#since that's the big obsession with final seasons and coverage of final seasons
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there's a new article out about the play. i think it's paywalled for people outside of the us, so here's a twitter thread with screenshots. i've also typed it all out under the cut here:
LONDON â Next month, the Upside Down extends its tentacles into Londonâs West End with âStranger Things: The First Shadow,â a prequel stage production that expands the world of Netflixâs sci-fi/horror blockbuster.Â
And the creative team behind it hopes the play will be as groundbreaking as the series itself. Â
âWeâre about to bring the actors, whoâve just been in this cocoon of a rehearsal room for seven weeks, into [the theater],â producer Sonia Friedman says of âThe First Shadow,â which is set to open Noc. 17 at the Phoenix Theatre. âWeâve been making sure it can stand alone without the special effects, because itâs all about story. We are going to blow peopleâs minds. We are going to terrify with some of the most startling, extraordinary things with the physical production.âÂ
The project originated with director Stephen Daldry, who approached Netflixâs then-content chief Cindy Holland after the showâs first season aired. Â
âOne of the conversations Stephen and I had been having was, âWhat theater have we ever seen where you get genuinely scared?ââ Daldryâs co-director Justin Martin says. âIt was an interesting challenge and provocation. We talked about other [Netflix] titles, but this one felt like the most imaginative and the most challenging to try and find a stage language for.âÂ
âThe goal was to figure out, what does a mega episode of âStranger Thingsâ look like on stage?â adds Matt Duffer, who created the series with brother Ross. âIt was a very long, multi-year process to figure that out. But where theyâve landed is incredibly exciting.âÂ
For the Duffers, the idea of expanding the âStranger Thingsâ universe in new forms was an exciting prospect. They're currently working on several spinoff shows, including a childrenâs animated series and an anime series. The play exists on its own, but it also informs the narrative and characters fans know. Â
âThe idea was to explore Henry Creel and his backstory and fill in a gap that we donât explore in Season 4,â Ross Duffer says of the villain also known as Vecna. âThe play was being developed simultaneously with us writing Season 4 so we were adjusting as we went. It was an interesting way to develop a story, but to do it concurrently like that made sure everything locks in mythology-wise.âÂ
Development on âThe First Shadowâ began during Season 2. Daldry approached Friedman after seeing the magic and spectacle in her companyâs production of âHarry Potter and the Cursed Childâ at Londonâs Palace Theatre. The creative team spent time brainstorming the story during the early months of the pandemic with screenwriter Jack Thorne, but eventually decided they needed someone who knew the series intimately.Â
Kate Trefry, a writer on âStranger Thingsâ since Season 2, was an obvious choice for Daldry, despite the fact that sheâd never written a play before. Â
âSeason 2 is really when we started to expand this world and mythology,â Ross Duffer says. âSo Kate knows that as well as us. She's been with us in the trenches for so many years that we were so happy that she had this opportunity to do this.âÂ
From early on, no one wanted to simply remake the first season. Daldry wanted the story to be what Martin calls âin the center of the conversation,â rather than a secondary narrative, so a prequel made the most sense.Â
âWhen we met with Stephen we had just cracked this Henry Creel stuff in the writers room,â Ross Duffer says. âWe said, âWell there might be an opening here.â And Stephen really fell in love with it.âÂ
âThere are questions of âWhy Hawkins?â and âHow did all this stuff happen?ââ Martin adds, referring to the showâs fictional Indiana town, which becomes a hotbed of supernatural activity. âThis felt like a good way to address that.â Â
âThe First Shadow,â set in Hawkins in 1959, is told over two chapters. Several familiar characters appear, including Bob Newby, Joyce Maldonado and Jim Hopper, who are in their last year of high school when a new student named Henry Creel arrives. Nearby, Dr. Brenner is getting his start in his lab. There are also new characters, like Bobâs sister Patty Newby. Trefry calls it an ensemble play with Henry Creel as the âspineâ of the story. Beyond that, everyone involved is as tight-lipped about the plot as they are about the forthcoming grand finale of the Netflix original.Â
âItâs about outsider kids who come together to solve a mystery,â Martin says. âAnd in doing so find themselves and each other. That's really ultimately what âStranger Thingsââ does so well and why so many people connect with it.âÂ
Trefry adds that itâs also âabout the loss of innocence and coming of age and how you are changed and ruined and saved by these formative events that happened in high school.âÂ
âSo, hopefully, youâll see that Hopper and Joyce and Bob are all presenting echoes of the trauma that is at the center of this play,â she says.Â
In the first season of âStranger Things,â Joyce, Bob and Hopper seem surprised by whatâs going on in Hawkins. But Trefry confirms thereâs an explanation for why they donât immediately connect it to their high school years. Â
âThe climactic events that happen within these two stage episodes had to be something that could be written off as not magical or science fiction,â she says. âIt had to be spectacular and make sense, but we had to go forward in honesty with our characters.âÂ
As a TV series, âStranger Thingsâ has a recognizable aesthetic. The Upside Down and its monsters are familiar to viewers, so a stage version needed to incorporates similar visuals. Â
Because Trefry had never written a play, she didnât worry about whether certain effects or scenes would be possible, which upped the ante for everyone included. Â
âShe cross-cut scenes as she would in the show and wrote crazy visual effects sequences as she would in the show,â Matt Duffer says. âShe wasnât limited by that because it then just presented a challenge for Stephen to solve, which is fun. The opening sequence of the play -- I donât think anyone even knew if it was possible. I'm still not sure how theyâre doing it.âÂ
Friedman and Daldry put together a notably skilled creative team. Friedman set the bar high from the outset, telling them, âI need to be taken to a new dimension of what is possible with theater.âÂ
That team includes illusions design and visual effects artists Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher, who are responsible for the onstage magic in âHarry Potter and the Cursed Child.â Harrison and Fisher spent nearly a year coming up with the effects in âThe First Shadowâ and have continues perfecting things during rehearsals.Â
âItâs very pressurized because there is nothing worse than a bad effect because the audience knows straight away,â Harrison says. âWe have to go through quite a lot of watching our work be quite bumpy before it gets smooth. And we have to bring the actors from zero magic skill to being very expert in a condensed period of time.âÂ
âWhen you have the world of âStranger Things,â people know it,â Fisher adds. âThey have those big sequences, so we naturally are creating big sequences. Weâve pushed it and I think by us pushing, the directors and Kate have pushed us even more and said, âNow we know you can do that, we want this.ââÂ
As a series âStranger Thingsâ relies on CGI alongside practical effects, but onstage everything has to be done for real. 59 Productions are creating the video design and visual effects for the play, which will work in tandem with the illusions and Miriam Buetherâs set design. Harrison says that âanything that can be achieved in film can be achieved in theater.âÂ
âIn film, people want absolute reality,â Harrison says. âFor the effects to be visually real. In the theater, we have a level of imagination that we can use as well. For example, in the piece weâre creating there are a lot more blood and guts.âÂ
Trefry adds that the stage show is genuinely terrifying. âItâs scary like âStranger Thingsâ is scary,â she says. âThereâs a little bit of like guts and gore, and then thereâs also real trauma â people dealing with real stuff.âÂ
Other elements of the production will hint at the series as well. For instance, Harrison and Fisher met with the creature designer from the series during their design process to ensure âvisual continuity,â although they wonât say which creatures appear in the play. And D.J. Waldeâs original music recreates the familiar synth theme song with a theremin that matches the late 1950s setting. Â
For the Duffers, bringing the âStranger Thingsâ universe to life on stage satisfies their love of practical effects. Â
âThe downside of CGI is that the audience is conditioned to the fact that we can basically do anything,â Matt Duffer says. âBut thereâs something about seeing it actually done. When I saw âCursed Child,â my jaw was dropping in a way it rarely does now with these big movies. We want to do the same here.âÂ
Because Trefry wrote the play while Season 4 was in development, the seriesâ writers were able to retrofit elements of that season to reflect the stage show. The events of the play will also help to âenrichâ Season 5, Matt Duffer says. Â
âThereâs a ton of conversation and dialogue between this play and the events that happen in Season 5,â Trefry says of the final season, which is over halfway written. âIt was about trying to create something that is canon, but where you donât have to see it to see Season 5. But if you do see it, itâll make Season 5 better.âÂ
âThere are hints of where [the show] is going to go,â Ross Duffer adds. âI think when [Season] 5 comes together, all of those pieces will hopefully click.âÂ
âThe First Shadowâ tickets are currently on sale through Aug. 25, 2024, although Friedman confirms the case signed one-year contracts and the production is open-ended. The plan is to bring the play to Broadway and the rest of the U.S. as soon as possible. Â
âHopefully it can get to as many places as it can so as many fans as possible can experience it,â Matt Duffer says. âThatâs one thing weâre trying to figure out: How do we make sure people are able to see it before Season 5 releases?âÂ
âThe First Shadowâ marks the beginning of a broader universe for âStranger Things.â The Duffers say they canât âfocus on the spinoffs until weâre landed the plan with Season 5,â but so far theyâve enjoyed letting other artists re-imagine their ideas.Â
âThis was originally pitched as a standalone story and so to be here now is surreal,â Ross Duffer says. âBut this has been the most rewarding experience for us creatively."Â
#bolded some things that stand out to me#plot relevant things and how things connect to s5 and such#article/twitter thread also has a few pics of cast and crew at rehearsal#i won't read or post a ton of articles for this or s5 tbh#i don't care to see how many of them are just about character deaths/characters needing to die for some reason#since that's the big obsession with final seasons and coverage of final seasons#it annoys me#the first shadow#the first shadow spoilers#s5#st5 spoilers#spoilers#and also i feel like a lot of what they say in these articles sets people's expectations like. super high and specific#and then people always complain when what they've told themselves is going to happen doesn't#it's an endless cycle and i'm not here for it#anyway. i have to wonder about the bob of it all
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WHAT I WANT FROM BLS IN 2021 AKA A LOOK AND DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE THE BL GENRE
Hi, Hello; Bls have become incredibly saturated and growing each day, every single day we hear about new projects, new ideas, latest trailers, and it's been so great to see how BL has changed from 2015 to now. It's been a positive upward trajectory; however, again, we have to mention that it's being overfilled and not always with good shows. From the six or more countries that fight to get our energy and time to watch their shows, movies and animations, to the low budget, lazy plots that don't need to be written, Bl can sometimes be a phenomenal experience and incredible stories that make us cry and feel and learn or it can be this flop with no message, no structured plot, stiff acting and more. Am I being harsh? Should we just be okay with the fact there are more BL shows now to binge and to watch? Should we just settle for these bad stories just because there's nothing else available? I don't think so, I think with shows like ITSAY, Cherry Magic, GAYA SA, Bls have the potential to be so prominent, so unique and even beat out other heterosexual shows. So I am here to make a list of what I would like to see in 2021 with these new BL shows. Because it's quality, not quantity we want, we want better stories, better characters, better developments, just better. If we can be better, we can take over a lot of media, and there'd be more representation, education and more for the voices that want to be represented through BLs. Okay so without further or do let's get into it;Â
The problem with Skinship
Now I hate to be the one that has to mention this issue, because sometimes in BLs this is not an issue; in fact sometimes some shows have too many kisses/skin ship, that end up making fans bored and frustrated with how much screen time is not being used to tell a great plot. But for me, since I started this journey into this genre, kissing has always been an issue with forced censorship that makes no sense, and stiff actors that clearly aren't comfortable with doing that. To couples that are meant to be so devoted and in love they resort to acting like buddies who can't touch each other to cut scenes and weird camera angles for a scene. Skinship isn't always needed but when a couple is meant to be obsessed with each other or addicted to thinking about touching the other, or there's a build-up of longing, and they're a long term relationship, Â passionate couples kissing makes it more believable to me. What's up with this pattern of BLS avoiding kisses; please stop it's irksome I know I sound like a fujoshi but those couples that do this make me want to throw something because they're not believable no matter how much they scream from the top of their lungs, Â that they love being with each other, or are attracted to each other, the lack of skinship just makes me get annoyed by it all. I also love shows like Cherry Magic where it's a softer relationship but teasing kisses and then like hiding behind an elevator for the main couple, not cool.
 I'm not going to make it a big deal, but I did feel somehow cheated at the finale of the show because one, in the manga this is not a problem, there is a lot of kisses with Adachi and Kurosawa, two, why would the second lead couple get a kiss scene but then when it comes to the main it's hidden behind an elevator, it's such a cheap way to censor it in my opinion especially since we've been teased about these two's kiss since episode 2/3. I don't need to see Adachi losing his virginity or whatnot, but I was disappointed when the elevator scene happened I was like but why it could have just been a cute kiss scene on the roof. It didn't need to be so covered and hidden. Make it make sense. Â
So I don't particularly appreciate being teased by stuff like this, because it's not a sin for two people to show they care about each other like an average couple and kiss. It doesn't make the show not tasteful, or too crass, it just means that the couple are attracted to each other. I don't know, maybe it's just me, perhaps I am a fujoshi, and this is bothering me. But it's seriously to me more than that; there are some shows where this isn't a problem, where we don't need kisses and all that, but there are some where it feels so hypocritical and odd to censor a kiss like it's a sin or something. And with these shows (2gether for example) Â it doesn't sit well with me, it really doesn't. Â Just my opinion
The Issue With Side couples.Â
Side couples need to add something to the show's plot or be balanced: there's the saying too much or too little. And with BLs I have found that the screen time of side couples can ruin or elevate a show. If you can't write a well thought out plot for extra couples, then don't add them. Normally some side couples are written powerfully and interesting as the central couple like Tin and Can from LBC or KingRam from My engineer etc., other times side couples just steal screen time for no reason, we could be using that time to make the other main couple stronger and it would be fine. Not in every BL show, that every single person have to turn out gay in the show, it's not by force. What side couples should do in a show, is add to the structured plot, give information/exposition about the world of the show, the ideas of the show, the themes of the show, they should be just as 3dimensional, just as important and fleshed out as the other characters are otherwise there's no need for them.Â
Why R U, for example, had great bases for every side couple but failed due to rushed editing, lazy directing and more to make use of them. At the end of the day, the confusion with the side couples ruined the show and made everyone feel frustrated and tired by how the show was done because it felt unsatisfactory for the other plots of the side couples. An example where a side couple was done right in terms of plot but also didn't have enough coverage was TharnType season 1 with Tum and Tar, their plot was fantastic, essential and necessary to the storyline and it made sense. However, it still left a weird empty feeling because their relationship was still confusing, in LBC 2 we were meant to sort that out and Love by Chance 2 was one of the worst ways side couples are done.Â
They used them for product placement (same as TharnType 7 years). Their stories were just repeating the same things we've already seen before, with no effort, no energy, and no direction given to the actors who were working hard to portray these roles. It's frustrating when side couples could be just as great in the show, but they're ruined by bad writing.Â
Either have side couples with depth and storytelling that is good or don't add them at all. An example of a show without a side couple is Gaya Sa Pelikula and ITSAY. And you didn't see us moaning or crying about the lack of side couples instead it was praised because every side character had a purpose, a story of their own to tell, and depth to their characters that was needed to get us to the rest of the plot. Everyone had their own important role in the plot, and it was brilliant. So you don't need a show with many couples, you can just focus on one, or if you do have many storylines for couples, please just make it worthwhile. Please? 2021? I'm begging
More unique BLS:Â
When we think about plot lines for BLs, we tend to especially in Thailand have one thing in mind which is engineering, medical students, university angst and guys in white t-shirts playing the same role over and over and over again. Don't forget the sotus gear being a symbol of their heart. I find it funny because I don't have a problem with this; if the storyline is unique/addicting enough for me to not focus on the fact it's a university plot. For example, Theory of love, but it is funny that for a very long time BLs have been focused on one type of setting; the university. We had other BLs that came from China, and Taiwan and others that weren't always based on this setting, especially China which has fantasy and more but those ended up being sad, censored or ruined.Â
This is the problem. Luckily in 2020/2019, Bls started to want to be different, with new stories based on mafia-like worlds like Trapped, with supernatural storylines like He's coming to me, with the introduction of Korean BLs and Philippine BLs, we're starting to see different tropes soulmate aus, paranormal, fantasy, action, adventure etc. And 2021 already has a line up where most of the storylines veer from this engineering university plot. It's exciting. To think every country is trying to move away from student/ university storylines or give them more depth and change the normal tropes and ideas with them is so exciting and needed. I still love these tropes, but less is more, and a unique plot is even more because it shows BL can be more than just stories, can have depth, can have different versions, and can reach out to a new audience, to other tastes etc. It's been changing, and in 2021 I can't wait to see these new stories come to life.Â
Itâs Quality not Quantity :Â
This is so important, bls are becoming saturated as happy as this makes me; it also suffocated me with bad shows not worth the praise of effort and energy and these aren't put into some shows. In 2020 we got shows like ITSAY where the producers, actors and directors fought and worked so hard to make it happen, they went through obstacles, struggled with days, they pushed through just to make sure ITSAY was created to the best of its ability. This was so incredible, and it made me almost tear up each time I watched the documentaries about how ITSAY came to life. Â
Shows like ITSAY and Gaya Sa again that have directors and producers with fixed goals of trying to make a BL show more than just a typical low budget show, putting all their effort, time and ideas to make this mean something is so incredible, so excellent, words can't explain the masterpieces that are created from people who take what they're doing with this genre seriously. And for a long time, we've struggled for people to take this genre seriously, to put in effort and energy to ensure that the story they're telling makes sense, and is done well.Â
I'm always harsh because you know sometimes the things needed to make something high quality isn't always available. Some people are genuinely putting everything they can into shows. However I feel like you can tell which shows do that, you can tell when a show is doing all it can to be as great as it possibly could be, for example, the History series; it's a low budget, but it's brilliant, some shows like Love By chance season 2 yes I'm going to keep on calling out this mess, you can tell did not try at all with what they were given, it was a lazy attempt just to feed fan girls and make money. And the thing about things like that is that it's just insulting, to the fans who waited with anticipation only to see the sequel come to life, to the actors who put in the effort and tried to make it be something, it's just disappointing.
 I'm sorry, but like in 2021, we don't want a repeat of that. If you don't want to put in the effort and make something that is high quality despite the low funds or whatever then don't make a show. Other shows are being made and you won't be missed.  Luckily 2021 seems like we will be getting shows of better quality, GMMTV appears like they've invested a lot this year into making BLs be more, we have the incredible Filmania KinnPorsche that is just outstanding for just a 10-minute pilot teaser, we have new channels with budgets and research ready to make new shows like Channel 3, and we have China with new directors wanting to make more danmei donghuas (with incredible quality like TGCF, with excellent live actions like the Untamed) and we have more countries just making good stories and good productions with all they have. So yeah I'm excited to see what shows will be created with this type of energy in 2021.
Letâs make it more risky
So already discussed about unique plotlines and better quality. But one thing as well in the same category as all of these suggestions is BLs being riskier. There are times where BLs try and go overboard and take risks to do new stories that make people uncomfortable, or agitated like Friendzone but the thing is I live for these storylines because it's not just fluffy or tropey stories that are based on novels that need to be told. BL can be so much more. Sometimes bls are stale, and sometimes they try to do riskier messier stories with more depth. And for example, with a company like GMMTV where they have sources and sources of stories they can tell that can be riskier and be different to the pattern they usually follow, we can get such great plots and tales based on new ideas. Â I want to see a show like the gifted with bl plotline, the shipper season 2, focused on WayKim, Â things without using a book adaptation and without basic plots we needed to settle for. GMMTV is trying to do that now with Not Me coming soon and shows like Friendzone, Baker Boys etc. But I want more riskier stories. Again so that BLs are more than just what they're known for, the same tropes all over and over again, the same ideas and plotlines, but new screenwriters, unique stories not based on books or what's already been made, just new ideas. That's one thing that will pave new ways for BL. Like Give us a historical Thai BL, give us a sageuk Korean show, give us time travelling. I don't know just new ideas, sci-fi, new genres, more psychological thrillers. It could be anything, and it would be so fantastic. Let's see what 2021 offers.Â
Let's keep with the PC Energy;Â
Shows are being called out for unnecessary toxicity, sexism, bad females that don't get the point that they're beards, problems with non-consent; these need to stop in 2021. I'm not saying we can't have shows that talk about the results and consequences of these kinds of issues, because I find it fascinating when shows take a risk and mention that, like TharnType, but it is 2021 , a new decade, we really need to stop having shows that romanticise topics that aren't okay, emotionally abusive relationships should be seen as emotionally abusive and not praised, character toxicity needs to be called out and shown as that, not as a typical bad boy who needs to be saved trope etc. I don't want to get rid of angsty haters to lovers or flawed characters that need to grow; because those stories are so exciting to watch, and analyse, but don't just add trauma for no reason and not take it seriously, don't just make characters do things without making sure the audience knows this isn't okay. We're getting better, and we're getting more healthier relationships, tropes and conversations, but there's more work to be done in some shows in 2021. Some shows like the shipper in 2020 that had predatory behaviour, incest  (not dealt with properly) which felt like a flashback to the past.Â
Longer BLS:
Looking at you Korea, don't mess around you literally can have this genre in your hand,s if you make a worthy production like a typical kdrama it doesn't have to be 16 episodes. Ten is fine, even just 30 minute per episode is okay with us. If you just add more minutes and more depth to the stories, so there are more character flesh outs and more chances for your stories to be developed and not rushed. Then Korean BL will literally take over everything. Â There's nothing else to really say, Korea has fantastic plot lines, intriguing characters, fun storylines that make you addicted. Yet, it always feels unsatisfactory and annoying because it's just 10-15 minutes per episode. Make it make sense. I mean there are reasons for it because of budget, and lack of mainstream support but I still think we can just focus on one show, with all the money and effort from the other shows add it to one show, make it long, make it big and create a masterpiece and it will explode. The potential is there, plus with Channels like Channel 3 in Thailand, Bls are really starting to be one hour long and have like 16 or more episodes. That's been a fun journey. But Korea, please join this energy and make more shows that are longer and better. Please??
China it's enough:Â
I'm being serious; I don't know how we'll ever pass this problem, but TGCF tried to, and I can see many companies are trying to find a way to overcome this. I know with China it's not fair to demand this it's not a full representation of the Chinese culture or whatever, Â but it's irksome; there's a lot of shows that can take our breaths all away in China, so many great shows so please stop ruining that. I'm tired of the PTSD of the shows potentials we lost (The guardian) Â because of censorship and other issues, sad forced endings, cutting scenes and deleting episodes like it needs to stop in 2021. Because now, don't pretend that the success of BLs isn't making money and causing the Chinese industry to make more shows like these. But this is my wishful thinking like I said I don't fault writers for trying to be careful with laws, but it is incredibly frustrating when you have a country with the best creativity, storylines, acting etc., and it's ruined by censorship. Let's hope 2021 finds a way to get around this.Â
Let the BL animation rain; 2020 saw a remarkable rise to danmei donguas! I'm talking MXTX universe with scum villain, TGCF, Mo dao zu shi and more, so let's keep that energy; what I love about danmei is how unique the plots are we can have transmigration, fantasy, supernatural, mafia etc. it never ends, these stories are incredible, the quality of the animations are so excellent, and the love of the characters always get me. We just need to see more come to life.Â
The Brilliance of Meta;Â
With ITSAY and Gaya SA and Cherry Magic taking over 2020, meta in BLS have been delicious to watch and analyse, and I want more. This is such a selfish ask, but what can I say, I live for shows filled with meta, with depth, with analysis, with characters that are not just one way on the surface but they tell a different story in subtext. I live for clues, and evidence, and production choices, hidden facial gestures, and objects with meanings; Â more symbolisms, more foreshadowings, more dramatic ironies, more character dynamics, more use or other literature/media as bases for the story (like Theory of Love with Flipped and movies). I live for this. It makes a show so much more special and exciting when we're part of the journey; it gives something to do other than just watch the story unfold, we can predict, we can guess, we can analyse, we can just be part of the world of the story and fully understand the message that the writer is trying to tell us. Give us something to look for; clues to watch for, to see where the story is going. Change my mind. Â For example with Cherry Magic, the fact that it was already precious and made us smile, was even more enhanced by how relatable it was with the meta, the pain, and the struggles the characters went through was so fascinating to analyse and read into and relate to. That's what I want from more BLs, like it's incredible when any kind of show has meta. I think it's one of the best signs of a great writer and production team.Â
More Dimensional Characters;Â
Especially villains, we don't want  stale girlfriends who know they're a beard but refuses to let go, we don't want the stale homophobic parent all the time, we don't want the bullies that always try to out people. Give me villains with revenge that makes me question who's in the wrong, reformed villains who become love interests, powerful villains we can't help but hate, but we also love, shocking villains with plot twists we can't see coming (like Lhong from TharnType). Give me depth give me angst, give me plot.
 Villains can make or break a show, they can make the show so exciting and thrilling to watch like we want to see them be discovered or end up where they deserve to go, we like feeling bad for people, and getting to see another side of a villain, we enjoy seeing villains that are different from what we initially thought about them. We like deep villains; we don't always need the same villain, like give us unique ones, give us interesting, weird ones, give us conflicting ones that make us side with them. I want that. Example of a show where there's no actual villain, but they all act like it, is Friendzone and it's so incredible to watch and see how these characters behave, grow, regress etc. I want more characters like this, real, human and makes mistakes. I want more flawed characters with deeper reasons for why they're the way they are. It makes a show very addicting to watch. Maybe that's just me.
The problem with streaming services, YouTube and international fans;
  It's weird international fans need to be taken seriously,  international fans are part of your shows rise to fame, more fame, more success , more projects can be made, and more bls can be seen. Some shows in 2020 lost their chance to shine because of the streaming issues (My engineer), subtitle issues and more. Please stop, please take this into account; try harder, there is always someone internationally willing to help translate or help. Just let us know. Putting shows on Aisplay without subs when you can find a contract that enables you to do so, is a bad move. It's just making you lose because international fans will always find an alternative source to spite you. Like it makes no sense to me, if in 2021 we're still struggling with subs, and where to watch a BL show. It makes no sense because 2020 showed that international fans could break or make a show (2gether) and as much it's privileged for me to say this, international fans should be respected and taken seriously. Luckily Channel 3, GMMTV and others are starting to put more effort into recognising international fans. Finally thank you. Let's see if we improve in 2021.Â
This has been a fun rant and discussion to write. I sound so spoilt, and annoying complaining about each of these minor issues, but it really does mean a lot when a BL show tries hard to make their show worth it. Like it might seem like a small issue, with like the skinship, censorship, meta, saturated stories etc., but if BLs just stop focusing on the genre and what other people think this genre should be if people stop focusing on BLs as just BLs and see it as stories of love and representation and more, BLs can be incredible, they can be better than other dramas out there with better budgets, and mainstream support, they can have meaning, and create incredible, incredible one a kind stories. I just want that so badly for this genre. Like I don't want BLs to be seen as just the same tropes, and same issues, and same ideas that we had about them in 2015, we want growth and improvement and effort, this is not just for weird rabid fangirls only, this can be more, it can be for representation, education, for entertainment, and it can be for more people and cause a shift in the media in the world. It really can one day become just as big as many other versions of media like the world of kpop, kdramas etc. in the world. Â I don't know, that's what I've always thought it could be. And if that happens, it'll be just a great thing. Anyway Let's defeat 2020, we need to keep this upwards trajectory going, and from the shows coming in 2021, I think it's possible.Â
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Timâs Secret Weapon Pt.6
Iâve been slightly obsessed with @ozmavâ âs Damian Wayne/Marinette Dupain-Cheng pairing as of late, and just saw a post that has inspired me more than anything else has in months, so I felt the need to write it
Summary- Tim has always seen the numbers floating above peopleâs heads, been able to perceive their threat levels with a single glance. After being a hero for so long he thought he was desensitized to seeing high numbers above peopleâs heads until Damian brings a new friend home.
Part 1 Part 5 Part 6 (HERE) Part 7 ____________________________________________
âIâll go find her,â Tim offered, rubbing a hand over his eyes.Â
âI should go,â Damian argued, only for Timto waved him off as he grabbed his costume from the wardrobe.Â
âYou look like you just faced Sweet tooth,â He shot back as he pulled off his top. They were used to changing in front of each other by now and he was already wearing his bike shorts under his outfit, âIâm going because I can explain how better then all of you even if I canât track her number like I would normally.âÂ
âHeâs got you there brat,â Jason huffed, âThough taking backup isnât exactly the worst idea, replacement.âÂ
âI can go,â Dick yawned, rolling to his feet as Tim finished pulling on his costume, âBetter me then letting Jay get arrested for his guns.âÂ
âI didnât even bring them!âÂ
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Red Robin was trying desperately to not to laugh as he jumped onto the rooftop.Â
He and Dick had split up soon after leaving the hotel, remaining in contact with the others through comms. Only after a few short minutes, Tim flew back towards the direction Dick had gone after hearing his eldest brother let out a startled yelp before the unmistakable sound of the comm flying out of his ear.Â
The girl with a foot on top of Dickâs back was in a black suit, dark yellow boots and gloves cutting off in sharp points at her knees and elbows, yellow strips cutting around her legs and waist, a top hanging off of a rope she had wrapped around Nightwingâs arms and torso, while translucent wings fluttered on her back. Her yellow and black hair was french braid over her right shoulder, the sharp black tip curved forward with a bee comb placed firmly at her scalp. Her eyes covered by a dark visor that reflected the light to show the compound eye design.Â
Even with her number gone with the magical transformation, Tim couldnât help but feel like she looked familiar.Â
âWho are you and what are you doing here?â She questioned, voice slow and regal.Â
âWell, Iâm Red Robin,â Tim greeted, trying to ignore the laughter from Jason and Damian in his ear, âAnd under your foot is Nightwing who is never going to live this down.âÂ
âGothamâs heroes?â She questioned, unwrapping Nightwing with a snap of her wrist allowing him to rise, âWhat on earth did you get all the way to Paris?âÂ
Tim shrugged, âWeâre trying to speak to Ladybug, the League had been ignorant of the situation here until recently and we came to offer our help, miss...âÂ
âAbeille,â She offered before scoffing, âThe league was unaware about we were dealing with, really?âÂ
Nightwing gave a sheepish smile, âWell the lack of international coverage and lasting damage, anything we found online seemed faked. As soon as we Red realized that it wasnât we set out for France.âÂ
Abeille gave them a considering look, âWell⌠while Iâm not happy it took you so long to come help, better late than never I guess. I saw Ladybug out and about earlier so let me give her a call.âÂ
She picked up her top and it split it in half, showing off a screen and keyboard.Â
âHow the he-âÂ
She cut Tim off, âDonât question the magic, it will just give you a migraine if you think about it too long.âÂ
âAbeille? I didnât know youâd be on patrol already, usually, you donât head out until 6,â The distinct voice of Marinette sounded through the speaker.Â
âWell I saw two masked weirdos that I didnât know hopping around the rooftops, so I checked it out,â She answered dryly, âLo and behold that is wasnât an Akuma or Sentimonster,â
âWhat? Who are they then? Please tell me this isnât an Owl situation again,â Marinette asked hastily.Â
Abeille smirked, âwell no wannabe heroes being stupid,â She told the other hero as she turned the device around to point at the two Gothamites, âBut we have two real heroes that would like to meet you,âÂ
âHello!â Dick greeted with a cheerful wave as Marinetteâs mouth fell open.
âNightwing and Red Robin?â She questioned, âWhat are you doing here?âÂ
âThey said the League finally got a clue,â Abeille relays, âShould I send them over to the normal meeting spot?âÂ
âWell, yeah but we should probably-âÂ
Tim listened to his comm before cutting her off, âWould it be alright if the other Bats with us too? Bats, Red Hood and Robin feel like we should talk as a group?âÂ
Dick snickered, âYeah Rob wanted to come originally, but he met with his girlfriend in civvies and she pumped an entire tray of eclair on him so he had to clean up.âÂ
Ladybug visibly paled in the screen as the pieces slide into place, âYeah, you can all come. Iâll meet them alone in 30 minutes, Abeille. You can keep patrolling. Bug Out!âÂ
The screen cut off as Abeille hummed, âI can give you guys the coordinates if you give me the signal youâre working on.â
Tim raised an eyebrow, âItâs a secure channel, you-âÂ
âOh I know I shouldnât be able to link up to it,â She cut him off with a wave of her hand, âBut again magic, it can link up to anything as long as I have the necessary info and a miraculous communicator canât be hacked, so no worries about your secrets being leaked. Itâll even wipe the memory of your signal from itself as soon as I detransform.âÂ
âGeez,â Dick whistled as Tim related the message to her, âAre there any drawbacks to having one of these?â
She snorted as their comma both dinged with the coordinates, âYeah, two big one, they send out butterflies and feathers on a semi-regular basis to turn our family and friends against us,âÂ
âMood,â Tim hummed thinking back to when he had to fight other heroes due to the villain of the weekâs mind control.Â
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The location they were given was for an office building across from the Louvre, no windows higher than it, and a rusted shut access door. Overall not a bad meeting spot, seeing as it would be very hard to spot them up there unless they were sitting on the edge of the building.Â
The Bats were only partially hidden from view as they waited for Marinette to arrive, Damian pacing slightly.Â
There was a near-silent âtwipâ before they saw a polka-dotted yoyo wrap around one of the many antennas next to them and a frazzled looking Ladybug appeared in front of them.Â
âAre you guys reallyâŚâ She trailed off with a slightly panicked look on her face.Â
âYes, Habibti,â Damian confirmed lightly, âI am sorry for startling you earlier, but we thought it best to inform you that we knew now and offer our support.âÂ
âBut how?â She questioned, seeming not at all concerned that her boyfriend was in fact a superhero from a superhero family as she buried her hands in her hair, âI mean Iâve always been careful around you to not let my powers slip, I used the horse miraculous to travel back to Paris is an Akuma came while I was in Gotham so I had an alibi if you ever questioned me, but that didnât seem to matter since No one outside of Paris seemed to believe that there was anything happening anyways, heck even the tourists seemed to publicity stunt the mayor is running since thereâs never any lasting damage-â
Damian stepped forward and wrapped her into a firm embrace, allowing her frantic breathing to slow as they all waited silently.Â
âIâm Meta,â Tim spoke after she seemed mostly calm, voice a little weak as Dick places a reassuring hand on his shoulder, âWe know because Iâm meta and as it turns out Miraculous users screw up my skills enough for me to take notice, I just recently put it together, Demon Spawnâs girlfriend and the hero of Paris.âÂ
Her eyes widen over Damianâs shoulder, âIs that why you avoided me when I first came over?â
The group chuckled as he blushed slightly, but he opened his mouth to start explaining what he could do and how they could offer help before a cry sounded to their right.Â
Instinct pushing all of them towards the edge they rushed to see a ten-foot tall woman in a huge red ball gown, blood dripping from her hands as she screeched. Guards dressed in bright red squire outfits lined the Louvreâs courtyard.Â
âGreat,â Ladybug mumbled as she watched Chat taunt the being, Viperion and Abeille arriving as well, âI hate Valentine season, so many love based akumas.âÂ
âWe should-â
âYou should go back to your hotel,â Marinette cut off Bruce, causing all eyes to fly to her, âI have a team already who are starting to show up and introducing all five of you at once mid-battle will only serve as a distraction. Iâll come over after and weâll talk, then weâll discuss the next including a plan to introduce the permanent team, but for now, you need to stay out of the way until we figure out what to do.âÂ
Damian looks like he wants to protest, but Bruce simply nods.Â
âItâs your city,â The patriarch, âWe will defer to you, but could we stay within viewing distance of the battle? It would allow us to observe how you usually operate.âÂ
She bit her lip but nodded, âStay hidden please, I really mean it when I say I donât want any distractions, Kwami knows that they get mind-controlled enough without it.âÂ
She swan dived off the ledge with that, yoyo snapping out to catch her and launch her towards her teammates, Ryuko who had just arrived easily sidestepping to allow their leader to take point next to Chat Noir.Â
The Gotham Heros settled onto the rooftop to watch as Tim's eyes scanned the heroes below and mentally added them into his system.Â
Viperion was a mystery still, but even with the numbers he was so used to seeing missing he didnât have a problem placing the others with what he observed earlier.Â
Marinette Dupain-Cheng- Cursive Soft Pink 15, Codenamed Ladybug
Chloe Bourgeois- Delicate Canary Yellow 14, Codenamed Abeille
???- Calligraphed Burgundy 13, Codenamed- Ryuko
Adrian Agreste- Bubble lettered Neon Green 15, Codenamed Chat Noir.
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Taglist: @vixen-uchiha @iggy-of-fans @mewwitch @roseinbloom02 @worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @mochinek0 @royalchaoticfangirl @09shell-sea09 @mystery-5-5 @derpingrainbow @aloha-posts-stuff @hauntedfreakdeputyhero @maribat-archive @blue-peach14 @kae690 @zazzlejazzle @vincentvangoose @be-happy-every-day-please @xxmadamjinxx @celestiacq @peculiarlylostdreamer @dani-ari @melicmusicmagic @themcclan @nyctamaximoff @nataladriana9 @drama-queen-supreme @miraculousbelladonna @urbanpineapplefarmer @graduatedmelon @lexysama @hecate-hallow @ki117h3dr4g0n @vinerlover @interobanginyourmom @bluefiredemon @imanerddealwith @tinybrie @clumsy-owl-4178 @shizukiryuu @whogavemeaninternet @schrodingers25 @lunar-wolf-warrior @urbanpineapplefarmer @xxmadamjinxx @crazylittlemunchkin @littleredrobinhoodlumâ @rougemmeâ @dur55â @phantommeow12 @kand-rooâ @silvergold-swirlâ @officiallyathianaâ @completelypeccableâ @redhoodsdollâ @nataladriana9â @mariae2900â @northernbluetongueâ @sturchlingâ @thesunanditsangelâ @reyna-avila-ramirez-alreanaldoâ @bobothyross @taoiichiiâ @magnitude101999â @magicalfirebirdâ @nataladriana9â @panda3506â @aquariusrunesâ @woodland-queer @sayarock121â @mindfulmagicsâ @magic-miraculousâ @my-name-is-michellâ
#miraculous ladybug#batman#maribat#marinette dupain cheng#tim drake#meta!tim#Damian Wayne#dick grayson#Jason Todd#bruce wayne#numbers AU#chloe bourgeois
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Do you have any advice for someone who wants to make a (very LGBTA positive) webseries of her own?.
oh boy! I sure do. Iâve actually been on a couple other projects other than Recon, all after the first season was written & mostly after the first season was shot, and ya girl has learned a lot because of and since season 1!
i am so sorry but this is going to be SO long. i am kinda obsessed with web series & digital content and itâs my actual professional career now so just⌠get ready. sorry đ
iâll add a TLDR at the end.
(p.s. this is just advice from me, Emma, and not the rest of the Recon team who may have different/additional advice, maybe someone will add on after the holidays)Â
write your bible before anything! depending on if youâre co-creating or just co-producing/writing, this should be done before you bring on additional folks. if youâre co-creating, this is obviously a collaborative process. when i created recon, i did it on my own. i pitched the original idea to some dear friends (one of whom makes a cameo as a security guard in ep 20!) and got their opinions, adapted from their advice, and once i had a solid format, main character, and general plot, i started on the bible. it took probably a month of fucking around before i felt ready to write a bible.Â
the basic components of a bible are a log line, short season overview, character breakdowns for your characters (mine are ~paragraph or two for main characters, with shorter ones for less central characters), a summary of the showâs main themes, genre and tones, and the format of the show (if youâre mapping out multiple seasons, it may be relevant to do this for each season as well as the overall show), as well as the most important part of your bibleâ the episode breakdowns. iâll touch on those in a minute.Â
i do all my original brainstorming on paper, because i am adhd as fuck and itâs easier for me. your bible isnât the place to brainstorm. separate them out. not saying you have to write on paper, but have a separate doc for brainstorming so the formatting for your bible can be easy to follow.Â
if youâre co-producing or having someone else produce your work, it makes sense to have your co-producer or producer right there with you as you work on your bible to give feedback. does this mean theyâre writing it? no. is it useful as hell? yes.Â
my partner-in-creative-crime justice and i tend to share bibles and brainstorm docs with each other when weâre working together on a project. depending on which roles weâre playing on each project (e.g., iâm producing his podcast COSMIC under our company name but not co-creating or writing, so i mostly gave notes on his bible. weâre also working on a series called Inked, and weâre more like co-creators there, so we both write in the doc.)
your bible is the holy doc of your show; itâs what you show to any writers, producers, designers, any creative working on your show so that everyone is on the same page. it is your main reference and guiding light through the whole season; make it clear, organized, and as easy to read as possible. i personally use google docs for my bibles, and use the hell out of the outline function. highly recommend, but everyone has their own system.
break your ENTIRE story before before you write a single script, before you write your pilot, before anything. itâs part of your bible.
if youâre not super familiar with tv/screenwriting, breaking a story means figuring out the beats. the breakdown of reason s1 started as messy af writing on whiteboards, and turned into this:
this is absolutely not what your first outlines or final drafts will look like. we changedâŚ. a ton while writing our scripts. you can see even in this sequenceâ episode 8 and 9 got blurred, and we barely touched on avaâs past because there wasnât room. regardless, this doc & breakdown served as the basis for all our writers and kept us all on roughly the same page. when we disagreed, we could go back to this and sort it out from there!Â
find your people. two roles were crucial to me when we made recon: a mentor, and collaborators. having good people behind me was so so important; i could have never done this on my own.
i gotâŚâŚ.. so lucky with my mentor, bernie su. he not only gave me incredible advice, read scripts, and reviewed cuts, he purchased the damn show, accounting for 75% of our funding. i feel like itâs important for me to acknowledge the luck and privilege i have here: the show would not happened without him, and i only got that chance because i live in LA, went to USC, and applied for the right job at the right time. HOWEVER, aside from the funding that made recon possible, bernieâs expertise seriously helped. after principle photography, we were left feeling lackluster, and bernie gave me advice that led me to make changes that transformed the show. having someone with experienceâ whether in tv, film, web series, any sort of writingâ is invaluable.Â
while i created recon on my own, i did not develop or make it on my own. the episode breakdowns? half me, half other people (mainly justice lol). the look of the show? EP/DP christa, production designer amanda, graphic designer hal, and justice as costuming lead. i did not write season 1 on my own. i recruited friends from USC and even one from high school to write episodes i didnât think i could do justice (no pun intended).Â
once youâve found your people, trust them. there will obviously be cases where you disagree enough with someoneâs creative opinions that you shouldnât, but except in extreme cases, trust your people. try to only chose people you trust in the first place. letting go was so so so hard, but many of the best parts of recon happened because i got over myself and trusted my cast and crew. episode 16, player vs player, was justiceâs baby, and i almost didnât let him roll with the animations because i was too nervous. holy fuck, iâm so glad i trusted him. same with reflections (ep 15), written by my now-fiancĂŠ, which no one else could have written. hal was a bit unsure going in, but the episode is phenomenal. my production designerâs choices were amazing, and i had little to do with them other than being like âyes that is so cool letâs do itâ
seriously. trust your people. watching bernie on artificial & emma approved trust us, his crew of mostly 20-somethings, with creative decisions taught me a huge lesson. i was 19 when he hired me, 19 when he bought the show, and he actually fucking trusted me and the rest of his team to do things. my initial reaction was what the fuck, but it worked. it also let him focus on the big picture while giving us the space we needed to feel creatively and emotionally fulfilled. trust your people.
this also applies to your actors. we had a google drive specifically for our actors to throw up ideas/backstory for their characters, and weâd read through it and give feedback and contributions. it led to better performances and characters with more depth. we also met with actors where we could to discuss their ideas for directions for their charactersâ video game nerd taylor came from convos with jorĂŠ.Â
katiemichal and kat were just like, the same people as their characters, so there was less of this, but there is definitely value in casting the irl versions of your characters as them.
edit your episodes individually, then read through the WHOLE SEASON at once to edit. repeat that until you read it and itâs cohesive.Â
keep track of your timeline and your canon, even canon thatâs not explicit in the show. thereâs so much recon lore that we kept to ourselves that informs several decisions in the first season.Â
unless your characterâs race/ethnicity (even gender) is a key part of their character or the show, cast with an open net. ava was originally a white girl name jody. ana, the actress who played her, originally auditioned for riley, and we changed the characterâs entire backstory for her, which added an amazing dimension to the show we get to see in reflections (and an upcoming podcast shh). lesson fucking learned on my partâ almost too late. donât be like me.
ren, on the other hand, we were 100% sure was non-binary, and although we opened auditions to all genders, we specified from the start it was a non-binary character and weâd give priority to queer/nb actors. it was the right choice.
PRODUCTION DESIGN IS FUCKING IMPORTANT. cinematography is great, and we obviously focused on it a lot w the style of our show, but PD tells so much of your story without saying a word or taking up a second of airtime.
sound is the single most important thing on set. you can make an ugly shot work, ugly sound will bring people immediately out of the show and possibly abandon it. we fucked up scheduling for Punching Bag, and had to delay its release (it was originally episode 13, not 14), hire a sound editor, and put a goddamn disclaimer on it because we didnât have time to get good sound because of our own mistakes. arguably my biggest regret of the season, because the script and acting for that episode is so good, and we low-key ruined it. GET GOOD SOUND.Â
only exception to this is probably coverage and continuity; although those can be fudged a lil more. get a script supervisor or have your AD do it so you donât miss anything crucial. always get your masters first.Â
schedule more than you think you should. like, down to the 15-minute block. it wonât work, but it will work worse if you donât. do your best to stay on schedule (hint: AD/producer on set)
trust your gut. this is your baby, and your choices should service the story you want to tell. let that be your north star, and while you should let your story evolve with time and the contributions of your cast and crew, Â
TL;DR: write your bible & break your season first. find a team you trust, and trust them with their choices (both cast & crew). if you can, find a mentor/someone with experience to give advice. edit your show both as individual episodes and as a whole season, multiple times. continuity is crucial, backstory is crucial, coverage is crucial, scheduling is crucial. GET GOOD SOUND. and always keep sight of the story you want to tell.
i am so sorry. this is a fucking essay.Â
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A Big list of True Crime Podcasts
I was working on making an new True Crime masterlist but the podcast section was getting way too long. So enjoy listening to these great podcasts on real life crime! (feel free to add on)
74 Seconds: The story of a July 2016 traffic stop that ended with the world watching a man die, live on their phones. This is the story of that man, Philando Castile, and the officer who is about to go on trial for his death, Jeronimo Yanez. Through comprehensive reporting, MPR News examines this intersection of race, policing, justice and safety in America. A lot can happen in 74 seconds.
Accused: When Elizabeth Andes was found murdered in her Ohio apartment in 1978, police and prosecutors decided within hours it was an open-and-shut case. Two juries disagreed. The Cincinnati Enquirer investigates: Was the right guy charged, or did a killer walk free?
All Kill no Filla: Join comedians Rachel Fairburn and Kiri Pritchard - McLean as they explore a shared passion, serial killers. Each episode the pair will talk all things murder and macabre and have a right laugh doing it.
Already Gone Podcast: Stories of the missing, the murdered, the mysterious and the lost.
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And thatâs Why we drink: And That's Why We Drink is a paranormal and true crime podcast hosted by Christine Schiefer, Em Schulz, and boxed wine. Join us every Sunday for some chilling ghost stories and downright terrifying true crime stories.
Atlanta Monster: From the producers of Up and Vanished and HowStuffWorks, Atlanta Monster aims to tell the true story of one of Atlantaâs darkest secrets, almost 40 years later.
Australian True Crime: Think nothing ever happens in your town? Australia's suburbs are home to some of the most mysterious and disturbing true crime cases in the world. Meshel Laurie is a true crime obsessive. Emily Webb is a true crime author. And together with expert interviews with writers, victims, investigators and perpetrators, they probe the underbelly of our towns and suburbs, and uncover the darkness at the heart of Australian life.
Black Hands-A family Mass Murder: This is the story of a mass-murder that divided a nation - a story that began in a rickety old home on a cold June morning in 1994, where five members of a seemingly ordinary New Zealand family were gunned down. There were two suspects. One lay dead from a single bullet to the head. The other was the only survivor: David Bain. Since then the country has asked: who killed the Bain family? David or his father Robin? In this podcast, Martin van Beynen explores the case from start to finish, picking through evidence, the mysteries and motives, and interviewing never-before-spoken-to witnesses. He seeks to finally answer the question: Who was the killer?
Caliphate: In the war on terror, who is it that weâre really fighting? âCaliphateâ follows Rukmini Callimachi, who covers terrorism for The New York Times, on her quest to understand ISIS.Â
Canadian True Crime: An independent podcast telling stories of cruel people who committed heinous acts in Canada, with a focus on honouring and respecting victims and survivors.
Casefile: Fact is scarier than fiction.
The Cleaning of John Doe:Â True crime scene cleaning stories from your host, Vanessa Phearson. She takes you on a journey of her experiences cleaning up the aftermath of some of the grisliest, most heartbreaking and most intense cleanups a crime scene cleaner can face.
The Clearing: When April Balascio was 40 years old, something sheâd feared for decades was finally proven true. Her father, Edward Wayne Edwards, really was a murderer. The Clearing is about what came after April called a detective in 2009 to tell him about her suspicions â a call that led to her fatherâs arrest and eventual conviction on multiple murders â and tracks the emotional journey as she and host Josh Dean dig back into her childhood, unravel the truth of her fatherâs life, and overturn a viral online narrative that had turned Edward Wayne Edwards into a kind of serial killer caricature.
Cold:Â Susan Powell vanished on Dec. 7, 2009. Her body has never been found. From the beginning, West Valley City, Utah police suspected Susan's husband, Josh Powell, had murdered her. They never arrested him. COLD dives deep into the case files, uncovering never-before-heard details. You'll learn why Susan stayed with an abusive husband, why Josh did what he did and how the justice system failed Susan and her two boys.
The Color Line Murders: Historical true crime podcast telling the stories of lynching victims in the American South
Court Junkies: Imagine being wrongfully convicted for a crime you didnât commit, or imagine your childâs killer is still on the loose even though thereâs enough evidence for an arrest. I want to help shine light on the injustices of our judicial system. I delve into court documents, attend trials, and interview those close to the case to help me tell their stories.
Criminology: a true crime podcast that takes a deep dive into some of the most famous cases in the annals of crime. Hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Morford will give you every details of these infamous crimes. Each season is a new case told over 8-10 episodes.
Crime Culture:Â Hayley Langan and Kaitlin Mahar talk about true crime, pop culture, and how the two relate. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder how the hell you got here. Episodes air every Tuesday!
Crime in color: Your weekly look at people of color in true crime hosted by Keyerra. I'm not only telling stories but also bringing light to cases. This podcast isn't only about murderers/serial killers, but it's also about victims, survivors who were able to make it through a terrible life changing event or the wrongfully convicted who had their lives ruined. All of these are important and I want to tell their stories.
Crime Junkie: A weekly podcast dedicated to giving you a true crime fix. Every Monday, Ashley Flowers will tell you about whatever crime sheâs been obsessing over that week in a way that sounds like you're sitting around talking crime with your best friends. The storytelling is straightforward and free of rabbit holes so the cases stay suspenseful and are easy to follow. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, youâre a Crime Junkie! Youâve found your people.
Crime in Sports: Two comedians take an unmerciful and hilarious look at athletes who have lost big games...with the law! Crime in Sports does the research, and finds the funny in the world of sports true crime. New episode every week!
Crimetown: Welcome to Crimetown, a series produced by Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier in partnership with Gimlet Media. Each season, we investigate the culture of crime in a different city
Culpable: Culpable explores unsettled cases where the people who seem deserving of blame have somehow eluded justice.
Cults: Mystery. Manipulation. Murder. Cults are associated with all of these. But what really goes on inside a cult? More specifically, what goes on inside the minds of people who join cults and leaders who start them? Every Tuesday, Greg and Vanessa (co-hosts of the podcast Serial Killers) explore the history and psychology behind the most notorious cults. Cults is part of the Parcast Network and is a Cutler Media production.
Carruth:Â The "miracle" began Nov. 16, 1999, when Cherica Adams was shot four times in Charlotte, N.C. A hitman tried to murder Adams, the girlfriend of NFL star Rae Carruth, and their unborn son, Chancellor Lee. But the hitman failed. Now, a year-long investigation exposes stunning new details of the crime that shocked the sports worldâand the impacts still being felt years later. Hosted by Charlotte Observer reporter Scott Fowler, who has covered this saga for 19 years.
Dark Poutine: True crime, legends, folklore, dark history and other creepy topics from the perspective of real live Canadians.
Dirty John: Dirty John is an investigative journalism podcast hosted by journalist Christopher Goffard and created by Wondery and Los Angeles Times.
Disgraceland: A true crime podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving very badly. Thirty minute episodes that trace the most insane criminal stories surrounding our most interesting and infamous pop stars.
Dr. Death: Weâre at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. We trust the person at the other end of that scalpel. We trust the hospital. We trust the system.Christopher Duntsch was a neurosurgeon who radiated confidence. He claimed he was the best in Dallas. If you had back pain, and had tried everything else, Dr. Duntsch could give you the spine surgery that would take your pain away.But soon his patients started to experience complications, and the system failed to protect them. Which begs the question: who - or what - is that system meant to protect?
The Fall Line:Â The Fall Line Podcast is a true-crime audio serial focused on marginalized communities in Georgia, and covers one story per season. Sometimes we investigate, sometimes we reveal--but we're always telling stories of people who have been passed over by mainstream media
Female Criminals: The true crime podcast where women arenât just the victims. Every week, we examine the psychology, motivations, and atrocities of female felons.
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/b69e1eaf7528f81ebae26c696ff30582/tumblr_inline_pguz55AFR51qhl1ki_540.jpg)
Fruitloops - Serial Killers of Color: a weekly podcast where two true crime enthusiasts bring you stories about people of color who rarely get media coverage - bringing diversity to the true crime conversation.
Generation Why: Two friends, Aaron & Justin, discuss theories and share their opinions on unsolved murders
Gone: Have you ever spent hours looking for something you simply lost? How about a hundred years? How about looking for a missing airplane? Â Or a vanished civilization? Every other Monday, Gone searches for everything lost. From D. B. Cooper to the Holy Grail, the Etruscan language to early Russian cosmonauts; if it disappeared, weâre looking. After all, just because something is gone, doesnât mean it canât be found.
Court Junkies: Imagine being wrongfully convicted for a crime you didnât commit, or imagine your childâs killer is still on the loose even though thereâs enough evidence for an arrest. I want to help shine light on the injustices of our judicial system. I delve into court documents, attend trials, and interview those close to the case to help me tell their stories.
Criminal: Stories of people whoâve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.
DETROIT: âMurder Cityâ Podcast:Â Seven the General & friends share funny Prison stories as well as Real Life issues surrounding incarceration & its effects on the black communities
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Hell and High Horror Podcast:Â Hosts Austyn and Repy are two average young women who are casually obsessed with true crime and horror. Every week a topic is chosen and each host presents a story of murder, mystery, or the paranormal along with some comic relief and banter.
Hollywood & Crime: Docu-drama about the Black Dahlia murder in 1947 - and a dozen other murders happening at the same time in suspiciously similar circumstances âŚ
Hostage: Some terrorists use weapons. Some use information. The scariest use hostages. Every Thursday, Hostage tells electrifying crime stories culminating in intense, life-or-death negotiations. Within the stories, we examine tactics used by the FBIâs crisis negotiation unit, world governments, and even hostageâs parents, highlighting the techniques that saved lives, and the moments where everything went tragically wrong.
In the dark: Reporter Madeleine Baran examines the case of Curtis Flowers, who has been tried six times for the same crime. For 21 years, Flowers has maintained his innocence. He's won appeal after appeal, but every time, the prosecutor just tries the case again. In the Dark is an investigative podcast from APM Reports. Season One focused on the abduction of Jacob Wetterling.
It's About Damn Crime:Â Tired of hearing the same old true crime stories? Then you've come to the right place! Welcome to It's About Damn Crime. A true crime podcast where co-hosts Brittney and Justine discuss true crime cases featuring people of color. So please give it a listen. Promise some of these cases will be brand new to you!
Killer Queens:Two sisters get together to discuss a different case straight from the headlines or news feed. If you like to hear 90's lingo, obscure quotes, and the occasional (perhaps frequent) curse word in your true crime stories, then this is the show for you. TTYL.
Kingpins: Undeniable power. Unbelievable stories. Unlikely origins. Kingpins follows the rise and fall of rulers of the underworld. Every Friday, we examine the leaders of organized crime rings, and how money and power corrupted and changed their communities. What makes a kingpin or queenpin, and how can we stop them?
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Last Podcast on the left: covers all the horrors our world has to offer both imagined and real, from demons and slashers to cults and serial killers
Let's Not Meet:Â These are stories of real encounters with creeps, murderers and psychos. Told in the form of a campfire narrative, Let's Not Meet sets out to prove that real monsters are not that of fiction novels or horror films. The real monsters are the humans that walk among us every day of our lives.
Letâs Read: The Lets Read Podcast centers around narrating True Scary Experiences from real people, just like yourself. Ranging from creepy stalkers to paranormal encounters with the other side. My goal is to lull you into beautiful nightmares.
Lore: the frightening history behind common folklore
Man In The Window: The Golden State Killer :Â In Man in the Window, Paige St. John, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter has uncovered never before revealed details about the man who would eventually become one of California's most deadly serial killers. From Wondery and the LA Times comes a new series that traces his path of devastation through his victims' eyes.
Married to Murder: a true crime, comedy podcast and we cover cases where couples kill together or each other.
Martinis and Murder:Â Hosts Daryn Carp and John Thrasher chat about creepy crimes and mysterious murders...while mixing up martinis! Each fun new episode will focus on a new crime, the crazy details and of course the theories about how it all went down.
Misconduct: is a true crime podcast hosted by Colleen and Eileen (who also happen to be related). Each week we will be discussing the facts, the theories, and our opinions of resolved and unresolved crimes, wrongful convictions, and miscarriages of justice.
Missing: hosted by bestselling crime writer Tim Weaver. Over the course of an entire season, the show investigates the world of missing people â who disappears, why they disappear, the pressures of life on the run, and who tracks them down â and charts the progression of a missing persons search.
Missing and Murdered: Where is Cleo? Taken by child welfare workers in the 1970âs and adopted in the U.S., the young Cree girlâs family believes she was raped and murdered while hitchhiking back home to Saskatchewan. CBC news investigative reporter Connie Walker joins the search to find out what really happened to Cleo.
Missing Maura Murray: a true crime podcast about the mysterious disappearance of Maura Murray. Maura was a 21 year old college student in February of 2004 when she inexplicably drove three hours from her dorm in Amherst, Massachusetts to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and vanished.
Moms and Murder: a true crime podcast featuring two friends gabbing about their favorite guilty pleasure, true crime.
Morbid: Itâs a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist.
Murder Down Under: Two dorks, one continent, and a whole lot of slaughter
The Murder In My Family:Â Murder is a crime of many victims. It affects not only the murdered, but also those who loved them. The Murder in My Family tells the effects of murder from the perspective of the family members of the victims...Â
Murder Was The Case:Â Criminologist Lee Mellor discusses the darkest, most perverse, bestial crimes known to man. You canât handle it. Tap out now.
Murderous Minors:Â A true crime podcast bringing tales of killer kids. Factual stories of murderous children throughout the years- a parentâs worst nightmare.Â
My Father the Murderer:Â Just how much of the story of âhow you came to beâ makes up who you are? It's not a question most people think about, but for journalist, Nina Young, it's a question she can't avoid because she might not be here today if a woman hadnât lost her life late one night in the bush in 1977. In this six-part podcast, she's going to finally let the skeletons out of her family closet and find out the truth. A truth that will take her back to the scene of the crime and face to face with some uncomfortable truths.
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My Favorite Murder: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, two lifelong fans of true crime stories. Each episode the girls tell each other their favorite tales of murder, and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans.
Mystery Murdery Thingy:Â Do you like Mystery? Murder? Thingies??? Mario and Chloe are making a podcast for people like you!
The mysterious Mr. Epstein:Â We now know that Jeffrey Epstein was a sexual predator. He was also accused of fraud, embezzlement, coercion and more. But for most of his life, he was a mystery to the public, and to many of the people who knew him. In this six part series, we peel back the layers of Epsteinâs life to detail his financial and sexual crimes, and his network of enablers, with original reporting and interviews.
Nothing Rhymes With Murder: Join Kate and Georgie on a global journey of MURDER. Every week a new country and true crime gem as well as fun hotspots to visit. Remember kids, life is a journey, donât let murder stop you! âď¸??
Once Upon A Crime: THE podcast for the true crime addict. True crime stories are told chapter by chapter - kidnappings, murders, mysterious disappearances, serial killers, celebrity crime and more.
Overkill:Â After 19-year-old Aya Velasquez died mysteriously in Harding Park, no one seemed to care. At least not until a preteen medium accidentally summoned Aya herself to solve the mystery. With no memory of her death and no shortage of questions, Aya must make friends with her fellow ghosts and discover the truth behind the Midwestâs most haunted park. Based on EVP audio recorded by M.A.A.G. (Mothers Against Aliens and Ghosts), Overkill is a comedy podcast, a murder mystery, and a love story all wrapped in one vaguely supernatural package.
Pretty Scary: True crime, conspiracy theories, ghosts, aliens, and things of that sort. Hosted by comics Adam Tod Brown, Caitlin Cutt, and Kari Martin.
The Pros & Cons:Â Hosted by veteran true crime television producers, Bethany Jones and Adriana Padilla (formerly of the Queens of Crime Podcast), The Pros & Cons is the ultimate insider look into the world of true crime with insight from the pros and cons that actually lived the cases.
Real Crime Profile: Join Jim Clemente (former FBI profiler), Laura Richards (criminal behavioral analyst, former New Scotland Yard) and Lisa Zambetti (Casting director for CBS' Criminal Minds) as they profile behavior from real criminal cases.
The RFK Tapes: When Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, a lone gunman was captured at the scene, revolver in hand. It seemed like an open and shut case. So why did the police keep evidence hidden away for decades? Over ten episodes, hosts Zac Stuart-Pontier (Crimetown) and Bill Klaber (author, Shadow Play) comb through previously secret police tapes and track down the people who were there to investigate troubling questions about one of the most significant crimes in American history.
S'laughter: True Crime Podcast: A UK true crime podcast with a comedy twist. 30 somethings Lucy and Emma tell each other true crime stories, whilst injecting a little dark humour along the way. Nominated in the true crime category in the British Podcast Awards 2018. Lucy and Emma pride themselves on being well researched and telling you everything there is to know about the crime in question. So listen, enjoy, and remember, listening to S'laughter doesn't make you a psycho, killing people does.
S-Town - a podcast from Serial and This American Life, hosted by Brian Reed, about a man named John who despises his Alabama town and decides to do something about it. He asks Brian to investigate the son of a wealthy family who's allegedly been bragging that he got away with murder. But when someone else ends up dead, the search for the truth leads to a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man's life.
Serial: The podcast everyoneâs already heard of. Serial tells one storyâa true storyâover the course of a season.
Serial Killers: Every Monday, Serial Killers takes a psychological and entertaining approach to provide a rare glimpse into the mind, methods and madness of the most notorious serial killers with the hopes of better understanding their psychological profile. With the help of real recordings and voice actors, we delve deep into their lives and stories.
Slow Burn:Â On Slow Burn, Leon Neyfakh excavates the strange subplots and forgotten characters of recent political historyâand finds surprising parallels to the present. Season 1 captured what it was like to live through Watergate; Season 2 does the same with the saga of Bill Clintonâs impeachment.
Snap Judgment: If you like highly-produced storytelling, then this show is for you. Snap Judgment covers a variety of topics every week that explores the human condition. Theyâre currently covering stories about true crime, such as Marina Nematâs remarkable story of being imprisoned in Tehran as a teenager and the unlikely ally she found inside.
Small Town Murder: Two comedians look at a small town, what makes it tick, and a murder that took place there. In depth research, horrible tragedy, and the hosts' comedic spin on the whole thing. New episodes every Thursday!!
Someone Knows Something: A series produced by CBC that examines unsolved cases of missing or murdered individuals.
Something Scary:Â Do you wanna hear something scary? Join Sapphire and Markeia every week as they bring you the creepiest ghost stories, urban legends, and folktales.
Southern Fried True Crime: Erica Kelley is a native Tennessean exploring historical and contemporary true crime in the South. Southern charm is attempted but southern sass is bountiful. Join her as she shows you just how southern fried the justice system can be in the Deep South.
The Strange and Unusual Podcast:Â The unknown, it lies at the root of all fear, and has inspired legends, folklore, superstition, mythology, and even murder throughout history. Still today we feel the shadowy presence of our ancestors' struggles to explain the mysterious in our lives, as we continue to keep fighting to keep our monsters in the dark. Welcome to The Strange and Unusual Podcast, a podcast with a focus on dark history.
Stranglers: True crime podcast retracing the Boston murders of 13 women during the 1960âs. Â
Sword and Scale: Podcast covers the ugly underbelly of true crime. Be prepared to never sleep againâŚ
Taboo, Schadenfreude and Murder:Â Welcome to Taboo, Schadenfreude, and Murder. A podcast by two sisters that will cover all manner of taboo subjects: some illegal, some immoral, some societal. We bring a surface level discussion to the worldâs taboos.
The Teacherâs Pet: Lyn and Chris Dawson appear to have the perfect marriage. He's a star footballer and popular high school teacher. She's a devoted wife and mother. They share a beautiful home above Sydney's northern beaches. But when Lyn goes missing, dark secrets are buried. This is no fairytale, but a sordid story of strangely close twin brothers, teenage student lovers, and probable murder. The Australian's Hedley Thomas digs deep into a cold case which has been unsolved for 36 years, uncovering startling new evidence.
They Walk Among Us:Â They Walk Among Us is an award-winning weekly UK true crime podcast covering a broad range of cases from the sinister to the surreal.
Thin Air Podcast: Two English majors investigate cold cases by examining evidence and interviewing people involved with the original investigation.
The Thing about Pam: Two days after Christmas, 2011, Russ Faria came home from game night to find his wife, Betsy, dead. He was soon charged and convicted of her murder. But Russ Faria insisted he did not kill his wife. Betsyâs brutal murder set off a chain of events that would leave one man dead, another man implicated, and expose a diabolical scheme.
Thinking Sideways: Investigating things we simply donât have the answer to. Sometimes you have to think a little sideways to come up with a plausible solution to the mystery.
The Trail Went Cold: a true crime podcast where writer Robin Warder examines unsolved mysteries and offers his own theories as to what really happened.
True Crime Addict â Â Investigative journalist, James Renner, tackles the cold case of Maura Murray while coming to grips on his own downward spiral.
True Crime All The Time: This is a true crime podcast that spares none of the details and delves into what makes these killers tick. Join us for a good mix of lesser known cases as well as our take on what we call the "Big Timers". We don't take ourselves too seriously but we take true crime very seriously.
True Crime Brewery: Jill and Dick are a married couple who love to drink beer and discuss true crime. Join them at the quiet end of the bar. Dick will bring along an excellent beer from the region where the crime occurred. He will give us a little beer lesson and review before Jill starts off their true crime discussion. The discussions are well-researched and in depth. Dick is a physician and often shares his medical expertise at Jill's urging.
True Crime Fan Club: A podcast for the ultimate true crime enthusiast. A glimpse into the life and crimes of some of the most demented minds. You will not want to miss an episode.
True Crime Garage: Each week Nic & The Captain get in the garage and talk true crime and drink beer.
True Crime Historian: remembers the famous and forgotten scandals, scoundrels, and scourges of the past through newspaper accounts in the golden age of yellow journalism.
True Crime Japan Podcast: A podcast devoted to true crime and mysteries from Japan.
True crime Obsessed: Recapping True Crime Documentaries with Humor, Sass, and a well timed Garbage Bell
True Crime Sweden: True Crimes from Sweden, told in English!
True Murder: Penned as the podcast about âthe most shocking killers in true crime history and the authors that have written about them,â journalist Dan Zupansky interviews those who are the most obsessed with criminal cases: true crime writers. Less produced but still engaging, True Murder covers some of the most brutal moments of criminal history, like the gruesome story of Theresa Cross, the mother who slowly killed two of her children, with the youngest daughter barely making it out alive.
Twisted Philly:Â Thereâs more mischief, mayhem and nefarious goings on in the city of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection than Billy Penn could have ever imagined.
UK True Crime Podcast: We examine lesser known UK cases in depth, talk to true crime authors, review products/shows and interview other experts in the field of UK True Crime to offer you the very best insight and analysis.
Unravel:Â Unravel True Crime is a podcast where, each season, some of Australia's best journalists investigate unsolved crimes.
Undisclosed: The Undisclosed podcast investigates wrongful convictions, and the U.S. criminal justice system, by taking a closer look at the perpetration of a crime, its investigation, the trial, and ultimate verdict... and finding new evidence that never made it to court.
Up and Vanished: Up and Vanished is an investigative journalism podcast hosted by Payne Lindsey. The series takes an in-depth look into the cases of people who have gone missing. The show is produced by Tenderfoot TV.
Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories: Highly immersive true crime podcast that sometimes feels more like a old time-y audio drama.
The Vanished: Covering missing persons, one episode at a time.
Why Women Kill:Â When a woman commits murder, sheâs often given a label: âThe Woman Who Snapped,â âBlack Widowâ or âAngel of Death.â Do these labels help us explain why women murder, or do they mask the truth? Join the true crime writer Tori Telfer as she uncovers what drives women to kill, presented by CBS All Access.
Wine and Crime: Wine & Crime is a new true crime / comedy podcast. Join three childhood friends as they chug wine, chat true crime, and unleash their worst Minnesota accents!
The Wonderland Murders:Â the tale of a violent home invasion robbery and the revenge rampage that followed. It involves a drug-fueled gang of criminals, a crazed crime kingpinâ and the worldâs most famous porn star on a downward and deadly spiral.
You Must Remember This: All about âthe secret and/or forgotten history of Hollywoodâs first centuryâ; not a true crime podcast, but due to the nature of Hollywoodâs first century, there is quite a lot of crime in it, like the Black Dahlia case, or a whole season about Charles Manson!
Zealot:Â A podcast about cults.
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Morose Mononokean II 1 | Mob Psycho 100 II 1 | Meiji Tokyo Renka 1 | My Roommate is a Cat 1 | Promised Neverland 1
I think Iâve got too many cute fluffy creatures this season...
Mononokean II 1
For some reason, before I started watching this I kept reminding myself of Tomodachi Metre and fearing the new OP (because thereâs almost always a new OP when dealing with a second season) would be faster-pacedâŚthe song is faster-paced, but not in the way I thought it would be (I thought it was going to be hard rock kind of pace, but itâs at least a tad slower than that).
Utakuni is such a fluffy kitty!
Ah, Moja Moja is best moja, indeed. Gossamers from As Miss Beelzebub Likes just donât compare, yâknow?
The Legislator is practically the king of âYou mad, bro?â. (LOL)
Okay-dokay, lemme explain. There are 3 arms of government (known as the separation of powers, in order to have a series of checks and balances) â the Legislative, Executive and the Judiciary, meaning weâre missing that final one at the momentâŚ
I never knew Morose Mononokean was so obsessed with comedyâŚor maybe Iâm just noticing it now that I have experience with comedy I get bored atâŚ
Abenoâs face of disgust really sold that moment with Moja, LOL.
Well, by virtue of being a sequel to something I watched previously, itâs more likely to get coverage, but you can never say for certain until the first episodes are over and done. On to the next thing â Mob Psycho!
Mob Psycho 100 II 1
Alright, all these âII 1âs are going to make me confused someday, arenât theyâŚ?
I think the dudeâs Suisho simply means âwater crystalâ. But Iâm only guessing as to what kanji are being used here, so I could be wrong.
The pixel art bit was good. More like that, please!
âYour life is your ownâ â is that Mob Psychoâs slogan, in the same way Symphogear has that thing about âholding courage to fistâ and whatnot?
Unlike Mononokean, which you only need to know the very basics (which are in turn explained in the episode itself), it seems Mob Psycho is playing hardball in that department â if you donât remember that time Kamuro started kicking his lackeys around, youâre going to have to watch it again. (Either that, or you watch the Reigen recap.)
HmmâŚâ[something to help Mob] growâ sounds a bit odd, but thatâs a correct translation. Thatâs what seichou suru means.
Oh greatâŚyou know how I said I was cleaning out the house lately? Someone found an old copy of this book called Inventing Elliot, which I despised studying about (because it got me some of the lowest grades in my school life, aside from outright failures and close scrapes with failure). The problem is, Iâm getting Inventing Elliot vibes from this particular plotlineâŚand since thatâs Mean Girls in a boysâ private school + Mob Psycho is all about the abuse of power, thatâs completely a storyline the show would go with. *gulp*
Hey, they have actual eyecatches now! Hooray!
A certain kanji for âEmiâ (with a mi in hiragana, IIRC) is âsmileâ in English, so I find it interesting they paired Mob up with a girl like her. (Then again, if it were a hiragana/kanji mix, thatâs not a name.)
Oh yeah, the hitode (starfish) shirt.
Rinshi! Ekoda-chan 1
Why am I covering an R18+ series? Itâs a long storyâŚ
The jokes are, as of this segment with the old lady, only about 50% hits. That seems to be a pretty bad track record. The thing about Ekoda being identified as 3 years older than what she really is is also relatable, since I donât think Iâve grown much past a certain age.
Note thereâs a Japanese store called JUSCO. There was one in Hong Kong, which was full of cool stationery.
WaitâŚthatâs it? So whyâs it 26 minutes??? DocumentaryâŚokay, Iâm getting the heck out of here.
Meiji Tokyo Renka 1
I heard Ume was here� More bishies and more Ume for me!
Whatâs up with the Haikara-san ga Tooru outfit, anyway?
Who dis boy? He kinda looks like Mikoshiba from Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kunâŚUpdate: Thatâs Ougai.
At least the jazz music is cool. Also, the episode title should be âSuddenly, under a Strawberry MoonâŚâ or something, since it went totsuzen ni.
*Mei checks her phone* - This is why you donât text and walk across the road, kids!
OugaiâŚyâmean, Mori Ougai? The loli dude from Bungou Stray Dogs is this redhead?! EHHHHHHHHHHHH?
Oh great. Amnesia plotlineâŚ
Hishida ShunsoâŚa painter.
OkayâŚthatâs a really obvious point where youâd be able to insert your own name if you were a gal (or if you wante to play as a gal).
The age of the Rokumeikan seems to pin the timeline down to âafter 1883â. For some reason, it sounded familiar, but I wasnât familiar with why - so maybe Iâll learn about it someday.
âLittle Squirrelâ?(!) (lowkey laughs for all the wrong reasons) And here I thought âLittle Flowerâ (from Magic-kyunâs Louis and Dame x Priâs Vino) was awkward-sounding but still endearing.
Okay, second redhead. When I saw him in the OP, I swore he was Ancient Magusâ Brideâs ChiseâŚ
So the germophobe redhead is Izumi KyokaâŚbut Iâm not sure who this Kawakami isâŚ
I donât know how anyone could make a germophobe endearing, much less make him romanceableâŚ
Otojiro Kawakami. Comedian and actor.
LafcadioâŚwuh? Update: (Patrick) Lafcadio Hearn, Greek dude with a Japanese penname. He seems to have written stuff on Japan as well as other places.
ââŚthat collection of ghost storiesâŚâ
Everyone seems to have forgotten about the roast beef but the animatorsâŚLOLâŚoh, spoke too soon. Kawakami just walked it back to the table.
Wowwwwwwwwwwww, Mei is so easily distracted by roast beef and pretty boys who, to be honest, arenât that prettyâŚIâm just waiting for the long-haired dude and/or Ume and Iâll kick my butt out of here.
I thought Fujita was voiced by a familiar voice and turns out I was right â itâs Fukuyama Jun.
Well, that was mildly unsatisfying. I think I spent more time watching Mei getting blushy at dudes and not feeling an attraction myself. Fujita was the only one I wanted and he didnât even do much but swing a sword. Seriously, though, what the heck was Charlie doing turning off the lights all of a sudden?
My Roommate is a Cat 1
Well, itâs either that title or Dokyounin wa Hiza, Tokidoki Atame no Ue. âŚwhich is a lot to write in one shot.
Whyâs the cat on SubaruâsâŚjunk?
The cat appears to be typing out the Dancing Men from Sherlock HolmesâŚexcept theyâre cats. The Dancing Men are basically what made me think I had a career in computer security in the first place, come to think of itâŚbut Iâve abandoned that kind of thinking now. Modulos are way too hard for me.
Them spoilers! I know that feel.
Koguma = small bear, in a story about a small cat. LOL.
HirotoâŚI thought about this during the funeral scene, butâŚwhy does he look like Suzaku from Code Geass???
Hmm, yeah. I can see why Hiroto isnât all that convinced â Iâm a similar kind of person, with only a small pool of pursuits that keep me going for a long, long time. *looks at rabbit outside and remembers when I saw it in the darkness about 3 years ago*
Oh, so Subaru was so absorbed in his manuscript he forgot to eat, huh?
Kitty show too cute! Ehehehee⌠<- (ecstatic about having a new weekly dose of cuteness)
Promised Neverland 1
Iâve read the first volume of this. Iâm not 100% in love with it, but if I can have bragging rights over finding the next big hit, why not?
NoitaminaâŚnow thatâs a name I havenât seen in a few yearsâŚ*grumbles at Amazon*
For some reason Norman (white-haired boy) has this âbetrayerâ vibe written all over him. Itâs because I know in BnHA and Ao no Exorcist, there are betrayals by certain people.
The aesthetic of this thing is like a fairytale and not like a typical anime. Thatâs probably one thing that convinced people to give it a shot.
LOL, thereâs a Detective Conan door..well, it kind of looks like one.
The word for âtagâ in Japanese is onigokko and âItâ is an oni. That gives a whole new meaning to âplaying tag with monstersâ, doesnât it?
Update: I can sort of feel my âthis is popular, so I wonât like itâ radar going off...so Iâll put it on hold until I get over that feeling.
#simulcast commentary#the morose mononokean#fukigen na monokean tsuzuki#fukigen na mononokean#mob psycho 100#mob psycho season 2#My Roommate is a Cat#doukyonin wa hiza tokidoki atama no ue#the promised neverland#yakusoku no neverland#meiji tokyo renka#Chesarka watches MP100#Chesarka watches Doukyonin wa Hiza Tokidoki Atama no Ue.#Chesarka watches Fukigen na Mononokean
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New Look Sabres: GM 6 - VGK - Vagas Nights
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Whenever Rob Ray said Vegas it sounded like he switched out the first e for an a. âVagasâ is what sounded like. The weird thing is that Ray isnât the only broadcaster Iâve heard do it. I thought it was a Canadian accent thing at first but RJ isnât doing it. Hmm. Well I predict unlike the Golden Knights I havenât heard that last of it. Vegas is all about predictions. You go into the casino predicting youâll win money; otherwise you wouldnât go in. Bovada, an internet gambling site, releases Stanley Cup Champions odds periodically. We all crowd around and read them treating them like everything else in Vegas: a prediction (Theyâre not predictions, theyâre betting lines to get your money). All us hockey reporters, bloggers and fans make our predictions for the NHL season before it starts. I predicted Rasmus Dahlin would score a goal in the first three games. I was wrong: he didnât score a goal until the fifth game.  Vegas was one team no one really had a solid prediction for this season. Their inaugural season last year broke all expectations and smashed records not even just in hockey but in American sports. They were in their first season. They were supposed to be trash and they made the Stanley Cup Final. Who knows what they could be this year? Then they had a trash start and the Buffalo Sabres beat them 4-2 last week. Unpredictable: thatâs not how last night went. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Okay, no more puns⌠this paragraph. Buffalo met the hungry Vegas that made the Cup Final last season and lost 4-1.
The First Period began with the blue and gold pushing pretty well. The forecheck was firing. They defended in the neutral zone. It looked like the transition was really rolling, once the puck got into the O-Zone the boys lined up to make a play. However as the period dragged on the Golden Knights began to hear the sound of their building and push back. Vegas was not ready to go flush in this season series; flush is when you lose, right? Someone who knows gambling tell me. Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Dahlin both let up a bit too much as Shea Theodore streaked into the zone and tucked one in five-hole on Carter Hutton. The coaching staff saved this one though and the off sides challenge was successful for once in our adult lives. The score was back to snake eyes. Giggles. The push from the home team didnât let up and more and more the Sabres were pushed from the neutral zone to the defensive zone. Marco Scandella got penalized for a wonky holding call and Jonathan Marchessault scored on the ensuing powerplay. Buffalo got worked in the last minute of play letting shots galore and survived the opening 20 with only one goal against. I had high hopes the second would be different.
Unfortunately the only goal added in the middle frame was a shorthanded Vegas goal by Cody Eakin. Short-Handed goalâŚ*shutters at flashbacks to the first ten games last season*⌠ugh. This goal made me consider how motivated I was to stay up late. This is New Look Sabres and I am far too obsessed with this team so no, I went through this whole period and the next one. Buffalo built up some fight this period even getting some decent shots. Jeff Skinner stood up for Casey Mittelstadt in a weird half fight that came after a halfway decent shot. Letâs just say when I had to break up a literal cat fight on the floor in front of my couch it felt like a reprieve from this game. Then again, Kyle Okposo went for a speed skate around the Knights zone at one point and fed Dahlin for a shot that just woke me up enough to carry me through the rest of this period. The third however was a merciless cup of zanex comparatively. Buffalo worsened their already shattered powerplay going 0-3. This makes the Sabres powerplay 4-18 so far this season. Right after I had formulated all the scenarios where the Sabres get a goal and pitch a comeback, it was only a two goal lead after all; William Karlsson tucked a quick draw shot off the faceoff behind Hutton. The rest of the period dragged on hard and Housley pulled Hutton with four and half minutes left in regulation but no; Iâm not going into the Housley hate well today. 4-1 it ended, and let it be known I stayed up to the very end: through the late Sabres goal, the failed goaltender interference review and even the Vegas empty netter until 12:46 AM eastern time. I have a job. This hurt⌠but hey, at least Fleury didnât get the shutout.
There was one moment in the first when Carter Hutton played the puck from behind the net to a defender in the riskiest way possible. Hutton wasnât the biggest problem at all in this game and a few bad moves could be the theme of this game. I donât know a position on this team that played consistently. At that point in the game it was indicative to this forward group that you canât let all these shots or youâll pay for it. Not only can Hutton not bail you out of all these situations, itâs becoming a trend to make him save 30-40 shots through 60 minutes. Hutton is not going to be able to keep saving that many shots; someone other than the Rasmusi (well Risto when he feels like it) and McCabe need to play defense. Rasmus Dahlin was beautiful except for that blown coverage on the first goal but Marco Scandella convinced me in this game that his pairing with Ristolainen minus well be called the pairing of ill-used defensemen. There will come a day Dahlin is moved up to the top pairing but itâs probably not soon and itâs probably not wise quite yet anyway. I know youâve been ill used on the top pairing for years, Risto, but you guys got shore that up for now. Itâs great to see Zach Bogosian back in a game for the first time since last winter but I didnât notice him. Anyone trying to trade Tage Thompson needs to chill out. Matt Tennyson getting sent down wasnât good enough for you? Everyone needs their pound of flesh, right? 12 different players with blocked shots not only means your forcing forwards into that position but that youâre playing a weak defensive strategy that depends on putting your body on the line! That shit ainât going to last boys! And by shit I mean the limbs youâre sacrificing to the hockey gods with this defensive style.
This loss was not the loss I was hoping for on this road trip. The California triad ahead will not be a sweep and this wouldâve been an awesome win to have. I digress; I suppose weâre still learning .500 is the beginning of good not a life jacket you need to stay near. Sabres fans including me have been more apoplectic about every little mistake through these first six games than any time in recent memory. Itâs a good sign. We donât have any recent frame of reference for a halfway decent team so this is rough to deal with mentally; especially with how hot and cold Buffalo has been so far. These three losses so far have not been easy ones either: each tanking the goal differential and driving the most faithful among us mad. We can allot blame, yes, some is due to Phil Housley, but perhaps the sparks of light weâre seeing are more important than the glaring mistakes that seem to drag down the losses and disappear in the wins. A wise coach once said practice your strengths because what makes you special is why youâre in the big dance. We should expect them to fix the errors like the middling d-zone coverage or the awful powerplay but unlike past seasons this team is more than their shortcomings. I said they wonât sweep California but would anyone be surprised if they win two of those games? If theyâre still hot and cold in December it will be a problem but consistency will come. I have more faith in this team than any other in the Eichel Era and I have already forgotten what happened in Vagas: from here on out there Vagas.
Iâve gone a little long today so letâs put a bow on Vagas. I am beginning to see the response to these columns. I see a follow on twitter here, a follow on tumblr there, a reply that seems connected to a blog reference there. Itâs cool just to know people other than my brother and dad are reading this. I hope itâs not like Dahlin on the top powerplay unit last night: short-lived. Share it around. When you do it, donât tell them I am some insightful analyst. I can assure you I am no Hockey mind. However, I used the word apoplectic in this piece so I canât be that stupid either, eh? Expect the games that start after 9 out on the West Coast to not get a New Look Sabres post until the following day. I love the Sabres but I like sleep quite a bit too. Letâs hope the Sabres give us things worth staying up for!
Thanks for reading.
P.S. The Chicago Blackhawks temporary logo on twitter is D1K right now. Look at it; it may give you a laugh at this tough time. Tell me what you think it looks like.
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The best Brownlow count in years⌠shame thousands couldnât see it thanks to streaming debacle
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Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines claimed the 2021 AFL Brownlow Medal in the most exciting count in quite some time⌠but an archaic TV rights situation meant many footy fans couldnât watch a minute of it. Here are the big talking points out of the AFLâs night of nights. 7Plus⌠minus all the good stuff The integration of streaming services into everyday life has now given people an expectation that whatever they want to watch is now just a click away. With Kayo Sports a staple of every self-respecting sports fanâs monthly expenses, plus new faces such as Stan Sport and Paramount+ entering the market, weâve grown accustomed to simply booting up our laptops or opening our phones and tuning in. But it seems Channel Seven â and the AFL â arenât with the program, as it were. Because the first indication for thousands â if not more â Australians that something was amiss was when they logged onto Sevenâs streaming service, 7Plus, for the Brownlow count â only to find no trace of it. Great news for Border Security fans, to be sure⌠but AFL lovers everywhere were left feeling rightly jilted. We only have smart TVs and thereâs no #brownlow on @7plus WTF. Also no paid streaming option via @AFL either⌠how is this a thing in 2021?! @Channel7 â christie fekete (@ChristieFekete) September 19, 2021 I'm trying to stream the Brownlow on 7Plus (forgive me, I'm in lockdown!). But I'm getting Border Security instead. Either Peter Dutton is about to cause a big boil over by beating the Bont or something is going wrong here?#Brownlow â Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) September 19, 2021 Advertisement Can any ???? experts explain @7AFLâs logic in not making its #BrownlowMedal coverage available on @7plus? There must be a reason⌠â Marc McGowan ????âď¸????????â???????? (@ByMarcMcGowan) September 19, 2021 The reason why is simple: Seven donât have streaming rights for any of their AFL-related content. After Telstra ended their AFL Live Pass access at the beginning of 2021, they now belong exclusively to Foxtel and Kayo Sports ⌠who, as it happens, can show everything EXCEPT the two biggest events on the calendar. Namely: the Brownlow Medal and this Saturdayâs grand final, which are the sole domain of Seven. It took Seven until the count started to notify expectant fans venting on Twitter that they wouldnât be able to stream the count on 7Plus. PSA: due to rights restrictions, the #BrownlowMedal cannot be streamed on 7plus. You can watch live and free on Channel 7. â 7AFL (@7AFL) September 19, 2021 While the network took the lionâs share of the blame on social media last night, theyâre not solely to blame for the shemozzle. Itâs a farce in this day and age that supposedly the biggest sporting competition in Australia can prevent a network from live-streaming an event it has exclusive access to. Can you imagine Channel Nine doing the same with the State of Origin series? Fixing the contract up must be a priority for the AFL, and surely will be after Monday nightâs debacle. Itâs a shame it comes as too little, too late for many fans left in the lurch. Advertisement And fair warning â unless youâve got access to a special set-top box in this list, youâre going to need to break out the ârabbit earsâ to catch the grand final on Saturday night. Ollie Wines â Brownlow Medallist, and straight-up savage Heading in as the favourite after an outstanding season, averaging over 32 disposals in Port Adelaideâs run to the preliminary final, Wines secured his place among the gameâs elite with a maiden Brownlow, for himself and the club. Fascinatingly, he did it despite the very thing that arguably gave him that favouritism â a lack of teammates to take votes off him â being flipped on its head. Where Melbourne stars Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca were expected to drag each other down, and ditto Bulldogs pair Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae; it was Winesâ partner in crime Travis Boakâs 25 votes which was the highest club runner-up tally of the night. Boakâs outstanding polling, particularly early in the night, makes Winesâ achievement of equalling Dustin Martinâs record of 36 votes all the more impressive. In 16 of 22 games, he was deemed to be among the three best players afield â a record he now holds on his own.
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(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Sealing the result with two votes on Bontempelliâs Bulldogs in Round 23, the unassuming country lad from Echuca, in Victoriaâs north, then proceeded to win the footy world over with plenty of blunt honesty in his victory speech. When notified by host Basil Zempilas of his record-equalling haul, Wines responded simply: âIâm not sure about the numbers, but 36 sounds like a lot.â Always a keen footy fan, his favourite player growing up was another Echuca product in former Carlton swingman Andrew Walker; heâd reveal a hilarious anecdote about a call to radio station 3AW in âthe early 2000sâ to talk about his idol with legendary caller Rex Hunt. Advertisement Reckon you'll be able to get onto talkback tomorrow Ollie ????#Brownlow pic.twitter.com/O8cIBJRFD7 â AFL (@AFL) September 19, 2021 Wines then had them rolling in the aisles when he singled out a few Power teammates who had tagged along to Perth, despite little chance of polling many votes themselves. âWeâve got a really good crew come over tonight. A lot of the boys jumped on because I was a bit of chance, so Iâm sure theyâll enjoy the night. âThere were a lot of guys who werenât a chance of polling votes â Tom Clurey⌠he asked for the after party invite, so heâs got that!â Finishing off the night with an impromptu phone call from Power president David Koch, the Brownlow will surely be some consolation for Wines after his teamâs preliminary final defeat to the Bulldogs. It certainly was for his family. Scenes @ North Melbourne pic.twitter.com/fLHQDGCDVL â Maddie Wines (@maddiewines) September 19, 2021 Advertisement Forget âmidfielderâs medalâ, the Brownlow is a âfavouriteâs medalâ The last non-midfielder to win the Brownlow was Sydney legend Adam Goodes back in 2003 â and he was a ruckman who would win another âCharlieâ as a midfielder three years later. Itâs no secret that the AFLâs most prestigious award is now exclusively the domain of the on-ballers. When Taylor Walkerâs 9 votes is the most by any permanent forward, and Tom Stewartâs 8 the highest by a backman, youâve got yourself a pretty clear discrepancy. However, in recent years the line has been pushed even further: itâs no longer enough to just be a midfielder to take home the Brownlow. Now, unless youâre one of the red-hot favourites being touted as a chance for months leading into the night, you might as well enjoy a cup of tea and turn in for an early night. Since Matt Priddis took home a surprise Brownlow in 2014, six of the seven medals have been won by the pre-count favourite. Wines, albeit a far closer-run choice among pundits than the overwhelming fancies of Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin and Lachie Neale in recent years, polled accordingly. Donât get me wrong: Wines, and those before him, are all indisputably worthy winners for outstanding seasons. But was his season really so astounding as to merit a Brownlow-record 36 votes (tied with Martinâs 2017 tally) and SIXTEEN appearances in the best three on the ground? You could say the same for Neale in 2020, who was adjudged by the umpires as best man afield ten times in seventeen home-and-away rounds, for a tally of 31. Perhaps the most glaring example of this is at the Western Bulldogs. Runner-up Marcus Bontempelli finished narrowly second behind Wines with 33 votes; while teammate and disposal machine Jack Macrae, the man who this year broke the record for the most disposals ever in an AFL season, finished with⌠12. Not saying he should be leading butâŚ. Umpires, let me introduce Jack Macrae. 12 votes!!?? pic.twitter.com/CTQ8P1TDTF â Alister Nicholson (@AlisterNicho) September 19, 2021 Advertisement Suggestions that the umpires have enough on their plate to be awarding Brownlow votes as well are fair, but itâs not going to rectify this situation. The obsession with the gameâs biggest stars in the weekly cycle that is AFL media has made it just about impossible to head into a game without your eye being automatically drawn to the Bontempellis, the Wineses, the Dangerfields. If theyâve been the hot topics on every footy show all weekend long and then rack up 30 touches, regardless of their effectiveness, is anyone surprised when they continue to poll so spectacularly? All the while, the efforts of not just the gun forwards, backs and ruckmen of the game, but now the unassuming Macrae-style midfielders too, go largely ignored. For better or for worse, it seems weâre stuck with this trend. A bunch of hot candidates in 2021 at least made it interesting⌠but another Neale-esque count rout next year would be less than ideal. History made as records crumble by the bucketload Has a Brownlow ever produced so many new records? Well, the first one maybe, and those ones where two umpires gave the votes, but you get the idea. Weâll start with the obvious ones: Winesâ 36 votes equals Dustyâs highest-ever haul, while his 16 vote-winning games stands alone. It was a massive night for all the other top contenders, too; with Wines, Bontempelli (33), Oliver (31) and Carlton sensation Sam Walsh (30), it was the first Brownlow ever to feature four tallies in the 30s. The previous best? Two â between Martin and Patrick Dangerfield in 2017, Dane Swan and Sam Mitchell in 2011, and â one from the archives â Collingwoodâs Des Fothergill and South Melbourneâs Herbie Matthews in 1940. Speaking of old-timers, the ageless David Mundy became the oldest man ever to poll more than 20 votes, getting to 20 on the dot at the age of 36. Not to be outdone, 33-year old Travis Boak (25 votes) is now the oldest man to poll 25 or higher. But it wasnât a big night for others. Collingwood defender and premiership Bulldog Jordan Roughead set a new bar for the most games without a single vote, at 192. He beat out the previous holder, Geelongâs Tom Lonergan (191)⌠who was thrilled to pass on the baton. Note to all MCâs⌠delete from all future introâs ???????? https://t.co/r9nChWw5HG â Tom Lonergan (@tomlonergan13) September 19, 2021 Disappointingly, though, one eight-year streak came to an end with Winesâ win. Lift your game, Echuca. Echuca has a McDonalds, so the streak is over. https://t.co/8j0jB3xxJ4 â Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) September 19, 2021 Read the full article
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How Cruel Summerâs Ending Changes Everything For Season 2
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Warning: contains spoilers for the Cruel Summer finale.Â
Buzzy teen drama Cruel Summer is one of 2021âs most unexpected delights, a wildly addictive, twisty mystery spread across three distinct timelines and featuring a pair of great young actresses at its center in Olivia Holt and Chiara Aurelia.
The story, which ostensibly follows the aftermath of a kidnapping in a small Texas town, has a little bit of everything: Unreliable narrators, a nostalgia-heavy 1990s setting, a banging soundtrack, and one of televisionâs most carefully nuanced depictions of trauma and the lingering effect it can have on those whose lives it touches. In just ten episodes, Cruel Summer manages to brilliantly balance plot and character drama, exploring complex emotional truths without ever resorting to outlandish gotcha twists.
The story of Cruel Summer revolves around Jeanette Turner and Kate Wallis, two girls who couldnât seem more different from one another on the surface. Jeanetteâs a dorky nerd who longs to be popular, while Kateâs the school queen bee whoâs actually much kinder than everyone around her assumes. But when Kate mysteriously disappears, Jeanette undergoes a complete social transformation and eagerly steps into a (presumed) dead girlâs shoes, changing her hair, adopting her friends, dating her boyfriend, and throwing herself into the life of the popular kid she always dreamed of being. But when Kate is found a year later, the victim of a horrible kidnapping, she accuses Jeanette of ignoring an opportunity to save her in the name of hanging on to her new, stolen life.
What follows is a complicated tale of secrets and half-truths that sees each girl lie, betray, and suffer at the hands of the other. That the finale manages to tie up the bulk of the seasonâs plot threads is pretty remarkable, that it all ends up making sense, even more so. Before the final credits roll, we find out how Kate managed to escape Martin Harrisâs clutches, who really did see her that night, and the timeline of Jeanetteâs ill-fated Christmas break-in. And the hour ends with both Kate and Jeanette essentially starting new phases of their lives, one as Americaâs long-suffering new heroine, and the other in a healthy relationship for what may be the first time in her life.
Even its shocking Season 1 finale stinger â in which Jeanette, who spent the entire season denying that sheâd seen Kate being held prisoner at the home of the assistant vice principal, was revealed to have been aware of her captivity the entire time â was firmly grounded in seeds planted throughout the season that became even more obvious upon reflection. (See also: Jeanetteâs obsession with Kate, her smiles at inappropriate moments, her creepy ability to mimic the other girl.)
But after a first season that essentially wrapped up most of the showâs primary plotlines, the news that Cruel Summer would return for a second came with no small number of mixed emotions attached. After all, the seriesâ first outing was so strong and so satisfying, it almost feels as though thereâs nowhere left for the show to go but down. Can a second season maintain the firstâs high level of quality? What story is even left to tell?Â
Will There Be a Cruel Summer Season 2?
Though it may be obvious that Cruel Summer was initially conceptualized as a limited series, itâs equally clear why the folks in charge want to change that. This little drama has been one of the buzziest series of the summer, breaking ratings and streaming records for the cable network Freeform and spawning everything from personality quizzes and Spotify playlists to complicated and occasionally extremely weird fan theories (that Kate gave birth to a baby in captivity, that Joy somehow paid Martin to kidnap her daughter). Â
Of course, Cruel Summer got a Season 2. But though we know the show will return, thereâs little clarity at this moment about what that might actually mean.
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Will Cruel Summer Season 2 Continue Kate and Jeanetteâs Story?
As mentioned previously, there arenât a ton of questions left that Cruel Summer still needs to answer. At least not when it comes to the world of Skylin, Texas. We know about Martin and Kateâs relationship, weâve seen how Kate escaped her basement prison, and the truth has come out about exactly what Jeanette saw and heard at the Harris house. And, at the end of the day, that story just feels as though itâs finished. Allow Kate to have some peace at last, and let Jeanette stay a stomach-twisting cautionary tale.
Sure, thereâs the small matter of the fact that the audience knows Jeanette was actually guilty â if not precisely in the way Kate originally thought. And if Cruel Summer Season 2 continues the story of Season 1, thatâs certainly the biggest issue left for the show to deal with. But what would true justice for Kate look like? Outing Jeanette as the monster she so clearly is? Tearing down her new public persona as a big-hearted victim? Simply learning the truth?
There are slightly happier threads we could follow in Season 2 as well, from Kate and Malloryâs blossoming romance, to what exactly happened to Jeanetteâs mom Cindy after she essentially abandoned her family (and turned out to be right about her daughter in the end). Is that enough to build an entire season around, though? We may well find out.
Will Cruel Summer Season 2 Focus on a Different Main Character?
But Cruel Summer Season 2 could also follow a slightly different, if still somewhat connected, path. Another crime could take place in Skylin â though the odds of two similarly shocking events occurring in such a small town might stretch viewersâ abilities to suspend their disbelief. Itâs more likely that the show would simply shift its focus somewhat and follow a story about a character who was only tangentially connected to the Kate and Jeanette saga.
Sweet nerd Vincent â former BFF of both Jeanette and Mallory â seems an obvious pick, as his on-again-off-again relationship with football star Ben is the sort of story that might rock a small Texas town in ways that donât necessarily involve national media coverage. (And, letâs not forget, Vince was pretty aware of exactly the sort of person Jeanette was, which could somehow tie his story back to the first seasonâs primary plot.)
Could Cruel Summer Season 2 Kick Off an Anthology Series?
 But since Cruel Summer Season 1 wrapped up so neatly, thereâs every chance that the show could look very different when it returns. As an anthology series, the show could keep its trademark split timeline format while following a mystery involving an entirely new set of characters in a new location. (And possibly in a new time period, though I would be personally loath to lose the seriesâ fantastic 1990s soundtrack.)Â
Shows like American Horror Story and Fargo have already proven this sort of format is sustainable long term and it would allow us to leave the characters of Skylin in a state of relative peace. And as much as fans would miss the powerhouse performances of Holt and Aurelia, it would also allow the series to introduce a new pair of talented leads at its center. (While, naturally, leaving the door open for the original stars to return if the story required it.)Â
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Cruel Summer season one is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video UK now.
The post How Cruel Summerâs Ending Changes Everything For Season 2 appeared first on Den of Geek.
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D.B. Cooper in Pop Culture: 15 Best Movie and TV Moments
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On November 24, 1971, a man calling himself Dan Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines flight 305 from Portland to Seattle (a trip known as a âmilk runâ due to the short distance involved). A few minutes into the voyage, he got the attention of a flight attendant and made it known that he had a bomb that he intended to use unless his demands were met. What did he want? $200,000 in unmarked bills and four parachutes.
After the plane was on the ground in Seattle, the passengers were let go, the plane was refueled, and Cooper was granted his money and chutes. He instructed the pilot to head towards Mexico City, making it clear that the wing flaps were to remain at 15 degrees and landing gear to stay deployed, the cabin remain depressurized, and that the craft was not to exceed an altitude of 10,000 feet.
Some time after the trip to Mexico City began, he strapped the cash to himself, put on a parachute, and exited the aircraft in flight via the aft staircase. He was never seen again.
It was a bold and brazen move that instantly captivated the worldâs imagination. In the confused rush to get the story out there, the skyjacker was misidentified as D.B. Cooper, and the false name stuck. Suddenly everyone was transfixed by the Cooper story. Who was he? Did he survive the jump? Why did he do it? These unanswered questions only served to build up Cooperâs mystique and his legend grew exponentially.
To this day, no one really knows who D.B. Cooper was or what became of him. Other than some of the money being discovered by a kid who was building a campfire along the Columbia River in 1980, there have been no verifiable leads in the case. In 2016, the FBI closed the case. D.B. Cooper had committed the perfect crime, and gotten away with it.
And still, people continue to obsess about the enigmatic, and, by some accounts, charming skyjacker.
Because his crime didnât harm anyone, D.B. Cooper became an instant folk hero. He was a living representation of the âsticking it to the manâ ethos of the era. And before you knew it, a pop culture phenomenon â one that continues to this day â was born. Cooper has been the focus of countless books, a few movies (including the Seth Green comedy Without a Paddle), songs, and has impacted the general consciousness in unexpected ways. (David Lynch and Mark Frost were rumored to be inspired by the skyjacker when naming Agent Dale Bartholomew Cooper on Twin Peaks).
These are the most memorable ways he impacted pop culture. Letâs take a look.
The Mystery of D.B. Cooper
Almost 50 years on and we still have no idea who D.B. Cooper was and what his motives were. Or do we? HBO Maxâs The Mystery of D.B. Cooper, an in-depth documentary that aims to be the definitive word on this true-crime saga.
You can read our review of The Mystery of D.B. Cooper here.
In Search OfâŚ
One of the earliest, and still the greatest, examination of the Cooper case is a 1979 installment of Leonard Nimoyâs cheesy/sublime 1979 investigational series In Search OfâŚÂ
Over the course of 22 odd minutes, a delightfully porn-stached Nimoy runs through the particulars of the case. Complete with ominous re-enactments and insights from FBI agent Ralph Himmelsbach (whose obsession with the solving the case would eventually reach Captain Ahab proportions), this episode is the perfect starting point for aspiring Cooperphiles.
The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper
Due to the strong intrigue surrounding the Cooper skyjacking, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood tried to profit off of the crime. Thus in 1981, The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper hit theaters. The film starred Treat Williams, a slumming Robert Duvall, and the late, great Paul Gleason.
Loosely inspired by J.D. Reedâs novel Free Fall, the popcorn flick aimed more at entertaining audiences than actually delving into the hardcore mystery surrounding the man and his confounding actions. As such, the finished project is an amiable adventure that owes more to The Dukes of Hazzard and Smokey and the Bandit-type diversions than actual history.
HA HA HA
In 1983, interest in all things D.B. Cooper had already waned. Yet despite this, Signum Books LTD. published this purported autobiography that suggests that Cooper is just as good at spinning a wild yarn as he is jumping out of airplanes and ripping off the government.
The most interesting aspect of this novel is how it was also a contest. Readers could unravel clues hidden in the book to win $200,000 of their own. We have no idea if anyone ever made good of this offer, but this form of interactive fiction could be seen as a precursor to similiar and more mainstream literary experiments like J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorstâs S.
Prison Break
Before it broke our hearts by downfalling into mediocrity, Prison Break was one of the most engaging Fox shows of its time. One thing that bugs us though? Somehow we never pictured Cooper â portrayed in the series by character actor great Muse Watson â as a cat owner.
Skyjack
In 2012, CBS Films optioned the rights to journalist Geoffrey Grayâs Skyjack. Sadly, that project is currently residing in development hell, which is especially upsetting because Grayâs thoughtful analysis of the case and its obsessive, often damaged main players could be the next Argo. Itâs a strange and joyous read.
Do Grayâs new leads result in finally identifying Cooper? That would be telling. Plus, as with many things in life, itâs not so much the destination as the strange odyssey that is undertaken along the way that is key.
NewsRadio
The fifth and final season of Newsradio obviously suffered from the creative energy that was lost following the senseless murder of Phil Hartman. However it began to gain some serious steam with a three-part story arc in which it was revealed that Jimmy James (the peerless Stephen Root) might actually be D.B. Cooper. As fun as this all was, nothing could prepare viewers for the joyous shock that came from the revelation that Cooper was, in fact, Adam West.
Journeyman
Journeyman, we still miss you so. NBCâs 2007 time-travel drama starred Kevin McKidd as a successful reporter, recovering gambling addict, and family man who began mysteriously travelling back in time. Because his adventures often resulted in him putting right what once went wrong, the Quantum Leap comparisons never stopped. But Journeyman was so much more than just an adventure of the week story. You see, when McKiddâs character went back in time, the present kept on going, meaning that he could return hours, days or weeks after he mysteriously vanished. This ramped up the domestic and career drama greatly in a way that Sam Beckettâs âoh boyâ-worthy exploits could only dream of.
Five episodes in, the installment âThe Legend of Dylan McCleenâ was a quick exploration of the Cooper mythos, with the name changed to protect the guilty, apparently. As if we didnât love it enough already, they had to go and bring Cooper into the mix. Why was this show cancelled again?
1971 CBS News Report
When word of Cooperâs skyjacking first hit the media, the news was so audacious that it became a national obsession (and still is, to be honest). Above you see CBS Newsâ original report about the Cooper case. Join Walter Cronkite and Bill Kurtis for their coverage of this history-making event.
Bigfoot vs. D.B. Cooper
Full disclosure: Weâve never seen this low-budget flick that looks like the next big SyFy sweeps event. But D.B. Cooper and Bigfoot? Together? Thatâs gotta be a recipe for entertainment, right?
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Skyjacked
While based more on the rash of skyjackings that plagued American skies in the early 1970s than Cooperâs specifically, the 1972 proto-disaster film Skyjacked was clearly impacted by the folk heroâs actions. With stars like Charlton Heston, James Brolin, Rosie Grier, and TVâs Spider-Man, Nicholas Hammond, the film is a tense thriller about a skyjacker who seeks to divert a passenger plane to Alaska. As the terrorist is revealed to be a traumatized Vietnam War veteran, his actions lead to an international incident â resulting in a conclusion that remains gripping to this day.
Everything Is Fine, âVapor Trails and Lightâ
In 2005, murky shoegazers Everything Is Fine released their album Ghosts Are Knocking on Walls, a guitar-drenched affair that featured two tracks inspired by Cooperâs antics.
While âD.B. Cooperâ was a reverb-heavy instrumental imagining of what the skyjackerâs leap into history might have emotionally felt like, âVapor Trails and Lightâ explored the mindset of the planeâs occupants. âYou hijack the flight and disappear into the night,â sings vocalist Marc Manning in a delicate growl before adding âvapor trails and light, all we see tonight but itâs all right.ââ-indicating that ultimately D.B.âs antics were the sort of victimless crime that resulted in his folk icon status. Itâs a fantastic song that brings to mind the works of Slowdive and This Mortal Coil. In other words, essential listening for the 120 Minutes crowd.
Dan Cooper Comics
In the 1950s, Franceâs Dan Cooper comics chronicled the exploits of the titular Royal Canadian Air Force pilot. Since the skyjacker identified himself to the flight crew as Dan Cooper, it has been speculated that he borrowed his false identity from these comicsâŚsomething that seems more than plausible given the similarities between both Coopers. The only problem is that the Dan Cooper stories were unknown to Americans in 1971, adding another speculative wrinkle to an already fascinating case.
The Far Side
Gary Larsonâs seminal comic strip The Far Side once speculated on Cooperâs final fate. It may not be pretty for him, but it sure is funny.
Todd Snider, âD.B. Cooperâ
Folk-twinged alt-country singer/songwriter Todd Snider paid a musical tribute to Cooper on his 2000 album Happy to Be Here, which speculates that D.B. did in fact survive his leap, and celebrated with a champagne toast. âI hope they never see D.B. Cooper again,â Snider croons, echoing the sentiments of those who yearn for this case never to be solved. After all, history needs its mysteriesâŚ
Whatâs your favorite D.B. Cooper pop culture moment? Let us know in the comments! And be sure to check out our D.B. Cooper Spotify playlist!
The post D.B. Cooper in Pop Culture: 15 Best Movie and TV Moments appeared first on Den of Geek.
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So,
Niles was on crutches, watering his garden.
It was late Tuesday afternoon, and weâd just put the Wednesday edition of the Star to bed. Despite the fact it was mid-October, the weather was still summery, with a light wind rustling its way up the valley. The Slocan River had a magical sheen in the distance as my RAV broke out of the trees. Brutus was running laps of the yard with a dog I didnât recognize, too busy to bark at my arrival, so I followed the driveway around to the barn unmolested and parked beside a mud-spattered, half-deconstructed Jeep. Niles had invited me over to discuss his latest manuscript submission, which was over 100,000 words long. It sat hefty and dog-eared on my passenger seat, riddled with highlighter and scribbled notes, alongside a six-pack of Blue Buck. I wasnât looking forward to this feedback session, because I wasnât sure if he was mature enough to hear what I had to say.
âWeâve got the house to ourselves tonight, Goon. Iâve got the second season of Fargo queued up, plus Iâve acquired some fabulous Afghani Kush that will blow your hair back,â Niles said, his crutches squelching in the mud as he clopped over to my side door.
I lifted up his manuscript, which was called The Fox and the Fawn. âDid you forget about this?â
Since my arrival in Nelson Iâd been keeping a small roster of three to five students, helping them develop everything from a fictional account of the Rwandan genocide to a fantasy novel about an autistic teen adventuring through an alternate dimension. The trouble was, I was starting to feel like an imposter. My repeated attempts at finishing Whatever youâre on, I want some hadnât resulted in the fame and glory I was imagining, and now I was wondering if Iâd been kidding myself this whole time. Yeah, I had my Masterâs, but so what? Could I really be a writer? And if not, was I really worthy of being a teacher? Who was I kidding?
âI figured you wouldâve burned that thing the moment you realized what a gargantuan turd it is,â Niles said, his blond hair hanging limply around his dishevelled face. He wasnât looking healthy.
I climbed out and shut the door. âI read some of it to my new roommate Mika, actually. We had a little reading in my living room.â
âYou didnât.â
âYeah, she wanted to hear the sex scene.â
Niles roared with delight. Thatâs what he was always looking for, an audience to the lewd reality of his existence. As far as he was concerned, he was the best kind of criminal â the kind that never gets caught. The Fox and the Fawn was a fangirl tribute to himself, to his gangster exploits as a Slocan Valley weed king. With legalization finally here, he felt it was time to tell his story. The manuscript was Bukowski mixed with Kerouac, demented and perverse and shockingly violent. At one point he even casually admits to date rape, including a scene where his girlfriend rages at him for taking advantage of her while he was drunk.
âI didnât know you had a new roommate,â he said. âWhat happened to Brendan?â
âNothing. I just found a new place, levelled up. Teamed up with this girl Mika who works at my pot dispensary. Sheâs got a pet rabbit.â
âYouâre still getting your shit from there? Why arenât you coming to me?â
Niles was wearing a brown bathrobe. He opened his front door, told me not to worry about my shoes, then handed me the crutches while he hopped on one foot up the carpeted staircase. He grunted and sighed with each step, muttering swear words under his breath. Iâd never seen him like this. When we reached the top I gave him his crutches and the beer, and he motioned for me to take a seat in the living room. As I passed by the familiar John Cooper paintings, I noticed that heâd hung the self-portrait Iâd given him as a present a month earlier. Iâd painted it with Natalya.
âYou hung my painting upside down?â
He laughed, opening the fridge. âYeah, I dunno why I did that. Just seemed to me like it looks better that way. I get a kick out of it.â
I shook my head. For the past month Iâd been painting furiously, and it felt like a swirling green portal had opened up inside my brain. My writing may have stalled, but this was a way to channel my creativity into something other than journalism. I was getting sick of the Star, getting sick of taking the same pictures of the same fundraiser events, getting sick of the constraints. My relationship with Ed and Kai was strained too, as they were tired of my entitled laziness. Maybe they knew I was stoned every day, slumping into the office uninspired and half-assing my stories. I felt like the universe was wasting me, but painting had become a soothing therapy, something I did exclusively for myself. I was giving myself permission to be sloppy and flamboyant and outrageous, slathering my canvases with dribbling glitter and chaotic streaks of inspiration. This painting Iâd given Niles was my first.
As he banged around in the kitchen, I walked over to the living room window and looked out at the Slocan Valley. The trees were the colour of flames, red and orange and electric yellow, and they matched the darkening sky. Lately Iâd been feeling a subtle dread, like the magic was slowly draining from my surroundings. Winter is coming. I hated being single, hated being a chronic stoner, and hated how much of my life I spent stressing out about money. In university Iâd become so convinced that I had life sorted out, that I was on a consistently upwards trajectory, that it was only a matter of time before I would be rewarded with creative success and lifelong fulfillment. Now I wasnât so sure. It was easy to blame Paisley and all the drama sheâd brought to my life, but sheâd been gone for over a year now. At some point I would have to address my own shit without using her as a scapegoat.
âI donât know how much longer I can do this, man.â
Niles scuffed back into the living room holding our beers. âThis?â
âThe Kootenays. The Star. I got into a bit of a scrap with Kai and Ed today, in the newsroom,â I said. âOver our coverage of Me Too.â
He laughed, sinking into his recliner. âYouâre too radical for them?â
I shook my head, crossed to the couch. âIâve just been seeing all these posts, right? Women sharing their trauma, men self-flagellating, but the discourse isnât actually going anywhere. Itâs not actually accomplishing anything. But I wanted to do something tangible, so I interviewed the superintendent and a bunch of principals about how theyâre responding to it. Just to get it official, on the record, how they plan to change things.â
He snorted. âIâm sure they loved that.â
âSo I hand in this 1200-word behemoth of a story, with all these different angles and perspectives, and they told me it didnât have any teeth. They said itâs just a bunch of talking heads. I tried to argue, you know, that itâs important to be holding these people accountable and that their words are powerful, but they werenât hearing it. They said if Iâm going to write a story about sexual assault then I need a real sexual assault.â
He frowned, shrugged. âSo whatâre you going to do?â
I felt myself getting worked up. For the past few days Iâd been endlessly scrolling through Twitter and Facebook, feeding on the outrage and vitriol. It was bringing everything up, Trent and Galloway and my strange obsession with crucifixion. The topic of sexual violence was like an intricate bomb I was trying to defuse with nothing but a screwdriver. As far as I was concerned, the conversation had to move beyond the rage to solutions. Men had to own their complicity, with more than just empty words, and propose tangible solutions. I was determined to prove Kai and Ed wrong, to show that my journalism had real teeth.
âWell, Iâve already started writing a column about it. About my personal feelings on the subject. And Iâm going to illustrate it with a picture of my face with the words âPart of the Problemâ scrawled across my forehead.â
Niles laughed. âThat should piss off the right people.â
âNot only that, Iâve found two girls who are willing to go on record about their assaults. One who was a student at Elephant Mountain Secondary, and the other from Selkirk College. If I do this right, this could be the most powerful story Iâve written since coming to the Star. Like, I think it could be a really big deal.âÂ
âWell, Goon,â he said. âI think your saviour complex is alive and kicking.â
Eventually we pivoted to discussing his manuscript, and I flipped through it on the coffee table as I took him through my notes. All of his female characters came off as interchangeable, he had a tendency to summarize scenes rather than depict them, and by the end of the narrative he came off as completely unlikeable. Being self-deprecating is one thing, but it was like he was going out of his way to shock the reader with his shitty behaviour. It felt like he was daring his audience to hate him. At times it reminded me of the memoir A Crowbar in the Buddhist Garden, by Stephen Reid, so I recommended he check it out for inspiration. I felt Reid struck a fine balance between owning his mistakes and aspiring to be a better human being.
âThatâs the bank robber?â
âYeah, they made a movie about him. Point Break.â
âThat surfer movie with Keanu Reeves?â
âI think they fictionalized it a bit. The point is, thereâs a guy who has actually grappled with his own soul. That takes balls.â
He nodded. âA Crowbar in the Buddhist Garden. I like that.â
Once we were finished with notes, Niles padded off into his bedroom and returned with an elaborate dragon-themed bong. As we smoked together I thought of the caterpillar from the animated version of Alice in Wonderland, asking in his condescending tone âWho are you?â That was the sort of question that was getting harder to answer all the time. Thinking about rape culture all day had me hating myself to the point where I felt physically sick, but at other times I was convinced of my own prophethood, my special destiny to save the world somehow. If I could tackle this Me Too story from exactly the right angle I knew it could have a legit impact. Everyone was encouraging women to speak while men listen, but I had been listening. And now I had something to say. I leaned back in the couch and examined the light fixture in the ceiling, composing my column in my head.
âHere,â Niles said. âYou want another hit?â
The Kootenay Goon
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Wolves 1-2 Tottenham: Late Jan Vertonghen goal seals win for Jose Mourinho's side
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Wolves 1-2 Tottenham: Late Jan Vertonghen goal seals win for Jose Mourinho's side
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Jan Vertonghenâs late winner takes Tottenham to within three points of the top four
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said his side had won an âincredible three pointsâ against a Wolves team he believes can challenge for the Champions League places.
Jan Vertonghen scored a dramatic late winner as Spurs ended Wolvesâ 11-match unbeaten Premier League run to narrow the gap on the top four with victory at Molineux.
Vertonghen headed in from a corner in injury time, after Wolvesâ relentless approach had been rewarded as Adama Traore thumped in a deserved equaliser from the edge of the box midway through the second half.
On Wolves, Mourinho said: âMy feeling is they are fighting for more than they said. They are not just there for the top six. They can do more. They are a fantastic team. This is a big victory.
âThis game is a special game because the opponent is a special opponent. Nuno [Espirito Santo] has to be very proud of Wolvesâ record.â
On his own sideâs progress, he added: âWe went about a year without winning a Premier League game away and weâve managed two in a short amount of time. Now we are not looking to the bottom of the table, weâre looking higher up.â
Analysis: âWhy Spursâ midfield should concern Mourinhoâ â Jermaine Jenas
Following a breathless opening period, Lucas Mouraâs mazy run and exquisite finish into the roof of the net had put Tottenham ahead after eight minutes.
Spurs had to withstand intense pressure as Wolves chased an equaliser, but it was they who went closest before half-time as Eric Dier struck the post from Dele Alliâs delightful, dinked pass.
Tottenham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga produced an excellent save from Romain Saissâ header in the closing stages as Mourinhoâs visitors appeared to be hanging on, before Vertonghenâs decisive goal.
Victory sees Tottenham climb above Wolves to fifth, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea who they face next Sunday (16:30 GMT).
Live coverage of Sundayâs Premier League games
Spurs weather storm to close in on top four
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Spurs manager Jose Mourinho praised his sideâs 2-1 victory over âspecial opponentâ Wolves.
Ahead of his sideâs trip to Molineux, Tottenham boss Mourinho made clear his belief that Spurs will qualify for next seasonâs Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Vertonghenâs late header has suddenly turned that into a very realistic prospect, with Spurs set to welcome the Blues â who slumped to a fourth league defeat in five against Bournemouth on Saturday â to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next weekend.
Aiming for a fifth consecutive top-four finish, Spurs have narrowed an 11-point gap to the Champions League places with four wins from five league games since Mourinhoâs appointment.
With the top-four door ajar, Spurs made a purposeful start as Son Heung-min saw an attempt stopped by Rui Patricio, but it did not take long for their early enthusiasm to pay off as Mouraâs fast feet and emphatic finish stunned Wolves.
A second goal always appeared crucial for Mourinhoâs side, who had conceded at least two goals in five of their six games under the Portuguese prior to kick-off, as the energetic hosts dominated in possession and territory.
Often unconvincing, the Spurs backline weathered the storm and allowed for counter opportunities â but Dier was unable to provide the finish that Alliâs sublime pass over the Wolves defence deserved.
Outplayed and having not kept a clean sheet away from home since New Yearâs Day â a club-record run of 16 matches â Traoreâs equaliser came as no surprise.
What will delight Mourinho, however, was the determined manner of his sideâs response to conceding, and a confidence-boosting late winner that puts their top-four hopes firmly in their own hands.
Result harsh on impressive Wolves
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Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo praised his teamâs performance in a 2-1 defeat by Spurs
As the halfway stage of the season approaches, a Wolves side which could be forgiven for suffering a hint of fatigue played with an intensity and determination that was fully deserving of a point â if not all three.
Nuno Espirito Santo has praised his playersâ commitment and togetherness during their packed campaign, which has seen them play 31 games as they juggle domestic competition with their first European campaign in almost 40 years.
Wolves typically relish their match-ups with the Premier Leagueâs big sides and responded to their early setback in style with a swashbuckling home display.
The ever-improving Traoreâs low drive forced Gazzaniga into action, while Raul Jimenez dragged wide and Diogo Jota saw an attempt blocked following a swift counter as the hosts began to pick their way through the Tottenham defence.
Despite contesting their fifth game in 15 days, Wolves pressed and harried Spurs, boasting 87.5% of possession in the final five minutes of the first half, but to no avail.
They emerged in the second half with the same intent, as Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves continued to dictate the play and Jimenez again went close before Traoreâs spectacular equaliser after 67 minutes.
A menace all game, Toby Alderweireld and Vertonghen struggled to cope with Traoreâs frightening pace down the right, with Spurs resorting to fouling the 23-year-old as he threatened to burst away on several occasions.
With a point on the horizon, conceding in the 91st minute will come as a huge disappointment to Nunoâs side â though once the dust settles they will surely feel proud of another excellent showing.
Man of the match â Adama Traore (Wolves)
Registering all three of his shots on target â more than any other player â Adama Traore also delivered more open-play crosses and won more duels than anyone else in an excellent performance
âThree incredible pointsâ â what they said
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho:âWe knew the game was going to be difficult. They didnât catch us by surprise. We had a very good start like we tried to. We almost scored a second goal but against Wolves that would not have killed the game.
âWe knew if we arrive in the last part we could score. After that we had to close the door for the last five minutes. Three incredible points.â
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo:âOf course Iâm pleased with the performance. We played very good. We werenât perfect, almost. We should have defended better. We played well and created chances. Iâm very pleased with the boys.
âThe final moments require a lot of focus. We must stay in the game until the end. We were more obsessed about scoring than defending.â
Last-gasp winners a rarity for Spurs â the stats
Tottenham have won two of their three Premier League away games under Jose Mourinho, as many as they did in Mauricio Pochettinoâs final 14 away from home in the competition.
Since a 3-1 defeat as Chelsea boss in October 2015, Mourinho has not lost any of his last 54 Premier League games when his side has scored the opening goal.
Lucas Moura has scored three goals in five Premier League appearances under Mourinho after managing only one in 10 games under Pochettino earlier this season.
Jan Vertonghen scored Tottenhamâs first 90th-minute winner in the Premier League since Harry Winks against Fulham in January.
Wolves suffered just their third home defeat in the top flight in 2019 and their first since a 5-2 defeat by Chelsea in September.
Adama Traoreâs equaliser for Wolves was his fourth goal of the season in 26 appearances, which is twice as many as he scored in his previous 82 matches as a Premier League player in all competitions.
No two players have combined for more Premier League goals this season than Traore and Raul Jimenez.
Whatâs next?
Tottenham will learn their Champions League last-16 opponents in Mondayâs draw, with Barcelona, Juventus, Paris St-Germain, Valencia and RB Leipzig possible opponents.
They will then have their shot at leapfrogging current fourth-placed Chelsea on Sunday (16:30 GMT).
The likes of Ajax, Inter Milan and Sevilla are potential opponents for Wolves in the Europa League last-32 draw, with a trip to Norwich to come on Saturday (15:00).
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How the Thunder can rebuild without tanking
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The new-look Thunder are full of possibilities.
The Thunder can be competitive even in a rebuild.
In early July, Paul George was two months removed from his 29th birthday and had just wrapped up the best season of his career when he requested a trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was one season into a four-year deal. Overnight, Oklahoma Cityâs immediate championship goals died.
Russell Westbrook was dealt to the Houston Rockets one week later, and even though Sam Prestiâs combined return was held in high regard, it also helped create two new superpowers in Los Angeles and Houston that instantly showed how wide the gap between the Thunder and a title is. It reminded him, a general manager whoâs acquired and lost James Harden, Kevin Durant, George, and Westbrook, how easy it is for carefully laid plans to implode.
Oklahoma City just lost two All-NBA players in their respective primes. Theyâre set up for a rebuild. But instead of tanking towards ground zero, the Thunder should go the other way, be as competitive as possible, fight for a playoff spot (a long shot but FiveThirtyEight currently gives them better playoff odds than the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs), and reassemble on the fly.
In an NBA that seemingly changes every month, the Thunder can (ironically) take a big-picture page from the pre-Harden Rockets, tread water, and stay in the perpetual hunt for whichever young star next wants out, be it Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, whoever. Until then, they can afford to endure middling outcomes, knowing they already have one 21-year-old blue-chip guard and a larger collection of trade assets than anybody else.
Tanking isnât in their best interest, particularly when itâs unknown how their fanbase will react to a first dip into irrelevance
Before we go on, letâs summarize what the Thunder actually received this summer: Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, three unprotected first-round picks from the Clippers (in 2022, 2024, and 2026), two first-round picks from the Miami Heat (unprotected in 2021 and lottery-protected in 2023), and two top-four-protected first-round picks from the Houston Rockets (in 2024 and 2026). As a cherry on top, there are four additional pick swaps, with LAC in 2023 and 2025, and Houston in 2021 and 2025. Thereâs also a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2020 from the Denver Nuggets, who traded it for Jerami Grant.
Thatâs three quality players, eight first-round draft picks, and four pick swaps spread out over seven years. Not bad! For reference, the Boston Celtics received three unprotected first-round picks, one pick swap, and Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, MarShon Brooks and Keith Bogans for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry.
The Celtics wisely used those draft picks as a safety net. They were bad and had no choice but to build themselves back up through the draft, but eventually they made moves to get better in the short-term and straddle two separate timelines. The Thunder can aspire to do the same thing, butâeven in a Western Conference thatâs never been so punishingâthe difference is they may already be good enough to avoid an intentional nosedive.
Assuming they hang on to their veterans, Oklahoma City can be the type of team that rarely beats itself, with more shooting than its recently had, and emboldened contribution from supporting pieces. Most of them are, to varying degrees, established, confident, proud, and growing. Much of their success will ultimately depend on Paulâwhoâs 34 and hasnât made an All-Star team since 2016âand how the organization adjusts to such a stark stylistic modification at the point guard position. The downshift from Westbrookâs merciless house fire to Paulâs methodical slow burn may do good for a group thatâs viewed chaos as a savior over the past few years.
If Paul ran a successful pick-and-roll while simultaneously typing an email into his iPhone, nobody watching would blink.
The argument for flipping Paul, a psychotically competitive Hall of Famer whoâs entering his 15th season, is pretty straightforward. Heâs guaranteed $124 million through 2022 and the only player set to earn more money this season is Steph Curry. Itâs a bloated salary on a bloated cap sheet. But itâs hard to see any team taking that contract off Prestiâs hands without some sort of compensation. (Remember, the Rockets surrendered two first-round picks to get off it.) Also, if winning as many games as they possibly can is the mandateâwhich it should beâkeeping Paul is common sense.
Even though that contract doesnât align with Paulâs current status, this dude isnât exactly washed up. Now detached from Houstonâs unique, isolation-obsessed approach, thereâs an opportunity for Paul to conduct an offense that makes better use of his vision. Three years ago, over half his possessions were finished as a pick-and-roll ball-handler. Last season, they dropped down to 36 percent. Existing as second-fiddle to a perennial MVP candidate will do that, but itâs still a shame to see such blinding skill be underutilized. If Paul ran a successful pick-and-roll while simultaneously typing an email into his iPhone, nobody watching would blink.
Last year, he finished third in assists and averaged 22.5 points and 12.5 assists per 36 minutes when he did not share the floor with Harden. If heâs able to deep-pressure massage the gameâs tempo as he has in the past, the Thunder can temporarily make themselves over with a floor general who props those around him up instead of it being the other way around.
Oklahoma City has finished top-five in transition frequency five years in a rowâin their entire existence their lowest ranking was seventhâbut this year their possessions will be timed with an hourglass. They wonât rely on frenetic pace induced by a rabid, turnover-forcing defense that was addicted to scrambling.
A leisurely approach that defies the rest of the leagueâs desire to operate at warp speed can be beneficial, for the sake of developing a sensible identity, if nothing else. Instead of crashing the offensive glass, they can be more conservative, hustling back in transition and letting Steven Adams settle into a more natural drop coverage against pick-and-rolls. Attempts at the rimâof which the Thunder have historically surrendered far too oftenâwill drop and long twos will rise. Their quickness and versatility on the wing is convenient, too, particularly if Andre Roberson looks like his old self. (Donât sleep on them as an Andre Iguodala suitor, either.)
On offense, more ball movement and a steady half-court hand, something Oklahoma City hasnât employed since Kevin Durant left, wonât be taken for granted by the Thunderâs coaching staff. By finally implementing a new system that better reflects their personnel, shots can be delineated with care. While Paul memorizes every one elseâs lines, Westbrook crumples the script into a ball and tries to swallow it. Both are control freaks who like to place their hands around the neck of a possession and squeeze until it turns blue, but Paul does it with a certain charm. He empowers those around him in a way Westbrook does not, and has immediate value off the ball, thanks to his three-point stroke .
Beyond Paul, this team has a few useful players whoâve peaked at a rung just below All-Star consideration, and none overlap. Last season, Gallo solidified himself as an appealing stretch four who 1) plays defense, and 2) draws fouls. Heâll space the floor beside Adams and create his own shots whenever plays break down.
And as someone who, in many ways, is the most important player on the roster, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander â the No. 11 pick in the 2018 draft â will nestle in as more of an active participant than subtle observer. As a 20-year-old rookie he pulled off the impossible last year, cementing himself as member of Doc Riversâ regular and postseason rotation, averaging 10.8 points, making over half his two-point shots, and appearing in every single game. (He was one of 21 players in the entire league to do that.) Gilgeous-Alexander is a 6â6 rubber band whose herky-jerky, meandering drives (often with his left hand) tend to confuse help defenders even more than his own man. Will he skip to the rim, pull back and settle into a pull-up jumper, or fire a cross-court pass?
He needs to be more of a threat behind the three-point line, but his first season was filled with promising samples of a player wise beyond his years, taking what the game is willing to offer. Itâll be interesting to see how much his growth raises the Thunderâs floor and ceiling, considering heâll have the ball in his hands far more than he did on the Clippers. (Gilgeous-Alexander may also be someone other playersâreally good ones!âwill want to run with someday.)
Depth is an issue, as Mike Muscala and Nerlens Noel are one-dimensional in contrasting ways, while Terrance Ferguson and Hamidou Diallo are absurd athletes who provide more questions than answers. Dennis Schroder is a nightly wild card but also a possible trade chip, should the Thunder want to add more size. And even though first-round pick Darius Bazley is a project, the organization is high on what he brings to the table.
If none of this works, and Oklahoma City falls far behind Sacramento, Dallas, and Minnesota before the All-Star break, Galloâs expiring contract will be shopped around. But before any games have been played, this intriguing underdog deserves some respect. Tanking isnât in their best interest, particularly when itâs unknown how their fanbase will react to a first dip into irrelevance. They already have assets. They already have good players. The West is a monster, but for the time being it makes sense for the Thunder to try and slay it.
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