#season 3 was a bit of a departure from the formula so I liked that we got more of it in season 4

[zinnie-zoloft]

Say what you want about season 4, I absolutely loved jean and gene, those were some classic umbrella academy villains right there

[portraitoftheoddity]

Beginner Hiking Guide Part Two: Preparations - Knowledge is Power

1. Know what trail you’re taking

You may have decided “I’m going to climb Mount Moosilauke!” -- but there are several different trails up Mount Moosilauke, of varying length and steepness. Are you planning on doing the Beaver Brook Trail or the Gorge Brook Trail? Will you be doing an out-and-back up and down the same trail, or doing a loop where you descend down a different trail to the same trailhead departure point? 

Make a plan using the resources from Part One, know the names of the trails if there are interconnecting ones you plan to take, and keep track of blaze colors if you are in an area that uses colored trail blazes. (Blazes are rectangles of paint or other markers on trees and rocks put up by trail maintainers to indicate where the trail is, and which trail you are on)

2. Trailhead location and access

Once you know what trail you’re taking, you’ll want to figure out the location of the trailhead. Some trailheads can be very crowded, so you may want to show up early for parking, or be aware you may need to park a distance away. Also, some backcountry trailheads are on seasonal roads that may be closed during certain times or day or times of year, meaning you may wind up hiking an extra mile or two along a dirt road just to get to the trail. 

3. Trail length & elevation gain

How long is the route you’re taking? And what is the elevation gain? (Note: listed elevation for the hike typically refers to the highest point on the hike’s distance from sea level. Elevation gain specifically refers to the gain in elevation from the beginning of the hike to its highest point, since you often aren’t starting at sea level.) Keep in mind that the greater the elevation gain relative to the length of the hike, the steeper the trail will be and the more challenging the hike.

4. How difficult is the trail?

Trail difficulty is hard to gauge precisely, since what is difficult is always going to be relative. Something that might be an easy trail by one person’s judgment may be extremely challenging to another. But there are some factors we can look at for what’s likely to make a trail more or less difficult to hike:

Steepness - determined by elevation gain / length. TrailsNH has a useful “hiking difficulty calculator" to help you get an idea of the overall grade of the trail based on these criteria: https://trailsnh.com/tools/hiking-difficulty.php 

Terrain - is the ground flat gravel or full of rocks and tree roots? Does the trail description reference ‘scrambles’, ie, rocky areas where you will need to use your hands as well as your feet to climb up?

Trail Conditions - did it rain heavily yesterday, leaving the trail a slippery, muddy mess? Have there been landslides in the area? Did it snow at elevation?

Looking at the elevation gain and distance can help you determine steepness. Pictures of the trail and reviews may help you get an idea of the terrain. And there may be online hiking communities in your area that report on local trail conditions. (If you hike in the New England area, I recommend https://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/ ). AllTrails also has a comment section where people sometimes leave useful trail reports with the date, so you can check to see if someone hiked it recently.

5. What is your expected hike duration?

Average human walking pace is about 3 miles an hour. But walking pace and hiking pace can be very different, depending on the trail difficulty -- you may find yourself hiking between 3mph and 1mph. A challenging trail will force you to move slower and more carefully, and you’ll probably want to take breaks -- both to catch your breath, and to enjoy the view! 

There are a few different formulae out there for predicting hiking time. “Naismith's Rule” is 19.5 minutes per mile, plus 30 minutes for every 1000 feet of elevation gain, but this really only makes sense if you’re on a trail that has very smooth terrain. “Book time”, which is a bit better suited to rocky terrain like you’ll get on more backcountry trails, states “30 minutes per mile + 30 minutes per 1000 feet of elevation gain.” (Personally, in the White Mountains, I make it 45 minutes per 1000 feet of elevation). TrailsNH has a slightly more involved calculator that factors in overall pace, terrain, and the weight of your pack: https://trailsnh.com/tools/hiking-time-calculator.php . (Note that none of these factor in "snacking time", which is an egregious oversight in my opinion.)

If you’re new to hiking, always err on the side of giving yourself more time than you expect to need, until you get to know your own pace! And be sure to give yourself extra time to enjoy the wilderness without stress.

6. What’s the forecast?

Always look up the weather before you hike! Hikers are far more likely to die of exposure than of bear attacks or whatever else you may think is a threat in backcountry. Pay attention to temperature (extreme heat and extreme cold are both dangerous), humidity (humid days will have you sweating more, so you will need more water), wind speed + wind chill (especially if you’re hiking in exposed areas -- wind is a killer above treeline), and precipitation (you’re at greater risk of hypothermia, even in mild temperatures, if you’re wet). The weather conditions will impact the trail conditions, impact your own physical tolerance, and dictate what you need to bring if you do go hiking, or whether you should even be hiking at all. 

There may be different weather concerns depending on where you’re hiking. If you’re hiking in the mountains, you’ll want to make sure you know what the weather is at summit, not just at the base of a trail. It may be 80ºF down in the valley, but below freezing at the top of the mountain. On the other hand, if you’re hiking at low elevation, especially if you’re hiking in a canyon, you’ll want to pay close attention to flash flood warnings. 

Useful forecasting tools:

https://forecast.weather.gov/  - NOAA weather forecast, offers detailed hourly weather forecasts

https://www.mountain-forecast.com/ - provides forecasts for mountain summits (including windchill, wind speed, and wind direction)

Knowledge + SAFETY

Before you leave for your hike:

Plan your departure time. Know when sunset is, how long you project your hike to take, and how long it will take to get to the trailhead. Give yourself an ample buffer in case you underestimated your hike duration, and working backwards, plan to leave early enough that you will be done with your hike and back to your car well before the sun goes down so you aren’t stuck blundering through treacherous terrain in the dark (more on this in the next part where we talk about gear!). 

Check the weather forecast once again the night before, AND the morning of! Weather can be volatile. If conditions change and become unfavorable, don’t be afraid to reschedule your hike. You cannot outrun mother nature. Numerous people -- including seasoned hikers -- have died in the White Mountains (where I hike) from failing to adequately check the forecasts and getting trapped in deadly weather. There’s no shame in bailing out at the last minute if conditions are just plain bad.

Notify someone reliable in your life of:

Where you are hiking

What trail(s)/route you are taking

How long you expect to take

When to worry and call for help if they haven’t heard from you or can’t get hold of you

Stick to the plan you’ve communicated once you start your hike! If you are injured or lost and don’t have the ability to call for help (dead phone battery, no service, etc.), you will want someone who will recognize that you’re overdue and can call for the authorities to tell them where to look. The sooner someone knows you’re missing, the sooner Search & Rescue teams can be deployed to help you.

<< Previous part: Find Where You Want to Hike Next part: What to Wear Hiking >>

[rubyswanderlust]

From Broke Student to Jet-Setter: Funding Your Southeast Asia Dream

Ah, the age of 19, fresh into my first year of university, and a burning desire to live life to the fullest—especially through the lens of travel. But let's face it, fellow students, there's a constant hurdle in our path, and it goes by the name of MONEY. Now, add London to the mix, and you've got yourself a budgeting puzzle that needs solving.

So, picture this: my boyfriend and I, in a fit of spontaneity, decided to embark on a seven-week escapade through Southeast Asia over the Christmas break. Sounds dreamy, right? Well, it is, but there's a catch. Southeast Asia might be the haven for cash-strapped college students, but saving up for such an adventure? That's a whole new challenge, my friends.

But fret not, because I'm here to spill the beans on how I managed to squirrel away enough funds for that epic seven-week Southeast Asia journey. And the best part? I did it all without sacrificing my social life and academic performance. So, stick around as I unravel the secrets to budgeting like a pro while savoring every moment of student life.

1. Buy your flights early and PLAN AHEAD

As the Christmas season approached, I found myself in possession of a surplus of approximately £500. This stash consisted of unspent funds from my student finance and the earnings I had squirreled away from my part-time job. It was a fortuitous situation, and my adventurous spirit began to stir. The idea of embarking on a journey to South East Asia started to take shape.

Our first order of business was to scout for flight prices to our desired destination, Bangkok. After some diligent research, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that a round trip from London to Bangkok would cost us around £400. A promising start, indeed!

However, as any seasoned traveler knows, the itinerary can evolve as you go along. It wasn't long before we realized that Kuala Lumpur offered the most budget-friendly return route to London. A handy tip for those seeking economical travel options!

But here's the golden nugget of wisdom I'd like to share: when it comes to booking your flights, always, and I mean ALWAYS, do it well in advance. Trust me; it's a game-changer. Flights are considerably cheaper when booked ahead of time, even in comparison to snagging a deal a mere 3 to 5 months before your intended departure.

Of course, there are a few caveats to this approach. Planning months in advance can feel a tad risky, especially when life's unpredictabilities come into play. However, if you're absolutely certain about your travel plans and have the wanderlust bug firmly entrenched in your system, this method is an absolute winner.

To sweeten the deal, you can employ the nifty tool known as Google Flights. It's your trusty sidekick for pinpointing the departure dates that promise the most budget-friendly fares. So, there you have it—a tried-and-tested formula for budget-savvy travel. Happy exploring!

2. Get a part-time job 

Finding the perfect part-time job during my university year turned into a bit of an odyssey, taking me roughly a month to land on the right opportunity. My initial foray into the job market led me to a waitressing gig at a local restaurant. However, it quickly became evident that this place had different plans for my time than I did. Despite my request for a more manageable 15-20 hours per week, they insisted on a gruelling 30-hour workweek.

Thankfully, I didn't give up, and my persistence eventually paid off. I stumbled upon a job at a restaurant that was conveniently paired with the Hilton in the heart of London Bridge. The silver lining? They offered a zero-hour contract, which meant I had the flexibility to work around 10 hours a week. The catch? I had to rise and shine at the crack of dawn since I was assigned to the breakfast buffet shift. But hey, that left me with the entire day to call my own.

With this additional income, coupled with my student finance, I managed to tuck away a tidy sum of £100-200 per month into my travel savings. This prudent financial approach ultimately enabled me to accomplish a significant feat: booking my flight to Bangkok and securing a return flight from Kuala Lumpur in January.

How did I pull it off, you might wonder? Well, I made a conscious decision to save money during the Christmas holidays by opting to spend quality time with my family staying at home instead of splurging on groceries, transportation, and other expense if I decided to stay on campus. My part-time job earnings were now exclusively channeled into my travel savings fund. And that, my friends, is how I turned my dreams of an adventure into a reality.

3. Lock your travel savings into a Monzo pot

Being a student on a budget, I stumbled upon a game-changer: Monzo, the banking app that quickly became my trusty sidekick. Why, you ask? Well, let me spill the beans.

Monzo boasts a nifty feature that had me absolutely hooked—the ability to create what they call "pots." Picture these pots as your secret stash for all your savings goals. It's like having a digital piggy bank, but way cooler.

Now, here's where it gets even better. I designated one of these magical pots exclusively for my travel savings. It became my virtual treasure chest, where I diligently stashed away funds for my upcoming summer adventures. But wait, there's more! Monzo throws in an extra layer of awesomeness by allowing you to lock these pots for a specific period. Talk about commitment!

If you're anything like me and aspire to save up for your epic summer escapades, Monzo is your go-to bank. It keeps things crystal clear by showing you exactly how much you've squirreled away. Plus, it's equipped with nifty features that act as your guardian angels, preventing you from dipping into your precious travel savings. So, if you're ready to embark on a budget-savvy journey toward your dream summer getaway, Monzo is here to make it happen. Trust me; you won't regret it.

4. Pre-game hard before you go out 

Let's talk about one of the classic student struggles—nights out with friends. It was my Achilles' heel when I was on a mission to save up during my university days. Ah, those unforgettable first-year adventures! Back then, the goal was simple: get as drunk as humanly possible every single time.

You know how it goes—one drink leads to another, and suddenly, I've dropped a cool £50 on club drinks that didn't even have the courtesy to get me properly sloshed. It's a rite of passage, really. But if you're looking for sage advice to pass down to fellow university students, here it is: pregame like a pro.

For the uninitiated, pregame is the art of enjoying a few budget-friendly sips before hitting the town. In my case, a trusty £6 bottle of white wine was my secret weapon. It's a game-changer that not only saves you a small fortune but also ensures you're in good spirits for a night out.

And here's a little trick I picked up along the way—a sober month. Yep, you heard that right. I tried it, and it worked wonders for my wallet. Of course, this path is reserved for the truly dedicated travelers among us, like myself. Plus, there are some nifty health benefits thrown in for good measure.

So, if you're ready to commit to your travel dreams, consider these wallet-friendly tactics. Your future adventures—and your bank account—will thank you. Cheers to saving and savouring life!

5. Don't buy new clothes or sell your old, unused ones

Ah, the perils of being a spirited teenager—it's all too easy to succumb to the allure of an online shopping spree, seeking that sweet serotonin rush. But let me regale you with a valuable lesson I learned on my quest to save up for my Asian adventure.

Here's the thing: buying new clothes can seem like a fantastic idea at the time, but trust me, it often doesn't live up to the hype. I vividly recall the sinking feeling of spending a hefty £50 on a top that lost its appeal within a mere month. Ouch. That £50 could've been a tidy addition to my savings pot.

So, here's my sage advice—take a moment to cherish your current wardrobe. You've got more than enough stylish outfits to rock. The truth is, you don't need to splurge on trendy new threads every single month. Sometimes, less is more.

But wait, there's more wisdom to share. Ever thought about clearing out those old clothes that have been gathering dust? Enter apps like Vinted, your ticket to not only decluttering your wardrobe but also pocketing a little extra cash. It's a win-win. The money you make from selling those second-hand gems can easily replace any funds you might have dipped into from your savings pot during moments of weakness.

So, my fellow youthful thrivers, remember this: appreciating what you have and making savvy choices will not only keep your wardrobe fresh but also propel you closer to your savings goals. It's all about balance and making the most of what you've got. Happy saving!

6. Spend less money on transport

London, the ultimate city for strolling to your heart's content. An hour spent navigating the vibrant streets of this bustling metropolis feels like a mere twenty minutes. So, before you let TFL make a dent in your bank account every time you tap into the tube, consider another option—walking.

Not only does this choice help you rack up those much-needed steps, but it also invites a sense of mindfulness into your daily routine. There's something special about meandering through London's streets, taking in the sights, sounds, and energy of the city.

Now, for those moments when public transport is non-negotiable, here's a pro tip: make sure you've got your trusty student discount zip card at the ready. The small savings you accumulate with each journey may seem inconsequential in the moment, but they add up to significant savings in the long run.

In a nutshell, if your destination in London is less than an hour away by foot, I say go for it—walk to your heart's content. Your wallet and your well-being will thank you.

7. Stop buying your significant other gifts

Are you and your partner planning an exciting travel adventure together, much like I did? Well, here's a little nugget of wisdom I picked up along the way—put a hold on those pricey gifts for birthdays, Valentines, Christmas, and all the rest. 

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for showing love through gift-giving, but let's consider a savvy alternative. How about redirecting those gift funds straight into your travel savings pot? It's a game-changer that can help you build up a substantial travel fund before you know it.

If you and your partner share a burning passion for exploring new horizons and want to ensure your trip is not just a dream but a reality filled with incredible experiences, this is a no-brainer. Making the decision to prioritize your travel goals over materialistic gifts is a win-win situation.

After all, isn't the prospect of a remarkable journey together and the memories you'll create far more valuable and enduring than those fleeting, material presents? It's a shift in perspective that's bound to make your adventures all the more meaningful. So, consider this your passport to both love and wanderlust!

8. Choose your supermarket wisely, good meal plans are key 

London, the land of opportunities, but also a city that can quickly drain your wallet. But fear not, fellow budget-conscious souls, for I've uncovered a gem of wisdom that will keep your finances in check while keeping your belly full.

First and foremost, ditch the fancy supermarkets and head straight to the budget-friendly havens—Aldi and Lidl. These places are your best pals when it comes to smart grocery shopping in the heart of London.

Now, let's talk strategy. The key to saving big bucks is to craft a robust meal plan. Trust me; this simple step can be a game-changer. Instead of splurging on takeout and watching your hard-earned money vanish, you'll be in control of your spending.

As an example, let's take a 19-year-old like me. With a mere £11 at Aldi, I managed to score groceries that kept me satisfied for an entire week. Yes, you read that right! Three meals a day, each brimming with the essential trio—protein, fiber, and carbs.

Sure, we all have unique tastes and dietary needs, but the bottom line remains the same. Whether you're a gourmet enthusiast or a lover of simple pleasures, shopping at Aldi or Lidl will stretch your grocery budget further than you ever thought possible. So, without further ado, here's a sample meal plan to help you conquer the art of budget-friendly grocery shopping in your local Aldi. Your wallet will thank you later!

Day 1:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with banana slices.

Lunch: Peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Dinner: Spaghetti with tomato sauce, a side salad, and garlic bread.

Day 2:

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with toast.

Lunch: Tuna salad (canned tuna, mayo, and chopped veggies).

Dinner: Baked chicken thighs with mixed vegetables and rice.

Day 3:

Breakfast: Greek yogurt with honey and a handful of berries.

Lunch: Cheese and ham sandwich with a side of carrot sticks.

Dinner: Vegetarian chili with rice.

Day 4:

Breakfast: Banana and peanut butter smoothie.

Lunch: Leftover chili.

Dinner: Pork sausages with mashed potatoes and peas.

Day 5:

Breakfast: Cereal with milk.

Lunch: Turkey and cheese wrap with cucumber slices.

Dinner: Tuna pasta (canned tuna, pasta, mayo, and peas).

Day 6:

Breakfast: Toasted English muffin with cream cheese.

Lunch: Leftover tuna pasta.

Dinner: Chicken drumsticks with roasted potatoes and green beans.

Day 7:

Breakfast: Pancakes with syrup.

Lunch: Tomato soup with a side of crackers.

Dinner: Vegetarian stir-fry with rice (use frozen mixed veggies and tofu or your preferred protein).

Additional Ingredients:

Olive oil, butter, or cooking spray for cooking.

Salt, pepper, and basic spices (like garlic powder, paprika, and oregano).

Shopping List:

Oatmeal

Bananas

Bread

Peanut butter

Canned tuna

Mixed vegetables

Tomato sauce

Salad greens

Garlic bread

Eggs

Greek yogurt

Honey

Berries

Cheese slices

Deli ham

Carrots

Pork sausages

Potatoes

Peas

Cereal

Milk

Turkey slices

Tortillas or wraps

Cucumber

Cream cheese

English muffins

Tomato soup

Crackers

Pancake mix

Syrup

Frozen mixed vegetables

Tofu or preferred protein

10. Freeload off your parents

Living near your parents during university can be a blessing in disguise, and I've got a little trick up my sleeve to share with you—make the most of it! Here's how I did it: I'd invite my dear parents for a fun day out in central London, but there was a little twist—our adventure included a grocery shopping spree.

Now, you might wonder why I'd drag them along for a grocery run, but let me tell you, it's a brilliant way to save some extra cash while enjoying quality time together. Plus, who doesn't love a day out with their folks, right?

And here's a little secret that many university students swear by—when you head back home during breaks, seize the opportunity to load up on all the "freebies" you can find. Trust me; these treasures can go a long way in saving you money while you're back on campus.

So, my fellow scholars, remember this little strategy when you're lucky enough to live close to your parents. It's a win-win situation—family time, savings, and a few extra goodies to make your university life a bit more comfortable.

11. Discipline yourself two months before your big trip 

While our mission here is to help you maintain a healthy social life while sticking to your budget, we can't overlook the significance of the last two months leading up to your adventure.

Now, the timeline might vary depending on the duration of your trip, but these precious months are where the magic—or the challenge—happens. It's the time for unwavering discipline in the realm of saving money and budgeting, ensuring that your trip exceeds your expectations without financial hiccups.

So, how can you master this discipline? Let's explore some strategies. Consider temporarily limiting your outings to once a month. I know, it might seem like a daunting task, and yes, it might cause a bit of a stir among your friends. But fear not! There are alternatives to keep the social flame burning bright.

Host indoor activities with your pals—think cozy dinners or engaging card games. These gatherings not only preserve your social life but also contribute to your savings discipline. It's a win-win situation that ensures your travel fund stays intact.

In the grand scheme of your adventure, these last two months can make all the difference. So, stay committed, embrace the art of budgeting, and watch as your trip unfolds beyond your wildest dreams.

[halfling-myth-lady]

Id say that cyber sleuth and survive are the best,not to say the others aren’t also good but world 1 and next order basically need a guide to be played properly,the ds games don’t have great story and the quest system in dawn and dusk can be a bit annoying and the grind that those games need can be really time consuming (trust me my first playthrough of dusk is over thirty hours long and That’s just the main story) but if you like those sorts of games their really charming and personally their both a 7/10 but generally some of the better games in the series.also next order doesn’t NEED a guide,it’s just that it makes the games a hell of a lot easier and more fun.

Thats about it on the games I’ve played/finished.

World 2 seems to be a dungeon crawler but I’ve been told that the battle system can be easy to cheese.

I haven’t played much of world 3 but from what I’ve played it’s the only game that has a somewhat traditional rpg battle system,but unfortunately it’s definitely one of the worst ones for me since the game is just so grindy and it doesn’t tell you anything right of the bat.

Just watch a review for world 4.

From what I’ve heard the fan translation games seem to be pretty darn good so make sure to check those out.

In general,the best way to get into the series is the anime,not to say the games are bad(when it peaks is when it really peaks) but they can be a bit...inconsistent,that’s all,but in general I’d recommend cyber sleuth or survive as a start as it really is peak digimon(even if others might disagree with me)

For the anime,any season except for 02 and frontier would be a good start,02 since it’s a sequel to the first season,and frontier since it’s just such a departure from the formula.

Also,don’t watch the dubs,watch the subs.please.

Kotemon my beloved

I had to look this up because I don’t actually know Digimon all that well but he seems very nice and polite. Ty inadvertently introducing me to this lil guy.

[why-this-kolaveri-machi]

just because you’re afraid it doesn’t mean you’re broken.

Titans 3.05

once more into the cold dark void of the internet with my stream-of-consciousness take on a superhero tv show...

spoilers ahead.

1. i cannot believe that among the first things i get to hear in this episode with my own two ears is the line 'eluded our overdudes'. why must you give me such pain along with so much joy, show?

1.5. scarecrow stringing jason along on this path to red-hood-dom is not something i would’ve ever expected, but does kind of make sense. 

1.55. i don’t know all the details of the original resurrection arc in the comics but i like that jason, weirdly, has a greater role to play in his own demise and rebirth? i think it makes it easier to draw a line between his past trauma, the demonstrably shitty and terrifying responsibility of being robin, the ways bruce and the titans wronged him, his responses to that, the reasons he turns to scarecrow, and his final evolution to red hood. it makes for a smoother character arc rather than a one that was interrupted for two decades before somebody went oh hey let’s resurrect that kid that the audience once voted to kill and make him an anti-hero!

1.75. what’s crane giving him? anti fear toxin? anyway, crane is a fucking creep and i’m not sure i want to see a whole lot of him on my screen.

2. oh, um, heads up: there’s a long sequence of unsteady cam + flickering lights right after the title card upto the 3:16 mark. it’s a bit headache-inducing so if you want to skip, you can go ahead and do that. 

2.45. that’s... weird... why would he dream about... donna...

ok, who am i kidding. i’m going to jump right into my theory about Why Titans Makes Sense Actually because the show itself is apparently not interested in explaining itself:

a) it makes no sense for jason to be conjuring up donna--who famously did not care much for him!--in his dreams. (he wasn’t even there when she died.) or for her to be telling him don’t go or there’s still time.

b) this leads me to think that that’s actually donna, in some sort of limbo between life and death, the kind of place where jericho used to be

c) rachel has demonstrated that she has the power to link the minds of the titans across great distances--she called jason and hank/dawn for help in 2.01, she linked up everybody later in the season, projected dick’s hallucination of his father into their brains without even realising she was doing it, and in the finale, she managed to get dick into conner’s brain. she’s in themyscira now. is this how she gets donna back to life? but reaching out to her in that non-space between life and death?

d) the next obvious question is: why isn’t donna appearing in the dreams of the other titans? she probably is, but they have better reason to be dreaming about her since they were actually close to her, unlike jason.

e) but why would she warn jason in particular? does she foresee jason entering the afterlife--however briefly? does she have an idea of what jason plans to do and what he will become?

f) anyway, more trippy mindscapes and weird psychic powers, yay!

2.5. my heart clenched when bruce comforted jason post-nightmare: clearly i’ve been reading way too much batfam fic. this is a side of bruce we haven’t really been told to expect by all the characters on the show calling him a ‘psychopath’ (*cough*unreliablenarrators*cough*) and him getting jason to speak to a professional speaks volumes about the kind of self-reflection he’s done post dick’s departure, and maybe some of the regrets he has with regards to how he dealt with dick’s traumas.

i mean, just look at him when jason dismisses his concerns! BRUCE IS TRYING JASON

anyway, i have a whole lot more i want to say about this, but i’ll save it for later. 

also: LESLIE THOMPKINS!!!!

3. i really like molly--and i love that she’s a friend from before jason got taken in by bruce, the implication that they meet up regularly and that she’s a grounding influence on him (tho clearly not grounding enough to not go along with his dumbass idea about confronting a child trafficker alone). 

3.5. aw, jason. robin was his armour against everything in the world that would throw him down and chew him to bits, but san francisco proved that even robin wasn’t enough to protect him. it’s really interesting how ‘disillusionment with the idea of robin’ is so integral to the traumas of both dick and jason but in such different ways. 

4. LESLIE!!!!!!! i even forgive her office being so goddamn blue because leslie! 

4.5. it makes so much sense for titans!verse leslie to be a therapist, because this show is so inward looking anyway, and therapist sessions are a useful tool to showcase this character work in a story. besides, at least in fanfic, leslie often seems to double up as a counsellor anyway. 

4.6. oh man. i’m not terribly convinced by walters’ red hood (tho i think that may be the point--argh. i’ll come back to this thought later. have to stop getting distracted!) but he plays the asshole kid that’s trying not to let any real emotion seep through really well.

“you’d like me to punch you, wouldn’t you”

5. not sure what to think of batman’s little trophy case other than the show winking unsubtly at us and going look look - catwoman! the riddler! two face! you excited yet?! it’s like the scene from the end of amazing spiderman 2 when they were trying to drum up excitement for a sinister six spinoff by having harry osborne walk by a bunch of display cases with stuff from iconic villains in them.

... but then again, bruce does like to display a lot of shit in his batcave, including his dead robin’s bloodstained costume, so.

5.5. bruce is so soft with jason it’s killing me. beyond just trying to learn from his mistakes with dick, it speaks to his own genuine desire to balance his dedication to gotham with doing the best by his sons, although he’s often not successful with that. 

i love that titans is really playing the long game with bruce wayne, with each season and character-perspective sliding in fresh pieces of a bigger puzzle. titans’ bruce has always been a phantom of other peoples’ making, but now we’re getting the idea that he’s a whole lot more complicated than other people make it seem.

5.75. it really recontextualises some of his actions from previous seasons: the fact that he locked dick out of his security systems in 1.06 is likely his way of respecting dick’s independence and his desire not to be associated with batman/gotham anymore. jason knowing about bruce’s tracker while dick doesn’t is probably bruce trying to be more honest and upfront with his charges. bruce sending jason packing off to sanfran to spend time with the titans is probably not him passing on a big responsibility to dick (as i first uncharitably thought) but him trying to get jason out of the toxic influence of gotham for a while and a sign of his trust in dick as a leader and a mentor,

5.8. i mean, bruce is a prick, but he’s also human.

6. i think leslie is doing some good work with jason here, though she may have overstepped the line with her line about robin as a construct being projected by a man with BPD. her speculations about bruce’s diagnosis have no place in her session with jason, and if bruce confides in her, an egregious violation of patient-therapist confidentiality. 

(about the diagnosis itself... i don’t know. i can’t really confirm or refute this without a whole lot more information, and i’m not sure if the writer of this episode means BPD in the same way an actual professional might.)

6.5. i think a huge thing that gets missed out in a lot of recent comics as well as movies/shows is that bruce didn’t create the robin persona out of whole cloth. dick did. he’s the starting point of that legacy and to call it entirely bruce’s creation is blatant erasure of that. in fact, i’m surprised that dick doesn’t feature more in the conversations they’re having about the pressures of being robin. after all, the guy had been robin--bruce’s partner--for such a long time before jason. 

6.8. (and here’s the primal part of me that resonates the deepest with dick grayson--the Eldest Daughter part--that’s sort of resentful: that jason gets the therapy and softness and the learning from mistakes when it took years and years for bruce to reach out in any meaningful way to dick.)

7. oooh that was a great scene!

it’s fun to do these stream-of-consciousness live reactions, because the moment you step down from your soapbox, the episode goes right into tackling what you were just complaining about. bruce means well, he’s learning, but he goes about exactly the wrong way to help jason: taking away robin now can’t be read by jason as anything but a devastating judgment call from bruce. and iain glen really sells the moment that bruce realises this--too late--and his helplessness in trying to get jason to see that it isn’t jason’s fault that he’s trying to do this. he loves jason enough that jason is enough. 

7.5. aaaah so jason brings up the elephant in the room at last. dick got everything makes sense from his perspective, where getting to put on a costume and fight crime means approval, means being something stronger and better than you are. dick got to be robin, then nightwing, and a leader of a whole team of other costume-clad heroes. 

8. ... how did jason just walk into arkham????? this is ridiculous.

8.3. i mean, clearly jason’s not thinking straight, but betraying batman like this puts his possibilities of being robin again even further away. 

8.5. watching that chemistry experiment montage was strangely funny. this guy is looking for an antidote to fear? well, constantly mixing up and inhaling gases concocted by a mad-scientist supervillain is something only the very fearless--reckless to the point of foolishness!--would do. what’s to say crane’s not given you a formula for a drug that will keep you tethered to his every will and whim? hmmmm?

8.7. so he sought out the joker to... test the formula??? 

9. wow the “loud and clear... boss” hits different after a whole episode of them referring to each other as father and son.

9.3. waitwaitwait HOLD UP. wait a DANG MINUTE. you’re telling me that scarecrow had enough resources that he could not only have folks on the outside steal jason away and dunk him in a lazarus pit (i TOLD you that this show would bring up and dismiss ra’s al ghul in a ten second aside! I TOLD YOU) but also have his own little chemistry lab in the basement, AND have enough resources for jason to build his red hood persona???????? all of this in barely twenty four hours?

well there goes my ‘jason orchestrated his death’ theory. it was nice while it lasted. *cups hands to the sky* fly away, my baby.

9.6. a part of me is gleeful at the rushed nature of such an iconic transformation though, especially when compared to all the character work that went before it. we’re so used to getting the opposite that it’s fucking delightful to have a show that’s more interested in exploring its characters’ minds rather than battle scenes or recreating transformations from the comics. that’s taken such bold and exciting steps to fully convey all the nuances of its most recognisable character, bruce wayne, from casting an older actor to play him to unflinchingly showing just how damaging the vigilante lifestyle has been to him and the people he loves. BRILLIANT

*sporfle*

10. again, heads up: a whole lot of flashing lights between 40:28 and 42:00. 

10.3. i guess it’s the super-compressed timeline that’s really throwing me off. where did he have the time to get/develop the mind control thing from? or is it something that he got from the cabal of villains that he intimidated at the beginning of 3.02? very messy.

10.5. i love molly, i hope she shows up again this season.

11. aaaand that’s it! that was a solid episode as flashback episodes go, but now i can’t wait to return to the present.

[veronicamarsconfessions]

I was hugely excited by the announcement that a fourth season of teen noir show Veronica Mars was going to be made, nearly fifteen years after the show’s initial air date (and cancellation after three seasons), and five years after the crowdfunded movie came out. As soon as the show dropped on Hulu (or Stan, if you’re in Australia like me) – a week earlier than initially slated, I rushed to watch it. And I was so distraught by the ending that it genuinely took two days for my mood to return to something even vaguely resembling ‘okay’.

For those of you who haven’t seen it *SPOILERS FROM HERE ON*,

season four has Veronica (Kristen Bell) chasing down a serial bomber who seems to be trying to destroy the Spring Break business in Neptune. It turns out that the first bomb was set by property developer ‘Big’ Dick Casablancas, trying to destroy the Spring Break business in order to buy the waterfront properties cheaply, and the subsequent bombs were set by a pizza delivery man, Penn Epner (Patton Oswalt), who fancies himself a detective and is out to find glory after he is initially ridiculed for his public accusation of an incorrect suspect. The season itself had several issues (one of them being some seriously murky motivations behind Epner’s behaviour, like, if he really was that much of a genius, why was he a pizza delivery man?, and that the people ultimately behind the crimes are more or less ‘hidden in plain sight’ all along, which is a disappointing departure from the way the initial seasons cleverly hid the villain until quite late in proceedings). However, the issue for which there is not enough therapy in the world to appease me is the season’s last-minute killing off of reformed bad-boy and Veronica’s long-time boyfriend, Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), right after they finally got married.

Series creator and showrunner, Rob Thomas, justified this decision by saying ‘I know this seems crazy or harsh but Veronica is at her best when she’s an underdog and I don’t know that there’s much to root for if she’s now got a perfect relationship. I need to keep her fighting and I need to keep her a little bit uncomfortable in order to have a show. There’s nothing funny or interesting about perfection.’

Except that’s a deeply flawed understanding of how relationships function, and a deeply messed up thing to push on to people.

It’s fair to acknowledge that once the ‘will-they-won’t-they�� is resolved, TV shows often decline in quality, or at the very least, significantly depart from the original formula which made them into such beloved hits at their beginning. But there are two significant issues with this: First, the assumption that TV shows must remain the same in order to be good. There are some interesting observations that the job of the sitcom episode (in particular) is to return all characters to more or less their original starting points. While that is broadly true, TV shows, like life, need to evolve in order to stay interesting, and as across seasons, audiences grow alongside the characters they watch evolve and mature.

Nevertheless, it was fair for Thomas to note that the characterisation of Veronica is someone who is embittered and cynical about people’s fidelity and inherent goodness  – after all, when we first meet her at the age of sixteen, her best friend has been brutally murdered, she’s been raped, her alcoholic mother has upped and left, and her adored father and moral compass has been socially ostracised for a) doing his job and b) being not super wealthy. It’s a lot. Veronica’s very understandable trust issues are compounded by the moonlighting she does as a P.I where, to she regularly sees people cheating on one another and generally behaving in unpleasant ways. So it’s reasonable to point out that for Veronica, the notion of the ‘happily ever after’ is a deeply uncomfortable one. But to keep her in the same mindset as she was at aged 16 is to deny her the capacity to grow as a character.

It’s fair that there was a desire to avoid repeating the pattern previously established (withdrawn/bitter etc), but – and here is my ultimate point – that could have been avoided.

Some of the most complex and interesting storylines come from couples who get together and have to navigate relationships; compromising to fit together, find a way to make it work. Think about the evolution of Niles and Daphne’s relationship in Frasier (and leave aside some of the aspects to his earlier infatuation with her that seem distinctly distasteful in a post-#metoo world). While much of the humour between them in earlier seasons was because of his unrealised ardour for her, after they became a couple, the hardships they navigated through being a couple, and the deepening richness of their relationship that was both romantic and based in friendship, produced some truly hilarious moments. Similarly, one of my (and our fabulous Chief Nerd, Elise’s) favourite TV shows, Chuck, *SPOILER* has the two leads get together in season 3. The show was no lesser for that fact because as Chuck and Sarah’s relationship deepened, they explored facets of themselves that they hadn’t previously shown – it provided more material for the writers, not less.

One of my favourite articles on the ending of Veronica Mars, season four, pointed out that Logan has the most interesting character development because he works to better himself – he has come a long way from the miscreant teenager who organised ‘bum fights’, and he had the potential to become an even more interesting character. How this interacted with Veronica’s cynicism could have provided significant fodder for more story.

But, giving full credit to Rob Thomas for a moment here, the show is called Veronica Mars, not Logan Echolls. So the decision to axe Logan was made to push Veronica’s character development forward, especially given the shows position as a gender-flipped noir which so often has the embittered, cynical detective dealing with the ongoing pain of a tragically killed love.

But the problem is that I can’t actually see how this is going to do anything but ossify Veronica’s primary characteristics: bitter, a hardnosed and reckless desire to catch the bad guy at any cost. Moreover, in most of the noir detective stories, this love has died before we meet the hard-bitten detective.

Thomas said to The Hollywood Reporter, “Moving forward, we’re going to really build around [the idea that] the case is the thing and less of the soap opera of Veronica’s life.” Except Veronica Mars is all about character. Her interactions with her father, Keith (Enrico Colantoni) and the genuine bond of affection between them evokes some of the show’s most poignant interactions. Her internal struggle when the pursuit of justice comes up against questions of morality is inherent grounded in her character. One of its most interest aspects across the years is that Veronica is often wrong. She falsely accuses people (including Logan himself), she behaves badly, she takes her friends for granted, and she can be reckless to the point where she endangers herself and someone has to come in and rescue her (case in point: wandering into the base of an Irish gang that had a particular grudge against her father). So to strip away the elements to the story that allow for depiction and consideration of those complexities would be to lose much of the show’s point.

There’s also a part of me that feels the way in which Logan was killed feels personal. Logan and Veronica were never initially meant to get together, but in the first episodes, the chemistry between the characters, and Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring was so profound that it was written in. I might be putting on my tin foil hat to say this, but it feels as though Thomas resented the manner in which LoVe became such a pivotal part of the Veronica Mars ‘brand’. What really underpins that for me is that the way the series sent off other characters was considered, and gave them a certain ‘exit’. The way in which Logan was killed off feels almost like an afterthought, made more so by some of the questions that arise from the manner. How did he know that she would be in it when it actually blew up? Moreover, the convenience of him leaving a voicemail for his therapist about why he wanted to marry Veronica (why exactly would he call his therapist to tell him about his epiphany? Who has that kind of relationship with their therapist?), and this woman’s decision to keep it from Veronica for a year seems weirdly contrived. Because it was.

However, to be fair, one could claim that the season mistreated some of its other characters, too. Tina Majorino who plays Cindy ‘Mac’ Mackenzie specifically noted that she did not want to return because she did not want her character to be sidelined. Similarly, the complexity to Eli ‘Weevil’ Navaro’s character was stripped away, as was the depth of his relationship with Veronica. What’s worse is that this could have been a really interesting storyline; why he decided to walk away from the court case which would have seen him awarded with compensation for what happened to him in the movie. While we are told that his wife left him along with his child, prompting him to return to his old gang-running ways, the depth of his grief and the reputable life he lost were never really portrayed. Honestly, I would have preferred that rather than the convoluted storyline that involved Mexican cartel hitmen.

But beyond my argument as a writer as to why Logan’s death was a totally unnecessary element to bring in, it also feels like a real slap in the face to fans. I’ve previously talked about the relationship this show has with its fans. Realistically, season 4…hell, the movie, only existed because of the love and support fans showed the show.

Any narrative material exists to interact with fans. Obviously, there is a fine line that can cross into blatant pandering, and there is also a trend that offers a ‘gritty’ or ‘sad’ end (ie the tragic death of the lover), but it’s a balance.

The Veronica Mars movie was very much fan service – it was, after all, fan funded. Much of the movie’s contents and storyline were determined by what Thomas was seeing from fan comments on social media, noting “I did have an idea of things people wanted to see, characters I wanted to get an appearance in, whether it felt extraneous or not.” He added, “there’s no way in the world we would have had a fan-funded movie and I would have killed Logan,” he added.

In the same interview, he said, “I fear that leaning into the high school soap that the show started out as is a losing proposition, that it will start feeling nostalgic rather than vital. If Kristen [Bell] and I want to make more of these Veronica Mars mysteries, I think it’s going to survive best as a true mystery show with a badass PI at the center of it, and I think that works better if the PI doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

Yet for a show whose who schtick was challenging the noir detective genre, it seems the prospect that someone fundamentally gritty and damaged can also have a relationship that the struggle to be healthy was simply a bridge too far.

And at the crux of it, what really frustrates me – as a fan, and as a writer – is that for Thomas, it simply felt too hard to give Logan and Veronica an enduring relationship, and it if wasn’t too difficult, then he perceived it destroyed some fundamental part of the show by making it emotionally sappy. If that’s the dichotomy in which Thomas thinks, then Veronica Mars is no longer the show which attracted its die-hard following of fans and may as well be a different show with a similar premise.

[popcornandgreenolives]

richard is great, but... you know.

Silicon Valley Review - Seasons 1-5

What I liked:

It is completely relatable. As someone currently working in the tech industry, I found that a lot of the show to be pretty realistic especially in terms of tech jargon, software practices and methodology (YES, Scrum is an implementation of a real software development methodology called Agile and I live it everyday at work), and even the most ridiculous sounding formulas on the show have been proven to be accurate (here's an example). And seeing as how this show is a satire, it's kind of comforting to know that some of the stuff that I find silly and/or comical about the software industry are also things that are being parodied and mocked on this show. After watching the show I'd read reviews saying that Pied Piper's small successes followed by their constant big failures and getting steamrolled by Hooli were getting a bit tired and repetitive, but I actually wasn't bothered by the storyline. Unfortunately, this is the reality of the start up and Corporate American cultures, and I think the show does a great job of realistically depicting the struggle.

The writing is great: the technical concepts are well researched and the jokes are FREAKEN HILARIOUS. There's a good mix of the humor being both witty and inappropriate and I love me some nerdy jokes, raunchy jokes and nerdy raunchy jokes (again, this is a good example). I do wonder, though, for viewers that are not familiar with tech jargon or concepts if they would find it as funny?

Richard is my favorite character because I like what he represents and I can completely identify with him and his plight (not to mention he started out as a QA engineer). He's a nerd (I love nerds) and an idealist who strives for success through hard work and doing the right thing, but constantly comes up disappointed, bewildered and crushed when the Gavin Belsons of the world who run the cold, heartless tech corporations like Hooli succeed through political maneuvering, manipulation, backstabbing and lying. At times he's a bit wishy washy, but I know that to survive in a cut-throat environment, anyone with a conscience would face the same ethical dilemmas as he does, because no one wants to be the nice guy that finishes last. I love (and maybe relate a little bit too much) to those moments when has to prove his point because he KNOWS he was right. Despite the fact that he's a genius with a moral compass, he is far from perfect - he aspires, he struggles, he fails, and he gets back up and tries again - which I think makes him one of the more realistic characters I've seen on television. Plus, in real life I just love Thomas Middleditch and think he is one of the funniest people - I think his knack for improv (his characters on the Comedy Bang Bang podcast are hilarious) helps him play this quirky, goofy nerd so well.

Zach Woods is awesome as Jared and my second most favorite character. I think what makes his character so funny is that he comes off as this optimistically cheery yes-man, who randomly and non-chalantly gives us small tidbits of his character's really dark and disturbing childhood. And while his mostly unfailing loyalty to Richard is kind of endearing, it's also amusingly creepy.  Many (many?) years ago, before he was even Gabe on The Office, I had seen him in an improv show. His experience in improv definitely pays off as he delivers a lot of the shows funniest and unexpected lines.

Gilfoyle's no-bullshit opinions and digs at Dinesh that are always delivered in his monotone deadpan. If you don't pay attention, you might miss the joke.

Big Head's cluelessness:  "My username is 'password' and my password is 'password'". LOL!

I thought TJ Miller was good - almost too good, ha - as Erlich and he had a lot of funny moments, but at the same time, I also think that the timing of -- SPOILER ALERT -- his exit from the show worked out well in terms of where they were at with his storyline and the series continued on well after his departure.

The satire extends beyond the TV screen. The fictional entities on the show exist in ‘real life’ including the home page for Richard's own startup, Pied Piper, the tech blog Code Rag, Jian Yang's Hot Dog app, and even Big Head’s interview with Wired Magazine. So cute!

What I didn't like:

The episodes are so short and there are so few of them (seasons 1 and 5 had 8 episodes each, and the rest of the seasons had 10). On top of that, the next season is the last one :(

Final Thoughts:

What can I say - I LOVE this show!! Although, I will admit it did take me a while to get into it - it wasn't until the last 2 episodes of the first season that I really started getting into the storyline and invested in the characters. But since it took me a bit to settle into the first season, after getting through season 5, we went back and re-watched season 1... and then ended up re-watching the entire series again. Yes, that's right - I binged the entire series TWICE.

Season 6 is going to premiere this October 27th and I can't wait!!!

Usually with my reviews, I pick my favorite part of the movie or show. But I couldn't pick just one for this show - so I picked my favorite from each season:

➤ Season 1: Richard tries to get Aderall for Carver

➤ Season 2: Dinesh tries to convince people to not invest in the Bro app

➤ Season 3: Dinesh’s gold chain

➤ Season 4: Richard dabbing/Heisman Trophy pose

➤ Season 5: Jared’s lips!

[123movieess]

The Flash: Marathon - Review

It's funny to think how little we knew about the future direction of The Flash coming into the second half of Season 6. Crisis on Infinite Earths had been casting a huge shadow over the series, to the point where we didn't even know if Barry Allen would still be alive come January. And even once it became clear Grant Gustin's Barry wasn't the one sacrificing his life to save the multiverse, there was still the question of what conflicts and villains would drive the series post-Crisis. Thanks to "Marathon," we now have a much clearer sense of how the series will move forward from the crossover. This episode deftly balances the need to reflect the events of Crisis while also building a clear path forward.

Surprisingly, the tone of "Marathon" isn't as lighthearted as you might expect now that Barry has just been given a second lease on life. Apart from that early CC Jitters scene, this episode is a fairly glum exploration of how the various members of Team Flash are moving forward from Crisis. This does feel like an appropriate choice, however. With multiple heroes having sacrificed everything to save the multiverse, a lighthearted, feel-good midseason premiere would probably ring hollow. This goes back to one of the main strengths of Season 6 - it's better at tone management and knowing when to be funny and when to let the drama carry the day.

The Flash

"Marathon" is also notable for featuring Arrow's David Ramsey in his first guest role since that show wrapped. I'm sure we were all hoping this episode would follow up on Arrow's big cliffhanger, but the script is very careful to place this episode's events before the Diggle family's departure from Star City. Instead, Dig plays a more understated but still important role, helping Barry come to terms with Ollie's death. I appreciate how this storyline subverts expectations by revealing there's no actual mystery at all and Ollie's final gift is truly just that - a gift to commemorate a friendship that helped establish the Arrowverse as we know it today. Plus, it never gets old watching Dig deal with Speed Force-induced motion sickness.

In another surprise, welcome twist, Iris is turning out to be the driving force of the show's post-Crisis status quo. Her ongoing investigation and partnership with Esperanza has never really been one of the more compelling pieces of the Season 6 equation, but this episode goes a long way toward changing that. While a bit plodding at first, there's a growing sense of danger and unease as Iris digs deeper into the mystery of McCulloch Technologies and invites both physical and legal disaster. That culminates in a very satisfying stinger scene that makes the identity of the series' latest big villain abundantly clear.

Along the way, we also get a surprisingly different take on Doctor Light, one that doesn't seem particularly beholden to any prior comic book incarnation. While it's a little strange seeing Kimiyo Hoshi depicted as a ruthless assassin when she's always been the heroic counterpoint to the fiendish Arthur Light, she does make for a fun secondary antagonist in this episode. And with the Arthur Light version having recently appeared in Titans, it stands to reason The Flash may have been limited to using Kimiyo.

The promise of an ongoing Team Flash vs. Mirror Master storyline is extremely appealing. For all that this series has done to refine the Arrowverse formula and showcase speedster villains like Reverse-Flash and Zoom, it's never really taken advantage of the full scope of Flash's rogues gallery. Specifically, the Flash Rogues have always felt like an afterthought. Captain Cold and Heat Wave barely spent any time as villains at all before reforming and shifting over to DC's Legends of Tomorrow. The rest have been used as minor, forgettable footnotes.

Even Mirror Master suffered that fate back in Season 3, with the Sam Scudder version of the character being used as a one-and-done threat to Central City. Mirror Master deserves better, and it seems that he's finally getting better. The twist being that the classic Evan McCulloch version is being transformed into Eva McCulloch, a billionaire inventor who now exists as some sort of warped, journalist-snatching mirror demon. And as with the previous Bloodwork arc, the hope is that the the condensed nature of this storyline will prevent too much fluff and filler from gumming up the works.

Barry and Dig's quest aside, the lingering effects of Crisis are most clearly felt in Cisco's emotional journey. "Marathon" is great about exploring both the humor and the tension that arise in trying to come to terms with a new world built on the ashes of multiple worlds. Having Supergirl and Black Lightning as permanent neighbors is great, but what about all the new and resurrected villains that have appeared alongside them? That's to say nothing over Cisco's guilt and regret over taking the metahuman cure. That's the tricky thing about the old great power and great responsibility mantra. Do superheroes get the luxury of a happy, peaceful retirement? Can they even appreciate that retirement when it comes? These are interesting questions to explore, particularly in light of how Smallville's Clark Kent was portrayed in Crisis.

Carlos Valdes delivers what is easily the episode's strongest performance, especially late in the game where his guilt begins to overwhelm him. It's a welcome reminder that Cisco is far more than just the obligatory snarky tech whiz, but a character who's grown and evolved and suffered every bit as much as Barry himself over the course of six years.

I do wish "Marathon" gave us a better sense of what Cisco's Arrowverse future entails. There were rumors last year that Valdes was leaving the series after Season 5's finale. Clearly that rumor didn't pan out, but maybe there was a kernel of truth to it? It's hard to tell if Cisco's absence is temporary as the series builds toward a new status quo for the character, or if Cisco is being phased out so Valdes can pursue other projects. It would be a shame if Cisco exits the picture just as the series is finally finding its footing again.

One thing is clear - Nash Wells is now being positioned as Cisco's temporary replacement on Team Flash. Having a Wells as a more permanent presence on the series is always a nice thing, particularly one who isn't as aggressively annoying as Season 5's Sherloque. While this episode highlights the fact that his adventurous swagger is a mask for his loneliness and guilt over his role in Crisis, there are some concerns regarding Nash's current characterization.

For one thing, it's a little bizarre seeing him revert to his old Nash persona so soon after his turn as Pariah. I'm not clear on how much time was supposed to have passed between Nash's disappearance and his return as Pariah, but he definitely had the air of a man haunted by countless years of watching his failure play out in front of him. Neither the writing nor Tom Cavanagh's performance reflect the full weight of that experience. If anything, Nash seems more bothered by his daughter's estrangement than his role in the death of the old multiverse.

On that note, do we really need another running subplot about Harrison Wells trying to reconnect with his daughter? It's a redundant plot twist, and seemingly unnecessary given how much drama this character already has to process. The hope is that Nash can better find his place in the team Flash dynamic in this second half of Season 6, but there are reasons for concern right now.

[aion-rsa]

Star Trek: Ranking the Stories Set in the Present Day

https://ift.tt/3Eu4Xd0

So the new Star Trek: Picard trailer has dropped and among the big plot twists it revealed are the fact that Picard & Co are going to be travelling back to Earth, circa 2022 AD. We’re looking forward to exciting scenes of people from the 24th century being unable to drive cars (despite the pretty lengthy car chase we saw in the last episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks), Q and Picard sparring again, and wondering how Guinan fits into all this. My personal theory is that after her adventures with Picard and Mark Twain in the 19th century, Guinan decided to stick around on Earth, eventually posing as an actor called Whoopi Goldberg.

This is far from the first time Star Trek has travelled back to the present day – even if “present day” is pretty broad for the 55-year-old franchise. We have no way of knowing why the series keeps returning to this setting that doesn’t need the manufacture of any new props, sets or costumes, but it seems like a good time to look at when Star Trek has done this before and ask “Who wore it better?”

6. Assignment: Earth

This episode would prove to be a particularly tricky one for nearly every single time travel episode that has come since, in that it shows time travel for the Federation is so easy and routine that the Enterprise can just nip back to the Cold War to see why we never Great Filtered ourselves out of existence. Unfortunately, in this episode Kirk and Spock don’t get to see much of 20th century Earth, or indeed do much of anything.

‘Assignment: Earth’ was conceived as a backdoor pilot for a new series about Gary Seven, a human bred and raised by aliens to act as a secret agent on Earth and protect us from our own capacity for self-destruction. This means Kirk and Spock’s role is little more than to sit around and say “Wow, this looks like a great idea for a television show!”

Still, I can’t help but wonder about a Star Trek franchise in the parallel universe where its first spin-off was a spy show set in 1968.

5. Carpenter Street

This episode of Star Trek: Enterprise stands out because it is perhaps the only episode on this list where they decided the present day should be filmed any differently from the space future. The lighting, the camera work, the whole episode feels much more like Angel, or a cop show from the period than the Star Trek style that had been uniformly adopted since The Next Generation.

Usually when Star Trek comes back to our time it is to take us on ‘a romp’, where people point out Starfleet uniforms look like pyjamas and the crew go around misunderstanding pop culture references. This, however, feels like Star Trek invading a much grittier show.

Unfortunately, you can tell that this is a network science fiction show trying to show how adult and gritty it is, because within the first ten minutes of the episode we see a sex worker abducted. Maybe one day science fiction shows will find a way to show that they are proper grown-ups without a drive-by or disposable sex worker character appearing in the first ten minutes, but ‘Carpenter Street’ is not that show.

The other thing Star Trek’s forays into our century do is emphasise how far humanity has come, or still has to travel. This is where ‘Carpenter Street’ really falls down. Because this was Enterprise’s dark, post-9/11 Xindi storyline, we see Archer literally beat information out of someone – not for the first time in this season. It’s a scene that highlights everything that’s wrong with this version of Star Trek.

It’s also the bringer of bad news, as at one point T’Pol asks about fossil fuels to be told that “It’s not until 2061 that…”

The sentence is left incomplete, but that sounds like bad news for our 2050 emissions targets.

4. Tomorrow is Yesterday

This is Star Trek’s first trip back to the 20th century, and it sets the rules for so much that comes later. Agonising about changing the future, having modern day characters remark on how silly everything is, Star Trek characters being taken prisoner and taking the piss out of their interrogators. The formula is refined in many ways from here on, but the ingredients are established here.

It also establishes, as ‘Assignment: Earth’ later confirms, that any ordinary warp-capable ship can perform a manoeuvre to travel forward or backward in time at will, a plot device most of the Star Trek canon has heroically stuck its fingers in its ears and shut its eyes to avoid.

The main reason this entry doesn’t rank higher is that the action is almost entirely confined to US military bases, denying us the fun of seeing our favourite Starfleet officers wandering around our day-to-day world as if it’s the Planet of the Week.

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3. Future’s End

This Star Trek: Voyager two-parter, on the other hand, gives us that in spades. It knows what the fans want and it is here to give you a big steaming bowl of it. Neelix and Kes watching daytime soaps? Check. Tuvok having to ensure he wears a beanie at all times? Check. Paris getting his 20th century history and slang hilariously wrong? Check. An oddly jarring turn by a young, pre-comedy stardom Sarah Silverman? Okay, maybe you weren’t asking for that, but check!

It even throws us some subtle continuity porn to argue over. In Sarah Silverman’s office we see a model of the launch configuration of a DY-100 class ship- the ship used by Khan Noonien Singh to escape justice following the Eugenics Wars that were supposed to happen in the mid-nineties.

This is more than just an Easter egg (unlike, we’re assuming, the Talosian action figure on Sarah Silverman’s desk). Over the course of the episode we learn that the entire microprocess revolution that created the world we know and love was the result of stolen 29th century tech.

Does this mean history was changed? That all Star Trek following this episode takes place in a divergent timeline where the Eugenics Wars never happened? This has some fascinating connotations that we will touch upon later in the article, and which I will explain to you at length after precisely one and a half pints.

The episode does have its weak points however – Voyager being seen on national television never seems to go anywhere, and neither does the whole subplot where Chakotay and Torres end up prisoner in a survivalist compound for a bit.

As we’ve already mentioned, there’s also a lot of agonising about how Voyager will get to the present, when we already know that they just need to whip around the sun at warp speed and boom, the series is over.

Oh, and this is an extremely minor gripe, but Janeway tells us she has no idea what her ancestors were doing in this time period – despite subjecting us to the tedium of her story in ‘Millennium Gate’ which was set only four years after this.

2. Past Tense

This episode might be considered a cheat, since at time of broadcast it was technically set in the future. However, since it (along with Irish Reunification) is supposed to take place three years on from now, I think we can say it counts.

This Deep Space Nine story is decidedly not ‘a romp’. Yes people make fun of the characters’ clothes, and Kira and O’Brien’s jaunts through history raise a smile, but more than all but a select number of Star Trek stories, this is about just how far our reality is from the hoped-for future of Star Trek.

Bashir lands some lines that hit quite a bit heavier now than they did in the nineties, from “The 21st century is not one of my strong points – too depressing” to the plaintive “How could they have let things get so bad?” at the story’s conclusion.

And while it is set over twenty years in the future from the perspective of the broadcast date, it wasn’t far off. Stories evocative of the sanctuary districts are easy to find, and as writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe says, “We weren’t being predictive. We were just looking out our windows in the ’90s.”

Only two things really mark this episode out as an anachronism. One, the technology looks painfully 90s – our technology looks far closer to the 24th century than the bulky monitors seen everywhere in this. But then again, this episode was broadcast prior to ‘Future’s End’, so maybe Henry Starling hadn’t kickstarted the microprocessor revolution in this timeline yet.

The other, far grimmer element to have dated is the idea that one innocent black person being shot by police could be enough to cause the sea change this episode says it does.

1. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

There wasn’t ever really going to be any debate over this, was there? Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is hands down the one to beat if you’re writing Star Trek characters travelling to the present day. The film itself was something of a departure for the franchise. Rather than Robert Wise’s epic, sombre, proper science fiction in The Motion Picture, or the bombastic action of Nicholas Meyer’s Wrath of Khan, The Voyage Home was helmed by a director who would be best known for the cult comedy, Three Men & a Baby.

This 20th century feels far more inhabited than other portrayals, with screen time being given over to casual conversations between bin men, and workplace arguments independent of the former Enterprise crew.

Of course, by now the crew of 1701-no-bloody-A-B-C-or-D should be old hands at Earth in the 20th century. This is their fourth trip here, not counting planets-that-mysteriously-resemble-Earth-in-the-20th-century.

But these fish are never more out of water than they are in this film, and the results are charming. Kirk explaining swearing to Spock, Kirk observing people “still use money”, Chekov standing in the middle of the street asking for directions to the “Nuclear Wessels”, Scotty’s “Hello Computer!” and Kirk Thatcher getting nerve-pinched for listening to his own music on a ghetto blaster. Plus countless more zingers, sight gags and throwaway lines that I’m still finding new ones of after many, many re-watches.

And the cast are clearly having the time of their lives. Shatner’s comic talent was always on display, but in this movie he is really allowed to cut it fully loose giving reaction shots that make you feel bad about every time you mocked his acting.

But no matter how silly it gets, this film knows, more than any other, the point of sending Star Trek characters into the modern day. It is to show us the difference between our ideal selves and where we are – and it does it no less starkly than ‘Past Tense’. With a light comic touch, Kirk and co. encounter capitalism, the spectre of nuclear war, and most of all, the devastating environmental impact we’re having. Even if we reach the ideal Star Trek future, this film says, we could still lose things we can’t replace along the way.

Star Trek: Picard is going to have to work hard if it wants to walk in its footsteps.

Honourable Mentions

While not taking place in the present day, it’d be remiss of this article not to mention ‘City on the Edge of Forever’, which refined ‘Tomorrow is Yesterday’s formula and is just one of the all-out best Star Trek series ever, and ‘Little Green Men’, which twists the usual Starfleet-in-the-20th-century formula by having the Ferengi arrive in the 20th century and find humans far more brutal, greedy and stupid than even they suspected.

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Also, I don’t want to alarm you, but by the end of this decade we’ll be closer to the events of Star Trek: First Contact than we are to the release of Star Trek: First Contact.

The post Star Trek: Ranking the Stories Set in the Present Day appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[neoduskcomics]

If you didn't hear the news, 6 new episodes of Steven Universe were recently made available on the Cartoon Network app. Go watch them if you're able, and then come back here if you'd care to hear what I thought about them. SPOILERS. SPOILERS. SPOILERS.

Dewey Wins The plot in this episode is basically creating a parallel to Connie's heartbreak over Steven's actions in the last story arc and putting him in her shoes. It's not exactly the most gracefully or subtly executed story device, and I was a bit disappointed when, at the end, I realized that the entire point of it was simply to get Steven to understand why Connie was upset at the beginning of the episode (something that I'm sort of surprised wasn't immediately obvious to him).

That being said, I didn't dislike this episode. We're coming right of the heels of some of the most dramatic and loaded plot in the series, so a lot of it is really just winding down and getting everyone up to speed in the aftermath. It sort of subsists on carrying the momentum of what came before it. While the stuff with Dewey wasn't the most engaging, it was harmless, and they got a couple good jokes out of it.

I was hoping we'd see a bit more of Dewey actually dealing with the consequences of his lackluster-ness as a mayor, which we sort of did, but he didn't have a lot of time to process any of it, since the episode had to shift focus right back onto Steven's relationship issues with Connie. Hopefully, we'll see a future episode that features some actual character growth for Dewey so that this whole story wasn't just a means of getting from point A to point B. Gemcation What do you do when your son is clearly having some kind of personal problem, judging from the fact that he's constantly checking messages on his phone and all bummed out? You drag him to a vacation home that he's clearly disinterested in and try to force uncomfortable conversations about his traumatic space trip, of course. So much sound, emotional clarity going on in these episodes. Kidding aside, though, I did enjoy this one. It was amusing seeing the gems trying to figure out what was bugging Steven (and doing a comically terrible job of it). Pearl's antics got several laughs from me, and it made me feel like the comedy in this series was on point for the first time in a while. The plot wasn't outstanding, but it had a lot of good character moments. Seeing Garnet being awkward and out of her field of expertise was fun, and seeing Greg defer to the gems with helping Steven, only to reassert his role as father was nice to see. The whole cell-phone-reception-race ended predictably, but I do like that interpersonal issues in this show aren't resolved so quickly and easily. It's part of what helps the characters in this show feel like people and not just set pieces, and helps this series about magical gem warriors from outer space feel more grounded. Also, for real, though, that part with Pearl trying to talk to Steven and she kept covering her own mouth. The fuck was that. She totally killed Pink Diamond. Or she knows who killed her. Or she knows something. And someone cursed her or ordered her not to talk. Maybe Rose. Who the fuck knows. I'm sure everyone has already drawn up like fifty conspiracy theories about it. I'd prefer to just keep my mind open and let myself be surprised, but it's hard not to speculate when the show drops shit like that. Raising the Barn Say bye to Lapis, kids. I mean, you know, again. I'm sure she'll come back, but it is interesting to see such a status-quo-shifting departure happen on the show. Again, I like it when the show has these realistic turns of events. Connie's not gonna immediately make up with Steven. Lapis isn't necessarily going to stay just because Peridot wants to. Now, if I had an issue with all of this, it's probably that the way in which we arrive at these issues (or the resolutions thereof, but we'll get to that) isn't always the most interesting. Like, this episode was good, but it wasn't great. It could've done with more comedy or maybe more dialogue that was of consequence to the characters, rather than looping around the motions of Peridot very obviously avoiding the situation before finally and predictably confronting Lapis at the end. I'm not saying this episode was bad, just that it could've been better. I don't really have a whole lot to say about it other than that. Back to the Kindergarten While not one of my favorite episodes, this was a good episode for Peridot. I like seeing her really grapple with her newfound feelings of despair and distress, and trying to deal with it in an emotionally healthy way. While the sunflowers all dying was a tad predictable, it was still a well-executed plot device, and moving forward with the idea of understanding that while some parts of life will always be sad, there's always a whole world of potential happiness around you. Again, it's a more realistic message and, as a result, it feels more genuine. For there to be highs, there have to be lows. You have to work for your catharsis, and I think that's something this show mostly gets.

The last time we saw Amethyst, Peridot, and Steven hang out was the "shorty squad" episode, and I found this one to be far more interesting. Peridot doesn't simply spend the whole episode moping and then finally realizing some uplifting truth--there's an emotional mini-arc that she goes through: moving from despair to hopefullness, having that hope crushed, and then learning from the experience and finding that hope again in a different place. Moving through a range of different feelings is, I think, what makes for a more affective episode than having basically a single tone or conflict that leads you to an inevitable conclusion. Sadie Killer I think this is the first episode involving the cool kid crew that I genuinely enjoyed. There are a handful of episodes in the series are pretty much devoid of magical gem stuff, but out of all of those, this is definitely one of the better ones, if for no reason other than that it just has some great character development and progress for Sadie. For the first time, we really explore her as a person, not as she relates to Lars, but just herself. It was neat seeing her feel the weight of her monotonous and stressful life, and then finally break through and come out of her shell of her own volition—not because she was forced to in some contrived plot about how she doesn’t communicate well with her mom.

The musical number was fun and it was a great way to have Sadie let loose, doing something she enjoys and showing a side of her that you always sort of detected was there but she never just came out and expressed it. Sadie didn’t suddenly have a dark side for the sake of this episode; you’ve seen her deal with anxiety and stress and dealing with bullshit for five seasons. It’s good to finally see a culmination to all of that.

If I had an issue with this episode, it’s maybe that it just ends with her quitting the job. I would’ve liked to have seen her really deliberate over the situation, either prior to or in the aftermath of the decision, rather than simply using it as an ending revelation. But apart from that small gripe, it was a great character episode.

Kevin Party

I think this episode was a bit of a mixed bag. I think they really nailed the awkwardness of having Steven and Connie struggling to confront one another. The nervous tension is present in every scene of that episode, basically from the moment Kevin informs Steven that Connie would be at the party. Aside from that, though, the episode feels mostly like another one of those terrible “guy gets bad relationship advice from person he very obviously shouldn’t be taking relationship advice from and then inevitably screws things up before finally coming clean and being honest with himself which in return earns the trust/affection of the girl” plots. It’s played out and this story didn’t really offer anything new to the formula.

Not only that, but is Kevin just going to be a thing in every episode where Steven and Connie are having awkward relationship issues? I mean, we’ve already seen them embarrass/humiliate him for being a douche. I thought this time we might get something different. When he brings up that girl he apparently broke up with, I thought we might actually explore Kevin’s character and see why he is the way he is, and make him maybe a more complex character. But, no, we just saw him continue to be an asshat for self-gain before it blows up in his face.

Overall, I do like that we got to see Steven actually mess up in a personal matter and not just a magical destiny matter, and that’s something he really had to struggle with and learn from. At the same time, I feel like getting into that string of episodes and then leaving it was not the most gracefully executed. I’m glad that it happened, but I also sort of wish they went about it in a more interesting way, especially in a show that has frequently demonstrated, in the past, an ability to break the mold and go against the grain with its characters and storytelling.

But, you know. Connie has a cute haircut, now. So there’s that.

Overall

This was a nice chunk of episodes that left me feeling ultimately satisfied. I was expecting a string of episodes that leaned more toward the slice-of-life element of the show, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed them. To me, these were far superior to the slice-of-life episodes of Season 3 that I complained about. I found the plots more compelling, the characters were more engaging, and I even thought that the jokes were funnier (Steven’s oblivious napkin-stealing cracks me up).

Not to mention the fact that we’re seeing a lot of changes to the status quo. And not ones that feel like they were made just to switch things up. They all feel like logical outcomes based on what we know about the characters. Mayor Dewey was always ignorant and incompetent. Lapis was always against getting mixed up in Gem business, even Peridot at first. Sadie was always having her patience and tolerance for bullshit tested. It’s a good feeling when you have developments in your story that feel less like arbitrary sources of conflict and more like payoff to what we’ve known and felt all along.

I hope we get more episodes soon. Even if the “main plot” doesn’t advance, I just miss being in this world with these characters. This last Steven Bomb reminded me a bit of why I like the series so much in the first place. I hope we don’t end up like Steven, waiting fruitlessly for an update for days on end.

[sol1056]

arcs & story pacing in vld

So I mentioned in an earlier post that I think there’s something else going on that has people kinda uneasy about where VLD is going. I’m still kinda noodling on this, but the short answer is that I think it has to do with the way stories are most commonly structured. 

There’s no way to say from here whether the cause is the EPs are unaware and pushing the writers into different pacing, or just the entire VLD team throwing it all out the window. Or maybe just not doing a good job respecting the pattern. 

If you’re not familiar with the core western storytelling arc, it goes roughly like this: 

act I: ‘normal’, characters’ status quo

catalyst: turns normal world upside-down

act II: characters struggle/fail to keep up

mid-point: total loss, alternately, a false victory

act III: learn the lesson, get proactive, prepare

finale: defeat antagonist (tragedy: be defeated)

act IV: reset to normal, or enter new normal

(In a three-act structure, act two is twice as long as one and four, and contains #3, #4, and #5. I prefer four-act but it’s personal taste.)

For most American long-arc shows, this kind of arc will begin and end in a full season, with the denouement overlapping slightly with the ‘normal world’ that begins the next season. In a multi-season arc, it’s usually treated like the separate books of a series: each book has a complete arc, but when you look across them, you can see the full arc that links them together. (This is also why a middle-story in a trilogy will end either on a small victory with a backdrop of a larger defeat, or just feel generally unfinished somehow.) 

Since S3/S4 was originally intended to be a complete season, I’ll treat it that way here. Behind the cut: breaking each season into act 1 + catalyst, act 2 + midpoint, act 3 + finale, and pacing within seasons, and the progress of an implied multi-season arc. 

normal world + catalyst

S1E1, S2E1, and S3E1 each begin with the team divided in some way. In S1, half of them haven’t met before. S2, they’re all over the universe. S3, four are together, and the fifth is gone. That’s the ‘normal’ they start with. 

The catalyst turns everything upside-down. The best catalysts appear to solve a problem, yet turn out to be a whole lot the characters didn’t bargain on. 

In S1, Shiro’s return appears to promise resolution for Pidge’s and Keith’s searches -- which leads the team to find the Blue Lion, and the story kicks into gear. In S2, the catalyst is the healing pod putting Shiro back together -- but the result is memories of Ulaz, which drives most of S2. In S3, the catalyst is Black accepting Keith, which resolves the can’t-form-Voltron issue. Open question whether we’re supposed to see this as throwing the characters head-first into  situations they never expected. 

learning + midpoint

The first-half of the middle (act two) is where the characters will mess up the most. They’re doing their best to learn without much clue of what they face.

In S1, they’ve gotta learn to form Voltron, learn to fight, hold off Sendak while keeping the team together, all the way up to Lance getting his lion stolen. In S2, their failures stem mostly from Zarkon’s tracking system. In S3, they’re dealing with new roles (with Lotor as highlight for the team’s fails). 

The midpoint -- and yes, it’s almost always right around the halfway-point -- is the first chance for the character(s) to apply what they’ve learned. There’s two ways this usually goes: either they get their asses handed to them outright, or their apparent victory... was actually defeat, or a draw at best. It’s winning the battle but destroying your mecha along with your right arm, or thinking you’re about to strike the final blow but you’re playing into the antagonist’s plans, etc. 

By that measure, S1′s midpoint should be Return to the Balmera, but is probably Crystal Venom, where the team barely pulls off a victory against the AI but loses Sendak’s intel in the process. S2′s midpoint is Space Mall, specifically Shiro’s showdown with Zarkon; an incomplete victory, it demonstrates Shiro isn’t quite ready to take Zarkon on. S3′s midpoint is a hollow victory: they can’t hold their own against Lotor’s team, and they barely eke out destroying the teludav. 

The midpoint’s purpose is to demonstrate the characters haven’t had a clue what they’re up against. The antagonist is bigger, nastier, more powerful; it outranks and outflanks them at every turn, so it’s time to get proactive. 

learning better + finale

From that midpoint to the finale, we should see the characters learning from that lesson. In S1, that midpoint comes awfully late in the game, so we really only get a single episode of proactive (find the space base) before we hit the finale. In S2, from the midpoint, the team makes allies, comes up with a plan, and gets the pieces together; structurally, S2 is a pretty solid arc. 

And there’s S3. We get a flashback ep, followed by the team breaking apart (Keith’s departure), then another tangent for Pidge, then we get humor but no forward movement other than noting Zarkon’s banished Lotor, then an ep that’s filler, and then... a two-parter finale. If you buy the argument that S4E4 is being needed to gin up the populaces, then that and Pidge’s galra finder in S4E3 are probably the only proactive points. 

Okay, so using beat sheets is kinda formulaic, but putting the ‘fun and games’ segment before the midpoint makes sense; it’s when the characters don’t realize the full enormity of what they face. So things can be a bit more lighthearted -- yet in S3 every episode that might qualify as lighthearted happens after they get totally played by Lotor. 

Which incidentally makes Keith and his ‘we need to focus on Lotor’ the only proactive element. We get humorous, light episodes, while Keith’s offscreen trying to actually, y’know, move this story forward. And then whammo, finale. 

pacing in-season

One of the harder parts in long-form writing has got to be that slog called the middle. Sure, you’ve got the midpoint in there, but getting to that (and recovering from it) can feel like it’s taking forever. The characters need to ramp up, but not so fast it’s unbelievable, and not so slow they're standing still.

One way to look at S1 is to say it’s dominated by a massively long pre-midpoint stretch. Lots of learning to do, after all. But alternately, we could say from S1E2 to S1E9 is actually an entire act (sans midpoint) that’s a try/fail cycle. It helps that each new threat is either unfamiliar (the robeasts) or taking advantage of existing weaknesses (Sendak, Rolo/Nyma). Each victory comes at a cost, or is barely won. For the first season in a multi-season arc, this works. 

For S2, it’s pretty solid: team comes together, we have catalyst, we get 3 episodes of the team reacting more than acting, until Shiro’s breakthrough with the Black Lion. And then it’s total proactive from there to the big showdown. 

S3 starts off promising: team is broken, catalyst brings them together, and they face an unfamiliar antagonist, which requires ramping up (again). We get an interlude for Shiro’s return, and we hit the midpoint... 

And then it just stops. The second half of the arc -- the place where everyone should be saying, “we know what we’re up against, we need to ramp up so we’re prepared” -- is gone. The issue with nested and braided arcs is one-half of the problem, but this pacing is a significant other-half. 

In other words, a story’s pacing at start is casual, after the catalyst it gets jogging, and the midpoint marks a sprint to the finish line. But in S3, we get the catalyst, and we’re immediately into a sprint; the midpoint is more of a draw, and then it’s a casual stroll for five episodes, followed by a mad dash for the finish line. No wonder some viewers got whiplash.

pacing across seasons

Across seasons, the arc is subtler, but it should still be there. Pretty sure VLD was originally meant for six seasons, so going by the usual proportions, Act 1 would be S1, Act 2 would be S2-S3 with midpoint as the finale of S3; Act 3 would be S4-S5, and we’d get S6 for the final showdown plus a few episodes for denouement, wrap-up, return to normal (or new normal).

Which... doesn’t work too well. 

Where’s the catalyst at the end of S1? The team being split up? The realization that they can’t win without someone helping them? The catalyst is supposed to lock the characters into a new normal, and set them on a path towards the conclusion. In terms of impact on the story, Shiro’s disappearance at the end of S2 is far more of a major catalyst, overall. 

Which is kinda the longest establishing ‘normal’ I can think of, across all the series and stories I’ve seen/read. Plus, both S1′s semi-failed escape and S2′s losing-Shiro would make great hollow victories -- okay, mark those down as try/fail (and therefore Act 2, post-catalyst). Yet the spot where we’d expect a midpoint defeat is -- at the end of S3/S4 -- actually a victory? 

Here’s the problem: with Shiro’s disappearance coming so late in the game, it’s hard to tell whether this is meant as the catalyst at the end of Act 1, or as part of the try/fail of Act 2. And the difference between those two, in terms of story-impact, is massive. 

Let’s take a really simple story to compare. Girl meets boy: catalyst. Girl tries to woo boy: Act 2; make sure to insert lots of ‘this is true love’ here so we have stakes. Girl loses boy: midpoint heartbreak. Girl works hard to win boy back: Act 3. Girl wins boy: finale. Now, imagine a story where all that happens, but at the midpoint, the girl decides to find someone else, instead. 

Which you could do; I’ve read a few who’ve tried. But I have yet to see one actually succeed, because it requires they spend the first half of the overall arc convincing me that this is twu wuv, it’s worth the character chasing this goal so completely. And then the writer is gonna turn around and effectively say, actually, that wasn’t love at all, but this other one? This is the real love, this is what the character will chase. Totally for serious this time.

That’s why the pacing matters, because in one, the first boy is just part of the normal world, and is left behind; in the other, chasing a second boy completely undercuts the first half of the story. VLD practically hammered home a kind of OTP: ‘chosen ones’ and ‘bonded with lions’ and ‘immediately simpatico’ and all the hallmarks of that Act 2 establishment, post-catalyst, of true love. And the breakup (girl loses boy, Shiro disappears) is the midpoint. 

But if Shiro being gone is supposed to be the catalyst (in the overall arc) -- then S1/S2 is the world we’ve left behind; the real story is about adjusting to this now upside-down world.

For comparison, note that Gandalf disappears at roughly the midpoint of LotR. The mines of Moria is a major turning point, and the result (safe passage) comes at a huge cost. Gandalf’s loss is felt keenly, but he is not left behind; he is very much part of this upside-world of the story. That’s part of why his return feels inevitable, and why he plays a major role in the finale. 

VLD’s messy pacing has created an ambiguity that’s slamming up against viewers’ intuition, based on so many other stories. We need to know: catalyst or midpoint, or else we have no idea where the story’s at, what to expect, even what to feel, and the result is this strange uneasiness.

[auburnfamilynews]

https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/1225182440232144896

Somehow another National Signing Day has passed. It was a cycle that featured plenty of highs and lows for the Tigers. Auburn had 8 decommits this cycle, which I believe is a record for Gus Malzahn, three of those players ending up ranked in the top 100. But it was also the year of pleasant surprises with the Tigers pulling some major recruiting coups this season in the likes of Chris Thompson Jr, Kilian Zierer, Jay Hardy and Zykeivous Walker. Here’s some final thoughts on this 2020 class and some musings on the future.

Class Comparison

At a high level view, here’s how this 2020 class stacks up against previous classes under Malzahn.

For the 6th time in 8 years, Gus Malzahn signed a top 10 class per 247 Composite. Unfortunately, it was also the 7th time in 8 years his class ranked outside of the top 3 in the SEC. That’s just the world you live in when playing football in the SEC West. A #7 ranked class ends up being good for 4th in your division and 5th in the conference as a whole...

But what should jump out to you when reviewing these numbers is the average rating. The team rankings come from the point totals which are generated based on #math:

Second, the calculation. This is the math portion – stick with me. I promise to be brief. The commitments are ranked from highest to lowest based on their star rating. The scores are weighted, based on the rankings, according to a Gaussian distribution formula or a bell curve. In other words, the top recruit is worth 100% of his rating value, the second commit is worth nearly 100% of his rating value, and down to the last recruit who is worth a small fraction of his rating value. This formula ensures that all commits contribute at least some value to the team’s score without heavily rewarding teams that have several more commitments than others.

As such, not only do you need to sign blue chip talent to finish near the top of the rankings but you need to sign top 100 talent if you wish to crack the top 5. That’s why despite signing one of the deeper classes in the country AU finished outside the top 5 due to the lack of top 100 signees (at least compared to those classes ranked ahead of them).

But again, the average rating should stand out. If ranked by that metric then Malzahn has signed his two best classes back to back. The last time he did so was right before the 2017 campaign when Auburn won the SEC West. I am not saying this predicts an SEC West championship in 2021. What I am saying is that Auburn is doing a very good job of stacking top end classes back to back which should continue to keep them in striking range of Alabama, LSU and Georgia.

Here’s the numbers for the whole SEC if you are curious:

Geographic Breakdown

Georgia - 10

Alabama - 4

Florida - 3

Texas - 3

California - 1

Illinois - 1

Louisiana - 1

Mississippi - 1

Tennessee - 1

Germany - 1

Unsurprisingly, the meat of Auburn’s class came from Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Those 3 states have been and will always be the foundational pieces of Auburn’s recruiting classes. The Tigers did especially well in Georgia despite not flipping Broderick Jones. They signed 5 of the top 20 players in the Peach State per 247 Composite which is why Banner Society named AU the recruiting champs of Georgia in 2020.

Based strictly on the rankings, meet your RECRUITING STATE CHAMPS for 2020 — the schools that did the best job getting top talent in each state https://t.co/MuTSBH6t1G pic.twitter.com/oXiVW9adRz

— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) February 6, 2020

While Auburn had tremendous success in Georgia, they took a beating within their own state in 2020. The Tigers signed only 1 player ranked in 247 Composite’s top 10 for the state of Alabama in J.J. Evans. The Crimson Tide signed 7. To make matters worse 2 of those signees, who happened to finish ranked #1 & #2, were once committed to the Tigers. The #3 player was considered a heavy lean heading into his senior season before committing to Clemson. It will always be difficult to beat Bama for the top instate prospects but the Tigers need to at least hold their own especially in 2021 which has a chance to be as top loaded as that 2019 crop.

What I find most interesting though looking at the geography of this class is Auburn’s continued success pushing west of its borders. After only signing 5 players total from the states of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas in Gus Malzahn’s first 6 classes, Auburn has now signed 8 from those states in the past 2 classes alone.

I expect that trend to continue in 2021, especially in the state of Texas where Chad Morris was once a high school coach and where he built most of his SMU and Arkansas classes from. The loss of Marcus Woodson might hurt Auburn’s chances in the Magnolia state but both Jack Bicknell and Wesley McGriff have experience recruiting there as well due to their time in Oxford. Alabama, Georgia and Florida will continue to be the heart of Auburn’s recruiting classes but it’s important that the Tigers be able to step out of those areas to fill holes in the class elsewhere. It’s been encouraging to see Malzahn’s staff do so in the last 2 cycles.

JUCO Heavy

It’s hard not to notice the amount of JUCO products Auburn signed this year. That was something Gus did a lot early in his tenure before favoring grad transfers in recent seasons. Here’s a quick breakdown of the numbers:

2013 - 6

2014 - 6

2015 - 3

2016 - 2

2017 - 2

2018 - 1

2019 - 0

2020 - 5

So why the uptick? Well Auburn has some major holes they want filled immediately, most notably offensive tackle, defensive tackle and cornerback. From the beginning the Tigers were targeting the top JUCO players at those positions and the strategy seemed to pay off overall. Auburn signed the #3 & #4 ranked JUCO OTs (just missing on the #1), the #1 SDE, #3 CB and the #4 DT. It’s unlikely all five are hits but if the Tigers can at least go 2/5 or preferably 3/5 then they likely have a starting offensive tackle, defensive tackle and cornerback in 2020.

Looking Ahead

Now with the 2020 cycle complete, attention turns to the 2021 class which is already off to a solid start. I will start breaking down the early top targets at each position in the coming weeks (hopefully I finish this time). The Auburn coaching staff has a bit of a new look with the departures of Kenny Dillingham, J.B. Grimes and Marcus Woodson along with the additions of Chad Morris, Jack Bicknell Jr and Al Pogue. We will see if they can keep bus rolling and sign another top 10 class this time next year.

War Eagle!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2020/2/12/21126497/2020-auburn-football-recruiting-final-thoughts

[packyourbagsjenny]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Seasons Ranked

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the best shows of all time. Period. No other show perfectly embraced it’s gimmicky name, while adding in some of the best character development and dramatic bottle episodes I’ve ever seen in television. Even at it’s worst, BTVS was still lightyears ahead of many of the shows still on today, so let’s rank the seasons. Once I’ve finished Angel, I’ll write one up for that too!

1. Season 2 

I was tied between this, season 3 and season 6. While season 6 gave fantastic character development, standalone episodes and plot, season 2 is just so goddamn FUN. Spike and Drusilla are great villains, and the sudden plunge into darkness with Angelus is fucking ballsy for a show that was still pretty new. Also the finale is one of the few shows in history that made me misty-eyed. Sarah Michelle Geller deserved an emmy for all her work, it’s frustrating. “Becoming part 1 and 2″, “Innocence”, “Passion”, “Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered”, and “Lie to Me” are serious series standouts. 

2. Season 3 

We’re still in the fun department. Season 3 is still a blast regarding so many episodes like “The Wish”, “Doppelganged”, even “The Zeppo” and I LOATHE Xander. Only complaints were that I was one of the few that got tired of Faith, and was very ready for her to go by the end, despite her fantastic returns in season 4 and 7. Still, it’s heartwarming to see Buffy’s entire grad class come together to defeat the Mayor, and even the corny filler episodes like “Reptile Boy” and “Band Candy” are incredibly entertaining. 

3. Season 6 

After the mediocrity of season 5, season 6 upped the ante. I’ve never seen a show depict depression so well. “Once More With Feeling” is probably an episode of TV I’ve watched more than any other. It gets a bit too depressing halfway through with Buffy’s money struggles, the Buffy/Spike relationship and The Trio becoming actually really awful, but Willow’s dark turn was something the show needed after so much foreshadowing, and the twist death in “Seeing Red” is an unforgettable moment.

4. Season 4 

Season 4 is hated by many, mainly due to the departure from Sunnydale, Cordelia’s absence, the lackluster Big Bad, and Riley, Buffy’s most hated boyfriend in the the series by fans. I connected with season 4 mainly because I was in my first year of college just when Buffy was. I felt the same apprehension she did, and took as long to get used to the craziness of college too. Season 4 was my comfort during the stressful first weeks, and hey, it introduced Willow to Tara (one of the first serious lesbian relationships and kisses ever shown on network television), gave us the “Hush” and “Restless” episodes, and brought the delightful Anya into the ranks. Underrated, fun season overall! 

5. Season 5 

I don’t really understand the hype for season 5. Yes, “The Body” is one of the best television episodes I’ve ever seen, and we got Spike and Tara as series regulars, but overall I found Glory to be bogged down by the Ben character, Riley being a huge downer for the first half, Dawn to be a whiny brat that didn’t get interesting until season 6, and Xander’s antics really starting to grate. The finale, and Buffy meeting the first slayer is cool, but everything else doesn’t stand out as much for me.

6. Season 7 

I don’t HATE season 7 as much as many others do, but man, does this season stink with filler episodes and boring storylines. Spike regaining a soul but being controlled by The First takes a lot of edge off the character, Nathan Fillion and the character of Amy aren’t used to their full potential, Dawn, Xander, and Giles are given nothing to do, and Willow’s new girlfriend is an insult to the relationship she had with Tara, not to mention her getting over the events of season 6 disturbingly quickly. Bright spots include Faith and Andrew returning, “Conversations With Dead People”, “Selfless”, and the finale almost makes up for it all. The series finale is one of my favourite television endings ever, but it still couldn’t save this mostly snooze of a season.

 7. Season 1 

Buffy was a mid-season replacement show that was put together pretty quickly, and boy does it show. It mainly follows the monster-of-the-week formula, but with incredibly weird monsters like a talking gangster puppet who fights but ends up helping Buffy, a girl who turned invisible and psychotic after being ignored too much, a giant praying mantis disguised as a sexy teacher, and a demon that Willow DOWNLOADS OFF THE INTERNET. All these weird creatures would be forgivable if they hadn’t all been completely forgotten and never mentioned again, making them stick out like a sore thumb in the Buffy-verse. Also Willow is initially an annoying, mousey girl who’s thirsty for Xander, and Xander is peak-douche, literally only helping Buffy in hopes he can get in her pants. The finale is a glimmer of what the show will eventually become, but it’s an example of how you really gotta let a show grow after its first season. 

Agree or disagree? Shoot me a message and let me know!

[ianmhill]

1.41

After a slight departure earlier in the week, back to the blog about life in DC. Omitting my thoughts about the political situation, as usual.

Old Glory's first pre-season game against the Navy (college team) has to be chalked up as a success, I guess, as they won 90-21. This weekend's game is likely to be more of a challenge as they are playing Rugby Atlanta, another newcomer to Major League Rugby this season.

Monday was a public holiday, Martin Luther King day, so we had a 3 day weekend. Though it wasn't entirely restful as I spent some of it 'working' for Old Glory, helping the boy get his player GPS monitoring equipment working. And sorting out some spreadsheet formulae for him.

On the plus side, we didn't have much in the house for lunch so I suggested trying a local deli for sandwiches. I am now regretting having wasted almost two years here without trying Stachowski's - their sandwiches are excellent, though not exactly cheap, or tiny. My wife and I only shared a hot pastrami sandwich, but it was enough to make us skip dinner that evening! Pretty sure I'll want to go there again. The boy, of course, ate both halves of a turkey sandwich and still had dinner when he came back from a training session.

Slightly bad news on the health front this week - my middle daughter called yesterday to tell me that my youngest grandson has been diagnosed as autistic. I kinda thought I knew a bit about autism, but reading Wikipedia made me realise that literally all I knew was a bit, and not the whole story. It seems that the majority of sufferers are unlikely to hold down a job, establish a relationship or live independently when they get older. At least they've caught it early and therefore can address some 'treatment' (assistance at school and maybe some behavioural therapy) which might help him in the future. His Mum's main concern currently is how much he is eating - apparently much more than his older brother!

[piesack9-blog]

The Linc - PFF names Alshon Jeffery as the Eagles’ most improved player from 2018

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Each NFL team’s most improved player - PFF Alshon Jeffery, Wide receiver: This one is more a factor of no one else on the Eagles taking much of a step forward. A lot went right for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl and unfortunately this past year a lot went wrong. Jeffery’s big deal was not one of those things though, as he hauled in 71.7 percent of his targets compared to 52.7 percent a year ago.

Eagles might be interested in trading for John Ross - BGN The Eagles had an official meeting with Ross at the NFL Combine, they attended his pro day, they put him through a private workout, and they brought him to Philadelphia for one of their top 30 prospects visits. In addition to all of this, there was a rumor that Ross was one of the five players the Eagles were targeting with the No. 14 overall pick. Ross was also one of the eight receiver prospects that the Eagles told Wentz to watch and give feedback on. In other words, the Eagles have done their homework on Ross.

The Kist & Solak Show #81: NFL Combine Preview Extravaganza - BGN Radio Michael Kist and Benjamin Solak get you prepared for the NFL Combine by highlighting all of the important parts of the process and who has the most to gain/lose! PLUS more news on the Timmy Jernigan front! Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.

Clearing up Timmy Jernigan’s contract situation - PhillyVoice Jernigan would count toward the compensatory pick formula, because the guarantees were removed, and the option was added. (In other words, they would be choosing not to exercise an option, as opposed to releasing him, the latter of which would negate his inclusion in the comp pick formula.)

Let the Rumors Begin - Iggles Blitz Howie Roseman should talk to the Bengals. See what they are asking for Ross. If you could pair Ross with Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins and a rookie, that could be a good group. You can’t count on Ross as a sure thing, but he’s young enough and talented enough to take a chance on. If the price is right. I’m not sure what a fair trade would be, but I would go low on Ross just because of the injury concern. He could stay healthy for the next five years or struggle to get on the field at all. You can’t overpay for a guy like that, fast or not.

Le’Veon Bell flirts with the Eagles, but is that potential match realistic? - ESPN However, it would be premature to rule the Eagles out altogether. Their interest level would likely spike if those projections do not hold up. We saw such a situation play out with Alshon Jeffery during the 2017 offseason. Philly wasn’t expecting to be in play for Jeffery, but pounced and signed him to a one-year, $9.5 million deal once Jeffery determined the best course of action was to take a “prove-it” contract, which he parlayed into a hefty extension by year’s end. It could be that Bell doesn’t like the type of offers that come his way when free agency opens in a couple weeks. If that’s the case, a run for the Lombardi Trophy with the Steelers’ intrastate counterpart might go from intriguing to realistic.

Doubt Jason Peters at your own peril - NBCSP This time is different, They will tell you. Peters is 37 and his body will betray him sooner rather than later. Though more than serviceable last season, it was the first in which he was healthy and missed the Pro Bowl since 2007 — healthy being a relative term, seeing as he was in and out of the lineup all year. And the cap-strapped Eagles can save $10.5 million via Peters’ departure, so these are all things a fiscally responsible organization should probably consider. The day will come soon when the Eagles need to move on. Just not today. If Peters’ Hall of Fame career taught us anything, it’s that he can come back from this, too.

Howie Roseman’s Eagles draft history: What to watch for at the combine - The Athletic Draft likelihood: Watergun to my head, [defensive tackle] is the position of the Eagles’ first-round pick. I would also not rule out a trade-up if the Eagles see someone like Ed Oliver or Christian Wilkins falling and the memory of moving up for Cox takes hold of Roseman.

Who Can Boost Their Draft Stock the Most at the NFL Combine? - The Ringer No NFL team assigns too much importance to the combine’s athletic tests, but a performance for the ages could send a few players shooting up draft boards. For others, the weigh-in represents a chance to put some questions to bed. Which prospects will come out of this week as winners?

2019 NFL Combine Preview: Why It Matters - Rotoworld Now, more than ever, I know NFL Combine results matter. Teams use athletic testing in a variety of ways and many times with success. There are definitely examples of “workout warriors” being selected early and failing, but that can be said for any facet of evaluations. Yes, for teams the medicals and interviews matter to a great degree. But we do not receive that information, therefore my focus will be on the numbers generated from this week. Above all, context and perspective are important. More or less, the NFL Combine is broadcast as an event to run 40s and then participate in position drills. In the past there has not been an extensive focus on the shuttle, 3-cone, broad or vertical jump, unless a name or result pops out.

Le’Veon Bell, Tevin Coleman and the 2019 Free Agent Running Backs - Player Profile Let’s not mince words. Le’Veon Bell is looking to get paid. He didn’t walk away from more than $14 million last year just to sign a sweetheart deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in hopes of getting a Super Bowl ring. He’s looking to cash in, and really, who can blame him? Running back is frequently viewed as an easily replaceable position, and the success James Connor and Jaylen Samuels experienced filling in for Bell last year simply reinforces that mindset. It makes sense that Bell would want to extract the most value out of what will likely be his last long-term contract, but only a handful of teams have the requisite cap space combined with a glaring need at the RB position.

Report: The 2018-19 NFL All-Penalty Team – The Most Penalty Yards Given Up By Players in Each Position - SportFacts Every year we like to take a look at what player in each position netted the most penalty yards. It’s a fun analysis into what players are causing the most headaches for their coordinators. Below you’ll find a breakdown of the most penalized player in each position, and a list of our 2018-19 NFL Season All-Penalty Team. [BLG Note: No Eagles players made this list.]

Exclusive: Eagles Autism Challenge to expand its beneficiary applicant pool - Philadelphia Business Journal The football team assembled a nine-person scientific peer review panel to review applications. More researchers will be able to apply for funding from the Eagles Autism Challenge in year two.

What the suspension of Randy Gregory means for the Cowboys - Blogging The Boys Having said that, the situation is rather grim for the team. Had Gregory not failed the test, getting Lawrence back would have left the team in good shape as far as the starters go. Now they just have Taco Charlton and Dorance Armstrong under contract, and can also consider moving Tyrone Crawford back to DE full-time. Charlton has been disappointing for a first-round pick, and Armstrong did not show much during the past season. The defensive tackle position is also woefully understaffed, although they do have a couple of solid starters in Maliek Collins and Antwaun Woods. Crawford was valuable as a multi-position role player, and the team would no doubt prefer not having to move him full-time to the edge.

1 player at each position with the most to gain at the 2019 NFL Combine - SB Nation Defensive back: Nasir Adderley, Delaware. Adderley played his college ball at the University of Delaware, an FCS program. Adderley did a bit of everything for the Blue Hens while he played safety there. He can play in the box near the line of scrimmage, play in the slot against receivers and tight ends, and lay huge hits on receivers as they try to catch passes down the field. As it stands right now, Adderley is a fringe first-round prospect, but he can catapult himself into the top 32 with a strong combine. It’s one thing to show on tape that you can dominate FCS football — it’s another to show that athletically you truly belong in the NFL.

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Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/2/27/18242773/eagles-news-pff-alshon-jeffery-philadelphia-most-improved-player-2018-nfl-football-wide-receiver-wr

[tipsoctopus]

"A win is vital", "Cannot afford to drop points" - Fan Predictions: Chelsea vs West Ham

Chelsea host West Ham on Monday night in another London derby which both sides will be hoping to win in order to establish themselves in the top four and climb into the top ten, respectively.

The Blues’ win over Brighton on Wednesday surely delighted fans who have been clamouring for the sight of Callum Hudson-Odoi in a Premier League starting XI, while the Hammers’ difficult period continued with a 2-0 loss at home to Everton.

While recent form tips heavily in the home side’s favour, the visitors have got the better of results in the last three meetings between the two; the Irons are unbeaten against the Stamford Bridge outfit since March 2017, when they lost 2-1 – they will be hoping to extend that run next time out.

This week’s expert fans, West Ham-mad former Football FanCast editor-in-chief James Jones and Transfer Tavern assistant editor and Chelsea nut George Blake, share their thoughts and predictions ahead of Matchweek 33’s standout fixture…

Wednesday night saw rare starts for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, should Maurizio Sarri start one, both or neither on Monday?

George: “Both Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Cheek looked good against Brighton, and objectively speaking, they should both play. Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley have both struggled lately, whilst Pedro and Willian also haven’t been great.

“That said, there’s no chance that Hudson-Odoi will play again, especially with the Europa League coming back next week, so it’s safe to rule him out from having a starting berth. Loftus-Cheek is an interesting one, as he seems to be perfectly suited for the system, and he’s been so much better than all his competitors of late. He should start, but with Sarri, you just never know.”

James: “I think he has to start both of them. They’re hungry, as we saw with their performances on Wednesday night, and Chelsea need players who are hungry and eager to impress if they’re to finish in the top four.

“The last few months have been difficult for them and they’re in danger of seeing their season end in bitter disappointment unless changes are made. Bringing both of these players in is a positive change and equally, why would you change a winning team if you don’t have to?”

Recently called-up England man Hudson-Odoi impressed greatly on his maiden start for the Blues in the league, assisting Olivier Giroud for the opener, while his international teammate Loftus-Cheek also laid on a goal and netted a beauty from outside of the box.

The pair haven’t featured nearly as frequently as they deserve to, with Sarri preferring experience in his starting XI regardless of the outstanding performances registered by the aforementioned duo in the European and cup competitions.

Hopefully, the pair’s sparkling showings at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night will finally leave Sarri with no excuse not to give them the nod ahead of the likes of Barkley and Willian more often in the future – they certainly have the quality to feature week-in, week-out for the Blues.

West Ham spent big last summer. Should they be looking at selling as much at the end of this season?

James: “The aftermath of such big and impressive investment last summer was that it has exaggerated the fact the squad is riddled with average players and dead wood, all of which should be shown the door this summer.

“Ninety per cent of West Ham’s summer additions have impressed and strengthened the squad and barring a handful of other players, the rest of the team have not done enough to suggest they deserve to remain at the club beyond the summer.

“Where Arnautovic is concerned, he is a special case. Had he not had his head turned by China in January, we would be talking about whether West Ham would be able to keep him this summer, but instead all the talk and expectation is of him sold as soon as possible.

“If Pellegrini is able to bring in some good money for the deadwood and reinvest well, then he’ll deserve a big pat on the back for transforming the quality of the squad in the space of just 12-18 months.”

George: “It’s clear that a bit of a clear-out is needed at the London Stadium this summer. Pellegrini has done well, but there’s a lot of deadwood in the squad that could be moved on in an effort to revamp the team.

“Going forward, especially, I think there’s a big job to be done, given that the trio of Javier Hernandez, Arnautovic and Andy Carroll are all approaching or are now beyond 30. An injection of youth is needed, and this is likely to be funded by sales.”

Indeed, West Ham’s summer recruitment, including the appointment of Pellegrini, has proved successful over the course of the season, with Felipe Anderson, Issa Diop and Lukasz Fabianski impressing in particular. For every Fabian Balbuena, though, there is a Jack Wilshere or a Lucas Perez, both of whom have been huge flops since signing from Arsenal.

James is spot on with his assessment of the Arnautovic situation, meanwhile – had he not tried to force an exit then surely the conversations regarding the possibility of a summer departure would be opposing, rather than supporting. The Austrian hasn’t been quite the same since he got a glimpse of the Chinese big bucks, and has hardly featured in recent months.

Where do you think the Hammers can hurt their hosts? 

George: “A lot of Chelsea’s strength comes from the midfield – but so do a lot of our weaknesses. Namely, if West Ham are able to get a chokehold on Jorginho, that will severely limit our ability to move forward with any sort of fluidity, whilst he’s also an important player for us defensively.

“Add to that the fact that our left-sided midfielders are chopped and changed so often, with Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic both incredibly inconsistent this season, and there’s a lot of scope for exploitation in this area. If you stop the midfield, you stop the Blues.”

James: “By playing in the exact same way as they did when Chelsea visited Stratford earlier this season – the game plan was to allow Jorginho all the time on the ball and to concentrate on cutting off his options, man marking the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian.

“It worked wonders as West Ham could’ve won the game, but had to settle for a very good 0-0 instead. Given that Chelsea and Sarri are still playing in the same way, logic says go there and try to do it again.”

The Hammers held their London neighbours to a stalemate at the London Stadium in September, with Pellegrini nailing his tactics and setting an example to the rest of the league as to how Chelsea can be stopped – the formula consists of nullifying Jorginho.

The Italian might get an earful from the Stamford Bridge faithful on an almost weekly basis but he remains the lynchpin in the side – he’s crucial to Chelsea playing the way Sarri wants.

The fact remains that if you can stop the Chelsea number 5 from getting on the ball or cut out his passing lines then your odds of getting a result skyrocket.

Is there one thing you think Chelsea must take from their midweek game into this one?

James: “Confidence and a winning mentality. They simply cannot afford to drop points at this stage of the season with a top four place at stake. With the advantage of being at home, Chelsea should be heading into this game with confidence, especially against a West Ham side that played so poorly last time out and whose season is essentially over.”

George: “I think Maurizio Sarri just needs to bring rotation into the fold at Chelsea. His lack of rotation has been laughable at points this season, with sub-par players being picked repeatedly.

“He changed that against Brighton, the likes of Olivier Giroud, Andreas Christensen and the aforementioned Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all coming in. That changed the game for the Blues, and if the boss reverts back to the same system as he has previously, we could be in trouble.”

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

The likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have shown this season that rotating – sometimes, in the former’s case, entire starting XIs – is a surefire way to ensuring that you have fresh legs each week and remain unpredictable. Sarri, on the other hand, has a very definitive idea of who his best XI is and he is very reluctant to adjust that, despite weekly outcry.

As George says, though, the surprise appearances of the aforementioned Three Lions duo, Giroud and Christensen proved effective; Sarri would be mad to bench them all. If there’s anyone that would, though, it’s the Neapolitan.

Finally, what are your score predictions?

George: “It’s never an easy fixture, and a lot of it depends on who plays on the day. That said, a win is vital, so let’s go for 3-1 Chelsea.”

James: “I wouldn’t be surprised to see West Ham take something from this game as they’ve had lots of success against top six opposition this season. A win may be a bit beyond them but a point is more than achievable, so I’ll go with a 1-1 draw.”

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