#regardless of any team green shenanigans. HOWEVER.

[fitzykreiner]

is it possible to be team black minus daemon? 🤔

[crusherthedoctor]

The beach trope: another one that often comes early in Sonic's quests, and this one's no different, though expectations are very mildly subverted by making it the third zone instead of the very first. (Careful Crusher, you had the audience on the edge of their seats there.)

More importantly though, it's possibly one of the most famous and celebrated level tropes in the series. Emerald Coast is undeniably iconic, Seaside Hill is just as iconic while also merging with the Green Hill setup, and Wave Ocean... is a poor man's Emerald Coast, but it's probably better than most levels in '06 by comparison, so it too is iconic, from a certain point of view. We can't forget Jungle Joyride either, even if that's mostly because we got to see the frame rate die before our very eyes.

So how do you make your interpretation stand out? How do you prevent having a Wave Ocean 2: Wave Oceaner on your hands? Well, it's actually very simple...

Creating Zone 3: Coastline Resort

3-1: Shining Shore

Remember when I said that sometimes all it takes to make an environment feel different is the time of day, or a change in weather? This is one of the first major examples of putting that philosophy into action, as compared to previous beach levels, which were usually content with taking place in the bright sunny daytime, this one takes place under a pleasant purple sunset.

This of course contrasting heavily with not only the blue sea, but also the sands, which although given a mild touch of purple courtesy of the sunset, cannot fully hide their natural shade of white.

And of course, waterfalls.

We can’t forget the waterfalls.

Despite being a true blue beach level first and foremost, there are also a few hints of plaza, further setting it apart from the Emerald Coasts and Not-Emerald Coasts of old times past. This aesthetic in particular is based heavily on the seaside town of Whitby.

No doubt Sonic would admire this place, at least when he's not forced to go deep underwater. Maybe when the adventure is over, he can come back here and have a relaxing moment with... someone. Dunno who though. I doubt Eggman would be interested, and not just because he's actually in-character. Oh well, plenty more horses in the sea.

Speaking of, what about the underwater sections? Shining Shore does have them after all, in full 3D, as opposed to making them bottomless pits in disguise. Unsurprisingly, everything's a lot more blue than purple down there, gorgeously so, but the coral reef provides its own variety of colour.

The local fishies don't seem to mind you being in their line of sight... nor do the Badniks, but probably for a different reason.

Since we're three zones in, you might have noticed by now that each zone, regardless of their overall colour scheme, has one element in at least one act that goes all rainbow with the colours than everything else. You had the flower patches in Gleaming Meadows, you had the wood barriers in Tricky Tropics with their rusting paint jobs, and now we have the coral reef in Coastline Resort... any reason for this?

Alas, the answer is a mundane one: it's just a little way of tying all the zones in Viridonia together. As this quest revolves around the mystery of the elusive Ethereal Zone, this seemingly inconsequential aspect is a way of ensuring that it will always remain at the back of your mind. It may be relatively more subtle and easy to miss than, say, a giant moon glaring down angrily at you no matter where you go on the map as it literally comes closer and closer to killing everyone, but the intention is effectively the same: the central meat of the setting and story is always present in some form, however indirect, even if the characters aren't currently discussing it.

Also, shout out to the lighthouse that helped our heroes by inadvertently blinding the pursuing mechanized orca.

You really put a dent in Heavy Gunner's strategy.

First Section (calm): Lagoony Tunes (Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced) Peach Field (Mario Hoops 3-on-3)

Second Section (adrenaline): Lost Palace (Team Sonic Racing) Hang Eight (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

3-2: Crazy Rapids

Being a whimsical water park, made even more whimsical to fit the video game format, this one explains itself in a lot of areas. But let's go over the finer details anyway, shall we?

As mentioned in the fic, the park has been made to fit in seamlessly with the ruins present in the area, thus creating a Good Future-esque wonderland of nature and technology in harmony. For an idea of how the ruins aesthetic would work, imagine something akin to the Sunset Beach Resort in Jamaica, particularly the long bridge and archways you can see in both of these shots:

Kind of has an Aquatic Ruin vibe, doesn’t it?

Even then, that only applies to half of the architecture, as the other half breaks up the yellow with some white, reminiscent of a certain OTHER watery location in Sonic's past...

We also have the giant fountains sprinkled around the place. There are two types of fountains to be exact, both of which may seem familiar to the attentive eye...

The difference? They're larger. MUCH larger. As in, you can actually platform your way on and around them.

As for what’s inside? It's exactly how you'd imagine it to be, albeit exaggerated even further to befit a Sonic level.

And in-tune with the beachside mood, the Chao Garden found nearby would take a page from the one in Station Square...

...with a little extra flavor of this...

...complete with miniature water slides and the like for the adorable inhabitants... the inhabitants that Eggman currently has an unexplained interest in. How do the Chao factor into his latest plan?

Heh heh, only I and those I've discussed it with in PMs know that for now.

First Section (outside): Windy and Ripply (Sonic Adventure) Ocean Palace (Sonic Heroes)

Second Section (inside): Data Select (Tee Lopes) Wii Shop Channel - Mii Channel (Super Smash Bros. Wii U)

3-3: Aquarium Gallery

Disappointed that Crazy Rapids lacked that smooth red-on-blue contrast that Aquarium Park from Sonic Colours had? Well we can’t all be in the same league as Eggman sadly, but fear not, for the similarly named Aquarium Gallery gets right in on the action, combining red walls and an overall upper class aesthetic...

...with the expected quantities of shimmering blue that comes with the aquarium setting. And with glass tanks of great size, comes great fishies to go along with them.

The black and white checkered floor would also be a must. It's a Sonic game, we gotta have a checkered pattern somewhere. It just works. /ToddCrusher

Don't worry about the living conditions for the fish here, by the way. Eggman mechanizing them aside, the people who work at the park - and those who visit it - make sure to treat all the marine life with the utmost respect and kindness. Just a shame that they're apparently not so willing to lend that same understanding to Trudy... but it does provide an early hint that despite the few genuine bad apples who are outright antagonistic towards Trudy, most of the folks ignorant to her condition are exactly that at worst: ignorant. Meaning, despite first impressions, most of them are not bad people at heart, and with a little help and persistence, it's not entirely impossible that they can eventually learn to understand and sympathise with Trudy's situation.

In other words, they have more dimension than the background characters in Sonic Boom, where they're all mostly a bunch of one-note arseholes with little redeeming qualities and don’t deserve to be saved by Sonic in the slightest.

Anyhow, eventually, after a trip through one of those sweet underwater tunnels...

...we find ourselves in the cavern area, where red is exchanged for turquoise, and there are reflected ripples galore. Since the Marble Caves in Chile already look halfway to being a Sonic level due to its unique formations, that's the best comparison I can make here.

Too blue, you might say? Well, the sunset from earlier would be poking through the holes in the wall, adding some warm to the cool once more... the giant seashells everywhere help spice it up too.

Like these, but bigger than Ken Penders’ ego.

If that’s even possible...

First Section (aquarium): Rooftop Run - Night (Sonic Unleashed) Coconut Mall (Mario Kart Wii)

Second Section (caves): Sea Shell Shenanigans (Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex) Dire, Dire Docks (Super Mario 64)

3-4: Hydro Plant

The outside structure for this place is shaped like a giant wall, which predictably brings the Hoover Dam to mind:

And that applies inside as well, at least initially. The similarities indoors come mostly from the generators, as well as the sheer size of the place.

Since it's considerably rustier however, we have darker lighting in place, with the sunset outside preventing it from being too dark inside. There’s also a copious amount of daring graffiti caused by hoodlums... or maybe Eggman, since he'd probably be the type to do that to any property that isn't his. Some of this graffiti would look very impressive...

While others would... uh...

Look, they tried, okay?

With all this graffiti, that means there’s opportunity for a generous helping of cheeky references to previous installments if you’re able to find them... and if you can understand them. To this day, the typo in “make belif reborn” has not been corrected. Absolutely disgusting.

But as the fic dictates, the further you go on, the tidier and more high tech it becomes. Simply put, this section would remind one of Aquatic Base from '06, mainly because I've always liked the idea despite its characteristically terrible level design, so why not salvage the concept and give it a second chance?

With some added flavor to make it less monotone, mind you. Like actual water sections, some green lights to break up all the blue, giant crab robot threatening to kill you... the works.

Sonic may be glad that this zone is behind him, but little does he know, it's not the only zone with intense water action around these parts. Luckily for him, that won't be for a while, so he can breathe a sigh of relief for now. Still, we know Eggman has other ways of keeping the gang on their toes...

First Section (rusty): Wily Stage 2 (Mega Man 7) Pokey Pipes (Donkey Kong Country 3)

Second Section (high tech): Ocean Base Act 1 (Sonic Advance 3) H2 Oh No (Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex)

[revchainsaw]

Buffy: the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Season 1

Hello and Welcome back my creepy congregation! We will be taking todays service from the Big Screen into your living room for our first Personal Devotional. That's Right! We're reviewing full seasons of television series now and what better way to bring the spirit of the genre film to the idiots lantern that with the 90s Television sensation and all around love letter to the horror genre, Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

The Message

Regardless of how one may feel about Mr. Whedon we can't deny how much we love Buffy Summers and the Kids who live and die in Sunnydale! Season one of Buffy was a spin off/reboot of the earlier film and an attempt by Whedon to course correct the franchise by breathing a little charm and attention into the subject matter.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 1) focuses on Buffy Summers, a not so typical California high school student who, due to the events of the movie, has been relocated to Sunnydale High. Buffy is not just a cute, athletic, teenage girl looking to enjoy the prime of her life, though she is those things, she is also the Slayer, an anointed warrior who has been reincarnated throughout the generations to protect our vulnerable weak human world from the forces of evil; particularly Vampires. Buffy is a sort of supernatural Captain America, that is a peak human being, but instead of Nazi Science she was born with her powers.

Joining Buffy are; High School outcasts Willow and Xander (a nerd and a nice guy respectively), The ridiculously sexy librarian Rupert Giles (her mentor, guardian, high school librarian, and all around precious papa bear), Jenny Calendar (a technopagan computer teacher armed with all the mystery an ignorant 90s boomer could attribute to the internet), Angel (Spoiler: He's a Vampire, but he's a good guy. A hunky, broody, good guy vampire love interest), and her loving but entirely oblivious mother. The Scoobies as they have come to be called aid Buffy in her quest to protect Sunnydale from Dark Forces.

And Speaking of those Dark Forces, they are primarily vampires, led by the Master; an ancient vampire who resembles to some degree Nosferatu and a Bat, a look that Guillermo Del Toro would later perfect in his own series the Strain. The Master seeks to fulfill an ancient prophecy that would open the Hellmouth (a portal to hell, exactly what it sounds like) and free him in order that he and his kind should conquer the world.

The first season is fairly short consisting of the following adventures.

1. Welcome to the Hellmouth - Buffy moves to Sunnydale seeking to leave her Vampire ways behind, but the vampires just won't let her catch a break.

2. The Harvest - Vampire Shenanigans continues. Buffy learns of the Master.

3. Witch - A fellow Cheerleader is possessed by her witchy mom.

4. Teachers Pet - Buffy vs Giant Mantis

5. Never Kill a Boy on the First Date - Buffy vs the Anointed One (Not Really)

6. The Pack - Buffy vs Hyena Possessed High School Bullies

7. Angel - Buffy vs Angel but actually Darla

8. I, Robot ... you, Jane - Buffy vs Internet Demon

9. The Puppet Show - Buffy and Sid the Dummy vs Organ Harvesting Demon

10. Nightmares - Buffy has bad dreams

11. Out of Mind, Out of Sight - Buffy vs Invisible Nerd

12. Prophecy Girl - Buffy vs The Master (also Buffy Dies)

Overall the short season, while not allowing for too much world building, kept the show to a format that allowed very little filler. So although we mostly only get vampires as villains, we don't have enough time to really be bored of it. Some of the shows dynamics and cultural concerns definitely date the series but overall Season 1 of Buffy is definitely not a difficult watch, and can be enjoyed over and over again.

Let's get to the Benediction:

Best Character: Slay Girl, Slay!

As far as season one goes the titular Buffy Summers is the best character. Sarah Michelle Gellar is absolutely charismatic in the lead role and though at times she may seem selfish or reckless it makes perfect sense for the character. The character is allowed to be weak, to be selfish, and to be unlikeable. She avoids the foibles of a Luke Skywalker or a Harry Potter. She joins the ranks of primary protagonists who are not constantly outshined by their supporting cast. I believe when Buffy is sad, I believe when she throws a punch, I believe she struggles with her destiny. The only thing I don't believe is how ditsy she let's on.

Best Actor: Head's Up!

Anthony Stewart Head. Head as Giles is just fantastic. His balance of frustration with Buffy and genuinely parental concern is heartwarming and absolutely makes Giles one of the warmest father figures in television history.

Best Episode: A 'Master'ful Finale

It all builds up to Prophecy Girl and for good reason. Television shows often have mini-finale's at the end of their first seasons because the teams behind the series are not sure they will have a chance to tell more of their story. For that reason you can see just the first season of most television series and feel like you've heard the whole deal. I wish this habit was kept up in other seasons as we wouldn't still be wondering what the hell happened to Joel at the end of the Santa Clarita Diet. Buffy is no exception to this phenomenon and therefor attempted to tie up much of it's narrative in Prophecy Girl. While that often means big bads will be dispatched, I think it's a small price to pay for not winding up in a cliff hanger. Buffy and Giles just shine in this episode, Angel is given a more heroic role, Willow finally values herself as she should and Xander stops being a fucking horrible human being for once. This episode really satisfies in all areas.

Best Villain: Sweet, Sweetheart Killer

It's such a shame that Darla was killed so early on in the franchise. She is such a great presence on the screen that she overshadows all the villains that play alongside her, even the Master. I would have loved to have seen an alternate season where she offs the old coot and assumes the role of big bad much like Spike does in Season 2. Lucky for everyone that Darla is featured throughout the show in flashbacks and I hear she is even resurrected in Angel. Also, for Scott Pilgrim fans I feel like she and Envy Adams are very much sympatico. Maybe if they reboot Buffy all my dreams will come true.

I'd also like to take this time to recommend the song Angels and Darlas by Say Hi! It's pretty good.

Best Monster Design: Internet Troll!

While I can't speak for where the money in Season 1 of Buffy went, I can say that at least some decent cash was spent on both the forms of Moloch the Corruptor from the Episode "I, Robot ... You, Jane". Moloch was pretty wicked looking as a machine toward the end of the episode, he looked like a Mortal Kombat villain, but it's the green scales and ram horns the actor is sporting at the beginning of the episode that really catches the eye. In fact, I'm feeling compelled to hunt down any Moloch the Corruptor merch that may be out there on the internet. It's certainly no mystery why the demon's face is featured prominently in the theme song. It just looks great! Good job to the make up department there.

Most WTF moment: "Pack"s a Punch on Principle

While not the greatest episode in season one "the Pack" is certainly worth the watch if for no other reason than the horror is kicked up when a group of high school students under the influence of a malevolent Hyena God, decide that the School Mascot is not enough to satisfy their bloodlust turn on the principal, and yes, THEY EAT HIM. I remember being completely caught of guard the first time I saw that scene, and it kickstarted the running gag of Sunnydale high principles meeting their demise in horrific ways.

Worst Character: No More Mr. Nice Guy

When I was in college I often felt bad for Xander. The funny guy who just had no luck with women. He was sarcastic but had a big heart, and used a horny gimmick to mask his loneliness, or so I thought. But now I am older, I am wiser, I have known the touch of another human being and I have to say that Xander Harris is a really scummy fellow. I don't remember thinking so poorly and I wonder if the character develops a more nuanced view of women as the show goes on. As it stands there's barely a point in the series that Xander does not view the female cast as objects for him to enjoy or be embittered towards for one reason or another. It's not charming, it's foul. Xander Harris of season one is absolutely a terrorist attack waiting to happen, if Buffy had happened today it would be much more concerning to see someone so embittered, horny, and entitled to womens time and energy as Xander Harris. Dude is one step away from pulling an Elliot Rogers. Calm down buddy and maybe actually listen to a woman and you may find you aren't as much of a 'nice guy' as you think.

Worst Episode(s): If you're not first ...

It's a toss up on this one. Season One of Buffy is actually so short and concise that the 'Monster of the Week' episodes will have to be up for grabs as the worst episode by default, but even they are pretty watchable and don't warrant the vitriol a "worst" dub usually entails. I'd say there is not a worst episode of season one, just some episodes that aren't as good as the rest. In that vain, take your pick from "Witch", "Out of Mind, Out of Sight", or "The Puppet Show". However, I'd be doing a disservice to those episodes not to mention that each one of them takes what could just be a basic Buffy Vs (insert Villain), and does something unique and interesting with the idea. The villain of "Witch" actually turns out to be a has been cheerleader actually possessing the body of her innocent daughter to relive her glory years, The Invisible Girl is actually the victim of social cruelty, her peers disinterest in her manifesting in her condition becoming quite literal and she is picked up by the military in the end, then the Puppet show, well, it's just about the stupidest most absurd thing that could possibly happen and it's completely unafraid of that fact.

Summary:

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 1) is not the most groundbreaking TV, but it is absolutely evident why the show was such a phenomenon. Season 1 is particularly rewatchable. It does not demand too much investment or attention, but it will get it from you, especially on a first viewing. It's not afraid to take itself absolutely seriously or to plant it's tongue firmly in it's cheeks. It is to a degree a product of it's time, but in many other aspects feels timeless.

Overall Grade: B

[everybodyknows-everybodydies]

"carter's master plan??" "CORDANO MOC AU??"

YES HI HELLO THANK YOU

Carter’s Master Plan

the short version: “The Good Place” AU where I once again appeal to an audience of only me by having my train wreck OT3 be endgame.

THE LONG VERSION HOWEVER. picture this: instead of going into medicine, a young Robert Romano decides to pursue his dream of being a world-famous chef instead. what consequences does this have, you may or may not ask? I WILL ANSWER REGARDLESS: Elizabeth never leaves England, never ends up in Chicago. Mark dies having unsuccessfully attempted to reconnect with Jen. SOMEHOW EVERYONE ENDS UP DEAD THEY’RE NOT CLEAR ON ALL THE HOWS YET BUT IT’S THE AFTERLIFE AND NOBODY KNOWS EACH OTHER. also Carter is there as “the Architect,” with help from the most powerful not-a-robot in the universe, a stolen Good Kerry. (yes this does imply the existence of Bad Kerry. yes I am going to squeeze all the inherent hilarity I can out of that concept.) Romano is aware he’s in the so-called “Good Place” on some kind of cosmic clerical error, which seems like it should be painfully obvious to everyone else. luckily his roommates are The Most Genuinely Good Man No Longer Alive and The World’s Stubbornest Brit. (also Romano still loses his arm in a traumatic fashion because that’s important to me.)

and just for fun AN EXCERPT:

Say something else, good grief. He can hear Doug teasing him. Always such a smooth talker, aren’t you. That’s my guy. “Uh, I thought we made a good team. Dr. Greene and Dr. Corday,” he adds, wishing desperately that the whole dying thing had given him any better way to make small talk. “Sounds… good?”

She snorts. “Dr. Corday?” she echoes. “Oh—that’s right, I always forget you give your surgeons that title.”

“You don’t?” He gets ahead of her with a couple of longer strides to grab the door, pushing it open.

“Gentlemanly,” she nods as she brushes past. “No. It’s … reserved for more junior members of the staff. Or GPs.”

“So you’d be—?” He stops, waiting expectantly, the door closing behind them.

“Miss Corday.” Fiddling with a loose thread on the sleeve of her sweater, she doesn’t look up, focus intense. It’s—sweet. Her expression is almost the same as it had been when she was rearranging the badly-imagined bones of strangers. An odd relief loosens his shoulders. It feels a lot safer to look at her now that he doesn’t risk being subject to that same scrutiny. “Although if I had been working with you in Chicago I imagine I’d have to have got used to being called Dr. Corday.”

He feels his mouth twitch curiously. “Huh. Why is that? The title difference, I mean.”

“Homage to our great and noble predecessors, the barber surgeons,” she says breezily, finally plucking the thread free and holding it up in triumph. “Objectively, yes, it’s a bit silly, but I did work very hard to be called ‘miss,’ so there’s a certain pride one takes regardless of—”

“Wait, wait, barber surgeons? Can we back up there?”

She raises her eyebrows. “Are you asking me for a history lesson?”

“No, I just want some elaboration on the idea of barber surgeons,” he moves past her to get to the living room, plopping down on the couch. “Do you have to double-major in premed and cosmetology?”

Her laugh is sudden and bright, and she sits next to him, grinning. “No! Why, do you need someone to trim your hair?”

“Maybe, if you’re also a barber.”

Cordano MoC AU

the short version: an improbable and contrived application of an already improbable and contrived trope... the green-card marriage. also eventual endgame OT3 because again, I Am My Own Primary Audience what can I say!!

(alternate short version: Romano: I don’t like lying >:( also Romano: FAKE MARRIED ISN’T LYING IF UR ACTUALLY IN LOVE)

the long version: “so,” says Elizabeth in an extremely casual and not-at-all desperate I Refuse To Go Home kind of way, “marriage fraud. that sure is. a crime. which is terrible.” WHY RELY ON THE CLEARLY UNDEPENDABLE WHIMS OF A WORK VISA WHEN YOU CAN SPEND A COUPLE YEARS ~LIVING IN MARITAL UNION~ AND GET CITIZENSHIP, I say, as the (not-actually-present) narrator. are there easier ways to go about that process? probably. DO ANY OF THEM FULFILL MY SPECIFIC NEEDS OF FORCING CHARACTERS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. NO THEY DO NOT.

Romano finds out this is actually on the table and is like “oh oops that’s embarrassing maybe I should not have pitched a hissyfit and terminated your fellowship because I was sad you liked Peter better than me” but it comes out more like “u need a guy…I’m a guy… I could be UR guy...” SHENANIGANS ENSUE. also Elizabeth and Gretel are immediate bffs because Gretel Is A Good Dog and I say so.

Susan is there too because I REQUIRE Susan & Elizabeth being buddies and who better to give me the content I crave than me myself? this also means EVEN MORE SHENANIGANS as Susan designates herself wingwoman.

AND AN EXCERPT AGAIN FOR FUN:

“I’ll have you know I’m a great catch, Lizzie. Any woman would be lucky to have me. Are you done reinforcing Gretel’s love of jumping on people that I have spent, oh, several weeks trying to discourage?”

“You’d really say no to this face?” Elizabeth looks up with a grin, Gretel turning her head exactly on cue and thumping her tail against the ground.

“You’ve been here two minutes and you’re already teaching my dog bad habits,” he gripes.

“Oh, shut up, she’s clearly a very good girl. Aren’t you? Yes, you!” The dog’s tail excitedly picks up speed again.

Romano huffs. “Stop that, it’s her bedtime. You can’t get her wound up before bed.”

“Please tell me you tuck her in,” she says gleefully, finally extricating her hands from Gretel’s thick fur to follow him inside. “Why didn’t I know you had a dog before?”

“Family and pets.” He waves a hand dismissively as he shuts the door back behind them. Gretel trots off to sniff at a spot on the hardwood floor a little down the hall. “Obvious boring personal information; you don’t bring it into the workplace.”

“No,” she tilts her head pointedly, “why didn’t I know?”

He stops, looks back at her. “Just never came up, I guess,” he says at last, quiet.

[milfspiggy]

Let’s Rank Snifits!

Hello! Snifits are my favorite Mario enemy! To share my love for them, I’m going to go through the entire extended Snifit family, and score them all on a scale from 1 - 10 for your reading pleasure!!

The OG Snifit

Perfect! 10/10!! How could you improve upon such a great design?? Well, you’ll see soon enough, but Snifits are the ultimate being in any form. They’re like Shy Guys, which are already great and wonderful - but Snifit benefits from the addition of a little snoot!!! All creatures could be improved with a snoot, I think. Snifit’s snoot especially looks both boopable and smoochable. I wish I had a Snifit plush. Anyway, let’s move on to some of their friends and get started under the cut!

Spookum

So, weirdly, to start things off, Snifits aren’t called Snifits in Super Mario RPG!! They’re called Spookums! I’m not sure why, but it’s kind of cute, I guess?? This is still pretty much just a Snifit, just with a less cute and evocative name. 9/10.

Snifit, Again

So, I lied!! Sorry!! There actually are enemies called “Snifit” in Super Mario RPG, but they aren’t your standard rank and file Snifits in this game! There are only eight of them, and they’re minibosses!! At least, that’s my understanding from the mario wiki. I haven’t actually gotten that far in Mario RPG yet! I’m bad at video games. Snifits four through seven are actually promoted in-game from Spookums to Snifits if you lose to them in battle, though! That’s a really cool mechanic, and I’d love to see things like that more often in video games. I also like the idea that the colour of the Snifit denotes rank, with black being the strongest. Overall, despite just being a black variant of a normal Snifit, I like these ones just a little bit more than your average Snifit! I just think they’re neat! 10.5/10!!!

Whistle Snifit, Slurp Snifit, and Spike Snifit

Sorry, I lumped these guys all together because they’re kind of just normal Snifits wearing accessories!! They’re all from Paper Mario: Colour Splash. 6/10 for the whole set. I love them all very much but they could stand to be a bit more adventurous!! I like the Spike Snifit the most because they’re wearing a cute little hat and also don’t have something stuffed into their snoot. Why would you put something into an already perfect snoot?? It looks uncomfortable. I like that the one with the straw is called a Slurp Snifit, though!! Slurp is a fun word. Also, these guys all come in red, blue, green, yellow, and pink! Yellow and pink are my favorite colours though, so I used those ones to make up for them being kind of boring :3

Chariot Snifit

Hey, this one is just in a car!! That’s somehow both worse and better than the last few from Colour Splash. It gets half a point though for teaming up with a Chain Chomp, which is another favorite of mine. 8.5/10!!!

Snifaro

Aaaaaaaa!!!!!! Look at these two pals!!! I love them!! The Snifaro is actually just a regular sized Snifit with a cool pharaoh mask standing on top of a regular Snifit inside of a sarcophagus!! The Super Mario Wiki says that one of their attacks features Snifit hopping on top of Snifaro’s sarcophagus and riding it like a surfboard. That’s wonderful and perfect! Take notes, Colour Splash Snifits!! This is how you accessorize!!! 10/10!!

Ice Snifit

Take a look at these two!! They are so adorable and look so warm in their little winter coats!!!! I like the walking head version used in the original Mario+Luigi Superstar Saga a lot, but the more standard looking version in the remakes are impossibly adorable. I would give the original Ice Snifit a 10/10, and the revamped one a 11/10!!! It’s quite possibly my favorite Snifit design.

Ice Snifit, Again

For some reason, this is the only image of these guys on the Mario Wiki, but they’re just as adorable as the previous Ice Snifits!!! Yoshi’s Wooly World is, aesthetically speaking, one of the best Mario games of all time. Possibly the best game ever? It’s too bad that it’s such an easy game. Regardless, this Snifit is on par with the last Ice Snifits, but for whatever reason I like the redesign in Superstar just a liiiiitle bit more. 10.5/10!

Toy Snifit

Absolutely lovely!! I’m not sure if these pals come in different colours, and I’ve never played the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, but this Snifit makes me want to check them out!!! I’d like a real life wind-up toy of this Snifit. Let’s make it happen, Nintendo!! 9/10!!

Scorchit

Very cute! Kind of plain though. Sorry, Scorchit, but simply spitting out fire won’t put you on the same level as Ice Snifit!! It’s also apparently called “Zeus Guy” in the manual for Yoshi’s Island DS? That’s a cute name! I feel like it would fit better if this Snifit spat out lightning bolts instead of fire, though! I like that it’s pink. 7/10

Laser Snifit and Gunner Guy

Ohhhhhohohohohoho!!!!! Ohohoho!!!! This is where the real fun begins!!! Look at these friends!!!! I love them!!!! This is what Slurp Snifit up there should have been!! The snout is the defining trait of Snifits, and these two have bumped it up to eleven!!! Apparently Gunner Guy can’t move on his own, though, which is heartbreaking. Also, he might not actually be a Snifit??? He might be a Shy Guy with a gun on his face! Is that what all Snifits are? Are they the same thing? I choose to believe they aren’t, and the snout is somehow biologically part of their face along with the rest of the mask. I’m rambling, though. Laser Snifit earns an 11/10 from me, while Gunner Guy gets an 8/10 for making me feel sad while still somehow being delightful.

Propeller Mucho

What the heck?!  What a whimsical name!! Unfortunately, this is the only image of them on the Mario Wiki, but they still look pretty cute to me! I imagine they’re the same as Fly Guys, but like. Snifits. I love the idea that Shy Guys and Snifits are kind of mechanical or toy-like in nature. Maybe that’s why they live in the toy box in Paper Mario??? Anyways, 6/10. I wish I could see them better! They would have scored higher, but they’re outdone by.......

Flying Snifit

A friend with a way less whimsical name,  but a way more whimsical appearance!! Look at those wings!!!! Most Mario enemies, when given the gift of flight, have cute little angel wings slapped onto them - but not Flying Snifit!! No, instead, this little garden buddy sprouts a pair of adorable cartoon butterfly wings!!  I adore this Snifit!! They’re going to get a whopping 11/10 from me! We aren’t done with Flying Snifit just yet, however, because they also show up with a couple of friends!!

Flifit and Sneed

I told you our garden party wasn’t over yet!! These are also easily some of the most inventive varieties of Snifit!! There are only a couple of others that stray from the general Snifit body plan, and these two are both some of the weirdest and cutest!! God, I love them. Flifit spits out Sneed, which in turn spits out (presumably inanimate) seeds! I love whatever the heck Sneed is doing in that animation. I choose to interpret it as a little butt waggle. Shake it, Sneed!! For both of these friends, I’m handing out a solid 10/10!!!

Snufit

So, like I said before, there are only a couple of Snifit-adjacent friends that change up the general body plan that is Snifit! Snufits are ghost Snifits that live in Hazy Maze Cave in Super Mario 64!! They’re very cute, but when I was little I was actually kind of afraid of them? I’m not sure why! In the original game on the Nintendo 64, Snufit was round and shaped like a Boo, which is pretty cute! I love the idea that all ghosts in the Mario universe are just big round balls of ghostliness. This version of Snufit gets an 8/10! It’s pretty cute, but the redesign of Snufit in the DS version is so much more appealing to me, for some reason! I think it’s the floppy little sleeves. As someone who always wore sweaters that were much too big for me and always seemed to have “puppy paws” as my mom would call them, this new Snufit just calls to me. Also, shouldn’t these guys have been called Spookums?? I guess Mario RPG did come out before Mario 64, but it wouldn’t be the first time some weird name shenanigans had gone down in the Mario universe. Anyways, the redesign of Snufit gets an 11/10 from me!! It’s up there with Ice Snifit and Flying Snifit as one of my favorites!!

Spider

Hey, these guys aren’t even in any of the games!! I think that should change though. I like them a lot!! Pretty creepy, and bizarre, though! I used to watch The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! a fair amount when i was little, but I must have missed whichever episode these guys appeared in. I think I would have remembered them for the rest of my life if I had!! I used to be really afraid of spiders when I was little. I think they’re really neat now though!! Still, I’m only going to give these guys an 8/10 for virtue of never being used in a game, and also for being kind of creepy and also for not having eight legs. I know that stuff isn’t their fault! It’s just the way things are sometimes. Life is cruel, especially to spiders.

Spiky Snifit

Okay, these guys are the last of the official Snifit friends! I probably should have put them up with Flifit, but I wanted them to stand on their own. I love cacti a lot, being from a desert, and saguaro cacti are just the best!! I also love how Flifit seems to have their mask organically growing from their stem, but Spiky here could easily just be a normal cactus with a Snifit mask slapped onto it!! Does it have a face underneath?? Is it literally just a cactus??? Could you make anything into a Snifit by putting a mask onto it??? Spiky Snifit here raises a lot of questions, and answers literally none of them, and for that I love them. 9.5/10!! 

Finally, I would like to give an honorable mention to one other Mario enemy that I think has been unfairly left behind and forgotten. Let’s take a moment to remember a dear friend....

Tweeter

Tweeter is an enemy that debuted in Doki Doki Panic/ Super Mario Bros 2 alongside Shy Guy, Snifit, Bob-omb, Birdo, and many other friends that we all know, love, and continually see in Mario games even today!! Unfortunately, unlike many of the other enemies from Mario 2, Tweeter hasn’t really ever shown up again! They make the occasional cameo here and there, but even those are few and far between!! Why haven’t Tweeters ever shown up again?? It’s unclear, but they’re also pretty high up on my list of favorite mario enemies! It turns out I just love masks and snoots, especially if that snoot is also a beak. If I were to give these guys a score, and I will, I would give them a 100/100!! Gone, but never forgotten (by me).

If you read all of this, thank you for your time!! I love you, and so does Snifit and all their many friends!! Feel free to shoot me a message telling me your favorite Mario enemy, and check out the blog @weirdmarioenemies​​ !! I’ve been binge reading their entire archive, and as you could probably guess, it heavily inspired me to make this post! I just love Snifit so much, and wanted to spread the love!! I hope you all come to love them as much as I do. Also, @nintendo​, please bring back Tweeter and also make Snifit a playable character in Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario Tennis, your next main Mario platformer, et cetera, et cetera... In fact, let’s ditch Mario and make the games all about Snifit!!!

New Super Snifit Bros!! Coming soon to a store near you!!

[calliecat93]

RvB16 Episode 5 Review: Headshots

So far this season we’ve had time travel, alien Gods, pizza quests, and Tucker cockblocking himself twice at the same time. I’d say so far so good! The question now is what crazy shenanigans will our heroes get into next? Let's find out!

Overview

So last episode, Sarge wanted to try undoing the past again, but this time round up some recruits to ensure success. I wasn’t sure if it was going to go anywhere... but Joe proved me wrong! Simmons informs us through his log that they’re now in the near present (I guess at some former Red Base from the looks of it) and Sarge has rounded up three historical figures. Agent John, Agent George, and Agent Alex. In other words John Wayne, President George Washington (from how it sounds before the Revolutionary War ended), and a dying Alexander the Great. Well, that’s certainly a dream team I never would have thought up.

So what does Sarge plan to do now? Try Broken Ridge again? Nah, at least not for the moment. Instead, they’re going to go back to Season 15 and kill Temple back when they first met the Blues and Reds. Why? Well, Sarge wants to undo Temple convincing him to turn on the others because he still feels guilty about it, though he tries to not admit that it was him even though Simmons already knows. Of course, only George has any combat experience since John is an actor with a tough guy persona and Alex is... well, dying. But they’re gonna go for it anyways. So off to Season 15 they go!

Well... Simmons has one major concern first. Remember back in Episode 2 when Donut said that the portals could only fit two grown men at a time? Well, Simmons is concerned about what will happen with five people going in at once. But when does Sarge play the safe way? So they all go through and things seem okay with them having arrived at the initial meeting of the two teams... except Simmons points out that they were supposed to get there before their past selves showed up. Naturally, Simmons isn’t keen on the idea of his past self getting killed since he’d cease to exist and wants to back out. Sarge, however, decides to press on ‘cause... it’s Sarge, do I need to make an explanation as to why?

So George creates a plan that Sarge likes and ignores Simmons’ protests about accidentally killing their past selves, deciding that the risk is worth it. John proposes a simpler plan of causing a distraction, then getting in close and shooting Temple and therefore getting rid of that risk. They go for it by sending Alex out, which lets Sarge reach Temple and shoot him at point blank. Everyone panics as Sarge does his victory dance (aka, BEST PART OF THE EPISODE) and... Jax cuts the scene... yep, you heard me right. Jax calls cut. So remember during the S15 credits when Jax proposed the entire events as a feature film? Well... looks like Joe found a use for it. So yeah... Sarge killed an actor while Temple is still sitting in a jail cell with his fish. WELP.

Jax is pissed cause... you know, his scene got messed up, but cheers up upon recognizing Sarge and Simmons. So I imagine that those reading this who haven't seen the episode (which... why are you reading this and spoiling yourself? If you are a FIRST Member, GO WATCH IT NOW!) are probably very confused. Weren’t the Reds supposed to go back in time? Not forward? Well, we’ll come back to that later. For now, Sarge is upset that he didn’t get asked to be in the movie because as we learned in that Reservoir Dogs episode in S14, Sarge always wanted to be in a film. Jax explains that he DID try to reach out to them... but no one could find them for a year now. So yeah, they are one year in the future.

Anyways, Jax gives a tour of the set with everyone wearing armor because Halo/Jax forces them. Jax is also pretty much now the angry director which absolutely makes sense... though I wonder if Joe (who is Jax’s VA) did this so that he could vent his potential frustrations about directing the show XD Hey, we all get stressed and need to let it out. Jax is also pretty much trying to turn RvB into this universe’s version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe... that explains all the Norse God references... that we haven’t had in a while. When Jax leaves to deal with a problem, Simmons figures that they got sent forward in time due to the portal being unable to handle more than two men. He also hints that they spent a year gathering the recruits, so they are in the present... yes I know that is confusing as Hell, but it’s time travel. We were going to get confused at some point. Also... I guess that means Wash should be okay by now and I imagine that he and Carolina are NOT taking the guys being missing this long well. Hopefully, we see that soon... please?

But anyways, the Temple actor is dead... but he got caught in a scandal so if anything Jax gets free press. Sarge tries to get Jax to hire him... but Jax isn’t sure and then gets called away to deal with wardrobe. So Sarge gets Agent John to help him stage a scene in order to convince Jax to hire him. Yeah, do that against one of the most well known Old West actors. Simmons finds this stupid, but he can’t stop it. Sarge goes for it... and sucks. Like... REALLY sucks. Jax casts John cause... you know, famous professional actor and all. Sorry Sarge, stick to shotguns instead of headshots. Jax’s movie goes forward. This gets Simmons to throw in the towel regarding science and Sarge feels betrayed by one of his old heroes. So yeah, pretty much everyone has either given up on the mission or, in Caboose's case, has interpreted the mission wrong. So everything is officially off the rails now my friends... or is it? 

After what’s felt like forever, we FINALLY cut back to the Cosmic Gods. We finally get to see the head God we only got a glimpse of in Episode 1... and he is HUGE. Kalirama and a bunch of other Gods are there too as well as the golfing guy whose color scheme seems to spell out that he’s going to be the Loki. The designs of these guys are great by the way, all of them having either an orange or green color scheme and armors that give them a distinctly alien feel to them. There’s also this weird echo sound effect added to the voices that make them sound other-worldly. It’s just really well done.

So as we established before, the pizza quest has invoked a prophecy that spells out the end of the universe. Golfing Guy seems excited about it, but the Head God who we learn is named King Atlus Arcadius Rex, isn’t having any of the bullshit. We learn that it’s been eons since the Cosmic Gods interfered with human affairs and there is a reference to the three Fates of Greek mythology, but none of them have spoken for a long while. This is concerning to Atlus, who fears that the Reds and Blues have been having help from within which is causing this. Golfing Guy admits it was him, but really he’s just being an asshole and it’s hinted that he may be the Trickster God that Kalirama mentioned in her debut. 

Atlus shuts everyone up, saying that the Reds and Blues antics are weakening the chains that bind him, aka who I am assuming is the true antagonist. We’ll get more into that in the review section. For now, Atlus swears that one the Reds and Blues appear again, he’ll have Muggins find them and then he shall kill them personally. Kalirama says that they can't cause they’re under his protection (whether she’s referring to Donut or someone else IDK), but this doesn't deter Atlus who makes it very clear that no matter what, his will shall be carried out.

Review

That got a lot longer than I had intended. So I wasn’t sure how to feel about the episode on my first watch... but TBF I’m about that with anything I watch. The second watch through though was a LOT more enjoyable, especially for review purposes. I honestly did not know what to talk about aside from the ending at first, but man I have so much to say about Sarge and Simmons now.

So let's do Simmons first. It’s been interesting seeing him stuck with Sarge this season. Because so far, while he has been going along with Sarge’s plans, he’s clearly not happy with it. He’s been either confused or just plain annoyed at Sarge’s antics and train of logic. Words cannot express how happy I am to see Simmons like this. Like yeah, he’s still going along with it, but compare this to Simmons in Blood Gulch. Regardless of how nonsensical Sarge was, he went with it without any question. He was a suck-up who would do ANYTHING for Sarge's approval. But as we saw with Chorus and Season 15, he’s become a lot more independent. Heck, the only reason he seems to be going with Sarge’s plan is for scientific purposes and because... well it’s either that or be stranded in the past. Plus at least it was an attempt at fixing the past, so they were trying to follow the mission. I’m kind of disappointed that Simmons didn’t finally blow up at him cause, but I guess that can come later now that he’s tossed science out the window, Still, I am so happy to see how far he’s come.

Sarge... it’s interesting really. First, it’s good to see that he still feels guilty for his actions last season, even if he doesn’t want to admit it. Him also feeling bad about killing an actor, even if he won’t admit it was him, is also good. Like it looks like Joe is hitting on that flaw specifically: Sarge’s inability to admit fault. Even last season, when Sarge did admit that he was wrong, he still couldn’t promise that he wouldn’t do it again. It was still a big step, but it shows that Sarge still has a lot of problems. Add that to the last PSA and.. yeah when you really think about it, Sarge has issues. A LOT of issues. It feels like he fucked up so many times that the only way that he can deal with it is to ignore that it was his own fault if he can't just blame something else. Him wanting to kill Temple to undo what he did makes sense and really illustrates how much it really weighs on him. IDK if this is to get Sarge past this or just Sarge being Sarge, but still, it’s incredibly noticeable in this episode.

Heck going off that, it really feels like Joe is putting a lot of emphasis on the Reds having issues. Donut is pretty much God, Grif’s got his vendetta against adventure and trying to ignore it, Sarge has his inability to admit guilt despite how much he feels, and Simmons... actually he’s probably the most stable ATM since he’s mostly grown out of his kissass phase. The Blues have had it more light-hearted in comparison and... I AM SO HAPPY! RED TEAM FOCUS HELL YES! I love the Blues, but they’ve had PLENTY of focus and same with Wash and Carolina. They’ve had their issues focused on and have had character development for years now. Last season felt like it was closing the book on it to make room for Red Team Problem. I think it’s pretty universally agreed that the Reds have gotten the shaft pretty hard since... well, pretty much the beginning. They’ve had some good moments and have had some character development (Simmons’ growing independence, Sarge coming to terms with the Reds and Blues war being a lie, Grif realizing that he doesn’t want to be alone) but it feels like there’s a larger push to give them more development this time over the Blues. This makes me SO happy you have no idea. Thank you Joe!

Alright, so Sarge’s recruits! They are exactly what I would expect from him. He mentioned John Wayne in Episode 2, and of course he would be a fan of him. A tough southern film star? I imagine that Sarge has a copy of every John Wayne movie ever, even the horrible Genghis Khan one. George Washington is a well-renowned war hero and probably one of the first American heroes, so that makes sense. And Alexander the Great was known for being a great militant and conquer, so that also makes sense.... too bad they pulled him while he was dying. So two well-known militants and essentially Sarge’s childhood hero. Yeah, all of these choices fit perfectly for Sarge. I approve! I mean history got flushed down the toilet, but eh, I’m sure they’ll work it out.

So with this episode, it looks like everyone has given up on Donut’s message. Grif never cared to begin with and is still on the pizza quest with Doc unable to convince him otherwise. Caboose interpreted it wrong and Lopez can’t do anything about it. Tucker and Sister are likely banging the Game of Thrones cast by now. And with this, Sarge and Simmons are fed up and call bullshit to science. So... I have zero idea what’s going to happen now. Personally, I hope we cut to Wash and Carolina to give the Reds and Blues a break, plus if it’s been a year now then I imagine that they’re turning every planet in the universe over trying to find them. Oh and sidenote, Jax was great in this episode. I know that some found him annoying and yeah the film references could be a little too much, but making him a frustrated film director who flip-flops between being cheery and pissed off at everything works SO WELL. But anyways, IDK if Sarge and Simmons are going to stick around in the present or send everyone back to their respective time periods, we’ll see. Hopefully, the next episode progresses the plot in some way.

Alright, I’ve held on long enough. Let's talk about the ending. Holy shit, the ending. So it looks like we have a hodgepodge of various mythologies. Kalirama is based off Hindu myth, Golfing Guy seems based off Loki who is Norse and known as a trickster, Huggins and Muggins we’ve already established as being based off Odin’s ravens so Norse also, and Atlas seems based off all the king-esque Gods like Zeus (Greek), Jupiter (Roman), Odin (Norse), etc. IDK who everyone else may be based on since we didn't have enough time with them. I already talked about the designs, color scheme, and audio so not much else to say there, other than to again say I love it. And that I also want a cast list because I NEED to know who all these voice actors are.

So based off of Atlas’ words, here is my thought. IDT these guys are evil. They’re clearly the antagonists because they’re going to try to kill the Reds and Blues, but they are at most morally gray. I think that whoever it is they’re trying to keep sealed away somehow managed to save Donut and convinced him that he was God and the others were evil. Who he is could be based on anyone like Hades, Satan, pretty much any kind of evil God or God of Death that exists. But clearly, they tricked Donut to send the Reds and Blues across time so that it can weaken whatever is keeping him imprisoned and allow him to free himself. I have zero idea how that works, but we’ll learn soon enough. So... kind of annoying that the Reds and Blues are being tricked AGAIN, but TBF the circumstances are WAAAY different from when it was Felix and Temple. Very least they’re going off Donut (who also isn’t with them... also WTF happened to him since Kalirama is clearly fine?!) instead of the manipulator being right under their noses.

Final Thoughts

It was good! It’s pretty much a filler episode aside from the last few minutes, but enjoyable filler. I feel like Joe is both trying to establish how the guns/the portals work as well as to just get the silly time travel antics out of the way before going forward with the plot. The ending seems to hint that the plot is going to hit soon. As I said, we'll hopefully see the Freelancers next since it’s been four episodes now and it’ll give the Reds and Blues a breather. Regardless, it was a fun episode and I really enjoyed it. Plus Sarge’s victory dance. That in itself made this episode perfection.

[feheroestips]

Quick overview

Florina is a strange unit. She’s often regarded as out classed however she has a really odd nice, which only just got better. Before her niche was being able to take on the red and blue dragons, and she hosts a whopping 34 res stats, however now she’s able to take on one of the scariest new armours in Xmas Tharja. On top of this she comes with a weapon designed for that role, however outside of that Florina is going to take a lot of love and care to make viable against all units and you may just want to specialise her as a Melee magic counter.

Base kit

Heavy spear now becomes Slaying spear apon promotion and is kinda nice, its just well... most armours are green so it’s not doing her much favours to them however it does let her obliterate Xmas Tharja. Ardent sacrifice is a nice support skill though as a flier its not the best support skill for her, darting blow lets her gain +6 speed on initiation which is pretty nice as I still don’t get why she has 27 speed. Finally breath of life is nice if you need healing support but she has much better c skill options. Though for anyone planning on using her base kit, shes designed to be a kinda flying healer.

As her flying healer status suggests renewal is a really nice skill to give her as she can recover lost hp to keep healing allies. Otherwise Vantage might save her the odd time, and escape route makes for some fun shenanigans. As for specials iceberg is her best option.

Pros + Cons

+Amazing res for a flier

+Solid hp too

+Has a niche role in a meta were said niche might be very important

-Struggles badly against greens

-Hindered by poor speed

-Probably wants to change her weapon which is expensive.

Partners

Honestly any good red unit does wonders for the synergy of the team as Florina will never be able to handle greens unless they have 10 defence. Fliers also provide her with much needed buffs and can make and break some combat scenarios. A raven tome is also appreciated to handle archers.

Suggested set(s)

Florina, Dragon Slayer

+atk -def/spd

Slaying spear+/Slaying Lance+, reposition , Iceberg

Slot A = Close defence, fierce stance

Slot B = Quick riposte

Slot C = Def ploy or any c skill

Sacred seals: Quickened Pulse, Atk+3

Weapon refinery: So if using the Slaying spear don’t worry about armour buffs as they are largely meh right now. Instead in both cases +RES is the best option otherwise +def and attack are nice options.

Florina acts as a dragon bait counter with this set. and funnily the two weapons she can use both have slaying in the title. Slaying Lance is the better option and I’ll say why in a sec, but Slaying spear is a budget option if need be. Slaying Lance offers a permanent -1 on iceberg meaning she’ll always proc it, and thus gain more KOs however you can use her base weapon with quickened pulse for a similar one time effect and should as iceberg can pick up KOs. Basically ou leave Florina in front of a dragon and she’ll handle them most of the time, and if they live she can KO the next turn. Fae is the only real worry but she struggles in some builds. Oh and regardless of the set She can still nab the KO easily on Xmas Tharja (on offence of course) and live to handle dragons.

Frozina

+atk/res - def/spd

Berkuts lance+, reposition, iceberg

Slot A = Distant counter

Slot B = Quick riposte

Slot C =any c skill

Sacred seals: Distant defence, res+3

Weapon refinement: = +res, its all or nothing baby

So... 52 resistance sure is erm... something not including res buffs No joke 34 at base, +7 from berkuts lance, +3 from a iv, +3 from refinement and a +6 from a  sacred seal and she is on steroids res wise. and when iceberg procs, somethings in for a world of hurt. While very expensive she can handle most mages just fine, including someone like Reinhardt. However its incredibly expensive so be warned.

[briangroth27]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) Season 5 Review

This was a great show! I discovered the series on Hulu just before Season 5 aired and was immediately drawn to its fun, exciting, off-kilter personality. Though I grew up on the 1980s animated series and movies of the 90s, it’s an extremely close toss-up between this version and the current IDW comic for my favorite version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; I think the brilliant mix of science and the supernatural in the Turtles’ comic made for their best origin story, but this show’s characters and overall storylines probably put it slightly ahead. I loved that it fully explored the scope of the Turtles mythology and had several ongoing, engaging plots while taking the time to do some really fun and/or bizarre one-off adventures. The action was always riveting and the cast was perfect. However, I think the final season was a bit uneven.

I was really impressed that they took the risk of killing off both Splinter (Hoon Lee) and Shredder (Kevin Michael Richardson) at the end of Season 4 and I was excited to see what the Turtles would be like on their own, particularly how Leonardo (Seth Green) would handle leading since this show has been so good about putting him through his paces in that area. Season 5’s first arc didn’t disappoint, even though I was wary about immediately trying to bring back Shredder (and Splinter) so soon; this arc would've been at home in midseason or as a series finale too, after we’d had some time to breathe without each side’s leaders. Tiger Claw’s (Eric Bauza) use of a demodragon named Kavaxas (Mark Hamill) to resurrect the Foot’s late leader worked as a compelling plot despite my misgivings and I was thrilled when it didn’t go the way Tiger Claw wanted. Zombie Shredder naming Kavaxas his new second in command instead of Tiger Claw was a perfect, fun twist. Kavaxas later turning on everyone to rule both the living realm and the Netherworld himself was foreshadowed pretty clearly, but his ghost/zombie apocalypse was a lot of fun and became a great excuse to get our heroic terrapins into a Ghostbusters riff (they even included Ray’s Occult Shop and Vigo’s lines from Ghostbusters 2!). This arc was a cool way to showcase the supernatural side of the series, with a great (if brief) demonic villain in Kavaxas, brought to life with an awesome performance from Mark Hamill. Kavaxas was so powerful and ruthless—like when he pulled the soul out of Tatsu (Michael Hagiwara) without thinking twice—that he could’ve worked as a season-long enemy. 

Regardless, this arc was a great, exciting, and touching kick off to the season. I do think it would’ve been a bit stronger to have Tiger Claw summon Kavaxas for his own purposes instead of to resurrect Shredder though; what ideas for leadership does Tiger Claw have? That would've been something entirely different for the Turtles to face. He was always a major threat to the guys and could’ve at least tried to lead the Foot rebels himself before resorting to summoning demons and bringing back Shredder. Given the release of souls in the arc, Shredder and Splinter could've come back as a side effect of summoning Kavaxas anyway, still allowing the Turtles to briefly reunite with Splinter and Karai (Kelly Hu) with Shredder. However, it still worked as it played out. That the guys got to say a real goodbye to Splinter was touching and a great use of his ghost, while zombie Shredder ultimately dragging Kavaxas back to the Netherworld was a nice touch. I’m very glad the writers resisted the impulse to permanently bring back either Shredder or Splinter: we’d seen enough of both of them and their return would've hampered the progress of the Turtles. I also don’t know how any plot with Shredder could’ve topped the epic final battle at the end of Season 4.

The character development and side stories that came out of the Kavaxas arc were good too. I liked Leo looking to Splinter’s shrine in a moment of doubt about his leadership skills. Donnie’s (Rob Paulson) grudge against Don Vizioso (Brian Bloom) was a great bit of character development, especially as it briefly made him the “Raph” of the team, running off on a vendetta that screwed up things for his brothers. Karai vs. her old, blind teacher Hattori Tatsu was a great look at a different part of her past. I really wish we’d learned more about what she wanted to do with the reformed Foot and this battle for the rightful ownership of Shredder’s Kuro Kabato would’ve been the perfect time to explore that. Does she want them to be a force for good in the city; a network of ninja vigilantes fighting crime? Or does she have other plans? Either way, Tiger Claw calling a ceasefire between the Hamato and Foot clans because of their team-up against Kavaxas was a nice touch and an unexpected way to end the threat of the rebel Foot for good. With no more Foot to lead, I suppose he returned home after that. Likewise, Fishface (Christian Lanz) bailing on the Foot to return to his old life of low-stakes crime after giving the Turtles a heads up about Shredder was perfect. Rahzar (Clancy Brown) was always a lot of fun, so even though his brief resurrection didn't make much of an impact on the show or characters, it was good to see him again one last time. Falling into the Netherworld was a solid way to undo that resurrection. It was also nice to get a brief return of Ho Chan (James Hong) and closure for even minor villains like Don Vizioso and Hammer (Eric Bauza). They must’ve pushed the censors to their limit by giving Vizioso Shredder’s actual heart! Yikes. Tiger Claw’s mutate underlings having been mutated by Super Shredder’s mutagen leftovers, thereby giving them all a sliver of his mind/personality, was a cool (if brief) new wrinkle to the Foot. I also liked the introduction of the latest 2D animated parody show, Space Heroes: The Next Generation. That was a nice full-circle choice.

I liked that Mona Lisa (Zelda Williams) and Sal Commander (Keith David) got to return—along with the Newtralizer (Danny Trejo) and Lord Dregg (Jeffrey Combs)—to wrap up the outer space segment of the series. I love how dense the universe this show built for the Turtles is and the fact that this season revisited every part of it was a smart decision. Raphael’s (Sean Astin) reunion with Mona Lisa was great and I really liked that they subverted expectations of their courtship with him being completely dumbfounded by her and bashful in her presence. Given his role in the space segment of the series, it felt like Casey (Josh Peck) should’ve played a big role in this mini-arc. Still, this arc maintained the epic scope of the space segment of the series. Dregg’s invasion and plan to use humans as larval pods for the Vreen was exactly as long as it needed to be, with the exception of one plot point. That stumbling block was Mikey’s (Greg Cipes) “death,” which was a total shocker (pun absolutely intended). I had no idea how they were going to write themselves out of that, so to have him just…be OK, just briefly electrical-powered all of a sudden was a letdown. Even so, I liked that this was a fast-paced wrap-up of the space stuff and it was cool that they found a way to even close off Lord Dregg and Newtralizer this season.

The Turtles’ journey to Miyamoto Usagi’s (Yuki Matsuaki) anthropomorphic alternate world was a solid adventure, but I would’ve liked to see more development within the Turtles along the way. Specifically, I would’ve liked something about the guys looking at this world and thinking they could make a real life out in the open here. They wouldn’t have to hide ever again and this doesn’t really cross their minds as something they might like? Their inability to live without pizza or TV would be a totally acceptable argument for them going home, but it could’ve at least been a discussion. I was expecting Kintaro’s (Evan Kishiyama) supremely annoying nature (they did a great job at making him a brat) to bounce off Mikey’s shenanigans more than they did too; how does Mikey handle suddenly being the more mature one? Kintaro’s brattiness could’ve been a wake-up call that he might need to grow up a little bit. Also, did any of the Turtles look at Usagi and see Splinter or a future version of themselves? Leo bolstering Kintaro’s confidence was a good moment for his development as a leader, though. I also really liked the world-building that went into these episodes: they did a great job of establishing Usagi’s world and making it feel lived-in and old. The opening scene of Usagi’s first battle with Jei (Keone Young) and his story about the death of his master General Mifune went a long way to give it a sense of history. I liked the use of the mischievous Japanese spirits and the spiders were super creepy; even though it took place on an alternate world, this mini-arc gave the Turtles a brief exposure to the culture Splinter instilled in them (though I wish at least one of them had come away wanting to actively practice and live it more). Starting the episode from Usagi’s point of view, introducing the Turtles as pawns of Jei, and making the focus Kintaro’s growth rather than the Turtles’ (even if it would’ve been stronger to have them also changed by their adventure), was a cool way to make this mini-arc distinctive and to change up the episode formula.

The flashback to the earliest days of Splinter raising his turtle sons was a nice one-off adventure, but didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the arcs that wrapped up plots or just went big this year. Maybe it’s because I know the Turtles’ origin so well, but I didn’t need to see this show’s variation on how they came to live in the sewers or get their weapons/names. This flashback to the early days didn’t shed much if any new light on the Kraang (Nolan North), but did serve its function as a nice way to touch base with where the show started in the midst of arcs about everywhere it went. Splinter’s realization that the Turtles have given him a second chance at fatherhood (he still believed Karai was dead at this point) was the biggest and best moment of the episode. While a solid episode that would’ve been fine in an earlier season, I felt like this slot could’ve been put to better use as part of a bigger story.

“Raphael: Mutant Apocalypse” was my least favorite arc this season. It was a fun and definitely original idea—I never would’ve thought of putting the Turtles into Mad Max’s world—but it overstayed its welcome and if it’s meant to be the canon future of this world, why? Why kill April (Mae Whitman), Casey, and nearly everyone else we know for this depressing apocalypse? My head-canon is that this is just one of the ten dimensions (and every synopsis I’ve read states that it’s an alternate future, but it would’ve been nice to confirm that onscreen). Mira the Meerkat (Jessica DiCicco) was a fine character, but it felt like she was there more to introduce the map plot than anything else. Still, it was nice to see Chompy (Dee Bradley Baker) continue to grow and that Ice Cream Kitty (Kevin Eastman) had survived. The Honey Badgers were threatening enough to be legitimate obstacles, but not really distinctive from the villains the Turtles faced on a daily basis. 

I felt like “Mutant Apocalypse” went on for an episode too long and despite the fresh setting, didn’t really do much interesting with the characters. Raph becoming a hardened, grizzled scavenger, Donnie Metalhead, and Mikey a new age desert sage certainly made sense as outcomes for those characters, but they also felt like the most obvious directions for each of them to go. What if instead, Donnie rebuilt Raph as Metalhead to keep his brother going, replacing him piece by piece as his brother was continually worn down in fights? Losing parts of his body to mechanics and being unable to depend on himself to fight would affect Raph far more than tech-obsessed Donnie. What if Donnie was losing his mind in the desert and the only thing keeping him focused and lucid was tinkering; keeping himself going by keeping Raph and their van going? Losing his memory like Ralph was also would’ve been a greater tragedy for Donnie, since his best weapon is his mind. What if Mikey were the one that became the serious, hardened road warrior in the absence of Leo? The death of his brother (and the world) could’ve been a wake-up call that this wasn’t a game and the loss of his innocence would’ve been a tragedy in itself. If you’re going to flip the whole world upside down, why not take the characters to unexpected extremes as well? Leo turning out to be Maximus Kong was the only real surprise (I bought that he was dead at first)—and a nice connection to the parallel universe Space Heroes: TNG episode that revealed the hero characters we’d been watching were the bad guys—but “hero driven mad” doesn’t really resonate when Leo never gets a chance to truly reflect on what he’s done. Will Leo ever have to answer for the horrors he and his army inflicted on the world? It doesn’t seem so. Instead, as daring a development as it was, the lack of consequences made it feel like nothing more than a way to make the mysterious enemy important. If there had been any indication in the normal timeline that Leo could go bad, Maximus Kong would make more sense, because it’d be something inside him brought to the surface by the mutagen bomb. However, making him just angry/confused and accidentally evil pulled the rug out from everything he’d done. I did like the reversal of Leo and Raph’s relationship, though, where Leo was the one overcome by anger and instinct and Raph had the more level head. There’s also a good moment of the surviving brothers mourning Leo before they find out he’s still alive.

It was cool that they also took the time to wrap up Renet (Ashley Johnson) and Savanti Romero (Graham McTavish), and taking a mini-arc to revisit the time travel aspect of the Turtle universe was another inspired way to make this season a true exploration of everything this series was. I love the classic Universal monsters, so to see so many of them translated here (right down to the episode title cards!) was awesome! I liked the Halloween invasion by the legion of monsters, and while I wish Casey and April had been given more to do, making them vampires was definitely creepy. I was impressed they made Dracula (Chris Sarandon) so evil and loved every second of it. They also did a great job giving the Mummy (Grant Moninger) some real power. Frankenstein and his Monster (both played by Grant Moninger as well) fit into the story perfectly, and the fight throughout Frankenstein’s lab was a particular standout. The Turtles’ disguises and excuses for what they were (trolls, goblins, etc.) throughout Europe in the various time periods were a lot of fun, and Leo’s Van Helsing dig was especially funny. Vampire Raph was another really fun use of the monster storyline and I was surprised by how long they let him remain a bloodsucker. Mikey’s bond with Frankenstein’s Monster was great and Mary Shelley’s classic creation was a cool connection to our similarly misunderstood heroes.

I enjoyed the final arc, but it also left me a little disappointed since it was the series finale. The 80s Shredder and Krang (Pat Fraley) showing up was an OK idea—I especially loved Krang sitting in a booster seat at a diner: that was brilliant!—but it felt wrong to give this show’s finale to a retread of a team-up we already saw earlier in the series. It felt like they went for nostalgia instead of making a final statement about this show, and that was a shame: the characters and world of this show are exceptionally strong and should’ve been honored with their own finale. As big and classic as Shredder and Krang are as Turtle villains, going back to that well at this point was underwhelming (particularly when you’re dealing with intentionally less-dangerous versions). I was also disappointed Mona Lisa wasn’t with the Mutanimals in the finale. They set her up to join them in her return this year, but then didn’t even mention her absence here. That said, there were some great moments in these episodes. It was cool to see our Turtles train and toughen up the 80s guys; I was surprised at how far they took the original show’s Turtles not using their weapons for actual combat (“Someone could get hurt!”). Our April’s “Do reporters in your world wear jumpsuits?” was another fun line. Shredder and Krang being so surprised at how efficient our Bebop (J.B. Smoove) & Rocksteady (Fred Tatasciore) were was also fun. Karai meeting an alternate version of her “father” was cool, but I feel like they could’ve done more with it. Our Bebop and Rocksteady reforming is such a fun idea that I wish they’d given it more time to breathe. Would the Turtles help mentor them? Get tired of their antics and accidentally drive them back to crime? What if Bebop & Rocksteady accidentally became wildly successful as public heroes, maybe even getting paid for their services? How jealous would the Turtles be that these fools found a way to come out of hiding and be celebrated for their heroics? I wish this arc had been the opening storyline of the season, allowing Bebop & Rocksteady’s evolution to continue over the course of the year.

The Turtles being bored after defeating all their enemies was a solid idea—and I love that the show had actual endings for their villains, not never-ending back-and-forth struggles—but I would’ve preferred more forward momentum in harnessing their own destinies. Some effort at getting out of the sewers and making a real change to their status quo would’ve been great and totally new. In a season full of mini-arcs about where the guys had been over the course of the series, I would’ve loved an exploration of where they’re going. Will people ever accept them? Will their personalities always bring them to this configuration of the team (Leo leads, Mikey’s a party dude, etc)? Raph made great strides to overcome his rage on this show, but will he ever find real inner peace? What will Leo do when/if the guys don't want to fight anymore? Are their new students for him to train somewhere? Would he lead the Foot with Karai? Might Donnie become a reclusive tech mogul and/or video game designer? What does the future have in store for Mikey? Could he become a X-Games contestant? Party-animal DJ? Chef? All of the above? What about the guys’ love lives? I definitely thought it was past time for Donnie to be over April and I would’ve liked to see her and Casey get together while Donnie moves on to a new love interest. It felt like that triangle had been settled already and to hint that he still had those feelings for her felt like a step backward. In addition to exploring those questions, I really wish we’d seen much more of April, Casey, Karai, and Shinigami (Gwendoline Yeo) this year. All four of them seemed to largely vanish this season and that’s a shame. What do April and Casey want out of their lives beyond helping the guys fight crime? The two of them are major characters and their lack of focus here felt wrong. What are Karai and Shinigami going to do with the reformed Foot? I’m glad that so many villains got wrapped up, but are there new threats on the horizon? Will there be a resolution to the existence of mutants in New York; will they become an accepted part of daily life, get cured somehow, or will something entirely different happen?

I know it seems like I’m being hard on this season, but I still had a lot of fun with it and this show in general. It rekindled my love of the Turtles and I’m really sorry to see it end so soon after discovering it. I’m eager to check out the tie-in comics from this show, but there are TV elements comics can’t replicate. All the actors were perfect for their roles; these are the voices I’m going to hear when I read TMNT comics for a very long time. I loved the character designs, the personalities of the characters (these are also going to be the definitive versions for me for a long time coming), and that the action was always kinetic and exciting. The arcs each character got were great (even if this season stumbled a bit in that department), and this show definitely made the best use of April yet. I loved that the show was willing to go dark when the story called for it (without ever forgetting to be funny or downright silly) and loved even more that it was willing to go WEIRD. “Pizza Face,” man. The homages to sci-fi of the 80s and 90s were right up my alley, so they were very much appreciated. The new theme song incorporating just enough of the 80s theme to feel like the Turtles while still being something new made it instantly catchy and a perfect summation of this series as a whole. It’s probably even better than the classic 80s version and I wish they hadn’t changed it this season (though this lyric-less version wasn’t bad).

I’ll miss this show a lot, but I know I’ll revisit it often down the road. Despite a few missed opportunities for character development and plot progression this year, these Turtles still have it and are definitely worth checking out!

  Check out more of my reviews, opinions, and original short stories here!

[sage-nebula]

I heard from a friend that there's 6 seasons of Voltron planned, so with another 4 potentially comin' up, d'ya expect anything particular in all this time? :0c

Well, Keith is definitely going to be the Black Paladin at some point (and I have a strong feeling that Lance is going to move up to Red). That I’m sure of.

I’m hoping that his ascension to Black Paladin will be temporary in season three, a “just until we get Shiro back” type of deal, and then they do get Shiro back and everything is right with the world again. I’m hoping, too, that they get Shiro back within the first couple of episodes. I say this mostly because season two made me very attached to the bond between Keith and the Red Lion, and likewise, season two really built up the bond between Shiro and the Black Lion. As funny as the memes are showing that the Black Lion didn’t care about Shiro (at least not to the extent that Red cares about Keith), the fact remains that season two was still devoted to showing the Black Lion accepting Shiro. The Black Lion showed Shiro his memories. The Black Lion took the Bayard back from Zarkon and gave it to Shiro. Shiro finally got the Black Paladin’s Bayard in the last episode of season two and now it’s going to permanently be passed onto Keith? That’s not fair to any of the involved characters. Let’s not use Shiro as a plot device to get the Black Bayard back, especially since it makes it seem like Keith wouldn’t be able to get it back himself, which is nonsense.

So I’m hoping that Keith’s ascension to the Black Paladin will be temporary for now, with the promise that, yes, in the future, it’s totally possible and will eventually happen. (In other words, this can be a sort of “see, we are honoring the original Voltron iterations, but this won’t happen for real for a while yet” type of deal.) Nonetheless, it is going to happen. I know that Black Paladin Discourse™ is the hot Discourse of the moment, and I’m aware that everyone and their grandma likes to argue over who they want the Black Paladin to be, but the fact remains that if you look at the show from an objective perspective rather than a subjective perspective (i.e. take your feelings for your fave out of the equation), season two blatantly set up the next Black Paladin to be Keith in a way that would make the entire season feel pointless and like a waste if they went “lol jk we’re going to make [other character] the Black Paladin instead.” As a few examples off the top of my head:

The idea of Keith being the next Black Paladin was brought up twice: Once in 2x1 “Across the Universe,” and again 2x8 “The Blade of Marmora.” Although Keith was shocked and dismayed and argued, it should be noted that he wasn’t arguing because he doesn’t think he can do it; while he did ask why Shiro was choosing him, he insisted the subject be dropped not because he has an aversion to being a leader, but rather because he didn’t want to consider the idea that Shiro could die. But now Shiro’s gone, and refusing the Black Lion won’t get Shiro back. I think Keith will realize this. He’ll have to. Regardless of that, however, the fact that this was brought up twice and that Keith’s primary objection was just that he doesn’t want anything to happen to Shiro was done purposefully. It’s to cement the idea of Keith being the Black Paladin in the mind of the viewer. The writers would not do this if they didn’t plan to go through with it.

The Black Lion already accepted Keith. The Black Lion doesn’t accept just anyone. I’d have to rewatch 1x1 again to get the exact wording, but I believe Allura says that---no, you know what? I’m going to watch it again to get the exact wording. Here is what Allura says:“As you have found, the Lions choose their pilots. It is a mystical bond and cannot be forced. The quintessence of the pilot is mirrored in his Lion. [. . .] The Black Lion forms the decisive head of Voltron. It will take a pilot who is a born leader and in control at all times---someone whose men will follow without question.”A pilot cannot simply force a Lion to let them fly, and the Lions are very particular about who their pilots are. Some are choosier than others---the Blue Lion is said to be the friendliest of the Lions and the most open to new pilots, which is probably why Blue allowed herself to be stolen by that alien girl in the Balmera episodes. But Black and Red are the choosiest of the Lions, the most particular. The Black Lion won’t take anyone short of a decisive born leader, because the Black Lion is the head of Voltron, and therefore his pilot needs to be . . . well, a decisive, born leader whose men will follow without question. The Black Lion, despite his lingering feelings toward Zarkon, saw that in Shiro. And as we can surmise by 2x1, the Black Lion, like Shiro, also sees those qualities in Keith.And you know what? So have we! Keith is incredibly decisive; Keith has shown the ability to think on his feet and make decisions on a dime. He doesn’t waffle, he doesn’t waver. He can make the calls, no matter how hard they are, and he does so for the benefit of the greater good in each and every case. That is what a decisive leader should do, that is what Keith does. We also see that he is in control at all times; however much he may have a temper (that Shiro also has, by the way---look at how Shiro flipped the fuck out at Slav after about five minutes in Slav’s company!), Keith does what needs to be done and will determinedly do it even if others advise against it. The Black Lion is commanded by no one, and neither is Keith. This is something the Black Lion no doubt respects. And as for “someone whose men will follow without question,” not only did Hunk willingly let Keith lead in “Belly of the Weblum,” but in the final episode of season two, when Shiro was unconscious, Keith is the one who took point, telling the others that they had to protect Shiro and the Black Lion from Zarkon. The rest of the team followed without hesitation, and this is not the first time this has happened. We’ve seen all of the qualities the Black Lion prizes present in Keith, despite his youthful inexperience. We’ve already seen this, so it’s no wonder that we have also seen the Black Lion accept Keith as a pilot.

At the end of the season two finale, Keith was the one who had focus on him as they ran to the Black Lion. When the door to the Black Lion opened, we see all of the Paladins standing in a row. Keith is dead center, where the head of Voltron would be. Pidge is to his immediate left, where the Green arm of Voltron would be, and Hunk is on the far left, where the Yellow leg would be. Lance is to Keith’s immediate right, where the Red arm of Voltron would be. Coran, perhaps bemusingly, is to the far right, where the Blue leg would be. And Allura, as always, is standing just behind the Paladins, in the center, where the commander of Voltron (i.e. her role since the start) has always been. This was done deliberately, I feel, particularly since they then realize that Shiro is gone, and we get another close-up on Keith as he stands in the center, the focus of audience attention. They would not put this much focus on him being in the center if they were not going to put him in that role moving forward. That wouldn’t be a red herring, it would be a lie. And lying to your audience is not a good thing.

I’m not saying people have to like the idea of Keith being the Black Paladin, even though all of the arguments I’ve seen against him are nonsense. I’m just saying that people should accept it, because that’s the set-up we’ve been given. That’s what the story is telling us. Changing it now would be like having six Harry Potter books about how Harry is the one Voldemort chose to defeat him, only to say, “oh wait, actually it was Hermione’s role all along lol.” It doesn’t make sense. That’s not the story we were told. And the it’s the same deal here. You don’t have to like it, but you should accept that Keith is going to be the Black Paladin. Whether that is temporary or permanent in season three remains to be seen, but it’s going to happen nonetheless. (And if it doesn’t, then it should only be because Shiro comes back. At this point, after all this damn build-up, if it’s anyone besides Shiro or Keith I’m honestly going to be angry, because that’s not what they’ve written and I’m a stickler for coherent writing.)

Aside from that . . . I don’t know! I really want Haggar to take over as the Big Bad, because she’s the only one who has shown herself worthy of it so far, but I don’t have a lot of hope that’s going to happen, haha. I think (hope) we’ll get more information about Keith’s backstory, particularly in regards to his mother. I’d also really, really like it if his mother is still alive, but evil, so that she can try to tempt him over to The Dark Side™, only so Keith can borrow Raven’s speech from season four of Teen Titans (with words changed as necessary to fit the show it’s on):

“You may have created me, but you were never a mother. Mothers are kind! Mothers protect you! Mothers raise you! I was protected by Shiro. I was raised by Team Voltron! They are my family, this is my home, and you are not welcome here!”

I mean, obviously they can’t straight up plagiarize like that, but still. I’d love to see a moment like that. ♥ (Also, I love my boy Keith, but more angst is always good, haha.)

I hope we get more bonding between the Paladins, too. I hope Lance and Hunk get to develop beyond being comic relief. More filler episodes of silly teenage shenanigans, like the Space Mall episode, would be great. I also want an episode where Lance, Hunk, and Pidge can contact their families back home, especially in Pidge’s case since her mother presumably has no idea what happened to her, and has thus now lost her husband and both of her children. Pidge’s poor mom needs a status update asap. :(

I also want more with The Blade of Marmora. They are so cool, let us see more of them!!

Anyway, this is long enough, haha. Those are my expectations / thoughts / hopes. We’ll see where the new season takes us. =)

[realmotionxi-blog]

Kanye West - YE Album Review/Reaction | The Cassius Morris Show

what's happening guys, thank you for tuning in to yet another album review. This is an album. I've been really looking forward to getting into digging into it's controversial, its bombastic. It'S a whirlwind: it is Kanye, West's eighth studio, album entitled ye. This album was a little while in the making we haven't had a new record since 2016, from Kanye, with the incredible release of the life of Pablo and leading up to this release was a huge amount of controversy, things being stirred up about Kanye in the press. So we're gonna jump into all that in just a moment now this album was part of a good music album roll out where there was going to be an album, I believe, every other week or once every week it started with push a T. Next was yeah, the album next is gonna, be Kid Cudi and Kanye teaming up for kids see ghosts which is supposedly coming out this week or the next next is going to be NAS and to finish off the set, it will be t Anna Taylor with What I believe is her debut record and if you don't know her, that's the girl from the Kanye West fade music, video but yeah. So I think it's pretty cool how good music is rolling out this calculated approach with putting out some albums, and I think that they're, seeing that there's a lot of competition, especially this summer, and I think good music is trying to get a pretty firm grasp on Summer 2018. So it's interesting to see that approach running with that theme, I think it's cool, seeing Kanye, embrace the newer style of producing music and I'll, explain to you why we all know that nowadays, a career lasting 10 years in the rap game in and of itself is Incredibly, incredibly rare, it's scarce, it's something you don't really see something. That'S even more rare is probably having had a career for 10 years or more and still remaining relevant for years to come, and that is something that Kanye West has managed to do. Kanye also followed an interesting formula with this studio album. He considers it a studio album, but it's only 7 songs and I think Connie has been looking around and seeing that a lot of the most successful, mixtapes and EPS coming out and current hip-hop are six to seven songs, no filler pure killer, just insane shit crazy, Beats crazy bars, crazy, hooks straight to the point in and out, and I really like that approach because it cuts out the nonsense. It cuts out the filler. You know. Of course, people are making albums where you know they're making the album an hour and 40 minutes. Just so that they can keep getting more songs to get more streams and make more money, Kanye isn't fucking with any of that, he's just doing his thing, and I really think it's cool to follow that model also of another way that Kanye is keeping up with The current trends, especially in rap and with with the younger generation, because he seems to be so in tune with it, my man turned on the trollin up to a thousand. He skipped a hundred. He skipped. Five hundred my man turned that notch up to a thousand with the trolling the trolling Kanye West has been doing, is insane nothing short of genius, and let me put it to you this way. The the main part of the trolling here was the poop scoop song. Now I will touch on this leading up to this album as a very outspoken Kanye West fan out in public, and I never let my love for an artist blind or make me bias towards any body of music. If I love an artist and they release a poor body of work, I will say exactly that. However, I've been a public champion of Kanye cuz he's one of my biggest inspirations. One of my biggest goals is to work with Kanye in one capacity or another. I think he's just fantastic and to see him dragged through. The media, like he has been in the last couple of weeks, was really really tough as a public fan and when he released that song called lifts yourself. Where, if you don't know he comes on, and he literally says scoop poop or whatever it's a bunch of crap, just a bunch of absolute nonsense, I got to say as a really big yay fan. All I could think was this album better, be fucking good, because this guy is going to ruin his career. The only possible rhyme or reason that I can come up with for that trolling song, that we so out of left field and so strange seeming to the point where most of his big fans, such as even myself, can't really describe it. The only possible thing I can think of is that yeh was simply fuckin with all of us and wanted to prove the point that he can make a ton of money and get on the Apple music charts, no matter what he puts on a song. I also think it could have been a commentary on how shitty hip-hop music has become, because there are. There are songs on the Billboard list right now, where I cannot believe my eyes or my ears that they're on there, so you know Kanye also probably walked away with a cool three and a half million dollars from that song. Just from people clicking on Apple, music or Spotify to hear the stream out of curiosity and then sending it to their friend streams, make money regardless of what's in the stream, and it's just like all these people on Instagram all these clowns who were chasing clout. You know all these people who are doing these outrageous shenanigans, half their comments, say fuck, you you're a piece of shit, but it's still a comment which boosts their posts, which boost their views, which both boost their money and people have started to figure out. It doesn't matter what the fuck I do if I can bring that attention in those eyes towards me. I'M gon na make a lot of this. I'M gon na make a lot of green, so I think it was. Hopefully it was a commentary on that. That is, that is the only possible thing I could have. I could have taken out of that now. The album was originally entitled, love everyone. That was the title that Kanye originally picked and the cover photo for this record was originally Jan Adams, who is the surgeon who operated on Kanye West's mother the day before she passed away, and I believe the surgery that was actually performed on her did lead to Her passing so recipes dawn to west, of course, and Jen the surgeon once finding out that Kanye wanted to use this photo for the album cover posted an open letter online, strongly urging and almost borderline pleading Kanye to change his mind and not use his photo. As the album cover now, apparently they got in contact. Apparently they worked it out because evidently Kanye did not use a photo of this surgeon on the album cover. But the idea of that was because Kanye wanted this album and I think he has achieved that with this album to be a commentary on forgiveness and love, and his point with that was to show that his forgiveness, his peace of mind that he's found is so So strong that not only can you forgive the man who indirectly was responsible for the passing of his mother, but he can give him glory on the cover of his amazing album as the ultimate sign of forgiveness. I think it's interesting. I understand the point, but I certainly think the current album cover is better. I think it's a better fit and, according to Kim Kardashian Kanye shot the new album cover on his iPhone on the way to the album release party, which is crazy to me. So that leads me to wonder: was there another cover? That was an alternative that he scrapped while he was on the way to the partying just said: fuck it throw this in the garbage or was was there no cover? I mean, I don't know, I don't think we'll ever know now about the album release party. This album release party was held by Kanye in Jackson's Hole. Wyoming, I think it's Jackson, Hole, Jackson's, hole, kind of sounds like a sexual thing and a lot of celebrities showed up and showed out for this shit, including Big Sean 2 Chainz. I think it was hosted by Chris Rock, I don't think Ti showed up, but there was quite a few celebrities. Ty dolla sign came through a lot of people came through out to Wyoming to go check things out at this release party, and there was actually a lot of interviewers youtubers and content creators from the internet there as well and Kanye's did a lot of interviews. That would act that were actually similar to the style of interview that I do and I thought it was so there was just something about seeing him in that seat. Doing an on location interview with somebody with microphones and cameras that went to this event in Wyoming to do this. It just showed me that this is possible like this. What I've wanted to do with Kanye for the longest time, and he is open to doing that once you build enough of a platform, you know a lot of people won't even sit down with someone like that, under any circumstances, so to see that Kahn you'll do It is cool, and you know, as I mentioned off the top. One of my top goals is to work with Kanye West. In some capacity, I would love to work on music with him one day, but the ideas that I have to work with Kanye go way way. Past music. You know, I think that I can really feel where he's coming from. I feel like I understand the way his mind works when it comes to art and the passion for that art I feel like. I can really relate to that intense emotional passion he has for it, and you know I've had similar ideas, but the album release party was really cool, they had a bonfire, there were roasts and s'mores, everybody was outside and they were, they were blasting. Then the new album - and you know I think Wyoming - is a really cool place for Kanye. He seemed to have found peace of mind out there and it seems to have given him a lot of good creative vibe. So, let's jump in to the record go straight to the track by track, because there's only seven songs on this, but I'm gon na try to give as much good commentary as I can. The first tune on the album is called. I thought about killing you and, of course, right away. People are wondering, what's this all about you know, and it's a really ear catching title and the music at the beginning is really ear catching. It'S a really good way to start the album. It'S basically the beginning is a spoken word piece, contemplating the age-old concept of light versus dark, good versus bad, and you know just the concept of the parallels between these two thoughts, the similarities and how they really intertwine with one another. This song is basically the definition of free thought when listening to it, I I could really tell that Kanye created this piece, specifically because this goes for the rest of the album, but this piece specifically was created with zero outside influence. If Kanye would have thought about how even one person would take this the wrong way and let that get to him, it would have affected this product. He really turned on the free thought. You know he says things like people tell you can't say this or say that just say it all out loud see how it feels, and you know Kanye believes from what he said now that there should be more emphasis on feeling than anything else. And if that's how you truly feel, then that's what should be conveyed. So that's that's sort of sort of what he's bringing up here and he's not saying I'm going to kill you he's not saying I made plans to kill you he's not saying I'm coming to kill you. He said I thought about killing you today and it leads you to examine that thought. Is that a bad thought is that? Is it evil to think that is evil to think anything at all, because at the end of the day, these thoughts just come into our heads? Are we to blame for these thoughts? It leads you to ask a lot of questions about the similarities between dark and light. Some people open up the possibility that he could have been talking about Kim Kardashian, especially due to the line saying you'd only care enough to kill someone. You love, I don't subscribe to that idea. I don't think that's accurate. I think Kanye was definitely, in my opinion, trying to give commentary on a much broader idea, and I don't think he would. He would be discussing her it just it doesn't quite make sense to me, but just again, a really interesting commentary on freedom of thought and the honesty to come out and say something that a lot of people have probably experienced and would never even be able to Say you know out in public when the beat drops on this song? It just changes everything it sets. It sets a mood. Kanye sounds hungry, he sounds hungry as hell. He sounds like he's, trying to prove a point and he was on this album. You know, like I mentioned when all this stuff was going on with Kanye leading up to this. I was thinking this album better, be fucking good, because this is insane and he might crash and burn. I think that was the vibe he had to so I think that he really wanted to just jump right in and show them I'm still yay. I can still fuck the beat up. I can still do something really original. I can talk about freedom of thought without making it preachy, while also giving you some hotbars over some 808, I'm a huge fan of this track, so I thought it was really creative, really groundbreaking and really interesting. One of the last parts that I can mention on this, the line goes quote how you gon na hate nigga we go way back to when I rock the braids and you had the wave cap drop, a pin for the fade and I'm on my way ASAP. Don'T get sucked in the mouth you know homie, don't play that now. Of course, Kanye West famously used to Brock is braids in his hair before he was famous at least as a mainstream. Rapper jay-z has always been known for rocking the wave caps. So I wonder, does this have anything to do with jay-z and him? I know that this album was scrapped after Kanye went on, TMZ live and it was rewritten and reproduced completely from what I understand. So that would mean that Kanye and Jay over the past month have still been having difficulties and that's contrary to what I've heard. I heard that they started to smooth things over. So part of me hopes this isn't about jay-z, but I think that it's it's more than likely that it is the next tune is called yikes and I thought it's a pretty cool title for the song, but I didn't quite say yikes, because yikes has a bit Of a negative undertone to it, I'm more said wow when I heard this song. This is just really unique. It'S it's just so Kanye, it's just so it's just it's classic to me, and I know the word classic is often thrown around and overused, but the type of cadence and flow that he uses on this, I think, is classic Kanye on the hook which, by the Way, I will throw this in hot 97 claimed yesterday, that Drake wrote the hook for this song, but it's not credited by good music due to the creative differences that have been going on, which i think is to be quite frank, incredibly petty. But that's that that's a whole different story that we're gon na get to it'll in a minute about the Drake thing, but I really think Kanye needed a song like this right now it's got the aggressive energy, it's got the sick beat it's got everything you really Need Kanye also looks on the hook at his life from a different perspective than from the first song in the first song, he seems to sort of be in a state where he's just letting his consciousness come in and out of his head stream through without any Interruption he's comfortable with all of his thoughts, he's letting them all flow freely and on this song he opens it up, saying: listen, she can get medicine. Sometimes I scare myself. Maybe I should find help. You know he's contemplating all these things and he's not comfortable with it. He'S he's in a state where he's questioning he's questioning whether he's comfortable he's questioning whether he's safe he's questioning whether he's doing the right thing, and I think that that was a really interesting commentary. On bipolar, you know one second he's accepting he's feeling like he's letting his consciousness stream through with no interruptions and the next minute he's doubting and he's in a completely different mood and scared. He acknowledges trolling on this song. Like I said, the trolling is out of control and I think he did a insane job on that, as he always does. I think the bass in this song needed to be mixed or mastered higher. This is such a great song. It'S probably the nastiest loosest wildest song on this album and it doesn't have that bass thump that it needs, and I wonder if, since Kanye scrapped the album after TMZ and had this creative burst and made a new album in in two-and-a-half weeks. If points on the album, where more detail or attention to detail could have been put, I think it suffered in that in that way, I think that if he maybe would have taken a little longer, he probably would have noticed the bass wasn't as high as it Could have been and raised it because, if I'm noticing that I certainly would have expected Kanye to notice that the musical genius that he is so I will throw that in and the other thing I found really interesting about this there's two things. The first thing is Kanye talking about his use of different psychedelic drugs. He mentions 2cb, of course, which I believe is, is a chemical in ecstasy. I know at MDMA is his own thing, but I think it has to do with ecstasy, and I do know that DMT is dimethyltryptamine, which is arguably the most powerful psychedelic on the play. And when you smoke this substance, which I personally haven't, you have an out-of-body experience in ass. What many describe as a spiritual experience for 10 to 13 minutes and you quite literally from what I understand, leave earth and have people can have incredible. Epiphanies mind-opening experiences and a whole new, mostly positive perspective on the world. It can also go for the worst, but but the majority of people when use properly in the right setting for the right reasons, you can get a very positive effect from this. It sounds like Kanye has been affected by positive psychedelic trips. It'S interesting to think about the amount of geniuses that that take these drugs and have taken these drugs through their lives, who have also had struggles with mental health and how that plays into not only their genius but but their personal struggles as well. So I throw Kanye in that category. I certainly had no clue that he had an interest in heavy psychedelic, drugs or opioids, like the ones that he'd mentioned in his interviews. Talking about his addictions, how he was doing fentanyl. He was up to almost seven pills a day. You know I'm learning a lot of new shit about easy right now that I had no clue - and you know some people - I think - aren't gon na feel too great about that. But I feel amazing about it because he's being completely honest, he's telling the truth he's he's I mean you can't really argue with that. You just can't the last part on this song that really caught my ear, just a different title type, a leader we could be in North Korea. I could smoke with Wiz Khalifa. You know, I think, he's using that line to kind of say that him and Wiz are sort of seen as enemies, but he could. He could link up with him. Of course, Kanye West's had a pretty long relationship with Amber Rose, they broke up and then amber married Wiz Khalifa and is now divorced, but it was Khalifa's baby mama, so there's been tension there. There was a Twitter feud with which ended in a phone call between the two of them and it's never been cool, but I think again playing on the theme of forgiveness. I think that's why he named route 2 is Khalifa, but I don't think was his answer to that and I can't expect that he will. I got it, but really solid tune from Kanye hasn't gotten old to me. Yet the next song is called all mine, and this is a strikingly unique song which showcases the fact that often times less is more the vocals in the beginning and on the hook are by Jame, and I was wondering who the hell does he vocals? Because it's just so out of left field and like something that I've I haven't heard at least in a very long time, and it's over this tremendous thumping bass. That'S just going insane and you know I listen to the bass on this song and other songs on this album, and that makes me wish you know. Maybe the base on yikes could have been louder. I wish there could have been consistency with that. You know that you can probably tell it that's pissing me off, but that full body thumping bass mix with that treble that's the only or the hi-hat. So I guess that's the only elements in this song musically and it's really interesting to hear that it's very minimal music wise, but the voices are being used to their full potential as instruments and I'll. Never forget this one of the the most insightful things that I heard about music, especially about rap music, was from jay-z and this fantastic inspirational interview. He did there's tons of them on YouTube and he was talking about how his approach in his belief in making hip-hop is that the voice needs to be just as much of an instrument as everything else in the mix. It'S not to be viewed differently. It'S just to be viewed as another instrument so to hear the way that they used ty, dolla, sign's, voice, Jermaine's voice and Kanye's voice through this to make tons of different instrumental ranges with the voice over such little music and make. It still feel like such a huge song was just killer. You know the way, Kanye rode that beat just so cool you know so classic it kind of reminds me of the lyrics and hell of a life or something just a fucked up, Kanye thinking about sex. Just a classic perverted, Kanye song, you know it's just comical, it's just it's something that he needs on: every album, playful references to Donald Trump's, cheating scandal, and I think that that the stormy Daniels thing was his little way of giving Donald Trump a tip of the Hat on the album, I think he really wanted to do that. He also mentions Chris Rock scandal and Tristan Thompson's relationship issues with his sister-in-law, Khloe Kardashian, so calling a lot of shots on this and you know not really pulling any punches, but this song incredibly unique. So diverse and just really out of left field, I'm just. I was so happy to hear this on Kanye's album. So I give that a really good review the next tune. Song number four is called wooden leave and this is a song discussing Kanye's, mostly his futuristic thinking, but what comes with that wishes, difficulties, communicating his ideas and how it affects his relationships with his wife, his friends, his family and just anybody around him and including his Fans but but this song is, I wouldn't say it's about the fans. I'D say it's just about his friends, his loved ones, and that's that's something that is apparent on a couple songs on this album and you know I think, back to the first tune. He does say I love myself way more than I love you and on a few moments on this album. I really feel that, and I feel that Kanye is doing this for Kanye and he's doing it for his family. This is for him. This is for him. So I definitely felt that, on this song, the vocals in the beginning and throughout the hook is actually partynextdoor, which I didn't notice at all parties really switching up his style. He sort of had the same kind of sound where, if you were to ask someone to do an impersonation of partynextdoor, they could do it. It would always be the same kind of kind of thing, but he's really stretching his wings here, and I was impressed with that. However, the part where Kanye comes in and sings - but I know you wouldn't leave it kind of - sounds like the humming that artists do in the booth to find the melody for the song. But you know they go back and they fill in the lyrics later. It kind of sounds like he's just humming the words I know she wouldn't leave instead of fully saying them. That makes me wonder, was he still toying with the melody I mean this album was made in such a short amount of there's a lot of variables that could have happened, but this is definitely my least favorite hook on the album. I'M not crazy about this hook. At all, it's just, but but there's nothing really else you could have put on it and I, like the rest of the song. It'S definitely gon na affect my rating of the overall album, because it's only seven songs, not my my favorite, but I do like the lyrics he's spinning. I really like am talking about how he thinks he's thinking. Like George Jetson, you know he's talking about his futuristic thinking that kind of gave me visuals to the 808 syn heartbreaks era of Kanye, which actually seems more relevant now than it does than it did. When it came out. You know the style he was promoting at that time, which again lends to his futuristic thinking and vision. But you know something kind of struck me with this and it's that Kanye's making a song where it's almost like, and I don't know if he's really doing it - to play the play to the audience interview in any way. But if he was, this would sort of be playing like have some sympathy for Kanye due to the situation he's in, and you know I'm thinking about he's talking about his wife and how she's so upset by what he said and he had to calm her down And stuff, he also says you know the. I said slavery use a choice. They said how yay and just the whole thing here, just rubs me the wrong way. You know, you said slavery is a choice and they said how yay this didn't happen four years ago. This happened a couple of weeks ago, I see 95 percent of the public is still wondering how yay it's gone from house way to hell yeah. I don't know what the fuck he's talking about. That'S what a lot of people are saying now. I will throw in my two cents on his TMZ live interview in that clip. Kanye talks about y'all were there for 400 years. That sounds like a choice, sounds like a choice to me, see we're mentally in prison. That'S what he said, and then he says this really fast part at the end, talking about Holocaust Jews, Jews, blacks, black slavery, Jews, Holocaust and he just sort of models. His words they're on TMZ, live after dropping this huge statement, slavery was a choice. What he actually says there in that muddled statement he says I actually like to use the word prison, because the word slavery is too direct to blacks, Jews, Holocaust in Black's slavery, and he tripped all over his words about delivering that statement. He said that statement in the clip in question. I don't want to use the word slavery. I prefer the word I like the word. He said I like the word prison, because slavery is too direct to Black's. So if you want to sit here and be thick-skulled and try to look me in the eye and tell me that Kanye is talking about the black situation and he's not trying to build a bigger point to discuss the mental slavery of our society, I believe you Are a small-minded person who was likely being fed information by the media and believing it because the fact of the matter is that he said it right there now, regardless of anything, I would also like to throw in that Kanye has every right to believe whatever he Wants that is a First Amendment protected right that he has the right to believe and say what he pleases. But let me make it very, very clear. Folks, Kanye West had a distinct responsibility to explain clearly exactly what he meant, because not everybody as a matter of fact, most people will not will not take the time to listen to his muddled explanation at the end that he quickly went over and decipher it and Slow it down and think about what it actually means and apply something that sounds literal to a bigger picture that thought process is not going on with 95 % of the people watching you another factor: I've watched hours and hours and hours of Kanye interviews. I know how his mind works at least creatively. I understand how his mind works. I understand the way that he looks at ceptin flips them around and his folk different philosophies on different things. He had the song new slaves on yeezus took quite a few years. Back 2014 he's been talking about the concept of slavery for a long time, and but the understand that I have the luxury of understanding that, because I'm a fan so that it's not gon na bother me the same way. But we need to remember - and Kanye really needs to remember that 95 % of the people who see him on TMZ live. That'S probably the only time all year that they will hear or see. Kanye West speak in any capacity whatsoever and most of them probably won't even listen to any of his music and only know him from an appearance like an award show or TMZ live. So when you go on a platform like that, you have a distinct responsibility to be very clear and concise, with what you're talking about, because otherwise you're putting your fans and, as Kanye, observe your friends and your family and your loved ones in a bad situation. So that's my thoughts on that. You know, and you know we could go on all day about that kind of stuff. I want to focus on the music, but I'm not I'm not jumping on the feel bad for Kanye train right now, because he has some explaining to do and I think he owes some people an explanation on what the hell he's trying to trying to say. Right now, this song, though the instrumental really cloudy 808 inspired, beat it would fit in on wash the throne. It sort of reminds me of the production on something like made in America, and you know it's a good song. It makes me think about my family. You know, and I think that that shows that he did a really good job, making it personal, because it's so personal to his family, that I can feel does that family vibe and I apply my own situation to it. So I think he did a pretty good job on in this song, but I would really like some more explanation from Kanye to make my life easier at least a little bit. Next, one is called no mistakes, . The hook on this is by Charlie Wilson pairing up with Kid Cudi to create a tremendous gold dust sounding classic just hook, which is just killer. I had a lot of trouble understanding what they were saying on this hook. I now understand he's saying: make no mistake girl. I still love you in terms of Kim Kardashian, so it's a follow up on the last song. Carne doubles down assuring Kim that he really loves her. It'S a perfect blend of that classic and new sound with the Charlie Wilson vocals with Kid Cudi on there and also Kanye kind of sounds like old Kanye. But one thing I've noticed about this album is that anytime, that it sounds like the old Kanye, whatever. That'S even supposed to mean at this. At this rate, it also sounds current. It doesn't sound dated which is really interesting, and I think that that's something that so many artists who get caught in the I miss the old insert name here thing they can't come close to that, because I think that that affects their minds so much but Konya Doesn'T seem like he's in a position to be affected by anything or anyone and there's a reason that why, on his big whiteboard that he was tweeting while he was preparing these albums, he had it written yay. The spiritual awakening, I believe, Kanye's had a spiritual awakening. Kanye seems wide awake. He seems, like his eyes, are wide open. I don't like using the word woke because there's too many dumb people who think they're woke and will say, they're woke. I want to let you know this right now. If you have to tell someone you're woke, I can guarantee you're, not you're only woke. If somebody tells you you're woke before you say it, I'm just throwing it out there. Folks cuz just stop using it, just let if with people start calling. You woke at that point: you're woke you can't assign woke to yourself. Okay, that's just that's just a little PSA for all you fuckers out here, but yay reflects on the difficulties he's been facing since being millions and millions of in debt. I believe he was over. Fifty million dollars in debt, he shouts out his boys. He says all my dogs who say down we up again and just the classic Kanye West's creativity with those samples man. I thought that sample was an old Paul McCartney that believe it or not. In the background turns out is actually Slick, Rick and it didn't sound like a rap song to me, it sounded like a rock song to me, so I thought that was that was cool to find out. This is the tune where he has a potential Drake diss. The line goes too close to snipe. You truth told I, like you too, bold to type you too rich to fight you calm down, you light-skinned, so Clute too close to snipe. You was interesting because, from what I understand, Kanye and Drake are neighbors over in Calabasas literal neighbors, so to be sending a dish shop at your neighbor through an mp3 file feels kind of weird to me to begin with truth told I, like you, I know Kanye Likes Drake I've watched tons of interviews where Kanye talks about Drake and he has a reverence for him and I will almost go as far to say. I do believe that Kanye looks up to Drake musically because he himself has said that Drake EC's him as his biggest competition, with the way that he can reach the youth, and I believe, Kanye admires that if Kanye is saying that about you, it's a big thing. So I know he likes some calm down. You light-skinned, I'm not a fan of this light-skinned hate tip. That'S been going on because of push of T. You know lights I mean. Obviously all I got ta tell you. Is this man ask your girlfriend light skins are popping right. Now I got to tell you your your girl will tell you, but I, like this song, the last rumor was that Drake had released or recorded a diss track that he didn't want to release, because it would be too harmful to Drake and Pusha T's career and Potentially end Kanye's career now I will comment on that quickly. It seems unlikely to me it does seem unlikely, because it's too easy to say after the fact - and I did see some people talking about this online. How are you gon na end, Kanye's career when evidently Kanye can't even and Kanye's career, because that seems like he's been trying, so I'm a huge Drake fan, I'm just gon na stay away from that, because I love Drake and I don't want to talk about one Of my favorites potentially taking an L, so let's move on to one of the most revered songs from yeh coming to the end of the album ghost town. This features three amazingly skilled artists who just came together for a blend of epic proportions. This has Kanye Kid Cudi, John Legend and oh seven, Oh shake and man just an insane insane huge grand song, the John Legend vocals in the beginning, just sound like some sort of classic Otis Redding or something that's the only thing. I could really compare it to a couple of sources are saying that partynextdoor is actually the vocals on this, and I don't believe that I believe the sources that are saying is John Legend just cuz. It doesn't quite sound like party to me, but hopefully I'm not wrong Kid. Cudi'S vocals in the beginning are nearly off-key he's singing in this really wide shaky key that feels like it could fall off the rails at any moment, but it works and it works really really well and since it feels like it could fall off the rails. It has this emotional grip on you and I you know, I lend my ear to him and I just was so curious to see what he had to say next, when I first heard this especially it's like a story, it's like a scene in a movie, this Song - it's just it takes you through a journey that I truly can't describe. The song takes on a whole new life when is joined by singer. Oh 7, no shake for a feature I haven't heard of this singer before, and I actually thought that this might have been SIA on this feature because Kanye doesn't credit the features on here or somebody he's worked with in the past by the name of Caroline Shaw. But this is a new name to me, so I was really had a huge smile on my face to hear that the world is falling in love with the new artists, especially because she got a big break on Kanye's album. I'M sure she's going to be getting calls and emails through the now that she's got this exposure and it's gon na be all kinds of feelings of you know. You didn't want me before now. Everybody'S hitting me up, but I think it's well-deserved, especially in the saturated music game, to hear a really talented voice come through always makes me smile. So I think this is potentially the climax of the album it's just it's just insane. The production on this has taken a new heights when she starts singing about how she feels like she's free for the last time, Kanye adds a spaceship and it's sort of like Tron, like shooting sound effects and spaceship sound effects, sounds like a video game where you're Getting the high score in an old 80s game, it's just it's just epic, it's of epic proportions. He also has that low, plunging guitar / keyboard effect, which he coined Kanye coined that sound. That is the Kanye sound and even if I would have heard this and he wouldn't have sang on it or rapped on it, I woulda known Kanye produced this, because that that guitar keyboard plunge was what I'll choose to call. It is just so one-of-a-kind and that, and it's just it takes it back to the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy days, where Kanye just was rewriting the game and again it shows how it's a futuristic approach, because that that shit still works. So I think that this song is gon na go really far for this album. I think it's gon na win some kind of award for sure in 2018 and fun fact this that this song, ghost town or the title ghost town was actually written under Kid. Cudi'S album on Kanye's large whiteboard, with all the album's laid out. So I'm not sure if it was this song with him on it like this or if it was a different version of the song. But I'm glad to ended up on this album and it really was one of the cherries on top and just like that, we're at the end of the album. It feels like such a quick album to listen to because it's there's so much substance in so much diversity. It really just disappears in the blink of an eye, and it ends off with a song called Violent Crimes. This tune is, it has a hook which is sung by by a female there's male voices mixed in the background, but it's a female sung hook, which is sung in sort of the tone of a lullaby, it's very soothing. It creates a conjures visuals of family well-being. Once again - and it it similar to wouldn't leave for me - and it actually seems like a much more polished version of wooden leave, it's a song. You want to listen to on a plane again. It has that that airy 808 sort of production to it, which almost is that wash the thrown kind of thing to it, and it's just the emotion that Kanye can convey. I think this is one of his best verses in the last five years. At least I mean it was it's just so impressive and I keep thinking about the the futuristic aspect of his thinking, because it's so important to what he does he's not saying she won't realize the danger she's going to be in because his daughter's two or three And you know we're going to go through. These fights were going to have these struggles. He'S saying, like you know, this is happening now she doesn't understand the danger she's in she doesn't know what those guys are going to do to her now like this is. This is current stuff he's putting himself in the futuristic aspect of it to where he knows, he's gon na have to deal with it potentially and it's it's crazy, because I heard him in an interview two and a half years ago, and he said I think about The fact that there's a very high chance that my daughter's body could be shaped like my wife's and that's really scary to me - and here we are over two years later, and that is what he's rapping about, and you know something folks seeing. That was a really good sign for me, because it shows me that that type of emotion cannot be faked. If you feel like you're hearing somebody talk about some real shit, that's been on their mind and you can feel that it's not even a feeling and you're. It'S like a feeling in my chest: it's like, I feel it right here when the shit's real and it hits you a certain type of way that can't be faked. It just can't be faked. I can't describe the emotion he, but he makes me want to cry. I believe I did tear up when I first heard this shit because you know it makes you think about. You know how everybody treats women. It'S it's it's shit. You know you keep getting these songs. Thinking do I. You know you feel bad for even kissing a girl when you listen to the ship, but it's true, you know, there's a lot of fuckery. That'S going on people are being really mistreated, we're in a generation that is bent on becoming emotionless and numb and cold-hearted and cruel and Kanye's having a child and he's bringing her up in this world. That is what's champion. That'S! What'S that's, what's applauded so I turn around and I applaud Kanye because he has the courage to stand up and talk about his feelings and that's a completely normal human thing. I don't. I don't know how we've somehow lost the aspect of normal human activity and emotion becoming accepted in in this culture somehow, but it's something that I want to hang on to. I don't want to lose the human aspect of feeling and all these things - and I again I applaud Kanye for taking on some of these. These topics he's not a perfect man, but he's a man with a vision. He'S a man with a dream: he's a man with many many different goals and he's a man who wants to do better for the world, and for that I really champion him, and you know he's in a really complex situation that only he can give us perspective On a lot of people, talk about how out of touch they feel he is with the world when they don't remember how out of touch. We are with that magnitude of celebrity to have a daughter in the normal world where you're, not famous. You have all of these issues still but to add on Instagram and Fame and TMZ and comment sections and blog comments and all these things with millions and millions and millions of people after your daughter, that's a perspective that most people can't offer and he can offer Us that - and I can't relate to it, because I'm not there - I can relate to it on a human level of that's a father looking out for his daughter, and this is his spin on it, and I also just want to throw this one thing in before. I end this because this is the end of the review, so I might as well throw this in since you've come with me this far. Thank you. I hope you've been thoroughly thoroughly entertained. This whole thing of of Kanye West has afforded a life where he doesn't have to deal with a racism, so he doesn't understand the issues of racism and all these these different insane theories. I just want to say that that is such nonsense. It'S it's such bullshit, because no, I will guarantee you this, no matter how rich you are no matter where you go and no matter how famous you are, you will likely experience some form of racism if you are of color and to say, Kanye doesn't experience racism Just because he doesn't have to walk down the street in the hood of Chicago anymore and be profiled by a police officer is ignorant and foolish. So this album yay, I'm gon na give a solid four star review. I feel like there are details that were potentially rushed, but I don't think the album suffers, because the content overall is very, very strong. There'S no filler and Kanye just really wanted to get straight to the point so solid, four stars from me on yay. Thank you for tuning into my album review, make sure to subscribe here on YouTube and here on iTunes. If you're listening subscribe to, the Cassius Morris show on all audio streaming platforms and check out Cash's Morris comm for exclusive photography and content of all kinds, we'll catch you guys on the flip side until next time. This is Cash's Morris, saying rock on when someone comes up and says something like I am a god, everybody says who does he think he is? I just told you who I thought I was god. I just told you Read the full article