#s1 e8 - desperate souls

[the-regal-reginamills]

ONCE UPON A TIME | S1.E8 Desperate Souls

"Congratulations, Sheriff Swan." - Regina Mills to the Emma Swan

[ouraboras]

S2, E8 and Overall Thoughts (Spoilers)

If we don't get season 3 I'll end up on the news. This is more string of consciousness but oh well.

First, I love everything with Richter and Annette. No complicated feels, no note. Though I do wonder if we get a season 3 how it will be handled. Season 3 and most of 4 of the first series kept the Belmont, mage, and Alucard apart. They might do the same thing again. We might get a timeskip and an opening like SotN.

I don't like how we go from seeing Alucard pinned to the ground with his own sword through the heart(?) to just standing there in the sun. I wish there was an in-between. I knew they wouldn't kill him but still.

I'll be interested to see where they take Olrox and Mizrak if they get a season 3. Especially since we see how they treated Tera's character (we'll get to that, trust me). There is a lot they could do with it. Mizrak was quite religious so his arc of wrestling with his faith can go in a very interesting direction.

I was VERY surprised with that blush on Maria's face. Now, I'm not going to touch that discourse. There is nothing the showrunners could do to please everyone. A lot of people ship them, a lot of people find the age thing weird. I chose to create a weird little Dutch man to smooch Alucard. We all have our own freewill.

I figured that if they were going to have them end up together they'd have them not meet (similar to how in canon they didn't meet until SotN). I found everything with them ambiguous until that.

I found Alucard's expression of hurt(?) interesting when she said those who worked with the vampires deserve to die. And the cut to Tera with that weird ass expression watching with the shadow thing (OH I'LL GET TO MY THOUGHTS ON THAT FUCKER). This might just be me but yeah, go off queen. She isn't saying all those who fraternize with vampires deserve to die. I'm guessing Alucard's (hurt?) is one of two things. Either:

"She doesn't like vampires and humans interacting :("

He sees some of himself in her. She killed her own father and her mother "died". However, she has the opportunity to interact with her mother. Something Alucard was and will never be able to do (Unless the show kept the thing where they moved to England at the end of S4). She is throwing that away

Maybe it's a mix of the two or something I am missing. I'll be on the lookout for analysis.

Shadow. Man. I am HOPING that I was right in my OG theory (which ended up ultimately being wrong FOR THIS SEASON). My theory isn't dead yet! If you haven't read it: in Castlevania their is an entity which is the source of Dracula's powers called Chaos. I theorized that that was him and we'd see a Dracula resurrection at the end. We didn't get this. But we still can! Now, is this theory ultimately selfish wish fulfillment because I desperately want a Soma Cruz season: Yes.

I'm guessing shadow man wants Maria's soul. Hopefully we get a season 4 or his existence will bother me. Fingers crossed.

I am fascinated by Tera's character arc. I feel like S1 had a lot to say about colonialism. I feel like the themes of this season were life, death, and grief. I've always found exploring those themes through vampirism interesting (you'll know that if you've read my fic). I had figured they'd take her in a more stereotypical direction but I am pleasantly surprised. I love the way they animated her to give her a profound sense of wrongness. I could (and may) analyze why she got that treatment compared to the other vampires. Likely it is because we are seeing her as those who knew her in life see her, all her life and love gone. But I think there is something to be said for a vampire who has made peace and found themself vs. one who is newly turned.

Overall, I loved this season. The brain worms are back. There things which I think could have been polished. But I have nowhere near the amount of issues with it as I did S3+4.

[neros-very-first-fiddle]

BEE’S TOP 20 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER EPISODES EVER:

20. S4 E1, The Freshman

Sunday and her gang are just so much fun to watch. I wish there were more fun vampire stoner-types in the show. I love the whole college allegory with Giles leaving Buffy to figure things out on her own. especially showing how she goes from being scared to realizing she does actually have the power to survive without an adult watching over her. Also I think about the klimt poster game every time I see a college dorm now.

19. S1 E9, The Puppet Show

The first (and only?) Buffy episode to ever genuinely scare me. I watched it late at night, alone in my room in the dark when no one else was awake. I don’t fuck with doll horror movies. The puppet skittering about Buffy’s room made me tremble. Also I just love anything theatre related and watching Giles very poorly do a magic circle was fun. And! Framing Snyder as a villain was such a good choice. And I think about him saying “I don’t get it” at the end of the ep a lot. Just really fun in general.

18. S1 E12, Prophecy Girl

“I may be dead, but I’m still pretty.” Her outfit is iconic. Her reaction to finding out she’s going to die is heartbreaking and realistic. I love that Xander is the one to revive her, forever cementing him as one of Buffy’s best friends and a crucial part of the gang.

17. S3 E20, The Prom

The class protector award will always make me tear up, like fuck. people in a town that actively ignores the horrors acknowledged that Buffy was keeping them safe from the horrors. she deserved that moment so much.

16. S3 E13, The Zeppo

I am a Xander apologist and I’m not afraid to say it. This episode is so fucking funny. I love getting to see what goes on in the background of every Buffy episode. I think it adds so much more to Xander’s character to know that he gets left out of the main plot and has his own wacky adventures that he doesn’t talk or brag about. He is the epitome of Just A Guy. He knows he isn’t like Buffy and the rest of the scoobies, but he also knows he can be just as brave as them. The moment where he’s in the basement and smiling about the bomb about to go off, “I like the quiet,” shakes me so much. Iconic.

15. S2 E6, Halloween

Ethan Rayne’s first appearance! I love how kitschy it feels. willow’s costume is gorgeous.

14. S6 E16, Hell’s Bells

Jesus fucking christ. The portrayal of dysfunctional families is just spot on. Anya looks stunning the entire time. Xander choosing to walk out because he loves Anya too much to even risk following in his family’s footsteps and abusing her is so heartbreakingly real. Is Xander in the wrong for ever letting their relationship get this far when he had doubts? ABSOLUTELY. Also the scene when Anya walks down the aisle crying makes me want to sob, it’s such a perfect shot. Ughh

13. S6 E8, Tabula Rasa

fun amnesia episode! I love seeing what’s inside the characters when they don’t remember anything about themselves. the loan shark bit is so stupid and funny. Giles and Spike having a father/son relationship is perfect. “RANDY GILES??!?? might as well call me desperate for a shag Giles.” also “a vampire with a soul? God, how lame is that?”

12. S4 E12, A New Man

This was the first Buffy episode I ever saw! Caught it on tv and fell in love. I remember watching willow and tara float the rose and thinking “gay.” Then I saw Giles and ethan laugh together over drinks after he, like pinned Ethan down in a crypt and I thought “gay.” And you know what, I was right on both fronts. Also spike crashing the car is so funny.

11. S2 E7, Lie To Me

Everyone talks about wanting to see more of ford, and we get to see more of the main girl, but all I want is Diego/marvin content. I love his stupid sparkly blue cape. I also love how Buffy reacts to finding out ford has cancer; “I’ll kill you myself.” Being in a horrible situation doesn’t excuse the horrible crime you’re about to commit! He’s just a very well written character

10. S7 E15, Get It Done

After watching this, I had to lie down for a moment because it was so much and I cried (which I rarely do with tv shows). The origins of the slayer just fucking wrecked me. The first slayer was just a girl who was violated and used.

9. S2 E22, Becoming pt. 2

Genuinely just one of the best season finales of all time. They perfectly took away everything Buffy had and brought her to the point of no return. The part when Angel asks her “what’s left?” before attempting to stab her with the sword, but Buffy shuts her eyes and perfectly catches it and says “me” is the most breathtaking, iconic scene ever. Gut wrenching and absolutely devastating.

8. S7 E7, Conversations With Dead People

Willow’s conversation with Cassie is so jarring. Buffy’s conversation is so so great and fun. Also “mommy’s milk is red today” is such an INSANE thing to write.

7. S2 E19, I Only Have Eyes For You

I love the concept that a haunting is just a house re-enacting a terrible night over and over again to try and understand what happened to it. This is extremely similar. Just a guy replaying his greatest and final mistake in an attempt to gain forgiveness, to somehow make everything turn out all right because he can’t live or die with that guilt. And the connection to Buffy and Angel’s relationship is just the cherry on top.

6. S2 E17, Passion

I’m a sucker for Angel’s monologue in this one. The scene where he kills Jenny is just, so. Her death perfectly shows how serious things have gotten. All the fun and games are over. Having Giles find her in his bed is absolutely sickening, but I love how they set up the fact that Giles has never seen Angel’s letters until then, he isn’t aware that’s the paper and handwriting from Angel and not Jenny. Also the shot where Willow and Buffy find out that she’s dead is great. I love that we see it from outside the house, looking in.

5. S4 E10, Hush

Astonishing that one of the greatest episodes has extremely little dialogue. the end from Riley’s perspective is just that his girlfriend screamed and the heads of these demons exploded… did he think she had like a banshee scream ability?? I would’ve. Giles’ drawings are so fun

4. S5 E7, Fool for Love

“I’ve always been bad” -jump cut to spike writing bad poetry. I love the little detail that Halfrek was the girl who turned down spike in 1880. The entire subway scene is perfect. Every slayer has a death wish. Buffy saying “you’re beneath me” is so perfectly cruel, and throwing the money is too. the end with spike going to kill Buffy then seeing her upset and comforting her is just a perfect picture of their entire relationship.

3. S4 E22, Restless

“Props?” “No.” “Props?” “YES!” Death of a salesman should have a cowboy in it, actually. Spike selling himself out as an attraction is so believable. like yeah, he would love to be photographed all the time by admirers.

2. S5 E16, The Body

One of the best portrayals of grief I’ve ever seen.

1. S6 E7, Once More With Feeling

Duh. I rewatch this episode A LOT. Anya and Xander’s song gets stuck in my head pretty regularly. I listen to the music on spotify. Hinton Battle kills. I recently watched this with my friend who does ballet and she said Dawn’s dance was really good! BROADWAY LEGEND HINTON BATTLE!!! Spike and Buffy’s kiss at the end is so perfectly built up and executed. Just an absolute masterpiece.

[twelfthdyke]

Idk if you’ve ever said, but what is your favorite Merlin episode/season

I haven’t said which is unfortunate for you, anon, because I am going to spill my heart and soul...

S1 E1 The Dragon’s Call

If you only ever know one thing about me, it’s that I will always love the first episode of every show I watch. This one is the most iconic opening episode though. It has everything! It’s just so funny (although there are weird tonal shifts considering someone dies and Merlin immediately goes to Gaius’ and cracks some jokes --- c’mon director...). It sets up for an amazing enemies-friends-lovers trope like god. There’s lust at first sight and blatant innuendo. It’s so gawky and endearing; I always watch it when I’m upset.

S1 E4 The Poisoned Chalice (!!!!)

I have an entire post dedicated to my billionth rewatch of this episode because I’m just so heart eyes about the entire scenario. Also doesn’t hold back on the gay undertones --- who made the directing decision of having Merlin laying bed sweating and moaning “Arthur... faster” like I need an essay explanation. The main reason for my love of this episode is the genuine love and level of fondness. It’s been FOUR EPISODES and these boys are risking their lives and sacrificing themselves for each other like what the fuck!!!!!! Bradley and Colin do some stellar acting in this too...

S1 E5 Lancelot

Merlin is like... really gay. That’s it. He had such a big gay crush on Lancelot. This whole ep is his desperate attempts to assist and impress him. Has action! Drama!

S1 E10 The Moment of Truth

Hold on, allow me to WEEP, thank you. Also, I refuse to believe the rest of the series because Arthur definitely discovered Merlin’s magic in this ep and did not give a fuck. So! Emotional! Shoutout to Merlin’s mum, Hunith, too

S1 E11 The Labyrinth of Gedref

Arthur’s character is a bit off at the start of this (Yes, I am criticising the literal writers and proclaiming them Wrong), especially for this point in the season. More! Self! Sacrifice! Can you tell there’s a running theme here? I’m a morbid romantic. Beautiful cinemotography on the beach at the end like it leaves me breathless! “I’m glad you’re here, Merlin” *insert me weeping*

S1 E13 Le Morte D’Arthur

CONFLICT! MISERY! ...NIMUEH..!

S2 E8 The Sins of the Father

Ouch. Just ouch. Arthur breaks my heart and deserves more honesty in his life, that’s all I’m gonna say.

S2 E12 The Fires of Idirsholas

Full of drama and tension yet upholds a great level of visual humour, banter and slapstick. Morgana is incredibly iconic, bless the beautiful Katie McGrath. Merlin is faced with another difficult decision, does the boy ever get a break?

S2 E13 The Last Dragonlord

I’M TOO EMOTIONAL FOR THIS. IT MAKES ME SOB.

S3 E1/2 The Tears of Uther Pendragon - Part 1 & 2

Cry more tears, Uther. Die already.

S3 E8 The Eye of the Phoenix

Nothing like Merlin never listening and Arthur being overwhelmingly exasperated. Also Morgana and Morgause [insert heart eyes]

S4 E2 The Darkest Hour - Part 2

Living for the drama and angst. I am weak for it.

S4 E6 A Servant of Two Masters

Goes from angst to just so funny. Has some iconic quotes.

S4 E13 The Sword in the Stone

Finales are generally just good.

S5 E1/2 Arthur’s Bane - Parts 1 & 2

Mordred... [eyes emoji]

S5 E5 The Disir

Merlin gets weepy, as do I.

S5 E9 With All My Heart

Merlin is just so desperate for Arthur to accept magic. Also, pretty funny.

S5 E13 The Diamond of the Day - Part 2

SOBBING, CRYING, WEEPING AND ALL OTHER SYNONYMS AND VARIATIONS. I HAVE NEVER ONCE KNOWN PAIN LIKE THIS AND I NEVER WILL AGAIN (until like... my next rewatch).

I’m exhausted oh my god... can you tell I am OBSESSED with this, it’s unhealthy. It was my whole childhood aaaa. As for season, I’m pretty sure season one is! 

Now y’all should tell me your favourite Merlin season/episode(s)