#ouat web weaving

[naivesilver]

when the one who's burned turns to pass the torch

Joan Tierney (@filmnoirsbian) / Paul And Storm / Daughter / Nick Cave / Eric LaRocca / Silas Denver Melvin (@sweatermuppet)

(Merry Christmas, @lysgiovedi 💗💗💗)

[stars-and-galaxys]

PERHAPS FATE BROUGHT US TOGETHER

3x15//2x22//Mirror Traps - Hera Lindsay Bird//2x22//Uneven Odds - Sleeping at Last//Isle of the Dogs - Wes Anderson//2x14//5x11//2x22//Bring Him Home - Les Miserables//3x15

[mossmx]

love this movie, I mantain the idea was perfect, ecco una dimostrazione del mio amore:

[shrinkthisviolet]

It's Love Letters Night! Send love and positivity to your favorite writers and bloggers!

This got really long so I’m sticking it under a cut 😅:

@negative-speedforce you are absolutely amazing. I love your posts and fics, I love Siv, and I love how much you love Nora (your fic about both versions of Nora sharing a name and the ✨insecurity✨ that would cause lives in my head RENT-FREE) and!! You’re an Iris and Reva defender just like me!! 🥰

@vexic929 you’re so amazing and fun to talk to! You have such wacky off-the-wall ideas and you make them work so well and I love you for it 💞 Malcolm, Berrie, and Beth in particular are so dear to me, and so are their fics!

@goldheartedchaoticdisaster you’re so fun to talk to, especially the OUAT stuff lately 🥰 I also always appreciate seeing your comments on my fics, they’re always long and wonderful and you’re just a delight. I can’t wait to see how you write Rowan, I love Nicky and Stephanie, I love your characterization of Mike Barnes and his family (canon to me!! Everyone read “bad boy (no more)”, it’s so good), and your CK Mini-Rewrites? *chefs kiss* you should’ve written the show

@angst-is-love-angst-is-life you pulled me into my current whump fixation headfirst 😂 I love reading through the whump prompts on your sideblog (@whump-is-love-whump-is-life, for anyone who wants to check it out), and I love talking to you 🥰 you also make me cry with how much you hurt Barry in Trophy and 12 hours, but I respect the whumpy endeavors

@fezwearingjellybananas you’re such a delight 🥰 you pulled me into Snowest with “Milk and Sugar”, your fics are so fun to read (and often a niche/novel premise), and I love seeing your sweet comments on my fics! I also so love the cycle of inspiration we’re in 😂 (for context, they got inspired by my Morgan AU to write Speedster Siblings, which (along with Gone in a Flash) then inspired me to write my Daddy Issues AU)

@starstruckpurpledragon (aka @kitkatt0430), you are wonderful and amazing and you’ve written so many amazing fics and meta for this fandom!! You have great takes, super interesting ideas…and you’re so wonderful to talk to. You also (along with @alittleflashvibe) pulled me into Saverb with “You Must Live (For Me)” 😂 much appreciated for that

@alittleflashvibe you are a delight and incredible and your Barrisco takes are such a highlight of this webbed site 💞 you always get me to see something new in their scenes, it’s terrific. You also pulled me into shipping Barrisco in general 😂 (you and @starstruckpurpledragon, as I mentioned above)

@frosty-the-killer-doll hiii I know we don’t talk a lot but I just wanted you to know you’re incredible and I love your takes on Caitlin and Frost—you’ve gotten me to see them both in new ways (that web weaving post about how Frost’s instinct to protect was corrupted by vengeance?? That was inspired, and it’s only one of your many great takes about her and Caitlin!). I also love love LOVE the Jesse fic you wrote, it’s like you read my mind fr 💞 love having you as my mutual

@icedteaandoldlace you’re so wonderful too! I’ve loved following along with your comments as you read my Morgan AU…and you’ve given me such a wonderful appreciation for Kamilla and Kamisco. Your Kamilla & Caitlin friendship fic is so sweet and I love it to pieces

@blackaquokat where to even begin 😅 we’ve been mutuals for like…what, years now? I don’t even remember how it started, but I DO remember your WKM fics and how incredible they are 🥰 your OC for the DA is absolutely how I view them, and your fics are so canon to me, you deserve all the love for crafting such a meticulous world from the pieces Mark gave us.

@seek--rest your fics are OUT OF THIS WORLD and so are your takes!! You’re one of my favorite Spidey fic authors (and that’s a very short list 😂), you’ve gotten me to see him and MJ in such incredible new ways (Irondad but make it MJ!! Ingenious!!), and you have great takes overall (your post-Blip meta my beloved!!), here and in the discord. You also wrote the May & Sally fic of my DREAMS!! Some people might call you an “absolute displeasure to know”, but I couldn’t disagree more, you’re wonderful 💞

@abcd-em on the note of “Irondad but make it MJ”, Vagary lives in my head rent-free 💞 you’ve written PeterMJ in so many wonderful ways, but that in particular really sticks with me. And you’re such a sweet person in general

@hollow-dweller speaking of great takes…hollow you’re practically oozing with them, here and on the discord. I always come away learning something, and you just have so many amazing thoughts?? Also I keep thinking about the Peter & Jessica fic you wrote like…oh my god?? Inspired?? I must applaud you 👏👏

@robbyykeene your CK takes are so incredible, you’re the first account I go to for them, I love reading your posts. You’re so right 💞

@leohttbriar i adore your fics! Your Samtory ones live in my head rent-free, and so does “for what do we live (but to make sport for our neighbours)” like!! You Get It!! You Get Penelope and Charlotte!!

@jenpsaki I can hardly talk about Samtory and not mention you, when you’re the one who pulled me into this ship with “different but same” 🥰 and thank you so very much for that

@arrthurpendragon you are a key pillar of the OC community and so wonderful 🥹 thank you for hosting that exchange event back in July of last year, it pulled me into the OC community and I’m so grateful for it

@lady-of-the-spirit you’re delightful to talk to, you have great takes for pretty much everything (ESPECIALLY Star Wars), I love Hestia, and I’ve never seen HOTD but I love how passionate you are about Alicent 💞

@basimibnishaqs speaking of having great takes about Star Wars…🥰 Rey & Luke being father and daughter especially, I LOVE your posts on the subject. And this fic you wrote about them!! An AU ofc but so very sweet to me 💞

@practically-an-x-man you and I are fairly new to being mutuals but I love having you as one 💞 still chugging through the Ophelia fic, but I love it so far! And ofc as I mentioned before, you write AMAZING whump (as shown in this incredible fic!)

@azaablue your ATLA fics are out of this world, but “beautiful boy” and “Push and Pull” in particular always sticks with me 💞 all the kudos in the world, you Get It, and you’re so wonderful. A gem in the ATLA fandom

@calliopieces your Maiko fics are a GEM in The ATLA fandom, especially “crowning glory” 💞 you just Get Mai and her family situation, and especially Fire Nation girlhood, and I love this fic so much for it

[gaylortruther]

taylor swift // once upon a time // siken // supernatural // the 100

[lizardthelizard]

'Cause I'm a man who hides from all that binds And a mess of fading lines

(August + My Mirror Speaks by Death Cab for Cutie)

[kikiofthevast]

The idea of the City is incredibly depressing. The other worlds present in the six albums (+ Frankenstein) are just as horrible, if not more so, especially in OUAT(IS), but the City always stood out to me as particularly horrible.

The thing that gets me is that there's nowhere to run.

Being trapped forever in a single state is one of my biggest fears and the idea of the City really digs into that. They built around the entire planet, up to the sky, and down into the ground. There is nowhere to hide, and there isn't any escape but in death.

But death isn't the end of it either, because any part of your brain that can be salvaged is hooked into a "half-conscious hell".

Zeus indebts his children and makes them run around doing deadly tasks for no reason. The Olympians suck the youth from children to stay healthy. Hades is an immortal space pirate. Ulysses is a war hero with PTSD. Arachne spoke out, weaving her own webs, but she ended up caught in another's.

I know the stories are meant to be sad and have no happy ending but Jesus Christ

[counttotwenty]

Bullet Points: Secrets and Shiny Things

Ill Boding Patterns--part 1

Bullet points are encapsulated scene analysis from the top of each act to the bottom. (each act is bookended by a commercial break)

1. The scene progression in the Teaser is VERY enlightening. As we know, it gives us the lens through which to view the rest of the episode. It sets up the relevant themes and as always, each scene is informed by and informs, those that come before and after. I’m gonna point that out a little more here than usual because, as I said, in this case it’s fascinating.

And since this was one of the least subtle eps of primetime tv I’ve see in a long time it’s not hard to spot the throughlines.

A hard hat may not be good enough to protect you from the anvils in this one. Fair warning.

BOING!!!!!!

2. Personally I loved Beowulf when I read it both in high school and in college. Yeppers, I was that kid. You’re shocked, aren’t you?

3. I was surprised (in a good way) when I saw they were casting someone to play Beowulf. I mean I figured they weren’t gonna get too deep into the weeds of the actual story, which frankly I don’t blame them for, it’s a little dense for primetime. 

But Hrunting the enchanted sword and the overarching them of epic battle were perfect choices to use as illuminators of the current storyline(s)

Nice story choice!

4. The staging of the first part of the scene is spectacular. Lots of moving pieces. People. Noise. Flaming catapult rounds. Wooden spikes. Potential danger is everywhere and a battle is definitely afoot.

They do a very nice job of giving that time to unfold.

And though there are dozens of people going about their business, including a blacksmith, we only “meet” two of them. Beowulf and a poor, hapless foot solider looking for courage in a flask. (From here on out to be referred to a PHF)

5. Really nice shot selection as the camera settles on PHF and then switches to his point of view. 

His view is obstructed by trees and smoke though he can see soldiers in the distance. Which is a visual indicator of his confusion and lack of certainty about his mission. He is clearly trying to make a decision. It’s written all over his face.

BOING!!!!!!

And he decides to bolt. Stumbling as he goes. Until he runs into Beowulf, almost literally.

6. Beowulf believes his enchanted sword assures him of being hailed a hero, and though eventually he gets around to mentioning victory as well, the idea of being a hero is clearly the #1 thing on his mind. Which is one of those little factoids you file away in case you come across a situation later where a man is counting on a sword to help him achieve his personal goals.

Don’t worry. You won’t have to wait long.

7. Beowulf uses his considerable confidence and faith in the sword to convince PHF to turn around and join the battle.

Just a quick note to the PHF--you realize he’s not going to let you carry the lucky sword, right?

But for better or worse, off they go to battle.

It’s worth noting here than in the original poem the sword was ineffective at best. Which comes up again later. Several times. Because no dead horse was left unflogged in this ep.

8. So PHF set off determined to take one course of action (fleeing) and then an interaction with another person (Beowulf) altered his path 180 degrees (he stayed to fight)

Keep that in mind just in case it comes up later in the ep. (SPOILER ALERT it does. In a very big way)

9. Beowulf gets off to a good start, appearing to fell the first ogre pretty easily. Lots of other soldiers being tossed around like frisbees but his feet manage to stay on the ground and he appears to be “winning’. But that initial success is soon challenged by a new influx of 2 ogres.

So in other words the first battle was just a warm up.

BOING!!!!!!!

10. Unfortunately PHF is not so lucky and gets crushed under the foot of an ogre in the second wave. Which is sad for PHF but leads to a really spectacular camera shot where the darkness from the approaching foot fills the screen then we fade back in on an entirely different landscape. A new battle if you will.

BOING!!!!!

Nice touch with the smoke from all the various flaming weapons, mixed with maybe a little fog, blanketing the now desolate battlefield.

11. Even the opponent Beowulf goes to war with this time is a very different version than the previous battle.

BOING!!!!!

He finally knocks Beowulf off his feet and separates him from Hrunting.

12. “I killed all of them.”

Except oops, as it turns out Beowulf wasn’t the one who killed the ogres. It was Rumple. 

But still, all Beowulf really wanted was to protect his village, right? So who cares who gets the credit for killing them, right?

Don’t count on it. Remember Beowulf’s main agenda seems to be to be hailed a hero.

It’s safe to assume he isn’t gonna take this lying down.

13. So let’s see where we stand after the first part of the teaser.

Be careful about placing too much faith an an enchanted sword because it might not do what you think it’s going to do.

and

If you’re struggling with a decision, and depending on the flask for a little clarity, and someone is trying to convince you which way you need to go--choose carefully. Things may not go the way you expect.

BOING!!!!!

14. So as we go to the title card I’m thinking, whoever we see in this next scene, especially if they’re on the cusp of decision, is in for a rough ride.

Cut to Killian.

Well ... crap.

15. Just like PHF he’s using an 80 proof alcohol lubricant to help the decision making process. 

I feel ya, Killian.

It’s important to note here though that Killian tried Archie BEFORE he started drinking. It’s a very strong sign of his redemption that even his first instinct now is to do the right thing. He’s no longer fighting his pirate urges at every turn.

He’s a changed man.

Instead of lashing out in actions and bad behavior when something goes wrong he’s trying to work through it.

Very well done.

16. Interesting use of muted tones and soft focus to help visually portray Killian’s state of mind.

17. “Captain Hook doesn’t get cold feet.” 

Colin did a fantastic job of infusing that line with more Captain Hook-ness than Killian-ness. No grand gestures. No body movement. Just his face and voice. A slightly more aggressive tone. A slightly more pointed accent. Slightly harsher facial expressions.The difference is subtle but unmistakable.

Extraordinarily well done.

Kudos to Colin.

18. “There’s not another living soul knows the secret but me.”

This line stood out like a sore thumb to me. Mostly because unequivocal assertions like this have a way of being proven false in the end. Especially on this show.

19. Notice how when he talks about how Emma wouldn’t understand his tone and facial expressions once again soften.

Very sweet and makes me go awwww every time I see it but more than that it’s a very real representation of the effect her love has on him. She makes him all gooey inside (LOL) and the thought of disappointing her devastates him.

And that’s a very important thing to keep in mind.This exchange with Archie makes it very clear that he sees falling short in Emma’s eyes as unacceptable. He’s not worried about himself in this scene, though losing her would clearly devastate him, he’s worried about Emma and what this news will do to her.

BOING!!!!!!

20. “Because it would seem that I am broken.”

And he’s Hook-ish again. Taking on the harder edges mentioned above. That is until he gets back to talking about Emma then he softens again.

“I want to tell Emma the truth.”  

The fact that he wants to tell her ... our little pirate is all grown up and fully redeemed. Sniffle.

It’s worth noting here that this isn't just about Killian telling SOMEONE the truth--because if it was he’d tell Archie. This is about him telling EMMA the truth. She’s the one that matters to him.

21. I’ve rewatched this scene at least 20 times and way Colin deftly moves between the Hook and Killian sides of his personality is simply breathtaking. It is such a spectacular external representation of his internal turmoil.

AMAZING!

22. They make too much of a point here about how much Killian wants to tell Emma for it not to come back and make a big difference down the line.

23. It’s a nice moment when Archie, like David before him, acknowledges the changes in Killian.

First it came from someone who has a personal relationship with Killian, then from someone with a professional relationship.

They certainly are making sure Killian’s redemption is airtight.

BOING!!!!!

24. In contrast to PHF in the first scene there’s clearly never a moment Killian is tempted to bolt. Which is a very big statement.

25. “I think maybe you need to find out.”

Archie isn’t telling Killian what to do, he isn’t even pushing Killian in the direction of doing the “right thing”. Killian is already there. Archie is simply confirming what Killian already knows and what he already wants to do.

BOING!!!!!!!

26. Oh you handsome pirate ... just watch out for the ogre’s shoe. Metaphorically speaking of course.

27. The scene with Gold, Belle and Blue is painfully slow, even for an exposition scene. Which this clearly was.

It also served as a VERY clunky way of connecting Gideon’s sword to Hrunting in the minds of the viewers.

But still...yikes. Even the sniping between Gold and Blue felt very flat.

Which is probably because they were only using it to remind casual viewers the Black Fairy is Gold’s mother.

Good lord, a little subtlety people.

28. “He’s not the first one to think wielding that sword will make him a hero.”

Time to play connect the scenes. LOL

BOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

29. So now we see Rumple on the top of the world. He’s being hailed as the hero of the Ogres War. He’s getting all the credit. Which technically he’s due since he killed all the ogres. 

He’s a happy man.

As long as no one spills his secret.

This scene right here is what sows those feelings of dread later in the ep because.....

30. Enter Beowulf.

31. Seriously Rumple--why are you giving him the sword back? To the victor go the spoils and all that. Not like that’s gonna come back and bite you at any point. (eyeroll)

32. So in a fit of jealousy because Rumple is getting accolades he feels like he deserves Beowulf spills the secret, pulls the rug out from under Rumple and makes the people who were celebrating with him just minutes earlier suddenly recoil.

BOING!!!!

33. The important difference here though is that Rumple wants to keep his secret and Killian wants to spill his.

34. How come every time I dare to say that Rumple has absolutely no desire to give up the dark magic, in fact that he quite enjoys it, my askbox runs over with people telling me I don’t understand the character.

I’m not making it up, folks. He says the words himself.

35. “No more magic.”

We’ll see.

36. When Gideon kills the security camera feed to the monitors is really brilliantly done contrast to last week’s scene where the ones at the jail followed David all the way to the cell.

Both men are out for revenge but one path was clear and one is obscured.

I see you, show.

37. Since it’s pretty clear we’ll be watching the saga of two very different sons play out in this ep it’s interesting to see the initial contrast between no more magic Bae and open sesame Gideon.

Well done.

38. Apropos of absolutely nothing I chronically misspell the word sheriff on the first try. I have a mental block about it, I swear.

39. “She won’t be able to get the best of me again.”

And down he goes.

Snort.

40.So before we go on to Act 1 let’s kind of gather up the common elements we’ll be working with.

A shiny object plays a pivotal role in all of these storylines--be it a sword, a ring or a dagger.

Two of the storylines (Beowulf & Gideon) deal with a man who believes an enchanted sword is the key to his success.

Two of the stories deal with men keeping secrets. One (Killian) who wants to reveal it and one (Rumple) who wants to hide it.

Oh and there are battles looming, both personal an of the epic variety.

Next up--What Are You Up To?

[sieben9]

jiminysjournal reblogged your post and added:

Oh, what a Tangled web we Weave! Let’s just...

...when first we practise to deceive. ::squints:: I think there’s a reference to something in here, but I’m not coming up with much that makes sense.

As for Robin... I mean, black hair dye can be made fairly easily as long as you have access to walnuts. He might have done that for a disguise.

{Quick request to anyone reading: I���m watching OUaT for the first time, and I want to avoid spoilers. So, if you want to discuss something spoilery, I’d be grateful if you could start a new post for that. Thank you!}

[naivesilver]

@ouattober Day 1 - Favorite Character: Pinocchio | August Booth

The Girl Who Soared over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two, Catherynne M. Valente // Strangers, Ethel Cain // And My Father's Love Was Nothing Next To God's Will, Amatullah Bourdon // When They Say You Can’t Go Home Again, What They Mean Is You Were Never There, Marty McConnell // The Adventures of Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi

[stars-and-galaxys]

YOUR LOVESICK PUPPYDOG

5x11//I am a dog, I have blood all over my teeth - sciencedfiction//for your own good - Leah Horlick//5x14//5x10//4x09//@thingsfromthedirt//5x10//@kermitlesbian

[stars-and-galaxys]

YOU ALREADY LIVE IN THE HEART OF THE WOODEN BOY

“Pinocchio” (1940)//1x20 - “The Stranger”//“Witchcraft in England” (1945) - Mervyn Peak//“Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio” (2022)//“Pinocchio” (1940)//“Ceramic Heart” - @heavensghost //“The Adventures of Pinocchio” - Carlo Collodi//“Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio” (2022)//“I Carry Your Heart With Me” - E.E. Cummings//1x20 - “The Stranger”

[stars-and-galaxys]

AUGUST & EMMA | YOU STILL ARE A KID

1x20//1x01//Ducks in a Meadow - Nanay//1x20//Supernatural//1x20//@riverbaptisms//Remember You - Adventure Time //6x11//You Swan, Go On - Mount Erie//Sinking his claws into the wool and cawing delightedly - Walter King Stone

[stars-and-galaxys]

YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO GIVE ME MY BEST CHANCE

6x12, A Murder Most Foul//Mythological Beauty - Big Thief//Susan Smith - wych elm//1x01, Pilot//6x12, A Murder Most Foul//5x15, Sisters//The Apostolate of Holy Motherhood//The Harpy - Megan Hunter//Massacre of the Innocents - Léon Cogniet//1x04, The Price of Gold//1x02, The Thing You Love The Most//Mythological Beauty - Big Thief

[naivesilver]

a servant for my mother's unhappiness - eliana & blue

@sweatermuppet / @heavensghost / @filmnoirsbian / @ijaazat

[stars-and-galaxys]

DAVID & JAMES | NEITHER ONE OF US WANTED TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE DID

6x12, A Murder Most Foul//“Pictures From a Grown-Up Kid“ - Fanny Latour-Lambert//“Two-Headed Lamb”- Bartolomeo Bimbi//5x19, Sisters//“Antigone” - Sophocles//Succession//“Cain and Abel “- Tintoretto//“Waiting Room (live)” - Phoebe Bridgers