#scripted downfall ramblings

[scripted-downfall]

Alexandre Dumas was really out here summarizing the angst-with-a-happy-ending ideology in a single sentence, wasn't he: "Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss."

I knew there was a reason I loved The Count of Monte Cristo.

[scripted-downfall]

The bells are gone for me, but Ode to Joy (simple version) was:

334554321123322

334554321123211

22312343123432125

334554321123211

And it's the same basic way you'd play it (right hand only, of course) on piano.

I HAVE BELLS

I PLAYED THE BELLS SO MUCH IT STARTED SNOWING ON MY DASH

[dreamlifebunny]

hi bunny! 🤍🤍

do you use notion for scripting? or something else?

hi hi lovely anon!! hehe i just saw your second ask saying that you re-read the post and saw that i did use notion, but i thought i'd give an answer anyway for those who are curious! 🥰 i am a productivity nerd with adhd so i flip flop between several word processors and organizational systems (much to my downfall lol) but i have a few favourites i'd recommend for scripting!

obsidian is great for specific aesthetic customization if you know markdown (which is fairly easy and fun to learn!) but there are also a lot of wonderful pre-made themes that you can download and explore. it comes with incredible plug-ins for productivity that are both official and user-created. there is also the guarantee that your files will never be deleted if the company went down or a sync failed, nor will they ever be viewed by anyone but yourself because they are stored locally on your computer.

notion is great for the incredible and clean aesthetic, the easy-to-learn and accessible interface, and for having incredible collapsible categories/subheadings for clean organization, which is fantastic for scripting!

craft is great for the interface being so, so aesthetically pleasing... oof. they also have a premium plan if you have a student email! i haven't used it in a long while but if you're looking for something different after trying notion or obsidian, give it a try!

apple notes is great for super simple note taking without having to worry about aesthetics or formatting, though they do have cute formatting options as well! you can also use whatever the equivalent is for android phones.

google docs is great for the same reasons as apple notes, but can also be wonderfully customizeable if you dive in!

i am thinking of making templates for all of these platforms at some point so everyone has something they can work with. thanks for the ask and sorry for rambling hehe!! 💖💖💖

[friendcrumbs]

AGREEING WITH YOU ON THE PLAGIARIST LINE...almost every one of their interactions up to that scene mentions or centers around hill attempting to steal someone else's work, so it feels like providing justification (or twisting the knife) for that to be the last thing he hears. "laid to rest" is fun but I will continue to interpret the line as the former in my own head, even if it's likely inaccurate...I like the throughline, can't help it!

yeah!! hill being a plagiarist is incredibly important to the plot, and even more emphasized in the novelization which is based on the original script and not the movie itself apparently? (citation needed but y'know) as in, hill steals the laser drill from a guy he then lobotmized/hypnotized. the ideas/plagiarism/credit thing is also thematically relevant to the lobotomy/hypnotism thing i think... hill can't come up with his own ideas so he relies on others' work, and he's only good at stripping other people of that ability. the accusation of plagiarism being his final condemnation and -- technically -- downfall is crucial imo. even if its fake

and i think that proper credit/not plagiarizing is one of herbert's core values and a huge part of his moral compass. between the conflict in the first movie and his concerns/paranoia in bride, it's the one ethical research principle he has. he doesn't care for fame, but he wants the credit! even with the bride, he's upset that she refuses to acknowledge him as her maker, and i think that's what causes his rejection of her (possible jealousy aside). she's at least partially a failure bc she doesn't respect his input, refusing the acknowledgement

also i don't think the 'laid to rest' line makes sense plot-wise.... what rest.... he's literally getting re-animated not even a full minute later??? herbert's too fond of puns/one-liners to do that............. i think

last point in the incredibly rambly response: i don't think we can even get a 'canon' line at this point, because the original script doesn't have it listed, human memory is not exact, and it's been 40 years. as fun as i think the scavenger hunt is, i don't think a 'laid to rest' confirmation (or even my favored 'plagiarist') means that the other one should be discounted/disregarded as a misinterpretation. audience is a crucial part of the interpretation etc and so on and so forth

[scripted-downfall]

Definitely comments, hands-down. I appreciate any interaction of any kind, don't get me wrong, but I adore comments and tags and suchlike. I got a comment the other day that was a literal paragraph long, running through possible theories, predictions, analysis, etc, and it meant a lot to receive. Comments make me more excited about continuing to write/post/etc.

But, again, even just likes make me happy, too, so. *shrugs* I'm usually pretty happy regardless. I just prefer comments.

What do y’all prefer, Comments or Kudos/Likes, on your work?

Like would you rather have something with 100 Comments but no kudos/likes, or 100 kudo/likes but no comments?

[thysanniia]

ramblings about my monsterverse thingy

Anyone who's followed my Twitter for long enough will know that for many, many years I've gone through many iterations of my own MonsterVerse rewrite, mainly focused on rewriting King of the Monsters but inevitably expanding out further lol.

Well anyway, I recently kinda scrapped those ideas (even though I was quite happy with what I had) in favour of a more original take on "How would I continue thhe MonsterVerse after the first two films?" after I had an idea for a sequel to Godzilla 2014... but, just as expected, that has now expanded into concepts for Godzilla Vs Kong, this vaguely KOTM-like G14 sequel film, and also like two seasons of a show inspired by Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Why? Because I never know when to stop and my inability to finish anything will be my downfall.

As for what will come of this... well, I'll almost certainly never have the time or energy to try writing an actual script, but I'd like to have detailed plot synopses written up eventually which I can potentially share. Maybe I'll also do dedicated writing pieces for specific scenes down the line too, but don't get your hopes up, I have yet to find time to start on any of my writing projects. As I said, I have an insane number of vast ongoing projects with no signs of completion in sight for any of them. Ah, the curse of being extremely neurodivergent.

I hope you can bare occasional ramblings about them though, this site is much better for that than Twitter was lol

[wench-and-jezebel]

NCIS Reaction: The Curse

Wench (@scripted-downfall) reacts [with (maybe) occasional asides by Jezebel (@typicalopposite)]

Since this is apparently a running part of my reaction, today’s snack report: unfortunately paltry because I have zero appetite.  I am, however, having apple soda again, so all hope is not completely lost!

CROSSBOWWWWW

Beautiful crossbow, actually

I know he just found a body or something, but I'm still stuck on the crossbow because it was pretty

Body it is

[I bet it’s terrorists]  Ya know, we haven’t had terrorists in a whole damn episode; it probably is lksadjf;lk

Tony being good with maps gives me life

They almost left him :(

He had to run to catch up :((((

Not Tony complaining about their lack of funds again (Valid, though)

"How did he get so..."  "I believe 'mummified' is the adjective you're looking for"  Actually, my The Mummy-obsessed mind autofilled "juicy", but that's exactly the opposite end of things

[Ooffff flip phone]  I love flip phones.  Had a flip phone for years and I’d still have one if I could.

TONY, YOU'RE BRILLIANT.  BUDDY JUST SHOWED OFF HIS NAVAL KNOWLEDGE AND I AM PROUD

I can't tell whether to be happy that Gibbs remembered Tony's two-year anniversary as an NCIS officer or be annoyed that he was that dismissive of it. 

Going with annoyed given his subsequent, "Seemed like a good idea at the time"  [With Gibbs, as you’ll see in later episode, he is very protective of Tony but he’s very… I can’t think of another character to compare him to, but he does care about Tony]  

– – –

Here, we paused the show to have a “short” conversation.

Wench: Bobby?

Jezebel: If Bobby’s personality was more like Rufus.  Like Bobby combined with Hotch.  Or… Botch.  If you will

Wench: Well, that's both good to know but also... idk, maybe this is a flaw in my personality, but I always feel like constant ribbing goes too far.  Like, for a Dark Angel parallel, Max and Alec's banter might not have been bad, but it's constant and oppressive and too extensive to be just light-hearted banter.  Her initial "Alec, as in smart-aleck" isn't that bad on its own.  Combine it with everything else, it gets less haha, they're bantering and more damn, she's an asshole to him.  Here, the teasing would have been fine, but now it's kinda wearing.  And I feel like that being your work environment would suck.

Jezebel: And that’s fair. He is very much a grouch teetering towards if not sometimes full on ass hole. But man’s had a hard life and let it make him a hard ass I guess you can say. Lol

Wench: Sure, but he’s mainly only being like this to Tony.  Kate has had a few interactions like this, but not nearly as many.  And Ducky — as mentioned — has to deal with Gibbs interrupting him a lot.  But still, way more Tony than anyone.

Jezebel: Well, Tony’s the one (other than ducky, I think) who’s been with him longer.  Yes it’s normally geared at Tony. And if Tony is your favorite, I’m guessing that would bother you. Initially, Gibbs was my favorite when we first started watching again because I knew the full backstories and what was to come before watching. So I guess I just view it as Gibbs being Gibbs, and they don’t seem hurt by it so it is what it is lol

Wench: I get that, but also… idk, again, maybe I’m putting myself into character roles (not just Tony’s) too much, but that kinda.  Sucks.  Like, I ramble to people and have them walk off without paying attention, or interrupt because what I’m saying is “unimportant,” and yeah, maybe it is, but it’s still something important to me.  So I see Ducky getting interrupted/dismissed, and I know how much that can, frankly, hurt.  (I recognize that me rambling about something frivolous when we’re hanging out doing nothing anyway is different from a rant in the middle of a crime scene investigation, but it doesn’t change things that much.  The point stands.)  Or I see Kate getting disciplined for asking for an explanation, and that irks me because I completely get the importance of understanding why you’re doing something.  (And yeah, I get that sometimes you have to snap to attention and follow orders, but not all of Gibbs’ little that was an order; I don’t answer to you things are in situations that are time-sensitive to that degree.)  Or my family reunions, with nastiness hidden under “teasing.”  You don’t go along with it and you’re “not a good sport” or “too sensitive”, but it’s so oppressive that it wears, and ignoring it becomes vaguely impossible.  There’s so much that it’s not just a slightly-mean-spirited-but-still-funny-haha joke; it’s more serious than that.  (This is the Tony parallel of the story.)  And seeing these dynamics played for laughs is a bit.  Iffy.  To me.

Jezebel: And all that is fair. And is it possible that you’re putting yourself too much in the characters’ shoes, but that’s both fair and kinda a big part of shows in general. And something I don’t think writers consider. Because, iirc, it’s never touched on that any of this bothers either Tony or Ducky, and both will fight to the death over Gibbs, as would Kate (except she has repeatedly fought him on her thing 😂).  And by fight, I mean also in a sense of if someone came and was like you’re a horrible person look how you treat them. They would be like whoa ho no stop! Leave him alone

Wench: I mean… tbf, them defending him doesn’t mean that much.  Just pointing out that Dean would do that for Sam

Jezebel: Fair, but Dean also expresses things Sam does to hurt him. Again, iirc, that’s NEVER touched on here.  (Ok, maybe not EXPRESSES, but you know they do.)   Also, to this: they are brothers and Dean has been raised to do NOTHING but protect and love Sam. And to put him about everything. Tbf, Gibbs is just Tony’s boss and Ducky’s coworker (I don’t think he’s his boss).  They don’t HAVE to care so much for him. They just do.

Wench: So, tbf, that was just an example of how someone’s personal willingness to defend treatment does not automatically make it good treatment… but, r.e. your point about them not having to care about GIbbs: that doesn’t change the fact that they do.  And they largely seem to respect him.  So his judgement still matters, even if it doesn’t have to.

Wench again, but a slightly separate topic: I do think that a large part of the issue is that this is the comic relief.

Jezebel: Yes!!!  It’s very…  I can’t think of the word. The show is a serious and sometimes dark show.  I think it might get better for you as it goes

Wench (continued from above): But they only show the filler, and not much of their other interactions.  So their relationships basically come across as "Gibbs 'banters' with Tony about disrespecting him" without actually showing the parts where he does the respecting that would counterbalance it.  (yet).  Or "Gibbs doesn't care about Ducky's rambling interests and seems to think him a bit doddering" without showing the conversations where that doesn't happen.

Jezebel: Fair

Wench: And I get that's not the focus of the show, so the writers didn't prioritize it... but it's still important.  It's the difference, imo, between direct characterization and implied characterization.  This show currently is very... surface-level.  There's no need — or desire, seemingly, on the behalf of the writers — for analysis by the audience; everything important thus far is simple and spelled out.  The script more or less says that Gibbs respects Ducky; thus, Gibbs respects Ducky.  And, since the script says it, they don't need to actually write it because obviously it's true.  That's the direct characterization bit, and, until it's directly contradicted, that's just the status quo.

Jezebel: Yes, and that’s what I mean when I said that the writers didn’t consider viewers taking the banter personally and it coming across as rude instead of funny.

Wench: Whereas I'm looking at the indirect characterization and seeing nothing to support this direct characterization.  There's not much underlying respect to their interactions.  Aside from when Ducky's actually giving facts about the case, every interaction has been Gibbs shutting Ducky up.  (e.g. walking out/hanging up on one of their conversations, etc.)  So, intellectually, am I surprised that none of the team is ever negatively harmed (ostensibly, at least) by Gibbs' personality?  No.  The side of their relationships that would make it healthy are just always happening off screen or something.  I'm just saying that the characterization is inconsistent depending on whether they're talking on screen or not, and taking the on-screen interactions as a sign of how they interact off screen makes things a lot less happy-funny-haha than it's intended.

Jezebel: Yeah, that all makes sense. Just, like I’ve said before, I don’t dive that deep into stuff, so that’s why I initially don’t get it. But I get it 🙂

Wench: That sounds vaguely like I'm browbeating you into agreeing.  Plz tell the reaction viewers (and me) that I'm not doing this alkdsfj 

Jezebel: I think I’m at the point where I see that you take the characterization very seriously, judging by what you’re saying.  And I take what the script says for what it says, if that makes sense.  

Wench: Yeah, I follow.

Jezebel: But I can tell you that it’s not that deep or whatever, and you can know it’s not that deep because you see in the script that it’s not supposed to be that deep.  This is just supposed to be comic relief.  But if you’re still affected by it like it is that deep, that’s fair, and who am I to say you’re in the wrong for that, you know?  Or anyone else for that matter.

Wench: Yeah, I get what you’re saying.  And I doubt I will stop commenting on them being mean to Ducky or Tony (or maybe even Kate, sometimes, especially if I start liking her more), but I recognize (and, technically, have since the beginning of the show) that it’s not as serious a thing as I’m saying.  I know it's comic relief and a very surface view of writing, intellectually, but I still want to remark on it, emotionally.  You know?

Jezebel: Yeah that’s fair

Wench: Ready to continue?

Jezebel: Yeah, but hold on let me heat up my (normal) food

Wench: ljlaskdjflkadjf rude

Jezebel: 😂😂😂😂

Thus concludes the “short” conversation that lasted 50 minutes.

– – – 

The British side of me is annoyed by the “lootenant” instead of “leftenant.”  (No, I’m not British; I was just raised on British Isles television.)

Abby is adorable

Kate's hair being so long and unrestrained bugs me

Abby is still adorable.

Oof, poor dude being charged as a deserter :(  BUDDY WAS DEAD  [Right ?!?]

Bravo, Tony.  Research skills!

Not them being mean about his research skills :(

Okay, the conversation about GIBs vs Gibbs is kinda funny [😂😂]

"You took the easy way"  Accurate. Go off, Tony

Tony and Gibbs in chorus is rather funny, ngl, but also.  Gibbs, leave off the "if" statement if it changes nothing about the outcome alkdsjf

I do appreciate Ducky chatting to the corpses every episode  [It’s gonna be sad eventually]  Oof  [That’s all I say]

THE LIGHT BOARD IS SO COOL

Also, vaguely adorable that he remembered the case by connecting it to Gibbs

Once again, the emphasis on his rambling is a touch sad but whateverrrrr

Gibbs not listening to him even about the case tho ("No!  I just told you...")

aksdjflkasjdf "*heavy sigh*  Well, looks like we're gonna have to go to Hawai'i, boss."

Oof, the talk of ages  [I feel ya Gibbs]

I appreciate Tony giving shit back to Gibbs this time

Dude, his age is bound to be in his file somewhere

Tony... affectionately, shut up :)  [Tony done put him in his feelings]

Oof.  "He'll be exonerated?"  Um... 'bout that.

Damn, six years isn't bad!  Though, btw, Randy is automatically a bit suspicious.  Was he in the service?

Something about the wife's acting in this scene is also a bit suspicious, but I don't think it's intended to be.

[OH DAMN.  He died the day she was born; that sucks]

Damn, Gibbs, go off.

I will give you that Gibbs' acting does a bit to cover up the writing issues; he's clearly harsher and more serious when he's actually angry at someone than when he's bantering.  (e.g. that agent vs Tony/Ducky/et al)

This time, Tony's the one harping on a joke lakdsjf [😂😂😂]

Gotta love adrenaline-junkie!Tony coming back for an episode

BRINGING BACK ABBY’S SIGNING!!!

– – –

Okay, midpoint reaction time…

I honestly think this episode is better in the writing.  It's really ironic that we just had the discussion above on the episode (other than the pilot) that's actually been not-bad on the "teasing" front.  For one thing, it's far less restricted to one person.  Gibbs, Ducky, Tony, Kate, even Abby... they've all had moments where they're teasing and moments where they're being teased.  For another... idk, it's all hanging together better.  There are moments where each character gets to be shown as blatantly competent on screen.  Gibbs, obviously, has one as the main character, but you've also got Ducky exhibiting his stellar knowledge of autopsies (past and present), and Tony rattling off random naval/geographical facts, and Kate handling research/next-of-kin interviews on her own, and Abby doing her own awesome lab stuff.  This is the first episode — except, again, maybe the pilot — in which I didn't feel like most of them were reduced to archetypes (the mad scientist; the jester; the techie; etc)  [🙂]

Storyline is interesting — no terrorists quite yet, though — and decently paced thus far; we’ll see if that continues.  Uh... it's getting late and I'm out of things to say rn; stay tuned!

– – –

alkjfalkj Abby and Tony, the duo I needed

Damn, an actually enjoyable interaction between Kate and Tony  [☠️☠️]

Still loving Abby's fashion, lab appropriate or no

"What schmuck?"  "Our schmuck, unfortunately" alksdfj

WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT RANDY BEING SUSPICIOUS [😂😂😂😂]  One of these days, I'm gonna actually solve the case before they do successfully.  (I still maintain that the last one should have been a computer virus)  [☠️😂]

Not Tony harping on the funds again alskdfj  “First class toilet?”

“How old do you think Gibbs is?”  aslkdfj

Never trust chick flicks, I swea-  YES, GIBBS, AGREED  [☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️]

[I love that after that whole “short” interaction…. You have had twenty moments of Gibbs being different ☠️]  I know, I’m crying.  I’ve made a fool of myself.  Our readers will never trust me again.  (I SWEAR IT WAS ACCURATE IN THE OTHER EPISODES OKAY)

[I’m ded at how he said Gibbs] aklsdjf

“I don’t even want to hear the word ‘curse’ out of your mouth, DiNozzo.”  “Would I say that, boss?”  “You said it to me.”  [“You said it first”]

[She’s got the smirk of a guilty person.  GUILTY]  Tis true. But also, is this your reaction!?!?!?  :)))  [*silence*]  This was a joke; please keep doing it  [😂😂😂]

… [Well shit]  Damn, she's got receipts.  Literally.

Abby and Ducky, my dears, I love you

[Not a niblick]

This is called "how many times can we say 'niblick' in one scene" [☠️☠️☠️☠️]

I like her necklace again

"... my dear"  "... my darling"  I love them

[Guiltyyyyy]

He said the word "fraternize"; that's a yes on the romance (GOmens vibes)

"That wans't in your report"  "It didn't seem pertinent"  It's always pertinent, my dude.

Oop, Tony's flirting smile makes an appearance

"Do not 'sir' m-"  [*simultaneously* Do not sir me]  Oi.  [= Tony called me old and now my feelings be hurt]  alksdjf;lkasdjf ACCURATE  [The reading part still kills me. ‘Cause same my dude. My old dude]  :(  [I have to take my glasses off to read☠️]

You can tell things are getting intense; the music is picking up

I really want it to be Randy, plz.  I called it and I wanna be rightttttt.

Abby's getting so many good scenes; I love her  [Yessss]  Like her music too, btw.  [😂]

“Speaking of big boys”  [👀 that’s why people ship you two, Tony]  I mean.... Steddie quotes…  But also, no.  I don't like it.  Please, no.  [☠️☠️☠️☠️  Hurry up and appear McGee]  Yeah, I, uh… I don’t like it.  Their characters just.  Don’t work.  Imo.

Who’s snoring?  [☠️☠️☠️☠️ That meeee.  I’m Gibbs]  alskdjflaksdjf rude.  Don't you dare.  I need you to proof this before I post  [Ok lol]

TONY'S HAIR

"I'll get them to confess" mmmhmmm

Another good Kate-and-Tony interaction

aslkdjflkasdjf "hermetically sealed" gives me Now You See Me flashbacks.  "That's it: I'm allergic to hermetic seals"  

[Ooooooh…  I hate her]  Yeahhhh  [Get her Kate]  Okay, I confess, I appreciate Kate’s passion here  [Chick fight.  Pull her hair.]

Kasjdflkasdjf THE ANIMATION OF THE CRIME

alksjdf poor Abby, getting her animation slighted.  I knew I didn't like that petty officer chick; "petty" is right

[Hinky]  HINKY.  Such a good word.

[☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️  Noooooo, I’m ded]  Did.  Did they legit say that she.  Walked by.  And distracted the other servicefolk.  Because she turned heads.

ONCE AGAIN.  WHY DOES ANYONE TRUST THE NCIS ANYMORE. THEY'RE ALWAYS LYING.

[So many.  SOOOOO MANNNYYY.  Episodes end with that elevator shutting.]  aksldjflkasjf

*elevator shuts*

– – –

Okay.  Um.  I’m aggravated.  Not because the writing/acting/characterization was bad, because it wasn’t.  But because.  After I spent all that time detailing how it’s been bad in the past.  They then went: PSYCH.  And changed the handling of the entire cast and character list.  I liked it better, don't get me wrong, but those were not the characters who'd been in every past episode since the pilot.  Jezebel, please tell me you agree.

Anyway... I enjoyed that episode, so I'm pleasantly surprised.  The Abby interactions with everyone else were delightful.  The team was a bit less archetypal/formulaic.  The comedic relief was lighter, less implied-to-be-harmful-even-if-directly-stated-as-not.  I liked Kate this episode; she had a lot of Max's positive traits and very few of her negative ones: smart, capable, and impassioned, but not rude, arrogant, or logic-blind.  Gibbs was a lot more of a grouchy mentor figure (affectionate) than a grouchy mentor figure (derogatory).  And the others, of course, I loved.  I always do, though, so that's not a surprise.

And I'm realizing that you're definitely asleep or something, aren't you, Jezebel.  [*silence*]  I think that’s a yes.

Welp.

Okay, then.

This is great.

Ummmmmmm.  *nervous chuckle*  Not that I’m paranoid about posting my reactions without Jezebel beta’ing them, but I’m abso-freaking-lutely paranoid about posting my reactions without her beta’ing them.  Also, I literally cannot post this without her say-so because it has her words in it, and I have to get her consent.  But, I have work tomorrow and I kinda wanted to post this before I went to bed.  But, I’m tired.  But- [I’m awake, lol.  And 😂😂😂😂😂 I agreee (about the characters) It THRILLLS me that this happened this particular episode]  SHE LIVES!  Muahahahah, I can post on time.  This midnight conversation with myself is still staying in the reaction, however, because I find it hilarious.

Hope you enjoyed our wackiness, and the random way this show seems to thrive on proving me wrong… ‘Til next time!

[weatheringfeelingsvn]

Hi Mari, I’m stealing Docs way of sending asks so please bare with me with this wonky ask style lol.

Congrats on releasing the demo(or about to, depending on when this ask is answered) ! It must have been hard work!

Any tips for people who are working on their own VNs or anything that you enjoyed while working on the demo?

Tell doc I’m replacing their chihuahuas with corgis

@lunardoodls

( cackling! )

( Alright! Some tips and tricks from what I've learned! )

forums

( forums are your best friend. If you have questions, check the forum because you're not alone! )

( it also doesn't hurt to ask other members of the vn community for advice! We don't bite... Much... But also, we're usually more than happy to share more information about processes as long as we're asked! )

Scripting

( get at least a general idea plotted BEFORE you work on sprites, because otherwise you'll be writing stuff and find yourself spriteless and then have to make yet another sprite )

Make sure everything is the right size!!!

( I cannot stress this enough because it is often my downfall. Make sure you have sizing all planned out because otherwise it's a pain in the butt to try and get everything fixed. Remember what size you make your game people, don't be silly goofy like me... UwU )

( that's all I can think of right now, but if you or ANYONE have questions, feel free to reach out to me via dms, my regular Tumblr account, or discord! I might not talk a lot, but once you get me started I will NOT shut up... You can ask Dre ~ )

( thanks for letting me ramble and as always ~ )

( Stay tuned! -Mari )

[theearloftophats]

this is not a good take. I respect the dedication but this post reeks of using buzzwords to sound intelligent and i think you have horribly mischaracterized Swatch, and I would like to talk about it.

I am so sick of this fandom and how it treats Swatch. And though i usually hate sticking my nose into things i just. i need to talk about them. Forgive me if this is ramble-ish its 4am and I haven't been in this fandom for a while so im working off a lot of memory.

To start with. They are a butler working for Queen. they may be the head butler, but they are literally a servant of hers. they would not have the power to speak up or disobey her to help Spamton even if they wanted to if they want to keep their job. The notion that they have a "higher place" in the social strata is an absurd one. the only dialogue we see from them is from the perspective of a costumer. they aren't going to be open and honest with you. they have to maintain a level of professionalism with Kris. Most of it reads as a scripted sales pitch if anything. because they're doing their job. and even then, there are multiple instances where their exasperation with Queen seeps through quite clearly.

I also want to point out the hypocrisy in saying Swatch, a butler, a SERVANT, is a class traitor, but saying that Spamton, who was a CAPITALIST who got rich and famous enough to live WITH THE MONARCH, who PARTOOK IN THE SYSTEM, is not? He WAS a crooked salesman as far as we know. his first boss fight is him trying to scam Kris out of their money and/or their soul. Swatch may work for Queen, but to say that they have abandoned the working class to favor the elites is ridiculous and to turn around and defend Spamton for doing exactly that is dishonest.

Continuing with the Spamton stuff, you cannot take a character who's entire theme is how lonely and angry at the world and the people in it at their word like that. Of course he is going to feel like Swatch "pretended to be his friend" because he probably feels BETRAYED. Granted, they probably participated in his downfall because of their position. but Spamton is an unreliable narrator, and a morally grey person at best. what makes Spamtons lines about being betrayed by queen and swatch the direct and whole truth, but Swatch lamenting about him being a "valued customer" them "playing coy". why does one character get to be objective in their perspective but the other is an evil bootlicking petite bourgeois.

They are lamenting that he fucked himself over by trying to use an old robot body to achieve the delusional dream of reaching "Heaven". if anything they're bitter ex posting on main lol.

I want to make a point of talking about this line specifically.

this line is so fucked to me. where. WHERE are you getting this level of CRUELTY from them? because they have personal issues with spam?? they very clearly have history together in some capacity and maybe they're a little more harsh about him but there is NOTHING about them in ANY of the rest of their dialogue that would suggest something like this. This is a very strange leap to take from them being offended that Spamton would steal their look to sneak into the basement.

Here are some bits of Swatch's dialogue that I feel give a little insight into them outside of just being a shopkeeper for Queen's cafe.

Especially that first one. They very clearly put on a persona when working to appear as professional and collected as possible. I think it is entirely unfair to base your opinions of a character on how they behave when you only see them through the POV of a customer. Especially without taking into account why they might behave that way. This idea that swatch is some sort of uncaring asshole is ridiculous to me, but its one i see all too often.

Swatch comes across as quiet, and reserved. their dialogue is almost entirely neutral and practiced, and when they do slip a little and they reveal irritation or displeasure, they apologize and/or correct themself. Maybe they're a little cold. but that doesn't make them a bad person.

Alright. So. Clearly this is a subject I have alot to say on lol. Im not mad tho just very passionate abt Swatch =] I would like to stress that this is not an attack against you, op, I just think that this is an extreme mischaracterization of a character I am quite attached to, who I feel gets given the short end of the stick a lot and is used as a scapegoat for spamton angst far too much by the fandom at large. You have cherrypicked dialogue to make a point, and then additionally chose to read it in the least charitable way possible. You are projecting a harsh political alignment on a character who doesnt have NEARLY enough screentime to warrant such a deep dive, and using dialogue from a character who is explicitly shown to be unreliable and possibly entirely insane (/affectionate), who also has a rocky personal history with, and thus and obvious bias against them as evidence to your claim. it is simply bad media analysis.

other than that, i hope you have a good day, and i wish you nothing but the best. /g

Why is Swatch a class traitor???

Thank you very much for asking :)

In this post I'll be using he/they pronouns interchangeably to refer to Swatch. I enjoy the idea of they-pronouns Swatch but at the same time I refuse to believe that the only instance of canon pronoun usage to refer to him is misgendering, as some people posted about before, because that's not how Toby flies.

That being said, before talking about Swatch specifically, I need to explain the logic behind this reading of them. Swatch being seen as a "class traitor" is derived from the marxist idea of class consciousness, or in different terms, the fact that people who are in the same economic position understand each other and therefore owe each other solidarity, the idea that people need to be conscious of their position in their society and side with people who will help their situation and improve their lives.

In this sense, a class traitor is a person who, despite understanding their position in the social strata, refuses to side with their peers and instead either shuns them to appeal to a higher social class, to "appear as one of them", so to speak, or completely refuses the idea that they are part of that class to begin with. A good, palpable example, are snobbish, classist doctors. Doctors are employed by someone – be it a hospital, a clinic, an insurance company, the government in some countries, even in private practice, etc, but they are not, by Marx's definitions, owners of capital, aka someone with the exorbitant amount of money that allows them to control production in a large scale (in other words, conglomerates and billionaires). However, having a higher material condition on average, and having attained this social position through study that was allowed by a higher material condition in the first place, some doctors don't realize that they are just as much of a proletariat as the poor man they are treating, and thus exhibit behavior like discrediting, ignoring or even being hostile to people they identify as lesser, despite the fact that they're supposed to be together, sociologically speaking.

What the fuck does that have to do with Swatch, you ask? Well, Swatch is, to put it bluntly, literally a servant to aristocracy. They are, by definition, part of the working class, and therefore they owe solidarity to their fellow workers. Spamton, in direct counterbalance, is a member of the working class who has been elevated, by one way or another, into a position that makes him just as, if not more powerful than aristocracy. Spamton had become burgoise, though he still retains his origin as a working class salesman, that much hasn't changed in him, as far as we can tell. This seems to be going on just fine, if we are to believe Spamton's response in the Q&A, until Spamton needs a support system, when his business goes belly up to the point that he ends up homeless.

I really need to emphasize this point. Spamton isn't a "funny little guy who lives in a non-house cuz it's funny", not even in-universe. He is, put it simply, destitute. He does not live in the trash because he wants to. And, I think that every clear-headed person understands this, you cannot go from being one of, if not the, richest person in your entire world, to a homeless man living in a garbage can who people pretend doesn't exist, unless your peers and your society have wronged you tremendously. Spamton didn't become a homeless man just because he fucked around and found out, he became a homeless man because he fucked around and found out, AND none of his peers from this time wanted to help him. And, most importantly, this includes Swatch.

As a servant, he must know what poverty looks like. He must know what having a material condition worse than the ones you surround yourself with is like. And they did nothing to help, or maybe even contributed to Spamton's isolation, which is a separate can of worms I don't have the energy to look at gameplay videos for at this time of night.

For real, does the guy who sells Spamton's bowties with the label removed, and refers to him as a "crooked salesman", and plays it coy and laments when Spamton goes off the deep end sound like they have class consciousness?

Do they sound like they wouldn't shoo off a poor, hungry plugboy from the palace's kitchen back door?

Swatch has apparently rejected his origin not only as a metaphorically working-class artist, but the fact that he could empathize with other working-class people as well, including the less fortunate and the desperate. This makes him a class traitor, by Marx's own theory.

Of course, there's a lot more nuance to Swatch and Spamton's relationship, especially the fact that Spamton isn't the perfect portrait of a poor victim and is very combative and aggressive, which doesn't make people very willing to empathize with him in the first place. There's also the power inbalance and dynamic involved in the fact that, when Spamton lived in the Pandora Palace, Swatch was his butler as well, and that might complicate things from Swatch's end.

At the end of the day, this is just my own takeaway from Swatch's words about Spamton, and Spamton's words about Swatch. This doesn't mean much for anything besides my own understanding of Deltarune and what sort of fun dynamics I can explore in fanworks, nor does it mean I am claiming it as truth, but I do think it's an interesting exercise in media analysis.

Edited to include a few more words on Spamton becoming burgoise cuz I meant to do that but forgor lmao

[scripted-downfall]

The bells are back but now they're frogs

[blackacre13]

Hi dear! I just wanted to know if you were the CEO of Warner Bros would you greenlight Ocean's 9 or a romcom with Cate and Sandy as the leads?

Hey!

So let me answer this question without really answering this question because I am forever rambling and unhelpful.

As a fan, it’s so easy to say, yes, I would green light it because we see in this fandom how big a push there is for it and how lasting an impact there was from the original. So many people would rush to see it, even multiple times, and would be creating all these derivative arts from it just like the first. But fandom aside, I would still say, yes, yes of course I would green light it.

First, the movie did EXTREMELY WELL. If you’re looking at it from a purely American capitalist/box office revenue/Hollywood blah whatever perspective, the movie was a success. Did it do as well as they expected? No. Did it still do super well for a movie of that genre especially when measured against all-male casts of similar genres/movies with an all-female led cast? YES. Even if you’re just in the money-making game, which, it’s Hollywood, so....there isn’t really a downfall of not green lighting it. Unless an original was god-awful and you couldn’t even make enough box office profit to pay off what it cost to make the movie (breakeven), you can get away with a sequel. Because you don’t care if the sequel is bad/can’t live up to the hype, fans will still flock to it, and people who missed the first round will want to see what the buzz is all about.

Comparing it to the O11 trilogy also, people who are fans of the original and fans of O8 alone (or worked their way backwards, myself included), those fans are all expecting more. That’s how O11 worked, that’s what they teased in interviews. We were hooked before we even saw the movie.

My only qualms would be: Can I get the whole original cast? And that’s definitely a challenge because of their celebrity status. I mean Sandra and Cate alone have like five simultaneous projects each right now and who knows how expensive it is to get Helena to walk onto your set for five minutes? So, I’d want to make sure they were all definitely on board (which I think they would be...my one flakey concern would be Rihanna, more because I think her team would be very, you’ve already been there done that/not worth it).

For Sandy/Cate, y’all, don’t throw tomatoes at me. I’m honestly very torn when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation in media and who should play those roles because, of course, I want that actual LGBTQ+ representation by people of that community to get priority/the limelight, so that those characters are accurately portrayed and we’re prioritizing/seeking out those communities for their own stories/portrayals, as we should be. But when it comes to ‘can straight actors play gay’ etc., I also like the idea of actors to challenge themselves to become a person they aren’t/never could be. (So long story short, in a perfect world, I’d like to see: We have Character A here who’s pan and ace, so we’re going after this pan/ace actor here; Oh, they don't want it? They personally recommend so and so? Great. They’ve offered to lend their opinion/personal experience to help so and so actor shape the experience? Awesome). Because jokes about Cate’s sexuality aside, because it doesn't matter at the end of the day, she did her research. We know she read The Price of Salt, and had long talks with the director, and studied the original script, etc. and felt that Carol Aird was such an important character and story that she gave it blood, sweat, tears. So it can be done 100%.

So rambling aside again, if we’re going to get a blockbuster comedy with a lesbian couple or something of that nature, my heart would really want it to be two members of the community. But, if we pretend that’s happened time and time again, and the world has become this awesome acceptable place, and Cate and Sandy make this awesome rom com duo with labels aside, ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY. They had such great chemistry together. They play off each other well. They both have experience with the genre but also thousands of others that there’d be levels to it and I think they would play those characters with love and care, not just to be in it for the box office success/profit. I know Cate has said it before, but I get the vibe from them both, that sometimes it’s about getting those characters and that plot out to the world, so it resonates even with just one person, more than the money that matters. And just UGHHH can we even IMAGINE that movie? oof. Sign me up.

[waynedunlaptheorgandonor]

ok, if i don’t write this im gonna lose my mind -cue dmx ‘party up’-

here is a ridiculously detailed analysis of why i am bordering on near certainty of caryl endgame, and how everything that’s been set up from the start of s9 (yes, even c@rzekiel and d@nnie) has been leading up to this

spoilers and long-winded analysis under the cut

let’s take this step-by-step, okay? starting with:

The Titles:

i have said this about a million times now, but the very first indication of caryl came from the new opening credits, where mmb’s name was very strategically placed above the graphic of daryl’s crossbow, what’s meant to symbolize henry’s pike, and a bunch of cherokee roses. it was foreshadowing, not only of henry’s death, but also how her relationship with daryl was going to unfold, and, bear with me here, the downfall of c@rzekiel. speaking of which, let’s go there

C@rzekiel:

i have also rambled about this, too, but the way that kang designed this relationship between zeke and carol was so brilliant, because it was never supposed to be real, but you weren’t able to fully see how until the whole story was laid out before us. (which goes with my belief that kang tells stories over long, connected archs, and not just “you know what would be fun to toss in here rn for some drama?” 

carol

1. denied zeke’s proposal

2. never once told him she loved him

3. explicitly told those saviors she could have done without her ring (a line that had absolutely no need to be in there)

4. continuously rejected the title of queen

5. regularly visited daryl in the woods

6. said herself that all it was, was a fairytale. something i’ll delve into more when i talk about carol’s ptsd

but let me touch on how daryl plays into this. we know she regularly went out into the woods to be with daryl, and she did it because he was her tether back to reality. she was living a fantasy life, and knew deep down that it wasn’t real, but had to do it, for henry’s sake, and for the sake of her mental health, because at the time of the relationship, she had not remotely begun to deal with any of her grief

the first scene we get with her and zeke is directly after daryl saves zeke’s life, which is telling. and the first time we hear her talk about her feelings about zeke’s proposal she turned down it’s with daryl, and let us not forget that the script notes stated that daryl was experiencing jealousy about it. he never asked her not to, though, because he thought she was happy, and that was more important to him than her being with him. he was willing to give her up if it meant she was happy, like what kind of angst trope suffering is that?? -chefs kiss-

and we can’t forget that zeke canonically views daryl as a threat to his marriage (i mean, rightfully so). he literally tells daryl to back off his wife so that he can fix their marriage, because he knows carol is starting to go back to him

next!

flowers:

flowers have been being used as symbolism between these two across the past two seasons a bunch. flowers are in mmb’s title card. the first scene of carol/daryl in the time jump shows them seeing flowers. daryl brings carol a flower on the dinner tray. one of the upcoming episodes is “look at the flowers”. obviously the cherokee rose scene is iconic between them, and flowers to carol represent this weird dichotomy. on the one hand, they represent daryl comforting her and giving her hope, and on the other hand, they represent her downfall mentally from the grove. interesting that one of the threads throughout this current season is carol grappling between trying to stay grounded with daryl, and her losing herself to her grief

speaking of grief!

Carol’s PTSD:

people have bitched that kang is just telling carol’s same storyline all over again, to which i’m like, tf show are you watching?? here’s what kang has done. gimple dealt with carol by literally just locking her away in a house to mull over how terrible she is a person, while never once actually dealing with her grief, and then handed that over to kang as a boiling slop of diarrhea, and somehow kang managed to take that, perform alchemy, and turn it into delicious loving carol juice.

she had henry killed off to parallel sophia, yes, that’s true, but the /reason/ she did that is because she’s righting the wrongs that were done to carol by essentially rewriting her storyline the way it should have gone. carol has lost So Much. more than most, i think, and kang is like, “that would fuck someone up pretty fucking bad, i think, so let’s see her actually have to grapple with that.” kang stays true to the carol gimple created, in that her instinct is to run away (think boat), but she’s using daryl as a means of forcing her to confront her demons. the two of them, at any given time, are running away from their struggles, but daryl is finally at a place of stability, and so he’s taking carol by the hand and saying, “no. i’m not letting you do this again. you have to stay,” and carol does, because she loves him, but consequently she’s having to actually feel it (something she explicitly stated she “can’t let herself do”), and is now experiencing the consequences of it, and poor daryl is stuck trying to handle it. his entire plotline this season has revolved around trying to help carol heal her wounds so that they can finally be together the way they should have been ten years ago.

they should be together, and daryl shouldn’t be with anyone else? glad you asked, because that brings us to:

D@nnie:

i actually think that kang never meant to make daryl/connie a ship, bc nothing in season 9 really indicated anything more than a mutual respect, and part of me truly believes that she saw the reaction to the two of them, and was like, “you know what? i can work with this.”

carol is pushing daryl towards connie because she wants to take alpha down and knows she might go down with her and she needs to know daryl won’t be alone. that’s it. period. end of sentence.

but okay, let’s extrapolate. she asks him if he’s interested in connie, and daryl very, very bluntly says no. you can’t tell me that his answer was meant to be evasive. he delivered that line like straight up “no.” no room for debate about his feelings. if they wanted to leave room for doubt they would have had norman redo his delivery, because it is too obvious. he is shutting it down completely. and carol is like, “why not?” and /that’s/ when daryl gets evasive. very “don’t worry about it, why are you worrying about it, i’m not in love with you, shut up.” 

fucking kills me, guys.

now the current spoilers about carol telling daryl to get angry at her for (supposedly/probably) killing connie furthers this belief that she wants daryl to pull away from her. because he’s her tether, she loves him, and as long as he still wants her around she can’t leave. she wants him to hate her, and daryl refuses. he’s pissed as all get out about what she did, sure, but he doesn’t hate her. also, the idea that daryl going back to try and save connie and magna means he’s in love with connie is absolutely baffling. have you met daryl? his instinct is to save people at all costs. he wouldn’t leave his friends stuck in a fucking cave, are you serious? just because connie is a woman doesn’t mean daryl wants to fuck her. he’s allowed to care about his friends.

but anyway, the point here is that every “d@nnie” spoiler has been music to my ears, bc not once has it been actually shippy. that first episode with the asl book and them together? it was supposed to juxtapose zeke and carol, and how carol and daryl immediately forgot about connie and zeke in order to be with each other. every other thing with connie has either been very cute and platonic, or has been carol trying to push her on daryl. -chefs kiss- my dudes, you’re worrying about nothing

Misc bc I’m Late for Work:

here are just a handful of other indicators that caryl is on the horizon

-the dream where she dreams she’s MARRIED TO DARYL, and the scenes where she wakes up in bed and looks over and he’s not there. why set that up if the end result isn’t going to be them together in bed?

-the bracelet/the acorns and what they symbolize 

-the use of “we” (”we don’t sleep” “it was like that for us before all of this” “since when have we never been enough?” etc)

-their parallels to alpha/beta (see my other long-winded text post on that one)

-ten years worth of history between them!!! that kang understands and references (carol’s claustrophobic, look at the flowers, etc)

so anyway, i don’t have time to tie this up with a nice bow bc i really have to get to work, but this is all to say that i am very very confident about the caryl endgame. i think it’s being drawn out bc kang needs to right the wrongs done by gimple first, but that caryl is where she’s eventually headed. every spoiler has been 100% caryl positive to me. i am zen af, and i think you should be too.

i’ll add to this if i think of anything i missed, but here you go. caryl is endgame and they gon fuck

the end,

-diz   

[digimonruler]

honestly i don’t know what is scarier

ken’s anime dead looking eyes

or his manga eyes?

(icons used by @digimon-icons​ i hope i got the credit given right D: sorry if i didn’t)

let me go on something here.

in the anime, we see something is very much off about Ken (ignoring the OBVIOUS Kaiser/Emperor Puppy Kicking Ego Jerkness that Ken was)

Like it was a dead giveaway and even if he wasn’t, his eyes seemed very creepy and off. As the Kaiser in the anime his eyes still lack the light in them we see later but we do see them express better.

But in the manga, his eyes are normal so to speak, basically if I read the manga first, I’d not have guessed for a few minutes he was the Kaiser because, well, he didn’t scream villain. He looked like just a boy genius..

Really I hope this ramble makes sense.

Again, I feel 02, while I love it so much still, it felt rushed with the Kaiser arc somehow. Like they seemed to have rushed it and really I still loved the Kaiser as the villain, he was the first human villain we saw and he got me into watching 02. It was new and scary. Sure we see Tai unintentionally digivolve Greymon to Skullgreymon. But with Ken, he made a mistake and digivolved Greymon into his scaier Skull Dino version AND continued to do it while experimenting on him.

Plus, it shown eerily that none of the Chosen’s Digimon were safe.

What if they gave Ken, well, a more normal side of him in the Real World. Where I mean, he can be cruel, but we actually question if he is the Kaiser or if it is indeed some other kid. I don’t know.

Again, I ramble. But the TLDR version I stand on is: what if they expanded the Kaiser arc and didn’t make it in your face obvious!?

And maybe make his reveal to be 15 episodes in instead of 10 and maybe make his downfall episode 35 or something? I don’t know. After the Kaiser, it just felt... meh. And rushed and- oh look Myotismon is back... yay. (I love that guy don’t get me wrong but still. They could still bring him in later and make the plotting the same.)

You can still go through why he became evil. Hell show Tag Tamers flashbacks or even a movie based on the game. Show it more instead of being vague! Seriously I didn’t know who Ryou was until Tamers and even then I was basically more confused since: isn’t Tamers an AU where digimon is a game/show/etc? I didn’t know of Tag Tamers until I think 2015 when I was researching Ken (I was bored that day leave me alone lol) and even then I don’t know 100% what went on in that game because it never came to the states (yes I know there’s scripts and stuff now, thank you to those who worked hard on that by the way!!)

Just... gaaah.

And if we get a reboot of Zero 02 like we have Adventure. I want the Kaiser to be more mysterious in a way, I mean, we can know who he might be/is but also expand it further? Maybe even give Osamu a little more backstory? Maybe allow him to know Ryou and/or the other Chosen? I can scream about Osamu to but I think I’ll save that for another time.

Hope this makes sense and sorry for the rambling.

[scripted-downfall]

I may or may not have intentionally chosen one more or less smack-dab in the center... not that I would ever do such a thing, of course :)

Ma'am, thou hast tempted fate. You reblogged that post and now I'm obliged to come pester you in your ask box...

And, because I'm evil: 72. :)

(My 72nd song is Veteran of the Psychic Wars by Blue Öyster Cult)

So very evil indeed!

My #72 is Jump by Van Halen :) which is what I’m about to do… on your neck for giving me a number that wasn’t fun to get to even from the shorter end!

[wench-and-jezebel]

NCIS Reaction: The Immortals

Wench (@scripted-downfall) reacts [with (maybe) occasional asides by Jezebel (@typicalopposite)]

I start this episode after a family dinner that put me in a horrible mood, and a gift exchange that put me in an awesome one; I’m sure my emotional drain rn won’t affect my reaction.  At.  All.  Right?

Kids on a boat, always dangerous

Drunk kids on a boat: even worse

MAKO HAVE VICIOUS TEETH, WDYM  [Not discovery channel]  

Deep Blue Sea was a warning they clearly haven't listened to

Does he die or find a dead bod- oh, okay then.  Dead body it is, then.  [Ahvblblblblb]

"Seaman" *snort* [☠️☠️☠️☠️]

kasdjflkjsadf Tony, buddy, you’re adorably excited

Real sword?

REAL SWORD!

Ducky is very adorable.  However, plz be careful with the blade.  [Indeed! He always is :) even angry ducky is adorable]

At least Gibbs' orders apply to Kate too

Damn, Kate, be sensitive, please; isn’t that the whole point of why you’re here?

"Think of Puerto Rico"  Agreed

Once again… For all the idea was to bring Kate along for a sympathetic hand, she's not really being.  Sympathetic

"Are these interviews always that difficult?"  NO SHIT. IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE TRIED TO WARN YOU BEFORE.

That was Tony's first next-of-kin interview? I once again chew Kate out for her lack of sensitivity with him earlier.

“You just assumed I wouldn’t know how bad it’d be?”  “Yeah.”  "That is so presumptuous!"  WDYM?!?!  You didn't expect it to be as bad as it was!!??  He wasn’t wrong!?!?!

Master Chief, huh?  I didn’t know NCIS were good forces against the Covenant

"I didn't really notice"  Mmmhmm, suspicious

"Computers run the ship"  In a horror movie, that would be the problem

Appreciate Tony's defense of capability in young folks

Heyyy!  Some people who actually paid attention to the victim!  (Automatically suspicious of them, ngl)

It’s not her, but this corpsman looks vaguely like Janice from Deep Blue Sea, or at least speaks like her, and it’d be really funny if she were given my earlier statement (but she’s not)

The change in video quality with the long-distance shots alkdsjf

Abby!!!

Ooh, fantasy game?

I'd love if Tony knew what that was, but I know they'll have him not- Yup, there we go

Love that Abby knows about it, though

She's awesome

"The occasional garotte"  "I'd say that's violent"  Tony and Abby being an amazing duo again

TONY DOES LOOK INTERESTED

HE GOT THE JARGON RIGHT!!!!  I TOLD YOU HE WAS INTERESTED

Ducky's ramblings give me life

His phrasing is great too.  "Succumbed" = Sweeney Todd-vibes, "Deduce" = Sherlock Holmes-vibes

Sword be pretty [😂😂]

I appreciate the weapons buff

Men will obsess over swords for the.  Imagery.  While on a mostly-male vessel.

"I didn't know the boy very well"  Like, two people did, wdym

... how does sir randomly know the game's acronym

No, I don't accept.  That (MMORPG) is such a random piece of jargon to know because "my kids play it." That's so unrealistic. "Those damn MOMGSRP-somethin'-or-other my young'ns play" is far more in-line with reality, in my personal experience.

Abby getting into the game; she’s adorable

Ducky too!!!  My rpg-playing beloveds.  (Okay, he's a bit more perplexed than into it, but still)

Abby.  Have you eaten.

"You're a prince, Ducky" "Is that a safe occupation in this [game]?"  lkjadslkfjaldskfj I love them

I love the lock on her necklace

I clearly have not played enough MMORPGs or something.  That or she's just tapping keys during a cutscene.

However, "Would this help, my dear?  *moves drink over*"  Ducky, I love you

– – –

Another midpoint reaction!  I can keep track of my responsibilities!  Who knew?!  :) 

Okay, so.  My bias towards characters with my own interests is showing this episode --- aka my bias towards cool characters is showing, because obviously my tastes are impeccable --- and I adore Abby for her enthusiasm with the game.  Ducky is awesome for his own part in it: the equal measures of interest and utter confusion is something that's honestly so real.  And I maintain that Tony is interested  in it too.  (No, that's not delusional at all, I don't know what you mean.  He not only was the first to inquire with interest about the MMORPG, he *also* remembered that, frankly horrible, acronym.  This is a sign of interest and I do not take criticism.  Also, he's Alec-coded, who is Dean-coded, who loves stuff like this --- see: LARPing episode --- so.  Yeah.)  These three are my dears.  [I meant to say yesterday when y’all were talking about him acting dumb and you didn’t like that:  I think Tony’s a lot more like Dean than Alec in that sense.  That may only be because I haven’t seen Alec yet to know if he’s goofy in the way Dean is.  You know, where there’s a difference between being goofy and actually being dumb, if that makes sense?]  Alec is definitely goofy-but-smart.  I mean, it’s kinda hard to avoid, to be fair, since he’s from Manticore, but yeah.  He’s shown to have, on-camera, knowledge of: strategy, triage/first aid, and a number of other skills.  He’s also taken classes on “communication and verbal usage” to fit in, and has obviously run a number of successful ops.  All in all, he’s clearly using charisma as a way of disarming people, not actually being stupid.

Honestly, the above is the main change.  Gibbs is still Gibbs (though less annoying and more... he's just kinda there?  He's not really done that much good or bad that I've noticed.)  Kate is still being annoying, though --- that scene with Russell's mother still has me irritated --- so no improvement there.  Current character ranking: Tony/Abby ('bout equal) > Ducky (veryyyy close.  Almost a three-way tie) > Gibbs (wayyyyy further down) > Kate (sorry, but you suck, Maxie)  [😂😂😂😂 Maybe it’s just because I know what’s coming and that alters my ability to hate Kate, but I like Kate, and so I’m struggling to see why you don't. ☠️ But I also don’t pay too much attention whenever I watch so maybe that’s why.]  What do you like about Kate though?  How does she not bother you?  [idk, maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I watched the show and I just liked all of them.  And again I know what’s coming.]  ... You're watching the show rn  [Yeah, but I’m watching it while I’m doing other stuff, so I’m not really taking in it the same way you are.  Also, I don’t think I’ll look for things to like or dislike about a character unless I’m told to, if that makes sense.  Like, with Max, I am looking for what other people don’t like, so obviously I’m gonna see it and not like her.  But, if I’m watching a show without having other people’s opinions on it, I kinda just watch it and don’t pick up on those things.]  You didn’t like Sam all on your own, though?  [He wasn’t my favorite, but I didn’t start actively disliking him until we started talking. And I went back and Reeeeeally Watched it and was like wow he is kinda shitty.  But, then again, I’ve always been the type of person where I have to watch something twice to fully grasp it and, by the time I was re-watching Supernatural, I was slowly watching it because I wanted to see Destiel stuff.  So I would’ve missed it then too 😆😆😆]  lasdflkajfd ma'am.  I give up, but… ma’am.

ANYWAY.  Character placement has shifted a bit.  I really don’t get what fixes Kate’s character — she’s a newbie, but she’s acting outraged any time someone has to teach her something/correctly points out her lack of experience; she’s a new recruit, but treats her superior like he’s an equal (which, I’m sorry, but, speaking as someone who has worked in lab conditions with mentors, you don’t do that unless they tell you to, and I haven’t seen Gibbs say that once); she’s not that much better a person than anyone else on the team, but she acts like she’s the end-all-be-all judgement of personal character (and not just with Tony, but with Gibbs and Ducky, too, at various points) — but I guess I’ll try to keep an open mind for Jezebel’s sake.  I’m fetching myself refreshments and then I’ll pick up again.  [😂😂 I never said she gets better]  Damn it.  But also, in all seriousness, I might be less annoyed by her arrogance if she’s actually got a bit more seniority.  I doubt it, but maybe.

Post-script: Thinking (while I procure this food) that I may just have something against main characters --- or how they're written --- or something, because I have not liked an actual main character *once* in so long... idk, maybe it's something about modern writing, or the archetype itself, but just.  Not my thing, ig. I don't know for sure.

– – –

This is the most random assortment of refreshments ever, but it’ll do.  This is why you don’t let someone with a chronological age of adult but a mental age of child make decisions.  If you do, you end up watching a television show with a bowl of corn and some soda.  Shhhhh.

– – –

Actually, apparently we’re not shushing because of Jezebel:

Jezebel: ☠️☠️☠️  A bowl Of CORN? Wench: A bowl of corn Wench: *sends photo of corn in a bowl and apple soda in a decorative glass.  And a water bottle* Wench: A bowl of corn Jezebel: And coke in a wine glass.  I’m ded. Wench: It’s apple soda.  And not a wine glass. Jezebel: DED Wench: If we’re speaking technically, that is Jezebel: OK?!?!☠️☠️☠️😂😂☠️☠️ Wench: THERE'S A VEGETABLE, OKAY, IT'S HEALTHY Jezebel: ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️  Whatever you have to say to yourself to justify that your snack of choice is a bowl of corn.  Not popped.  Just corn Wench: It's corn Jezebel: A big lump with knobs? Wench: Canned corn.  I’m lazy.  Also.  I did just have dinner with folks.  So I have had other food Jezebel: True.  But still Wench: WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH CORN Jezebel: Honestly?  Nothing.  I’ll make corn and tomatoes just to eat for a snack.  I’m just messing with you :) Wench: asdlkfjas;ldfkja;sldkjf Wench: -unfriended- Jezebel: Rude

– – –

Okay, now we’re going on.  Assuming my co-reactor over here doesn’t cause problems again :)

Weylin is a good name

So is Kinvaras  [Lol]

[Ooo jump scare]

LOOK!  LOOK!!! TONY KNOWING THE GAME INFORMATION!!!

“When you’re a computer geek playing online-”  Mmmhmm, do go on.  How do you know, Tony?  [😂😂😂😂😂😂]

Jethro's a decent rpg game, ngl.

He just wants to buy the sword

[I wish to reply to the accusation from the start of this post-midpoint reaction… You said that. Then paused.  Then started.  Then paused again. Then was like wait go back 😂😂😂😂]  Shut up, I’m revelling in my Tony-is-interested-in-rpgs headcanons, which are seeming more and more canon.  Also, I wanted to see if the scuffle I heard as he walked away was him being happy about buying the sword, or him tripping.  Alas, it was the latter, but the former lives in the good NCIS in my head

The camerawork here is weirdly choppy

"Codebreaker 7.8" alskdjf;lkasdjf;lakdsjf

... Tony.  Your hair.

Ooh, she's pretty

Um... isn't this entrapment?  I guess they're not doing it for prosecution and just for leverage, but still.

He's still so happy about being in Puerto Rico laksdjf

Y'all, maybe that's where the dings came from askdfj If there weren't scratches on any swords, THEN MAYBE IT WAS THE FREAKING POLE THAT HAS SCRATCH MARKS IN IT

(paraphrasing:) "You cannot let personal judgements interfere with the case" "I don't"  Excuse me, yes, you do, Kate

"Reception's not good here" mmmhmmm, that's not suspicious at all

alkdsjflakjdsf Tony, Tony, Tony.  'sigh'   He's a professional something, alright.  [Tony you dog 😂😂😂]  Look.  I’m just saying.  You know what they say: all work and no play…  [☠️☠️☠️]  Also, Jezebel, how dare you!  NOT THE DOG JOKES AGAIN!  [😂😂😂😂]

"There was nothing in the UCMJ against virtual homicides" askdfjalkdsfj

[Also, Misha Collins is in an episode.  I just remembered but it’s like a season three]  Dammit, guess I have to keep going  [Well darn 🙂]

Damn, that's a veryyyyy in-depth diary

"I'm constantly being monitored by the crew"  Buddy, they barely knew you

“Downloading a lot of… stuff”  Hmm… *cough cough*  [He had a super virus]

Look, I know that rambling wastes some degree of time, but.  Gibbs is so mean to Ducky :(  How dare you ignore his rambling!?

Kate doesn't actually seem to be allowing contamination with her personal values; this is logical.  (not sarcastic; I'm almost impressed, except this should be the bare minimum)

Tony, I wanna know about what you brought back.  I'm almost impressed, btw, that they didn't go for an easy joke about that one

lkasjdflksadjf ONCE AGAIN, HOW DID WE SUDDENLY GET TO HOMELAND SECURITY AND BIOWEAPONS?!?!!??! THERE'S LESS THAN TEN MINUTES LEFT!?!?!?

Okay.  Ya know what… I’m just rolling with it.

Okay, that acting was iffy.  “No!  He can't do this!!” was so desperate.  Then, "I don't know.”  was so flat.  alskdfjla;skdjf  [☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️]  Sorry, but it’s true  [It very much is]

I'm.  This episode has spiraled so much.

[Nooo the way Gibbs gets back in his face tho.  ☠️☠️☠️☠️]

Okay, I appreciated the: “To win the game. *music stills*”  That was pretty damn cool.

“The ‘plague against the realm’ could simply be referring to a computer virus.”  Wait.  Hold up.  Give it a sec, but if I accidentally called his plan from the beginning — r.e. “In a horror movie, [the computers] would be the problem” — I'm gonna laugh

…

What-

This-

I'm-

...

I'm condensing my thoughts about this later

[Oh, the CGI]

“I'm finding this very hard to understand, Abby.”  Me too, Ducky, me too.

This exposition though.  It’s literally restating stuff that was already allegedly covered, and is only to explain the confusing plotline to the audience, but it’s also Abby and Ducky, so I'm not complaining

“Aren't you interested at all in what I brought you back from Puerto Rico?”  I am, Tony.  I am.

On second thought… I'm not surprised.

ALDSKJF;LAKDFJA;LKDSFJ (scandalized): TONY

(scandalized): GIBBS

TONY BUYING AN RPG BOOK; YES, I SAID IT, MY BELOVED  (Yes, I get he allegedly gave it to Gibbs, but still.  He knew what to look for.  And about the dice.  I’m sorry, but… yeah.  He’s such a rpg kid, I’m sorry.)

WE ART DONE.

– – – 

Okay, look.  I reallyyyyyy want to like this one.  And, in many ways, I do.  The rpg element is, as Jezebel can attest --- psst, Jezebel, attest: [☠️☠️☠️☠️ I attest] --- right up my alley.  Abby, Ducky, and Tony all got big roles, too.  And Gibbs wasn't that bad.  Hell, even Kate --- though I did find her a bit annoying at times --- wasn't thatttt bad.  I will die on the rpg-player!Tony hill, and I appreciate this episode for that.  I also like the juxtaposition of medieval-ish and modern.

But it just... wasn't great.  The story was confusing --- I'm really good at following stories, and I felt like this was a bit... everywhere.  Again, I think they're trying to go too big without being able to handle it. --- and the pacing was weird.  The "omg, we might have a bomb on our enclosed ship that might kill us and we only have x amount of time to find and deal with it" was really rushed --- again, confined to the last 10 minutes of the show --- and didn't have much weight to it.  That would have been better as a whole (or at least half) episode, to be honest.  I'm not even sure why they (the characters) all assumed there'd be a bioweapon anyway?  Like, "a plague against the realm" was clearly rpg code-speak, and the guy was a computer geek.  Why are they acting like he suddenly as bioweapon/bio-bomb training???

Also.  If the guy wanted to get at Kinvaras.  But he believed that Kinvaras had spies everywhere (e.g. in the entire crew).  And he wants to take them down.  Why tf did they decide "oh, yeah, wiping out Kinvaras' gamer profile and blowing up our captain will do it" was a reasonable stance?   It would have been far more logical to have computer geek boy decide to take out all the computers on board.  (I mention for the third time that they literally said the words "Computers run the ship" and then never had the *computer guy* who was also trying to *take down the ship* attempt to take down the computers.)  [😂😂]

Anyway.  I’m not trying to be too harsh.  The episode was just… very hit-or-miss.  When it hit, it really hit; when it missed, it missed badly.  And I just feel kinda blah about it.  I will simply move onto the next reaction with memories of Abby, Ducky, and Tony-the-soon-to-be-a-closeted-rpg-nerd, and pretend that the logical/writing errors here didn’t happen.  Fun lil rpg episode, no issues at all… right?!

[dangermousie]

Long and navel-gazing and rambly thoughts about youth sageuks

I was thinking about this while wondering why Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency doesn’t grab me one way or another despite being very adequately made. Sure, it’s no masterpiece but I’ve liked many a non-masterpiece sageuk (Ja Myung Go, for example, is a hell of a mess, but it was addictive viewing.)

And then I thought - it’s because it’s a youth sageuk, and it all clicked into place. Out of the three sageuk subgenres, I like fusion (think Damo, Chuno, or the current My Country) the most, traditional (think Jumong or Queen Seon Duk or Six Flying Dragons) next, and youth sageuk the least. 

This is a pity since that’s the one subgenre that is on the rise. There is nothing wrong with it per se, but because it tends to involve essentially modern people dressed in period clothes and stay away from politics or any serious issues, it can be less exciting unless truly done well. A well-done youth sageuk can be a joy. But while even a mediocre traditional or fusion one can work for me simply because of the expanse of the story and the highness of the stakes, a youth sageuk doesn’t have that to fall back on. Unless it’s really good there is nothing to fall back on there.

It made me think about three youth sageuks that are probably responsible for the craze - Sungkyunkwan Scandal  (2010), The Moon that Embraces the Sun (2012) and Moonlight Drawn By Clouds (2016). I dislike Moon/Sun (they had Kim Soo Hyun doing a sageuk; also Jung Il Woo who basically should never leave sageukland and wasted them both. Han Ga In was terribly miscast since she neither acted nor had any chemistry with her leading man - the sole time I’ve seen her have chemistry with anyone was in Bad Guy with Kim Nam Gil and Kim Jae Wook but those two can melt Greenland, let alone a leading lady. The script had no tension or heft and the directing was boring. It was a pretty, well-rated piece of nothing, imo.) But the funny thing is I loved both Scandal and Moonlight. The former somehow managed to have true emotional heft both from our masquerading heroine, her leading man agonizing over being an upright scholar in love with a man, and the two other friends of the trio with their problems. The characters didn’t feel fully like modern people in dress up (the whole dilemma of the main male lead and his character is not a modern one, not really.) It was written tightly and acted superbly (it’s pretty telling that except for Park Yoochun, who had a stellar career prior to his downfall because he clearly has a host of legal and mental problems, the rest of the cast went on to superstar status.) It didn’t have vast moral issues and fates of kingdoms but it made you care deeply by creating characters that made you feel you knew them in RL. And Moonlight was such a delight that did the same - the plot was slender but Park Bo Gum and Kim Yoo Jung made me unhealthily invested. Park Bo Gum’s prince was a modern guy basically, but he played him with such verve, I didn’t even care (I did love that I spent the whole time wondering how they were going to address the elephant in the room that historically Crown Prince Hyomyeong died young and then the writers said Eff It and went full AU.)

But despite me being a fan of two out of three, I sort of wish they were less successful. They have the only tangential to politics or rl/made up king/real royal but totally AU trend which is fine if done well, but so few of their successors do it well. And then there is nothing to fall back on beside the pretty clothes, no real bedrock of stakes. 

So, in conclusion, I want more non-youth sageuks, dammit.