#this is also why I don't really have interest in the Despicable Me sequels

[swan2swan]

#never forget where you were when you realized the characters went through such a gradual puberty onscreen you didn't even notice#man. fma is so good. FMA IS SO GOOD MAN

[iavulture]

It might seem crazy what I'm 'bout to say, but...

Recently I brought up two thoughts about Despicable Me 4 with a friend of mine over on Discord, specifically about Gru Jr. In fact, I've been thinking about it for a few days now, but it does tie into an idea I've been obsessed with to the point that I wrote a fanfic related to it.

… Namely, that Gru's son will be someone special, and that he probably will be an AVL agent when he grows up. Probably in a hypothetical sequel/spin-off series that I personally like to call "Agent Gru" (creative, I know, but just stick w/ me).

Now I know that the movie hasn't been out yet, and that this post could possibly be rendered moot in the future, but why don't we indulge in some speculation, shall we?

Thought #1:

Okay, this is more of an observation than anything, but I found it interesting that Gru Jr. has blue eyes and red hair, just like his father and mother respectively. I've done a bit of digging, and I found out that blue eyes + red hair is apparently a very rare combination of eye color + hair color traits. According to this article, about 0.17% of the human population has this combination, making Jr. unique in that regard.

(I even joked that the powers that be in the Despicable Me/Minions universe saw Gru's family and, after Gru and Lucy did it, really said: "You shall be blessed with a son, and so you shall have children with all of the natural hair colors." Additionally, the powers that be also decided that said son should win the genetics lottery and gave him a rare combination of traits. Which leads me to a question: if red hair is a recessive trait, what part of Gru's side of the family had red hair that led him to be a carrier of that recessive gene? I'm probably just overthinking it, but it's something interesting to think about, y'know?)

Ofc, there's also the possibility that the hair color/eye color might change as he grows up, but I digress.

tl;dr Gru's son is special because of his unique combination of phenotypes.

Which sort of leads into…

Thought #2:

Okay, here's the real meat of my crazy idea/speculation, and it starts with an observation of two characters from DM1 and DM2.

Remember Vector? (DM1)

Or Antonio? (DM2)

You notice any similarities between these two?

If not, I'll say it.

Vector is the biological son of Mr. Perkins.

And Antonio is the biological son of Eduardo Perez aka El Macho.

And bc Rule of Three seems to be in order, Gru Jr. is the biological son of Gru, thus three supervillains (well, more like two villainous characters and one who turned good anyway) are fathers with biological sons.

But wait! That's not the most interesting observation that I have about them. It's actually…

… Where the sons fall on the morality scale, though it's currently debatable where Jr. will lie. So get this.

Vector is a full-on villain, as he's the main antagonist of DM1

I see Antonio as the "neutral" son, bc he's not exactly villainous like his dad; the worst he does is break Margo's heart in DM2, but otherwise he's kinda a normal kid

Which leads me to this idea: what if Gru Jr. is the "good" son of the trio? Like…

I can't see him becoming a villain like his dad once was (remember that Gru stole things in order to try and impress his neglectful mother!), and seeing how he acts around Lucy and how she seems to handle the kids (she's better than Marlena ofc), I kinda see him as a bit of a momma's boy rather than someone with mommy issues like his dad once did. Overall, he's born into a loving family whose members care for each other very much to where the only realistic reason as to why he would become bad is through a bad outside influence.

At the bare minimum, he'll grow up to be an ordinary guy w/ an ordinary life, but I honestly can't see that bc 1) his family circumstances don't exactly add up to an ordinary life (his parents are AVL agents for one thing) and 2) unless Illumination gets tired of the DM/Minions 'verse, I can't see them settling on an ordinary character as a protagonist. I mean, can you imagine if Jr. was the head of a jelly/jam business just like what Gru was trying to do at the start of DM2?

In other words, I don't really believe he'll be a villain or an ordinary guy. Like, there's little to nothing that could possibly lead him to either of those paths, unless something drastic happens in 4 or in another movie that has him. I think it's more likely he'll be actively on the side of good and be smth like an AVL agent like his parents. Plus, and I know this might be a bit harsh in regards to the girls, but I can (realistically) see him being the next-gen main character of the series. At the same time, though, I do hope that he gets to interact w/ his older sisters in DM4 and beyond (whatever that'll be like); hell, in the fic that I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I imagined him and Edith to be in the AVL, with Edith being like a weapons/gadget specialist like Q from James Bond with an additional enthusiasm for fighting (and I also imply that she might've taught him a few things along the way, such as fighting skills).

Oh, and one last thing: considering that Jr. has a scarf like his protagonist parents (I don't count minor characters w/ scarves like Antonio here), it's likely that he will be a protagonist in DM4 and possibly even future movies after it. (Apparently having one automatically gives you a high chance to be a protag in this 'verse? I joke, but y'know…)

So… yeah. Sorry for the long post, but I just had to get this off my chest since it's been nagging me for a little while now.

[marciabrady]

I have another question for you if you don't mind! It's about Cinderella's step-sisters Drizella and Anastasia. Do you think they essentially have the same personality/do they have any notable differences? I do NOT view the sequels as canon; I am ONLY asking about the 1950 film. It is interesting to me that Disney chose to have two daughters for Lady Tremaine. While I haven't found any interviews/texts that explain the creation of the sisters, I could imagine that with two sisters, Cinderella's workload also doubles, really showing the viewer how much workload Cinderella is under, what with her two step-siblings and step-mother. I could also see Disney not wanting there to be a direct rivalry between Cinderella and a stepsister. Also, with two daughters, the focus remains on Lady Tremaine as the primary villain. For that purpose I also wonder if there are really any conceivable differences between Drizella and Anastasia, and if they're really just one character but copy-pasted. However, I believe I also saw you mentioning that you like Drizella better. Which makes me wonder if you actually see any personality differences. Thank you for your time!

Of course- I never mind (PS I love that you only view the original films as canon, because same)! Drizella and Anastasia are very different, to me. I'll start with a quote, directly from the talent involved, and elaborate on why I agree. According to Rhoda Williams, who voiced Drizella, her character was nasty while Anastasia was whiny. She felt these two personalities balanced each other out and that's why they were so beloved.

The choice to have two sisters comes straight from the fairytale. While some versions has one sister being softer toward Cinderella than the other, Walt and the team wanted most of the focus to be on Cinderella, which I think was ultimately for the better. In the sequels, we see an attempted character arc with Anastasia and, in my opinion, we see why that's the wrong choice. She does rob Cinderella of being a main character in the third movie and, apart from that, she abused Cinderella for over a decade and never showed any remorse about it which makes her beyond redemption and personally despicable. There's nothing to their connection, apart from Cinderella helping someone who's repeatedly wronged her and still makes slights toward her. I think, by focusing more on Cinderella than the motivations of the stepsisters, it allows us to spend more time with her and I think it explains why, at the end of the film, we don't see what happens to them after Cinderella produces the slipper- because it's never been about them. It's about her and her happy ending, so out of sight, out of mind. That said, we still do see differences to their character traits.

I think, in general, Drizella is a more proactive character than Anastasia. Anastasia is codependent, in my opinion, and gets energy from being around other people. She entertains her mother and sister by the whole "would you mind holding my broom" bit, is more performative, and when the slipper doesn't fit her foot, she vulnerably cries for Lady Tremaine. I think other people twist this into her having been influenced by Lady Tremaine and Drizella to mistreat Cinderella, and that she was never the bad guy at all, but I think this robs her of her autonomy and just comes across as excusing abuse. Anastasia abused Cinderella for a majority of her life, was ruthless toward her without provocation, and physically violated her in the film. I don't think that can be dismissed away by a simple "she was misled and never the bad guy." She always was, I just think she was, frankly, stupider than Drizella. She joins in ripping Cinderella's dress apart, but not because she's being influenced, but just because she has a more delayed reaction (notice how it takes her a minute to realize she's been hit in the head with her instrument at the end of Sing Sweet Nightingale). Whereas, Drizella is mentally sharper. I think that's why she pointed out the beads to Drizella to trigger her first, since it does take Anastasia a minute to understand what's going on.

I prefer Drizella for a few reasons- I love how she responds to Cinderella telling her good morning. "As if you care." There's so much depth to that line. I think she takes matters into her own hands more than Anastasia- when the slipper doesn't fit her, she declares she'll make it fit, instead of whining out for her mother. The way she drowsily enters Anastasia's room after Lady Tremaine's called out for her also makes me laugh. Also, I find her dark hair to be very striking and I think her voice is nice. Anastasia's voice actress has more of an opportunity to play around with her voice (the way she says "Mother Mother Mother!") always gets me. But even the choice to have Drizella be the singer between the two was made for a reason, in my opinion.

[fzzr]

Monogatari Read-Along Re-Watch — Karen Bee

Previously.

Novel

Ah, the Yandere Hitagi scene. This is the most involved cold open so far, and well done. Hitagi continues to be the character who most leans in to tropes. This is not a bad thing by any means, rather it's a lens NISIOISIN can hold up to her and highlight her personality in her deviations from the tropes. In the stereotypical yandere trope, the yandere isolates their beloved from others in order to make them fully dependent on the yandere physically and emotionally. Often this is framed as "protecting" the target from danger, usually in the form of competing love interests. Hitagi plays the scene as though she intends to do the same with Koyomi, but she takes the efforts to keep him dependent on her to such high levels that it is clear that she is teasing (in her usual extreme way) rather than brainwashing him into loving her. We will later find out that her actions are an impulse reaction to hearing Koyomi has encountered Kaiki, whom she considers the most dangerous person for him to interact with. In this sense, she is indeed doing this for his protection, closing the circle of the comparison to the yandere archetype by making it clear that her feelings come from her fear and love rather than some sort of twisted self interest.

Kaiki himself is an important recurring character, through you wouldn't know it from this arc. One of the big questions of Karen Bee (and Nise in general) is the value of a phony. Kaiki presents himself as a non-believer in oddities, even as he is aware of changes to the spirital situation in the area and distinguishes real from fake in a way that could only come from study. In this sense he is a phony phony, using real knowledge while denying its truth to himself and the world. Kaiki is shameless in his fakery, fully self-aware of his despicable actions and insincerity in all his interactions. He presents himself as completely remorseless about the harm caused by his schemes. Even this is a façade to some extent, as we get tiny hints of consideration for others in his checking to make sure Karen has enough money to go home when he robs her and his telling Hitagi that the man who tried to rape her is dead and thus not worth dwelling on as a target of some possible future revenge. There are layers of lies here too. Why would he know that, if he claims not to care about those he swindles? If he's making it up, why would he lie in order to help someone?

Karen, our nominal focus character, confuses me. She's brash and passionate, and even Koyomi has to acknowledge their similarity in acting selflessly. There's no question whether she has the big personality needed to stand among the other characters. The thing is, I still don't feel like I get her. What are her dreams, her fears, her aspirations, her doubts? She wants Justice with capital letters, and projects what that means onto the world. I also have more trouble understanding her relationships than I do any other character. I guess it's in character for her to have unsubtle points of view on people — Yes Justice good, No Justice bad until made into Yes Justice — but I definitely feel like I'm missing things. After the fight with Koyomi he tells her not to develop a crush on him, and she says "too late". That's a somewhat ambiguous answer right now, but I'll be coming back to that after the upcoming Toothbrush Scene.

Structurally, this arc is primarily a sequel to Nadeko Snake, following up on the major loose end of the source of the curses and reminding us that Nadeko didn't really resolve her hopeless crush on Koyomi in that arc. It also introduces Kaiki and the name "Gaen" (linking Suruga into the wider plot as result). Looking forward, yuri aficionado Suruga picks up on things to do with Hitagi and Tsubasa's relationship that will come up soon.

Anime

When I first watched Monogatari as it was airing, Karen Bee was my least favorite arc. As of my previous watch through (not having read the novels yet) it was third least favorite. (I already said what I don't like about Kizumonogatari, and I'll talk about Koyomimonogatari when I get there.) After this watch, that hasn't really changed. I think it just comes down to pacing. It gives each plot point the time it deserves, but the result is the longest arc in the television series in terms of screen minutes.

Still, saying something one of my least favorite Monogatari arcs is like saying one of my least favorite cookies. Like the rest of Monogatari, Karen Bee in the anime is especially held up by how the animation supports what's there. The conversations are generally visually engaging, and make great use of symbolic details to varying degrees of subtlety to communicate things unspoken.

The music is also great as always, with some new tracks added where appropriate. This was the first time I caught the Renai Circulation quote in Yuuwaku, which plays during the visit to Nadeko's house. There's yet another minor key Staple Stable variant during the conversation with Hitagi in episode 6, as well as a more direct reference in Hitagi's new OP. (OK from now on I'm going to stop pointing out when the show uses the theme-song-as-lietmotif trick to set the appropriate mood while calling upon the associations with the character unless it's an especially notable case.)

Conclusion

I wish I liked Karen Bee more. The themes aren't poorly communicated at all — if anything they're beaten through your head. There are lots of strong individual conversations and such, but damn does it somehow feel like it drags.

Really it comes down to I don't think I understand this arc fully — surely the length would be worth it if I did. What was Karen's actual problem? Did she solve it, and if so, how? Was this actually a Koyomi and Hitagi arc and I just missed it? Feel free to explain it to me, because I would really like to understand. For now I'll look back at Nisemonogatari as a whole after Tsukihi Phoenix and see if things are more clear.

[chaos-in-the-making]

What's so good about Thorki and Sessrin? The origins seem sus ngl.

~from a curious Rose and Gear.

This ask seems genuine so I'm gonna put my game face on

Thorki is not for everyone. Legit, it's a ship of problems, an unhealthy codependent relationships, and LOTS of mind fuckery. The shipping relationship between MCU Thor and Loki is a lot of "I would do anything for you" vs "I would destroy the world for you." It's the desperate clinging to each other when even when they are toxic to each other. And in a perfect world (and in lots of aus) they actually work through their issues to make each other better. Basically Thor and Loki bring out the best and the worst of each other, and their bond is deeper than time itself.

I connected hard to Loki upon seeing the first Thor movie, no thanks to a broken eyed British actor who made me FEEL THINGS. And his utter OBSESSION with Thor is just my favorite thing in the whole wide world of fantasy. I won't make excuses for myself, it's what I'm drawn to, and have been into the darker themes of relationships and sex for longer than I care to admit. And yes, part of the appeal is the taboo of incest. Lots of things are sexual deviations because of the nature of taboo. That's why it's a KINK. It's a preference for sexual fantasies that do not relate to the real world. People who call their partners "Daddy" in the bedroom don't really want to fuck their own fathers. Power dynamics is a big turn on for taboo fantasies for people who are into it.

With Thorki, you get a ship that revolves around obsession, both romantic and toxic. And the draw is either tragedy, catharsis, or the relief of watching these fools heal each other. I've read some amazing fics doing just that.

Sessrin is not related in the slightest. Despite the Fandom wank, their relationship is FULLY consensual and reciprocated. I won't go into defending the ship but I'll point out what I love about it.

For context, I watched the original Inuyasha show growing up and I did NOT ship Sesshoumaru and Rin bc Rin was a child. I didn't even really read any of the early Sessrin fics bc I just couldn't imagine little Rin grown up, but I was also a teenager at the time so maybe that was part of it. That and I never imagined we would get a sequel.

Inuyasha is a fairy tale set in Feudal Japan and it has a LOT of fairy tale themes that are both exaggerated and disturbing in many cases. I don't know who started saying this, but Inuyasha was never a kids show and I don't really consider the sequel to be one either.

That being said, you have a heartless immortal who doesn't give a shit about anyone else, will stoop to despicable means in pursuit of power, and is morally gray. All of that changes when he is injured and meets a human child. This human child shows unusual courage and kindness in trying to heal this clearly damaged and dangerous demon. The demon shows a minutia of gentleness towards the child. He doesn't kill her, berate her, or put her down. Her small act of kindness sparks an act of gentleness in him that has never been shown before. Think Beauty and the Beast. It's a tale as old as time! So this demon ends up saving the child's life, even though he doesn't fully understand why, which sets him on a path of self discovery. Sesshoumaru is changed forever because of Rin. Rin is completely devoted to him despite being shunned, abused, and abandoned. I FULLY LOVED THEIR PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP BEFORE I EVER DREAMED OF A SEQUEL

And the reason I ship them romantically now that we have a sequel is because of this. There is literally no one else who has a place in Sesshoumaru's heart and life who is close enough to be intimate with him. He shows no interest in either romantic or sexual relationships. The writers have said that Rin is the ONLY woman possible for Sesshoumaru, because of their deep bond. They are soulmates, your honor!! And honestly they have the healthiest relationship in the entire show. Yes I will provide my thesis if you're willing to sit through a 3 hour lecture.

Big Bad Demon is Soft for Human Wife.

Yeah, it's a good trope. Thanks for listening!! I love talking about my ships 😭