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facelessfrey · 3 years ago

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Reading through the tag and seeing all of the indifference about this season is interesting since I’ve been much more positive about the season so far. Or at least there’s been a lot less all caps yelling about story structure in my recaps. But I also kind of understand where people are coming from.

Things I feel this season is doing well -

- they finally seem to have one main plot that they’re focusing on without any other dangling threads. It’s what I’ve always wanted from them because they only have 13 episodes in a season and they don’t have time to wander. And so far, this seems to be the most coherent season. Season one was good with the Rosa/Noah mystery but then they also had all of the project shepherd/caulfield stuff that never quite reached its potential or was super rushed. Season two was literally all over the place and was never coherent and absolutely wasted Jesse as a real villain by not just focusing on his plan. Season three wasted all that time on the vision plot in the first half, which really ultimately amounted to nothing. So I like that this season seems more focused.

- the overall character interactions seem a lot better. They improved a lot last season, although pretty much anything would be better than season two, but I feel like they’ve continued building them as a solid friendship group. Individual relationships might still be underdeveloped (Liz and Maria, Alex with literally anyone other than Michael) but as a group they’re a lot more cohesive. They’re working together, they’re having group strategy sessions, they’re interacting socially. It’s nice. It’s what I’ve always wanted. I at least feel like they are a group of friends now and a family.

- I really do think Dallas has been a great addition. I think it’s really nice to see Michael having someone to confide in, someone to actually talk about Alex with. We got a couple of Max and Isobel moments in the past but I already feel like the couple of Michael and Dallas chats have gone so far beyond that. Their friendship is a really lovely surprise that I hope continues. Dallas connecting Maria to the group is also nice. Rosa and Isobel were great with her last season but without Rosa and with Isobel busy with Anatsa and Kyle things, it’s good that she has Dallas. And since Greg is seemingly forever MIA, I think romantically linking Maria and Dallas would be a really positive move too.

- I like what they’ve done with the couples so far this season. So often shows seem allergic to happy or settle couples and do dumb things to give them drama, which this show is absolutely guilty of too, but this season so far has been nice. Liz and Max as well as Michael and Alex are both established couples and even when they have some angst, they’re allowed to be open and honest with each other and talk things through and that’s refreshing. Especially as it serves as kind of a direct contrast to Isobel and Anatsa, since Isobel is unable to trust her with everything and kind of paves the way for her and Kyle, which is more than I thought they would do with any of that story. I fully expected another Forrest situation where she just disappeared after one episode.

- I also feel like this is the first season that feels less like it’s checking boxes on social issues. I think it’s great for shows to tackle those kinds of subjects but in a cw show about aliens, it often felt like they were forcing the issue in clumsy ways. For example, the whole racism/all cops are bad except Max Evans mess last season that then got completely dropped. I just hope if they decide to interject any social commentary this season, it feels more natural but so far I have missed it. Just these characters existing and thriving is kind of enough for the moment.

Things I think are not working -

- of course I miss Alex. I wasn’t paying enough attention to know how long he’ll be off screen so who knows how this will go. I think this episode was fine but I don’t want them to drag out people (Michael) finding out that something happens for too long. I think this only works if finding him is part of everyone’s plan and story, especially Michael’s.

- while I think it’s great that the plot seems more focused, I think it would be good for at least the viewers to have a bit more of an idea of what’s going on and to get to know the new Triad better, especially Tesca, who is just sort of there being mysterious and doing shady things. We finally have a non singular adversary this season so it would be good to see them interact more and hear their plans in less vague terms. Again, this is a lot about Tesca.

- which I guess brings me to my last point, that these three are probably the least engaging villains (so to speak) that we’ve had. Bonnie seems sweet and I enjoyed her scenes with Michael, but Clyde is just kind of an asshole with no currently known motivations and again, Tesca is just kind of there. I hope with Michael getting involved more with them, we’ll be able to get more invested but so far they are a little lackluster and that is affecting engagement with them and therefor with their plan.

Overall though, I do find this season far less rage inducing so I hope it continues on that track and my problem areas get addressed.

#roswell new mexico

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poodlejoonas · 3 years ago

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🖊 Laila and her relationship with other moms before her and Aleksi broke up. Also, I really hope Enkka’s parents went off on her for saying that to him.

Anon I want you to know that I saw this right before I went to sleep last night and I've been vibrating with excitement to answer it. I'm gonna put it under a read-more because it's going to be A Lot.

Aleksi and Laila actually got to know each other before he joined BC, when she was brought in to work with him on producing a single together (for the ironic symbolism, I'm gonna go with Anything). The romance and tension between them were already there when they met again several years later. By that time, Laila had developed a reputation in the music industry for being a party girl and overall difficult person to work with. She's his plus-one at Olli and Riina's wedding when she meets the rest of the group for the first time. The sisterhood see a new friend to try to bring into their group with no clue how bad her reputation really is, but the guys can already tell what's gonna happen between the two of them. They try to talk to Aleksi about his decision to date her, but they don't want to push him away by controlling his personal life. Later on, when shit goes down, they just support him any way they can.

As for her relationship with the moms: they try to make a genuine effort to include her in their group activities and traditions. They think she's just a little cold and distant at first but are patient and understanding. But she thought that, as married moms, they were too cliquey and stuffy for her tastes. She never got in on their inside jokes, especially the bunny code and why it was important to them to share that sort of thing with each other. After a series of events, including a fight in which she told them she thought the bunny code was "obnoxious" and the Leevi and Enkka incidents, she left their group chat and stopped hanging out at the shows with them. Laila has zero maternal instincts and got easily annoyed about the fact that the kids were always there in their activities. And also, given the nature of the circles of people she interacts with in the entertainment industry, she's not used to being part of a group of friends as wholesome as the sisterhood. She was expecting them to eventually turn on her like most of the people she partied with or exclude her if she never had a kid.

When she found out she was pregnant with Noah after her break-up with Aleksi, they finally saw right through her intentions with the two of them. They knew that she basically used Noah to attempt to keep Aleksi (a pain that Marja experienced personally with her ex and Miikka), and for a brief moment she wondered if she would eventually learn to bond with him. She kept her pregnancy a secret and only addressed it when Aleksi announced his plan to raise Noah as a single dad. None of his friends appreciated the way she talked about him when she went on the radio to drag him, accusing him of cheating on her with one of the other moms when they were together and being framed as the "villain" for not keeping their son. And in the middle of it, she accuses the rest of the group of being absent fathers and questioning if Noah would be raised well with Aleksi. Instead of arguing with her, the moms lash back with proof that their husbands love their children and that there was no use in trying to lie and pretend they don't. She cuts off all connection to Aleksi and Noah after he's born, but she pops back up occasionally to raise a fuss.

And as for the Leevi and Enkka incidents: they do fight back eventually, just not in front of the kids. Enkka was hurt when he was rejected and Kirsten was there to pick him up. They had a few things to say to her on the spot, but it wasn't until a little while later when they finally confront her about how she acted about both kids in their group chat. Milli and Jenna, for the obvious reason, had the most to say, and it ends with her leaving the chat and ignoring them from there. Joel was also rightfully upset at the way Enkka had been treated, since he was also the first to feel that she was no good for Aleksi. They're more than happy to help step in as Noah's substitute moms, and be his support for when he's dealing with the aftermath of their break-up.

#ask #dad!blind channel #dad!aleksi #oc: laila pekkanen #apologies in advance for the Angst #(with a capital A)

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ravenadottir · 4 years ago

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so i’m playin love island again bc of the new scenes added and during operation nope i always witch between talking Hope and saying nothing depending on the type of route i’m doing and this time i told her and Priya was upset but I didn’t feel bad ? like what Priya did was snakey and she had just coupled up with Rahim not even a few hours ago ? I like Priya bc i feel like she has a victim mentality, comparing the situation that happened in operation nope to highschool. Nobody forced her to do operation nope and I wished she hadn’t used the operation as a guide to hide the fact she actually likes Noah.. I’m sorry for my rant about Priya, but I’ve noticed that Priya is very one dimensional... like i like her but i don’t even think we connected with her ??

i absolutely agree with you!

i’ve said this before, and i’ll say it again. her goodbye scene didn’t exist because the character wasn’t emotionally connected to our mc’s. we got attached to her because she’s funny, gorgeous, blunt and glamourous!

but in reality, once you play and start noticing the lack of chats we have with all of them, you realize priya was made to leave the villa, and not be a surviving og girl.

she says “i’ll miss our chats” and even though it’s canon, we never had those ??

we were robbed of precious moments, and in true, priya was never a good friend. we were always mediating whatever issues the others had with her, but not once did she ask how we were doing, or the chat was about us, exclusively.

“but vena, what about the chat about lucas and henrik?” that happens with the girl you have higher heart score with, so it’s not exclusive. in retrospective, she was quite selfish towards us, and it took me some time to realize, but i did.

i also like her, and i agree with you. there’s no connection there.

i believe most people prefer her over hope, because the weekly episodes truly made hope the villain on some of the routes. lucas’ and noah’s were the toughest at the time, and i too wanted priya to stay, over hope.

#litg priya #litg hope #litg #litg s2 #litg season 2 #love island the game #love island the game season 2 #fusebox #fusebox games #queue

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draco-kasai · 3 years ago

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Hero Collaboration Program

Summery: High School Hero Collaboration Program! Helping Sophomore hero students connect with others around the world! Come join us for a two-week-long trip to one of our schools for an amazing once in a lifetime experience with students of Yuuei! Only a lucky 40 students will be selected for this program. They will be split into two groups of 20 and sent to different schools to have completely unique experiences!

A/N: AKA, A very ambitious fanfic I started because even though I have another fanfic in progress my brain decided to give me an idea and I just had to do it. These are all characters I adore and I even did lots of reasurch on them to hopefuly get them down right. I also too many backstories and threw them into a meat grinder to remold them in a way that would make them fit into this universe.

I love Class 1-A, but like they need to be taken down a peg or two, and I want to see them get their asses handed to them.

Ch. 1 part 2 of 3 Program Sign-Ups -->

Chapter 1 Part 3

Chapter 1 Part 1

The sound of wheels rolling against concrete and mild chatter flowed around the skate park. A small group of friends all joked about as they took turns going down the vert ramp. A tanned girl with dark brown hair, dark purple horns and pointed ears. Laughed as her brown haired friend almost slipped off his board when he landed beside them. His dark blue eyes glared back over at her, making her snort at his attempt to be intimidating.

“Stop laughing, Paloma, it’s not funny.” The boy huffed, straightening out his T-shirt.

With another giggle, she kicked off the top of the ramp with her scooter. Getting some air over at the other side, she gripped the handle bars once she landed and moved to the other side. Performing a tail grab, she smirked, “yes it was.” she spoke quickly, her own tail poking the boys' forehead, before landing back on the ramp and rolling to the other side. Noah blinked a few times in surprise before frowning. The sound of a giggle had him turning to a girl with long red hair that was tied up in a ponytail.

“Bettyyyy!” He whined, making her giggles turn into laughter.

“I - I’m sorry, Noah! It - it’s just… your face!” She covered her lips in an attempt to stifle her laughter. The boy besides her pouts.

“Ouch, my own girlfriend.” Noah dramatically slapped a hand over his chest, “Well, it was a good two months while it lasted.”

Betty snorts as she pokes his cheek, “Stop it, I’m just messing with you.”

“I’m gone for three minutes!'' The two turn to see Paloma smirking at them. The couple glance over at one another before laughing. Rolling her brown eyes, Paloma gestured towards the ramp, “Your turn, Betty. We’ll meet you on the ground.”

With a smile, the girl tightened her ponytail, “Gotcha.” giving her boyfriend a quick peck on the cheek, she adjusted her board and rushed down the ramp. After performing a few tricks, she slowed her descent down and made her way off the ramp to her friends. “Hey Regeena, hey Chaz.” She greeted the other two that joined her group.

“Sup Betty.” they both responded in unison. Opting to get out of the way of the other skaters, the group of friends made their way to sit at a bench.

“I still can’t believe she’s still in the hero course after that.” Regeena along with everyone else chuckled.

“I keep telling her she should just stick to photography, but she’s so obsessed with proving herself better than Betty.” Chaz sighs, “You’d think she’d stop doing that already.”

“I mean, she’s gotten better.” Noah pats his friend's shoulder reassuringly, “at least she’s not flaunting her money and wealth around anymore.”

“Or getting me into trouble.” Betty adds

“True that.” Regeena nods, “You know, if she wasn’t so obsessed with being better than you, I think she’d make a great rescue hero.’

“Gasp, praise? For Penelope? Regeena I’m shocked.” Paloma jokes, making the girl slap her shoulder.

“Yeah, oh, hey, Betty, are you signing up for the uh, hero thing program?” Chaz asked, “Penelope came home complaining about the program, I read through the packet though, it seems like fun.”

The redhead smirked, leaning back in her seat she crossed her arms over her chest, “Of course I am. I’d never miss an opportunity to better myself and meet new people.”

“Ahhh I’m going to miss you.” Noah pouts as he lays his head on her shoulder. Green eyes roll skyward as she gently pats her boyfriend's cheek.

“I haven't even gotten accepted yet, Noah. I still have to fill out the packet and get through the interviews.”

“He’s not wrong, though,” Chaz pouts, “when you do get accepted, cause there’s no way you won’t be, you’ll be gone for two weeks.”

“Wha - two weeks!?” Paloma and Regeena gasped.

“Oooo girl, I’m already missing you so much!” Regeena rose to her feet to walk around the bench and hug her friend.

“Make sure to text us if you can!” Paloma knocks Betty back into Noah’s chest with a hug.

“Agh guys! You’re suffocating meeee!” Betty laughs. Noah and Chaz exchange a look before developing them all in a hug, making the girls squeal. “You guuuuys~! Common! Let go! Let’s go skate already!”

“No way! Let me carve this moment into my memory where I will forever look back on it fondly!” Paloma laughed

“Awe, guuyys” Betty giggles as she does her best to hug who she can.

Betty Barrett. Age 16. Seat 7. Student Rank 6. Hero Name: Atomic Betty. Quirk: Self Gravity

Can control the gravity of her own body, making it lighter or heavier. She is able to single out any part of her body with her quirk for a stronger attack. With enough concentration, she could manipulate her body’s center of gravity, allowing her to walk on walls.

Hand to hand, Karate, Jujitsu

____

A tall boy walked into the large house in silence. Setting down his backpack on the counter, he began taking out any homework he had been assigned. He paused when his eyes landed on the packet his school had handed out to anyone in the hero courses. If he remembers correctly, his older cousin had taken part in the program years ago, too.

Setting the packet down, he let out a heavy sigh. Walking into the kitchen, he prepared himself something he could snack on while he worked on homework. Wondering back over to the table, he set down the plate and began homework. Once he was finished, he eyed the packet once again.

Maybe if he got in, his parents would come home and congratulate him.

He shook the thought off immediately. His parents want him to be a performer, not a hero like he wants to be. They never supported his dream, and yet they're proud of his cousin Zatana. Maybe it’s because she’s a daylight hero, and not an underground hero like he wants to be.

Would Zatana be happy for him if she knew he had applied?

Silently, he wondered if she’d tell her old mentor, his hero; Constantine, and what he would think.

He bit his lower lip at the thought. His family is never home, they're always busy with putting on shows. Would they even notice him gone for two weeks? No... Probably not. With a heavy sigh, he turned the packet to the page that had to be filled in. Even if nobody is proud of him or supports his dreams, he will be a hero and this program sounds like it would be beneficial for him.

Zachary Zatara. Age 16. Seat 1. Student Rank 7. Hero Name: Mage. Quirk: Magic.

With magic, he can do various unexplainable things.

Staff fighting, hand to hand, martial arts.

____

A tanned girl with glasses hummed as she took a sip of her drink, “So, what do you guys think of that program, Mlle. Bustier told us about?” She asked as she brought a hand up to play with the bright strands of her hair.

“Oh, the exchange program, right?” the boy next to her wearing a hat and glasses smiled, “I heard Kim and Alix might sign up.”

“Of course they would. But knowing them, they're going to struggle with those essays.” A blond with cat ears, that turned black at the tips, chuckled softly.

“What about you two? You and Marinette are in the hero courses, right?” The ombre haired girl asked as she leaned forward in curiosity.

The blond smiled sheepishly, “Yeah, I’m applying. It sounds like fun and all, but I, um, I was hoping to get in just to get away for a while.” Everyone at the table exchanged looks before turning to the blond with a reassuring smile.

“That’s fine, Adrien, you definitely deserve some time away from Paris.”

“Yeah, you can’t keep blaming yourself for that, Adrien. You didn’t know, he kept pushing you away and making you work. You couldn’t have known.”

“Yeah dude, after everything that happened this semester, with your dad being arrested as a super villain and all- ow!” He turned to the girl next to him, who was shooting him a glare. Realizing what he said, he was quick to correct himself, “N- not that any of us blame you! I mean, like, how were you supposed to know!? He kept you locked up and- I mean, You deserve a vacation from Paris! Yeah! That! You deserve to have fun and do things you were never allowed to do!” He smiled sheepishly.

Adrien’s smile widened at his best friend’s antics, “Thanks Alya, Nino, Mari. That means a lot. What are you planning on doing, Mari?” He turned to face the blue haired girl that sat next to him.

“Oh, I’ve been planning on applying ever since Luka told me about it.” Marinette smiled as she played with the straw of her drink.

“Luka told you about it?” Nino asked.

“Mhm, He took part in it last year. We would video chat and he’d send pictures. It looks like a perfect opportunity to make connections with possible partners. Maybe It’ll give me new ideas for designs, too.”

“Wha~ I’d definitely apply if I were in the hero course, that’s for sure!” Alya smiled brightly.

“It's never too late, Als.” Marinette rose a brow. “You’re already taking some hero course classes. You could always just…”

Her friend waved her hand about as if to dispel the thought, “No way, I’d rather get footage and interviews of hero fights than be a part of it! You know I’m taking those classes in case I need to protect myself.” She smirked, “Besides, I could say the same for you. An aspiring fashion designer and hero, yet you refuse to make hero costumes.”

“I’d rather make clothes for fashion and not something that would probably need repairs a few days later.” Alya and Marinette giggled.

“Wha- don’t look at me like that, Adrien. I’m in the same boat as Alya, just because I want to be a DJ doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be able to jump in to protect people. Gotta make use of Shelter after all”

Adrien sighs, “Carapace and Rena Rouge will never happen now.”

Alya snickers as Nino gives his friend an amused smile, “Carapace and Rena Rouge?” Marinette giggles

“Yeah! It came to me in a dream where we battled magic evil butterflies and used magic jewelry to fight crime! I even had their hero costumes all drawn out and everything! We could have been a quartet!”

Alya covers her lips as she laughs, “That's one heck of a dream. I appreciate it, Adrien, but we’re fine. Besides, Ladybug and Chat Noir are going to be the best duo when they debut!” The two friends looked at one another and smiled.

“Oh, You two are signing up as a duo, right?” Nino asks in curiosity, raising an eyebrow. Marinette and Adrien give one another a knowing look.

“No, actually, we’re not.” Adrien smiles

“W - what?! Why?! I thought you two were planning to debut as a duo!” Alya asked, sitting up, she looked between her two friends in confusion.

“We are, but we agreed that we can’t always rely on each other, so we’re going to sign up and, hopefully if we get in, end up in different groups.

Adrien grins, showing off his fangs, as he gives his best friend a half hug, “Being apart for a while is going to be great for us. Divide and conquer! When we meet up again, we’re going to compare notes and talk about our experiences!”

“Oh… I… I guess that’s not too bad of an Idea.” Alya thought out loud.

“If you learn any new fighting moves, you can just show each other too, pretty smart.” Nino nods.

“Of course it’s Pur-fect! Our ladybug came up with it!” Adrien laughs at the groans he received.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Age 15. Seat 12. Student Rank 8. Hero Name: Ladybug. Quirk: Lucky Charm.

Can create items to help her with any situation. The items that are created are random, leading to weird and elaborate plans that somehow always work. When she has finished making use of the item, it disappears in a swarm of ladybugs that fix any damage made after she has summoned the item.

Acrobatics, Hand to Hand, Made up fighting style with Yo-yo

____

“But Ah-Mah pleeeease~!” a girl with long black hair and a pink streak whined

“Juniper, I said no.” an older woman shook her head as she worked her way around her office.

“But why? Dennis got to apply in his sophomore year!” The young teenager pouted.

“Juniper, you know I need you here to help take care of everything around the house. Dennis has just graduated from the academy and has been busy making a name for himself as a hero, and Ray Ray is still too young to be left alone.”

“But Ray Ray is 12 -”

“Juniper.” The young teenager fell silent at her grandmother's tone. The older woman let out a soft sigh, “I know it’s not fair.” She walked over to her granddaughter and gently cupped her cheeks, “but it’s always been just us four, ever since you were 8. I’ve worked harder than before to not lose you kids. I can’t retire until Dennis’s work is more secure, and he’s able to help support us better... I need you here, baobei. I’m sorry. Maybe next time…?”

It’s a once a year thing only for sophomores…” Juniper let out a soft defeated sigh, placing her hands over her grandmothers she gently pried them away, “It’s okay Ah-Mah…” The young teenager walked out of the office, her head hung low. The older woman watched her go with sadness in her eyes.

“You should let her at least apply…” Her eyes flickered to the open balcony, where a young man with spiked up black hair stood leaning against the door.

“Dennis!” The older woman smiled tiredly as walked over to the young adult, “Hello, my little bèndàn.” She greeted warmly as they hugged.

“Ah-Mah you really need to stop calling me that…” Dennis spoke in an annoyed tone, the smile on his lips betraying his true feelings.

“I thought you wouldn’t be home until tomorrow.” The older woman chuckles softly as she goes back to her desk.

“The mission ended early.” The older boy shrugged, “So, about June -”

“Hey, Ah-Mah, why does June look so sad?” A younger boy asked as he poked his head into the office. He paused upon seeing his older brother. “Dennis!” He cheered, running over to his brother, “You’re back early!”

The young adult lets out a hearty laugh as he picks up his brother in a hug, spinning them about. Delighted giggles escaped his younger sibling's lips. “Hey there kiddo. Yeah, our mission ended early.” He sets the younger boy down and ruffles his hair, “Everything went smoothly.”

“So cool!” Their grandmother smiled fondly as she watched her two grandchildren interact. Her smile soon fell upon remembering the middle child and what had upset her.

As the young boy spoke with his brother, he was suddenly reminded about his sister. She looked upset as she walked back to her room. “Ah-Mah, do you know why June is so upset?”

“Hm? Oh…” The older woman snapped out of her thoughts, “She wants to attend a sort of exchange student program for hero students. I want to let her apply, I really do, but if she gets in, Dennis and I work and we can’t leave you home alone.” The younger boy's face fell. It sounds like he’s unintentionally holding his sister back.

“I’m a big boy! I can be left home alone for a few hours!” Ray Ray puffed up his chest.

“I know baobei, but grandma has had this business trip scheduled for a while now. It took us months to get this meeting scheduled… I looked over the packet… My trip lines up with the first week that the program starts.”

“I can always stay home that week till you get back.” Dennis offered.

“Would your work allow that? You had just recently started, I don’t want to place you in such a spot-”

“Ah-Mah, it’s fine. I’m sure my boss would be fine with it if I explain the situation. Not to mention, I’ve saved up my vacation days.” the boy gives a cocky smirk.

The older woman's lips grew into a large grin, "Juniper will be very happy to hear this, and to see you back home. Come, let us break the good news to her."

Juniper Lee. Age 16. Seat 3. Student Rank 9. Hero Name: Fāxiàn. Quirk: Detect.

She receives coordinates to a location to find anyone she needs to find. To do so, she must have made eye contact with the person she plans to keep track of at least once. She can keep track a single individual for three hours, has a limit of 5 people at a time for an hour. Her eyes turn purple as she focuses on tracking anyone.

Parkour, hand to hand, karate.

_____

“What do you think, sis?”

“I think it’s a really good opportunity. It sounds like it’s a fun little vacation too. You should definitely take advantage of it, Virgil.” An older woman with her dark hair in pigtails nods as she hands her younger brother the packet back.

“Yeah? You think dad would be cool with it?” Virgil asked, black eyes roaming over the packet once again, flipping to the other pages.

“I know dad can be… strict, but I’m sure he’d understand. You just gotta ask.” His sister placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder before flicking his ear, “Now go get the table set up. Dinner's almost ready.” She grinned, walking back for the kitchen

“Ow, okay, jeez.” He lifted his hand.

“And NO using your QUIRK.” Virgil dropped his hand with a frown. By the time dinner was ready, the sibling's father arrived home.

“So, Virgil, Sharon, how was school?” the older man asked as he served himself more of his drink.

“College is college, dad. Nothin’ special really happened.” Sharon responded

“Oh? And how are things with Adam going? Well I hope.”

Sharon blushed slightly at this, a soft smile gracing her lips, “Yeah, things are going really well, actually.”

Her father smiled fondly at his daughter, “That’s good to hear. Invite him over for dinner soon, it’s been a while since he’s been over.” His daughter’s smile widened as she nodded. Turning to his son, he raised a brow in silent question.

“Oh, uh, heh, school was pretty alright, I doubt the school system has really changed.” Virgil smiled sheepishly, avoiding eye contact. Glancing at his sister, he spotted her pointed look. Clearing his throat, he turned to his father, “Uh hey dad, I have a question…”

“Oh?”

“Um, well… There's this program, erm, the High School Hero Collaboration Program to be exact, and basically it's a two-week-long exchange program for hero students. I, uh, I want to know if it’s cool with you if I apply.”

The older man let out a soft sigh, lowering his fork. The young teen felt his shoulders tense at the sound. "You really are dead set on becoming a hero, aren't you?"

Virgil blinked at the sudden question, "Uh, um, yes. Yes I am."

"I really wish you would just do something safer like your sister…"

"Dad, the reason I want to be a hero is to protect you guys. I want to protect people who are struggling and need help."

"Then become a police officer or a firefighter."

"... Dad…" Virgil slumps back in his seat, "we always have this same argument…"

The older man gave out a tired sigh as he lifted his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I know son, I'm sorry… It's just… it's hard to support such a dangerous profession. Hero's around here… things are just…"

"I know dad… but I honestly thought I had proven myself enough during the field studies.” Virgil spoke up softly. Looking over to his sister, she nods and gives him a reassuring smile, “I want to make the city a safer place. Hero’s around here are already small in numbers and if I can help, even if just a little, I want to do that. Maybe even try to inspire more kids to take the hero course electives.”

Robert was silent for a moment. Looking at his son, he could see the determination and resolve in his eyes. Letting his posture slacken a bit, his eyes softened, a soft smile on his lips, “You’re just like your mother with that passion to help others.” Virgil blinked in surprise, “Very well. You can sign up for the program.”

“Yes!!” Virgil jumped up as he threw his fist in the air, “Oh man, Richie is going to be so excited! He’s been coming up with support gear and a new costume design and wouldn't leave me alone about it all day!”

Robert let out a full belly laugh, “Alright, alright, sit down, son. Let’s enjoy the rest of your sister's delicious cooking first.”

“Yeah, you can call Richie later.” His sister smiled.

“Right, sorry.” Virgil gave a sheepish grin as he sat back down.

Virgil Ovid Hawkins. Age 17. Seat 20. Student Rank 10. Hero Name: Static. Quirk: Electromagnetism.

Can generate, manipulate and absorb electrokinetic energy.

Hand to hand.

____

"So, how was school, everyone?" An older woman asked as she and her large family all started eating dinner. All the kids at the table softly answered in unison, making the two adults chuckle in amusement.

"Come on guys, one by one." The older man said firmly.

A boy with his dark brown hair waving in soft curls spoke up first, "Everyone in the hero course got a packet for an exchange program!" The boy next to him with black hair groaned softly.

"Really? What's it about?" An older girl asked in curiosity.

"Dude, that's awesome!" A younger girl bounced in her seat excitedly

"When is it?" One of the boys asked in a soft tone.

"Will you be working with pro hero's?" A younger boy asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"Tell us Billy! Tell us!" The younger girl chirped happily.

"Dude, Freddy, it was supposed to be a secret." Billy glared at the glasses wearing boy next to him.

"A secret? Why?" The older man asked curiously.

Letting out a sigh, Billy explained the program, "- it was supposed to be a secret because I wanted to tell you guys after I got accepted." He glares at a sheepish Freddy, "but I guess it's not anymore."

"Don't worry! We're still surprised!" Darla says with a nod. Placing her palms on her cheeks, she makes a surprised face. Eugene nods in agreement and drops his jaw, eyebrows shooting up as he also made a surprised face. Everyone at the table laughed at the youngest's antics.

"She's not wrong. We are pleasantly surprised. I'm sure you'll get accepted." The older woman smiled

"I hope so. It's basically a worldwide thing. From what the teachers said, it's really competitive. Only 40 students get accepted. That's why they have such an extensive application process." he smiled sheepishly, a hand rubbing the nape of his neck. His cheeks flushed red as everyone in his mismatched family shot him words of encouragement. It's been a whole year since he’s landed himself with his family, they’ve already been through so much together. He wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Billy Batson. Age 16. Seat 15, Class Rank 11. Hero Name: Captain Marvel. Quirk: Shazam

When saying the word ‘Shazam’ he is transformed into a version of himself that is at their prime.

Hand to hand, Stealth, street fighting.

____

“What is this?” A pale hand grabbed the packet that was handed to her. Black eyes quickly scanned through the front page, an older woman with white hair sat across from her on the table.

“It’s a program I think you’d enjoy, Jenny.” the older woman smiled softly, “I know that you feel trapped here, being homeschooled and all, so I thought you might want to join the program.”

Jenny looked up at her mother in surprise, “Y - you mean it? You'll let me apply for this? If I get accepted, you’ll allow me to go!?”

Nora let out a soft chuckle, “Yes, I'm allowing you to go. Actually, I’ve been planning on enrolling you into school next Semester.”

“Really!?”

“That’s right. Once the paperwork is complete you’ll be in school starting January and if you do get into this program, you can think of it as a small break from school, to give yourself a breather, I think it would help you adjust to school better.”

“Oh my gosh, mom! You’re the best!” Jenny grinned widely, her eyes sparkling in excitement as she stood to her feet.

“Yes, yes, this will be a wonderful opportunity for you to make friends too.”

“Mom, I have friends -”

“Online friends don’t count.”

“... Social anxiety is hard to deal with.”

“Jenny, you came home late yesterday because you stopped by Miranda’s place and spoke with her for three hours.”

“She’s a sweet old lady. She just needs some company sometimes~”

“And yet when the neighbor boy said hello to you this morning, you activated your skates and rushed inside.”

“... So it may be a selective type of anxiety…”

“Jenny.”

The blue haired girl let out a sigh, crossing her arms, “Yeah, okay, fair.” She paused before speaking again, “Are you positive online friends don’t count?” Nora sent her daughter a raised eyebrow, amusement radiating off her in waves.

Jenny sagged her shoulders, “Right. I’ll get started on this now.”

“Good. Make sure to email any of your teachers for those recommendation letters.” Nora rose out of her chair, “I’ll get started on dinner for us.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jenny Walkman. Age 17. Seat 6. Class Rank 12. Hero Name: XJ9. Quirk: Cyborg

Although born like any other, her body is very obviously modified. 50% of her body is organic, containing the most important organs for essential survival. Her skin is smooth to the touch, has the ability to remove appendages to modify or replace. Has the ability to connect herself to electronics and is able to download information directly to her brain.

Extensive knowledge in mechanics, Hand to hand, martial arts

Chapter 1 Part 3

#fanfiction #mha au #my life as a teenage robot #Shazam #Static Shock #Atomic Batty #the life and times of juniper lee #miraculous ladybug #marinette dupen chang #zachary zatara #jenny xj9 #billy batson #virgil hawkins #Betty Berrett #juniper lee

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primatechnosynthpop · 4 years ago

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Couple of my favourite deleted/extended scenes from Heroes season one, as compiled and posted earlier by @heroes-trash (even though I could have looked at them at literally any time since I own the DVDs... I just haven't until now because I'm dumb and lazy)

Micah showing up outside the prison and reuniting with DL... I will admit I'm a bit confused as to how Micah managed to get there on his own, but it doesn't surprise me that he's capable of it

Angela: Simon, eat your strawberries. / Heidi: he's allergic. / Angela: Of course. Simon, why did you take strawberries?

...And keeping the trend of Heroes food allergy lore going, Matt claims he's allergic to coconut when really he's allergic to avocado and just doesn't like coconut. I'm telling you, I can't believe they deleted scenes that convey essential information like this!

Claire being friendly towards Eden when she runs into her and Noah at Primatech!!! I just think it's very good for female characters to be friends and have conversations with one another. Gotta pass that bechdel test

Angela talking to Peter after he wakes up from his coma.... Love this bit because it's kinda twofold y'know... like yeah she Knows what's gonna happen and she is actively trying to dissuade him from saving the world but also she is probably genuinely worried about him on some level because he was just in a coma for two weeks, before which he engaged in some real reckless ass behaviour. Epic milf moments.

Mohinder showing up at Isaac's loft and meeting Simone!!! Literally don't know why that was deleted because having two characters randomly encounter each other and stop to chat for a bit is literally peak content

Matt talking to Claire about an episode of The Twilight Zone.... especially when he brings up flintstones gummy vitamins. Great conversations to have with someone after breaking into their house to threaten their dad

Is the bit with Nathan correcting Hiro's pronunciation of "wolf" basically a retread of the similar exchange with the word "villain"? Yeah, but it's fun and cute. (That being said, maybe Nathan should try and see if he can flawlessly pronounce any Japanese words before he gets all judgy. Ever think of that?)

And on a similar note of Nathan Petrelli Valid Moments: him telling his assistant/campaign manager/(I have very poor attention to detail so idk what that guy's exact job was but you know the guy I mean) to go on vacation so he won't be in New York when it explodes

#primatech #from this selection i think it's very easy to tell what kind of content i enjoy #then there's some stuff with niki a lot of which would have been kinda superfluous and some stuff with matt #a lot of which would also have been superfluous but i do like the scene with the plumber who was planning to swindle them #and there's a couple more good bits with the petrellis.... and a fair bit of content with claire that i thought was good #and that bit with a mohinder monologue over footage of peter and simone getting it on which. hmm. no comment #and of course that weird tense exchange between isaac and simone where he's like 'i never loved you' and she's like 'you wanna die?'#boy howdy. i am very uncomfortable with the energy we've created in the studio today #heroes

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theblogchelor · 4 years ago

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The Bachelorette Week Nine aka Bowling Alley Sexytime

Here’s What Happened Tuesday

More Bennett than we bargained for and a lie detector date that would have been an absolute terror in Clare’s hands.

One Hour of Television on One Slide

Let’s pretend this two-on-one situation is a bargain bin version of The Notebook. Tayshia is Rachel McAdams, a natural fit as they have equally perfect teeth. Bennett is James Marsden, with less of the decency and none of the dimples. Noah is Ryan Gosling but perpetually stuck in his uncomfortably manic carousel-dangling phase.

Weighing her options, Tayshia dumps James-Bennett and his serial killer jawline. She keeps Noah around for time being, holding out to see if he can progress to the better stage of smoldery, wrapped-in-a-blanket-on-the-balcony, depression-beard Ryan Gosling.

In this scenario, Tayshia is simultaneously dating the rest of the town as well.

The Rose Ceremony

Later, at the Rose Ceremony, roses are distributed to all but Spencer, Demar, and Ed. Pour one out for Ed’s massive neck and for the twenty minutes that Spencer was the villain of the season.

Ben’s One-On-One

Ben and Tashia’s date is something of a fever dream. You and this boy get on scooters. You must find the giant pool of tennis balls. Flash forward, you are battling an army of piñatas. Now you’re in a fountain and inexplicably pantsless.

Then you wake up and realize that on a show famous for its lavish, exotic overseas trips, this is really your date. And it is 120 degrees.

The dinner portion of the date is a different kind of nightmare for Ben, the kind where he has to explain, on national television, all of the worst events of his life. He glances to check and is at least still wearing pants.

Outside, Ben and Tayshia slow dance to the acoustic serenade of a man named Adam Hambrick, which my group chat promptly renamed Adam Spam.

The Group Date

The boys enter a dimly lit interrogation room to find Jojo dressed in a hot pink silk jumpsuit like Special Victims Unit Barbie. One by one, Jojo and Tayshia hook the boys up to a lie detector test to gauge their feelings about their mothers and to verify Riley’s identity.

Later, Tayshia tells Zac C. that she’s falling in love with him, mere seconds after Zac C. tells her that he once cheated on his girlfriend by Frenching another girl in a bowling alley.

Riley also takes a quiet moment with Tayshia to explain his late-in-life name change resulting from family trauma. Tayshia lets him blow his nose on the train of her gigantic paper towel dress.

As a game-time decision, Tayshia asks for an extension before distributing a hometowns-bound rose to any of the men.

Danger

Re-emerging from the real world, unquarantined and likely harboring the plague, Bennett returns to tell Tayshia that he – the wealthiest, whitest man in her orbit – is entitled to his first of many second chances.

Unmasked and sitting closer than six feet away, Bennett’s droplets hang suspended in midair with Tayshia’s stunned silence.

She asks for more time before she decides what to do with him, proving that even beautiful people can be chronic procrastinators.

#clarecrawley #tayshia adams #Clare Crawley #The Bachelor #Bachelor #bachelorette #the bachelorette #thebachelor #TheBachelorette #The Bachelorette Finale #bachelor in paradise #The Men Tell All #The Women Tell All #chris harrison

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blackbirdgames · 5 years ago

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Whats the ROs idea of a perfect date?

Isaia - If him spending time with the MC could somehow coincide with making a breakthrough in one of his villainous plans, that would be great.

June - Dating doesn’t really occur to her as a concept, but any setting or situation where June could just relax and lay off her mask for a moment.

Alfeo - The good old cheesy candlelight dinner with food and wine and lingering glances, taking the scenic route home when the clock strikes midnight, walking together hand-in-hand. He’s a dork, okay.

Sela - Making out in her bed or going out vandalising the town together, either does it.

Elwin - He doesn’t really “do�� dates, he would just like to spend some time with the MC in a casual setting without any romantic expectations at play. Simply getting to know each other as people, preferable someplace nice and private.

Olive - Just having a pleasant little chat in a café or a bar or any other place where the MC can feel at ease.

Noah - Spending a quiet evening in the library together, combing through the numerous books and trinkets to gather mutually beneficial information and intelligence and cuddle with the spiders.

Elliot - A cosy evening at her home, doing arts and crafts together with a warm cup of tea close at hand.

#the eyes of westerhollow #hosted games #choice of games #romance options #perfect date

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rauliskafan · 7 years ago

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The Mariska Matter

Let me preface this post by saying that I am a fan of Mariska Hargitay. She is an accomplished actor and skilled director who uses her fame for nothing but good (Joyful Heart, I Am Evidence). This is an example that anyone with a platform should follow, and Lieutenant Olivia Benson will likely go down as one of the most enduring characters in television history. Kudos on all those fronts.

That being said, the character is caught in an unfortunate and infuriating loop that is not without precedent. And from what I understand about acting, it makes little to no sense.

In SVU’s pilot, then-detective Olivia Benson is reprimanded by Captain Cragen for allowing her emotions to interfere while investigating the murder of a war criminal and rapist. Two victims take the law into their own hands. Their actions are understandable, yet Cragen realizes that there are still penalties for vigilantism. And Benson is told that she needs to understand as much. Fast forward to last night’s Season 19 finale. Benson is now in charge and facing a similar situation. Lourdes’ horrific tale of abuse while crossing the border certainly elicits sympathy. But there is still the fact that she held hostages, tortured her attacker, and took a man’s life. Benson barely sees this as a problem. And with no Cragen to call her out, Olivia Benson is always right.

My question is: how is this rewarding for an actor to play week after week?

Think of some of the greatest characters in drama. King Lear, Amanda Wingfield, Hedda Gabler, Willy Loman. Besides their varying tragic fates, the main commonality among these characters is simple: they get to be wrong. And it makes for better story! What kind of tales would there be to tell if Amanda’s or Lear’s or Loman’s children did not verbalize the damage inflicted and simply gave a sad smile and a nod (or if Judge Brack saw no harm in Hedda’s many manipulations and let her off the hook)? Not to suggest that Benson is a horrible parent or vengeful ex-lover, but the point remains: the others are called out on their shit; Benson is not at this point. Doesn’t Hargitay want to play an anger other than righteous or guilt for making the wrong call (Noah drama aside)? Especially in a drama about people whose bread and butter is conflict, there should be more moments where Benson has to deal with mistakes.

All of this has happened before...

Chatting with @svu-stories last night, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons between Hargitay and another beloved television performer, Alan Alda. Now I adore M*A*S*H, but here is another instance where an actor received more and more creative control over the show of which he was the star. And the result? Look, I love me some Hawkeye, but didn’t it ever get a little dull for Alda to also play the champion of so many causes and be the voice of all that is good and pure in every situation? My mind keeps drifting to Season 8’s “Guerilla My Dreams” where Hawkeye tries to protect a North Korean saboteur before she is turned over to the South Koreans, who are villainous caricatures in this episode’s scenario, for torture and execution. Not that Hawkeye’s intent is necessarily wrong, but where are the layers to the moment? Mako, playing the South Korean intelligence officer, was a versatile performer who could have brought infinite dimensions to a man faced with having to interrogate one of his closet neighbors. Instead, the audience only gets his malevolent smirk, which leaves Hawkeye looking like the only man with a moral compass.

Does this sound familiar?

I get it. As a writer, I know that there is always the tendency to paint one’s self as the hero of the story. But after some time, no matter how skilled any artist might be, only the person at the helm wants to hear that tale. If it must be black and white, paint the hero in darker shades every now and then. Better yet, do shades of gray where there is much confusion as to who is right and who is wrong. Olivia Benson used to dwell in those colors (remember when she disbelieved a rape survivor, and it led to more victims?). Now she is very much one color (despite Barba’s beautiful farewell speech regarding every shade of the rainbow). And as much as I love Mariska and applaud her achievements, I think that she is missing an opportunity to play complex beats and cement a different place in the annals of television. Olivia Benson is destined to go down as one of the most lasting characters in the medium. But she could be the most. If her portrayer thought back to that very first episode and realized that Olivia getting called out is not necessarily a sign of weakness. It would be a sign that she is human… which would make us identify with her all the more.

#mariska hargitay #olivia benson #law & order: svu

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fathersonholygore · 7 years ago

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FX’s Legion Chapter 15 Directed by Charlie McDowell Written by Noah Hawley & Nathaniel Halpern

* For a recap & review of Chapter 14, click here. * For a recap & review of Chapter 16, click here. Love the little unreliable narrator moments re: David (Dan Stevens), as this episode begins with an “ostensibly on Legion.” Quite the nice little addition before we even get into the meat and potatoes of Chapter 15. The other Narrator (Jon Hamm) tells us about “moral panic” and discusses how society gets to that place. We briefly look at it through the lens of comic books, the worry that fiction infects those who are easily influenced – i.e. youth. We also briefly see a glimpse of how things went for women accused of being witches hundreds of years ago. Same as the nationalist concern over immigration, et cetera. But the fear itself isn’t the issue, it’s those being frightened, and in turn how they react to that fright. In the meantime, Amahl Farouk (Navid Negahban) is working on his futuristic car, spitting up coins. Y’know, the usual type of astral plane shit. He soon hears David yelling at him over an intercom. Then, he and David are sitting across from one another for a little chat. The younger mutant is very unhappy about what’s happened to his sister, Amy (Katie Aselton). The Shadow King tries to turn David against his sister, and he also brings up the fact the brother’s had some seriously bad thoughts about his sister in the past. Of course that’s likely due to his schizophrenia issues. However, Farouk’s trying to provoke Mr. Haller into devastating action. Hopefully our man doesn’t spiral into a bad place.

“Gods make rules. They don’t follow them.”

David’s already underestimated his nemesis, who’s locked him in a room with memories of Amy. He’s stuck there, as the Shadow King is running off to find his body before anyone else. The whole situation gets pretty creepy. That is, until David begins to unleash a bit of his anger. Out of the sensory deprivation tank and back to Division 3, David’s at least got Syd (Rachel Keller) looking out for him. Although I feel bad for her. Because it’s not easy to deal with someone like David, despite her best intentions. All the same, they do talk a bit, about him meeting her in the future. Quite the strange conversation. Dig it. They eventually get into “ground rules” for their relationship re: the future Syd. A hilarious and sweet scene. Some serious shit is going down in the future. Farouk’s whole suicide future car is about getting TO the future. Perfect, no? He finds future Syd, and they get to a serious talk. They discuss David, and games of chance. He basically taunts her, flaunting his immense power. He also talks a good, circular game, in hopes of finding out something useful. Future Syd she needs Farouk to prevent the end of the world. Pretty sure David’s going to inadvertently cause whatever future devastation occurs. The Shadow King finds it ironic and hilarious he’s been the one scapegoated so long, while he’s actually supposed to be a hero rather than a villain. What about Lenny (Aubrey Plaza)? She’s got some of Amy’s final moments trapped in her head. She’s trapped in a cell at Division 3, antagonising Syd through the bars. And there she’ll stay for however long, going crazier and crazier.

Ptonomy (Jeremie Harris) is experiencing troubles. He gets a visit from the Vermillion (Jelly Howie/Brittney Parker Rose/Lexa Gluck). He sees a vision of Admiral Fukyama (Marc Oka), whose face reveals an even eerier vision within it. This makes the poor guy, still lying in his bed, scream out in the night. Afterwards, he’s like a man sleepwalking, body moving independently of his own mind. He makes a visit to the rooms of the others around Division 3, whispering things into their ears as they sleep. Uh oh, this doesn’t spell anything good. Combined with him leaving eggs on their bedside tables, whispering into them, too. More of the little creatures to crawl in their ears? Fukyama’s got eyes EVERYWHERE! David goes into the future, speaking with Syd there again. He hears about the “maybe apocalypse” plan with Farouk, and he doesn’t dig it, either. He hates the Shadow King, worse now after what he’s done to Amy. And it’s hard to reconcile with Syd suddenly trusting him to help them. There are troubles at Division 3. Clark (Hamish Linklater), Ptonomy, Kerry (Amber Midthunder), and Syd are all not doing well. They’re each experiencing mental distress thanks to Fukyama and his Vermillion. Speaking of, the Vermillion come across Kerry and Ptonomy, though they’re able to regenerate, and that’s tough. Good thing Kerry and Ptonomy are tougher. Elsewhere, David finds hundreds of eggshells all over the floor. Holy shit. Clark and Syd find Fukyama, ordering him to remove his basket. They see some creepy creature underneath. David arrives quick, preventing them from shooting Fukyama, who’s actually NOT a weird creature. So, David pulls one of those weird egg creatures out of both Syd and Clark’s heads. Not so easy with Ptonomy, it seems. He bends over, vomiting a pool of black tar, and then a massive creature grows out of him and stands tall. The thing runs off into the halls with David on its tail. He and Kerry confront it, but the thing can walk on walls and the ceiling, so it gets away easily. Meanwhile, Ptonomy’s dying, so the Vermillion will preserve his mind in “the mainframe” – a peaceful, forest-like space, where his consciousness will remain intact. Through Division 3, David tracks the beast. He jumps into its mind, a scene reminiscent of an old Ray Harryhausen dinosaur flick. Eventually, David’s able to will himself to a normal size, and the beast down to that of an ant. He sticks it in a jar and kills it. Done and done. Just as ideas can morph into monstrosities, we see what began as a little egg transformed into a horrifying beast. Love the way Legion deals with metaphors, packed into such a surreal and at times absurd package. Amazing writing. Sad to see Ptonomy go. He’s up there in the mainframe, so there’s always hope. That is, if his consciousness can survive. He’s got nothing left except his mind, his memories, and anything traumatic lurking in his past. This series can’t get any better. If it does, I may die. And I’d be fine with that, so long as it keeps blowing my mind until then. Chapter 16 should be pretty damn interesting. Legion – Chapter 15 FX's Legion Chapter 15 Directed by Charlie McDowell Written by Noah Hawley & Nathaniel Halpern…

#Apocalypse #Astral Plane #Division 3 #Jon Hamm #Mental Illness #Moral Panic #Navid Negahban #Schizophrenia #The Shadow King

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recentanimenews · 5 years ago

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A Few Thoughts About Stranger Things

Over the course of three seasons, Stranger Things has devolved from an engaging period piece to a Potemkin village whose neon surfaces, vintage movie posters, garish fashions, and spiral perms have displaced the heart, humor, and horror that made the first two seasons so compelling. The proof lies in the media’s response to the current season, as the New York Times and Vulture have breathlessly cataloged every cereal box and song cue that link Stranger Things to The Goonies and Stand By Me. In choosing to fetishize the material and pop culture of 1980s, however, the Duffer brothers have neglected the capable team of actors who’ve been selling audiences on the idea that Hawkins is the epicenter of an inter-dimensional catastrophe, lavishing their creative energies instead on recreating that most 80s of artifacts: the mall.

Don’t get me wrong: the idea of a shopping mall concealing a portal to the Upside Down has subversive potential, but the Duffers are too invested in making sure that everything looks right to care whether their story has anything new or meaningful to say about Reagan-era consumer culture. We’re treated to numerous tracking shots of the mall itself, with the camera lovingly documenting the stores, food court, and movie theater as Sadie and El bop in and out of the Gap to the sounds of Madonna’s “Material Girl.” Perhaps most tellingly, the characters never really look like they’re at the mall; they look like an 80s sitcom’s idea of what hanging out at the mall was like, right down to the cartoonish portrayal of teenage mating rituals and clique behavior.

Adding insult to injury is the poor writing. Most of the problems lie with the scriptwriters’ decision to lean into the angrier, more compulsive side of Hopper’s personality, with little thought of how his behavior might appear to audiences. Hopper bullies Mike, for example, rather than examining his own feelings about Mike and Eleven dating. These scenes are played for laughs—dads always want to “kill” their daughter’s boyfriends, right?—but the intensity of Hopper’s anger makes these scenes uncomfortable to watch. If anything, his anger is a potent reminder of season two’s biggest flaw: Hopper’s desperate, violent attempts to keep Eleven safe that crossed a line between loving concern and possessiveness.

The once poignant dynamic between Joyce and Hopper has also curdled into something sourly antagonistic. Though their first heart-to-heart conversation in Melvald’s is moving, conveying both Hopper’s insecurities and Joyce’s ambivalence towards Hopper as a romantic prospect, the relationship goes downhill from there. Hopper behaves like a boor when Joyce stands him up for a dinner date, furiously interrogating her about her meeting with the high school science teacher—even though Hopper has repeatedly stressed that he wasn’t asking Joyce out. That scene might have played better if we were encouraged to see Hopper as entitled or insensitive, but instead Joyce becomes the villain in this scenario, a scatterbrain who’s so obsessed with proving that something awful is happening in Hawkins that she’d rather chat about magnets than split a bottle of Chianti with Hopper.

The script then puts Hopper and Joyce in a strenuously unfunny holding pattern as they bicker in a manner that’s supposed to show how much they’re secretly attracted to one another. Ryder, whose fierce intensity was an asset in seasons one and two, is particularly unsuited to this kind of banter, overselling every comeback with too much mugging. Worse still, the dialogue is so flat that it barely registers as amusing, let alone flirtatious.

Perhaps the biggest failing of season three, however, are the monsters. Though there’s a genuine ick factor to the Mind Flayer’s new form, it looks too much like raspberry Jello-O to be the stuff of nightmares; only a gruesome scene in which hordes of rats spontaneously explode registers as horrific. The previous seasons did a better job of hinting and suggesting, saving the gory stuff for the final episodes. Season three lacks a single scene that’s as unnerving as Barb’s disappearance, or the demogorgon silently pushing through the walls of Joyce’s house, two of the defining moments of season one.

There are a few bright spots, thanks to the Duffers’ generous treatment of the supporting characters. Steve and Robin’s friendship, forged through insults and amateur sleuthing, adds some screwball zest to the proceedings, demonstrating Joe Keery and Maya Hawkins’ potential as romantic comedy leads; their scenes crackle with the kind of wit and energy that’s sorely missing from Hopper and Joyce’s ill-fated courtship. Noah Schapp continues to impress as Will, bringing soulful presence to a character who’s often pushed to the margins of his own story. As his friends pair off in season three, Schapp makes us feel Will’s contempt for Mike, Dustin, and Lucas, who’ve traded Dungeons & Dragons for trips to the mall and awkward dates; Schapp’s facial and body language capture his frustration and shame at being relegated to the status of uncool friend.

Alas, little else in season three of Stranger Things feels as honest or scary as Will’s dilemma. Most of season three registers as 80s fanservice with its on-the-nose needle drops and acid-washed fashion, with little sense of what it was actually like to be alive in the Reagan years. Unless the writing team figures out how to bring back the suspense and humor that made seasons one and two so irresistible, Stranger Things will continue to feel more like Goonies cosplay than a horror story that just happens to take place in the 1980s. Not recommended.

Seasons one through three of Stranger Things can be streamed on Netflix.

By: Katherine Dacey

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

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