#then there will be three more episodes before we say goodbye to the season

[thenationofzaun]

Thoughts on Act 1 of Arcane Season 2

The positives:

- The animation is fucking incredible.

- Jinx and Sevika teaming up watered my crops and cleansed my skin.

- Underwater goodbye with Jinx and Silco. That scene was made specifically for me.

- Jinx's voice actress continues to be excellent.

- Loved the designs of all the Chembarons. The glimpse we got of the gang wars was also interesting. Unfortunately, too tiny a glimpse. Which brings me to...

The negatives:

- Too many plotlines. They stuffed the season with too much shit which is why each individual plot gets a much shorter screentime than it should. Smeech is introduced and killed in the same episode. Chembarons' gang wars, a huge issue which has repercussions on the entire Undercity, gets only one musical montage before moving on. And this is coming from someone who loved that montage, as well as the song. My favourite on the soundtrack so far. But musical montages shouldn't come at the expense of the story and definitely shouldn't replace the story. There are just way too many music video scenes in general that feel like a way to condense a storyline into the sparknotes version because they don't have the screentime to flesh it out. And they would have the screentime if they cut out all the extra stuffing. Look I'm happy for the League fans who are excited for the Black Rose and all that, but what the hell is it doing in a Piltover/Zaun show. And with zero foreshadowing in Season 1 too. It would definitely be easier to swallow if they had at least hinted at it in the first season. They could have kept Ambessa's beef with this magic cult for a Noxus show. The P/Z narrative has enough to deal with, enough characters to handle already.

- The new side characters are uninteresting and generic. Maddie and the two other enforcers (we don't even know their names after three episodes LMAO) are bland. We know nothing about their characters or personalities. Maddie looks like a rookie, and one of the dudes is an alcoholic, yet they get chosen for an elite strikeforce to capture Jinx? Isha is pretty generic too - the token cute kid that needs protecting. I get the role she will play in Jinx's arc. But that's the problem - she should be a character in her own right, not just a vehicle for someone else's character development. A good example is Mylo. He died for Jinx's arc, but when he was alive he was a distinct character with his own personality. We had a sense of his insecurities, his goals, who he was as a person. Name a single personality trait of Isha and Maddie other than "generically nice person". That's right. You can't.

- Whatever the hell is going on with Viktor. He wakes up from his coma and immediately rejects Jayce so quickly that it was funny. Apparently disapproves of Jayce using the Hexcore to save his life, but then immediately goes to use the Hexcore to save random Undercity people. Bruh. I also don't really like the way the fridged woman from last season seems to be his motivation so far. Nor the way he seems to have no agency in his Machine Herald arc. Instead of Viktor himself believing in transhumanism and mechanizing himself, Jayce does it for him. Instead of Viktor having an ideological drive and wanting a "Glorious Evolution", he is driven by guilt over Sky. Meh. Also he's not even mechanized, instead he's weirdly fleshy?? In a magical way?? More like The Magic Herald :(

- Vi. Her whole character is a mess. Insanely rushed arc which I find unacceptable for one of THE main characters and one of the faces of the show. She and Jinx are supposed to be the leads, their relationship the heart of the story, but so far only Jinx is a well-written fleshed out chaacter with a believable arc. I have too much to say about Vi so I'll expand more on this on another post.

- So much nuance and detail is missing. How does Heimerdinger feel about his ex-colleagues being killed? Does he care? Does he feel guilt? Relieved that he wasn't in the chamber when the bombing happened? No clue! Let's have comedy Mission Impossible instead! How does Ekko feel about the Council attack? Does he approve of it? Think Jinx went too far? How does he feel that she even survived their fight to begin with? No clue! Here, have him joking around with a Councilor for a bit (someone whom Ekko logically should despise), then he can talk Science with Jayce and all three get sent to another dimension together. Yay. What does Vi think happened to Ekko? The last time she saw him, he was fighting Jinx to the death to give Vi and Cait time to escape. He could be dead for all she knows and she doesn't give a fuck. Doesn't even think about him nor mention him once. It's like the writers forgot they're childhood friends. What does the entirety of Zaun make of Silco's death? I assume they heard about it from Piltover (who heard about it from Caitlyn), but how do they think it happened? His body is gone and to Zaun it seems he just mysteriously disappeared. Are there conspiracy theories? Conflicting accounts and rumours? So much nuance that would give the world and characters more depth, sacrificed so we can pack in more rushed subplots and music videos.

- Caitlyn "Wifebeater" Kiramman. And Caitvi in general. So far Caitlyn has guilt-tripped Vi, manipulated her into joining the enforcers, insulted her and then physically abused her. After Vi sacrificed everything for Cait, wore a badge she hates for Cait, even let Cait kill her own fucking sister (and only intervened when the random kid got involved). Why should I give a shit about such a one-sided relationship lmao. "B-but Cait's mom is dead so she's sad about it", every other fucking character in this show has dead parents. Half the cast has faced unfathomable amounts of trauma and pain that make Cait's pale in comparison. Nothing justifies her hitting Vi. "B-b-but it's a parallel to when Vi hit Powder", a shit parallel then. Because the circumstances are not even remotely comparable. "God forbid lesbians do anything🤪", give me a break with this corny bullshit. Be serious for a second. I'm not even a Vi fan and I think she deserves better than this mess of a relationship. The power dynamic between them makes it worse. The way Caitlyn is one of the richest people in the city and Vi is broke. The way Caitlyn is highly educated and Vi never went to school and spent her entire teen years locked in a box. Did the writers think about all this when writing their relationship? Keep in mind, Vi met Caitlyn like a week ago. She barely knows this chick. She's been out of prison FOR A WEEK. Where she was physically abused every fucking day. Putting her in a relationship with a cop who hits her would certainly be a choice! Do I have faith this show will handle it with care? Not really, no. They already ignore Vi's prison trauma. Most likely they will make Vi forgive Cait way too easily because "muh mummy muh grief".

[shiuefha]

So tonight is about the climax of the battle and also, the time to enjoy the trip.

Yor seems so pretty in this thumbnail...

That aside, now I wonder about the rest of the season...

[nerdyenby]

NO YOU DONT UNDERSTAND

Martyn’s betrayal isn’t just him betraying Scott, but the ideals of the entire season.

Limited Life has had the most stable alliances in the life series across the board, with everyone sticking with their ep 1 crew until the end. The theme of this season was loyalty, you guys.

The Clocker’s weren’t the only family, far from it. The entire series is like a sitcom — neighborhood drama. Everyone was related in some way, everyone cared about each other to an extent, and the bonds formed were never broken. Sure there were accidental team kills and mistrust between factions, but the teams themselves all were so individually devoted to each other.

It’s a perfect reflection of Last Life, last time the bogeyman sewed seeds of distrust and betrayal, now we see unwavering faith in spite of the curse. It’s hardly a curse anymore; as with any disease, those who have had it before have higher resistance. We have people resisting the urge to turn on their teams and instead confiding in them, working together to get them cured. The bogey doesn’t divide people, but bring them closer together because of the inherent trust in looking at someone you love, seeing the bloodlust in their eyes, and saying “I’m not leaving, we’re going to get you through this.”

The whole season feels more amicable for it, people are willing to make alliances in the final episodes with people who have hurt them before because there’s some small, remaining foundation of trust there. While Last Life was built on lies, words have weight in Limited Life. Promises are kept here. Grudges are dealt with. Fistfights are held to put past hurt behind them. People willingly offer their lives to each other, even if not on the same team. People beg their allies to kill them, just so they can have a little while longer.

So when it comes down to the final three, there’s no bad blood, they were working together earlier that very episode. They want a good, fair goodbye to their enemy, because he’s still their friend. So they redistribute time until they’re equal, they burn together to level the playing field, and they agree to do a fair 1v1v1. No weapons, no armor, may the best man win.

But that’s not what happens. Martyn has come too far to leave it to chance. He has no reason to honor this agreement so he doesn’t. He even goes after Scott first, betraying his closest ally to let Impulse know this isn’t about him. It’s not about making Impulse lose, it’s about making Martyn win.

In the season built on trust and good faith and interdependence and promises, Martyn breaks all of these in the final minute of the game.

The winners are always those who go against the grain, and Martyn is no exception.

[therapycat21]

Hi, I love your writing! I’d love a Travis one shot where he’s a guest on our podcast or we’re one of the sports interviewer after a game and we engage in a lot of flirty banter which ends up with him sliding in our dm’s!

Call Her Daddy?

Request? Yes/No! Description: Having the most famous podcasts on the internet, You have a guest who loves to flirt. Note: Thank you so much! It means the world. Here is your request! Much Love, TherapyCat21

"Hello, I'm Y/n and welcome to call her daddy, on today's episode we have three three-time Super Bowl champion and tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, please welcome, Travis Kelce!" I smiled and looked over at the 6'5 bearded man in the lavender fluffy chair with headphones and a mic.

He smirks before bringing the mic to his mouth "Hello, hello thank you for having me" He smiles at the camera and turns back to face me. He never fails to have a smile on his face.

"So congratulations on your current win, I was grateful to be one of the fans in the stadium watching live this year and it was amazing to witness, how have you felt recently after all the chaos with winning a third Super Bowl?" I ask.

"Uhm it definitely has been chaotic since but things are kind of slowing down now, right now I'm kinda just relaxing and taking a good time off, eating a bunch of junk food before the next season" he chuckles.

I laugh "Hey, I would do the same if I did what you do, what's your favorite junk food?" I questioned "Definitely gotta be spicy nacho Doritos or the chunky chips ahoy cookies. " he smirked

"ooh, those sound good! but the real question is, what drink?" I smirk back. "how bout this, I'll give you the brand and we both try to name the same?" he suggests. I nod in agreement "Okay, I'm down." I tell him.

"Okay so the brand is Fanta" he looks at me with a lazy smirk. I squint my eyes at him before they widen. He claps his hands together in excitement "You know damn well which flavor I'm talkin about! On the count of three, we say it at the same time!" He tells me. I nod

I laugh before sighing "Okay ready?" I questioned, He nods

"1!"

"2!"

"3!"

"GRAPE!"

I jump from my seat laughing, as I settle back in my seat, he leans over and we high five "That's my girl, I knew you'd get it, great minds think alike" he says with a lovesick smile.

I smiled back "This has been awesome, thank you so much for coming on today, I definitely needed this!" I say with the most genuine smile I've had in months. He nods, clasping his hands together "No thank you, It feels good to be interviewed like this, We really have to do this again." he suggests.

I nod over at him "Absolutely, thanks to Travis for making room and coming onto Call Her Daddy today," I look at the camera "Please remember to like and subscribe and remember to check back soon to see who the next guest is next week! Bye everyone!" I wave at the camera before the signal is off.

I look at Travis "Seriously thank you so much for making time and coming on today, it means a lot " I tell him as I stand up from my seat. He stands "No thank you needed, It was refreshing, I needed this"

My social media manager comes over to us "Okay, can we get a picture of you two together to upload for this week's episode?" She questions.

We both nod and shuffle closer together and I finally see how tall he is compared to me, He places himself practically touching sides, throws his arm around my shoulder, and lays his head on the top of mine and we both smile as the picture is captured.

"thank you both so much," she says before walking to upload the picture.

We let go and hang out for a little longer before his manager tells us it's time for him to attend another event. We stand up from the seats we sat back on to talk more and hug each other goodbye.

I finally get back home and decide to take a shower and watch some TV with my cat when I get a notification, I open Instagram to see tons of notifications from the picture of me and Travis my manager posted for the new episode.

I look over to see a new message request, I click and see it's Travis, I smile before clicking the notification to see he tried sending me a message.

"I had an amazing time with you today, I was hoping we could do it again but this time at a nice restaurant at 8 this Friday? Let me know soon!"

I sit in shock before I respond

"Absolutely, here's my number so we can discuss this more (xxx-xxx-xxxx) ;)"

Twitter:

@user212121: Did y'all see how he was looking at her??!!!???

@furefchids: Their vibe is amazing, they go so well together!

@fhrhffds: Did not expect this pair but absolutely living for it!

[unearthlytraveller]

Babylon 5 Rewatch: Chrysalis

30 years ago, fans of B5 had to wait three months for the first season finale. I'm not willing to do that.

I'm going to break here, because if there is any episode from season 1 that should not be spoiled, it's this one. And I'm going to spoil it below.

I remembered this as the best episode of the season. And, it is. It's not even close. Everything the season has been putting into place comes together, and the world falls apart. That moment when Garibaldi manages to give that warning from sickbay, and the crew rush to warn about the assassination attempt... only to find they are too late. It still gives me chills all these years and rewatches later.

I was unsure how I was going to feel about this episode. Part of the reason for that is because I last watched this in 2010 or 2011. Back then, the idea of a return to fascism seemed laughable. Today... it does not. And I can't deny that real-world context changes things. It's hard to enjoy the sci-fi drama when it doesn't feel all that speculative. But there's a line Sinclair says that struck me.

"Just that I've had this feeling lately that we're standing at a crossroads, and I don't like where we're going. But there's still time to choose another path. You can be part of that process"

The first sentence I remembered from before. The second two... I did not. And as small as it seems, it actually made me feel more hopeful to hear it.

Another thing that struck me on this watch was Londo. Signs and Portents was his first step down the path to darkness; this is his second. And yet, he is genuinely shocked by the consequences of his actions; and we end with him keeping vigil with Ivanova. It won't last, of course, but it's a reminder that he's not an intrinsically or purely evil character; there is much good in him. That's why we like him, and why he is tragic despite all he will do.

G'Kar gets to really show the range of his character. He starts in strutting villain mode, and the scene were his latest sexual partners leave his quarters is one of the funnier moments of a generally dark episode. But as the episode progresses, we see his other side. He seems far less keen in his government's aggression when talking in his chambers; he immediately understands the implications of the attack on Quadrant 37; and in the shuttle scene, it is Na'Toth who speaks of retaliation while G'Kar offers Ivanova condolences and is more reflective.

Garibaldi has come under criticism in recent episodes for his actions, and justifiably so. So it's interesting that we start this episode with Petrov, who Garibaldi was apparently willing to help get a second chance. We also get to see both his investigative chops, figuring out the assassination plot... but also his blind spots. Or as Walker Smith said back in TKO,

"One of these days, Garibaldi, you're going to learn to watch your back."

Delenn starts a change that is in both the biggest and smallest of the ambassadors. I, of course, know what will come out of the titular chrysalis. And yet while the physical changes will be dramatic, Delenn as a person arguably changes the least among the main cast. A little something I've always found amusingly ironic.

Sinclair has a pretty rough time of it. He makes a pretty awful proposal, fails to save the president, fails to meet with Delenn and get the answers he wants... He gets the last line of the season, though, and it's a great one.

"Nothing's the same any more."

This is the season finale, and so we say goodbye to a lot of things. The last time that Mira Furlan will wear that specific make up as Delenn, for one. But we also say goodbye to Caitlin Brown's Na'Toth, Michael O'Hare's Sinclair, and Julia Nickson's Catherine Sakai. Some of these actors will make guest appearances, but even now I feel somewhat sad about these departures.

Caitlin Brown's decision not to return is understandable based on what I've read; that she only came on as a favour when the actress who played Ko'Dath developed an allergic reaction to the makeup, and would never normally be stuck in such a low-profile role. Still, I enjoy season one where her and Andreas Katsulas give such great presence to the Narn. I don't think they ever fully replaced her.

Michael O'Hare's departure is bigger, since he was the star of the show. And, of course, there was that scene in Babylon Squared. It's amazing that JMS made such a big deal about how B5 was planned in advance, and yet was able to handle this and still make a show with such compelling foreshadowing. Sure, there are places were things don't quite line up that the obsessive fan can see, but they're easy to overlook. As for O'Hare himself, I hope he acheived some respite from the mental illness that forced his departure before his tragic early death.

Least important to the show was the character of Cathering Sakai; Nickson only had three appearances this season, the last of which before Chrysalis was 16 episodes ago. I mostly just want to mention that, if you want to know her character's fate, read To Dream in the City of Sorrows. It's a good book; not great, not really able to stand by itself aside from the show, but certainly better than most of the tie-in novels.

With season 1 over, will I continue to season 2? Not immediately. The real-world connections will only get stronger, and I'm not ready for that right now. Later? Maybe; we'll see.

Finally, I've been adding my CCG cards, and let's do that one more time. What choice could there be, but this one:

[follows-the-bees]

Stede's costume color analysis

Ed wore red and purple to symbolize his love for Stede in S1. Stede wears red (love), yellow/cream (light and the beach), and bluegreen (mermaid) to symbolize his love for Ed in S1.

The red starts around his neck in the same style as the black cravat while they are separated. It is reminiscent of Stede's style from last season, while the rest of the clothes are more piratey, and reflect his new position in society and piracy. They are also rumpled and soiled, just like the mindset of this couple while they are apart.

The red then moves to the stitching right before and during their reunion. It is now a part of and cemented into the fabric, and not around his neck, which resembled a noose (like the black cravat symbolism of last season.) His love is stitched into his heart.

Ultimately the red becomes a whole suit and shirt when the couple reunite. Ed no longer needs the small red silk to represent his love for Stede because it is right there in front of him, Stede is literally covered in their shared love.

Shades of tan/cream (sandy beach) and yellow are used to show how they are the light (lighthouse) in each other's lives. Stede wears this light cream color before reuniting with Ed and then once again while they are still a bit rocky during episode 4 and the beginning of 5.

Just like with the lantern shining on Ed's face when he wakes up from purgatory and the candle in the background shining on Ed's face during the "I love everything about you" scene, this light color symbolizes the beacon of light (love) Ed radiates toward Ed.

And last, we have the color blue - like the ocean. While on the Red Flag, their uniforms are blue (I love this because it shows Zheng using and knowing how important indigo is, reinforcing her buying it for cheap from Spanish Jackie.) He wears this the entire time Ed is in Purgatory and then when Stede steps into the water-logged cabin to say goodbye to what he thinks is Ed dead, the symbolism of blue is most prominent. This blue clothing, and stepping into the water, shows that Stede is meeting Ed - the mermaid - in the water and he helps as Ed chooses to live, chooses life, while Stede swims next to him and gives him hope.

And last, we have the blue shirt in the last three episodes of the show. It is the color of the sea, and also the color of the robe Ed wears the morning after. (Also the morning after, Stede is wrapped in blankets that make him look like a mermaid and Ed in a robe the color of the ocean.) This blue shirt is throughout the episodes: the lunch date, the break up, the getting back together on the beach, and in the last scene when they choose to slow down and figure themselves out.

All of these colors Stede wears ties back to Ed and his love for him. It is a visual symbolism of their deeper connection.

See also my analysis on how Stede's lowering neckline shows his descent into piracy.

Bonus: MerStede

He is a shiny goldfish, a bright beacon of hope and love.

[mr-period]

Remembering something forgotten ————Where is Jimmy boy?

I feel I may find some thing that be hidden in S2.New to tumblr,and English is not my first language,hope what I want to express can be understand correctly,and plz forgive me if there's errors of some religion words.

The famous magic theory has mentioned many things wrong in S2, and some plots are deliberately set to be unobtrusive, suspicious slides off them like water slides off ducks. But the drawback of magic theory is that it sets the whole script to nothingness. The key to solving puzzles is to have practical meaning. It is a fallacious to make the whole story illusory just for put all the contents into the theory.

For abstract :S2 contains a hidden story line of the resurrection of Jesus under the love story.Like mentioned in the bonus video,S2 contains not only large amounts of Easter eggs for the second coming in S3,but really a character might be Jesus under the noses of the audience.So for me the S2 is like Neil Gaiman rushing into Amazon Prime’s senior office,throwing the script on the desk and roaring:“GIVE ME SEASON 3 OR GIVE ME DEATH!!!”

Before we begin,I need to clarify some roles or directions.

First of all,according to some puzzle we have in S1&S2,like the body change at the end of S1,or the hidden goats in 202,the clues of mystery in the show always have an obvious answer, even it feels make no sense before realize the link between.All the information from the focusing places in the picture can be used.But like the shortage of the magic theory,it is unacceptable to distort the story itself just to fix a theory.Actually I still not figure out all the puzzles in S2,so in the second part of this post about my personal theory of who is telling the story and who is watching, I will point out that it's an assumption but not an inference.

Secondly,there are multiple story lines in S2,three love stories above,the hidden line about Jim/Resurrection of Jesus,the main line frame to explain the logic of the whole script,and the story of Metatron.What's more,the crew also prepared a large amount of Easter eggs.Some of them,such as the tardis bgm in the musical instrument store,can be seen as a simply fan joy.

But there are also some Easter eggs not only Easter eggs,but also related to the plot or hidden story.For example,I have write a article about the Blitz minisode is the thing actually in the box(didn't trans it in tumblr yet),because the prop books in he box displayed in 206 is two of the "Lost Quartos" of Shakespeare plays mentioned in the Good Omens Book.It could be an Easter egg,but when you notice that the plot of the prototype of these two plays are mentioned about the bullet(arrow) catch and the show girl,which can link to the Blitz minisode specifically,that makes this Easter egg a Clue.

So after accepting these premises,let's start the detective game.

First of all,we need to question ourselves:There is a character who has his own personal poster and promotional video, who is in the story from the beginning to the end,but no one say goodbye to him?Even Nina and Maggie have a "say goodbye forever",even Beelzebub said thank you to Aziraphale,but this absolute S2 main character had never be mention again in the end.

Where is Jim?

After Gabriel recovered his memory,the friendship established between he and Crowley and Aziraphale vanished immediately.This unbalanced weird feeling was washed away by the coming broken-up and makes the audience have no time to think about that. Actually,it's quite unnatural because the relationship between Jim and Aziracrow have a complete grown arc.We can see Crowley finally give Jim hot chocolate,Aziraphale say to Jim that he said he will protect,and he well,and at the beginning Jim said happily he have two friends.But when Gabriel recovered his memory,Aziraphale look like want to drown Gabriel into holey water and distory him as soon as possible.The relationship they built during six episodes simply disappeared like the undropped second shoe upstairs.The story about Jim is far from over.

That's my explanation about why Jim and Gabriel are two different characters,and also,the rationality of the existence of the hidden story.Then let's come to the key question:

Who is Jim?

In S1,the special effect design used a red fabric to show the blood of Jesus in the crucifixion

and in S2,they obviously find a cheaper way(considering the price of tomato maybe more expensive) to express blood.

Look at these tomatoes here.The released bonus video makes this clue more obvious.Because they deleted the plot about the reason why these tomatoes scattered,but keep this pic in the tight minutes limit.The reason is so obvious :It's a CLUE!

Jesus was stabbed in the ribs and bled,his hands were painful by nailed,and he was forced to drink myrrh.Our Jim is much luckier,his arms are no longer hurts and have sweet hot chocolate.

It is amazing to find so much connected information after realize the story line of Jim,which in turn proves Jim's story is not my delusion.

First thing is the costumes. Apart from the daily look in the bookshop, let's have a look at some other looks of Jim:

Pay attention to the posture of Jim preaching in Pic 3 and the cross formed by the whole shape. Let's take a look at the image of Christ in a religious painting:

Pay attention to clothing and posture. And the familiar posture of holding the cross in the lower right corner. Although most of the scriptures believe that another person helped Jesus carry the cross on the way of crucifixion, but some other view,for example, in<Gospel of John>,believed that Christ himself carried the cross. This familiar gesture corresponds to another neglected clue in 203, which is the purpose of the seemingly unsuccessful trip to Edinburgh: the mysterious statue of Gabriel.

In another word, we can say that it is not Gabriel's statue at all, but Jim's statue.

Far-fetched? In fact, S2 had already showed an image of Christ:

Look at this similar outfit, I think the correspondence to Jim's identity is clearly. By the way, cleansing of the temple occurs in the Holy Week, remember that cute feather duster?I like this joke. And Crowley do be kicked out of the house.

Actually, we have even more obvious hints,that is in the Jane Austen's ball. During the ball, everyone is dancing, but what was Jim doing?

He's giving away vol-au-vent. The hint to the Last Supper is so obvious here that it's my strongest evidence for Jim's story.

There are some other supporting details about Jim is Jesus:

The code of seven: the rhythm that Jim showed when he was playing with the lamp and his mouth: — — - - -

Two long and three short, which is the number 7 in Morse code. Remember how God loves 7? Jesus is the Son of God in religion,and in the <Gospel of John> Jesus was considered as an incarnation of the divine Word (Logos),who not only speaks God's word,but is God's word. I found this clue because I felt that the plot of Jim playing with his body at the ball was too long as a pornographic joke, and finally found that he played his body in a rhythm, which is as same as how he play the lamp.（And now Neil had answered that IS scripted!) Every scene in S2 makes sense.

Another allusion shows Jim's connection to God is the book he dropped:

<My best games of chess>is a Easter egg of <A Matter of Life and Death>.But also,as I will mention below about God play chess game in the ineffable bureaucracy,and the chess in Aziraphale's book shop which never be used.All these implies that the development of the world is under ineffable manipulation of God. And here, Jim drops the book, complaining that things didn't stay at where he put them. This is an God's perspective complaint. At the same time, it once again emphasizes the main purpose of Good Omens book.

Also as one comment in my original article, someone mention that Jim rearrange book in his own way is just what God do.

And Crowley told Jim jump out the window, which is one of the temptations Jesus hered from demon.

What's more, let's consider about Jim's prophecy:

First:"I remember when the morning star sang together,and all the Angels of God shouted of joy." which we know God said this in Job's minisode.

The third one:"If it happens again I can make it seem like it's an institutional problem" said by Metatron,who is the voice of God.

And the second one:"There will come a tempest,and darkness,and great storms.And the dead will leave their graves and walk the earth once more.And there will be great lamentations."The first hale comes from <Hebrews 12:18>,describing the ominous sign sent by God.The last half is from <Matthew 27:53> describes what happened after Jesus died.And this is the only one that Gabriel himself didn't hear—is evidence that Jim is not Gabriel but Christ.

It can be seen that most of these prophecies are related to God and Jesus. Although these prophecies correspond to the plots in the main storyline, they are all hints of the resurrection of Christ when they are connected together.

There's another clue here, and it's highlighted in the latest trivia message.S2 gives a unit of miraculou power to bring a person back from the dead: Lazarii.The prototype of the word said in trivia isLazarus,: Lazarus of Bethany, who was resurrected by Jesus four days after his death.This miracle is the last one before Jesus's crucifixion, and it is also the most important miracle, because it means that Jesus finally defeated his final enemy: death.

And in S2, the day Jim arrived is Sunday, because Nina mentioned that it all started with the blackout last week.And the ball is on Thursday night. So Gabriel died on Sunday and was resurrected four days later, corresponding to the resurrection of Lazarus.And the "tiny" miracle for hiding Jim's required the power to resurrect Lazarus 25 times, and it's hard to explain why this was so costly, except for Jesus himself.(I still not figure out what the number of 25 means.Once finished, I may add it here.) And the last day in S2 when Jim disappeared was Good Friday.

Some clues about coming:Jim keep saying that he came to find Aziraphale, but it was Beelzebub that Gabriel was looking for. And some other lines about coming:

The first shot of present time,there is a same screen in S1,that one is for God, but this one:

"Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of ..."<Matthew 24:30>

The Son of Man descended from the sky/clouds, and there are also some views believe that God will be accompanied by angels and trumpets. We heard the sound of trumpets when Michael and the others came in the 202. Let's take a look at some posters and screenshots.

The feather representing Jim falls from the sky, and Jim's cup not only has a heart for Gabriel's story, but also a smoke from the top.

And this pic of Jim walking down from the upstairs.And Jim's voluntary devotion when he wearing the feather coat, which is what Jesus did.

Clues about music:There's some hints in the story of the ineffable bureaucracy.Look at these two elder men playing card game and chess in the background.

These pics shows that the story of ineffable bureaucracy was under the ineffable control of God.And in the second pic when they fall in love, we can hear the BGM of Every Day, which we can say it is God playing this song about the doomsday.And Beelzebub said:

It seems means the Every Day segment in the ending theme may contain clues.But I lack of knowledge of music so this puzzle is not for me.While when Aziraphale asked him where is this mysterious song came from,Jim answered:

And one of the funniest hints: When Gabriel was lost, Metatron said there's no need for alarm so just find him, but the person who hidden Gabriel would be erased, and the miracle of hiding Gabriel would immediately raise the alarm. It can be seen that it is Jim but not Gabriel who is important.

This is the fun of decryption. You will find out more and more clues when you find the answer. There are so many informations in S2 just like cookie crumbs heading to the candy house.

At this point, Jim's story line has almost been clarified. The miracle done by Aziraphale and Crowley together works so well that even the audience doesn't notice Jim anymore. At the end of the story, they achieved their original purpose, and Jim disappeared in silence. No one in both heaven, hell, earth and the audience in front of the TV noticed this.

Some other questions:who wants to hide Jim? Why? And who set up these clues, hoping someone to find out?

Before answer these questions, the following discussion of will contain lots of delusion, because of the lack of conclusive evidence. Just put it here as my personal theory of what is the frame of S2.

First of all, according to the discussion above, we know that under the sweet love story in S2, like S1,our story is actually shrouded in the shadow of a coming doomsday. So, who is telling the story in S2, and who is listening to the story?

There is a humanoid creature who has a habit of talking nonsense when he wants to hide his ture thoughts. For example, when he was bullied by other angel colleagues, he uttered a lot of nonsense about choosing sides, or when he wants to misleading his husband to doing what he unwilling to do,he portrayed the threat from Metatron as a wonderful chance with a lot of subjective narrative and gags.

That's my piont, if there is a cheature who wants to hide the existence of Jim, and in the narration of the story of S2, cleverly misleading the audience to focus on the love story, there is no one other but the greatest magician Mr. Fell who fooled Nefertiti. Just like the coin magic he showed in the Blitz minisode, the farthing has vanished! Aziraphale's conjuring is so skillful that it had been highlighted again later in the replacing of the photo (evidence).

The book of Job is displayed by Aziraphale, and the minisode in Edinburgh is directly the diary of angel, and after the ball, Nina asked Aziraphale when it all started, he answered:

He aready figured it out! It's a pity that stuff happened one after another, he and Crowley never had a chance to communicate later, and they started the next journey in different directions in the end.

The entire S2 is like Aziraphale's adorable detective clippings, narrative by time-line with pasting a few clues he thinks are relevant.

And the blitz minisode is the clue he left to the audience after completing his wonderful magic show. This clue was placed in the box carried by Jim, and after showing the items in the box, the lens shows Aziraphale had a quick look at them. These items are the key to avoiding something treble. I won't go into details about the specific plot, but just want to mention that when Neil wrote the key plot of season 3, he must be so proud about it that he wrote this line in the magic shop: “I've find my showstopper.” And Considering that this magic was chosen by Aziraphale, it is also possible that the corresponding plot in the third season may came from Terry, and Neil wrote this sentence with infinite nostalgia and admiration to his old friend. The Blitz minisode embodies the importance of trust and cooperation, and repeatedly emphasizes Aziraphale's magic skill. What's more,the Professor's Nightmare which setting in the middle of this three acts play,Neil retweeted the actor playing this magic,it is definitely important!

The picture here almost deliberately captures Aziraphale in the mirror. This camera language means that the actual narrator here is Aziraphale himself in the mirror. He is proudly showing how he used Several story lines cleverly hide all the clues in S2, and imply the progress of the whole three seasons is showed in the Blitz minisode.

By the way, this does not mean that the entire Blitz minisode is fake,my opinion is that all the minisodes in S2 are real, but be added some clues base on the original story. Therefore, the interpretation for minisode should be to dig out the unnatural places as clues,but keep the whole story as real.

So, who is the expected audience of this complex structure story of S2, and who is the minisode hidden in the box written for?

Who else can Aziraphale write this for, who can Aziraphale hand over all the secrets, who can Aziraphale entrust his back and life, and who does Aziraphale need to trick God for sending this information to save the world from doomsday?

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but there is a very weird scene in the title sequence, which is the last theater. Although the magic theory directed everyone's attention to the book of life that the curtain might represent (this does make sense partly, which I'll mention later), but it's easy to be ignored that the theater of the blitz minisode has been shown before.

Where we can see the curtains is another theater, or we can say: a screening room.

And there is no screening room in the entire S2. A couple of scenes that don't contain in the show in the title sequence, one at the end is the holy mountain, which is an allusion to Jim's story line. The tunnel at the beginning is also closely related to what I will talk about later. And the rest is this screening room which never appeared.

Wait a minute, there's a screening room, isn't?

This is the only screening room in the Good Omens TV universe.This old Victoria Station cartoon theater was long since demolished in our word, but Neil has a romantic explanation for it: because Crowley mentioned he liked it, Aziraphale kept it around.And you can also see the popcorn Crowley ate in S1 in the title sequence:

The X-ray video also mentioned there's some Communion wafer in the popcorn box.

The bonus video also gives another supporting clue to this idea, that is, many of the characters on the side of this theater are from S1. This is an Easter egg, but may also imply that this scene should go back to the first season to find clues.

And we all know that Crowley came here to sit down and collect his thoughts as Neil mentioned in his Q&A,which was exactly happened after they broke up at the bandstand. That maybe the reason that everyone was killed by the ending of S2, but Neil just compared it as what happened in bandstand.

So here's my story time:

S2 was happened when Crowley hiding in the cartoon theater after leaving, looking back carefully about what's happening before all this chaos. I believe that like the audience can't believe Aziraphale will leave Crowley because of Heaven, just like Mr. Yang would never give up maintaining him car.Crowley will definitely feel that there is something wrong after the end of S2, then try to chewing the memory carefully, reading the funny detective hand book that his angel left him, and finally project this intertwined story of S2 with memory of two of them.

And the blitz minisode is the magic instruction booklet left by Aziraphale. It may seem obscure,but everything the assistant gentlemen needs to know had already written in it.Just like he left the clues to Crowley in the bar even after discorporating.Will Crowley come back? For audience it's sadlly that we can only know that until season three release.

Personally, I think the future story has already be told in the candlelight dinner in 1941.

In addition, there is another important clue in this theater, which is the Book of Life highlight in the magic theory.

I don't have a perfect explanation for this either, but I can at least piece together a vague picture from the clues available.

First of all, when the curtain was burned, there was an obvious sound of flipping book. The book of life and erasure seemed to correspond to these. But here's a clue, the image was burned. In fact, among the various ominous signs about the resurrection of Jesus/Jesus, black sky, storms, trumpets, etc. all appear, but there is one sign that is mentioned in S2, but never happened.

This prophecy also from the book of Job, and it describes Leviathan,the controlling meaning of it I had mentioned in the analysis of the story of ineffable bureaucracy. However, this prophecy is literally a description of flame. And this material object is a matchbox. It must be noted that there used to be matches in it.

Forget about the fireballs in 202, this is the only thing about fire in S2.

So where else have matches?

Exactly,there was only one audience in the theatre where the curtain was set on fire, so it is no surprise that Crowley burned them.

If we assume that Crowley is the one who burned the smoke ring on the Book of Life, where did he get the Book of Life?

The first mention of the Book of Life is in Michael's phone call. She said to the person opposite: "Book of Life?"

The reply is: " I'm on it." That may be the answer to stat hunting Gabriel, or it may be because the book of life is in the hands of the person beside the phone. Because the debate between heaven and hell in 206 had mentioned that the right of heaven to propose punishment, and then hell will execute it.

So who is the person on the other end of the phone? Shax threatens Aziraphale that Crowley risks destruction, but not erasure. And Beelzebub was the one who told Crowley that the extreme sanctions would be the Book of Life.

Another clue that has been forgotten is what appeared on the curtain of 205, and it is also a clue that I have not solved before. Only after I solved it, I have finish my own story.

On the curtain of 205 are the bull-headed demon and the white-haired demon. They even have character names in the cast list, but unfortunately the main storyline did not mention it at all. I haven't figured out what's the means of the bull-headed demon yet, but the plot of the white-haired demon is to hand Shax some letters to Crowley.

That's it, Shax handed Crowley letters twice in S2, and the second time was particularly abrupt on the night of ball. When she first sent him the letters, Shax mentioned that she took them to hell, but the finance department said they can't accept Shax's signature as replacement."Bills mostly." We can see Crowley throwing the bills into a trash bin.

It can be seen that being burned from the curtain is indeed an effective way of making people forget about it. I also completely ignored these letters until I noticed the white-haired demon. After throwing away the bill, what was left by Crowley?

After laying out the clues, here comes story time:

In my version of story, the book of life should be kept by hell, and heaven is responsible for authorizing rewriting. In order to keep their lover, Beelzebub sent the Book of Life to Crowley by letter. Crowley, on the other hand, carefully burns away what he thinks needs to be hidden in the theater.

He hided what's really inside the box in 201 . Looking closely at the pic of when the box outside the bookshop, it can be seen that the fly actually fly into the box. And in 206 Crowley emptied the storage of the box made it seem unimportant.

The Job's story in 202 and the statue in 203 are all related to Jim. After burning these, the clues about the prophecy are left behind. We can see Crowley firstly talking to Job, and it is Crowley who find the status. (Looking at a statue of the annoying boss in the extremely cold midnight,Crowley you are really a good at planning a date)

In 204, there are too many people on the curtain and the effect is not so well. Many people aware of the three zombies who inexplicably disappeared in the long river of time. These three zombies also died because of Crowley.

The white-haired demon in 205 has been mentioned above, but I haven't solved the bull-headed demon yet. They have only one thing in common, they all wear masks on earth. And masks are used to cover the facial features of inhuman demons, which they obviously don't need.And they only spoke to Crowley.

The clue for 206 is the halo, I think after watching the last 15 minutes, no one will keep entangled that the halo is actually a signal for starting the war. After the arrival of the heaven and hell, Crowley directly asserted that there would not have a war and fooled the matter.

Then what is his purpose of burning these pics?

01 02 03 even 04 are clues to the second coming. 05 is about the receiving the book of life. 06 is to suspend the war.

Now you can see why I think I'm telling a story with such an explosion of clues, because these clues are obviously not connected perfectly.Some kind of framework can be seen by them, but it seems like can be put together more neatly. I will edit it here if I solve more clues in the future.

So as telling a story, what Crowley did was hidding the information he had that might reveal the event of the coming of Jim, and also hide the fact that he had the Book of Life, and temporarily stabilized the situation.

According to my person theory, book of life is handled by hell, and the authority to modify it is in heaven.

And now,the book of life is in the hands of Crowley, and the right to modify it is in Aziraphale.

Does this means that the whole S2 we see, including the modified plot of Book of Life, is the result of the communication between Azirapahle and Crowley?What will happen in S3 if then can do this?

After all it's just a theory I built from limited evidence and added lots of my personal conjecture,so it's highly possible to be uncorrected.

Here is the end of this long article. Thank you for your time for reading.And can't wait for Season 3 :)

[softlighter]

Pass Through Fire

rewatching The Legend of Vox Machina season 2, episode 5, "Pass Through Fire," and having some Thoughts.

Every time I rewatch this episode, start to finish, I can't help but pay attention. I rewatch tlovm quite frequently, but this episode is goddamn gift and a spectacular feat of animation, script, everything. From the start, with the meta-theme of the voice of Korra the Avatar as Keyleth's mom's voice actor, and the setting of the episode theme and how it's not just about power, it's about her mom, this episode just starts and it doesn't stop. It might honestly be my favorite episode of the whole series, for so many reasons, but to specifically analyze in regards to Kiki, it's a goddamn gift.

So, let's talk about it! Let's talk about the score and the motifs repeating from during her last conversation with her mother into Keyleth then hearing the wind and then transforming into a fire elemental. I'm not qualified to discuss musical score as a factor, I really am musically illiterate, but you can hear the repeated notes and sections throughout the episode, which makes the final "Pass Through Fire" score all the more powerful. You hear it in "Wind" on the soundtrack as well, which is what plays during her goodbye with her mother, and which is beautiful but ends with this emptiness, this solemnity. You hear the motif on the wind, calling her to Pyrah, but the final "Pass Through Fire" is triumphant and powerful, above all else. It's not this just major triumph in battle as a victory, it is a personal triumph, it's Keyleth recalling her mother's last lesson to her and being able to finally actively internalize it. It's self-actualization and self-acceptance after so much self doubt. It's empowerment, not just power. It is her mother, it is the memory of her mother, and it is Kiki herself.

And, on every rewatch, this effect only becomes more pronounced because you notice the repeated motif, even if only unconsciously, and it's staggering. This past rewatch, the scene of Keyleth transforming and passing through fire genuinely brought me to tears, which I do not say lightly! Even before this, I always got chills when watching this episode, and so much of that, for me at least, is from the thematic impact of the score.

But enough about music which, again, I am not qualified to talk about, let's talk about character analysis!

Keyleth as a young child, an Air Ashari. Her mother's final lesson to her is that it only hurts if you let it, and let's examine that. Fire needs air to live, pain needs us in order to be felt by us, but it only hurts if you let it. Her mother is saying, you are not wood or timber, you were not meant to be consumed by pain, you were made to continue through it, to persevere. And then when we look at Keyleth at the end of campaign one, in the smallest nods we see in campaign two, in the published books from CR, and now in campaign three, I think we can definitively say she is someone who perseveres. She goes on, however painful it is. Keyleth is endurance, Keyleth is inner strength.

Throughout the episode, we see her fighting. Not just physically, but fighting internally, finding the strength. She's fighting to follow the wind, fighting to go to Pyrah and help, fighting to tell her father that her mastery is not where she thinks it should be, but she ends the episode having completed the fire trial. What does this say, what does this tell us? Keyleth is a surviver. She's a fighter, and she's a qualified one. Marisha has said she was inspired by Avatar The Last Airbender, and I especially see allusions to the Book One, episode fourteen, "The Fortuneteller," in this episode and its effect, specifically as to when Sokka says he forgets what a powerful bender Aang is.

Keyleth, mechanically, is a prime choice for considering who is the most powerful member of Vox Machina, and I'm not saying she is or isn't, what I'm saying is this episode was a reminder to her and to us the audience how powerful she is. She carries the heaviest burden out of Vox Machina by the end, save perhaps for Vax, in that she has to lead for the thousands of years that she will live, and she will see everyone she loves die as she barely ages. She is powerful, she perseveres, she continues onward.

This episode brings to tears to my eyes because Keyleth is strong. Her strength is not her druidic might, although that is one path for its expression. She's strong because she perseveres, because she passes through fire, because she has the inner will to continue on.

[ninjatrashpanda]

Season 8 Episode 3 Write-Up

Okay, so. This was the grand conclusion of our opening disaster, and I personally think that while it was good overall, the whole ordeal could have been two episodes. But more on that later. If you want to read my thoughts on Episodes one and two, you can find my masterlist here.

Also, I’m gonna try to streamline these a little and go ‘Storyline by Storyline’ rather than ‘Scene by Scene’ like I did the last two weeks.

1. The Cold Open

The episode decides to immediately show us Athena’s leadership skills and determination, two of her best qualities. It’s one of those moments that show you why she had the opportunity to become lieutenant (I think it was Season 2 or 3, but don’t quote me on that), and why she would have absolutely thrived in the position. Of course, Athena is infamously frequently abusing her power, so I guess it’s ultimately a good thing she didn’t take the job.

Also, I still think the heart attack on the copilot was pointless. It didn’t provide anything except padding the disaster’s runtime to fit three episodes.

2. Bathena

“I need to speak with Athena. I need to hear her voice, and I need her to hear mine, just in case.”

“Bobby, she already knows.”

“That’s not good enough.”

We’ve had many Bathena moments in the past. They range from playful and sexy, to angry and sometimes frustrating, to loving and tender. However, I’m not sure when we last had a moment that encapsulates what makes them special the way everything in this episode, but this short conversation between Bobby and Maddie especially, does.

Bobby and Athena have both loved and lost before. This is Bobby’s second marriage, and Athena’s third. (Yes, she and Emmett didn’t get to get married, but I’m counting him anyway.) From the beginning of their relationship, Bobby and Athena have shown us that love is not a finite thing, but something ever expanding, something that can never run out. I don’t think they are each other’s ‘Love Of Their Life.’ Marcy and Emmett are. But I’d argue that makes Bathena almost better because they show us that even after losing their The One, they’re still capable of loving more and more and more. Love never ends or runs out, and we never lose the capability to love, no matter what, and Bobby and Athena have shown that since they started dating.

Coming back to this episode, and the quotes in question, they’re simple. Bobby knows Athena loves him. He knows that she knows that he loves her. But she’s in a crashing plane, and there’s a big chance this might be it, and simply knowing just isn’t enough. Bobby’s last conversation with Marcy before the fire was them fighting over his drug addiction, the last words he ever said to her was him lying to her about the kids being okay. Bobby was never really able to properly apologize and say goodbye to Marcy, and it’s clear that he won’t let something like this happen again.

So, he needs to speak with Athena. He needs to tell her that he loves her, he needs to hear her say that she loves him too. Just in case. It doesn’t matter that they know. Bobby practically begging Maddie to try to move hell and high water to get Athena on a phone line to him is already one of the greatest depictions of their love, but the episode then says ‘Nah, guys, we’re gonna go deeper!

Maddie manages to get through to one of the passengers, and Bobby gets to have that talk with Athena. And between him calling her ‘baby’ (my heart 😭) and promising to meet her at the baggage carousel, I’m already in tears. Then she tells him that they aren’t going to LAX anymore because the plane can’t turn, and how a lot of people both on the plane and on the ground are in danger. There is of course a touch of Athena’s selflessness in there, that she thinks of everyone that might die except herself, but at the same time, at least to me it seemed that there was an unsaid ‘Bobby, this might be it’ in there too.

And Bobby responds to it by asking what she needs. And he proceeds to clear the freeway off cars so she can land that plane. She doesn’t have to ask. She doesn’t have to suggest anything. He just knows she needs him, he just knows exactly what he can do, and he goes and does it. Bobby isn’t in a real fire truck right now, he isn’t even an acting captain, but he still does whatever he can to ensure that his wife, the woman he loves, can protect all those people and then return to him safely.

“I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t be there.”

“You’re gonna do great. I’ll hold up a card with your name on it.”

It should be illegal how much these two are making me cry this episode. Just…he trusts her. So much. Sometimes even more than she trusts herself. And it’s that trust he has in her that gets her to believe that she can do this. That she can land that plane. 

I just love them. They’re such an integral part of this show, so important not just to draw in viewers because it’s Angela Bassett and Peter Krause, but because the show’s core of love and trust and understanding is always best shown by Bobby and Athena. They’re the heart and soul of this show, the blood that runs through its veins. Sometimes I think we take them for granted, that we don’t fully appreciate what they’re doing, both for the show itself and for us, the viewers. We joke when we call them our Mom and Dad, but in the end, that’s a great analogy, actually. Those of us with good parents tend to not appreciate them the way they deserve either until later in life. In that sense, yeah, Bathena really are Mom and Dad!

No matter what else happens, Bobby and Athena, to me at the very least, will always be one of the greatest relationships on television. They’re a tale of redemption, of loss, of finding love again. And I love them more than I could ever say with words.

3. Athena and Jem manning and landing the plane

We jump right into Athena attempting to fly the damn thing to LAX, everything looks good, the ground crew are coaching her properly. Everyone is celebrating (again, wtf, has nobody told them to not celebrate until it’s all over?!) which is of course when the plane falls apart further and damages the rudder with debris. The plane can’t turn anymore, and LAX becomes unreachable.

So, maybe unpopular opinion, but this scene is generally more padding for runtime. It does show off Athena’s resourcefulness and intelligence when she suggests finding a field or doing a water landing, but ultimately, there isn’t much of anything that gets provided otherwise. Some action maybe, sure, but like…how did the story benefit from this? Yeah. This ties back to me thinking the whole disaster could’ve been two episodes, but again, more on that later.

Fast forward through me bawling my eyes out about Bathena, Jem then reveals that he always crashes the plane when it’s time to land in his game. Kid, you should’ve told us this way sooner! I mean, I get it, you’re a kid, and you probably like feeling important and didn’t want to let Athena and everyone down. But maybe a bit of a heads up next time you have to land a crashing plane? kthx

All jokes aside, I love that the show takes the completely bonkers scenario of a child landing a fucking plane, but still makes the kid act like a kid. Of course he didn’t tell anyone that he always crashes the plane in his game. That’s embarrassing! It probably didn’t even occur to him at first that this part was gonna come, and once he did realize, he was already in too deep. You’re still wonderful, Jem, and I will forever love you 💖

Athena reassuring Jem, telling him that they can do it together if they believe in themselves was a nice moment, especially when she says she’s sure his mother is looking over him. I’ve said it already last time, but her empathy and ability to calm and console people is easily one of Athena’s biggest virtues as a character, and I wish the show would tap into it more often!

Also, shoutout to Jem for reminding people about their seatbelts! Those are important! Thank you, Jem, for your vital service!

Now the landing scene? Is phenomenal! I love how tense it is despite all of us knowing it would work out. The chaos in the cabin, the wheels bursting, how the thing comes to a halt directly in front of Bobby, who doesn’t move an inch because of his immense trust in Athena. I love that Jem freezes and has to be snapped out of it, too. Like I said earlier, the show actually portrays him as a child, and that’s wonderful. That Athena gets it and doesn’t hold it against him, without getting angry or overly frustrated, is another testament to who she is, too. These past two episodes have been really great showings for her, and I hope we get to go forward more with this Athena than the Athena breaking every protocol in the book because she thinks she knows best.

And God, Jem hugging Athena in the end!!! I just…I can’t. It’s so good. I love this. I don’t know what else to even say anymore.

4. Clearing the Freeway and Triage

Like I mentioned before, Bobby has no authority whatsoever. Hell, I’m pretty sure that what he does here actually breaks some laws. He still does it because it has to be done. And just like in Season 2 when he confronted Freddie, he’ll probably be excused (as he should!) because, well, he’s kind of a hero. Who knows how many people would’ve died if he hadn’t stopped the 110 dead in its tracks?

Right off the bat, Buck in the background trying to find actual equipment on the TV show truck is a funny background event, and him casually stealing that guy’s bike was amazing! I hope he gets it back though. Do we count him jumping into oncoming freeway traffic as another near-death experience?

I can’t explain just how big that smile was that I had when all the characters from last week’s episode came sliding out of the plane. The background music was sublime, and the touch of comedy with Brad passing out over Donna’s gross leg was hilarious. In fact, all the small quips of comedy we’ve had were pretty well done. From Buck’s ‘I never knew he was British!’ (3Meta5Me) to ��Bloody hell, Bobby!’ to Athena’s ‘That sounded better in my head.’ All providing a nice sense of levity in an otherwise tense episode.

And of course, then something explodes. Because we’re only halfway through the episode, and we still gotta pad the runtime a little more. Again, I’ll talk about the padding later in a separate point.

I remember seeing all the live bloggers complain about Athena staying on the plane to do CPR, and that the guy was dead anyway, etc. And I get that a lot of those were jokes, obviously, but like…if you were serious, then you don’t understand Athena’s character at all. There was no way that she was gonna leave that man behind. If there’s even the slightest sliver of a chance that he’ll make it, she’ll make sure to at least try to save him. That’s just who she is. In fact, that’s who all of them are. Bobby is like that too, and so is Buck, and so’s Eddie, and Chim and Hen and even Maddie and Josh and Tommy. It’s why they’re all first responders. It’s part of their identity. They would never leave someone behind to save their own hides. Plus, Chim literally says that the copilot lived because Athena didn’t stop.

The cavalry arrives and Bobby instantly takes over as IC, because of course he does. Really, who else would do it? I love that Eddie doesn’t even question it, and that Hen is openly just rolling with it. Why wouldn’t they?

To round this one out:

“Where’s Gerrard?”

“Buck put him in the hospital. I could elaborate, but this is funnier :D”

Chim, I love you. The people who hate you just don’t get that you’re amazingly amazing the way you are <3

5. The conclusion to Dennis’ storyline

Okay, so. I did kind of suspect that the feds were in on Fulton’s thing in one way or another. So that wasn’t much of a surprise. I didn’t expect the agent himself to be in the book though. And also, uh, the whole dramatically walking out of the shadows was a little extra, but know what, we appreciate a little diva moment on this blog.

Dennis taking a bullet for Bobby was sweet. And him than shanking Agent Whozitagain in the balls even better. Truly Jeffrey Hudson 2.0, you gotta love it.

But of course, the true meat here is the hospital scene between Dennis and Athena. And I loved that one. I love that Dennis admits that he did run from the consequences of his actions, but that he’s done running from them now. Because he’s still willing to go back to prison if Athena wants him to. Hell, he fully expects that she does and acts accordingly. I’ve said it before, but Dennis is such a genuinely good man.

His family showing up was such a nice surprise, and then of course, we get to Athena. Athena does not forgive Dennis for killing Emmett. And she shouldn’t. In any capacity. No matter the circumstances, or what he did with his life afterward, he did kill Emmett. So she doesn’t forgive him. But she does give him her blessing to use the deal to get back to his family, his job, his life. Not because he deserves it, but because she realized that arresting him didn’t bring her closure.

She was still angry, at him, at the world, at everything. She kept holding onto that anger, maybe because she was afraid of forgetting about Emmett if she did, but she realized that holding on to it only hurts her in the long run. So, knowing that Dennis is a legitimately good person, that he repented by being a social worker and helping children in need for the thirty years since Emmet, she decides to let go of her anger, hoping it will help her heal some of the pain. I think it’s clear she still hate Dennis, as is her prerogative, but she acknowledges that making him suffer won’t bring Emmett back, never mind that he would have wanted Dennis to get that second chance.

So she tells Dennis to live for Emmett the way she is. She tells him to honor Emmett like she does. She tells him to help people like Emmett would have, the way she is helping people. And honestly, she looks a lot lighter when she leaves the hospital room and rejoins Bobby.

In my first write-up, I talked about closure, and how Athena and Mrs. Washington deserved to have it, no matter what Dennis did himself to repent. From what we know, Mrs. Washington got that closure by Dennis getting arrested and tried. Athena, evidently from these past episodes, didn’t. She thought she would, but she didn’t get closure until she properly met and got to know Dennis more personally. She got closure by letting go, by knowing that he, too, honors the man he killed.

And I think that’s kind of what I wanted to get at back then. Closure isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing. Some people get closure from talking to the person who wronged them, by knowing their motive, by them maybe repenting and regretting what they did. Others get closure from a level of retribution. Others again get closure simply by healing and living their best lives, or, in case of losing someone, by letting their lost loved one live vicariously through them, by living in a way that would make them proud.

I will always defend a victim’s right for justice and closure. If a victim wants to see the person who wronged them punished to get closure, then that’s what should happen. Period. Culprits never matter as much or more than the people they wronged. And that’s a stance I refuse to change. Please stop telling victims their feelings are wrong or that they aren’t allowed to have closure. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

6. The most awkward closer in history

Yeah, uh, part of my Buck-and-Gerrard theory from last week is already coming true.

I just love Brian’s acting here. He’s so over the top, it’s amazing. Calling an exclamation point in a formal report vulgar the way he did absolutely sent me, him going paranoid (?) and accusing Eddie of not approving of the way he wrapped his head wound was freaking perfect. Great acting, both by Brian and Ryan.

And then of course he hugs Buck in the most awkward fashion imaginable. “Do you feel these arms, son? This is me taking you under my wing!” The sheer WTF look on everyone’s faces was such a good visual to end the premier with.

This is one of those scenes where I want to see the outtakes. Because you just know that they laughed their asses off way too many times to count.

As is, I’m really looking forward to how this storyline goes and how Gerrard’s ‘mentorship’ affects Buck and Tommy’s relationship.

7. Final Thoughts

Okay, so, right off the bat, let’s talk about how this three-part-premier really could’ve been two episodes. To begin, let’s shave off the scene of Buck saving Gerrard from the saw blade and have him save Gerrard later during the plane rescue instead. Same effect as what we got, but it leaves some breathing room in episode 1 to insert the scene of Athena and Dennis getting on the plane. That way, we don’t have to do it again in episode 2.

Having Buck save Gerrard later also gets rid of the follow up scene in episode 2, shaving off some time for other scenes from episode three to be in here. Additionally, the copilot didn’t matter in any way imaginable, so I almost feel like he should be DOA. Both Donna and Jordan’s rescues were more compelling, so I’d like to keep them. 

Additionally, I’d have the rudder damaged right off the bat, too. The escalation of the plane’s gradual destruction added some tension, yes, but for the most part it did just feel like pointless padding to me. With the rudder damaged and the plane unable to turn from the get-go, ATC has to think differently, but the result is the same. Bobby, Buck and Brad clear the freeway to allow the plane to emergency land there.

Now, I’d still have Athena stay on the plane for a hurt passenger, but I feel like that should’ve been Dennis. Maybe when the plane landed, he hit his head or something and is out cold or something. The 118, including Gerrard now, enters the plane and gets him out when the explosion happens. This is where I would have Buck save Gerrard. Just like with the saw, he senses somethings off and the moment the explosion happens, he pushes Gerrard out of the way.

The emergency ends with Dennis and Gerrard being loaded into ambulances, Bathena embrace and kiss, and everyone is happy. The Gerrard scene at the end happens as is.

“But Julian,” you may say, “what about Dennis’ storyline?” And to that I say…let it continue. I feel like it should have kept going, honestly. That should’ve been Athena’s big storyline this season, maybe concluding in the mid-season finale. The conclusion we got felt super rushed to me personally, and I definitely think seeing Athena snoop around to find whoever has it out for Dennis, maybe seeing Dennis actually work with the feds, etc. would’ve been more compelling.

But that’s just me.

Overall, I think this premier was still great, despite my few little gripes. In general, the Tsunami still reigns supreme, and I think the earthquake is also still ahead of this one, but it’s better than the cruise ship or the blackout. My biggest wish honestly would’ve been more involvement from the rest of the main cast. In the old opening disasters, everyone had a storyline, something to do. Hen, Chim and Eddie barely having three lines would’ve been unthinkable. I’d like those opening disasters to come back

And, of course, the lack of Tommy. Am I a little disappointed? Yes. Am I a bit confused that the pilot wasn’t involved in the plane crash emergency, even though Tommy was explicitly brought back as Buck’s LI because he would be easier to involve in the plot? Yes. And I think that’s fair criticism. Like, I’m not gonna send Tim death threats over it, but not involving Tommy in this particular set of episodes was a baffling decision, imo.

And that’s it. If you read to the end, thank you for reading! If you want to discuss things with me, write a comment, reblog, shoot me an ask, whatever you want! Or don’t, that’s fine too. I’m gonna be back with more random thoughts next week.

Bye bye!

[thatsofic]

#FICTITIOUSCORE WINNER !

Find our lovely hosts at … @chloekwon + @yrmycrush + @urmykrushhh

Faint cheering and screams of excitement filled the arena as the curtains revealed the star-studded stage. Standing in the respective order that they performed in were the contestants as they anxiously awaited the results and occasionally leaned over to speak to themselves or the other groups. In front of them, side by side and in the center, stood the hosts; Chloe Kwon to the left, Ansel in the middle, and Kaleina to the right in an attempt to let her stand closer to her group.

"Hello, FICTITOUSCORE! Tonight, after watching these several talented idols take on the stage and wow the crowd, it's time we finally reveal who the winner of the first FICTITOUSCORE trophy is!" Ansel eagerly takes the mic first as Chloe holds up the award and shows it off to the everyone.

Kaleina nods along with his words. "That's right! Behind us stands the first winner to kickoff the music show and we couldn't be more thrilled to see who you guys-" She then pointed at the cameras, "Voted for!"

"The idols behind us did an amazing job at giving us a taste at what to expect from here on out. I hope you all know you did a great job and that we're looking forward to more performances from you guys in the future," Chloe peaks back at the contestants and then back to the crowd with a smile.

"Without further ado..." Kaleina starts, exchanging a look with her fellow hosts before they all faced the same direction towards the camera in front.

"Here's your FICTITOUSCORE winner!" They all cheer together.

The jumbotron showcases all the artists on stage before the screen widens, showing off the victors of the night.

"Krush!" Chloe and Ansel say it together while Kaleina looks stunned. Chloe hands her the trophy and bows alongside Ansel.

"Congratulations to Krush for taking home the first trophy of the season. We're looking forward to your future activities and cannot wait to see you return on the show!" Chloe claps for her co-host as does Ansel takes the mic to begin the closing.

"Thank you for watching! Tune in for next month's performance! Goodbye for now!" All three hosts smile and bow to the cameras, the last few moments seen being Chloe and Ansel patting Kaleina's back and giving her side hugs.

Congrats to @urmykrushhh for being the winners of this month's music show award! If you'd like, you can post your encore stage and acceptance speech and tag us when you're done so we can reblog it! Thank you all so much for participating! We're looking forward to the next episode already!

[servants-hall]

Anna Madeley on Mrs. Hall and Gerald’s Relationship

In a Season 4 interview with MASTERPIECE, All Creatures Great and Small‘s Anna Madeley shares her insights about Mrs. Hall and Gerald’s (somewhat polarizing, always lovely) relationship, how hard it’s become for Mrs. Hall to leave, if there’s a future for Mrs. Hall and Siegfried, and—perhaps most importantly—if the dogs will be okay without each other. Contains significant Episode 6 spoilers

MASTERPIECE: When did you find out that Mrs. Hall and Gerald wouldn’t end up together? Did you know from the beginning?

ANNA MADELEY: No, at the beginning I don’t think there was a plan necessarily for Gerald to be with us for three series [seasons]. He came in as a character and we all loved him, and he became part of the world, so then he stayed on and became more part of the world. I think one of the things that’s lovely in the way they write the show is that they keep writing as it goes along, so they respond to what someone brings to the work, which is great. Will [Thorpe, who plays Gerald] brought this really lovely character who we all slightly fell in love with. Therefore, he had this much longer story, and those two characters just got on really well.

I think it opened up a side of Mrs. Hall’s life that no one else within that household does, so it was quite an exciting other avenue. And having a character who’s her age group, who has lived through the first World War, and with whom she can quietly knock about and have fun, go out and do things that aren’t connected to do with work—this is absolutely your friend outside of all of that. Very early on, Melissa Gallant, our executive producer, was like, “Gerald’s the first person that’s made Mrs. Hall a cup of tea.” He’s the one who’s offering to do the washing up and things. So he brings in a very different energy, a different dynamic, to that household, and gets on really well with her.

MASTERPIECE: Do you imagine that if Gerald hadn’t had to leave, they would have gotten married and they could have made it work?

ANNA MADELEY: It’s an interesting one, isn’t it? I think, what would have happened if the war wasn’t there? They’re big “if”s, aren’t they? I think there’s a world in which those two characters could have made each other quite happy. I think they were good companions for one another and had a lot in common. It’s difficult to answer, isn’t it, knowing that it had to come to an end? It’s quite difficult to think about the “what if”s.

I think that what’s so hard at the end is that there isn’t a reason between them, as such, for it not to have worked out. The reasons it’s not working out are outside obligations and outside relationships, the people that they know and love and who they want to be near. And I think the war heightens all those feelings in that obviously, his sister needs him regardless of the war, but that probably makes it all the more urgent. Mrs. Hall had to leave a family unit before and had to restart her life, so it was a big thing that she thought she could do. But it would have involved a huge sacrifice, a lot of the relationships that she’d have really had to say goodbye to. Because it’s hard enough now, isn’t it, having relationships with people who are a long way away? But then it would have been letters only, I suppose. So yeah, I think there probably is a world in which it would have been very sweet and could have worked out, but…

MASTERPIECE: Gerald said, “I’ve always known this would happen. Maybe it was never meant to be.” That was surprising. Why do you think he said it?

ANNA MADELEY: It’s interesting, isn’t it? I think it’s an idea. Because I think for a lot of people, his increasing presence in Mrs. Hall’s life and the surprise of her running and kissing him at the end of [Season 3], it’s polarized a bit, hasn’t it? Some people would like Mrs. Hall and Siegfried Farnon to get together and other people don’t want that at all; they think that would never happen. People have very different opinions on it.

But yes, I think her strength of commitment, the evolution of her friendship alone with Mr. Farnon, and her burgeoning relationship with Helen, with all of those things, I think we see that community and how much she’s needed as well, as she wants to be there for those people. And I wonder now, looking back slightly, whether Gerald had to keep prompting her to hand in her resignation. And you think, not consciously, but she somewhere was unsure. Sometimes, if you’re sure, it can be simple, but I think in this case it was very complicated.

And to me, that’s where that comes from. Siegfried Farnon has always been a strong presence, and it’s complicated because he’s her employer, as well. It’s a lot she’s giving up. For a woman who’s in a position where she’s independent, but she’s entirely dependent on her income from that job, and that’s also where she lives, it was a big thing to offer to give all of that up and to go towards something quite unknown.

I think all that uncertainty is probably what fed that comment near the end that something wasn’t sure. But at the same time, I think they love each other and have huge affection for one another. And will continue to, I think. But something about the path wasn’t going to be smooth.

MASTERPIECE: In the time that we’ve known her, Mrs. Hall has made a tremendous leap in her life. Can you talk about how Gerald was one of many who helped her to arrive at the place where she could get her divorce and move forward?

ANNA MADELEY: It’s in Season 2 that we meet Diana Brompton, in the early days of Gerald being on the scene, which has thrown Mrs. Hall for a bit of a loop—she doesn’t quite know what to do with herself. At that point, it’s been a long time since Mrs. Hall’s thought of herself in that light. She’s brought up her son and moved on, and is pleased to have found what’s become more than a job—it’s her surrogate family, and it fulfills her need to be a nurturer. She really enjoys being someone who makes that household function and come to life. I think that is genuinely where she finds the joy.

But Gerald is the first time that romantic possibility is opening up again, and she’s quite naive. She’s probably only ever been with her husband, and dating is not a world she knows terribly well. So Diana Brompton is, I suppose, a slightly shocking character for her, in a gentle way. She’s a woman who’s quite open about, “Yes, I’ve got divorced and I’m having a marvelous time.” I think knowing that’s a possibility is quite interesting for her, and then having somebody come along who makes it seem like there’s a world out there in which that could happen for Mrs. Hall…

Somehow those elements don’t all quite come together at the right time; it’s too complicated. But they open up that world, and I think it makes her realize how she can’t coexist being married and enjoying what’s become more than a friendship with Gerald. She needs to be at one with herself. It is an interesting journey for her, having made peace with her son, and then needing to be at one with herself, with her own conscience, and be okay with how she’s behaving.

So the divorce is the answer, even though it’s a difficult and a new thing to do. The law only changed in 1937 to make the grounds possible. And it’s quite exposing for her. She’s someone who took the vows she made very seriously, and the idea of having to confront the fact that it’s not then for life was a very big deal for her. But I think knowing that there was joy and happiness on the other side of it, and that she would feel better, was really important. I think Gerald’s presence in her life probably was part of what propelled her forwards and gave her the confidence to do it.

MASTERPIECE: Do you have a favorite Mrs. Hall and Gerald moment?

ANNA MADELEY: I’m not sure if there’s any one particular scene. I suppose what I think I’ll miss, both me and Mrs. Hall, is that their relationship was so about going out, walking their dogs, taking the air, having someone to chat to, and just have gentle fun with. Those scenes were always a lot of fun with Will to do because he’s so funny. We had a lot of fun doing them, but it was also just a really delicate, sweet evolution of a friendship as they walked their dogs. We had a lot of fun shooting things, like when the dog gets hold of the joints of meat in the kitchen. It was very funny. But yeah, in a lot of those scenes we had a good time.

MASTERPIECE: After the end of Episode 6, I feel like the show wants me to hope that Mrs. Hall and Siegfried will end up together. Do you think that the series wants me to want this, or do you think the series just wants me to know that Siegfried is feeling back on his feet again, or none of the above?

ANNA MADELEY: Maybe all of the above. I think it’s probably made them all realize what’s at stake, that it’s not easy to walk away. And that’s quite interesting. What it means to them, we don’t know. I know there’s a lot of chat about it. And it’s relationship where you feel that they started off as an employer/employee, but the friendship has grown, the degrees of intimacy have grown. They know a lot about one another’s lives. And Siegfried’s been a wonderful friend to her, in a way, through the divorce. He’s not judgmental about it at all and he offers to help her. He doesn’t quite know what to do, but he wants to be part of making her happy.

And that’s one of the things that’s rather lovely: not always knowing how, but always wanting one another’s happiness. I think that growing affection is there, and I do think at the end of Episode 6, there was a slight feeling of relief in the decision made. Once the decision’s been made, it’s quite interesting, isn’t it? Whether it leaves you going, “Oh God, why did I do that?” Or whether it leaves you feeling, “Okay, it’s sore, it’s not comfortable, a bit of time needs to pass, but something in you says that’s the right decision.” And I think you do see that he’s very glad that she stayed.

MASTERPIECE: We know that Mrs. Hall will be okay after this breakup, and we viewers, eventually, will be okay too. But do you think that Jess will be okay about losing Rock?

ANNA MADELEY: Well, I don’t know, because that’s going to be a big part of their lives—they’re going to be going out for a walk without their chums. I was thinking about that. Jess does have Dash now in the house, so she’s not completely alone in the home, and she’ll probably be okay. But maybe we need to find another chum. We need to grow that pack of dogs until we’ve got as many as there are in the books.

[obsessedanddepressed]

I love so many things because they're the first- in general, too, but right now I'm thinking of Doctor Who.

I love Rose Tyler because she was not only the first companion but really the first character I saw in Doctor Who. It all started with her. I didn't even know they changed companions like that- for me it was her and the doctor - it was their show.

And of course I love nine because he was the first. I knew about regeneration but I thought I would never really see anyone else as the doctor. I was wrong of course, and poor nine with only one season was left behind and I don't know who my favourite doctor is but 2016 me would kill me when I say it's not him. But he was the first, and that makes him so special.

But there's so many firsts. I love Dalek because it was the first story that had me really worried, the first story that had me crying. I love Bad Wolf / Parting Of The Ways because it was the first time shit really hit the fan and the world was properly in danger and there were so many daleks and it seemed like there was no way to fix it, no way out.

We had daleks after that of course, but you defeat a dalek army once- the second time it's not gonna be as scary. It's never gonna be as scary as the first time you saw an actual dalek army.

And then you have the first regeneration and the first time I had to get used to a new guy playing the doctor. And I did, and three seasons later I realised it's gonna be even harder to say goodbye to this one because I ended up loving ten more than nine and I felt like a traitor.

They can't all be first but 11 is the first I accepted as the doctor within their first episode. If that counts for something.

I didn't get used to 12 so easily but he was my first "current" doctor. I caught up just before season 10. And now there's all kinds of firsts again because I'm so, so fond of season 10 because it was the first one I had to wait for, the first time I watched episodes weekly, as they dropped. Bill was the first companion I met at the same time as everyone else. And I can't even begin to describe my feelings about World Enough And Time. It was the first time I logged onto tumblr because Something Just Happened and had the collectively losing our minds over the latest episode experience. And 12 was the first doctor I had to say goodbye to in real time. The first time I waited for a regeneration episode both dreading it and barely containing my excitement. It was the first time I saw a regeneration scene that wasn't already part of fandom history. I don't know how to put it. It's not the saddest (for me) but it is the one that feels… the realest. Like it's not only a part of this tv show I love but an actual event, intrinsically connected with a certain time in my life.

And 13 is the first I saw announced, of course. The first doctor who was new for everyone. The first doctor where I had to try to guess what they're gonna be like from trailers and promo pics and stuff. The first doctor whose run I saw, from beginning to end, as it aired. And I don't love her seasons all that much, I don't like a lot of things about them, and I had a hard time accepting her as the doctor but there's still this sense of nostalgia about her because look at her. That's the first doctor I saw announced in real time. After the announcement I sat myself on the floor and drew her in that black hoodie we first saw her in, with the previous (9-12) doctors in some sort of bubbles behind her, and I still have that drawing on my door. And I only have one funko pop of the doctor, and it's her. I kept seeing it in stores and i was mad it was the only one they had- only the current doctor. But then they announced her leaving and I caved. And bought it just before The Power Of The Doctor as a sort of goodbye.

And now we have fifteen, and I'm amazed to say that he's a first too, in a way. Because (and i said this before) I didn't have my "oh yeah this is the doctor" light switch moment with 13, i just kinda got used to her. But I did with 15, in Boom. So now he's the first new-for-everyone doctor that i saw in a specific episode and went "Yeah. There it is. That's the doctor. I see it."

And that's just talking about New Who.

Cause then there's the first classic doctor I saw (In a story? 4. In a full season/ their whole era? 3) and the first companion which must be Sarah Jane because of New Who, and because the first classic story I saw was with her and 4. In a way it's also Liz, cause when I started watching classic who for real, I started with season 7, so Liz and 3. But Sarah... It's the same as with Rose. She was the very first.

Now that i think about it. I saw The Sarah Jane Adventures way before i watched any classic who.

Of course i love her so much.

And speaking of spinoffs and extended universe,

I love The Night Of The Doctor because it's the first time I ever saw 8, and I liked him instantly. Instantly. And then I saw the movie, and listened to his big finish stories (the first time I listened to big finish). I have such a soft spot for 8. I read my first doctor who comic because of him (A Matter Of Life And Death). I read it online, back then. Now I have it in my library, along with 30+ other dw comics. And books too. And don't get me Started on the books. I saw In The Blood in a bookstore in 2017. It was the first time I saw a doctor who book. I looked it over, and I read the first couple pages, and it sounded nice so I decided to buy it, but not then, cause I didn't have the money. And I passed that bookstore many times, and every time I looked longingly at that book, and one day I did have the money and looked for it and it was gone. Years later when I was visiting London for the first time, I found it at the who shop, and I did buy it then. I had read other dw books by then, so while it's not the first one I read (that was The Stone Rose) it is, I think, the one I hold dearest. And when I did finally read it, I really liked it, too. So it was worth the wait.

I dunno. It's taken me an hour and a half to write all this but I was sitting in my bed thinking how much of an impact being the first [something] could have. And how many firsts I can find only in my experience with Doctor Who. I had to write it down. It felt important.

Hopefully I can fall asleep now.

[nerdyenby]

Me making literally any two characters foils:

So Scott and Scar in secret life express love in opposite ways. All three of Scott’s lives were given willingly, the man lives and breathes sacrifice. He wants to see those he cares about succeed more than he cares about his own chances. He runs to Martyn, to Gem, and tells them to kill him. Scott has made it far enough too many times to have any illusion about how these games end. When he dies, he wants it to be not a tragedy but an act of love. His game has to end somehow, and it might as well be at the hands of his allies, giving them a parting gift to increase their odds however he can. Scar, on the other hand, hadn’t won before. While Scott often has the most dedicated and steadfast alliances in these games, Scar tends to end up alone. Scar, who is clumsy and is actively unbothered by jabs at his apparent incompetence, was never expected to make it this far. No one thought Scar would win, least of all himself. Being so consistently underrated with his skills often going unnoticed, he’s as surprised as anyone by him making it as far as he did. Still, it is largely because of his reputation as accident prone that Scar refuses charity. Pearl offers her life on a platter to him several times, but he adamantly refuses every time. Out of character, Scar tells her that he doesn’t want to win that much, not like that. If he’s going to win, it’s going to be by his own merit. Besides that, he won’t accept sacrifice on account of respect. He says to Pearl over and over again that she gets this far because she’s good at what she does, that she should be proud of that. Pearl deserves better than a lackluster sacrifice to someone who was barely even an ally earlier that same episode. She deserves to take it as far as she can, Scar refuses to get in the way of that, not unless he has to. When it comes down to the two of them, he was more than willing to fight as long as she fought back. Scar wasn’t going to tolerate Pearl sacrificing herself, out of both pride and admiration. But what if there was another factor as well? After all, Scar’s been on the other side of sacrifices before. The first winner of the series achieved as much largely due to Scar’s willingness to offer himself up. Scar had urged Grian to kill him as soon as they were both on red, but — just like Scar four seasons later — Grian refused. Instead of doing what Scar said and killing him then and there, the pair headed back home. They said their goodbyes, and leveled the playing field as much as possible. Regardless, Scar knew who had to win. Scar has always been a better fighter than anyone has given him credit for, if he had any desire to be the one left standing, he would have put up more of a fight. Instead, he took his time and pulled his punches while Grian mercilessly wailed on him. Grian wouldn’t accept a direct sacrifice, just like Scar refused with Pearl, but that doesn’t mean neither Scar nor Pearl had any plans of making it out alive. Looking back at Third Life, it’s hard to say if Scar regrets how he handled the final duel, if he wishes it had happened differently, but we know his and Grian’s relationship was never the same. Grian distanced himself from Scar, they always gravitated towards one another but Grian kept pulling away. Scar may not regret the way Third Life ended but Grian does, and Grian’s regret haunts Scar too.

[sshbpodcast]

Character Spotlight: Kes

By Ames

Star Trek: Voyager may have only had Kes on the show for three seasons, but that’s actually a pretty large percentage of her Ocampan life! And in that time, she definitely made her mark. It was just a mark that struggled to hold a candle against the character who swoops in and takes her place (more on that next week!). But we here at A Star to Steer Her By came to really appreciate the short show life of the short-lived character, even if the show rarely gave her much to do.

Kes is one of those nuanced characters (boy, Voyager sure is full of those), who you may not notice unless you’re looking for her. She’s compassionate, curious, and clever, and her eidetic memory really makes sense for someone who needs to grow up licketty split. Was the quick lifespan a good idea or a terrible one? You decide as we compile our Best and Worst Moments for Kes below and listen to our chatter on this week’s podcast episode (jump to timestamp 1:32:15). YOLO!

[Images © CBS/Paramount]

Best moments

I’ve learned very well. I saw the sunlight. The very first thing we learn about Kes (other than the fact that she’s dating Neelix) is that she’s left the safety of the Ocampan homeworld, a stagnant culture subsisting almost entirely under the eye of the titular “Caretaker.” This young prodigy has greater ambitions though, and she seeks to encounter more of the universe while she’s got the chance, and we give her credit for it!

What crop has sprung from the seed you planted today Immediately after joining the Voyager crew, Kes shows some initiative and starts up an airponic garden to supplement the ship’s rations. It’s only her second episode in “Parallax” and already we start to see her not only as a nurturer and someone who shows compassion to her fellow shipmates, but as someone who can take charge of a task and handle herself.

One lung to give While overall our opinion on the Kes-Neelix relationship is that it’s cringey, the two of them clearly care for each other. So Kes’s offer to donate her lung to Neelix in “Phage” is quite touching. She doesn’t even hesitate in the moment of crisis when the EMH is floundering, and then gets to carry it through when the Vidiians are able to perform the procedure.

He’s your Medical Officer. He’s alive. The EMH may complain and complain that no one gives him the credit he deserves, but Kes has always had his holographic back. We get to benefit from her outside perspective in “Eye of the Needle” when she requests that the crew treat him more nicely. And she also advocates for his existence in “The Swarm” before they risk losing him by restarting his program.

Someone was walking your grave When the show remembers that Kes has telepathic powers, she is frequently at her best. The way she learns whatever the hell was going on in “Persistence of Vision” depicts how she’s learning to master her mental capabilities while also keeping firmly in reality. Everyone else has succumbed to their delusions, and Kes is able to save the day by keeping a cool head.

Get down with the sickness Like how Torres insists the Doctor not take shortcuts in creating his holo-family in “Real Life,” Kes makes sure his Levodian flu is just as unpredictable as normal illnesses in “Tattoo.” How is the Doctor supposed to feel vulnerable if he always has control over his virus? Kes sneakily adds two hours to the ailment to show him how uncomfortable and stressful working while ill can be.

Use the Force, Kes! It was obviously too good to be true when Kes met a batch of hyper-powered, slightly longer-lived Ocampans like Tanis in “Cold Fire” offering to teach her their ways. When their caretaker, Suspiria, is trying to destroy the ship, Kes uses her new abilities back against Tanis in a display of defiance against their corrupted ways because she’d never hurt others willingly.

I don’t know how to say goodbye to Neelix and Tuvok No matter which side of the “Tuvix” debate you fall on, you’ve got to admit Jennifer Lien nails the scene with Janeway in which she breaks down over being caught in the middle of things. Even if you’re pulling for Tuvix to keep existing, you feel for Kes. She’s put into such a devastating position, admitting that while she doesn't want Tuvix to die, she wants Neelix back.

I can’t wait to see if Blaine’s twin brother is the father of Jessica’s baby She may barely be in any of the two-parter “Future’s End,” but Kes might be in the funniest moment. She and Neelix are scrutinizing the televised feeds from Earth in the past, and they immediately get addicted to soap operas. It’s quite a cute little moment. As Kes says, “There's something to be said for non-interactive stories like this, being swept away in the narrative.”

I walk through mindfields Jennifer Lien doesn’t get a ton of episodes to stretch her legs and show her range, especially since Kes herself is typically such a reserved character. So it is a delightful surprise to see what she can do when Kes is possessed by Tieran in “Warlord.” And it’s an even better surprise to see Kes fighting back in her own mind with a ferocity we’ve never seen from her before.

Kes has become unstuck in time Every so often, you get glimpses of just how intelligent Kes is, as Ocampans need to have eidetic memories and amazing deductive reasoning to develop mentally as quickly as they develop physically. So when she’s traveling backwards in time in “Before and After,” Kes is able to put together the out-of-order puzzle and keep from getting winked out of existence.

Something to remember me by Kes’s final episode with us (or really, what should have been her final episode with us, as you’ll see in our next section) sends her character off in a very satisfying way. “The Gift” does a great job completing her arc, as Kes’s mental powers improve off the scales until she uses them to send the ship ten years closer to home. It’s yet another selfless act from the ship’s sweeting.

—

Worst moments

Chekov is finally redeemed Firstly, is the wig we see Kes in for early episodes like “Parallax” worse than the one they put on Walter Koenig when he first joined TOS? We’re willing to give Walter the benefit of the doubt since it was the 60s and wig technology wasn’t where it was in the 90s. So what’s Voyager’s excuse then? Why does Kes look like she’s wearing a lhasa apso on her head?

I saw them burn. Their bodies ashes where they stood. The main complaint I can muster against the Kes character is how criminally underused she is throughout Voyager. The couple of times we lauded her mental powers above are just that: a couple of times. Most of the time, like in “Time and Again” when she senses Janeway’s presence in the other timeline, exactly nothing comes of it and it’s a huge wasted opportunity!

I felt like there was someone in the room with me Another episode where Kes’s telepathic powers could have benefited the story is in “Cathexis” when Tuvok is being possessed by the Komar. The entity sees that she could pose a threat and knocks her unconscious for the whole episode. It feels like such a tease! Remember how Kes has superpowers? Well, we’re not going to actually use them for literally the whole first season.

Then I guess our marriage is over Look, I’m grasping at straws because Kes doesn’t get to do much, let alone bad stuff. So it’s not technically Kes as the Doc’s wife in that weird fakeout scene toward the end of “Projections” – it’s another layer of holodeck malfunction. But I still don’t like it because it’s an unnecessary twist. And when the EMH is back to reality, it’s just as weird that Kes acts like maybe he’s not?

Kes, you’re baby crazy Can we just say all of “Elogium” here and be done with it? No? Ugh. While we can’t blame Kes for experiencing Ocampan heat, we sure can blame her for how she acts during it, hormones or no. And we also can blame the writers for making this forced pregnancy plot a thing in the first place because it turns a huge personal decision into a cringey couple’s squabble.

That green-eyed pus hog called jealousy It’s been said on the podcast so frequently that you’re probably over it that Kes and Neelix would have made better friends than romantic partners. But you love who you love, so who are we to judge? What we can judge is how Kes stayed with Neelix during his jealous, clingy phase, and barely even spoke up in “Twisted” when he basically accused her of being the town pump.

A watched Tuvok never boils As one of a couple episodes that remembers Ocampans have mental powers, “Cold Fire” really gives Kes a lot to do when Tanis and the other space-venturing Ocampans try to teach her their ways. And in the typical Kes fashion of someone who barely has any experience in the world, our girl immediately goes and boils Tuvok’s blood. Slow down, girl!

Help people, hurt them, give life, kill, it’s all the same Even when she’s gotten a [slightly] better handle on her powers later in “Cold Fire,” Kes still plays the innocent as she trusts these rogue Ocampans. Anyone watching the show could tell you right away they are trouble. But this young emancipated woman becomes so obsessed with her newfound powers that she nearly leaves with Tanis and crew, whom she’s only just met!

Caution: No Kes Allowed What on earth, or whatever stupid planet this is, makes Kes think she can wander off from her tour group and go trespass in these people’s sacred temple in “Sacred Ground”? Even though she didn’t know it would knock her into a coma, you’ve got to think someone as respectful as Kes usually is of other people wouldn’t think to go anywhere without asking permission first.

I think we should be possessed by other people Like last week when I included the omission of a scene that we desperately needed for Neelix to not seem like an asshole, we’ve got another scene that never happened for Kes. Kes never actually breaks up with Neelix! Tieran does it while possessing her in “Warlord,” and that guy’s an asshole! So why do we never actually get acknowledgment from the real Kes of what their status is?

Suffering from severe FOMO Kes is indeed back on the market after that nebulous breakup, and she’s already found herself a new boy in “Darkling.” Zahir seems perfectly nice as far as Mikhal Travelers go, but Kes is ready to pack her bags and get whisked away right after meeting this guy! I guess when you live as short as she does, you’ve got to follow your heart. But Kes is too quick to trust cute strangers.

You blame Captain Janeway, but the choice was yours But possibly the worst moment for Kes is whatever the hell happened in “Fury.” The episode feels like a “fuck you” to Jennifer Lien for leaving the show. Instead of the character we loved, the Kes who returns has been rewritten as a bitter, jaded, apathetic husk. And worse, there’s no good reason for it except that she forgot how good she had it on the show- I mean the ship.

—

And we’ve reached the end of our very short Ocampan life, so let’s hope we transcend into energy beings or whatever. Next week, we’re replacing our Ocampan sweeting with the show’s sex symbol, and I don’t mean Sandrine! So keep tuned here for more character spotlights, finish off our watchthrough of Enterprise with us over on SoundCloud or your favorite podcast app, reach out to us with your minds over on Facebook and Twitter, and thank you for changing out that wig!

[weclassybouquetfun]

Parting is such sweet sorrow and it's true in this particular instance of saying goodbye to the Hargreeves, Sparrow! Ben and Lila.

Final season: fewer episodes, more timelines.

This was THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY series four. More SPOILERS than timelines.

Luther /Number 1 / Spaceboy: I think of all the Brellies, Luther is in a much better place than after the event of last season, despite losing Sloane. It helps that he's a tad thick and can be often oblivious. Even dubbing himself an aging stripper living in a condemned building didn't aspire the hurt it would normally stir up in him when faced with his perceived  inadequacies.

Loved that Luther got his Captain America elevator fight moment (albeit offscreen).

Brothers sharing two brain cells.

Diego / Number 2/The Kraken and Lila: In a show about aliens, a talking chimp and time traveling, I loved the simple story of Diego and Lila's relationship revolving around the complex realities of trying to remain your individual self while having to be so much for your partner and kids. Two lions, caging themselves because of responsibility.

Though it could just be Diego flailing, I think he went into parent mood and tried to shield Five from hitting the dash.

I love that Diego has consistently been about family so I melted when we realize he named his daughter Grace after their mom.

Diego being the one to shut her down and falling back into his childhood stutter as he's doing so remains one of the top heartbreaking moments on the show.

Alison/Number Three/The Rumor: Love that she got a power upgrade. Their leveling up or shifting powers reminds me of Robert Sheehan's old series MISFITS where they all sold their powers, tried to buy them back and ended up with different ones after theirs were sold.

Alison did so much running in the past - from her dark side, trying to run back to her daughter, running away from the family, that I don't think she thought of the realities of what happens when you have (relative) peace and now just have to deal with life. She doesn't have the level of career she had before, she doesn't have Ray anymore. She can't just live in the drama that her family peddles in, but live her life and she, Diego and Lila all wear that weight differently, but they do wear it.

I loved when she said she was done apologizing. She and Viktor have done shitty stuff to each other and things that affect the family. That is just the dance the Hargreeves do. Just dead it and push on because they know it wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last....thought it is the last as it's over.

Klaus / Number Four/The Séance: I've always loved Klaus and Alison's relationship and especially now seeing him in the role of uncle to Claire and I understand why he raged at Alison after she brought him back and not the others who were urging her on. When someone knows you so well, you expect more of them. Alison said he wouldn't want to come back. Klaus' addiction was borne out of needing a distraction from the literal ghosts that are always around him. Then when he gets sober, he is now haunted by fear of losing his sobriety and dealing with mortality. It hurts to be alive and Alison -while not wanting him to die - knew that he would be at peace, but she could not let him go. She could have shoved the marigold in Viktor or Lila's hands and have them give him it, but I think she knew it had to be her.

And what she probably feared would happen, happened - he fell back into his old habits, but with a twist: trying to do Death By Drug Dealer. He wanted his dealer to kill him, but instead ends up trafficked and buried alive, but with a ghostly good boy dog with him. But Klaus needed that experience to appreciate life.

Five/Number Five / The Boy: Every season Aidan Gallagher delivers 150%. It's very easy to look at S1 and S2 and look at the comedic prowess he displayed playing the cantankerous Five, but this season showed how adept he is at a quieter performance. I bet this was how Five in his first decade or two of wandering the apocalypse was. He's not downtrodden per se, but there is a weight; a disquiet about him. He wants to find a way to his timeline, but seems to be hesitant to get too enthused about it because therein lies disappointment.

Which is why I Ioved the Five /Lila situationship.

Five knows what it means to be stuck and he nor Lila knew how long they would be stuck trying to find their timeline. It makes sense they grow close and become a comfort to each other. It makes sense that in their fear and uncertainty that they would want to find a modicum of happiness and they found it with each other. It's lovely. And her returning to their timeline for her family doesn't erase what she and Five meant for each other. I loved that they never had her answer Diego's question of whether she loved Five and in their finally moments she reached for his hand, as well.

Sparrow Ben: Glad to have finally gotten the answer to the events of "The Jennifer Incident", horrified that Reginald Hargreeves was an even worse person than I already thought. I think I would have been more gutted if this was OG Ben, but unlike the Hargreeves, I have not accepted Sparrow Ben into my heart as readily. I mean, glad that Sparrow Ben got some action, but I don't know him like that.

I did love the body horror aspect of The Cleanse, though.

Love that the end of S3 was Sparrow Ben preparing to learn the tricks of the trade so he could commit mega crypto fraud.

Viktor / Number Seven / The White Violin: Like Luther, Viktor settled into their new timeline just fine and ended up with the most important payoff - a semblance of closure with Sparrow Reginald as a stand-in for their Reginald. Getting the validation that he was more than good enough to be in the Umbrella Academy and a vital one of that. S tiered ability!

MISC: Loved seeing the past characters at the end: Grace, Kate Walsh's The Handler, Herb, the blond assassins, Agnes and Hazel!

And yes, Steve Blackman wanted Mary J. Blige to cameo, but she was touring and John Magaro who played Vanya's love interest in S3 had a scheduling conflict.

Other things Blackman couldn't address in the final season/series: He was all for a Luther/Alison romance (YES!), but as people viewed them as you would bio-siblings, there wasn't much movement he could do with them. He also wanted room to explore Sloane and Luther, but couldn't due to the reduced episode order. He also wanted Sissy (Viktor's love interest) to return but Marin Ireland was unavailable.

Though they don't exist, we still get a tip of the hat to our Brellies who sacrificed themselves for the greater good.

It's true.

[svechnikovvv]

good-luck charm

pairing: trevor zegras x fem!actress!reader

warnings: profanity

summary: you meet trevor on the set of mighty ducks: game changers, and maybe it was a good thing you did.

a/n: i was absolutely in love when z had a cameo in the show, so i’ve been wanting to write something about it for a while.

masterlist: here

i was beyond excited that for today’s mighty ducks episode, we were going to be at the honda center. i was a big ducks fan, so this was the experience of a lifetime.

they didn’t need me for the beginning, so i sat in the stands. i watch all the kids get in their hockey gear and skate around before the cameras started rolling, just as amazed as me.

“places everyone!” the director calls out and all the kids go where they need to. the camera starts rolling and everyone says their lines.

“hey! i found some friends who said they’d scrimmage with ya!” i watch as three ducks players skate out onto the ice and my jaw fucking drops. a couple feet away from me stands trevor fucking zegras.

“it’s the real anaheim ducks!” one of the kids yell and i feel a bit frozen.

“how cute. mini ducks,” trevor says and i’m starting to wish they made my character be one of the players. don’t get me wrong, i was fortunate enough to still be on the show for this far. considering the fact that i played logan’s sister and they cut him, but not me.

they cut after trevor and max deliver their lines.

“y/n! you’re needed soon!” they call out for me and i practically stumble down the stairs leaving the stands. my excitement was through the roof. i stand beside lauren and she looks at me.

“excited?” she whispers and i nod

“that’d be an understatement. i’m flipping the hell out.” she quietly laughs

“why so?” i nod my head in direction of trevor, troy, and max.

“trevor fucking zegras, pardon my french, is within ten feet of me.” she smirks

“you a fan?”

“i got a schoolgirl crush on him is what i am.” she shakes her head, a smile on her face.

“okay, rolling!” the kids start to skate around with the guys, scrimmaging them. once that scene was done, the kids all take a seat on the bench, adrenaline through the roof. taegen walks over to me and starts shaking me excitedly.

“your man is looking at you.”

“he’s not my man. i just… have a little thing for him. and nobody felt the need to tell me he’d be in this episode?” she shrugs, smiling. she looks behind me, her eyes slightly widening.

“don’t look, but he’s walking over here.”

“trevor?” she nods and i internally panic. she then says goodbye and walks away to join everyone else.

“hi,” i hear a voice from behind me and i turn around. god, he’s so much more prettier in person.

“hi,” i give him a smile and he does the same.

“you a part of the crew, or cast?”

“cast. surprised they’ve kept me this long,” i laugh to myself and the smile is still on his face.

“i’m sure you’re important if they kept you.”

“i don’t know about that. see, i play this kid’s older sister. but his character got cut after season one, yet somehow… i’m still here.”

“have you ever asked why that was?”

“i uh, didn’t think about that.” i scratch the back of my neck and he laughs, shaking his head.

“see…” he pauses and i get the hint.

“y/n”

“y/n. if you don’t ask, then how are you supposed to know? that’s like shaking a magic eight ball, but not asking it a question.”

“well, mr zegras, you do have a point.”

“mr zegras? wow, straight to formalities, huh?” i shrug

“what would you rather me call you?”

“trevor will do”

“see, i didn’t want to jump to conclusions and act as if we were all buddy-buddy.” he mock gasps, placing a hand over his heart.

“i thought we were building a friendship here, y/n.”

“puh lease. you’re too cool to be friends with me.”

“as if. i’m friends with jack hughes. i think you’ll be fine.” i laugh and shake my head.

“now what would you do if i told jack this information?”

“i’d tell you jack never answers anything so you’d be talking to the wall, pretty much. besides, it’s all jokes.” i nod

“are you sure that isn’t a cover up?”

“i feel like i’m being interrogated right now?”

“maybe you are” he laughs, shaking his head and i drop my facade, laughing with him. he nods at the ice

“you skate?”

“i dabble into it here and there.” he chuckles

“tell you what, meet me here around… let’s say 5ish?” i nod.

“i’ll be waiting for you,” he calls out to me, walking off and i turn around to see the kids and lauren looking at me. the kids start tapping their sticks on the ground and i cover my face.

“you guys are seriously the worst.” i tell them, walking over to the bench.

“i’m the bridesmaid!” luke islam calls out and everyone looks at him.

“there’s more than one bridesmaid, luke.” taegen says

“shhh, let him have his moment.” lauren says

“guys, nothing is happening.”

“then why did he say he’d be waiting for you?” naveen asks and they all wait, expectantly. i don’t answer and he points a finger at me.

“see!”

“okay, fine.” i cave. “he told me to come back by here around 5ish. why? i don’t know.” they all ooh.

“wait until josh hears this.” lauren says and my eyes widen.

“no no no. i’ll tell him myself.” i point at everyone. “you all are to keep this between us.” we all exit the arena and head back to the other set. around 5, i arrive back at the arena. i walk through the doors and make my way down the stands. i see trevor standing on the ice, waiting.

“zegras!” he turns around and when he sees me, he smiles.

“thought you ghosted me.”

“ouch. i keep my promises” he skates over to me.

“what size skate are you?” he asks

“huh?”

“what size? so i can get you a pair.”

“oh, we’re gonna be on the ice?” he laughs

“duh. why do you think i asked if you skated?” i shrug

“i dunno. just assumed that was your version of an ice breaker.” he lets out a loud laugh.

“an ice breaker? y/n, if i wanted to do ice breakers, i’d ask you what your favorite food is. now come on, let’s find you some skates.” i follow him to a room and he gestures me to sit on a bench.

“what’s your shoe size?” i tell him and he grabs two pairs of skates.

“try these ones on first. then if they’re too big, try on these.” i nod and take them. they fit perfectly.

“perfect fit. look at that.” he then tells me to follow him and i grab my shoes i came here in and follow him back out to the ice. i see a stick leaning against the bench and a puck on the wall.

“you ready for a little 1v1?”

“lucky for you, i always love a good challenge.” he smirks at me and we both skate onto the ice. i grab the stick leaning against the wall. i toss the puck onto the ice and it glides over to trevor.

“okay. so, i’m not here to mansplain you. we’re just going to see how well you can defend your puck.” i nod

“bring it on” he slides the puck in my direction and he skates over to one of the goals.

“i don’t have all that cool, fancy goalie gear, so go easy on me!”

“no promises!” i start to skate and move the puck down the ice. when i get close to the goal, i bring my stick back, shooting the puck. it goes flying and hits the top right corner of the net. i drop my stick and my hands go up in the air. trevor is smiling.

“you got a hell of a slapshot, y/n.” after my little celly, i bow at his compliment.

“guess i’m a woman of many talents now.” he laughs, shaking his head.

trevor and i continue to go at it until we’re both tired. we skate over to the bench and i collapse onto it.

“i’m sleeping good tonight.” trevor let’s out a tired laugh and holds up his hand for a high-five. i give him one and he takes a big sip out of his water bottle he had on standby.

“you did great out there. seriously. they should let you play in the show.” i shrug

“i’ll take whatever they get me. it’s better than being cut.” he nods

“got me there.” when we’ve pretty much calmed down, trevor fishes into his pocket and pulls out a metallic sharpie. he grabs his stick and the puck we were playing with and scribbles some stuff onto it. he then hands it to me.

“what’s this for?”

“good luck” i chuckle

“i think you’re the one that needs the good luck, zegras. i totally kicked your ass out there.” his brows raise

“language, missy”

“there’s no kids around.” he waves me off. i pocket the puck and grab the stick.

“where’s that sharpie?” i ask him and he holds it out to me. i take it and sign the stick i was using.

“here’s your good luck.” he smiles, but takes the stick.

“i’ll use this at my next game. you better be my good-luck charm, y/n.”

“i’ve been told i’m quite lucky.” i take the skates off and slip my other shoes back on.

“here, i’ll take them back.” he stands up and i do the same. he takes the skates back and then comes back.

“thank you for giving me a good challenge… even if you did kick my ass.”

“now now, let’s not make this about me.” i pause “oh what am i kidding? keep it coming.” he laughs, shaking his head.

“you drive safe going back. okay?” i nod

“likewise. hopefully my good luck will make you not catch any red lights.” he smiles and we bid our goodbyes. i walk out the arena, his hockey stick in my hand. i set it in my back seat and slide into the driver seat. i let out a scream of happiness and then shake it off.

when i get home, i take a nice, hot shower and check my phone. i see a couple messages from the kids and lauren asking how it went. i figured i should fill them in. but first, josh. i facetime him and prop my phone up.

“l/n!”

“duhamel!”

“what’s up?” he asks

“so, uh. kinda sorta just came home from the honda center.” his brows furrow

“but filming is over?” i nod and his eyes widen

“what haven’t you told me?”

“listen, it was unexpected for me too. but trevor zegras-” he cuts me off.

“like, the trevor zegras you gush over?” i roll my eyes

“yes, that trevor.” he bites back a smile

“continue”

“anyways. trevor told me to meet him at the arena around 5. so i did. and we had a little private 1v1. then he signed a stick for me,” i flip the camera so it’s facing the stick propped up on the closet door. “and a puck. i kinda wanna see what he wrote because he was scribbling away.” josh is waiting patiently and i grab the puck off my nightstand. i also get up and grab the stick. i lie it horizontally across my bed.

“okay, let’s see. he just put his name on the stick.”

“okay, typical. now what’s on the puck?” i look at it and i laugh, shaking my head.

“sly fucking dog.”

“what? what? tell me!”

“he wrote his number and said ‘text me’ and a winky face.” josh gasps

“text him!”

“alright alright. i will.” i grab my phone and head to my messages. i start a new message and put in trevor’s number.

real smooth, zegras.

i hit send and watch as it says ‘delivered’.

“okay, i sent him something.”

“what’d you say?”

“i said, ‘real smooth, zegras.’” josh nods

“i gotta go, but keep me updated okay?” i nod and we say our goodbyes. my phone then pings and i see trevor texted back.

thank you, thank you. i was hoping you’d see it

i think on what to send him. when i do, i start typing away.

is this your way of flirting?

he’s quick to read the message and the three dots pop up.

what if i said it was?

the corners of my mouth quirk up and i type a response.

then i’d say that it’s working (;

i shut my phone off and decide to head to bed.

a day passes and trevor and i have been texting non-stop. it was the day of his game he was telling me about and i happened to not have any scenes today, so i stayed in and watched the game.

the ducks were doing pretty good so far. it was halfway through the first when trevor scored the second goal of the game. he does his little celly and the other three guys on the ice skate up to him, all happy.

once the first period ended, intermission was underway. they were having a special game interview with trevor and i was ready to see this.

“so trevor, that shot you made out there gave you guys the lead. how’re you feeling?”

“yeah, uh, i’m feeling pretty amazing right now. but honestly, it’s the stick.” he says and i shake my head, smile on my face.

“the stick?”

“yeah,” he smiles to himself “my lucky stick.” they continue the interview and i scream into one of the pillows on the couch. i grab my phone and shoot trevor a text.

your lucky stick, huh? 😏

i knew it’d be a while before he saw it, but i just needed to say it.

the game ends with a ducks win of 3-1. around 11, trevor answers me back.

you saw the interview?

but yeah, you bring me luck

i smile down at my phone and see he’s typing again.

i need to see you.

i send him my location and he tells me he’ll be here in ten minutes. sure enough, in ten minutes i hear knocking on my door. i check the peephole just to be safe and i see trevor standing there. i open the door and am immediately engulfed in a hug. trevor spins me around and i’m laughing and so is he. he then sets me back on the ground and i look at him. his hair is slightly wet from what i’m assuming is a shower and i think he might’ve come here straight from the arena.

“you’re all happy.” i say and he nods

“ducks won. i scored a goal. you’re my good-luck charm, y/n.”

“is that so?” he nods

“would the odds be in my favor if i asked you on a date?”

“hmm. i’d say that they would.” he smiles.

“y/n, will you go on a date with me?” i nod and his eyes light up.

“great. i’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow.” he smiles and walks off, not before saying goodbye. i smile and close the door, heading to bed. i end up sleeping like a rock that night, thinking about trevor and i’s date tomorrow.

i guess all it takes sometimes is a little luck.

tags: @goldenbrokenheart @woodruff-edwards @hockeyboysarehot

a/n: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH TO THOSE WHO CELEBRATE <3 this is my gift to you all (: