed" after another. I mean I think we all need to get resigned to that one way or another, sun's gonna go out before it stops happening

[disaster-j]

Can't fall asleep so I'll speak my truth

Yes bi Buck was meant to happen in s4 but it was CLEARLY BuckAlbert.

They were living together in what is basically a one room apartment with one bed. Chim tried to involve Albert in the unveiling of Buck's tragic backstory. Buck was unreasonably mad at Albert about the Veronica thing and no one, not even the viewers, could really understand it. If you compare that storyline with Buck, Bothered and Bewildered you will notice the obvious parallels to Veronica being an Eddie-esque red herring.

And don't even get me started on the Buckley-Han Dinner With The Parents.

Imagine how great it would've been. The two Buckleys with their Han men. The Buckley-Han family of five.

But then the fox execs decided to choose hate and said no so the writers had to let it go and make them say they were like brothers or something and that's how we got BuckTaylor end of s4 bc they'd run out of fresh options and she was around.

[lexicorp]

The thing this is for is still gonna be a work in progress for a while, but like, look at em dood- I need to revel in their adorableness before the angst kicks in dixhhxjbdjdbdb

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

thinking about how mulder loves to get scully a gift, usually terribly heartfelt, even if disguised as something flippant:

the superbowl vhs tape he brings her when she wakes up from her coma in one breath (and her deadpan "i knew there was a reason to live")

tickets for a football game to watch together in irresistible

bringing her flowers to the hospital in memento mori (he lies, saying he stole them from a guy with broken legs to make her laugh)

the birthday keychain in tempus fugit (and when she finds a meaning to it, he claims "i just thought it was a pretty cool keychain")

that is a man who is always thinking about her.

[petrowriting]

watching iwtv and the reveal that armand is not only south asian but is also confirmed to be indian and from delhi... finally, problematic gay desi representation !! just what we needed at this dire hour <3333

[soraya-snape]

I don't know how many times I have heard a Marauders Stan tell me and other Snape Fans that we only like him because of Alan Rickman. Which is funny because they are the exact same people who only like the Marauders and also death eaters like Regulus because of their hot fancasts. And I don't even have a problem with it because yes Alan Rickman did play a part in me liking Snape and I believe you can like pretty much every fictional character because they are fictional. The difference is that I don't excuse Sev's behaviour because I think he looks good unlike these Marauders Stans.

[the-moon-ate-my-stardust]

Okay literally no one asked but as a former Hobbit movie hater who has since experienced character growth, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on the movies on my gay little blog.

Listen. There are legit reasons to be critical of these movies. They were made on a rushed timeline, at time where CGI overuse was the thing and there are definitely unnecessary moments. But despite those issues, these movies still have a lot of heart and character and some really wonderful acting! To compare them to LOTR, is unfair I think because LOTR was such an unimaginable success and I truly believe no other movie franchise can do what those movies did. To expect the Hobbit movies to be the same caliber considering the behind the scenes drama and massive difference in timeline is just not it.

Truly I think that the Hobbit could have been much more than it was and it’s sad to see the amazing moments and realize that we could have had movies that were maybe closer to the level of LOTR, but that doesn’t take away from all of the great things that the movies gave us! Despite what he may be like irl, Martin Freeman was a great young Bilbo, Richard Armitage was insanely good as Thorin (despite the change in age) and the other dwarf actors brought a great sense of loyalty, brotherhood and shared loss to their roles. The music is still dope as hell and there are some beautiful shots despite all the CGI.

This is way too long and I’ve not said anything that hasn’t been said before but honestly, I’m so glad that I stopped hating on these movies and have seen the special things about them. Nothing will ever compare to LOTR, but that doesn’t make these movies bad. They’re fun, they’re emotional, they have great characterization and it’s super valid to enjoy them.

Final gay thoughts because I’m obligated, but I struggle with people who argue against Bagginshield with the whole “why does everyone have to make everything gay?” thing. Because Hollywood is so deeply homophobic that we see so little genuine queer representation, so forgive us for enjoying the chemistry we find and making it our own since our society gives us breadcrumbs. If you’re not into Bagginshield, totally legit and fine, but don’t hate on other people (especially queer people) trying to find some romantic love in media that we enjoy. Also no one can convince me that Richard Armitage wasn’t at least somewhat intentionally putting his queer energy into this role, I will die on this hill.

Anyway, TL;DR there’s no shame in liking or loving the Hobbit movies despite their faults and there are lots of things to appreciate and enjoy and I for one, am glad to leave my LOTR purist hater days behind me

[goingpheral]

I’ve seen a lot of people calling dnp the least problematic youtubers and I would just like to say: do NOT icarus us please we are filled with hubris and that never ends well so DO NOT accidentally manifest their downfall I am begging

[inanshalla]

ppl attacking mythal as if solas is any better he used lavellan too (and by extension any inquisitor he had a friendship with)

he entered a relationship with lavellan KNOWING it was wrong from the start but did it anyway, his dialogue on the inquisitor wanting to pursue a relationship reflects this

he says “I’m not sure this is the best idea. It could lead to trouble”

if the inquisitor apologizes for kissing him he blurts out that she has nothing to apologize for or if she feels like she’s pressuring him after the kiss he says she isn’t at all he’s ‘perhaps’ just pressuring himself. He knows it’s wrong. Also his distance reflects that as well. He tries to pull away several times bc he knows it’s wrong and yeah he admits he was selfish for getting involved with her.

not saying he did it specifically to be a manipulative asshole I don’t think he’s some mustache twirling villain but in general one is less likely to see the faults in someone they are dating/in love with

just bc lavellan pursues him of her own volition (under false pretenses, mind you) doesn’t mean it’s less problematic especially because he’s being VERY vague about why it’s not the best idea to get romantically involved.

Also to add, the balcony scene that locks you in his romance, he’s talking about mythal but in so many words. He hasn’t seen the wisdom the inquisitor has since his experiences in the Fade… where he was a spirit and close to mythal.

“it would be kinder in the long run, losing you would be…” this man is talking about MYTHAL and her betrayal and death

it’s pretty obvious that he was seeing the inquisitor as mythal throughout inquisition if he has high approval/romance

[shepscapades]

This one was a freaking doozy. If I keep talking i think i may be in trouble

[indeliblemarking]

jackie could be self centered and she was possessive and unaware of how certain things she said could be hurtful, even if unintentional. However, i think people take shauna’s rant in their fight before her death and apply that to scenes she has with shauna where it’s not applicable? jackie wasn’t perfect but she ultimately was kind and cared deeply about shauna. writing her actions off as simply being a shitty friend isn’t nuanced either she was just a teenager in a codependent friendship. and so was shauna for the most part.

things would blow up regardless because that’s not Healthy but the way jackie and shauna treated one another in the end wasn’t on the same level. shauna was self-destructive and even in the wilderness refused to communicate when jackie gave her every chance. she instead chose to (pre crash) sleep with jeff and then blame shift and insult jackie. and they were kids in an awful situation don’t get me wrong but i think sometimes jackieshauna shippers talk around it or act like they were on the same level when they weren’t. it doesn’t mean shauna was irredeemable in that moment or that she’d never deserve jackie’s forgiveness but it’s the truth and that’s part of the tragedy. it’s also part of the thematic “death is the kindest way to lose someone”.

[welcometogrouchland]

I'm going to be so real I do not understand tim & steph shippers who feel that Steph dating Tim again would save her character. You can make an argument that giving Tim a more compelling love interest would be beneficial for him! And you can at least make an argument that the fujo mischaracterization of Steph would stop. However she'd still, inevitably, be treated as a prop character/extension for someone more popular 😭 it also wouldn't make her appear in more books! Tim doesn't have many frequent appearances at the moment either! You can just say you like the couple and want them back together without acting like you have some kind of moral stance

[queen-of-hawkins-why-ler]

Pour one out for all the Milkvans who are going to be harassed endlessly after s5 for shipping a canonically gay man with a girl 😔🤙🍺

[i-dreamed-i-had-a-son]

Broke (2016): BBC Sherlock is a phenomenal piece of media and anything that seems like a flaw just hasn't been fully explored yet

Woke (2020): BBC Sherlock is an incredibly flawed series run by an egotistical writer, it never deserved the hype and is actively bad on so many fronts (especially representation)

Bespoke (2024): BBC Sherlock is flawed and bogged down by increasingly poor writing, which many fans refused to see while it was airing, leading to hugely misplaced expectations (particularly for the final series), AND it has the seeds of some compelling characterizations and portrayals, some genuinely solid performances, and touches--albeit imperfectly--on complexities that are still being discussed today (particularly as it relates to the relationship between Sherlock and John). The huge cultural impact of the show has created a massive pendulum effect in its public perception, leading to most people today remembering a caricature of the show (whether positive or negative) rather than appreciating its nuanced merits and failings...that being said Season 4 sucked

[illithidactivities]

Rolan giving me what none of the real male options are giving me which is “grump who whimpers/moans into his partner’s mouth the first time they kiss bc he is so touch starved”

Gale comes close but his confidence and hubris and experience with a literal goddess isn’t the same as “I’m not sure if this man has ever even held hands with anyone before”