#what was i talking about?

[petit-papillion]

Charles and Xavi during Qualifying | Monaco GP | 27 May 2023

📸 Christiano Barni

[hopeforchanges]

okay hot take here don't bash my head in ... Sauron and Galadriel ≠ Orlok and Ellen

idk am i the only one who doesn't see it? i stayed away from speaking on the topic cause i didn't feel i had all the information to engage in any meaningful convo but now that a good amount of time has passed and I have listened and read other people's arguably passionate stances on this (which is great! i love when people enjoy something, it gives me joy too!!) i must say .... i don't get it lol

let me explain myself:

I get that certain aesthetics or vibes might overlap (dark, brooding antagonist vs. a luminous, female protagonist), the comparison completely falls apart when you dig into their actual characterizations.

Ellen as a Symbol of Maidenhood vs. Galadriel as a Warrior

Ellen is basically a paragon of feminine virtue: she's all about purity, innocence, and ultimate sacrifice. She represents a kind of moral ideal that aligns with the trope of the "selfless maiden." Sure there is darkness in here but like ... where? lol in the words of one of my favorite complicated female characters of the silver screen: "I can't see it, I can't touch it, I can't feel it. I can hear it, I can hear some words but I can't do anything with your easy words."

Galadriel is a warrior, a soldier, a power-hungry monarch. She was born a princess into a life of great privilege. Galadriel is ambitious, vengeful, and actively pursuing power. She definitely embodies characteristics that are more commonly associated with male domination. I love both the feminine in Ellen and the masculine in Galadriel. They just don't overlap imo.

Orlok’s Selfish Awareness vs. Sauron’s Delusional “Vision”

Orlok is unapologetically monstrous. He’s a selfish predator who knows exactly what he is and doesn’t care. He’s not trying to justify himself or claim he’s “saving” anyone—he just feeds on people because that’s what he does.

Sauron thinks he’s doing the right thing. In his mind, his actions are about order, preservation, and the “greater good.” That lack of self-awareness is huge—it makes him a completely different type of villain. Orlok leans into his evil; Sauron justifies it - doesn't even think he's the evil force - definitely not in his story.

The Core Dynamic Feels Wrong

Ellen and Orlok’s relationship is built on fear and revulsion. Ellen sacrifices herself to stop Orlok—she lures him to his doom. There’s no room for ambiguity there; he’s the predator, and she’s the prey.

Galadriel and Sauron are equals. None of them can land the killing blow because they don't want to, not because they can't. Their dynamic is tangled up in grudging respect, power struggles, and even a weird sort of kinship. Galadriel isn’t diminished or destroyed by Sauron like Ellen was by Orlok; quite the contrary. Galadriel was empowered by Sauron, healed through him (at least in the show which is the medium i am basing my opinions on, not necessarily the tolkien legendarium). That's why it's so funny to me that in season 2 he can't figure out why she won't say yes to him when she used to drool over his mortal form and so he transforms into Glambrand as his big fix cause he thinks THAT is what the issue is lol you were her friend, dumbass, that's literally it. you supported her and believed in her when no one did and couched her so she could achieve her goals - helped her self-actualize.

There are no such layers and complexities in Ellen and Orlok's relationship. Plus, the fact that he came to her first when she was a kid gives me the ick, sorry. it's giving phantom of the opera. and i HATE phantom of the opera (the original book by Leroux, the musical kinda slaps tbh)

TL;DR:

Yes, Ellen calls Orlok a deceiver, but that’s where the parallels end for me. Ellen = pure, selfless sacrifice; Galadriel = complex, power-driven warrior. Orlok = evil and knows it; Sauron = evil but thinks he’s the hero. Their dynamics are fundamentally different, and the Orlok/Ellen comparison just doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

If I’m missing something, feel free to convince me otherwise, but for now? Nah, I don’t see it.

[miriadalia]

"We listen and we don't judge" but Cobra Kai fandom edition

I'll start:

When I started watching CK, I hadn't seen any of the Karate Kid movies. So I thought the boys from the flashbacks in season 1 were young actors playing younger versions of Johnny and Daniel. So... I googled them to know their IG accounts because I thought they were so cute...

Yeah... I'll wait for your confessions 👀

[xerith-42]

It's 2024 are we as a society ready to admit that the best version of the Equestria Girls movies is where Twilight, Flash, and Sunset enter a polycule?

[whoviandoodler]

we all concentrate often on how sweet and insecure rue can be about a lot of things but let us never forget they are also a scathing little bitch

[playstation-dreamcast]

Okay generally speaking I am not- I repeat NOT a panic at the disco fan.

But the line "they say if you don't let it out, you're gonna let it eat you away. I'd rather be a cannibal baby, animals like me don't talk anyway" just feels so unbelievably Wesker coded to me. Specifically either S.T.A.R.S!Wesker or Uroboros!Wesker

Please do not ask me to explain myself

[cara-mel5]

pov after 4 weeks of no formula one ur missing 2/3rds of a triple header that's then followed by another 3-week break.

[thorne1435]

Girls. I think it's over for me.

I find torpor cycles to be attractive now.

I will never find a person who meets my standards.

[veryveryvomit]

Its weird that one of the the main criticisms that gets thrown around about tma/tme terminology is that it's uninclusive considering the other available language is like. transfem, transmasc, and cis. Which is um. Infinitey less inclusive.

[tiralja]

I wanna play mabinogi......

[wisyhana]

Sorry if I haven't followed you for your puzzleshipping art, but I'm very picky about Yugi's height

[sneasedtomeetyou]

r u going to stop ur boyfriend-or-whatever from getting themself assassinated by an evil team leader?

I trust thatAmy can handle it. Not to mention even being in the same room with her right now I don't think there's much I could really do to stop her from what she's doing

[uselessvaldemarsimp]

another reason i am switching to cds is because APPS LIKE PINTEREST AND TUMBLR AND PICREW AND ROBLOX KEEP TURNING MY MUSIC OFF WHY LET ME LIVE DANGIT

[stormcloudsandshadows]

No one:

Me at 230 am: hm…… Nedzu.

[kissingarthurclaus]

I started working out with the ringfit adventure for switch and bro my stomach is so sore...😭 not because of ibs tho but bcs ab exercises are GNARLY

[t1meslayer]

Fallout (Ch. 2 - "Object Permanence")

Oops guess who got a little busy this week and forgot to do a teaser post for the next "Fallout" chapter release?

I mean... Surprise!

Y'all like surprise content. Right?

===

Fandom: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (part of my "Paldea's Fearsome Foursome" series)

Characters: Florian (& Ogerpon and Miraidon), Arven (& Mabosstiff)

Summary: Florian and Arven decide what they should do about a newly discovered threat to the Paldea region. Meanwhile, their Pokemon eat sandwiches.

Want to catch up from the beginning? Check out my "Fallout" introduction post and story recap!

In lieu of a text preview, please enjoy this excerpt from the actual, for real scan of Occulture magazine that I included in my fic. That's right; I got the actual publication in my house. It's here. Next to me.

And he's in it: