#trini has so much potential

[husbandida]

No one

Absolutely no one

Me and my broken brain: What if I made a Nevermore Trimberly Au?

[meara-eldestofthemall]

Gee, thanks DC! You Just Turned Bruce Into An Irredeemable Ass.

So, at the end of Gotham War Bruce has officially lost everything. Alfred is still dead, Selina is "presumed dead" and Bruce is both financially and morally broke. Why, you may ask, is Bruce so much worse off this time? Let me count the ways.

He preformed a psychic lobotomy on Jason

The "it's for your own good" excuse only makes the mental rape undertaken by Jason's own father that much more heinous.

Just when you think Bruce can't sink any lower he does. When Dick recognizes that Bruce has lost it, he attempts to use a failsafe disconnect that Bruce himself built into the system. How does Nightwing get thanked for that? Well that brings us to number two on the list.

Batman attacks up his eldest son for doing what he's supposed to do when Batman has gone rouge.

Bruce beats him up because nothing proves you are in control of your sanity like hitting your children. While Dick is holding back, Bruce does no such thing. He hits Nightwing hard enough to send him flying. It could have gotten even worse if Tim hadn't shown up.

Tim arrives and attempts to talk some sense into Batman.

Tim tries to talk Bruce down. It doesn't go well. When Robin is trying to help, as he always does, Batman uses the attempt to reason with him to put the smack down on his son. Bruce could have killed Tim but apparently feels no remorse or guilt.

If there was any teeny tiny little doubt that Bruce will not win the Father of The Year award in 2023 it died a horrible screaming death when Batman abandons his children to potential arrest. Yes, he left a batarang for Dick and Tim but any glimer of possible hope associated with that action was instantly extinguished by Damian's reaction to Batman's callous betrayal.

Bruce abandons Damian.

Look at Dami; he's devastated. Since he came into Bruce's life, Damian has struggled with feelings that he can never earn his father's love and respect. Well, that negative self-image was reinforced in way that may never be repairable. Bruce just utterly destroyed a 13 year old child because of his inability to feel any kind of empathy.

And how does this all end? The best part is that Bruce takes all of his parental responsibilities and dumps them onto Dick.

Thank you Chip Zdarsky and Trini Howard. You've taken Batman from being an edgy anti-hero and made him into a callous monster. Part of me hopes that Bruce never comes back because he doesn't deserve his family.

The only positive aspect in this convoluted mess is that Damian and Tim will be far better off with Dick than with Bruce. Yes, Tim is mostly independent but he still needs guidance (particularly since Tim's first instinct is to try and save Bruce). Damian is essentially Dick's son emotionally anyway so this might help to sustain the positive character growth we've seen in him as of late.

The point of this rant is to wonder what on earth DC thinks they're doing. This story arc has been pure character destruction as far as Bruce is concerned. It's bad storytelling too; rushed, frenetic and massively disappointing.

Hasn't the popularity of Good Dad Bruce in Wayne Family Adventures proved that fans are tired of Bruce being a dark depressed and brooding edge lord? We all accept that Batman is a character with deeeeep issues who is in desperate need of therapy. I, however, draw the line at Bruce being an abusive a**hole.

In years to come when fans wonder when Batman jumped the shark, this is the plot line they'll point to.

[leikeliscomet]

No, Ncuti Gatwa's Casting Isn't Regressive

Chapter 3 - Dancing Queen/Conclusion

‘I’ve experienced racism my whole life, and while I always believed in myself, always knew [racists] were stupid and uneducated, I guess it did misinform my view of how the world works. It makes you think everyone has that opinion and you’ll constantly have to fight through life – then you learn that you don’t: you can find a tribe, you can find your people.’ - Ncuti Gatwa for Elle

So with the treatment of Who’s Black men and the neglect of Black women in its representations of womanhood, consider the Fifteenth Doctor. A dark-skinned Black queer man, wearing a kilt and a bold smile, spinning to his heart’s content on the dancefloor. This is an image of Blackness, an image of queerness and an image of manhood and masculinity the show has never seen before. Gatwa is fully aware of this and has gone in depth in his interviews. He’s also addressed his Rwandan heritage and his family fleeing genocide against the Tutsi. Gatwa knows the feeling of being an outsider, heavily mirroring the revelation of the Timeless Child. Black Britishness is already a form of representation mainstream British media has only recently acknowledged and in this case, Black Scottishness is taking the forefront. Despite being a British cultural stape, Doctor Who’s been shy about representing Black Britishness specifically. We’ve had three Black companions, but little references to the culture (minus Ryan’s mention of grime music in Arachnids). We know Yaz is Pakistani. But is Ryan African? If yes, is he Nigerian, Ghanaian etc.? Is Ryan West Indian? If so, is he Trini, Bajan etc.? Is he both? What was Martha and Bill’s heritage? Many Black people in the British Isles are 2nd and 3rd gen immigrants, some of us are African, some are West Indian and some of us are both. Black British identity is complex as it is a melting pot of different African and West Indian cultures blended to create something new. Gatwa’s Black Scottishness provides this insight to Fifteen. Gatwa’s Rwandan heritage is included in Fifteen’s sonic too, with Gallifreyan symbols translating the phrase ‘the sharpness of the tongue always defeats the sharpness of the warrior’. Other Black cultural references have appeared for Fifteen too, with Gatwa noting his wardrobe is inspired by Black American HBCU fits. Even though it isn’t yet confirmed (and unlikely for series 14/season 1 seeing as there are no Black writers… yay!), Gatwa has shown interest in a Nigerian historical stating he’d love for the Doctor to meet the Orishas, goddesses of West African folklore. Again, with many different Black cultures not only is this an opportunity for representation but also new stories, new locations and new concepts the show has yet to discover. To fit in so many spaces but none at all is a perfect summary of the Black British experience and other Black experiences in Western countries.

“We choose our families. And the Doctor is a lonely wanderer, looking for their next adventure … I know many a gay man, MANY a gay man, I could describe that way!” - Ncuti Gatwa for the Guardian

Queer Black manhood and masculinity is rich and diverse and with this new era, we could see the tip of its iceberg. There have already been representations of this before in media such as Moonlight and Noah’s Arc so for a mainstream British show like Doctor Who to feature a queer Black man as the lead, we have the opportunity to show something special. With Nine and Jack’s kiss and Fourteen’s cosign of Isaac Newton already showing this potential, we could see a canon longer term mlm pairing involving the Doctor for the first time. And not only that but with a Black doctor for the first time. A queer Black man showing love and being loved is a reminder for queer Black people that universe-defying romance includes us too and that our DoctorRiver or TenRose moments can exist.

There is so much to look forward to in this new era and even more potential for the type of representation it can bring. So with that in mind, I hope the greater fandom at large can see this and that newer fans will get to experience that same joy we did when we first fell in love with this show.

‘This person survived a genocide. This person fits in everywhere and nowhere. I am the Doctor. The Doctor is me. I decided that I had to get this role’ - Ncuti Gatwa for Rolling Stone

<- Chapter 2

[augment-techs]

Boom!Comics, what if Drakkon had actually died at the end of Shattered Grid??

....Oh, fuck this is gonna be hard. Lemme think.

It's so hard to pull on this thread and follow a single end loosed from it. There's so much to be addressed.

Kiya would have to be given consideration, because the writers fucked up with her in ways that are still ringing out in Darkest Hour. She needed treatment for her PTSD and Survivor's Guilt and killing the Blue Emissary. So I think Trini would have to actually tap into her Yellow potential WITHOUT Drakkon's goading.

The Eltarian Invasion would have to go through a speed run, because the Omega Rangers wouldn't make the incredibly stupid decision to nick Drakkon out of the Command Center and go galivanting about the universe based on his advice--more to the point, would the Red Emissary even be caught unawares by the Orange Empyreal if he wasn't checking in on Drakkon? No.

The bullshit with Zedd and the Dome Arc would have to still be gone through, because otherwise Matt wouldn't be revealed, and Zordon would still have to be proven wrong, so the stress would be even greater because the Omegas DIDN'T defy Zordon in this timeline and leave a crack in his ego, so the punishment for Billy would have been much differently handled...I think.

Tommy and Matt's dick measuring contest would have to be forestalled by Zack and Jason being unwilling to not look at things from Matt's POV, and I should like for Billy to have actually talked out his reasoning not just with the Stone Canyon Trio--though I still want that--but with Kimberly and Tommy. They've all been stressed out and under pressure and he needs someone who isn't new or hasn't been gone that could actually understand him. And possibly call him out sooner for keeping secrets from them when THEY aren't Zordon.

I would like to think that Zartus would make an effort to turn up the charm and use a charisma check to try and get Zordon on his side, but that means he would have to come to Earth while both the Red and Yellow Emissaries are alive and thus he only has control of the one Empyreal so he has to take care about sending it to particular planets to decimate.

Which means sending the Sentry Force Four to pick up Zelya and interrupt her dating Skull so she blew him off BEFORE she and Bulk had a heart to heart. BEFORE the Dome was placed over Angel Grove.

I think, for lack of any other way into understanding, the Rangers would contact the Coinless Universe in the hopes that THEY would have some idea what the Empyreal they met actually was.

Which, fun times for all, because YES, actually, TWO people from there do.

Ranger Slayer, Coinless Bulk, Sentry Skull end up popping over to the Prime universe to lend a hand. Skull happily dragging Finster-5 along with them because they're the two.

And Coinless Jason comes along, too, much to the distress of everyone there that was under the impression that he was dead. Kim thought he could use a breath of fresh air away from their world's rebuilding process and Jason was grateful for the chance to see a version of Billy and Angel Grove still standing.

And--except for Kim--they're all wearing Colors the others weren't expecting. White for Jason, Purple for Bulk, and--much to the discomfort of the Omega Rangers--Orange for Skull.

The Orange especially leaving the Omegas with a prickling sensation in the back of their minds. A bad aftertaste from the Empyreal.

"Fun fact about those fucking things? You can get rid of them, but you have to find the corpse of the Emissary they were born from and find a Ranger with a correlating Color to punch the corpse," is Skull's first observation after Finster's creepy explanation about the origin of the Empyreals ("Yeah, there are three of them. Opposite of their Primary Color counterpart. But at least you can count on them to cut to the chase instead of pulling some metaphorical lyricist bullshit,") with a tiredness that nobody expected from one of the Coinless after they gained their world back.

It's a lot of talking, a lot of convoluted back and forth about why the Empyreal would seem like it was on a mission for job instead of fulfilling their divine purpose.

I would like to think that the Omegas would propose team-up with the Coinless until things got straightened out. With the elder Kim, Bulk, and Jason remaining on Earth in case the Empyreal came knocking and Finster-5 and Skull coming with them on the Spectrum II in the hopes of cutting off more planets being killed.

Skull takes them up on their offer without looking to the other Coinless for consideration, given that it feels like everything is an a time limit and it's not like he could have left the Command Center to visit the Juice Bar or anything, despite Bulk's protests.

"I look too much like myself. It's fine."

Finster-5 does not really have much of a choice in the matter since he's on eternal probation and will do whatever the Ranger Slayer tells him to do.

However, Slayer Kim would probably have to go back and forth between one Earth and another to keep the peace, and Coinless Zack and Trini would pop in here and there as the ball really got rolling with the Eltarians showing up, acting as if they want to forge a proper alliance with Earth JUST before Zedd raises his metaphorical finger and everything is way more out in the open than it ever had any right to be.

I want Zedd to get a proper body. I want Zordon to get his own proper body. I want Rita to get yanked back to the Eath and given to Grace Sterling because the Omegas and Skull found her Dumpster spinning through space and weren't going to take the chance that Finster-5 would do something stupid. I think Jason would trust her a little more and would want to curry favor with someone other than Zordon...just in case.

I am also going to use this as an excuse to cut out the middle man so she can't be called on by Vile and therefore bring about Dark Specter using Zordon's old body. Zordon's getting that back so he and Zedd can beat the crap out of Zartus and be MORTAL so they both have certain expectations of accountability when they fuck up.

I also want to use this as an excuse for Zordon still getting called out, but I want it to be by someone that he wasn't expecting: like Purple Ranger Bulk finding the "spare change" in the Command Center and taking Zordon to task about trust and destiny and how even if the Rangers are now soldiers, they're also children and it's really not right to mess about without consulting them.

"Because 'you said so' is not an answer."

There is still a situation where the Empyreal goes to wipe out the Hartunians, but because Skull is not Drakkon and they'd have no reason to leave him behind on the ship, age and experience would be on their side. All but 40 members of the population wouldn't have to die--Skull would merely tear out the the king's heart so the queen could either aid them or perish. Which works splendidly as during the evacuation process it becomes very clear that the Empyreal is under someone else's command, and that someone can be traced to the Celestial Shard that formed with the Blue Emissary's death from their heart.

Hartunia is still destroyed and rendered 'Anew' but the people are alive and under new rule and relocated to an unoccupied world where they can start again without weapons or the scavenging practices and under the rule of Evor Till who winds up swearing fealty to the Rangers, with the promise to aid them if ever they call.

It leaves the Omegas rather shaken that they didn't fail and actually have somewhere to turn to make things better, but it also leaves them feeling sick that there's a version of Skull--living on their ship until things pan out--that would kill someone without hesitation or even appearing remorseful.

I really, really want the home team Bulk and Skull to get at least a little consideration from either Zordon or Grace Sterling in this scenario.

....That's all I've got. I'm sorry. This was hard.

@skyland2703

[chaosintheavenue]

OC Interview! I was tagged by @orionlancasterr (thank you!), and it seems like a lot of people have already been tagged, so I'll just tag anyone who sees this and wants a go.

As usual, I'm going to fill this out for Trin, because my brain is still firmly stuck on her...

Trin

Name: Trinity Elloise Gant

Nickname: Trin (uses in 99% of situations), Trini (only to specific people)

Gender: Cis woman, but she definitely hasn't thought deeply into it, and I have a sneaking feeling things might change if she did

Star Sign: Cancer

Height: 5’6-ish

Orientation: Aromantic asexual and absolutely not interested in anything relationship-wise

Ethnicity: White (judging by appearance, at least), but she doesn't know anything more specific than that. She has no idea who two out of her four grandparents were, so a lot of her family background is a mystery

Nationality: I frankly don't know enough BoS lore to answer that question lol. She's been registered as a member of the BoS no less than three separate times, but I'm not sure whether she'd also technically be an NCR citizen from living with the California chapter? Also considered a member of the Ciphers, but there's no paperwork to show for it, so that probably wouldn't be counted as 'official' dual citizenship or anything. The one thing I do solidly know is that she does not consider herself- or anyone else born post-war- to be USAmerican

Fave Fruit: Cranberries!

Fave Season: Fall/autumn

Fave Flower: Any nuked flora- she loves the vibrant colours, even though they don't last long and gathering them isn't exactly a tranquil flower picking expedition

Fave Scent: Wood smoke, or the general scent of air at night

Coffee, Tea, or HC: Either coffee or herbal teas with flowers

Average Hours of Sleep: Varies wildly depending on current levels of Scorchiness

Dog or Cat Person: Cat (Juliet her beloved), but she's not averse to dogs and sometimes envisions herself owning one in the future

Dream Trip: I'm pretty sure this was the journey to West Virginia for her, which she's already done. She seems pretty intent on staying put there now for the forseeable future

Favorite Fictional Character: She's never had much interest in fiction, but recently Sofia has exposed her to a range of comic book heroes that she finds at least fleetingly interesting

Number of Blankets They Sleep With: Just her patch blanket

Random Fact: When she set out to buy herself a companion animal just before she first travelled to West Virginia, she was 100% intending to get a big dog for physical protection (and potentially name it Dogmeat, as is tradition), but quickly let herself get talked into buying a little kitten instead

[ajgrey9647]

Random Ask: Does Drakkon strike you as someone with a very bland taste preference once he got his coins mashed together and he started slowly decaying from the inside out? Like, he will imbibe in expensive shit of course, but does it hurt him? Can he actually pick up any particular smells and tastes? Does Jason seem like the kind of child that ever had stuffed animals? If so, WHAT KIND? Do you think Kimberly REGRETS that one "date" (still hard for me to call it that) with Skull in GGPR #15? Does Coinless Zack look almost seven feet tall or is that just me? Dan Mora seems to like giving him and Bulk height, whereas it doesn't quiiiiiiiite look like Kim or Trini got much taller. Opinion on Sentry Adam with the eye patch? Yay or nay to presuming that was a temporary thing before they killed him off in New Dawn?

Thanks for these interesting questions. Sorry for the delay in response. September was another heavy month with patient visits so it was hard to do any writing other than charting. :(

Drakkon's tastes? I think it was like suddenly you get everything you've ever wanted, things you never thought you'd have or experience. You believed they would make you happy. But once you start getting them every day or whenever you snap your fingers, they are no longer special.

I think as a teen and in some of his early days as Drakkon, he partook of some 'substances', like alcohol, pills, weed, etc. But he realized that in those instances he was impaired, he would potentially be vulnerable. He might drink some, usually with Red, once he was fully indocterinated.

So all the fancy foods, ehh.... Same old, same old. He does limit some items like his expensive chocolates not because of the cost but because he has to maintain his intimidating physique.

Jason and stuffed animals is interesting. If he did, it would be a secret like one special item. I've read some fanfiction where he was going 'through it' and he had a stuffed T Rex that one of the other Rangers gave him. So probably something like that. He's got a lot of responsibilities (heavy ones too) that other teens wouldn't have. And some stories, his age has ranged from 15 to 17-ish. At my age, I look at him like a baby. Still a little kid.

Kimberly and Skull's date? I think she regrets the reason she did it but its because Skull shows that he is a stand up guy underneath how he presents himself. He's shown important qualities by doing the right thing when what he wanted was being offered. And showed his ability to read other's body language and discern motivations.

The height thing? I would have to go back and consult my comics lol. Physically the one thing that always jumped out at me was the way they drew the muscle on these kids. Like Jason, for example. What 15-17 year old boy is that jacked?? Like no one questioned how he has the physique that it takes grown ass men years and 100% dedication to achieve? Like is taking something or????? LOL I mean I used to do a beauty pageant or two and I lifted. I was already at a disadvantage with more estrogen than testosterone etc but damn, it is not easy!!!

Black Sentry Adam has grown on me since reading your stories involving him and his talents with clothing. Before, I didn't give him much thought. I like the eye patch to be honest. He's been through physical and emotional hell. As far as if he's really been killed off, they always say death is relative in comics. Like Coinless Jason, or Jean Grey in the X men (She's died more times than I count and came back). I hope he keeps the eye patch either way :) It's interesting especially if we get to hear how that came about.

I think that's the thing I love most with fanfiction. When I write my characters and their stories, I'm weaving my own little tapestry of a universe. Most times, the characters take control and tell their own story. Like Drakkon and Red or David and Jamie... in other universe's, things would not look the same or have the same bonds/relationships. But writing these stories, it brings them into existence in a way. I rather enjoy when I sit down to write and you get that feeling that you are somehow zapped into another world where you are invisible and just get to sit back and watch the story unfold. Just getting sucked into your work. (I have to set timers or I will write and write and write like I did when I wrote Darkness and Sunshine. Thank God for a day off).

I also love visiting other people's worlds, like yours because I can easily see the changes and dystopian nature. Like they almost went back in time with how they did things. It adds that extra spice. :)

[emilyskinners]

one day trini's parents leave for something idk, but they trust trini to take care of the twins for a few days which means kim can come over without trini's mom breathing down their necks, which is always nice.

except the twins, when kim arrives the first night, bombard her with questions while trini's in the other room and some of them are lowkey quite personal too and then trini walks in.

"OYE. are two annoying kim?"

"nOOooOOoOOO" they say, madly scrambling away, and trini rolls her eyes and wrestles with them until she has them both slung up on her shoulders like potato sacks (yeah, she could easily pick them up without a fight with her newfound ranger strength, but what's the fun in that?) and just looks to kim and asks in a deadpan voice. "where should we put them?"

it's kim's first time really seeing trini as an older sister and she loves it

this is so ajsjdjfjfk. i love this SOOOOOO much, anthony. i can't even. the fic potential for this (that is, if it hasn't been written yet)

[wildswrites]

Blorbsday! Your characters are now power rangers. Who is what color and what arc do they have for the season as they fight evil with their team?

Okay so my disclaimer is that the only Power Rangers I have ever watched was a Power Rangers movie (2017), which I really enjoyed, but not enough to inspire me to watch other Power Rangers media. That being said, I am answering this for water lilies :

Red ( in the movie, this is Jason Scott; his arc regards a failed prank that got him in trouble with the law, and got him kicked from the football team ) : Finn or Luce (Finn's anger management and athleticism fits, as well as Luce's ability to get emself in trouble without much regard for the potential consequences).

Blue ( in the movie, this is Billy Cranston; his arc regards being harassed due to his autism ) : Cameron (has very niche interests, and little care for exploring outside of them. terrible with people) or Jules (particularly unique and hates confrontation).

Yellow ( in the movie, this is Trini Kwan; his arc regards not having friends, not identifying with family, and lashing out due to these things. ) : August or Gracie (Gracie has the lashing out down pat, while August tries too hard to fit in, sometimes failing miserably).

Pink ( in the movie, this is Kimberly Hart; his arc regards being a popular girl who got in trouble for cyberbullying ) : Willa (in another life, Willa would be that popular girl, struggling with the position life has offered her, culminating in a morality crisis).

Black ( in the movie, this is Zack Taylor; his arc regards his mother being ill, and fearing her death, and isolating himself. ) : Gideon (not because he knows his mother to care about her death, but because he is exactly the type to allow fear of another's death to throw him off so thoroughly, even if not a concrete possibility. he would struggle with sharing the load).

The resolution of all of their plotlines is basically making friends, which would carry over in this rendition. learning to lean on and trust other people is a huge step in trying to better yourself. I'm not sure how interesting this is to read, honestly, but I had fun diving back into the Power Rangers movie, at least.

Thanks for the ask, @sleepyowlwrites!

[autistictum2]

My Imperfectly Odd Self-Ai Piscean Picture Character Story. This is Phoebus Buffay: My Autistic Afro-Trini gay male equivalent of Phoebe Buffay from Friends Sitcom but This is my own Self-Ai Sitcom called "Boyfriends." He is a talented singer unlike his original counterpart. Phoebus has the greatest potential, so much so that every music agency wants to make a deal with him.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rand Piscespcz Sealy (@studentcarlyle)

[kriosv]

Ranger Rankings for Life's a Masquerade:

Billy 6: decent costume, only one to run after Bulk and Skull. Seriously, why didnt Zack or Jason help, they usually would.

Zack 5: best costume. Really has the physique to pull it off

Kim 4: pretty decent costume

Jason 3: worst put together costume. It just looks bad.

Trini 2: okay, i was expecting something like this from a 90's halloween episode, but me and my siblings were the village people back then, so i cant be too harsh on past mistakes. Insert Bo Burnham' Problematic here

Tommy 1: shows up to the party out of costume? Also, who turns off their communicator while theyre an on call superhero?

Best Stunt: Bulk catching Sharkie.

What happened to Sharkie?!

Sharkie shouldve been a mainstay. I love her punk aesthetic, and she worked great with Bulk and Skull. Why didnt they do more with her? So much wasted potential.

Apparently one script even had her slapstick fight Kimberly! Thats what ive been asking for, more Trini and Kim fighting the punks. If you dont want them fighting Bulk and Skull, you shouldve used Sharkie. Why couldnt we keep her! I want Sharkie back😭😭😭

[5ivebyfive]

Well I’m just gonna start my own post instead of waiting on anyone to ask me. A super important platonic ship for me is....

Zack and Kim.

They’re just...so alike. Both are sometimes off their heads. Both find themselves in trouble often, while saying they don’t know what happened. They both have endless energy. Trini rolls her eyes at them constantly.

The others just know (should know) not to leave them alone together. They countlessly dare each other to do things, sometimes at the expense of their teammates. That image of them chasing Trini up the cliff, to see who gets her first, laughing, that’s them. Both always want to be the best. They want to beat each other. But it’s always in a friendly way. Someone that can challenge the other. But they have so much fun together. But Zack, bless him for being a good, solid friend, he stops trying. Aside from the flirty moment of his of Trini falling on top of him, he’s not earnestly trying. He’s already seen the potential of Trimberly, and he cedes his fight to Kim.

One time Kim went to unbutton her shorts one time, because Zack said he could, without a doubt, piss farther than her. And she never backs down from a challenge. Neither one does. Another time Trini opened her front door to Kim puking off her porch. Zack was laying on his face on her front lawn. Kim said she beat him there, Zack shouted that’s because she tripped him four times. They both nearly choked to death on grapes because they were seeing who could stuff the most in their mouth. Trini walked in yelling “Jason Scott, I told you to never leave them alone!”

And sometimes it’s not fun. Sometimes, when they are alone, they talk. Zack talks about his mom and his fears for her. He doesn’t like bothering everyone with it all the time, but Kim will listen. She’ll offer to come over and visit his mom, or slip some cash into Zack’s pocket while he’s distracted. He’ll say how being a Power Ranger has been the best experience he’s ever had and he’s scared of it ending every day. Zack will listen to Kim talk about how sometimes she still gets depressed, still hates her past, but doesn’t talk about it because she may never fully let herself off the hook. He tells her to talk to Trini about it all. And reassures Kim that of course Trini still likes her (and when Kim finally kisses Trini for the first time she runs to Zack’s house and knocks on the door and high-five and do a little dance.) Zack knows all about Kim’s and Trini’s  big fights and always tells her to apologize first, which isn’t what Kim likes to do. He just smiles, drops an arm around her shoulders, and tells her to stop being stubborn because he for one knows how much she loves Trini, and how much Trini loves Kim in return. When Kim doesn’t get why Trini is mad at her she tells Zack, and he chuckles and shakes his head, and the tells Kim exactly where she went wrong. And she doesn’t get mad, because that’s how they are. They can call each other out on their shit and not be mad. They both know the other wouldn’t lie to them.

Zack is Kim’s best man at her wedding. He gives a funny, sweet speech all about how he set them up and is to be thanked for it.

Zack has sleepovers at Trimberly’s house and they both adore him for different reasons. But anytime Trimberly has a big fight, Trini knows Kim is with Zack getting into trouble but ultimately knows he’s taking care of her.

Uncle Zack is a big hit. The twins love him. Kim sets a plate for Zack at dinner every Thursday night. Zack and Trimberly stay up drinking and goofing off until Trini says someone has to make breakfast. Tells them not to get into trouble, and leaves them to their long talks and laughter. And Kim takes Zack’s hand and asks “remember when you used to tell me it’d all be worth it one day? ...you were right.” And Zack is so happy to hear it.

They’re just...a pair. Jason likes to say most groups always have one dumbass but they’ve got two. One of many, many times that Zack and Kim high five. (Kim always jumps to meet him even if she doesn’t need to.) They’re brother and sister, teammates, friends, and sometimes each other’s soft place to land. I just love them. 

[kimberlyannharts]

I I feel bad for Tommy and drakkon like instead of getting more development there Sidelines by the new Green Ranger and Omega Rangers

Tommy’s gotten so little i just can’t even comprehend how anyone would think the current arc is “Tommycentric.”  i know i always bring this up but he hasn’t even gotten the bare minimum of analysis into how he feels about a stranger using his old power coin outside of “let’s support him!!!”  

Tommy’s gotten so little i just can’t even comprehend how anyone would think the current arc is “Tommycentric.”  i know i always bring this up but he hasn’t even gotten the bare minimum of analysis into how he feels about a stranger using his old power coin outside of “let’s support him!!!”  

Drakkon has fared MUCH better than Tommy has; probably because the PR side of the books has less characters to juggle than the MM side, so Drakkon actually has space to Do Things.  and they do legit attempt to go into his headspace with scenes with Trini and #4; it’s just not in the way i think shows the full potential for his character

[yeahinoticed]

Trimberly Pirate AU

There are Very Many ideas in my head. If you’re interested in them, take a look at my feeble attempt at fic writing below.

Perhaps they were fated to meet, or maybe it was simply chance. Either way, there was no turning back. Their story was an inevitability - its movements as sure as the tides themselves.

A Pirate AU wherein Trini is a notorious pirate captain, and Kimberly just wants to be free.

Read it on AO3 here!

She had never expected to be here. Though Zack’s plans were wild to be sure, she had to concede that more often than not, they worked. Still, she’d rather it was him in her place. But as great a strategist as he was, Zack was terrible at keeping his cool. His excitement was likely to get the better of him, and if it happened here, it would spell the end of their careers - and most probably their lives. They just couldn’t risk it. Trini fiddles with the gaudy looking brooch pinned to her lapel. It looks like any other - a brassy little trinket engraved with a crown, vibrant red gemstone studded proudly in its centre. They’d picked it up in Havana last year, not long after their first success. Trini had been adamantly against spending their newfound gold on such frivolous things, but Zack would insist it was a token of celebration, a small purchase he’d treasure forever. It was hard to say no to such blinding enthusiasm, so she’d simply rolled her eyes and turned away, which he’d obviously taken as approval. Trini thought he’d get bored of it and sell it at the next port for some other shiny thing, but true to his word he’d held on to it, and the cocky grin he’d worn when brandishing it at her this morning had her reconsidering their partnership. Nevertheless, it was becoming useful now, so she supposed she couldn’t really fault him. 

She’d always thought such things were kind of tacky. Blatant shows of wealth and title weren’t really her style. They make you stand out. And in her line of work, standing out makes things a whole lot harder. Yet here she is, clad head to toe in a flashy formal ensemble. The mustard coat, the breeches, the stockings, the dastardly wig and feathered hat - the whole lot. The frills of her shirt tickle her neck and hands, a constant irritation in the back of her mind even as she peers up at the garish manor before her. Rendered cream walls, framed by extravagant trimming reflect the bright midday sun so brightly that they almost glow. The dark gravel path up to the manor is edged with smooth stones, dividing it from verdant garden beds which are somehow both calculated and unruly at the same time. At the base of the path, two uniformed guards flank an ornamental wrought iron gate. Its bars twist intricately to resemble thorned roses, and its top edge is studded with spikes. They glare at her, suspicion evident in their faces, hands gripping their rifles ever so slightly harder - imperceptible to an untrained eye. She understands their wariness - while her linen garments give the impression of status, she isn’t their typical wearer - no woman is. Trini might be accustomed to the blade, but it was time to put her sharp tongue to use.

 “State your business ma’am”.

 “Isn’t it quite obvious, good sir?” she replies. The accent doesn’t come easily to her, and if the guards notice, they give no indication of it.

 The one who had spoken looks to his comrade, visibly apprehensive. It was a difficult situation for him. If he gave the wrong person trouble, he’d be out of a job before evening. Yet he couldn’t simply stand aside, for then he wouldn’t be doing his job at all. He hadn’t signed up for such dilemmas. He sighs. 

 “Your invitation?”.

 “This is all hardly necessary” Trini remarks as she slips the folded letter from her inner breast pocket. The guard scans it over, thumbing the seal that identifies its sender. When he scans it a second time, his eyebrow quirks.

 “Forgive me ma’am, but you don’t quite look like an ‘Oliver’ to me”. His partner scoffs at this, before clearing his throat and making to smooth the collar of his regimental red coat, directing his gaze somewhere in the distance. Trini replies without missing a beat.

 “My father was quite set on the name before I was even born. Though I do wish someone had talked him out of it, I don’t very well mind being named after my grandfather”.

 The guard squints at her, before his frown eases in thought. Her reasoning wasn’t completely out of the realm of possibility. 

 “Very well, Miss Bennett. I’m sure Governor Hart will be glad for your arrival. I apologise for the inconvenience. I do hope you enjoy the party.”

 At the guards nod, Trini makes her way through the gate. 

 “It’s quite alright, I get it all the time”. 

 ---

 As she steps into the main hall, Trini is struck by the atmosphere. A low chatter echoes off the stone floors, intermittently joined by the soft clanking of cutlery. She can still hear the familiar whispers of the ocean in the distance, beckoning her back sweetly. Around her, the guests are dressed much the same as she is. They converse with false smiles, many holding silver goblets filled with what she can only assume is a fine wine. A guard stands at the foot of the main stairs, rifle up against his shoulder. She passes another who stands at the entrance to the dining room. There were more than she thought there would be. How bothersome. She isn’t two steps into the room when the idle noises of the manor are joined by the gentle moan of a violin. A grand wooden dining table is set against the main window, adorned with an assortment of food, though she’s sure it normally resides front and centre. As tempting as it looks, it's not what Trini is here for. She lets out a quiet chuckle. Zack would’ve been right squiffy by the day's end, if he’d come along. The people in the room begin to pair up, swaying slowly to the violin’s song. While she’d prefer not to partake, she’s sure to arouse suspicion just standing here - and she’s not sure she could hold a real conversation without giving herself away. 

 Trini glances around the room. Standing by one of the large windows is a woman in a silken, rose coloured dress. She’s strikingly beautiful, with her dark brown hair in an elegant updo. It catches the afternoon light in a way that steals Trini’s breath for a moment. She’s about to look away, find someone else, when the woman turns, meeting her eyes. After a pause, the stranger smiles faintly, tilting her head in silent questioning. Rats. With one deep breath, Trini slips back into her persona. It was time to dance. 

 ---

 Kimberly Hart has attended many a party in her twenty three years. Her father’s parties, his friends’ parties, his enemies’ parties. It was expected of her really. Don a pretty dress, be receptive (but not too receptive) to her potential suitors. Gossip idly with girls who have far too much time on her hands. She didn’t mind it, most of the time. She had to admit though, it could get a little boring. This was her father’s third ‘dance’ of the year and it was only February. He had to keep up appearances of course. How else would his peers know of Port Royal’s thriving trade if he did not celebrate it with fine wine and finer appearances. Even so, Kimberly could only tolerate the advances of so many men. Nobles, with promises of glamour and comfort back in the motherland. Merchant sailors who weave tales of wealth and adventure that seem just a little too crafted to be true. Naval captains who think their pride and ranking should have her swooning at their feet with nary another word. Every so often, there’d be one or two who would have her attention. Whose silk tongues and vibrant eyes would draw her in, if only momentarily. But she’d find soon enough that her biting wit was never appreciated for long, and the smooth talking would always give way to frustration. It seemed she was simply a prize to be won, a hill to be conquered. Bragging rights. Quite frankly, she was sick of it.

 And so, Kimberly finds herself standing by the front window of the dining room, eyes ensnared by the gentle ebb and flow of the waves upon the beach. Her mother used to tell her stories of the ocean - stories far grander, far more fascinating than those of her suitors. Stories of sleepless nights in raging storms. Of brilliant new lands and people and creatures. Of days spent in song and nights spent in stupor. She’d always wondered what it was like out there, beyond the confines of her father’s estate and everything it represented. Would she go? If given the chance? The thought is at the forefront of her mind when she feels the familiar pressure of a set of eyes, trying and failing to be inconspicuous. Turning quickly she seeks them out, finding a woman who seems just out of place. She’s wearing an embroidered suit, woven linen in a yellow far too green. The hair of her grey wig is pulled into a ponytail beneath her feathered tricorne. Her attire is interesting, yes, but Kimberly does not recognise her. She recognises most of her father’s guests. She feels her lips twitch upwards at the woman, holding her gaze from across the room. 

 Something flashes across her watcher’s face, gone too quickly to identify. The woman strides towards her, light on her feet. There's a vague slant to her hips, an unfamiliar swagger that Kimberly thinks might betray some unknown truth. What secrets were held in her small frame? She presents her hand, palm upturned. “May I have this dance?”.

 Kimberly takes her hand, finds it unexpectedly rough and calloused, but gentle. As if their union was a cue, the music picks up, the rest of the band joining the violin as its pace hastens. They begin to dance a casual rigaudon, Kimberly following the stranger’s lead. She waits for her partner to address her, watches her eyes flick about the room. They’ve stepped around each other three times before Kimberly breaks the silence.  “The strong silent type then?” 

 As if only just remembering where she was, the woman’s eyes snap towards her. Her brows knit together. “Pardon?”.

 This was unusual. Kimberly’s suitors would usually rush to fill silences, trying desperately to keep her eyes upon them. It seems her current partner barely cares for her existence. “You haven’t spoken a word to me since you asked me to dance”. She’s surprised at the venom that laces her words - it hadn’t been intentional.

 “I’m quite sorry madam”. With a turn, they dance in the reverse direction. “I was simply admiring the Governor’s manor. It’s quite beautiful. Have you been here before?” 

 Kimberly almost stops dancing. She searches the other woman’s face for any sign of jest, finding nothing but honesty and vague inattention. It was absurd to think a guest to this party would not know her name, though she supposes it could be possible. Her irritation fades quickly, replaced by a mounting curiosity. “My family is close to the Governor’s”, she lies. 

 Her partner’s only response is an idle hum. 

 With their next step, Kimberly’s eyebrow quirks. She pulls the woman into a twirl under her arm.  “And you are?” she inquires.

 Seemingly startled by the movement, the other woman stumbles slightly, before regaining her footing and resuming their dance. “Bennett. Oliver Bennett”, she replies firmly. Pulling Kimberly into a twirl of her own, she smirks. “Merchant extraordinaire”.

 Kimberly mulls the name over. Oliver Bennett. It sounded vaguely familiar, but any recognition she might have had was fleeting - as out of reach as a feather in the breeze. Though the woman had said it quite confidently, it had a strange sort of inflection. In fact, now that Kimberly thought about it, the woman’s accent was unfamiliar. It sounded vaguely English, but her words were more rounded, had a rich and intriguing depth to them, like they were dripping with such experience that it bled into their very sound. Kimberly’s stomach dips in a way she’s sure could be addicting. She returns her attention to Miss Bennett, only to find that her eyes are once again fixed elsewhere. She follows her gaze, finds it trained on the staircase in the entry hall. With a tilt of her head, Kimberly drapes an arm over her partner’s shoulder, pulling her closer with every step. “Extraordinaire, hmm?”.

 The woman drags her eyes back to Kimberly’s and holds them there for a long moment. Her smile turns upwards. “You sound surprised, Miss…”

 “Clarke”, Kimberly supplies, flinching internally. It had been the first name to enter her mind. She banishes the thoughts that surround it. Not now. “It's not every day I meet a woman merchant” she admits. “You’ve piqued my interest Miss Bennett”. 

 Though it seems the other woman’s attention is now firmly upon her, Kimberly makes no move to increase the distance between them again. This close, she can see the depths of colour within the other woman’s eyes, reflecting the light of the setting sun. They glint with unspoken secrets, not unlike the pieces of foreign jewelry often brought by traders upon the tide. Promises of a world much larger than anything Kimberly had experienced. 

 “Some would say my methods are...unconventional”. The merchant’s words bring her out of her reverie. They serve only to deepen her curiosity.

 “However do you mean?” Kimberly presses. 

 “Trade secrets, Miss Clarke - I can’t simply give them away”, she replies with a wink. “But I have to be smart you see”. Another twirl brings their faces impossibly close together, and she whispers her next words carefully. “There are pirates out there you know”. 

 Kimberly is about to press further, when the sharp ringing of the town bell cuts through the manor, signalling another day’s end. The music begins to fade, and the woman detaches and spins away from her with a sly smile, disappearing amongst the meandering throng of people moving from the dining room into the entrance hall. She scans the small crowd, but any traces of the woman’s yellow coat and devious grin are gone as swiftly as they had come. It's only once she turns back to the window that Kimberly notices how fast her heart is beating. 

[augment-techs]

Character asks: Eugene Skullovitch

favorite thing about them Oh to list all my favorite things. But this is regular Skull and not Coinless Skull, so the simplest answer is that if the series wasn't so focused on the pastel rangers and had but a moment in time to consider on secondary characters for more than five minutes, I really feel like we could get something out of Skull and Bulk and all the others. It's like those slice of life episodes in dramas or comedies or comics that have very little to do with serialization; we know something is going on, but only the daring bring it out. Also, he is a sweetheart and a gentleman and gets hurt a lot emotionally, so... least favorite thing about them In the OG series and whenever we get a one-off annual involving him, any development of his (and Bulk's) character gets thrown out the window just to make him comedic or make the rangers look better by comparison. Also I hate that red beret; that is like the kiss of death when it comes to my interests. favorite line For lack of certain context, the lines that tend to revolve around in my head include his confrontation in GGPR 3 with Billy, and the pre-shoot down of Kim in GGPR 15. But, as I am sweeping through MM again, I find myself drawn to his very telling conversation with Bulk about Candice, "Why'd she have to find someone else?" brOTP Bulk and Skull are the literal founding of the Those Two Guys Trope. If they weren't BroTP kings, I would be committing blasphemy. OTP The one that reeled me into the comics like a moon circling a planet, would be Skull/Billy. I am still waiting with jaw grinding for the writers to pick up the little thread they gave us and winding it into something MORE PLEASE. But until then, fandom makes me happy and keeps me fed~ nOTP I have a dislike for Kim and Skull being anything more than friends, but can be coaxed into sort of, kind of liking them as something more in the Coinless universe. What has wound its way into my intense dislike is Trini/Skull, because...why? And Candice/Skull because it's fucking creepy and she is waaaaaaaaaay too old for him. random headcanon A big contribution to his and Billy's friendship disintegrating was Billy being from a family that made sure he got what he needed in life--summer at space camp, love and affection, food without conditions attached--and Skull being made to stay away from him "for his own good" but also because he didn't feel right telling Billy about all of his trips to the hospital. unpopular opinion HE AND BULK WOULD MAKE EXCELLENT RANGERS OR AT LEAST CONFIDANTS FOR THE OTHER RANGERS. That stand-alone comic was so fucking rude, but had SO MUCH POTENTIAL. SHATTERED GRID/WORLD OF THE COINLESS PROVED IT. song i associate with them

(But honestly, I have so, so many songs for him. This one just comes up in my head so often because it fell into my lap RIGHT at the beginning of my time in the fandom.) favorite picture of them

[phgq]

Surprising loved ones in the new normal

#PHnews: Surprising loved ones in the new normal

MANILA – The doorbell rings and you’re greeted by a delivery person who tells you that “someone” ordered food for you. But instead of handing you the delivery, she tells you that you need to pick it up from the car’s trunk.

You’re suspicious, but agree to do so. She leads you to her car and when she opens the trunk—surprise! It’s decorated with nearly a dozen balloons, lights, and a streamer that says “I miss you!” You later realize that it’s from your boyfriend who’s currently abroad working to save enough for your future together.

This is what goes on in the “car trunk surprise” business that’s making rounds on social media as a new way to surprise loved ones in the new normal that currently restricts travel and bans large gatherings due to threat of Covid-19 pandemic. It’s also a side hustle which has helped displaced cruise-line worker Babe Ruth Tolentino, 30, earn extra cash after major cruise operators suspended their sailings.

“Nag-decide ako na mag-start ng business na puwede sa’kin. Ngayong pandemic, mahirap magwork ngayon kung saan-saan. Meron naman kaming car, so ‘yun na lang yung naisip ko (I decided to start business that I can handle. Now that we have pandemic, it’s difficult to go around to work. We have car, so I came out with this idea) instead of just delivering food or other items,” Tolentino told the Philippine News Agency.

Tolentino said she and her sisters lost their jobs because of the pandemic so she thought of making use of their cars to delivery items to make profit.

“Sabay-sabay kami nawalan ng work. Ayun nga, may mga kotse then wala naman kaming mahanap na work, ‘yun na lang (We lost our jobs at the same time. We had cars but we couldn’t find work, so that’s what we thought of),” she added. 

(Clockwise) Aira Aranas, Ella Aranas and Babe Ruth Tolentino, the brains behind "Mi Amor Car Trunk Surprise", are all smiles as they join car trunk surprise recipient Mima for a photo. (Contributed photo)

Since her sisters were crafty, she decided to combine their artistic talents and her social skills to put up a business that eventually became known as “Mi Amor Car Trunk Surprise”. Mi Amor, which in Spanish means “my love” is the perfect tagline considering they offer surprise packages meant to be delivered to loved ones.

“Yung mga sisters ko, sila yung may knowledge sa mga decorations so parang in-adopt ko nalang din ‘yun para in one plan na ganun, sama-sama kami. Sila yung nagde-decorate, ako lang yung nag-a-approve ng mga bookings (My sisters, they’re the ones with knowledge in decorations so I adopted that so that we have this joint plan we can work on together. They make the decorations, I approve the bookings),” she said.

The car trunk surprise caters to different occasions -- birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, bridal showers, or even a random day you decided you want to win back your ex-lover.

Tolentino said that preparing a car trunk surprise would usually take two to three days, depending on the theme of the client’s preference. They would have to print customized streamers, photos of the recipient to put on a clothesline, and a letter.

Buying the flowers and cake and other food would have to be done on the day of the delivery to guarantee freshness. Setting up the car trunk surprise would only take around an hour, she said.

But the most challenging part is looking for the recipient’s address, she said: “lalo na kung yung bahay nasa liblib (especially if the house is in a remote place).”

The car trunk surprise caters to different occasions -- birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, bridal showers, or even a random day you decided you want to win back your ex-lover. (Contributed photos)

Most accommodating

Although there is a bunch of other car trunk surprise businesses around, Tolentino considers theirs the most accommodating when it comes to customers’ requests. It also helps that it’s among the most affordable car trunk services around.

“What I can say is affordable siya (It’s affordable). Sa reviews, sinasabi nila mas madali kaming kausap ganun (In reviews, people say we’re easy to talk to),” she said.

The cheapest car trunk surprise package, Package A costs PHP1,499 inclusive of a theme of your choice, music to be played when the trunk is opened, balloons, five to 10 photos to be hung up, coated mallows, a special message card.

Package B, which costs PHP1,999, offers the same inclusions as Package A but with a box of banana cupcakes and a plush toy. Package C, which costs PHP2,499, also offers the same inclusions but with a choice of either two boxes of banana cupcakes or brownies, a small expensive toy, and a flower bouquet.

On top of the package is a delivery fee which will be computed based on distance, but clients who live within Biñán, Laguna don’t have to pay a single centavo since it’s where Tolentino and her sisters currently live.

To date, Mi Amor Car Trunk Surprise has surprised recipients from all over Region 4-A or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

She said that her experience as a cruise line worker has trained her to be customer service driven such that she always makes it a point that her clients are given their money’s worth.

“Before kami nag-start, nag-observe din naman ako. I tried to inquire sa mga ganyan, then sometimes ay ‘hindi po puwede ma’am, may ganito, ganyan’ sabi ko baka puwede po medyo mababa yung price, ‘hindi rin po.’ Hindi accommodating masyado ‘to. I said iibahin ko siya sa way ko (Before we started with our business, I observed how others did it. I tried to inquire with other shops, then sometimes they’d say, ‘we can’t do that, ma’am because of this and that’ and I’d ask, maybe we can get a lower price, they’d say, ‘we can’t do that.’ They’re not that accommodating. So I said, I’ll take a different approach),” she said.

Tolentino’s quest to be more accommodating eventually paid off as clients have been leaving rave reviews on their official Facebook Page.

Three months after they launched their car trunk surprise business, Tolentino and her sisters opened a party supplies kiosk to cater to those who also wanted to have mini parties in their homes.

The "Mi Amor Surprise Me" party supplies kiosk was opened three months after the launch of their car trunk surprise business. (Contributed photo)

Tug at heartstrings

This Valentine’s Day, she said many potential clients have started inquiring their services. But she said she can only accept as much as three clients per day.

“Feb. 14 is para dito lang sa Biñan kasi super busy ko po. Hindi ko rin sila maipagda-drive kasi yung store namin is tatlo, pupuntahan ko every hour, tse-check ko kung ano na status so magiging busy din ako. Tatlo lang kukunin namin (We will only cater to those living within Biñan on Feb. 14 because I’d be super busy that day. I won’t be able to drive because we have three stores which I visit every hour to check. So we can only book about three clients),” she said.

For Tolentino, the best part about their business is getting to witness the happy look on recipients faces the very moment they receive the surprise.

“Iba yung feeling. Minsan nga naiiyak din kami lalo na kapag mga parents yung sinu-surprise ganun. Nakakadala yung emotions (It feels different. Sometimes we also feel like crying when clients surprise their parents. We get carried away with emotions),” she said.

She said most of their clients are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) or siblings who want to surprise their elderly parents.

“Kasi nga hindi na nakauwi. Mostly yung mga nagpapa-surprise 60th birthday, 18th ganun. Mga hindi na nakapag-party sa bahay (It’s because they can’t come home. Most of those who avail of our services are those who want a surprise for 60th birthdays or 18th birthdays. Those who can’t throw parties in their homes),” she said.

Until now, Tolentino says that she and her siblings find time to surprise their own parents given their knack for pulling off surprises.

“Mahirap nga lang sila isurprise kasi siyempre magkakasama kami sa bahay. Ngayong pandemic triny naming i-surprise sa resort (It’s difficult to pull off a surprise because we live in the same house. But this pandemic, we tried surprising them by taking them to a resort),” she added.

When cruise lines resume operations, Tolentino plans to get her job back and let her sisters manage their party supplies business.

“Yung sa car trunk, ‘yun ang hindi ko pa sure kung paano ko siya gagawin. Marunong din naman mag-drive yung mom ko so baka ituloy pa rin nila (As for the car trunk business, that’s what I’m not quite sure about doing. My mom knows how to drive, so they might keep doing it),” she said. (PNA)

  ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Surprising loved ones in the new normal." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130489 (accessed February 14, 2021 at 09:53PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Surprising loved ones in the new normal." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130489 (archived).

[phoenix43song]

My Reviews and Thoughts on Little Women and the Many Adaptations

To start off I have been reading the Little Women series since I was 8 I think, and I’ve been watching the 1994 version since I was 6. It wasn’t until recently that I finally watched the 1949 and the modern 2018 adaptations ( I watched the  BBC/PBS mini series last year, and I do re-watch it every now and then). I still have to watch the 1933 version, which I plan to do when I find the time. I have also been re-reading the books because I am excited for Greta Gerwig’s adaptation even though I am not a fan of some of the stuff she’s been saying about a couple of the characters (but some of my fears have been relieved! Yeah!). In this long post I will post my thoughts on the novel(s) themselves, Louisa, and the adaptations that I have seen. 

I will start with the one I am very familiar with: the 1994 version! I have loved this movie since the first time I watched it. It’s a tradition to watch it multiple of times around the Christmas season with my mom, and every now and then I will watch it whenever I feel like it. Since I graduated as a theatre and film student watching films and analyzing characters, their world, decisions, the themes and motifs have been really eye opening. I’ve been devouring books since I was a kid, trying to write my own novels, and I’ve made a couple of short films. When it comes to adapting a screenplay from a book there are a lot of decisions to be made: what to keep, what to cut, what to condense, does the order of things need to be changed, and what original creative content can we put in? 1994 is a really, really good adaptation of the novel, with some minor flaws, a questionable original content decision, and how the screenwriter and director put Louisa into Jo. The cinematography and music is gorgeous, the house looks lived in, and the whole atmosphere screams late American 19h century. 

The acting, for the most part, is right on character and Winona did such a great job as Jo! Trini did wonderful a Meg and I liked how we got more of Meg because she’s important too. Claire Danes was a fabulous Beth (though she looks older than 14; I always thought she was 16 or 17...), while Kirsten did a fun, spoiled Amy...but she did ham it up a bit too much at times. Samantha...I did not like one bit as older Amy. Laurie was great in the first 2/3 of the movie but once he hit Europe I didn’t like how they [tried] to develop his character. His romance with Amy fell flat, which I was sad to see. Gabriel was a really good Fritz...I just didn’t like how they made them date while Jo was in New York. I understand it because the proposal at the end of the movie makes it really romantic, but the whole purpose of Jo/Fritz and Jo falling in love was that she was blind to it: she falling in love with a man. They start off as boarding house neighbors, then student/teacher, which quickly turns into friendship of equals, and it’s not until Jo is at home missing Fritz that she begins to realize her feelings. And when Fritz comes to court Jo she blushes! Despite this I’m a sucker for romance and still love Jo/Fritz despite my feelings on the adaptation choices. Marmee and Aunt March were on point and I loved how the actresses were their characters. 

Now moving onto the 2017 mini series. I like this adaptation, and have watched it a few times, but there are things that just bug me and drive me crazy, and moments that I love. This is the only adaptation that does not have have Jo’s plays or the Pickwick society. I hate this and it was a poor adaptation choice in my opinion. This series really should have been at least 6 episodes and not the measly 3 that it was. Despite this the series did include moments from the book that either haven’t been adapted before, or it was just mentioned. I love how we see Beth get the courage to go to Mr. Lawerence to play the piano and their relationship. They really should have gotten a young Amy and an older looking Beth: the girls look the same age from episode 1 to 3, which especially doesn’t work for Amy. Maya did a good Jo and it’s actually impressive for her first screen role, but she did lack some of Jo’s qualities (she is way better as Robin in Stranger Things). Emily did a good job as Marmee. Anne was another really great Beth, and I have to say her freckles seem to give the character substance. Kate’s Amy was good but like Elizabeth Taylor in the 1949 version, she was not believable as young Amy. (I’ve heard Florence Pugh is amazing and a scene stealer but even if she can act like young Amy (and based on the clips she can), her womanly body will not let her be believable).

I like how Beth’s kittens made a lot of screen time (I love kittens!) and how they did the Hummel’s house: it was just like how the book described it. All of those little children did a great job at looking hungry, cold, and scared. Makes me wonder about Mrs. Hummel’s husband (I need to find that part and re-read it). I loved how the included Camp Laurie, Cousin Flo, and Laurie trying to kiss Jo. The wedding between Meg and John Brooke was sweet, esp Aunt March giving her the pearls. I crack each time I see Aunt March’s parrot (was that in the book? Man I haven’t gotten far into my re-reading of the whole book; it’s been awhile), and how we got to see how close Jo and Beth are. They tried their best in portraying Amy/Laurie, and Mark Stanley as Fritz: he was Fritz from the book! (He looks a lot younger without that bushy beard though; that’s the one thing about Fritz I can’t stand haha). It’s too bad that Jo/Fritz was so rushed in episode 3: their relationship and Fritz was barely developed. (Though they did include a lot from the book like the Weekly Volcano and Jo’s poem that brought Fritz to her). Laurie in general was not Laurie; maybe in the Laurie who wants to play all the time but that’s it. Not Laurie. 

Now onto the 1949 version. I fell in love with this adaptation, flaws and all. It was very charming, had some great acting, however a lot happened off screen, some characters/moments were rushed, and I can’t believe June was 31 years old! And that Elizabeth Taylor was pregnant. It doesn’t bother me that they made Beth the youngest because Margaret did such a fabulous job as Beth. I loved all other scenes, her relationship with Jo and Mr. Lawerence in particular. This is the only version I’ve seen where the sisters buy Marmee gifts with their 1 dollar bill, and I liked how it was  a surprise and quite moment. The actress who played Marmee was amazing and Aunt March cracked me up. I didn’t care for Laurie in this version either. And like I said with the 2017 mini series: they really needed to have an actress play young Amy. Elizabeth did a really good job, don’t get me wrong, but she definitely seemed way older. The hot Italian actor as Fritz was sure an interesting choice. I wish they would’ve just made Fritz Italian and just changed his name slightly (I believe Greta made Fritz French in her version since Louis Garrel is French), and I also wish he could’ve been in the movie more! Since he was close in age to June I just wanted to see them on screen more. Yes he doesn’t look one bit like Fritz in the book, and call me shallow, but I honestly don’t care in this version. Back then - and sadly to this day - Hollywood cares about looks. That’s why I love Mark Stanly as Fritz in the 2017 because he physically is Fritz. But still...anyways I am going slightly off topic. 

So. The 2018 modern adaptation. This should have either been a Hallmark movie or a Netflix movie. This movie should have never been released theatrically and that’s why it bombed horrible. I mean it bombed horribly in a lot of aspects and areas, but it does have some great scenes! It’s all in the detail. They have their castle’s in the sky for one. All of Jo’s plays and the Pickwick society and how it changed to be of a platoon. I just love the attic scenes in this movie. I also love how Jo is writing fantasy stories and a fantasy novel and it’s sad that she can’t be taken seriously because there are great fantasy novelists! Tolkien, JK Rowling, G RR Martin for example. That really bothered me. I do like how Fritz is an actual professor at a university and becomes Jo’s editor and mentor, how that develops into friendship, but to me the romance aspect of their relationship falls flat somewhat. I like how they had a younger Amy and an older Amy, but I honestly got confused at first because there were younger versions of all the sisters (and it’s unbelievable that three of them would look the same with the 13 year gap). This version did a flashback style so it will be interesting to see how Greta did hers. The editing for this movie was all over the place and chaotic. I didn’t like Lucas as Laurie one bit, I get how they would go to parties but I hated those scenes (it was a good wake up call for Meg though). Beth fell short in this movie and so did Amy to an extent. You don’t really get to know John Brooke, or even their Marmee all that much. And really, Marmee? In a modern adaptation they should’ve just stuck with Mom. I did like how Jo buzzed her hair off in support of Beth (there is a good graphic novel that came out recently that’s set in the modern world and there are few similar choices. There’s also a book called Meg and Jo - Amy and Beth will come out later next year - that makes some interesting choices to say the least when adapting the novel into modern times. Anyways...), and how they had their father over seas in the army. I honestly need to watch this movie again to really critique it, but I honestly think it could’ve been a great movie...the script needed more rewrites, it needed a director who knew what they were doing, a better editor, and honestly some better actors. The potential was there, it has it moments, but it fell. 

To conclude this rather blog like post (and kudos to all who have read the whole thing) I will take just a little bit on my views on Louisa herself and Greta’s version. Louisa didn’t want to write a book for children, and when she did she wrote a semi-autobiographical novel that she leaves on a cliff hanger. In my mind she meant to continue the story, but she wanted to see what the reader’s thought. She did put the story out of her mind for awhile, until the book had to go into reprints and she got hounded with fan mail and fans in general. Yes she didn’t want Jo to marry because she herself never did (from what I’ve read she did have one sided crushes and probably a few second romances that didn’t last long, but she also never saw herself as desirable; she comes across to be as maybe being aromatic asexual, demisexual, or bi). She was a bit of Germanophile, along with Europe in general, and that’s why from the first few pages of LW there’s German everywhere. Which this means that Friedrich Bhaer was probably planned in one way or another. Louisa never wanted Jo to be with Laurie because they were close like siblings and loved each other that way. Laurie thought himself in love with Jo, but Jo does bring up good points: they would quarrel and end up being unhappy because he honestly didn’t like her scribbling. Amy makes Laurie grow up and those two match each other perfectly. Fritz is a perfect match for Jo because he treats her like an equal, he helps with her writing, and she gets to be apart of a society she loves. 

I have been relieved from my fears (for the most part) about how Fritz will be portrayed and the Jo/Fritz romance. We do meet him right away since we start in the present before going back and forth between past and present until the timelines match up. Greta is the only person to adapt the New Year’s Dance, which I am really excited to see. I haven’t been told if Fritz’s nephews are mentioned or seen. I know he gives her advice, but not if he teaches her his language (which I assume to be French in this version), that they do get into a fight, and that he comes to court her at her house. I was worried the umbrella proposal scene was going to be changed, but I’ve been told it’s in and it’s romantic. And then there’s Amy/Laurie! I am so glad that this relationship seems to be fully developed. I can’t wait to see everyone as their character and how Greta did the back and forth. 

I am worried though about a few things: how if one isn’t familiar with the story they get confused at first with the back and forth, some of the costume choices, the acting in certain scenes, some scenes or moment being cut or condensed for time because this is a movie not a mini series, and I just wish that Fritz - Louis - could’ve been in the trailers more with more promotion. I understand why...at least Louis understands his character. Greta mentioned something that Fritz basically had to be a prize to be won and oh boy: no one is a prize to be won. And putting a lot of Louisa into Jo...I’m worried about that. Sure the 1994 version had  a Louisa quote that Jo’s says about voting, but this seems like it might be too hammered in. I guess once I see the film I will finally know (and write my review and thoughts), because I can read all the critic reviews, interviews, Q and A’s I want but it’s up to me on whether or not I’ll like it or love, and I sure hope I’ll love it. 

The is the end. Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts.