#what Alex and friends?

[i-eat-worlds]

Meet Dr. Elba Arklin!

Dr. Elba Arklin (She/Her) | 31 | Carewhumper | Vampire Researcher

“Dr. Arklin is a rising star in the field of vampire research. After receiving her doctorate in Vampire Physiology from DeCrown University, Dr. Arklin worked at Blair-Kyes Labs for several years as a researcher’s assistant under the tutelage of Dr. Oliver Sisten. She eventually rose to become a project head, were she published the results of her work in several notable journals. We at the Rowe Institute were delighted when Dr. Arklin joined as the director of our cutting edge vampire physiology laboratory, and are looking forward to future discoveries.” -Rowe Institute Staff Newsletter

Dr. Arklin is very dedicated to her research. While she is currently developing an effective anesthetic for vampires, she is still proceeding with anatomical studies. Feel free to ask questions about her work, as well as about her Vampire Enrichment Program.

[direpunk]

filming friends

[will41n]

etho in a dress etho in a dress etho in a dress

[stripedstarsblueflags]

“friends turned rivals turned teammates turned frenchmen on the podium… together”

CLOSE ENOUGH WELCOME BACK CROFTY DELIVERING THE BROCEDES EULOGY ON LIVE TV

[yrsonpurpose]

“C’mere,” he says, surging up to kiss Alex, and he’s putting his whole body into it now, sliding his hands down to palm at Alex’s ass as he kisses him. Alex feels a sound tear itself from his throat, and he’s following Henry’s lead blindly now, kissing him deep into the mattress, riding a continuous wave of Henry’s body.

[pitsazawr]

brilexx whaaaaaaaaaaa

[dawnofiight]

I offer to the public: Black Sam!

So. Erm. :D

Peep the way I didn't feel like doing plaid

Taglist:

@achios

@angel-shaw (I just felt like you should be @ ed for this particular drawing-)

@ashertickler

@aurorialwolf

@dukecollinsbf

@infinitelovewiithoutfulfilmentt

@moronkyne

@pandoraroid

@plaqying

@porters-fangs

@professionallyyappinabtangst (I literally just showed you this)

@puffin-smoke

@skunkox

@starlogician

@sunsickcrab

@themeridian

@tunacatfishes

@www-dot-why-are-you-here-dot-com

@zimix-whispers

[smiuffzo]

Selfish.

[deprivedmusicaljunkie]

new fav genre of picture dropped <3

[pia55tri]

Alex doesn't know much about his new neighbour and teammate yet, but he knows one thing almost certainly — Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri are not very good friends.

And yet, he opens his door in the morning just as the apartment across from him does the same, and, before he can think of saying good morning to Carlos, he sees Oscar appear.

[spacepatrolhana]

shane vs the world ?!?!??!

[wouldntbehim]

mix: firstprince (taylor's version)

[creative-clawmarks]

There should be more jaylex kissing... but like platonicallt ofc like yk just a bros haha cause their bros just really good pals right? Yeah

"Jay, I've literally had my fangs in your neck. I shotgunned blood into your mouth. We've done everything short of straight up gay sex. We are so far past that point."

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

KO-FI

[will41n]

he is my dress up doll

[amyackxrs]

[spenglernot]

STORIES TELLING: NED LOWE AND THE DEATH OF POOR REPRESENTATION IN OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH

In history, Ned Lowe was one of the most sadistic and violent pirates in the early 18th century, so he’s an obvious choice for a villain for season 2, episode 6 – Calypso’s Birthday.  What is interesting is what the OFMD writers chose to do with him.

Lowe announces himself to the crew of the Revenge with great fanfare (cannon ball attack) and gets right to the point.

Ed is thoroughly unimpressed.

Cut to Ed and Stede tied up while Ned attempts to set the mood so he can monologue about why he wants to kill Ed.

Ed knows what’s coming. He is going to suffer but he still can’t be arsed to meet Ned with anything but vaguely bored dismissiveness (and Stede is happy to play along).

Up on the deck, Ned prepares the crew for his big, dramatic moment of symphonic torture.

Note that the Revenge crew is tied down, braced by vices and generally unable to protect themselves from imminent torture and possible death, but their spirits are up. They don’t seem terribly fussed.

Then Stede uses his people positive management style to happily orchestrate a worker uprising in Ned’s crew.

Ned’s crew responds instantly; severing their allegiance to Lowe and telling him off.

The crew sails away and talks profit sharing while Ned dully threatens to hunt them down.

Ned is now a prisoner of the Revenge crew and seems entirely disinterested in his own survival.

And Ned sinks to the depths, without struggling at all.

There is a lot going on in this episode: pay and labor equity direct action, gay love engagement bliss, kink humor, Stede being a hero and saving his crew by playing to his strengths, then having to decide whether to kill in cold blood and feel the consequences of that choice. Ed having one more reason to be done with piracy (while being so impressed with and fond of Stede), and then watching his man make a fraught choice and having to deal with the fallout from that. (And, damn, I haven’t even mentioned the passionate sex bit.) Anyway, back to the point.

Now for the the meta part

The Ned Lowe sequences are perfectly in keeping with OFMD’s signature blend of madcap violence, humor, and big emotional gut punches. But something about Ned Lowe just strikes me as off for this show.

Ned is seriously threatening the crews’ lives, so why don’t they take him seriously?

Why does Ned have such a boring, throwaway backstory?

Why is Ned so nonchalant about his own death; like it’s a foregone conclusion?

Why does Ned have a silver violin and silver spurs on his slip-on dress shoes?

Why is Ned sartorially monochromatic?

And then I realized who Ned reminds me of.

This guy,

Earnst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film Diamonds are Forever (1971)

And this guy,

Scar in Disney's The Lion King (1994).

And this guy,

Xerxes, 300 (2006).

And it sure seems like Ned Lowe isn’t just an episodic villain. He is an archetype of the one-dimensional, stereotypical queer-coded villain that has been endemic in film and television throughout history. The OFMD writers have a lot to say about what to do with this kind of character:

Don’t respect him.

Feel free to openly mock him.

Don’t let him take your joy, even though he will hurt you.

He won’t disappear on his own. You have to throw something at him (take action) to make him go away.

Once he’s in the water, he’s content to drown. He’s not into what he’s doing any more than you are.

Oh and, just to be clear,

The LGBTQIA+ community has a very long history of turning shit media into better stories. So, hey, big media, prepare to have your crap characters wrecked (improved).

Now, back to our transformative pirate show with rich, complex queer characters and a multi-layered plot that surprises me every week and makes me feel big feelings - most of all, joy.

Final thought: I do wonder if Ned Lowe is monochromatically silver as a tribute to/poke at, Hollywood and the silver screen.

This meta was written before OFMD season 2 has fully aired. No idea what’s going to happen in the finale (and I’ve generally fled social media to avoid spoilers). I’ll be back, looking at everyone’s fascinating posts after episode 8 airs.