#there was a really cute scene in the crypt where he was like on the verge of tears its so cute

[sunny-honeytears]

OKAY SO GUYS I JUST WATCHED TDV LIVE

IM SO HYPED IM STILL BOUNCING ON THE WALLS OH GOD OH GOD

IT WAS SO SO SO SO GOOD OH GOD LIKE I CANT ACTUALLY PUT IT IN WORDS I JUST WANT TO SCREAM

THE ACTORS? AMAZING, DANCE? AMAZING, SET? AMAZING, VIBES? AMAZING

I literally screamed until my throat got sore at every actor it felt like therapy

Last time we had to leave just at the start of bows and i was so sad this healed me

EMBEREK ITS SO GOOD I CANT EVEN FULLY TALK IN ENGLISH

I got pictures at the theatre and I GOT A TSHIRT

A FUCKING TSHIRT

ILL COME BACK WHEN I CALMED DOWN, MOSTLY BECAUSE I LOST MY DRAFT WHERE I TALKED ABOUT THE SHOW AND I NEED A REST TO DO IT AGAIN

[phryneluvbot]

so, I basically live tweeted my (third) watch of crypt on twitter (it's the same name as in here, if anyone interested), so let me just drop everything I passed by this entire evening:

goofy opening, but where is my dancing silhouette and the 1920's godly music?

detective inspector jack robinson would like to know your location

tip: ALWAYS keep your sight on that woman, ALWAYS

I just love how phryne changed from a golden dress to a red outfit (I love it btw) that quickly, also one of her 8 languages is arabic!? MY GIRL!!

PRISON BREAK OUT FOR AN INNOCENT GIRL WHO WANTS TO SHARE THE TRUTH OF HER VILLAGE?! PHRYNE, YOU ARE AN AMAZING WOMAN

PLEASE GET INSIDE THE TRAIN PHRYNE, PLEASE GET-

oh...

oh...

oh no... she did actually... oh my god no

OMG DOTTIE IS PREGNANT AND VULNERABLE, MUST PROTECT AT ALL COSTS (and hugh too)

(also, the only scene where we saw a part of the wardlow crew - where's mr butler, mac - HER BEST FRIEND, AND JANE, HER DAUGHTER!? COULDN'T WE SEE THEIR REACTIONS!?)

so, he never went after her... makes it even more heartbreaking

he even still saved the photos, his face showing the tears being retracted... I want to hug you so badly jack

"You meant so much more to Phryne"

OK, THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE PAINFUL, I-

on the floor, crying and sobing

oh, aunt prudence is here (but not phryne's parents, on their daughter's funeral - I might get that most likely they have trauma from Janey and couldn't mark their presence in another funeral for their last daughter, but it would have been nice to be present and meet her boyfriend - aka jack - who is noticeably suffering a lot)

SO, YOU WERE ACTUALLY ALIVE THE LAST 6 WEEKS!? COULD HAVE JUST SENT A LETTER TO SOMEONE, GIRL-

I get it that she didn't knew she was presumed dead, that would have worried everyone she knew and loved, so it was a perfect time to apologize and show the empathic phryne we love

instead it was a "oh" and some awkard smilling

Phryne, I love you, a lot... But you can do better, and especially that you saw the man that loves you the most broken

"I came here for one thing, to farewell you. Farewell" I could hear the pain on his voice, poor Jack...

Well, this scene was iconic

"Jack, are you awake?"

well, he said he wasn't

proceeds to appear on the church moments later

and the man was murdered

and they can't leave england (my condolences)

oh, this is ending badly

"And I am sorry if I am not dead"

phryne, don't say the word "death" to that man again, he thought you died twice in the space of a few months (idk, this movie doesn't even say how after it is from the show). I understand that you might be hurt that he never came after you, I really do, but please, the poor man is still processing that he almost lost you.

also, both (still) don't know what personal space means

(kinky)

oh, so that thing is cursed and... oh, this movie is like if indiana jones was an australian detective, good to know

from the creators of "singing in the rain", we present you "almost kissing in the rain"

oh, you're going to break in his house, so you while use your old stealth black outfit like in melbourne, righ-

why. did you. chose to use. a jumper. with. your. initials. (I still love it, and the entire ouftit, I'd like one of those too please designers)

ooooh, he brought her a gift (and tuxedo jack, meow)

please, both of, learn what personal space is

oooh, they're dancing again... cute

arguing

more arguing

Palestinian man finds out that the people of the country that occupied his country are all douchebags

HE DIED, HE GOT SHOT AT THE HEART, WHY!?

Sharim, I am so sorry...

oh, those guys again... great

well, now they're going to Palestine and find the crypt of tears (OMG IT'S THE NAME OF THE MOVIE)

"I just hope she doesn't fly like she drives"

"I HEARD THAT!"

they are so married

oh, it's a mercenary... well, we're getting of quickly then

bombastic side eye

woman, why are you so hot?

Jack, she just wanted to take the gun, don't worry...

and now they have no guidance, great-

Phryne, we both know how it ends

steps on quicksand

"JaCK, I NEED YOUR HELP!"

Jack continues to not give a fuck after their arguing

"IT'S QUICKSAND"

Jack proceeds to run into her

"I'm not losing you like this, not after all the stupid ways I've nearly lost you."

"WHAT STUPID WAYS?"

Phryne, we both know which stupid ways

not saying a thing, just admiring

ok, they found one of the points of the map, they just need to connect all and boom: entrance found

damn, nice crypt

lesson of the day: don't ever trust "british" man

and it wasn't an accident, YOU MURDERED A VILLAGE AND DOOMED THAT GIRL'S LIFE, THAT IS NOT CALLED AN ACCIDENT

and of course the butler was part of this, and jonathon's father!? Ok...

he thinks he's cursed, blames everything on himself, and wants to die there so he can be free and find forgiveness from the people of the village... I hope you have found forgiveness jonathon, and that your father is going to suffer forever

goodbye sharim, we're all hoping you can motivate many other young girls and women with your spirit

Yeah, trying to shoot a giant spider is a very Phryne thing

Yay, Jack "killed it"

"It's my only fear, Jack. Apart from spending a long flight with Aunt Prudence"

omg, it's going to happen...

"You're afraid if you fall in love with me, I'll turn you into a policeman's wife and... try to stop you from saving the world." Jack, you are so wrong (except on the marriage part, she would only accept one in her own terms)

"And I don't need to marry. I just need your heart, as god knows you've already got mine"

"Jack, I've already gave you my heart a long time ago."

OMG, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN

"For a detective you don't notice much"

IT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED, IT ACTUALLY-

dies in excessive fangirling

THEY FUCKED, THEY FUCKED, THEY ACTUALLY FUCKED!! THE PHRACK SEX IS REAL!!

and it ends with a teaser for a sequel... that atp I think we won't get (hope I am wrong)

well, that was fun, now it's the spin off left (that got cancelled after season 2 of finished-)

[amypihcs]

Hello my friends! Shoscombe old place, by pure coincidence also the granada episode i'll show to my GF tonight! Let's see what our favourite victorian husbands are doing!

Microscope stuff! aaaaaa i miss the lab! I have a feel that we'll have some really competent Watson in this story! Also, Holmes just projecting a conversation with Watson in his mind and finally replying aloud. It's so cute!

Now in fact Holmes explains, he's doing a favour to a policeman who's a friend, so nice! But NOW is he coming?

I hate it, when people are late! Feeling for you, Holmes! Now, time to make good use of your husband's knowledge! Now he's your handy guide to the turf! Holmes gave Watson a little kissy here!

They go over Mr Robert Norberton and the place he lives in, Watson does know it and yep! He gives his hubby a nice thumbnail of the man. FINALLY, the client!

yes, sit down, and now EXPLAIN. I don't like you. You explained little in your letter and also got here late.

My man. You're talking to queer.jpeg. Holmes' sarcasm is deserved. I love this scene in the granada serie, lol! Holmes turning to Watson, who mouths the word 'horse'. It's FANTASTIC!

You kidding? OF COURSE it won't go beyond the room. Give it a couple of years and it'll end up in the Strand! So -clears throat- yes. Guy NEEDS to win this race. Got it. And is this driving him crazy?

LMAO, You're talking to SHERLOCK HOLMES. Wasn't it for his husband, he would sleep a night yes and two no! WAIT! Mistreating his sis? -growl-

GAVE AWAY HER DOG??? And she, old lady with a bad heart, took to DRINKING?? Maaan, as we say in italy, qua c'è qualquadra che non cosa.

AND AN OLD CRYPT?

Holmes, you're already vibrating, stop, please. Calm down, i get that you're starting to like him, but some bit of control! Now back to the case

Ah. Eh! AAh.

This is an entire conversation. And how i would deal with such a bomb. Well, they start making theories, but the visit doesn't want to fit!

Well, time to light my favorite pipe! -groan- No, Holmes, PLEASE. Not that! -puff puff puff-

-pu.. COUGH COUGH- BONE?? Where did you get it? Well, dear doc, examine that, if you please, darling?

I LOVE COMPETENT WATSON SO MUCH! And so does Holmes! Well, deep and dirty waters. Indeed. Well, at least it wasn't sir Robert, the one burning corpses -phew-

Well, Mr Mason...

W-what? Mr Holmes? -Watson trying not to die of laughter in background-

Ah, perfect!

We coming then, up for a lil trip, Watson? You love fishing! Bye mr Mason, we shall get in touch with you!

[thelastbraincellofthehive]

So, I finally my girl/love of my life/my IRL Wednesday Addams to give the show a try! We just watched the first episode and her are some of her thoughts lol

She would definitely go the piranha revenge route too if she was Wednesday. I knew this from the start, remember watching that scene and immediatly texting her "you would totally be Wednesday if somebody bullied your brother!"

She's not super sure about this version's Gomez and Morticia. We're both 90s babies so we grew with the movies (I've had a crush on Anjelica Huston since forever and She's the same with Raul Julia) and she has trouble dealing with change, but she's interested on seeing how the different interpretations play out.

She also agrees that Wednesday's relationship with Morticia reminds her of herself and ver mother, so that's another point to me saying She's basically Wednesday.

She absolutely despises Xavier lol she thinks he's boring and 'has a bad vibe', so she basically hopes he dies soon. I think She's gonna like his arc of being acused of murder (?

On the other hand she thinks Rowan was cute, he reminded her of Adam Maitland from the Beetlejuice movie (I'm also trying to get her to watch the Beetlejuice musical, I know her taste in men and She's gonna love BJ lol). She also thought his death was hilarious and "he got what he deserved! Faster than I thought he would" lol

She's curious about Tyler but mostly because I told her Hunter reminds me of one my ocs she loves lol. I honestly think she's gonna really come to like Tyler, I'm curious how the finale is gonna be for her.

And in Enid's case, she is 'wilder and sillier that I thought she would be!' in a good way, she loves the energy and she's also happy to see she confronts Wednesday and doesn't just let her win. I don't think She's gonna be a Wenclair shipper, but she's curious because she says that if she's Wednesday then I'm her Enid (I'm the happy and cuddly and shiny one with dyed hair and I'm obsessed with wolves since forever lol)

*after the fencing match* me: 'no good deed goes unpunished' lol tell me that's not something you would say! She: ... I just got to that part and that's totally something I HAVE said before.

I'm telling you she's Wednesday!

She says she's surprised the Nero story didn't end up with violent revenge. We have now concluded that it probably did ended up like that but Wednesday didn't told that part because it wasn't relevant. Makes sense

She saw Thornhill and thought she was Stella from the Cruella live action lol!!! Now I can't look at her and not see Stella!!! Help!!

She's in love with Nevermore Academy, the gothic aesthetic is totally her vibe lol

A couple years ago she was in the hospital with pneumonia and she hates hospitals. While in the scene where Wednesday escapes Kimbott's office through the window she told me she actually thought about escaping the hospital like that 'but the bathroom window was too small' lol help she has no self-preservation at all smh

She's intrigued about the murder mystery and the whole past murder plot with Gomez so we're probably gonna be watching more sometime

(can't say for sure when because we're both disasters when it comes to watching stuff lol but we'll see, I'm really hoping we make it to chapter 7 because I really want to see her reaction to the crypt date where Tyler shows Wednesday Legally blonde lol I'be been trying to have her watch Legally blonde for years now!!)

So yeah, that's it about chapter 1 lol I'm so happy I convinced her to watch it!

[uh-ohspaghettio]

Favorite castiel episodes!

Oh man oh man *lists every single episodes he’s in*

Ok but if I have time narrow down I think my favorite Cas episode would be 8x08 Hunteri Heroici because that just has some of the most iconic Cas lines but at the same time we get a lot of characterization from him in my opinion

I of course love 4x01 Lazarus Rising because hello best character introduction ever and what’s the matter *head tilt* you don’t think you deserve to be saved. Like cmon absolutely iconic

Just like season 4/5 Cas in general is just so iconic cause that’s when he’s especially awkward but also so badass

I know this is technically leviathans but I totally have a thing for the episodes with leviathan!cas like misha absolutely served cunt with that one

I love love 8x17 goodbye stranger- I love his interactions with Meg they’re so cute and oh my god the crypt scene with Dean I will literally never be normal about that

I love his and Jack’s dynamic so I really love that episode 15x15 Gimme Shelter where they’re just on a literal homicide case and the dilfstiel content is just top notch

I could keep going but I’ll force myself to stop but like episodes are 10x better for me when Cas is there

[yackers]

I'm glad you brought up the dynamic of the KT, Eddie, and Fabian trio in 3a. I think it t sort of plays into how I felt Fabian was somewhat underused in S3 and it mostly has to do with that first half of the season. I think the writing between that Trio lacked a certain spark and dynamic in 3a because the writing between Fabian and KT in episodes 10-20 almost overlaps too much dialogue wise. I think if more character work had been done on those scenes, fans would feel differently about S3.

see im not sure that I quite feel that fabian was necessarily underused, he had the whole nina not coming back plot/fights with eddie, friendship with amber, the whole joy thing and he was solving all the clues. he was then always on the sibuna a team that did the majority of the investigating (fabian, kt & eddie) but I do totally feel that a lot of what the first half of s3 needed from sibuna was some variation?

the other two seasons definitely had combinations that were used more than others, but I think wanting to delay certain things led to them not mixing up the character combos as much as previous seasons. like this was definitely because it was much easier to delay eddie and patricia getting back together if they barely hung out (especially in like locked crypts) and also like kt and patricia's transition from frenemies to friends. I also get that the reason those three were often together is because the other two were the descendants so like it makes sense.

but yea like you said they just weren't quite developed as I think they should've been?? like sanu pointed out that this then set up for it being so easy for eddie and fabian to turn on kt and believe she betrayed them even before they knew what sinners were but I wish that they had a more interesting dynamic even if it was just constant bickering. like they definitely touched on that and had moments of it but I think what often lacked was the chemistry?? I've joked before that sometimes the early eddie and fabian mystery oriented moments were written so similarly to nina and fabian that it almost read as romantic tension?? same between kt and eddie before I think the writers really knew where they were going with them. they then definitely found this dynamic in early 3b because like the whole tortoise and hare thing with the wall was one of my favourite parts. I think that fabian and eddie representing the old and new sibuna respectively and their differing methods was a really cool concept that I wished they explored sooner. also the way kt and fabian then became friends in a similar dynamic to him and amber which was cute. and I think maybe kt would've benefitted from more character development of either coming from the angle of the frobisher descended that knew some clues or an outsider that constantly expressed how crazy it all was or like a special skill of some kind that was useful?? a lot of 3a used her quite heavily as a plot device, which is why like you said a lot of the trio's dialogue was plot heavy.

the long short of it is basically that the writers were finding their footing after two big character departures and a necessary shift in tone and you could definitely tell at times but don't think it was that bad?? more just wasted potential in certain areas and maybe just a lack of chemistry between the actors at times?? because the writing did try I think

[steely-eyedmissileman]

The Vampire Diaries, Ep. 1x14

Fool Me Once

this title just reminds me of fool for love, which is a damn good episode of btvs. this episode suffers in comparison.

we begin the episode with an excellent joke from my girlfiend (who made so many good jokes during this episode): 'new white boy just dropped? maybe he just dropped dead!' unfortunately, he had not. then, elena looks into the bathtub to see what looked like a dead girl. being a fan of charlie on supernatural, i felt my heart drop. the panic was rising. then elena got closer and we learned it was bonnie and she's not dead. phew.

then, i wrote 'damon i hope you die horrifically,' which i don't remember what he did to deserve. oh yes, he said he hopes elena dies to stefan's face after she's been kidnapped. i understand that he's hurt by elena's betrayal, but this is an extreme reaction. damon makes it so hard to like him.

then we go to a party and i have an extreme reaction: 'nooooooo! (what's this guy's name again?) fuck face! he back' and i wish he wasn't. caroline is wearing a really cute coat. she and matt are also really cute. i want them to stay together for a while because i think they're good for each other.

then, we see damon going to bonnie's grandma to try to find her. and then he gets fucked up! she puts pressure on his head and it seems like he's going to explode. unfortunately, he does not. but bonnie's grandma is such a badass and i love her. this does lead me to a question: are witches uncompellable? i don't remember elena giving bonnie any vervain, but no vampire ever tries to compel her or her grandmother.

then, we get a very compelling scene between damon and elena. elena tries to convince damon that she's not lying to him again. in this course, she asks him why he didn't compel her when they went to georgia. his reply is quite sweet: 'i didn't compel you in atlanta because we were having fun. i wanted it to be real.'

then the idiot trio head to the burned out church and pass by the party. damon is incredibly mean to matt. on the other hand, matt is better than damon and matt doesn't deserve to be subjected to damon. caroline gives matt more speeches, even though, to quote my notes, 'caroline i support you in everything but none of the things you called speeches actually were.' we also learn that fuck face is trying to buy weed from jeremy. then jmpsg shows up and he tells her 'you kinda like dead people huh,' which is actually hilarious.

down in the crypt, we learn that damon brought a blood bag for katherine because he's so sweet in such a weird twisted way. i was also beginning to feel a bit bad for him as we got closer to the end of the episode. there are eight episodes left in the season; he's not going to find katherine. and he's so excited. it's a bit heartbreaking.

bonnie and her grandma start the spell, and then we learn that elena doesn't know anything. she says that the witches are not chanting in latin. which is patently false. it sounds so much like latin! in fact, i recognized some words from my high school latin class. also, there is so much space under this church. the surviving bits of foundation seem so small, but this is a huge underground complex, so what's going on?

then nwbjd and jmpsg show up. stefan takes out his flamethrower, prompting another great joke from my girlfriend. 'oh my god he's got a flamethrower' (me) 'that's hot as hell...literally' (her)

underground, damon has not found katherine. which begs the question: where the fuck is she? we learn from jmpsg that katherine was never sealed in the tomb. she's been in the world this whole time. 'she knew where you were, damon. she didn't care.' this is truly heartbreaking. i hate to feel bad for damon in the same episode where he said he hopes elena dies, but he's just so pathetic. of course, he's also fucked everything up since he threw that blood bag at the wall and blood dripped into the mouth of at least one vampire who escapes at the end of the episode. before that, there are two points to deal with.

one: jeremy is now curious about vampires. i can't express it any funnier than i did in my notes: 'okay now he’s going to google—i’m sorry, bing—vampires.'

more importantly, bonnie's grandma, the best side character on the show thus far (possibly the best character period) has died. i did not sign up for this.

[being-of-rain]

A torrent of random thoughts from my Classic Who watch, this time the first half of season 20.

I don’t know what fandom wisdom says abut Arc of Infinity (fandom wisdom isn’t something I give a lot of credit to anyway), but I’m not really a bit fan. The story structure is so weird, having a plot going on in Amsterdam and the Gallifreyan Capitol that don’t converge apart from the odd phone call until the final part. That said, the scene were the attack on the Tardis is intercut with the boys sleeping uneasily in a crypt was delightfully gothic. But apart from the production team once again taking as many opportunities as possible to show off their overseas location filming, most of the story was some rather dull Gallifreyan politics. It definitely felt like the Doctor should’ve ended up on Earth sooner. Nyssa almost feels like a new character with all the focus she’s forced to get when she’s the Doctor’s only companion. I don’t think she was written or acted as emotionally before she is when the Doctor is in danger on Gallifrey. Plus, it was cool to see her go on a killing spree (or stunning spree, whatever), which is a visual which sticks out in my mind when I think about this story. It’s cool to see Tegan investigating things on her own too, and cute to see the two companions happy to meet up at the end, even if the Doctor is hilariously but obviously annoyed at her rejoining them. That adds to my theory that he kinda left Tegan behind on purpose last story, an action that for some reason goes unaddressed and unexplained, but honestly it was probably good for Tegan to get some time to grieve Adric without the Doctor forcing her to repress everything. Do I just not like the Fifth Doctor? No, I think I just don’t like it when main characters have flaws that go so blatantly ignored. It’s nice to get a Leela reference and a Romana reference! I know the Doctor must have friends on Gallifrey, but it feels weird that Damon and Hedin are treated almost like characters we should know. Maybe it feels particularly weird because the story goes so unnecessarily hard on the ‘good guys are actually the bad guys’ fake-out. Also, some truly weird and unbelievable statistics are pulled out about the Time Lords. I know it feels extra weird now with all the EU content out there, but even for just the show thus far they felt silly. A Tardis recall circuit has apparently only been used twice before in Time Lord history. A Time Lord has only been destroyed (legally executed, presumably?) once before. And Borusa says “You know that capital punishment has long been abolished here in Gallifrey.” Didn’t the Doctor literally get put on death row previously in The Deadly Assassin?? Any other random points? Well, I don’t like to nitpick- no that’s not true, everyone likes to nitpick. I don’t like to let nickpicking ruin my enjoyment, but if a story brings up so many small points that it doesn’t satisfactorily answer, it starts to weigh it down. What exactly is the Ergon? How does the Doctor know about it and its name? What does the Ergon’s gun do to Tegan- teleport her dramatically? If so, why doesn’t it do the same to the Ergon later? The Ergon in general just looked funny enough to kind of ruin the aesthetic of the crypt scenes, sorry, which is a shame because the crypt aesthetic was one of the only things the story had going for it for me. I don’t know where ‘the spacetime element’ is an interesting or bad name for a piece of the Tardis console. Similarly, I don’t know whether I like the title Arc of Infinity- it’s a good title, but the arc is something that isn’t explained very well and doesn’t really have a large part in the story. Is there a little cafe on a walkway of the Capitol? Fun. And everyone talks about “No not the mind probe,” but nobody talks about the even flatter delivery of “Impulse laser?” near the start of this story from a guy who is about to be shot by an impulse laser. Finally, Omega himself looks great when he takes off his mask- gotta love Peter Davison in a black turtleneck. But things take such a turn in the last 10 minutes of the story. Omega has a quick scene where he simply enjoys some organ music and the view of a canal. It adds such a (sudden) tragic element to him, of a man who just wants to live in the real world again. Which is amplified when his final scene is played (again suddenly) extremely gritty, with the Doctor having to shoot him and cause his apparently agonising death. The last-minute tone shift is even more jarring when the show feels like it immediately chickens out on it, with the Doctor almost immediately after saying Omega might not be dead then ending the episode on a light-hearted note. I don’t often criticise the genius of author Nev Fountain, but I can’t help but feel he missed some obvious hooks there in his sequel audio Omega, in which Omega suddenly wants to return to his antimatter universe and leave the real one behind.

Snakedance! I think it’s not quite as good as Kinda, but it’s still really good! The way it creates a very believable and relatable world is so neat (maybe helped by my own interest in archaeology and ancient history studies which is represented in this). There’s always very realistic dialogue and acting. The plot is a little slower and more meandering than Kinda, and it’s a shame Tegan isn’t in it more (a downside Kinda shared). I don’t really have as much to say about the themes of this one like I did with the previous Mara story, though I’m sure they’re there. I’m left with just things to list off that I liked about the story. Part one has another fantastic cliffhanger, made better by the Fifth Doctor theme tune. Some of the Mara moments are genuinely unnerving, like Lon talking with Tegan’s voice. Lon is a great character, and I wish he was in more of it without being possessed tbh. But I did like how sometimes the Mara possessed people, and sometimes it likes to play on the temptations of people in order to manipulate them. I also liked the creepy moment that the carnival man is standing still in the dark cave to surprise someone, with the added irony that that’s what he suggested Tegan do at his hall of mirrors earlier. There’s a lot of altered states in this one; dreams, the sound machine, the snake poison, possession. And the use of sound could be very striking. The cutting between the noise of the ceremony and the calm of the Doctor meditating with Dojjen is very striking. And the same things with the fucking killer ending which goes from the intensity of the Mara trying to manifest to the silent horror of everyone recovering from it, followed by the end credits screaming in before you barely get a moment to process it all. I’m still not sure if I love it or not, but it sure as heck leaves an impression.

I spent ages looking for Mawdryn Undead and Terminus without the optional CGI special effects that were included on the DVD, because for some reason they’re hard to find online. I don’t know why people would prefer those versions: to me the old practical methods and less sophisticated special effects are not only part of the charm, but part of the original production and storytelling. It’s the same reason I enjoy the original versions of the Star Wars films rather than the many re-edits. Not so much because I’m a purist (at least I hope not), but because I like watching these things as products of their historical times as well as for their stories. Besides, the added CGI effects can often break my suspension of disbelief more than bad practical effects (even if it’s good CGI, which is not guaranteed) because it simply doesn’t look like it fits with the rest of the show. Also, literally who would want to watch Mawdryn Undead without the eye-wateringly horrendous original ‘80s training video effect behind Turlough and the Black Guardian when they make their dark deal. The new effect is the most boring thing ever and actually looks halfway good. Get that shit outtahere.

ANYWAY. Mawdryn Undead is a story of many different tones for me. This bit will mostly be me listing off random things in the story in roughly chronological order. The first episode almost felt like it could be a pantomime, though that’s probably mostly because of the Black Guardian in all his crow-headed glory, and the sometimes hysterical background music. If you haven’t watched the scene in the first few minutes when Turlough steals and then crashes the Brigadier’s car, please god look it up. Bloody iconic. It’s hilarious watching how quickly and thoroughly Turlough throws Hippo under the bus for stealing the car, but very satisfying for me personally who wants more deeply flawed and antagonistic companions. Also, my longest-running DnD character is called Hippo, so hearing the name bandied about felt so weird jsldkfj. It was kind of surprising how rude the Brig could be to students, but maybe that’s just what you’d expect to hear at a British public school. Considering how the Black Guardian pretended to have pure intentions, it was also kind of surprising to hear him shout “In the name of all that is evil!” at the end of the episode, but again maybe that’s just what you’d expect to hear at a British public school. I started vibing with the story way more than I expected when it became the Brigadier recounting to the Doctor the events of 6 years ago, which was when the Doctor’s present companions met him, and for the audience both plots were unwinding simultaneously. I love that kind of plotting in a time travel story. Makes it extremely satisfying to follow when the plots effect each other and weave together (eg when the Brigadier says he remembers the Tardis leaving without him, when actually his past self didn’t see that happen until part four). I also liked how the Doctor figures out something’s up with Turlough very quickly and takes a moment to show that he disapproves, but still keeps him around anyway. I imagine it’s a mix of wanting Turlough where he can see him, and wanting to help him. Speaking of what Turlough has going on, is it just me who thought it wasn’t made very clear that he’s an alien in his first story? There’s maybe a few lines that suggest it, and it was obviously the plan from the beginning since the following stories reference it, but honestly if I went into this not knowing he was an alien I’m not sure I would’ve figured it out by the end of this one. Why would Tegan and Nyssa assume that the burnt figure they find is the Doctor? It’s a kinda fun mistaken identity plot that adds to the many moving parts of this story, but obviously the burnt figure was imagined to be a lot harder to identify in the script. But I don’t mind too much when it’s followed up by Tegan’s healthy scepticism in the face of Nyssa’s panicked belief, and the Brigadier’s hesitant attempts to keep both sides happy. Tegan’s honestly very on point in this story. Watching through her episodes make me feel like she gets flanderised a bit in the audios as an argumentative woman who can’t follow a sci-fi plot. As time goes on, she’s shown a lot to be an extremely competent companion in the face of the Doctor’s adventures: see also Earthshock. The backhalf of the story gets a bit bogged down with everyone wandering around Mawdryn’s spaceship. Makes me feel like this would’ve been a very tight three-parter. But it is hilarious that there’s like half a dozen different factions with their own goals, and literally all of them want the past Brigadier to leave. So he spends ages getting shuffled round and out of the way, but he still ends up doing exactly what nobody wanted him to do at the end. The brigadiers creating their own temporal energy is a clever way to end the plot, but the fact that they coincidentally do it at the exact microsecond they needed to feels a bit too contrived. It feels like this could’ve been one of the best plots in Classic Who with just a few tweaks. Finally, the moral dilemma in this story is very interesting, but the Doctor’s response to it is even more so. It’s never brought up that killing Mawdryn’s crew is what he objects to, only that he doesn’t want to sacrifice his own future regenerations. He repeatedly objects to that aspect, and specifically phrases it as the end of him as a Time Lord. Could you say something about the Doctor preaching against the superiority of his people but then hesitating to give up their benefits? Maybe link it to this Doctor’s rather old world British aesthetic? I’m sure there’s other ways you could look at this situation too, since it’s such a complex moral issue.

[thigholstercas]

March & April

hi :) I don't know where this two months went but here are some more fics I read (and a cute little banner). as I said in the last one, this list includes drabbles or ficlets, even poems, that I read here because fic writers should also be praised when they only write a couple of lines. on another note, you should go throughout the deancaspinefest fics and the deancasreversebang fics, and spnpoetryrenaissance, I listed some here, but you should take a look to the others. remember to give kudos, leave comments or just let fic writers know you love their work. it's a long list so it'll be under the cut

the coffee kissing crisis (4.6k, GA) by FallenAngelOfThursday @pointyearedelvishprincling

I’m just gonna share what I thought the second I finished it (yeah I took note off that)

Aoife!!!! They are dumbasses but they really love each other. The last paragraph...THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER READ. Dean is sleepy and kisses Cas after he gives him coffee. Some time later he freaks out. Cas talks to the bees 🐝 ♥. (Honestly just read everything Aoife has written )

sequitur (23.4k, E) by butterflyslinky

The pain...of Dean grieving...is horribly good. They changed the ending (you’ll understand when you read it). Freaking good!!! Cas is also awkward during sex, is so cute.

The Legend of the White Light (50k, E) by EllenOfOz

Purgatory my beloved <3 I literally read the first chapter and my first thought was "this is so fucking cool". Cas and Dean's pov. For me the first half is the best (purgatory) and then is mostly in canon for all season 8, up to the crypt scene. I'd read this again just for purgatory.

heal me with (3k, T) by ilovehowyouletmefall

Cas comes back from the Empty during the call from 15x19, but he's dying. Dean's soul reaches for him. So nice. Sam getting angry at Cas is so funny for me personally.

Samson went back to bed (9.7k) by piesexuality @twoheadedcas

Look I probably wouldn’t read it again because I swear I cried a lot, but at the same time it was so good. Cas is a selfish bastard and erases everyone's memories about Mary. No kidding, so fucking freaking painful but good. (art from @citruscas for it)

Desideratum and other mishaps (28k, T) by thefandomsinhalor

I thought that it was so sweet. Instead of Dean using the pear, Jack uses it and let´s just say things don’t go as planned. Sam is the bitchy brother. Cas is a dad!!!! Dean is a dad too!!! 

with this stab I thee wed (9k,T) by TheSilverQueen

Adore how it is written. It starts the moment Cas is fighting demons to rescue dean from hell, it ends with them married, really nice.

What's already mine (2.1k, T) by elephantsinthestars @blanketforcas

I swear I’m not putting this one here because I love her. This is just really beautiful. Cas learns to love his body and something something about loving yourself first before being with someone else.

the closer the star, the greater the parallax (8.7k, E) by kettleknight

Cas shows and explains to Dean how he rescued him from hell. I don’t know how to explain how much this fic changed me as person..

Okay, you should also read some of these:

divine by @bixlasagna

nothing but this by @buglovescas

castiel’s guide to loving a human by @redleavesinthewind

Dean x Cas: a prayer for a prayer by @faithdeans

Dean overthinking “[...] the one in the dirty trench coat who is in love with you" by @mishacollinsthighsss

about a boy by @universalcas  

cas trails his fingers across dean’s chest by @angelscas

To Dean Winchester, 1995 (tw sexual abuse) by @jactingjoices

my faith is shaken, but I still believe by @interrogatethecat (last minute addition)

I re-read these ones and I think they deserve to be here:

The Mantra (3k, GA) by amirosebooks

“You're safe, you're home, I got you”, this one is so soft, is pretty much about Cas and Dean taking care of each other.

Damn You Auto Correct! (8.3k, E) by Chiyume

Porn without plot but I like it, Dean can´t talk cuz’ he's sick. 

What to do when a good man hurts you (8k, T) by @fellshish

Dean thinks that the way he'll stop the empty for taking Cas is telling him he hates him and every bad thing he can think. Turns out it doesn't work...angst okay a lot of angst. But there´s a happy ending.

Alright this is already too long, I read so much more, but I can’t put them all here, anyway give all your love to writers <3

[jay-auris]

Ok so based on the year time skip revelation, my theory for s4 is that we start off in England, and Guillermo has been dating Freddie for several months at this point as a distraction/rebound from Nandor's seeming rejection; his master has not tried to contact him or find him this whole year, but this is actually because Nandor thinks Guillermo rejected HIM by leaving him at the train station. So on his return trip home from traveling the world, Nandor checks in on Nadja, and lo and behold, Guillermo is there. There is awkward, stilted conversation between them, neither of them knowing where they stand with one another, UNTIL Guillermo mentions he's dating someone, and suddenly Nandor can't keep in all these angry, hurt feelings and ofc being the big dumb idiot he is, they get into an argument, wherein to be spiteful, Guillermo talks up Freddie as this amazing person who treats him so well, nothing like how Nandor did. And in his anger, Nandor is like, fuck this, I'm going to go find this supposedly awesome human man and eat him so Guillermo will come back to me. This is where we get the pretzel cart scene, and Nandor meets Freddie, realizes he actually is a sweet guy, and because he really really really cares about Guillermo (aka love but won't admit it) he leaves Freddie alone so that Guillermo can be happy. the rest of the season is Nandor pining from afar once they return to the states, trying to be better to Guillermo, and now that they're back together and Freddie is still overseas, Guillermo starts realizing that he doesn't actually want the amazing, cute British pretzel man, because he's deeply in love with Nandor. The cliffhanger ending of the season is Guillermo confronting Nandor about wanting to fix their relationship, desperately trying to drag Nandor out of his emotional shell and be honest about what they are to each other, until Nandor's season-long pining becomes too much and he kisses Guillermo. We end the season on a shot of them staring at each other in shock, saying nothing, the camera capturing this moment through a crack in the door of Nandor's crypt.

[ladystoneboobs]

ok, my other stark family hot take is that i don’t think sansa was really much closer to robb than jon. we know robb/sansa also had a goodbye hug with the snowflakes in his hair, and that he led her, arya, and bran, into the crypts for his and jon’s cute ghost prank. but literally anything else between them is fanon, not canon. 

yeah, we know sansa thought of her big brothers very differently and would’ve wanted more interactions with robb and valued them more, but the question is what did he think/feel about her? without a pov, the best clue that we have (besides his refusal to trade jaime, which i do think he felt little choice about) is his reaction to sansa’s last letter to wf. where he blames her for the whole thing, not just arya’s exclusion, and needs luwin to point out these must have been cersei’s words that sansa was made to write. which is, um, a not great sign about the state of their relationship imho. my impression is more that sansa admired and idolized him from afar even when they still lived in the same castle. with the 4ishyr age difference and the highly gendered activity structures of their days i just don’t see much time for individual bonding. jon/arya’s first scene happens when arya runs away from her oh-so-important femimine lessons and jon is being excluded from male bonding, neither of which would apply to sansa or robb. sansa wasn’t interested in any “boyish” activities like arya was with all her brothers, and i see no evidence that robb would have interest in whatever more feminine playtimes sansa and her girly-girl cohort would get up to. 

lest anyone misunderstand and think I am perpetuating the myth of sansa an outsider within the stark household, never really one of them, i’ll just add that there is one starkling who appeared to have an equally warm relationship with both sisters and that’s bran. which makes sense since he was the one closest in age to the girls and is known for being a sweet kid who gets along well with most people, as evident from his first chapter. then there’s rickon too, who i’m sure sansa also had a good enough relationship with, but there’s really only so much closeness to be had between a tween and a toddler. (and lbr, rickon/any other starkling is mostly fanon too. all we know of him pre-abandonment is that he liked sweets, which is true of almost every little kid who can eat sweets. the “wildness” he’s primarily defined by was not an intrinsic distinguishing characteristic when the family still lived together, but a new trait developed only after they split as a response to the situation he was far too young to understand.) 

though as much as i’d like more bran and sansa fandom solidarity, it’s not like i’m saying everyone should focus on their relationship either, regardless of personal preference for other characters or fanon, bc that would be obnoxious. 

[gates-keeper]

Part 1: “Words of Affirmation” Destiel Quotes & Parallels

I’m sure someone’s done this before me and done it better, but I’m compiling a huge Destiel evidence docket for no reason. Anyone got any quotes to add?

Comments From Outside Characters

To Dean

Uriel: “He has this weakness. He likes you.” (4x10)

Balthazar: “You have me confused with the other angel. You know, the one in the dirty trench coat who’s in love with you.” (6x17)

Hester: “The first time Castiel laid a hand on you in Hell, he was lost.” (7x21)

Meg: “He was your boyfriend first.” (7x23)

Charlie: “What about Castiel? He seems helpful. And dreamy.” (8x20)

Marie: “Although we do explore the nature of Destiel in Act 2.” (10x5)

Sam: “Shouldn’t it be Deastiel?” He then goes on to tease Dean with “Sastiel” which Dean takes negatively. (10x5)

Dean: “This Cas is looking at me weird.” Sam: “So like the real Cas then.” (15x14) 

To Castiel

Hannah: “We gave you our trust. Don’t lose it over one man.” (9x22)

Metatron: “His true weakness is revealed. He’s in love…with humanity.” (9x22)

Metatron: “Oh, that’s right. To save Dean Winchester. That was your goal, right? I mean, you draped yourself in the flag of heaven, but, ultimately, it was about saving one human, right?” (9x23)

Ishim: “I’m going to cure you of your human weakness [i.e. Dean]” (12x10)

The Empty: “I have tiptoed through all your little tulips. Your memories, your little feelings, yes. I know what you hate. I know who you love…There is nothing for you back there.” (13x4)

Demon: “I thought you were joined at the… (looks down) everything.” (14x01)

There are also several instances where other characters try to poke at insecurities regarding their relationship.

Naomi: “You're hoping Castiel will return to you. I admire your loyalty. I only wish he felt the same way.” (8x19)

Casifer: “There comes a time when every relationship has run its course.” (11x18)

Michael!Dean: “You only tolerate the angel because you think you owe him, because he ‘gripped you tight and raised you from Perdition.’ Or whatever.” (14x10)

Comments From Dean

To Cas

“There are two things I know for certain. One, Bert and Ernie are gay. And two, you are not going to die a virgin.” (5x03) 

“So what? I’m Thelma and you’re Louise and we’re just going to hold hands and sail off this cliff together?” (5x03)

“You know what? Blow me, Cas.” (5x18)

“Cas, not for nothing, but the last time someone looked at me like that, I got laid.” (5x18)

“Look, I don’t need to feel like hell for failing you, okay? For failing you like I’ve failed every other godforsaken thing that I care about! I don’t need it!” (8x07)

“We need you. I need you.” 

For more on this quote see the “We vs. I” section.

To Other Characters

Bobby: “I think maybe it’s time you made a call.” Dean: “Why does it always gotta be me that makes the call, huh? It’s not like Cas lives in my ass. The dude’s busy.” (Cas appears) Dean: “Get out of my ass.” Cas: “I was never in your… (head tilt)” (6x19)

“On my car…. He showed up naked… covered in bees.” (7x23)

While Cas suffered from some mental issues at the time, it seems somewhat significant that he sought Dean out under the circumstances, not Sam, etc.

“There’s things… people… feelings that I want to experience differently than I have before, or maybe even for the first time.” (10x16)

“My shy but devastatingly handsome friend here” (12x12)

“He came into my room and he played me.” (12x19)

“Let’s see. Crowley’s dead, Kelly’s dead, Cas is—Mom’s gone.” (13x01)

Dean’s inability to list Cas’s death singles him out as the most devastating of the losses.

“We’ve lost everything. And now you’re gonna bring him back.” (13x01)

While some people have heard this as “bring ‘em back”, the Netflix captions and transcripts I have been able to find say “him.”

“And Cas bought it. And you know what it got him? It got him dead! Now you may be able to forget about that, but I can't!” (13x03)

“I have a family.” (In response to John Winchester lamenting Dean doesn’t have a wife and kids) (14x13)

Comments From Cas

To Dean

“I was getting too close to the humans in my charge. You. They feel I've begun to express emotions. The doorways to doubt.” (4x16)

“I’m hunted. I rebelled. And I did it—all of it—for you.” (5x02)

“I gave everything for you. And this is what you give to me.” (5x18)

“I do everything that you ask. I always come when you call.” (6x21)

“So you will bow down and profess your love unto me, your Lord.” (6x22)

Before taking on the role of God, Cas seemed very concerned with Dean’s forgiveness/acceptance/love. It is interesting that, as God, that was the first thing he asked for, turning from Sam (who had just stabbed him) to Dean to ask for love.

“Sam, and everyone you know, everyone you love, they could be long dead. Everyone except me.” (10x22)

“I love you. I love all of you.” (Arguably to the group, but the first “I love you” can be seen as Dean-specific, especially since it cuts to Dean after being said.) (12x12)

“You mean too much to me. To everything.” (12x9) (To Mary, Sam, and Dean. However, the camera immediately cuts to Dean specifically, even though he is in the back of the group).

“I’m your Huckleberry.” (13x06)

Cas love confession (15x18)

To Other Characters

“Dean and I do share a more profound bond.” (6x03)

“I won’t hurt Dean.” (8x17)

This is said as Castiel is breaking away from Naomi’s mind control—mind control she fostered specifically by having Cas kill a thousand versions of Dean. This implies she knows that Cas’s strongest loyalty is to Dean, not Sam, or humans in general.

“The point is that they [Dean & Sam] were here at all and you got to know them, you -- When they're gone, it will hurt, but that hurt will remind you of how much you loved them.” (14x14)

“You know, Dean, he... he feels things more acutely than any human I've ever known.” (15x13)

Other Comments

Reaper: “How do I start looking for this... Castiel?” Bartholomew: “I got one word for you. Winchester.”

Rowena: “An Angel of the Lord, shattered at the altar of Winchester.”

Use of We vs. I

In the crypt scene in Season 8, Dean tells Cas, “We need you.” This is not enough to stop Cas’s actions. When the language switches to “I need you,” Cas drops the angel blade.

We can clearly see that Dean tries to put up barriers about how he really feels about Cas in his use of “We.” For example, after showing the audience many scenes of Dean, not Sam, frantically trying to call Cas, we get the following lines:

“So not only were you ditching us, but you were also ignoring us?”

“With everything that's going on, you can't just go dark like that. We didn't know what happened to you. We were worried. That's not okay.”

It’s clear that these “we’s” are really “I’s”

In the alternate future presented in 15x9, Sam asks Dean, “What’s happened to you Dean… ever since…?” to which Dean responds, “Ever since what? We lost pretty much everyone we’ve ever cared about? Ever since the Mark made Cas go crazy and I had to bury him in a Malak box… ever since then?” While he acknowledges Sam’s losses as well, his switch to “I” in reference to Cas implies that Cas’s loss belongs especially to him.

(Mostly) Verbal Parallels to Other Couples

In 1x01 (start at 2:27), Dean pulls Sam away from a dead Jess in a direct parallel to how Sam pulls Dean away from Cas in 12x23

Following Jessica’s death, Sam keeps seeing glimpses of her as he and Dean travel around in the Impala. Dean does the same in Season 8 following his return from Purgatory without Cas.

David from “Bloodlines” (9x20) tells his love interest, “I was there. Where were you?” which is the same thing Dean says to Cas in “The Man Who Would Be King” (6x20)

When asking Dean whether he’s in love with Cassie, Dean gives a similar response to what he will say in 10x5 when asked about Destiel.

Destiel is paralleled with their counterparts from the Supernatural play who are “a couple in real life” (10x5)

Cain compares himself to Dean in Season 10. He describes the significant kills of his life (The Knights of Hell, his wife Collette, and his brother Abel) and tells Dean that he will follow his same pattern by killing the King of Hell Crowley, Castiel, then Sam. It is also mentioned that all Collette asked of Cain was “to stop,” which is the same language Cas uses with Dean in 10x22.

Dean explains how his parents fell in love to prove his identity to Mary in 12x1, “He was cute and he knew the words to every Zeppelin song, so when he asked you for your number, you gave it to him, even though you knew your dad would be pissed.” Later in this same season (12x19), Dean gives Cas a homemade mixtape of his favorite Zeppelin songs.

Ishim fell in love with a human named Lily Sunder who ultimately left him for someone else. When trying to recruit Castiel, he compares Dean to her.

Dean questions how much of their life has been controlled by God. Cas states, “You asked, ‘What about all of this is real?’ We are.” (15x02) Later, they find out that God has been using Eileen to spy on the Winchesters. She says, “After what happened, I don’t know what’s real anymore.” Sam kisses her, stating “I know that was real.” (15x09)

PART 2 “Physical Touch” Now Finished

[joysmercer]

if you could rewrite how the hoa couples got together (maybe even their relationship plotline), what would you do? or if there was a non canon pairing you really wanted to see how would you get them together in the show? :))

ok warning that i’m on mobile (so no cut) and this turned fairly critical so if that’s not something you want to read just blacklist #hoadisc and scroll past this post

amber x mick: i just want to see how they got together, i think they’re fine besides that

amber x alfie: honestly i’d just redo the entire thing so they start on a page of mutual respect. the way she treated him wasn’t ok tbh

mara x mick: they get together the same way but the picture scandal doesn’t happen; she breaks it off properly before kissing jerome and doesn’t do so in front of him lol

mara x jerome: everything’s the same but that one line after where she calls him “son of a thief” doesn’t happen. idk what to replace it w because it had to be that harsh for the plot to proceed but still

mara x fabian: give them more development—3x40 was a good start but like. maybe have them genuinely connect romantically during tor first lmfao

fabian x nina: season 1 is fine. post s2-breakup, i’d make it go one of two ways: either have them realize they’re idiots within 10 eps instead of 90, or let it fizzle out properly. basically none of the passive aggressive shit that happened instead.

jerome x willow and joy x jerome and willow x alfie: just more scenes in general

patricia x eddie: first of all, throw the entire pink dress plot in tor in the trash. aside from that, just some minor changes— fixing the weird consent of the piper kiss, having patricia actually worried abt eddie when he’s locked in the crypt (instead of “kidnapping is a lame excuse” 😂), and get rid of that bit where he oggles after maras lawyer in front of her. (rest of that jealousy arc is fine tho). also add in more hugs and a forehead kiss bc why not!! edit: copying tess here to say i’d also add wayy more pining in 3a hehe

iv always wondered how mara x willow would have worked out and if the show was being remade today that would be a great way to end the revenge plot.

nina x amber would be cute to explore if they were there for (more of) s3

also give kt a gf :)

[enigmaticxbee]

✖️✖️✖️✖️ 7x19 Hollywood A.D.

The one where... they make a movie about Mulder and Scully starring Garry Shandling and Tea Leoni.

Best: The Mulder-Scully-Skinner split screen bubble bathtub scene. Iconic. Skinman!!

Worst: I love so many individual moments in this episode but it’s kind of all over the place. And the conclusion of this case isn’t very satisfying - they get kicked off the case for autopsying a murder victim and basing the identity of the victim off the id found on the body (unless the identity is in question wouldn’t that be the standard assumption?? although if the “id” in question is the cell phone then Skinner’s got a point) and then find out 18 months later that both suspects died in a murder-suicide. So... whose body was that in the crypt?

✔️ Flashlights

❌ Woods/Desert

❌ Slideshow

✔️ Autopsy

❌ Evidence Disappears

❌ Scully Misses It

❌ Mulder Ditch

❌ Sunflower Seeds

❌ Voiceover

❌ Catch Phrase

❌ Scully is a Medical Doctor

❌ Mulder is Spooky (no, but he calls Scully ‘Sister Spooky’ which is 😍)

❌ Scuuullllaaaaayy! Muullllderrrr!

❌ Fox/Dana

✔️ Inappropriate Touching (that I am here for)

❌ Casual Scully (no, but that little black dress and the cute little headband!)

✔️ Casual Mulder

❌ Trench Coats

❌ Bad Tie Watch

❌ Glasses Watch

50 States: California x18 & DC x71 (40/50)

Investigate: Together & Apart

Solve Rate: 62%

❌ Bechdel Test: Tea Leoni says something to Scully but they walk off so we don’t hear her respond.

MSR: 🐝🐝🐝🐝

Goriness: 👽👽

Creepiness: 👽👽

Humor: 👽👽👽👽👽

Rewatch Thoughts:

SOSS: I mean, Hollywood date night - Scully’s positivly giddy about going out on the town on Associate Producer Walter Skinner’s dime.

Just... the implications of DD having his wife dress up to look like his female costar/his character’s romantic interest is... a LOT 👀

Trying to figure the timeline on txf is a futile task but... 18 months earlier...sometime in season 6? WTF does this episode take place?

A modern miracle - cell phone reception in the catacombs. If you saw a name come up on a ringing cell phone wouldn’t you assume that was the name of the person calling and not the owner of the phone 🤔

Of course Scully can read Ancient Greek 😂

No warrants, no permission, no research - that’s the X-Files baby!

Wayne Federman: (to Mulder) You’re crazy for believing what you believe. (to Scully) And you’re crazy for not believing what he believes. Exactly.

Scully’s Sister Spooky story - and then Mulder calling her Sister Spooky, they’re just sickeningly cute sometimes.

I tried to watch the Murder Among the Mormons documentary about the true story that this case is based on but I couldn’t get into it.

Coming just after All Things but taking place 18 months earlier really highlights how far Scully has come in opening up to Mulder about her vision in the Buddhist temple in All Things vs pretending her visions of the dead here aren’t happening.

Scully running back and forth to demonstrate to Tea Leoni how to run in heels in the background while Gary Shandling tries to figure out whether Mulder dresses to the right or left 😂

Gary Shandling as Mulder: I love you, Scully. No ifs ands or - Tea Leoni as Scully: - bees. The idea that one of them TOLD Federman about the hallway incident (or told SKINNER who told Federman) makes me unhinged 🤪

Skinner’s so happy 😂

I just love the ending with the zombies dancing on the graveyard set.

Episode-Related Fanfic Recs:

Untitled by @06666666 - post ep date night. He eats with her there in the warm water, bumping knees and feeding French fries to his little sea monster.

The Big Orange by @teethnbone - pre and post ep, NSFW. Just fantastic. It’s 5AM and you’re on your way to the airport to catch a flight to see a film based on a screenplay based (loosely) on the idea of the two of you. Though “the idea of the two of you” has shifted subtly in the months since you were used as source material.

Socially Inept by Adrienne - post ep, NSFW. An old fave. Their beverage of choice was vodka, and a lot of it. (On Gossamer so if the link doesn’t work you can search for it there.)

Younger Than Springtime - post ep date night, NSFW. Carefree Scully takes Mulder out on the town. (On Gossamer so if the link doesn’t work you can search for it there.)

Style and Substance by Gina Rain - post ep date night. Another Scully takes Mulder out on the town fic. So sweet. (On Gossamer so if the link doesn’t work you can search for it there.)

[prose-for-hire]

Love rises from the dust

Pairing: Spike x reader

Request: OMG I NEEED A SEQUEL TO LOVE AND DUST IN THE AIR!!! That was so good!! I can totally see spike trying to do romantic gestures to ask her out but something keeps going wrong (xander messes with their picnic, they get interrupted by the newest big bad, willow practices her magic and accidentally makes spike bald, etc.) until she just shows up at his crypt one day with hot coco and movies and kisses him 😭😭😭 TOO CUTE!

Part one

Requested by: Anon

A/N: I had a great time writing this second part!! Spike is perhaps a little more self-deprecating than he is on the show?? A bit more William (Forgive me I am a big romantic if you couldn’t tell lol).

Planning to tell you he loved you was the easy part. He couldn’t help watching you, desperately trying to think of an excuse to get you alone. Buffy was always there though, or one of the other Scoobies. It was as if they were trying to spite him in every way possible. Blocking his happiness, blocking you from him.

You had noticed this too, you usually drew to him, sitting with him at the Magic Box or spending time with him in his crypt when you had time but ever since Giles had made a strange comment about Spike spending too much time around you it seemed like you had stopped seeing Spike all together. Yo uwere constantly busy, whether it was patrolling with Buffy or helping Willow with a spell. Xander had even roped you into helping with some project that was taking up a lot of your time.

Spike didn’t blame you, he blamed them. He had a suspicion that they were doing it on purpose, which was confirmed when Giles threatened him to stay away one night.

Despite this, Spike had a plan. They weren’t going to get in the way of your happiness. He was a man of his word and he was determined to tell you how he felt. He was nervous, so nervous. He couldn’t bare the rejection. Not from you. He loved you. His heart rose, every even seemingly insignificant interaction a journey in devotion for him. He adored you, he was desperate for you to know. To hear from him how special you were to him. How much you meant to him.

It was a practice in salvation. With you, he could see happiness. Almost taste it. He vowed to himself that he would treasure you should you accept his advances. That he would never take you for granted.

He decided he would have to do it sooner than later, so he started to plan out something romantic. Romance like you deserved. So, Spike had decided on a night-picnic. He hadn’t actually told you that was what was happening, he had suggested to patrol together, accidentally stumbling across the blanket, a few candles, and the brown bag filled with what appeared to be an entire aisle of the corner store. It looked as if he had put his arm on one end and sweeped everything into a basket from one end to the other.

You squealed excitedly, “Did you do this!?” Spike just shrugged a little, ducking his head. You moved over to kneel on the blanket and look into the basket. You sit, tugging his sleeve so that he’ll sit down next to you as you take the bag and start to rummage inside. However, your smiles didn’t last long as you grabbed something that Spike hadn’t put in there.

The bag, and snacks, exploded before you. A pile of goo in its place. Some of it on your outfit (that you had carefully selected to be both good for fighting and something you hoped Spike would like on you). You squeak, standing up. Wiping some of the goo but it stuck like glue.

Spike just stared, he hadn’t expected that. It appeared to be some cheap prank-magic. He heard chuckling from a bush and whipped his head around to see the boy.

His reaction didn’t appear too bothered, you had missed his jaw tensing as he didn’t want you to see him so mad. You muttered something about dropping in on Buffy’s, because it was so close, to ask if you could use her shower. This left Spike imagining all of the ways he would string Xander up and torture him, but instead had to settle for shouting insults whilst he followed him all the way home.

Spike had to find a few demons to beat up, walking past your house twice although there were no lights on. He felt stupid. He should have asked if you were okay, offered you his jacket. The goo was cold and would stick to you for a while.

A fact you found out at the Summer’s residence where you were now almost 90% covered in the purple substance that you were spreading around instead of washing off. You couldn’t figure out if Spike had done it to be cruel or it had been someone else’s sabotage. Either way, you felt stupid, worried Spike would think of you and laugh now instead of enjoying your company. You felt a little embarrassed.

It had been a few weeks and Spike had not stopped thinking about you and figuring out a way to make it up to you. You had no ill-will towards Spike by this time as you found out and beat up Xander for his trick. Thankfully, you were now completely your natural skin tone, with no purple hue left.

You had dropped in to tell him this and ended up staying. You were sat in the crypt together, realising Spike was mad at Xander still for the prank, rather than laughing at you. He smirked when you mentioned you had stamped on his foot and threatened more, asking you to retell the story several times. You decided you should drop some hints that you liked him, you were able to face horrible beasts on the Hellmouth but letting Spike know you felt for him was a little harder.

You decided to snuggle up to him, willing the words to formulate. You were sat together on the sofa, you hitched up to his side of the seat. He was aware of how close you were to him, daring to glance sideways to make sure it wasn’t an accident. You gradually moved closer, both of your eyes glued to the screen, you eventually managed to settle into his side and he moved to slip an arm around your shoulders. Your movements both slow, as if moving faster would ruin the scene, scare either of you away. He could hear how fast your heart was beating, he was desperate to say something but he didn’t want to ruin anything. Holding you, having you close. It was bliss.

Both of you were uncharacteristically quiet, the only sound the low buzzing of the tv set and the constant thrumming of your heart. You were trying to think of more ways to drop hints to Spike that you liked him, you maybe even felt the first syllable of love tingling on your tongue for him. You knew, however, that Spike liked to be the one to sort through his feelings and if he hadn’t said anything then surely it meant you felt more for him than he did for you.

You thought you might tell him that you were thinking of going to the Bronze on Saturday, that you’d really like to see him there. It wouldn’t hurt, he might even want to come. He seemed to enjoy the way your skin felt against his, his thumb moving soothingly ever so often. It was as if he was holding his breath, making sure that the moment would last as long as possible. He felt so happy like this, he didn’t want you to slip from his arms.

You open your mouth, willing yourself to ask, just as he appears to be doing the same. Time slowed, anticipation a dizzying phenomenon as if there were something in the air.

But something comes crashing in, taking the door off its hinges. The monster of the week, a massive troll-demon. Spike grabs you to protect you and then remembers who you are, then looks at you and you nod, a sparkle in your eye. He smirks, you both silently agree to work together.

You had your fighting stances ready, you fought so closely, as if it were expertly choreographed. You just fit. You took it down together, not able to stop smiling at each other as you caught your breath back. This was the best kind of foreplay for Spike. He could watch you fighting for hours, enamoured by the grace you held. The brutality, the expertise that almost matched his - he had a few hundred years on you, however.

By the time you had tracked and slayed the troll, you had ended up by your house. Spike walked you the rest of the way, looking as if you both wanted to say something. You tried, you really did. But you both just stared hopelessly at the other. At least meant you started to believe Spike may truly have feelings there for you in return.

Since the last time you and he had been in the crypt, Spike had been a little awkward around you. He had been overthinking everything, trying to force himself into saying something. Building himself up, only to come crashing down when you looked up at him with bright eyes and a smile that he noted seemed to widen in his presence. Or was that his mind playing tricks? He became so tongue-tied around you, he didn’t know what was wrong with him.

There was a meeting at the Magic Box that night and Spike had waited outside your house and offered to walk you there. You happily accepted and as you both walked together, you slip your hand into his. You both look at each other silently, his eyes wide, eyebrows raised. But yet the words still can’t form between you. He tried, as did you, to say something. Anything about the way you feel. But the moment passed, and you were needed inside. You step into the magic box, both moving your hands from each other reluctantly. The last thing you needed was the unwanted opinions of the Scoobies.

As soon as you stepped in there was chaos in the store. Willow was chanting, getting louder as the store started to spin around you and sparks started to fly towards the doorway. You ducked out of the way, but Spike wasn’t so fast. In the blink of an eye, Spike was now bald. The bleach blonde hair that you loved so much was gone. His hands went straight to his now hairless head and his eyes widened in horror, profanities shouted towards the entire room. He winced again, remembering you were beside him. He hated thinking you would take the harsh words to heart, trying to avoid the threats in front of you. They all laughed, his jaw tensing as if this brought back some kind of hidden memory. He was embarrassed, feeling as if he was laughable to you now.

You move to him, trying to reassure him, but he ran away. Hurt in his eyes shone directly into yours as if you could feel it yourself. The embarrassment so strong, as if you could feel it as your own. You knew then that you needed to go to him. Show him it didn’t matter what he looked like. That you both lived in Sunnydale where there would always be a threat interrupting your time together. That it didn’t matter to you that things would occasionally go wrong, or not go perfect like they are in the movies. You wanted to show him, that you wanted to be by his side. That you loved him. If you couldn’t say it yet, then you would make sure to show him.

Spike was now in the crypt, dejected and drinking. His hair had come back slowly over the last twenty-four hours. He slumped in his chair, trying to console himself. He never had a chance, was he being stupid? Someone as sweet as you, as caring. Someone as tough and able to handle themselves. What good was he to you? You were perfect. You were everything. God, he had it bad.

There was a knock at the crypt door. He frowned, nobody ever knocked. Nobody except… you.

“Y/n? It’s late, pet… shouldn’t you be tucked up?” He asked You checked the watch on your wrist with a little frown. It wasn’t so late. The sun had only barely set. He cared though, he really cared and that’s why he always checked. He didn’t like you being out after dark so much, despite the way he knew you could handle yourself.

“Uh, yeah, I just wanted to see you” You said, a little smile. He just stared, not sure why you would want to be here. All he had done was embarrass himself and you by trying to get close to you. You moved past him, he hadn’t noticed all of the bags in your hands until you put them down and started to look through them.

“What’s all this?”

“Movie night!” You exclaimed as you setting everything down.

“Movie…?” He started, shaking his head, “Why?”

“It’s a date, Spike” you say matter-of-factly as you brought out a stack of videos you had rented. You finally said something. He was speechless. Looking around at everything you had brought, not able to stop the smile that was tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Is that a flask?”

“For coco and, of course... little marshmallows!” You brandish a little pack from one of the bags with a smile so sweet he felt himself melting quicker than the marshmallows would.

He stared. You had caught him breathing exaggeratedly and starting sentences around you, but never quite finishing them. You hoped it was the same you were feeling. Your eyes betrayed you, having to sort through your mind for a response. You worried if you finally named it, the feeling might leave as quickly as it had built between you. This was exactly how he was feeling, not that you were aware.

“Pet, what’s all this? Really? Not that I’m not pleased to have you gracing my presence, but you don’t belong in a hovel like this..” he muttered, believing strongly that you deserved better than he could give you. He had proved that in the past few months. You stared, a frown on his face.

Could he really think that? Everything he had done, a picnic. Protecting you from the demon. walking you places in the dark. His concern for you, wanting you to never hear his harsh words he saved for the others. You loved this man so much.

He was so thoughtful. Kind, and he really cared. He made you feel safe. He was always soft with you. You didn’t understand how he could think you wouldn’t want to be right here. You never wanted to leave his side. He stared back, not understanding your look. He was expecting you to suddenly realise how much he didn’t deserve you. But this was never a thought in your mind.

You rushed up to him, hand sliding up the side of his face, thumb tracing his cheekbone. Your lips met, the kiss making your stomach flip, your heartbeat was drumming with nerves and excitement. You were convinced he was about to reject you, pull you away from him. But he never did. His hands were by his side for a moment, he was shocked when he felt your soft-lipped kiss. But not for long. No, soon his hands are on you, sliding behind the base of your skull pulling your lips as close as physically possible.  His lips deepening your kiss, unsaid feelings once only apparent through furtive glances and the ways your eyes met was now apparent. You smiled into the kiss, pleased with the way he responded so enthusiastically, glad you hadn’t only been picking up what you felt, assigning your own feelings onto him.

“I love you” he whispered between your lips as your smile widened. He pressed several languid kisses against your lips again, unable to consider his lips not pressing against yours. Lips that were designed for each other, lips that had never dared reveal true feelings before. Threat of cruelty or laughter now felt like a ridiculous dream. Something the world had transpired against you both. Because it was both of you now, the promise sealed in this kiss.

“Finally!” You giggled softly pecking his smiling lips again before confirming, “I love you too”

[got-gendrya]

Wait I had an idea pt.2

Just listen to these they happen in order okay? okay:

- All of the flirting from the show stays because that was cute. But now we have Aegon flirting with Arya like he did in the books (History repeating itself!)

- Arya for sure brings Gendry meals while he works and sits with him because she starts to feel like herself again after the FM.

- I personally want to think Rickon is okay and was just in Skagos livin it up. So I think he comes back to Winterfell with Shaggy and just full body tackles Arya and Jon into the snow out of excitement. (Again, think what ya want).

- At some point Sansa asks Arya why she is spending so much time at the Forge and she replies that she spends time everywhere etc. etc. This leads to Arya realizing that people still have problems with people hanging out with people from different classes. So she changes every convo like this into one about how it could be different. (I think Rick would tease Arya and Jon relentlessly about their crushes because it’s what younger siblings do).

- Everything leading up to the Long Night is the same because I thought that was carried out well. But we should get a scene with Meera and Arya just being bros. Along with other friendships we were robbed of.

- Before the LN we are given a scene with all of the remaining Starks in Ned’s old solar just chillin next to the fire and reminiscing about their childhood. Sansa braids Arya and Rickon’s hair while they do this (I just want them to be a family again).

- On her way to the forge, Aegon (not Jon, the one they left out of the show) stops Arya and kisses her telling her about his feelings but she gets bad vibes so she says no. He tells her to just think about it and she says fine.

- Sansa grabs all of the women, children, and any men that aren’t fighting and they go to a house or something just south of winterfell for safety and to set up a med station. (NO ONE SHOULD HAVE GONE IN THE CRYPTS FOR SAFTEY)

- Rickon probably goes to Lyanna Mormont or someone else and tries to flirt with them about how they have the same weapon of choice.

- Jon goes to see Dany and Arya goes to see Gendry *eyebrow wiggle*. I always got the vibe that Gendry is demisexual but if he isn’t then I really don’t think he would have slept with anyone before Winterfell so that convo was probably far more awkward than it was in the show.

- The LN should have lasted so much longer than it did. I think we should have seen people basically passing out from exhaustion or lack of food (they can’t really stop to eat or sleep because the dead don’t need it but idk about this part).

- When Arya is in the library she grabs the face of the little girl white walker and saves it for later. Things happen kind of like the show but I feel like people would have had different placements.

- At some point one of the generals of the Night King should be killed and we see a small amount of whites drop. When Jon sees the Night King, Arya and a random group should be with him (he wouldn’t have survived that realistically). They’ll be surrounded and decide to fight through the it. Here’s where Ghost and Nymeria really pop off.

- In the middle of the fight Arya pops on the face of the white she took before. The rest is kinda based off of this one comic which is gorgeously drawn.

- After killing the NK I think Arya would be close to hypothermic and need to be rushed somewhere warm. While Bran would start to become more Bran by a little bit?

- GRRM is not putting up plot armor so a decent amount of characters die or are seriously injured but I don’t have the heart to think of that rn.

- There's more just wait

Part 1, Part 3 , Part 4