#that 90s show 2x01

[aflawedfashion]

Donna Pinciotti | That 90s Show 2x01

[winnie-the-monster]

😂 oh, Jay bless your heart.

[that90sgifs]

2x01 || 2x02

[northernexposuregifs]

I'm sensing a "but" here somewhere.

[harveyguilleniconodelamoda]

Costume Spotlight: Guillermo's Sweaters in Season 2

At long last, I'm returning to the sweater pile to do a deep dive on our favorite knit-clad vampire slayer, Guillermo de la Cruz. In season one, Guillermo wore sixteen different sweaters across the season's ten episodes. In my first post I did an overview of the different types of knits and some of the little character nods I noticed in the later episodes.

Guillermo wears fourteen different sweaters across season 2, with roughly half of those being new sweaters for the season--there's one I can't quite decide if it's a new sweater or the same one he wore in 1x02 to the city council meeting, but in different lighting. That being said, someone give me his thrifting skills (and storage skills)! This is also the season where he debuts his iconic slayer trench coat and stake bandolier, but I'll do a separate post on those.

Season two's sweaters are heavy on the Fair Isle knits and cardigans, with many appearances of a new fuzzy red striped cardigan that debuts in 2x01 (pictured above). I almost think of this as Guillermo's character development cardigan, because of when he wears it throughout the season:

2x01- Just before he slays his first vampire assassin of the season.

2x08 - When he tells Nandor about Celeste's offer and then leaves.

2x09 - Throughout the episode, where we see him taking a break for the first time and refusing to listen to Nadja trying to get him to end it early, when he finds a way out of the room of doors for himself, Nadja, and Colin Robinson, and when he comes up with a compromise to save Laszlo, Colin Robinson, and Nandor from the witches.

2x10 - At his mom's apartment when he's talking about why he left, and to the Theatre when he slays all the vampires and rescues Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, and Colin Robinson.

He also debuts a fourth Coogi sweater in 2x01, this one a vertical striped pattern with dark navy and turquoise elements.

Yet another new addition to the sweater collection is this gorgeous brown and red Fair Isle v-neck pullover with a solid brown collar and cuffs. It's similar to a sweater he wears in season 1, but better fitted and with a nicer pattern.

Another noticeable new addition is this blue and gold Fair Isle v-neck from 2x06:

I want to see if there are more appearances of this one in later seasons, as it only appears in this one episode of season 2 as far as I can tell.

There's this geometric gray and black mosaic knit cardigan he wears in 2x07 to consider:

And of course, the iconic yellow cardigan and rainbow turtleneck combo from 2x08:

This sweater is such a departure from everything else he wears! So much brighter, while also being less dated. Most of Guillermo's sweaters (the fuzzy cardigan that screams 2013 aside) look like something from the 80s or 90s found in a vintage shop...or a grandparent's attic. This cardigan stands out as a very clearly modern take on a retro style (I'd say late 60s/early 70s), like something you'd get from ModCloth, and is a thinner material than most of his others as well.

Is he dressing to fit into his new household? Or is this the kind of thing Guillermo would rather wear, in an environment where he feels more comfortable and supported? We never see this sweater again, even as Guillermo gains more power and respect in Nandor's household, and we never see him wear anything like it again, either, so it's hard to say.

Lastly, there's this Intarsia knit cardigan in brown and green that appears for this hilarious brief moment in 2x10:

Season 1 Sweater Appearances

In addition to his new sweaters, Guillermo reprises several sweaters from season 1. His gray Fair Isle cardigan from 1x05 and 1x10:

This heavily textured Coogi cardigan from 1x06-1x08, as well as 1x10:

The first Coogi (or Coogi-esque) sweater from season 1, with the horizontal pattern and red accents:

The lovely bird-patterned Fair Isle from 1x02 that will continue to show up all the way through season 5, and even in a promo photo from season 6:

And this thing, which I still can't decide if it's a brand-new sweater in different lighting, or the sweater Guillermo wore to the city council meeting in 1x02:

I don't have a ton of information on knitting styles to include this time, a I covered a lot of that ground in the season 1 post, but I do think it's interesting that Guillermo in this season wears some more vivid colors (the addition of more reds for him this season is especially intriguing), better fitting sweaters, and higher quality ones. While of course this could simply be due to a bigger budget for the show's sophomore season, I also think it's part of an ongoing evolution of Guillermo's style over the course of the show.

As he gains more confidence, it begins to show in his wardrobe. He even unbuttons that top button on his shirt a few times this season! And as he comes into his own more and more as a powerful vampire slayer, I think his clothes echo that as well.

What's your favorite season 2 Guillermo sweater? And would you be interested in a chart showing all the appearances of each sweater over the course of the show? Or is that just me.

[leighlew3]

What were the aspects of Supergirl (show in general or character) that resonated with you personally?

First and foremost, Kara herself... as someone with a ton of trauma, who would have every reason to do not so great things or wield her power for evil, yet does good things and channels her energy into trying to help people -- she's amazing. She is someone who feels isolated a lot of the time and struggles with anger issues but ultimately is such a light and a good person and somebody that just wants to do good for the world, even when it's not always appreciated or understood. Even if it means constant self sacrifice.

I relate to pretty much all of that.

I also loved the idea of Supercorp obviously, because it was such an epic tale in how they were so similar but so different and so inherently fated to be side by side. It could've been so successful if canon romantic on the show instead of just baited. Taking the decades-old lore of Super vs Luthor and instead turning into Super & Luthor -- a story of hate turned into a love story -- that's an incredible concept, and so rich and full of so much storytelling potential. Them just being friends is the 'lite' version of turning that lore on its head. But to go even deeper would've been nothing short of revolutionary.

Alas, instead they chose to tarnish the show's legacy and taint the good it DID do elsewhere in LGBTQ representation (because YES a show can have ancillary rep but still queerbait a lead dynamic -- especially when it's bait that existed before any other rep was even introduced on the show) ...by choosing to be one of the worst examples of queerbait in TV history (due to all of the romanic tropes and parallels and teases and lack of denials by TPTB who very clearly wanted people to stay tuned in based on hope for canon endgame since that very first Clois parallel in 2x01). It was also just an absolute waste of creative potential and true travesty that ultimately only hurt the show and cast and fans and everyone involved, whether everyone is ready to admit it or not.

Anyway, I enjoyed the fact that so many of the characters -- from Kara and Lena (these two especially), to Alex, Nia, and Kelly... so many of them came loaded with one form of trauma or another, but they still were ultimately inherently good people, a great example of 'found family', and heroic as heck in the end, no matter how dark it got at times for some. In large part because they had each other. I mean, I wish they all weren't LITERAL superheroes or supernatural by the end because I think the show (amongst numerous other issues) lost sight of their own messaging that "anyone can be a hero even without powers" but -- they really were inherently such good / ripe characters, the women especially (plus Brainy and J'onn).

Sure, they all (again, the women especially) often were sadly let down by superficial or just plain poor writing and overall creative direction a lot of the time, especially in the end -- but at the core, everyone could find something to relate to in at least one character, if not multiple characters, and that's great.

I know much like fans of Dana Scully in the 90s, a LOT of girls/women were inspired to get into STEM over this last decade now because of Katie McGrath's portrayal of Lena Luthor. And even more people related to Lena's trauma as a survivor of lifelong abuse at the hands of her family and especially her unhinged brother. Seeing that someone can slip into darkness as the result of years of sadistic mind games and abuse of all kinds but still come out the other side a hero, empowered, and a good person who helps others and is capable of loving and deserving of being loved? That's beautiful, and Lena offered that to SO many viewers, so it's no wonder she was a top fan favorite second only to the lead herself. And seeing how that impacted people, was so very moving.

Seeing people impacted by Alex's coming out arc in Season 2 was amazing. Having the first trans superhero on TV was amazing. And so on...

Look, there's a lot the show did wrong. In fact, possibly more was done poorly or wrong than well or good, overall, unfortunately. Alas, there were some little sparks of light to be truly appreciated.

But again, for me, I connected most to Kara's story, her strength, her dichotomy, and her indelible sense of HOPE... despite every reason at times to give up. And to the Kara/Lena love story, in all its infinite, incredible, and still mostly untapped potential.

[maidenimage]

90 minutes

I couldn't sleep, so I got on my computer and edited season 2 down to just the present-day Crowley/Aziraphale scenes, just to see how much time that fills.

The answer is: approximately 145 minutes (or 2 hrs 25 min).

I removed everything that didn't have either of them in it, as well as the minisode flashbacks. Here's how each episode tallies up:

2x01: 0:33:45

2x02: 0:18:58 Job Minisode is an additional 0:25:36

2x03: 0:19:12 Edinburgh Minisode is an additional 0:18:25

2x04: 0:05:36 Nazis Minisode is an additional 0:32:48

2x05: 0:27:19

2x06: 0:40:03 (like basically the entire episode, not much fat to trim here)

Keep in mind that this is not a story edit; meaning there are scenes that I cut out that probably would have been in the season if we were genuinely trying to whittle it down to movie-length but keep the integrity of the story. (This includes scenes such as Muriel bringing the matchbox to Michael and Uriel, Shax in Hell talking to Beelzebub, all the Gabriel/Beelzebub flashbacks in episode 6, etc.) But it's late and I don't have time to do that right now, so this is the rough framework we're working with.

Here's my takeaway:

Can season 3 be sliced and diced into one 90-minute episode/movie? Yeah, probably. Are we going to lose a lot of the heart of the show and the characters in doing so? Definitely. Because in order to edit season 2 down into 90 minutes while still keeping the story in tact, I would probably have to add back some of the non-Aziracrow scenes, and cut the following:

The "Before the beginning" scene with Angel Crowley starting up the universe (which we can all agree would be a devastating loss; but doesn't directly tie to present day)

Most likely, the apology dance (because it's long and isn't strictly speaking necessary, except TO ME ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL)

Most if not all of the scenes of Aziraphale convincing the various shopkeepers to attend the meeting (which would gut me, but is objectively not necessary to the story)

A great deal of the Maggie/Nina story (would probably keep some of it, but most of it is superfluous)

A lot of the Gabriel/Jim scenes (which are adorable but are there for entertainment, and not story)

A great deal of the Crowley/Jim scene where he confronts him about telling Aziraphale to shut his stupid mouth and die. Parts of this sequence were important, but a lot of it would have been axed/shortened.

The scene of Aziraphale driving the Bentley and Crowley calling him, furious about everything (which would break my heart to lose)

All of the minisode flashbacks (which would be the MOST tragic thing to do to this content, but objectively none of it was needed for the season 2 plot)

All of Shax gathering the demon troops and Eric arguing with her (which, I wouldn't cry about losing, but still shows you the flavor of the show that would be gone)

Other Hell scenes (e.g. Beelzebub and the dung pits demon)

Other Heaven scenes (e.g. Michael and Uriel arguing over duty officer etc)

A great deal of the demons/bookshop battle (to shorten it up/tighten it)

A great deal of Crowley in Heaven investigating Gabriel's trial/disappearance (again just to shorten/tighten, but not lose completely)

And again, this is all stuff that could easily be cut and the story of season 2 would remain the same, but look at how much of what makes this show so great would be lost.

Ultimately, I'm not here to tell you how to feel. I can tell you what I feel, which is outraged and devastated and grieving and ready to storm studios with pitchforks and a frothy mouth. But I recognize that the Terry Pratchett estate went to bat for us in a big way, and we owe them everything we get in this upcoming finale.

I have other thoughts on this whole nonsense, but I'll save that for another post. Just wanted to provide some numbers data for folks who are curious about what could reasonably be done in 90 minutes. Hope this helps in some way.

@goodomensafterdark @fuckyeahgoodomens

[zalrb]

PLL 2x01 Review - As Per Anon Request (this has been in my drafts for forever)

I have never before seen so many people in this damn town.

Emily's constantly-trying-to-cry lookin ass.

I love how none of them are acting like Spencer was nearly murdered.

Like, her brother-in-law nearly killed her and she can just have a sleepover? Her parents don't want her with them? Melissa is in the hospital. Like, that family is going through a trauma. WHAT?

"A is not Jenna." "Are you sure?" "A sees everything, Hanna." Spencer's tired delivery is hilarious because she's basically just being like she is BLIND, Hanna.

Emily making sense. "We should tell someone about her, him, it. What's the worse that can happen?" Because really. One of you was hit by the car and the other was nearly murdered by her brother-in-law.

We have SO much to lose. I mean do you, Aria?? HANNA WAS HIT BY A CAR AND SPENCER WAS NEARLY STRANGLED.

I asked for the parents and the parents are just there like idk, maybe Ian tried to kill you, maybe he didn't, but you know the optics are pretty bad so go to a grief counsellor. LOL OK.

It's just sending me that they're looking their kids in the face being like I mean, who knows if Ian tried to kill you.

"There's a REASON why you haven't heard from Ian. It's because he's dead." "Dead men don't just get up and walk away." "We TOLD you someone moved him!" "Who would do that? And why?" Spencer's mom's delivery is hilarious because she's like, listen to yourselves, which fine, but really, why isn't Ian around then, parental figures?

Who is Jason.

Christmas is back!

He wasn't even expelled? He was just suspended? How long was this suspension?

LOL. Mona is terrible but she is a real one, she is a ride or die friend. And Hanna is an awful friend to her.

The camera cutting to the girl gossiping about Hanna walking away so we can see her in the skinny jeans when Mona says look at her bony ass in those jeans is actually diabolical.

Ezra and his psycho killer eyes.

Asking a sixteen year old girl "are we over" at your big age is insane.

Does Toby not have a phone? Text him.

"WHERE IS HE?" Bro, he's dead.

Emily's additions to conversations are 85-90% unnecessary.

LOL they are MINORS, their faces wouldn't be on the front page paper.

Also how are they only seeing the paper now? It's the end of the day.

Also they really need to stop making them say A's messages in unison, besides it being corny af, they never get it quite in unison.

It would be more of a reveal if they didn't show Caleb getting out of the car with Luke. But whatever.

Hanna and Caleb are Forwood-coded.

You're not allowed to look at me like that. And this is the face

But I get it though because I see him trying to do The Stare. It's just ... they don't actually have chemistry and they're not great actors so it's this.

There should be so much more tension and charge here. But alas.

STILL BETTER THAN TSITP.

See... "I love you." "I believe you. But you should probably go." *picks up his bag* that's too easy. That's basically like, "shit, alright. Let me pack up." If you're not going to have her be the one to walk away, which is how a lot of these things go

then have her at least repeat it or have her turn around, but picking up the bag immediately after is unintentionally funny.

I don't know. If my friend's ex gave me a letter to give to them I'd give it to them or at least tell them I had it, but I always found the outrage in scenes like this to be overblown.

It's hilarious how no one on this show acts like they've suffered a trauma. Melissa, you were in a car accident. Spencer, you were nearly killed. So were you Hanna. The only person who complains is fucking Aria.

Topless Ezra is funny to me. Because he's obviously not out of shape, his body is fine, I'm just saying when we got topless Stefan, it was this

and I just hate too much about Ezra and Ezria that this

is just might as well keep a shirt on.

THEY ARE SO BORING.

You. Look. Like. You. Are. Going. To. KILL. her.

You think we should tell the therapist? *conspiracy voice* But guys, what if A is the therapist??

I don't even know what a conspiracy voice is but that was my voice when I said that.

Ian's alive! Or maybe A who has supernatural powers heard you say Taylor and so said Taylor.

Un.serious. Show.

[douwatahima]

Oooookay. So I finished my seventh watch through of season 2 yesterday and I finally feel equipped to give my personal ranking of all 18 OFMD episodes. No one asked for this but here it is lol. Also I gave them all a score out of ten and tiered them all by said score because I'm very normal. LET'S GO.

6/10 - These Are Kinda Meh

18. 1x02: A Damned Man - To me, this is the most forgettable episode of the whole show. I mean, it's not awful or anything (it's still OFMD), but I have literally nothing to say about it. It's just kinda there.

17. 2x06: Calypso's Birthday - There's things in this episode I like (everything with Ned Lowe is good imo), but the whole party sequence, which takes up about half the episode, feels so empty to me. At first it didn't bother me that much, but then Samba revealed what the original plan was and knowing that at one point this episode had a plot has made the incredible lack of one we got soooo much more noticeable.

16. 1x03: The Gentleman Pirate - Introduction of Spanish Jackie, Magic Man, Ed and Stede meeting for the first time, there's definitely good stuff here. However, it gets sooooooooo much better than this.

7/10 - Good and Fun, Just Not My Fave

15. 2x07: Man on Fire - There is so much in this episode I like. Ed and Stede having breakfast in bed makes me feel insane. Stede and Zheng fighting ruled so hard. FRENCHIE SCHEMEING WITH THE CREW!!! The biggest thing is that there's so much in this episode that nothing really gets room to breathe. With like…five more minutes this episode could've been peak.

14. 1x06: The Art of Fuckery - This falls under the category of "episodes that are good, but there are others I like way more". The bathtub scene is of course peak, but in a season with some really incredible stuff this episode doesn't particularly stick out to me.

13. 2x04: Fun and Games - Same as the previous episode. I love the whole "Seabird" sequence, Ed and Stede's little heart to heart, and of course Anne and Mary's everything, but there are so many more episodes I love way more.

8/10 - I'm Incredibly Fond of These

12. 1x07: This is Happening - Fun fact I originally had this in the last category but then I remembered the co-captains scene and I knew I had to bump it up lmao. There's soooo much peak OFMD in here. The snake scene! Lucius calling Ed out!!! The previously mentioned co-captains scene!!!!! The only reason this isn't higher is because around my…fifteenth rewatch I found myself kinda getting bored with the Jim's nana subplot (sorry Jim).

11. 1x01: Pilot - OHHHHH I AM SO FOND OF THE PILOT. There's definitely some clunkiness in this episode imo (it is the first one after all), but the feeling I get when I boot up this episode is unparalleled. Frenchie starts singing and my heart soars. Also the entire "High on a Rocky Ledge" sequence is beautiful even all these months later.

10. 1x08: We Gull Way Back - 90% of my love for this episode is that I find Will Arnett very funny. This episode also gave us "The Chain" sequence including the foot touch heard around the world. ALSO ROOM PEOPLE!!! I love this one.

09. 2x01: Impossible Birds - The biggest fault of this episode is that it premiered alongside two of the best episodes of OFMD ever and this one slightly pales in comparison. That being said, it's a very strong season opener. Also, I am personally obsessed with the "Strawberry Letter 23" sequence. AND THE CAKE TOPPERS I CAN'T BELIEVE I ALMOST FORGOT THE CAKE TOPPERS!!!!!

08. 1x04: Discomfort in a Married State - I AM SOOOOOO FOND OF THIS ONE. The way the first half of the episode parallels Ed/Izzy and Stede/Mary only to spend the second half juxtaposing those two relationships against Ed/Stede? Masterful. The way Ed and Stede's relationship develops so naturally? Beautiful. THE LIGHTHOUSE SCENE? INCREDIBLE. WHAT AN EPISODE!

9/10 - I'm Genuinely Mad These Didn't Make Top 5

07. 2x05: The Curse of the Seafaring Life - The way this episode had me giggling and kicking my feet in real life after I first saw it. There's nothing not to like here. Ed and Fang fishing, Lucius and Pete getting engaged, THE SUIT…all incredible. Not to mention we got "you wear fine things well" version 2.0 with the best kiss in the whole show!

06. 1x05: The Best Revenge is Dressing Well - I love everything about this one. Ed and Stede at the fancy party, Lucius kicking Izzy's ass with the power of polyamory, Frenchie and Olu scamming racists…when I think of quintessential OFMD, this is the episode I think of. And of course the original version of "you wear fine things well" lives within my very soul.

10/10 - I Feel Mentally Ill About These Ones

05. 2x02: Red Flags - To start off, I really liked getting Lucius back and his whole subplot with Stede was really really great. Now that that point's out of the way HOLY SHIT EVERYTHING WITH ED IN THIS EPISODE WHAT THE FUCK. THE SCENE BETWEEN ED AND IZZY IS LITERALLY GOD TIER. ED PAINTED THE BRIDE TO LOOK LIKE HIMSELF AND I STILL HAVEN'T RECOVERED. "RUN FROM ME"? LIKE...IN GENERAL??? CRAZY. AND THEN ED SAYING "FINALLY" WHEN HE GETS THE CREW TO KILL HIM? INSANE. THEY WERE INSANE FOR THIS.

04. 1x09: Act of Grace - I mean, listen. I've talked about this a lot but it bears repeating. Staying up until 2am to watch this episode when it premiered and seeing Ed and Stede ACTUALLY KISS changed me as a person. I am different because I experienced that. Not to mention the rest of this episode is peak. Ed calling for the act of grace, the crew voting Olu as captain, the entire "Perfect Day" sequence, just incredible all around.

03. 2x08: Mermen - God this show can do a good finale. I will never stop being bowled over by how much I love this one. The "Moscow" scene? Sexy as hell. Ed and Stede reuniting and Ed telling Stede he loves him? I've watched it three thousand times. THE LETTER? THEY WROTE THEIR NAMES ON EACH OTHER IN PERMANENT INK!!! Also, even though it's highly controversial to say, I thought Izzy's death scene was very very good. Not to mention the entire last few minutes set to "The Times They Are A-Changin'" makes me feel so incredibly soft. I love OFMD soooooo much.

02. 2x03: The Innkeeper - Listen. If this whole episode sucked but it still included the mermaid scene I would still have it this high. That being said, this whole episode is sooooo incredibly good. The opening sequence with Zheng manipulating the rival captain is so well done. Ed in the gravy basket is crazy from beginning to end. Stede plotting to get the crew to safety is peak Stede and I love it. And somehow, after all of that, the episode also ends with one of the most incredible sequences I have ever seen. Watching a man who thought he was fundamentally unlovable get brought back to life because of how much he's loved while "This Woman's Work" plays in the background will follow me forever. Just…some of the most beautiful shit ever put to film.

1000/10 - THE GOAT NO OTHER NEED APPLY

01. 1x10: Wherever You Go, There You Are - I AM SO SERIOUS WHEN I SAY THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EPISODES OF TELEVISION OF ALL TIME. The way Ed and Stede's plots through this episode are juxtaposed against each other makes me feel feral. The way that Stede is so out of place and closed off from his family while Ed is actively healing and bonding with the crew ONLY FOR THESE TWO PLOTS TO FLIP WHEN THEY EACH TALK TO THE PERSON WHO REPRESENTED A NONFUNCTIONING RELATIONSHIP TO THEM ALL THE WAY BACK IN EPISODE FOUR! THE WAY MARY AND STEDE GETTING TO TALK AND BE HONEST AND LET EACH OTHER GO ALLOWS STEDE TO FINALLY GROW AND BE HAPPY WHILE IZZY HANGING ON TO THAT TOXIC RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF HIS MIGHT AND NOT LETTING ED GROW AND CHANGE WITHOUT HIM FORCES ED BACK INTO THE PITS OF DESPAIR!!! The entire "Avalanche" sequence breaks my heart in the absolute best way and seeing Ed do all this terrible shit with no more spark left in his usually super expressive eyes hurts so good! And then, of course, there's my favourite part of all. Seeing Stede, a man who has been so lost and unmoored, row out into the ocean looking more settled than we've ever seen him while Mary says he's now free and that freedom coming completely from Stede realizing he's in love with another man is something that feels so personally assuring to me I can't even fully express it. The entire "Miles from Nowhere" sequence is incredible to me (and to this day that song is thee OFMD needle drop in my opinion) but that part especially is my favourite thing this show has ever given me hands down. Thank you David Jenkins for my life.

[kkf]

During a rewatch of Buffy over the summer, it hit me that 2x01 is such an interesting take on PTSD. Throughout the episode, Buffy ticks so many symptom boxes.

Involuntary Flashbacks & Hypervigilance

Difficulty Trusting Others

Self Destructive Behavior

(I mean that, within the context of the show, Buffy dancing with Xander when she didn’t have stronger feelings for him sabotaged her friendships with Willow and Xander, as well as her romantic relationship with Angel - not that dancing with a person is in itself a destructive behavior, just to clarify)

Irritability

(When Cordelia calls you out on being unpleasant, you know it’s bad.)

The episode did a pretty good job challenging the social norms and stigmas around mental health that were still prevalent in the 90s. When Willow and Xander suggest her recent attitude change is the result of possession, a nice throw back to ancient times when mental health was understood to be caused by the supernatural.

It’s a conscious choice to have Giles, the show’s resident supernatural expert, be the one to suggest a more scientific reason for Buffy’s behavior.

Showing Giles, Willow, Xander and Angel watch as she wails away at the source of her trauma adds another layer of reality to the recovery process. So many family and friends of trauma survivors can feel helpless as they watch their person wrestled with their “inner demons.”

The end, however, is bittersweet for me. It’s the one place where I feel the show really reproduces and perpetuates the 90s mental health sensibilities. I love the last scene between Buffy, Willow, and Xander, where the latter two welcome back their friend.

That visual of Buffy’s support system still making space for her, saying “we’re here when you’re ready” is a powerful one. But it’s marred by the fact that the show ultimately never revisits this particular trauma nor does Buffy ever seek help from a mental health professional. Throughout the run of Buffy, there are a few occasions where therapists make an appearance. But after her first experience with actually dying, Buffy and company just continue on as though her mental health just “fixed” itself with one good crying jag.

Given the popularity of the show at the time, I have to ask how much societal good it could have done to have depicted its heroine getting treatment for her mental health. With the reach of Buffy the Vampire Slayer at the time, I think it could have made a serious dent in the stigmas surrounding not just those suffering from mental illnesses but the treatments for the illnesses themselves.

[nikadd]

trying to do some math. castiel is introduced in spn 4x01. eddie is introduced in 911 2x01. now, 911 is in its 7th season. so that’s the 6th season of buck and eddie knowing each other. the 6th season of dean and cas knowing each other would be 9th season. BUT eddie was in 90 episodes of the show so far. cas’s 90th episode was in season 12. im trying to see what this means

[raayllum]

just want to say thank you so much for appreciating season 4 so much tdp <3 i dont really understand why it is so disliked;  not without his problems, but still sweet, sad and thoughtful

Yeah it's like... 4x01-4x02 is the only time the show is presumably going to have any time for anything remotely resembling filler, which the previous three seasons also had some brief shares of (1x05, 2x04, honestly 3x01 for how much its two plotlines are drawn out the whole ep, and Rayllum's plot line in 3x02). So just like those filler eps, early S4 spends time getting us re-acquainted with the bulk of the main cast (everyone but Rayla really) and the ways they and the world are either different now, or have stayed the same, i.e.

Corvus and Callum have more than two lines of dialogue with each other, Soren is fully integrated as a crown guard, Ezran is being king in a very Ezran-y way (both good and bad), Callum is the same but also fronting and much more serious, and Claudia's stability is hanging on by a thread. Then 4x02 kicks off the plot for Claudia's side of things, and technically also for Callum (and Rayla) with Rayla's arrival, but 4x03 has to accordingly deal with some of that fallout. Claudia's actions directly kick off the plot, and then it's travel and stopping Aaravos time from 4x04 onwards (which again, is structured very similarly to 1x01-1x03 and 2x01-2x03 being the Castle / Moon Nexus arcs respectively). 4x04 gets the audience caught up with the fanatics (S4 is the first season to actually explain what type of elf Aaravos is - a Startouch elf - that he's ancient, etc etc), and Claudia and co. are also given what they need (Sir Sparklepuff) to be set into motion.

As you can see, I don't think the plot of the season bothered people (something if not multiple things are established every episode) but I do think people found some of the character interactions lacking. Which - I'd rather have people be awkward and unfair and not entirely honest with others than themselves and acting like people than anything else. Claudia can be awkward with over sharing (per usual) and Callum can be shut down (it's an interesting character turn and not an entirely unexpected one).

Like I genuinely feel bad for people who were disappointed or didn't like S4! It sucks when a show you love has a bad season you didn't enjoy, and it's not as though that's never happened to me. I just think I've typically either 1) borne it better, 2) got over it and looked at what the show was trying to do to, or 3) saw it coming ahead of time and left, lmao.

Like S4 of Infinity Train is really good but not nearly (to me) on the same level of S3, yet I know people how prefer it, and yeah - it does come down to preferences. JWCC S4 feels like it lost sight of what the show was (a simple fun premise executed very well) by adding in too many elements; I didn't make it past ep3, and the previous season had wrapped up 90% of what I was emotionally invested in anyway and works pretty well as a total finale. TDP wasn't this, as there were still a lot of loose ends following S3, and I think S4 carried them on just fine as well as setting up so many interesting things ahead (much the same way S1 did, and kind of to be expected when Arc 1 was so wrapped up). Getting to see the characters (somewhat) enjoy peace while not knowing the events were in motion to see it all come crashing down was a great sense of dramatic irony, iMO.

Anyway, I loved S4 plenty when I watched it for the first time, and I love it even more now! It's my 3rd fave season, which considering how much I adore and have nostalgia for S1, is saying something. If this is the show's 'lowpoint' I can't think of how even more incredible it's going to be

[winnie-the-monster]

“You’re dead!”

[that90sgifs]

Niknate + premieres & finales

[northernexposuregifs]

So, what now?

[youlooklikeabeeandilikebees]

songs that make me think of being human characters (because yes this show creeps into absolutely anything else I enjoy)

World in My Eyes by Depeche Mode - Mitchell

Ok first of all Dave Gahan in the 90s really reminds me of Aidan Turner so there's that as something more obvious. But I always picture Mitchell singing this to Josie. The lyrics of "Let me show you the world in my eyes" reminds me of Mitchell bringing human women into his world, letting them get to know the real vampiric him, and letting them help him. For decades, Josie saw the world in Mitchell's eyes while Mitchell for seemingly the first time since becoming a vampire saw the world as a human once again.

Also the song is quite clearly about sex (even as an asexual I can see that) and we've seen multiple times how sex is associated with blood for Mitchell. He bites Lauren in 1x01 during sex and then feeding becomes intertwined with sex with both Lauren (since they feed on each other) and with Daisy (since they have sex while still covered in victims' blood and lick each others' fingers). Lines like "I'll take you to the highest mountain / To the depths of the deepest sea / And we won't need a map, believe me" seems like metaphors for sex but it also makes me think about how as a vampire, Mitchell is capable of traversing so much more of the world since he has so much time to spare.

Sinking by The Cure - George

So I could've gone with Lullaby because of that 2x01 scene where it's used really well in the show but I think Sinking has a lot of lyrical similarities to George's experience. Robert sings "So I trick myself / Like everybody else." George, I think most especially in season 2, really tries to trick himself into thinking he can have a normal life. He tricks himself into thinking he can just put the wolf to sleep with no consequences and he tricks himself to the point of leaving Mitchell and Annie to move in with Sam, hastily proposing to her, and coming up with an absolutely ridiculous toboggan excuse to explain his monthly absences.

The song's line "The secrets I hide / Twist me inside / They make me weaker" also reflect George's experience. George learns that trying to hide what he is only makes things worse for him. At the parent-teacher conference, George finally "sinks" to rock bottom, failing at maintaining his ideal normal life by keeping the wolf separate. But by returning to Nina (someone who knows him for who he actually is, who understands what he goes through, and who he can be totally honest with), he is able to float back to the surface.

The Chain by Fleetwood Mac and I'm So Afraid by Fleetwood Mac - Annie

I feel like both these songs really capture Annie's struggles. I'm So Afraid reflects a lot of her loneliness due to having only a couple people who can see her, her fear of Owen, fear of the spirit world trying to drag her back, fear of losing her friends in season 2. Also the line "So afraid / Slip and I fall and I die" is too perfect for a character who died from being pushed down the stairs.

The Chain reflects Annie's relationship with Owen really well. The metaphor of the chain makes me think both about how in death Annie is figuratively chained to Owen because her original unfinished business was to confront him for killing her. But I also think of the unending chain of Owen's abuse. We know he was abusive to Annie but we also learn that Janey is sometimes scared of Owen too. Owen just continues his chain of abuse with the next woman he dates. The line "And if you don't love me now / You will never love me again" sounds like an ultimatum an abusive partner would make, like it's Owen forcing Annie to tell him she loves him otherwise he'll threaten to break up with her (or worse). The line "You will never love me again" sounds like a command where the abuser is forcing the other person to feel a certain way and that seems like something Owen would do to Annie.

Bedroom Hymns by Florence + the Machine - Lucy

The show uses Florence songs a lot (shoutout to the use of Howl in that one promo which I find super nostalgic) but this one (which wasn't even released yet at the time of season 2) really makes me think of Lucy and Mitchell's relationship told from Lucy's perspective. The song uses a lot of religious imagery intertwined with strong erotic desire and I can't help but think of Lucy's conflict between her feelings for Mitchell and her assigned mission to kill him which is rooted in anti-vampire Catholicism. Florence sings "Such selfish prayers and I can't get enough" and Lucy definitely can't get enough of Mitchell while also trying to reconcile her selfish feelings with her duty to Kemp's mission.

Baby Criminal by Viagra Boys - Tom

While Tom is not nearly as sociopathic as the protagonist of this song (he's quite the opposite in fact), there is something about the idea of how we all start out as innocent babies but can go on to lose that presumed innocence later in life. The chorus of "Used to be a baby, now he's just a criminal" reminds me of how Tom was once a human baby with a normal life, only to then become a houseless vampire-killing werewolf living in the woods. He and McNair steal to survive (becoming petty criminals) and while he is a very sweet and loving person, that is often in conflict with his highly skilled and trained vampire-killing. The chaotic instrumentation of the song does a good job of depicting a kind of inner conflict that makes me think of Tom's conflicting sweetness and vampire-killing tendencies. Also there's even the line "They said that he was tryna build a nuclear device" and we know about Tom and his bomb-making.