#rekha is right this IS a good movie

[vultures-yay-or-nay]

HE'S BACK

[youremyheaven]

https://www.tumblr.com/youremyheaven/754446269650452480/they-dooo-notice-everything-i-love-it-sometimes

Jupiter women can lowkey be like this too. Idk about the Freud stuff, but jupiter is the husband. When their dad fails to display positive jupiter traits and becomes arrogant, withdrawn and selfish, they become their own dad. So they embody or atleast attempt to embody positive jupiter traits of generosity and virtue. Now that I’ve typed that out, it doesn’t sound as relevant as it did in my head 😭

However I do think that what OP was describing is more of a Bharani thing than anything else. I’m sure other venus naks do it too but still.

Bharani has major connotations to childbirth and so many women make sacrifices when they have children, some are forced to leave education, some develop long term health problems, and some struggle to leave difficult relationships since children complicate that kind of thing. Before medicine advanced it was somewhat common to just die entirely bc of childbirth.

So therefore I think a lot of Bharani natives (esp moon bc we’re talking about mothers) are overly aware of the sacrifice their mothers made and it weighs on them. It becomes their “burden” as the translation of Bharani, “she who bares” takes on a literal and metaphorical interpretation. So basically Bharanis like to acknowledge the people who came before them and their sacrifices but they can have a bit of a chip on their shoulder bc of it. Inheriting their karma in a sense.

So when they experience that humiliation from their abusive parent they “eat the pain” as part of the burden they bare. Fighting back will always lead to more suffering for them despite their anger and resentment (aries). In mythology Yama was about to kick his mom but even though he holds himself back, she still cursed his foot.

Yama’s father ☀️ ☀️ also got mad at his mother for struggling to look directly at him and cursed Yama as a result, which is such a good example of the dynamics their parents have and how they suffer from it.

In conclusion, Bharanis are stoics become pushovers with daddy issues. Sorry for the unsolicited lecture, it may happen again

Nahh you're right. Jupiter women and their daddy issues are well documented (by me lmao 🤣🤡) they do become excessively giving because their dad's weren't giving at all 😤

Jupiter is a masculine planet for a reason after all. Reminds me of Rekha, Purvabhadrapada Moon. She and her siblings were the illegitimate children of a famous actor and he never acknowledged them publicly. Her mom had many other kids from other relationships etc and they were dirt poor. Rekha even went to school with her father's legitimate kids and other kids in school knew about the whole situation and called her a bastard 🥺🥹

She started acting at the age of 13 to support her ailing mother and 6 or 7 siblings. She hated being an actor and was severely exploited in the industry, esp since she had no mentors or father figures :(((( in turn she made sure none of her siblings ever had to work in the movies to make a living and supported everyone financially until they settled down 🥺 she in turn never got married or had kids :((( (she was manipulated into marrying a guy once and he committed suicide and she was hella traumatized by that as well, but that's a separate story 💀)

Here's a pic of Rekha with some of her siblings (2 or 3 are missing in the picture)

She does embody that Jupiter woman being the man trope.

(This is Rekha & her mom Pushpavalli)

Despite everything, she's never spoken ill about her father or even her mother, who clearly made her the scapegoat and placed undue pressure on her to provide even though she was a literal child. She even named her house after her mother 🥺

Anywaayyyyyssss

I agree that Bharanis are in a unique position because of their mythology and in general I think Bharanis are more dignified and humane than other Venus naks

They're outcaste naks who know what it's like to be the outsider and work their way up

But yes they're pushovers with daddy issues 😭😭😭😭

I lowkey like how empathetic they are to women bc of what they saw growing up 😔😔 like they're genuinely just like "no this is not how it should be, women need to be worshipped period, my woman will never suffer this way" and 🤧🤧😩😩😩i fall for that shit lmao

I had a recent experience with a Jupiter conjunct Purvashada Rising man who thought that broke men did not deserve to have women 💀💀💀 he said men who cannot provide have no business dating or marrying 💀💀and that "real men" should never ask for a 50-50 and put the burden on his partner and if he truly loves her, he should want her to be relaxed and enjoy life. He said things like "what's the point of me working so hard if my family isn't enjoying themselves and having a good time, my wife can do whatever she wants and I'll support her but she will never have to work to pay the bills" and ngl I love this mentality lmfao 😂🤣🤪🤭

Venus men being scarred by incompetent dads and overcompensating by being the provider and father they never had is >>>>> 🥵🥵🥵🥵so sexy of them tbh

[jq37]

So, Jumanji by way of Last Action Hero. Ok, Never Stop Blowing Up. I'm in for the ride. They managed to put together a great table for this one. I'm delighted they got Rekha back in the Dome. It's exciting to see Alex Song-Xia again. Izzy is always a treat. I'll never say no to more Jacob Wysocki. And of course Ally and Ify are always strong performers. We're in for a good season.

What a crazy start! I'm so glad I watched Last Action Hero a few weeks ago in prep because those vibes are very apparent (in addition to Jumanji 2 of course, but I'd already seen that).

A quick rundown of everything going on:

Ally Beardsley as Russell Feeld as Jennifer Drips

INSANE swings from Ally right out the gate. I love that Izzy was both in character thirsting over Russell and out of character being like, "Pull it back." Also, I think they're the only one playing a girl movie character so that's interesting. This season is gonna be such a trip pronoun-wise. Wonder what direction Ally wants to go with that.

Ify Nwadiwe

as Wendell Morris as Vic Ethanol

I was STUNNED to hear Wendell's voice come out of Ify's body. I didn't know he had an Urkel-esque bone in his jacked as hell self. And I assumed that once the PCs turned to their MCs (movie characters) they'd use their MC voice but nope. It seems like he's still doing the Wendell voice which is wild. I love a sweet nerd so Wendell is one of my early faves for sure. Very much the vibes on the main character from Jumanji 2 turning into the Rock. Also, Vic Ethanol is my fave expy name.

Isabella Roland

as Paula Donvalson as Jack Manhattan

Izzy had, by far, my favorite movie bit with her and Brennan walking into that chicken bit which was golden. Sometimes a bit drags on too long but they drove that to the exact funniest point and then left it there. Chef's kiss, no notes. Very much looking forward to seeing this very tightly wound mom in this unhinged setting.

Rekha Shankar

as Usha Rao as G13

Something I really respect is building a character who is specifically bad at the main thing they have to do and a woman who barely has grasped the concept of phones having to be the hacker is so funny. Rekha, you've done it again. I didn't notice until it was pointed out on Twitter but one of the fave movies listed on her card is literally the first movie ever made (The Horse in Motion). And her immediate 1 when trying to do hacker stuff is a portent of more hilarity to come I'm sure. Love to have her back in the dome.

Alex Song-Xia

as Liv Skyler as Kingskin

Also, love to have Alex back in the dome! I loved them in Mentopolis and they picked such a fun dichotomy of characters to inhabit in a teen girl who's giving me Vanessa from In the Heights with a little compulsive shoplifting plus truly just Kingpin from Marvel. I found her really endearing and she was also one of my faves.

Jacob Wysocki

as Andy 'Dang' Litefoot as Greg Stocks

I'm not as familiar with Jacob as I think some others are but he matched the table's energy right away. I would think the aliens thing was a weird swing except that there's someone in one of my games who has a very similar deal (their PC not the actual person lol) so it's kind of like yeah, that's a normal thing for a PC to believe. Maybe it's because I just binged all of The Bear but he kind of reminds me of a more assertive Fak. And it's a very funny contrast to a suave James Bond-type (also, Stocks/Bond. Ha).

So it looks like we have Fast and Furious, Die Hard, and James Bond. Kingskin is Kingpin from Spiderman and maybe just repping mobster flicks in general. G13 also seems to be a generic hacker. And Jennifer Drips is a generic femme fatale.

I think it's interesting that everyone seems to be a protagonist except for Kingskin who is an obvious baddie (unless he comes from a Breaking Bad type world where it's bad guys all the way down and no real heroes).

Also, I'm curious about how they'll cross over with each other. In Last Action Hero, it was kind of implied that many action movie scenarios take place in a shared universe (which is why you had Arnold in the same police station as a talking cartoon cat and other archetypes waiting to get paired up with their wacky mismatched sidekicks). Could be something like that, but we'll see.

Anyway, yeah! I wasn't sure how this season was gonna look but I'm VERY down for it now that it's started. Oh! And the animatics???? Amazing! D20 just keeps outdoing itself!

[thebobby1432world]

Aaliya Siddiqui Wiki, Biography, Age, Height, Weight, Family, Net Worth

Aaliya Siddiqui Wiki: Anjana Kishor Pandey was the name of the Indian actress and producer Aaliya Siddiqui before she changed her name to Aaliya Siddiqui. Her critically acclaimed roles have made her a name in the industry. She is the ex-wife of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and mother to Shora Siddiqui and Yaani Siddiqui. Aaliya Siddiqui Wiki Anjana was born in 1977 to Kishor Pandey in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and later converted to Islam and changed her name to Anjali Siddiqui. After getting married to Nawazuddin Siddiqui on March 17, 2010, Anjana decided to become an actor and producer and moved to Mumbai with her family.

Aaliya Siddiqui Wiki Since then, Anjana has appeared in movies such as Holy Cow (2021) and Lakshman Rekha (2020). She made Holy Cow in 2021, and right now she is getting ready to make her next movie, a suspense thriller. She has made a name for herself in the Indian film business as a successful actor and producer.

Aaliya Siddiqui Wiki

NameAaliya SiddiquiReal NameAnjana Kishor PandeyProfessionFilm ProducerCategoryCelebrityFamous forNawazuddin Siddiqui's wife.Date of BirthJanuary 3, 1977Age (In 2023)45 YearsBirth PlaceJabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, IndiaResidenceMumbai, Maharashtra, IndiaNationalityIndianReligionHinduismEthnicitySouth AsianCasteBrahminMother TongueHindiZodiac / Sun signCapricornAaliya Siddiqui Physical StatsHeightin centimeters- 160 cm in meters- 1.60 m in Feet Inches- 5ft 3inEye ColourBlackHair ColourBlackAaliya Siddiqui's Family, HusbandMarital StatusMarriedHusband/SpouseNawazuddin Siddiqui (2010-2020)Marriage dateMarch 17, 2010ChildrenSon(s)Yaani SiddiquiDaughter(s)Shora SiddiquiParentsFatherKishor PandeyMotherNot KnownAaliya Siddiqui Education DetailsSchoolNot KnownCollegeNot KnownEducational QualificationGraduateAaliya Siddiqui FilmographyDebut MovieLakshman Rekha (Producer, 2020)MoviesHoly Cow (Producer & Actor, 2021) Lakshman Rekha (Producer, 2020)Aaliya Siddiqui Other DetailsAlternate namesAnjali Siddiqui Anjana Pandey Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the Site. Read the full article

[bollywood143114]

Kiara became a priest, and Siddharth Malhotra in a pink lehenga was struck by lightning. View wedding photos here.

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra Wedding: Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra finally got married on February 7th. Both got married in a very grand manner at Hotel Suryagarh in Jaisalmer. In addition to family, close relatives and Bollywood veterans attended the wedding, and both of them started a new life by playing 7 rounds. The most special thing about the wedding was that Kiara was wearing a pink lehenga instead of a red one. Not only that, but it was also unusual for her to wear pink bangles instead of red at her Punjabi wedding. Wedding photos of Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra Right after the wedding, Siddharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani shared the first wedding photos on their Instagram handles, giving their fans the good news. At a wedding where Siddharth Malhotra appeared in an off-white sherwani with gold embroidery, Kiara looked regal in a pink lehenga. Sharing photos from their wedding on the night of Feb. 7, Siddharth and Kiara wrote: “Your permanent reservation is now complete… We need all your love and blessings. Sid-Kiara's love chemistry started in the movie Shershaah and ever since, fans have been clamoring to see the couple together. Sid-Kiara's wedding was very grand. Many photos and videos of Siddharth and Kiara Advani's wedding are going viral on social media. This marriage was done in Delhi in a very royal style where band people are specially called. In the video, the band players also looked quite different and stylish as they entered the Surajgarh Palace. In addition, the bodyguards in the video and Siddhas' team members paid special attention to the overall security. Netizens who saw Akshay Kumar’s feet on the map of India were outraged, saying, “Arrogant guy… It’s embarrassing.” Bollywood Enters Siddharth-Kiara's Wedding Many veterans of the Bollywood industry also attended Siddharth and Kiara's wedding. From fashion designer Manish Malhotra to film producer Karan Johar, actress Juhi Chawla arrived with her husband, Jai Mehta. Besides this, Armaan Jain, Shahid Kapoor, Mira Rajput, makeup artist Swarna Rekha, Gupta hairdresser Amit Thakur, music DJ Ganesh and Isha Ambani also attended the wedding with her husband Anand Piramal. Kiara Advani and Siddharth Malhotra got married at Bhav Bhawan in the golden city of Jaisalmer. DISCLAIMER We’ve taken all measures to insure that the information handed in this composition and on our social media platform is believable, vindicated and sourced from other Big media Houses. For any feedback or complaint, reach out to us at bollywoodofindiaa@gmail.com Read the full article

[garoujo]

“OH, YOU WANNA PLAY PSYCHO KILLER?” — HANMA SHUJI

you and your boyfriend decide to add a little more thrill to your relationship.

♱ warnings — ghostface!hanma, f!reader, cnc, knifeplay, reader is a great actress, predator x prey kink, mask kink, creampies, shuji is a tease, fingering, choking. ꒰ word count : 4k ! ꒱

♱ note — here we go ! probs the kinktober piece i was most excited 2 write so hopefully u guys enjoy it 2 . tysm 2 rekha @/21-06-1996 & paradis @/blueparadis 4 reading through some of it 4 me <3

RETURN TO KINKTOBER MLIST ♱ REGULAR MLIST

it’s somewhere between 11pm and 12am you’d assume by the way the sky seems to have darkened outside of your apartment. the day had went by normal enough, you went to work, turned down some plans for drinks with your work colleagues and then you came home as normal — as planned.

but there’s a tinge of anticipation that’s present from your fingers to your toes, something you can’t quite place as you flick through the channels on the tv, sinking deeper into the couch when you settle on some cheesy slasher flick with a shrug, october and all. it’s the season for them.

your boyfriend, hanma is at work, so you’re home alone tonight — bowl of popcorn and a blanket that felt warmer when his daunting figure was underneath it with you.

for about an hour, you’re content — fishing around for the sweetened kernels at the bottom of your bowl with a sigh. your movies just kicking off, not that you’re paying much attention as you flick through the stories your friends are posting on instagram, trying to ignore the fact that he should’ve called by now, he normally did around this time.

but now you’re restless and worried, deciding to make another round of popcorn to soothe your nerves before you start pacing and it works, for a moment, before you’re back on the couch in the exact same position watching the exact same movie.

then you hear it, the first ring and you reach for your phone a little too quickly for you not to have been waiting, except it’s not him — it’s a number unknown, but maybe it’s because he’s at work.. you tell yourself to ease the uncomfortable shift in the air.

“hello?” you answer after letting it ring a few times, and you let hope linger in the air where you take a breath before it’s swallowed by the unfamiliar, distorted voice that answers back.

“hello.” their voice is smooth but.. not who you were expecting and you can’t shake the way your shoulders seem to slump with the reply. “hi, can i.. help you?” you ask, trying not to sound too disappointed that it wasn’t the man you seek.

“who is this?” the sound of the television on your end goes from near full volume to something a little lower, and your brows furrow almost instinctively at their question.. because, didn’t think they call you?

“who are you trying to reach?” you snort and you hear the person on the other side of the phone hum in a way that tells you they’re not too sure. “i’m not sure.. what’s your name?”

there’s another change in the air, one that makes you bring your feet up onto the lip of the couch at their question before you reply quickly, not wanting to let the silence they let stay linger.

“i’m sorry.. i think you have the wrong number.” a beat of silence followed by a cocky reply, “do i? then how about you tell me your name and i’ll tell you mine.” before you breathe and continue “no thanks, im waiting on a call but have a good night.” you don’t give them an opportunity to answer this time, and you’re pretty sure you cut off whatever they were next going to say.

but you feel cold suddenly, acutely aware of the noises outside your apartment as you sit your phone facedown on the table, and try to focus on the film you suddenly don’t feel like watching anymore.

but then it rings again, and you want to mentally punch yourself for letting your head turn a little too quickly — another unknown number, but maybe just a coincidence.. right?

“hello?” followed by a reply that’s a little too quick. “oh, i’m sorry. not the call you were waiting for?” but you curse yourself for the way their teasing seems to make your lips break into a whisper of a grin. “not this time..” you breathe and they don’t stop with that. “no? don’t wanna talk to me instead?”

“yeah, nice try. again—have a good night, see ya.” you feel a little unsettled when your phone hits the table this time, the caller was probably innocent but something seems.. strange. your neck feels unbearably warm and it takes a few moments for you to pull yourself off the couch before you’re retreating to the kitchen — splashing your face with some cold water to calm yourself down.

you let yourself take a moment, look in the fridge like the contents will have changed since the last time you were in there. but then even from the kitchen you hear the ring of your phone from the living room, and you’re suddenly aware of the goosebumps ripping across your arms.

but you stride quickly, not bothering to give the caller id a second glance because — it won’t be, right?

“uh, hello?” you repeat, and you think you’re suddenly sick of hearing the greeting. “don’t hang up on me.” there’s a drop in their tone this time, but it’s the same drawled out, smooth sound — followed by a long exhale like they’re smoking a cigarette or releasing a held breath.

“what do you want?” you shift, suddenly not feeling like sitting back down in your previous spot. “to talk, kill some time.. nice night for it, don’cha think?” you can’t see them, but you can tell they’re smiling with the way you hear their words curl around the expression.

“i’m kind of busy.” you’re lying but your hairs suddenly standing on end, “oh? but your movies almost over.. isn’t it? so how about you play with me instead, doll?” the petname is a low growl, but your heart pounds at the words before it, sucking in an uneven breath as you let your gaze dart to the movie still playing on the tv then the rest of your darkened apartment.

“how.. how did you know i was watching a movie?” your heart pounds with your sentence and you swear they must be able to hear it when they breathe out a chuckle in response.

“don’t look so scared, babydoll. you just look like you could use a little.. company.”

the line dies before you have a chance to hang up, but with the few steady knocks on the door of your apartment that follow in the silence you feel a shock of something shoot down your spine, and you can feel the uneasy pants you’re taking against your palm when it slaps over your mouth to muffle your shriek.

but then the silence settles, again. besides the pounding of your heart and the ringing in your ears, it’s still quiet enough for you to be able to hear the lock click when it turns — making you push yourself up against the wall in the hallway as you try to steady your breathing, putting you out of sight from the doorway.

this can’t be happening.

it’s unnerving the steady, slow steps you hear sound around the corner behind you, the way they enter your apartment over the erratic beat of your heart, combat boots against the hard wood floor that feel like they kick your feet out from underneath you with each step.

you could probably make it to your bedroom if you ran fast, maybe the bathroom so you can find someone to call — you’re not supposed to call him while he’s at work. but you think this might be an exception when you hear the door slam loud enough for it to startle you, followed by another low chuckle.

your palm is pressed so tight against your mouth you can barely breathe, your lungs feel like they quake but you can’t risk him hearing you — finding you, as you try to inch yourself further away from the front of your apartment.

you don’t give it much more thought, you hear his steps fade into the kitchen and you decide to put the adrenaline coursing through you to good use — it’s all part of the game, his game. but you feel your head twitch in the general direction down the hallway before you’re off.

but it doesn’t take long for him to hear you, you’re running.. but he’s not, not yet atleast. but he knows where you are.

you’re listening over your shoulder, following it with a glance and you watch the way his taller, intimidating form rounds the corner and his shadow seems to be gaining on you alarmingly quick considering you got a head start. he lets you see the peak of the blade, then he sprints, and he’s faster than you — long legs taking long, purposeful strides towards you as he enters the long stretch of hallway.

your heart is throbbing, a lick of fear curling down your spine and you can’t afford to waste any breath with a scream — but you gasp despite the way your heart feels like it’s about to burst out of your chest.

the distance he’s closing is quickly filling your ears, you can feel the warm air rush over your too hot skin as you run and the floor slams under your shared footsteps.

your decision has to be quick, the bathroom or the bedroom and you allow yourself a few moments you don’t have to think it over — opting for the bedroom, the doors open and you don’t have the time to kill to turn the handle to the bathroom.

but he’s trained, reflexes honed, he’s a killer after all — he can see your movements before you even make them, he can pick up on your body language or follow the direction you even do much as glance in.

and he’s right behind you when you when you make your little decision, fingertips already outstretched to reach and curl into the skin around the back of your neck.

you twist to your right, nearly losing your footing as you go to dart into the bedroom and slam the door, and your trip catches him off guard, makes him spit out a curse, only for a second. but he’s faster — your attempts to lose him, to shove him away are all in vain when you hear the heavy thud of the door hit the boot suddenly logged in the doorway instead of click into place when you try to slam it closed.

you can’t run anymore, you’re frozen when he comes into view as it bounces back open and you feel like you can finally take him in.

you can’t see his face, it’s covered by a mask — one you’ve seen a lot recently, october and all. it’s the season for them. but he’s a daunting presence from where he looms in the doorway, a muscle tight black shirt and black jeans—one arm resting against the doorway above him, not that it stretches far given his height. while the other almost mockingly, playfully lets the knife sway by his side — like he’s swinging intertwined hands or a purse, but it’s anything but.

no, it’s much more dangerous than that, he’s dangerous.

“gotcha. you’re a slippery little thing, aren’t ya?” he drawls in a sweet tone that almost turns your stomach, you can’t see his expression from behind the ghostface mask—but you can hear that he’s smiling, like he’s toying with his prey.

“please don’t! m-my boyfriend will be home soon, he’ll.. shit—he’ll track you down if you hurt me.“ you sound pathetic, whimpering and pleading, but fuck—he loves you like this, it’s exhilarating letting the blade tap along his covered temple like he’s scratching an itch before he’s cutting you off with disorienting grab to your jaw.

“oh, what’s wrong, doll? scared?” he grits but he knows you won’t answer with his palm now resting along your mouth to squeeze at your cheeks. black kanji barely visible under the dimly lit room, sin and punishment.

you can feel tears in your eyes, maybe it’s the way his fingertips are digging into your cheeks or maybe it’s him, his daunting presence and the blade in his other hand, and you feel yourself sway when he makes you look up at him.

you try to shove him off, turn back to try and run again but you’re snagged in his web now when he yanks you back down to earth. he takes you down heavily until your chest is hitting the mattress and you feel his hand clamp around your waist — reaching up between your breasts to squeeze his hand around your throat and drag you back a few measly inches until you’re against his chest.

“too bad, you could’ve made it too. but i think it’s about time i take my prize.” he growls, giving you a shake as his palm presses hard against the middle of your throat, making your eyes flutter before they widen when you feel cold metal smooth along the curve of your waist, and you finally go limp.

“atta girl. see, you’re a sweet little thing, just need a little time.. right?” his hips rub up against your ass with his words, letting you feel the impressive strain of his hard cock through his jeans, but then you feel him pull off of you to let his hand mould to your trembling thigh instead.

his fingertips squeeze at the skin before he’s twisting you onto your back and standing between your legs — almost menacing from this angle, but he lets you breathe.

“but you’re mine now.. so where should i start, hm?” he spits, voice straining under the weight of his desire as he lets his blade trace up the skin his hand used to occupy — featherlight along your thigh before it’s tracing along the waistband of your sweats, and he pauses with his next growl.

he lets it trace along your skin, up your abdomen until you’re tensing under his touch — adrenaline still making you shake when he groans and just barely drags the blade higher. “here?” he hums as he lets it rest against your chest, his movements careful and steady before he’s bringing the cool metal back down to your waistband. “or here?”

you really were the perfect, helpless victim.

“p-please.. please.” your voice is tight with need, lifting your hips to try and rock against his before his large, free palm is pressing you back tight against the mattress — tall stature looming over you as he lets the blade trace up by your neck, and he groans in delight at the wild look in your eyes he’s meet with.

“there we go, babydoll. that’s more like it, let me hear you beg for it.” he goads loudly, amused but wrecked when he lets his fingers trace down to squeeze at your pussy through your sweats, chuckling at the mess and warmth he can already feel beneath the fabric.

“oh, you’re a twisted little thing, aren’t you?” and fuck—does hanma love it.

you nod quickly, panting out sweet like uh-huhs followed by whispered pleas, like you’re chanting mantra’s as you squeeze your legs around his middle. “fuck me.. please, i’ll be good.. i’ll be quiet. just please.” you sound so pretty, like the perfect prey he knew you’d be — and he can’t wait any longer.

“that’s it. good fucking girl.” he breathes through clenched teeth before you hear the knife clatter on the floor at the other side of the room. he’s much too preoccupied with tearing through the fabric of your sweats and panties, panting hard when he yanks them down just enough to hang around one ankle, before he leans back to rip his pants and belt open afterwards.

finally seeing his cock twitch with the first sting of sexual freedom makes you arch, yearning when you let your eyes sweep over the thick curve of him.

his chest is heaving with heavy breathes as he takes you in beneath him, letting his fingers swipe through your folds to tease the slick gathered between them before he’s sinking two into your cunt. grunting when he’s not met with much resistance, but you hiss at the stretch his thick fingers provide you with — feeling it burn and sizzle into something that burns along your body.

he sinks them into you a few more times after that, scissoring them until you’re a puddle of mewls and whines and you’re basically fucking begging him to just hurry up and fuck you when you send him a doe-eyed look, thighs twitching when he rubs a few sticky circles into your clit before pulling his fingers out of you with a growl.

his slender fingers in sin wrap around the base of his cock before he’s letting his head roll back with a few rough strokes of his palm, pinning your hand above your head when you reach for him as he leans over your figure to rub the blunt head along your slick folds.

you’re not sure if it was the adrenaline, the chase and the anticipation igniting your veins but you’re fucking soaked, feeling the first silky grind of his cock split through your folds before it’s catching on your clit, making you both gasp and moan at the wet tacky sound that follows. “fuck sake, doll.”

you feel his palm press back hard against your throat when your legs curl around his waist, pulling him close as he pushes you so deep against the mattress your back arches.

you can hear the way he’s panting even behind the mask, fingers twitching into your skin everytime he pulls himself deeper into the desperate hug of your pussy.

“fuckin’ knew you wanted it, a pretty little thing like you all alone on a scary night like tonight.” the way your nodding is instinctive, driven by the way your desperately rubbing your slick along his throbbing cock — greedily trying to force him closer through each growled ramble from his lips. before he finally parts your folds and sinks into your twitching cunt. “f-fucking asking for it, weren’t you?”

you’re barely prepped and so fucking tight hanma thinks he might pass out now that’s finally wrapped in you, his large palms dragging your hips down onto his cock as your body shakes — lips parting to moan as your fingers twist in the fabric of his black shirt.

“look at me. fuck, eyes on me, babydoll. that’s it.” his words are an order, natural dominance dripping from his tone as he pushes past the spots inside of you that make you twitch. his fingers twist along your jaw once more to keep your gaze on him, until his hips are pressed tight against your own with a shameless, ragged moan that makes your long lashes flutter and kiss along your cheeks.

the way he drags his cock out of you is slow, wet after he’s given you a few moments to get used to the thick spread of him, and the first draw back of his hips feels like it lasts forever until only the blunt head remains.

but then he gives your cheeks a playful tap before his hands are back squeezing at your hips again, and the slap of his hips back into you almost knocks all of the air from your lungs.

everything about this, him. the chase, the hunt, the way he looks over you has only drove to this point, added to the twisting pleasure you feel stir in your abdomen, you’re wound up so tight and you feel like you could already burst when he grinds his cock into you, you’re already so close.

but his pace doesn’t let up, he’s driving his hips into yours like an animal as he fucks you into the mattress — pressing his pelvis tight against your slick folds with every wet connection of his hips as he swirls his hips into yours. “already? yeah? feel so fuckin’ tight.. pussy’s real fucking greedy.”

you can barely breathe with how deep it feels like he reaches, and his quick, intense pace only seems to grow heavier — your body jolting as he digs his cock up into your pussy.

hanma can hear your need, your want for him in the way your moaning pretty with each sharp exhale as you head tilts back, his grip dragging you along the bed as he pushes himself even deeper into you. he’s pressing up against the swollen spots inside of you and when you feel his fingers come to squeeze along the sides of your throat once more, all you can do is take it as you lose yourself in the controlled anaphylaxis that makes your head spin with pleasure.

“shu-shuji! it feels so good.” you gasp, and the sweet sound of your slip up, the sound of his name makes him shudder against you and grunt before he’s rushing to pull the mask over his head, throwing it on the floor beneath you. “holy shit—i know, babydoll. don’t hold back on me now.”

you’re finally able to take in the way his hair is flat, framing his handsome, flushed features and the blown, amber in his gaze when he sends you a crooked grin followed by another low groan as he sucks his lower lip between his teeth.

hanma curls himself over you with the next tight squeeze of your cunt around him, before he’s pulling you in for a kiss, it’s needy and wild and so much of him that it makes your pussy throb when he sucks on your tongue. he’s been waiting to taste you all fucking night.

his thrusts begin to lose their pace as he presses deep into your body, stuttering just as he begins to lose himself in you. in the pleasure he’s earned, the pleasure he owns. “my babydoll. ran so hard for me, did so fuckin’ good.”

you feel hanma’s palm squeeze around your thigh before he’s hiking it higher around his hips and the new angle only fans the fire your orgasm sparks along your veins, feeling him pull away from your lips to mouth at your throat as he digs your orgasm out of you himself.

“fucking cum for me, doll.” he grits before your body seems to listen, your orgasm hitting you so hard and good that it almost hurts as your toes curl, fingers moving to claw along hanma’s shoulders as you cream around his cock.

but he doesn’t stop, not even when you’re panting and gasping with each shockwave of bliss below him — the vibration of his groans echoing somewhere deep in his chest as his cock throbs inside of your soaked cunt.

“pussy’s made to fuckin’ take me. mmm, shit.. yeah? my fuckin’ pussy.” his pace stutters at the milking compression of your walls, gritting his teeth before he curses and groans sharp. his amber gaze is narrowed between your bodies to watch your cream pool around the base of his cock, your walls throbbing with every unforgiving push of his hips before hes kissing you once more as he cums, just as he likes.

hanma cums thick and heavy inside of you when he feels your tongue push against his, swallowing both of your groans into the kiss as he pushes his load into your puffy cunt. he’s slurring curses against your lips as he almost pins you completely, continuing to fuck into your sensitive pussy until you’re both spent and he’s rolling off of you with a long sigh.

you let the silence settle as you both catch your breath, turning to meet his gaze from where he’s peeking at you underneath where his forearm rests over his eyes.

“shuji, you’re too fast! it’s no fair!” you start, and your usual tone of voice only seems to draw hanma in as he returns to his place leaning over you, pressing a gentle kiss against your pouty lips that’s a sharp contrast to how hard he’s just fucked you.

“that’s ‘cause im a killer, doll.” he hums before he’s playfully biting at your cheek, chuckling when you swat him back into his previous position on his back with another cute pout that makes him pull you against his chest anyway.

“i so wouldve got away too.” you try to reason but it only makes your boyfriend chuckle, amused as you brush the dual coloured hair away from his face when he looks at you — catching your hand with his own before he’s giving your fingers a short peck and resting them both against his chest.

“bullshit, they always kill the hottest ones first. you were never making it to the sequel.”

© 2022 garoujo. please do not copy any of my layouts or writing and translate or repost onto any other sites.

[hypahfixations]

~ Hello One and All! ~

And Welcome to a Thrilling Breakdown of Dimension 20!

You’ve met our humble dungeon master Brennan Lee Mulligan, and now you’re curious on what other stories he and his crew have told. Whether you have encountered Brennan as a player from his various one-shots across different Actual Play TTRPG brands or have fallen from the heights of Avalir itself during Exandria Unlimited: The Calamity, it can be a little daunting figuring out where to start.  

Allow this Intrepid Hero to be your guide, Gang!

~ Who is the Core Cast? ~

The core cast for Dimension 20 are a group of seven improv comedians, but don't let that fool you into thinking that they are not masterful storytellers.

From Left to Right: Brian Murphy, Lou Wilson, Emily Axford, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Siobhan Thompson, Zac Oyama, and Ally Beardsley.

~ Where to Watch ~

The first episode of every campaign can be watched for free from Dimension 20’s YouTube channel, with some of the older seasons being fully available for free. To gain access to all Dimension 20’s content, along with everything else on Drop Out (including Game Changers and Um, Actually?), you can either become a member on College Humor’s YouTube channel or sign up for DropOutTV. The subscription price is the same for both, just $6 a month, but the DropOut app allows you to download as many episodes as you’d like to watch in offline mode, as well as offer podcast versions.

~ List of Campaigns ~

Dimension 20 has 17 seasons, nearly half of which are played by the core cast while the others are a rotation of guest players and GMs. Rather than listing the campaigns in just release date order, I opted to list by congruency as well for those of us who like to experience one story fully.

~~~

In the World of Spyre

Genre: Fantasy John Hughes movie

System: DnD 5e

Fantasy High

Core Cast

Meet our Intrepid Heroes in their first recorded DnD campaign as teenagers attending Aguefort’s Adventuring Academy! Watch as they overcome the trials and tribulations of high school life…oh, and saving the world.

Full Season Available Here

Pirates of Leviathan

Players: Aabria Iyengar, B. Dave Walters, Carlos Luna, Krystina Arielle, Marisha Ray, and Matthew Mercer

Aboard the floating city of Leviathan, our players discover an incredibly powerful artifact and an incredibly devious scheme. Will they be able to contain it or will they sink the city into the briny depths.

**Note: This was recorded at the start of the 2020 pandemic partially through the recording of Sophomore Year.

Fantasy High: Sophomore Year

Core Cast

It’s sophomore year, baby, and you know what that means! That’s right, time for young love, tragic backstories, and hiring your parents as your employee while on a quest that 70% of your final grade!

First Six Episodes Available Here

** Note: This season is a bit heavier and has aspects of psychological horror.

The Seven

Players: Aabria Iyengar, Becca Scott, Erika Ishii, Isabella Roland, Persephone Valentine, and Rekha Shankar

Playing as the Seven Maidens set a year and a half after the finale of Fantasy High, the girls have to come to terms that their party will be broken up at the end of the year due to being in different graduation classes…or do they?

~~~

Escape From the Bloodkeep

Players: Amy Vorpal, Erika Ishii, Ify Nwadiwe, Matthew Mercer, Mike Trapp, and Rekha Shanker

Genre: Lord of the Rings Parody

System: DnD 5e

Fighting for the side of Darkness and Evil, the players are the elite advisors of the Lord of Shadows. Except the Dark Lord just suddenly died and now they have to figure out how to thwart Good once and for all!

Full Season Available Here

~~~

In the World of Actual New York City

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Superhero Adjacent

System: DnD 5e

The Unsleeping City

Core Cast

Inspired by concepts from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, natives of the Big Apple discover the city has so much more than meets the eye. They must come together and discover their power to defeat corruption before it destroys everything.

Full Season Available Here

The Unsleeping City: Chapter Two

Core Cast

Taking place three years after the finale of the first chapter, the players must reunite to confront the evilest enemy of them all: Capitalism Part Duex Electric Boogaloo!

~~~

Tiny Heist

Players: Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Jessica Ross, Justin McElroy, Lily Du, and Travis McElroy

Genre: Ocean’s 11 meets Toy Story

System: DnD 5e

Our players embody the whimsical personas of bugs, toys, and Bitty folk to take down an overreaching mafia boss. After all, there is only one thing more motivating that the love of a child, and that’s a roll of quarters.

~~~

A Crown of Candy

Core Cast

Genre: High Fantasy / Medieval Political Intrigue

System: DnD 5e

The epic story exploring the world of Calorum, where each kingdom is comprised of different food groups that their citizens are made of. Our players are members of the House of Rocks, rulers of Candia, on their way to the naming of the next Emperor of Calorum during a time of great strife.

** Note: This campaign is perhaps the most serious out of anything else in their compendium. They explore themes of war, death, and betrayal with the gravity those topics deserve.

~~~

Mice & Murder

Players: Ally Beardsley, Grant O’Brien, Katie Marovitch, Raphael Chestang, Rekha Shankar, and Sam Reich

Genre: Whodunit / Murder Mystery

System: DnD 5e

In a world where the denizens are anthropomorphic woodland critters, the players have been invited to a fancy birthday party…where a tragedy most foul occurs.

~~~

Misfits And Magic

Guest GM: Aabria Iyengar

Players: Brennan Lee Mulligan, Danielle Radford, Erika Ishii, and Lou Wilson

Genre: Harry Potter Parody

System: Kids on Brooms

Set in the modern day, our players are invited to a prestigious wizarding school to participate in the foreign exchange pilot program, where they discover magic, themselves, and just how impractical this school can be.

** Note: There’s a Holiday Special too!

~~~

Shriek Week

Guest GM: Gabe Hicks

Players: Ally Beardsley, Dani Fernandez, Lily Du, and Ify Nwadiwe

Genre: Monster College

System: The Mythic System

Follow our players in their final semester of university as they try to find a Roëmænce Partnær before the end of year rager, as well as fend off some unwelcome visitors to their campus.

~~~

A Starstruck Odyssey

Core Cast

Genre: Sci-fi / Space Opera

System: Star Wars 5e

The players are a rag-tag group of down-on-their luck spacers just trying to survive the rough and tough galaxy of Starstruck, a technicolor multiverse based on the series of comic books created by Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta.

~~~

Coffin Run

Guest GM: Jasmine Bhullar

Players: Carlos Luna, Erika Ishii, Isabella Roland, and Zac Oyama

Genre: Gothic Horror

System: DnD 5e

The followers of Count Dracula eagerly await his return home only to find their dark lord has been ambushed. The players are tasked with desperately trying to get his coffin back to the safety of the Castle.

~~~

A Court of Fey & Flowers

Guest GM: Aabria Iyengar

Players: Brennan Lee Mulligan, Emily Axford, Lou Wilson, Omar Najam, Oscar Montoya, and Surena Marie

Genre: Whimsical High Regency

System: Homebrew blend of Good Society & DnD 5e

Fey from all corners of the Faerie gather for The Bloom - a celebration of society, propriety, and abundance of arcane power. Sipping and serving piping hot tea, all eyes and ears are upon the players as they navigate rumors, scandals, and mysteries.

~~~

Neverafter

Core Cast

Genre: Twisted Fairytales

System: DnD 5e

Once upon a time has been cast into happily neverafter; a drought of shadow and misery plaguing the land and players of timeless storybook fame. When awareness of the wrongness is gleamed, and stories intersect in ways they should not, a glimpse between the lines and into the maw of cosmic horror spur our heroes to define destiny.

~~~

TBD

Guest GM: Matthew Mercer

Players: TBD

Genre: TBD

System: TBD

Release Date: May 2023

~ That's a lot. Recommendations? ~

Honestly, I would start with Fantasy High! It's a really good introduction to both the core cast and the way Dimension 20 sets itself apart from other Actual Play shows. From there, you can either go in order (release or series), or simply dabble with whichever genre or campaign trailer catches your eyes most.

As for my personal favorites:

Core Cast would be between A Crown of Candy and A Starstruck Odyssey. A Crown of Candy has some of the most incredible storytelling I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing - Game of Thrones wishes it could be as good! Meanwhile A Starstruck Odyssey is perhaps the funniest games I have ever watched.

Guest Cast is A Court of Fey and Flowers with a very close second being The Seven. I had never understood the appeal of regency before A Court of Fey and Flowers absolutely rocked me with the slightest brush of an ungloved hand. And no media has truly captured what it's like to be in that weird, volatile transition of teenager to young adult quiet like the Seven in the most unhinged way possible.

Wanna do a deeper dive? Visit the Dimension 20 Fan Wiki!

[dissecting-bollywood]

10 Iconic On-Screen Couples of All-Time

As someone who grew up watching the same romance tropes used over and over again, I can almost immediately figure out on which on-screen couples have actual chemistry or not and a big part of it comes from the couples friendship off-screen. Some of them are really solid while others just straight up despise each other, and these relationships really affect the way their characters interact on-screen. Here, I’ll discuss 10 on-screen couples that are just too good together (in my opinion!)

1. AMITABH AND REKHA

One of the most controversial couples of Bollywood, the Amitabh-Rekha formula was a hit after the film Do Anjaane (1976). Although the pair starred in 10 movies opposite each other, their most talked about movie with Jaya Bachchan was the 1981 film Silsila. The movie focused on a love triangle between Bachchan, his wife Jaya, and Rekha, and it was so controversial because many thought that it was a real life depiction of the three’s relationship. Although the pair haven’t collaborated after Silsila, they now seemed to have gotten over it and started respecting each other as they began greeting each other in award functions and whatnots.

2. SRK AND KAJOL

This duo is basically like two puzzle pieces; they fit perfectly! The actors paired up for the first time in the 1993 thriller Baazigar and went on to star in 8 more movies. Those include Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Karan Arjun (1995), and of course Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), which is the longest running Bollywood movie ever. Off-screen, they are very good friends that still talk and work with each other, which shows that they are very well connected and it helps in improving their characters’ chemistry.  The romance and connection between them is so natural that you forget for a moment that they aren’t a real couple!

3. RAJ AND NARGIS

The oldest on-screen couple in this list, the successful actors were paired with each other for the first time in 1948′s Aag. Although the film did an average job in the box office, the pair did the 1949 film Barsat, which went on to be a hit. They then starred in many blockbusters together, including Shree 420 (1955), Awaara (1951), and Chori Chori (1956). Even though in most of their movies they ended up together, off screen the duo were having an affair for a long time. Nargis wanted to marry Raj, but he refused her proposal, sinking herself into depression before meeting her future-husband Sunil Dutt. If only singing in the rain could make the actors fall in love with each other in real life.

4. SRIDEVI AND ANIL

A very nostalgic couple in my opinion, they were showcased as a couple in the silver screen for the very first time in Mr. India (1987), even though they worked together in two films before this iconic one. They then went on to star in 10 movies together, with the most memorable one being 1991′s Lamhe. Sridevi went on to marry Anil Kapoor’s brother Boney Kapoor and take a 15-year-long hiatus from acting after 1997′s Judaai. On screen they were so comfortable together and a big part of it comes from the the actors real-life relationship. Many of the 80′s-90′s kids wished that they would collaborate again, but sadly it seems to be left as a dream after Sridevi’s untimely death.

5. AAMIR AND JUHI

Probably one of my favorite couples of all time, Aamir and Juhi starred together in the movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), which was a successful venture. The duo went on to star in movies like Ishq (1997) and Love Love Love (1989). Although on-screen the couple shared great chemistry, off-screen they weren’t really in good terms. According to Aamir, the petty fight started in the set of Ishq where Aamir would avoid Juhi at all costs. The actors didn’t get in touch for seven years and when they did, it was when Aamir was getting a divorce from his first wife, Reena Dutta. The actors are now in talking terms and I seriously hope they do a movie together again.

6. VARUN AND ALIA

Hands down the generation’s most prominant on-screen couple is Varun-Alia. Both of them debuting in Student of the Year in 2012 with Siddharth Malhotra, the interviews they give together indicates a rock solid friendship between them.  The duo continued starring alongside each other in Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania (2014), Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), and Kalank (2019), most of them being hits. Whats there not to love about them? Both of them are equally charming and they steal all your attention whenever they are on-screen. And even though they are the newest/youngest couple in the list, I can say undoubtedly that in the future years, they’ll star in more romantic blockbusters opposite each other. 

7. SALMAN AND MADHURI

Let’s be honest: after the hit Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), you thought they were a match made in heaven. Although they starred in other movies before, this classic 90′s movie with a generic plot showed how much chemistry they have and its the kind that you don’t come across that often. In film promos, interviews, and reality shows it is apparent that the two actors have a very friendly relationship together. There is little to no hatred nor pettiness between them and they praise each other as artists whenever they can. They are basically the example of how memorable a movie can be if the right actors with a strong friendship are put opposite each other.

8. HRITHIK AND AISHWARYA

*sigh* Where do I even start? The two equally gorgeous stars were opposite each other for the first time in Dhoom 2 (2006), a film that lacked a good script but was saved by the performances and the connection of the duo. The public loved them together on the silver screen (even though they were very against their kissing scene), so two years later they were starred in the award-winning Jodha-Akbar (2008), one of the best period films Bollywood has to offer. Although their next film together, Guzaarish (2010), was a box office failure, it didn’t falter the friendship and respect both the actors have for each other. I really do hope that they will work in more films together soon.

9. KATRINA AND AKSHAY

Even though they have a prominent age gap between them (15 year, to be exact), there is no denying the fact that they work very well together. First paired up in Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006), they later on worked together in films like Namastey London (2007) and Singh Is Kinng (2008). Growing up in the 2000′s, I grew up watching their films with comedy and romance and the fact that they are gonna be back at it again with Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi (2020) just has me squealing with joy! Both the actors have grown so much (especially Kaif) and much of the growth comes from them learning from each other, which I have to commend to.

10. RANBIR AND DEEPIKA

One of the biggest reasons I love their dynamic is not just because they look cute together. It is because of how much they have grown and are willing to overlook each other’s differences. They started dating in 2007 and worked in their first film together, Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008). Ranbir cheated on Deepika 2 years later, which caused them to break up. The media treated the news like hot gossip and there are many outrageous theories made out there, but somehow the actors learned to persevere and continued to work in more films together. Yeh Jawani Hai Dewani (2013) and Tamasha (2015) both have great performances from both the actors and themes.

[theprocrastinatingalien]

Star Trek: Discovery - Which characters will survive to see Season 2?  (Plus a compelling fan theory)

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the first five episodes of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY.

We are just five episodes in, with ten to go.  Only four more before the Christmas break.  It’s probably a little early to be predicting the show’s second season - we don’t even know if there’ll definitely be a second season!  But it’s always fun to speculate.

So, this is my question - which of the main cast will still be main for the second season?

Historically, there aren’t many changes in the main casts of the Trek series.  In the Original Series, Deforest Kelley (McCoy) was promoted to the opening credits for the second season.  The Next Generation had the most changes, along the way losing Denise Crosby (Yar) and Wil Wheaton (Wesley) and firing Gates McFadden (Crusher) after the first season, only to reinstate her in the third.  For Deep Space Nine, Michael Dorn (Worf) was added in the fourth season, and after Terry Farrell (Jadzia) left in season six, she was replaced by Nicole deBoer (Ezri Dax) for the final season.   Voyager suffered just a straight exchange, replacing Jennifer Lien’s Kes for Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine.  Enterprise, however, stands as the only Trek series to leave it’s principal cast unchanged over it’s run.  Rumours that Jeffrey Combs’ Andorian Shran was to be promoted in the fifth season were sadly never realised.

But here, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY is a different kind of Trek.  We’re now in 2017, and the writers are very aware of popular series, where the trend is not to save your main cast, but to constantly put them in jeopardy.  Adventure is all the more exciting when you don’t know for certain if your favourite characters will make it out alive.  Series such as 24, THE WALKING DEAD and GAME OF THRONES, relish in killing off several main players each series… and the fans lap it up.

Apparently, we can expect the same from DISCOVERY, but only time will tell just how brave the writers are going to be.  I mean, we have had a number of deaths already, but they were- mostly - signposted…

Captain Philippa Georgiou.

Let’s be honest, did we think Michelle Yeoh’s character was ever going to survive?  Billed as the commanding officer of the USS Shenzhou, the fact she wasn’t the captain of the USS Discovery itself didn’t point to a happy end.  As predicted by many, Georgiou was killed in the second episode.  Now, her name was on the opening titles, but with the billing of ‘special guest star’, longevity wasn’t really wasn’t on the cards.  She has made an appearance since, via a holographic message, and we can expect future appearances - presumably in flashbacks, but possible also as part of the mirror universe(?).  The fact Georgiou was eaten by the Klingons (EATEN!!!!) Yeoh is never going to be a regular on the show.

Ensign Danby Connor

Actor Sam Vartoholomeos was announced early on, and it wasn’t clear whether his Ensign Connor would be a regular character or not. Sadly, one of the trailers actively showed him being killed, which took away the surprise when it happened in the show.  At least Ensign Connor can claim to be the first 'speaking role’ to be definitively killed off in DISCOVERY.

T'Kuvma

The cult leader, aiming to bring together the twenty-four houses of the Klingons.  Chris Obi was deemed to have a very important role… but T'Kuvma was killed by lead Michael Burnham just after killing Captain Georgiou. I’d say this was probably the first actual surprise death of the series.   But still, he wasn’t on the opening titles, so the chances of his longevity was already in doubt.

Commander Ellen Landry

This is an interesting one.  Not a particularly surprising one… other than how quickly Landry was dealt with.  Like the majority of the Discovery crew, she wasn’t introduced until the third episode.  The Chief of security (and I’d guess at second officer judging by her closeness to Captain Lorca), she wasn’t the nicest of people.  There’s was something shady about her.   Again, considering she’s the first crew member of Discovery we’re introduced to, and seemingly pretty important, with a bridge crew role, the fact she wasn’t included on the opening credits implied she wasn’t going to be around for too long.  Add to that we knew Shazad Latif’s Ash Tyler was coming in to be a security officer, and his name IS on the credits… the ONLY surprise, I guess… is that she died in only her second episode?!  Possibly a waste of Rekha Sharma, but a crowd pleasing moment - I don’t think Landry had many fans.

As noted, the above four characters are all missing from the opening titles.  Realistically, in all series, recurring and guest stars can be seen as cannon fodder.  A brave series will not shy away from killing off those named as main cast.   Which is why I’m going to predict which of the six DISCOVERY main players will survive until the show’s potential second year.

Michael Burnham

The producers have admitted they found it very difficult to cast Burnham, and were lucky to get THE WALKING DEAD star Sonequa Martin-Green.  Originally Bryan Fuller’s plan was to make an anthology series, with each season taking place in a different time period.  That would have been exciting, and I wouldn’t have minded that at all, but at the same time, it’s nice to build up a familiarity with the cast, watching them grow, both as individuals and as a team.  Anthology series miss that. Show bosses decided to veto that idea and a second season of DISCOVERY will see characters follow on… I have no real doubt that Burnham will still be the lead.  Too much as been made of the fact she’s a black female lead, to have her side lined.  Even if the series becomes more ensemble focussed, I’m sure Burnham will be a strong part of it.   I presume she’ll be entirely redeemed from her 'Mutineer’ status, and expect her to be reinstated, with a new rank and position. Whilst I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up as a Captain in time, I think the second season will be a little soon.  Maybe Executive Officer?  Maybe the Science officer?  Depends on who the commanding officer is (see below).   The only thing, and really the only thing, that could get in the way of Burnham’s presence in future seasons is that pesky word 'canon’.  She has never been mentioned anywhere else in Treklore… and whilst that’s understandable (Discovery hadn’t been created yet!) the writers might feel the need to keep her a secret from the record books… I don’t think so, though.  I predict Burnham will be our lead for as long as the series runs… be that one, two or seven seasons.

Captain Gabriel Lorca

In every other Trek series, the commanding officer has been our lead, the audience entry point into the story.  Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and Archer, all heroes.  DISCOVERY is unique in that the main character is a lower level Starfleet officer. This mean’s the commanding officer can be… something different.  Captain Lorca is definitely something different.  Shrouded in mystery, already his attitude and actions are questionable and unlike those commanding officers names above. I like it. Lorca is interesting.  We don’t know what his motives are, not really.  He can keep secrets from us in a way the others couldn’t.   Jason Isaac’s doesn’t have a habit of playing heroes, more likely a villain.  Is Lorca a villain?  Or is Discovery playing with shades of grey?  Probably the latter, but that doesn’t discount the former.   Isaac’s has stated that he didn’t sign on until he was told Lorca’s entire arc.  I’ll say that again - entire arc.  To me that suggests Lorca won’t be a regular character come the show’s second season.  I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the last episode of season one, see’s Lorca, fully revealed as a villain and ultimately his demise.   However, I’d like to suggest something else.   I don’t know if we’ll ever fully know, or be able to call Lorca a 'hero’ or 'villain’.  He might be justified in his actions.  Or at least, justified in himself, even if not to others.  I do not see him continuing as a regular, certainly not as the commanding officer of the USS Discovery.  What I’d like to see, is Lorca to 'do a Krycek’.  In THE X FILES, the second season introduced a new partner for Mulder in the form of wet-behind-the-ears agent Alex Krycek.  He turned out to be a villain, but rather than kill him off, they had him run off and become one of those interesting rogue players, out for himself, shifting loyalties as he saw fit.  He’d pop up over future series, and you’d be guaranteed  that if the credits featured actor Nicholas Lea, the episode was going to be a big important one.  That’s the kind of role I’d love for Lorca.

Commander Saru

Actor Doug Jones has stated he’d love to see Saru’s homeplanet, or more people from his species in the second season.  That sounds like Saru might be around for it!  In some respects, I think Saru is the safest character for a return.  He’s the show’s only regular alien.  They created him from the ground up, and they’ll likely want to keep him.  If not for those reasons alone, then because Saru is already becoming a fan favourite, despite limited screen time.   We’ve already seen him promoted from a Lt. Commander science officer, to a first officer, and his relationship with Burnham is… complicated.  Complicated is good.  Whilst I have no doubt Saru will still be alive, what his function will be is less clear.  If I’m right about Lorca moving on/dying, Saru is the next in line to be the commanding officer.  We’ve already seen him in that position after Lorca was captured by the Klingon’s. In theory, Saru could become our first regular alien captain.  (Spock didn’t become a captain until the movies). That, in turn, would allow for Burnham to be installed as his first officer. An interesting way to continue their relationship. However, I predict something else. I reckon the showrunners will bring in a new captain.  Maybe with another 'name’ in the role, to get in new interest?  I predict a new captain, with Saru continuing as the first officer.  This would also keep Burnham further away from the captain’s chair, which is possibly the best thing for the series at this point.  

Lieutenant Paul Stamets

Stamets’ is a tricky one.  He’s a science officer, not an engineer, but is essentially the chief engineer on the USS Discovery. That’s because the ship was built entirely around Stamets’ work on the spore drive.  Now, we know that the spore drive is doomed to failure.  We know that because if it was a success every ship made after it would use it.  Enterprise’s D & E, the USS Defiant, the USS Voyager… but none of them do.  That says it all.  Discovery will likely be the only ship (RIP the USS Glenn) to use the spore drive… and we’re not entirely certain how long it will be able to continue to use it.  Either way, Stamets’ role is very linked to it.  No Spore drive, and probably no use for Stamets.    Episode 5 saw Stamets link himself to the drive and something odd has happened to him.  He saw the universe, and our last image of him was his 'delayed’ mirror image.  This might well tie in somehow to the mirror universe, but might be more personal to Stamets. I have no idea what Stamets’ storyline will be from here on in, and that makes it hard to predict whether he’ll stick around for season two.  I’m going out on a limb and say, yes.  I think the Discovery will continue to use the spore drive in future seasons, or a version of him.  Maybe with Stamets 'plugged in’… but I believe Stamets will continue in his Engineer/Science role.  They could shift him to a more straight forward science position of course, but I’ll edge away from that.

Question/Theory.  Whilst everyone is suggesting Stamets may now be something to do with the Mirror universe, I’ll just pose the question… do we know how the Q Continuum was created?  Could Stamets be the start? He has access to the entire universe, after all… (If he is, then no, I doubt he’d be a regular in season two… but it’s a fun question to ask).

Cadet Sylvia Tilly

Ah, Tilly.  The first character in Trek to drop the F-bomb.  Her place in History is now secure.  She young, and unsure… but she has ambition.  She might be annoying to a few, but to many she’s a comedic character, adding light to the shade.  She is supposedly a talented engineer and this is something to watch out for.  I believe she might end up the chief engineer should Stamets move on… or, and this is what I predict, she’ll work with Stamets to sort the spore drive - for the time being, anyway.   I did consider she might have been put in to win the audience over, be the ultimate likable one, before getting killed off by Lorca or something to cement an 'aww’ factor.  But the more I watch, the more I think, we’ll see Tilly change, and grow.  We’ll see her progress through the ranks.  I’m expecting Ensign Tilly to head up the Engine room with Lieutenant Stamets in season two.

Lieutenant Ash Tyler

Our last regular character… but one which is surrounded by a very interesting fan theory.  One I’m totally behind.   I, like many, believe that Tyler is in fact the Klingon Voq, surgically altered to look human.  There’s so much evidence to support this… both in the story, and in real life/behind the scenes.  If this is true, then expect Lorca’s pet tribble to out his cunning plan in the last third of the season… and that mean’s Tyler’s role will be done.  I don’t see Voq/Tyler continuing into season two. Probably killed by Burnham in the season one finale.

Haven’t heard the Tyler/Voq theory?  Behold the evidence:

In episode 4, L'Rell (Mary Chieffo) offers Voq a visit to her matriarch or spies but it’ll cost him… 'everything’.  Episode 5, Tyler has been in a Klingon prison cell, on L'Rell’s ship, and look’s surprisingly spritely. She also has a thing for him.  He’s been on the ship for seven months.  But we know (from the previous episode) she’s been with Voq stranded on T'Kuvma’s ship for the first six months of the war.  The story doesn’t check out.  In real life, actor Shazad Latif (who has been credited on the titles since episode one, but has only just appeared in episode 5) was originally announced as a Klingon back in December.  Months later he was reannounced as Ash Tyler.  We know he was about for filming back in the early episodes (he was out on the town with co-stars… check their social media).  The description of his character was a protégé to T'Kuvma - a description that certainly fits the Voq character.  His character may have been named Kol, and we now know Kenneth Mitchell plays Kol, and opposing Klingon presence… and finally, you try googling the 'actor’ credited for Voq. You will only see one credit, and it’ll be Voq.  Basically, Shazad Latif plays Voq, has been there since the beginning, and this explains a lot. 

It’s actually quite clever, and I think many fans will welcome this plot twist if we’re correct. It works on many levels.  We know, in the TOS era, Klingon’s should look human, but there was no real way for a 2017 series to 'do’ one of those Klingon’s.  But look at Latif.  The colour of his skin, the black goatee… he’s a pretty good fit for a modern take on the Human looking Klingons.  It also gives a practical explanation for the new look Klingons.  The new mask-type makeup on the Klingons allow a complete change of identity.  You can’t tell what the actor looks like under the Voq makeup.  Imagine the character with Worf-style makeup.  You can clearly make out actors… such as when Avery Brooks and Tim Russ have 'played Klingons’.  For this plot twist to be pulled off, Klingon’s needed a bit of a redesign.  If the theory is right, maybe as fans we can cut the show some slack.

So there we are.  To answer my question - which of the regulars will still be regulars come season two?  Burnham, Saru, Tilly and possibly Stamets.  I don’t believe for a second that either Lorca or Tyler will continue on. 

Furthermore, I think we’ll get a new Captain in… maybe a female one?  I wouldn’t be surprised if Wilson Cruz’ Dr. Culber gets upgraded to regular.  Right now he’s only a supporting player.  This could mean he’s got a bullet with his name on it.  But he does play one half of Trek’s first ever gay couple.  That might be enough to keep him alive, unless Uber-Stamets somehow kills him off in season one? I predict an upgrade though.

What do you think?  Do you believe the Tyler/Voq theory? Will Lorca survive the season?  What’s going on with Stamets?  Will Saru receive another promotion?

Let me know!

[gokul2181]

Asha Parekh on nepotism debate: Has anybody thought about those star kids who fail to make it? | Hindi Movie News

New Post has been published on https://jordarnews.in/asha-parekh-on-nepotism-debate-has-anybody-thought-about-those-star-kids-who-fail-to-make-it-hindi-movie-news/

Asha Parekh on nepotism debate: Has anybody thought about those star kids who fail to make it? | Hindi Movie News

She has been hailed in Bollywood as the ‘hit’ girl and remains one of the few actresses whose name has featured before the hero’s name in a film. She is probably one of the few Gujarati girls who achieved glory in the Hindi film industry. Asha Parekh turns 78 today and she remains a woman who has worn many hats – actor, director, producer, distributor and an authority figure of several film bodies. During her tenure as the CBFC chairperson she took radical decision and while managing CINTAA, she ensured that it has a house of its own. In a freewheeling conversation with ETimes, the actress with the Midas touch reveals more.

How different will be your birthday this year? It is going to be different as I won’t be calling my close friends for lunch. I only have four to five close friends and on this day we generally go to a restaurant for lunch and in the night my family comes for dinner. But this year, neither my friends nor my family members will be coming but my building people, this year, have organised a party for me at night.

So will there be any virtual cake cutting with your friends? No, there won’t be any virtual cake cutting but I will be cutting a real cake with my building friends. They have been very sweet and I have been lucky to have such wonderful neighbours. I don’t do video calls with my friends we just speak on the phone.

You share a very close relationship with CINTAA and recently reached out to help a veteran actress in dire straits. Do you think there has to be some kind of pension plan for actors, especially retired ones? They are giving good money but I don’t know what they have thought about Smriti Biswas. Since I am not there so can’t really say what they are doing. The film industry welfare trust will be giving her Rs 5000 a month for her medicine. But don’t you think the government should come out with a plan for the film industry which contributes so much to the government coffers? They should. And it’s not only the top stars who need the money but supporting artistes too should be helped. Just today another actor Akshat Utkarsh committed suicide. These are the people who need money and if they are members of CINTAA, I am sure CINTAA would help them out.

You have said in the past that you are a practical person and therefore took care of your finances wisely. Were you always like that? I think people who are in the film industry, the moment they attain fame, start feeling that they should own a Mercedes and a flat. They start paying very heavy EMIs and squander away their money. When their films or TV serial stops, then their frustration slowly turns to depression and then they either try to commit suicide or resort to drugs. This is a very sad story that people fail to understand that you won’t be on top forever. There will be a time when you will come down. What would be your advice to such people? Film people have now become very wise. The top stars have started investing their money in different places for the sake of security. But what about character artistes? They are in bad shape and something has to be done for them. When Cine Artistes Association came into being, Shammi Aunty was one of the founder members and she had told me that initially it was called Character Artistes Association but later it turned into Cine Artistes Association, and now it has become Cine and TV Artistes Association. In terms of sheer numbers, CINTAA has more TV artistes than actual stars.

How did you plan your financial security? My parents were there to help me and they helped me in my investments. I won’t call myself a rich person but I am happy and comfortable in my own space.

Do you think there is a sense of insecurity among artistes when it comes to finances especially when you start getting older and work trickles down? Of course there are a lot of insecurities. What happened to Mr Rajesh Khanna was pure insecurity. During his difficult phase, there was no one around him and he was all alone whiling away his time drinking. He acted in all kinds of movies that came his way. It’s not that he did not have money and properties. He had both.

In the past, you had mentioned facing similar problem. Please tell us. I was the only child of my parents and after the death of my mother, father and aunt, suddenly I was all alone. There was a total vacuum in my life. I used to sit all alone during evenings and slowly depression started seeping in. I used to cry a lot and I didn’t know what was happening to me. Then it suddenly hit me that it was not depression but plain loneliness in the absence of my near and dear ones.

When was this? It was in 2003 after I lost my father. At that point of time I had no clue what I should do and often felt that ke abhi mar jana chahiye. One day while speaking to my doctor friends’ Dr Ashok Khatolkar and his wife Rekha, I suddenly started crying. They immediately sensed the urgency and visited my place and realised what was happening to me. They told me that they will arrange a psychiatrist for me and later I was put on medication. You also have a fear of flying. Tell us more. A year after the depression episode, my doctor suddenly changed my medicine. I was supposed to go to England with a layover in Dubai. I don’t know what happened to me at Dubai airport, I suddenly started getting those anxiety pangs. I felt that I won’t be able to reach Birmingham. I was feeling sick and for a moment felt that I should go back to Bombay. While sitting in the lounge, I rang up my friend in Birmingham and told her that I am not coming. There was also a couple in the lounge who was flying to Nigeria and the lady was watching me all along. She informed me that I was not looking alright and enquired about my problem. I told her my plight and she then requested me to join them for lunch and then we chatted. When my flight was ready for Birmingham I said to myself ki ab kya hoga. I slept throughout my journey and stayed in Birmingham for 10 days and did not want to come back to Bombay because of fear of flying.

Nepotism is a prevalent word these days and in your book you have mentioned about groupism. Did it really exist during your days? There was no groupism during my time. Actor’s children often see their parents getting adulations from all quarters. They see people running behind them so the feeling that hume bhi actor banna hai slowly starts seeping in. But does everybody become an actor? You can count on your fingers and see how many of them have made it. Has anybody thought about those star kids who fail to make it, what happens to them? They go into depression.

Do you see any drastic change that has happened which is not good for the film industry? During our time, we had single producers who put their heart and soul in their film. Kahi se bhi paisa jama kar ke picture banani hai iska ek nasha tha. But now you have the corporates. Their style of working is so different and it is all materialistic. During our time, we only had one secretary but today there is a whole entourage. I wonder why it is needed.

How many people used to accompany you during your shoots? Only my hair dresser and make up man. I seriously don’t understand why do you need 10 people around? I will tell you a hilarious incident but I won’t name the star. I was once told by this actor to come and meet him at his shooting location. Since the work related with our association so I went there. When I reached the shooting location, he was busy in a shot and thus sent the message through his man Friday to escort me to his vanity van and wait inside. When I entered the van, I saw this young girl sitting in the van and she had make up on her face. I assumed she must be some artiste so I started a conversation and asked her if she is an actor. I felt like an idiot when she told me that she was the actor’s hair stylist. Truth be told, the actor didn’t even had an inch of hair on his head. Pata nahi aadhe inch ke baal mein kya hair style kar rahi thi.

I remember one gossip item on your giggling fits about you by a glossy magazine? They wrote that I was on drugs. After I read the piece, I got very angry and rang the proprietor and confronted him on the rubbish his publication had printed. The publication got very upset and I believe they must have run out of stories and thus created this story. I was really very angry at them and I said how dare do they do this to me. Later they apologised for that story. Gossip tab bhi hota tha but abhi koi has ke baat kare toh they will write that they are having an affair. The stuff today is all fabricated.

Are you single by choice, circumstances or didn’t find the right man? I remember reading that Saira kept asking you get married? It was not destined. It’s not that my mother didn’t want me to get married. The two proposals that came for me, both had divorced their wives socho mera kya hota (laughs). I am very happy as I am. I am happy that I don’t have children.

But you did want to adopt a child? I did want to adopt and I also saw one little fellow and I loved him so much. I wanted to adopt him but the doctor said that I cannot adopt the kid who was just year and a half as he had some health issues. Then my mother fell sick and then it was the turn of my father. sab nikal liye..

You have held two important posts – CINTAA and then CBFC chairperson. What were the challenges you faced? CINTAA was at Famous studio and everyone used to find it difficult to travel from the suburbs to Mahalakshmi. At that time Amjad Khan was the president and he started the practice of having meetings at his house. Before Amjad Bhai expired, they had this cine artistes’ welfare trust made which had big people like Dilip Kumar, Sunil Dutt Amrish Puri and Dara Singh. I was the only lady in that group and I was made the treasurer at that time. There also came a time when FWICE declared that no shootings will take place in South. When this was announced, I was the president of CINTAA and at that time and Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala were supposed to shoot for Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se in Chennai. The very next day, I found everyone from Mani Ratnam to K Balachander at my house requesting me to grant permission for the shoot. I had to say NO to them and also added that the instruction has come from FWICE. I told them that we all are associated with the FWICE and I can’t do it and this made them really upset with me.

There is another important thing and that was buying the new CINTAA office. From Famous we moved to Garib Society and then we asked the government to give us land to make our own building. I and Amrish Puri, used to go early in the morning to meet the Chief Ministers. We met Narayan Rane, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Manohar Joshi and finally we spoke to Bala Saheb Thackeray. They helped us allot a plot behind Kokilaben Hospital. CINTAA never talks about my contribution and this really upsets me.

Another important position you held was that of CBFC chief and had to deal with films like Fire, Elizabeth and Censor which had Sanjeevani Kutty’s (office bearer in CBFC) character in it? Sanjeevani was great help to me and she taught me a lot during my tenure as CBFC chief. I would be lenient but she would be really strict with the guidelines. During Fire there was a lot of hullabaloo so I had to watch the film. After I saw the film, I felt yeh hota hi hoga so I cleared the film and all the hungama stopped after that but still people like Anil Dharker and Pritish Nandy spoke against me.

But Shekhar Kapur was upset with you during the certification of Elizabeth? I would like to ask Mr Shekhar Kapur what certificate he got in England? It was RA and we were giving him a UA but he insisted upon U and later moved the tribunal. There also we won and the film got UA certificate. That one was a painful affair.

Zakhm too was one controversial film that you had to certify? Tanuja Chandra was abusing me and they thought they can get away with it. Mukesh Bhatt even went ahead and met LK Advani but they had to do what we had asked them. Aisa sab hua during my tenure as CBFC chief.

Not many know that you were also a distributor? Gulshan Rai used to distribute all Nasir Husain films. When Baharon Ke Sapne and Teesri Manzil were launched, Gulshan Rai said that he would take Teesri Manzil but would avoid Baharon Ke Sapne. But Nasir Saab insisted that he has to either take both or none. Gulshan Rai eventually forfeited both the films. The very next day Nasir Saab came to me and said that he has plans to open a distribution office and asked if I can join him.

One day it so happened that a distributor came and said that we should not be giving films to a certain exhibitor but I had already signed the paper and told that I cannot stop it as the deal was done much in advance and the agreement could not be cancelled. This really upset the distributor. My shootings had reduced by then so I used to go to the office regularly. Another very upsetting experience was when an exhibitor came to the office with the print of my film Rakhi Aur Hathkadi. He had come to the office a day after the release of the film and said madam yeh dabbe le jao aur doosri film do, I was so upset as I had worked really hard for the film. We distributed about 21 films.

No More acting for you? I have worked like a mad person and during my time I was doing three things at the same time – shooting for my TV serial Kora Kagaz, being CINTAA president and CBFC chief. It was around the same time that Star Plus gave me a new show Kangan. The serial almost raised my blood pressure as it had become too hectic and I had my shows too.

But there was another gossip about you was that media got you married to Shammi Kapoor? Luckily that gossip fizzled out quickly and it came at a time when Shammi was seeing someone else.

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[jq37]

The Report Card – Fantasy High: The Seven Ep 6

Bitches Be Shopping

What is up y’all. A little late but let’s jump in with episode six of The Seven where our girls have just received a LOT of information, Sam most of all who got put into a little vision coma that she’s just now waking up from.

She explains the vision to her friends (as she interprets it, the other Eidolons didn’t die, just became part of the natural forces of the world) and then the bear that Penny made on a whim last episode (who is Russian, named Koda, and somehow a trained circus bear) gets into a fight with Katja with their friends buffing the two to make things more interesting because these are still idiot teens, life or death situation or no. Yelle decides to be the adult and tells them to knock it off and get back on mission.

That means Katja needs to call her dad since he’s knows the guy who’s the best lead to getting to TK ( Talcidimir Tallbreeze who I’ll call Tal). She actually manages to get her dad this time who is inside a giant snake on his hell mission. Katja asks what he knows about TK and he says she’s a sorcerer but also has a spell book so maybe she’s multiclassed. Sam and Ant desperately want to know if they boned and Katja absolutely is not interested in that knowledge. Yelle decides to just ask which makes her dad a little annoyed since he’s kind of in the middle of something (literally) and that annoys Ant, Ost, and Sam who--respectively, accuse him of gaslighting Kat, cast Command on him, and cast Bane on him to aid the Command spell. 

Mr. Cleaver fails the save and Ost commands him to tell Katja the truth. He admits that he did hook up with TK and he regrets it (note: it wasn’t like he cheated. It was just a casual hookup that wasn’t fulfilling it seems). Ost demands he apologize for not being there for Kat and Sam berates him for being at the top of the world and not lifting up his daughter too. For his part, Kat’s dad seems genuinely apologetic and promises to do better. 

“You don’t need to be the best father, you just need to be there,” Katja says, making her dad break down crying. 

Yelle, who has no daddy issues, is a bit less aggro and says that everyone makes mistakes and he can start making it up right now by helping with the Tal situation. She also gives them the tip that a cold spell will probably get them out of the snake lickety split.  She is on the money with the snake tip and Mr. Cleaver gets them all invites to a masquerade ball Tal is hosting. It’s being held on the Rumbosa which is this city-sized leisure ship. Mr. Cleaver says he’ll be back as soon as he can and, in the meantime, she should take care of her friends, “even the first 2 that were terrifying to me.”

The girls give Katja the axe they took as a birthday present (it was apparently her birthday the day before which Rekha just decided and Ost/Izzy refuses to accept without a fight because she *knows* Kat’s bday) which is identified as the Axe of Sundering (it can shatter objects, people, and sometimes concepts like halving movement). The two unnamed potions Yelle found are also ID’d as a Potion of Fly and a Potion of Gaseous Form. She distributes the Heath Potions to people without heals. Ant’s new arrows bypass some resistances and let her treat whatever she hits with the first one like it’s her favored enemy. 

According to their invites, the ship they need is docking in the city of Gravalvia soon (a very old city in the Baronies) so they need to figure out a plan. They have some downtime, during which:

Zelda tries to hype up the team.

Zelda tries to see if Ost is OK wrt dad stuff and Ost has a Full Breakdown after badly pretending she’s fine. 

While Zelda, Ost, and Penny are being Emotional and Sam is trying to literally cool them down with her powers, Ant and Yelle keep watch and experience emotional stability as the Adults Of The Party 

Anyway, after a night of rest, they head to the golden city of Gravalvia which is this very cool, very pretty city with mosaics and fountains and I assume columns. They get there and there’s a dramatic fight happening in the square which is halted when one of the fighters realizes that the country he’s fighting for doesn’t exist anymore. And now, it’s time for what we’ve all been waiting for. Shopping Montage! Let’s go girl by girl.

Katja and Ost

Kat asks for help from Ost with getting fancy for this gala since she’s never really done anything dressy before (and she had no mom to help--Kaaaat) and Ost is happy to oblige, dressing them both like “Jersey trash”. Kat, of course, still wears her Khakis underneath.

Antiope

Ant decides to get a vibe for what people here wear and picks something that will blend in but be forgettable so she can be stealthy. Classy blue dress and mask.

Penny

Penny...OK, I absolutely cannot describe what happens here in any way that will do justice to the scene. I am going to tell you what matters to the plot. You have to watch this yourself if you want to see the entire table have a collective breakdown. 

While looking for a costume, Penny runs into a halfling who is a member of the Society of Shadows--Laertes. He wants to know why she hasn’t responded to their invitation yet. She says she’s really eager to join, she just wasn’t sure how to respond (and also, she’s kind of in the middle of something). He says she can join by just messaging back and then her loved ones just have to sign waivers to have their memories wiped of her and she’s good to go. Say what now? asks Penny. She didn’t realize this was like a full Men in Black situation. 

He says it’s ultimately her decision and leaves.

Of course, I left out the parts where he ate a handful of Candy Heart’s remains, became violently ill, almost projectile vomited into Penny’s mouth, and she tried to kiss him despite him being a full adult. It’s A Lot, ok?

Also, we don’t find out until later but Penny picks a sexy duck costume for reasons that make more sense if you watch the scene but not *much* more sense. She also burns one of the healing potions on this dude as he is bar

Danielle

Danielle tries to get some info on the guests at the party and gets the names Lawrence LaDuc, Princess Autumn, and Duston who is the playboy cousin of Tal. She also hears some dude saying some colonize and plunder the earth BS and casts Heat Metal on him, fully mercing the dude. Ice cold. 

She tries to play it off like it’s the Curse of the Forest and when that doesn’t work and people start coming for her, she wildshapes into a dragon wyrmling and starts roasting people, killing 1 and dropping 2 to zero. 

Unfortunately, one of her party members is a known dragon hater and uses her new arrows to snipe her right out of the sky. Ant is horrified once she realizes what she’s done but Yelle says it’s all good. It’s NOT all good, says Ant, I STABBED YOU. You’re allowed to be mad! Yelle says she’s just really good at compartmentalizing but what Ant’s getting here is that Yelle doesn’t really believe that her feelings matter which echo the fears of her moms. 

Sam

Sam uses a combination of Mantle of Inspiration, glamour magic, performance, and good old flirting to get herself some killer clothes and also start a spontaneous musical number Giselle style.  

Brennan says she looks resplendent and, honestly, when does she not?

They reconvene, Zelda in a classic hoop skirt. Yelle realizes she never got a costume and just whips out a Met Gala level, autumn themed, Queen Mab-esque costume with Druidcraft which she could have done this whole time so I guess that’s why she was cool spending her shopping time getting gossip and playing Poison Ivy. 

They get to the ship and the way this works, everyone has to make an entrance and the really rich people (including Tal) are on a dais up top watching everyone come in. They all have to give fake names for the night since it’s a masquerade and they have to do Performance or Persuasion checks to see how impressive they look going in. 

Before they go in, they plan a little. Penny wants to look for TK. Sam wants to find Dunston. Ost wants to talk to the bouncers. Yelle wants to see if there are plants she can manipulate (there are btw) and for any exits. 

A quick rundown of how these all go:

Katja aka Mere (which means both mom and horse): 16 

Ant aka Midnight Huntress: 18 

Penny aka Penny Duckstone: 13

Zelda aka Madame Goodparty: 2 (Poor Zelda)

Sam aka Songbird: 22 (but she takes a hit to entrance save Zelda from totally flaming out)

Ost aka Stanley Gucci: 13

And Danielle, who never hogs the spotlight and is embarrassed to admit that maybe she does want to be the center of attention for once in her life with a Natural 20, gets a 29, absolutely bringing down the house as Empress Anima. As she walks forward she feels a voice say to her, “You got this. I love the name. You wear it well.”

Tal seems very impressed by her and a lady in a rabbit mask (Coeliabranca who I’ll call Coel if she comes up more) comes down to bring her up to the top with the high rollers. As she leaves, Sam casts Fly on her, just in case and holds the Concentration. 

Ost and Kat go talk to the bouncers and Kat decides to pretend to be her mom to get access to the area Yelle is. She rolls low and is told, “Hey, aren’t you already up there?” Kat is like, fuck and Ost saves her by using her charm earrings to get an entourage of guards who will let them through and do what she says. Once up there, Kat doesn’t see her mom which I can imagine she has mixed feelings about. 

Sam finds Dunston who is talking about Fantasy Bitcoin and seems like a real “Step on me mommy” type you know? Like, I feel like he’s into findom. Anyway, Sam charms him and his hangers on and learns about a procedure called a Phlebectomy that involves something going into their nose and then they feel better. Sam is rightfully horrified because, as I said, she is Most Likely To Survive A Horror Movie and can sense BS when she sees is. It’s apparently all the rage with the rich people here which is, como de dice, concerning seeing as they’re surrounded by them but we’ll get to that. Sam takes advantage of Dunston’s proclivities and gets him alone, knocks him out, steals him clothes, and pretends to be him (a *very* good scene by Sephie). 

Penny sees a gnome gnome boy (Lysander Higgins) shining shoes and finds out from him that there is a copper earth genasi woman here. In a very Cinderella move, she asks what shoes she was wearing. Then, she makes out with him which like, sure. At least it’s not a grown adult man this time. Before she gets her kisses in, she does tell the group what she learned. 

Up with the rich people, Yelle is introduced to Tal’s friend who is into Eidolons because of the name she chose. Between the shoes and her knowledge, they confirm that it’s TK! Yelle asks what she knows about Eidolons and she says that 7 is a very powerful number.

We cut to Ant who is patrolling the room as the sun sets and she suddenly hears a little beeping. It’s coming from a small crystal that was in Preston’s shirt (which she still has on her because???). Guests start dripping goo from their noses and transforming into monsters. Ant realizes that some kind of spell is happening triggered by midnight and this beeping. Hope these costumes are battle ready cause it’s fight time baybee!

Superlatives 

Danielle: Most Likely to Be on The News for Murdering Fantasy Jeff Bezos

I cannot imagine what was running through Yelle’s head when she decided that, having just rolled into a foreign country, her next move was to start using lethal force on anti-environmentalist colonizing capitalists. Like, she’s not *wrong* per se but she is wild--in all senses of the word.  

Random Thoughts

Kat keeps saying yesterday was her birthday which Ost/Izzy (and the rest of the group to a less vocal degree) are simply not having because maybe her dad would forget her birthday but her girls absolutely would not.

“You’re great because you stayed,” is the other killshot Kat line to her dad.

At a certain point Sam says, “This is so unhealthy,” to I think Yelle and like, if SAM is telling you your coping mechanisms are unhealthy, get thee to therapy.

OK, so someone, presumably Anima’s spirit, talks to Yelle as she makes her grand entrance which seems like info they should get to Talura ASAP, right? Cause that’s evidence they’re not dead-dead, just changed in form. But also Anima, girl. Don’t talk to Yelle. Talk to your rampaging sister!

"That's my secret, I stay in initiative."

Just a process note, notes are taken for the next ep and I am working on getting that recap up ASAP. As a battle ep, it will be in the abbreviated style that I did for last battle ep. 

In this episode, Penny rolls a Nat 1 (which she rerolls) and one of Brennan’s NPCs rolls a Nat 1. Ant rolls 2 Nat 20s, Yelle rolls 1, and Brennan says that one of his NPCs gets a 20 which sweeps him entirely into Sam’s dance number. 

[orhelponefaintingrobin]

Star Trek: Discovery - “Context is for Kings” - Review

Okay, Star Trek: Discovery, episode 3, “Context is for Kings”

From the start, it’s clear why they made such a point of making the first two episodes the way they were. You probably could have just about grasped what was going on without them, but putting that emphasis on how everything got put where it was made a whole lot of sense to me, and it meant that you really know what is going on in Michael Burnham’s head at the start of the episode.

Now, as for the actual episode.

Last week’s episodes very much were the prologue to the show. This is where Star Trek: Discovery starts. And it’s a strong start. Overall, I really enjoyed the episode, and I’m really glad that we’re going to start to explore the crew that we’re going to get to know. Much as I enjoyed last week’s episodes, because the majority of the crew haven’t stuck around past that, we didn’t get too much of in-depth characters, and though I was fine with that, because we’re not going to see them again, it’s nice to be starting to get to know characters who feel a little more individual.

Due to what the first two episodes had to do and the time they had to do it in, there were a couple of odd bits of pacing last week, and that’s been ironed out nicely. Because of the type of storytelling, now they’ve got everything where it needs to be, they can let the storyline breath a bit, which was definitely a good thing.

Characters! We’ve met people now!

Although I understood why they did it, I was a little disappointed that we didn’t see anything of the Discovery and her crew last week, and now we have!

As well as Burnham and the now-First Officer Saru, we get to meet the majority of the rest of the main cast! And I really like what I’m seeing.

Captain Lorca is going to be a really interesting character to watch in that he isn’t quite as simple as being good or bad. At the end of the day, I’d like to say that he’s trying to do the right thing in the long-run, but I also feel like we’re going to see him going a little off-course to do it, and I definitely don’t think we’re going to agree with all the choices that he makes.

Cadet Tilly seems like great fun, and a really nice, light-hearted character, but I think she’s going to turn into more than that. Even though a lot of her time on-screen was used to lighten the tone a bit, it’s clear that she’s not just comic relief, and we’ve got a character who has clear motivations, and a clear, individual personality that I’m looking forward to seeing develop over the show.

Lieutenant Stamets is currently standing as a strong contender for my favourite character. Though I feel like some people aren’t going to be too keen on his harsh nature, I generally find that sort of character entertaining (That’s a big contribution to why Twelve is my favourite Doctor), and Anthony Rapp was a great choice to pull it off. Again, he has moments that are clearly supposed to be comedic (“My Uncle Everett plays in Beatles Cover band. It hardly makes him John Lennon”) but his response to the events on the USS Glenn show, again, that he has a much deeper level of characterisation that a grumpy scientist.

We see a few other characters that aren’t in the main cast but are probably going to be around for at least a bit longer. Rekha Sharma’s Commander Landry seems interesting enough, and also seems to be a little more in-the-know about Lorca’s motivations that anyone else, which could prove a strong plot thread. But, given she’s not main cast, I also wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t stick around for long. Other than that, we don’t get much in the way of characters, other than Keyla Detmer, the Conn officer on the Shenzhou and, seemingly, the Discovery as well, reacting to seeing Burnham. But that’s fine. We don’t need to know the personal history and backstory of EVERYONE on the ship.

While the first two episodes were about setting up the storyline, this was much more focused on setting up the cast, and I do appreciate that. While I feel like some people may take issue at a story that, chase scene on the Glenn aside, is relatively slow-moving, it definitely felt necessary to me, and the fact that the show actually took this time out to establish the characters made the whole episode feel like it had more breathing room than the first two, which, much as I enjoyed them, were more restricted in how much they could cram in.

There is clearly a lot we don’t know about Discovery as a ship, and about the ship’s crew. I personally love the level of secrecy going on. It’s fresh, it’s different, and I think it’s going to lead into a really interesting story throughout the rest of the season.

I would say it feels like “Star Trek”, but actually, that doesn’t mean anything. What do people actually mean when they say “It doesn’t feel like Star Trek”. I mean, spoiler alert… IT IS. It’s different. Very different. The way they’re telling this story is like no Star Trek show we’ve ever seen before. But “It’s not Star Trek” is a concept that, to me at least, seems absolutely meaningless outside of “I didn’t like it”… If you didn’t enjoy it, that’s fine. I had an issue with people hating it before it started, but now we’ve seen it start to unfold, if you’re not enjoying it, then that’s fine. That’s your opinion, and you are under no obligation to force yourself to enjoy something.

But “It’s not Star Trek” doesn’t mean anything.

Also, I’m planning on getting a review out for the first few episodes of “The Orville” over the next few days… I have some interesting opinions on that show…

Now, a few spoilery notes below the cut.

“Starfleet doesn’t keep its engineering labs classified” “This is Discovery”

It sounds weird (especially given it comes from a character we may not see again) but this is possibly my favourite line in the episode, and it has been since they released the preview of the scene. Discovery isn’t a normal ship, and I love that about it. Again, it’s something different, and it’s clear that everyone knows it.

Blood! On Star Trek! I mean I honestly don’t care either way, actually, but it’s definitely an unfamiliar sight.

Lorca’s Menagerie is an incredible set, and I bet there are SO many easter eggs that no one has spotted yet. I’m hoping we get some more insight into why it’s even there at some point.

I was almost going to be a little irritated by the blue bussard collectors on Discovery, but let’s bear in mind that it isn’t a normal ship, and definitely doesn’t have normal engines. Looking at mockups people have made, I think it definitely looks better with orange/red bussards, but I don’t think it breaks the story/timeline, at least.

Still love the design of Discovery. Though I get it’s just people’s opinions, I really don’t get why people think it looks SO ugly. There are way uglier ships, and that’s including the TOS, pre-refit version of the Constitution (Ironically, the movie-era refit is one of my favourite ship designs).

Spock! SHE MENTIONED SPOCK! Not by name, sure, but to be honest, if they had done that, it would have just broken the flow of the line. I mean, I definitely wouldn’t feel the need to point out my brother’s name in a story like that.

Also, I do appreciate Burnham’s fondness for Alice in Wonderland, given that it’s my favourite book…

Mushroom-powered Starship is a fun idea. I'm sure the science doesn't work, but it's definitely new. And probably doesn't go too well, given we don't see them anywhere else...

[hypahfixations]

~ Hello One and All! ~

And Welcome to a Thrilling Breakdown of Dimension 20!

You’ve met our humble dungeon master Brennan Lee Mulligan, and now you’re curious on what other stories he and his crew have told. Whether you have encountered Brennan as a player from his various one-shots across different Actual Play TTRPG brands or have fallen from the heights of Avalir itself during Exandria Unlimited: The Calamity, it can be a little daunting figuring out where to start.  

Allow this Intrepid Hero to be your guide, Gang!

~ Who is the Core Cast? ~

The core cast for Dimension 20 are a group of seven improv comedians, but don't let that fool you into thinking that they are not masterful storytellers.

From Left to Right: Brian Murphy, Lou Wilson, Emily Axford, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Siobhan Thompson, Zac Oyama, and Ally Beardsley.

~ Where to Watch ~

The first episode of every campaign can be watched for free from Dimension 20’s YouTube channel, with some of the older seasons being fully available for free. To gain access to all Dimension 20’s content, along with everything else on Drop Out (including Game Changers and Um, Actually?), you can either become a member on College Humor’s YouTube channel or sign up for DropOutTV. The subscription price is the same for both, just $5 a month, but the DropOut app allows you to download as many episodes as you’d like to watch in offline mode, as well as offer podcast versions.

~ List of Campaigns ~

Dimension 20 has 14 seasons, nearly half of which are played by the core cast while the others are a rotation of guest players and GMs. Rather than listing the campaigns in just release date order, I opted to list by congruency as well for those of us who like to experience one story fully.

~~~

In the World of Spyre

Genre: Fantasy John Hughes movie System: DnD 5e

Fantasy High

Core Cast

Meet our Intrepid Heroes in their first recorded DnD campaign as teenagers attending Aguefort’s Adventuring Academy! Watch as they overcome the trials and tribulations of high school life…oh, and saving the world.

Full Season Available Here

Pirates of Leviathan

Players: Aabria Iyengar, B. Dave Walters, Carlos Luna, Krystina Arielle, Marisha Ray, and Matthew Mercer

Aboard the floating city of Leviathan, our players discover an incredibly powerful artifact. What? Did you think they were going to give it back? They’re pirates, duh! Will they be able to contain it or will they sink the city into the briny depths.

**Note: This was recorded at the start of the 2020 pandemic partially through the recording of Sophomore Year.

Fantasy High: Sophomore Year

Core Cast

It’s sophomore year, baby, and you know what that means! That’s right, time for young love, tragic backstories, and hiring your parents as your employee while on a quest that 70% of your final grade!

First Six Episodes Available Here

** Note: This season is a bit heavier and has aspects of psychological horror.

The Seven

Players: Aabria Iyengar, Becca Scott, Erika Ishii, Isabella Roland, Persephone Valentine, and Rekha Shankar

Playing as the Seven Maidens set a year and a half after the finale of Fantasy High, the girls have to come to terms that their party will be broken up at the end of the year due to being in different graduation classes…or do they?

~~~

Escape From the Bloodkeep

Players: Amy Vorpal, Erika Ishii, Ify Nwadiwe, Matthew Mercer, Mike Trapp, and Rekha Shanker

Genre: Lord of the Rings Parody

System: DnD 5e

Fighting for the side of Darkness and Evil, the players are the elite advisors of the Lord of Shadows. Except the Dark Lord just suddenly died and now they have to figure out how to thwart Good once and for all!

Full Season Available Here

~~~

In the World of Actual New York City

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Superhero Adjacent System: DnD 5e

The Unsleeping City

Core Cast

Inspired by concepts from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, natives of the Big Apple discover the city has so much more than meets the eye. They must come together and discover their power to defeat corruption before it destroys everything.

Full Season Available Here

The Unsleeping City: Chapter Two

Core Cast

Taking place three years after the finale of the first chapter, the players must reunite to confront the evilest enemy of them all: Capitalism Part Duex Electric Boogaloo!

~~~

Tiny Heist

Players: Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Jessica Ross, Justin McElroy, Lily Du, and Travis McElroy

Genre: Ocean’s 11 meets Toy Story

System: DnD 5e

Our players embody the whimsical personas of bugs, toys, and Bitty folk to take down an overreaching mafia boss. After all, there is only one thing more motivating that the love of a child, and that’s a roll of quarters.

~~~

A Crown of Candy

Core Cast

Genre: High Fantasy / Medieval Political Intrigue

System: DnD 5e

The epic story exploring the world of Calorum, where each kingdom is comprised of different food groups that their citizens are made of. Our players are members of the House of Rocks, rulers of Candia, on their way to the naming of the next Emperor of Calorum during a time of great strife.

** Note: This campaign is perhaps the most serious out of anything else in their compendium. They explore themes of war, death, and betrayal with the gravity those topics deserve.

~~~

Mice & Murder

Players: Ally Beardsley, Grant O’Brien, Katie Marovitch, Raphael Chestang, Rekha Shankar, and Sam Reich

Genre: Whodunit / Murder Mystery

System: DnD 5e

In a world where the denizens are anthropomorphic woodland critters, the players have been invited to a fancy birthday party…where a tragedy most foul occurs.

~~~

Misfits And Magic

Guest GM: Aabria Iyengar

Players: Brennan Lee Mulligan, Danielle Radford, Erika Ishii, and Lou Wilson

Genre: Harry Potter Parody

System: Kids on Brooms

Set in the modern day, our players are invited to a prestigious wizarding school to participate in the foreign exchange pilot program, where they discover magic, themselves, and just how impractical this school can be.

** Note: There’s a Holiday Special too!

~~~

Shriek Week

Guest GM: Gabe Hicks

Players: Ally Beardsley, Dani Fernandez, Lily Du, and Ify Nwadiwe

Genre: Monster College

System: The Mythic System

Follow our players in their final of university as they try to find a Roëmænce Partnær before the end of year rager, as well as fend off some unwelcome visitors to their campus.

~~~

A Starstruck Odyssey

Core Cast

Genre: Sci-fi / Space Opera

System: Star Wars 5e

The players are a rag-tag group of down-on-their luck spacers just trying to survive the rough and tough galaxy of Starstruck, a technicolor multiverse based on the series of comic books created by Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta.

~~~

Coffin Run

Guest GM: Jasmine Bhullar

Players: Carlos Luna, Erika Ishii, Isabella Roland, and Zac Oyama

Genre: Gothic Horror

System: DnD 5e

The followers of Count Dracula eagerly await his return home only to find their dark lord has been ambushed. The players are tasked with desperately trying to get his coffin back to the safety of the Castle.

~ That's a lot. Recommendations? ~

Honestly, I would start with Fantasy High! It's a really good introduction to both the core cast and the way Dimension 20 sets itself apart from other Actual Play shows. From there, you can either go in order (release or series), or simply dabble with whichever genre or campaign trailer catches your eyes most.

As for my personal favorites, that would be between A Crown of Candy and A Starstruck Odyssey. A Crown of Candy has some of the most incredible storytelling I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing - Game of Thrones wishes it could be as good! Meanwhile A Starstruck Odyssey is perhaps the funniest games I have ever watched.

[lifeinechos]

A Cult named “AF Matthew”

Preface: 

26 June 2017:

 I joined IIM Kozhikode to pursue my Masters considering:-

Engineering job at an MNC in India is low paying and has a low growth curve (Though my work was exciting, and for a fresher R&D job was a dream come true)

My family’s financial health didn’t allow me to go abroad and take admission in a great MS institute (i loved engineering), and didn’t want to settle there as well in the long run in order to pay-off the loan undertaken

So, i wrote CAT(admission test for MBA in India) and got into this college. Though i was engineer by blood, but who cares. You have to feed yourself and in India, you need an MBA to swing up the ladder. It was here i came across this legend!

5 March 2019:

I bid like all my fortune(in this case grade-points), to get allotted the subject taught by AF Matthew! Had heard a lot about him, and as i was few of those unlucky souls who weren’t given an opportunity to attend his sessions in the first year, this was long due.

And, well fast forward to the end of the session, it was all worth it! He challenged my thoughts, ideals, questioned my beliefs and swiftly moulded me. Whatever he said wasn’t at all sweet and soft. There were times when the entire world which i was a part of for 25years in my life, came tumbling down. But he had his facts, and he was RIGHT! 

He showed us the classics which was too much for a mainstream person i was, for whom a classic meant Lord of Rings franchise or Rocky Balboa Series, and then i was a transformed intelligent soul, now who could sit in a group and take part in knowledgeable discussions, and not fight based on mob-opinions. Also was I struggling with the aftermath of a life-threatening accident i had on Sept 14th,2018. I was no more a confident girl who was strong-headed in her stance and could think clearly in the midst of difficult situations. I was running from my inabilities and HE gave me the strength to face them! 

The following piece is a tribute to him and the art to which he exposed me and built a better person if not perfect. The journey is long no doubt, but i am forever indebted to have had the foundation stone laid by him.

PS, this is a reflective essay which i wove around my life based on the movies and art (highlighted and referenced in the piece) he exposed me to.

“Everyday I breathe, effortlessly I lie Roll back my tears and curl up a fake smile There THEY stand, every movement do THEY eye With my head held high, its time to push another mile”

The statue of Liberty… Yes, this is where my earliest memory of the word “liberty” takes me to. Today, as I write this piece after 30 hours of mental turmoil, I found myself in GC’s class, it would be rather befitting if once I could stand straight, look into the mirror and confront myself. Its long that I have hidden myself in a cocoon of safety and comfort, and hopefully here in this reflective narrative I am able to “woman-up” to my vices and insecurities. 3 Colours: Blue incited in me an emotion which until recently was a far-fetched dream. For the first time in my life, I felt “liberated” too much to the extent that I don’t shy away from the idea of being alone. The night of 14th September 2018 changed my life or so did I think. Now, as I look at it, I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I speak out loud that it “completed me”. Empathising with Julie’s struggle to let herself free as she tried to pay off all her debts and run away from her past, I understand clearly now why after my accident I found it difficult to be at rest. Always was I trying to push people away- blaming & snapping away from someone who’ll try to give me solace.

It was a time when all I wondered was what could I ever do wrong to have had this fate. After 6-pelvic fractures, 1-shoulder fracture, 1-hip surgery and a bleeding clot that rendered half of my brain unreceptive; I feel I am in a good condition to vouch for Julie’s behaviour to untie herself from all bodily aspirations when you are not able to settle the turmoil of emotions that challenges your mere existence day in and day out. Countless times have I found myself since that day questioning my actions, feelings, thoughts and more than that the people around me. “Why me” was something that kept me up at night and tired & helpless all I could do was hide myself in my room away from the eyes that always seem to follow me. It took me long to realise that those eyes actually were supportive of me and some of them genuinely were ready to take part in my sufferings as I once again started a quest to discover myself. But even that was not enough. No matter how much have I been the admirer of the emotions with which HW Longfellow’s “A Psalm of Life” claims that “Life is anything but an empty dream”, there were times when everything around me felt futile. When anyways everything is supposed to end, why the struggle to end everyday with perfection? In fraction of seconds, the course of life can be changed so much that you never know if it’s the end. These months have been long, tiring and restless to the extent that I would end up scratching myself, inflicting pain just to remind myself that it would all be over soon. Everything is supposed to end and this too shall pass.

In the beginning of the end, you try to treasure onto the memories you have in order to make them last longer. Same did I experience in these last few weeks. Change is inevitable and no-one is ready to accommodate it into their lives that easily. My days in campus are about to get over and all I can see now is a life full of competitions and unnecessary races for which I am not prepared for, rather not been accustomed to for long. Then one day sitting by the edge of my classroom, lost into the serene surroundings into which my college is built; I let my thoughts take a flight just like the flapping wings of the bird I was staring at. I was no more scared to be lost. There is a world full of possibilities and it stuck me that just one setback doesn’t define your future or justify your past. I came onto terms with my life. I accepted my limited ability and sufferings that accompany the same, something which I know will eventually pass no matter how hard it seems now. Something which I was looking and searching for outside, was inside me. That thought gave me power. It gave me freedom. I accepted that the unfortunate incident was no-one’s fault and accepted the things as they are now. I forgave myself,those who were in the car with me that night and decided to move on, following my life’s route destined. The moment I faced these things, I was no more caged. Neither did I feel helpless, nor did I want to hide. Rather, I started respecting and treasuring all the more those who were throughout besides me in these unfortunate times no matter what. And then I decided lets “Leave Footprints on the sands of time”.

Yet another gush of emotions I felt was in the face of acceptance of the fact that how society has long demeaned women and have pre-decided their boundaries from the day they were born. And if you decide to over-step these “Lakshman-Rekhas” created, you have exposed yourself to the barbaric world and are immoral for sure if not unholy. The movie Caterpillar lays out one such example and shoves conservatism straight in the face. Lieutenant Kurokawa serves the right-wing parties and rapes the women on his way claiming them as the spoils of war. But once he comes back home mutilated, the desire to dominate still doesn’t seem to leave him which can be easily seen in his sexual intimacy with his wife. He seems to force again himself on her with aggression when all she does is take care of him, feed him and carry out all other “duties” that a woman is bound to carry out for her man. Well, in this case, he is the “War-Lord”. Many-a-times have I seen this in my surroundings, silently closed my eyes and kept quiet because this is how the system has trained me till date. My mother used to feed us, wash our clothes, clean our mess and all I would do was to accept it as it is because its her duty. And why was not it supposed to be? Didn’t I fill in my school almanac “Housewife” against her occupation field! The pain and cries of the women in Invisible War even more made me question the system I have been brought up in. There are facts and then there are beliefs. When and how did I start accepting, or when did my mother start accepting that she has to subdue to my father’s wills. Or when did I justified the sad reality that dress modestly else you can get molested, or worse raped! I was mere 10 years old when every morning while going to the school a man used to swiftly pass by pulling my skirt from the small gaps under my rickshaw. At that time, I didn’t even know how to behave or react. Though I knew something was not right- something that stopped me was the thought that how will I explain it to others or come out in the open. Maybe I am overthinking and wrong about my feelings! Well, now I know the reason to all these questions. The system had trained me to come to consensus with the supremacy of male gender who considers women as objects meant to be fu**ed.

When was I immodest in my simple school tunic, or where did I go wrong when I used to follow the Catholic principles in my missionary school? But in the image of Father Amaro, I received an answer to the same as well. Why is there the need to depress the bodily desires and preach in the name of religion the things which you can’t follow. Humans, so petty they are! They lead sad, depressing and meaningless lives. All they need is a religion to back them up and fulfil the void in their lives. But thousands of wars are being fought under the name of same religion and not to mention countless women get grilled under the expectations that the system imposes on them. Who’s responsible for it? But, yet again if you have power and hold a reputable position in the society, no-one will question you. Rather the voices against you will be silenced at the hands of the mob itself who want to stay in their safe, comfortable cocoons around them. Similar thing was seen in the smile of Gomez in “The Secret in their Eyes” that in its entirety meant that he is untouchable. No matter who he rapes, no matter who he kills, he is the hitman of the right-wing conservatist party and is bound to walk free as he is indispensable to the system; The system that can silence anyone, crush voices and indulge in anything to protect itself and its “ideologies”.

The manner in which the glory of war is demystified and we are exposed to this grim reality of the war, something which physically and psychologically transforms you, is shocking. The idea that the movie Caterpillar and Invisible War highlights is something that stays out of the green light and is something which the system won’t let you talk about. Lost in these wars are the futures of countless children who have witnessed it in their surroundings, suffered losses of their near and dear ones and felt pain which is unexplainable for them. But more than this what I am worried of is the loss of Innocence. At small ages they have seen things which shall scar them for years to come. The character of Chava in “Innocent Voices” brings it in light how these children constantly live in fear of death and even are hesitant to openly discuss on the idea of birthdays as that brings them closer to the D-day, when their childhood officially ends. In Baran as well, the same issue is highlighted as the plight of Afghans who live in Iran as refugees is pictured out. Feelings such as first love, innocent emotions- all get eroded under the idea of things that are beyond their control and they can’t even understand them. The mere thought gives me chills down the spine if today in my cosy surroundings I think of the continuous terror under which the children in Kashmir are living. How difficult life has become for them under the whims and fancies of a selected few who are staying true to their beliefs and justifying their actions throughout in the name of Nationalism.

It’s a common saying that “All is Well that Ends well”. As I end this piece, I don’t want to be true to the system and the common beliefs where everything is rosy and turns all fine. Rather I wish to confront myself and accept that there are insurmountable pains that lie under the lies that are spoken and preached. There’s a propaganda that is followed by those who are in power and its they who decide the rules to play their game. Amidst all this, An Affair of Love gives me hope. A woman putting out an idea of string-less and pornographic affair was more than a bold step. It challenged the beliefs where identity has to be put on such women & an affair of gossip for all those witnessing it. It was erotic and had its charm at the same time. Similarly, the tale of Yossi and Jagger was moving in the sense that their love was pure and Yossi articulated it as Jagger “died in his arms”, a phrase and scene which is defines tragedy in an ideal girl-boy movie story. It was heart-breaking and sad to find Yossi lamenting his loss as in the funeral he sings Jagger’s favourite song. Last but not the least, the character of Nora in “The Divine Order” stands for women’s liberation and freedom as she fights her way against the social norm to make a place for herself in the society. The day all these emotions shall be respected, and unheard voices given an ear, can we expect an uprising against the system.

[100foreverfiles]

I’m going to rant about The 100.

* I did not watch this week’s ep. 

This show is completely losing it, and it’s disappointing because it had so much promise. This show is airing on the CW network, but squandered the chance to be a crossover success (similar to Jane the Virgin) by reaching a wider audience than teen viewers.

It began with an interesting - and unfortunately, now timely and relevant (thanks Trump!) - premise: the world was destroyed by nuclear explosions. The last remains of humanity were hovering in space waiting for Earth to be habitable. 

Clever! Intriguing! 

The show had a cast that included several Battlestar Galactica alums thanks to shooting in Vancouver:

Gaeta (Alessandro Juliani) who played Sinclair. Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon) who played Diana Sydney. Tory Foster (Rekha Sharma) who played Dr. Lorelei Tsing. Aaron Kelly (Ty Olsson) who played Nyko. 

…to name a few. 

These familiar faces immediately attracted an older demographic, who had been in search of the next great space/dystopian drama. From Reddit to TV reviewers, people were calling it the “next Battlestar.” 

The show also had a handful of professional actors in the leads to help support a cast of younger unknowns and newcomers including longtime actors:

Isaiah Washington (you might recognize him from Grey’s and lots of movies)

Henry Ian Cusick, of Scandal and Lost most recently. 

Paige Turco of Person of Interest. 

After the first few teen-skewed “CW” episodes, The 100 found its footing. It began telling a story of a people, and the devastating consequences and emotional impact of what it meant to have to fight for survival. It showed the impossible choices and their weight, and asked you to think: what would I have done? 

The scene where they went to collect the bodies on Deck 15? Still burned into my mind. 

Clarke’s decision to save her mother at Mt. Weather - despite knowing she would kill innocent people in the process? A horrible worst-case-scenario thought experiment played out before your eyes.

And Maya’s haunting final words, “none of us is innocent,” spoke to the underlying truth that’s also the show’s central theme.

Or, “there are no good guys.”  

This statement was mirrored again when Abby tells Kane “everybody always does,” after Kane laments how Bellamy really believed he was doing the right thing. 

But the show has missed its mark in a number of key areas.

For starters, it failed to show how a (Trump-like) dictator of sorts, Pike, was able to establish power so quickly. 

After all, the existing leadership so far had managed to fight against nearly insurmountable odds: survival on a new world after a lifetime in space, having to feed and house their people, a dangerous unknown enemy, vicious animals, etc., etc. 

But the sky people were making their way towards peace with the grounders, and had even established a society of sorts - gardens were growing, there was a mess hall, booze, and even a piano! 

Clarke had just saved them from Mt. Weather, Kane was proving to be a great diplomat, and then BOOM, in comes Mr. Us-Vs.-Them Pike, who suddenly had half the camp’s support. How? 

It’s also unfathomable that Bellamy would have taken part in the grounder massacre. Remember this is a boy who JUST MURDERED hundreds of innocents at Mt. Weather. And despite how he was portrayed in S1, he’s basically a good person who knows the difference between right and wrong. 

The storyline says he was under Pike’s spell, but in reality, it was lazy writing. We were told this, not shown it. There needed to be a conflict, so one was written in without any respect to Bellamy’s history or character development. 

Being TOLD and not SHOWN is probably The 100′s greatest weakness. If it’s not a fight scene, The 100 doesn’t want to deal.

The show also proceeded to kill off its most intriguing and diverse characters, in just terribly written ways. Lexa (in a bury-your-gays meme) dies of an accidental bullet. Lincoln - who knows what’s what about survival - chooses to hang back for his certain death. Really? Lincoln was not dumb. He surely understood that his role as a bridge between the two peoples was of greater long-term worth to all of humanity, than his honorable intentions in remaining behind. 

Pike, meanwhile, is painted as a pure villain. He doesn’t at all have a convincing argument as to why war is better than peace, but somehow manages to commit atrocity after atrocity with nary a raised eyebrow from his early supporters. 

If he’s The 100′s Trump, then the show should have explained what exactly people thought could be achieved by electing a dictator. Did they really vote for war and more genocide? Or did the show just need a bad guy for a season? 

(Hint, it’s the latter).  

Then you have the show’s long and often tedious slog through grounder culture. 

Instead of a world-building scenario where history of the peoples of the earth is told through interpersonal relationships, politics, and cross-cultural exchanges, the story of the grounders is almost entirely about warfare and violence. 

This doesn’t jive at all with the fact that there was a grounder society - cities, villages, clans, religion, government, a justice system. You can’t constantly be warring and also develop this level of infrastructure and stability. 

And where is the backstory about why the clans separated, or what their shared values and differences are, or why Ice Nation became so brutal and calculated? 

Again, we’re told, not shown. Here are some clans. They like to fight. This one is bad.

Contrast this to S1 and the grounders exacting an eye-for-an-eye revenge leading to Clarke stabbing (and crying) over her misguided boyfriend du jour to achieve peace with the grounders and save Finn from suffering.

So many takeaways from that scene: 

Grounders believe in justice and punishment; acts of terrorism (Finn shot up innocent people, recall) have real world consequences; Clarke knew how to achieve both goals (saving Finn from suffering, placating the grounders) and did so despite the personal cost; Clarke is a real person with feelings; Lexa accepted Finn’s death was enough to satisfy the call for justice, because she didn’t want to have to deal with political cost of a protracted war with the sky people; Lexa is not a monster, but a real person with feelings. And Clarke was a mother-f’ing leader.

And all this was SHOWN through maybe a few minutes of action and acting and very little dialog. 

These past seasons, though, you have Clarke, the blonde-haired earth newcomer-turned-leader, falling for the commander/queen-like figure, and later “dressing up” like a grounder to hide out (that grounder hair, e.g. - it was hard not to equate it to white girl dreads). 

And in S4, you’ve got this lead character coldly sentencing a man to die for the purpose of testing an experimental drug, then trying to appropriate grounder religion under the guise of saving all the people at the expense of everyone’s dignity and humanity. 

What is this s***? 

Meanwhile, the show has killed off most of the adults that played notable roles (Diana, Kane’s mom, that savvy lady who ran the black market on the spaceship, people’s parents, Sinclair, Lincoln, Pike), turned them into jokes (Jaha), or just sidelined them while sometimes using them as plot devices (Kane, Abby, Jackson). The remaining grown-ups (and only established actors on this show) no longer have interpersonal relationships except as “mom” and “dad” figures to the kids, in Abby and Kane’s case. (And sometimes Jaha.) 

Can we please recall in S1, these people were actually running the entire space-born society? I get that this is a kid show, but these are still experienced leaders and would in reality be playing larger roles in this story if it wasn’t for this being a CW show. 

And while everyone just loves the whole daddy Kane trope, it’s diminishing to a character who had grown from unemotional autocrat to repentant sinner to peaceful ambassador to loving partner. Now he’s just the hey-there-kid-it’s-all-gonna-be-ok guy. 

And Abby has been painted as nothing more than a shrill mama bear who will do anything to save her daughter. 

I mean, she stops Clarke from taking the chip not because it’s massively insulting to grounder culture to try to cheat your way into their religious order, but because “we don’t even know if it will work.” 

And then there are the kids. 

Octavia. Ugh, she’s a fighter, not a lover! (Ha.) 

She doesn’t find a way to do any good following Lincoln’s death by - like, say, becoming an ambassador who tries to mend the relationships between grounders and sky people so leaders like Pike could never come to power again. Nope, she just kills people and uses sex to block out her sadness. What a great message for the kids watching the show! Aww, did life get hard? Turn evil! Don’t try to find any meaning in tragedy! 

And are we supposed to care about Harper and Monty now, by the way? I mean, I guess when you’ve killed off so much of the cast, you have to move team B into team A roles. But the whole of their relationship has been a few shots of them in bed, and little character development beyond Monty’s mommy-is-our-enemy problem? 

And Harper is suicidal because? Because why exactly? Because maybe these are very green writers creating this show and they wanted to write a “sad scene?” 

And good god, is Jasper the most annoying person ever because he knew a nice girl for a week or two, probably had his first-ever kiss, and then she died? Or is he the only one who has got it right? (“Fuck this show, I’m outta here!”)

The only good actor among the kids is Richard Harmon, whose resume is growing to support this. Lindsey Morgan will likely do well in action-girl type films (bat girl?), but she’s better when playing girl-who-is-awesomer-than-thou. Her emotional range needs work. (No, don’t tell me about the amazing scenes with Murphy, because he’s carrying her through them. And remember her awkward 2-episode relationship with that blond Wick dude? Yeah, no wonder they decided to pigeonhole her as kick-ass grrrl engineer.) 

Some of the supporting actors are okay, but definitely not-steal-the-show stars (beyond Carney obviously who did before leaving, or Ricky Whittle who is now leading American Gods). 

And some, I’m sorry, are just flat one-notes who are clearly still “perfecting their craft.” 

And that’s fine, everyone needs a starter show. But in that event, showrunners should pair them up MORE with the pros, because the kids can learn on the job and improve over time, while pros can carry a scene and give it weight and impact when the newbies cannot. 

A pro can express a range of emotions and clue you into their internal turmoil with just a look. (Remember Kane, saying “again” as Abby is lashed? He had one word of dialog that he said a couple of times. But damned if that wasn’t one of the show’s most harrowing scenes. A perfect conflict between the decentness inside him, and his need to re-establish order. And how terrible he felt doing the “right” thing.) 

But then you have Clarke who’s seems to only emote like a broken record now: “survive!” She committed genocide a few months ago, recall? Yet, she can’t seem to shed a tear for anything or anyone but dear, departed Lexa.  

Even while holding her mom who’s sobbing in her arms, she just seemed annoyed - like her mind was already onto “well, what’s plan B?” - rather than having any sort of reaction to the fact that she had just asked her own mother to basically (probably) watch her die. 

Sorry, she’s kind of a monster now. 

Finally, we have the show’s distaste for character development in favor of choreographed action sequences. 

Yes, fight scenes and battles can get the blood pumping, but they only have long-term impact when you are rooting for someone to win. But who are the good guys here? It’s arguably no longer the sky people (was it ever?), who have only committed multiple genocides since landing, and just tried co-op grounder religion as a political move. 

It’s hard to even want them to survive at this point. After all, wasn’t Polis a lovely bustling city before the sky people showed up? Market stalls with sunglasses and weird food, and kids running around! 

Meanwhile, the writing team’s Twitter feed is a continual stream of taunts about ooooh battle! ooooh war! which characters will die next?

Not only is this rude to the fans who have formed attachments to their favorites, it’s also the entirely wrong type of sentiment to be trying to strike at this time in our lives. The writers seem downright stoked about the fact that they can instill fear in the hearts of fans, when our very world is watching the fallout of terrorism, war and the real human cost of all that play out in front of our eyes.

We are seeing innocents rammed down with trucks, shot up in schools and public places. We’re watching dictators attack their own people, truth tellers jailed, and children suffer. We have a dangerous man in power in the U.S., who’s more concerned with ego and sticking it to the left than with getting up to speed on what his job really entails. 

So no, The 100 Writing team, war and terror should not painted as a “fun escape” for your little CW show. It should be shown as the very real, unholy piece of s*** awfulness that it truly is. And with every battle scene and every death, we should see the characters taking on the burden of living with the choices that led to the end of people’s lives. 

And frankly, wouldn’t that be a better fit for a group of people that’s supposedly interested in saving humanity? You know, seeing them actually caring about other human beings? 

[no-gorms]

I’ve actually done this meme before, but since @horusporus​ asked, here’s six completely different films I could watch at any time:

1. Akeelah and the Bee - It’s a sports film where the sport in question is the spelling bee. Even if it sounds ridonk written out that way, that’s what this movie is, with all the associated tropes of an adolescent sports film -- i.e. coming of age, familial relationships, friendships, triumph over adversity and TEARS. So many favourite things, and also Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett.

2. Mermaid Got Married - I have a thing about mermaids. IT’S A THING. (*points at icon*) You can pretty much count on me watching every single mermaid media I can get my hands on, and there’s been a lot of pretty awesome ones over the years! But even with improved underwater tech and special effects, none have been able to capture my imagination like Christy Chung in the weird little 90s film Mermaid Got Married.

Also features: young Ekin Cheng and Takeshi Kaneshiro, if that’s your jam.

PS. Did you know that when Christy got married last year she did a callback to the film with a mermaid photoshoot? Because she did.

3. Speed - Classic Keanu and Sandra, always works for me.

4. Dil Hai Tumhara - It’s... not even really a good film? But it hits my id RIGHT ON, I glommed onto SHALU AND NIMMI WHO ARE THE BEST SISTERS and the ADORABLE MISTAKEN IDENTITY ROMANSU ROMANSU (and Arjun Rampal) and the FAMILY SADNESS AND LOOK THERE’S REKHA and I just really really like it? Underneath the OTT fluff there’s a pretty nifty film about unconventional familial relationships, and I guess it could have been done more coherently, but I love it just the way it is and Shalu is my fav.

5. The Martian - SPAAAAAAAAAAAACE. More importantly, part of the smaller subgenre SPAAAAAAAAAAAACE-with-a-full-on-joyful-ending.

6. Triangle - Okay I lied, I listed this film already the previous time I did this, but it’s such an unknown little thing I have to talk about it. Summary of the film: TIME LOOPS IN A HORROR FILM. (I have a thing for time loops. It may or may not be more intense than my thing for mermaids.) There are other films that use time loops for terror but this one is my FAV, because it crosses it over with the Final Girl trope in a way that really works for me.

Anyone who feels like having at it, please do!