#tht season 5

[will-rain]

[skaifayaheda]

The Handmaid's Tale S03e01: Night

[art-the-f-up]

the miraculous s5 finale was so fcking beautiful idc what anyone says the animation the angles the story the ending the foreshadowing the everything.

my sister doesnt even like miraculous and she stopped while passing to watch and the next thing i know everyone was watching behind me and gasping mfs dont even know the story.

[sometimesoliloquy]

The Handmaid’s Tale 5x10 “Safe” (or, “Not Quite Strangers on a Train”)👀

AHH. I CANNOT BELIEVE I get to watch the first episodes of s6...the LAST season in um... time check... NOW!?! I cannot believe it’s been years and somehow the premier still snuck up on me. And I can’t believe that I wrote 95% of this 5x10 recap back in 2022 and never got around to adding screencaps and posting. But I hate to leave anything unfinished even if it’s years late (wouldn’t be the first time, thanks ADHD!). So here it is now, for what it’s worth, and for posterity I guess, lol. I’d like to say I’ll definitely continue to write these for s6 because they were so fun to do but the truth is my motivation for writing has really ebbed and waned and work has been eating away at my mental energy lately which doesn’t help. So who knows. Maybe this season will just be so INCREDIBLE (fingers crossed!😆) it will strike me with oodles of inspiration. If people are still reading and enjoying these I will certainly try! (I will need to learn to edit though which is to say sorry it’s so long and I don’t know how to make it not be but you probably don’t need to know every little thought in my head).

But back to 5x10, very soon to be old news (but never forgotten!). A season finale full of so many genres, so many emotions, and so much irony, since literally everyone is arguably in abject danger by the end.

The horror-thriller-musical-noir-spy-romance movie season finale begins ominously: creeping down a suburban Toronto street to the sound of a wind tunnel, to where we finally find June in the backyard, kneeling at the freshly dug grave of her hopes and dreams now empty garden bed. An ominous (RED) delivery truck pulls up to drop off an ominous package (because everything is ominous at this point and has my anxiety at peak level and can you tell I'm horrible with actual horror movies?) as the creepy wind howls and the creepy wind chimes chime and distant thunder creepily rolls. Turns out June amazon primed a bulletproof vest and it may seem like a weird impulse purchase but hey, I get it, I once ordered a pocket-sized hand chainsaw because you never know when you might need it. Then of course there’s also the fact that she's just been shot at, and at this point we're not sure if it was an accidental "caught in the wrong place wrong time" thing or rather a coldly calculated Gilead attack. While she's examining her new accessory in the mirror (does this bullet proof vest make my torso look too long?), Luke suddenly pops up behind her for a good jump scare (wtf with this episode, I thought I told you I don’t like scary movies!). The vest is for another memorial service June is supposed to lead a prayer at, and Luke  unsolicitedly adjusts it as he asks if it's comfortable (not sure that’s the point, Luke!). He hates the world but loves her, and she returns the latter sentiment somewhat unconvincingly, which Luke seems to pick up on (along with the viewers). Alone again, she de-vests and numbly sits on her handmaid window sill to yet more unsettling music, as we cross-fade to...

(who’s got a magnifying glass?)

The commander ant farm at Commander Central (not to be confused with the Aunt farm at Ardua Hall), where the teeny tiny commander mens are hard at work oppressing people and project managing nefarious deeds . Nick rushes his way up some M.C. Escher-like stairs to accost Commander Lawrence, who is V. V. Busy(!) being assimilated by the borg into proper Gileadean Commandership status. He is almost unrecognizable in the standard issue black commander suit--quirky patterned ascot nowhere to be seen. He’s also sporting a spiffy new haircut/beard trim he must have gotten from Nick's new barber based on the heavy hand with the scissors. Is Naomi dressing him now already? That woman does not waste time. Borg Lawrence talks shit on the annoying Americans who really are just asking to be shot at memorial services for fallen soldiers, while Nick is like, ok but wtf mofo you know that my sweet-love-of-my-life-baby-mama-divine-goddess-who-I-worship-and-adore was there and could have been harmed and I know it was Gilead so how very dare you, sir. Sir, however, insists that killing June would not be Gilead "policy”, "as far as he’s aware, and so certainly this couldn’t be the case with Gilead being so virtuously on the up and up and all, which is so very convincing but somehow Nick still looks unsure. Lawrence talks about all the "choices" June had which perhaps may be technically true but feels more like the same song and dance of "listen young lady, you made the ‘choice' to be a handmaid instead of a permanent colonies death vacay so shut up and drink your warm milk and tomorrow you’ll be ritually raped again and you’ll like it, why are you so ungrateful don’t you know there are starving children unraped fertile women in Africa?!” Or you know, the "choice" to stone her friend to death or refuse and face dire consequences herself. It's really more like the farce of a choice. Which Nick clearly understands, because as he says, "she's fighting for her daughter" and he knows she will never stop until Hannah is safe. Lawrence quips that in a fight, “everyone gets bloody” before leaving with his new mean girls commander squad trailing behind (get in loser, we’re going salvaging), and I have to pause here for a moment because I'm suddenly flashing back to Nick covered in Putnam's blood and I need a minute to recover.

Whew, ok, I'm back and so is Janine with her scrappy band of handmaids at Ardua Hall, redundantly scrubbing what surely by now must be the cleanest, shiniest floor and windows in all of Gilead (they must also have some killer arms, though). Janine starts humming/singing to herself and then the handmaid chorus joins in: "It's a hard knock life for us!" Aunt Lydia overhears on the stairs but apparently she's come a long way from the eye-gouge-happy monster of yore and is just a big ol' softy now, because she just smiles indulgently to herself and forgoes frying hands on the oven to merely suggest something a little more old testament-y. She brags to Aunt Elizabeth about what a good den mother Janine has been to the fledgling handmaids, but Aunt Elizabeth fully poops on that party by pointing out it's high time for Janine to be systematically raped assigned again (or else). Which leaves Lydia hightailing it to visit the happily-soon-to-be Mrs. Joseph Lawrence at a gorgeously sun-drenched 1950′s style Gilead dress shop where she is having her wedding dress fitting to secure a prime posting for her pet. Naomi is staunchly resistant at first and we'd expect nothing less, but  Aunt Lydia is the ultimate spin doctor and also a master of facial communication because with one look Noami goes from "absolutely NOT" to "ok, go on (barely contained eyeroll)”. Lydia, fluent in both graciously veiled threats and manipulative flattery, soon effectively cajoles the blushing bride. June, meanwhile, is in a weird bizarro land of domestic bliss with Luke and Moira: a peaceful morning reading the paper while Nichole sleeps in, sipping on coffee that is just right (and I really need to know where she got that mug because I'm obsessed with that shade of aqua...teal?), but soon is very rudely jarred from her moment of suburban Zen by the doorbell. No,it is not more anti-death attire this time but of course, Mark Tuello, with more good/bad (mostly bad) news of the real (shitty) world: they've found the shooter from the candlelight vigil, who is apparently just another angry middle-aged white guy with a gun (surprise, surprise, ugh). We will also shortly see this is foreshadowing, but I’m getting ahead.

Ok so bear with me now a minute, because here comes my crackpot Mark Tuello The Testaments conspiracy theory (SPOILERS). I guess it's more of a wild speculation based on almost nothing but what the hell. It just struck me that they make a point of asking Nichole “can you say hi to Mark" and shortly after he tells June "your daughter is beautiful" and then it hit me: could Mark be "Neil"?? (I mean he kind of looks like a "Neil", right?). I mean probably not, right(?) but. It felt like maybe they were trying to introduce this kind of fledgling connection between the two and plant this little seed in our minds, and I’m not sure what would be the purpose otherwise of Nichole even being in the scene, and as we have historically established, everything in this show has a purpose (plus I feel like they don’t just superfluously throw baby actors into scenes willy nilly, babies are notorious divas). I am definitely probably reading way too much into it and it's just another way of illustrating June and Mark getting closer, but hey, I've definitely heard wilder speculations, so why not. Who would Melanie be, though?? Just not Serena, ffs PLEASE, Mark deserves better! It would be so infuriatingly ironic if Serena ended up with Nichole after all, UGH (although of course it would satisfyingly mean that SPOILER ALERT: she eventually gets her commupence in the form of being blown up). [EDIT: again I originally wrote this like 3 years ago--given all the new information from trailers, interview, spoilers etc, while I still think there are good reasons and that it would be an interesting twist, it now seems unlikely to be the direction they’ll go. I may write more on this theory at a later point, unless it’s completely blown out of the water in like ep1.] June walks Mark to his car and they have a bonding moment over the people they've felt responsible for and lost. As he drives off, June does a 360 look around the street and we see an alarming amount of moving vans and for rent signs in front of freshly empty houses. It seems American refugees are making a mass exodus TF out of a now hostile Canada and unwelcome Little America. June starts walking home, feeling uneasy, and this is the part of the horror flick where I start yelling "OMG BEHIND YOU" and "OMGee GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE STREEET" as a big ass truck starts up and creepily follows (really though, girl, why you walking in the street?) and we realize it's randomly and bizarrely playing lighthearted Kokomo by the Beach Boys which I will never hear again with shivering in dread. As I think we all expected at this point (except somehow June), the truck runs straight into her, knocking her forcefully to the street literally directly in front of her house, and then as I at least definitely was NOT expecting, backs up and RUNS OVER HER FUCKING ARM which makes a sickening wet crunchy sound and this is the part where I have to cover my eyes and half watch through squeamish fingers while squealing umcomfortably. June, in a fully disoriented state of shock and excruciating pain, has no chance of getting out of the way as the unseen driver revs up to finish the job and I continue to shriek, but wouldn't you know it, for once Luke actually saves the day, running out of the house yelling just in time to startle the driver to a halt and pull him out of the truck. A fight ensues and we see the driver has a rifle; we're seeing the struggle through June's blurry vision but then the assailant falls to the ground, eye to eye with June, looking not too great tbh. Cut to the emergency room and I agree with Luke here, get the woman some goddamned pain killers ffs, her arm is freaking jello!! But the police arrive to take Luke away for questioning, and as the docs being too slow with the good meds, June blacks out. It's now nighttime and a pair of headlights cuts through the dark, and I think we already know who it is because there's only one character who truly belongs in such a gorgeously dark and moody scene. Our sweet prince of darkness Nick Blaine exits the car, perturbed and breathless, so we know he's heard about the attack on his beloved. We get a beautiful shot of him walking over our favorite (or second favorite?) bridge, the same one where Nick intercepted Fred in 4x10, as the camera pans out and the score absolutely kills it. Mark Tuello is there to greet Nick at the border for a perfunctory search, but he knows the good commander is here for just one thing (his woman, goddamnit!) and indeed, he is eager to keep this party moving as they cross into Canada (yes, sir). I have to say, I truly enjoyed the film noir buddy spy movie that was Nick and Tuello all of this season, and I would happily watch this spin-off (pretty please). Back at Ardua Hall, Aunt Lydia catches Janine just before bedtime, and makes her an offer she (literally) can't refuse: how'd ya like to be posted again to get raped a couple times a month by a creepy old dude and possibly get pregnant with another baby we’ll rip from your loving arms, haven’t you missed those great handmaid perks? And just to sweeten the pot even more, your old friend Naomi will be there, too! Unshockingly, Janine baulks. But again, it's not as if she can say no, and Lydia uses her powers of manipulation (just a little light gaslighting and bribery, dear) to somehow keep making this seem like a good thing, until our favorite space-pirate-red-leader-one reluctantly agrees. It's clear that while AL truly does desire to keep her favorite pet handmaid close, she is alas still but an unfashionably brown-attired cog in Gilead's hideous wheel. Lydia’s gonna Lydia, and handmaids gotta handmaid (or else). At an unnamed hospital up north, Nick forlornly gazes like the saddest of love sick puppies through the window at his lady love: unconscious and hooked up to rhythmically beeping machines. He keeps his eyes glued to June as Tuello joins his side to give an update, only giving a brief concerned glance when Mark says the driver is in the ICU and Luke is at the police station, no doubt putting together the unspoken implications. He doesn't want anyone to know he was here like the pure sweet selfless emo angel bb he is and Mark looks like he disagrees with this choice (he is a shipper, I am telling you), but ultimately says ok and leaves Nick a private moment. Nick tentatively enters and sits at June's bedside, laying a hand on her bruised wrist oh so gently before slowly dragging his fingers away as if the loss of contact is physically painful. The score's already got me welling up (goddamn string instruments!). He sits for a moment radiating classic subtle Nick signs of internal distress, seeming to at last come to some silent decision or resolution. Finally, he rises and, again with the gentleness with which one would cuddle a premature kitten, leans down to softly press his lips against her forehead, grazing her arm again with his thumb as he leaves, as if unable to resist just one more tiny touch. Like a modern day dystopian Sleeping Beauty (but with less consent issues), she stirs at her true love's kiss, smiling slightly in her sleep and I’m of course rooting "OhMyGoddd wake UP JUNE!" but alas she doesn't, although I still believe she at least unconsciously sensed him there which flooded her with an innate sense of peace and calm, as her personal prince charming always does.

(no caption, just crying)

Back at the border/bridge, we learn that Nick has paid for his clandestine fly by night visit (and more importantly, June’s protection) with his agreement to the deal he has been avoiding all season: to be America's #1 Mr. Spy Man in Gilead (and good job he already looks the part). Special thanks here to director Lizzie Moss for the signature artistic Nick neck shots (she knows what the people want and she generously provides). Mark Tuello is nothing if not persistent, and he finally got his man. I had a strong feeling back at the start of the season when Mark offered Nick the deal, that he would end up taking it by the end, after all it seemed like a bit of a Checkov's gun: why introduce this plot if it was never going to happen. And of course it's not with any thought towards bettering his own life that he finally acquiesces; but instead to bargain for June and Nichole’s safety, as well as the rest of June’s loved ones in Canada. And of course she would be the only impetus that would drive him there, just like her imploring and evoking Nichole's safety was the only thing that would make him talk to the Swiss in season 3 (as June has said to Luke, much to his chagrin, Nick would do anything for her and for Nichole). We see again that Nick’s mistrust for politicians and government runs ocean deep, and that his willingness to deal with them comes only from the deep desire to help those he loves, who he always puts before himself, beginning with getting involved in the Sons of Jacob for a job to support his family in the first place. He signs the contract with barely a glance; which I think is equal parts to do with the aforementioned mistrust (why does it matter what it says anyway because they’ll do whatever they want), and the fact that he's willing to do whatever it takes for his loved ones even if he ends up in jail or killed (so what does it matter anyway, I’ll do whatever they want). Mark tells him "you have the gratitude of the United States government", which (uh...read the room , Mark), Nick clearly gives minus two shits about. What he gives all of the shits about, however, is June's safety and protection, and Mark's repeated "I will do everything I can" doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence, prompting Nick to head back towards his car and the looming land of Gilead with nothing but a sarcastic "ok" and a desperate hope that (what’s left of) the U.S. government will not fail him once again. Our best American dude is still curious about one thing before Nick spirits back into the night, though. Confirming that Nick was an Eye back when he met June, he wants to know "why didn't you run away with June when you had the chance?" And I'm like "yeah, Nick, why didn't you run away with June when you had the chance!?" And Nick is probably thinking "Fuck, dude, you're telling me, why didn't I run away with June when I had the chance, I definitely probably should have run away with her when I had the chance!!" But aloud he just replies, with the utmost stoic conviction: "She has people who care for her. She doesn't need me. I'm nothing." And just like that, we have conclusive proof that our poor sweet boy is indeed as emo-as-fuck and self loathing as we suspected, and that he never expected to actually end up with June, or dreamed that he would ever deserve to (”it’s a pipe dream“). Whatever Nick may long for in his heart, it's clear he thinks the best thing for her has never been him and the potential life they could have together on the run; but to return her to her former family in (what he thought would be) the safety of Canada, and give her the chance to reclaim the old life Gilead stole from her. And we know that he always acts on what is best for June, for the people he loves, and not what he may need or desire. Mark gets it. He sees Nick is "an honorable man" (and we can only hope that one day Nick sees and believes it himself, this precious goddamn emo motherfucker) and responds "No you're not, Commander. Not to her". Nick just regards him shrewdly before walking away. Listen: Mark Tuello is THE biggest Nick & June shipper and you cannot convince me otherwise (between you and me I think he also may have a little man-crush/crush-crush on Nick as well which I 100% don't blame him for). I'm also reminded of the end of 5x01, when Mark was the one to tell June something I think she desperately needed to hear: giving her the understanding and validation no one else around her was able to give after she killed Fred. And here he is now, giving dearly needed words of understanding and insight to our boy Nick, if he could only let them sink in. Perhaps Mark is not only an Osblaine shipper, but also the Osblaine whisperer (may the Lord open).

(cue the sound of a million osblaine hearts breaking at once. yes there are a million of us)

Some time later, June is back home from the hospital resting on her window seat deep in thought, with we as the viewer presented a confusing double perspective reflected in the folding mirror. Maybe it is simply symbolic of her current sense of disorientation, or perhaps it speaks to deeper meaning: the two paths she now sees laid ahead--stay or run(?), or the disturbing repetition of events she is beginning to see happen in Canada--the rise of another Gilead state). Luke is still being clueless (surprise!), insisting that as a big strong man with a gun he can of course fully protect them from any and all things: the Gilead mercenaries in Canada trying to kill June, the Canadian police with their arrest warrants, the anti-American vigilantes looking for retribution and just the overall swiftly encroaching Gilead 2.0 (because that worked so well the first time). She asks if he's "comfortable having a gun around Nichole" but I'm thinking what she should really ask is "so do you finally know how to use one of those now?” (I have a youtube link I can send you). Interestingly, June herself seems to revert back to the “old” pre-takeover June here: the June who merely acquiesces to Luke’s ill-advised reassurances (and ego) without much pushback, ignoring her own gut (and eyes and brain). But given what the woman has just been though I’ll give her some grace, she’s just survived attempted murder and a crushed arm, is probably still loopy from meds and definitely needs that nap!

Speaking of clueless, Naomi' Putnam (soon to be Lawrence). This woman is extra. Has she ever met a pastel macaron tray she didn’t like? Amongst a sea of the aforementioned cookies, towering white cakes and enough flowers to really get my pollen allergies going in a matter of seconds, Naomi and Lydia take turns lecturing Janine on the meek handmaid compliance manual (now say it again, I did not, what?That’s right, I definitely did not kidnap your daughter you gave birth to in my house and then saved from the brink of death, good girl) which she upholds with saintly patience, and of course Angela is with her “grandparents” for the summer so Janine will have “a chance to prove herself” to endure Naomi’s bullshit without her consolation for long months ahead. But the “peace” is about to be shattered, as one of the dozens of Marthas (it seems Joseph’s household is still a friendly place for rebellious preclusions--or is it?) suddenly sidles up to Janine to deliver some unsettling news: June has been hurt (side note, I adore her line “they never let anyone get away...fuckers”). “My June?”, she replies endearingly, shocked and worried.  We see her start to spiral as the “family” photo shoot progresses, seemingly snapped out of reluctant compliant handmaid mode.

(after all how many times does one have a second hastily-arranged political marriage to the man who arranged their first husband’s execution?)

Lawrence quickly grows impatient of posing for wedding photos, telling his staff to make themselves useful and effectively brushing Naomi off. Suddenly feeling rejected, lonely and in need of attention, she starts chatting up Janine as if she’s about to ask her to a slumber party to bond and braid each others' hair. Janine looks so beautiful in this episode and this scene and I am so proud of our girl, I so much adore when her fighting spirit comes shining out. It's as if hearing about “her” June breaks her out of her "good girl" trance and she remembers her sass and strength from before Aunt Lydia and Gilead broke it, and that she rediscovered fighting alongside June. She practically radiates with renewed fire as she states “OfJoseph” “is not my name” before telling Mrs. Putnam-Lawrence exactly what she thinks of her (spoiler alert! it is not good). As Naomi’s lip quivers at the inconceivable idea that someone whom she enslaved and treated like shit while her husband raped her might not like her (heavens!), she is suddenly saved from further embarrassment (and Janine potential punishment--at least for now) by the Commander’s fond beckoning of his bride: “Mrs Putnam. Naomi?… Darling?”

It’s now nighttime in Toronto and an impending metaphorical storm is rolling in (complete with spooky sound effects). June rouses from her sleep to the tones of Luke patronizingly dismissing the sound advise of two intelligent grown women arguing downstairs, and in a vaguely nightmaresque fashion also reminiscent of her handmaid days (will June descending a staircase ever not be reminiscent of this, I wonder?) descends in the dark as the curtains flutter threateningly. We learn that her assailant has died (from Luke’s counter attack defense) and Rita has on very reliable source from her cop friend that the police could have an arrest warrant for Luke at any minute. Not to mention, as Moira points out, the vigilantes out there who would love to take the matter out of the police’s hands. Luke as a Man(TM) of course has everything handled and June shouldn’t worry her pretty little head. But thankfully that nap seems to have done her some good because she is back to thinking rationally and listening to her experience and hard-earned survival instincts. She is done waiting. She won’t be caught waiting too long again, so they have to run. “NOW” (fucking finally, I would have been like STFU LUKE, YOU’RE BEING AN IDIOT about 5 minutes...or hours ago, jeez).

Having finally been snapped out of his righteous male ego trip listened, Luke is onboard and he and June are rushing out to the airport to catch a flight to Hawaii, just as Tuello shows up in the nick of time (“Nick” of time lol). He warns that the airport will be crawling with cops and Luke is bound to get flagged, but he has another option to offer: he has come to arrange for June’s (and Nichole and Luke) passage to safely on a train heading west, thereby honoring his agreement with Nick on the bridge.Tuello drops them off at the train station and as soon as Luke’s ego is out of hearing range June asks Mark to get a message to Nick that she and Nichole are safe. Mark Tuello, loyal president of the Nick Blaine and Osblaine fan clubs is like, ok yes of course definitely but are you sure there's nothing else you want me to say though like I don’t know: you're madly in love with him and always will be and want him to leave Gilead now and come find you in Hawaii just like you two talked about? I mean he is absolutely saying that last part with his eyes (bravo, fabulous eye acting, Sam), right? Either that or I'm projecting all my hopes and wishes on Tuello, who's to say.

Nick, meanwhile, seems to have driven straight back down (likely fuming from the ears the entire time) to stalk directly into Joseph and Naomi’s lovely wedding reception. He blows past multiple macaron towers and his loving (very pregnant by now, when did that happen??) wife (umm, “sweetheart?”) AND FUCKING PUNCHES LAWRENCE as the music cresendos (AHHH!!)! “You could have fucking killed her!!” Lawrence pleads innocence but Nick is beyond pissed and beyond believing his hands are clean at this point. After all, “it wasn’t my decision” is not the same as “I had no knowledge of” the plan and as we’ve seen JLaw is willing to take extreme measures and show little loyalty (to anyone but Elinor and his ideas of what her deceased self would want) to meet his own lofty goals for Gilead: his own personal obsessive redemption mission. Unfortunately making such a scene in the demure world of Gilead and yelling about an unnamed “her” after an attack on Gilead’s Enemy #1 piques the shrewd interest of stepdaddy dearest Commander MacKenzie and his hackles are even more up where Nick is concerned. But Nick isn’t the only one in trouble in Gilead--back at the red center Aunt Lyds is just devastated that Janine somehow already fucked up her new posting with her old mistress and is not even sorry about it (sorry not sorry Aunt Lydia). I stan an unapologetic and unmoved Janine! But Gilead does not and the popo shows up to cuff and mask Janine and drag her off  into a scary Eyes van as AL frantically chases after them yelling orders and still acting as if she has any authority in this country as a woman where men are concerned. One interesting thing I noticed (starting with s4?) is that the masks they use are different from the style used in earlier seasons--they now cover the nose now too where they used to be under the nose and just cover the mouth. I have to assume it’s a post COVID thing--even though COVID never happened in Gilead, I mean I guess it would make sense with them being so isolated and those fuckers would probably take credit for avoiding a global pandemic too if they could (“with clean air and praise to God!”). As a striking parallel to Emily and her condemned lover in 1x03, Janine reaches out her cuffed hands in solidarity and comfort to the woman dressed as a Martha across from her, her eyes expressing expressing what words can’t say. (Emily and her Martha holding hands, June taking Alma's hand in 2x01 ss?) 

In the incredibly crowded train station seemingly crawling with soldiers, police and an overall undercurrent of panic from hundreds of fleeing American refugees, Luke reads the writing on the wall. He tricks June into going on ahead (the whole I’ll be right behind you switcharoo) and turns himself in, finally “letting her go” as she implored him in the garden. I’ll largely skip over the tearful goodbye as similar to much of the season I found it to be overwrought and inconsistent with so much of the plot and character direction up until very recently in the show. The score here is definitely heart-tugging as is the situation at it’s core--I was especially struck by June’s plea of “I don’t want to do it alone”, she’s been through so much and she’s been so strong that sometimes you can forget about her very vulnerable, human side, especially when I think we’ve most seen her show that side with Nick, and they haven’t been able to really be together in so long. And I did agree with and admire Luke’s decision to sacrifice his chance to get away and his potential future freedom in order to ensure June and Nichole could safely escape. It shows real love and some growth as in the last 2 seasons I feel that he’s been so focused on himself and June being together as a couple to a degree that comes off as quite selfish (not to mention his macho cluelessness through many dangerous situations). I think I would have actually found the entire scene very touching if I didn’t feel like they overdid it so much with the “big romantic goodbye”; the same “I’ll always love you, come find me” Last of the Mohicans vibes they shoved down our throats in 5x06 as well. It just didn’t need all that and there is a degree to which it doesn’t ring true. June and Luke just scream familial love vibes to me now, leave grand romantic stuff to Nick and June where it belongs! Yesss I am biased, but honestly I really dislike love triangles as fodder for drama, especially where one side seems forced. Or love squares in this case I guess... or is it a rectangle? Trapezoid? Anyway, Nick is sitting sadly in jail all sexily disheveled as Rose arrives for a visit. She is however not moved by all the sexy dishevelment, nor the sad kicked puppy dog vibes, she is pissed with a capital P and it’s a bit hard to blame her given that she’s right, a good hubby would not be leaving his pregnant wife to drop everything for his girlfriend, you got him there. I think we all may have been a little confused by his assertion of “I do love you” after witnessing him drop everything and essentially be willing to give up everything for 5 minutes with an unconscious June, but if watching the Bachelor has taught me anything it’s that it is possible to fall in love with two (or three) people, pretty much every season. That and if you are afraid of heights definitely don’t tell the producers you’re afraid of heights or you’ll end up on the sky diving date. And also there are different types of love (like how June loves Luke as the father of her firstborn and like a good first husband or whatever but not how she loves Nick with a deep heart-soul connection and burning fire). So yes, I can definitely believe that Nick loves Rose as his good lil Gilead wife and a kind companion and the mother of his future baby(?? still not fully convinced on that one though I’m sure I’ll be donning my clown shoes shortly). And probably tried to convince himself it was even more. But he also admits to Rose that he can’t let June go. He accepts this as an inevitability out loud both to her and to himself and there’s no going back from that. Rose essentially, breaks up with him(?) and I’m like lol, girl, ok, not sure which super divorce-friendly misogynistic theocratic patriarchy you think you’re living in--I mean they wouldn’t even give Noami a nice little condo of her own in Back Bay to love alone with her “daughter” in as a respectable widow!) but then again her pops is apparently very high up so maybe there are special rules for me (not thee). Or maybe she is literally just saying “I don’t want to be with you anymore” and the “but obviously I don’t have a choice” is the quiet part not said aloud. Regardless. Rose, girl, I really wish I could have have told you never to get involved with a dude who is still hung up on their ex, seriously, it never ends well. She leaves with a last disapproving/disappointed glance as poor Nick wipes at his cheeks and faceplants on the desk like it’s week 4 of Saturday detention (in Catholic school, apparently, given the serious cross motif. Let’s just pray it signals a purely metaphorical crucifixion and doesn’t portend to his actual doom).

(cry again...but also swoon?? why do I love an emo boy so) June is walking through the crowded train now on its way (and I know they’re all refugees and got their own problems but really I think it’s pretty rude of no one to offer their seat to a woman in a sling holding her baby, get with it people, America may be dead but manners don’t have to be!) and we all know where this is going (and probably should have seen it coming because the writers just love throwing a Serena-shaped wrench in things. But of course as soon as June admits she doesn’t want to do it alone, who shows up but the viking-ass narcissist r*pist serial kidnapper co-mastermind of Gilead herself, or as this season wants us to believe, June’s will-they/won’t they best frenemy gal pal. June looks like she can’t believe it but also should have somehow know also. (Side note--how did Serena get on the train? I’m guessing her boyfriend Marky T had to have a hand in it but if so, pretty shady not to give June a fair heads up, man! You’re supposed to be an Osblaine shipper not a secret Jerena shipper, Mark! For fuck’s sake). June and Serena smirk at each other (one smugly and one in irony) and Bury a Friend plays as they metaphorically sail off into the proverbial sunset together...but as I think we all know, not for long...

Final thoughts on the title--obviously the ending has left many of our players in at least precarious if not outright dangerous spots. I am guessing that the start of season 6 will see us finding fairly quick resolution to many if not all of these immediate situations, but that we’ll be kept waiting until the very end for most of the larger answers to where our favorites (or most hated) will be end up (or be headed) in the long run.I am also struck that both of June's mens made sacrifices of their own freedom and safety for June (and Nichole) to be safe and free, although notably--and frustratingly--she only knows about the one. I really wish Mark would spill to June about Nick’s secret visit under the cover of night like the shipper we know he is (fingers crossed for s6, come on Mark!).

Not related to the title but I must mention: the score is always brilliant but I feel like Adam Taylor outdid himself this episode. Brilliant.

[what-is-canon]

I need a beta reader and a title

[bylertruther]

i don't like season three when viewing it as a continuation of seasons one and two, but i do very much like season three when viewing it as the prequel to seasons four and five... hmmmmm.

[sleepylittlesloth]

Holy Fricken HELL Yall I am so sick of June wtff!!! EYES ASK HER TO IDENTIFY HER HUSBAND

Who is SAFE in canada and what does she do? NAMES HIM????? TF YOU DOING LADY?? He's gonna get killed, they're gonna assasinate him and steal the baby back or kill bunch of people trying damn june I am once again disappointed at you (that and how FRICKEN SLOW she always is when shit gets real and she's gotta MOVE but she's instead dramatically walking and crouching and pausing and taking her damn tine like lady PROCESS AFTER YOU GET OUT)

Im tired yall theres 5 seasons?? She's had so many chances im so amazed she's still got all her fingers and eyeballs goddamn goddamn

[seokmatthewz]

I totally get it!!! I watched pd101s2 after it finished and it was chill, but I watched pdx101 as it aired and the finale was so stressful it made me sick the next day ;; I think gonna try watching boys planet!!

omg yeah i watched both those seasons live and like my faves made it both times but like it was so serious i was so stressed BDKDKD this season in particular was so bad for me tho to the point that i was so worried leading up to matthew's announcement that i zoned out all the speeches before his because i was so stressed and had to rewatch the announcement LMAO i hope u enjoy and pls pls come talk to me abt it if you'd like anon dearest!!!! 💕💞💘💗💘💗💘💗💘💞💘💖💘

[warningsine]

@armeniuslaurant, why did tht become the bland guy committee? I do not understand.

[lexirosewrites]

Ok hear me out the grammys r today & I am a swiftie

(PSA not Nancy Wheeler friendly & Billy Hargrove pops in like a jump scare but he's somehow better than Nancy??)

O!Steve loves his career, he gets to make music with his favorite producer & best friend ever B!Robin Buckley, he gets to tour his music around the world, his fans made it possible for him to pivot his career, & now he is free from the overbearing thumb of his previous record label. He's on top of the world, prepping to embark on his most ambitious & physically demanding tour of his career with a partner working on her own growing career in journalism

Then, Jonathan Byers messages him. He's a beta who works w A!Nancy Wheeler at her news network job where she's rising in the ranks as an investigative reporter. He confesses to Steve with evidence tht Nancy has been cheating on Steve w Jonathan for going on 3 months. Jonathan is ending things w Nancy & he felt Steve should know what Nancy has done & Jonathan emphasizes he feels terrible. Steve doesn't blame Jonathan necessarily, Steve is more upset w Nancy. So Steve breaks things off, gets professional movers to take all of her things out of his various apartments & homes & mail them all to her New York address all at once, gets her to give back every key she has, and Nancy doesn't even have the decency to pretend at remorse for how she's shattered him, just sneers & makes a remark abt him writing a song abt her as if the 5 years they were together meant nothing

Steve rebounds HARD

His begins his tour & decides to indulge in a relationship w blue eyed bad boy British actor Billy Hargrove, he's crass & abrasive & it ends like a car crash behind the closed doors of Steve's beloved Nashville apartment, but at least Billy parts w a statement tht shows the asshole is even more understanding than Nancy abt how Steve will write a song or 2 abt this

The show must go on & it does. It's during a break btwn cities tht his little step-brother Dustin sends him the link to a clip of a podcast

It's a group of 4 friends, two of them alphas, 1 a beta & 1 an omega man. 2 of them are involved in professional hockey. The podcast involves them playing d&d but they also chat for abt an hour at the start of every episode. The alpha Eddie Munson plays as star goalie of The Detroit Red Wings (a team his grandpa Otis cheers for) & the beta Felix calls plays from the box. While A!Jeff & O!Gareth both have lucrative careers in computer science & robotics. Gareth works w NASA & the Mars Rovers, no wonder Dustin likes the podcast his twerp of a brother is coworkers w Gareth

This particular clip is from the first hour of a recent episode & is abt how Eddie has been a not at all secret fan of Steve since his debut & how he got to see the tour when it stopped in Detroit & how it was the best show Eddie's ever seen. Eddie confesses he was a little sad to learn Steve isn't meeting anyone backstage during this tour as he puts himself on vocal rest as often as possible to maintain the ability to sing for 3 hours straight, because Eddie had a friendship bracelet he made with his number on it & he happily implies it was his phone number & the alpha graciously responds to the teasing abt having a long time celebrity crush on Steve

Steve is charmed

He only needs to send 2 messages to Dustin before he's sending a text to Eddie's personal number. They hit it off, they're both goofy in the same ways, Eddie is theatrical in a different but complimentary way, soon they're meeting up privately btwn stops on his tour & Eddie's prep for hockey season & then Steve is very publicly at a Red Wings game & soon after Eddie is in the very visible VIP tent at the New York show trading his own handmade bracelets w fans

& Steve ends the night w a lyric change he only told Robin about bc she's 50% of his impulse control just like he's 50% of her impulse control & they secretly recorded a remix of the encore song because they liked it so much. The lyric tht used to reference Nancy with "karma is the girl on the screen" is changed to "karma is the guy on the wings" which makes the crowd explode with noise

When the show is done Steve knows fans r waiting to see him exit the stadium waving one last goodbye for the night & he knows they see Eddie clearly waiting for Steve & tht they're all recording so he does something he's never done for a beau: he runs ahead of his security right into Eddie's arms & is swept into a kiss tht makes him feel like they're the only ppl in the world

The multiple videos from multiple angles go viral within minutes of posting & the internet descends into madness when the remix is dropped w the lyric change just 3 hours later, but Steve & Eddie r too busy cuddling in Steves nest in his NYC penthouse the both of them laughing at the ketchup blood in a bad slasher movie to care abt tht

biting both of them from happiness🥰

[glasskey]

Nick & June's Mixtape Vol. 5

Yep we’ve reached THAT part of our collective mix tapes where it’s time for the tears. Season 4 saw June’s homecoming and Nick’s attempt to “let her go”. Brace yourself people, even the Nick haters found 4 09 hard to take.

I should have run away with you when I had the chance

Oh boy the legendary 4 09, a moment in THT history that’s notorious for unleashing a tsunami of tears. Nick and June meet for the first time in months, at an isolated icy location, but as he steps from the shadows behind her and calls her name, her face visibly melts. Turning to face him, the sun literally breaks through the clouds.

A wide shot depicts the initial distance between them, but as always it’s quickly overcome and they gather inside, huddling together in a warm and glowing light with their child “like a real family”. Unfortunately, like all their moments of happiness, it’s tinged with the sorrow and heartache of their inevitable separation. June has come to ask Nick for some help in the unending quest to retrieve Hannah, and he’s already 10 steps ahead of her, having compiled a treasure trove of photographs and information about her daughter. “You did all this for me?” June seems stunned at Nick’s willingness to stick his neck out to help her, the ensuing look on his face speaks volumes.

If you ever have to wonder why Blaine might be willing to stick his neck in the noose for just one chance to bask in June’s literal glow, consider how cold and isolated Blaine must feel in Gilead without her. Regret pours out of Blaine “I should have run away with you when I had the chance”, but he’s deeply mistaken. Gilead and their own peaceful existence as a family cannot occur simultaneously; Nick and June are our figurative Romeo and Juliet, invented as the perfect construct to illustrate what can be lost or broken by these types of regimes, and exactly why it’s necessary to fight.

The window and the hazy golden light is a call back to S2 when Nick and June stood in Waterford’s kitchen, named their baby and dreamt of a life together. In both scenes Nick makes an affectionate quip about their daughter being like her mother, there’s an overwhelming sense of love for June as the mother of his child in these moments. This scene also contains one of the most beautiful kisses you’ll ever see on THT. Blaine pauses ever so briefly, scans her face, senses his inevitable cue and dives in. There’s a sense of uncontainable longing, passion and as they break away…..so much heartache. Gilead continuously rips these two away from one another, but the irony is had it never transpired neither would Nick and June and neither would Holly.

I’d managed to hold it together up until this point but it was the doll that finally did me in. As he danced it front of her and laughed for the first time EVER, my heart tore open like a cheap paper bag, and I swore I heard the sound of a thousand Osblaine’s hearts breaking all at once. The cruelty of Gilead feels truly visceral in this moment. As The Nature of Daylight, a composition about war tearing families apart, plays in the background, we saw a snippet of what their family could truly be….the actual price they pay every day.

Eric Tuchman gave audiences something very special with 4 09, he didn’t just write a beautiful reunion between two of our favorite characters, he drove a deep and painful point home. For every “Gilead” there are thousands and thousands of Nick and June’s; families all desperate to be reunited and finally hold their children once again.

Try to be happy

Following on from our last track, 4 09 gave us yet another classic. Sitting there bleary eyed from the buckets of tears I’d already shed, I wondered exactly how much more of the heartbreaking anguish we were expected to take? Then Nick went and upped the ante and told June to “Try and be happy” without him, and slipped THAT ring on his finger. I was so horrified, I could have set my television on fire. We had to wait until the next season to actually meet Rose, she seemed fairly innocuous, almost intentionally unthreatening.

“Would I like her?” asks June, well yes definitely, the woman had exactly zero chemistry with Blaine. Watching Nick and Rose together was like witnessing an arranged marriage in which the agreed parties were courteous and appropriately affectionate but never passionate. Nick seemed determined to be kinder to Rose than he had been to Eden, however the only evidence that anything other than a polite handshake had actually taken place was the baby in her belly. “Try to be happy” June echoes Nicks words back to him through her tears in Season 5, and it’s then for the first time since S1 that we see inside Blaine’s mind’s eye. It’s filled with the two of them alone, kissing, flooded in a blinding light.

The moment is slowed down to emphasize the depth of his desire and obsession. It’s a memory turned fantasy that tortures him constantly. The light is so bright it almost burns and as he silently hangs up the phone, we see him standing alone backlit, underscoring not only the vividness of his memory of June but also his solitariness. This was inserted to impress the intimacy of his pain at being separated from Osborne, and it mirrors perfectly June’s memory of kissing Luke in S1. As always these reflections are somewhat skewed, Here we see June cry as she feels the pain that Luke endured as he stood on that icy bridge in S3, and listened to her tape. There’s a difference here though; Nick doesn’t love Rose, and he never did.

[bylrlve]

Warning! Potential Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5!

Eli (@revolvng_door) on twitter has been posting leaks related to Stranger Things - he claims to get info from his mother’s friend who is on set and is part of the crew watching scenes be filmed. In DMs he’s disclosed unreleased info about the military plot and the children plot to accs tracking spoilers, and thus knowledgeable people are pretty sure he’s accurate.

He privately messaged some byler accounts a few days ago, telling them that he’s been told Will has a love interest - a boy we’ve seen before, who likes him but is not liked romantically by Will yet, and tht it’s not Mike. The confusing thing is that another account on twitter - I won’t disclose the name here - was going around to other people telling them the same information but framing it in a more byler-positivd manner i.e., implying heavily that it is Mike - but it seems that this is incorrect as the news of a new LI for Will has been going around for months, now. Eli then went into a byler twt gc and told everyone, so it spread like crazy:

The confusing thing about this leak is that the description sounds like it should be Mike - but it isn’t? Finn and Noah are together a lot, and I haven’t seen any rumours of previous actors being spotted on set - either of the actors for Troy and James, for one. Nico - danceonth3moon - said it well here:

Worth noting that Ris aka byrhop, a very sensible and rational person who’s a byler but is very neutral on the possibility of it happening, is very pessimistic atm - they’ve been following leaks closely and know quite a bit.

Also might as well note here that Alex is absolutely full of it, and is completely out of the loop atm as a consequence of her own actions:

The only slight crumb of hope for byler is that there is an extended sequence of them at a church due to be filmed over the next month. I was privately told this a while ago and now it’s common knowledge. The church is either in the Upside Down or has been taken over by it - there are religious phrases painted on the property and vines all over it.

Noah Schnapp was very pessimistic about Byler for most of 2023, when he had the first few scripts. “Don’t watch the show just for byler, don’t be mad if it doesn’t happen’, etc. In late 2023 the cast got the scripts for the first six episodes, and in January this year he went on tiktok saying ‘Byler endgame, Byler kiss, you know I ship Byler’ etc - check my Noah Schnapp tag for that clip. This church sequence takes place during episode six - which is when they’d be setting up the endgame for 507 and 508. If there is any hope of byler endgame, I suspect it’ll come through leaks that get out over the next month.

Check out @conflictofthemind’s posts on church gate.

This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.

[withallthingslove]

Do you have any extra thoughts on THT since all the screeners have been released? Looks like Nick is at the forefront of this season which is great! Getting quite a few mixed reviews on osblaine tho, many saying he’s chosen his side and others saying he’s tempted etc. has this changed your idea of where the season might end for these two?

I'm surprised at how positive most of the reviews are tbh. But the increase in Max's screen time and the Nick/June dynamic fluctuating fits exactly what I was expecting after seeing the trailer and going through the press notes. I still think it will be an ambiguous endgame or Nick, and if it's Luke it will be because Nick redeemed himself a bit too late or he stays in Gilead but he and June are still allies. Narratively I just don't see them keeping Nick as some big bad, especially with the show's socials dropping more Nick clips the past couple of days.

Some minor thoughts/changes I've had:

I can't remember if I shared this in my other trailer breakdowns but I now think when Nick says "this is gilead you can only depend on yourself" it might be to June at whatever safe house they are at. Because I think June in the new trailer going "you have to stand up and fight" is to Nick. Just the fact he says it wearing his driver uniform it seems like it's from that episode

If the betrayal is supposedly something unsurprising/obvious, we've either already guessed it or we will feel like we should have guessed it when we see it

Based on reviews I still think the betrayal will be in between episodes 5-7, but Nick will still be on Gilead's side by the end of episode 8 which is why some reviewers might think his allegiance is locked

If there is that much division though between reviewers thinking it's locked or that he's still torn, there must be a lot of nuance to it

Surprisingly the reviews have barely mentioned Rose? Just Nick's relationship with being a Commander so either her stuff is embargoed or his relationship with her is a non factor

One of the reviews mentioned men ruining things, so I think kind of like the early seasons, Nick, Luke, and Lawrence will all do things to disappoint June to varying degrees at some point so she can focus on her female relationships for the big moments

One review mentioned June becoming more controlling and having to face how selfish she can be, so I'm curious to see how that relates to her interpersonal relationships

There really haven't been any scenes in trailers or a lot of mentions of Hannah? Which is interesting

I am curious/second guessing how successful the wedding attack is just based on Serena and Wharton's costuming

[dykexenomorph]

thank u @whodoesnataliehave for the tag!!!!!

YJ TAG GAME

1. Are you team Rational or Supernatural? I swap back and forth rapidly LMAO. When I started the show I was very much in the supernatural camp, then i swapped to rational for s2, and now for s3 i have no clue what i think. its both. its neither. idk man.

2. Who is your favorite teen timeline character? TRAVIS!! and lottie, but less so this season than before bc shes been reduced to insane trip sitter LMAO

3. Favorite adult timeline character? lottie please please come home the kids miss you </3

4. What is your favorite needledrop? SOMETHING IN THE WAY NIRVANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love nirvana very much and was happy tht it was one of the (slightly) less obvious picks for them. (also rlly enjoyed miss world by hole. I LOVE HOLE!!!!) (also also zombie by the cranberries.) also not the point of this question but if they dont put a pixies song in this show soon someone is going to suffer...... 5. What is your favorite ship lottienat you are so so real. TO ME..... 6. What is your favorite episode? its been a minute since ive seen most of s1 and s2, but i remember liking burial (s2e7) a lot!! seeing all of the adults interact w each other was rlly interesting to me (and i love lottie so ofc i was happy to get so much lottie content) 7. Who do you want the antler queen to be? is it insane to say that i dont really care? i feel like there is a lot of more interesting things we cld be theorizing about. i dont really know that i care that much about whoever their final "leader" is. 8. What is your favorite scene in the entire series? man this is hard bc its been SO LONG since ive seen most of them? im a lottienat so ofc "good game, you fucking loser" comes to mind. i also like the ending of burial where all of the adults dancing is juxtaposed w shauna beating lottie up, its a rlly interesting scene to me 9. A theory or prediction you have about Season 3. aside from the bingo card my sibling and i (hello theeb.) made, i havent really had any crazy theories this season? at least not any that havent been instantly debunked once a new ep is dropped LMAO 10. Which character do you relate to the most, and why? i am van they are me........."and why" what even do u want from me pal. we're just the same person ok. i literally am a dyke who collects physical media..........what do u even expect me to say....... 11. What is the craziest thing you've done in the name of Yellowjackets? i dont know how to answer this. nothing i am. Normal. 12. Whats your most controversial Yellowjackets take? people are finally being normal about travis (and they're becoming normal) about lottie, so i dont know that I have many contriversial takes?? the only thing i can think of is the fact tht i am very quickly becoming the #1 taivan hater, but thats just bc i love simone and sammy a lot and the way the writers are treating their charas is pissing me off. (still love tai and van tho obviously, they're in my top 3 w lottie <3). TAGGING: @hex-rex @autism-swagger @dykelottienat @autistictransbiankumatora anddd @t-valentines

[trademarkblue]

The Handmaid's Tale Rewatch: 1x01

So, I started rewatching the show a few weeks back. I want to get through every episode before the final season airs. I'm watching 2-3 episodes per week, so I'm going to start posting about that here so we can talk about them!

Man. Let me just start by reiterating how jaw dropping the first episode of this show is to me. It's so rare to find a show, in my opinion, that just knocks it so far out of the park on the very first episode. It's paced like a movie, which I think is kinda what hooked me immediately... because honestly, I feel like TV shows drag a lot these days, knowing that they can, that they have 8-12 episodes to deliver ONE SECTION of a story that might be intended to run for 5+ seasons. They tend to sprinkle things in at a snail's pace from the beginning. So, that really makes a slam dunk like 1x01 of THT just that much more impressive.

You get to know so many of the characters that you'll follow for so many years... and it's not just a curious introduction, but you're given a really solid idea of who they are. And we even get a full circle shared joke between Nick and June, complete with flirting, flawless editing, and adorably smoldering eye contact.

Let's play "what's your favorite moment from 1x01."

It's the whole classic oranges & tune scene for me, but this exact moment - where Nick walks into the kitchen and nearly trips over himself when he spots June there - is just the cutest and most hilarious 3 seconds ever recorded. His whole body is literally doing an "oh shit" moment, and he's like 105% obsessed with her already.

What's your favorite moment from this episode? Feel free to reblog and add a screenshot or clip so we can get a 1x01 chain going! I would also love to hear your stories on when/how you got into this show and this ship!

If you're a podcast listener, here are the links to the spoiler free and spoiler full discussions of 1x01 from Above the Garage:

The June & Nick Cut:

About a year ago, I edited together every June & Nick scene + every Nick scene + every mention or insinuation of Nick into what I called "The June & Nick Cut." I unspliced unrelated content when it was mixed into Osblaine scenes, shortened long scenes with brief mentions of them so only the mention and context is included, and worked with the audio to make transitions smoother.

The full file for seasons 1-5 is 6 hours and 53 minutes long, including some title cards in 3 spots to serve as intermissions. Rather than post that whole 18 gig file, I'm going to post just the chunk that goes with the episode I'm writing about. So, if you'd like to download the Osblaine only version of each episode, you'll have the links for those within these posts. Enjoy!!

I would really appreciate credit if you share these anywhere else, because this project did take a whole lot of work. Like uncountable hours of work. And I really am pretty proud of it. ♥️

[meownotgood]

I think this season could’ve used more episodes too causes there’s just a number of things that don’t make sense or just feel wrong the more I think about it. Like yeah the whole jayvik ending was cute and all but Jayce just doesn’t care to know abt what happened to ekko n heimerdinger?? Also I thought viktor said he’d only change those who were willing so did he just change his mind up abt tht at the end without saying anything?? And sevika is just totally cool n chill abt teaming up with piltover after everything and we don’t really get anything from her or jinx abt isha all there is is like a .5 sec flashback from vi. Also sorry this is rambly I just feel very disappointed n underwhelmed like there’s just So Much that felt off

don't worry, I definitely agree with you on everything. it's weird to me that sevika didn't have a single line of dialogue, definitely feel like it might've been content that got cut. and yeah... the thing is I'm probably going to have to rewatch the episodes to try and understand viktor's motivations better. I suppose it's because when the commune fell apart, viktor realized emotion was a weakness of humanity, and decided it was best to be eliminated entirely. it definitely happens fast tho in my opinion