#unlike this pic of frank

[frnkiebby]

baby. bbyboy. sir. pls.~🎃

[xxfangirl365xx]

alright kids, gather around. I have some things I'd like to say regarding last night in a very organized list format

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS

Overall It was beautiful. I cried watching the stream. But sadly went to bed before it was over because I was feeling very unwell from staying up so late ): I missed blood,I'm not ok and Helena on stream but that's ok <3

MCR5,NEW TOUR?

-Did not expect them to release anything about that last night since it was night one of two. More likely they would do it tonight so I'm holding out hope for tonight since it's the more likely option

SOCIALS/ONLINE PRESENCE/POSTS

-Frank has NOT posted anything regarding MCR only dunes, which is very unlike him. As we know Frank loved MCR to death. He's the no 1 fan of his own band so I find it odd and very intentional that he has not posted anything about MCR at wwwyf only dunes

-along the same lines Mikey has not posted anything. Few weeks ago we got practice from him which was good, but all we have from him r 2 pics of him and his wife which r adorable, but not relating to MCR. also seems a little intentional to not have said anything about them playing at all

-MCR'S socials r DRY like bone dry. With swarm tour they posted things about "tonight were playing in (blank) at (blank time)" or something like that but they didn't post anything about WWWYF apart from when tickets went on sale for both days which is a little odd in my opinion

for all of them the silence seems ominous. Like they r trying to build suspense

OUTFIT'S, STAGE,GEE'S HAIR

-All black outfits head to toe, they looked good but it was very lacking black parade tbh (not a bad thing they looked so cute tho)

-STAGE-

-Only projections of spiders,tree (during cancer),swords,bridge (?),worms (?)

-SPIDERS PROJECTED

-swarm logo=fly

-spiders= eat flies

-"Witch" was leaked earlier this year. Paper kingdom was the album meant to come right after black parade. Their aesthetic kinda similar. Whites,blacks ect.

-some of the visuals like the swords was giving very paper kingdom 100% and if I rly did see a bridge projection in the background that's also very much the vibe. but most this stuff was done in short flashes across the backdrop

-Gee's hair-

-New haircut (stunning btw)

-new era? Gee had changed his hair for new era's. bullets/revenge it stayed pretty much the same apart from random dye jobs here and there but during black parade he got it real short and bleached it. Danger days ht dyed it red. hair is a big thing when it comes to Gee.

-New hair since shrine show (2019) pretty much. He's had long hair since MCR has come back together. U could argue it was to look nice but think about all the other stuff he's done that was also a big deal like umbrella acad final season and stuff. Why didn't he get a haircut then? Why now? and why was he hiding it?

-The last vid we got was earlier in the week the birthday one and he had the long hair still. It was recent like he did this JUST for the shows.

-i'm 100% taking this is a way of moving into a new era for MCR

MERCH

-some people were kinda bummed there was no new cool merch from the festival apart from the DEAD! zip up which is pretty cool ngl

-kinda looked like they were trying to get rid of older stuff before making something new perhaps?

-spending more time and resources on NEW shirts for a NEW album makes more sense than spending all the time and resources on designing new shirts for black parade when they can do that pretty much any time

HOPES FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW

I will not be staying up this time sorry guys. I slept 4 hours last night and feel very unwell from it. So i'll be sleeping tonight sadly but here is my hopes and predictions for tonight.

-MCR will play just like last night with the visuals and stuff but will maybe play one new song or announce it some how with the backdrop and "Paper Kingdom" will be announced to be released on OCT. 31

-Their socials will go live with all the info immediately

-Shortly after the album comes out there will be tour dates announced for spring/summer of 2025 INCLUDING warped tour

-END-

thanks for listening to my rambles if I think of more i'll add it to the list but I wanted a cohesive place to put all my findings and thoughts to share

[skeletoncrevvs]

crossbeat magazine, aug 2007

translation/transcription under cut

Crossbeat - AUG 2007 - TRANSLATION

PAGE 30-31 (excluding cover and contents page):

Special feature on rock legends coming to Japan

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

AKIRA, Tekkonkinkreet, Lupin III  - "I'm attracted to works that are innovative and take on new challenges. I love them. I can't stop thinking about them."

Welcome to MCR Theatre @Budokan!! A drama of destruction and rebirth explodes in a spectacular live performance!! Japan and Manga

Interview by Takuro Ueno, interpreter: Tomoko Katsuta

We take a look at Gerard's true personality and the band's latest vision as a huge fan of the band.

Pics: Tetsuro Sato

PAGE 32:

The explosion of "Dead!", the confetti of "Welcome to the Black Parade", the flames of "Mama", the fireworks of "Disenchanted", the explosion of "Famous Last Words"! My Chemical Romance's Budokan live show was a spectacular entertainment show with plenty of gunpowder and pyro. The first half was a live performance of the album in which they dressed up as the band The Black Parade, the alter-ego of "The Black Parade", and the second half was a performance of other songs. The set was almost the same as the US tour in the spring, and the live started with "The End", in which frontman Gerard Way appeared as a patient in a white coat.

What impressed me was not only the dramatic songs that quickly became anthems, but also the presence of songs that could be called excellent supporting actors that supported the main characters. The combination of explosive guitar and beats in "This Is How I Disappear" created a sense of intense speed. In the second half, Frank Iero (G) and Ray Toro (G) strummed their guitars with complete concentration in the raging ensemble. The heavy melody gradually changed its expression, and I was also excited by "Sleep," which had a cathartic surge along with a heavyweight groove.

Bob Bryar's (Dr) powerful drumming also really came into play in this kind of song. And what was most impressive was the glimpse of Gerard's "madness" for a short time. 

There's a fine line between madness and sanity. In his sane mode, he's a geek who loves comics and games with all his heart, while in his dangerous mad mode, he explodes with emotion on stage. I think that the album "The Black Parade" is somewhere between the two, and for those wanderers whose egos tend to become unstable because of their wandering, Gerard's message is absolutely real. What I thought after seeing this live performance was that "The Black Parade" is a work that reflects the current era, and it has an immeasurable appeal to stubborn adults.

After performing the album that they had pushed themselves to the limit and creating in a lavish manner on the Budokan stage, Gerard and the other four members shed their heavy costumes and appeared in casual clothes. Behind them was a backdrop with the word "REVENGE" written in large letters, and when the life-sized My Chemical Romance performed "I'm Not Okay" and "Helena," the audience responded with a chorus of their own. Unlike the first half, there was only one flashy performance using gunpowder, and there was no confetti raining down on the audience or flames rising up. At the end, the people who stood on stage were not emo charisma, but young music-loving men who grew up in the New Jersey punk scene.

On this day, Frank joined the stage of the opening act, the melodic punk band Bouncing Souls from his hometown. Gerard asked the fans several times during his performance to give them loud cheers and applause. If you think about it objectively, you can see that Gerard's jumps and fist pumps are not cool, but I think that the attitude of "it's okay to be uncool!" is punk, and such objective opinions are not necessary for My Chemical Romance. Their performance, which was full volume and full force from start to finish, was unmistakably punk, and it is because of this blood that they are somehow hard to hate, even when viewed as a new-age rock band. My Chemical Romance, who graces the front page of this special feature on rock legends visiting Japan, have written another page in rock history with their live performance at the Budokan, but in this interview we also get a glimpse into the true face of Gerard, who loves Japan. He loves Japanese manga and anime, and when he came to Japan last time

Pic: Yuki Kuroyanagi

PAGE 33:

he even went to the cinema. When I explained the purpose of the photo on the front page, he cheerfully agreed to a two-shot with Mario, a character representing Japan.

----What kind of image did you have of Japan before?

"I was imagining the world of Ridley Scott's film, 'The Blade Runner.' I'm also a big fan of comics and Katsuhiro Otomo's work. I especially love 'AKIRA,' so I thought it would be something like the opening scene of that story, and I think that image was correct. But I ended up loving this country even more than I had imagined. I had no idea that Japanese people were people who respected others and their environment so much, and it was refreshing to be able to come into contact with such people and have such a variety of experiences before returning to America."

----You've toured to quite a few countries, but your first visit to Japan was in 2004. What were your impressions at the time?

"I feel like I've landed on Mars. And I mean that in a good way. It's completely different from any other place I've ever been to. The cityscape, the culture, everything I could see was different from any other country. I've had the chance to tour many countries, but when I went there, I was disappointed to see that there were many similarities to America, or even the same things. But Japan is original and amazing. I was fascinated by everything, from vending machines to key chains to TVs. I don't understand what they're saying when I watch TV, but there's a lot to absorb. I'm always looking for something to stimulate me, so this country is perfect for me."

----Your first live show was on the indoor stage at Summer Sonic. How did you feel about the audience's reaction? They were really excited about songs like "I'm Not Okay."

"It was amazing! I'm so glad to get such a reaction.

I never dreamed that we would get such a good response to "I'm Not Okay" in a country we visit for the first time. But it was especially special to have such a good response in Japan. The first time we played in the UK was on tour with The Used. We have a following in the UK now, but the kids who saw our show back then seemed confused about how to respond to our music. I think they liked it, but the reaction was surprisingly calm. After that, we played in a small club in Germany, and it was a big hit. Then we came to Japan and the crowd was so excited, right? It was amazing that we were able to play in front of such a large audience, but when we played "I'm Not Okay," it was even more amazing.

----After that, you did a solo tour in Japan. What is the most memorable episode from your live shows in Japan so far?

"Well... they're all great... let me think about it... there's just so much fun to be had in Japan. The last time I played at Summer Sonic (in 2006) was memorable, the day I was on the outdoor stage in front of Linkin Park. It was a big victory to be able to play at Summer Sonic again, because it was my second time playing at a stadium. At the first Summer Sonic, I was battling drugs and alcohol. So it was impressive to come back and play on that big stage and do a show in front of thousands of people. I remember being able to show a great performance."

----When you visited Japan in January this year, you apparently went to see the film "Tekkonkinkreet."

Pic: Tetsuro Sato

PAGE 34:

I love Japanese. I love the sound of it. I think it's a beautiful language. And it's especially beautiful when people are angry. Japanese is at its best when they're angry (laughs). [top quote]

"It was amazing, but unfortunately it hasn't been released in the US yet. I think it will be a hot topic because the drawing style and the content are very different from what people think of when they think of anime. It was my first time going to a Japanese movie theater. You choose your seat and sit there. And everyone was quiet. I don't know if the movie was boring or if people in Japan watch movies quietly, but everyone stayed seated until the end credits, so it seemed like they liked the movie. But the only one who was laughing was my friend who went with me. It was kind of awkward. I didn't understand the language, so maybe I was laughing at scenes I shouldn't have laughed at? No, I think I laughed at scenes I should have laughed at, but everyone was quiet, so after laughing a few times, I decided to watch quietly (laughs)."

----(laughs) What other Japanese manga and anime do you like?

"I like all the works of Matsumoto Taiyo, the writer of ‘Tekkonkinkreet,’ and I respect Otomo Katsuhiro, who I think is a genius. I also like Tezuka Osamu, the godfather of this world, who wrote ‘Astro Boy.’ I also like ‘Lupin III’ and ‘Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.’ I'm always discovering new things from Japanese creators, and they often surprise me. I'm attracted to works that are innovative and try new things. I'm not interested in anime where giant robots fight other robots. It's just a melodrama with big robots in it."

----After graduating from art school, you worked as an animator for a while.

"I was working on a cartoon called "Sheep in the Big City" (a TV series that aired on the American cable TV channel Cartoon Network). It was completely different from Japanese animation, and the creator, Mo Willems (a popular animation artist known for his picture books such as "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale" and "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!"), was influenced by 50s limited animation (animation that simplifies the character's movements) such as "Gerald McBoing-Boing".  But I was too young to watch the works of that era in real time, so I didn't really understand them when I was working (laughs)."

----By the way, what kind of comics did you draw?

"I drew [a] really crazy black and white comic. It was about two brothers who work as piano movers. They're said to be the best piano movers in the world, but they’re really not that good. I was inspired by American directors like Terry Gilliam (the director of "Brazil" and "12 Monkeys") and [the] Fritz Lang's film "Metropolis." I drew a dark and eccentric world. It was so outlandish that I got a ton of rejection letters from publishers (laughs). People seemed to have trouble figuring out how to sell it.”

----So from your perspective, what did you think of this work, which was painted with a uniquely Japanese touch?

"First of all, I'm attracted to the art. Look at Otomo's work. Just a single character standing in ruins creates a certain kind of image. That image is burned into your brain. That's why I'm so attracted to Otomo's work. He sometimes puts a twist on it and depicts an unrealistic world. That's what I like about him."

----You've loved comics and video games since you were a child, and that hasn't changed at all.

"Yes. I like video games because they are simply fun and a great way to kill time. I think online games on the Internet are fun because you can play them with your friends. When you're on tour like this, it's hard to meet up with your friends back home. Being able to play with them is one of the attractions.

The appeal of comics is... I love classic science fiction. I'm a big fan of the original Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. Planet of the Apes is good too. The appeal of comics is that anything is possible. You can express anything." 

----You also said in a 2004 interview with this magazine you also check out Japanese bands on YouTube. You mentioned Guitar Wolf, Cornelius, and Michelle Gun Elephant. What attracted you to them? 

"Their intensity. And the way they take music from a certain era and make it new with their own interpretation. Guitar Wolf is especially crazy! Their interpretation of rock and roll is amazing, and that's what makes them great. Their recklessness, that off-tune sound, that craziness! It's like they're playing a cheap tape recorder.”

PAGE 35:

There is an album with a sound that makes you think they just recorded it in a live recording session. But when you get down to it, it's not the sound or the songs, but their unconventionality that gets to the essence of rock and roll. I don't understand the lyrics, but the language difference doesn't matter. The energy of the vocals conveys everything. I love Japanese. I love the sound of it, I think it's a beautiful language, and it's especially beautiful when it's angry. Yes, Japanese is at its best when it's angry (laughs). That's why I love Guitar Wolf."

----I see. That makes sense (laughs). This is your fifth visit to Japan. What does Japan mean to you?

"Japan is a place that continues to inspire me. The more I come to Japan, the more I learn.

You get to know more places, and you get to meet new friends. The record company staff are my friends. The more people I know, the more I get to know Japanese people. I get inspired by them. I think the respect Japanese people have for each other is amazing. I like how they take pride in everything they do. And it's human. Even in things that seem impersonal, like computer manufacturing, you can feel the handcrafted attention to detail and craftsmanship. Japanese people value tradition and history. People from other countries are always thinking about the future and forget that the past is just as important as the present and the future.

----You've probably been to a lot of different spots, but have you been to Akihabara in Tokyo? 

"Hmm? What's it like there?"

----Home electronics have always been popular. There are lots of computers and electronic parts.

"Well, I guess I haven't been there yet. I heard there's a place in Tokyo that sells a lot of comics and manga? I'd really like to go there this time. I've mainly only been to Harajuku and Shibuya."

----That place is probably Akihabara. Personally, I also recommend Broadway in Nakano, but Akihabara is not only a comic book town, but it's also a crazy town where you can see adult women dressed as maids these days, so I definitely recommend you go there at least once!

"Oh, I've heard of it! I read it in a book. Also, a book called "Love Hotel" was recently published, so I'm thinking of reading it. It's a book about love hotels in Japan. Usually, foreigners can't enter those kinds of places.

Pic: Yuki Kuroyanagi

PAGE 36:

It's only recently that I've felt like I'm growing steadily. Before that, it felt like everything was moving so fast, and I wasn't able to cope as a person with that. Now that I'm moving forward at a steady pace, I'm adapting to the changes. [top quote]

Apparently, they were not allowed to take photos, but the author's female photographer was allowed to do so. The maid cafe also looks interesting. What place was it called again?

----Akihabara.

"There are comics there too?"

----Yes. Now, please tell us about this memorable Budokan live. Will it be with the same set and production as the US tour that was just recently?

"Yeah, we brought as much of the same set as possible. The Budokan has strict rules about pyro, but we're using the same equipment that Kiss used in Japan. So it's different from what we use in the US, but if Kiss gave us the OK, we thought we could accept it. In fact, we found that some of the things we use in the US set were unnecessary. For example, we didn't bring the ruins of a big building that we had at the back of the stage this time. It would take too long to send it to Japan. But the costumes and backdrops are all the same... and we'll use confetti, too. It's pretty much the same. But the most important thing is that the band is in top condition. We've been doing the set we're doing now for almost six months, and the composition of "The Black Parade" is perfect. That's the most important thing."

----The set list is divided into two parts, the first half is The album "The Black Parade" by The Black Parade, which can be said to be the alter ego of My Chemical Romance,and the second half is a return to My Chemical Romance and performance of other songs.

"That's right. I wanted to play all the songs on the new album. I wanted to do it in a big way. I didn't want to do it in pieces, so it just naturally came out like this. I also wanted to do something that would change from the beginning to the end of the show. So in the first half, we played a big performance with a big production, and in the second half, we stripped everything away and played our original selves. We wanted to show the core of the band. It was natural that it would be structured like this. The album is about an hour long, so it's not something that you normally hear. That's the length of a standard set. And then we do an encore in the remaining 30 minutes. But we don't like encores. We think it's arrogant to wait for the audience to applaud before going on stage, so after the first part, we go back[stage] and come out again at our own pace to show our support. [our appreciation (?)]"

----For some musicians, the stage is a place where they feel alive and can become their true selves, but what do live performances mean to you right now?

"It's a place where you feel alive. At the same time, it's a place where you can have a control that you don't have in your everyday life, and you can lose yourself. In other words, anything is possible. You can be very honest and let everything out. You can't experience that in your everyday life. From what I've seen of Japanese culture and what I've heard from Japanese kids, it's hard to express yourself with words in this country, so Japanese people express themselves through the clothes they wear. That's the case in America too, so for me, the stage is a place where I can say anything. Even if I'm opening for someone, once I'm on stage I can do anything. As long as I respect the band that's coming up after me, I can do anything."

----This summer you'll be touring with Linkin Park. How did this tour come about?

"They asked me to be their opening act. I was honored and really surprised because I'd never thought about it like that. They said, 'We're releasing a new album. We're going on tour soon, do you want to join us?' Of course I accepted."

----They're bands that have been active in a different scene than you, but there are some similarities between you and them, like the enthusiastic support of your fans and your commitment to art outside of music.

"That's right. The commonality between the two bands is that they have passionate fans who love music. Their new work is also very challenging. I think their fans are very smart because they can understand that. That means their fans could become our fans too. We like to tour with intelligent bands. That's why we toured the US with Muse recently. To really understand their music, you have to love it from the bottom of your heart. Of course, their songs are often played on the radio and are hits all over the world, but to really understand their music, you have to be sensitive. We like to tour with intelligent bands, and that's why we decided to tour with Linkin Park. I think they're very smart people.

----They have had successful arena tours in the US and the UK, and have conquered the Budokan in Japan.  How do you feel about the band's current state as it continues to grow?

"I feel great. It was only recently that I felt like we were growing steadily. Up until then, it felt like everything was moving at an incredible speed, and as people, I wasn't able to cope with that situation. But now we're moving forward at a steady pace, so I'm adapting to the changes."

----What direction do you want to take the band in the future?

"Well, I'm not sure if we want to get bigger. There are already people who enjoy our music. I'm happy to be welcomed by a larger audience, but we're not struggling to survive in this world. Actually, I miss playing small venues these days. At the same time, I want to play shows at legendary places, and I want to think about where I'll play in the future. Maybe it's one way to stop playing shows like we do now, and make the days we do play very special. I don't know if the band needs to get any bigger. I'm very happy with the situation. But I think we need to explore more creatively. ■

Pic: Tetsuro Sato

------

OP NOTE: this translation is ROUGH from google - i tried my best to make sense of some more of the questionable parts. please feel free to message me if i made any mistakes!

[aaakikoo]

random low effort Attack On Titan headcanons

-> I’m back from the long ass break lol, I’ll try to most more regularly <3

-> nothing is 18+ so everyone can interact, some of these could be a lil icky n they could give ur favs an ick but some r rlly sweet too <3

-> this a guy ver ill do a girl ver soon!

-> girl ver

EREN J.

listens to rap but fails to rap as fast as the rapper so it turns into him mumbling.😭

has a collection of funk pops

doesn’t have a mid, or bad but TERRIBLE spice tolerance.

thinks that his loud motorcycle is hot

his breath smells like onion sometimes

surprisingly doesn’t sweat alot

his fav colour is sage green and black

tries to act manly infront of mikasa but ends up looking stupid

argues with armin but when he proves him wrong he says “that’s exactly what I said!” 💀

doenst use sunscreen

tries to make food for armin and mikasa but fail so the trio end up making food together instead

lends armin his clothes

ARMIN A.

drinks jet black coffee every morning

his breath always smells like mint

has a collection of polo shirts

get sad/offended when he sees those tiktoks of ppl saying that blue eyes are scary.

listens to true crime on the daily

is very very organized like WAYYYY too organized, on his desk his pens, papers, clips etc are all sorted out in different containers, his clothes are washed and ironed perfectly in his closet with each drawer, his bathrooms smells so expensive all the time.

wears those shorts with longer black shorts underneath

has little/to no hair on his body expect his face

has a pet parrot

is allergic to dogs

JEAN K.

this man has a collection of colognes but only used 3 of them.

also has a tie collection

unlike eren he only knows how to cook the basics, coffee, salads, pancakes, cereal, eggs and bacon, pasta & noodles.

he isn’t super organized but like to have control, I feel like he’d have an obsession with vacuuming especially the living room.

watched BEN 10 as a kid

Fav colour purple

smokes cigs, but only sometimes.

calls his car “his lady”

loves to paint/draw

he’d be one of those guys who wear shorts and a tank and no socks around the house (nun wrong w that)

hairy legs but no hair on his arms n chest??? 😭

asks to borrow ur Netflix

spam comments under his partners posts

loves frank ocean

CONNIE S.

surprisingly I feel like Connie would know how to bake and very responsible when it comes to that.

still has the hand writing of a 7 year old

has a collection of tote bags

has a silver piercing in his left ear

loves chunky belts and chunky silver rings

a huge fan of ariana grande

doesn’t like sea food

loves to watch reality tv and get involved in drama

a nice gym bro

doesn’t smoke but drinks on occasions like he really takes his chance

has fully loaded biceps

has 3 suits. Black, grey and navy and rotates between them.

has seen every show/movie on Netflix

LEVI A.

black coffee everyday as well

loves to collect exotic types of tea

has a skincare routine of face wash, moisturizer and sunscreen

uses a bonnet when he sleeps

doesn’t eat meat

listens to rain ASMR when he can’t sleep

always has a bottle of water with him everywhere

his showers r 30 mins long

only wears suit pants

has a wallet with a pic of Hange in it

his fav cake is cheesecake but only eats it if the biscuit ratio is bigger than the cream cheese

loves red tulips

reads the news paper and listens to the radio everyday for 15 mins

ERWIN S.

eats only eggs and bacon with orange juice for breakfast

has a huge collection of suit shirts that he wears everyday

carries a small comb around

has a pen in his chest pocket

when he sees a good looking man he always admires them out loud

has 2 colognes that he rlly likes and wears

really good at cooking

tries to say Gen z slangs

a huge MJ fan

loves Sherlock Holmes

a hairy man

loves dogs

only uses sunscreen on his face

has a little bit of a sweet tooth

uses Vaseline all the time, he has a tub at his place, a tub in his office and a stick with him all the time

REINER B.

lactose intolerant

loves to rewatch his childhood shows/movies

loves salty things, actually he eats quite literally anything

scared of animals

has a fear of heights (??)

actually really great with kids

always rushes to the other side of the car to open the door for his lady

sucks ass at cooking

he is really strong but doesn’t have very good stamina

loves to play video games

very good at literature, wants to be an author (modern AU)

BERTHOLDT H.

nut allergy

has long fingers

very shy and doesn’t really have an opinion on anything

[kenyizsuartblog]

Potionomics - Guess Who's Back (Back Again)

Miracles do exist, people!

So let me take you back to 2023 when a new indie game came out called Potionomics. One of the few actually good games coming out these past two years, to be frank. (But the Purging Fire is finally burning across the industry. Good.)

Either way, that game has quite the great cast of characters, written by people who actually know what they are doing. While I do dislike or am indifferent to some of them, that comes from simply their actual personalities, not because they are badly written characters. I would feel the same about such people in real life.

But by far the very best bloke had to be one of the bosses (and the first one in the line who actually whooped my ass the first time around) - and that was Boss Finn, the literal business shark, here to kick your ass with unbelievable swagger and an unmatchable theme song.

He was also the first boss who did NOT became part of your friend's group after beating him. Which was heartbreaking, and just plain... weird. Like, why not? We've got all the weirdos in the cast and you leave the uber confident business guy out? Blasphemy, I tell you!

Well. Fast forward to 2024 October 20th and the developers had finally seen the error of their ways. They put out a DLC that actually makes Boss Finn a part of your crew once you get past him! I discovered this roughly after two weeks of its release and let me tell you, I have never EVER bought a DLC faster in my life.

So now I am replaying Potionomics and while I'm still some time away from Boss Finn, I already have some high hopes for him.

Please don't screw him up, devs! He is genuinely amazing!

(Genuinely the only thing I don't like about his design - and you can already see the change in this pic - is that unlike other fish men designs, his shark tail actually grows out of the middle of his back, not his hip. And he can move that bastard separately, meaning he has a branching spinal cord. I don't know, that just freaks me out XD)

2024.11.23.

[pile-of-bugs]

Today's bug: Tailless whip scorpion!

Sorry I haven't been active for so long.. anyways I got a new pet today - this female tailless whip scorpion (likely Phrynus whitei), so I'll tell you about them!

Tailless whip scorpions are arachnids in the Order Amblypygi (am-BLIP-idge-eye) and they're quite ancient! They even look a bit prehistoric, I think. There's about 150 species of tailless whip scorpion.

Adapted for crawling around dark forests and cave walls, these arthropods are nearly blind - their simple eyes giving them only vague information, like the level of surrounding light. That's where their loooong 2nd pair of legs come in!

(image source: Wikimedia)

See those long "whips" from which they get their name? Those are for feeling their surroundings. When active, they'll be constantly moving around them around to sense their environment. The whips are very fragile and can break easily, but can be regrown every molt!

(image source: Frank Deschandol on iNaturalist)

Tailless whip scorpions are NOT scorpions, nor are they spiders. And those terrifying front claws aren't legs either - they're heavily modified mouthparts, pedipalps to be precise. Speaking of scorpions, their grabby claws are also their pedipalps! In spiders, these are those cute little appendages right next to the chelicerae (the things that have the fangs).

Unlike both scorpions and spiders, however, a tailless whip scorpion cannot bite or sting. They're almost totally harmless! Practically the posterchild for "don't judge a book by its cover," these are some of the friendliest arachnids in the world. You have to seriously to make one angry (which is basically abuse, so don't do that), and even then they'll only try smacking you with their thorny pedipalps, never biting with their fangs.

About the only truly scary part of handling them (once you get past their appearance) is their speed. These things normally move very slowly (on account of the "blind and has to touch everything" thing), but if startled, they'll bolt in the opposite direction with incredible speed! They really, really would rather not confront you at all. I cannot emphasize enough how completely NOT dangerous these arachnids are, despite their look!

(image source: Jonathan's Jungle Roadshow)

Btw, did you know the mommas make great parents? Like many other large arachnids, the mothers will take their young with them until they're large enough to hunt on their own. They hatch from an egg pouch carried on the underside of the abdomen, which looks absolutely alien - in the source for the above image, you can find pictures of the whole process.

You may have seen this meme ^ Their pedipalps, usually folded up, can also unfold to catch prey or defend themselves (in the original video for this pic, the owner is provoking this reaction - something I don't condone, even if it showcases their grab ability very well). Tailless whip scorpions are carnivores, and the prey they catch are usually small insects like crickets or flies.

Tailless whip scorpions are found in almost every warm, tropical part of the world - Central/South America, Africa, Asia, and even some islands like the Phillipines!

Here's my t.w.s.' habitat. They're very easy pets to take care of! Just make sure you have a habitat that favors verticality - they need to be able to climb to feel at home! Cork board is best, either just on the back, or 2-3 sides of the enclosure. Humidity is a must, so have the base be filled with cocofiber, then add water and perhaps a heating pad set on low to maintain moisture. Moss helps too! All that's left is to feed them - just once or twice a month is enough.

The light on my display is too hot, and heats up the plastic really quickly, so I only use it briefly to find and observe her. They don't actually need light since they're used to being in the dark!

I hope you liked these facts on tailless whip scorpions. If you know more facts, lmk or just add it to the post! I'm still learning things myself - like for example, you can tell males/females apart by the size of their pedipalps (the males have reaaaally long pedipalps, like the one in that meme, the females have much shorter ones).

[tatzelwyrm]

Godless is slow moving in parts so I can totally understand not wanting to finish it, but if action and cool shots are your thing, the last episode when it all comes to a head was pretty good from memory.

The show is visually stunning. The cinematography is outstanding. I definitely want to see more of that and I'm definitely into western shoot outs. I need to take it in small doses tho.

My problems with this show so far are that the town's women aren't in it as much as I hoped they would be and that I can't bring myself to care about Magic Horse Boy and Sheriff Sad Man, who appear to be the designated protagonists, instead of, say, Alice or Maggie. This seems to be a common complaint now that I've read up on the show a bit? At least I'm not the only one who was enticed into watching this show by the description on netflix that suggests the show is about a town run by women and pics of women in beautiful western clothes toting guns (and I would have been so up for these ladies fighting over mining shares), only to find that it's actually mainly about the 3 least interesting and joyless guys you can imagine.

But the worst part for me personally is that I despise unhinged villains in gritty media. I can't stand this type of constant over-the-top cruelty, especially when it's paired with dehumanisation of women and sexual violence in particular. I'm so tired of this kind of character. In the first episode of the show I was impressed by how they managed to make Frank and the gang appear intimidating even before we learn anything about what they've done. But by episode 2 already most scenes he's in made me feel like that Ben Affleck smoking meme. I'm just so tired. I passed right over shock and horror and went straight to apathy. Just be normal for 5 minutes, man.

This isn't a problem unique to Godless tho. I'm also unlikely to continue the show I watched before this (if they ever make a second season), simply because it looks like they're keeping the shitty villain.

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

SPEAKING OF MOTHERS DAY -- GET A LOAD OF THESE CRAZY MOTHERS.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on behind-the-scenes from the cover photo shoot of "We're Only in it for the Money," the third studio full-length album by American rock band THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION, c. July 1967.

FUN/MOTHERS FACT: Unlike the stand-ins similar to "Sgt. Pepper," it’s in fact the real Jimi Hendrix that stood in between Frank and wife Gail (pregnant at the time with Moon Unit).

Source: https://twitter.com/zappa/status/1151749719070269440.

[franksongofthemoment]

Welcome

This is a posterity blog, to catalog when Frank mentions music or bands he likes.

I will be going as far back as I can/have found and attempt a chronological order.

This may not get updated very often after initially populated.

Links to items to help greatly appreciated.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

First up is a playlist from 2006:

Frank Iero: “The Songs That Changed My Life”  from Kerrang Issue #1128

Photo Credit: Paul Harries

Magazine Release Date: November 27th, 2006 Issue Label: October 7th, 2006

(Pic source)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A post to the website blog in 2008:

to be honest...

Saturday November 29, 2008 |

Posted by: Frank

you really have to get the new bronx record, its pretty fantastic. track 3 has been stuck in my head for 2 weeks. just sayin...xofrank

and guest post from 2009:

Frank comments on Artist direct’s playlist of THE 10 BEST (UNLIKELY) LOVE SONGS posted February 10th, 2009. (X)

Next some posts to the website blog in 2009:

Arg, Pure ROck Scurvy

Wednesday April 1, 2009 |

Posted by: Frank

hello all, just wanted to let you know our good buddies from the nj, BRine & Bastards, just released a new e.p... Do you like pirates? what about punk rock? do you think chlamydia is funny? ever wish your favorite rum had an upbeat theme song? then this band is for you! 6 brand new songs for you to tap your peg leg to. go to itunes and type that shit in - Brine & Bastards - Pure Rock Scurvy EP their full length, set sail for sodomy, is also available there....enjoi! xofrank

New Gallows rekurd = Facial Assualt

Friday May 15, 2009 |

Posted by: Frank

ok so i got the new Gallows record, Grey Britain, a couple weeks ago cause i know some people that are famous and influential but i didnt want to rub it in so i waited until now to talk about it...this way its out, you can get it at your local record store and listen to it at home and not feel inferior to my famous friends even though most of you are...its just better this way. ok with all that said fuck this record is good. they really branched out and took some chances on this record and it paid off in spades (i dont really know what that euphemism actually means - but im using it to say it went really well.)

MY GOOD FRIENDS ARE IN GREAT BANDS AND MADE GREAT RECORDS.

Tuesday July 14, 2009 |

Posted by: Frank

hey all, i just wanted to stop by and drop a line about some amazing records that came out last month.... my good friends in New Tomorrow from san luis obispo Ca released their new full length "we're counting on the youth"... and i must say its my favorite hardcore record of the year. their songs are inspired and inspiring, positive hardcore for the young and old alike. they are DIY and i love them. if there were more bands like this the world might actually become a better place. ....and the hardest working band in showbiz hailing from Kansas City Missouri, the architects have released "the hard way", my favorite rock n roll record of the year. i throw down the gauntlet and say the architects are the best live band i have ever seen, the first time we met they rocked the saint in asbury park like it was a sold out MSG show. they are on the warped tour all summer and deserve more attention than you can give them. the hard way is a fucking gem and will be the record you listen to while being chased by police on your way to the mexican border. bands like new tomorrow and the architects dont come around every day and are the reason i started skeleton crew. i feel very lucky to have worked with these bands, they are hard working and talented and deserve way more than i can provide. i hope you enjoy their records as much as i do. New Tomorrow - "We're counting on the Youth" and the Architects - "The Hard Way" are available at stores and on itunes, or from the skeleton crew webstore (www.skeletoncrewonline.com) both bands will be on the road this summer, enjoi. xo

[grazer-razor]

i'll just update the list

safesearched -"lickitung memes" (unlike conkeldurr and bubble beam, "lickitung" by itself wasn't safesearched)(i am also certain that it was only safesearched due to the first result being an advice animals meme with "sexually oblivious" in the title) -"triple Q" (anyone who draws anime girls will be safesearched. when will google learn.) -"buff riku" & "buff riku memes" (google just doesn't get what it means for something to be a fucking joke.) -"pizzahead memes" (yes, while "peppino memes" wasn't safesearched, mr. jolly himself DID have his memes safesearched. thank the tumblr sexyman people) -"burgerpants" (you know your life sucks when google thinks you're explicit) -"noisette pizza" -"virovirokun" -"gus fring"/"gus fring memes" -"mettaton neo memes" (why.) -"yamask memes" ("yamask" wasn't safesearched. however, despite the semi-creepy tones, there was nothing explicit to be found.) ("cured" as of aug 18) -"ika musume memes"(yet "ika musume" WASN'T safesearched. glad to know where your priorities lie)(cured as of aug 18) -"greninja memes"(the only actual inappropriate pic was a picture of greninja near a tongue shaped like a noose. pretty edgy but nowhere near graphic) -"duskull memes"(my guess is that it was because of lopunny fusions, which were not even that explicit. if they want to label MILDLY suggestive characters they will learn the consequences of their actions) -"pekora memes" -"cosmo the seedrian" -"dipper taco bell"

not safesearched -"miku greentext memes" -"dame tu cosita" -"tails doll" -"adeleine memes" (this one was surprising because not only were some memes weird, but there were also pics from mouthporn dot com) (afflicted as of aug 21) -"josh duggar" -"oliver sansweet" -"ripped yoshi" -"florida man memes" -"nasty pants" (yeah, i know. i'm just as surprised as you are) -"siivagunner" (triple Q got safesearched. siiva didn't. strange-o.) -"majira" (given furries' reputation, how did a furry not get safesearched) -"FNF memes" (yeah, pizza tower characters got safesearched, but not "friday night fu*kin'". i know.) -"pizza tower memes" (but at least it wasn't a total loss!) -"attack helicopter memes" (????????) -"cloverfield monster" (PT and SS got safesearched, but not an eldritch creature. idk anymore) -"cthulhu" -"mother 3" -"the matrix" -"squidbagging" -"420"/"420 memes" -"i got fish to catch" (when you google it, you will understand...) -"kario" (anime and TGT pulled up) -"jon arbuckle puppies memes"/"jon arbuckle litter" (enough said.) -ambyu-lance -"shintoe"/"shitno" (HOW?!?!?!?!?!?!) -"filthy frank" (H O W) -"breaking bad memes" (gus fring memes got safesearched but not breaking bad memes as a whole. this is unjust.) -"MTT memes" -"og and grog" (it pulls up something strangely edgy. not sure why it wasn't safesearched instead of mettaton neo memes) -"greentext"/"greentext memes" -"nasty pants memes" -"slenderman" (meanwhile hypno gets safesearched) -"all 8 pages" -"pizza tower war" -"johnny c"/"johnny nny c" -"spider shantae" -"miltank"/"miltank memes"(how did conkeldurr get targeted but not udders pokemon)(afflicted as of aug 18) -"pepe the frog"/"pepe the frog memes" -"killer bean" (google is literally the type to safesearch a slime with teeth but not a killer bean) -"caliborn" (...and a psychopathic skull alien who is responsible for many casualties) -"cat beast 9" (...and that creature...) -"werehog sonic"/"werehog sonic memes"(you'd think google would attack giant furry monsters that fangirls would simp over...) -"hog rider memes" -"reaper puppet"(yeah, i know. specimens 2 and 4 got safesearched but not something equally scary) -"nadim pourtant" -"sonic 2 XL"/"sonic 2 XL memes"(inconsistent standards are inconsistent) -"bidet memes" -"haypil" -"incineroar memes"(it got away, but "greninja memes" didn't...) -"lincoln strangling peppino"(for... some reason...) -"pizzascare" -"kenshiro"(when shadow the hedgehog characters get safesearched but not ken!) -"abraham tower"/"guardian union of nations" -"jesse james" -"korone memes"(ashley warioware memes gets safesearched but not this. why.) -"mario and luigi memes" -"rick memes"/"pickle rick memes" -"momiji inubashiri" -"uboa" -"sors bandeam"/"sors bandeam memes"(so casey homestuck and gerald robotnik are explicit but not a kid who got killed?) -"order 66"(they fucked up my boy george r. binks but not order 66) -"change da world" -"spongebob ripped pants memes"(i thought the butthole edit was gonna show up, but guess not) -"freddy scream" -"omega flowey"/"omega flowey memes" -"zandatsu memes" -"there's a bomb in the lasagna"/"there's a bomb in the lasagna memes" -"mr. popo" -"scrap baby"/"scrap baby memes" -"wet willy" -"josh duggar memes" -"desert chainsaw"/"desert chainsaw crocodile" -"blacephalon"/"blacephalon memes"

[heyitsphoenixx]

like. i feel like this is the wildest we’ve ever seen them. this is such a unique experience for both us and them. theres so much about it all thats different but boiled down its just unhinged. unglued even

[jensen-frackles]

I think I’ve found something small but interesting while scouring the Welcome Home site that I haven’t seen anyone mention yet.

On the “Welcome Home!” page there’s one photo of Frank and Eddie that looks to be from some sort of article or book and on the side is a series of letters that are cut off from words in a series of paragraphs out of view of the photo. They’re mostly random letters, which I’m sure you could rearrange and make words from, though I feel as though you’d need to follow some sort of set formula or code or something to figure it out. That being said, at the very bottom of the letters though you can make out the words “Hello you” (showing up as “Hello YoU”):

My speculation is that if this is in fact a hidden message then it’s gotta be from Wally. It seems like he might be the one who’s been leaving some of the hidden messages around the site, and this message can be compared to the direct way he talks in his invisible messages on the guestbook page, so “Hello You” would make sense if it was him watching us navigate the site and deciding to leave yet another message for us, especially if he knows we’re looking for things and will eventually find it

(And this is far fetched, but the “W” under “Hello You” could be a form of signature to show that this message is from Wally but I feel like that might be pretty unlikely and is probably just a coincidence. But hey, it’s interesting, and I guess you never know)

Here’s the full set of letters. Let me know if you find a word that I didn’t catch!

(There are two pics of each part—one zoomed in and one further back—because they both show up differently depending on whether you view this post on desktop or mobile)

[here’s a source link to the page with this image]

[aerkame]

Does any of the others have jobs or own any establishments on the main land beside Howdy and Poppy? We know Poppy owns a cafe, and Howdy owns a seafood restaurant, so I’m curious about the others. 

Hmmm, well, I guess it depends how much free time they have or what kind of hobbies each character is into.

Frank may be a marine biologist, but he stays back on the islands and does not interact with the outside world much (maybe he visits the mainland once a month).

Wally on the other hand is a hard working artist, sometimes his own art will make it into museums (though no one really knows anything about the artist, Wally is perfectly fine with interviews). While Wally would think of shapeshifting into a new identity just for visiting the mainland, he doesn't visit enough to really need one unlike Poppy, Howdy, Julie, and Barnaby.

Being an art teacher is something that will get him to stick around for a longer amount of time though. He doesn't teach art in middle schools or high schools though, too many times rude students test his patience. No, he prefers to see the joy and innocence of children learning to express themselves better in daycares or kindergarten. That or He prefers hard working college students looking for further improvement. Basically he has no patience for rowdy teens.

The same can be said with Eddie when it comes to alter identities on mainland. He's just a kind guy that does oversea deliveries as far as the public knows. No disguise needed as he's mostly out in open ocean.

Julie enjoys hair styling quite a lot. I mean, have you seen how great her hair is? She definitely prides herself in her work. None can match Julie's way of styling, it's so unique and stands out from the rest. Every once in a while she participates in fashion, making beautiful dresses and clothing with some of the best designers.

You know the whole surfer dude or beach bro stereotype? That's the embodiment of Barnaby's whole persona on mainland (and at Home). The big guy is always on social media taking pics and flexing. He doesn't have a full-time job like the others but he more or less has a job like a personal trainer at gyms when he's not at Home.

Sally is absolutely not allowed on mainland or any land without someone to keep an eye on her. True to the darker side of finfolk nature, Sally often thirsts for bloodshed. There's been a string of murders recently? Each victim has signs of a non-puppet creature being the culprit, long slashes and claw marks are all over the walls and body. Someone went missing? Well, witnesses say there was a tall figure at the docks before the victim disappeared. Whether it be death by claws, fangs, or drowning, Sally can not help herself. Her favorite method? Singing. Much like sirens, she can lure victims in to their death through singing. It often gets a local siren or mermaid accused of the murder though.

Although, if she's somewhere in a small town or city where not much attention will be drawn, the others will let her go ham. No need to worry if the locals aren't able to get proper help to start investigations.

Home doesn't go to the mainland...unless he has a reason to. Once, he felt a calling but found nothing. He hasn't left the islands since.

[drksanctuary]

My Mermaid PJO AU in more detail for anyone who cares to hear about it:

Percy is a mer-kind prince who longs for adventure above the sea. Alabaster is an Octo-kind sea witch who has the means to help him get there but instead of taking his voice in exchange for the kingdom he just tells him that his visit comes with the condition of taking care of a certain human who is up there, and it happens to be Nico the younger prince of the seaside kingdom. He also takes Percy’s voice bc he can and he know Nico wants a friend who will listen to him. (Alabaster is the sea dweller who has fallen for the Prince in this, unlike in the little mermaid, but since he can’t conjure things for himself he sends Percy to go and keep Nico company bc he knows Nico wants someone around since they always send his brother Jason away on diplomatic missions.) eventually Al’s apprentice Hazel conjures a way for Al to go up and visit but until then he can’t do it for himself and, because of the brewing war with The mer-kind over the Scrylands…Alabaster is busy with his brother Octavians War agenda. Unfortunately sending away the Prince of their rival nation works out quite well for Octavian’s plan of attack. And Alabaster inadvertently helped…oops! Octavian not really a bad guy here tho as he is more just defending his kingdom than anything. There’s no black and white Baddie here .

Percy, Piper and Frank are Mer-kind siblings, Octavian and Alabaster are octo -kind. Siblings and Jason and Nico are human-kind siblings.

I also found these saucy pics of Nico and Alabasters reunion…apparently tentacles were not a deal breaker for the young Prince. 😳😏

[thealmightyemprex]

Fairy Tale June:The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

So today we are actually going with a big movie ,a George Pal extraviganza

In this 1962 film we follow Willhem Grimm (Laurance Harvey), a fanciful dreamer,and Jacob Grimm (Karl Bohem ) a down to earth scholar ,as the pair is supposed to write down the family history of a Duke (Oscar Homolka) ,Willhelm gest distracted by fairy tales ,which he realizes no one has written down .....Thats the main story,what makes the film unique....is it also adapts three classic Grimms fairy tales :The dancing Princess follows a woodcutter (Russ Tamblyn) who uses an invisible cloak to discoverthe mystery to why a princess(Yvette Mimeux) always has destroyed shoes ,the Elves and the Shoemakers follows a old cobbler (Also played by Harvey ) who gains the help of some elves (voiced by Stan Freberg,Dallas Mikkinion and Thurl Ravinscroft ) and the Sining Bone where the cowardly and egotistical Sir Ludwig (Terry-Thomas ) tries to take credit for slaying a dragon that was actually slain by his servent Hans (Buddy Hackett )

SO this film is done by George PAl,producer of many Sci Fi and fantasy films ,probabbly best known for his HG Welles adaptations ,War of the Worlds and the Time Machine.In fact I kind of see this film as a spirtual follow up to his musical version of Tom Thumb ,which also had Russ Tmablyn and Terry-Thomas (In fact as well as playing the Woodsman,Tamblyn also plays Tom Thumb in a climatic sequence I will get to later ),and I think oversall,while I enjoy parts of Tom Thumb.....This film is better.HOWEVER it is still uneven to the point I didnt know if I liked or disliked it tillI was near the end,and even then.....I had to think about it

The movie is kind of two movies ,it is a bio pic about the Grimm Brothers AND a anthology of fairy tale ,and at first.....I was kind of wishing it was just the fairy tales ,and even then they arent immune to the big problem of the movie.....IT drags ,the pscing is very slow,I guess to make it 2 hours

We are gonna go by segments :

The main Grimm Brothers story on its own is dull ,it didnt feel substantial to me at first ,just Willhelm messing up and setting up the fact they will eventually write down the fairy tales ....HOwever what made it work was the performances ,LAurance Harvey was really lovable as the dreamer Willhelm,Karl Boehm is believable as the serious Jacob,and Oskar HOmolka is scene chewingly fun as the unpleasent Duke,with other good performances coming from MArtita Hunt ,Barbra Eden,Claire Bloom and Walter Slezak ....What also works is the ending which I will go into later

The Danicng Princess is fun ,showing some great physicality by Russ Tamblyn in both stunts and dancing.Now in the fairy tale its 12 Princesses but for this segment it makes sense to streamline it to one.The Highlight of this one is Jim Bakus as the murderous yet jovial King (Aided by him doing the Mr Magoo voice)

The Elves and the Shoemaker was my least favorite part of the film ,Harvey is good,but the segment was a lil dull and I willl be frank ,while I love stop motion and shall praise some later ....THE ELVES ARE FREAKY AND CREEPED ME OUT (However did notice one of them was the Yawning Man from Tom Thumb that was cute )

The Singing Bone is both the darkest and funniest tale and by far my favorite part of the film .Terry-Thomas was a comedic genius and here is perfectly cast as a villainous knight who lets his servent do all the heavy lifting .Buddy Hackett is also very fun as the unlikely hero ,I never knewI wanted to see Scuttle fight a dragon but I am glad it exists .The best part of the d scene IS the dragon,brought to life through some brillaint cartoony stop mostion,this beastie has a ton of personality,being very bored and hungry,focused on killling the two main characters ,and I love the design which is a mixture of eastern and western dragons with jewl encrusted scales

But the scene that sold me on the movie and why I reccomend the movie is Willhelms dream:Spoilers Willhelm gets very sick and in a fever dream sees Snow White and the seven dwarfs,a Giant,the Frog Prince,Tom Thumb, Rumplestiltskin,and other fairy tale characters ,who convince him to not only lived but write down their stories .Its a very sweet and emotional scene ,and I particularly like comedian Arnonald Stangs take on Rumplestiltskin as a bad tempered mean guy (I kind of wish he got his own segment ).

For all the flaws of the movie,I did enjoy it ,and if you can find it,I reccomend giving it a watch

@ariel-seagull-wings @angelixgutz @autistic-prince-cinderella @amalthea9 @scarletblumburtonofeastlondon @princesssarisa @filmcityworld1 @the-blue-fairie @theancientvaleofsoulmaking @themousefromfantasyland

[bepractical]

Kin: Season 1, Episode 5, Part 1

It's episode 5 of the first season of Kin and you know what that means? Heist time! I love the family melodrama but sometimes you need a heist. In this part of the recap I will spend an inordinate amount of time waxing poetic about my love for Michael Kinsella. But first, a warning. These recaps will spoil you for the entire first season of Kin. THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR. 

See the masterlist here.

This recap's looking like a three parter, so buckle up!

The episode starts with a dude in what looks like a security uniform sitting at a table, innocently eating something out of a bowl in front of his tv. The doorbell rings and two masked men rush into his house with guns. It’s Eric and Jimmy. The dude is Con Doyle’s son. 

In Eric’s former car, Amanda pulls up his GPS route and prints out the results, so you know that's gonna bite Frank and Eric in the butt in the near future.

Meanwhile, Con Doyle’s hanging out at a boxing gym when he receives a text message with a pic of his son on his knees being threatened, followed by a pinned location. He zooms out of there with a quickness. 

Cut to Michael waiting for Con, an old van behind him.

Con arrives reasonably worked up.  His car skids to a stop and he comes out holding a piece of pipe. Michael is completely unimpressed. He holds out his phone and tells Con to take a look. It’s a video of Jimmy pouring gasoline on his son. Wow, does that sound so much worse when you type it out. I am here to drool over Michael Kinsella, not question his morality. Still, we’ll get to it. 

Con’s pissed; his son has nothing to do with this. “Neither did Jamie,” Michael says. Ohhhhh. Con repeats the company line, that Jamie’s death was an accident. That crap doesn’t hold any water with the Kinsellas, not anymore. Unlike Jamie, Con’s son is still alive and he’ll stay that way as long as Con helps them. I love that this plan hinges on Con loving his son enough to steal from Eamon. Con tries to make Michael the bad guy, but he’s helped kill five of their allies over the past however many days and who knows how many people he’s killed in the past. Michael’s over it.

Michael: How many people have you killed, Con? I’ve lost count. Spare me the sermon. What happens now is up to you.

This is why I give the Kinsellas somewhat of a pass here. Eamon and his flunkies have been terrorizing them for the flimsiest of reasons since they killed Caolan Moore. Con, like his boss, can dish it out but not take it. 

Michael gets it down to brass tax, they want Eamon’s gear (drugs). He gives Con one minute to decide while he waits in the passenger seat of the van. Michael, at the very least, isn’t bluffing. After about thirty seconds he lifts his cell phone to make the call, prompting Con to drop the pipe and storm over to the van while Michael calmly puts on his seat belt. He’s such a shit.

In the most awkward car ride ever, Michael questions Con about where they’re headed. We find out it's some kind of guarded facility and the guard works for Eamon. Michael is unphased. Michael is always unphased.

He hides in the back of the van while Con talks his way into the facility, a building full of giant storage crates. Once safely inside, Michael climbs out and Con prepares to bring one of the crates down.

Meanwhile, Frank is waiting in his car for the next phase of the plan. It’s an important plan and he needs to be focused so of course he immediately SNORTS SOME COKE.

What is it with the men in this family getting high while Michael is in dangerous situations? Get it together, man! Now is not the time!

Back at the facility, Con brings down an enormous crate full of drugs. Together, Con and Michael empty it out into the back of the van.

I like how the minute Con made the decision to go along with the plan to save his son, he just followed through. You can almost pretend they're partners. Then Con threatens Michael, tells him he’s a dead man and that Eamon will make an example out of him. Michael is…yep, still unimpressed, and starting to ride the high of what he’s managed to pull off. 

Now THIS is the most awkward car ride ever. Michael has Con take him to a restaurant and get out of his van full of the entire country of Ireland’s drug supply and wait for a call from his son telling him where to find him. Con angrily gets out. He can’t help but spit out one more toothless threat. “I’ll see you buried, Michael.” No, honey, you won’t.

 As Con walks into the restaurant, Frank slides into the driver’s seat next to Michael and the two take off. 

Frank asks how much they got. It’s a lot. So much Frank momentarily confuses the 60K of coke and 80K of heroin for grams. But it’s kilos not grams, and it’s worth about 50 million Euro. Michael laughs, ACTUALLY LAUGHS, and they take a minute to enjoy the score, the enormity of what they’ve done hovering just out of sight. 

Ok, let’s take a minute to talk about Michael. I have some very biased, unvetted thoughts to share. This episode may as well be titled ‘100 Reasons I Love Michael Kinsella.’ I’ll spare you and only cover a few.

This opening starts to paint a picture of Michael’s general mien as a criminal. When Con comes at him with his pipe, Michael doesn’t move. He keeps one hand in his pocket while the other holds his phone out a few inches. He doesn’t even extend his arm, forcing Con to get closer to see the video.

When Michael rides in the back of the van alone, it seems like his biggest concern is getting jostled around when there could have been anything waiting for him.

He shrugs off Con’s threats like they’re nothing. This kind of fearlessness and/or recklessness is like catnip to me, but what really puts it over the top is his expressions. He can’t hide those big old puppy eyes, but he can make the rest of his face as calm as possible. As a result he doesn’t look overly cocky or aggressive, and there’s little playfulness or provocation. His swagger is his lack of swagger. He’s confident he has the upper hand and, instead of capitalizing on that (picture Eric in this same situation), he keeps it lowkey. He did the same when Eamon approached him at the funeral, and when Frank gave Jimmy the money from Caolan Moore. He’ll do it again at the end of the season, when he kills Eamon. The most we get out of him during this entire heist is a pinch of excitement once all the drugs are loaded.

I wonder if he was always this way, or if his younger self had more of that traditional swagger. Maybe jail changed him, maybe his dead nephew/son and terrible relationship with his daughter made him reckless and numb. Regardless, it’s the perfect temperament to ensure things don’t escalate in the middle of a volatile situation while pissing people off afterwards AND adding to his reputation. He just calmly walked into Eamon’s storehouse and stole 50 million dollars worth of drugs like he was going to the grocery. You can also see what kind of team he and Jimmy must have made, Jimmy all explosive violence while Michael stands by like he’s waiting in line for the DMV, bored and a little annoyed, knowing if someone needs to die he’ll be the one to do it, like anyone else takes out the garbage. 

On that note, we're barely ten minutes in but that’s it for this post. Check out part 2 here!