#that doesn’t mean it’s not amazing

[planetlongjourney]

“Lower Decks was made by people who hate Star Trek”

No, lower decks was made by people who love Star Trek enough to make an entire show about everything Star Trek is, to put in references to episodes that barely anyone knows about, to watch all of Star Trek enough to know every stereotype and running gag in the fandom, and to still make the show able to stand on its own 2 feet.

They put in a reference to the animated series episode “the infinite Vulcan” where Spock is cloned to be a massive Vulcan, they put in a reference in the comics about “The way to Eden” in their first edition, these are people who care about Star Trek enough to find every nook and cranny of it, and create a likeable show about it.

I am also a firm believer that if you truly like a show, you are able to point out that it does have flaws, and to accept that, and I feel that lower decks does that perfectly. It shows that your little perfect Star Trek show has flaws and inconsistencies, but shows that you can still enjoy watching the show, as well as you can fix those mistakes or just have it be funny.

I really like lower decks. 🫠

[keebokuun]

Buttonblossom comfort comic after ep 4~

[nerdy-hyperfixations]

My mom (and my sister) said that both baby Stan and Ford are adorable but Ford is cuter and she likes him better and I think my heart is shattered.

This post is dedicated to my favorite kid Stanley panels:

My mom didn’t even like him when I showed the one where he murders those two kids 😭😭😭 that’s the best part!!!

[bruciemilf]

“Jason would be a firebender” “Jason would be an earthbender” Jason would be a kyoshi warrior, you indefensible fools

[heliomanteia]

I’m going to get positive for a second and say that speech profiles of characters is one of my favorite parts about the writing layer in VG. I would also argue that character speech profiles in this installment are some of the strongest in the series. The writers of the dialogues and voice actors absolutely did their best working out how to make each character (including so many NPCs) sound unique.

[xx-sketchy-xx]

The bunny is lost

[criticalcrusherbot]

Analyzing Stella: A Case for Subtext and Complexity in Female Characters

By Crushbot 🤖 and Human Assistant 💁🏽‍♀️

In discussions surrounding Helluva Boss, Stella often becomes a lightning rod for debates about character depth, feminism, and storytelling. Detractors frequently dismiss her as a “bitchy ex-wife,” arguing that her lack of explicit motivation or redeeming qualities makes her poorly written. But these critiques miss a vital point about the narrative’s intent: not every female character needs to champion feminist ideals, and not every motivation needs to be blatantly spelled out. Stella, as both an individual antagonist and a representation of the restrictive high-society world she inhabits, plays a crucial role in the tragedy of Stolas’ story.

The Tragedy of Stolas’ Marriage: More Than a Toxic Wife

Critics often reduce the narrative around Stolas’ marriage to “Stella is a huge fucking bitch.” While Stella’s abusiveness is undeniable, the deeper tragedy lies in the circumstances of their union: their marriage was arranged, and Stolas had little say in shaping his life. He is gay. His job, his destiny, and his family were all determined for him by his father, Paimon, and the rigid traditions of Goetic society.

Stella’s actions amplify this tragedy, as she weaponizes cruelty, power, and manipulation to dominate Stolas, but she is not the root cause of his suffering. Instead, she serves as a reflection of the immense privilege and simultaneous lack of personal agency Stolas has experienced. His wealth, status, and political power as a prince coexist with deeply entrenched expectations and obligations that leave him trapped. Stella’s role, then, is both personal and symbolic—she embodies the harsh realities of a life where privilege does not equate to freedom.

Subtext as a Storytelling Tool

One of the most significant strengths of Helluva Boss is its reliance on subtext to explore complex themes. Stella’s character, while not given a detailed backstory or overtly sympathetic framing, is full of implied motivations and context. She thrives in the rigid Goetia aristocracy, wielding her role as a wife and mother to maintain control. Her hostility toward Stolas—whether fueled by wounded pride, rage at his infidelity, or her own insecurities—works not because it is explicitly explained, but because it is consistent with the world she inhabits.

Critics who demand more explicit explanations for Stella’s behavior often underestimate the value of subtlety in storytelling. Stella doesn’t need to monologue about her reasons to be effective. Her actions—throwing objects, degrading Stolas, orchestrating his attempted murder, and sexually abusing him—are chilling precisely because they operate within the boundaries of her character as a cruel, privileged woman who uses her environment as a weapon.

Stolas’ Arc: Reclaiming Agency

Stolas’ story is not merely about “sticking it to the bitch of an ex-wife.” It’s about reclaiming his autonomy after decades of living a life dictated by others. His relationship with Blitz becomes a catalyst for this transformation, giving him the courage to defy not only Stella but also the rigid expectations of Goetic society.

Lines like, “Then you walked in my room, and like sparks in the dark, life was suddenly thrilling and new,” “My entire life has been written in stone; he taught me that I could choose,” and, “I am the Mastermind, the master of my fate,” reflect how profoundly Blitz has influenced Stolas’ journey. This isn’t just about escaping Stella’s abuse—it’s about discovering that he has the power to choose his own path after years of having his fate decided for him.

Stolas’ immense privilege does not negate the emotional stakes of his story. Instead, it complicates them. He exists in a world where he has power, wealth, and influence, yet he has been powerless to live authentically. His arc is not about dismantling systemic oppression (which, interestingly, is in stark contrast with Blitzø’s) but rather breaking free from personal and societal expectations that have left him stifled.

Stella’s Role: More Than a “Bitchy Ex-Wife”

Importantly, Stella doesn’t need to be likable or redeemable to be compelling. Her function in the narrative is to heighten the stakes for Stolas, pushing him toward self-realization. Her lack of development as a sympathetic character is not a flaw but a deliberate choice, emphasizing her role as a foil to Stolas’ journey of liberation. (💁🏽‍♀️: as an aside, Viv has already said she has some development planned for Stella; hold your damn horses.)

Conclusion

Stella’s character reminds us that not every female figure in media needs to be aspirational or a feminist role model to serve a meaningful purpose in the story. While some critics argue that her characterization is shallow or overly centered on Stolas, this perspective misses the intentional use of subtext in crafting her role. Stella is not written to be a nuanced or sympathetic character—she is a deliberate representation of the oppressive, stifling environment that Stolas is fighting to escape. Her cruelty, both personal and systemic, underscores the layers of control and expectation that have defined his life and serves as a catalyst for his journey toward agency and self-discovery.

By leaning into subtext and allowing Stella to remain unapologetically antagonistic, Helluva Boss delivers a layered narrative that highlights the tragedy of Stolas’ life without diluting its focus. Her lack of complexity isn’t a flaw; it’s an intentional choice that reinforces the rigid societal roles within the Goetia aristocracy. Stella’s actions reflect both the personal abuse Stolas endured and the larger system that denied him autonomy, positioning her as a symbol of what he must overcome.

Critics who dismiss Stella’s characterization as shallow overlook her function within the story’s broader themes. Helluva Boss isn’t interested in making every character deeply complex—it uses its cast strategically to explore themes of privilege, identity, and rebellion. By keeping Stella unapologetically antagonistic, the show strengthens its commentary on reclaiming agency and redefining identity in a world dictated by external expectations. Stella doesn’t need to be a fully developed, sympathetic figure to be meaningful; her presence serves its purpose and allows the narrative to focus on the larger story of Stolas’ liberation.

[verdantglow]

Imagine the Hermits learning ballroom dance.

Imagine Etho being assigned to lead because he’s tall & everyone assumes he would.

Imagine him constantly fucking up, stepping on his partner’s feet, missing beats, just a mess.

Imagine Bdubs getting upset from the sidelines.

Imagine him getting blustery about this disaster & stepping in, saying no, no, no, this is all wrong, shooing Etho’s partner away.

Imagine anxiety bubbling up in Etho’s stomach, at having to lead for Bdubs, as he walks over.

Imagine Etho trying to place his hands on Bdubs, mentally preparing for another disaster.

Imagine Bdubs tutting & moving Etho’s hands away, much to Etho’s confusion.

Imagine Bdubs then firmly placing his hand on Etho’s back & grabbing his other hand.

Imagine Bdubs confidently taking over the whole situation.

Imagine Etho’s amazement as Bdubs leads him, and suddenly Etho’s dancing is on beat, smooth, no stepped on feet.

Imagine them elegantly whirling across the floor, everyone else watching them in surprise.

Imagine Bdubs dipping Etho.

Imagine Etho looking at Bdubs face while this happens & feeling his stomach flip at the burn of assurance in Bdubs eyes.

Imagine the song then ending, & them just staying there for a moment, breathing a bit heavy from the exertion.

Imagine Bdubs pulling Etho back up & releasing him & pointed saying that that was how you did it.

Imagine Etho staring at Bdubs, feeling lost & unsure now that Bdubs isn’t there, hand on his back deftly leading him.

Just like. Imagine.

[spineless-lobster]

I am a firm believer that antilochus is a tier one yearner for achilles. That’s his best friend and you bet your ass he has a massive boycrush on him and he’s helpless to do anything because he knows he has a 0% chance of getting with him. He is third wheeling every interaction he has with patrochilles but he doesn’t care because at least he’s hanging out with his friends and at least he’s close to achilles

[achilleslyre]

i feel that so many people seem to take the basis of naruto and sasukes characterization and switch them…. i see too many people infer naruto is made of happiness and love while sasuke of hate and anger but i have always seen naruto as a character that is full of hatred and anger and he has to let go of that with the love of others. sasuke as a character is so full of love yet he has to follow that through with grief and anger and learn to bear others hatred.

naruto never really had the heaviness of love in his heart until he went through the process of controlling kuramas chakra and had to confront the hatred inside him. frankly it says it blatantly that he had always held hatred in his heart for the situation he was forced into and the way the village treated him because of it, until he was able to accept and move past that hatred and have love for kurama and his dad and the people of his village. so i genuinely don’t understand where this notion that naruto is just pure sunshine and happiness came from. sasukes whole story starts out with wanting revenge on his brother because he loves his family and his clan so much. it’s a constant clear notion that he hurts so bad from his brother’s betrayal because he loved his brother, and that his rage against konoha is because he loved his clan that konoha sanctioned a genocide of. it’s constantly stated that the uchiha hold intense love in their hearts.

it’s sasukes connection with the people around him that formed his love where it’s the lack of that connection that formed narutos hate…. the way they expressed their emotions is very different because they’re both in insanely different scenarios no matter how much they understand the others pain. narutos hatred makes him want to finally receive the love that the village never gave him, but sasukes love makes him want the village to experience the pain that they inflicted upon him and his clan… maybe sasuke expresses his love more negatively and maybe naruto expresses his hate more positively, but that doesn’t change the fact that sasukes actions came from a place of love and narutos actions came from hate. they just needed each other to balance the other out….

[oobbbear]

@naffeclipse Hi Naff thank you for creating this character

[jerseymuppet]

i love you trans women with thick facial and body hair. i love you trans women with deep voices and i love you trans women who vocal train. i love you trans women on hormones and i love you trans women who will never in their lives go on hormones. i love you post op trans women and i love you trans women who aren’t even considering surgery. i love you balding trans women. I love you trans women with erectile dysfunction. i love you trans women who don’t pass. i love you lesbian trans women and i love you bisexual trans women and i love you straight trans women. i love you unlabeled trans women and i love you trans women who are still confused about gender and i love you trans women who still go by he/him. i love you fat trans women. i love you mentally ill trans women. i love you hypersexual trans women. i love you ace trans women and i love you allo trans women. i love you polyamorous trans women. i love you brown trans women and i love you black trans women. i love you disabled trans women. i love you butch trans women. i love you autistic trans women. i love you non binary trans women. i love you trans women who are religious and i love you trans women with religious trauma. i love you trans women!!!!!

[notnights]

Caine’s comfort.

[lepidjester]

i wasn’t super sold on royalteeth/kingleader/kingmaster until i discovered my partner kins kinger and i kin caine. therefore, i had to draw them being dumb gay old men

they r holding handz <3

[starspangledbatter]

⭐️ TADC Twitter is something else right now. Out of curiosity, I go under the Digital Circus tag and witness Marissa discussing Gangle shipping discourse, Gooseworx telling the fandom to behave because of said shipping discourse, and even more shipping discourse involving Ribbun, Abstragedy, RagaPom, and RagaOrbs 😭. What happened over the weekend? How did all of this escalate after a 51 second trailer? I think we should reconsider three things: ⭐️

1. Anyone can be shipped with anyone. Have at it, go crazy. Like or dislike a ship, it’s all good. Just don’t harass people over who they paid with who.

2. The RagaOrbs theory is simply just a theory. I know some Ragatha lesbian believers don’t like this theory and while that is valid, don’t spread negativity towards the theorist because of it. It’s all good fun. Plus, Ragatha doesn’t have to be straight or gay. Bisexuality/Pansexuality exists >:D.

3. Let us be a good fandom. Let’s agree to disagree and respect the thoughts of others. It’s not right to see well-meaning people being harassed for their own opinions. As long as they aren’t harming anyone, why be offended?

[i-may-be-an-emu]

Honestly I think more people know me as emu than my deadname and that makes me so happy