#please don’t make Karen a plot device for Matt

[thehumdai]

Real talk time, Kastle fam: how likely do we think it is that we will get any progression in Frank/Karen’s relationship in DDBA S2 and/or The Punisher special? A friend of mine asked why I thought Kastle was such an interesting dynamic and it got me thinking (planning to make a huge post about why Kastle is so good sometime in the future).

Give me your theories, thoughts, feelings, 5 page-double spaced-MLA format-style essays. I want it all.

My nagging feeling is that they have acknowledged Frank and Karen’s connection but will now leave it at that and (for some reason) fully lean into Matt/Karen. While I think it’s not as likely, Kastle’s last scene could also be interpreted as a goodbye/bookend for their relationship. Karen was interested in what Matt heard in Frank’s heartbeat, but she told Matt in the next breath that her heart did the same thing when she saw Matt again. I know a lot of people want to pretend that moment didn’t happen, but it did. At best, she loves both of them.

Jon and Deborah’s chemistry is literally lightning in a bottle. Nobody foresaw how good these two characters would be together and how fucking great their dynamic is. I’m just afraid it’s going to be wasted in service of Matt and Karen’s relationship (as an aside, I’m a diehard Claire/Matt shipper and that boat has been dead in the water for a long time).

What do you guys think?

[regrettablewritings]

@locke-writes my love

ithasbeenalongassfewdaysandiamjustnowgettingtothissosorryiamtwash 💖 💖 💖

DJ x Reader Ship Meme

But fuck that guy :U

jfdjfdkjf i just appreciate how we all came together, took one look at this bastard who was in a film for a collective maybe 10 minutes maximum and decided that whatever material that shitty-ass getup of his was made from, we were going to make it boyfriend material one way or another

Though the fact that barely anybody writes for him or searches for him anymore indicates one of two possibilities: Either we are the strong who persevere even though he really doesn’t deserve it, or we are like raccoons digging in the trash and clinging on to this “neutral”, dirty bastard.

Foggy x Reader Ship Meme

We promote Foggy supremacy in this house. Sorry, Matt, but I’m not sorry.

Foggy is charming as FUCK and yeah, his realism can make him seem like a stick-in-the-mud between Karen and Matt, but there’s a reason his ass ain’t back-flipping around Hell’s Kitchen: It’s just not safe or sensible! Foggy is the grounding force of a group, and I think that’s something we don’t really appreciate enough because we’re so wrapped up in witnessing adventure that we don’t always recognize the importance of stability -- especially in the MCU or wherever the Netflix series are supposed to take place.

Pwease, somebody, give Foggy all the bagels and ice cweams. He stays put like a good boy and actually makes it on time to date night. 🥺 

Poe Dameron x Reader Ship Meme

. . . You’re not wrong, but hey!

Though to be fair, I think if the two of you were hiking through an area he knew based on previous explorations or information contained potentially threatening or nuisance flora, he’d be a bit more vigilant. However, the less of it there is, the more excitable he becomes -- which can easily distract him into slipping up and finding whatever the SW equivalent of poison oak is.

Nevada Ramirez x Reader Ship Meme

You are literally that meme of Ralph Wiggum going, “I’m in danger! 😀”

Nevada is just cussing and being kinda arrogant for a manlet and being aggressive and also eating. Lots of eating.

. . . You never considered the potential there is between the metaphor of Nevada being a feral/aggressive dog, turned guard dog to the one soul that tolerated him but also wouldn’t tolerate his bullshit? Of Nevada being the abominable Tarasque, reincarnated into the form of a man thousands of miles away, devouring souls in an endless fit of hunger until the hand of St. Martha quells him? . . . That sounds so nice and pure, teach me your ways and please free me --

Nevada: is 5′9″ and thus far taller than I Me: Fuckin shortass angry king, prolly needs a telephone book on his throne seat --

Nevada is not in the preference I’m referring to, unfortunately, but currently, as it stands, Dewey is at least??

Look, all I’m saying is that Nevada Ramirez’s silver palate does not extend to his taste in television. He’s very impatient and even though I can imagine him being a man of taste when it comes to food, I can’t really see him enjoying shows that require too much thinking or inside knowledge. He might be into Game of Thrones because haha tiddies and sex an’ shit, but I feel like the novelty would wear off relatively fast and he’d hop off early on. Apparently a bullet was dodged. Nah, he does enough thinking in his day-to-day, he believes. It just feels nice to turn off your brain and watch dumb, rich assholes proceed to be stupid, or hot, young twenty-somethings act like it’s the end of the world because someone they’ve only known for three days in close proximity decided not to continue sharing a bed with them. “People are dying, Kim,” Nevada says. “Because of me. I’m dying them. Count your blessings and suck it up instead of crying that you don’t get to suck him off.”

Okay so you’ve just tickled a fun fact out of me. My dad is a teacher and for years, he’s often been surrounded by women teachers. He recently revealed to me that at one point, he had free bells at the same time certain networks would broadcast soap operas his coworkers at the time followed, so the arrangement made was that he’d watch the episodes they would miss, write down info, and relay the plot back to them so they’d be caught up. I think they actually paid him. And if you knew my dad, you would find this startling because he’s such an intimating, manly type of guy at first glance? But hey, I cannot disrespect the hustle. Anywho, I feel like before streaming got big, Nevada would pay cronies to watch episodes of his telenovelas for him if he couldn’t be there to watch them himself. I really doubt dealers and gangsters have punch clocks or anything, but I feel like Nevada had a system in place where he’d know not to call, like, Luis or Rico at such-a-such-o-clock because that’s when Tierra de Pasiones would be on.

Bruh, I was searching for examples of telenovelas and like...Telenovelas just do not last long at all 😂😂 Granted, you can probably say that about a lot of shows, but the amount of telenovelas I looked at that never made it beyond one season is just tragic, yo.

Steve Harrington x Reader Ship Meme

Steve is a bit of a butt monkey to the point I theorize it’s his survival tactic. I mean, why my boy gotta keep losin’? He’s such an adorable goof! An uncreative goof if left to his own devices, but he means no harm by it!

For making a date night happen in a place like Hawkins, I think he deserves extra credit. Of course, this could just be me saying this from the stance of a person spoiled by the options provided in the 21st century compared to the 80s, but . . . Give him extra credit anyway, he deserves it for just being cute.

[murdocklovespage]

The Characterization of Karen Page

I’ve sat on this post for over a week in the hopes that my mind will cool off from the Punisher (which I really liked, btw), but here we are, and I’m still really curious about how everyone feels about the characterization of Karen Page in the last two series she’s been in. 

It’s clear that the writers from the Defenders and the Punisher had a common goal:

Let her continue to be a badass in her career.

Make it apparent that she’s not focused on propping other people up - she does what she thinks right whether people think it’s important or not.

Have her she speak her mind. No more bullshit, have her tell people how she actually feels.

Awesome.

But here’s the thing. She feels completely different from her Daredevil character to me- and not in a good way. I’m talking about the way she responds to Matt about his being Daredevil (whether she’s just worried about his real life or not, I don’t think that she would actively try to get him to stop being DD, I’m sorry.) And in the Punisher, I feel like she is basically trying to get herself killed. Maybe it’s because she’s depressed over Matt’s death, the fact that she’s alone (Foggy seems to be uninvolved in her life from what we can see in the Punisher), and everything that’s happened with Frank, but I really doubt it. 

Look, I want to be clear. I LOVE Karen Page. I love the ways in which she differs from her comic book character (which, thank God, because, wow. Her poor character was just butchered from the start.) I love that she doesn’t fly off the handle when Matt screws her and Foggy over in season 2 and after the whole Hand/Stick/Elektra business. She focuses on what she thinks is important and is done putting up with his bullshit. I love that she takes information and digs until she finds something relevant and important to whatever they’re trying to solve.

She made herself an asset in each season of Daredevil. I know I can’t expect much from the Defenders; she’s just there to be there just like all of the other “non-hero” characters from Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist - with the exception of Colleen Wing and Misty Knight. And in the Punisher, she is the reason Frank finds David Lieberman, leading to such an amazing broship I can’t even talk about them without smiling.

But after that is where I get aggravated.

They bring Karen back in because Lewis Wilson set off a bomb and then wrote her a letter. Because “she has championed the common hero before.” Alright, that’s plausible. But why in the HELL would she make herself a target by writing an article that fuels his hate? She tells Ellison they should publish the letter with her reply, because, “I want to tell him and everyone else how this makes me feel.” You’re a journalist, Karen. It’s not about telling people how you feel. Do the writers of this series not get that? But I’ll suspend my disbelief here and understand that she wanted to write an editorial with her name on the byline since the letter was written directly to her. Fine. But she argues with Ellison about publishing the article, when he is trying to tell her that they go through the FBI first. She tries to get him to see that it could help the case when it is not even close to her call to make. Seriously? Lives are at stake here.

Lewis is clearly unhinged, so she needs to be the one who reacts intelligently. He had just blown up an office building, and he literally threatened the Bulletin, why would she come out calling him a coward? How would it go if the man bombed her place of work instead of going after Senator Ori. Can you really tell me she wouldn’t think that was far too negative a possible outcome?

To me, the reasoning seems to be about pride. She’s offended that Lewis was infatuated with her as a writer and a person. She didn’t like that he thought she was sympathetic toward murderers (because, just Frank, duh). She knew that by calling him out and then going on the radio (why?) she was going to infuriate him. It wasn’t any plot to draw him out for the police; it’s just a plot device to get Frank involved. Then she tells Frank NOT to kill him for her? Really? Because that’s the most predictable thing from this entire situation. Because the guy is going to come after you and you know Frank won’t let that happen, Karen.

The stupidity can’t stop there. Why in the hell would she show up to the same location of Lewis’ only other target? For the article? REALLY? Would Ellison ever let that happen? Would she be that obtuse? She knows shit hits the fan faster than she could imagine- she was shot at when she was in a damn courthouse for God’s sake. She knows that the police and/or hired security wouldn’t be enough to prevent someone from getting to her. 

Yes, she is a badass in the situation, and one of my favorite parts of that entire series is the Frank/Karen wire-cutting scene followed by him using her as a “hostage” to get out, but I can’t get over the fact that it really never should have happened.

To me, this is just about the writing. I want to love Karen, and for the most part, I do. But I don’t want her to be the person Frank shakes his head at and has to say, “why are you going after him like this?” I want what’s best for her. And that is for her to be viewed as an intelligent being rather than someone who makes stupid mistakes for NO REASON. 

Please, I’m begging you guys, prove me wrong. Turn me back around toward my happy feelings of the goddess that is KP. Because I don’t want to sit in front of my TV yelling “what the fuck are you doing, Karen? WHY?”

[revisitingstoneybrook]

#68 Jessi and the Bad Babysitter: Chapter 7

The plot device comes to fruition. For once, the kids came up with it instead of the BSC roping them into something.

Another babysitting entry and again, it's for the Barretts. Eh, I don't mind. The Barretts are one of my favorite families in the series. Even when they became paired up with the DeWitts, who were just annoying as hell. Anyway, this time Mary Anne's sitting for them and Buddy and Suzi are all ready to shoot a video for Dawn.

Mary Anne tells them not yet, they have to decide what they want to put in the video first. Suzi wants to put on a “video video,” like Snow White and the Seven Zorbs. After Buddy teases her for saying zorbs instead of dwarves, he proclaims the idea stupid and says they should do a Captain Planet play because. Oh, does this date the book like WHOA. My cousin loved Captain Planet when we were kids!

Ok, so Buddy explains Dawn would like Captain Planet more than a fairy tale, since she loves the environment so much. So which charge gets the lame ass role of the guy who doesn't get an element and instead calls for HEART when Captain Planet arrives? Suzi interjects with her Catchphrase du Jour, “Think again, buckaroo!” and Mary Anne is shocked. Please, it isn't like she said "I want my money, bitch!" or something. Sensing an argument a-brewin', Mary Anne suggests they compromise and combine both. Captain Planet “could be the....prince.” Nice save.

Buddy and Suzi like the idea and start brainstorming more stuff. And since they thought this whole thing up (don't tell Kristy! Oh wait, they already did), they're going to play Captain Planet and the witch/queen. As far as other parts go, Suzi giggles about the Arnold twins playing a two-headed monster but they end up sharing the part of Snow White. Buddy suggests Laurel Kuhn as Doc, since she's smart. Ok, that came out of left field. Since when have we ever heard anything about Laurel Kuhn being smart? Do we even know much about the Kuhns? If they wanted a smart kid, what about...well, Charlotte won’t. We saw what happened last time she performed in something. I'd suggest Karen but there's no dwarf with the name of Annoying.

And Marnie gets assigned the role of Dopey, since she obviously doesn't mind playing that part. Aw, Claudia wasn't available?

As is the case when the BSC is doing one of their ~projects~, Mary Anne invites Jessi and the Braddocks over so they can work on it. I'll skip over the explanation about who the Braddocks are, but I'll leave in my pondering about how the hell the BSC AND its charges were able to pick up on ASL quick enough to be able to communicate coherently with Matt.

Jessi and the Braddocks arrive to find Mary Anne and the Barretts making zorb hats. As they're working, Mary Anne explains that Disney's version of Snow White isn't the only version out there and that the story's been around for a long time. Suzi is horrified and thinks Disney stole the idea. Well, Walt Disney didn't, but he's responsible for stuff like this:

So far in the script, they decided that Snow White is an environmentalist like Dawn, who bitches at Alice in Wonderland for picking flowers instead of letting them live and gets on Shrek's case about cleaning up his disgusting swamp. No, she cares about the earth, wanting to keep the snow white and all that. Buddy, apparently a Frank Zappa fan, responds with “Don't eat the yellow snow!” and everyone laughs. I knew there was a reason I loved the Barretts so much:

So the evil queen decides to get rid of Snow White by pushing her in a polluted swamp, but she's rescued by Swamp Thing! Haley wants to play Swamp Thing for some reason, so she's assigned that part. So then the witch gives her a radioactive apple to poison her. And after that, the Zorbs go and find Captain Planet to heal Snow White and he does (by not kissing her, as Buddy points out), end scene. If they really wanted to make Dawn love it, they'd make Captain Planet a vegetarian and have Snow White set up a recycling center in the forest.

Jessi gets the idea of going to the party store to buy props. Damn, everyone is having great ideas besides Kristy! She's gonna be pissed! Mary Anne and Jessi fret briefly over whether Stacey will let them use BSC money for it, but they're sure she will. Hey, $28 a month really does go pretty damn far! And still enough to have pizza parties!