#that's so raven: 2x18

[hannamarins]

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

[the-prophet-lemonade]

I was tagged by @lionheartedghost!

List 5 TV shows and answer the following questions, then tag 10 people to do the same.

i. Shadowhunters ii. Game of Thrones iii. Fullmetal Alchemist iv. The 100 v. Law and Order SVU

Who is your favourite character in 2? 

Jamie Lannister, colossal dumbass. I’m obsessed with his redemption arc (or the arc as it should’ve been, and yes, I still have faith in GRRM to correct the wrongs of 8x04 and 8x05). For me, he is the embodiment of a classic Greek tragedy and there’s something incredibly compelling about that - the tragedy, the familial trauma, the knightly values, the battle between right and wrong, between love and duty ... all the good stuff. 

My other favourite character is Sansa Stark because she is beautiful and intelligent and powerful and kind and a Survivor. 

Who is your favourite character in 1? 

Alec Lightwood. I love characters whose personal journeys involve chasing their own happiness and coming into their own as a leader, especially when they show their detractors wrong. Seeing Alec grow in confidence is special to me. And I love a powerful coming-out story. 

What is your favourite episode of 4? 

This implies that I can differentiate between any episodes of this God forsaken show. I did enjoy the season finale of season 2, with Bellamy and Clarke forced to make the impossible choice to save their people, together, but at the expense of so many others. I also really liked the episode in season 5 where they reunited after the 6 years apart ... my heart is weak.  

What is your favourite season of 5? 

Season 17. The eye contact. The shrewd and crooked smiles. The holy grail of Barisi episodes. The overflowing potential for more that was then cruelly dashed upon the rocks in seasons 18 and 19.

Who is your favourite couple in 3?  

Royai is the og pairing for me. Doesn’t get better than “I will follow you, even into Hell”. Doesn’t get better than “Can I trust my back to that?”. Doesn’t get better than “Don’t go where I can’t follow”. The trust they share is Profound.™

Who is your favourite couple in 2? 

Romantically, I’m a sucker for Braime, but we all know this. I love two people who bring out the best in each other, especially when that best is seen and understood by so few others. Jamie’s redemption arc is superb, and it’s because of Brienne that he is able to see his own self-worth and finally reacquaint himself with that vision of knighthood he sacrificed at age 17 in order to save King’s Landing. The respect they have for each other is paramount to why I enjoy them together. 

Theonsa is my other favourite ship because I love a pairing built on shared tragedy, and who manage to overcome trauma together - that’s very beautiful and powerful to me, and Sophie and Alfie have brilliant yet subtle chemistry, all spoken in the eyes. I also enjoy the Jon/Sansa dynamic a lot, but then Jon’s characterisation was shot in the head in season 8.

What is your favourite episode of 1? 

2x06 - Malec’s first date. The tentative flirting and the nervous energy and the Superior Kiss. 2x18 - the breakup episode because the flashbacks are gorgeous and the angst is THE GOOD STUFF. 2x10 is also a favourite because it’s very well acted and has more gravitas and consequence than a lot of episodes on this show. Honorary mentions to the end of 3x20 (spectacular), the Edom sequence in 3x21 (the hug! the surprise Jace/Meliorn! Izzy saving the day!), and the wedding scene in 1x12 (iconic).

What is your favourite episode of 5? 

Heartfelt Passages (17x23) is probably my fave because (a) I love some pain and Dodds’ death on his very last day on the job hurts like a mf and (b) it has that 2 second scene of Barba and Carisi at the bar after the funeral, toasting their drinks, and the look in Barba’s eyes is ... something else, okay? It’s so soft and curious and you can feel how safe he feels with Carisi and ... it should’ve been a stepping stone for something more in season 18. 

Some other episodes I like are Manhattan Transfer/Unholiest Alliance (good Carisi character development), 911 (first time I watched it, I was on the edge of my seat), and literally any episode that is Benson-focused, like the William Lewis arc (Liv seems to get kidnapped or caught in hostage situations so often but they’re always SO GOOD).

What is your favourite season of 2? 

Season 6 was some good stuff (especially coming out of the shithole of season 5). It had a lot of fan service (the R+L=J reveal, Bran’s time travelling, Hodor, Jamie and Brienne reuniting, Sansa finally escaping and finding Jon, Cersei pulling out all the stops to get rid of the Tyrells at fucking last, Yara flirting with Dany, and the entire BOTB sequence), but the writing still made sense and I still had hope for some clever twists hahahahaha

How long have you watched 1? 

I binge watched season 1 in May 2016 when I was living abroad and feeling a little lonely. The show really came into my life at the perfect time.

How did you become interested in 3? 

I watched the ‘03 series way back when (around 2007, I think?) and then got heavily invested in the manga, followed by Brotherhood. Honestly, it is without a doubt the best and most pitch-perfect story that has ever been told. I was immediately absorbed in Team Mustang and their dynamic, and who doesn’t love some political subterfuge with a large splash of religious symbolism that ends with a fist fight against God?

Who is your favourite actor in 4? 

Bob Morley. He’s so endearing in real life and he is such a good role model in terms of mental health activism and surviving depression/anxiety.

Which do you prefer, 1, 2, or 5? 

Ask me three years ago, and it would’ve been GOT. Sadly, season 8 happened.

Which show have you seen more episodes of, 1 or 3? 

Purely because there are more FMA episodes in existence ... 

If you could be anyone from 4, who would you be? 

I feel like I connect most with Clarke, but if I could be anyone, I’d be Raven because she’s hot and smart and is played by Lindsey Morgan and what more is there tbh

But also, all the characters have fucking terrible lives, so I don’t really want to be any of them.

Would a crossover between 3 and 4 work? 

I can’t really imagine it, but that’s because I always find it hard to make AUs and crossovers with FMA because the story is absolutely perfect the way it is and any way you change it detracts from its perfection. If you put other characters into the FMA universe, it loses some of its meaning, yknow? Same with taking the FMA characters out of their universe, because who they are is so inherently tied to their in-universe experiences and their development with the story.

Pair two characters in 1 who would make an unlikely but strangely okay couple? 

Unlikely but strangely okay ... I mean, I’m a sucker for Jimon, but that’s not all that unusual. I like Izzy with literally any of the girls (Clary and Aline, especially). But I feel like Magnus and Izzy would fit “unlikely but strangely okay” - I can imagine them flirting if Malec was never a thing, and they would look hot together, let’s be honest. A power dressing couple. Very intimidating. I’m into it.

Overall, which show has the better story line, 3 or 5?#

Clearly FMA because (a) it’s FMA and its narrative themes and characterisation are Absolute Perfection, and (b) FMA actually *has* a story line. SVU does not have a story line. SVU barely has coherent writing. 

Which has better theme music, 2 or 4? 

The GOT soundtrack is iconic, so there’s no question here. The use of leitmotifs for individual characters, and hearing how those are combined and overlapped and developed with the story? Spectacular. 

Tags: if you see this and want to do it, please go ahead (and you can tag me too, if you like)! 

[nickkibubbles]

Alec's POV: The battle was over, Valentine and Sebastian were dead. Alec cast his eyes over the remaining members of the New York institute, Isabelle was tending to a young werewolf, Jace and Clary were placing iratze's on each other's skin, he saw others that had survived tending their own wounds. He felt his stomach drop when he saw Raf lying on the floor next to a dead circle member, he had lost sight of most of his people when the flying demon turned up. Turning his blue eyes around, he ignored the sparking pain in his abdomen from a circle member sliced him earlier, across the beach his breath hitched when he saw the all familiar sight of blue sparks over a injured warlock. Despite the intensity of the battle, Magnus' hair was still in place and to Alec he looked perfect. Hissing in pain he took a couple steps over to the group of surviving warlocks, only stopping once his eyes locked on Magnus', the usual warm brown was hard and harsh, so with a small shake of his former lovers head he turned and walked back towards his siblings. Reaching his sister he pulled her aside, "Izzy, I'm going back to the institute to inform the clave of the battle and our victory. I trust you and Jace can help everyone here, our medics are arriving now and could you thank the downworld for their assistance." She turned her eyes on me and sighed, "Alec, you know you don't have to go straight away, he wants to make things right, why else would he have turned up to help you? He saved you from that demon! You don't have to avoid him." Her everlasting optimism and hopeless romantic traits were shining through her tough exterior. "Iz, I'm exhausted and Magnus has made it very clear he no longer cares about me and is working only for the good of his own people. The warlocks came to this battle because the seelie queen turned alliances towards valentine, we cannot presume that he turned up here for me. I..I let him in, I gave him my heart and promised I wouldn't leave when things got tough but when they did he left, he destroyed me Izzy, we only fall in love once and I love him. That just wasn't enough." With that I turned and left for the institute, not noticing Magnus standing only inches away from me. ----- Finally back in my office I allowed myself to breakdown, I let out all the emotions I had been surprising for days to allow myself to feel the pain and anguish of a heartbreak. My heart ached like I was physically hurt, the memories of our relationship came flooding back to me, sightseeing in Tokyo, cooking breakfast together, watching crappy TV together, laughing, smiling, him teaching me to dance on the balcony of his apartment, as well as the more intimate ones... /The sun was setting over the silhouette of New York, as Alec walked out to the apartments terrace, "Magnus?" He called out, his voice rough from having fallen asleep on the couch earlier after a strenuous mission. The warlock in question had been dancing to some 1950's soft rock, his movements graceful and fluent. The dark haired man, spun to face his boyfriend a smile breaking out across painted lips, "Alexander, how lovely to see you awake, come dance with me darling." A tanned arm reached out towards Alec, the hand adorned with rings. A pale hand slid into the palm, the shadow hunter was pulled towards his warlock, spinning him in until their hips lined up. "Magnus.. I can't dance." His raven hair fell in front of his dazzling eyes as his checks coloured in embarrassment, Magnus smiled at him his eyes growing even more fond. "Darling, I know, but that's what I'm about to teach you... see put your hand on my shoulder here and start by slowly swaying along with me." Laughter fell from both their mouths as Alec stumbled again and again, their eyes never once leaving one another's, dancing slowly around their terrace as the sun went down and the sky grew darker./ Alec was pulled from his memories as a sharp knock on his door echoed around the room and a sparkly warlock stood at his entrance. "You looked very deep in though there, Alexander, are you hurt from the battle?" His ex-boyfriend frowned as he observed Alec since as he stood. Sighing Alec confessed, " It was a little scratch, nothing an iratze can't help, is there something you needed?" He avoided those soulful eyes in fear he might start crying again, "Your kind, weren't too badly hurt dying the battle were they? Is Madzie alright?" A small smile graced Magnus lips, "My people are hurt but nothing we can't handle, Madzie is safe, Catrina took her and other warlock children into hiding once we heard of the battle. I actually came to apologise to you, darling." "Apologise? You were right, you had to do what was best for your people, and being with me wasn't that, so even though you loved me it didn't matter." A gasp left Magnus' lips as he heard Alec speak in such a depressed tone, "Oh darling, no, I'm afraid it is I who was in the wrong. I had been angry and afraid, and it doesn't justify what I did, you have every right to be mad at me. I made you promise to not leave when things got tough but I'm afraid I did the same. I love you Alexander, my actions were selfish, yes I was thing about my people but I have to realise you have to think of your own people to, I'm sorry my love. Of course our love is enough, I should never have said that. Then to ignore you and side with the Seelie Queen, was a terrible lack of judgment on my part, today on that battle field I saw a shadow hunter boy lying face down in the sand, and he had the same hair colour as you and similar skin to your beautiful tone, the fear that ran through me was something I had never felt in my very long life. Darling, when I saw you alive and fighting I was so relived I almost cried then you were jumped by a ravener demon and I couldn't take it, Alexander today I saw you fighting for your people and my own and I realised I can't live without you and I don't want to...I realise I'm rambling on but I need you to know that I love you and nothing will ever triumph that." During his speech, tears had slipped down my face, he noticed this and walked closer fingers sweeping over my cheek as I turned my face into his palm and whispered back, " Magnus, I love you too but promise me you'll never leave my again, I can't cope with the pain of a heartbreak." "Alexander, my darling, my love, I promise I will never leave you, I will love you until I die and I will never again question you." A watery smile broke out across my face as I stepped forward into his embrace and tucked my face into his neck, shaking with exhaustion, from the battle and the strength of the emotions that were causing through my body. "Oh darling" Magnus whispered, "let's take you home." A portal appeared next to us, to our loft, and as we stepped through I knew that we may have dark days still but now I know we will always make it back to each other. ----------------------------------------------- This is my first ever fic, done in half an hour on my phone so please be nice. ❤️ I had so many feelings about 2x18 and 2x19 I had to put them somewhere!

[momentsofweakness]

I mean, Liam hated it too for a long time. He said (I believe during an impromptu q and a session where several cast members were out sick) that he nearly left the game because of it. He had expected Vax to die and then Matt threw this heavy shit at him and he didn't really know what to do with it. But after months of struggling with it he finally just came to accept it for what it was and moved on so he could enjoy the game again.

Me personally, I found it hard to watch, not because of the storyline itself, but because Liam's rp-ing is just so intense sometimes. In an already intense and nerve wracking show/game he dials it up to a 12 and that's...tough. Don't get me wrong, he's brilliant (excuse me while I lose my shit over what happened in 2x18) but his complete rawness and vulnerability is on a whole other level than the others.

The others have maybe a handful of truly REAL, intense moments over the course of the game. They stand out and are memorable because of that. Grog with Kevdak, Scanlan with Kaylie, Vex with her father and after Percy died on Glintshore. (Full disclosure, I've only watched through ep 70, but I know everything that happens.) These moments are honest and raw and painful.

Vax, bless him, after the Sunken Tomb, was going through that shit on a weekly basis. For an audience full of empathetic introverts who very easily get second-hand embarrassment it was just a lot to handle.

Looking back on it, I love the Raven Queen story line, I really do. But I can very easily see how it could put a lot of people off.

I hated everything about Vax and his story from The Sunken Tomb on.

You guys keep leaving these tantalizing little bits of opinion and then don’t expand on them and I need to know more…