#sooo happy they brought her back in s3

[whichcouldmeanothing]

It's starting to occur to me that you've been right all along.

Yaya DaCosta as Andrea Freeman The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3

[somedayillbepeterpan]

For Bonus Polinweek Day 5 | Favourite hand scene + Nicola appreciation Day | The Marie Claire AU shoot (sorry if the edit is not good and it has no music. Just think of this as a photo carousel)

I start this appreciation post for this goddess by saying that I hope that every person who deemed it right to ignore her in her 20's are eating glass right now for not giving her the opportunity to shine back then. I could have had Nicola a long long time ago but these clowns kept her from me.

I never expected myself to be this addicted to Polin but I got to say that it really all started with Nicola. S2 brought my attention to Pen because she was sooo messy in that season but I loved how Nicola played that dichotomy. And I really really wanted to know what Pen said to Colin after that awful line.

This led me to the book, to the countless fanfics, to falling in love with the characters, to admiring the actors. I was so excited for Polin season but I did not realise the intense chemistry Nic and Luke had until the press tour started in my backyard, Bowral, Australia. I always thought that they looked great together but that day, when I saw the photos and the clip where Luke showed his tank top to Nicola changed me and I haven't had a proper sleep since.

But this is an appreciation for Nicola so I'll keep my mouth shut about Lukola/Polin 😂

There are only a few actresses that I am dedicated to (meaning, I have seen and supported most of their work). I tend to be picky with the actors I support and I focus on the ones who can successfully disappear in their roles making the character iconic instead of the other way around (think of the reason why some actors become typecasted). I see this so clearly in Nicola and it's why I have rewatched most of her work (honestly, how iconic can you get when most of your work are easily re-watchable?). I see the character and the work that Nicola has put into it. She makes character journals for all the roles that she plays and if that is not dedication, I don't know what else to call it.

For the first time in my life, I bought a fashion magazine so I can have these deliciously gorgeous photos of Nicola. I like fashion in a way that I like looking at aesthetically beautiful things but I would not spend any money on that. But, I bought the Marie Claire AU because I loved this cover shoot. I especially love what Nicola says in the interview: "It is important for people to know I wasn't an overnight success."

She is soul-stirringly beautiful to me. I legitimately always have goosebumps whenever I see a photo of her. I've posted it here before that I genuinely question my sexuality whenever I look at an image or video of her.

Am I just projecting my desire to get over my insecurity over my body on her? Definitely. I cannot even begin to describe the confidence that I feel about myself now because of the mirror scene. I know Nicola doesn't explicitly accept her being a representation of full bodied women but it is her portrayal of Pen in S3 that I finally understood what media representation meant for the first time in my life.

Have I rambled on too much? I will for this woman because there are endless things that I love about her.

I hope she's happy. I hope she is able to rest. And I hope that even more of her dreams come true 🥰

[britingotmywholeheart]

I asked @britinbliss for their favorite britin scenes and also for their favorite qaf scenes in the whole show, and I am sooo happy that they answered, and they asked me to answer the questions too, so here we are.

My favorite britin scenes:

5. I really love their first time sex scene cause it was so intense and just beautiful and really hot. Especially, I love the rim-job Brian gave Justin. It was so beautiful when Brian's tongue runs over Justin's back and a small drop of sweat caught on her. And Justin moaning when Brian's tongue got in his ass was just so intense. I love it!

4. The pride party scene at the end of the pride episode is sooo beautiful. Justin accepted who and how Brian is and wanted to leave, so Brian can do what he wants to do, but Brian just wanted to dance with Justin is such a huge step in their relationship. "Hey stud, wanna dance with me?" "Shut up." "I promise you won't forget this one." makes me giggling and smiling every time cause it is just so cute and beautiful. Brian would literally do anything for Justin, and we see this in season two. Season five is so far away, but we can see that Brian really cares about Justin and loves him. Brian is just proud of Justin cause he made it. He showed his pride and he got over the thing with Chris Hobbs. Brian taught Justin so much and this scene shows this and is just lovely.

3. Of course, I really love the scene in s5 ep10 where Brian says "I love you." for the first time. I cried so much when I first saw it because we all waited so long for this moment, and it was soooo beautiful. Brian showed Justin that he loves him for five seasons (not straight lol) but when he said it a new era began.

2. Also, one of my favorite scenes is when Brian brought Justin to Britin and said he would do anything and be anyone to prove Justin that he loves him and that he meant it when he said he wants to marry him. The best part of this scene is when Justin said, "You bought this! This Palace!" and is totally in shock and Brian just answered "It's for my Prince." And when they made love on the floor in front of the fireplace, I was crying again.

1. My all-time favorite scene is their reunification in season three. How they are laughing and smiling while kissing and undressing each other is so beautiful. I can see that Brian missed Justin so much, and he wants him back soo badly. I just love this. And how they dance after this in Babylon is just perfect. Ben was so right when he said, "The biggest reunion since Germany" (which is so meaningful and funny to me because I am German). But I can not stay with my top five, cause my second all-time favorite scene is when Brian and Justin are celebrating that they betrayed Stockwell (of course they are celebrating with sex) and got interrupted by Stockwell and Gardner Vance. The sex in this scene was so intense and how they undressed each other was just beautiful. But what I also like about this scene is that Brian said "Wanna finish?" after Stockwell and Gardner Vance were gone. He doesn't seem to be mad about Justin and what happened. He wanted to go back to Justin and fuck his brains out like he always does, cause he hates it to get interrupted when he has his time with Justin.

To write down my top five was really difficult cause I love nearly all the britin scenes the show gives us, but I tried.

My favorite scenes from the show in general:

5. I really love the scene in s3 ep14 when everyone at Liberty Avenue is celebrating that Stockwell lost the election and Mel and Lindsey had their absolutely cute moment. They were sooo happy together, and I loved them very much in that scene. I also love the britin scene in the last moments of season three when Brian said, "I guess I've lost everything." And Justin answered, "Not everything." to show Brian, he will stay with him no matter what happens.

4. I also really enjoyed the scene in s1 ep1 when Daphne asked Justin where he was, and he just said, "I saw the face of god! His name is Brian Kinney." This scene is so funny but also shows how much Justin felt in love with Brian after one, okay two times, they had sex.

3. And you're right! I love the scenes where the whole group of friends helped for Mel´ and Lind's wedding. It was such so beautiful how they all worked together and Mel was soo happy about this. In my opinion, she wanted to hug Brian, but she knew it would be awkward for both of them, so she just smiled and punched him softly.

2. I really liked much of the scenes with Emmett and George. In my opinion they were a good and cute mature couple. And Emmett was so tough with the thing with George's money to give the whole money back to his awful family just to make his point clear.

1. I really don't like Cody Bell and what he made Justin do, but I love his little argument in the church with the reverent. "What's your point, young man?" "I believe the point is, if you can eat shrimp, we can eat cock!" I love this quote. It's so on the point and so true.

My favorite episode:

I would say my favorite episode in the show is s2 ep9, cause in serious times it's nice to watch it and just laugh about it. This whole episode is just funny and nice. The beginning where Brian fucks the reverent is so cool, cause in first place I thought Brian is just fucking around as always, but then he leans to the side and kisses Justin. And Micheal says they have a date night. Their definition of a date night is so cool. And then the whole thing with Ted taking viagra and the conversation on Mel´and Linds´ veranda, "What do you mean, you still have an erection?!" "Thank you, CNN!" is just so hilarious. Brian's idea to spook Ted's penis and when he said Mel and Lindsay should show him their tits to turn him of is soo funny. And after that, the scene where Justin and Brian really stole Teds viagra and are fucking for the tenth time this day and their conversation "I can't believe you're fucking me again." "It was your idea to steal Ted's viagra." is so fucking hilarious, too. The whole thing with Brian's mum is so shitty, and I hate Joan so much that it's actually funny again. How Brian holds his hands in front of his erection, so his mum can not see it, is so funny. I just love everything about this episode, so I should stop.

I could write so much more about other (favorite) episodes, so I should stop. It's too much.

I hope you all can understand what I wrote in here. English is not my first language, but I really try.

[runningandcrying]

"bisexuals won this round" lmfao yeah! I also found it weird that Santana was so against Sam specifically? They never expanded on that. Sure the insecurity was there as you've mentioned but the narrative made is sooo personal ("I want you to aim higher"). Either there were deleted scenes or they just did a shit job at setting up why she was so upset that Brittany chose Sam instead of someone else.

with any other show this might have actually meant something but with glee you’re probably right in saying they just did a bad job writing it or cut some stuff for time but you know i’m going to analyse the shit out of it anyway

this is a good point. they do make it seem like santana would have been happy for brittany if she was dating anyone other than sam but when you think about it... would she? can you imagine santana being happy with her dating any of the other glee guys? with any pairing i imagine, that “aim higher” comment still seems relevant (at least from santana’s point of view). her argument against sam seems pretty similar to her argument against artie back in s3; that whole you could do better, he’s not good enough for you angle. and i feel like she’d have said the same for artie, puck, mike, ryder, jake... any of them. it almost comes off as “if i can’t have you, no one can”-ish

but in santana’s defence i don’t think she realised that. i think she did want the best for brittany, she was just so clouded by her own jealousy that she didn’t realise that sam was good for her and that brittany was really happy with him.

that being said, there is a certain type of biphobia that comes from within the lbgtq+ community itself. it happens a lot with bi celebrities where some people in the community only seem to be happy for them/inclusive of them if they’re dating a member of the opposite sex. when you take into account santana’s later “straying for penis” comment in 5x02 that i brought up before, this also seems like it could be her reason for hating sam specifically. like i said, she would probably be just as weird about britt dating any of the other guys but if she was dating a girl? maybe her reaction would have been a little less dramatic.

so is it biphobia rearing its ugly head? is it santana’s jealousy/insecurity? or did she genuinely want better for brittany?

i honestly have no idea and i’m probably wasting my time speculating because i doubt any of the writers spent too much time thinking about how this relates to santana’s character or her relationship with brittany. my guess is they just did it for the drama as with most things on this show lmao BUT it’s fun to theorise

[msbeccieboo]

Arrow 8x03 Brain Dump

ASDADGHSADFSAF!! Back on form this week, with more returning guests, massive sibling feels and concentration on characters that we love, AND THE COLLISION OF FUTURE AND PRESENT TIMELINES IN THAT EPIC ENDINGGGG!!!!!!!!! YAAAASSSS!!! I’m still spiralling now!!!

Oliver and Thea

Welcome back Thea Queen!! Oliver had missed his Speedy 😍

So following on from last week, Oliver travelled to Nanda Parbat (which looked suspiciously like Lian Yu...the S8 Budget was clearly too used up on guest stars to recreate the outdoor Nanda Parbat scenery we saw in S3 😂), where he hoped to find some answers about The Monitor. I’m not actually sure if he intended on visiting Thea, or if her appearance was just a happy coincidence! But either way he was able to tell her about Mia and show her the picture of his new little family GAJKFSDGHFHDSGFS!!!

Source: oliverxfelicity

More below the cut...

In a shock move for Oliver Queen, he is open and honest with Thea straight away about his prophesied and imminent death. Thea wasn’t buying it, and Oliver even made a little sarcastic comment to “take as much time as you like to be upset” 😂😂 I’ve seen a few people say that they wanted to see more emotion from Thea here, and in later scenes. My take is that Thea/Willa’s nonchalant air is just classic Thea Queen Swagger™, but did feel like Willa maybe wasn’t really all that present in all of the scenes (mainly the LoA stuff though really). I however loved her total chill at the prospect of Oliver dying...not dissimilar to us...we know what's what! Our boy will be okay in the end!

Oliver seeks out Talia Al Ghul to use the Leagues archives (?) to find out more about The Monitor, because she owes him one. I love the idea of Oliver collecting his debts for once...this could fill the rest of the season to be honest; he’s racked up rather a few favours over the years. Talia’s help comes in the form of an Indiana Jones-esque scavenger hunt to uncover an ancient League book, and some special Demon’s head sword (?), with interruptions by the pesky Thanatos Guild from last season, who Thea is at war with. Honestly, plot-wise, I struggled a bit this week; even on rewatch I found it hard to concentrate😂 . I just zoned in on the character moments to get me through. But luckily, there were lots of those! 

One such beautiful character moment with the Queen siblings was on the side of a mountain, and reminded me a little bit of the Will/Mia scene up the Glades wall back in 7x16, I think? Oliver getting all emotional about missing his family and doubting his decisions every single day just punched me right in the feels 😭😭

Source: feilcityqueen

Then his explanation for trying to find answers before the Crisis: “My sacrifice, my death will protect the people I love. I need my family to be safe.” MURDERER!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Thea reassures him with some sage Queen family words, that their parents also made some questionable choices regarding them (that’s putting it lightly), but it ultimately made them heroes because of them. I think this scene was one of my favourites this episode, if not the season so far. Love me some Queen siblings 💗

The upshot of this random adventure with Talia was that Oliver read that the upcoming Crisis will actually be caused by The Monitor (dun dun DUUUNNN!!), complete with a lovely drawing of him 😂😂 But what Oliver doesn’t know, cos The Monitor doesn’t tell him anything is that there is also an Anti-Monitor, who will be the big bad of Crisis...so this may be a bit of a red herring for now!

Oliver ends his time in Nanda Parbat by saying one final (in his mind) goodbye to Thea, which actually made me sob like a baby out of nowhere, and has done every time I’ve rewatched the clip haha! Thea didn’t see it as a goodbye (cos Oliver dying? Pass!), but Oliver just cracks and won’t let go of her, and now I’m tearing up again 😭😭😭

Source: smoakmonster

I think by the way the goodbye scene played out that that will be the last we see of Thea, and ugh it’s such a shame because she has always brought out something special in Oliver, but we know she’ll be with him the whole time...😭😭😭

Stray thoughts:

They had Thea acknowledge Moira as her namesake (still think it’s a stretch, Moira-Mia? No.) but also had a callback to Thea’s Corto Maltese alias, which made me lol, and frankly, I find a better reference 😂

“All beings burn but a Phoenix rises from the ashes”. The Phoenix references this week were as subtle as a sledgehammer...Oliver is the Phoenix, and he will rise from the ashes following his death!

The Guild calling Oliver and Speedy ‘outsiders’ 🙄🙄 Oliver was Ras al Ghul and Thea is heir to the demon; get your facts right, biatch!!

Thea was a total badass this week, taking down Talia was sooo cool, and shows how far she has come as a fighter/hero.

Nice drop-in that Felicity gave the hozen to William!

Thea and Talia joining forces to raise a female ‘League of Heroes’; better than any faux-feminist Canary bullshit!!

The guest stars are fantastic, but their novelty and distraction is wearing off...I MISS FELICITY SMOAK 😫😫 Next week should hopefully tide us over, though!!

Dyla

Dyla had their own little adventure this week, that  echoed their suicide squad mission in Season 2. Bronze Tiger killed a bad guy whilst working for Lyla, and in revenge, that bad guy’s son kidnaps Sandra and little Connor Hawke, then also tries to kill Lyla, but obviously she’s a total badass so that doesn’t happen! Anyway, all’s well that ends well and Dig rescues Connor and his Mum, and that’s about all I can remember plot-wise 😂😂

What we got character-wise, though was really cool! We got the first hint of JJ’s story of being 'neglected' by Dyla...with Dig and Lyla being increasingly away on missions and unable to call him, and in turn finding Connor and obviously starting to fall in love with him because he is the softest little bean 😍 When ickle Connor said “thank you Mr Diggles” I was a goner 😂😂

We saw Dig having a crisis of faith (pun intended) after seeing Earth 2 disintegrate before him, but ultimately he realises (after some Lyla wisdom) that they just have to hold on to each other and do their best. Lyla made a few comments and pulled some ‘I’m keeping secrets’ faces, asking Dig to remember the good times no matter what happens, and I need to know what Lyla knows dammit!! I still believe that she is on the good side, and her appearing to double-cross Dig and Oliver with The Monitor last week is a little bit of a red herring. I need to believe, ok!!!

Flash-forwards

Plot-wise, I actually think the flash-forwards were the strongest storyline this week. Following on from last week we had the team rushing back to the bunker to check on William, after JJ threatened him. This scene brought us another “frack” from Mia 😍, and a mention of Felicity as “Mom” from William 😭, as he managed to electrocute the bad guys all by himself! Will being a techy little badass is a forever mood and is yet another reminder of our Felicity. She is never really gone.

With the Deathstrokes now targeting William and other members of the Star City Unification Movement (SCUM, really?? LOL), William offers himself up as bait. As Oliver’s daughter, you can imagine how that went down with Mia. Badly. Big nope from Mia, who decides on a more direct approach of going to their HQ and kicking all of the ass 😂. Zoe is very much against this, but Mia is all “I know best, we’ll just storm in and take them all out myself” (S1 Oliver anyone?). Said storming in leads to this absolute beauty of a moment:

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!!

Prior to kicking all of the asses, Mia and William have a heart-to-heart, with Will still angry at Mia for not trusting him to go into dangerous situations. Will thinks it’s because he’s not a fighter, but Mia comes back with “it’s because you’re my brother” 😭 😭 😭

Source: olicitygifs

In another Felicity-worthy pep-talk, William tells Mia that operating out of fear is not the way to go, and that they need to trust each other to survive. I’m really gonna need a Mia/Will hug soon, please and thank you. Honestly, Will is the perfect balance/offset to Mia with his easy humour and quick wit, but he ALWAYS brings the feels as well. He reminds me so much of Emily’s portrayal of Felicity, and not just in the way that his character has been written, but just by what he brings to the role. Ben is a wonderful actor; I adore him and he and William must be protected at all costs!

In the final confrontation, Mia, Zoe and JJ storm JJ and the Deathstrokes, but JJ gets Mia by the throat in an awesome 3x23 Felicity/Slade parallel. Mia couldn’t save herself like Felicity did in this instance, but we must remember that this is just the beginning of Mia’s journey. She has time. Unlike Zoe, who saves Mia, but is then fatally stabbed by JJ 😬 Poor Zoe dies in Mia’s arms. Kat’s acting here was perfection. I may have shed a tear. They had kept Zoe pretty much in the background in the FFs, so I wasn’t particularly attached; if one of FTA needed to die, then I’m good with her. Sorry Zo. But in all honesty, this fridging trope really needs to end. Another female character didn’t need to die in order to elevate JJ’s evil-factor, or to spur on Mia’s hero journey, or Connor’s struggle with his conscience. Enough now. Hopefully, being a bird, Zoe will be back from the dead soon enough anyway 😂

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer 💗

Connor sees Zoe die and goes after JJ. Hard. Tries to kill him. Between 2 generations of Queens and Diggles, the sibling parallels were so strong this week, and I’m loving it! I wrote a little meta here about it. But does Connor have the guts to actually kill JJ? JJ taunts that he doesn’t, Connor disagrees, but then the bright light comes for all of FTA and so we come to…

THAT ENDING

OH MY GOD ALL OF FTA IN THE BUNKER IN 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!

So most people following any kind of interviews or spoilers had a pretty firm idea that Mia would come back in time at the end of the episode. We were expecting it. What the show did was really quite clever...they allowed these pretty big spoilery-type interviews and tweets to be released, heavily implying that Mia would rock up in the last 30 seconds. They let us think we were all clever and had figured it out then BOOM! EVERYONE CAME BACK (minus Zoe 😬)! 

I am so pleased with this!! All the paparazzi pics etc that we’d seen of Mia in the crossover etc had made me so happy, but equal parts sad that William couldn’t go back and see Oliver too, but now he can!!!

Uggghhhh it was so fucking goooood!! Oliver’s initial confusion of being beamed back to the bunker, stunned Dig, Dinah and Rene (I can live with their 5-second appearances this season 😂😂), then the camera and Oliver pan around to Mia, William and Connor just stood there!! Mia still had tears running down her face from seeing Zoe die, and she has her Arrow suit on and is covered in blood and she sees her Daddy for the first time in her memory!!!!!!! Just one word is delivered in those last few seconds and it was still one of the best moments of the season so far!!

Mia’s “Dad”, followed by Oliver’s confusion, realisation, then shock was just gaaahhhh!! But my absolute favourite reaction (I decided after multiple rewatches, for science, haha) was William’s 😍😭😍 His eyes full of tears, and utter gobsmacked-ness was fucking sublime!!  

Source for all 3 reaction gifs: tylerposey

Next week is going to be so epic!! We have Mia, who has never met Oliver and who has built him up so much in her head and heart from Felicity and William’s stories, and also the tainted Star City archives, getting to finally come face-to-face with him. Then conversely, there is William, who got a few years to know his father, but then left him and eventually believed to have been abandoned by him and Felicity, and has had to live for 20 years until very recently still believing that, and now he gets to see him again, only a few months after little William left! Then there’s Connor, who Dig barely even knows in 2019 and he’s gonna call him Dad and then have to tell him that he nearly just killed JJ, who just killed Zoe, and Rene is right there and I AM HERE FOR ALL OF ITTTTTT!!!! 

There’s so much content coming in next weeks episode it’s going to be so beautiful!!  I wrote a post of things I really hope to see here, and I’m pretty confident we’ll get most of them and so much more!

Then there’s the implications of what FTA being in the present means for the future!! I had a bit of a spec meltdown here about how this could end up saving Oliver, and I think that’s pretty much just wishful thinking, but either way, them coming back to the present to help with the Crisis and to try and stop future Star City turning so bleak is going to make my head hurt and my heart sing in equal measure, I’m sure! After all, what is the point in having the multiverse, time travel, super powers etc in Arrow if we can’t reap some benefits from it somehow? The ending to this episode, and hopefully next week will be our reward for the fuckery we’ve had to endure with the more sci-fi-esque elements since Larry rocked up and the Arrowverse was extended. And I. cannot. wait.

Thank you to the beautiful, talented, and super speedy gifmakers for blessing us with all the amazing gifsets from this episode!! Mwah! 😘😘 (Uncredited gifs are mine)

💗💗💗

[charismaticsage]

How do you like Davina character? For me maybe season 1 kinda okay but after that I think her character is useless, the only reason she was resurrected for Kol’s happiness that’s the only purpose I can think of.

Davina was never my favorite character. But in s1 I liked that she was a rebellious witch. She was a victim (although the Harvest was real), how she always did what she wanted. I didn’t even mind her hatred of Klaus, its warranted, and the way she made Elijah and Klaus her bitch in 1x10 remains one of my favorite TO scenes. Of course her relationships with Josh, Cami, and Marcel are special. I didn’t mind her constantly going after Klaus or hating TO. She had her own plans in mind and she carried them out on her own. Davina was her own character. All of that went down the drain in s2. 

Now, I don’t believe that just because a female character is put in a romantic pairing it automatically means she’s lost autonomy and there’s nothing else. It just so happens that that’s exactly what happened when the writers paired Kol and Davina. On paper and even in the show, they work. It makes sense, Kol’s the youngest OG brother, there’s tension, drama, and Daniel Sharman’s Kol is sooo charismatic. DS is my Kol. I think he’s a better actor than Nathaniel Buzolic, he and Danielle had better chemistry, and frankly, DS looked closer to Danielle’s age (with her beautiful baby face). With NateKol its creepy bc he looks so much older than Danielle (also Nate is a real life creep). DS Kol has better writing and DS acting gave Kol more depth. Kol always was the rebel so it makes sense he and Davina would get along, and he’s not really on his family’s side a majority of s2. The perfect set up for enemies to lovers with the spying trope. I liked him teaching Davina magic. Maybe Kol’s just better as a witch.

That being said: Kolvina was rushed. I thought Davina found out who Kol was a little too soon, they could’ve held off another episode or 2. (in fact I think several parts of 2a are rushed but looking back we know it’s to get to the main werewolf plot). Kol and Davina could’ve used more development. More of Davina being distrustful and struggling with the fact that he’s a Mikaelson. When Kol dies Davina’s understandably upset but when did he become the love of her life? When did she decide she just couldn’t bear to live without him? When did they turn into epic soulmates? Davina’s entire sl in s2 focused on Kol. 

S3 I liked Davina as leader of the coven. It’s interesting she went for that role knowing the complex history she had with the ancestors. Seeing her struggle to maintain that power and end up causing the deaths of other witches was interesting, so was her joining the Strix. I liked how determined she was to split Klaus from his sire line for the sake of Josh and Marcel. I was flat out aggravated when it was revealed her ENTIRE MOTIVATION had been to resurrect Kol. I thought we were seeing Davina go down a dark path and become what she hated, but no. It’s all about Kol like it has been since they first met. Then for Davina to die after he’s resurrected bc she’s a woman that served her purpose to bring a man back to life, then that man turned around and killed her so she’s used for his man pain. Kol’s death was Davina’s motivation now her death is Kol’s. Except Davina as a character had more to offer than Kol. Yes I said it. Davina Claire fit more on the show and had more to offer than Kol Mikaelson. To see her die like that, a young woman who originally wanted to help people and defend them against power hungry monsters, who did shit on her own terms, reduced to a sacrificial lamb for a man from the family she hated, giving them something they wanted? Shame on the writers. Not only that, but wasn’t Davina tortured on the ancestral plane? Didn’t Freya permanently kill her? Did Davina not suffer enough already? They literally swapped Davina out for Kol. 

I quit TO after 3x19 so I couldn’t give an opinion on what happened after that. I do agree that Davina was brought back for Kol’s happy ending. I think the writers let her come back because she’s Kol’s only ship and there wouldn’t be any backlash like if Cami was resurrected. Speaking of, I hate the hypocrisy of the fandom coming for Cami’s character reducing her to just a ship, when that’s literally what happened to Davina. Her character was destroyed, her identity entirely about Kol in s2, and he eventually replaced her. It’s total disservice to a character that was there since s1. 

[c2bend]

Where is the Story in S3?

So as I was laying in bed – not sleeping – I had a thought/s about a comment made in an OL ‘group’ which basically said she’s having a hard time feeling engaged with Season 3 of Outlander.  ***Warning: long boring post below***

My thought was this – (let me preface by saying I am in no way a literary person, just someone who likes a  good story whether it be book or film or tv show) I feel the reason she and maybe others are having a difficult time engaging is the way the ‘story’ so far is being shown.  

Season 1 was one continuous story – it’s starts with Claire, moves forward with Claire and continues with Claire – Jamie is part of Claire’s story.  So for me while watching this story I was in it – I didn’t see Caitriona Balfe the actress is playing Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser, I saw Claire, I didn’t see Annette Badland playing Mrs. Fitz I Saw Mrs Fitz and Loved her.  I was lost in the story, the story engaged me and kept me there – the only time during season 1 where it was harder to stay engaged was The Search – not because there was no Jamie (it’s still Claire’s story) but because a good part of it turned into a bunch of montages – the ‘story’ got interrupted with that, give me more Murtagh + Claire bonding, Jenny + Claire bonding.  So it wasn’t terrible it just hiccuped a bit and distracted slightly.  

Season 2 – oy vey – so s2 starts with Claire back in the 20th Century obviously she’d gone back through the stones that we never saw happen – all good let’s just go with it.  I got engaged with this part of the story as it went along, I would have been happy staying there with her, I wanted to see what was going to happen next with her life in Boston – then bam, all of a sudden we’re back in time with Claire and Jamie – all good let’s go with it.  Where did S2 lose my enthralled engagement – when the story got, well boring, the story became more about 1700’s Paris than about the characters – all of them – Claire, Jamie, Murtagh, etc.. The characters’ story seemed disjointed – you’ve got Jamie running around playing jackobite spy – look at me I so tired cos’ I trying to stop an uprising, no woman I don’t have time for you I’s trying to stop an uprising and I ain’t ready for no lovin’ times I’m hiding under this here blade of grass while I wipe the “mark me Prince Charlies’ ass”.  While Claire is moping around bleating I am sooo bored with these simpleton Parisians, I’m so much better than this, I need something meaningful to do, I know I’ll hang around with the creepy frog guy and make some killer herb mixtures and shit and heal people while I’m pregnant in unsanitary 1700s Paris, would love to get some lovin time with the hubs but he can’t cos’ he just keeps seeing BJR, I don’t look anything like that dude,.  But look at all our pretty clothes they are badass!! 

As I said I’m not a literary type person, all I know is that the story while they were in Paris was less engaging.  So there was Faith – yes brought me back into the story until the scene when Jamie returns home, that scene was edited so much that it feels off, when I watched the ‘extended��� version I understood why.  It was edited down at the cost of the characters’ story. 

When they get to Scotland it starts getting a bit better, but because I haven’t been as engaged from the beginning it’s getting harder to ‘get there’ now.  My favorite episode was the PTSD Claire, I loved seeing the flashbacks, learning what her experiences were in the war, how those experiences shaped her character etc..  With all of this said most of us realize that the issue with ‘getting into’ this part of the OL story (DIA) is the story (source material) itself and I think not being able to have Jamie’s healing happen in S1, his healing in Paris doesn’t even add to the story at this point (there is just too much going on) – this is by no means criticism, I mean I certainly wouldn’t want the job these guys have, these are just observations.

Season 3 – yes LONG awaited S3.  Why is it hard for some viewers to stay engaged with this season?  Because there is very limited story to follow or get engaged in period.  The best parts so far has been Jamie’s story, but every time they jump back into the 20th Century it interrupts the STORY and we’re left feeling disjointed.  I’m wondering if it would have worked better by giving a couple (or more) episodes just for Jamie’s story – no ‘let’s go peek into moments of Claire’s miserable life’ – just Jamie – I know I would have been engaged completely in that story.  Then once we get to a certain point in his story we go and visit Claire and Bree’s story, we get to see Claire and Bree’s relationship, we see Frank in the background being an asshole, we see Dr Claire and JOE, (I love Joe so damn much, probably as much as Murtagh, cos Joe is like Claire’s own Murtagh!)  So Claire’s life progresses, icy road happens, Scotland and Jamie’s alive! But where is he…. I am so into this story!  But instead we’re not getting stories we’re getting glimpses of stories, vignettes that leave us still hungry and unfulfilled and even a bit confused.  At least we do get more of a story line with Jamie’s, again though because they’re trying to fit in Claire’s moments we don’t get a full serving of Jamie’s story. 

This is my observation of why some are feeling unsatisfied – because we’re getting fed morsels and we want the whole meal and we’re still hungry!  We want to be engaged in the story but we can’t find the damn story.  

So that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

[iwt-v]

Sooo uh any chance you were inspired by that "behind the scenes" bedroom pic of s3/4 Flint? Peachverse would be nice :) I have a feeling Thomas loves THICC James.

Oh my gosh, anon! alkdfjalkdjf YES! I was absolutely inspired, but it didn’t go at all the way one would expect. This came out angsty and soft??? I guess because to me the composition of that photo was so peaceful. But it’s still sexy and erotic too, I hope?

And yes, set in peach verse.

———

He had never made it bed that night.

It was early autumn in Savannah. The leaves were brilliant in their changing colors; the entire countryside was turning into a sea of yellows and oranges. But the bright colors brought melancholy with them.

Thomas had stopped paying attention to details such as his anniversary with his late wife after being in locked in various cages over the years. In the worst of times it was thoughts of simple survival that filled his mind; in the best of times he could only mourn her loss and James’s, though no longer the latter.

Now he was discovering that freedom came with small little pricks of a price tag, one of which was the freedom to once again remember things long since passed and never to happen again.

James seemed to sense his mood that day and they spoke little. Thomas had tried at dinnertime to lighten his mood and James had indulged him but Thomas knew his partner knew him too well, and James had been extra tender with him before retiring to the bedroom that evening.

“I love you,” he’d said, taking Thomas’s face gently in his hands and kissing his forehead first, then the bridge of his nose and finally his lips.

It had made Thomas want to cry then and there. Inwardly he cursed himself, realizing how truly vulnerable thoughts of Miranda had made him—as well as his need to hide them from his lover.

Discussions of Miranda could be fond or sore between them. Thomas hated that he would never know what had transpired between her and James on that damned island, but the sorrow in James’s eyes and his voice at times made Thomas’s heart ache and he would regret bringing her up.

Speaking of her on this day had him torn between badly wanting and not wanting to at the same time. So instead he had spent it thinking of her, trying to quietly preserve her memory with happy times spent together. The more he had tried, the worse he had felt, so that when James kissed him he had choked down a sob and refused to meet his eyes. He had smiled and given him a quick peck on the lips, then had turned away.

Now, as he watched dawn break over their land he decided he ought to try and get at least a couple hours of shut-eye or he’d be in a worse mood today.

He walked into their bedroom and stilled in the doorway. His breath caught lightly in his throat.  James was sound asleep on his belly. He was turned toward Thomas and his hands were slid under his pillow on either side. One leg was crooked and the sheets were crumpled down just below his bare rump, revealing his entire backside. And God Almighty, was he a vision.

A sweeter pang came to Thomas’s heart then. He knew James’s body by memory yet he could not help but to edge over to the bed and study his lover. There were freckles on his left rump cheek—three small ones in a row and one larger, darker one below them. Fine orangish hairs powdered the top of his cleft. His back arched ever so slightly into the sheets. Thomas followed the arch up to James’s well-defined shoulders and the muscles knotting between them. There were more freckles here, including his favorite, a large one smack in the middle of his left shoulder. Thomas trailed his eyes further up, to where the back of James’s neck crinkled. He had finally decided to let his hair grow back out so that it now covered more skin and was visibly ruddy-orange. He had left the silver stud in his ear.

Thomas sighed deeply. Some of his sorrow was lifting. James was like an aphrodisiac for his spirit, even when he did absolutely nothing.

That thought brought a smile to his lips. Just then James stirred. He mumbled out a noise and slowly rolled over. Two sleepy green eyes focused on him.

“What are you doing up so early?” he said, rubbing an eye with the butt of his palm.

Thomas grinned again at the little motion.

“Just watching,” he replied.

James woke up some more and sat up on his elbows, fully looking at Thomas this time. His sleepiness faded quicker.

“You look like you’ve been up all night,” he said.

Thomas shrugged, accepting the outstretched hand offered to him and sitting down in front of James on the bed.

“Not quite. I slept a little. I’m sorry,” he added quickly. “I was not the best company yesterday.”

Soft, sleepy smile.

“Neither of us can be perfect all the time,” James said wryly.

Thomas had been prepared to launch into an explanation, to mention the anniversary and his thoughts about Miranda and how he had felt guilty for brushing off James, but it all died away at James’s words. James kissed his knuckles, smiling easily.

He had already forgiven Thomas. And then James said, “It was your anniversary, wasn’t it?”

Thomas swallowed and looked at him in mild shock, then nodded.

“I did not know you remembered. I’m sorry,” he said.

James shook his head and kissed his knuckles again.

“It’s all right,” he said. “Come here.”

And Thomas let himself be pulled down, James’s lips colliding with his. They made love slowly and sweetly. And if James did look sad once or twice Thomas knew it was just a reflection of his own feelings, all mingling together with his love, the scent of honeysuckle drifting in from the open window, and how wonderful it all was, the good days and not so good days. He was here, alive and well. And together he and James’s memories of Miranda would keep her spirit alive, and that was enough for him.

***

[team-adults-blog]

4.05 Tinder Box

In which I make 6 references- 5 numbered and then Wizards of Waverly Place- a few jokes, and a prediction that I think is SPOT ON. Join me on this reactionary journey (in chronological order). 

Abby, Jackson is relaying the science info for the audience, not you. I know that you know, but we, the audience, do not. give him a break.

Oh, the Mt. Weather parallels. BUT Abby checks herself. To all the haters: this means Abby is good. She’s NOT doing what was done in Mt. Weather. Dr. Tsing is a foil; they are fundamentally different.

I too hate molecular biology

At least Helios is a good horse and stays with Octavia when she falls. Unlike that dog vid. (reference 1 here if you don’t immediately get this)

Hey it’s Niylah! Not on the show in the way I predicted (Octavia going to her) but she’s still playing the healing role so I’m proud I pulled that out of thin air.

Oh no Ilian I don’t trust you yet because you hate tech but thanks for saving O.

Miller’s dad is ranking officer. Yeahhhh boyyyy. So many speaking lines, such as: “the radiation’s our enemy, not the ice nation” awwwww so proud of you.

Clarke’s poker face about all things Bellamy needs some work.

Her come the prisoners. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. its Kane and Bellamy. THE MOMENT CLARKE’S BEEN WAITING FOR. (reference 2, keep playing!)

[I had to watch commercials on this rewatch and why are there commercials for books? You don’t want to cast your character so it’s just a bunch of moving dark figures over an abstract background. Pointless. Plus this Riverdale show looks unrealistic.] I learned how to use line breaks and they please me.

Riley stop it. Only like 4 more episodes until your likely death.

“They knew you were coming”- Bell so hopeful. This is lovely. But I would have preferred a little more anguish and suspense before he and Kane know she’s alive. Some good acting and character development could have come from that instead of them finding out the next day.

Octavia knows she’s not lucky Ilian brought her in. Who didn’t question his taking all these explosives? Where is everyone?

Raven and Abby love and concern <3 they are the best. Hand holding throughout their scenes this week. I dig it. 

I thought we all knew Raven had the upgrade and thus still has ALIE in her head? Jackson and Abby are just figuring this out, fine, but I knew. The people I watched with did not? They just thought Raven was really smart? When did I learn this lil’ bit of information?

Abs we gotta go back to space! Raven’s looking at the gas lines and floor map to figure out there’s a rocket ship! She didn’t know where it was, but she knew what to tell the computer to do. PURE JOY! I AM SO HAPPY RAVEN FOUND A SHIP. This seem dangerous too though…

[Commercials are only acceptable in the actual air time. OMG THERE WAS A REALLY CUTE SHELTER DOG COMMERCIAL I TAKE IT ALL BACK cwgood.com if you want to see it. Omg no I had to watch 6 commercials wtf]

Riley you suck. I want to feel nothing at your death in 4-5 episodes.

P sure Costa was just on the island with doctor tech squad? They have to be more careful about where their quaternary-and-beyond(!) characters are.

Clarke is the only one who Roan listens to. Their cave scene was v good. Don’t brag about your lack of heart about your mom to someone who literally had the worst mom. Clarke, your mother cares about you. Roan’s mom used him as a tool in her ploy for power. Telling him that you care about your people more than your mom brings up some ethical values questions. Sacrificing one to save the many seems like a fine moral argument. But when you put faces onto those people things change: A ton of strangers vs your mom? That makes the decision harder. One stranger vs your fam and closest friends? That seems like an easy decision. I don’t know if it makes you a better or worse person for being willing to sacrifice your mother, but it’s definitely not an argument I would want to make. Especially with Roan. He let Lexa spear his mom. I cheered at that scene- it was badass. It was also clear she was a villain. And a completely different relationship dynamic. Clarke could use some advice from Selena Gomez and the Wizards of Waverly Place Theme, “you might run into trouble if you go to extremes because everything is not what it seems.”  You know, with the whole list thing and promising Roan safety in the Ark and taking Jaha’s advice. S3 Clarke could have used the line “be careful not to mess with the balance of things” when she was trying to change grounder culture. Season 4: “The end will no doubt justify the means” or, alternatively, “That’s what I said” in which Jasper goes around making that’s what she said jokes but about himself.  This didn’t directly relate to what I was talking about. My head just went there.

“Riley shouldn’t be here” Good Bell! AH-chers (Kane).I don’t understand why they all have to have American accents? Like let Ian’s lovely accent out. Let Bob’s vocal cords rest. A bunch of accents would have been initially present on the Ark because it was an international force. If English became the dominant language, fine. It’s an American show I don’t care enough to argue that point. One language across the stations is understandably necessary. BUT. Accents don’t disappear. I grew up with this guy whose parents are both English- a lawyer (now head judge, whaddup) and a professor. They’re all super cool. His sister taught me how to pop-lock-and DROP it on a mission trip and went to Oxford. Anyways, both kids have accents because their English parents taught them how to speak. I don’t know for sure if by high school this guy could turn his accent on and off, depending on the social setting, but he may have left it on for maaayyyybbeeeee pretentious reasons. He’s not pretentious, but he’s charming af and flatters my grandma at the Christmas Eve service and like. He’s a little posh. A kind, good person, and probs not posh in England, but he’s posh here. The point is I’m not an expert and don’t know. HOWEVER. It is possible that he can’t turn his accent off and I’m being a dick because I’m relating his ability of turning on/off his accent to my ability to turn on/off a southern accent. The difference is that I was not raised by parents who have the southern accent- I just took one on because I rode a redneck bus and was trying to assimilate. The moral of the story is this: accents, even over 100 years, would not have homogenized to the point that Ian and Bob and Eliza and Ricky and Alycia and everyone else have to lose their accents. It’s a skill but if we follow the English guy I grew up with not losing his accent despite being around other people (and not me singing ZBB’s Chicken Fried with my friends) logic, the different accents should still be there. But then that creates issues for the show runners of having to determine which countries has people in space. There were flags at the Unity Day ceremony, and I’m pretty sure I remember there being an Indian flag, so where are they? Put Dev Patel on the show. Jk he’s too good they could never get him. How did they even get Ian? I’m happy he’s here though. Isaiah can’t get larger roles because no one likes him. I may be projecting, but I also feel like Shonda Rhimes burned that boy.

Bellamy (and a reluctant Echo) to save the day. I hope by the end of the season 1) Echo is still alive, and 2) they’ve forged some sort of trust. They’ve had a cool bond since Bellamy saves Echo from the cages™ in Mt. Weather. Then Echo “saves” Bellamy from the Azgeda assassin who blows up Mt. Weather by tricking him into going to polis. She’s like I saved you, dude. And he’s like no, you lied to me and made it possible for a bunch of my friends to die. Then she’s like hey, be my friend, I’ve had sooo many chances to kill you and still haven’t, that’s friendship right? Bellamy’s like. No. I don’t trust you. Boom. Echo captures (? She brings them into the throne room, idk if she captures them herself) Bell and Stevens (rip, tattletale) and could have killed them both. She doesn’t kill Bellamyyyyyyy… Then this scene with Riley. There’s obviously trust issues on both sides- She doesn’t remove Bell’s chains. “so much for building trust” Bell. She’s worried her king is going to be shot. This is not the moment to scold her But I think she still wants to be friends. It must be rough to be such a badass spy and not to have just one friend. Bell seems to be the Chosen One™ and I hope they can work out their differences. Post Riley they share a secret, so they’re working on itttttttttt.

[I had to reload the page and I’ve now watched 8 commercials. The girl at the booth next to me is talking about her authentic (highly not-authentic) Irish pub experience and all the musicians playing their “banjos and fiddles.” Shut the fuck up. The page timed out again. Enough. I have to watch another 6 commercialssss. I’m tired of this proactive commercial, but at least the CW knows their target audience #annoyed]

SHA-BoO0M GOES THE ARK. Well that bad deal Clarke just made is over. She may have promised Azgeda protection from radiation, but what about Trikru? You’re going to help Roan and not Indra? Not a fan of that deal. Glad it went up in smoke. Da dunn tsssshhhhhh. Puns are fun. (reference 3, same as 2). I now know why the episode is Tinder Box. It all makes sense.

Bellamy and Octavia reunited. Another shot of the shoulder tat. Clarke and the Blakes holding hands (well Bell’s holding O and Clarke’s holding her hand. Poor Kane has no one to hold. Where’s awk bff David Miller? Hold him. The Blakes could at least invite him over.

Back at Doctor Tech Squad- Raven has a stroke! Possibly fatal, who can say? Raven’s just excited to go to space, and I’m happy for her. Abby also at risk, but doesn’t want to be tested until she’s showing more symptoms than those she already has from being sleep deprived. This is pretty normal for people whose parents get diagnosed with genetic diseases. Some people want to know, but not knowing can give you hope for things that can’t be cured. Abby wants to focus on helping adorable Raven save the whole world. But. Hey, how ya doing, well I’m doing just fine, I lied, I’m dying inside my brain and starting to have hallucinations of my daughter dying from radiation. (reference 4. I couldn’t find the one I wanted but imagine a vine of that over this) So now we’re worried about Raven and Abby. Will Abby tell Jackson? My thoughts- No. she’ll try to hide it as long as she can, working on a cure for Raven, then help herself. Yet I don’t see either of them dying? Raven is too important plot-wise and the writers and viewers lovelovelove the character. My argument for Abby living is more of a personal one and then behind the scenes of Paige Turco being a parent who’s very forward with her scheduling (why she doesn’t typically do up fronts etc so she can have separate work and son time) and probs has her contract locked down.

Not my fave episode, lots of callbacks to earlier seasons, but generally not super satisfying plot. Mainly because 4.04 set up these storylines- Octavia on her way back, Doctor Tech Squad reaching the lab, Bellamy and Kane as prisoners. The Polis/ Arkadia plotlines fell short somehow of their build. There were conflicts, but it lacked drama? If that makes sense.. I enjoyed the lab plot because all Raven x Abby interactions have great energy, not to mention they found a rocket. That story still feels like it’s still advancing and keeping the drama up. Props to Miller Sr. for getting more speaking lines in one episode than he did in the entirety of S3.

OMG- A THOUGHT-

what if. they send. Thelonious frickin Jaha. into space instead of Raven?

Stay with me here: Raven could have a seizure which is a risk. Jaha was an engineer and is capable- they’ve been slowly using that in the story and I was wondering when it would actually become plot relevant. BTS: Isaiah Washington finished filming his stuff before everyone else. I doubt he’s dead, but if all his stuff is him by himself/ him video chatting in from the ship, this explains how he could have wrapped up so quickly without dying. Additionally, he needs a big redemption for people to like him again after the CoL. Holy cow I think I’m on to something here! He and Kane S1 were rivals both trying to become martyrs/ find salvation. Thelonious wins, Marcus goes to Earth. But then Jaha makes it to Earth too because he knows how to run a pod. I am heartbroken for Raven, it’s really going to suck getting benched if I’m right. More so when I know Abby and Jackson are probably going to be the ones to tell her and they’ll get so much hate. But Raven and Abby can coach Jaha through some of the medical/ technical stuff (a la Apollo 13-reference 5- and Lieutenant Dan. I don’t remember the dude’s name in that movie- the actor is Gary something p. sure, but he’s in Forrest Gump with T.Hanks too so I don’t feel that bad. He also got benched for a medical issue (back to Apollo 13) that he didn’t get so this tangent was not a waste. He was needed to problem solve and figure out how to save the men on Apollo 13. Raven could parallel this.) and still be a team, which I like. I just want Raven to be happy, she deserves that. I don’t want Jaha to have a lot of glory for doing this either. If it was Raven hell yes. But for him it’s the least he can do. That’s wrong of me, but their histories are incredibly different. 

[run-kellyy-run]

DNC S3

So I thought after all of these meh seasons I was done with degrassi. However, after reading about a plot where Maya was intrigued with death I got pulled back in. I really wanted to see how they'd tackle that subject with someone like Maya who has been through so much already and I'm really glad I did. This season was AMAZING, and the acting was so intense and just really well done. I'm so glad I actually took time to watch it because it blew me away. I feel like every storyline was good but there were a few that really stood out for me. Lola- I always felt like Lola was just a girl that was boy crazy and kind of "ditzy" but her storyline this season kinda surprised me. I really enjoyed seeing how she showed that it's not so much that she's boy crazy but she is actually extremely insecure. Lola's character always feel like she needs to prove something and fit in to something she really doesn't have to be. I also enjoyed her abortion storyline. It was so well put and I really liked how the writers didn't make her feel regret after her choice. Like everyone assumes "you'll regret this" but her relief was something I hadn't seen done before so well. Like Lola really knew she wasn't ready and her looking at that baby picture trying to feel something showed that her lack of regret wasn't insensitive, but a sign that this 16 year old girl is not ready to be a parent, she's still a child herself. Also, Lola researching her options and not making a choice on a whim made the plot so much better. I like how she weighed out her options and chose one that best fit for HER. I also love how everyone supported her and let her know that even though it wasn't THEIR choice, it's ok that it was hers. Well done. Goldi- I'll admit I didn't care for her when she first came to degrassi, it was just a whatever character for me but this season was amazing for her. I love how they explored her identity and her choices she made for her religion. Everyone assumes Muslim women are oppressed, and forced to "hide" under their hijab. However, when Goldi took off her hijab and she walked without it, you could see she wasn't happy, she was incomplete. Goldi's choice to wear her hijab is for her and her faith, if she feels that her hijab is a part of her identity then that is wonderful, you wear what you want girl, you're a strong woman and I love it! Also, the way everyone assumes because she is muslim she should have all the answers to their questions about Islam and such was so well done. We so often forget that no one person can represent and entire group and just because they're Muslim, black, Latino, a women, or gay, does not mean they are the spokesperson for what goes on. I especially liked when they assumed she was an immigrant and how flawlessly she handled that situation. I'm excited to see how she develops because I really enjoyed her this season. Zoe- alright I've never been a fan of Zoe because she was always scheming or doing some some shit so I'd get annoyed. But, I was so proud of her finally accepting herself. I found myself rooting for her this season and I hope she continues to love and accept who she is regardless of the "norm". Maya- my baby Maya. I have always loved this little cinnamon roll. Like she's a little more relatable because she has always been so flawed and it has always been so prominent in her character. I'll admit that I have been so mad that they never talked about Maya's feelings towards Cam and showed a longer reaction/lasting reaction than her breakdown/anxiety. But they way they finally showed it this season was sooo good and realistic. Maya's mind has pushed her thoughts all around and of course her storylines showing her anxiety and depression were there but they made it seem like they could just be fixed with therapy and she'd be good to go. But her finally having that mental breakdown and showing that she had an event that has impacted her mental health for years after, was done just right. You just don't "get over" something like that. Especially when you put so much time and energy in trying to save anyone that comes in to your life (I.e, Zig & Miles). Maya did improve, but Cams death still haunted her and it doesn't just go away. The fact that they used so many parallels to cams death had me thinking so much. I'll admit seeing her plan out her death was one thing that had me heartbroken. She wanted 1 good night, she wanted to make sure zig and her family were taken care of. Maya wanted to make sure that everyone knew that they were loved by her, and she so strategically did it where they could have a good memory of her last day, as if her suicide would have hurt a little less on her family. I'd also like to note the fact that I felt helpless watching her go through all of this planning. Watching all of that just really hurt to see and it brought up some real feelings. Idk it was just so well done and I condemn the writers for doing this storyline justice. I'm really hoping next season there is more communication on how people feel and that people began to work out their feelings rather than harboring all of this pain until they can no longer do it anymore. There are so many more storylines to talk about but those were my favorites. I'd also like to add that I adored how much hunter has grown as a character. He has really learned a lot and I feel like of course he is going to make dumb mistakes, I mean after all he is still a kid. I'd also like to mention that Yael going with Lola and being super supportive about her abortion was well done. I hope they continue their friendship because they both show that there is no right way to be a girl, you can love makeup or you can love video games, or both really. It's just great to see them showing multiple representations of women and that women can be friends regardless of their interests.

[msbeccieboo]

Arrow 7x20 Brain Dump

I liked this week’s offering!! We got our little ninja Roy back!! Like last week, however, it felt out of place in the season, where was this goodness when we were still mucking about with the Dragon nonsense mid-season?? For me it was lacking in Oliver, and sorely missing Olicity scenes, given our finite time 😭, but was still a good episode overall! I liked how the team transpired to be working as a true unit, for once (only after some persuading from Oliver)! In fact, it was so hard to break up the episode this week, as it was such a team-focused story.

Episode Summary

We had some serious Agatha Christie vibes going on, the story told in a classic whodunnit style. The bulk of the plot was told through flashback *cue sepia* and was interspersed with Dinah interrogating the team one by one in real time.  The fact that the officer was killed using lead piping also tickled me a lot 😂.

The show opens with Dinah and Sergeant Bingsley arriving at a crime scene with the bodies of 2 subway guards. It then cuts to them questioning the first of ‘the suspects’, who turns out to be none other than…Oliver Queen!  Dun dun duuuuunn!!! Oliver denies killing the officers, saying that Team Arrow actually stopped a terrorist attack by Emiko and the Ninth Circle. After questioning Oliver, we realise that besides Team Arrow, there was also someone else there at the scene…ROY HARPER!!!

By flashback, we realise that the team discovered that the Ninth Circle intended on using the bioweapon we saw last week to ‘destroy the city’ or something like that (I can’t say I was 100% on the ball with the backstory this week guys 😂😂). In order to deal with this threat, they call in our favourite parkouring ninja street fighter ROY!!!!!

Source: arsenalroy

Continued below the cut

Dinah and Bingsley (ugh, I hate him) interview all of the team, including Roy, during the course of the episode as we see the story unfold. It appears as if Dinah had no involvement in the operation and is looking to put one of the team away for the murders, but in a somewhat predictable ‘twist’, it is revealed that she was there as the Black Canary for the whole thing, and so is still a suspect herself!

Source: lucyyh 💗

Back in the sepia times, we see the team, including Felicity and now also Dinah, move in to stop the threat, eventually all separating off, as we hear the guards’ defensive shots, and see all of them reacting in turn (I really liked this part…so dramatic!). We then see my sweet baby Roy, battering the guards with the lead piping in a violent rage. Oliver manages to drag him away, horrified and covered in blood, but it is too late, the guards are dead, and everyone looks to Oliver to decide what to do next.

Back at the lair, Oliver realises that Roy has pit-rage, asking him “how did you die” (that murdered me😭). Nyssa had administered the lotus elixir to cure him, but they think his previous exposure to Mirakuru somehow stopped the rage from killing him, but let the rage remain to an extent. This somewhat explained why he doesn’t go into a coma whilst marooned on Lian Yu for 20 years, with noone to kill. Oliver tells Roy, and the others, that Roy is part of the Team and they will cover for him, and thus all the interrogations etc. are explained.

At the end of the Episode, Oliver finally confronts Emiko at the Ninth Circle’s base. Emiko drops the figurative and literal bombshell on Oliver that she knowingly sent Robert off to his death, then proceeds to blow up the building they are in, leaving Oliver trapped under cement blocks and rebar ALL THE REBAR!!  THE TOMMY FEELS GUYS I CAN’T EVEN 😭😭😭

Source: olicitygifs

To be continued 😱😱😱…. 

Olicity

What even is an Olicity? We got next to nothing this week, no glorious episode 20 sexy times, no conversation, no Olicity-only scenes, no kiss, no hug😡. We got a couple of cute touchy moments but that was it. Bitter, you ask? Fuck yes, I am! Hopefully we can make up for this with some hurt/comfort next week, but anyway, let’s look at some pretty!

Source: lucyyh 💗

Source: feilcityqueen

Felicity

Felicity Megan Smoak was a dream in this episode. Start to finish. Fabulous! Would I have liked to have seen more of her? Hell to the yes, she was for sure underused in this episode, but what we did get was perfection!!! Her adorable reunion with Roy, barging past Oliver to attack hug him 😂😂

Source: feilcityqueen

Her whole babble about her emotions was hilarious; “Nerves of Steel. You know me. I’m cool.” How no one else guessed she’s pregnant I will never know, but Roy did kinda raise his eyebrows, so my head canon says he guessed, until they tell me otherwise!

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

Felicity dragging Dinah during her own interrogation was beautiful! From her pointed nonchalance at the entire situation, all whilst eating a sandwich and asking for cake (god I love her so much), to her constant corrections, to “Oh, you mean when Diaz kidnapped Roy to try to turn him against Oliver? You might have forgotten about that since you weren’t exactly on speaking terms with Oliver and I at the time” YAAAASSSS burn herrrrr!!!!!

Source: seeing-red-arrow

I loved that we saw her in the field again, side-by-side with her original and new team mates. I’m so pleased that even though we didn’t get a heap of Felicity, they really used her as much as the style of the episode permitted.

Bonus one-liners:

“That’s a no on the evil sister redeeming herself then”

“Roy is incredible at parkour” 

😂😂😂

Oliver

We really needed more Oliver in this episode. The storyline should be ramping up and focusing in on Oliver (and the core characters) at this point in the season, and Oliver was in the episode for no more than anyone else, really.

Source: olicitygifs

His highlights for me, beyond a doubt, were his interactions with Roy. I missed this relationship so much!! In many ways, Roy was Oliver (and Felicity’s) first child. He brought Roy into this life, he helped to guide him, to nurture his existing abilities and passed on skills that he had learned. He saved Roy from himself and The Glades, and in return Roy saved Oliver right back, giving him back a part of his humanity that Oliver had long thought lost back in the dark days of seasons 1 and 2, and literally saving him from a life sentence in S3. These men became family not through Thea, but through their bond within Team Arrow.

Oliver didn’t hesitate for a second to declare “we have to protect him”, when they found Roy killing the guards. He knew right away about the pit, defending him against Rene and Dinah when they didn’t want to cover for him at first (shocker), telling them they didn’t understand what he’d been through, that “Roy is and always will be as much a part of this team as the rest of us” and reiterating that “if someone on this team goes down, this entire team goes down.” When he speaks to Roy about what happened, Roy doesn’t initially want to ask for Oliver’s help, but Oliver simply tells him “you never have to ask me, ever”. Ugh I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!

Source: smoakmonster

Something also finally seemed to click for Oliver this week, that he could not help Emiko, that she needs taking into custody. I loved his words to Rene “at a certain point, people need to take responsibility for their actions”, YES MY LOVE!!! I can’t wait to see how he reacts to Emiko next week and in the finale, now that he realises how far gone she is, and that she effectively set him on this path 12 years ago, killing their father, and sentencing Oliver to his time on the island etc.

Source: olivergifs

Dig

Dig was criminally underused in this episode. He had barely any interactions with Roy, despite their history, his interrogation was super brief, and we barely saw him in the field. DO BETTER WRITERS! We’re running out of OTA time!!

Source: feilcityqueen

Roy

ARSENAL IS BACK BITCHES!!! I love Roy Harper. Always have, always will. Sooo glad to see him in the current timeline! He looked so happy to be back with his family too! I’m glad that they explained Thea’s absence (they called for Roy specifically) and talked about how she was doing. Oliver was honest with Roy straight-up about Emiko, and explained how he didn’t want to tell Thea about her until she was caught, as he didn’t want to hurt her by Robert’s actions again, especially now she’s free of her life in Star City.

I love, and actually screamed when Felicity acknowledged Roy’s parkour! They specifically used his bouncy-bouncy ninja skills to break into the vault. However, I will still never get enough of Roy’s unnecessary parkour haha, and we got to see a little of that during his fights, and it still made me smile!!

Roy’s reaction to his pit-rage was heart-breaking. This was worse than when he found out about killing the police officer on Mirakuru. I can see these killings (and I’m hoping maybe even Emiko, also) being what sends him to self-exile on Lian Yu, where we found him 20 years later in the flash forwards.

Dinah/Rene/Emiko (a.k.a. the annoyances)

Dinah remains fucking annoying! Even turning out to be in on the act in the end, it was so easy to buy into her trying to send down anyone and everyone on the team for this crime because she is just generally a shitty disloyal person!

Likewise with Rene. It was easy as the viewer to believe that he had ratted out Oliver again, because he’s done it before, and I have no doubt he would do it again. Neither he nor Dinah wanted to help Roy at first. That they needed reminding by Oliver about how protecting one of the team protects all of them, just reiterates how they are not true team players and why most of the fandom still doesn’t class them as real members of Team Arrow.

Regarding Emiko and Rene…Rene basically just stalked Emiko for half the season, they are not ‘close’, ugh, stop! Emiko gets bonus points for shooting Rene when he confronts her! I actually didn’t mind how they used Emiko this week, she appeared only when necessary, and moved the story on. I still can’t take her seriously as the big bad of the season, but it is what it is. Emiko will stop at nothing to take down the Queens (which at this point is quite frankly just stupid), and her latest dastardly deed is to bury Oliver under a building (from behind a protective wall, because she knows that’s the only way she would escape Oliver) to ‘kill him’ and then to destroy his reputation on the outside by outing the video footage of him covering up for Roy.

With no flash forwards this week, I just can’t help think of all the extra time we had, and that extra time was spent on Dinah and Rene *violently rolls eyes*, when we could have had more OTA & Roy (my favourite combination)! Anyway, next week looks awesome!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the gif-makers! I love you more than Roy loves excessive back flips 😉

💗💗💗