#spartan trapper

[aweridday]

Hope y’all enjoy weird crossovers and rare pairs >w< Yeah idk why I thought of this but it’s here now.

Warning tho!! There is going to be a wanting to sleep with the fishes exaggeration, along side descriptions of violence. ghostie is a gross and weird lil bastard, with a very fragile ego.

[] When ODST Ghostface and Spartan Trapper actually talk to each other after spending five years on the same ship, they think “man this guy is weird as hell, I want to look at him though a microscope” then you know it’s going to be a great romance :3 []

Jed Olsen (it was actually Danny Johnson) was his name and he was very, very bored. And when he was bored, he does whatever it takes to relieve that boredom. He couldn’t do his regular… “people watching” he needed to lay off it for a while, apparently the rest of his teammates were becoming weary of him, (and with weary eyes that are supposed to make sure you lived long enough that you can drop into hell the next day, well, to say it was important, is a understatement) and he couldn’t have that now.

So stalking the deck of the “death is not an escape” (odd name he knows but it fits.) I was now searching for my new target, maybe pilot Thomas? She was a fast one, always quick to react. Or maybe the intimidating crewman johnsen who was friendly if you look past the natural scowl. Definitely not strode, the girl had a shadow worse than him. Or maybe- that’s when he walked in, “The Trapper” or spartan-116, or if you’re close to him (Danny wasn’t close to anyone, he just liked to know things) Evan.

The Spartan Would be scary without all the extra bits on his armor, an unnecessary sharp tooth grin, scratch glass that Almost resemble beady eyes, and jagged hooks stabbed in his shoulders. He looked the part when the covenant called Spartans “demons” and… he was interesting, in a way I didn’t expect.

He was walking to the man I would never call a captain, Ever, Dwight Fairfield. A nervous man, don’t know how he got the job, Maybe this ship and her crew was just that hopeless. He seemed to squirm under the Spartan’s gaze, holding his hands tightly together (probably to make sure he doesn’t bite his nails like he always does when something “Exciting” happens) I wanted to get closer so I could listen in But they appear to have ended their short chat. aw, right before I could eavesdrop? How rude.

I took my spot on the wall, and was content to wait until my victim could make themselves known.

As I was doing just that, I couldn’t help watching the spartan as he scanned the deck, what for? Did he leave something up here? The guy didn’t like leaving the “Basement” from what I heard (the Basement is what the engineers call this place somewhat under the engine room, it didn’t have a lot of purpose from what I’ve seen, but does give folks the heebie-jeebies) I had to look away, he was… distracting, hmm maybe-

And I seem to have caught his eye because he was walking over, I got off the well and straightened up so I could look him in the eye. Huh, how terrible, he was tall, a lil too tall. Have to turn my head All the way up, and still, I seem to fall short. And then he was asking me something, and how stupid of a question. “Why does your mask look like that?”

I had to laugh, seriously? When he looks like that?? But I don’t laugh, I instead tilt my head. Then straightened it as I replied “Same reason you dolled up your own mask, for intimidating reasons” he hummed at that, and we stood there, staring at each other.

Before he could say anything else we got an alert, probably another ship needing help, so many come and go… it’s a wonder how any one of them survives. Is their ship failing? Was there a mutiny happening?? maybe the covenant is attacking??? God I hope so, it’s been so boring!

You would think Fairfield just had someone kill themselves in front of him with how he’s looking, sweaty, pale, like A dumpster fire… he just looks terrible but that isn’t unusual. He pulls on his collar, brings his hand to his mouth before realizing, and calls up the resident AI.

the “Entity” is an freaky spider amalgamation, don’t know who came up with the design, but it fits with the rest of the freaks here.

And now He awaits the returning ping. As we wait I start to think, wonder what they’ll have for dinner tonight? Hopefully it isn’t meatloaf. Oh? yay they answered. Now what to do? listen in to the conversation? No, I tend to scare the normal folks (good) or maybe I should leave? The crew gets panicky when there’s a problem such as this… I start the way to get out of here, And look who follows, good old Trapper.

I want the door to shut before he could get in, hell, is there a button anywhere?? but the universe is not that fond of me, so now here we were… standing there, side by side… annddd he was staring. God I wish I could poke out his eyes… maybe see if Spartan’s bleed red like the rest of us.

Hmm, gotta save those thoughts for tonight. So I turned to him, and ask “so… watch the game last night?” Probably not, didn’t seem like the type. He looked in thought then tilted his head “what game?” At that I just had to chuckle “I’m not actually talking about a game you know, just trying to start a conversation” I shrugged teasingly, he let out a quiet oh and finally look away, I smirked, huh well what do you know… The spartan was actually embarrassed, that’s… kinda cute.

I felt excited, seems like I have a newfound obsession. Right when I was going to follow up with embarrassing the odd Trapper, the elevators doors opened, seems I’m on my floor. I felt my eye twitch, time to bring on the Olsen. I raise my hand to tap him on the shoulder, the dings sounding off is funny, but not as funny as he quickly turns his head towards me. Seems like not a lot of people touch him, hmm interesting.

I tip my head back in a soft laugh, he’s watching my every move, Good. “Hey if you like, you can have breakfast with me later. They have pancake stuff in the kitchen, if we get there early, we can get a couple” he froze up, and then nodded. God I was smiling, this is going to be amazing, he was like a bug I just put in a jar, confused and wondering why he can’t climb out using the glass wells. I nodded back, and waved as I step in the ODST barracks, god, watching him tilt his head as he lifts his hand is just hilarious, and I actually chuckled as the doors closed before he could even wave.

I nod at those already at their bunks, and walk to my owe, I reach under it and pull out a box, it was full of lil souvenirs from travels that weren’t battlefields. I grab a small Chip, and slid it into my helmet slot, time to empty my suit’s memory, maybe taking a dozen pictures every time Traps looked at me when he thought I didn’t notice wasn’t a great idea, Oh well.

As soon as I was done, we were told to get ready for a fight, I smiled and got my knife.

O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0

Ah god, holy fucking shit, I leaned forward and groan. That… All that for a popstar?! I breathe in and stood back up, brushed off imaginary dust, and being reminded that the blood wasn’t imaginary, and breathed out. I go to put my gear in the proper place to get them cleaned, ripping off my helmet with a growl and doing the same to the rest of my armor, then I went to the showers, As I walked in, it was, thankfully, empty. I pulled the rest of my under clothes off and got into a stall, thank god for hot water.

I sigh as I walk out, dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt, I was ready to kiss the sandman. I passed Amanda and gave her a smile, she rolled her eyes but nodded back. The barracks was filled with my fallows, There was some already sleeping, others playing a card game with a crew member. I let out a small grunt as I sit on my bed, leaning backwards until I could stretch out fully, sighing as I started to close my eyes, thinking of the odd Spartan and all of his quirks. I Wandered into sleep thinking of beady eyes and shark like grin and the way he would sound choking on his own blood…

End

Hope y’all like this cuz I had fun ^w^ and this is just part one!! So watch out 😏

[the-suns-also-rise]

Maxxed-out Berserker Skill Trees

These two scare me sometimes.

But I love them anyway.

Some thoughts on Clarke’s fight with Josephine:

This is the first time we’ve seen Clarke brawling, isn’t it? I actually don’t believe she has the chops to pull this off in ‘real’ life. Sure, we can hand wave and say, hey, she spent six years in the wilderness spearing trout and teaching Madi the art of the well-timed Spartan kick but really… we haven’t even seen her train on-screen. She always high-charisma rolls her way out of tight spots. More of a persuader/gunner/trapper.

She has, however, seen Bellamy in hand-to-hand combat innumerable times - even as recently as his berserker heart-filled rage at Murphy in  S6xE2.

We now know that she has the ability to transform her mind space experience. It’s telling that within the confines of her mind, when it came down to fight-or-flight she similarly went berserk, mirroring Bellamy’s overkill frenzy while he was clearly out of his own mind. In a way, Bellamy is still saving her - she channeled all his rage and passion to save herself.

tl;dr: Clarke didn’t need to meet Bellamy in her mind space during this episode. When she needed him most, she became him.

[fuzz1912]

This is the Way

Just prior to the release of the third movie of Disney’s Star Wars trilogy, I posted some thoughts to the effect that I no longer had the energy to write at length about what Star Wars had become under their watch, because I no longer had any love left to fuel that effort. THE MANDALORIAN has changed all that and, ever since then finale of its second season, I’ve been wanting to process and contextualise why it has been so impactful. The clearest place to start is the finale itself, and the sequence that has led adult fans across the world to revert to a child-like state of wonder and break down into tears. If you haven’t already seen THE MANDALORIAN, in particular “Chapter 16 - THE RESCUE” then please read no further - do yourself a favour and stay off the internet until you’ve caught yourself up. From here on, the spoilers will be rife.

A QUICK RECAP

The clues leading to the finale’s big reveal are staged in a masterfully accelerating fashion, leading to a crescendo of certainty that no amount of “subverted expectations” could extinguish. Imperial Moff Gideon has recaptured the Child (Grogu), and the Mandalorian (Din Djarin) has managed to locate him and threatened that he will stop at nothing to free his ward from Gideon’s clutches. We rejoin Mando and his allies (shock trooper Cara Dune, assassin Fennec Shand and her benefactor the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett, and two survivors of the Mandalorian Death Watch in heiress Bo-Katan Kryze and Koska Reeves) as they chase an Imperial Lambda-class shuttle in Fett’s ship, Slave I. After a minor altercation with Imperial officers taunting Dune over the destruction of her home planet of Alderaan, they capture the Imperial scientist Pershing who, at Moff Gideon’s direction, has been using blood samples from the Child (Grogu) in cloning experiments that quite possibly may lead to the resurrection of the Emperor years later (ugh). 

With Pershing’s help and Boba Fett creating a distraction, they use the shuttle to stage a boarding of Gideon’s cruiser. Mando searches for the Child while the others quickly take the bridge. First Mando has to deactivate the ominous Dark Troopers, one of whom escapes from cold storage before Mando is able to seal the others in. As the remaining Dark Troopers persistently continue to punch the doors, gradually wearing away at them, Mando engages in mortal combat against the escaped Dark Trooper. It is relentless and seemingly indestructible, a veritable terminator that keeps pounding away at Mando despite all of his tricks. Held by the scruff of his neck, the Dark Trooper keeps punching his helmet into a wall. Mando can only use his flamethrower and wrist launcher as mere distractions to get the Dark Trooper to release him, and it is only after he notices the Dark Trooper’s blaster shots deflecting off his beskar armour that he realises that a well-placed thrust of his beskar spear into the Dark Trooper’s weak neck will take out his foe. Moments before the remaining platoon is about to escape cold storage, Mando is able to vent them all into space. 

Mando proceeds to the brig where he finds Moff Gideon holding the Child at the point of the infamous Mandalorian Darksaber. Gideon demands that Mando disarm himself, and warns Mando to assume that he knows everything and is in complete control. He describes the power of the Darksaber and the fact that it gives the one who wields it a claim to the Mandalorian throne. When Din surprises him by telling him to keep it in exchange for the Child, Gideon agrees - noting that he’s already got what he wanted (namely, Grogu’s blood with its rare properties - aka Midichlorians). Gideon permits Mando to take the Child, provided he leaves the ship and they go their separate ways. But of course, it’s a ruse and the moment Mando tries to take the Child Gideon stabs him in the back and engages him with the Darksaber. Of course, it can’t cut through beskar so he is evenly matched against Mando’s beskar armour and spear. However Mando is the superior warrior and quickly disarms him, much to Gideon’s surprising glee. For when Mando takes Gideon to the bridge and offers the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, Gideon smugly tells Mando that Bo-Katan needed to win the Darksaber in combat - and that now means that she has to take it by force from Din. Bo-Katan’s indecision is interrupted by the proximity sensor, and Fennec informs the others that the Dark Troopers (with their Iron Man-like foot rockets) have reboarded the ship. They quickly march towards the bridge against a thumping dub step soundtrack, and Fennec seals the blast doors.

Trapped in an unwinnable position, the posse prepares for a Sundance-style fatal showdown. A single Dark Trooper all but overpowered Mando, so a platoon of them would vanquish even this elite squad in short order. Gideon idly taunts  that no one except for himself and the Child will end up leaving the room alive.

Then the proximity sensor pings once more.  

This is the moment when you expect a Deus ex Machina. When the odds are so heavily weighted against the protagonists that only a “machine of the gods” is going to be able to get them out of their impossible predicament. Season 2 laid the seeds for a couple of such options - most obviously, the New Republic has a small but insignificant presence in the Outer Rim that Mando has encountered a few times in his recent travels (almost literally the cavalry). Boba Fett may still be a part of the plan, skipping out only briefly to return with reinforcements. Despite the elimination of the coven on Navarro, perhaps another coven of the Mandalorian zealots might return to save the day as they did in Season 1. 

But none of these really make proper sense. Ever since the first appearance of the Child in Season 1, and Mando’s subsequent quest to return him to his kind, all roads had to eventually lead to only one person. Not Ahsoka Tano, whose return was a welcome return to form (more on that later), but who steadfastly refused to be considered a Jedi after leaving the order and would not agree to train Grogu lest his attachment to Mando might lead him to suffer the same fate as her former Master. No - at this point in time, there exists only one true Jedi in the entire Galaxy.

Bo-Katan is the first to notice the solitary X-Wing approaching, with Cara’s subsequent quip suggesting it would make no difference at all - it might just be Captain Teva or Trapper Wolf again. But this was the first in a series of subtle but escalating hints as to how wrong she really is. If there were any doubt, the next few moments would lay them to rest. The X-Wing flies into the docking bay on the security cam - it bears indistinct but clearly older Rebellion-era markings, and does not respond to Bo-Katan’s hail. Grogu’s ears perk up - he senses the arrival. Then, abruptly, the Dark Troopers stop punching the door. In unison, they all do an about-face towards a new threat approaching. For the first time, the all-knowing smirk is wiped off Gideon’s face. 

A gentle guitar arpeggio and choral ballad reminiscent of Qui-Gon and Padmé’s Funeral themes begins as we see the second clue on the security cam - a hooded figure walking down a hallway, wearing a dark cloak. It could still be anyone, but it could definitely be the one we’ve all silently hoped to see for so long. This is followed in short order by the third, almost definitive clue: the hooded figure on the security cam expertly wields a single lightsaber, cutting through Dark Troopers like butter. Bo-Katan immediately identifies the figure as a Jedi, and suddenly Moff Gideon’s face betrays fear for the first time. 

Then we see the one thing we’ve waited decades for - a green lightsaber. Not a blue historical artefact wielded by plot-amour protected novice, but a brilliant green blade self-made to stand out against the deep blue desert skies of Tatooine. At last, we allow ourselves to feel hopeful once more. Only one of those Dark Troopers nearly ended Din Djarin minutes ago, but this figure deflects their blaster bolts back into them and slices through their torsos like the battledroids of old. However, unlike the flamboyant Jedi of the Old Republic, the figure’s strokes are spartan and precise. Grogu is at attention because he knows who’s coming to rescue them.

And finally, a low shot of the green blade shows the black leather glove holding onto it and all doubt is removed. It’s LUKE FUCKING SKYWALKER. Luke as the Jedi Master he (and his father) aspired be, at the height of his powers. Luke, who bested but never quite defeated Darth Vader, and through his unwavering faith enabled his father to destroy the most powerful evil in the Galaxy. No longer a naive farm boy, but a full fledged Jedi and, both by default and power, the Grand Master of the New Jedi Order. And certainly not the cranky old defeated hermit passing off for Luke in certain other films, with no hope, determination, or empathy. The REAL Luke Skywalker. This is who heard Grogu’s call two episodes ago, and is the only possible person with whom Grogu could end up with. 

Luke slashes through several more Dark Troopers, and force pushes a crate against another. Craning his neck to see the carnage on the security cams, Moff Gideon realises that the battle is lost and he makes his desperate last move. Clutching the hidden blaster beneath his cloak, he fires at Bo-Katan before taking a shot at the Child. Mando valiantly throws himself into the line of fire - in a way, both moments would have been more powerful if beskar wasn’t so strong as to harmlessly absorb Gideon’s shots. So too would it have been if a shot got through to Grogu, putting him in grave danger. 

The figure cleans up the Dark Troopers on the lower level and takes the elevator up towards the bridge. The Dark Troopers in the exterior hallway wait silently. We’ve seen this moment before - in A NEW HOPE, before the stormtroopers cut through the port on the Tantive IV; and again, in ROGUE ONE, as the lights go out on the Profundity’s docking bay. The final light ignites and the doors open - the Dark Troopers open fire, but their shots are easily deflected by the figure who twirls and swirls more elegantly through his prey, dancing through the corridor and using his hands to bat away debris and crush the exoskeleton of the final unfortunate trooper. We haven’t seen this kind of carnage since the other Skywalker exterminated the Separatists on Mustafar in REVENGE OF THE SITH. 

Mando and Grogu know that it’s time, and he demands that the blast doors be opened. Not getting any favourable response from the others, he opens the door himself. As the blast doors part, we see the figure’s shrouded green lightsaber emerge through the smoke just as his mentor’s did at the start of THE PHANTOM MENACE. The figure slowly holsters his blade on his familiar belt, and deliberately hesitates as he removed his hood. As the iconic notes of the Binary Sunset play, at last we see the face of Luke Skywalker - here to rescue us - with just a little bit more wisdom and wear than he bore at the end of RETURN OF THE JEDI. Mando asks him if he is a Jedi, and Luke responds that he is (in the unmistakably optimistic voice of a young Mark Hamill). Luke reaches out, confidently asking Grogu to join him. When Mando queries Grogu’s reluctance, Luke wisely advises him that the Child wants his permission first. 

What follows is the culmination of the series, a heart wrenching scene between Din and Grogu where Din breaks the creed and shows Grogu his face - a father saying goodbye to his son with his own eyes, echoing Luke’s own farewell to Anakin. Grogu doesn’t want to let go of Din until he hears a reassuring sound - R2D2’s familiar beep-bop cadence as he leans over to examine the Child, a clear moment of recognition between the two. Whether they’ve both met at some point in the past (perhaps prior to or during Grogu’s escape from the Jedi Temple), or whether R2 is suffering some PTSD from his memories of Yoda, remains to be seen. But it’s enough to win over Grogu, who allows Luke to pick him up and take him and R2 away. The final shots of Din’s final tearful goodbye and Luke, Grogu and R2 in the departing elevator against a triumphant refrain of the Mandalorian theme are iconic Star Wars images that will be etched in our minds forever alongside the Throne Room and other final shots. 

I’M LUKE SKYWALKER - I’M HERE TO RESCUE YOU

I don’t want to relitigate the issues of the Disney Trilogy at length, suffice to say that the miserable end to that sorry saga far better illustrates them than any missive penned by me could. Yes, as things stand, everything that transpires in THE MANDALORIAN could lead to same sorry end just as the supposedly-fairytale ending of RETURN OF THE JEDI did. But the mere hope that it doesn’t have to, or that it is far enough away to be ignored, is enough to allow the moment to savoured for the delight that it represents.

Because Star Wars has always been about hope, and that hope has always been best embodied by Luke Skywalker - the “Son of Suns”. Luke is our childhood hero, the Boy Scout or Superman defined by his optimism and his faith in our better angels. His journey may venture through internal conflict, impatience, confusion, and failure - but he never gives up hope, even when it seems that all is lost. He was born in a moment of despair, as his mother’s dying breaths gave life to both he and his sister, and saved his father from a tortuous death. The prequel trilogy, fundamentally about perpetual-slave Anakin Skywalker’s hope for a better life for his family, may have ended with a Galaxy entering an era of oppression, but its final shot featured baby Luke with his closest kin watching the famous binary sunset and hoping for the eventual dawn to bring them out of the darkness. 

We later meet Luke again in the eponymous A NEW HOPE as a sheltered and naive young farmhand, dreaming of making a difference in the fight against the evil Empire. Under the guidance of his watchful protector, he produces a one-in-a-million shot heard around the Galaxy. He trawls the Galaxy in search of a new mentor, whose trickery and patience are a foil for his impatient desire to return to the fight. After being humbled by a superior adversary and learning the dark truth of his parentage, he soon realises that his attachment to others can be a weakness to be exploited. Nevertheless, his faith in his friends and family remains resolute - even in the face of discouragement from his masters and enemies alike, Luke manages to persuade his broken and defeated father that he is not irredeemable. Luke’s unwavering belief provides the gentle push needed for Anakin to commit his final act to destroying the evil Emperor that had enslaved him and would destroy the only thing left in the universe for him to love. 

Basically, after searching for his absent father his whole life, only to discover him to be one of the most terrible people in the Galaxy and believed to be beyond redemption by his only remaining friends, Luke still perseveres against all odds in believing there’s a tiny sparkle of good left him in - and ends up convincing his father of that as well. This is the most unbelievably optimistic person, who sees the bright side of things where everyone else sees nothing, and who never, ever gives up. He is what Star Wars is fundamentally all about. 

IF THERE’S A BRIGHT CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE, YOU’RE ON THE PLANET THAT IT’S FARTHEST FROM

However, the Disney Trilogy’s failure began with the first words of its opening crawl, claiming that “Luke Skywalker has vanished” - depriving us of that hope for a whole film. When he finally appears up at the intersection of the first and second movies, it turns out to have been a false hope - in a “subversion” of our expectations, the Luke we find is a shell of a person who has given up on his friends, his family, and his students. He is so devoid of hope and resigned to the ignominious fate of dying alone that he may as well be Darth Vader. After sensing the mere potential for evil in his only nephew, he doesn’t try to turn him away from it but stupidly draws his weapon on him in his sleep - and by doing so creates another version of his father. He senses a familiar darkness in the Resistance’s strange messenger, and resolves not to train her. And yet... suddenly, after a bizarre encounter with an addled apparition pretending to be Yoda, he softens and decides not to join with her in a fight to the death but instead perform some insanely draining Matrix-like distraction that ends up killing him anyway. His last ditch effort saved practically nothing, and didn’t end up mattering anyway when the nemesis he and his father sacrificed everything to destroy “somehow returned”. 

Mark Hamill himself, who has lived and breathed the character for over 40 years, knew that none of this made sense coming from Luke - he would rather amusingly refer to this incarnation as “Jake” Skywalker. The people behind the Disney Trilogy have stated on record that Luke’s absence from the first film was to avoid stealing the spotlight from their new characters, and the butchering of his character in the second ostensibly appears to have paved the way for them to take over the role of the hero. It was as if, in some misguided zero-sum view of the Star Wars universe, in order for the new generation to succeed the old had to be destroyed (in more ways than just this one). And, in doing so, Disney deprived us of seeing the Luke Skywalker we all deserved. 

GOOD, YOU’VE TAKEN YOUR FIRST STEPS INTO A LARGER WORLD

When Anakin Skywalker looks up at the night sky on Tatooine in THE PHANTOM MENACE, he wonders if anyone has ever visited them all - ominously suggesting that he’d be the first. There’s only so much of that story that can be told within the motion picture medium, and there have always been Star Wars stories that existed in the same universe but were not about the Galaxy-changing saga of the Skywalkers. From the Expanded Universe novels, to cartoons, games, and other non-saga films, the Star Wars Universe has weaved a rich tapestry for fans who have been invested in the diverse, fantastic, and advanced  setting it provides for stories that reflect on our own human condition. Many of these stories were self contained - filling in gaps or corners of that tapestry - but just as many intersected with our beloved characters at various points of their lives, who at once both recognisable as their iconic selves but also given further colour and depth through new experiences and challenges. 

Of Luke Skywalker in particular, we saw a hero struggling with his legacy and the monumental task of rebuilding the Galaxy and the Jedi Order in such as way as to not repeat the mistakes of the past. We saw Luke succeed and fail in training new Force-sensitive students into Jedi, and grow in power to become the new Grand Master of the Jedi Order. We saw him defeat stronger foes than he had before and weave his way through the intergalactic politics of the New Republic and Imperial Remnant. We saw him fall in love with Mara Jade, someone who had been tasked by the Emperor with killing him, marry her and have a son (appropriately) named Ben. We witnessed Luke live a full, difficult, but happy life with meaning and purpose - the kind of life his father always wanted but could never achieve.

With this Expanded Universe cast away by Disney, it was left to stories and shows like THE MANDALORIAN to sketch out the details of what is supposed to exists in the rest of the Star Wars Universe. Throughout its run, THE MANDALORIAN has demonstrated definitively that Disney’s approach in sidelining and belittling Luke and the story of the original and prequel trilogies in order to tell new stories in that universe was not only unnecessary, but completely wrong. By starting with a fresh style and a lone gun for hire in a new, small frontier in a corner of the universe it established a new dynamic in the transition period between the fall of the Empire and the establishment of the New Republic. 

But as it continued to flesh out that small corner, we started to see bits of the familiar return from a variety of sources - some from the films such as Trandoshans, IG units, Jawas, Ugnaughts, AT-STs, Mos Eisley’s Docking Bay 94 populated with Pit Droids, Tusken Raiders; others from other media such as Cobb Vanth, Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian Death Watch, Ahsoka Tano (and soon hopefully Grand Admiral Thrawn!), and Dark Troopers from the 90s game DARK FORCES. Others still fleshed out things we’d heard about in previous stories but never seen - krayt dragons, krynkas, Quarren. And at the heart of it all - the Mandalorian creed and the mysterious and powerful Force-using species. We care about and are interested in all of these things because they are familiar elements of the Star Wars Universe, and we care about what new things Mando and the Child encounter because they are grounded in such elements to which we can already relate.

Most of the credit for this change in direction is due to the respective efforts of creator John Favreau and Executive Producer Dave Filoni. Favreau’s early contributions were largely responsible for the dramatic success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and he has been involved with Star Wars for some time (voicing characters in SOLO and THE CLONE WARS). Filoni, himself the creator of THE CLONE WARS, has long effectively been George Lucas’s personally selected designated successor as the sage of all things Star Wars. Unlike JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson (relative neophytes to Lucasfilm, who seemed to be unable to move beyond their nostalgia for A NEW HOPE and desperation to spit on Lucas’s prequels), Favreau and Filoni have an understanding of the already-significant diversity of the Star Wars Universe, of its values and potential. 

Favreau, Filoni and the fabulous team of writers and directors they collaborate with have treated the existing source material with respect (the same source material their boss claims not to exist), and have both intertwined and extended it in new ways that make sense and add depth to what came before. The production design has drawn on both the existing worlds of the original and prequel trilogies (and yes, even what would be yet to come in the Disney Trilogy), while referencing the original concept art of Ralph McQuarrie and Doug Chiang (the concept art based credit sequences are particularly inspired) and creating new environments, species and spacecraft that add greater diversity to those worlds. Even Ludwig Görannson’s music has hit it out of the park - not merely rehashing John William’s greatest hits (another area where the Disney Trilogy fell surprisingly short), but creating a whole new aesthetic that feels right for the style of the show, but is unmistakably Star Wars. In short, THE MANDALORIAN feels like a true addition to the Star Wars universe, which seemed impossible after the lukewarm reboot of the Disney Trilogy. 

YOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT ME - TELL YOUR SISTER. YOU WERE RIGHT.

So this is why, when we first see the X-Wing appear, the hooded figure walking down the hallway, and the brilliant green blade - followed by the decisive elimination of the Dark Troopers through Gideon’s ship and the corridors leading to the bridge - longtime fans across the world could no longer contain their emotions, with many breaking down into tears of jubilation and relief. After being teased with horrible “subversions of expectations” and being told that our “theories sucked”, finally we actually got what we wanted after all this time - a reason to hope again. 

This is the Luke Skywalker we’ve wanted to see after 37 years - not the naive farm boy or reclusive hermit, but the mature and powerful Jedi Master - and finally seeing him at his peak validated our feelings of frustration and neglect over after the past five years of mediocrity that was Disney’s attempt at rehashing Star Wars. It confirmed to us what we always belived: that Star Wars was not, after all, a one hit wonder and that the lightning in the bottle could be recaptured - if wielded by the right custodians who continue to explore the potential of the Star Wars universe to tell great new stories. 

[gearinsitu]

Here's some grey #edcgear for the #edcflatlaychallenge This was a tough one to assemble trying to distinguish grey from "silver". I'm most proud of the 2 rare 84mm #sak (grey smoke translucent sportsman-Spartan's little brother- and the greyed out blades on my bantam) and of course my #casexx trapper and the beautiful #kershawdividend #kershawknives #Kershaw #victorinox #victorinoxclassic #customsak #SAKarmy #fenix #fenixld02 #casetrapper #usamade #twosunknives #zippolighter #zipposlim #opinel #EDC #paracord #leatherman #myleatherman #leathermanblast #MyVictorinox #watch #leathermansquirt #gerbercurve #timex #timexexpedition #timexironman https://www.instagram.com/p/B0WaefuHmYR/?igshid=b1i1rd655fpo

[fanapparelsouvenirs]

Michigan State Spartans Trapper Hat Youth Size 4 thru 16 Green Nwt New BUY IT NOW – Michigan State Spartans Trapper Hat Youth Size 4 thru 16 Green Nwt New

[itsjaybullme]

10 Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes for Jacked Guys

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It's Costume Time

Silver Screen Collection / Nancy Moran / Sunset Boulevard / Getty

The time has finally come: the week when you realize that Halloween weekend is upon us, but you've been too busy making gains in the gym to even think about putting effort into a costume. Maybe you've had a few fleeting thoughts—if that—about how you're going to dress up, and maybe your girlfriend has spent the month begging you to dress as the companion to whatever elaborate costume she'll be donning when you inevitably end up at a Halloween gathering.

But you probably didn't listen to your own thoughts or hers, and now it's crunch time and the best costumes are probably long sold out. Besides, if you waited this long to find a costume, we're willing to bet you're not about to splurge on that $600 theatrical-quality Darth Vader getup.

If you're starting to get nervous we'll stop you right there, because all that time in the gym is about to swoop in and save your Halloweekend.

Some of the most badass characters in Hollywood history are just jacked guys wearing reasonably normal clothing and minimal outlandish accessories. You may not literally have the physique that Arnold Schwarzenegger or Dolph Lundgren sported back in the '80s, but you can pull off their characters like no couch potato ever could. That's why we've compiled some of our favorite costume options that you can scrape together with minimal cash, and still look decent enough to be recognizable.

It may be too late for theatrical, but at least you'll have a costume. Because even if you're not the type of guy to roll up to the party dressed as a terrifyingly realistic movie monster, you've got to admit it's fun to get into the spirit. Plus, you don't want to be the only asshole at the bar who showed up as the murderer of all things fun and spooky (yourself sans costume).

(And if you need that emergency shred? We've got the workout for you.)

Click through for some of the cheapest, easiest options for your last-minute Halloween costume.

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1. John Matrix/Commando

Sunset Boulevard / Getty

Arnold Schwazenegger has been in plenty of movies, from thrilling action flicks like Terminator and Predator to comedies like Twins and Jingle All the Way. But one of Schwarzenegger's most badass roles was undeniably John Matrix, a former Special Forces colonel out to take down a former dictator to save his daughter. Who could forget the moment when a deadpan Matrix "let Sully go"?

The most important aspect of this costume is also the cheapest: some black body paint for you face and torso. 

Assuming you have:

Pants (preferably camo/cargo pants or khakis—but jeans work, too)

Boots 

Impressive biceps and a generally ripped upper body

A passable Arnold impersonation 

You'll need:

Black body paint (to stripe across your face and body, $5 at Party City) 

Bullet belt (optional, $10 at Party City)

Fake weapon that's very clearly not real (anything from a hunting knife to a rifle could work)

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2. The Incredible Hulk

NBC / Silver Screen Collection / Getty

In his Incredible Hulk days, Lou Ferrigno's physique was nothing short of incredible. After all, he played our favorite green maniac in the late-'70s-early-'80s series, long before CGI could take Dr. Banner from man to monster. So if you've got the physique for it, this one's as easy as can be, although it could get a little messy if you don't get a little help. 

Assuming you have:

Jeans

A flannel (optional)

A hulking physique

You'll need:

Green body paint (maybe two tubes) ($5 each at Party City)

If you really want to go all out, green hairspray ($4 at Party City)

Giant, hilariously fluffy wig (optional)

4 of 11

3. The Old Spice Guy

Old Spice / Youtube

While Terry Crews may have been the most jacked face of Old Spice ever, Isaiah Mustafa's embodiment is a hilarious throwback that's insanely easy to replicate:

You may not have all (or any) of the skills he boasts in the commercial, but you don't need those. All you do need is a towel, some shorts, and Old Spice to make this one work. Bonus: You'll smell great, no matter where the night takes you.

Assuming you have:

A white towel (clean, please)

Khaki shorts to wear underneath

The chops to impersonate his TV-ready voice

You'll need:

Any Old Spice product, as cheap or expensive as you please (and, hey, you may already have that, too)

Works best at: beach parties.

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4. Rambo

Nancy Moran / Getty

John Rambo is one of those action-movie badasses who seems to transcend time. Even those who have never seen the movie have a very clear idea of the gist of it. Sly Stallone's depiction of a gritty, troubled Vietnam veteran evading law enforcement launched the original film, First Blood, into a franchise. If your friends can't guess this costume at first sight, that's their problem. This one's also super-customizable, since Stallone appeared both in a black, raw-cut muscle tank and shirtless. The important parts? The bandana, the bullet belt, and the absurdly chiseled upper body and/or jawline.

Assuming you have: 

A worn-out, black, clearly DIYed tank top (or a t-shirt you can cut into one)

Jeans 

Ripped shoulders 

You'll need:

Red bandana ($3 at Party City—or, if you cut your own tank top, save some of the fabric and just use that for free)

Fake weapon that's very clearly not real (a hunting knife to a bow and arrow, to a rife could work)

Bullet belt (optional, $10 at Party City)

Some of that $5 body paint (or dirt, if you really want to go cheap) to give the effect of roughing it in the woods

6 of 11

5. Richard Simmons

Evan Hurd Photography / Getty

This one is admittedly not badass, but it's hilarious and directly related to fitness. Richard Simmons shot to fame for his weight-loss programs back in the day, and he's still at it now. His signature brightly colored tank tops and short-shorts are easy enough to replicate, as long as you never skip legs day. 

Assuming you have:

A workout tank top (preferably a bright one, and preferably one with sparkles)

Quads that you're dying to show off

White sneakers

White crew socks

You'll need:

Short-shorts (whether they're your girlfriend's or something cheap from Amazon Prime)

Huge wig (optional, but adds to the effect; $20 at Party City)

Probably some energy drinks. It's a long night, and you will be expected to embody Richard Simmons.

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6. He-Man

Archive Photos / Getty

Dolph Lundgren, another Hollywood badass who's still keeping up with his fitness today, played He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe. We can only imagine all the physique goals that were born that year. Just a little more serious and intimidating than the cartoon version of this comic-book hero, Lundgren's He-Man is ripped out of his mind. If you are, too, show off those quads and that six-pack with this costume. This may be a bare-minimum He-Man, but we don't have time for elaborate equipment, and that's not our fault. Besides, the abs are more impressive anyway. (If you have a set of old football pads lying around that no one's gonna miss, you can easily cut out the shoulders, spray-paint them gold, and tie them together to complete the look. Remember: It's optional, but you have the power.)

Assuming you have: 

An impressive chest and quads

A neutral-colored Speedo, bodybuilding suit, or even some dark-colored briefs (yup, we're really going for it)

A few belts to layer over each other

You'll need:

Blonde wig (will probably run you about $20, but completes the costume)

Fake sword (also important, but only $7 at Party City)

Spartan shin guards ($15 on Amazon)

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7. Lumberjack/The Brawny Man

Blake Little / Getty

More like lumber-jacked, right? This one may actually be the easiest costume ever, and you probably have everything you need already. And this is customizable, because if you don't want to get a fake chainsaw or ax, you can just carry a roll of paper towels around with you (which, given most of the Halloween parties we've been to, may not be a bad idea). Boom: You're instantly the Brawny Man instead of a plain ol' lumberjack. 

Assuming you have:

Jeans

A flannel

A knit beanie

Gargantuan lumberjack-esque arms 

You'll need:

Fake ax for lumberjack ($4 at Party City). If you're into scary costumes, a fake bloody chainsaw (like this $17 option from Party City) transforms you into a murderous lumberjack.

Paper towels for Brawny Man (free from your kitchen, probably)

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8. John McClane from Die Hard

Archive Photos / Getty

Die Hard may just be one of the best Christmas movies of all time (because it's totally a Christmas movie in our book, despite the absence of the Grinch or much holiday cheer). In the original, Bruce Willis takes on a slew of bad guys as NYPD cop John McClane, who has to take matters into his own hands to save his wife, one of their hostages. This is another one that you've probably got most of the supplies for. Yippee ki-yay, motherf*cker!

Assuming you have: 

A white tank top you're willing to rub dirt on

A button-down (ideally one you're also willing to rub dirt on)

A formidable five o'clock shadow

Jeans or khakis

A built chest

You'll need:

If you don't want to rub dirt on your face and shirt, some $5 body paint

Some of your girlfriend's lipliner and a butterfly closures for a fake head wound (about $5 from any drug store)

Fake police badge ($4 at Party City)

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9. Tarzan

Mondadori Portfolio / Frank Trapper / Getty / M&F

There have been countless depictions of this jungle hero, but our personal favorite might be former M&F cover starAlexander Skarsgard's. His physique is impressive, and his costume may be the easiest (and most full-coverage, for any of you legs-day skippers).

Assuming you have:

Khakis you are prepared to sacrifice

Shredded abs and a poundable chest

You'll need:

Some $5 body paint to act as fake dirt

A wig (optional—your own messy hair will work just fine)

A loincloth (if you want to really go for it, $25 at Walmart)

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10. Zeus

Ullstein Bild / Getty

Since Zeus is literally a Greek god, you've got to have the physique to back this one up. If not, you can just tell people you're masquerading as a frat boy at a toga party. This one's pretty straightforward, and can really be tailored to any Greek or Roman deity of your choice, depending on your accessories. Take Poseidon/Neptune, for example: Add a trident, and you're suddenly the king of the ocean. The most important accessories, if the statue we're referencing is any indication, are some killer obliques.

Assuming you have:

A white bedsheet

Flip-flops

Washboard abs

You'll need:

A gray or white fake beard ($5 at Party City)

A trident for Neptune ($5 at Party City)

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from Bodybuilding Feed http://www.muscleandfitness.com/features/edge/10-cheap-and-easy-halloween-costumes-jacked-guys via http://www.rssmix.com/

[tinymixtapes]

Column: Favorite Rap Mixtapes of April 2017

With a daunting cascade of releases spewing from the likes of DatPiff, LiveMixtapes, Bandcamp, and SoundCloud, it can be difficult to keep up with the overbearing yet increasingly vital mixtape game. In this column, we aim to immerse ourselves in this hyper-prolific world and share our favorite releases each month. The focus will primarily be on rap mixtapes — loosely defined here as free (or sometimes free-to-stream) digital releases — but we’ll keep things loose enough to branch out if/when we feel it necessary. (Check out last month’s installment here.) --- cupcakKe - Queen Elizabitch [stream] On “Scraps,” cupcakKe pulls up to the periphery with an uncharacteristically cogent indictment of our times: “Babies killing babies, people starving in Haiti/ Men nutting in women then disappear for the baby.” Not that it’s for me to say whether the rest of Queen Elizabeth problematizes the social commentary of its opening gambit, but it’s all quite besides the point: the sexual calisthenics that pervade cupcakKe’s bars here are lurid, perverse, utterly filthy, and, in a weirdly voyeuristic sorta way, all the more captivating for it. Paint the town pink, or maybe ketchup-red. Agency never seemed so damn wrong. –Soe Jherwood --- Playboi Carti - Playboi Carti [stream] Although Awful Records alum Cash Carti may officially rep ASAP Mob, the Atlanta-based trapper-turned-rockstar more closely adheres to Dean Blunt’s creative ethos than the boisterous cloud-rap of ASAP Rocky and Company. Atop spartan, MIDI-esque instrumentals, Carti’s self-titled debut trims meat from the fat, furnishing roomy production with ad-libs and halfhearted choruses that seek to haunt, not occupy. He doesn’t seek permanence, just ease of digestion ― a quick 16 bars to soak into the sonic sandwich bread, sauced-up as au jus. Standout cuts like “Location” and “Wokeuplikethis” are as savory as they are Blunt-ian, the former dripping with post-vaporwave hypnogogia while the latter topped with a slaw of simulated pop-punk guitaristry. Carti’s music is oily, addictive consumption ― the kind of intake that alters your brain chemistry as it dissolves on your tongue, flooding your neural network with twee-trap euphoria. If Blunt’s series of Babyfather mixtapes serve as a deconstruction of British pride, then Playboi Carti is as American as music can get: efficiently crafted, consumable, and tinged with summertime nostalgia. –Jude Noel --- Valee - 1988 [stream] It’s impossible to listen to 1988 without recalling the woozy balladry of iLoveMakonnen, the trap everyman who made the rap lifestyle seem attainable by sheer force of goofiness. While he hails from Chicago, Valee’s music is occupied with the universal, if crude, concerns of the day-to-day. Central to Valee’s appeal is the simplicity of his method; armed only with Fruity Loops and vocal chops achievable by anyone with a smoking habit, he forges an immediately identifiable sound with charisma to match. In the saturated SoundCloud landscape, individuality is worth its weight in pills, coming a memorable one-liner or hooky earworm at a time on 1988. With a few tutorials, most anyone could sing Valee hooks or churn out Valee beats after the fact; there is, however, just one man on Earth who can be Valee. –Corrigan B --- Geechi Suede - Fishnet Skyscrapers [stream/download] My dad always says about my mom’s Italian cooking that she “could Parmesan a shoe” and it’d still taste delicious. That’s essentially how I feel about Geechi Suede’s rapping — it could go over anything from tap dancing to country western, and I’d still enjoy it — which is not to say the beats on Fishnet Skyscraper are bad. They’re not. They’re probably more Short Eyes than Uptown Saturday Night, but that’s still not bad, and at the end of the day, does it even matter? Geechi Suede could rap over a shoe, and it’d still taste delicious. –Samuel Diamond --- DIRTYFACESMOOK - Uzumaki9 [stream] In the Floridian trap mythos that springs forth from Spaceghostpurrp’s evil seed, SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD’s protégé DIRTYFACESMOOK acts as his mentor’s dramatic foil. Although the pair share a penchant for cartoon samples and frenetic flows, Smook’s ultra-syllabic delivery drips hints of calculated malevolence into Slump’s usual blend of quick-witted fun. On his debut tape, Uzumaki9, the Orlando emcee plays the straight man ― a source gravity that tugs his collaborators’ stream-of-conscious ramblings back toward the Earth ― while taking care to conceal his own restrained ambition. Whether Smook’s rapping over Oompa Loompa chants or what sounds like a chopped-and-slopped recorder cover of Darude’s “Sandstorm,” he feels seconds away from erupting into a burst of kinetic energy, firing lyrical Beast Balls in all directions. It is not yet quite time for Smook to open his inner chakra gates, though. He’s frugal with his stored power, taking care to reserve his full potential for the moment it’s needed most. For now, we can admire Smook’s menacing restraint as he whispers atop the harrowing string arrangements of “KYLIE JENNER” or weaves his way through the “U SEEM READY” with gymnastic G-Funk finesse, measuring out the perfect combination of griminess and polish. –Jude Noel --- Billyracxx - Flamingos and Finches [stream] Texas is not only #1 in capital punishment, but, according to the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts® 2017 Edition, also #1 in unintentional-injury-related deaths (with 9,815 in 2014), fatal occupational injuries (527 in 2015), and total motor-vehicle deaths (3,722 in 2015), edging out California in the latter category by just one death (take that, hippies!). Of late, one bright spot in the otherwise-moribund Lone Star State has been Missouri City rapper/designer/filmmaker/transplant-by-way-of-Orlando Billyracxx. After dropping two super-streamed music projects in 2016, A Week In Houston and http://j.mp/2pcspqj

[mlcsped]

USA Heartland Fans Celebrates Our Groupies With An Interview Our next featured Groupie is Les Cline! Les, as you will all discover, is a huge Heartland fan, and joined the Group on Feb. 26th, 2015. We got so much great information in this interview and we had a great time with it, as you’ll see why. Meet Les: ________ USA Heartland Fans: How long have you been a fan of Heartland? Les: I stared watching Heartland four years ago. Almost to the date. Found it on Netflix during a snow storm and became hooked. Nothing like binge watching for four straight days. USA Heartland Fans: Why do you like Heartland? Les: I grew up in Nebraska around farms and ranches. I was the town kid that had grandparent who were farmers. I really related to the characters of the show. Even though I am almost the same age as Jack he reminds me of my grandfather. His wisdom and his guidance. I started to call some of what Jack says as “Jack-isms”. USA Heartland Fans: We agree, the story lines are so relate-able to almost everyone. And YES about those “Jack-isms”. Who else watches Heartland with you? Les: My wife, she actually found it on Netflix thinking it was a movie. She was so angry when episode one ended: “How could they end a movie that way?” Then I told her that she just started to watch a series. She was relieved. She was a farm girl from Nebraska too. Later we found out that one of our nieces also loved watching Heartland. USA Heartland Fans: Aww, wow. We love how Heartland brings our families together. Okay, Les, who shouts louder at the TV, or the most during an episode: You or your wife? Les: Me! My wife will make some comments about certain things, but my voice seems louder when things happen that surprise us or that we want to go differently. For example, Season 8 Episode 6, Ty and Amy meet on the road. Amy says: “I miss you.” And Ty responds: “Take care of yourself.” Me: WHAT! TY, YOU IDIOT! YOU JERK! One of many reactions; some bad, but most good, and some with tears in the eyes. USA Heartland Fans: Hahahaha, LOL. You shouting at the TV. I love it.What are 3 of your top/fav story lines in the past 9 Seasons? Les: I think it is easier to look at seasons versus story lines, but when you think of it, each season is a story line. #1 would be Season 8—from the uncomfortable reunion; (Ty) punching Prince Ahmed; Pike River; Jack and Ty in the barn loft—to the ending with the wedding (with Amy saying) “I married the boy in the loft.” {USA Heartland Fans: Aw, yes what a great moment}. Les: #2 would be the bonding of Jack and Ty in season 5 when Ty takes his dad's ashes to the lake. Then the hunter tells Jack that he thought Ty was his son. {USA Heartland Fans: Huh, OMG Les, YES! That whole episode}. Les: So many and they are all so good. #3 would be the moment that Ty tells Amy in Season 2, Episode 16—‘Ties that Bind’— when trying to rescue Spartan: Amy: I'm so sorry, I should have listened to you (...) I'm so stupid sometimes.” Ty: No you’re not; you’re just passionate. I'd do it again in a second. I'd to anything for you”.” USA Heartland Fans: Les, those are truly some amazing moments! When was the last time you watched an episode with your wife, and what episode was it? Les: Unfortunately, we do not get Heartland like those select few in the Northern areas. The last episode we have had the chance to watch together was Season 9, Episode 18. My wife does not like watching things on computers and is more patient than I am, so she wants to wait for Season 10 to be on TV. I am so hooked that I have to have my Heartland fix. I read social media, follow the productions, follow the stars, and watch whatever I can. And if there is a long break, I get into my DVDs (Seasons 1-9) and re-watch everything. Yes, I have watched from the beginning of Heartland about four times. It is such a great show. USA Heartland Fans: Okay, now *IF* you had creative control over the show, what would you do with the characters? Les: Amy and Ty will finally open their own clinic in the barn like they always planned and expand the ranch. With the baby on the way they will eventually have a small house built on the ranch. We then can watch their little "nugget" grow up for more seasons to come. This way we can relive Amy and her mom's relationship through Amy and her daughter. Maybe a son, but I think it needs to be a daughter for that reason. Tim and Casey get married, Georgie graduates and goes to college, Lou marries [redacted]. The directions are limitless, but exciting to think about. USA Heartland Fans: Hahaha; OMG! I love your [redacted]. That is so awesome. We have wanted that too… and seeing ‘Nugget Borden’ with mom and flashing back to Marion and Amy... PRICELESS! Okay, so *WHO* is your fav character and why? Les: My favorite character is Jack Bartlett. He is so laid back, except when it comes to Tim. He is such a grandfather; has the answers even when it is something you don't want to hear. Or he makes you come up with your own answer instead of telling you. He is also stern, but fair with discipline. Yet is a cream-puff when it comes to emotions and living in a house of estrogen. Thank god for Ty being close by. Lisa is the perfect wife for him. I have to add this as one of the best scenes: Jack owing Lisa $20 because Remi got back on his good side. USA Heartland Fans: Hehehe. We love that scene, too!. Dare we ask who your fav couple is? Though we think we know. Les: That is the hardest question, so many perfect ones. Has to be Jack and Lisa. USA Heartland Fans: YESSS! GO, "JISA"!   Why are they your fav couple? Les: They are the couple that just clicks together. They get on each other’s nerves, yet adore one another. They are not afraid to talk about difficult things even though sometimes it takes them extra time to bring it up. Lisa wanting Jack to meet with the lawyers; wearing a ring; taking a name. Just a great relationship, just wish Lisa would move into Heartland. USA Heartland Fans: Yes, we totally agree with that. Jack is your fav character but, who is your least fav and why? Les: Where do we begin? Season 2: Caleb; Season 4: Chase; Season 6: Jeremy, Season 7-8: Prince Ahmed, and then there was Dan Hartfield. Of course, I was not a big fan of Cassandra in the beginning until Amy needed a girlfriend, now I like her. But the winners are Chase and Prince Ahmed. Oh, wait. I forgot one. Jesse Stanton, he wins. Jesse Stanton: the spoiled rich kid that attacks Amy through Ty, Ty through Amy and tries to manipulate things so he can steal Heartland. Yes, has to be Jesse.(Tim was a jerk but I don't consider him as a least favorite. He was lost but now he's found. (And Casey is great for him.) USA Heartland Fans: All great choices. Okay, bonus question: You’ve mentioned “Jack-isms”, so we must ask: Which Jack-ism is your favorite? Les: My favorite Jack-ism was in Season 8, Episode 17—All I Need is You. Jack to Ty. Not really a Jack-ism, but… "Watching you grow up over these past eight years confirmed something that I’ve always believed. That the goodness in a man runs much deeper than one moment in time. You’re a good man, Ty Borden. I don't judge a man for his mistakes; it's what he does to repair those mistakes that count.” Runner-up: “For a bronc riders, Caleb, we think that eight seconds makes the man. Because that eight seconds feels like a lifetime. In a funny way marriage is like riding a bronc. There are twists and turns and the odd headache. But if you both ride it like there is no tomorrow, that lifetime together will feel like eight seconds.” Too bad it was wasted on the Caleb and Ashley’s wedding. USA Heartland Fans: Those are both excellent quotes from Jack. Thank you, Les, for your incredibly detailed answers. Is there anything you want to add? Les: Thank you; it was fun thinking back into episodes. I have followed this show more than any show ever. I was a true M*A*S*H fan with Alan Alda and Harry Morgan. Heartland bumped them to #2 all- time favorite. I have created notes on every episode of every season of Heartland, Titles, Songs, and highlights with some quotes. I would not say that I am obsessed but I am a very big fan of the show. And if they do not get renewed for a season 11 I will go into a mild depression just like I did when Hawkeye got on that chopper and watched Trapper drive away on his motorcycle (on M*A*S*H). Heartland has also introduced me to singers and songwriters that I may have never heard of or even listened to. Now I have collected not only the songs they sung for Heartland but other they have produced. Just another great benefit that Heartland has done not only for their fans but those that contributed to the shows success. Look at the actors that have had brief appearances on Heartland and then moved one to other ventures that have great success. One is Kit (Tatiana Maslany) Orphan Black. Another is Miranda Frigon who has been in many Hallmark movies and produced her first music album. USA Heartland Fans: All great points, Les! You provided us with so much amazing info about your likes and dislikes. You are definitely a true Heartland fan, and we're so pleased to have you on board here with the Group! Thanks for sharing your passion with us! ________ Stay tuned for our next "Celebrating Our Groupies".

[fanapparelsouvenirs]

Michigan State Spartans Trapper Hat Youth Size 4 thru 16 Green Nwt New BUY IT NOW – Michigan State Spartans Trapper Hat Youth Size 4 thru 16 Green Nwt New

[fanapparelsouvenirs]

Michigan State Spartans Trapper Hat Youth Size 4 thru 16 Green Nwt New BUY IT NOW – Michigan State Spartans Trapper Hat Youth Size 4 thru 16 Green Nwt New