#this one's the tier after. like it's neat but it is always a bit depressing when it's because the frontrunner crashes AND is injured

[batsplat]

Sachsenring 2008: As MotoGP headed to Germany to start off the second half of the season, Dani Pedrosa led the championship standings with a slender four point margin over Valentino Rossi. Pedrosa had reclaimed the lead after Rossi's mistake in Assen - who had crashed on the first lap and in doing so eroded the points buffer he had worked so hard to build up. It was a mistake that confirmed the title fight remained wide open, with three contenders to slug it out for the rest of the season. The rider currently in third in the standings, Casey Stoner, also happened to be the in-form man. After a post-race test at Catalunya helped his Ducati team finally conquer the issues they had been struggling with all year, Stoner had bounced back from a troubled stretch of the season to take victory first in Donington and then in Assen by commanding margins of over five seconds in the former and over eleven in the latter. Sachsenring had been a rare race the year before that Stoner had not dominated, troubled by tyre issues as he limped home to fifth - though he had still had a better time of it than Rossi, who had more or less sunk what remained of his title hopes in 2007 with an early unforced error that took him out of the German round. It had been Pedrosa to take the spoils that day, dominating the race with ease. Just like Rossi at Assen, this track could provide an opportunity for Pedrosa to extend his championship lead.

The confounding factor, however, was the weather. After two rounds already affected by wet spells throughout the weekend, with the tricky conditions making life particularly hard for the Michelin runners such as Pedrosa, Sachsenring promised more of the same. Pedrosa's bid nevertheless got off to a reasonably good start, securing a front row grid position just behind Stoner on pole - the man who had once again been dominating the practise sessions. Rossi, by contrast, had experienced another troubled qualifying session and had to settle for seventh on the grid. If Pedrosa and Stoner's ability of the line had unsettled Rossi when he was starting alongside them at Assen, this configuration did not bode well for his chances. As the day unfolded and the weather gradually grew gloomier, pre-race expectations of a slippery race on slicks were shelved: this was to be a real wet race. All the title contenders had reason to be uneasy - with both Rossi and Stoner having sat out the previous day's practise session until the track had dried out, and Pedrosa still working hard to improve his abilities in the wet conditions in which he had never won a race before. The starts from Pedrosa and Stoner may have been a touch more tentative than usual, but Pedrosa found himself securing the holeshot anyway and zooming off into the distance. While Stoner slipped back at the start and had to navigate his way past Andrea Dovizioso, Pedrosa had not needed a second invitation to escape from the pack. The Spaniard was gapping the field at a remarkable speed, pulling two seconds clear by the end of the first lap. Even once he had clear track ahead of him, Stoner continued to haemorrhage over a second to Pedrosa with each lap, clearly unable to match Pedrosa's pace and unwilling to take too many risks. Meanwhile, Rossi had gotten his customary mediocre start and combined it with his mediocre qualifying position to give himself plenty of hard work to do - on a track where overtaking is difficult, wary of repeating the mistakes of the previous round in Assen or the previous year at this very circuit, while also having to navigate the treacherous conditions that soon caused his rookie teammate to crash out of another race.

On lap five, said conditions claimed their most significant victim - when Pedrosa crashed out of a lead of over seven seconds, caught out by the slippery track he had been navigating with such fearsome speed. The crash saw him heavily impact the air fence, fracturing both a finger and an ankle as he did so. It not only cost him precious points in the race but also cast doubt on his participation in the next round at Laguna Seca. Stoner inherited a comfortable lead over the field, essentially free to coast to yet another victory as long as he could stay upright. Further down the order, Rossi was making his painstaking way past the competition, attempting to once again minimise the points damage as best he could. He eventually made it through to second to attempt to hunt down Stoner. The pair of them exchanged fast laps, with Stoner responding every time Rossi attempted to cut into his lead - and Rossi further lost time when coming across a lapped runner, Toni Elias, making an irritable gesture after Elias had failed to make way for him. In any case, there was nothing Rossi could do to catch Stoner, and he was once again forced to settle for second. Stoner took his third consecutive victory - this time by a comfortable 3.7s. He told reporters after the race that he had been feeling ill since Saturday, of which there had been little sign in his performance. Rossi reclaimed the championship lead with his podium finish... but it was clear he was not entirely satisfied, feeling that poor qualifying performances were repeatedly costing him the chance to challenge for victory. Stoner was now a mere twenty points behind him, with a whole host of tracks coming up that the Australian had excelled at the previous year. With his current form, Stoner was swiftly reasserting himself as the firm championship favourite, widely expected to continue eating into Rossi's point lead with ease. Rossi had still not shown he had the ability to beat this version of Stoner - nobody had. With the championship in danger of slipping from his grasp for the third year running, it would have to remain to be seen whether Rossi would come close to challenging Stoner the following week at Laguna Seca.

[honey-milk-depresso]

OMGG HI I saw your bohemian fashion and I LOVED IT SO SO SO SO MUUUUUUCH ANIANIJAOJSOJ it was so sweet 🥺🥺

Could you do one with Trey (hehe), Jamil and Vil, but with a mc that dresses in Preppy style? Yk, the pleated skirts, bows and headbands, Channel vibes. I love fashion and the way you described the Bohemian one was so sweet. THANK YOU SO MUCH YOURE AMAZING MWAH ❤️❤️

T*EY???? /hj

Fine, fine, very well, I will write for that DEFINITELY no good man I’m TOTALLY not in love with myself 😒.

Also I didn’t think anybody would be reading my REALLY old fics from when I first started this blog, when I was called the long forgotten “coffee leaf depression”, good to know, and this is kept to GN Reader 👍.

TWST S/o who loves Preppy Fashion

Trey Clover

He’s probably a sucker for this kind of fashion. As in, to see on his lover. You look so pretty in pleated V-neck sweaters and tie.

NRC has a pretty preppy kind of uniform given to the students, it’ll only change depending on how the students wear the uniform, seeing your well ironed tie straight and pleated skirt or pants crisp and neat makes him pretty smitten surprisingly, especially when it comes to you.

He doesn’t mind joining in, hell, he probably has a somewhat prep aesthetic stuff in his wardrobe without even realising it sometimes, it just comes to him naturally although he definitely doesn’t have any aesthetic preference and just wears whatever.

But prep is definitely in there.

You two can be a matching couple outside of school, wearing prep and somewhat prep (I’m sure you know who’s who) and you guys just look super cute together that Trey, for once, feels a bit of an ego boost in him as he smirks to himself. <3

Jamil Viper

Always saw him with the street dancer kind of aesthetic, which is probably a bit more rugged and casual which is why you two come as a complete contrast with one another.

But still, Jamil digs your prep aesthetic even if he doesn’t like wearing that aesthetic on himself, he thinks it makes you look cute.

Besides, the two of you somehow make it work when you’re out in the open, some guy in a baggy hoodie, baggy long pants and sneaker heads while he’s out linking hands with his significant other wearing a headband, sweater vest and polished loafers.

Still, you two are absolutely adorable as a couple inside out, your completely different taste in fashion makes you two stand out in a good way! Wouldn’t mind trying your kind of aesthetic, it looks pretty good on him when he checks himself in the mirror after dressing him up. He hopes you enjoy the baggy hoodies though because he personally wouldn’t mind lending you his. <3

Vil Schoenheit

The two of you together look like cute nerd and actual fashion king.

Honestly, Vil thinks your prep aesthetic is perfect even if he’s the kind to wear those V-necks and have “pretty boy” aesthetic, he also likes wearing prep clothing and wouldn’t mind joining you on the matching aesthetic thing when you two go out.

Sometimes he shops with you for clothing that fits your whole prep aesthetic and the best kinds. This man’s fashion taste is god-tier. Any kind of aesthetic he can pull off and has expertise in knowing what is best to wear for any kind.

Prep aesthetics are no exceptions.

He has a lot of fun dressing up with you: wearing checkered pants and/or skirts, nice ties and shiny loafers around town as everyone gawk at the most prettiest couple they have ever seen that they can’t even get jealous. <3

Reblogs help! ^^

[kurogabae]

TSUBASA: TRAINWRECK CHRONICLES

And How Bee Train is Single-Handedly Propagating Cancel Culture in This the Year of Our Lord 2020

PART 1 – PART 2 – PART 3 – PART 4 -- PART 5 

[[ join me on PillowFort. i have free invite codes if you need an account ]]

So last post was all filler episodes and we're well into season two of this, and I cannot stress this enough, two season anime. The only canon arc we've had was Piffle so far and it was poorly handled and out of order. Surely, absolutely surely, we are in for a canon arc. Shara perhaps? Skip right to Le Court? We all know they'd never dare touch Tokyo. How are they going to pad out the rest of the season?

Why another filler. A bad filler. The dreaded filler that goes against pretty much all of Fai's everything.

It's "A Date With a Wizard" and Kurogane isn't the one getting the date. If you haven't watched or heard of this episode before, buckle up kids. It's a doozy. And big spoiler warnings ahead.

Fort City Bit AKA Fai Dates His Own Fucking Mom (but like an AU version so it's okay I guess???):

You read that right. Fai goes on a date with this world's version of Chii, who was an artificial being he modeled after his dead mother. I could end the rant here but oh, there is so much to this. So much. It's only one episode long but it feels like an eternity.

The premise for magic use in this world is that:

Everyone has magic and that magic is specialized

Your career path is based on your magic's specialization. Like in MLP with cutie marks. And everyone is Fine with this.

Everyone recharges their magic via the sun, which is risen by their king

The king is chosen yearly after everyone in the country has the same fucking dream one night

The whole country runs on magic, to the point that if there is no magic there is no food, no power, no anything. But that's fine, because every day they get recharged by the sun. Right? WRONG! Because the current king is being a depressed little shit and refuses to raise the sun, effectively dooming the country to a slow death. Neat.

BUT BEFORE ALL OF THAT! The episode opens with Fai having a nightmare about Ashura looming like he's auditioning for a role in Attack on Titan. Vague and menacing, which is literally all we know about Ashura because we know nothing about Fai's past. And we never will. At least not in anime-land. No one knows anything. The manga isn't pulling this fakey flashback shit, so why is the anime? I don't know, but I hate it!

Anyway, the family gets the low down from Touya and Yukito - who still do not recognize Sakura and that upsets me because of the implications that there is no Sakura in this universe. (Sidenote: Kurogane recognizes them, even though he's never met them in the anime so far so honestly, just fuck everything.) While Touya is feeding them a frankly lavish meal that he's magiced up he explained their king problems. This leads to my next issue - if you're so worried about running out of magic why are you using it so flippantly and in such an extra ass way? Can you not make normal food? Does it only exist in magic form? Maybe just summon some soup? Does all food cost the same amount of mana? THIS MAGIC SYSTEM IS BAD!

So, back to the whole the king is too sad to raise the sun which powers everyone's magic which is now beginning to run low. Another problem I have. You get a recharge on your magic everyday. They have not gotten ANY recharges for, and I'm quoting here, months. They change kings every year. So even on the low end of things we're looking at 3-4 months before anyone got concerned about the king just. Not raising the sun. Personally, I would have gotten worried after a few days, a week at most. No one wanted to go and find out like "Hey your highness, why no sun? What's got you down?"

That, however, would be logical. This is a place of magic and whimsy! Not logic. Fai is asked to use his magic to figure out what is wrong with their king. Predictably, he tells them they have a better chance of meeting god, so everyone gets thrown in jail. Because refusing to solve a country's weird problems is illegal. Not that jail has ever stopped them before. Not with Kurogane and his muscles around. And while I am always up for watching Kurogane break things I do have to wonder - why are they not just warping free? Mokona said there was no feather. No one said anything about being magically held back. And yet, they are running through the castle, endangering themselves and the children!!!

Obviously this is For Plot Reasons, and I use the words "plot" and "reasons" loosely here.

Somehow the kitties and puppies get separated and Fai and Sakura end up surrounded by guards. Does Fai finally fight? Does he open that can of whoop ass we all know he's been saving? No. He leaps into the air and takes flight like some sort of stork. And while Fai's current cocky attitude is refreshing, he's working on some sort of idiot bimbo in a horror movie logic of "to escape the building I must do upstairs". This is not a man made to last on his own.

And, like Shrek to Fiona, the stairs lead him to the highest room in the tallest tower. Fai, then, promptly loses his shit as if he's not fully aware that doubles exist across the multiverse. Like, yeah, it would be a shock and anyone would be freaked out at the sudden surprise of it all, but Fai acts like he thinks he's stepped back into Celes. Like an idiot. He's better than this.

Now, we learn more things about this messed up king situation. Not only does everyone have a dream every year electing the new monarch, but the new king gets their memory erased for the whole year so that they can "rule with a pure heart" or some shit. Which seems like a baaaad fucking way to run.... anything. At all. Ever. Might as well pick up a fresh baby and put it in charge. It's bad. And it gets worse.

Chii is sad, but she wants to hang out with Fai and it's the first time she's shown any interest in doing anything but being Sad so her babysitter spirits are all like "Oh that's neat!" And Fai takes this is his chance to just... run off for a night on the town with her? They literally vanish and leave Sakura ALONE IN THE CASTLE WITH THE SAME SPIRITS WHO JAILED THEM. In what fucking universe????

Look, they are trying so so so so so so hard to sell this FaiChii shit. Fai leaves Sakura alone in a castle where they have just busted out of jail, he has no idea where or how Kurogane and Syaoran are, he's clearly uncomfortable around Chii as she reminds him of what he's running from, and, oh yeah, she's a copy of his dead mother he created in another world in order to comfort him and his dead brother as a child. Everything is Fine. Let's go get tea.

I'm gonna rapid fire some S tier bullshit:

no one knows where Chii has taken Fai - why is there no way to track your baby-brained king?

Fai leaves with Chii happily and cheerily, again, leaving Sakura behind and alone - who is this man because it isn't Fai

the only clue they have to Fai and Chii's location is that they are no longer on castle grounds, yet somehow Syaoran knows Exactly Where to Look - because sure why not?

Chii doesn't know how to drink???? - does this happen with every king? do they have to be potty trained too? omg they really are babies this is a terribly way to run a country!!!!!!

teaching someone basic life functions is not romantic but Bee Train sure wants us to think it is

"I want to stay with Fai forever and always." - at least he panics at commitment still... and probably incest

“I should be thanking you. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way.” - What? Uncomfortably reminded of your past and why your life is just shy of a living hell? Who are you? You are not Fai

Kurogane and Syaoran show up to save Fai and Chii, who have been surrounded by guards (I think, I can't remember exactly but I'm pretty sure they're there to take her back to the castle and her Sad Room). Fai apparently won't fight in front of Chii but whatever at this point.

It comes out that Chii is an artificial soul/being (like the Chii in Celes) and because of that she cannot leave the town or she DIES and that means the king dies and I guess they don't have a back up plan for that. Unsurprising but bad. Still, Chii begs Fai to take her away and show her the world and Fai like... hesitates? Thinks about it? Considers it?!?!? I dunno but he doesn't automatically say "Uh no, you'll die and also I have other shit to do, bye" and that's dumb for a lot of reasons.

Eventually he tells her no and convinces her to bring the sun back and be happy because she'll be able to remember him or some shit (you know, unless they take those memories too!) and  they all say goodbye. And I couldn't be more thankful.

Honestly, the real MVP here is Kurogane for not just losing his shit at all of this like I have. He's a better man than I.

Tune in next time as I continue to scream, in vain, at god.

PART 1 – PART 2 – PART 3 – PART 4 -- PART 5

[silent-storm-seductress-blog]

Qaara Kagon

Character Chart

Character’s Full Name:  Storm Chaser Priestess, Qaara of the Kagon

Reason or Meaning of Name: Title mostly. Infusing her natural aetheric abilities for “storm” magics and she is a trained low tier priestess of the Kagon tribe

Character’s Nickname/Alias: N/A

Reason for Nickname/Alias: N/A

Birth Date: 26th Sun of the 2nd Umbral Moon

Physical appearance

Age:  20

How old does he/she appear: Slightly younger, maybe late teens

Weight: 94lb (50kg/7stones)

Height: 4ft 7in (143cm)

Body build: Slender, soft, slightly toned but mostly just gentle curves

Shape of face: Heart, slightly broad forehead but it’s hidden by her bangs

Eye color: soft violet rimmed in glowing soft leven blue limbals

Glasses or contacts: N/A

Skin tone: pale cream

Distinguishing marks: Known: Freckles - light dusting over her cheeks and nose - Freckles - light dusting over her shoulders and back of neck Unknown / Known to a few: Inked in runes along her spine - Blackened left arm covered in moonlight silver markings

Predominant features: Auri Horns

Hair color: Black with deep pink tips

Type of hair:  Short, straight

Hairstyle:  Semi- asian style cut with straight banks, lazily layered back, long chunks that hang to either side of her face. All the “layerd chunks”, bangs etc are tipped with deep pink.

Voice:  Below a whisper, usually slightly raspy if she talks at all these days

Overall Attractiveness: 8/10 (her personal opinion)

Physical Disabilities: Can not actually heal well despite being a priestess - needs open areas to use her full storm magics (i.e large room with a high ceiling or be outside)

Usual Fashion of Dress: Cloth or light leather - usually dyed black - long robes and a mask during daylight - short near nothing attire at night or inside - often doesn’t wear tops if is around other auri or those comfortable with it.

Favorite Outfit: SImple cotton short shorts and nothing else

Jewelry or Accessories: Feathered Owl Mask, black with silver tips - leather cords about her wrists decorated with various rune stones (uses these in place of wand/staff)

 Personality

Good Personality Traits: Open to being friendly and open minded upon a first meeting. - Always tries to give people a chance to show their true selves and accept the person for who they are, not what others say they are or expect them to be

Bad Personality Traits: Is sometimes a bit too trusting, is loyal to a fault in that once she trusts you and accepts you as a close friend or more...she can not see a wrong in you even should you commit a great crime. She’ll defend you and give excuses for you to the death!~

Mood Character is Most Often In: Relaxed, cheerful, curious

Sense of Humor: Most things go over her head if they are of a perverted nature but she can laugh at just about anything thrown at her

Character’s Greatest Joy In Life: Relaxing and watching the night sky change from star filled to a raging storm.

Character’s Greatest Fear: Her darkness being found out and rejected by a person she is most close to

What single event would most throw this character’s life into complete turmoil?  Losing a loved one should she ever fall in love.

Character Is Most at Ease When:  It is night time and raining/storming

Most Ill at Ease When: During the day, high noon, in the desert.

Enraged When: Someone threatens her or her close friends.

Depressed or Sad When: Always a little bit, hiding one’s darkness is….a deeply tiring and emotional toil that goes unseen by nearly everyone.

Life Philosophy: Give people another chance to prove themselves...don’t let a single moment define a person….people CAN change if they have the willpower to do so and are given the chance.

If Granted One Wish, It Would Be: To have just ONE person understand and accept her AND her darkness...no try to change or rid her of it.  

Character’s Soft Spot: Injured friends

Is This Soft Spot Obvious to Others?: Very much so.  

Greatest Strength: Adaptability

Greatest Vulnerability or Weakness: Emotions

Biggest Regret: Not leaving her tribe’s Kha sooner (she is still a part of the tribe!)

Minor Regret: Keeping most people at a specific distance as far as relationship closeness goes

Biggest Accomplishment: Not succumbing to the curse upon her

Minor Accomplishment: Becoming fairly strong with storm magics

Past failures he/she would be embarrassed to have people know about: None yet..

 Character’s Darkest Secret: The reason why her arm is blackened

Does Anyone Else Know?: Yes, one person is slowly learning the secret.

 Goals

Drives and Motivations: Survival, making friends, finding one special person  

Immediate Goals: Survival

Long Term Goals: Finding someone to stick to through thick or thin

How the character plans to accomplish these goals: She’s just winging it!

How Other Characters Will Be Affected:  If she doesn’t get attached...they won’t be? If she does, ho boy get ready for a roller coaster of fun!~

 Past

Hometown: Azim Steppes - Kagon Kha

Type of Childhood: Difficult - Shunned my tribes members for being ‘Azim Touched’ - Favored by Elders for darker reasons

Pets: N/A

First Memory: Waking up in the middle of the day, sunburnt and with a black mark about her left middle finger.

Most Important Childhood Memory: Spurring into action her first raging storm

Childhood Hero: N/A

Dream Job: To travel the world alongside someone and dive into the darker aspects of it.

Education: Trained in simple healing magics - Near Master in Storm related magics - Trained in simple weapons and staves as well as long staffs

Religion: Worships Nhaama  

Finances: Able to provide for herself but nothing showy

 Present

Current Location: Ul’dah possibly or somewhere within Thanalan

Currently Living With: Nobody, sometimes crashes at Crossroads Haven (FC she is a part of)

Pets: N/A

Religion: Worships Nhaama

Occupation: Healer or Mage for hire

Finances: Livable

 Family

Siblings:  N/A

Relationship With Them:  N/A

Spouse: N/A

Relationship With Them: N/A

Children: N/A

Relationship With Them: N/A

Other Important Family Members:  N/A

 Favorites

Color: Moonlight Silver - Black - Deep Rose Pink

Least Favorite Color: White - Gold

Music: Orchestral

Food: Sweets - Meats - Fruits

Literature: History books - Books on elemental magics

Form of Entertainment: Books - Traveling

Expressions: A soft and inviting smile

Mode of Transportation: Porting Crystals or her own two feet

Most Prized Possession: Owl Mask

 Habits

Hobbies: Reading, practicing her magics, daydreaming, wandering

Plays a musical instrument?: Nope, can’t even sing

Plays a sport?: N/A

How he would spend a rainy day?: Walking out in the rain, meditating

Spending Habits: Spends what she needs when she needs but would rather trade as is the custom of her homeland

Smokes: Nope

Drinks: Sometimes, usually a glass of wine or two, socially

Other Drugs: Nope

What does he/she do too much of?: Daydream

What does he/she do too little of?: Train in Healing

Extremely Skilled At: Storm or elemental magics

Extremely Unskilled At: healing magics

Nervous Tics: Will fall silent or remove herself quickly from situations she can not handle

Usual Body Posture: Upright - relaxed - yet ready to act in an instant

Mannerisms: Cheery - Polite - Sociable

Peculiarities: Will randomly greet people in the most random ways, usually mimicking their posture and expressions after stepping up beside them.

 Traits

Optimist or Pessimist?: Optimist

Introvert or Extrovert?: Extrovert

Daredevil or Cautious?: Both - situation depending

Logical or Emotional?: Both - usually logical

Disorderly and Messy or Methodical and Neat?: Chaotic organization

Prefers Working or Relaxing?: Both - understands one must work to be able to truly relax

Confident or Unsure of Themself?: Confident in most things - a few she might second guess on

Animal lover?: Has no opinion - would like a creature but it’d need to be useful in some manner

 Self-perception

How She Feels About Herself: Like she is not doing enough to be worthwhile

One Word Character Would Use To Describe Themselves: Lost

Paragraph Description on How They’d Describe Themselves: <”Just a lost kagon searching for her destiny. Trying to make friends and looking for one that stands out, one to follow or stand beside. I just….want one person I do not have to always smile around, who I can relax beside and who is not hateful or….wanting to ‘fix’ me. I am not broke, only lost and searching for my path.”>

What does the character consider his/her best personality trait?: Social openness

What does the character consider his/her worst personality trait?: Too Secretive

What does the character consider his/her best physical characteristic?: Her eyes

What does the character consider his/her worst physical characteristic?: Her pale skin

How does the character think others perceive him/her? A bit weird but easy to approach….she hopes

What would the character most like to change about himself/herself? Nothing at the moment.

 Relationships with others

Opinion of Other People in General: Everyone is a blank canvas waiting to be painted and revealed as a masterpiece!

Does the character hide his/her true opinions and emotions from others?: Nope! Though as she becomes ever more mute people might misunderstand?

Person Character Most Hates: N/A

Best friend(s): N/A

Love interest(s): Secret

Person Character (Would) Go to For Advice: Mogoi Qestir

Person Character Feels Responsible For: N/A

Person Character Feels Awkward Around: N/A

Person Character Openly Admires: N/A

Person Character Secretly Admires: Secret

Tagging: @mogoi-xiv @hei-lowell

[quixoticrobotic]

OHHH tell me about gilded sky that sounds so good... i love hearing other ppl's stories

well ive talked a little bit about it but basically i’ve always hated how other sci fi makes social critique and steampunk is too busy gluing gears to tiny top hats and hailing Britanniaand i was feeling very disillusioned with sci fi and then an internet reviewer i like made a video that was basically “black mirror is good, actually” and i was so furious i just. made a thing out of spite so theres this floating city thats kinda a mash up of london and new york in the late 1800s early 1900s. it also has some stuff from right before and after, its mostly what history stuff i find neat or it would be weird not to have (like im currently trying to figure out steampunk!harlem)its set in a steampunk floating city that has these layers and the higher up u go the nicer it getsits called gilded sky bc the time period im drawing on is often called “the gilded age” which is fitting because gilded means a layer of something fancy thats hiding something underneath which is super fitting bc you have ladies with parasols and fellows with tennis balls but then you have inhumane factory working conditions and awful tenement buildings and all that stuffsince systematic oppression doesnt have like. one final boss you have to beat to fix everything, rn its just kinda slice of life the main characters are:Ethel Jacobs: depressed lesbian with a prosthetic arm, just trying to get by, which is hard because she has depression and living in a tiny tenement room in the poorest part of the city doesnt help. Also she actually lost her arm in a factory accident and is still getting the hang of her makeshift prosthetic arm, which she upgrades in her spare time but she doesnt really like the way it feels and goes without it whenever she can. Things get interesting when Hannah comes into her life, Ethel admires Hannah’s optimism and tenacity when it comes to social issues in the city. She also got a job at a nicer part of the city where she helps at dress shop. which weirds her out a lil bc she used to work in a textile mill and she KNOWS where this fabric and thread came from and she thinks thats kinda fucked up but her new job is much nicer and pays better and she has friends and more time for hobbies (she likes tinkering, something taught to her by her late mother. she makes little windup toys and stuff) Hannah Kalich: disaster lesbian who works at her family’s bakery. she lives with her family (her mon n dad, younger brother, and baby sister in a comparatively nicer tenement than ethel’s. they live on the lowest tier of the city, ethel lives on the ground).  shes short but a lot of people dont even notice because she has this really commanding presence and is very charismatic. shes SUPER PASSIONATE and her feelings are always intense. She loves reading and is loud and opinionated and caring. And she HATES the empire and the social injustices in the city. her parents love her and have always supported her and they’re proud their daughter is such a bright, well read, compassionate young woman, but they also kinda worry she’ll get herself into danger. She’s really good at accidentally dragging people into things. like some kinda accidental manic pixie dream girl. She loves her friends and is very playful but shes actually terrified of other people getting hurt or punished because of her actions. she also likes to paint. also i imagine her with a really thick accent, mostly because the first drawings i ever did of her were based on production photos of people playing Emma Goldman in Ragtime so that accent kinda got attached to her (ethel has like. a bit of an accent but its not as noticeable as hannah’s)Jean Larue: ALRIGHT THIS TINY BASTARD,,,,hes from steampunk!france and his family is loaded and he traveled to The City bc he wanted to see new things and meet new people and live a bOHEMIAN LIFESTYLE and hes a writer and lives in an attic someone was renting out but hes,,,,,actually a little behind on the rent because it turns out artists do not live on DREAMS and being poor is hardHe loves reading, thats actually how he and Hannah became friends! Hannah dunks on him a lot and nicknamed him Rich Boy but he is actually a good friend who’s great to talk about and debate big ideas with, hes just also really pretentious,,,,,,,also he gets crushes at the drop of a hat and will burst into the room and talk about the bEAUTIFUL PERSON he saw today and how hes MADLY IN LOVE WITH THEM!hes not a bad person, he cares very much about fighting for good causes and he finds beauty in things other people overlook. hes just really dramatic and fake deep and not used to living out in a world where actions have consequences. hes good hes just like that hes supposed to always look disheveled with messy hair and glasses but every time i try to draw him i just kinda. draw myself. or harry potter. but yeah designing a white boy whos like. distinguishable. is gonna be haaaaaard

[thedeadflag]

@dreamsheartstory​ said:  if you find any good sci fi, let me know… it’s so rare…

It really is. For a genre that has so much potential, it rarely makes the small screen without being corralled into a few very specific tropes (sci-fi cop procedural is so, so overdone, but I’m desperate haha)

Still, this is what I’ve watched over the past...3 years? 3 years, yeah. At least, the notable ones, not including the obvious big name Netflix marvel shows, Sense 8, orphan black, etc..

SOME MINOR SPOILERS BELOW

The Expanse:

Harder sci-fi. Essentially, it’s the future, where humanity expanded across the system, and Mars split off to do their own thing after a civil war. The people working on “the belt”... as in the asteroid belt and other such unsavory places and stations...are the clear have-nots and are generally abused at will by both Earth and Mars, and the show starts where tensions are at an all-time high, with the belt a hair’s trigger away from revolt, and the Earth/Mars tensions coming to a head

Great casting, the crew of the Roci is fantastic. Though Thomas Jane is...a Thomas Jane character. He’s such a perfect fit for Miller, because Miller checks all the boxes for his strengths, and hides his weaknesses well enough in the flaws of the character. So i can’t blame the show for that, but I hate looking at his face. Still, the casting is just top notch. And they have Shohreh Aghdashloo, who is always fantastic, and Frankie Adams pops onto the scene in S2 and does quite well. Essentially, casting = A+

Only real complaint is that i read the book, and there’s a pansexual lady character that is exceptional and amazing and I love her and her mouth of a sailor. The show cut that and made her more passive and scared in S2, which is bullshit, and led me to stop watching because I was furious at that decision, but in the end, it’s still absolutely 100% worth watching. If just for the Roci crew alone and the endless shenanigans they get into (and sometimes out of)

Binge-worthy. Pacing of the first two episodes is a bit inconsistent, but they’re covering an absurd amount of ground, so that’s expected.

Killjoys:

Lighthearted space-faring sci-fi, set in a totally built from the ground up universe. It slowly leaks out the lore as to not jeopardize the general tone of the show. However, it does turn serious for stretches.

Easily binge-worthy. Takes 3 episodes to get momentum, but after that, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

My only real quibble is with the origins of Dutch. We get a hint of her growing up essentially as property, abused into being a living weapon/assassin, before we get a good read of the world, and that...really comes off as a bit exploitative, given she’s a woc. 

The ship is an A+ lovable sassy ladybug

Dark Matter:

A bit “harder” sci-fi than Killjoys, but it has its lighthearted moments

Super super slow burn. I finished the first season and only then did I really start to dig my claws into the show. It’s slow. 

That said, interesting lore, and the overarching series of narratives are solid and worthwhile, they just take an egregiously long time to lift-off.

There’s apparently wlw content in season 3. I haven’t finished S2 yet, but I’m hoping it’s solid.

Westworld:

Western meets Wizard of Oz featuring Anthony Hopkins with an old west fetish. Set far off in the future. There are, like, androids and stuff

I didn’t get through it since western shows give me the creeps, but most of my friends who watched it says it was pretty great. I only watched the first episode, but the acting and cinematography and music were all very well done.

Ascension:

A sci fi mystery, set in a space-ship, if that space-ship was sort of like one of the Bunkers in the fallout games, full of people from the 50s.

The show is not without its warts, but it’s a miniseries (so it’s not long), and it’s surprisingly well done.  Doesn’t cover all the themes it brings up with the greatest nuance or skill, but I’d wager it’s probably worth a watch? 

The OA:

Another mystery! Sci-fi in the vein of alien abduction and strange abilities.

It’s kind of surrealistic? It makes you pay attention, and if you slip up, you’ll probably miss out on something. There’s a decent chunk of content mashed into those surprisingly few episodes.

Didn’t like that it robbed a character of a disability. I think it would have worked just as well with the character still being blind. They could have made it work. 

Trans guy rep in this show, which was a plus

American Gods:

I’m not sure if this counts? It kinda counts. I’m saying it counts. It mixes sci-fi and fantasy. 

I haven’t finished this yet, mostly just because it’s hard to find torrents that aren’t tracked by the network. My ISP is okay with me getting one or two notices a month, but past that, it’s tricky, and I can’t afford a good VPN, so I’m playing the waiting game for a bit.

Ricky Whittle and Ian McShane were fantastic in the episodes I did see. The show is, if nothing else, visceral and beautifully shot.

3%:

Sci-fi in the vein of Hunger Games, but a better premise, and better executed

I only managed to get it with the dubbed audio, so that was flat out atrocious and made me weep over the injustice

Still, despite the absolutely grating audio, I pushed through that and enjoyed much of the rest of the show. it’s solid. Not, like, the best show out there, but it does what it does well, it covers its themes well, and the visual elements of the acting seemed strong.

Find the sub-titled version with the original language (portugese iirc?) audio. I think that’s available on Netflix now, or at least Netflix USA, from what I understand.

12 Monkeys:

It’s a police procedural time jumping sci-fi with a dystopian, post-apoc future.

It’s okay. Nothing special. The two leads really do try to put the show on their back, btu the writing’s not real strong. Watchable, but lots of plot holes, plot armor, and writers shoehorning in sudden/coincidental events out of nowhere to increase tension. if you want something to watch for background noise, or maybe if you want a procedural show and have checked out the others already, maybe this will be for you.

Agents of Shield:

Superhero-based sci-fi

First season is slow and full of filler because they were waiting for that Captain America Winter Soldier movie to come out before tying their show in with the events. There are guides to watching the first season. I thought it was all decently fine, and good writing alla round, there’s just too many episodes that season to justify the few meaningful narrative events.

Season 2 has Dichen Lachman. The final half of that season character-assassinates her (and the other inhumans) to provide the show a late-hour villain to root against. I hated that. It’s the weakest season, thankfully, and I’m sure there are watch-guides to skipping through that because...

Shit gets real in season 3, and it’s worth watching even outside of S1-2, I’d even rec skipping those if there wans’t so much character-building in those 2 seasons. The writing is better, the acting is better from S3 onward. There’s still some fumbling of themes, but not to the degree of the previous seasons. Same with Season 4, where it arguably has it’s greatest few episodes. Ends with a brief Hydra-AU arc that IMO is skippable, but some adored it. I didn’t, but eh.

Colony:

Harder sci-fi. Aliens invaded and swiftly won. Now they’re ruling us from a distance, using human figureheads to do so. Really neat lore, and worldbuilding.

Unfortunately, it’s the most frustrating sci-fi show i’ve seen in years, because the male cop lead always has a gut feeling that always aligns with what the revolutionaries are planning, so he always intercepts them. And they get unbelievable plot armor to escape the writers’ ham-handed tension-building, ensuring the writers don’t pay any consequences for the shitty bullshit they keep pulling over and over.

If you can take that sort of crap, and care enough about worldbuilding/lore/etc., then go for it. There’s definite value, and things improve greatly in season 2. But my lord, season 1 is so frustrating.

Person of Interest:

You’ve probably watched this one

Hard sci-fi in the vein of "Hey, maybe writing a secret intelligent AI is just a really bad idea” *five minutes later* “Oh no what have we done”

It’s a really bad idea.

But we get fun police procedural moments out of it, because John is solid, and Carter & Root & Shaw & Bear are excellent. 

Bear is best.

The show has watch guides for getting through the first season, and parts of S2. 

Avoid the final 3 episodes of the series. Maybe the final season altogether. Otherwise fantastic and heartwrenching stuff.

The Last Ship:

Naval Adventure to Rebuild the World After a Rampant MegaVirus sci-fi

Surprisingly decent for a show that’s basically funded entirely by the American Navy.

Just keep in mind that there will be shitty patriotism bits of bullshit tossed in here and there, and there won’t be so much shock when those bits show up.

First two seasons play out like a mix of The Hunt for Red October and Jesus Camp. It’s bizarre, but sometimes it works? Rhona Mitra and Christina Elmore are probably the reasons for that. And Dichen Lachman is in S3 and she doesn’t die, so that’s a plus.

It definitely has its dips into shit-tier quality, and self-righteous bullshittery, especially in S3.

But it also handles a national political arc halfway decently for a sci-fi show in S3. 

Anywho, this is good for, like, background watching? Or low-intensity, low-effort watching. In that context, it’s a good enough show.

The Leftovers:

Three seasons of super depressing and heart-wrenching drama with sci-fi at its core (huge amounts of people vanish one day...the show is about the world finding out how to move on, what ti all means)

Excellent acting. Top notch. Like, some of the best on TV. Some stunning stuff.

The show only gets better. I didn’t like the first half of S1, it’s very slow and arduous, but it’s worth it. 

Not very sci-fi, at least not until S3, but still. It works with sci-fi elements and it’s a very thoughtful, smart show.

Wayward Pines:

It’s sci-fi in the vein of Under the Dome, but it manages to be even worse somehow don’t ask me how

Oh my god don’t watch this, the cast does not make up for it, they flounder in atrocious writing. i’m only mentioning this here because it’s just so bad, don’t waste your time like I did.

That’s...well, the stuff that’s not far below mediocre.

[maczazind]

Film Diary 2017: January

Now that my 2016 film diary is FINALLY published, I wanted to try something different with my 2017 version. With this blog now up, I wanted to post this year’s entries in monthly installments as opposed to one massive list. Since it won’t be a single post I wanted to do something I wish I had done more with my 2016 list, which is detail my thoughts a bit more on the entries involved. Some admittedly may warrant their own separate post because I feel so passionately about said film, but at least a monthly breakdown now will allow for a more detailed film diary going forward.

If you’d like to see them as the year progresses, however, each installment will be given the tag “Film Diary 2017” so feel free to follow along!

That being said, here is the list of films I saw in the month of January 2017 - including how each feature was primarily seen and an asterisk which denotes that viewing was the first time I’ve seen that movie in its entirety, despite possibly having seen pieces of the film previously or having a general knowledge of it. All reactions are strictly MY OPINION:

January 4th: 1) Into The Woods* - DVD (Rental - Library); As a fan of movie musicals, I have to admit this one kind of disappointed me. I really like the other fellow Sondheim adaptation of Sweeney Todd, but this one fell flat in my eyes because it doesn’t quite take advantage of its capabilities. Though it does revamp the stage version with some solid visuals and an impressive cast, it’s in the third act where there are multiple scenes that don’t quite take the liberty of being transformed, ultimately feeling like they’re more or less the carbon copy from the original and don’t expand given that they have the capability to. Not to mention, the cast at times feels so large and we spend time jumping around between all of them, it doesn’t really allow us the time to grow overwhelmingly connected to some of the characters.

2) I Am Big Bird: The Carol Spinney Story* - Streaming (Amazon Prime); Not the best documentary I’ve seen, but still an interesting and emotional one. Worth a look.

3) Edward Scissorhands* - DVD (Rental - Library); Yes, yes – it’s my first time seeing this and to be quite honest it’s not my favorite Burton movie. Knocking it off my film lover’s bucket list, it was good! Funnier than I thought it would be; an intriguing story with plenty of fun elements. But at the same time, it certainly doesn’t knock Beetlejuice off its top spot in my eyes.

January 9th: 4) Scouts Guide To the Zombie Apocalypse - Streaming (Amazon Prime); While the opening scene set up a Zombieland-like tone and actually had me excited for a bit, this flick crosses a point midway through where it never quite exceeds its B-movie status. Mindless fun, entertaining but nothing over the top to gush over. It may surprise some out there; still, just an ok watch.

January 12th: 5) Alice Through The Looking Glass* - Streaming (Netflix); Having enjoyed the odd tone I’ve come to expect from Alice in Wonderland, the live action remake from 2010 lands in a solid spot for me. This sequel, however? Well it depends on your suspension of disbelief as the movie goes on. Alice as a ship captain? Actually cool. Time travel? …sure, why not. It elevates the supporting character of the Hatter and admittedly adds some backstory to it all. The play on whether or not Alice truly has been imagining this or not in the real world is an intriguing piece for the few minutes it’s presented, but that’s never quite driven home as we’re whisked away more in the Wonderland journey and everything is wrapped up in an all too neat bow. At the very least, its heart is in the right place and the moral undertones drive home. At the same time, it’s an additional voyage that perhaps didn’t need to set sail.

January 13th: 6) Dr. Strangelove* - Blu-Ray; In this….let’s say INTERESTING…political climate, there certainly have been a number of media entries listed by people to reflect the present day events. If anything, this classic satire has something for everyone to love. Peter Sellers is fantastic in multiple roles, the scenes range from tense to intriguing, and if you’ve never become acquainted with the work of George C. Scott then this is the perfect introductory. While not my favorite classic feature from decades passed, it’s one that has stood the test of time for good reasons.

January 14th: 7) Big Trouble in Little China* - Streaming (Netflix); I think i finally understand the obsession with Jack Burton. Besides being a total badass, Jack was easily the most relatable in all of BTILC as he is more the audience perspective than anything else. Like us, Jack is swept away in something way larger than he may understand and at times it can be confusing as the story grows to ridiculous size. While a cult classic, I’ll admit BTILC didn’t really grab me. Perhaps it’s one of those films you need to check out in your age of development to have a love for, but really I’ll pass. I adored Jack, but the rest was a crazy visually-strong jumble that I’m glad I at least crossed off my list.

January 15th: 8) Patriots Day* - Theater; Maybe it’s because I’m from New England, but man was this an emotional rollercoaster. While you’ll know the story pretty well given how closely followed this tragic story was when it happened years ago, Patriots Day does a great job of taking that and adding the real world heart, perspectives and details beyond whatever CNN could give you. With visually memorable scenes and strong performances filled throughout, definitely give Patriots Day a watch when you can.

9) Short Term 12* - Streaming (Netflix); I put off seeing this indie for years and after the credits started rolling I was kicking myself for not doing so sooner. It’s rare when I have the urge to see a movie again after having just seen it, but my god Short Term 12 was one of those exceptions. An emotional character driven story revolving around themes of depression, abuse, trying to embrace love in spite of it all, mixed with surprises, genuinely funny moments, heartstring pulling sequences and all pulled together with an outstanding performance by Brie Larson, I absolutely loved it all.

10) Pocahontas - Blu-Ray; It had been awhile since I’ve seen this Disney animated film that has always felt middle tier for me. And rewatching it as an adult, yeah I can see why. There are some plot devices that don’t make sense while the romance is really what needs to be embraced regardless of the shortcomings. Visually stunning, but further cemented as not in my top five favorite Disney films.

January 16th: 11) Hardcore Henry* - DVD (Rental - Library); I went in expecting a fun mindless action movie that played like a videogame and that’s exactly what I received. Sure the plot is a little convoluted. Sure the ending is rather abrupt. But man if Sharlto Copley doesn’t steal the entire show. As questions build up about his character, it all pays off in a fantastic scene that just further drives home the comedic elements of the movie. If you can deal with the videogame campaign first-person POV of it all, give it a chance.

January 18th: 12) Little Sister* - Streaming (Netflix); My least favorite entry this month. An indie flick on Netflix that’s a gothic….let’s go with dark comedy? Though I’d say more family drama. The concept sounded interesting, but I kinda walked away from this one bummed out.

January 20th: 13) The Hustler* - Streaming (Netflix); Turning it back to the black and white classics, The Hustler skyrocketed up my list and landed firmly in a top spot of one of my favorite old movies. Paul Newman is charming as ever while the action is so incredibly tense in the best way. While the movie is a bit long and may drag in the middle, George C. Scott once again emerges with an interesting supporting role and has compelled me within two movies to further explore his filmography.

January 21st: 14) The Color of Money* - Streaming (HBO GO); Well if you watch the aforementioned original, you HAVE to see the sequel the next day, right? What I thought was going to be a shift where Newman plays the supporting character turned into a different sort of film where he’s actually the main character yet again. Not nearly as good as its predecessor, it’s a worthwhile expansion of the themes from the first film.

January 25th: 15) Ghost in the Shell* - Blu-Ray; An inspirational anime feature to many creators, this isn’t exactly my first exposure to the franchise (I caught some of the Arise chapter when it was broken up across Netflix, and Stand Alone Complex was around when I was younger). While it wasn’t my favorite film of the genre, it was certainly intriguing to watch. I wanted to experience the original in all its influential glory before the U.S. remake with Scarlett Johansson came along and I’m glad I did.

January 27th: 16) Star Trek Beyond* - Blu-Ray; The second film in the rebooted Star Trek franchise, Into Darkness, left me quite disappointed upon its release because besides the super obvious Khan concealment prior to release, the story to me just felt like a bunch of event sequences loosely strung together. Here, the heart and character is thrust back into the plot while additionally feeling a bit like a traditional Star Trek episode as a majority of the action takes place on a single planet. Even though the opening box office didn’t sound too confident, I’m glad there are plans in motion for another Star Trek film because I felt this was a great course correction that stands strong next to the 2009 reboot.

17) Trainspotting* - Streaming (Netflix); Another film I put off for awhile, its impending removal from Netflix quickly moved this one up the list. And yes, i finally understand the praise. There’s something so simple and yet so interesting about it all. A character driven look at addiction, told in a visually impressive package of comedy, tragedy, heartbreak and growing up.

January 28th: 18) There Will Be Blood* - Streaming (Netflix); Yet another viewing influenced by an impending Netflix departure, I was swept away the second Daniel Day Lewis began to deliver his lines as Daniel Plainview. As the man of science vs. man of faith story moves along the tracks, there are so many layers in this film to attach yourself to and love at least some aspect of. The greed, the wealth, the confrontation, the father and son tale, the flexing of ego and so much more. I finally understand not only why people have praised this film for a decade but why it’s remained in conversation for all that time as well.

January 29th: 19) Don’t Breathe* - Streaming (Flixster); One of the many acclaimed horror films from 2016, thankfully I finally had the chance to see this one after picking it up via a short-lived Blu-Ray sale on Amazon. Not nearly as gory as Fede Alvarez’s previous directorial effort in the Evil Dead remake, Alvarez does a great job of establishing a closed space (which I’ve always been a fan of in others such as Die Hard or 10 Cloverfield Lane) and unleashing a number of anxious possibilities that continue to surprise. Relying on an incredibly small cast, the performances count just as much despite not even our protagonists being morally virtuous along with a few secrets up its sleeves.

January 30th: 20) Blair Witch (2016)* - Blu-Ray; Extended thoughts here, but long story short – I don’t believe this one deserved as much hate as it received.

21) No Country for Old Men* - Streaming (Netflix); My final film of the month actually came as a welcome surprise for me. When it comes to Coen Brothers films, I am that rare outcast who kind of feels disappointed because I don’t feel most live up to the hype (well, except for Fargo at least). Thankfully, NCFOM lands on the positive side of my personal preference as it’s a visually incredible movie alongside a story that expands into an edge of your seat showdown the more it goes on. Admittedly, I had to rewatch the third act to really fathom the message driven home as things shift in order to relay a central message and subvert expectations. But at the same time, it’s a bold approach that never takes away from the other two acts while allowing you to sit & think afterwards about what transpired and what is stated.

Furthermore, Best Picture winner No Country for Old Men has prematurely kicked off a successful string of films in February’s 2017 listing that have all been nominated and/or won Academy Awards. But more on that later…

What movies did you see in January 2017? Are there any movies you’d highly recommend that I should add to my watchlist? Feel free to drop me an ask or a reply!