#starstruck spoilers

[transformersweatpants]

Woe, wildly inconsistent Starstruck Odyssey designs be upon ye!

My commissions are open! / Vote on what season I do next!

[cakemoney]

these three shots in a row are so evocative

[archirenaux]

Rose Matafeo and Lorne MacFadyen as Jessie and Liam STARSTRUCK (2021-) | 3.03

[katzell]

Starstruck

Spoliers

I finished series three yesterday and I absolutely loved it.

The below contains spoilers for the series.

This was such a bittersweet ending to a thoughtful exploration of what it means when two people from very different worlds fall in love.

The first season played with the joy but also the embarrassment that comes with letting someone new see you. The heightened circumstances enhanced the themes of self doubt and mortification. It beautifully captures the awkwardness of your late twenties. Particularly if you aren’t sure yet what you want. Ultimately season 1 argues that this is the time to take major risks and to move through discomfort. Jessie can’t be happy unless she tries.

The second series explored what it means to really be in a relationship with someone who needs different things and the compromises you make to share your life, especially if those lives don’t naturally and easily overlap. Jessie finds that she cedes some of her independence by dating Tom, not because Tom is a bad boyfriend, but because it takes work to hold themselves together. Work is what love requires, and again that is pushed to extremes by the nature of Tom’s job. The series ends with Jessie and Tom begin again clear eyed and committed to doing the work this time.

But in series three, we open with a gorgeous montage chronicling the end of their relationship and the post-break up trauma. I know for many this felt unreasonably harsh. But if anything I found this season even more romantic. Continuing to circle each other and reach for each other, Jessie and Tom grapple with the truth that they are still in love and maybe always will be in love. It’s just that in being together they found their differences actually were insurmountable because they didn’t want the same things out of life. Children was probably the biggest obstacle. But beyond that were the realities of wildly different schedules. The difficulties of spending time with friends. They couldn’t help but disappoint each other.

But despite this, the series is hopeful. Tom’s fiancé is genuinely lovely, smart and fun. She appreciates Jessie and Tom’s mutual friends and shares Tom’s outlook on the industry. She understands his work in ways Jessie can’t. She is a good fit and Tom can be happy with her. Jessie meets an offbeat electrician whose sense of humor challenges her. He makes her nervous. He owns a van. He is sweet with her crazy friends. He fits into her life.

Jessie and Tom loved each other enormously. But love isn’t limited. It doesn’t run out. And the myth of only one true love won’t make them happy. Both their lives are better for having been together, even if it was only for a little while.

Starstruck was a beautiful show that really captured a specific time in life. It certainly reminded me of my life and my friends. And I’m glad this was the ending. I love happy endings. But for me, this was an aspirational ending.

[misandriste]

peneloise + gazing longingly at each other

BRIDGERTON, season 3 part 1

[unlikablefemaleprotagonist]

DIED: BORN:

tomorrow 2024

WELCOME BACK PLUG STRUTT

[faorism]

as suggested by @ghostlyeris drawn in a break from writing. [img desc in alt text]

[wreathedwith]

random unsophisticated thoughts about starstruck s3 that occurred to me as I watched it

(I kept writing 'Jesse' instead of 'Jessie' in this post because of Jesse Armstrong the brainrot is real.)

sorry but why do I feel like not knowing that ten pin bowling is two balls per turn is something distinctly Ivo Graham

He’s Tom Famous and he’ll always be Tom Famous!!!! (in jessie’s phone)

john simm???? in this economy????

(this was john simm's Staged)

(john simm was a surprise but I'm glad we also got minnie driver awful agent one more time)

I still love segal’s music for this show so so much.

Fun fact: the theatre in episode 3 is the same theatre rose matafeo filmed her stand up special Horndog at!

Why does al roberts have a photographic memory in this and also man like mobeen. Like, does he really have a photographic memory or

That friends getaway Airbnb in episode 4 looked sooo cozy that’s the dream right there

I want every single one of Rose’s sorry I mean Jessie’s jumpers

just especially fantastic hair from Rose this series too

rowan atkinson mention lol

Oh my god that final scene with Tom HURT and I cried but it was good. We’d already seen in episode one their relationship not working out – why would it be different this time? I kept thinking ‘how are they going to reconcile this?’ because kids is one of the big ones, and it’s something you really grapple with if you’re in a relationship in your early 30s, and so they just… didn’t. Nobody changed their mind. And that’s much more believable. I liked Liam (and his arms) a lot. I’m happy to send Jessie away on her ‘dunno’. I think she’ll be alright in the end. She’s pretty much alright now, actually. That’s what we’re all hoping for, aren’t we?

[fangirlingpuggle]

Think about time quangle alternate timeline where Barry ends up back in the future with just little wolf kid and everyone else is like Barry...what and Barry just like 'Yeah I think i'm a dad now?'

'You adopted a kid?'

'I mean not really she kinda didn't give me a choice in it'

Just Ylfa in wurst playing with Auroa Nebins while in her wolf form, giant wolf beast form with guns. Barry trying frantically to keep his tiny barbarian daughter safe and away form fire fights while still being so proud of her.

'Hell yeah Ylfa's in the zone...OH NO YLFA'S IN THE ZONE'

Also him gifting guns/cyber axe and like 'SHE NEEDS TO PROTECT HERSELF'

'Barry she can turn into a wolf, we have literally seen her eat someone, it's like Auroa and the turtles'

'Yes and the cyber axe is to stop that'

Ylfa at Bob's fantanimaland and being utterly enamored with it.

Her totally nearly joining/trying to make friends with the girl guides.

Barry Nyne meeting her after being deslugged and just openly sobbing I'M AN UNCLE.

Just Ylfa with found family crew of the Wurst.

[workingwhileidream]

Okay Burrow's End had me thinking some thoughts... So here are my favorite Dimension 20 moments that rotate like a rotisserie chicken in my brain (in no particular order other than the order I thought if them).

- Riz goes into the butthole of the Corn Ooze Monster (Fantasy High). The first absolutely insane shenanigans move anyone makes on D20, setting the tone the show will have forever.

- Raphaniel kills Queen Pamelia (Ravening War). I think I saw Brennan's soul leave his body briefly when he got that How Do You Want To Do This from Matt. Time was an absolute flat circle that day.

- Hank convinces Brennan to let him role savvy instead of sneak (Mentopolis). Hank is one of the most famous content creators, having him on the show was phenomenal to begin with. Then right out of the gate, he pulls this move in his first episode. And it just works. Hilarious, instantly iconic.

- Jet Dies (A Crown of Candy). When Lapin dies, it is shocking but I wasn't attached to him as a character. Lapin was a bit antagonistic and his death happens early in the season. On the other hand, Jet is instantly likeable. Emily and Siobhan are amazing as siblings, their performances this campaign are some of my favorites. I have siblings and I am very close to them, so this hit me like a ton of bricks.

- The entire epilogue of Burrow's End. "Are you pitching and Air Bud ending?" is one of the instant hall of fame quotes from this show. I started crying I was laughing so hard.

- Ylfa's bottleneck and the TPK (Neverafter). There are so many close calls for total party kills in Dimension 20 history, but this is where it finally happens and it's only 3 episodes in. I was on edge, expecting another TPK at any turn, for the rest of the campaign.

- 3 nat one initiative rolls for the battle that literally opens the season (A Starstruck Odyssey). The beginning of a new season is always full of excitement. This season was extra special, having everyone back in the dome after the pandemic and the season being based off Brennan's Mom's comics. The zoom energy is still in the air and I still think about this season opener a lot.

- Mother Timothy Goose breaks Snow White's concentration with a cantrip (Neverafter). Only Ally Beardsley could and we all damn well know it. Still didn't stop me from being so far in disbelief that all I could do is laugh.

- Hob's "You will never know another lonely day" speech to Rue (A Court of Fey and Flowers). I will still cry about this if I think about it for too long. Rue and Hob's romance is the heart of this season to me. I won't be over it ever.

- Gertrude convinces Nyruth to give the Questing Queens very powerful boons after the Queens tried to rob them only a few hours earlier (Dungeons and Drag Queens). The fact that this season exists drives a level of serotonin into my brain that is unimaginable. This is the definition of a big swing and when Bob rolls well, Brennan has no other choice than to honor it. This is one of the moments I have made a meme of. I cannot wait for season 2.

- Wuuvy shows up to the duel and she did not come to play (A Court of Fey and Flowers). Aabria has talked about how Wuuvy is one of her favorite NPCs and I feel the same. Wuuvy and Rue's relationship has such a great arc and this moment is so pivotal.

- Fabian's no good very bad day (Fantasy High Sophomore Year). An iconic moment in D20 history that was truly wild to watch live. For everything to go so fantastically bad for Fabian and Lou was unprecedented. There is a reason why people still talk about this moment to this day.

- Amathar survives being pushed off the castle (A Crown of Candy). Brennan tried to kill Lou so many times in this campaign. I really thought Brennan had gotten him with this one, my stomach sunk. But Lou pulls it out and Amathar lives once again.

- Pib plays "Smoke on the Water" (Neverafter). "I stepped out to play 'Smoke on the Water' " is also a hall of fame quote to me. This list could be all Pib moments if I'm being honest, he's my favorite Zac character. And the fact that Zac doesn't roll well makes this moment funnier to me.

- Buddy Bear gets planted with the All Blossom (Dungeons and Drag Queens). Jujubee and Brennan owe me a therapy session for this one. I sobbed. My cat is my baby and I will be ruined the day she leaves me, so I get it. I really do.

- "Eat your dice, Brennan" (Fantasy High Sophomore Year). A great bit made physically possible by Siobhan. I hope Siobhan gives him gummy dice or something like that so that Brennan can continue to eat his dice for Junior Year.

- Orange Top Hat Fairy (Neverafter). It's a horror season and the cast is doing bits about how hot a mini is the entire finale and the Adventuring Party that followed. I felt the stress and off the walls energy through the screen. The Smooth Criminal pin was the first piece of Dimension 20 merch I bought.

- Viola's epic takedown of Phoebe (Burrow's End). Watching Rashawn absolutely crush it her first time in the dome was amazing. I loved Viola from the jump, her arc was so satisfying and fun to watch. Also the idea of a tiny stoat kicking a gun just the right way to get it to fire is hilarious. No notes other than please have Rashawn come back on every season she possibly can.

- Evan Kelmp warns the Rosemont student not to duel him (Misfits and Magic). Brennan's deadpan warning matched with the reactions of the other players and Aabria really make this scene. An underrated Brennan moment for sure.

- Stacey Fakename turns out to be real (Mentopolis). This was such a good reoccurring bit, so to have Stacey be real at the end of the story was too funny. In a season of bits, tropes, and puns - this one has the most payoff to me and is definitely my favorite.

[cakemoney]

i'm on ep 6 of the starstruck odyssey (30 minutes in) and i'm just here to say. if the political machinations of the slug dynasty don't end up being somehow pivotal to the plot i'm going to be very disappointed

[archirenaux]

Rose Matafeo and Lorne MacFadyen as Jessie and Liam STARSTRUCK (2021-) | 3.02

[sea-buns]

I really like how they had that one bit in fhsy where Gorgug was "Skipper" while the van was a boat, and then Zac WAS Skipper in aso as the crew's pilot, and now Gorgug is quite literally the pilot of a flying ship. It's all coming together under Airitime Law.

[twinstxrs]

idk if this is accurate but i’ve felt like in previous seasons riz & gorgug have been one of the inter-bad kids dynamics we’ve seen the least of & this season has been so great in that aspect. gorgug having helped make some of riz’s magic gear. riz helping gorgug with his studies. the shared birthday party. gorgug’s gift to riz being something he himself made to protect riz. riz’s gift to gorgug being something he illegally grabbed to protect gorgug. gorgug who utilizes rage to put his body on the line for his friends & riz who will take deep levels of mental stress for his friends. even though it was within the context of a joke, riz calling gorgug an “absolute sweetie.” like yea they might not be in a band together or both part of a presidential campaign team or owlbears teammates, but they’d go to war for each other, because they’re best friends.

[tosailuponthesea]

if I had a nickel for every time the PC’s on Dimension 20 successfully pulled off IMPROMPTU SURGERY in less than ideal conditions despite being WILDLY unqualified I’d have FOUR NICKELS which frankly IS a lot and it’s INSANE it happened at all, much less multiple times across unrelated campaigns!!

edit: it didn’t actually happen four times, it happened FIVE TIMES

[thepringlesofblood]

at some point the gods of dnd decided that Lou Wilson specifically is a magnet for doing impromptu surgery without a medical license and somehow it works every time against all odds and I am frankly gobsmacked