#the goldberg variations

[tri-ciclo]

[gravity-rainbow]

Glenn Gould - The Goldberg Variations 1981

seriously, listen to this and compare the tempo change against 1955

[msfangirlgonewild]

This is the perfect match for Francesca and Michael’s romantic dance scene.

Then…the intensity between them…almost (as Francesca refuses to remarry Michael)

The steamy Franchael love scene (as Francesca finally accepts to remarry Michael)❤️🥰…

…then the private wedding ceremony scene. 💍

Enjoy their romantic escapade whilst lusting in Austria!

And finally it’s Team Franchael’s romantic and poignant dance/waltz scene finale. 🥹❤️

Thanks to Hannah Dodd in her first appearance as the matured Francesca on season 3, I hope there’s an diverse actor across the globe who plays Michael in future seasons 5 or 6: German actor Rick Okon who plays Michael someday as a German/Austrian (besides Scottish) orphan with a tragic past was brought to the Stirlings as a family member.

Time rewatch season 3, dear gentle listeners 🐝🌹

𝔼𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪, 𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕞 𝔽𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕖𝕝!

[caridrea]

"Hey, nice outfit!"

Mulder's smile 🥰🥹🫶🏼🫶🏼

[calcollage]

hes so cute stop

[thedarkmongoose]

the usage of the "goldberg variations" in hannibal has always fascinated me, even more so now that i know the origin of why bach composed them in the first place:

so basically, the variations were created to soothe the count who was ill/sleepless which hannibal mirrors in the books (and in the silence of the lambs film) by being calmed by them. in fact, we are first introduced to hannibal in apéritif with one of the variations playing in the bg while he calmly dines on a fancy dish of people. then in fromage, hannibal plays the aria variation on the harpsichord after his fight with tobias, presumably to return to a state of stasis.

the next time we hear aria, it is a piano rendition in kō no mono when will and hannibal ritualistically devour the ortolans. it seems that will is a calming, grounding force for hannibal and it eventually becomes their shared melody. heartbreakingly, a song called "bloodfest" by brian reitzell which is based on the variations plays in dolce (when hannigram reunites in the uffizi gallery) and in digestivo (when they talk in the cabin after escaping muskrat farm).

a similar slowed down version plays in the series finale called "the wrath of the lamb, pt. 2 / bach aria, pt. 2" when will/hannibal are in the glass house, right before they defeat francis. even throughout the series, there are variations to the variations such as this, as well as hannibal's own composition "suite no. 4 - III. sarabande: la d'aubonne" by antoine forqueray & christophe rousset, which has similar vibes to the goldberg variations. perhaps inspired by them?

but the body of music isn't simply used as a calming metaphor or an ode to will - rather, it is a deeper, existential contemplation that was nicely summed up by jeremy denk & donald francis tovey: (Hannibal Lecter's Guide To The 'Goldberg Variations'; NPR):

the goldberg variations are a representation of a cycle, a reflection, a "becoming" of sorts; a longing to be free but also a cautionary tale that once someone is seen for who they truly are, there is no turning back. and in the blink of an eye, this beautiful lie that we call life is over.

[randomfoggytiger]

If you had to put a number on it how many times do you think Mulder and Scully slept together in season 7? And, if you are so inclined what episodes would they have slept together in? Asking for a friend (me) 😊

The answer is probably "frequently." XDDD My reading of canon points to post-Millennium shenanigans.

But I believe we can pick up purposefully placed clues from Scully: she is late (or last to arrive) in Rush and The Goldberg Variation and The Great Maleeni-- which is a marked change from their routine; meaning, imo, she had to drive back to her apartment, get properly dressed, then catch a flight later-- and she's often shown crashing wherever Mulder lands-- all things's opening sequence, Hollywood A.D.'s ending, Requiem's motel room scene, etc.

Furthermore, I believe that Mulder and Scully spent more nights at his apartment than hers due to to his isolatory and her level of comfortability there. (And it's just brimming with MSR memories and moments, which makes it thematically more important.) As mentioned above, we see her gravitate to his apartment more than her own, particularly in all things (which was the first on-screen confirmation); and Scully is the type to go to him rather than call up and ask him to come to her. Gravitating of her own accord to his place would be a measure of half-admittance-- effectively appeasing her own sense of independence (and shame at fessing up to weakness.)

But post all things, all bets are off; and we see that increased level of "who honestly cares about hiding anymore" when they arrive at the office, late, together, and when they shack up shamelessly in the same motel room because Scully feels sick and knows Mulder's a bed warmer. (The latter's script even notes that they arrived with extra hurry to the next morning's crime scene; meaning, they had to rush to get there on time. Which could point to them either having sex that morning or choosing to sleep in-- or Mulder sneakily letting her sleep in-- because Scully was still a little unwell.)

I will note: I'm further bolstered in my assertion by their behavior in Season 8 (gasp, horror.) Wrote a post about it here, but the first time we see Mulder using a key to Scully's place is at the end of Existence (now that they have a family) while Scully is shown openly crashing at his apartment, heartsick, from day one (Within.) Season 8, out of necessity (the baby's arrival and DD's looming second absence), began the transition away from Mulder's place to Scully's (Three Words is the last time we see his apartment, if I recall correctly.) We watched him always dropping by her apartment (Empedocles, Alone) and eagle-eyed his toothbrushes and shirts (Essence)-- which subtly pointed to that transition-- yet, the important part of their history at Hegel's Place was never truly resolved. It's a shame that canon dismissed it out of hand without a proper goodbye. ...But, again, that might be selling the writers and actors short: Mulder himself was detached from apartment 42 in Three Words (only noting "It's clean" and standing or sitting everywhere as compactly and insecurely as possible); and trekked from Alexandria to Georgetown constantly of his own free will. There just... wasn't enough on-screen to justify that write-off. (Add it to the list of micro-changes that weren't allowed to be explored. >:////)

I hope this satisfies~. But if not, I open the floor: does anyone want to take a crack at anon's question?

[cosmonautroger]

Glenn Gould, Bach's Goldberg Variations, 1981

[x-files-scripts]

The X-Files - “The Goldberg Variation”

Written by Jeffrey Bell

August 9, 1999 (WHITE)

Deleted scene: Scully’s freezing motel room...

In this early draft, Scully is “amazed at how wonderfully different” she and Mulder are...

Alternate ending:

[agent-troi]

it’s so funny how scully was the first one to suggest that henry weems “just got lucky” but as soon as mulder starts to think she’s right she’s immediately skeptical😂

[earhartsease]

watching the x files ep the goldberg variation and wtf this kid is shia labeouf - we almost never watch the closing titles for cast credits but this one leapt out at us

also turns out we've been misspelling his name for years because the french speaker in us insisted it should be bœuf - seeing how his name is really spelled hurts but we'll deal

[twogravesinsomecemetery]

The Goldberg Variation MY BELOVED :') <33

[caridrea]

The Goldberg Variation

[frogsmulder]

Scully is the type of girl to call her crush stupid (affectionate) whilst trying to hide a massive grin

[river-gale]

when you get this, list 5 songs you like to listen to, publish. then, send this ask to 10 of your favorite followers :3

there's probably a significant overlap between my favorite followers and turtleduck's favorite followers so if you get this twice, don't mind me

Romeo & Juliet - Fantasy Overture, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (I've been listening to it as performed by the Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra)

People I Don't Like, UPSAHL

Impo, Fernhill

The Horror and the Wild, The Amazing Devil

Polar Nettles, Neko Case

[x-files-polls]

Henry Weems: Such a fascinating, almost fairytale-like visual portrayal of luck onscreen. Very Pushing Daisies.

Ritchie Lupone:

Don't like this propaganda? Reblog it with your own or send some in my askbox

To jog your memory, here's the episode they're from:

The Goldberg Variation: After being thrown off a building and surviving, Henry Weems, who appears to be the luckiest man in the world, attracts the attention of Mulder and Scully. But, if he is so lucky, why is he on the run from the mob, and why is everyone around him so unlucky?