#top 3 heartbreaking moments in S1

[cloudyfacewithjam]

SAS Rogue Heroes - Season 1 Episode 5

[slashermilf]

the theme of the bear is how it’s bad to try and hold onto the past and how you should embrace change and that life goes on and you just have to accept it as best you can, and maybe even grow along with it.

for example … in SEASON 1 richie and tina refusing to let go of the past and clinging onto what it all used to be—the beef & mikey—but eventually embracing change and learning to grow along with the restaurant. and the start of that change happened when sydney showed up …

then, when sugar called carmy to tell him mikey died … he refused to accept it, shoved his feelings down, and put all his focus and attention into his work/cooking in new york. he refused to accept reality and that things changed bc mikey not only DIED but K*LLED HIMSELF … that’s a HARD thing to accept/acknowledge.

and now in SEASON 3, SYDNEY is the one who’s clinging onto the past … she’s the one who’s missing the beef. but she doesn’t miss mikey like richie, carmy, or tina did … but rather she misses CARMY. or, who he once was.

she misses the partner/coworker/boss/etc she once knew and admired deeply. she was inspired by him. she looked up to him. she trusted him and confided in him.

now it’s like she’s a ghost to him. and he’s a shell of a man she once knew but is now gone. she can’t tell him anything out of fear of how he’ll react. and, deep down, she’s still holding out hope that s1-2a!carmy is gonna come back and she’s gonna be able to trust him again … but, so far, it’s not looking like that.

and, sydney believes that she’s to blame bc she wants a star. and carmy knows that. and, so, he’s getting it for her. but that comes with the cost of his progression/development. he regressed and sacrificed all that he did/could in order to be “perfect” enough for sydney and her dreams of getting a star.

sydney’s panic attack in 3.10 perfectly displayed her hopes of s1!carmy coming back to her slowly fading away, and her fear of leaving all that she’s grown to know and love behind.

and that’s why that final scene of sydney is so heartbreaking to me, but is also the most telling about her character. (and also ayo’s acting??? TOP KNOTCH FOR SURE.)

the lesson of the show is that things change that you can’t control. there are parts of/moments in your life that you won’t have control of, and you have to accept that. you have to just let these things happen, and try and let it help you grow because that’s what the world is made up of. change. growth. new beginnings. ups and downs.

anyways. apologies for my ramblings. i was just talking to a moot about this earlier and i haven’t stopped thinking about it since then.

[bekaterrier]

Happy Audio Drama Sunday! I listened to a few things this week (gushing and spoilers ahead):

@woodenovercoats S4: You know it's going to be a good season when it's already got me tearing up in the third episode! Madeline and her family!! 😭 Madeline and Rudyard besties! 🥰 I absolutely loved seeing Antigone continue to grow this season. She just wanted to be seen, to know she was strong enough to be seen, and she was!! We also got to hear Rudyard give more time to his life outside the funeral home, particularly his special interest in history! We finally got Chapman's backstory! Heartbreaking though. 💔 Holy shit that sound design when Chapman and Rudyard go over the falls was *chef's kiss*. My first thought re: the Funns running Chapman's was "Oh lord, how is Rudyard going to F this up?" It was really nice to hear them actually properly put on a funeral like we knew they could. Throughout the season, we heard Eric and Antigone grow closer and some feelings start to develop there. Then hearing Eric calling out for Antigone in his dream was...whew. "Sorry about the chloroform." 😂 Georgie's cycle of grief is so real. It hits you at the most unexpected moments. They're a town!!!! And of course he came back, he's home!!!!! This ending is so perfect, so absolutely satisfying. This show was incredible ♥️

@midstpodcast S1: I've been seeing so much about this show in my feed lately as its third and final season released, so I just had to jump into it. And wow am I hooked! The way the narrators share the story and the character voices between them is fascinating. The world building is absolutely incredible - the visual they painted of the fold sweeping through is just chilling. Combine that with the actual visual elements created by the podcast, seen in the YouTube videos...so so cool. Side note - I hate the Trust; the way that its systems ensure that those at the bottom are kept down, rewarding those already at the top...kudos to another podcast where one of the villains is capitalism. In any case, I was so absorbed in the stories of each of the three protagonists, trying to see ahead to how their lives would intersect, I almost forgot about the very first scene! The moon falls out of the sky!! Absolutely wild!! I'm very much looking forward to learning more about the consequences of this and the impact on Midst.

@midnightburgr Welcome to the Horizon Part 3 - The Wayfaring Stranger: God I love this town and these people. I laughed out loud so many times this episode! Frank and June's reactions to Verge's background are hilarious. I'm so glad we have Verge in this mini-series. It's also so fun to hear them flirting with Deirdre, especially after hearing their VAs as not so friendly in Moonbase Theta, Out (love you Cat and Tina). The news that we get from Trinkett about the comet is verrry interesting and concerning, so looking forward to seeing where that goes.

@tellnotalespod S1 & S2 (to date) re-listen: TNT is currently on their mid season break, so I re-listened to everything that's been released so far. I said earlier this season that it was going to be tough listening to all the S2 episodes in a row since many of them made me cry individually...and I was right! 😭 I am so looking forward to the rest of S2, and I really hope Leo, Riley and Julia all get the hugs they need, preferably from each other.

@storiesfromylelmore Winter Solstice crowdfunding episode: I love hearing the kids out and up to their shenanigans! It was also really sweet to get a glimpse of the parents doing their thing, but also loving all the kids (even though Elas can sometimes be puce). I also loved hearing more about their world's Winter Solstice story! The worldbuilding is so fantastic.

@hinaypod Episode 41 - Danny Boy (Pride Episode 2024): I'm glad I listened to this one during the day because I definitely would have gotten creeped out by some of the curse's descriptions if I'd listened at 2AM, as I sometimes do. We got quite lore dump on our favourite horrible old man, but I still have so many questions!!

[all-pacas]

chase cameron and foreman all went for drinks regularly on s1, then again on s3. they might not have been best friends but they weren't hostile at all unless things got bad at work.

they have very few non work related interactions in the season, weirdly - i wouldn't say they get along or not. the first time we see them getting drinks is halfway thru the season in sports medicine. we don't actually see them do so all that much: a few times in that episode (one of which was dinner with a drug rep) but again until s3. i do think they generally get along as coworkers, but… friends?

even when things are fine, they certainly do have a lot of moments of snark and animosity. just off the top of my head, foreman openly dislikes chase (and chase tells a patient such), and he openly derides him over the vogler situation. cameron gets teased by the guys for being naive and for her crush on house; she in turn picks on chase a little, and expresses frustration with them both. chase picks on foreman a little (most notably his telling a patient while foreman is in the room that "foreman doesn't like me, either").

in s2 there's a lot more. there's Article-Gate, of course, but we also get foreman complaining to stacy about how fake and annoying chase is, we get cameron's little comment in euphoria about foreman being terrible with patients, we get foreman trying to manipulate cameron and we get the start of "i couldn't have made a mistake, it was obviously chase" from foreman; . on a slightly more… meta?… level, we get cameron doing meth and hooking up with chase on the assumption that he would fuck her on meth; she even tells him she doesn't think he's a "good guy" when he hesitates, and later she gets pretty snarky towards him about her performance.

s3 there's yet more! cameron and foreman both make fun of chase for being a spoiled rich kid and assume he's going to rat to tritter because of it: cameron also has a quite rude comment about how chase's dad never loved him in 'lines in the sand.' chase and foreman have a whole Thing in 'cane and able' about whether or not chase fucked up a test, with foreman really going for it: foreman outright tells chase he never liked him later on, and chase refuses to help him with his job application: foreman is also generally exasperated with chase and cameron's fwb thing, which, fair enough, but also makes a fair number of comments about how cameron is 'insufferable' (as in, don't dump her, chase, she's annoying enough without heartbreak). foreman also implies cameron is weak/needs to toughen up (she calls him on it, and he does apologize although he doesn't take it back).

conversely, what about times they do show friendship or compassion? they get drinks 2-3 times. cameron tries to support (slash pry) chase when his dad is around, but chase shoots her down flat. chase is worried-ish about cameron when she might be infected with HIV, but house calls it fake: cameron doesn't throw chase under the bus when stacy is digging in the mistake. foreman does call cameron a good doctor and a good person in euphoria, but she makes it clear she knows he's manipulating her, so who knows how much is sincere or she believes. cameron is nice to foreman when he resigns, and chase is nice to foreman and offers to get drunk with him after he kills the lady in s3. neither of the guys reaches out to cameron in s1 when she's upset about the dead baby (foreman criticizes her openly); neither foreman or cameron react that we can see when chase is broken up about the dead baby in s3.

of the three, foreman is actually pretty damn open about the fact that he does not like chase, but he's dismissive about cameron as well. cameron and chase get along slightly better - they're less likely to have major arguments, i think mostly because they're passive-aggressive in similar ways - but she can be pretty mean to him, and he can be pretty bitchy towards foreman. aside from 2-3 times socializing after work, we never hear of them being friends: foreman is adamant that they're not, for all that cameron and chase become an Official Couple they really aren't close either. they're coworkers who work together. they get along, but they aren't friends. they are far more likely to snark than to bond, it's very rare they are supportive, and when they are it's usually cameron doing the reaching out. (to foreman, i think. the two actually do seem to get along when they aren't having huge blowouts about articles; i think they respect one another more than either respects chase, lol)

i'm not saying you're wrong. i don't think, jokes aside, they sit around plotting to undermine and destroy one another. but they also are not friends. it's really not until s4 and 5 we see them go out of their way to socialize.

[notyour-valentine]

Hi Val, it's the 10th anniversary of Peaky Blinders and I'm wondering what you think are the top 10 fashion moments?

Oh wow - Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention, and asking my opinion (why I cannot know because I am anything but a fashion icon haha) but thank you anyways!

Peaky Blinders is such an interesting show to view from a fashion standpoint, as despite its MANY missteps, there is so much it and to the story, from S1 Tommy adding his collar to his shirt, to opera gloves and diamonds. I'll try my best to answer, though

Number 10 - Lizzie's orange dress

This dress just screams to be, we're in the 1930s now. Given the cultural fascination with the 1920s, and the devastation of the 1940s with the war, the 1930s seem like an era that, depending on the story is either an extension of the 1920s in aesthetic and fashion or already a prelude with 1940s fashion and style. This dress just screams 1930s to be, which is an incredibly nice touch for a show that sometimes plays fast and loose with the evolution of fashion

Number 9 - Polly's portrait gown

Unlike May's "1920s red dress her mother wore to her presentation to Queen Victoria" (NOT) and Grace's 1940s green suit and 2010s hair this fit the rough time period it was in and was a contrast to the 'current' fashions. Polly's evolution with the dress, from insecurity, to confidence, to heartbreak was such an interesting plot device and she simply looks fabulous.

Number 8 - Esme at the Foundation gala

We've seen all women go through some sort of fashion transformation, even if it is simply due to their financial means, but Esme in S3, despite the money the family has, still seems most true to her style, despite Tommy's attempts to be polished and new. It speaks to her strength of character.

Number 7 - Ada's wedding dress

The visual contrast of the greyish houses, street and sky, and Ada running through it in her white dress and veil was not just so pretty, but her carelessness was so endearing. She didn't care if she got the dress dirty at all, plus she looked absolutely lovely.

Number 6 - May's Trousers

With most women enjoying and trying out extravagant fashion, she is such a palate cleanser when she is in her riding gear

Number 5 - May's hat, cloak and confidence

Compared to other Peaky women, May's colourscheme is often more subdued, with more browns, greys and blacks, but she looks fabulous every time she is on screen with the effortless confidence no money can by, and probably the kind that is very hard to learn. She is a scene stealer in each and every one of them.

Number 4 - Grace's peacock dress

Grace profits from being the favourite. New money Grace has some...interesting choices of fashion, but this one is just a work of art. The greenish-turqoiuse blue is a nice contrast to Annabell Wallis' features and the embroidery is simply stunning. This has a strong case for being the single most stunning costume in the show.

Number 3 - Lizzie overall

I know this isn't technically one single moment, but since Lizzie is one of the characters, if not the character with the greatest arch and development, we see her fashion evolve with it from poverty and severely limited means, to being able to afford more expensive clothes after her employment by Tommy as his secretary and being so proud of them (that Derby dress). From seasons 2-4 her fashion is almost a symbol of how the company moves up. And then in 5-6 she is on top of the financial-economic ladder with near infinite funds.

Number 2 - Tatiana and her Aunt

I loved loved loved the fact that there was a contrast between the choice of gowns between the two women that, despite being in the same social and economical bracket, represent their generations. With the Russian aristocrats, it is a greater choice as fashion was near non-existant during the war and it ended with the traumatic loss of their social status. While her aunt still clings to those norms and ideals, and fashions, Tatiana wears more modern, post - Tsarist Russia cuts. Maybe I'm interpreting too much into it, but with there being hardly any notable generational difference between how Polly and how Ada dresses, this was great fun to see

Number 1 - the Peaky Blinders Effect

Look, I'm no fashionista but this show has certainly had an incredible effect on mens' clothing fashion and a devastating effect on men's haircuts. Thank you so much for sending this in, Lee! What do you think? What are your favourite moments?

[stanfordsweater]

happy wincest wednesday! what's your favorite wincest ep for each season?

a big ask!! thank you for this one, i am going to have a very hard time deciding but it'll be fun to sort through them all--

s1: so, so many. i’m going to have to go with something wicked, for all the lovely understanding sam comes to about dean in that episode-- it’s fantastic watching him be so soft towards dean when dean tells him what happened, and it’s an ep where we see the seeds john sowed to shape the boys around each other. fabulously written and so fucked up. runner-up goes to faith for showing the way sam desperately works to save dean, and for “he was probably gonna die anyway.”

s2: WAAAY too many to choose from, so runner up goes to every single episode-- i’m going with born under a bad sign for this one, because i am weak like soggy paper when a character is unable to stop the one they love even when they probably really should. dean walked in on this:

and imagining what jo’s thinking in that moment, when she’s narrowly escaped sexual violence and death, and dean can’t help her because it’s sammy? 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌

s3: time is on my side, for that scene where sam is talking about maggots while dean’s eating just to tease him, and he’s so delighted about it. also for the immortal corpse-brothers we almost got. doc benton is a fantastic villain who i wish they could have done more with, and i loved the way he tried to make them an offer they can’t refuse. so much excellence and “how are you gonna stop me?” UUUUGH 🐳

s4: fucking every episode, are you kidding me? this season is dripping in fucked-up dark romance between these two. dysfunction and desire galore, sam fucking a corpse because she reminds him of dean and he can’t function with his guilt and his need for his brother, dean’s betrayal and slowly growing resentment without being able to let him go-- if anything will convince people that sam and dean are erotically obsessed with each other, it has to be this season. predictably, i’m going for sex and violence. need i explain?

s5: season five is my least favourite season to rewatch 😬 going off my spotty memory from two years ago, i’m choosing the end for the conversation sam and dean have before the credits roll. <3

s6: you can’t handle the truth, for how desperately dean wants to believe that there’s nothing wrong with sam. truthfully, there’s a ton of great shit with soulless sam, but the scene where he lies to dean and then turns away and his expression just drops is in my top scenes of the entire show, with how dean is crying right in front of him so torn up over the last ep and so grateful that sam didn’t allow him to get turned-- and then the blow up at the end of the episode? delicious.

s7: another one that’s a little difficult for me, but i’m going with party on garth exclusively for the scene where sam and dean get drunk and silly together because i love it <3

s8: there’s a ton of fantastic wincesty moments in this season, but they’re usually in episodes where there’s a lot of other stuff going on. sacrifice is obvious, so obvious it’s cheating, so i’m going with goodbye stranger for so many reasons-- how delighted dean is when sam teases him about his porn addiction, and then his worry when he sees sam’s bloody tissue-- brotherly banter!! most importantly, this is the episode where dean says this:

there’s also that scene in taxi driver where we see how hard it is for dean to kill benny, but how he does it anyway just because he needs sam.

s9: i am everybody’s favourite season nine stan 🙏 i will forever be obsessed with this season for it’s heartbreak and all the wild punches it throws. i’m choosing blade runners for this, which is a super underrated episode. sam is pissed the hell off at dean, and he’s murderous with crowley, but he doesn’t let that stop him from saving his brother. the hints we get that sam isn’t giving up on their relationship in this episode set up the rest of the season as well as his unstoppable drive in season ten. the finale is my TRUE fave from this season, but blade runners tells the story in a fabulously subtle way.

s10: my, my, my. mark of cain my dearly beloved. SO much good shit. my rewatch is stalled about halfway through, so while i’d choose a later episode, at the top of my mind is the things we left behind for this:

HELLO???? there are so many choice moments in season ten for sam just being The Most, but the face cradling and the way sam goes right for dean and begs him to say he had to do it... kisses for all the writers.

s11: everything :D season 11 fed us SO good. going off of my season ten choice, though, i’m choosing safe house for sam bodily cradling dean at the end, with his huge sigh of relief when he has him in his arms, and for being the person dean sees. i mean, look at this romance:

gifs from here, go reblog it

s12: regarding dean because i’m on a huge protective sam kick in this post, apparently. sam is so worried ;~;

s13: a most holy man, for the super cute brotherly banter in that episode, and both of them looking sexy as hell. they for sure banged after that ep.

s14: nihilism, for the way that sam appearing immediately begins to break the fantasy dean’s trapped in, the way cas pleading with dean changes nothing, and the fact that one of dean’s happiest memories in his mindscape is from sex and violence??? proof that sam and dean fucked that episode #real

s15: controversial of course but carry on is all i can say because most of this season is bonkers.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Wednesday, November 1

WILLOW: Did you find Jesse? XANDER: Yeah. WILLOW: Was he dead? BUFFY: Worse. (sits at the end of the table) I'm sorry, Willow. We were too late. And they were waiting for us. WILLOW: At least you two are okay. XANDER: I don't like vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good. BUFFY: So, Giles! Got anything that could make this day any worse? GILES: How about the end of the world? BUFFY: Knew I could count on you.

~~BtVS 1x02 “The Harvest”~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Such A Nice Girl (Joyce, Darla, PG) by badly_knitted

Startlingly Moral (Buffy/Spike, T) by acekoomboom

Old Relics and Movies (Buffy, Giles, G) by Greensword101

Trick or Treat Little Witch (Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya, G) by 29PheonixLement

Portents (Buffy/Faith, M) by aliceinwonderbra

Ghostly Fears (Angel, Spike, T) by Celeste Belle

Help (Xander, Spike, T) by Celeste Belle

Trick or Treat (Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya, G) by riah alice drake

Stand Off (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by MillennialCryBaby

All's Fair in Love and War (Buffy/Spike, R) by Behind Blue Eyes

can't fight with you anymore (Buffy/Spike, PG) by sunshine-of-my-lifetime

Thankful or Not (Buffy/Spike, G) by violettathepiratequeen

Take These Broken Wings (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by FoolForSpuffy

Candy Corn Mischief (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by honeygirl51885

The First Annual Spooky Scoobie Party (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by acekoomboom

[Chaptered Fiction]

Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 5 (Buffy, Dawn, T, SG-1 xover) by BrennaLynn

House of Slayer: The Slayer, The Witch, & The Key, Chapter 24 (Buffy, Dawn, Harry Potter xover, T) by BrennaLynn

New York, Chapter 4/43 (Giles/Xander, M) by drsquidlove

Days of Future Past, Chapter 28/34 (Buffy/OC, Angel/OC, Buffy/Angel, M) by a2zmom

Forgotten Memories, Chapter 4/12 (Buffy/Angel, M) by Ilovebooks10

A Family Room at the Heartbreak Hotel, Chapter 11/11 Complete! (Buffy/Spike, T) by julikobold

Unmasking, Chapter 3/4 (Cordelia/Anya, T) by BeatriceEveryTuesday

Her Old Fashioned Boy, Chapter 12 (Giles/Jenny, T) by Bobbie23

Blind Date, Chapter 9 Complete! (Xander, Joyce, M) by Spooksdarkhero

[French language] Du Passé au Présent, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, T) by guepard54

Shadow Over Hellmouth, Chapter 65 (Buffy/Tara, Ensemble, M) by Tuxedo Mark

1632 Revello Drive, Chapter 2 (Buffy, Giles, T) by A Most Sovereign Lady

Spiderwebs, Chapter 42 (Buffy/Spike, R) by Willow25

Spike v. Logic, Chapter 4 Complete! (Buffy/Spike, R) by Soulburnt

Lover's Walk 2.0 (After When Anne Met Spike), Chapter 1 (Buffy/Spike, G) by To Be Hers

56 Hours, Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Soulburnt

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: ‘I may be dead, but I’m still pretty’ (Buffy, worksafe) by mistyintherivers

Artwork: morning break doodle - I miss these guys (Spike, Angel, worksafe) by simongablelundmark

Gifset: lgbtqcreators battleship bingo — the chosen one (Buffy, worksafe) by sylvielaufeyz

Gifset: lgbtqcreators battleship bingo — free choice (Willow/Tara, worksafe) by sylvielaufeyz

Artwork: Task description - make a copy of the screencaps without using an Eyedropper or drawing over the photo (Buffy, Spike, worksafe) by lialivingart

Artwork: Grom with the gays (Buffy, Willow, worksafe) by pzyii

Manip: Happy Halloween! (Spike, NSFW) by pass-the-dyanmite

Video: Top 20 Most Badass Buffy Summers Moments by MsMojo

Video: 'Slayers: A Buffyverse Story’ Official Trailer by Audible

[Reviews & Recaps]

ReWatch: Angel (the series) S1, E1 - 3 by kimannebb

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER 6X02 REACTION | First Time Watching by EvilQK

I AM SO SADDDDDD Buffy The Vampire Slayer | 2x21-22 'Becoming' | Blind Reaction by Vic

Buffy the Vampire Slayer THE MOVIE (1992) | REACTION (With Nicologik Reacts) by JayPeaKay

I'm Crying! // Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episode 2x17 Reaction // My heart is broken! by Brooke Whipple

**RETURN OF THE QUEEN!!** Angel Season 2 Episode 9 "The Trial" Reaction: FIRST TIME WATCHING Buffy by Nick Reacts

Angel 1x20: War Zone Reaction!!! by Victor & Grace Reacts

Thoughts on the Original Buffy Screenplay by Plasticglass456

PODCAST: Episode 41: Amends by Gym Was Cancelled

[Recs & In Search Of]

[Original IWRY Marathon] Entry for IWRY 2023: "In Fair Verona" by melodys_muse recced by iwry_marathon

Top 10 Spuffy fics I’ve read (Oct 2023) recced by mcgnagallsarmy

drsquidlove’s posting New York to AO3. It’s an amazing epic recced by thirteenthblackbird

Rec: Pub Crawl by kangeiko recced by lupines-slash-recs

Advent Calendiles: Calling all Calendiles Appreciators! Feel free to send me asks with short prompts! For each one, I’ll write a 100-word drabble requested by hal-1500

[Community Announcements]

Threesome Month 2023 Has Begun! by btvscrackships

Buffyverse Top 5 Community to Close by buffyversetop5

Q&A with fanfic writer Hannah (Cosmic Tuesdays) on Saturday 11th November 2023!! by Stoney

[Fandom Discussions]

Angel Season 3: Becoming a Parent by andrew-heard

[ask] Do you think Wesley agreeing to help Fred take revenge on the professor is selfishly motivated? asked by angelustheimmortal, answered by we-pay-for-everything

[Musing about Xander being an insert for Joss Whedon] by nancydrewwouldnever

[Spike & The First vs Angel & The First] by krimreader

according to this article, the guy who played Xander tried to get them to do a Xander/Buffy romance in season 7 by aphony-cree

[About Ethan and Giles's backstory] by kindaorangey

This scene makes me absolutely insane. unhinged. absolutely raving. “We missed the bed again” by raisedbythetv89

Slayers: A Buffyverse Story SPOILERS by hermyohkneegranger

[ask] Would be awesome if they make a comic series of cordelia the vampire slayer answered by buffythecomicslayer

jenny and giles are the kind of people who have like a really ridiculous esoteric couples’ costume by jennycalendar

[Giles's relationship with the Scoobies] by coraniaid, likeasouffle

[Spike and the soul lore in 'Slayers: A Buffyverse Story'] by girl4music

[ask] buffy/cordelia for the ship bingo thing? :-) answered by reallyreal-madeingold

one of my absolute favourite ship tropes is when person a calls person b by a name no one else usually calls them by johnsspacesuittight

Fuffy fans / Eliza fans: Here at The Fuffy Agenda we have some breaking news by juanabaloo

Honest Trailer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer '97 started by AlphaFoxtrot

What would the Watchers Council do to Buffy if she succeeded in killing Faith to cure Angel? started by Joshua

Who do you find the most relatable character on Buffy? started by NotASlayer

Angel kind of sucked at romance started by The Whirlwind

Buffy 30 Day Challenge started by Priceless

How likely do we think it is that the watcher's council had been intentionally murdering each of their slayers before they reach full adulthood using the ritual in helpless? by AnyNeck1885

What are your favorite minor vampire moments by The810kid

Giles - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Season 5 by flow

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

NYCC Interview: Christopher Golden & Amber Benson Talk ‘Slayers: A Buffyverse Story’ by thecosmiccircus

NYCC Interview: Charisma Carpenter & Emma Caulfield Ford Talk ‘Slayers: A Buffyverse Story by thecosmiccircus

PUBLICATION: Buffy's James Marsters refused not to be in love with [Redacted] in Slayers by Radio Times

PUBLICATION: Alyson Hannigan nods to Buffy the Vampire Slayer roots with vampire dance on DWTS by Entertainment Weekly

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[twilightstoned]

ranking my top 10 anime i've watched so far

this is ranked by personal enjoyment NOT by what's objectively the best! so i can't be wrong! :)

10. Erased

This one is short and sweet. 12 episodes that keeps you invested the whole time. The only reason why it's not higher for me is because I didn't love the ending, but the whole story leading up to it was such a thrilling, emotional ride.

9. Hunter x Hunter

I haven't seen this one in like 10 years, but it was the only anime (alongside Cowboy Bebop) that I claimed to like even just a year ago. It's a super fun watch that gets pretty dark and serious as it goes on. The nen power system is one of my favorites in fiction. The chimera ant arc hits hard by the end, I love it. I hope we get a real ending some day.

8. Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop was the first anime I ever liked. I was introduced to it by my cousin when I'd sleep over and we'd be watching Adult Swim all night together. I do hold some nostalgia for it, but also it holds up well in all aspects (story, animation, OST, characters). The animation in this show is probably my favorite in all anime. It's such a vibe. It's probably the anime I rewatch the most just because I always throw it on for the vibes.

7. Death Note

I'm actually surprised at how much I enjoyed Death Note. Like, I know it's beloved by so many, but I had tried it years ago and dropped it (probs due to my undiagnosed ADHD at the time). Regardless, it's fuckin good. The only reason why it isn't in my top 5 I'd say is because I don't love the ending. I think the stronger points were when a specific character was still alive. With that said, I still had a good time watching the whole thing.

...

Ugh, okay. The top 6 is really hard to rank for me because I love them ALL so freaking much. They can be swapped any other day you ask me (except for my #1 hehe).

6. Fruits Basket

I have a history w/ this story. I lowkey watched the early 00s version of this like way back in junior high maybe? or high school? I remember loving it, but not finishing it. I had forgotten most of the story over the years and forgotten it even existed for all these years. The only things I can remember from then is that the guys turned into zodiac animals for some reason and Tohru and Kyo had a thing going on.

So, watching the 2019 version this year was such a treat. The story really hits you in the feels. I LOVE that every single character is developed strongly. Tohru is the best girl. It's just such a wonderful story with both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments throughout. I truly love this show SO much. I think I binged the final season in one day. I feel like this could be tied with #5 really.

5. Jujutsu Kaisen

I watched s1 of JJK like a couple of years ago and then watching S2 while I was sick in bed with the flu late last year is what got me into anime fully. That's why I settled on this being top 5. I don't think JJK has the strongest story out there, but the characters being cool looking and likable plus the cool ass fights are why I adore this show. MAPPA really cooked with the fights. This is the first anime I had to read the manga ASAP after I finished the anime. Yeah, that's about it. It's just a really dope show with sick fights and sick characters.

4. Haikyu!!

Who would have thought a show about playing volleyball would be THIS good? There are so many hyped moments that had me tearing up out of pure joy. I found myself cheering like I was watching a real live sports match ahahah. The volleyball aspect of this show is quite accurate. It's wonderful to see each player's hard work pay off throughout the seasons/matches. Haikyuu is brilliant at character development and character interactions. It's crazy how it gets you to even feel bad, root for, and even love the players on the opposing teams. I love my main boys at Karasuno so much more though. This show can cure depression. Especially if that depression is from your irl sports team -.- lmfao.

3. Steins; Gate

This is one of the best stories in anime. I also think that it is the best time traveling story I have ever watched. I know people say up until episode 12 is a slow burner, but I never thought it felt that way. I could just watch all the characters do weird science experiments and random shenanigans together for a whole season or two. Plus, the building up of the mystery and tension during the first half of the show is exquisite. It all pays off in the 2nd half when shit gets crazy. Seriously, this story gets so good it's *chefs kiss* Also, the ending is great and REWARDING after all the suffering Okabe goes through. (Even more after watching Steins; Gate 0!)

2. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

Well, Frieren is #1 on My Anime List for a reason. I think the first season we got was perfect in literally every single aspect when it comes to anime. Frieren has my favorite modern animation and artstyle out of everything else I've watched. It's become my comfort show. It's hard to say much more than it's just perfect. The story, the OST, the world building, the characters, the animation. It's all perfect. It's a beautiful reminder to appreciate the people in your life and to live in the moment.

1. Attack on Titan

Watching Attack on Titan was one of the rare pieces of media where I started watching because of all the hype and it still exceeded my expectations. Before I started this show, I didn't even really think I'd like it because of the dumbest reasons: I didn't like the colors and the story seemed not interesting to me at all. AND OH MAN I WAS SO WRONG! I knew by the middle of s1 that I was watching something special tbf lol.

AoT is the only anime that no other anime can even touch when it comes to brilliance imo. I keep trying to find another tv show that hits as hard for me. This is one of THE greatest stories of all time. I truly wish I could erase my memory of this show and watch it again for the first time.

It has the craziest plot twists. There's so many mysteries throughout the first 3 seasons that kept me absolutely hooked. I love how it takes an even darker and realistic turn in s4 too. It's one of the rare shows where it keeps getting better and better as it goes on. Rewatches of this show are insane as well because of all the foreshadowing that you don't recognize the first time. And to top it all off, the OST by Hiroyuki Sawano is absolutely breathtaking. I seriously can't stop listening to itttt. This has genuinely become my favorite show of all time (sorry Arc*ne, I still love you). It's insane how invested I became in the story and its characters. I still think about it daily. It has some of the PEAK moments in fiction, especially in season 3 and 4. I never thought I'd actually cry watching anime until this one; there were many moments that had me bawling. I could go on and on about this show.

TLDR?: AoT is simply a 10/10 goddamn masterpiece that everyone should watch.

Okay... that's all. I think this list will most likely change as I watch more anime. I got a long watchlist still.

[doccywhomst]

I just listened to the preview for 8/Charley's new "Further Adventuress" series and it is so energetic! I'm so excited to get a few more glimpses of these two together (and escape for a moment from the world-weary 8).

I also just finished s1 of Charlotte Pollard's spinoff, and after that heaped on her end with 8 AND 6, now I'm convinced the BF writers are just here to prove to us again and again and again and AGAIN that NOTHING CAN KEEP CHARLEY DOWN, no matter what tragedy or hardship they throw at her. 😭 If I listen to the second Charlotte Pollard series am I in for more heartbreak? (No spoilers please)

HOW AM I JUST NOW HEARING ABOUT THIS??? I NEVER EVEN- I-

apparently it's coming out THIS MONTH?? has it already come out???? HOW DID I MISS IT?? i have to listen to this-

i actually haven't listened to charley's solo adventures yet - I'm working my way through Gallifrey first, and even though I'm listening to top speed, I'm currently on series 3, so.... it might be a while...

[lys-lilac]

[Dangerous Seduction]: Masaharu Ryuzaki and Asuka Hino MS Review

I am glad I got recommended about this title by Jen! This is so well written, so I went on and read Masaharu’s and Asuka’s route. Let me give a brief review about it.

Before that, THE ARTSTYLE! You either will love it or hate it. But I absolutely loved it!! They look so handsome!

Prologue: You are a journalist. One day, on the way to work, you are attacked by some perps, and are saved by them. But, these guys who saved you are all criminals! Upon coming to know about your late father’s wish, you decide to find the truth. But who is going to be your guard for this?

Spoilers ahead! Read only at your own risk!

(Their outfits look so dashing!)

Masaharu Ryuzaki

As obvious from the title, he is the canon character. A cold hearted sniper, who seems scary from the outside, but has a soft and sensitive heart from inside. You know, I fall for these kind of characters. So I played it first. I was honestly scared in the first 2-3 chapters, because why not. He makes you a target for shooting practice, and literally scolds you every other moment. 

(What the... Don’t smile while saying that!)

But, the poking-your-nose-into-other’s-matter nature of MC helped him to break out from his shell. Also MC is a tsundere?! She is so cute, and strong.

Also, he is an one-of-a-kind sniper, but-

(Poor boy.)

(Unlike a certain someone...)

His past story is so heartbreaking. But I liked how he acknowledges this and his weakness in front of MC as he warms up little by little.

(Gahh, I love this CG!)

Overall, it was an amazing read. He is in my top 10 characters right now.

Ratings: 8.5/10

(Awww!)

(This is from epilogue of s1. HIS SMILE-)

Oh. I forgot to add. His nickname for her! He is such a tease!

Asuka Hino

Hino Hino Hino. Those who play otome games know that those who appear happy-go-lucky have definitely some sad past hidden behind that cute face. Why did I play his route afterwards? Two reasons- First, his writer is the same as Kasumi’s one. So I had to. The second-

(How can I be when you flash that smile of yours!)

Asuka is an international spy, who literally can find out anything, and by that, I mean everything. It will seem to be a wise choice to stick with him, as we don’t have to face danger too often. And really, the plot felt bland at first, but when the actual twist came... Oh my god, it was so intriguing. 

By the way, this youngest member is such a skilled cook!

I expected the plot to revolve around his past, and once MC gets to know him truly and falls for him, that would be the end. But oh how wrong was I. Not only there was that, but there was so much more drama! Again, MC pokes her nose into his matter, but it was much stronger than Masaharu. It’s obvious he falls for her pretty fast, still, the scenes afterwards are so rewarding. Also, the art symbolisms! Darn, the writer knows how to keep my interests on till the end.

MC finds out the real Asuka, beneath his facade.

I liked it more than I expected, as I had never read a character like him.

Ratings: 8/10

(This is probably my favorite CG from his route.)

I am planning to go for the second season of them and also Yasumi, so let’s see if I can review it or not! Please give a try to this title, it is so underrated!

See you soon.

[criminalmutantsins]

Top 10 Favorite Young Justice Characters

10. Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle

Starting off the list is Blue Beetle. Young Justice introduced me to him, and I was hooked. He’s probably the most mellow and calming voice. His arc and relationship with Bart (friendship or not) were my favorite aspects of S2. They bounced off each other in every scene. I was very disappointed when Jaime and Bart were sidelined so much, and hope S4 changes this (particularly with Bart).

Jaime in the number 10 spot since he doesn’t really have much of a memorable personality. Still love him to bits though.

        9. Will Harper/Red Arrow

Funny enough, I did not like Will. He was an asshole in S1; S2 kind of changed my mind about him but not enough since he didn’t appear as much. What really changed my mind was the episode “Private Security” (S3 Ep.4). I started looking back into Will’s storylines and, I have to admit, his is probably one of the best character development.

The first season had him unwillingly living a lie and betraying the people he cared for. In season 2 he was so consumed into finding the original Roy for five years, not even caring or focusing about his own life. I felt really bad for Will because he was probably going through an identity crisis and thought he couldn’t live his life without finding Arsenal. Probably felt guilty.

Seeing him living his own life and being happy with his daughter was so heartwarming. I smiled every time Will appeared in the latest season (totally ignoring the Will x Artemis fiasco), especially with Lian. I’m very proud of him.

I feel bad for putting him so low, yet I adore the next characters more.

 8. Garfield Logan/Beast Boy

I have been a massive Beast Boy fan since Teen Titans so you probably can imagine how excited to see him. His origin story was unique and his brother-sister bond with M’gann was very sweet. It was pretty weird seeing how much younger Gar was than Dick, but I got used to it. I was bummed that Gar wasn’t in S2 as much; however, S3 truly made up for it. 

After watching Beast Boy being a great leader in S5 of Teen Titans, I wanted a leader-like and more mature version of him. Young Justice truly delivered with Gar being the leader of the Outsiders. It’s nice to see him treated with respect rather than as a joke because that was my biggest gripe with Teen Titans. Though it was weird seeing him not crack a joke at all.

Gar’s story with his mom was heartbreaking to see. I literally cried seeing his reaction to revisiting his trauma in S2 and S3; I just wanted to hug and tell him how awesome he is. My only complaint with Gar in S3 was that the Outsiders weren’t established until near the end of the season.

His voice actor being Greg Cipes also gives him extra points (He’s a chill guy and radiates BB energy).

 7. Dick Grayson/Nightwing/ Robin I 

Sorry to all the hardcore Nightwing fans.

I love Dick (don’t get any ideas), but he doesn’t get enough development in the spotlight. One of the things I really wanted to see from him is his growth as a main leader, and his journey to becoming Nightwing. I was really bummed when these happened between the first two seasons.

To be honest, I don’t have as much to say about him other than straightforward qualities I enjoy about him.

1.His Voice (it’s so soothing)

2.His Personality (very charismatic)

3.Very Handsome (Probably in the top 3 my most handsome YJ Men list)

I put him higher than the others since he made a lot of contribution to the story and his new words (gotta love that aster!)

6. Megan Morse/M’gann M’orzz/Miss Martian 

If I made this list during S1, M’gann would have probably been in my top 3 (maybe even No. 1), but S2 didn’t give her any brownie points.

I really liked S1 Miss Martian because of her kind heart, awkward girl next door personality. Her trouble fitting in the beginning reminded me of when I was going through a time in high school; seeing her having trouble as well helped me feel not so lonely. M’gann powers were (still are) my favorite since I am a big fan of mind-like powers. I would feel so powerful. Watching her identity crisis(?) arc was great too. I’ve had trouble feeling comfortable in my own skin as well as my social anxiety (I’m a mess) and I could understand how scared Megan was of her friends’ thoughts on her true form. 

Oh boy. Season 2 basically ruined her. Learning what she would do to enemies was terrifying to see and left me wondering what happened to Miss Martian that made her step this far. What she almost did to Superboy was almost unforgivable. You do not try to manipulate with your boyfriend’s mind when you guys have an argument! Shame on you M’gann. If Superboy hadn’t forgiven you then I wouldn’t have either.

Good thing S3 somewhat redeemed her. Her kind heart was noticeable again and she refused to do that mind trick again (thank god). Very excited for the Superboy and Miss Martian wedding! Please creators, I beg of you to not skip over it. I want to cry my eyes out in happiness!

 5. Kaldur’ahm/Aquaman/Aqualad 

Now we’re in the top 5 with Aqualad (*ahem* Aquaman) starting it off.

Creating Kaldur was the best decision the creators ever did. I love him with all my heart!

He added diversity to the original team and was a great leader. S1 was not his breakout season, though the second season definitely was.

Kladur played the villain so well that he deserves an automatic Oscar. I never doubted that he was with the heroes, but he didn’t disappoint. My favorite part about Aqualad’s performance was when he rose from the ocean slowly like a cliché villain (he made it work), and the line he said right after he “killed” Artemis; it sent me chills. Love it! 

Pretty disappointed that he didn’t appear as much in S3. Very happy that he is a part of the LGBTQ+ community and is in a happy relationship. I’m a part of the community and loved that there was finally some representation in one of my favorite shows. Even so, I have to criticize how rushed and sidelined it was. I hope Kaldur and Wyynde’s relationship gets development.

 4. Kon-El/Conner Kent/Superboy

Like Will, I did not like Superboy at first. Mainly angry and volatile characters were never really my cup of tea. I do understand why he was upset and felt bad for him; I just handle anger the direct opposite as him. My love for Conner started growing around the end of S1. He was very sweet towards Miss Martian (bless him for not caring about her appearance) and his anger was in control.

Season 2 pretty much switched my opinions on him and M’gann. It was awful what M’gann almost did to him. That scene with him being so sad that what she did ruined that special bond they had almost made me cry. I wanted to give him a hug. He grew so much too since I don’t think he would have handled the whole M’gann drama as well in S1. A lot of furniture would’ve been broken.

I gotta admit something. I almost put Conner near the bottom (maybe no. 7). A comment in a poll in Amino changed my mind. I wrote a poll asking other fans who did they prefer SB or MM. At that point I said SB, though I didn’t think much of it. Someone (specifically yjfangirl) responded “Superboy has the best development in the show.” This had me thinking about how far SB has gone. In the beginning, Conner was an angry guy who felt alone and rejected by the person who he was meant to emulate. Now he is happier and living for himself rather than to be the next Superman. He’s getting married people! A little detail I noticed when rewatching S3 was Superboy mentioning to new characters that they weren’t obligated to be a hero because of their abilities. I adored this! The main reason why Superboy was created to be Superman if the original ever died, and another one of Luthor’s puppets. But he strayed from that pressuring path and is doing his own thing. Conner doesn’t want other people to feel like he did. What an absolute pure soul.

Also, yjfangirl, first I want to say Hi (*waves*)! Then say thanks for writing that comment. It made me really think about the bigger picture with SB and my love for him as grown exponentially. You probably didn’t mean to do that, but I still want to thank you. 😊

 3.Wally West/Kid Flash

We’re in the elites now.

I don’t know how to explain it, I just love Wally. He makes me laugh, and his character growth was great. At first, Wally was this cocky flirt who didn’t take the hero work as seriously. That changed in “Cold-hearted,” one of my favorite episodes in the series. This was when I really started seeing more of Wally than being this dumb flirt. It was great seeing him actually caring about helping people since I believed for a long time that he wanted to be a superhero to just have powers rather than actually protect others. The regret in his eyes when he thought his impulsive behavior killed Perdita helped me see who he really was- this somewhat arrogant speedster who had a kind heart. Episodes that can make me change my perspective on characters are truly special.

I was very upset that he wasn’t in S2 a lot. I understand why since he gave up the life, but I was still bummed. Seeing him being so loving and protective towards Artemis was amazing. Spitfire is my favorite ship and I will not give up on them. All I want is a happy ending! The penultimate episode of S3 was a hint that it will happen. Watching the S2 finale was heartbreaking, I cried watching him disappear, his love for Artemis being the last things he said. Artemis’ reaction did not(I just wanted to hug her). 

I have more to say, though I’m leaving it for another post. 😉

 2.Bart Allen/Kid Flash II/Impulse

Picking between Bart and Wally for second place was tough. Took me a while to decide; I’ll talk about it later on.

The moment Bart made his appearance, I absolutely adored him. He is amazing and I live for his hyper, fun attitude. His arc and relationship with Jaime were my favorite aspects of S2. What can I say, their chemistry is great to see.

That scene when he was meeting the Flash family was so adorable. His excitement was infectious and spoiling his dad and aunt’s births was hilarious! I watch it occasionally whenever I need a good laugh or reason to smile.

Unlike most time travelers- at least the ones I’ve seen- Bart was very involved with what was going on and befriended his biggest enemy- evil and weirdly huge future Blue Beetle. He was pretty careful about disclosing very important information and took things very seriously. You never know if disclosing everything was the thing that brought the world to chaos.

What I found interesting was his choice on how to interact with everyone. He seemed pretty gloomy in the future, but decided to portray this cheerful, devil-may-care attitude to be more likable. I understood (still kind of do). I had terrible mental health issues and I pretended to be happy in front of loved ones because I thought they wouldn’t care about me anymore. Bart got some brownie points for that.

I was dissatisfied when his role was greatly reduced. I wanted the creators to go further with Bart by revealing his past and how it affected him. He was pretty much comedy relief. You couldn’t imagine how disappointed I was, especially with it involving my second favorite character. Season 4 better change that.

I know that you shouldn’t assume a character’s sexuality, yet I really hope Bart is gay. There needs to be more clear representation and Bart can be one of them. I’m also a Bluepulse and Bartuado shipper (fine with either one as long as Bart’s bond with each of them stays strong).

Anyway, I mentioned that I would explain why I chose Bart for 2nd place over Wally. It mostly stems from wishful thinking. I really want S4 to have Bart as a main character since I believe the future will be strong plot point in the season. Development could surely happen such as Bart opening up more about what he went through. Let all those feelings go.

I’m going to write an article on my hopes for S4 when a release date is announced. Bart and Wally will most definitely be talked about.

 …..

We are finally near the end!

And my No. 1 favorite character is…

Drumroll please!

…

..

.

1.Artemis Crock/Tigress/Artemis

That’s right people!

Artemis Crock, original member of the Team and daughter of villains!

She is such an inspiration to anyone who wants to go their own past without their parents’ support.

It’s hard to describe how much I love Artemis. She’s brave, strong-willed, and a kind person. It’s crazy how great of a person she is after all the terrible things that happened to her. I look up to her because I don’t have a healthy relationship with my parents (verbal and mental abuse) and there are times I don’t feel strong enough to stand on my own. I want to carry the amount of strength Artemis has as my own.

After all that happened in S2, it was amazing to see Artemis come back to the team and train the new generation. It must have been hard to walk away from a safe, comfortable life for a chaotic, dangerous life. I admire that in everyone, but I hold more respect for Artemis since “the life” “killed” Wally. I wanted to hug her so bad.

She’s also one of the kindest people in the show, the events in S3 being the best example. When Zatanna was crying about her dad, Artemis was there to comfort her. It was so sweet! Roy and her also took in Halo and Terra like they were a part of the family; the archer treated them like the best big sister. That rainstorm scene was heartwarming to the core.

Wouldn’t Artemis be an amazing mother? Lian and her have a strong bond like a mother and daughter; I loved it, and Lian is in good hands with Roy and Artemis. Though Jade deserves a chance to be a mother. Artemis also seemed to enjoy taking care of those kids in that S1 episode. Wally too. You guys know what I’m guys insinuating. 😉

Get ready for some fanfics on that someday.

My favorite Artemis-centered episode was the second to last episode of S3. I was waiting for this episode centering around Artemis missing Wally and learning to move on. It was great yet heartbreaking. Nothing bad happened. That Will and Artemis kiss never happened. Everyone makes a mistake. No matter how terrible it was.

Anyway, seeing Artemis and Wally living their lives and having a baby gave me life, even if it was fake. It was a vision of the future. I will believe this until there is confirmation that Wally will not come back.

Did anyone else cry when Artemis was so desperate to, but Wally wouldn’t let that happen (the real Wally would do that)? They are a great example of a healthy relationship with all the love and support they have for each other. I want that.

[babysealfan]

top 5 favorite Euphoria scenes ❤️

thank you for the ask!!! ❤️❤️

1. Fexi phone montage from s2 ep 8, need I say more?

2. Cassie and Maddy in the funhouse mirrors in s1 ep 4, I love best friends on drugs

3. Rue begging Fez for drugs in s1 ep 3, I love all of the door scenes but this one is especially heartbreaking imo

4. Maddy and her boss in the pool in s2 ep 6, this one really hit me in the gut bc I think it highlights how heartbroken Maddy is over Cassie's betrayal and how much she wants to forgive her

5. I guess this probably counts as two scenes but in s2 ep 7, when Lexi is remembering the trip to get ice cream with their dad vs Cassie's memory of it in s1 ep 7, love the contrast of how differently they remember moments from their childhood!

[wildflowers-of-trolberg]

Top (or bottom) 5 worst episodes?

Okie anon you asked for it - a lot of these I don't like for the same reason so sorry in advance:

1:

I know most of the fandom considers this episode a masterpiece, but if I'm honest it's my least favourite by a wide margin. My biggest problem is Hilda and Johanna's relationship; I'm sorry, but Hilda is entirely in the right and Johanna is at her absolute worst here. I know the scene of her crying in the car was meant to show her side, but honestly it didn't work for me. Just because something is hard for her to do doesn't mean it's the right thing to do, and it's her own fault that she's become the kind of mum she never wanted to be. Besides that, I really don't like all the deaths in this episode; I can just about stomach Lloyd in The Witch, but Hilda plunging, terrified, into the Time Worm's maw or the last Mr Ostenfeld getting caught halfway in its mouth and screaming for help as he's lifted up and devoured are genuinely horrific and IMO, genuinely go too far for this show. I don't care that it's not graphic, it's still horrible. I do think the "not like this" scene is genuinely heartbreaking in a good way, and I love Mr Ostenfeld and his history with Tildy, but it doesn't make up for what I can honestly call my discomfort episode.

2:

This is, again, down to Johanna being a bad mum and no longer supportive. Hilda absolutely goes too far with the "just a mum" comment, but she's a kid lashing out at a parent who's consistently (barring The Deerfox) been getting worse. I also don't like how it draws an equivalency between Hilda waiting for her mum to return from a place she knows is potentially lethal on a dangerous rescue mission, and Hilda doing the thing her mother has been supporting since she was six years old. I also know it's a product of the adaptation (all of my issues with this are really down to the last two graphic novels not being suited at all to TV adaptation due to the changes in S1, IMO), but I don't like how we spend the entire thing with David and Frida separated from Hilda; their side of the story with Gerda and Erik is this episode's saving grace though (although I can't forgive it for blowing up the airship).

3:

I'm not a big fan of sad endings, but I know this one was needed for the overarching narrative. What really gets me with this one is that the sadness is never properly paid off; Frida never apologises for how awful of a friend she is in this episode. She has a moment in The Black Hound where she admits they were right about Kelly, but she never actually says sorry to Hilda for dismissing how much her best friend did for her and telling her she wished she had never moved. I don't hate Frida, far from it, but I can't enjoy this episode knowing it never gets a satisfying resolution.

4:

There's a big jump up in this one - I actually want to like this episode, and I almost do, but there's two things that really spoil it for me. The first is that I really don't like kidnapping as a plot point, in the sense of "we have your loved one" being a source of conflict; it's weird to explain but it really sets my anxiety off and I hate it. That's not really a fault of the episode itself but it's still something I don't like. The other thing is the sheer amount of implied horror. It's hard to enjoy this one knowing that the Yule Lads are still slaves to a monster who could eat them at any moment and has eaten people they care about before, and that up until this year the Lads were feeding her children. How many parents have lost their kids to this monster? How many are missing, never to come home?

5:

I actually do like this one, though Woodman has never done anything for me either way, but it's the lowest of episodes I actually like because of Johanna. I won't repeat myself; just see my first issue with The Fifty Year Night for an explanation.

[sketch--booked]

rant abbbooouuutt harumi

Dude, Harumi was amazing, both as a villain, a character, and I really approve of her realizing what she’s done after she sees that, what happened to her as a kid, is happening again because she refused to let go, refused to let anything but anger lead her. And then how she died, not only being watched by the resistance and Lloyd, but also drawing Garmadon’s last straw and making him snap.

She was able to bring out parts of a character that no one else had done, and managed to both directly and indirectly break my heart.

Her backstory was well done, and her personality reflected her past and her current actions so well. I’m glad that the show went in the rout of bringing an old event to the present, showing that there are always repercussions. Yes the ninja won when they defeated TGD, but even in season 2 it was acknowledged that it was truly Garmadon that had defeated the snake.

I will say, I know the reveal of Harumi was supposed to be shocking, but my over-analyzing brain kept picking it apart in a story sense, so I could already guess she was a bad guy the moment she sneaked out with Lloyd (I really approve of the giving to the poor thing. Not only was it quite a Robin Hood move, but she is also said royalty that would’ve been taking from the poor. I like my reverse parallels). However, I do like the way it was revealed and how Lloyd immediately understood he’d been lied to.

He didn’t do the bullshittery that is “No! It can’t be! I refuse to believe you were evil this wH ol E time?! And I never saw it!!” that I usually see. Instead we got to see that Lloyd aint yo average protag, slowly piecing it together and being more-so, shocked that she would go to such extremes of killing her royal family, and that really sent Harumi over the edge. But putting on the mask of hatred. Also makes ma just 😩👌

Perfection.

Her motives were a twisted sort of revenge but also naivety. She got her revenge on Lloyd, taking away everything precious to him as she believed they did to her, and she’s technically right.

Had Lloyd not released the Hypnobrai, TGD would’ve never been unleashed and Garmadon would not have been brought back by Wu to defeat it, meaning that the events of season 1-3 would never have happened (and likely 4, as Zane would have not died and they wouldn't have a drive to go to Chen’s tournament) and her bitter hatred towards him for this is entirely reasonable. 

You feel bad for her, especially when you see the nurses talking to her, and she’s just staring silently into nothing. You understand her on a personal level and makes you wonder if Lloyd really is a good guy? This is all his fault so why shouldn’t he be punished? He gets praised and loved for “saving” the city from destruction he caused. He get’s to be the green ninja and his sins are forgiven like pulling out a splinter.

I loved Harumi because she was a victim of circumstance, and all of it was caused by our so-called h e r o.

She only realized this was a bad idea after some preeety big red flags, and you see that she’s beginning to regret those actions slowly. And Mr. E’s death was so heartbreaking, not just for Harumi, since she did seem to have some care for him, but also because she looks right to Ultra Violet and I think Killow? And damn those two,, you can see that thay already are regretting what they did, they are already beginning to questions Garmadon and likely Harumi herself.

I really liked Harumi as a villain, she was interesting and deep, and her mental state is questionable, but the thing is--She’s not wrong... And that’s what’s terrifying. I loved her so much and I’m glad as well then S12 gives us that brif moment for Lloyd to face “Harumi” and finally get out his frustrations and get over her. It was still clear that in S13, Harumi still left an imprint on Lloyd and that’s what’s so amazing. She died, she is genuinely deceased and Lloyd saw it. But she still leaves and incredible weight and imprint on him.

.

It wasn’t really a rant and more just--- me gushing over how well she was writtenkgkhkh but damn bro she was wonderful, absolutely amazing start to post-movie Ninjago. ngl I was concerned for ninago after I had watched S1-7 and had been told that S8 took some things from the movie. But there was no disappointment. Epic Villain, deliciously dark, ngl the new designs are pretty tasty (jay’s freckles thoghghg), and a wonderful story. I also really liked how the ninja were dealing with the loss of Wu and them having to make it through ARGUABLY the worst fight of their loves, without him. She took advantage of that and I love it---

.

So I hoped you like my input, Harumi top tier villain and character, would mentally scar a child again--

[gaybarbiegirl]

Top 5 Violetta episodes 💕

Little note before I start, I don't know what it is about Violetta, but I have a very hard time remembering specific episodes of this show. Like, I remember the plot of each season just fine, but dividing that plot into episodes just breaks my brain, so I'm gonna do my best here, but remember that this is based on my very limited memory 😅

5 - 1x80

The s1 finale was really the most heartwarming out of the three. It was the one with the highest stakes, since Violetta was preparing to leave her whole life behind, and that goodbye feeling made for so many great emotional moments, my favorite being Vilu's and Fran's chat about how they mean so much more to each other than some silly romance drama. And that final Ser Mejor performance always makes me so emotional, it's insane. Like, that moment when Violetta comes down from the stage and German kisses her on the forhead? Beautiful. Love it. Love this episode.

4 - 3x77

Yes, this is just because of that scene where Camila wanted to practise the kiss with Naty. Sorry but it's one of my favorite scenes in the whole show, and it deserves a place here. Plus it's heavily implied that the girlfriends kiss off screen after that scene is over, so another point for this episode.

3 - 2x50

Fran's goodbye just melted my heart, ok? The way her friends were so desperate to get her to stay, the speeches, the goodbyes, and of course that lovely Hoy Somos Más video/performance, that I honestly think is the best version of the song. Plus, I really love the theme of this episode, with Francesca making her dad understand that even though she loves her family, she also has a whole independent life that she built on her own, and she shouldn't be made to leave it behind.

2 - 3x67??? 3x68???

Ok so I'm not sure about the number of this one, but I'm talking about the episode that comes after Violetta's fall where everyone is thinking Ludmila did it, except for Naty, who is being the best girlfriend yet again. The Luty content on this episode was just perfect, you know? Naty talking to Ludmila in her room and saying that she believes her and that she doesn't need to explain anything to her, Naty arguing with literally all of the Studio kids just to defend Ludmila, that quote that goes like "Ludmila has made a lot of mistakes and I know that because I'm Naty and I was there for most of them, but I know she wouldn't do this"... it all reminded me of why I love these two so much and why I love Naty so much, and it was just great to see.

1 - 2x42

To me this is hands down the funniest episode of the show, and that's why it's first place. If anyone doesn't remember it, this was the episode where Violetta had lost her voice completely (one of the most entertaining sideplots in the show, I think), so she had a sleepover with Fran and Cami where they did that videochat with Diego and Camila spoke for her. The sleepover as a whole was great, that whole sequence had me craking up to the point that I had to pause to laugh the first few times I watched it, and yeah, it was great. Plus this episode ends with Vilu finding out Fran is moving to Italy, so we can add a bit of heartbreak to the mix too. 10/10 episode, I love it.

Thank you so much for your ask!

[thesaunatest]

MY HUGE THEORY ON EL’S PLOTLINE IN S4

before you guys even start, YES I know that 99.9% of what I say is going to be wrong but this is literally just for fun.

its march 1986, middle of the school year and el HATES school

when we left her she was barely literate and had just started getting accostomed to speaking full sentences, NOWHERE NEAR a 9th grade level, so shes struggling in her classes to say the least

on top of that, she barely knows how to socialize with other people, so shes evidently getting picked on

with joyce and jonathan both working to keep the family afloat, will and el get left alone alot

but outside of the party, they socially have nothing in common

in fact, will is adapting to the new town a whole lot better than el. he fit right in with all the creative kids he met in class, but el didnt mesh with that crowd

anyway, our girl is sturggling

the only time she really has fun is when she visits hawkins, or when someone from the party visits them

which leads us to spring break

mike obviously comes to visit, and el doesnt want them to waste a single second so she begs mike and will to come explore the town with her

at this point joyce is already in her detective mode, hatching a rescue plan for hopper so she doesnt notice theyre gone

and jonathan is battling the heartbreak of nancy ghosting him when she was supposed to come visit

so the trio goes off on an adventure without anyone noticing.......... or so they think

because brenner is back, and he knows el is with the byers, but he cant go and snatch her because he doesnt have the resources all the way in california

in fact, he doesnt have the resources at all. his numbers experiment is seen as a catastrophic failure that lead to the deaths of hundreds of lab employees

the only way for him to redeem himself in the community, and gain his funding back is to present his peers with proof that the project can work, so he needs to get one of his numbers back

el is the only one he can track down, but he doesnt think he can do it himself. if she saw him, she could just kill him with her powers, he assumes because he doesnt know she lost them

so who does he employ to get el back to hawkins? lonnie byers

its almost too easy. it doesnt take much to bribe lonnie, and hey, its not like its his kid. so lonnie accepts the bribe, and goes all the way out to california to find el

he shows up at the byers house..... only to find it completely deserted. so he waits

and the trio finds him there after their day out (why are you here? what do you want? where are mom and jonathan?)

and lonnie, being as crafty as he is, comes up with a good excuse on the fly (hes craftier than i am because i genuinely have no idea what he would say)

anyway, he gets them in his car and on their way back to hawkins

jonathan shows up after theyve already left, and is too stoned tired to think anything of the empty house

and joyce is already halfway to russia

will knows his father. he knows that his father doesnt give a shit about him, the family, or anything about hawkins. he knows that his father wouldnt get involved in anything unless he had something to gain. so hes wraking his brain

maybe.... lonnie pulls over to take a suspicious phone call? maybe will figures out an inconsistency in his story? either way, the gang is onto lonnie and figures that they gotta get away from him and get back to joyce and jonathan

they tuck and roll out of the car. idk. all that matters is that they get out of there

as theyre rolling out of the car, el bonks her head a little and has a quick flashback to her time in the lab

since her intuition is always spot on, she takes this as a cue the breener is back and lonnie is working for him

she tells the boys it isnt safe to go back to california or hawkins, so they come up w an alternative plan, somewhere neither brenner nor lonnie would think to look for them

and while theyre on the road, they stop at a diner to eat (dont ask me where they got the money) and we get will leaving an emotional voicemail home, probably sobbing to jonathan about how much he means to will, which gives el an idea

because who has the resources to help her, as well as a desire for vengeance on brenner? kali

el uses her superb hitchiking skills to get them to chicago

maybe she just has some hints of her powers left, but it isnt too hard for el to find kali

she explains everything thats happened, and lets kali know that if she want revenge, the opportunity is hers

unfortunately, lonnie was hot on their trail, and called for reinforcements

theyre ambushed by the few employees brenner has working for him. initially, everyone is hiding, assisted by kali’s powers

but el knows they arent leaving empty handed, and would rather get taken away then have kali’s freedom taken from her

so el reveals herself, followed by mike because he wont leave her, followed by will because he wont leave mike

all three get taken away, back to hawkins lab, but now kali is even more motivated to bring down the lab once and for all

so kali and her gang get to hawkins, almost simultaniously with jonathan, who has been looking for his family in a frenzy since the morning he woke up to find eveyone gone, without even a note or a phone call, as well as argyle, who came along for the ride

the video store is being used as home base this season, so thats the first place they go, where they find steve, shortstaffed and not knowing whats going on because the whole team ditched him

they catch him up to speed on how EVERYONES GONE and steve catches them up to speed on how EVERYONE IS GETTING MURDERED

meanwhile, brenner has three predicaments

1) no matter what he does to el, what kind of torture he inflicts, she isnt using her powers because she doesnt have them. she tells him this several times. he refuses to believe it

2) lonnie byers is demanding his payment, which he didnt recieve because the deal was that he bring el to them, and he couldnt even do that

3) he has to find a way to dispose of mike and will, who he had no intention of bringing into the lab but theyre here and they know everything

and this is the moment where mike screws up by letting them know that people know theyre in the lab and people know about all the experiments and any second now, someones gonna come banging that door down to save us. nancy, jonathan, steve, robin max, lucas, dustin, kali-

and the second mike says her name he knows he screwed up

brenner decides in that moment that all he can do is round up everyone involved and get rid of them. conveniently, the string of murders occurring will serve as a good cover for what happened to them

and this is the part where joyce, murray, and hopper get back to hawkins

this is also the part where nancy and robin and the gang get back to hawkins

so nancy and robin immediately go to the video store armed with all the new information they learned from victor creel

..... and are met with jonathan, argyle, kali, and steve in pandemonium

they close the store for the day, and get ready to storm the lab

they realize that they need something from the school, so they head there to pick it up

and soon after arriving, theyre met with the all to familiar hawkins lab vans

they make a hasty escape, taking out some of the goons but they need to find a way to get the rest off their trail

they head for the woods, hoping to hide out in the cabin

meanwhile, the russia crew has taken the mostly demolished cabin as their haven to recover from whatever injuries they sustained

theyre all running through the woods, but they realize the people from the lab are closing in on them

and then nancy and jonathan pass a very familiar tree

they use whatever weapon they have on them to break through the bark, and head into the upside down

the lab people keep going into the woods, eventually finding hopper’s cabin

epic showdown between the russia crew and the lab people, joyce, murray and hopper win, they realize the lab is back, immediately head there realizing theyre gonna have to rescue someone

nancy and robin use the info they learned from victor creel to keep the gang alive in the upside down, max, argyle and eddie are freaking out because omg we’re in another dimention, we get some big reveal about the truth about the upside down and the gang makes their way out and head to the lab

and while this is all happening,we get some super emotional monologue between brenner and el (ala-the last 10 minutes of the truman show) and brenner realizes that el isnt going to be the naieve superweapn she used to be, and decides the best thing he can do with el is give her the standard punishment, time in the closet

and being in the closet triggers all sorts of flashbacks and emotions (mbb’s opportunity to show off her acting chops for an emmy)

joyce and hopper bust into the lab like they did in season 1, but this time they dont get caught

they decide to split up to cover more ground, and hopper finds el in the closet

and around the same time joyce finds mike and will and gets them out of there

here comes the REAL emotional performance

hopper sees her, we get a teary eyed “el!” “dad!”, and then hopper gets pulled away from el by lab workers

exactly the same way terry did

we’re watching this happen from el’s perspective, with a heart-wrenching “noooooooooo” from el, accompanied by cuts to every time el has had to be separated from someone she cares about (terry, the s1 ending, billy dying, her leaving kali in s2, saying goodbye to everyone on moving day, her being separated from mike and will when they got to the lab) accompanied by some terribly sad 80s song, then back to the present moment, she reaches her hand out and boom, the guards go flying. her powers are back

except she doesnt have control of them the way she did before, and now shes bringing the whole building down

her and hopper race to the the first floor, and meet joyce and the boys, they get out of the building at the very last second, and the whole thing collapses.

eventually they find the other group, the whole team is now together, they go and take down the big bad from the upside down, joyce almost KILLS lonnie

nancy and robin drop a huge bombshell that has to do with hawkins/the upside down, specifically pertaining to el, which they pieced together after talking to victor creel

we get a massive cliffhanger, season 5 starts like 10 minutes after the ending of season 4