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andrewmoocow · 2 years ago

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Little Homeworld Life chapter 16: Somebody to Lean On (originally posted on April 10, 2023)

AN: And now we return to Little Homeworld to give some of its residents (and prisoners) some much needed therapy. A lot of these Gems have some trauma they need addressing, and others are in need of some clarification on whether they've fully gone good or still have some reservations about their current lot in life. Regardless, this is bound to be a pretty emotionally intense episode, though nowhere near as intense as what Steven had to go through. In addition, this will serve as further development for Black Rutile's character and perhaps serve as a hint towards her future in this world. Now that we got introductions out of the way, let's begin!

Synopsis: Dr. Rebecca Sucrose lends an ear to the Gems' plights.

Cast:

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Lauren Ash as White Topaz

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst

Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl

Jennifer Paz as Lapis

Shelby Rabara as Peridot

Uzo Aduba as Bismuth

Kimberly Brooks as Jasper

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball

Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate

Martha Higerada as Topaz

Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald

Kari Wahlgren as Pyrope

Melissa Fahn as Demantoid

Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite

Amy Sedaris as Teal Zircon

Rebecca Sugar as Dr. Rebecca Sucrose

Matthew Rhys as James Brenner

Shanelle Gray as Sally Grove

Ray Chase as George Ikari

On another bright sunny day in Little Homeworld, the residents gathered around a stage where the Crystal Gems stood alongside Steven's therapist Rebecca Sucrose because they had an announcement to make. "Good day, everyone!" Pearl greeted the Gems. "Today, we are having a special mental health day, and to celebrate, we have an equally special guest! Please welcome award-winning therapist Dr. Rebecca Sucrose!"

"Hello, everybody. Nice to meet you." Rebecca greeted to some scattered applause. "Some of you may know me as the therapist of one Steven Universe-"

"BOO, YOU STINK BY ASSOCIATION!" Eyeball abruptly jeered.

"But after some suggestions by Steven himself, I have now come here to talk with all of you." Rebecca continued, barely noticing Eyeball's insult. "I have won awards for my psychiatric breakthroughs, but I'm not so sure how I'd do with people who don't really have any physical brains to analyze, so to speak."

"Trust me; you won't find any brains here, regardless." Black Rutile rolled her eyes in disgust while turning to her cohorts. "Seriously, what's the point of her coming here anyways? And no one tell me what she just said!"

"I suggest taking on Black Rutile there first." Amethyst suggested to Rebecca. "She's a real space case, that one. I'm pretty sure you've seen her on TV before, right?"

"Oh yes, I saw her trial." Rebecca nodded in affirmation. "She's the psycho who tried to frame you guys as evil, right? I'd really like to psychoanalyze her like my old teacher did."

"Very much." Garnet stated while putting her hands on the therapist's shoulders. "I know it may seem like an arduous task, but we implore you to please find a way to get through to her, Doctor."

"I'll see what I can do." Rebecca said before turning back to her audience. "Okay, everybody, line up so I can give you all some therapy! Come on now; we haven't got all day!" However, as the Gems began forming a very long line, Black Rutile refused to join in on the action, making it easy for Rebecca to point her out. "You there, you're first!"

"Wait, me?!" Black Rutile gasped as she tried to back away. "No, I don't want any part in this!"

"Too late, you're going first!" Lapis commanded while Jasper and White Topaz dragged Black Rutile onto a couch with Rebecca sitting beside it.

"Okay, doctor, fire away!" Peridot exclaimed.

"I'd be delighted to." Rebecca smiled before turning to Black Rutile. "Now, judging by what my good friend Dr. James Brenner has told the Gems, you seem to suffer from antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder and are also self-diagnosed to be on the autism spectrum disorder. Correct?"

"Correct." Black Rutile agreed with Rebecca. "And I am not ashamed to admit I refuse to be anything else. It has been a rough past couple of months for me. I've lost everything I ever had, my forces have been arrested and are being tried for crimes they didn't commit, I'm being forced to live here as punishment for my crimes, and I've also learned that my entire status can be attributed to my former Diamond having a sense of humor. Have you ever felt like you were on top of the world only to feel like everything has been taken away from you in one fell swoop."

"I can definitely see that you're refusing to cope with change." Rebecca analyzed Black Rutile's recap of her life thus far. "Now, could this be because you're so attached to the identity you've made for yourself and everything associated with it? Are you suffering from loneliness, perhaps?"

"Very much." Black Rutile replied, now curling up into a ball on the couch as she let a more vulnerable side of her out. "Nowadays, I feel like whatever I do, I just feel like everyone will always be out to get me, and nobody will ever be on my side again. Well, aside from Aquamarine, the Rubies, Holly Blue, and Cat's Eye. I guess that's what happens when you're public enemy #1 across the entire universe."

"Have you made any new friends at all lately?" Rebecca wondered while writing everything Black Rutile said down.

"Oh yes, the most amazing friend I could ever have." Black Rutile answered eagerly. "Her name is Sally Grove, and I have never felt so connected with someone before! She despises the Crystal Gems just like me, and is also so vehemently opposed to any form of kindness and love and takes pride in how much of a horrible person she is! She's like me as a human!"

"Well, good to know you're making some progress." Rebecca said. "But please know that no matter how much you deny it, you need help, Black Rutile. Perhaps if you just listened to the Crystal Gems, your life would become so much better."

"Yeah, I think we should stop here." Black Rutile declared as she hopped off the couch, once again refusing to make any peace with the Crystal Gems. "If you think I'll ever change my ways, then you can just forget it!"

"See, we told you she'd be a tough nut to crack." Bismuth declared as Rebecca looked somewhat disappointed in both Black Rutile and herself. "Hey, don't look so down, Becky! Who knows? Maybe the others will be easier?"

"Hm, I doubt it." Jasper sneered. "I got a bad feeling Black Rutile might be starting up a new army right under our noses."

"That would explain why the Rubies have been hanging out with her lately." White Topaz muttered in reply. "Maybe we should just wait on the sidelines and see what happens."

"But what will happen when we keep waiting, and she takes us by surprise?" Pearl wondered ominously.

"I think I know what." Garnet proclaimed with her future vision giving her a glimpse of dark times to come. "And it's not pretty."

"I just feel like, so lost here!" Aquamarine complained to Rebecca. "I feel like I'm still stuck in the past and want to have something like my old life, but I want to move on with my life too!"

"Hm, a classic case of a stranger in a familiar land." Rebecca said, continuing to write in her notepad. "Now, is there anyone in that previous life you'd like to reconnect with?"

"Yeah, Topaz." Aquamarine replied, looking down in shame at how she had abandoned her old bodyguard. "As soon as Era 3 began, she up and ran off to Little Homeschool to get as far away from me as possible. Well, frankly, she definitely had the right idea."

"Well, would you care to try and talk to her?" Rebecca offered as Topaz stood right behind her, ready to make amends perhaps. "I got her right here."

"Hey, Aquamarine." Topaz said quietly as she stood face-to-face with her old boss. "How have things been?"

"Oleaginous." Aquamarine answered sourly. "Just feeling absolutely alone in a world that I just wanted to save. You understand what I'm going through, right?"

"Yeah, kind of." Topaz said. "I only wanted to follow orders, yet I wanted to do what I wanted at the same time. And, of course, you kept getting in the way of things. But in Era 3, I'm finally free to be myself. Yet at the same time, I don't want to see anyone so alone, even you." She extended a hand of compassion to Aquamarine. "So, care for a second chance?"

"Ugh, you're a little too forgiving." Aquamarine grumbled as she shook Topaz's hand. "But hey, you commit to whatever you feel like; I won't judge anymore."

"Glad to see you're willing to change." Topaz smiled before Aquamarine hopped off the couch and walked away. "Wow, that was easier than I thought."

"Oh yes, very easy." Aquamarine scowled under her breath. "You mouth-breathing fusion. You'll soon see things my way again."

"So, Cat's Eye, what's on your mind right now?" Rebecca asked her next patient.

"Losing everything because of Steven." Cat moaned, her weeping muffled by the couch cushions. "First, I had my status taken away, but since I could be whatever I wanted in Era 3, I decided to become a lawyer. But that turned out poorly, so I joined up with this Cinnabar who was Black Rutile's apprentice, but then her plans got foiled, and I was sent down to Little Homeschool as punishment for my association with Black Rutile!" She looked up at Rebecca, her makeup now running. "I feel like every time I want to make a change in my life; everything just keeps going wrong!"

"Feels like you've been through a lot." Rebecca nodded sympathetically. "And it feels like recovering might take a while for you. I think a therapy animal could be of use."

"A what?" Cat groaned.

"A therapy animal, it's exactly what it sounds like." Rebecca answered kindly. "In fact, the Gems got into contact with the animal shelter just for this occasion."

"Careful now, they might scamper off." Garnet said while carrying a box full of kittens for Cat to choose from while Cat Steven rested on her head. "Now then, choose which one you'd like."

"Oh, cats. Hardy-har-har." Cat laughed mockingly while examining the cats in front of her. Three of them seemed relatively close, a white kitten with a pink bow, a black kitten wearing a red bowtie, and a brown kitten with a blue bowtie. Another cat had a blank look on his face while playing with a stuffed frog. Another cat was licking out of a pudding cup and seemed very protective of his treat. But the cat that stood out to Cat's Eye the most was a rather shy-looking cat with all black fur, a matching-colored hairbow on her head, and a yellow dragon toy in its mouth. "I want that one."

"Oh, you mean this one?" Rebecca wondered while scooping up the kitten in her arms. "This one's a little shy, like she doesn't know where she belongs in the world. I think you could relate."

"I do, actually." Cat realized as she was handed the shy kitten. "What's her name?"

"The shelter calls her Blake." Garnet answered. "I think the name fits."

"Yes, it does." Cat's Eye smiled at her new furry friend and gave her a nuzzle. "Don't you love your new mama, Blake? Don't you?" Blake let out a meow and licked her new owner. "Aw, she likes me!"

"Looks like you have a new friend, Cat Steven." Garnet smiled at her cat while pulling Cat Steven off her head and showing him to Blake, and the two cats started gently batting at each other.

"I feel like I have no one to control anymore!" Holly Blue overdramatically yelled in exasperation. "My entire life, I happily accepted orders from whoever was above me in power, whether it was the Diamonds, Black Rutile, or Cinnabar. I reveled in how much power I held over lower-ranking Gems! But now it seems like I have nothing, and all I am anymore is a worthless punching bag! Black Rutile was my one ticket to regaining my old life and sense of identity, and look how that turned out!"

"So you feel like being controlling and harsh is the only thing that gives you joy in life, eh?" Rebecca wondered. "Well, have you ever considered trying to be a little fairer, but still stern at the same time?"

"What good will that do me?" Holly asked.

"Well, you could be a lot more likable that way." Rebecca added. "I've gathered that you prefer showing power through abuse and control, which is not a healthy mindset. Would you care to elaborate on where that came from?"

"I was always very eager to please my superiors, so if I acted like them, that would make them proud of me." Holly Blue revealed. "But maybe you're right. Maybe it's time I start thinking about me instead of them."

Meanwhile, Black Rutile had returned home to contemplate what Dr. Sucrose had said to her. Maybe she was suffering from loneliness. Maybe she was attached to the identity she formed as a servant of White Diamond. But did it really matter in the end? She had nothing, and it was all thanks to the Crystal Gems, yet they're only now showing concern for her well-being. Well, where was this sentiment before? She needed someone else to talk to about this, someone who could lend a hand in this time of need. And she knew someone who was fitting enough to do it.

"Hello again, Black Rutile!" Black Rutile's criminal psychologist James Brenner greeted his patient cheerfully. "How have things been going recently? It feels like we haven't talked in a while."

"Just got psychoanalyzed by one Rebecca Sucrose as part of a mental health day." Black Rutile answered. "She says that I'm suffering from loneliness and desperation to grasp onto what remains of my identity, or something like that. Do you see that too?"

"Yes, I believe so." Brenner nodded in reply. "Your recent behavior screams trying to get everyone's attention so you'd be hailed as the smartest in the room. And yet no matter what, you never seem to get that praise you crave so much. Instead, you are feared and hated by all. Your former allies, your enemies, and the public as well. But I believe that it's not too late to make a change, my friend."

"Yeah, you're right." Black Rutile frowned, which quickly turned into an angry grimace. "Why is it that when I do something bad, I'm the only one who's punished while Gems like Demantoid, Pyrope, Emerald, Morganite, Peridot, Lapis, Bismuth, and the Diamonds get off with a slap on the wrist despite doing far worse?! It just isn't fair!"

"Yes, the universe can sometimes have a twisted sense of humor." James sighed in reply. "But regardless, knowing you, you'd likely find a way around this."

"Oh yes." Black Rutile grinned evilly as she peered outside her window to spy on Rebecca, now serving as a shrink for Emerald. "If there's one thing the Crystal Gems haven't taken away, it's my love of manipulating people to my side. And by golly, do I have the master plan!"

"I'm actually pretty okay with the life I'm living now, but I still hold a grudge against Lars for getting away with stealing and/or destroying my ships!" Emerald vented her remaining struggles to Rebecca. "Do you think I have a problem with letting go of old grudges?"

"What do you think?" Rebecca commented. "Maybe should this Lars stop by, perhaps find a way to make amends with him."

"I'll try to give that a shot." Emerald obliged with a sigh, unaware that a black camera drone was watching her every move.

"I want to give cross-Gem fusions a chance, but I still feel so weird near them." Morganite complained to Rebecca. "I think it dates back to when my Ruby and Pearl would keep fusing behind my back, no matter how much I kept rejuvenating them."

"I see, still retaining some deep-seated prejudices." Rebecca muttered.

"And it didn't help that when I met my Ruby and Pearl's fusion for the first time in ages; I nearly got chucked out of my building!" Morganite shouted, surprising the therapist. "Don't worry, she calmed down thanks to her off-color friends, but that is not a good look for the rest of her kind."

"We lost because of her!" Pyrope childishly blamed Demantoid for their failures while sticking her tongue out at the green Gem.

"No, we lost because you were too full of yourself to consider the angles that only I could see!" Demantoid argued back while sticking her tongue out at her prissier partner.

"I've actually dealt with a few bickering couples before." Rebecca nodded as she observed the Garnets' back and forth, much to the duo's embarrassment as they began blushing like crazy. "Would you care to experiment with a few methods to improve your relationship?"

"We are not a couple!" Demantoid and Pyrope yelled in Rebecca's face in unison.

"Okay, I get your point, but trust me when I say that it will take time for you two to understand each other again."

"Like what?" Demantoid asked curiously.

"Like a trust fall, for example." Rebecca suggested. "Basically, one of you has to fall, and the other has to catch you. Now, who wants to be the catcher?"

"I think Demantoid should do it." Pyrope suggested while crossing her arms and preparing to fall.

"Wait, I think I'm a little too small for this!" Demantoid disagreed hurriedly before Pyrope tipped herself over, and since Demantoid was so small, she was crushed underneath the larger Gem.

"Oh my goodness, are you alright?!" Rebecca exclaimed as she raced over to Demantoid's side while Pyrope got up and dusted herself off.

"Why thank you, senator." A dazed Demantoid answered. "The fish was delish, and it made quite a dish. Creepy pants all the time get some. Sever your leg please sir; it's the greatest day."

"Is she going to be okay?" Pyrope asked sheepishly as she slowly backed away from her delirious partner.

"It's just a concussion; I think she'll be fine." Rebecca answered assuredly.

The day soon began winding to an end as Rebecca had just about finished therapizing the Gems. As she started packing her things and saying goodbye to the Crystal Gems, Rebecca saw Black Rutile walking up to her. "Oh, hello, Black Rutile. Care to discuss our chat earlier before I leave?"

"Why yes, I'd be happy to." Black Rutile put on a fake smile in reply. "You know, thinking about our talk has really done me a world of good. I have finally come to terms with who I am in this world."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Rebecca cheered before Black Rutile abruptly grabbed her by the neck and began strangling her.

"Yes, I know exactly who I am." Black Rutile repeated menacingly. "I am a planet-conquering, gaslighting, opportunistic, sociopathic terrorist through and through. I have ended the lives of both Gems and organics, conquered numerous worlds in the name of my so-called superiors, and nearly succeeded in destroying the Earth multiple times. And I'd rather be shattered a thousand times over before that entitled, messiah-complexed brat forces me to be anything else."

"Hey Black Rutile, get your hands off her!" Amethyst yelled at Black Rutile as the Crystal Gems came to Doctor Sucrose's rescue.

"What is the meaning of strangling such a kind woman like her?" Pearl asked as Garnet freed Rebecca from Black Rutile's clutches.

"What? No! You're getting it all wrong!" Black Rutile lied to save face. "I was just giving her the biggest hug I could muster as thanks for helping me see the light! You were right; she is a good therapist."

"A likely story, Black Rutile." Garnet coldly replied. "We'll be keeping an eye on you. Try not to cause any trouble in the meantime."

"Oh, I promise." Black Rutile assured the Crystal Gems before walking away with an evil smile on her face. "Oh, they have no idea what's coming to them."

"See what I meant when I said she was a total space case?!" Amethyst exclaimed to Rebecca, who was busy rubbing her aching neck.

"I can definitely see your point, but I still have faith in her." Rebecca gasped in response. "I just hope she has enough faith in herself."

"And that was my day today." Black Rutile said to Sally Grove later that day. "So sure, I do suffer from loneliness, but my next plan, should the Flipso one fail, will prove to be a cure for that!"

"Indoctrinating the masses, right?" Sally wondered while filing her nails. "Who are you going to start with?"

"I think I'll start with some of my former cohorts." Black Rutile replied. "Maybe Emerald, Morganite, and the Garnets to start with. They're a little too comfortable here, and I'd be all too eager to make them come crawling back to me." Just then, she heard a knock at the door. "One second, I have to take this."

"Oh, Black Rutile, I'm respecting your privacy by knocking but asserting my authority as a good neighbor by coming in any way!" Teal Zircon cried as she burst into Black Rutile's house with a signature big smile on her face. "You would not believe what Dr. Sucrose told me today! She says I might have ADHD or something!"

"ADHD, eh?" Black Rutile smirked at the overly energetic Zircon. "Ah, a fellow neurodivergent Gem. How about we engage in a little bit of that neurodivergent solidarity by talking a little?"

"And then I was nearly strangled to death by that Rutile!" Rebecca later complained to George Ikari in a coffee shop. "I've been told she was unstable, but this is ridiculous! And after I lent a comforting ear to her too!"

"I hope you're recovering nicely." George offered his support with his fingers steepled together. "But regardless, Black Rutile is a dangerous individual, and it'll only be a matter of time before she takes advantage of the hospitality she was given."

"Oh, hello there, you two." Dr. Brenner greeted George and Rebecca as he sat down at their table with a latte in hand. "Haven't seen you two since your graduation. How have things been?"

"Oh, Professor Brenner, it's been so long!" Rebecca squealed at the sight of her old teacher before hugging him, while George just grinned at the sight.

"James, it really has been a while." George smiled. "Class of 2008, right?"

"Ah yes, you were always one of my finest students, Mr. Ikari." James replied while giving George a gentle stroke of his hair. "Now then, I heard you two were talking about Black Rutile? I've actually had a chat with her earlier."

"I was assigned to give some therapy to the Gems of Little Homeworld, and Black Rutile was one of the first." Rebecca stated as she began to tell her story.

I apologize for any inaccuracies in psychology, it was never one of my strong suits. But anyways, while my notes told to end on the scene with Black Rutile and Teal Zircon, my heart told me that a scene with Rebecca Sucrose, George Ikari and James Brenner was too good to forget about. But enough about my personal wants, next time will be a very special chapter. Next time, we'll be having a big musical episode with some very special celebrity guest stars! Be sure to stay tuned. Wow, this turned out to be a shorter chapter than I thought.

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jbuffyangel · 5 years ago

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The Good and the Bad: Arrow 8x09 Review (Green Arrow & the Canaries)

Arrow did another backdoor pilot for the spin-off even though 7x16 felt like one,

but it’s clear from this episode things have been… retooled.

Not always for the better. I liked Green Arrow and The Canaries more than I disliked it, but I’m an easy sell. If Olicity’s progeny are available via my television then I’m watching. Period. End of discussion.

There’s good content for the writers to mine, but there’s definitely some kinks to work out.

Doing things a little different with this review. Yes, I can change.

It didn’t feel like a fully fleshed out episode and I have a feeling we’ll be repeating this pilot in some form if Green Arrow and The Canaries is greenlit, so for now we’ll just hit the highlights – the good and the bad.

Let’s dig in…

What I Loved

This is the first episode immediately after Crisis, so we don’t entirely know how the present day is impacted, but the future certainly is bright. Mia and William have grown up in an almost paradise. Star City is the safest city in the country. There’s been no crime for almost twenty years and it’s all thanks to the city’s hero – Oliver Queen.

Source: feilcityqueen

It’s nice to see Oliver being honored years later by the ungrateful twats of Star City. They are slightly less ungrateful in my eyes. However, it’s even more wonderful to see that Oliver’s children grew up safe, protected, and maybe even a little pampered. It’s everything he wanted for them.

The big stick with this carrot of course is Oliver not being able to raise William and Mia.

Mia Smoak is the princess we were promised and she is ready to ascend the throne. I loved everything about her character.

Source: kathmcnamara

The alternate timeline/universe (?) has softened Mia. There’s no anger. No dark and twisty past. No hatred of vigilantes. No resentment over lies and betrayals.

Mia knows her father was a hero, but she hasn’t grown up hiding out in a cabin with Felicity. Instead she grew up with William in the Queen Mansion (where she currently resides). On the surface, Mia’s life has been pretty friggin perfect, even if she’s a little adrift. That said, the Grand Canyon sized hole in her life is that her dad is gone.

Source: oliverxfelicity

Mia blissfully wakes

Source: kathmcnamara

and is proposed to by… JJ DIGGLE!

Source: kathmcnamara

We have a scantily clad naked Diggle boy and he’s already dropping down on one knee. This show is my crack.

This also means JJ Diggle isn’t evil! Plot twist!! Dun dun DUNNN!!!

Source: kathmcnamara

Mia says yes after a brief hesitation and the DIGGLE BROTHER LOVE TRIANGLE HAS COMMENCED. I know I’m the only person who wants this love triangle, but I don’t care.

JJ is the “good” brother and Connor isn’t “evil” but he seems like a colossal screw up with questionable facial hair.

But also maybe I like the facial hair?

It’s clear he has an adversarial relationship with Mia, but so many romances have been born from loathing. Enemies to lovers is a classic trope. I’m all in.

Of course, we’re supposed to expect Connor in Mia’s bed since the Season 7 flash forwards more than hinted at a brewing romance between the two,

but instead it is JJ. A plot twist the Olicity fandom called ages ago.

John Jr. is new and improved though. There isn’t much to dislike about this version of him. He’s kind, sweet, sexy, attentive and pulling out expensive jewelry in the first five minutes. What’s not to love? There’s a smol and tol aesthetic happening too. Everyone knows that’s my shipping jam.

Things immediately get rocky though (pun intended). First, JJ gives Mia the Queen family engagement ring.

Source: arrowdaily

Mia makes a point of saying it was her mother’s which gives me the feels.

I never had the same issues with Moira’s engagement ring others did, but even I can recognize there’s some bad juju in it

Next, Mia gets her memories back (more on THAT later) and officially remembers her fiancé was a psychopathic killer who ran one of her friends through with the pointy end of a sword. It’s a little difficult to kiss JJ after that visual.

Things don’t get much easier after Mia accuses JJ of being the mastermind behind Bianca Bertinelli’s kidnapping. (Yes, she’s Helena’s daughter). He’s not the kidnapper. All his secrecy revolves around the honeymoon JJ is planning. It does lead to a truly hilarious moment between the two characters.

JJ: Jumping to conclusions is I’m cheating on you not that I’m a kidnapper. For the record, I’m neither.

It’s a heavy moment, but I died. It’s going to be a little hard to pick out cake now.

The scene itself is heartbreaking. Charlie and Kat acted their asses off in it too. JJ thinks Mia doesn’t want to marry him. She hesitated before accepting his proposal (Yes, he noticed that Mia. So did I). JJ believes Mia is commitment phobic. It’s not wildly unlike how Oliver’s story began. Thank God there’s no cheating with siblings though.

Mia is merely struggling with the idea that her fiancé was a cold blooded killer in another world. She just needs some time to… adjust. She’s also a little commitment phobic. After stopping the real bad guys, Mia reassures JJ, but she doesn’t tell him the truth about who she is.

Mia: I couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else."

I see your not-so-subtle wink at SmoakNHawke writers. I AM SO HERE FOR THIS.

The truly awesome moment with JJ’s character is when he gets his memories back too. I was not expecting this and was genuinely surprised. Charlie Barnett is a PHENOMENAL actor. He played that scene perfectly.

Giving JJ his memories back is a stroke of genius because now he's a more complicated villain (I hope). He gets to struggle with his love for Mia and his loony tune desire to take over the city.

Katherine McNamara also does a fantastic job of blending the two versions of Mia after she gets her memories back.

Source: supercanaries

She’s reeling from the suffering and loss, but Mia is still our bad ass princess who takes no crap.

Source: oh-my-hades

She is still every bit the hero Oliver and Felicity raised her to be.

Source: feilcityqueen

She’s just a little more pragmatic. Her communication skills are much improved. One of the best moments of the episode is when she gets to show up L*urel with her “new” experience.

Source: supercanaries

Mia telling L*urel where to stick it was a long time coming. We had to wait twenty five minutes for it to happen, but it was GLORIOUS when it did.

Source: arrowversedaily

William is a perfect cupcake, excited to be Mia’s man of honor, but bummed his boyfriend cheated on him. We hate Kevin.

Source: arrowdaily

He encourages Mia to join Smoak Tech, but she’s not sold on joining Mama’s company. William running Felicity’s company fills me with a deep and abiding joy.

William Clayton-Harris-Smoak-Queen is perfection from start to finish.

Source: oliverxfelicity

The chemistry between Ben and Kat is so natural. William’s good natured teasing about their “family heirloom” exuded warmth and love.

Source: feilcityqueen

I adore how comfortable the two characters are now. Erasing William and Mia’s separation is the best thing to come out of Oliver’s Crisis retcon.

ZOE IS ALIVE because I said she would be and I like to get my way.

Source: oliverxfelicity

Din*h owns a bar (Thea’s old club) and lives in the apartment upstairs (Thea and Olicity’s old loft).

Source: canarynetwork

She woke up in the future after Oliver’s funeral and discovered she doesn’t exist in 2040. I’m only mildly curious about this. The bigger shock is Din*h is tolerable. She’s compassionate towards Mia and often serves as the peace maker between her and L*urel. She feels like an older and wiser Din*h Dr*ke. More like Season 5 Din*h, but not so angry.

Also, hello that voice? She can be like Lorne on Angel and randomly break out into show tunes. Juliana did a beautiful job.

E2 Oliver cheated on L*urel with Sara too. There is no universe where L*urel & Oliver end up together. Nobody hates L*uriver more than these writers.

What I Hated

L*urel. I hated everything about L*urel.

At first, I thought I was being too sensitive, but after a certain point it was clear she is just an asshole. L*urel being unbearable in Arrow pilots is a tradition apparently.

It starts with how Mia gets her memories back. There were some spoilers out on this, but I wasn’t entirely sure how it would play out onscreen and yeah… total dick move.

Source: supercanaries

L*urel destroys Mia’s life by forcing unbelievably painful memories on her without discussing it with her first. And for what? So, Mia can help L*urel find her kidnapped friend.

Even the newspaper article L*urel drops about the Green Arrow failing the city doesn’t excuse the way she gave Mia her memories back. I understand she is trying to convince Mia to be a superhero, but I feel a more effective approach would have been to sit down, grab a cup of coffee, offer the pros and cons of getting her memories back and then let MIA DECIDE.

Source: supercanaries

L*urel didn’t need to grab her from behind at her graduation/engagement party. It had the uncomfortable vibe of mind rape and no amount of “girl power” makes that okay.

Oh hey - if J'onn J'onzz from Superg*rl is going around and zapping people’s minds without clearing it with them first -

What was with L*urel insulting Mia every two seconds? UGH. Where is that damn bird baton?

There’s a fine line between snark and nasty. L*urel was just nasty.

L*urel decides Mia is a lazy, self absorbed, idiot because she’s not immediately jumping at the chance to be the Green Arrow. She literally blew this kid’s life apart, gives her no time to process, and immediately begins insulting her because she’s not following all of L*urel’s commands.

On what planet does L*urel have any authority over Mia's life?

They have a warm and fuzzy heart to heart about choosing to be a hero to smooth over L*urel’s wildly unpleasant personality, but it’s ludicrous. L*urel didn’t even rate a goodbye from Oliver. I find her suddenly being an expert on what Oliver would want for his daughter pretty tough to swallow.

This conversation should’ve been with William. PERIOD.

Source: oliverxfelicity

It’s insane L*urel is judging anyone about anything because SHE IS A MURDERER. But sure, being a socialite is the real crime. Thank goodness L*urel is here to stop all the shopping.

The show was desperate glaze over Bl*ck Sir*n’s history with bizarre explanations.

L*urel: I wasted a lot of time pretending to be something I wasn’t because it was easier.”

So, Bl*ck Sir*n was pretending to be a murderer because it was easier?

That’s not a thing. You don’t pretend to a murderer. You just are one.

Bl*ck Sir*n wasn’t like Oliver Queen. She killed good and innocent people. We’re just supposed to accept she was always a good person simply because she says so? Sorry sweetheart, the evidence does not exist. I would send your ass to prison for a good 25 to life, but the network didn’t ask for my opinion about your participation in the new show. THEY SHOULD HAVE.

Then there’s the way they casually avoid things Bl*ck Sir*n has done.

Din*h: I can let go of the people I lost and mistakes that I made.

Din*h lost her boyfriend because L*urel murdered him. They ate French fries and drank milkshakes in a ten second scene and now we’re supposed to believe they’re best friends. Umm… no. If you want to make this friendship believable don’t pretend their history doesn’t exist. Most of your viewing audience is coming from Arrow. We remember that L*urel killed Dinah’s boyfriend.

L*urel: D you’re up. You ready?

Din*h: Never not.

Ugh. Cringe. Arrow was effortlessly bad ass because Stephen Amell made Oliver Queen look effortlessly bad ass.

The action was show, not tell, and that includes the dialogue. There is no making L*urel and Din*h cool, so just-

And POSE. It’s like mannequins in a Macy’s window. YIKES.

Source: canarynetwork

They force this “Ra Ra Girl Power” nonsense with clunky lines and empty camaraderie while at the same time; L*urel eviscerates Mia’s life choices by insulting her all hour. If you want to bolster “female relationships” on this network then start with the women treating each other with respect.

There was a criminal lack of William, Zoe and Connor. TERRIBLE DECISION.

Hopefully, this changes dramatically if the show goes to series. This is what I meant by “retooled.” It is clear two different concepts are being slapped together. The one we saw in 7x16 and whatever KC pitched to the network. The biggest flaw in this backdoor pilot is how disjointed it feels.

It’s like there are two shows. Mia has her life with William, Zoe, JJ and Connor and the other show is Din*h and L*urel. It’s similar to Oliver and L*urel/Tommy/Thea versus Diggle/Felicity in the beginning of Arrow, but it feels really unnecessary to make that mistake again. I do not feel Green Arrow and The Canaries is Marc Guggenheim and Beth Schwartz’s vision for what they wanted the spin-off to be and it is GLARINGLY obvious.

No mention of Felicity or Diggle. Yes, I understand why. We have to watch the Arrow series finale to find out what happens to our beloved characters. Mia and William never mentioning Felicity and JJ and Connor never mentioning Diggle & Lyla is WEIRD. Particularly since it was Mia’s graduation and her engagement party with JJ.

Stray Thoughts

I vote for this to be Mia’s next tattoo. Source: amunetblack

Well… that’s new information Din*h. Source: shawgroves

Why is L*urel calling Din*h “D?” When did that start?

Rene is running for a third term. Do we need to be concerned about a utilitarianism regime happening?

I will never believe Din*h can do “Felicity stuff.” Where the hell is William?

“Oh frack you.” FINALLY.

The adversarial relationship between Mia and L*urel is a wise choice given how KC and Katherine McNamara interact online with each other. Or don’t as the case may be.

What is happening with L*urel's boots? Are there bombs attached to them or something?

The lipsticks on L*urel and Din*h are not good. There's a lot of eye makeup happening too. Let's tone it down makeup department.

This is my face whenever I see L*urel too. Source: supercanaries

You killed her fiancée L*urel. Pay your fucking tab.

Female Big Bad. Could be awesome. Just have to wait and see.

I'm really glad William and Mia are rich again. I missed billionaire money. It's fun.

Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me. 8x09 gifs credited.

If you’d like to support the blog, please buy me a cup of tea!

44 notes · View notes

dna-d2 · 3 years ago

Text

I posted 63 times in 2021

29 posts created (46%)

34 posts reblogged (54%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 1.2 posts.

I added 77 tags in 2021

#dna-d2 - 18 posts

#art help - 14 posts

#dnaverse - 12 posts

#pokemon - 6 posts

#adventures in pokemon go - 5 posts

#dnaverse comics - 5 posts

#pokemon go - 5 posts

#aipg - 5 posts

#dnaverse update - 4 posts

#great ace attorney - 3 posts

Longest Tag: 129 characters

#was i really supposed to find out through a vague-ass ominous statement from eua featherine the resident secondary peanut gallery

My Top Posts in 2021

(Ahem)

So...

Amphibia, huh??

THAT FINALE, HUH??

THAT FINAL SCENE, HUH???????

24 notes • Posted 2021-06-05 02:40:03 GMT

MY THOUGHTS ON RANKING OF KINGS

Alright so I gotta get this outta my system before my train of thought goes off a cliff, so here’s my thoughts on RANKING OF KINGS.

I just watched the first five episodes, and I’m not gonna say I was surprised, because I already expected this anime to be great, but the thing is that it’s AMAZING so far.

[Spoilers for Ranking of Kings ahead. If you haven’t watched it, DO IT because I PROMISE you won’t regret it. There’s only 5 episodes so far, it won’t take that long. DO IT]

Also goddamn this is about to be a long post, so buckle the fuckle in I guess.

TL;DR Ranking of Kings is GREAT and the characters are a major reason why

So to sum it up, Ranking of Kings is about a young prince named Boji, who is both deaf and mute. Because of this, as well as his small stature and physical weakness, people around him are constantly looking down on him and ridiculing him.

Or, you would THINK that, at least

Yes, there are a lot of people around him who belittle him on a daily basis, but it turns out that not everyone around him actually looks down on him.

Underestimate him? Absolutely. But it ends up not being as black and white as you would think, and THIS is what I think makes this anime great so far.

Almost right off the bat, we’re introduced to a bunch of characters who say things like “Oh he’s weak, he’s not fit to be king, etc.” One of whom is the Queen, his stepmother Hiling.

You immediately see this woman and think, “Oh, evil stepmother, here we go again.” And for a minute there, it seems like this is going to be the case, as she berates Boji and says that her own son is more fit to be king, and even altering her husband’s will after he names Boji king after his death. So it would make absolute sense to assume she’s gonna be a villain, right?

WRONG.

At one point, Boji got hurt pretty badly, and we a woman go to heal him, but we can’t actually tell who she is. And Kage (The little shadow thing) says something like “Oh man is she gonna hurt him?” But instead she heals him.

The literal thought in my head when I saw this was was “Wait is it the Queen? Nah, probably not, I don’t see why she would do that.” Only to later on be revealed that it was her and proven very wrong.

We find out relatively quickly that the Queen genuinely seems to love Boji, to the point where she ACTUALLY tried to dive out a window in an attempt to save him. We learn that her mindset isn’t that she doesn’t like Boji, but she doesn’t think he’s able to be King. She’s worried that the pressure would be too much for this small, weak boy who can’t even hear or talk. She isn’t looking down on him, at least not out of malice. She has genuine concern for him because she doesn’t see how he would be able to do anything challenging because of his weaknesses. But she still absolutely loves him.

And THIS is the best example of what I think is gonna be the real strength of this series.

GENUINE THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERS.

So far, we haven’t gotten ONE SINGLE major character who is all this or all that, all good or all bad. We have characters who are legitimately doing what they think is right.

A Queen who is worried about her disabled son.

A knight who will follow any order, even if he regrets it immediately.

A new King, who wants the same power as his father, but not at the expense of his memory.

His knight and teacher, who knows his duties and will carry them out, even if it means going behind his king’s back, or if it results in his own (apparent) death.

None of these characters are just a good or bad guy. They are people. And this is what carries a story like this to greatness.

And this is all of course ignoring the main character of the show and his new shadow best friend, Prince Boji and Kage.

Boji is one of the best and well executed hopeful protagonists I’ve ever seen. I’ve always been a sucker for this type of protag, and he is a prime example of how to do it right. You immediately wanna see him succeed, just like Kage does. He’s the type of person who really can win people over to his side just by being who he is. (And it also helps that he happens to be absolutely fucking adorable) He has a real disability, and he has people around him constantly thinking he can’t be good enough because of it. And it hurts him. It really, really hurts him.

But he keeps on a brave face around them, and only really lets himself cry when he’s alone. Whether it’s because he doesn’t want to worry people, or because he has his own pride, I’m not actually sure at the moment. I could easily see it being one or the other, or even both.

And then KAGE, Boji’s best friend (because I said so) and number one backer. This little guy started out bullying Boji and straight-up stealing his clothes for cash. He almost immediately changes his tune when he sees that Boji is REALLY TRYING HIS FUCKING BEST, and immediately tells Boji that he’s always gonna be on his side, and that he is GREAT as he is right now. He’s the first person who ever really acknowledges Boji like this. And it’s of course as heartbreaking as it sounds. (Were I not dead inside, I surely would have cried)

To sum it up (since I have essentially rambled for an entire page at this point) Ranking of Kings is amazing, and the characters are only one part of it that makes it so amazing.

Believe me, I’m doing you a favor by not starting on about the animation. (THOUGH THE ANIMATION IS INCREDIBLE AND BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH IT’S SO EXPRESSIVE AND SMOOTH AND PRETTY)

So yeah, you should watch Ranking of Kings

Also I’ll probably have more thoughts on this later, and if I do, I’ll put links to them below or something, because I am NOT done with this series and what I have to say about it yet.

45 notes • Posted 2021-11-12 07:07:21 GMT

Just finished rewatching FMA;B and thought up this little gem stone

45 notes • Posted 2021-02-13 06:43:31 GMT

Okay guys listen. Whatever your opinions are on the new Pokemon BDSP games are, they’re all fair and whatnot. But we’re missing the REAL reason we needed D/P/P remakes

And that is

We get to see THEM again

And that’s what really matters

53 notes • Posted 2021-11-20 00:01:35 GMT

DELTARUNE CHAPTER 2 SPOILERS

So I just watched the Snowgrave Route for Deltarune Chapter 2, and I gotta say, this is really sitting with me. I have to get these thoughts out.

This is different from Undertale’s Genocide Route. The Genocide Route, for me, was an interesting challenge, and a way to see things differently from before, but ultimately, that’s all it ever felt like to me. An alternate way to play the game that’s a bit darker and has more of a challenge.

But with Deltarune, that’s not what this feels like. After watching (SIMPLY WATCHING) the Snowgrave Route, I’m unsettled. Even after it ended, this is sticking with me. This was so much worse in my opinion.

In Undertale, you’re controlling Frisk, who is basically a non-entity. A character specifically for you to control in order to play the game. And that’s just the same for Kris. They’re both just player characters you control. Frisk never gets to make a choice for themself in the game. Kris does to a certain extent, but we never really see it. So making these two do these horrible things never felt as bad. (Not to say I didn’t feel bad, but with them, it felt like an actual game)

But here, that’s not what we’ve got. We’ve got Noelle, a real character with agency throughout the game, who speaks her own words, makes her own choices, and undergoes her own character arc. And that essentially gets stripped away from her, as she’s forced to do horrible things. Killing people, including her own best friend. She’s being directly controlled by the player, even though it doesn’t seem like that was ever meant to happen.

Like I said before, with Frisk and Kris, it never felt the same, because these are player characters who are designed for us to control. But then there’s Noelle, a character, a person, who experiences that firsthand. The Genocide Route never affected me outside of “Man, I feel kinda bad, I should do a Pacifist Route to fix it now.” It never really went past that for me with just the game alone.

But this? Forcing what feels like a person to do these horrible things? Stealing away her will and making her kill her friend? Seeing the way she’s so affected by it afterward, and her reactions to it all?

I didn’t even play the route, but that shit is haunting me.

I played and beat Genocide because I was curious to see what would happen, and because I wanted the challenge. But I don’t think I can touch Snowgrave with a 10-foot pole

93 notes • Posted 2021-09-20 05:44:25 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

Apparently my only popular posts are random fandom analyses

And that one FMA Meme

Good to know I guess lol

#my 2021 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

1 note · View note

coldcomputersoul · 4 years ago

Text

Star and Marco’s Bogus Journey Episode 1: Ludogate

Summary: It’s a hoot and a holler when Ludo is brought to trial for conspiring against Star and her family. Meanwhile, a deep, dark secret regarding the Butterflys will be unveiled to the public.

Star vs. the Forces of Evil belongs to:

Sealab 2021 belongs to:

[theme song]

ACT I

[The episode starts with Marco and Captain Murphy at Sealab talking to Dr. Quinn and Stormy Waters regarding their mission to steal cable (from the episode “Lost in Time”)]

Captain Murphy:

Nice try doppelgangers...

Dr. Quinn:

What? we’re not doppelgangers.

Captain Murphy:

Save it for Queen Doppelpopulis.

Dr. Quinn:

Wait, if they hook up the cable we’re all gonna die...

Marco:

[holding a wrench] Sweet dreams doppelgangers.

[Marco uses the wrench to knock Quinn and Stormy. Cut to a judge banging a gavel inside a courthouse while calling for order]

Judge:

Order, order!!! The court is now in session. The house will proceed to consider the case of the Butterfly family vs. Ludo Avarius under the charges of… [reads a paper] treason, kidnapping, extortion, attempts of stealing and collaboration with a former terrorist organization. Representing the Butterfly family we have former prosecutor and military leader Mina Loveberry. You have your case in order to start Ms. Loveberry?

Mina:

[wearing a suit] Yes your honor, we’re ready to proceed.

[Cut to Star and her parents on the plaintiff table along with Mina]

Judge:

And representing mr Avarius we have… Mr. Avarius, where’s your lawyer?

[Cut to Ludo sitting alone on the defendant table]

Ludo:

Uhm, you see your honor: my lawyer is...

[In that moment, Boo-Fly enters the courthouse carrying a case while wearing a suit]

Boo-Fly:

Sorry I’m late your honor, but I was having problems putting on my tie, but now I’m here and I have my case all ready to start.

[Boo-Fly sits next to Ludo while he just facepalms]

Judge:

Okay, so we’re all here and ready to proceed, right?

[Both Mina and Boo-fly nod to the judge. Cut to Tyrone Maggotbone, the news reporter covering the case from the gallery]

Tyrone:

We’re here at Mewni’s courthouse, which in a few seconds will proceed to study the case of the royal family against prince Ludo Avarius. The case is notable not only for the charges that are held against the former prince that even include both kidnapping and terrorism, but also is the first time in 200 years that a mewman courthouse allow a monster the chance to defend himself and even have a lawyer NOT assigned by the court. A really unprecedented case indeed...

[Cut back to the judge at the bench ready to start the trial]

Judge:

Ms. Loveberry, please call your first witness.

Mina:

[standing up] Right… I call for the stand: Mr. Yvgeny Bulgolyubov.

Ludo:

And who the hell is that guy?

[Cut to Buff Frog arriving at the courtroom]

Ludo:

Buff Frog?!!!

[Sean the security guard holds a holy book in front of him so he can put his hand on and swear]

Sean:

Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under pains and penalties of perjury?

Buff Frog:

[with his hand on the book] I do solemnly and sincerely and truly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give to this court shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Sean:

Okay, proceed...

[Buff Frog sits on the stand while Ludo watches him completely nervous]

Ludo:

[whispering] What are we gonna do Boo-Fly? he’s gonna spill the beans about everything.

Boo-Fly:

Don’t worry master Ludo, I’ve got you covered. We got it in the bag.

Mina:

Mr. Bulgolyubov, according to your record, you were an active member of Ludo’s criminal organization between the years 2010 and 2015, can you please verify that statement front of the jury?

Buff Frog:

Yes, I was indeed a member of Ludo’s criminal organization.

Mina:

Would you tell the jury what was your position on the aforementioned organization?

Buff Frog:

I served as the underboss of Ludo’s gang as well as his personal bodyguard.

Mina:

Okay, so now that we clear that out, would you please describe with your own words how is like to work with Ludo?

Boo-Fly:

[standing up] Objection, that question is irrelevant to the case!!!

Judge:

Overruled mr. Fly, now go back to your seat...

[Boo-Fly sits down and the trial continues]

Buff Frog:

Well, if you ask me to answer from my personal experience, Ludo has always been a mean, rude and short-tempered individual, a guy so hard to please that even the slightest mistake was enough to trigger his bad attitude.

Mina:

Do you feel that you and your colleagues were mistreated by Ludo?

Buff Frog:

Well, I ain’t no mind reader so I can’t speak for my colleagues thoughts on him, but from my personal experience I´ll say this: he still owe me 5 years of salary.

[Everyone in the courtroom gasp after hearing this]

Mina:

Wait a minute: Are you telling me that in all those years working for Ludo he NEVER paid your salary? How is that possible?

Buff Frog:

I had no choice...

Mina:

No choice? What do you mean by that?

Buff Frog:

[sigh] The truth is: I came to country illegally, and mewman law requires that every employer (even monsters employers) must request residency documents to their contractors, so in my case it was either work for Ludo or being deported…

Mina:

So… he basically took advantage of your illegal status and hired you without a contract, right?

Buff Frog:

That’s one was to put it, but… yes, that’s pretty much it, but one thing’s for sure: I’m not the only one.

Mina:

Okay, no more questions your honor...

Ludo:

[to Boo Fly] What the hell was that all about?

Boo-Fly:

She’s just trying to get some dirt on you, that’s all, but don’t worry: I have a perfect defense right here on this case... [opens the briefcase, but there’s nothing inside] Oh crap, I left them on the other case...

Ludo:

[grinding his teeth] YOU STUPID PIECE OF…!!!

Judge:

Mr Fly, it’s your turn now...

Boo-Fly:

Uh… sure, just a second… [drinks a glass of water] okay, I’m ready. [stands up and proceeds to start his defense] Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury: I know for a fact that my client is not exactly what you would consider “a model citizen”, and yes… I’m aware that right now he’s been accused of… very bad things, like… kidnapping and stuff, but what if, WHAT IF… we all take into consideration the circumstances that led us to this moment, I’m talking about the other sides of the story, that’s why I decided to call to the stand someone that knows my client better than anyone else: Me...

[Ludo facepalms while everyone else at the courtroom look at each other confused]

Judge:

Well, that’s very unorthodox, but I’ll allow it. go ahead.

[Sean hands Boo-Fly the holy book so he can swear]

Boo-Fly:

[talking to himself] Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under pains and… and… you swear to tell the truth? [changes position] Oh, sure I’ll solemnly swear I’ll the truth and nothing but the truth… and may lightning strike me down if I lie...

Ludo:

[double facepalm] Oh God, why did I hire him?

Boo-Fly:

Mr… Boo-Fly, right? could you please tell to this honorable courtroom about who is Ludo avarius? [sits on the stand] oh, master Ludo is such a great guy, I mean you have no idea how great he is… [stands up] Mr. Fly, could you be more specific? [sits back] Well, there’s this one time when Bearicorn celebrated his birthday and Ludo organized a surprise party for him, it was a lot of fun, you should have been there… [stands up] Did they have any presents? [sits back] No, to tell you the truth… they didn’t even have a cake... [stands up] And why are you telling us that the party was fun? [sits back] Well… Master Ludo kicked Bearicorn in the balls as birthday gift… I guess that was kinda funny?

Judge:

Mr. Fly, this is a serious matter, if you keep fooling around I’ll take you away from this court, now sit down...

Boo-Fly:

Yes, your honor…

[Boo-Fly returns to his seat, meanwhile Star watches the trial along with her parents and notices that Ludo’s parents are also watching from the gallery which makes Star raise an eyebrow]

Star:

[poking at her mother’s shoulder] Mom, Mom...

Queen Moon:

Not now, Star...

Star:

[grabbing her mother’s arm] But you gotta see this...

Queen Moon:

[turning her head] What’s going on?!!!

Star:

Look… [points at Ludo’s parents]

Queen Moon:

[surprised] Oh… uhm, just ignore them dear...

Star:

But I don’t get it Mom, why would Ludo’s parents would be here watching the trial? I thought they hated their son...

Queen Moon:

Listen Star, this isn’t the right time to star making questions, so would you please be quiet?

Star:

But mom...

Queen Moon:

Shhh… I’m not gonna say it again.

Star:

But I just wanted to know...

[Queen Moon simply stares at her daughter, while she just crosses her arms and pouts her lips]

Mina:

I would like to call to the stand Mr. Bearicorn.

[Cut to Bearicorn entering the courtroom and sitting on the stand]

Mina:

Mr. Bearicorn, would you please describe to this court what it��s like to work for Ludo Avarius?

Bearicorn:

[scratching his head] Eh, it’s great… Ludo is such a great boss, and...

Mina:

Mr. Bearicorn, may I remind you that you’re under oath? we could put you in jail for this...

Bearicorn:

Okay, okay, I’ll admit it: Ludo is a terrible boss, okay? he’s one of the most incompetent, mean-spirited and corrupt individual you’ll know in your lifetime...

Mina:

According to the testimony of your former colleague Buff Frog, Ludo used to hire illegal aliens without a contract for his schemes, could you confirm this information?

Bearicorn:

Not just illegals, he hired pretty much EVERYONE without contract, like… the only rule to be allowed in Ludo’s partnership is to hate the Butterfly family.

Mina:

And what were your goals as an organization?

Bearicorn:

I don’t know, the only thing he ordered us to do is steal the royal wand, but other than that it was just things like clean up the castle or steal ice cream for him...

Mina:

And did he even share his ice cream with you?

Bearicorn:

No, it was all for him...

Ludo:

[standing up] YOU’RE DEAD TO ME BEARICORN!!!

Judge:

[banging the gavel] Mr. Avarius I don’t wanna hear one more word from your mouth, or else I’ll kick you out of this courtroom, do you understand?!!!

Ludo:

[staring at bearicorn] Yes, your honor… [sits back]

Mina:

Now, Mr. Bearicorn, is it true that Mr. Avarius kicked you in the balls on your birthday? if your answer is yes, would you tell us if this was just an isolated incident or a case of systematic abuse?

Bearicorn:

[sweating] Eh… I just… I don’t know if I… eh...

[Bearicorn watches how Ludo threats him using sign language]

Judge:

Mr. Bearicorn, answer the question!!!

Bearicorn:

[crying] It’s true… It’s all true!!! Ludo DID kick me in the balls on my 35th birthday… he always does the same thing every single year!!! please master don’t punish me again, I’ll be good, I promise...

[Everyone at the gallery start booing Ludo while he lowers his head out of embarrassment]

Judge:

[banging the gavel] Order, order, please...

Mina:

So, let me get this straight: Ludo, your former boss, not only has a criminal record that includes illegal hiring of immigrants, arsen, several attempts of robbery, abduction AND jaywalking, but is also accused of having ties with a terrorist organization formerly known as “The Brotherhood” what do you know about these accusations?

Bearicorn:

Eh, to tell you the truth: I don’t know about that last part because at that point we all cut ties with Ludo, but all the other things you said are 100% truth.

[Mina takes a moment to stare at Bearicorn, making him uncomfortable]

Mina:

No more questions your honor...

[Cut to Boo-Fly interrogating Rhombulus at the courtroom]

Boo-Fly:

So, let’s recapitulate the whole story one more time: On August 13th, you said that you were assigned to collect “magic energy” from an “unknown source” that you claim you can’t reveal because is against the rules of your organization, is that correct Mr. Rhombulus?

Rhombulus:

What is “recapitulate”?

Boo-Fly:

So according to your testimony, you received the assistance of Sean Vasquez, the security guard for this particular task, right?

Rhombulus:

[crossing his arms] Pffft, if you call it that way… he pretty much tried to trip me over while I was doing my job, I swear...

Boo-Fly:

Could you be more specific?

Rhombulus:

Okay, I was assigned by Queen Moon and the Magic High Commision to collect energy and sustain the kingdom of Mewni due the magic crisis we were facing at the time, so I took Sean with me and we went to… “that place” to obtain energy from “our secret source” and everything was fine until Sean tried to sabotage my mission for some reason I still don’t understand...

Boo-Fly:

A-ha, so it was just You and Mr. Vasquez? You didn’t see Ludo at any moment, did you?

Rhombulus:

No, no I didn’t...

Boo-Fly:

So, you’re telling me that the accusations against my client involving him on this attempt of robbery are in fact: unfounded, am I right Mr. Rhombulus?

Rhombulus:

[beat] Why do you keep using those fancy words? I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Boo-Fly:

As you can see, this individual right in front of me is unable to give me a reliable testimony, making this entire trial a colossal waste of time and money, therefore the people at the jury should… NO, MUST acquit my client from all the charges...

Mina:

Objection!!! the defendant's lawyer is trying to manipulate the jury...

Boo-Fly:

No, I’m not… I’m just trying to have a normal conversation, that’s all.

Mina:

Is that so? then why are you trying to bribe a member of the jury?

[Cut to Boo-fly giving money to one of the members of the jury from behind his back]

Boo-Fly:

[getting nervous] Eh, I have no idea what you’re talking about, that’s a very serious accusation...

Judge:

Mr. Fly, if you try to bribe the jury one more time, I swear I’ll put you and your client behind bars before you can say: Snuffleupagus, now go back to your seat.

Boo-Fly:

Yes, your honor...

[Boo-Fly sits back and Ludo stares at him with a hateful expression. Cut to Mina presenting her case in front of the jury]

Mina:

[using a slide projector] ...so, as you can see [the projector shows images of Ludo trying to steal the wand from Star] Ludo attempted to steal the wand from princess Butterfly countless times during her stay on the Earth dimension. [shows a picture of the wand] the royal wand is known to be one of the most powerful objects in the universe, a device so full of magic that even to this day and after being passed from generation to generation [shows pictures of former queens] we still can’t figure out its full potential. [the slideshow is over] now, I’ll make you a simple question: Do you really think that something as powerful as the royal wand should be at the hands of someone like Ludo?

[The jury scratch their heads in silence]

Mina:

Oh, and if you think that’s not enough evidence, I have more… [prepares another slideshow] now, these charts represent...

[While Mina presents her case, Star and Ludo make faces to and use sign language to tease and insult one another]

Queen Moon:

[whispering] Star, cut it out...

Star:

[whispering] but he’s the one who started it, besides dad is doing it too.

[Cut to King River doing faces at Ludo]

Queen Moon:

[facepalm] River, for crying out loud...

Mina:

...which directly correlates with Ludo’s takeover of his family castle.

Judge:

Your time is up Ms. Loveberry, you can go back to your seat.

[Cut to Ludo’s father whispering something at Boo-Fly]

Boo-Fly:

Your honor, I would like to request a 15-minute break.

Judge:

[sigh] Okay, but you only have 15 minutes, no more, no less… [bang the gavel] the court is in recess.

[Everyone stands up and leave the courtroom. Cut to Boo-Fly talking with Ludo’s father inside the janitor’s room]

Ludo’s Father:

YOU FOOL!!! How can you be so incompetent?!!!

Boo-Fly:

I’m sorry, okay? I lost the briefcase so I had to improvise, but don’t worry, everything is under control.

Ludo’s Father:

How can you say is under control if you’re about to lose the case?

Boo-Fly:

I just need more time, I have one of my guys working on a solution to our dilemma.

Ludo’s Father:

For your own good that better be true, because if my son ends up in jail my family will lose everything and if I go down, you’ll go down with me my friend.

Boo-Fly:

[gulps] Like I said: It’s under control. Just leave it all to me...

[Cut to Star talking to Mina at the Lobby]

Star:

Oh my gosh, you were incredible back there, Ludo has zero chance to get away this time, and all thanks to you Mina...

Mina:

[drinking coffee] Oh, that’s nothing, I have even more evidence to make sure that scumbag will rotten in jail for the rest of his life.

Star:

Finally, some justice will be done. High five...

[Star and Mina high five each other. In that moment Queen Moon shows up]

Queen Moon:

Star, can I talk to you?

Star:

Sure, what is it?

Queen Moon:

In private...

Star:

Uhm, okay I guess...

Queen Moon:

Let’s go somewhere else...

[Cut to Tyrone Maggotbone reporting from the lobby]

Tyrone:

Oh-oh, it looks like the Butterfly family will have to deal with some issues of their own during this historical trial. I don’t know about you, but right now I’m on the edge of my seat. We’ll have more details on this ongoing story right after these messages...

ACT II

[Cut to Mina interrogating Dennis (Ludo’s brother) at the courtroom]

Mina:

[walking in circles] Okay, let’s see… Dennis, right?

Dennis:

Yup, that’s my name.

Mina:

Public records indicate that YOU were indeed the legal owner of the now destroyed Avarius castle as part of your family’s heritage, at least according to this testament… [shows the document] could you please verify it in the front of the jury?

Dennis:

[reads the document] Let me see: “As a member of the royal council of Mewni and in compliance with the requirements with the monster and mewman forum of economic cooperation, I, Theodore Rastapopoulos Avarius IV blah blah blah… I leave a 30% of my fortunes, my belongings AND my castle to my youngest son Daniel Keith Avarius...” yeah, this is legitimate.

Mina:

So, form a legal standpoint it’s safe to say the forced eviction that you, your parents and the rest of your brothers and sisters suffered in hands of Ludo was, in fact a direct violation of this document...

Dennis:

That’s one way to say it, but yes...

Mina:

And isn’t it true that your older brother was also legally disinherited by YOUR father considering the fact that he’s completely absent from this testament?

Dennis:

It’s true, my brother Ludo is legally out of the testament by my father’s request.

Mina:

And yet somehow you and your family allowed Ludo to use the castle as the HQ for Ludo’s terrorist organization as you never made a formal complaint. Is that correct?

Dennis:

[whispering] Yes...

Mina:

What was that? I can’t hear you… say it louder!!!

Dennis:

[whispering] Yes...

Mina:

I. STILL. CAN’T. HEAR YOU!!! LOUDER SO EVERYONE AT THIS COURTROOM CAN HEAR IT!!!

Dennis:

[shouting] Yes, yes, yes!!! It’s all true, the eviction, the covering, the lies, it’s all true, but please don’t lock away my brother!!! I beg you!!!

Mina:

No more questions your honor.

[Meanwhile, Ludo is having a meltdown on the defendant’s table]

Ludo:

Oh God, even my own brother. This is it, I’ll spend the rest of my life behind bars, and this is all YOUR fault [grabs Boo-Fly] YOU... GOOD-FOR-NOTHING PIECE OF...

Boo-Fly:

Shhh… quiet master Ludo, this is not the right time to lose control...

Ludo:

What the hell are you talking about? we’re about to lose the case, I might as well give up and put the handcuffs myself.

Boo-Fly:

Like I said before, I’m working on it, I have a plan you get you out of this, but if you turn yourself in and admit your fault, everything will be in vain, please...

[Ludo calms down and drinks a glass of water]

Ludo:

Okay, what else can I do? I guess I’ll have to take your word.

Boo-Fly:

And you won’t regret it master, I promise. Those Butterflies won’t know what hit them.

Ludo:

Speaking of them, where are Star and Queen Moon? [points at their empty chairs]

[Cut to Star and Queen Moon speaking at the bathroom]

Star:

What’s going on mom? we’re missing the trial.

Queen Moon:

Listen Star: I know how important is this trial to you because of what happened to Marco, and I support you and Mina on what you’re trying to do, but right now there’s something I need to know, and I want you to be as honest as possible.

Star:

I don’t understand what you’re trying to do, are you accusing me of something?

Queen Moon:

No Star, this isn’t about that… it’s more like a personal concern, that’s why I need you to promise me that you won’t overreact.

Star:

Overreact? What are you talking about? I would never...

[Queen Moon stares right into Star’s eyes to make her clear she’s been serious]

Star:

Yes mom, I promise I won’t overreact.

Queen Moon:

Okay, now that we clear that out, I want you to explain me why did I find this under your bed? [shows her a pregnancy test with a positive result]

[Star shivers in panic and starts breathing heavily as she sees the test in her mother’s hands]

Queen Moon:

Star, calm down. Remember you said you wouldn’t overreact. All I need to know if this is your test.

Star:

I… I… I admit it, that’s pregnancy test is mine.

[Unbeknownst to Star and Queen Moon, a fly with a tape recorder is listening their conversation]

Queen Moon:

So it’s true, you’re pregnant.

Star:

[crying] Yes...

Queen Moon:

Star, please don’t cry, I’m not mad at you. I just wanted to know...

Star:

[still crying] But it’s not fair mom, why did he leave so soon? I couldn’t even tell him about… this...

Queen Moon:

Wait... are you talking about Marco?

Star:

[sobbing] Yes...

Queen Moon:

I see, so he’s the father.

Star:

I don’t know what to do now mom, I miss him so much...

[Star breaks down in tears, so Queen Moon gives her a comforting hug]

Queen Moon:

I just want you to know, that no matter what you decide to do, you have our support. We’ll figure out a solution... as a family.

Star:

Oh mom, you’re so good to me after all the things I’ve done...

Queen Moon:

Nonsense, you are my daughter and as long as I live, I will always be there for you.

Star:

[smiling] I love you mom.

Queen Moon:

I love you too sweetie.

[They share another hug while the camera focus on the fly with the tape recorder. Cut back to Ludo’s trial where Boo-Fly is interrogating Sean]

Boo-Fly:

So, in your testimony you said that while you were escorting the prisoner to the bathroom, all of a sudden you lost your memory and the last thing you claim to remember was, and I quote: “a short guy with a pointy nose that jumped over your head” right?

Sean:

Yeah, it was in that moment that I lost my memory and I woke up in the crystal chamber.

Boo-Fly:

However, according to your testimony, the last thing you did before that memory loss was putting your airpods while you waited for the prisoner to use the bathroom...

Sean:

Yes, that’s exactly what I did, what’s your point?

Boo-Fly:

I’m the one who’s making the questions here Mr. Vasquez!!! So you claim that your memory loss was due a stranger that jumped over your head, but… are you REALLY sure about that?

Sean:

Well yeah, that’s what I’m telling you...

Boo-Fly:

Because according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences there’s a strong correlation between the use of airpods and the development of brain cancer, neurological disorders AND memory deficits, so... would be really too far-fetched to assume that maybe JUST MAYBE you imagined all this stuff and that “short guy with a pointy nose” was all part of your imagination?

Mina:

[smashing the table] Objection!!!

Judge:

Overruled, go on Mr. Fly...

Boo-Fly:

Thanks Judge, now let’s assume that the thing you claim you saw was 100% real and you were indeed attacked by a short guy with a pointy nose, however… isn’t the prisoner you were escorting at that moment a short guy with a pointy nose?

Sean:

Uhm, yes it was...

Boo-Fly:

Also, isn’t it true that it was Ms. Loveberry herself the one who caught this prisoner for “performing dark magic” in a small village just a few miles from Mewni?

Sean:

That’s what the report said.

Boo-Fly:

Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury: I’m not here to accuse anyone in this courtroom, nor do I want to spread lies or misinformation whatsoever, but there’s something about this whole case that… doesn’t look quite right to me, like… there’s something else going on here and just like you, I would like to figure it out, and that’s why… I request this court to call to the stand Ms. Mina Loveberry!!!

Mina:

WHAT?!!! YOU LITTLE…!!!

Judge:

Motion granted...

Mina:

But your honor, is OBVIOUS that he’s just trying to mislead everyone in the courtroom...

Judge:

That may be the case, but legally speaking he’s allowed to call to the stand everyone involved in the case, and that includes you...

Ludo:

[laughing] You have no choice!!!

[Mina gets angry for a second, but then she takes a deep breath and calms down]

Mina:

Okay, I’ll do it, but I have a request… I want to be submitted to: [close up] The Box of Truth.

[Everyone in the audience gasps. Meanwhile, Star and Queen Moon return to their seat]

Star:

[to King River] What’s going on? Why is everyone so surprised?

King River:

They’re gonna submit Mina to the Box of Truth.

Star:

The Box of Truth? Holy cow!!!

Judge:

Okay, if that’s what you want, I’ll allow it. Bring the Box...

[One of the guards brings the Box of Truth and Mina submits herself to it]

Box of Truth:

Submitted for the approval of Mewni’s courthouse, the Box of Truth will proceed to determine if Mina H. Loveberry is indeed telling the truth, and execute the proper punishment if it deems necessary… you can now proceed with the interrogation...

Ludo:

[whispering] Are you sure you know what you’re doing?

Boo-Fly:

[whispering] Relax, I knew this would happen so I prepared a set of questions she will never be able to answer, we got it in the bag boss... [makes the ok sign]

Ludo:

Mmmm… where have I heard that before?

[Mina sits on the stand and Boo-Fly starts the interrogation]

Boo-Fly:

Ms. Loveberry, what do you know about the prisoner you escorted to the Magic High Commission, Mr. Eugene Byrd?

Mina:

He’s a 45-year old farmer born in the town Sunnyvalley who specializes in growing corn...

Box of Truth:

TRUTH!!! Mr. Byrd also specializes in pottery.

Boo-Fly:

According to your report, Mr. Byrd doesn’t have a criminal record, so this would be his first arrest, is that correct?

Mina:

Affirmative.

[The box of Truth validates the answer]

Boo-Fly:

Now, taking into consideration the fact that the prisoner didn’t have any previous criminal record, yet somehow he was able to perform dark magic without any knowledge whatsoever, how is that neither you nor your team were able to find out BEFORE to prevent it?

Mina:

Like I said: Mr. Byrd doesn’t have a criminal record so the fact we was able to do it indicates that he was manipulated by someone else.

Boo-Fly:

And why are you so sure about that?

Mina:

Because we submitted Mr. Byrd to the Box of Truth and he revealed to us that the last thing he can remember is that he was getting water from the well when suddenly some kind of creature jumped over his head.

Box of Truth:

That’s 100% true.

Boo-Fly:

[scratching his head] Okay, if you’re sooo sure that it was an outside force controlling Mr. Byrd’s actions, perhaps you can tell this court the name of the spell that was used.

Mina:

I have no idea.

Boo-Fly:

A-ha...so you’re admitting that you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Mina:

No, what I’m trying to say is that Mr. Byrd was manipulated because he had a memory loss the moment before he made the forbidden spells, and somehow he was able to get his memory back right after Sean the security guard had his own memory loss, therefore it’s safe to assume they were manipulated by the same entity. It’s called common sense.

Box of Truth:

Mina is once again telling the truth.

Boo-Fly:

But you also said that you don’t know the name of the spell that was used, despite being your job, how is that possible?

Mina:

That information was lost hundreds of years ago.

Boo-Fly:

And how exactly it was lost?

Mina:

Rhombulus burn it down.

Boo-Fly:

Oh, this is so clear to me now… the Magic High Commission destroys vital information about the use of forbidden magic, and somehow they claim they know EVERYTHING about it. Maybe, they’re the ones covering their own crime and using my client as a escapegoat.

Mina:

What? That’s ridiculous, the reason Rhombulus burn it down is because he misinterpreted the instructions of getting rid of the documents. The only forbidden spells we have knowledge about are the ones that appeared in the book of spells of the Butterfly Family, and one of those spells just happened to involve body possession...

Box of Truth:

This is by far the most honest testimony I’ve heard in my entire existence.

Mina:

You know, why don’t we ask you why your boss knows so much about magic? I mean, we already know about that one time he stole the book of spells from princess Butterfly, so why are you assuming that we know more than him?

Box of Truth:

TRUTH!!!

Boo-Fly:

[getting nervous] Hey, I’m the one who makes the questions here, so...

Mina:

And what makes you assume that me and my team don’t have the right equipment to detect the presence of dark forbidden magic and this whole thing was somehow our fault? It’s like you were expecting me to admit that I was wrong so you can direct all the fault at me.

Box of Truth:

TRUTH!!! TRUTH!!! TRUTH!!!

Boo-Fly:

You better shut up, or else...

Mina:

Also, even if we assume that Ludo is a lazy idiot who can’t even read the funny papers, we also know that he was a direct associate of Toffee, one of the last members of the now defunct terrorist group known as “The Brotherhood”, you know, the ones who created all those dark spells you mentioned so many times. What a funny coincidence.

Box of Truth:

WARNING: TRUTH OVERLOAD!!!

Boo-Fly:

[shivering] Oh, I-I-I know what you’re trying to do. Y-You just wanna try t-t-to make me look like a complete fool.

Mina:

Darling, you just made that yourself.

[In that moment, the Box of Truth explodes]

Judge:

[coughing] Okay, I think we all need another 15-minute break.

[Cut to Boo-Fly talking with Ludo’s father at the janitor room]

Ludo’s Father:

[punching the wall] Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we’re SO effing screwed!!!

Boo-Fly:

I know this looks very bad my lord, but this is all part of the plan...

Ludo’s Father:

Part of the plan?! PART OF THE PLAN?!!! you have less than 10 minutes to come up with a defense, and so far you put the ENTIRE courtroom against my son, now more than ever. [pulls a fly swatter]

Boo-Fly:

[gulps] What are you gonna do with that thing?

Ludo’s Father:

This was you last chance, now I’m gonna have to get rid of you and use your dead body as a distraction so my son can escape.

Boo-Fly:

Look, it doesn’t have to be like this, just give another chance...

Ludo’s Father:

[holding Boo-Fly] I’m sorry, but it’s “too little, too late” my friend.

[In that moment, the fly with the tape recorder appears]

Boo-Fly:

[holding the fly] Oh, thank goodness you’re here, please tell me you have something...

Ludo’s Father:

[raising an eyebrow] Wait, is that your spy?

[The fly whispers in Boo-Fly’s ear]

Boo-Fly:

What was that?... Really?... [gasps] No way...

Ludo’s Father:

What’s going on? What is that fly telling you?

Boo-Fly:

Shhh… and do you have the tape?... Alright!!!

Ludo’s Father:

Now, now better have a good explanation for this.

Boo-Fly:

Your majesty: The time has come.

[Cut back to the trial where everyone is waiting for Boo-Fly to come back. Ludo gets desperate so he plays with a pencil on the desk to distract himself]

Tyrone:

[holding a microphone] And once again we’re here at Mewni Courthouse waiting for the return of the defendant’s attorney, and let me tell you: The situation right here is more intense than ever, as not only both the plaintiff and the audience want to put Ludo in jail, but according to some of the political commentators of our network, is very likely that the jury will find him guilty due the ridiculous amount of evidence the courtroom has in their hands… We’ll try to speak with the plaintiff’s attorney, uhm… excuse me? Ms. Loveberry?

[Tyrone tries to get closer to Mina]

Mina:

Yes?

Tyrone:

Tyrone Maggotbone for ABC news, In your own words: How would you evaluate your performance in this trial?

Mina:

[holding the microphone] Well Tyrone, so far I would say it’s been a busy day and there’s still too much much work to do, but in a scale of 1 to 100 I would rate it with a solid 8.

Tyrone:

In a recent poll we made in our channel, the results gave you an 89,5% chance of winning this trial, do you agree with these numbers?

Mina:

I don’t know what to say, I guess I’m glad that so many people have such a favourable view of my performance as a lawyer, even though this is my first time.

Tyrone:

Oh, really?

Mina:

Yes, it’s true… I mean, I went to law school and earned my diploma a long time ago, but I never had the chance to work on a case as important as this.

Tyrone:

Are you going to celebrate if you win the case?

Mina:

I don’t know, I’m not really the party type, in fact: I’m kind of a workaholic, but I guess I will celebrate in the office with my working team and maybe I’ll take a few days off.

Tyrone:

Thank you so much for your time, good luck.

Mina:

You welcome.

Ludo:

[thinking to himself] Come on, why is he taking so long?

[Boo-Fly arrive at the courtroom along with Ludo’s father. Boo-Fly winks at him as he returns to his seat, and Boo-Fly prepares his new case with a smile on his face]

Ludo:

Why are you so happy?

Boo-Fly:

Oh, you’ll see master Ludo. It’s gonna be a surprise.

Judge:

[banging the gavel] Order, order!!! This court is once again in session. Let’s make it quick, so the Jury can submit their verdict, okay? Ms. Loveberry, you can proceed.

Mina:

[standing up] Thanks your honor, I will now call to the stand...

Boo-Fly:

OBJECTION!!! This entire trial is rigged against my client, and I can prove it!!!

Judge:

That’s a very strong accusation Mr. Fly, I could easily suspend you for that...

Boo-Fly:

But your honor, this time I’m telling the truth and you just let me present my new case so I can start a counterdemand against the Butterfly family.

Mina:

Oh, please you just want to keep wasting our time with more lies and misinformation. Why don’t you face your defeat with a little bit of dignity?

Boo-Fly:

What’s going on Mina? Are you afraid of facing the truth?

Mina:

No, I’m just asking you to be respectful with this court and let me continue with my case.

Ludo:

[whispering] What the hell are you doing? Is this your brilliant new plan?

Boo-Fly:

[whispering] Relax master Ludo, I got you covered...

Mina:

You know what? I’m so sick of this your honor, it’s so clear that my counterpart is making a mockery out of this courtroom, so I request to get him suspended of this trial.

Boo-Fly:

I won’t accept this blatant attempt at censorship your honor. This is a real choke on the truth.

Mina:

[distorted voice] I’ll give you choke.

Star:

Mina, don’t do it!!!

[Mina turns into her monster-self and attempts to strangle Boo-Fly]

Tyrone:

Oh-oh, it looks like this trial took a 360 turn and the once composed and rational Mina is out of control trying to literally strangle her legal counterpart. Will this be the end of for the royal family and their quest to put the most hated person on Mewni behind bars? Let’s find out… right after these messages.

ACT III

[Cut to Marco doing a commercial (in spanish nonetheless) for a chain restaurant called Grizzlebees. He’s wearing a mexican hat as well (from the episode “Tinfins”)]

Marco:

Hola, soy Marco… hey: ¿te gusta la diversión y las cebollas? bueno, entonces ven a Grizzlebees donde te daremos el nuevo revento de cebolla, son tres kilos de delicioso sabores fritos, es como una fiesta en tu boca... Grizzlebees: deseras tener menos deversión. [winks at the audience]

[Cut back to Ludo’s trial where Mina is strangling Boo-Fly in front of the jury while Star and King River try to stop her]

Star:

[holding Mina’s arm] Mina plase, this isn’t helping.

King River:

[holding Mina’s neck] Get a hold of yourself, otherwise we’re gonna lose the case.

[Mina keeps strangling Boo-Fly anyway]

Mina:

Just a little bit...

[In that moment, the judge bangs the gavel so hard that can be heard from outside the courthouse]

Judge:

ENOUGH!!! Ms. Loveberry, this is unacceptable!!! I order you to let him go!!!

Mina:

B-b-b-b-but...

Judge:

But nothing!!! in all my years as a judge I’ve never seen such reprehensible behaviour before, so if you don’t wanna get suspended, I suggest you to stop strangling Mr. Fly and return to your seat!!!

Mina:

But it wasn’t my intention, I was being teased by him...

Judge:

I said: GO BACK TO YOUR SEAT!!! NOW!!!

Mina:

Yes your honor...

[Mina changes into her normal self and returns to her seat]

Judge:

And let this be a lesson for everyone. This behaviour won’t be tolerated by any means, do I make myself clear Ms. Loveberry?

Mina:

Yes your honor...

Judge:

[taking a deep breath] Okay, let’s continue… Mr. Fly, it’s your turn now.

Boo-Fly:

Right away your honor...

Ludo:

[thinking to himself] Wait a minute, did that just happen?

Boo-Fly:

As I was saying, right now I have in my power factual evidence that proves this entire trial in nothing but a scam, but before we get into that I would like to call to the stand: Queen Moon Butterfly.

[Everyone at the audience gasps while Queen Moon stands up and walks to the stand]

Boo-Fly:

Mrs. Butterfly, could you tell this court what’s your relation with the Avarius family?

Queen Moon:

Well... the Avarius family used to be one of our long-time allies...

Boo-Fly:

Wait, I’m gonna stop you right there. You said: “used to be” what do you mean by that? You don’t consider them your allies anymore?

Queen Moon:

That’s not what I meant, It’s just that ever since the Avarius lost their castle and their kingdom, they isolated themselves and we don’t have as much contact as we used to be, but that doesn’t mean we don’t consider them our allies.

Boo-Fly:

Eh, fair enough, however: There’s something else between you and the Avarius family that goes beyond a political alliance, isn’t it? something like… a friendship maybe?

Queen Moon:

Well, I wouldn’t go as far as call it a friendship, but… yeah, for a long time our families shared some common goals that got us closer if that’s what you ask, but why is that so relevant to you anyway?

Boo-Fly:

Funny how you mention that point, because it just so happens that I have in my power a document signed by both you and your husband where you grant to my client’s family a certain amount of benefits including: The right to have a tax-free saving account in the state bank of Mewni, access to private healthcare AND the ownership rights of three beachfronts. You can read it yourself if you don’t believe me. [gives the document to the judge]

Judge:

[reading the document] Well, this seems to be legitimate...

Mina:

Objection!!! There are plenty of monster families that have access to those benefits.

Boo-Fly:

All except for the ownership rights of beach fronts, which is a benefit exclusive for demons and mewmans, isn’t it true your honor?

Judge:

Well, that’s technically true.

Boo-Fly:

So, at this point you may be wondering why the Avarius family have access to all these special benefits in spite of being against the constitution, but in order to answer that question I would like to call to the stand: Mr. Theodore Rastapopoulos Avarius IV.

King River:

Oh no, this is bad...

Star:

Wait a minute, what’s going on here?

[Ludo’s father sits on the stand]

Boo-Fly:

Mr. Avarius, is it true that at some point you and your family were the owners of lake lava beach according to the aforementioned document?

Ludo’s Father:

That’s 100% true.

Boo-Fly:

And what exactly happened to those ownership rights?

Ludo’s Father:

Well, even though the ownership of that place was under my name, as a monster I still had to pay an extra tax for it, but that was two years ago, because then I had to sold out everything back to the Butterflys, or risk going to jail due tax evasion.

Boo-Fly:

But according to public records, the net worth of your family was estimated in 8 million dollars, what happened to your family’s wealth?

Ludo’s Father:

[sigh] I really hate to say this in public, but… one of my children spent 6 of those 8 million dollars gambling on a demon-owned casino. The rest I had to spent it in taxes.

Boo-Fly:

Could you tell this court which one of your children did it?

Ludo’s Father:

It’s right over there... [points at Ludo]

[The audience gasp after hearing this]

Ludo:

But they’re the ones who ripped me off!!!

Boo-Fly:

However, despite all the claims that you removed Ludo from your family's testament, legally speaking you never actually did it. Sure, you reduced his share but he's still part of it, at least according to this copy I have right here...

Ludo:

Wait, so you never actually took me out from your testament? [gasps] You must really love me.

Ludo’s Father:

Don’t be stupid!!! Of course I hate you and I consider you my least favorite son. The reason I can’t take you out is because I’m not allowed to do it.

Boo-Fly:

Really? Explain yourself.

Ludo’s Father:

Sadly, I can’t tell you the reason why either.

Boo-Fly:

Mr. Avarius, may I remind you that you’re under oath?

Ludo’s Father:

I’m sorry, but I can’t do it, however if you REALLY wanna know the truth, why don’t you ask Queen Moon once again?

Queen Moon:

Oh no...

Star:

Mom, what is he talking about?

Judge:

Mr. Avarius, I order you to answer the question.

Ludo’s Father:

Well Moon, it’s up to you now, Should I break the pact we made years ago, or put both of our families at risk? the clock is ticking...

[The people at the audience starts wondering what’s going on]

Judge:

Mr. Avarius, if you or Queen Moon keep refusing to tell this court what the hell is going on, I’ll have to put both of you in custody...

Ludo’s Father:

Really? Well, you better hurry up Moonie...

Judge:

I’ll give you to the count of three to confess… one… two… three...

Queen Moon:

OKAY, OKAY, I’LL CONFESS!!!

King River:

Don’t do it sweetheart, it’s not worth it.

Queen Moon:

I’m sorry River, but we can’t keep hiding this forever.

Star:

What are you talking about? I don’t get it!!!

Queen Moon:

It all started ten years ago, we were on a royal meeting with the Avarius to discuss the property rights of some lands we were using at the time, but legally speaking were part of their territory, so we sat down on the meeting room and then...

[Cut to a flashback where Moon, River and Ludo’s parents are having a meeting along with the Magic High Commision]

King River:

[breaking the silence] So… How’s it going?

Ludo’s Mother:

Uhm, alright I guess…

King River:

And... what about your children? those little rascals sure they know how to have fun...

Ludo’s Mother:

Eh, yeah… they’re all fine… like… just kids being kids, he-he...

King River:

Oh tell me about it, I remember like it was yesterday when my little Star learned to walk at the age of three, she was SO happy and now… she spends almost every day running and screaming around the castle along with her friend Pony Head.

Ludo’s Mother:

Yeah, they are fun...

King River:

Sure they are, I mean, when you’re a kid living in the swamp you have to be very creative if you want to entertain yourself, am I right?

[Queen Moon facepalms as Ludo’s parents get offended with that comment]

Ludo’s Father:

We don’t live… in a swamp.

King River:

[scratching his neck] Eeeeeh, yeah, I knew that… I was just joking… [awkward laugh]

Queen Moon:

[double facepalm] River, for crying out loud...

Hekapoo:

Your majesty, why don’t you let me do the talking?

King River:

Okay, I won’t say anything.

Hekapoo:

Mr. and Mrs. Avarius, we understand your concerns regarding the occupation of your territory, but right now we are in a bit of a pickle, you see: as you know winter is coming and we’re using those lands to grow our corn crops, and when you take into consideration that Mewni’s economy is plant-based for the most part… well, you can see where I’m going...

Queen Moon:

The point is, we need those lands to keep feeding the population, at least until winter ends so please… try to understand…

Ludo’s Father:

Those territories belonged to my ancestors for more than 2000 years, and you seriously expecting me to give them away just for a few corn crops?!!! you must think I’m stupid.

Queen Moon:

No, not at all, like... if I’d known how important those lands were to you, we would never use them to plant corn crops, believe me...

Hekapoo:

Look, if there’s anything we can do for you, and I mean ANYTHING, just say it, I know we can work this out...

Ludo’s Father:

[rubbing his chin] Mmm… okay, I want 60 percent of your crops.

Queen Moon:

60 percent?!!! but then we won’t have enough corn to feed the population, what about 10 percent?

Ludo’s Father:

No way, those lands are mine, therefore I will only accept 50 percent or more, take it or leave it...

Ludo’s Mother:

Darling, don’t you think you’re being a little bit harsh?

Ludo’s Father:

This is about principles Miriam, these lousy mewnams took everything away from us monsters, our lands, our water, even our freedom, but enough is enough.

Queen Moon:

So, you’re willing to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of innocent mewmans just to prove a point?

Ludo’s Father:

Well, considering that neither you nor your people care about us monsters… yeah, why not?

Queen Moon:

Please, I beg you… there’s gotta be something else we can do for you… anything...

[Ludo’s father takes a moment to consider it]

Ludo’s Father:

You know, as a matter of fact, there is something...

Queen Moon:

Yes, anything you want...

Ludo’s Father:

However, before I tell you my price, I want you to kick them out [points at the Magic High Commision] I don’t want witnesses...

Queen Moon:

[sigh] Okay, you’ve heard him guys… please get out...

Hekapoo:

What?!!! You gotta be kidding me.

Queen Moon:

Hekapoo please, this might be the only chance we’ll have to close a proper deal, don’t make it harder for me, will you?

Omnitraxus:

Well, you’re the boss.

Rhombulus:

That’s okay with me.

Lekmet:

[goat sounds]

Hekapoo:

[sigh] Fine, come on guys let’s get out of here.

[The Magic High Commission leave the room]

Queen Moon:

Okay, I kick them out… what do you want from us?

Ludo’s Father:

Your kingdom.

Moon & River:

WHAT?!!!

Ludo’s Father:

You’ve heard me, I want your entire kingdom.

King River:

Are you nuts? I can’t give you my crown.

Ludo’s Father:

Take it easy man, I don’t care about your stupid crown.

Queen Moon:

Then what do you want?

Ludo’s Father:

Look, here’s the thing: I don’t want to be ruler of your kingdom, in fact, I couldn’t care less about it, however… you said you have a daughter, right?

Queen Moon:

Yes...

Ludo’s Father:

Then how about this: I’ll concede you the property rights of my lands, plus the terms of surrender of all my troops in exchange of your daughter’s hand.

King River:

So... you want to chop off Star’s hand?

Ludo’s Father:

No, you brainless buffoon!!! I’m talking about one of my sons marrying your daughter.

Queen Moon:

This is too much for me to handle… I’m not gonna do it… I just...

Ludo’s Father:

By the way, did I mention I have an army of 1.2 million surrounding your kingdom right now?

Queen Moon:

What?!!!

Ludo’s Father:

Oh, you didn’t see that coming, did you? you have no choice.

[Queen Moon and King River take a moment to consider it]

Queen Moon:

Okay, we’ll accept your offer.

Ludo’s Father:

Splendid...

King River:

However, we also have some terms before we close the deal.

Ludo’s Father:

I’m all ears.

Queen Moon:

First: You have to quit your royal title, at least from a legal standpoint. You can still call yourself king, but you’ll lose all your legal authority.

Ludo’s Father:

I have no problem with that.

King River:

Second: We will choose which one of your sons will marry our daughter.

Ludo’s Father:

Sure...

King River:

And we choose Ludo.

Ludo’s Father:

What?!!! that good-for-nothing failure of a child?!!! ugh, fine...

Queen Moon:

That also means you’re not allowed to disinherit him.

Ludo’s Father:

[crossing his arms] Yes, I understand.

Queen Moon:

Third: And this is highly important:

Moon & River:

Don’t tell anyone about this!!!

Ludo’s Father:

It’s a deal. Now, let’s sign the contract, shall we?

[They use the Box of Truth to write the contract and sign it]

Ludo’s Father:

Well, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you, but… my wife and I have some things to take care of, so… see you later… in-laws [evil laugh]

[Ludo’s parents leave the room]

Queen Moon:

Oh my God, what have we done?

King River:

We’ll figure out a way out of this… Moon? Moon, can you hear me? Moon? Moon?!!!

[Queen Moon is too shocked to pay attention to her husband. Cut back to present]

Queen Moon:

...and that’s the whole story your honor.

Ludo’s Father:

And there you have it folks.

[Everyone at the audience talks about Moon’s confession]

Ludo:

Hold on, does that mean I’m actually ENGAGED to Star?

Ludo’s Father:

That’s right.

Ludo:

That... is so… cringey!!! Ewww!!!

Star:

[shocked] Mom, please tell me it’s not true.

Queen Moon:

Star, I know I messed it all up, but I had no choice, but… [gives Star a pat on the shoulder]

Star:

DON’T TOUCH ME!!! [stands up] I don’t even know you anymore...

Ludo’s Father:

Oh, but there’s more… why don’t you tell your daughter about your plot with the Lucitors?

Star:

Wait, what do Tom’s family have to do with all this?

Tom:

[o.s] I think I can answer that question.

[Tom appears out of nowhere]

Star:

Tom?!!! What the heck are you doing here?

Judge:

You better start explaining yourself, young man.

Tom:

I will your honor, you see: for a long time my family and the Butterflys have been political allies as we shared similar views and traditions, but there’s more about our association than a mere friendship between our clans. For a long time: Our main goal was to take the Avaruis family out of the way.

[Everyone at the audience gasps]

Tom:

The first step in their plan was to take away their fortune, so my father use his influences to lure Ludo into one our casinos and rip him off...

Ludo:

HA! I knew it.

Tom:

The second step in their plan was to tie our families, so our parents set us up in order to get us together and eventually join us in holy matrimony.

Star:

[shocked] So... our entire relationship was based on a lie?

Tom:

No Star, you don’t understand, even though I knew about the whole marriage for convenience I only did it because I care about you and I didn’t want you to marry that scumbag Ludo… sadly, you broke up with me due my temper tantrums, so that plan just fade away, but trust me when I say that I did it with the best intentions...

Star:

Best intentions? BEST INTENTIONS’!!! you lied to me, I’m gonna kill you...

[Star tries to pounce over Tom, but gets stopped by her father]

Ludo’s Father:

But wait, there’s more...

Star:

MORE?!!!

Ludo’s Father:

[standing up] Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: Just when you thought the Butterflys couldn’t be more dishonest and corrupt, it just so happens that I have a piece of information regarding none other than their allegedly innocent daughter: Princess Star Butterfly. Boo-Fly, bring me the radio.

Boo-Fly:

Yes sir...

[Boo-Fly brings Ludo’s father an old boombox radio where he puts a tape in it]

Ludo’s Father:

Now, I apologize in advance to the audience and the jury because the recording it’s not the best, like… this is a very lousy radio, but also because there are certain words that might hurt the sensitivity of some people due the harsh language in the audio, but nonetheless, I think it’s important to of all you to hear this… [press play] there we go...

Tape Recording:

Queen Moon: Okay, now that we clear that out, I want you to explain me why did I find this under your bed? (...) Star, calm down. Remember you said you wouldn’t overreact. All I need to know if this is your test.

Star: I… I… I admit it, that’s pregnancy test is mine.

Queen Moon: So it’s true, you’re pregnant.

Star: Yes...

Queen Moon: Star, please don’t cry, I’m not mad at you. I just wanted to know...

Star: But it’s not fair mom, why did he leave so soon? I couldn’t even tell him about… this...

Queen Moon: Wait... are you talking about Marco?

Star: Yes...

Queen Moon: I see, so he’s the father.

Star: I don’t know what to do now mom, I miss him so much… [the recording stops]

[Once again, the audience starts talking about the case while Star just stands there in shock]

Guy #1:

Princess Butterfly is pregnant?!

Guy #2:

I don’t believe it...

Guy #3:

This is outrageous, the Butterflys are nothing but a family of liars.

Judge:

[banging the gavel] Order, order...

Star:

[still in shock] This isn’t happening… this isn’t happening… this isn’t happening...

MARCO VS. THE FORCES OF LOVE - EPISODE 16: LUDOGATE

0 notes

tube-thoughts-blog · 7 years ago

Text

tube thoughts vol. 2

zero stars - terrible, 1/2 a star - dull, 1 star - folly, 1 1/2 stars - lacking, 2 stars - fair, 2 1/2 stars - decent, 3 stars - terrific

zack snyder's 300: Rise of an Empire *Lady warrior commandeers the battle scenes and saves it from being a male meat fest like the first film.* 3 stars

rifftrax presents "Independence Day" *One way to make this movie more moronic would be if social media existed in its world at the time.* 3 stars with riffing 2 without

Cannon films "Ninja 3: The Domination" *Spunky shinobi, you must avenge me!* 3 stars

Septic Man *Municipal shit-storm* either zero stars for grossness or 3 stars for grossness and surrealness

"The Stuff" a Larry Cohen film starring Michael Moriarty *Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, I'm lovin' it.* 3 stars

Farscape premier episode *Awol from the ratcage.* 3 stars

Garth Marenghi's: Darkplace "The Creeping Moss from the Shores of Shoggoth" *Brocolli from space. I'd thought it had tasted odd.* 3 stars

Albert Pyun's "Omega Doom" starring Rutger Hauer *It's nice to know after we've killed ourselves off, through constant warfare, sentient robots will become gun nuts and start acting out cold war westerns.* 2 1/2 stars

Kenny vs. Spenny: "Who Can Sell More Bibles?" *The Devil is in the details.* 3 stars

Masters of Horror: Clive Barker's "Valerie on the Stairs" *Another bodice-ripper.* 2 stars

"I Spit On Your Grave" uncut 1978 either zero stars or 3 stars

"Beyond the Door" *Paranormal pregnancy with personality.* 3 stars

Twin Peaks: "The Condemned Woman" *Josie and the pine weasels* 2 1/2 stars

Lost and Found Video Night: Vol 7 -- 3 stars

Seinfeld: "The Frogger" *George's high score.* 3 stars

Kolchak, The Night Stalker: "Mr. R.I.N.G." *What's the difference between right and wrong? robot need to know.* 3 stars

Everything is Terrible "The Rise and Fall of God" *Homeschool is the answer.* 3 stars

Roger Corman presents Andrew Stevens' "Subliminal Seduction" featuring Sharknado's Ian Ziering and Critters' Dee Wallace Stone *CD-ROM Inception meets Tommy Wiseau's "The Room" type inept erotic thriller.* 3 stars

David Cronenberg's "eXistenZ" *Jennifer Jason Leigh penetrates Jude Law's port hole in order to play an addictive and twisted version of The Sims.* 3 stars

rifftrax presents "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" *Butter scraped over too much bread.* 3 plus stars with riffing 3 stars without

"Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" *Han Solo babysits a brat-pack ginger cutie, Ernie Hudson is Lando, and Michael Ironside is a Darth Humongous who believes that Earth Girls Are Easy.* 3 stars

"Riddick" *Robinson Crusoe machismo* 3 stars

Farscape: "I, E.T." *My name is Mud.* 3 stars

Dominion: pilot episode *Bright light city gonna set my soul on fire.* 2 1/2 stars

"Thor: Dark World" *Science lady Padme pines for Adam of Eternia so that she inadvertently stumbles into the evil fudge and awakens the 9th Doctor Keebler Who causes the realms to converge like ornaments on an imploding Christmas tree.* 3 stars

"Priest" *Paul Bettany's Obi-Wan character is disenchanted with his forced retirement in a Catholic 1984 dystopia and his regret filled dreams lead to the wasteland where his fallen knights of the old republic partner, a cowboy from hell Karl Urban, lurks about with his horde of bloodsucking bandits and xenomorph vampires. A decent cameo from Brad Dourif as a snake oil salesman. This movie's biggest flaw is that it forgets the classic genre work of Sergio Leone, John Carpenter, and George Miller and instead mimmicks the cliche Matrix ripoff style hack work of Paul W.S. Anderson's Resident Evil flicks.* 2 stars

"Scanners 2: The New Order" *If you get inside me, go gently, and easy on the nosebleeds. This kind of telepathic power in the hands of a fascist P.D., no thankee.* 3 stars

Joe Bob's Christmas Special: Charles Band's "Pets" *Inhabits the same universe as other weird, dumb kids' adventure comedies like 'Garbage Pail Kids', 'The Super Mario Bros Movie', 'Ernest Scared Stupid', and 'Problem Child 1 & 2'* 1 1/2 stars

Sami Rami & The Coen Bros present "Crimewave" aka "The XYZ Murders" *Reminiscent of the Three Stooges, classic Mel Brooks, 40s cartoons, humorous Tom Waits song tales, and the original SNL.* 3 stars

Udo Kier in "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss OSbourne' --sexploitation-- *Show me where it hurts. Fill me with hatred. My pleasure is seeing your dead body.* 3 stars

Masters of Horror: "Right to Die" *The crispy, vengeful ghost of Terry Shiavo.* 3 stars

William Lustig's "Vigilante" starring Robert Forster & Fred Williamson *Regular Joe nihilism* 3 stars

rifftrax presents Ridley Scott's "Alien" *H.R. Giger porn on the sattelite of love.* 3 plus stars with riffing 3 without

Josh Brolin is DC's "Jonah Hex" *Sometimes spooky, often dumb B-western that's sadly too gutless to show any blood n grit. Still it might fit into a marathon of 'The Quick and the Dead', 'Five Bloody Graves', 'Navajo Joe', and 'Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter.'* 2 stars

"Rhinestone Cowgirls" 1982 --xxx-- *Easy listenin' and screwin', plus plenty of other prickly situations protruding in Cactus Corner.* 2 stars

Kolchak, The Night Stalker: "Primal Scream" *Unfrozen caveman mauler.* 3 stars

"Shogun Assassin" *Daddy day samurai* 3 stars

Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs: Dino De Laurentiis presents "Orca" *starring Richard Harris as a salty sea-dog, Charlotte Rampling as a sensitive marine biologist, Bo Derek as a sexy shipmate and Shamu snack, plus the indian fella from 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' lending his wisdom by saying things like, "The old ways no longer work. Now, even our gods dance to a new tune."* 2 1/2 stars

"Baron Blood" *Decent dubbing, giallo lite, moody nightscapes, cursed castle, creepy stalking.* 2 1/2 stars

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace: "Illuminatum & Illuminata" *Interviewer: Do you believe in the Horned One? the actor Todd Rivers: You mean the Hoofed One? Interviewer: Yeah.* 3 stars

Beavis & Butthead: "Time Machine" *Butthead: 1832, that's like not now. Beavis: Yeah, aren't we more than that?* 2 1/2 stars

Twin Peaks: "Wounds and Scars" *"A country habit. We are so very trusting."* 3 stars

Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs: Wes Craven's "The People Under the Stairs" *A ghetto version of Twin Peaks' "Black Lodge" where "Hills Have Eyes" type inbred freaks are trapped in the cellar and "Sometimes further in is the only way out." in a twisted Tom & Jerry style game of cat & mouse.* 3 stars

Masters of Horror: "We All Scream for Ice Cream" starring Lee Tergesen, William Forsythe, and the kid from Bad Santa and Eastbound & Down *The Good Humor Man returns from the land of the popsicles to scoop out and dish some cold and sticky revenge.* 3 stars

Gun Fu John Woo and Risky Bidness Tom Cruise present: "Mission Impossible 2" *We've got the cure, we made the disease. Dianetics incorporated.* 3 stars

Tim & Eric present: Bedtime Stories "Hole" *Spitting surreal absurdism sometimes sidetracks the sinister suburban satire.* 2 1/2 stars

MST3K presents: Charles Band's "Laserblast" *Moppy-haired stoner with a muscle-van gets to rain down the fire of the lizard alien gods on his stereotypical 70s burnout and redneck cop enemies in his one horse desert hometown.* 3 stars with riffing 2 without

Farscape: "Exodus from Genesis" *A hot time in the roach maternity ward in the outer reaches of the universe, tonight.* 3 stars

"Saga, Curse of the Shadow" aka "The Shadow Cabal" *Somewhere between Peter Jackson's LOTR and LARPers that run around yelling, "Lightning bolt, lightnight bolt, lightning bolt!" 2 1/2 stars

"Night of the Loving Dangerously" --xxx-- *With the allure of his ever-wanton ex-wife, Traci Lords, private dick, Peter North, is pulled into a web of blackmail involving his ex's new fiance- a perverted CEO with everything to lose, Jamie Gillis, his naughty daddy's girl daughter, and gay son's snooping photographer boyfriend.* 2 1/2 stars

Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs: "Poltergeist" *Joe Bob maligns Spielberg's involvement with a Tobe Hooper horor flick, Heather O'Rourke gives me the sads, an 80s kids bedroom is full of nostalgic shit, the mom looks sexy even with a streak of grey hair, there's some kind of message about the sinister nature of suburban sprawl, a sassy medium with a drawl steals the show, and Joe Bob ponders the difference between "Go into the light" & "Stay away from the light."* 3 stars

Lost & Found Video Night Vol. 5 *Hot diggity tallyho* 3 stars

"Purely Physical" 1982 --xxx-- *Schmaltzy motel fornicating where the lovers' lips refuse to move when the pillow talk gets filthy.* 2 1/2 stars

Kolchak, The Night Stalker: "The Trevi Collection" *Fashion victims. Some hilariously bad acting from a witch.* 3 stars

"Gallowwalkers" starring Wesley Snipes *Spaghetti vampire western. The kind of movie Blade 3 should have been.* 3 stars

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi ---despecialized editions--- *Impressive. Most impressive* 3 stars

Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs: 1954's U.S. version of "Godzilla" & "Godzilla vs. Mothra" *Tokyo stompin' in a Texas trailer park.* 3 stars

"Manborg" 2011 *Will Ferrell's 'Westworld', Scott Pilgrim vs. Mega City 1, Napoleon Dynamite 2: Judgment Day, Tom Green's 'Total Recall', Jim Carrey's "Battlefield Earth', Sam Raimi's 'Mortal Kombat: Annihilation', Paul Verhoeven's 'Army of Darkness', Patrick Swazy, Jacki Chan, Jake Busey, and Cynthia Rothrock in 'Revenge of the Sith'.* 3 stars

Masters of Horror: Stuart Gordon presents Edgar Alan Poe's "The Black Cat" *Pluto, the little devil.* 2 1/2 stars

rifftrax presents: "The Last Slumber Party" *More potty-mouthed and homophobic than a Wayans Bros. "Horror" "Comedy" "Movie"* 2 1/2 stars with riffing 1 1/2 without

The Outer Limits: George R.R. Martin's "Sandkings" starring Beau & Lloyd Bridges *Red menace* 3 stars

rifftrax presents: "Battlefield Earth" *L. Ron Hubbard's The Passion of the Prometheus as acted out by the rat-brained man-animal, John Travolta.* 2 stars with riffing 1 star without

Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs: Mel Brooks "Spaceballs" 3 stars

rifftrax presents "Fantasic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" *Fate of world hangs in balance while obnoxious bantering, obnoxious celebrity style wedding is overshadowing focus, obnoxious background extras actors mug for the camera and stare at the pop culture status heroes, obnoxious twirling mustache Dr. Doom villain moments, obnoxious studio thinking Galactus is a stupid concept and yet going through with having his threat to earth being the plot-- leaving us with a cloud of lame spacedust* 1 1/2 stars with riffing 1 star without

Troma presents: Lucio Fulci's "Rome 2072: The New Gladiators" *Televised brutality in a cyber-disco dystopia where the cities of the future are painfully obvious scale models covered in Christmas lights and dirtbikes along with karate chops are still considered pretty badass.* 2 1/2 stars

--- Game of Thrones: Season 3 episode 1

*The inept, pudgy comic relief gets to stumble around in the snow avoiding ice zombies,

the dashing dwarf gets dissed by dear old dad,

the high class pimp positions himself near the daughter of the woman who always shunned his advances,

the would be future queen shows kindess to orphans and gets politely scolded for it,

a crow defects to the king beyond the wall,

a fiery zealot harshly deals with infidels,

a shiprecked war veteran brother puts himself back in harm's way to try to talk sense to his witch's pussy whipped brother,

the king of the north returns to his scorched hometown and imprisons his mum there,

a puppy eyed dragon mama sails with her seasick soldiers and goes shopping for baby slaughtering drone warriors while narrowly escaping creepy child with scorpion assassination attempt.*

3 stars

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

rifftrax' Mike Nelson riffs "Predator" *"Speak mono-Slavic-ally and carry a big stick."* 3 plus stars with riffing 3 without

George Lucas & Ron Howard present: "Willow" *In order to save a red-headed bastard baby, Frodo Skywalker fellowships a force of ragtags including a Han Solo in Pocahontas drag, an indian in the cupboard Kevin Pollack, and a wizard lady trapped by spell in the body of a wombat.* 3 stars

rifftrax presents: "Twilight: New Moon" *A frigid, psycho chick gets dumped by her prissy, older, unhealthy obsession. she then begins having night terrors ruining the sleep of her closet gay lumberjack dad. next, she begins leading a lovesick puppydog around on a leash while getting wreckless on a mopad, attempting suicide for attention and all before going on a sisterhood of traveling pants adventure to a pretentious Anne Rice version of faggy Europe. 1980s teens were awesome. 2000s teens are awful.* 2 stars with riffing 1 star without

---- monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs:

"Slaughter High" aka "April Fool's Day"

*These jokers aint' f-f-f-foolin'. They like their drugs, they like their sex, they like their cruel pranks on nerds.

Unlucky for them, their 10th year class reunion takes place at the now abandoned old high school in the middle of nowhere on a rainy night.

It's the perfect setting for an old dark house horror mixed with Agatha Christie style revenge picture.

This is one of the best episodes of monstervision.

It features a classic 1980s slasher flick, it has the original mail girl, Joe Bob skewers the logic of the TNT censors, and he reads an awkward letter from a male admirer named Rufus.*

3 stars

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

"A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" *Freddy flew over the cuckoos' nest* 3 stars

The Outer Limits: "Valerie 23" *Do androids sleep mode with electric wet dreams? 2 be or R2D2? See, I could think of some existential questions to ask my prototype sexbot over a romantic dinner, especially if she were the first sentient being of her kind, and had Hulk strength for no apparently necessary reason.* 2 1/2 stars

Jamie Gillis in "Midnight Heat" 1983 --xxx-- *Rare grime. A gem of a different time. Seedy NYC.* 3 stars

Masters of Horror: "The Washingtonians" *Patriotic blue hairs set their wooden teeth on edge about the disclosure of that rich colonial tradition of chomping on cherry tastin' child flesh.* 2 stars

Farscape: "Throne for a Loss" *Rigel, the royal pain in the rear.* 3 stars

"Hellraiser 2: Hellbound" uncut *The stigmata of Sigmund Freud, from the makers of 'Scratch it, sniff it, squeeze it, suck it,' now available at finer novelty shops.* 3 stars

Twin Peaks: "On the Wings of Love" *Hangover cures, hidden secret half-sister, hallelujah for the hard of hearing, hometown beauty pageant queen hitlist, and hoot owl hieroglypics.* 2 1/2 stars

Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs: Randy Quaid in "Parents" *A Norman Rockwell painting hanging on the wall behind the desk at the Bates Motel.* 3 stars

The Outer Limits: "Blood Brothers" *Twelve immortal monkeys* 2 1/2 stars

"Kill List" 2011 -- *This feels like it could be a Garth Ennis story. It has old mates drinking together and shooting the shite about life. It has acts of extreme violence almost to the point of dark comedy. It has a bleak poignancy. There's also the occult undertones like a Hellblazer comic.* 3 stars

William Hurt in Ken Russell's "Altered States" *Waiting, in a fish-bowl, for Godot.* 3 stars

Kolchak, The Night Stalker: "Chopper" *Stunt motorcycle riding, sword slashing specter with separation anxiety.* 3 stars

Farscape: "Back, and Back, and Back to the Future" *"Psychic Spanish-fly," alien lady combat, genetically structured spy seductress, quantum singularity also known as a blackhole used as a soul saving secret weapon of mass destruction that is seriously in jeopardy of being stolen or accidentally set off."* 3 stars

"The Wind" starring Meg Foster, Wings Hauser, & Steve Railsback *Swept up in stormy solitude and story.* 3 stars

The Outer Limits: "The Second Soul" *Lending our dead bodies, like they were used cars, to alien parasites, leads to some serious moral implications. Feels like a 50s style sci fi message about the dangers of multiculturalism given a more progressive twist at the end.* 2 1/2 stars

"Virgin Witch" --sexploitation-- *Prissy Galore throws a feisty spell when a group of dysfunctional devil worshippers decide they really, really fancy her.* 2 1/2 stars

Van Damme / Raul Julia "Streetfighter" *"Who wants to go home, and who wants to go with ME?!" Self aware dumb fun.* 2 1/2 stars

rifftrax' Mike Nelson riffs "xXx" starring Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, & Asia Argento *Double Ohhh Seven sez, "Do the DEW, dude."* 3 stars with riffing 2 stars without

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stacks-reviews · 8 years ago

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Tuesday Releases 6/20/17

Happy New Release Day! There’s a lot going on in books but not much (at least that I’m interested in) on DVD.

In Books

–Dorohedoro volume 21 by Q. Hayashida If you have never heard of it before Dorohedoro consists of a world made up of Sorcerers; who live in a separate world/dimension, and the humans who live in a place called The Hole. Every so often Sorcerers will travel to The Hole using their magic called Smoke to open a door there. Once there they experiment on humans to improve their magical abilities. Caiman was experimented on by Sorcerers and had his head turned into a lizard head. And as result he lost his memories of everything leading up to the transformation. Now he spends his days with the help of his friend Naikaido hunting down Sorcerers trying to find the one who transformed his head in order to fix it and hopefully regain his memories. I really like this series. It’s dark, it’s gory, and I enjoy the art style. The art style is similar to comic books than manga but it does have it’s problems. They did print some issues in color for a few pages at the beginning of different chapters but it usually comes out a little blurry. But I’ve heard that it isn’t a problem in the digital volumes. I often have to go back and reread the previous volume to help remember what will be going on in the new one. Sometimes even having to go back two or three volumes to understand it. But it has gotten better in the later volumes cause I think I’ve finally figured out what is going on so I’m a little less confused. It is a complex story line but I enjoy it. There is some nudity in the series so just be aware of that if that is something you don’t like to see when you read manga or comics.

–Erased omnibus volume 2 by Kei Sanbe The manga that the hit anime of the same name is based on. But if you are unfamiliar with either of them: Twenty-nine-year-old Satoru has a unique ability that he calls ‘Revival’ that allows him to travel back in time; sometimes against his will, to when he was eleven. When he was eleven there was a series of child-kidnapping in his hometown which resulted in the death of a girl named Kayo Hinazuki. By traveling back in time he hopes to be able to prevent the murder of Kayo and to prevent a tragedy that happens before he travels back in time. It’s a poor summary but the anime was very good and one of the hits of its season. The culprit was kinda predictable but the real charm of this series is watching as Satoru tries to save Kayo in more ways than one. I do have the first volume but I haven’t had time to read it yet. I did flip through it a little bit and from what I saw the anime seems to follow it pretty well.

–Magical Girl Raising Project volume 1 by Asari Endou Another manga that inspire an anime of the same name. There is a game that exists that creates Magical Girls but one day the game decides that there are too many magical girls. Their numbers must be cut in half. So begins a deadly contest between them. I haven’t had the time to try out the anime yet but it is on my queue. I’ve heard good things about and would like to try out the light novels as well as the show. If you like dark magical girls I would give it the show or the light novels a shot.

–Management Style of the Supreme Being by Tom Holt The Supreme Being and his son decide that they no longer wish to be supreme. So they decide to sell. Our new owners; the Venturi Brothers, have a few ideas how the world should really run. They don’t care for Good and Evil and decide to rid the world of right and wrong. But one of the old gods didn’t want to move out and he needs to know if you’ve been naughty or nice. I was first drawn to the title and I like the idea behind it. That our universe is more or less run like a company and can be sold. Not really sure how Santa will play into or why. Especially considering that this comes out in June. Unless this is for the paperback edition. Which I forgot to check when I looked this book up. But it still sounds good.

–Motor Crush volume 1 by Brenden Fletcher “By day, Domino Swift competes for fame and fortune in a worldwide motorcycle racing league. By night, she cracks heads of rival gangs in brutal bike wars to gain possession of a rare, valuable contraband: an engine boosting machine narcotic known as Crush.” I haven’t heard much about this series but it sounds good. I wanna give it a try.

–Princess Jellyfish omnibus volume 5 by Akiko Higashimura In the bustling city of Tokyo there resides a place called Amamizukan, a safe haven for girl geeks (otakus of trains, jellyfish, Japanese dolls, and more) who are terrified of ‘stylish’ people. One such girl is Tsukimi who loves jellyfish. One night she meets a stylish lady who helps her save the life of a jellyfish at a pet shop. This chance encounter will result in an odd friendship (at first anyway) between the two and the rest of the residents at Amamizukan. But this stylish girl is actually a boy. It’s super cute shojo series that was made into an anime a while back. As well as a live-action film that according to one of my friends is very well done. Though do note: Rightstuf has it noted as a release for today but it looks like B&N will not be getting it till 7/18/17, according to their website.

–Spell on Wheels volume 1 by Kate Leth, illustrator Megan Levens, and colorist Marissa Louise Three witches who head out on a road trip to retrieve their belongings that were stolen from them before whoever stole them does any damage to the items. I don’t know too much about this series but I enjoy magical stories. And I like the looks of the art style.

–Strange Attractors by Charles Soule and illustrated by Greg Scott Dr. Spencer Drownfield claims to have saved New York City from itself in 1978. Ever since he has been tinkering with the people of New York to keep the city afloat. A young mathematician is chosen as his successor. Is there truth to Dr. Spencer’s claims about how the Butterfly Affect and his complexity math applies to the city’s patterns. Or is it simply the raving of a broken man as he tries to make sense of the world around him. I like the idea of a person secretly ‘tinkering’ with people in order to save his city. And at first I thought it would be done on a real power but now I am not so sure. It may end up being more on a reflection of how we interact with the world and try to understand our place in it. Either way, the story sounds good.

–Tokyo Ghoul volume 13 by Sui Ishida In case you haven’t heard of this series yet. Tokyo Ghoul is about a world infested with human eating ghouls. One day Ken Kaneki goes on a date with a cute lady who turns out to be a ghoul and tries to eat him. Due to a strange incident the ghoul is killed and Kaneki is rushed to a hospital. Where they transplant the ghouls organs (who they don’t know is a ghoul) into Kaneki to save his life. Turning him into a half-ghoul. I really like this series. There’s lots of action and it has an interesting story. It is an exploration of what really makes a person human (one of my favorite story types, especially if it involves robots; GitS). If you have seen the anime but haven’t read the series yet, you should. The anime started to deviate away from the manga around volume 5 or 6. But both are worth reading/watching. There is just one volume left after this before the first series is over. Tokyo Ghoul Jack will be released digitally only, but in full color if I remember right. Tokyo Ghoul: re volume 1 will be out in October.

In Movies and Television

–The Big O Complete Collection Forty years ago the citizens of Paradigm City all lost their memories. Negotiator Roger Smith does his best to find resolutions for any troubles that Paradigm City finds itself in. With the help of his butler Norman, his android assistant Dorothy, and his giant robot (also called a megadeus) Big O. The classic anime is back and for the first time on blu-ray. I love this show. It has been a long time since I last saw it, back when it was still on Toonami. It’s a great film noir series with mecha’s. What’s not to love. Seriously though. It has been a long time since I last saw the full series. I don’t think I could explain it well enough to do it justice. I really recommend it. If I remember right the first season is more episodic while the second season has a more on-going story. Like GitS S.A.C. and 2nd gig. I do have the full series on dvd from Bandai but I would like to retire it someday for the blu-ray. Once you watch it, you too will start shouting out, “Big O! Showtime!”

–Sailor Moon S P2 The second part of Sailor Moon S, episodes 109-127. There is a gwp version on Rightstuf’s website that includes art cards. Really excited to see part 2 out. Mine actually arrived in the mail yesterday. And now that I have both parts of S, I can finally watch them. I like to wait till I have both part of the Sailor Moon seasons before I watch them.

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multiplefandomsofmaggie · 8 years ago

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It Only Gets Much Worse (Grey’s Anatomy: Season 13, Episode 13)

1. I really like April, but I really don’t like how Bailey just replaced Mer without one thought.... She suspended Meredith.... she didn’t FIRE Meredith... so... What is Meredith supposed to do when she comes back? Work under Dr. Kepner? (I’m not putting April down. April is a great doctor, and I really like her as a person... I just.. ugh.) Meredith could probably leave Grey-Sloan and be Chief of General Surgery elsewhere and STILL have a board seat and ownership at Grey-Sloan without working there.

2. My opinion on Catherine Avery still stands.... She’s a witch, and shame on her for sandbagging her husband.... You know good and well that you told Bailey what to do... What did you expect to happen after you said the residency program needs a revamp without talking to the director of the program, i.e., your HUSBAND....... Ah. I cannot stand that woman... She is terrible. Literally, Richard deserves so much better than that crappy, evil woman.

3. Minnick is such a bitch too. Every time I see Minnick’s face, I want to PUNCH HER IN THE FACE.

4. “She’s slinking.... traitor. No offense [to Avery]” -Maggie

5. I would still NOT feel comfortable having a resident do my (or my family’s) surgical procedure entirely start to finish......... No.... Not until you’re in that last year where you’re almost board certified would I be kind of okay with a resident operating on me... Otherwise, please just do parts of the procedure with an experienced surgeon helping.... :o

6. “Special treatment... from your chief-wife.....”

7. Stephanie needs to CALM down that ego of hers..... Girl, you’re still in training... you aren’t a full-fledged surgeon yet.. Chill out. You’re acting like you can do no wrong... (Side note: I’d definitely not let her operate on my when she’s so full of herself.)

8. Also, how can April just take away Dr. Webber’s surgery? He’s on payroll to be a surgeon... not a babysitter.

“You can assist... and help... ONLY when requested.. but it will be Dr. Warren’s OR.” -April..

Uhm... excuse me........ One thing goes wrong in that OR and Ben could lose his license because he is doing a procedure by himself when he’s not ready for it..... GAAH

9. Stephanie is such a suck up.

10. I don’t know why Jackson’s surprised his mother’s behind the shit show... He knows his mother is a sneaky, conniving woman....

I think Jackson’s probably hurt that his mother would do something like this to her HUSBAND....

Poor Jackson... It’s a wonder he grew up and because a good man.. Because with her as a mother, you’d think he’d grow up to be a bitch.

11. I’d be so pissed if I were Murphy and Minnick just took away HER patient..... (I don’t really like Murphy...but really, Minnick....?)

12. “Dr. NOT DR. GREY. Dr. Grey knows my roots!” --> I’m liking this patient...

13. “That kind of loyalty is appreciated... Loyalty is so rare in this kind of world...” -Maggie says [while she glares at Kepner]

14. Oh my gosh.. Stephanie is sooo happy to do surgery on that little boy... What happens if she kills him in surgery?! :o Then she wouldn’t be so happy... and she’d have ruined a family.

15. “No.. No.. you won’t talk to him. I have enough problems...being the first lady......” -Ben [to Bailey] (Poor Ben... he’s in such a shitty position...)

16. Bailey: Warren is doing his start-to-finish surgery.... I thought I’d observe.

Webber: Really? Observe him? Or observe me? [turns to Warren] Did you ask her to come in here? Do you not trust me to follow the protocol?

Warren: No, sir. I didn’t even know she was going to come.

Really Bailey??? You’re going to make this uncomfortable situation even more uncomfortable for your husband? [Again, poor Ben.]

17. Maggie: Shut up! Just shut your face!

April: Maggie!

Maggie: I thought you were with us. I thought you were with Richard. And then you go and do this?

April: I took a job. It was an opportunity.

Maggie: It’s aiding the enemy.

April: I’m not saying I agree with Bailey.

Maggie: But you are saying that it’s not a deal breaker. Not for you. Not if it gets you what you want. TRAITOR.

April: I’m doing my job!!! This is my job, Maggie!! Someone here has to act like an adult.

18. Bailey: Dr. Warren, did you know my first solo surgery was also with Dr. Webber?

(Yea.. bailey.. because Webber raised you.. he trained you.. he taught you EVERYTHING you know.. He got you to chief... and this is how you repay him? Stabbing him in the back?)

Webber: Yea, the difference between then is now is that Dr. Bailey forgot that I know how to teach.

19. Webber: [to Bailey] Let me see.. You fired me. Then, you fired Grey.

20. Webber: It’s tough to be a leader when you have no one to lead. [to Bailey]

21. Arizona: [to Minnick] You’re not letting a resident operate on a kid! You’re NOT a peds surgeon! You’re a sports medicine ortho surgeon.

Dear God, if I were the parents of that child who a resident is about to operate on, I would be taking my child to a different hospital or getting an actual pediatric surgeon to operate on my kid...

Minnick acts like the bodies on the surgical table are corpses.... These bodies mean nothing to her... NEWSFLASH: These bodies are someone’s child.. mother.. father.. sister.. brother... NOT PURE FLESH TO EXPERIMENT surgery on.

22. Arizona knows this is a bad idea..... she knows something bad is going to happen to that boy.... (I do not have a good feeling about this “solo surgery.”)

23. “This is my first. I’m never going to get another one.” -Dr. Warren

24. Edwards is still acting like she owns the world....... Girl... stop.

25. “You know who was nice? Dr. Grey.” --cancer patient

April: You know who’s nice? Me. I’m the nicest in this hospital. Ask anyone.. In a contest of who’s nicest -- I take that win. I win by a lot. I AM the nicest.

[Way to act like an adult, April... because talking to your patient about who’s nicest and bad-talking your fellow surgeon is certainly what an adult would do.]

26. Minnick acts like she’s the boss of all the attendings...... She’s NOT. What the actual hell? She may be the new resident director, but that doesn’t mean she can order around attendings.... (also owners of the hospital... Because Arizona owns part of the hospital and has a board seat... If someone ever talked to a member of the board of directors like that in the actual business, he/she’d be fired so fast, he/she wouldn’t know what hit him/her.)

27. What the hell?!?!!? APRIL STOP BEING A BITCH..... (I really HATE how the writers are once again making us hate April..........) UGH!

28. I called it.. that boy is going to die because Minnick let an inexperienced resident operate on a child, while Edwards has always practiced on adults.

I’d sue the hospital if I were the parents.

29. Minnick is frozen in the OR... Are you really a surgeon? Like.........

30. WTH Minnick? You’re not even talking to Edwards? Explaining what happened in there? what went wrong?.... You’re obviously a crap teacher. Then you just walk away without saying one word to Edwards?!?!?!?!?

31. Arizona better not go comfort that witch.

32. Webber: You know, I was always a fine surgeon, but I’m an excellent teacher. And today I was a complete failure. I know you thought this program had problems.. well it sure as hell does now.

Catherine: Richard

Webber: Bailey was my favorite student. I brought her in as an intern. I saw her through all the way to chief. She was MY start-to-finish, and you turned her against me.

33. This conversation between April and Jackson is painful to watch... GAH! WTH Shonda. Jackson & April deserve to be happy... and once again you’re ruining it...

34. Arizona: What kind of teacher are you? You don’t just teach them what you do with their hands, you teach them what to do with this. how to live through this.

Minnick: I know.

Arizona: You don’t. You’re the attending - win or lose. You take the hit because if you put it on her, she might quit. You might think she can’t survive it.. so you show her she can. You tell her when this happened to me...

Minnick: It hasn’t.

(Wth.. you’re a surgeon, and you’ve never lost ONE patient? I find that very hard to believe.... Oh. She said she’s never had a kid patient die.... Hmmmmm.. well you’re not a peds surgeon, so maybe you shouldn’t be teaching with children’s bodies as teaching experiments. You had NO business letting Edwards operate on a child.)

35. Gosh... I wish Arizona would scream at Minnick more... stop comforting her. She deserves to feel like shit. (I probably sound like a bitch right now, but this show has got me stressed to the max :0 :[ )

36. If she wanted Edwards to do that surgery “start-to-finish,” then, telling the child’s parents should probably fall on Edward’s shoulders.......

37. Gosh, now Edwards comes crying to Dr. Webber.... (Dr. Webber was always a mentor to Edwards, and she treated him like crap so she could get some “flashy surgeries with Minnick..”)

Also, I bet Edwards doesn’t feel all high and mighty now that she accidentally killed that boy...

38. Edwards: He was my patient, and he died.. He was a little boy.

39. Dr. Webber is such a good mentor/teacher.. He knows just what to say to residents... I don’t know why Bailey and Catherine think he’s a bad teacher.... He’s wonderful, and he knows how to calm people down.

(Obviously he’s done something right since he raised you, Bailey..... And taught your son, Catherine.) >;[

40. I know Minnick knows that she’ll never be half the teacher Webber is....

41. Oh my gosh.... I cannot stand Catherine Avery... What the hell.. now she’s lying to April about how everything “was Bailey..”

42. Catherine might’ve had to work for it in the beginning, but the minute she married Jackson’s father, everything fell in her lap.... I don’t think Catherine is “just like April.” That’s bull.

43. “Put that away, and let’s celebrate this.. I don’t exactly have a party waiting for me when I get home...[to April] ” ---Catherine ... HMMMM I wonder why?!?!?!?! You betrayed your husband..... and you’re tearing April away from her baby’s father and all of her friends.

44. Don’t do it, Arizona.... I literally cannot stand Minnick..... At the point, i’d literally pick anyone to be with Arizona over Minnick...... I’d even prefer Leah, who I really don’t like either.... CALLIE, COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

45. “You know, you could have friends here, if you wanted to....” -Arizona to Minnick... (uhm, what “friends” are you talking about?? If Minnick’s there then, Webber’s out....so....)

I’m sorry this post is so long... I just have so many feelings, and that episode drove me up the wall... If Grey’s keeps going in this direction, I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch it anymore.

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erraticfairy · 6 years ago

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Inside Schizophrenia: Childhood Schizophrenia

In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, our hosts tackle the topic of early onset – or childhood – schizophrenia. Host Rachel Star discusses her personal experiences with schizophrenia symptoms as an adolescent and Dr. Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich from Harvard Medical School discusses some of the latest research. Listen in now!

About Our Guest

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD is Director of the Developmental Neuropsychiatry Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. He did his undergraduate and medical school at Johns Hopkins, his residency training at UCLA, Stanford, and Boston Children’s Hospital. He has extensive experience designing and running clinical trials and other scientific studies with children who have psychiatric disorders co-occurring with developmental disorders or epilepsy. He has also assembled collaborations to develop computer applications to help patients and families facing serious psychiatric or medical illnesses. These include a series of computer games and technological toys designed to build emotional strength in patients as well as typically developing children. Most recently, he has brought together a multidisciplinary effort to study childhood psychosis and the developmental antecedents to Schizophrenia at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Computer Generated Transcript for “Childhood Schizophrenia” Episode

Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript has been computer generated and therefore may contain inaccuracies and grammar errors. Thank you.

Announcer: Welcome to Inside Schizophrenia, a look into better understanding and living well with schizophrenia. Hosted by renowned advocate and influencer Rachel Star Withers and featuring Gabe Howard.

Rachel Star Withers: Hello, listeners, could a change in your schizophrenia treatment plan make a difference for you? There are options out there you might not know about. Please visit oncemonthlydifference.com to find out more about the benefits of once monthly injections for adults with schizophrenia. Welcome to Inside Schizophrenia. I’m Rachel star Withers here with my co-host Gabe Howard and, Gabe, I’m so excited about today’s episode because we’re going to be exploring schizophrenia in children, sometimes known also as early psychosis, childhood schizophrenia, very early onset schizophrenia, and schizophrenia childhood type. So you get all those written down?

Gabe Howard: It’s amazing to me that there’s all these different names for what is essentially the same disorder. You can understand why people are having a hard time understanding what’s going on when we have five names for what is effectively the same thing.

Rachel Star Withers: And it has been changed over and over and confused with other disorders. Yeah, and that’s kind of what we’re gonna get into is how it’s all meshed together and it’s hard to tell what is what.

Gabe Howard: Before we get into all of the research and the technical side, and of course coming up later on in the show we have an expert who’s going to answer some of these questions for us. I have a question for you, Rachel. Were you diagnosed as a child?

Rachel Star Withers: I was not. I was first diagnosed when in my early twenties when things were like really spiraling out of control. When I was growing up, and I grew up in like the Deep South, very religious, and in the country. So it’s not like I didn’t really grow up around other kids. Like I did but it wasn’t you know like a city sort of situation. So I don’t think my parents really knew how a kid was supposed to act. There were no big warning signs with me.

Gabe Howard: Did you have hallucinations when you were a child?

Rachel Star Withers: Oh yes. As long as I can remember I’ve had hallucinations and the first ones were I always saw faces. And things like faces in the trees, in the carpet, just in the wall, the ceiling. They would appear and like always scary faces. It’s not like happy. No happy butterflies. They were like kind of demonic, frightening creatures which goes back to being in the religious south. You know when I did tell people about it, they’d be like, “Oh well, that’s Satan manifesting.” Okay, yeah.

Gabe Howard: You told adults, “Hey I’m seeing scary evil demonic faces.” And they were just like that’s normal?

Rachel Star Withers: Yeah I think it probably freaked them out or they just thought hey this little kid is just really imaginative. And you’ve been sitting in church listening to the preacher holler for the past two hours about hell and brimstone. So of course, you know, everyone’s probably seeing scary demons.

Gabe Howard: Religious stuff aside how do you know the difference between a child’s imaginary friend and a child’s hallucination? I know lots of children who have imaginary friends who do not have schizophrenia.

Rachel Star Withers: Oh absolutely. And I think growing up it kind of freaked some people out that they don’t know how to deal with it. Like if your kid is coming with an imaginary friend and you’re like oh OK you know we’ll play along. But, well yeah, when do I stop playing along? When is my child too old for this? The same thing like when is my child too old to believe in Santa? So now my kid has hit 13 and they’re still talking to somebody imaginary. Maybe? Maybe this is bad?

Gabe Howard: You raise a really good point because some of this you know that the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus.

Rachel Star Withers: Yeah.

Gabe Howard: We want children to be fanciful. They always see and hear and do things that the rest of us don’t. As part of their imagination, as part of normal development. So now you’re a parent and you suspect. So now you Google to try to get some help for your child. What will they find?

Rachel Star Withers: So scariest thing when I was researching this episode I googled childhood schizophrenia and the first thing that comes up is the wikipedia link and it’s a picture of a child holding a gun. Like I got so mad. If you would have been on Twitter at the time when this happened, I just went on a little Twitter rampage of this is stigma and ridiculous. Because for me it’s like a little 10 year old holding a gun at the camera and we just last episode talked about violence and schizophrenia and the stigma and just how people see it incorrectly. And this is like actual kids. Stigma towards kids in mental health. That really blew my mind that you know even on the Internet we have that stigma towards children and getting help for mental illnesses.

Gabe Howard: And this puts parents in a very peculiar situation because they’re going to look at this picture of a 10 year old with a gun and then they’re going to look at their own child and they’re going to think, “Well, all I have to do is make sure that my child is not violent.”

Rachel Star Withers: Mm hmm.

Gabe Howard: Ipso facto my child does not have schizophrenia.

Rachel Star Withers: In today’s times we have the situations of so many school shootings and I feel like you have two sides of the parenting. You have the one side that’s going to be over protective and oh my gosh I don’t want this to happen and then the other side like I don’t want to say anything and have my child labeled. So it’s either I think go crazy and get help or don’t get any help at all.

Gabe Howard: That’s really an interesting point that you make that because of the stigma surrounding this, people are afraid that if they suspect that their child might have schizophrenia, they’ll get labeled as such even if they don’t. So people will become fearful of their child. Maybe their child will lose friends, or social connections, or standing in school, things that their child needs to develop normally if they suspect their child has schizophrenia. And if they’re wrong, they’ll put their child back a little bit and that of course is assuming that parents recognize it at all. How did your parents react to that knowing that even though you were symptomatic as a child they did nothing? What was that like?

Rachel Star Withers: Well, we’ve I’ve actually never asked them that because that sounds like a really sad question, Gabe. Why would I put my parents in the spotlight? I was a little weird kid and I think all kids are weird though and I was the first child and I just I don’t I don’t blame them or anything because I feel like they were amazing parents and you know Rachel’s acting weird. Let’s let’s go outside and play and that’ll help her. So I had a very awesome childhood and things.

Gabe Howard: It’s awesome that it all turned out OK, but you and I both know that it doesn’t always turn out OK.

Rachel Star Withers: No.

Gabe Howard: You know sometimes waiting too long can lead to a not so great outcomes. We’re talking about society not helping people who are sick.

Rachel Star Withers: And I had a family situation where my mother pretty much worked from home. My father worked full time and it was just me and my little brother. So we got a lot of personal attention. So even if I had, let’s say gotten worse, I feel like people would have noticed pretty quickly. So let’s actually talk about what is childhood schizophrenia? The simple definition is it is when a child interprets reality abnormally which I think is all children. Isn’t that all of them?

Gabe Howard: Well, but it’s abnormally.

Rachel Star Withers: Yeah.

Gabe Howard: But you’re right. Doesn’t that make it difficult? You expect a child to get it right?

Rachel Star Withers: Right. Yeah. So the mental disorder of schizophrenia overall. OK. They used to see it as different classifications. Now it’s considered a spectrum disorder similar to autism. So the criteria for diagnosing a child with schizophrenia is actually the exact same as a teenager or adult. So early onset of schizophrenia is ages 13 to 18 and if it occurs between age 7 to puberty it’s childhood. So I think that’s the issue, too. We got like OK well which one is it? And then they’re also trying to just call it early psychosis or psychosis in children which is even a more bigger umbrella term because I feel like that could cover bipolar and all the other disorders that kind of have hallucinations in it. Which autism has hallucinations and Down Syndrome also. There is not a definitive test and they’ve even done studies where they think schizophrenia can appear in a child as early as three months old. I have no clue how in the world you would figure that out. Like a 3 month old is just kind of there. But I just thought it was interesting that they think that’s how young that schizophrenia can be observed in a child. The only difference is schizophrenia for children versus adults is the delusions tend to be broader so they don’t necessarily have like a voice telling them specific things to do. It’s more they’re going to hear sounds, knocking, ticking, voices that are like calling their names, that necessarily don’t make sense. The visual hallucinations tend to be like flashing lights, seeing shadow figures. So that’s always like that just sounds to me like normal kids. And my little kid comes and tells me like, oh they’re all these flashing lights it’s an alien you know attacking. I’d be like OK cute you know you must have saw that on TV but yeah.

Gabe Howard: Children just have a real difficult time processing anything as an adult. You know, take for example all of the kids cartoons that have like sexual innuendo in them.

Rachel Star Withers: Oh I remember as a young prepubescent girl like we would watch musicals like Grease and I loved Grease as a kid it was so happy and fun and I remember they showed it to us in school. And now if I watch it, I’m like oh wow that’s really inappropriate. There’s so many things in that movie, that older movie, that is just like Oh oh that’s there’s a lot of sex jokes in here and yeah we miss things as kids. Like we interpret things completely different. If you don’t understand something you just kind of either gloss over it or you make up your own reality to it.

Gabe Howard: But that’s not an example of schizophrenia that’s just an example of getting something wrong. And again that’s something that happens to adults.

Rachel Star Withers: Oh yeah.

Gabe Howard: So now we go all the way back and like you said we’re not even necessarily talking about 15 year olds, we’re talking about 10 year olds or 5 year olds.

Rachel Star Withers: And remember, Gabe, even trying to go out there and get the right facts to learn about this disorder you’re met with a lot of confusion and a lot of stigma and I think a lot of stigma also can make you feel like, “Well, if my child is wanting you know to shoot up the school like in this picture that means I’m a bad parent and I’m not. I love my child.” And it’s just a lot of confusion and I think fear when you are looking at this disorder.

Gabe Howard: And we should probably address how common this is because I imagine this is not very common which means it’s not like you can just ask your mommy group, or your father group, or your own family members. I mean where do you go to get support with the people that you know in real life?

Rachel Star Withers: One issue when it comes to diagnosing this is that schizophrenia and psychosis in children is so closely seen from the outside as also autism. So there’s a lot of kind of confusion there where a lot of kids get misdiagnosed. They put them down as autistic and they’re really not and vice versa. And with autism, children are seen to be very internal, going inside of their heads. They don’t pick up on like normal social cues. They engage differently. Schizophrenia is they withdraw. They go inside themselves. They’re not responding correctly because they’re hallucinating. That sounds exactly the same to me. I feel like if I had two kids going through two different things, but that’s how they’re reacting, I would assume they’re both either autistic or schizophrenic. But you know there’s a very big difference in what the kids are seeing. We’re talking about a 10 year old though and they’re telling me they’re seeing shadows or lights and that’s so vague.

Gabe Howard: Do you think that the public is more accepting of a child with autism or a child with schizophrenia?

Rachel Star Withers: I don’t think anyone is scared of an autistic child shooting up a school. Is that a little too hard to say though, Gabe?

Gabe Howard: No I think that it’s

Rachel Star Withers: Ok, I was just being honest.

Gabe Howard: No. I think it’s a very

Rachel Star Withers: Ok.

Gabe Howard: Fair point.

Rachel Star Withers: Ok.

Gabe Howard: You know schizophrenia like you always make the joke it’s got a Z in it. It’s a scary sounding word. When we think of autism, we think of you know cute children trying their best to love their parents. And can you kind of speak to that a little bit because you don’t have the warm and fuzzy diagnosis?

Rachel Star Withers: No. And I actually had a family member who had very very serious autism who is no longer with us who is very young. And autism, it’s a very hard thing to deal with. We go back to that spectrum disorder. There’s a big spectrum. And unfortunately my family member was very very held back mentally by it and I don’t think anyone was ever scared of him that he would pull out a gun. You know no one was ever scared like that. You were more scared for him. You felt bad, you were worried about him. Whereas schizophrenia I think you’re gonna be like oh I don’t want my kids near him. I don’t want my kids near her like that. That’s gonna be the kid that just starts like stabbing people. But there’s fear that autistic kids will be disruptive in the classroom so there’s stigma on both sides. Another thing is that we go back to that whole getting a diagnosis for my child. There’s a lot more support and just help and programs for autism, you know. So if I’m googling, you know, help with psychosis there’s almost next to nothing for children where autism there’s so many programs. There’s books, there’s these computer games, there’s just so much stuff that you like oh wow there’s a huge support community that does not exist for psychosis in children even though it’s so closely related. As a parent that would worry me too. I’d be like well if I have to get a diagnosis how about the safer one even if it’s wrong I would get a lot more help.

Gabe Howard: It’s a really good point. There’s nothing to definitively prove psychosis in anybody or schizophrenia in anybody, let alone children. It’s all self reporting. So this does make it difficult and that does mean that you know unfortunately human error can get involved and a parent can steer their child, steer their provider into the safer diagnosis and it’s always difficult to compare and contrast illnesses. I don’t want anybody to think that we’re saying that autism is better than schizophrenia or vice versa. It’s just a conversation about how society is seeing these illnesses and why it makes it difficult to get the right diagnosis and the right help for a child when there’s all of these external factors.

Rachel Star Withers: And coming to getting the right help, right now with psychosis for children with schizophrenia the only help, the only treatment is the exact same thing for adults which is antipsychotic medications and which have really intense side effects. A lot of them aren’t allowed to be given to children to start with. But a lot of the side effects I have now, I would not wish on anybody else, but especially not a child. So you have that whole thing playing as well. OK, if I give my child this certain things might become a lot worse. And your other treatment options are going to be like social programs, individual therapy, a lot of family therapy so everybody in the family can kind of jump in. The treatment isn’t really a specific, OK I just give them this pill every day at this time and everything’s going to be OK.

Gabe Howard: Well let’s talk about that for a second because as you know in adults, there’s a lot of controversy about whether or not people should take psychiatric medications. There’s lots of scary stories. And now we’re talking children. So now a parent has to decide if they want to give psychiatric medications to their child knowing that adults are having this giant discussion. What is that like for a parent?

Rachel Star Withers: For just me, and you’ll hear other schizophrenics say it too, it is as if you’re playing Russian roulette with medication. So you’re constantly having to try things, adjust levels. And now we’re dealing with a child who isn’t very good at voicing what’s happening and that parent is going to have to be like really on top of things and charting and it’s just a lot. Because it’s going to fall on the parents when it comes to psychosis in children.

Gabe Howard: And it’s more likely than not that their friends and family in the general society is really looking down on them. Oh you don’t want to raise your child, you just want to give them a pill. This isn’t to say that children with schizophrenia shouldn’t be on medication, these are just the kids of things that parents worry about. There’s just an incredible amount of stigma in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Rachel Star Withers: Yes. And when I was researching all of this I went into researching specific therapists who deal with schizophrenia and psychosis and they’re all a lot more expensive than let’s say a normal therapist. So there’s also just the cost of all of this is insane, you know. Well one of the treatment sites suggested family therapy once a week, child therapy twice a week, you know. And we’re talking one hundred dollars a pop. Like that adds up on a family really quick. So you want to give your child everything, you want to help them. But there’s also that cost factor of trying to do all of this stuff and a lot of it’s not available in your area. If you’re in a big city you can probably find a therapist who specializes. But I mean, I’m out in South Carolina. No one came up on my google search.

Gabe Howard: And I think that it’s also important to remember that families are all structured differently. For example you can have a single parent family with three children. Well that means one child is taking up the majority of not only the financial resources but the single parent’s time. And then you’ve got other families that you know are two parents with one child. Well and of course we all understand the difference in health insurance and financial resources. And as you mentioned the difference between living in a big city and a rural area and it even varies state to state. We will be right back after this message from our sponsor.

Rachel Star Withers: It can sometimes feel like another schizophrenia episode is just around the corner. In fact, a recent study found that patients had an average of nine episodes in less than six years. However, there’s a treatment plan option that can help delay another episode. A once monthly injection for adults with schizophrenia. If delaying another episode sounds like it could make a difference for you or your loved one, learn more about treating schizophrenia with once monthly injections at oncemonthlydifference.com. That’s oncemonthlydifference.com. Thank you for listening to our sponsors message. And we’re back talking about violence and schizophrenia.

Gabe Howard: We are back talking about schizophrenia in children. Is there good news in all of this? What’s the success rate for a child who is diagnosed early and gets the intervention and help that they need? How do these children end up? Because I believe that society thinks that all of these children end up institutionalized or as criminals or in prison. What are the actual stats on this? Is there hope for these children?

Rachel Star Withers: It’s just like any other medical situation. If you have the right diagnosis and the right treatment you’re going to have a lot better outcome. Me myself like I wasn’t diagnosed till later but once I was that was such a huge weight off my shoulders for when I knew I wasn’t demon possessed anymore. Oh but like oh I have a real thing that other people in this world have and I knew how to at least had a road to go down for treatment. I knew that I needed to talk to a psychologist psychiatrist. Like I knew what type of doctors what type of medication I was going to need what type of therapy. And there is no like oh well this is the exact thing you need to do that’ll work for you because believe me over the past 14 years I’ve tried so many things and had to adjust. But at 34, about to be 34, Happy Birthday to me, things are going really well I think I’m as sane as I’ve ever been. I don’t know. But I have a really awesome life and I’m very lucky for that. So I think it’s just the outcome is whatever you want it to be. And just being able to support your child and push them to what they want to do and find ways. Yes it’s gonna be harder but you can totally find ways.

Gabe Howard: You can find ways if you get the right diagnosis and the right treatment. Just to clarify right?

Rachel Star Withers: Yes.

Gabe Howard: You can’t find the right way magically. That’s the problem with all of this misinformation and all of this stigma it lead you astray.

Rachel Star Withers: Yes, that’s correct, Gabe.

Gabe Howard: Let’s take a snapshot of your personal story, Rachel. Before you had the right diagnosis, before you had any treatment whatsoever, you went through a lot. Tell us what happened before diagnosis to help you with your hallucinations.

Rachel Star Withers: I remember multiple times in my life growing up in the church, going to different church leaders over me youth pastors things like that and talking to them about what was happening and a lot of the times they would just pray with you and suggest you know what to read in the Bible and that was it. And it kind of escalated to the point where I was at a Christian school at age 17 and they actually did an exorcism on me and it was not as cool as the movie. My head did not spin around and I didn’t you know throw up puke everywhere. So little let down on the build up of that, just saying. But that’s really scary that they did that to a 17 year old but that was their way of helping me. And they absolutely knew. I mean we’re not talking I was in the sticks, we had the Internet starting and this was a very large school.

Gabe Howard: I love your sense of humor and I love the fact that you’re well enough to look back and you know handle these things the way that you do. But if we’re being honest this could have turned out significantly worse for somebody in your position a vulnerable person with an untreated mental illness.

Rachel Star Withers: Yes I have a great sense of humor. I tend to be very upbeat about schizophrenia and mental disorders because so many people aren’t. And inside I might not be like super happy but this is my way of dealing kind of thing. So I did want to point that out there just as I make jokes about these things and other people might have went through them and think this is not a joke. Just so you can understand. But that was really hard, that exorcism. I didn’t talk about it for over 10 years because I was so embarrassed like who in the world has an exorcism? But I just did not want anyone to know. So it’s not that that didn’t affect me. It affected me really bad for a lot of years. And it took a long time to deal with that. So yes if you have people that are trying in their own ways to help but are actually hurting it really can set anyone back that has any sort of medical problem not even just mental.

Gabe Howard: And just to be clear it did not help with schizophrenia.

Rachel Star Withers: Yes to be clear my exorcism did not work and it was three days long. OK. So this was not an hour situation like in the movies. Got to wrap those up quick. A three day long exorcism and my hallucinations came back the next day and they pretty much gave up on me. They said I let Satan back in.

Gabe Howard: Ok. So there was a lot of blaming of the person?

Rachel Star Withers: Oh yeah.

Gabe Howard: Who was sick. And none of this, and I don’t think you think so either, we’re not trying to shame religion or shame religious people, this is just an example of where people didn’t understand and they used what resources they had available. But they did the wrong thing. They didn’t use a medical based model to treat you because you didn’t have a diagnosis. They didn’t know what to do. Now let’s compare that to what happened when you got to a doctor. How did your life change after you got a diagnosis and you moved forward?

Rachel Star Withers: Anyone out there who you know is looking to get a psychiatrist psychologist looking to go down this road you might have to shop around. I do want to say that because I’ve been to so many different therapists and medical professionals across the board. If you do have to find one that works for you. But the good thing is that you at least have a game plan. So I knew right away like OK I’m going to go I started talking to a psychologist that psychologists put me in contact with a psychiatrist and them working together put me on a medical treatment plan. In addition to this talk therapy that I was doing so yeah. And it was OK if that didn’t work this week then we need to work on something else we need to change something. Not, all right, we give up, we tried that one thing.

Gabe Howard: And that really is the difference. You now had a treatment plan. So as scary as it is to take your child to a doctor for this the treatment outcomes are significantly better. And as people who listen to all of these episodes know and people who know your work, Rachel, you really do have an exceptionally high quality of life. I mean you were in the movies for Pete’s sake.

Rachel Star Withers: I was, it’s pretty cool. I think now, Gabe, is a perfect time to bring on our guest. Today we’re talking with Dr. Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich. He is the director of the Developmental Neuro Psychiatry clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Welcome, doctor.

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: Thank you, Rachel.

Rachel Star Withers: So at the Boston Children’s Hospital in the Developmental Center, what is it that you do?

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: I’m a child psychiatrist and I evaluate children thought to be having very serious psychiatric problems then treat them. Hopefully you get them feeling better and back on the developmental on their developmental course again.

Rachel Star Withers: So when you say psychiatric issues, what would some of those be?

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: I would say since 2001 or so I’m mostly concentrating on children who are showing early signs of psychosis. Those are the children that are generally my new patients in the last I guess eight years since I’ve been working in this area. I would tell you that I’ve never worked harder or seen children who were more having more you know more severe problems and yet sort of the partnership with the families and and the kids themselves is really very strong. We’re all pulling together trying to help them feel better. And also I’m involved in research to try to understand why this is happening to them and find ways that are more effective than what we have now to really get them back to feeling better and back on a different developmental trajectory.

Gabe Howard: Rachel and I were just having a big discussion about parents are afraid of this diagnosis. They’re afraid of psychosis because society is afraid of this in adults and nobody wants to stigmatize their child with this. Are you seeing that in your practice where parents are rejecting the diagnosis or not wanting to work with you or are fearful of it?

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: Actually by having the kids come to see me often the parents are looking for an answer and have self blamed or blown off by the professionals often before that. And part of that is because psychosis in children is very confusing and difficult. A lot of kids will have just as far as normal development will occasionally have think that hear a voice their name called developmentally normal fears and and whatnot. And then distinguishing those from psychotic symptoms is hard and it’s something the field has been grappling with. So the kids are often been complaining of intrusive voices and images that are really scary and frightening and distressing to them for a long time. First of all, they also feel a stigma and often don’t tell anyone about it for a long time and then when they do tell their parents about it and the parents go to get evaluated an evaluation often as child psychiatric professionals we try and find any possible other explanation. In truth it is hard to distinguish what is a psychotic symptom. You know for instance voices telling the child to harm themselves or telling them terrible things about them from developmentally normal things and also symptoms of other disorders that might look like that. So childhood schizophrenia is narrowly defined exactly like the adults late adolescence of early adult onset illness. It is rare in children but children having psychosis that’s impairing and distressing is still rare, but that’s that much more common than schizophrenia. And so the other part is how you distinguish that from normal imaginative play, imaginary friends, just transient misperceptions that children have, nightmares, and how you see which those from normal developmental phenomenon from psychosis and then within psychosis you know which kids will go on to have schizophrenia versus some other sort of psychotic illness that may or may not last.

Rachel Star Withers: Talking about these kids, what are the ages that you see experiencing childhood psychosis, and what’s your earliest age that you’ve seen?

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: Typically the kids that have been getting referred to us because we’ve been concentrating on very early onset. So in about 20 percent of people with schizophrenia and with psychosis in general will have the first psychotic episode in adolescence after the age of 13 and probably closer to 16, 17, 18 and those are called early onset and that’s about 20 percent of everybody with this problem. Very early onset, which would be under the age of 13, is much rarer. And we’ve been concentrating on those kids because they’ve been getting referred to us at Children’s Hospital. So I’ve been mostly seeing kids who have the onset before the age of 13 but again that’s a rare event that because we’re a tertiary care center, these kids get sent here. We��ve enrolled in our research studies for the genetic study over a hundred forty of these kids and actually counting the studies we’re doing with biomarkers before that, closer to two hundred kids. Their ages, again because I’m selecting for kids, it starts under the age of 13 really are typically nine, ten, eleven, twelve but we’ve had I saw a kid this week who at age four went from having a touch of mild autism and they’re very verbal or engaged kid who would tell you lots of stories through a period of hallucinations. They were very frightening to him and basically have a deterioration in his functioning to the point now where he hardly talks and his interest in play and engaging people has markedly decreased. That’s an unusual case. And we see maybe five or six kids like that. More typically their onset is between eight and 13 so it seems like a very heterogeneous group. And the genetics are very heterogeneous and marked by a lot of very rare genetic events, more so than what you see in typical late adolescent young adult onset psychosis.

Rachel Star Withers: If there are parents out there and they’re suspecting that their child may have a problem with psychosis, what do you suggest that they do?

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: Well I would take them in to be evaluated by a professional and I’d also observe carefully, write down with observations that they have that are making you worry about this. If the child’s behaving oddly it is really helpful to get a video of that. So that a professional in office can view it with the parents to try and figure out what’s going on. And then depending on how gradually it happened etc., there might be some neurologic work up that has to happen. So again depending again if there’s been a very abrupt onset then we’ll worry about things that can look like schizophrenia but are autoimmune disorders antibodies attacking the brain relatively infrequently but those are things you don’t want to miss. The metabolic problems that need to be diagnosed in them could be treatable and so it’s important to take and get an evaluation. This should be a strongest consideration of medical or neurologic causes along with the psychological psychiatric evaluation. So it likely would be best to have someone who has a lot of experience evaluating childhood onset psychotic symptoms to really take a look and see. How typical is this because of how those sort of problems versus very frequently it might be not that. It might be misinterpreting things that are either due to another problem like a major depression or anxiety disorder or sometimes also just developmentally normal things. So I think getting an evaluation would be important and careful observations would be very important when it comes to treating the child.

Rachel Star Withers: Are there side effects with medications that we should consider?

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: There’s two issues with them and they the antipsychotics. As you mentioned they have side effects. The flattening and how people just feel sedated. They’re not fun to take. You know people often will take the medication because you know because I’ve learned that if they don’t they’re tortured by these terrible psychotic symptoms voices. But then the medication themselves do feel make you feel flatter and duller and harder to enjoy things and whatnot. You know it might be on the whole a plus if you’re getting rid of voices constantly telling you terrible things and whatnot. The things that are most difficult about, especially the second generation antipsychotics, is the weight gain and metabolic problems. So they increase appetite, some more than others, but they also increase appetite and make it harder for kids and for everyone who takes them to keep their weight healthy level. And so the kids will gain weight and then you know and then we worry this is going to put them at the longer term risk of Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome and all the complications of obesity. So that’s actually the biggest problem is those side effects. To families, by the time they come to see me they are ready and they want some help. The other problem is these medicines always that they’re not completely effective. They’re treating symptoms or not treating the underlying cause. And so while you might be able to get hallucinations and delusions under control the other symptoms having to do with decreased motivation, decreased concentration, decreased ability to get up and do stuff. But those are really still there and we haven’t found any way to treat those. Part of the research that we’re doing is you’re looking for these rare genetic causes because the hope is if we understand the genetic cause we go from the gene to knowing what the gene makes to knowing what that protein does. And we could do these amazing things and it would sound like science fiction even ten years ago where we can take his blood cells and turn them into neurons and study the neurons in a dish and try to understand what’s wrong with the neurons and then screen lots and lots of medicines to see if any of them will reverse what is wrong with the neurons. So we’re looking for new treatments that might prevent the symptoms from coming up to begin with and be more effective and reverses symptoms than previous occurred. What we have now which would lessen symptoms but they don’t get at the underlying cause. The parents are usually willing to go with the medication in these events. They’ve seen a child suffer for a long time with very significant serious symptoms. We saw that with ourselves in terms of can we do this with a medication which has less side effects? We’ve had kids respond to Prozac family medicines where classically myself they would have needed an antipsychotic. Some of them will respond to that and that’s great. You have a lot fewer of those problems I just discussed. But often they do need the antipsychotic and then we had to work hard to maintain their weight at a healthy level. They should be getting exercise and then the other treatments of psychosis which are beyond medication which have to do with helping the school understand the child and how to teach them and support them. And then the people that are looking into things like cognitive rehabilitation and whatnot, trying to get back to normal functioning that might have been lost as a psychotic process took hold.

Rachel Star Withers: We were talking earlier in the episode about seeing this from an everyday person’s point of view but seeing it from a scientist’s point of view now that’s really awesome. Thank you so much for coming and sharing that with us, sir.

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: Thank you. Just for raising awareness because I think that one of the things that I think is really hard about this is lack of awareness and lack of understanding in our society. This makes it harder for kids to get the treatment, makes it harder on families who end up getting feeling blamed and whatnot for something which has a large component that’s biological and causation. Not in their hands.

Gabe Howard: Thank you again. We really appreciate it. And we’ve learned a lot.

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD: All right. Thank you so much.

Gabe Howard: That was really awesome and I am so thankful that we had somebody from Boston’s Children’s Hospital associated with Harvard Medical School. They really do great research and they’re looking into schizophrenia to make life better for. Well frankly everybody with mental illness because this is this is cutting edge and this is important. And I’m so glad that he was willing to take the time. Rachel, how did you get him to do this?

Rachel Star Withers: Well he was talking about some of that research there that they did on genetics. They’d actually contacted me a few years back and I’ve been involved in some of those genetics programs. He was speaking about as far as them looking up the different I guess deleted chromosomes. That’s over my head. So what I thought was so interesting was actually hearing that side and him talking about the genetic side of things that most of us don’t, even like even doctors, it’s a lot over their heads and that’s I mean.

Gabe Howard: I know it’s we think that it’s only over our head it’s fascinating that this is so complex that everybody is struggling with it.

Rachel Star Withers: Exactly. But we do need to strive to be educated because there’s a lot at stake in this and constantly stay up to date. This isn’t something that, okay, I know all about schizophrenia now, goodbye. Like there are so many emerging things as they’re working on all the genetic side of it but also medications being developed therapies so we all need to stay current and the different treatments.

Gabe Howard: As somebody who experience symptoms as a child who is now an adult, was there anything that he said that was surprising to you?

Rachel Star Withers: He didn’t hit on it much but when he said the youngest age was four, that’s so young to me. How did how do you distinguish at age four what’s pretend and what’s not? And so it fascinates me that they’re able to do that. That they’re able to figure out you know the difference between which kids have autism, which kids are just over imaginative, and which kids have psychosis. It fascinates me.

Gabe Howard: I was really surprised by what he said about the parents because a lot of the things that we hear and read is that parents are just really rejecting this idea and they’re fighting hard against it and they’re scared to get help and all of those things are true. But his perspective is different. He said that by the time that they reached him they’re desperate and they’re scared and they’re looking for answers and that’s something that I hadn’t considered. How did that hit you as a person living with schizophrenia?

Rachel Star Withers: I really like then that he said that because it made me think Oh yeah. Because that’s kind of how I was. I didn’t know what was going on and I was desperate for help. At first I was I couldn’t find like a good counselor because I didn’t know I needed a psychologist. And I could just like as he was talking I could picture myself being in that situation of just I’m so worried. No one is helping me. I don’t know what to do and the fact that it’s about your child is so much deeper.

Gabe Howard: Are you encouraged by the amount of research and about the amount of knowledge that is going on in the country right now?

Rachel Star Withers: I found it so encouraging that he was able to tell us all these different projects that they’re working on all this different research that’s currently being done all these different like kids they’re looking at and trying to help. That’s incredible to me. And that gives me so much hope a lot of times when you do get the diagnosis of schizophrenia or another mental illness. It’s just like Oh no your world is ending and it’s just a lot of fear and I just like that he had so much hope for the future where this was all going. It wasn’t you know him talking at the research it wasn’t like Oh well give up guys. It’s like things you’re finding out that are different, that are new and I love that. So how I’m being treated right now could be completely different in two years who knows what could happen. And that’s so encouraging to me.

Gabe Howard: I liked his overall message of, listen, this is a medical illness and you need medical treatment because we’re doing medical research and we’re constantly learning and we’re constantly growing and we have a plan and if it doesn’t work out we’ll make another plan. And I think that’s very very important especially for people wrestling with whether or not to have their child diagnosed or to see a doctor. I really hope that people can listen to that and really hear that there’s so much going on and the outcome is a Rachel Star life right now. The outcome is adults living well in spite of their illness. And I think that that’s a really really valuable and important message for a parent who’s struggling whether to take the next steps.

Rachel Star Withers: And just on that note not even just so much living well but being able to live a lot of times when you have this diagnosis it’s hard to even consider the future at all. It’s hard to picture yourself alive next year. And for me I don’t know that gave me like some amazing hope of what he was talking that I don’t have to like be so worried about the future I don’t have to worry that you know my brain’s just going to fall apart and I’m going to end up in a mental institution like that’s that was just so cool though that he’s saying like all the different changes that are coming.

Gabe Howard: I think that that’s incredible. Rachel, where do you as a person living with schizophrenia fall on this? What’s your takeaways?

Rachel Star Withers: If this was the situation of my child had schizophrenia if I had a child, I would want them to get the best treatment possible and I would strive to help them in any way. I personally would still want them to have an amazing, awesome, cool, normal childhood. I wouldn’t want to just be like, Ok well, I’m dropping you off at the hospital see you in six months. But for me and people out there who might be scared of getting a diagnosis you can get a diagnosis you do not have to tell the world. I do know we’re on a podcast about it but you can’t keep it quiet. But don’t let the stigma and the fear hold you back from getting your child help or getting your self help. Thank you everyone for tuning into this month’s episode of Inside Schizophrenia. Subscribe, Like, and Share this episode on social media. My name is Rachel Star and I will see you next month.

Announcer: Inside Schizophrenia is presented by PsychCentral.com, America’s largest and longest operating independent mental health website. Your host, Rachel Star Withers, can be found online at RachelStarLive.com. Co-host Gabe Howard can be found online at GabeHoward.com. For questions, or to provide feedback, please email [email protected]. The official web site for Inside Schizophrenia is PsychCentral.com/IS. Thank you for listening and please share widely.

from World of Psychology https://ift.tt/2YSlimA via theshiningmind.com

#World of Psychology #child psychology

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hatnews3-blog · 6 years ago

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Titans Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Origins

Will this show ever slow down?

Titans Season 1 Episode 3 switched up the dynamics thanks to Kory and Dick finally meeting up, and it resulted in the best episode of this DC Universe series to date.

Now that they're united in their quest to save Rachel, it remains to be seen how long it will be before the truth comes out about Kory.

There has to be a reason why she was adamant about finding the kid before the prophecy spelled a certain doom for the world.

Was Kory's intention to kill Rachel, nurture the evil persona taking up residence in Rachel's body, or merely to find a way to save both Rachel and the world?

Related: Titans Renewed for Season 2 at DC Universe!

Without knowing much about Kory's motives before having her mind wiped, it's difficult to rule her as a hero or a villain.

My assumption is that she's playing on the side of good, but we need to find out the ins and outs of her thought process when she was of sound mind.

The way Kory saved Rachel while cooking Papa Nuclear was one of the best scenes yet. She had absolutely no remorse.

The dialog between both Kory and Rachel was electric as they embarked on their journey. The casting on this show is perfect.

Kory: Chicken and waffles … on the house apparently. Rachel: Well I know one thing about you … total badass.

I figured everything was going to go south at the church, and it didn't help matters that the Sisters put Rachel under lock and key.

They lured the child into a false sense of security by talking about how her mother wound up there, and quite frankly, they had everyone (including the viewers) fooled.

Now that Rachel's gone into full dark mode, I dare say she's going to spend some time away from both Kory and Dick.

Maybe this will give her time to get some scenes with Gar aka Beast Boy. He's the one character who has had far too little material thus far to better understand.

Officer: Who the hell are you? Kory: Kory Anders, FBI. Officer: FBI in that outfit?

With the Nuclear family hot on her trail, things are going to get deadlier for Rachel. I don't doubt she'll be able to handle herself when the family catches up with her now that she knows she's that powerful.

However, there's no telling what tricks the wicked family with the new father will have to dole out on Rachel and whoever is on the run with her.

Now that we know Dr. Adamson and that he doesn't know much about Kory, there's a possibility that Kory knows all about his wicked plan for the youngster.

Let's just say I wouldn't want to get on the bad side of Dr. Adamson. He was genuinely frightening as he weighed up whether to give the family the instant kill for failing their mission.

Related: Titans Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Titans

The only thing they succeeded at was killing Amy. That was a gamechanger for me. Maybe I've watched too much TV, and I'm making assumptions, but I thought Dick and Amy were destined to be the partners who couldn't keep their relationship platonic.

Who’s going to help you now, bitch?

Dark Rachel

In a sense, I'm glad I know that's not going to happen because there's nothing worse than a good show getting bogged down by relationship drama.

Her death affected Dick, and that was to be expected. The family already wounded Dawn, possibly fatally, and with Rachel's kidnapping, it became personal very quickly.

Did anyone else pick up on the way Hank acted at the hospital?

Despite his doubts about the way Robin was when he was fighting in the streets, it was almost like he didn't need to leave Dawn's side because he knew Robin could handle himself well enough to unleash holy hell on the villainous family.

Kory: That’s technically true, dick. Dick: Gee, that’s a new one.

Taking this family down might be the thing that repairs Dick and Hank's friendship for good. I just hope that Dawn pulls through because it would be downright cruel to off one of the best characters this early.

Dick will go to any lengths necessary to avenge Dawn.

Dick's past is equally as exciting to watch as his present. Some shows struggle with flashbacks. In a lot of cases they slow down the action, but what we're learning here is relevant to the overall arc of the series.

We're still none the wiser about why Dick hates Bruce Wayne, but we do know that Bruce persevered with Dick to help him channel his rage into something more productive.

I did roll my eyes during the flashback with Bruce putting his hand on Dick's shoulder at the scene of the accident and offering to help him.

Related: Enjoy UNLIMITED access to thousands of Movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video. WATCH ANYWHERE. CANCEL ANYTIME!

There was an immediate red flag because it just seemed creepy as hell. But then I remembered Bruce also lost his parents at a young age, so he likely thought he could help the kid out.

I may be in the minority, but I would like for Bruce Wayne to be kept in the shadows to give the current crop of characters time to shine.

"Origins" was another solid installment of this series. DC Universe has a hit on its hands, and I can't wait to find out where it goes from here.

Other odds and ends:

Full disclosure: I would never accept candy from someone I didn't know, especially not someone who is working for the biggest villain around.

Kory laying waste to the group of men in the diner was a highlight. I bet those men will never be able to go to a diner again. They'll be scarred for life.

Kory is hilarious, but if she wants to lay low, she needs to stop lifting her hands first and thinking about it later.

Okay, Titans Fanatics!

That's all I got for you!

What did you think of the latest installment?

Hit the comments below.

New episodes of Titans are available Fridays on DC Universe.

Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.

Source: https://www.tvfanatic.com/2018/10/titans-season-1-episode-3-review-origins/

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recentanimenews · 6 years ago

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5 Anime Fighting Games That Will Punch Your Face Off

It's really weird to me when anime characters aren't fighting. I watch Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai and think "But why doesn't bunny girl just take her TRUE BEAST FORM and annihilate that dude?" And in all twelve episodes of Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, not once did Honda unleash his THOUSAND MANGA SKELETON SMASH on an annoying customer. It's major narrative oversights like this that draw me back to fighting games that are based on anime and manga where everyone is fighting, all the time, often for little to no reason. And it's why I'll wind up playing Jump Force when it comes out.

Regardless of your feelings on the playable characters (It's 2019. The Jump Force roster should logically be the cast of My Hero Academia and then maybe Krillin), there's no doubt that Jump Force is going to deliver on spiky haired anime protagonists beating the tar out of other spiky haired anime protagonists. But it doesn't come out for... 4 days. What am I going to do until then? Play the critically accliamed Resident Evil 2, a game that critics and fans alike have deemed to be almost perfect and has seemingly revitalized the survival horror genre? Easy, there. I'm gonna play some underrated anime fighting games, and I'm gonna start with...

JUMP ULTIMATE STARS

I wrote an entire article about this game but honestly, every article on the internet, regardless of its topic, should show tribute to Jump Ultimate Stars. After you create your team (from the 56 playable characters and the 249 support characters) by assembling them on a manga page, you unleash them in arenas based on various manga series. The combat is fast and intense, and the art style is perfect. If the characters on an issue of Weekly Shonen Jump suddenly leapt from the page and began strangling eachother, it would look like this game.

Now, Jump Ultimate Stars never got an official English release, so if you want to play it on your DS or 3DS, you're probably going to have to pull up a GameFaqs walkthrough at the same time. But it's not that hard once you figure out the menus. And honestly, it's pretty worth it, especially if you've spent years thinking "The cast of Dr. Slump COULD beat up Sasuke."

DRAGON BALL Z: BUDOKAI

I didn't watch Dragon Ball Z growing up, because I was raised on limited cable in the South, which means that if I wanted to watch anime, I either woke up at 5:30 in the morning to catch Pokémon on UPN, or I hoped that Pat Robertson ended The 700 Club with a Kamehameha. And so, my first exposure to it was through my roommate's PlayStation 2 games in college. I take that back. My FIRST exposure to it was through my friend's fan art in sixth grade. He drew Vegeta bleeding from the mouth, and then when a girl he liked asked him what he was drawing, he threw away the picture and said "Just stupid stuff." And I never respected Dustin again.

But my friend Tim, who unabashedly displayed a seemingly endless collection of three Dragon Ball Z games, supplied me with a great introduction to the series. Now, especially when you compare them to the beautiful, measured combat of Dragon Ball FighterZ, the Budokai series can feel clunky. They seem less like a tounrament between the world's greatest martial artists, and more like two drunken Super Saiyans fist fighting outside of a Chili's. However, they are so fun and I love them.

ONE PIECE GRAND ADVENTURE/ONE PIECE: BURNING BLOOD

Yeah, I'm putting two One Piece games on this list. One Piece is kind of my "ride or die" series and it's my list, so I can and will do what I want with it.

If you've ever listened to the absolute banger that is the 4Kids One Piece pirate rap, and you thought "If only all of One Piece could be more like this," you are in soooooo much luck. The opening cinematic to One Piece Grand Adventure includes what can only be generously described as "rapping," and it includes all of the "random record scratches and misplaced hip hop! Kids these days like that, right?" that the 4kids opening had. Also, it is dubbed by the 4Kids cast as well, so that's kinda fun.

One Piece: Burning Blood was weird for me at first because, by the time I started playing it, nearly everyone who played it casually had left. So, by the time my thirty minute matchmaking session had ended, the people that I was playing against were god-tier, S-Class warriors, much more akin to the secret, borderline invincible bosses that you run into unexpectedly in JRPGs than actual players. However, in retreating to the single player options, I found solace, and I believe when it comes to arena battle anime games, Burning Blood is one of the best. Also, after playing Burning Blood, Monkey D. Garp is my next choice for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC. Don't overthink it.

YU YU HAKUSHO 2: KAKUTOU NO SHO

The aesthetics of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime are PERFECT for the Super Nintendo, and that's why the Street Fighter-esque YU YU HAKUSHO 2: KAKUTOU NO SHO is such a pleasure to play. Its story mode takes you up through the end of the Dark Tournament arc, which means that you spend about a third of the game fighting Younger Toguro. But considering that Yusuke vs Toguro is one of the best rivalries in the history of fiction, I have absolutely no problems with this. It'd be like complaining that I got to eat strawberry shortcake too many times this week. Why am I complaining? IT'S STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, BRO.

Now, this is another game that only got an official release in Japan, so if you don't want to import a copy, you could play Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament for the PS2. It's not a bad game, but something about it feels off, like the protagonists often move super slowly in comparison to the demons that are pummeling them. I have to wait for Kuwabara to deliver an uppercut, and meanwhile, Chu has already punched me in the groin seven times.

NARUTO: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM SERIES

Talking about the visuals in a fighting game can be odd, because fighting games never really give you a chance to "stop and smell the roses." If you wait to say "Dang, I LOVE how Kakashi's outfit looks," Sakura will have already pulled out your spine. Also, the lazier anime fighting games tend to hope that you'll be too wowed by the fact that you're playing as familiar characters to even care about the graphics, which is like hoping that you'll be excited to see your Uncle at the next family reunion, without noticing that he's currently made of slugs.

That said, the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games are quite awesome to look at, with really vibrant, energetic colors. And the gameplay is super fluid, living up to the rad fights in the actual show. Also, exploring the Hidden Leaf village in the first game and doing training quests between fights was way less of a chore than I thought it would be. Overall, the Ultimate Ninja Storm series takes what could be some really lazy cash-ins and turns them into great games.

What's your favorite anime fighting game? What do you think about the games listed here? Are you gonna play Jump Force? Let us know in the comments!

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

Daniel Dockery is a writer and editor for Crunchyroll that uses Twitter for the dumbest reasons. On Jump Force, he wants to main Luffy, Younger Toguro, and Hisoka.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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gencottraux · 7 years ago

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(Sensitive readers beware: fear factor ahead!)

Christmas time is here…and I love the holidays. The carols, the decorations, the over-the-top store displays, the Hallmark Channel movies–I love all of it. As I’ve gotten older, I don’t do as much myself. Our Christmas tree is still outside in a bucket waiting for us to have time to bring it inside. I haven’t done any shopping. But I still love to soak it all in wherever I go. I have Pandora on the James Taylor Holiday Channel, from which I’ve realized I actually like singers Josh Groban and Michael Buble (yes, Cathy and Ellen, you told me so).

Like so much of what happens around me anymore, the atmosphere has launched a bit of nostalgia and longing for the Christmas of my childhood. So much excitement! Such specific rituals we followed, and the slow pace that kept an anxious kid like me all pent up, but in a good way. My mother always made us each a special outfit for Christmas day. I specifically remember a red velvet top with a lace collar and pants to match that I wish I still had (in my current size) and a pink velvet midi-dress festooned with pink satin ribbons. I did go through a serious pink phase. And apparently a velvet one, too.

Little me with a not very merry or healthy looking Santa.

Oh, the wishes for such treasures as a Lite-Bright and an Easy-Bake Oven, which were never met.

Vintage 1967 Lite-Brite.

Vintage 1960 Easy-Bake Oven.

Or the ones I did get that I wanted so badly. Like the Beautiful Crissy Growing Hair Doll. I loved Crissy so. She had a push-button on her tummy that you could use to wind up her hair to be short or pull it out to be long. As my own hair is always transitioning from long to short or short to long, I was fascinated by this insto-chango approach to hair.

This is where things are going to take a weird turn. Around about 1970 or so, I really wanted a ventriloquist dummy for Christmas. I found one in the toy section of some department store catalog and made sure everyone knew that was what I wanted.

The Danny O’Day model. I had to have it. Him. Whatever.

You know the 1966 book A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd, made into the popular 1983 film of the same name?

All Ralphie Parker wants is a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Set in 1940 in Indiana, the story of Ralphie and his friends Flick and Schwartz and his attempts to evade the bullies Scut Farkus and Grover Dill and Ralphie’s efforts to convince all of the adults in his life that an air rifle is a great idea and that he won’t shoot his eye out. At the end, Ralphie gets his Red Ryder, and remarks that it was the best Christmas ever.

Best Christmas ever.

Enter me as Ralphie and Danny O’Day as my Red Ryder. The fact that I even wanted a ventriloquist dummy is very strange. I am afraid of clowns and killer Chucky-style dolls. I watched way too much of The Twilight Zone when I was up past my bedtime. There are 2 episodes that feature evil ventriloquist dummies: The Dummy and Caesar and Me. Then there’s a movie I vaguely remember with a mentally disturbed girl and the dolls and stuffed animals in her room that talk to her. They don’t say happy things. Or maybe that was The Twilight Zone, too. No, wait, the Twilight Zone with the murderous doll is the called Living Doll, featuring Talky Tina. This is the stuff of my nightmares.

Again, what made me think I wanted Danny O’Day? Did I think I might have talent as a ventriloquist? Well, I got Danny O’Day, and it was NOT the best Christmas ever. I unwrapped the package, I opened the box, and I screamed. At least I think I did. I know I wanted to. But I dutifully spent the day pretending I loved Danny (who I renamed Charlie) and trying my best to follow the instructions on ventriloquism that came with him. I had no apparent talent for it. And then it was bedtime. I left Charlie in the living room, under the Christmas tree. And stayed awake all night positive that he was going to creep down the hall to my bedroom and kill me if I went to sleep.

He didn’t look that evil. If you start online searching for images of ventriloquist dummies, there are many much creepier examples.

Maybe it was his evil influence over me, but I surprisingly kept Charlie for years. We moved cross-country. We moved several more times. I went to college. I got married. And I still had Charlie. I kept him packed in a trunk (yes, that’s what the idiot humans in all the scary shows do, too, and it doesn’t work), sure he was going to get out eventually.

I had other scares, like the time I was home alone watching television and the trailer for the movie Magic (1978) came on. I turned my head and closed my eyes and tried to block it out. The mute button hadn’t been invented yet, and somehow it didn’t occur to me to immediately change the channel. Charlie-fear reared it’s evil, ugly head. The film is based on a book written by William Golding (author of Lord of the Flies; that doesn’t go too well for the characters either). Golding also wrote the screenplay. It starred Anthony Hopkins “as a ventriloquist at the mercy of his vicious dummy”.

Yes, I was 17 and home alone for the night, except for Charlie in the trunk, watching television when this came on. Yippee. Needless to say, it was another long, sleepless night.

I did eventually manage to give Charlie away. I am not sure the child who was visiting us and who thought Charlie was cool really wanted him, but I pretty much gave him no choice but to take Charlie with him. I’ve worried about that child, now a grown man, ever since. Charlie was moved to Turkey with his new person. You might imagine I felt safe. You would be discounting my overactive imagination. The film reel plays out in my mind of Charlie crawling out of his hole, finding his way onto an ocean liner, making his way eventually back to California, and appearing in my doorway, ready for revenge.

Of course I know this won’t happen. It would be silly for a 56-year old woman to hold a lingering childhood fear for a doll who, let’s face it, is a silly looking piece of plastic wearing bad clothes. Honestly, Beautiful Crissy could be said to be just as creepy as Danny O’Day. But still…

Summer before last I went to Maine to attend a week-long residency at the Institute for Humane Education. I was also taking a couple of humane education courses that summer, so I took one of the assigned readings with me to Maine. There I am in a cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere, and I take out this book, Consuming Kids: Protecting Our Children from the Onslaught of Marketing and Advertising, by Susan Linn. Sounds innocent enough, and about a noteworthy topic. As I tend to do when I start a book, instead of jumping right in, I decided to read about the author. OMG, Susan Linn is a VENTRILOQUIST (an award-winning ventriloquist, no less) who uses puppets as therapeutic tools with childen. At first I laughed at the idea, then I got the creeps. I’m sorry, if I went to a therapist who turned out to be a ventriloquist, I would end up needing a lot (A LOT) more therapy! I couldn’t read the book. Again, I was in a cabin in the woods in Maine, scene of lots of teen slasher movies. I didn’t sleep all week. That might have been the massive amounts of caffeine and taking showers at 3 a.m. because there 14 of us sharing 1 bathroom, but Susan Linn, Ed.D., ventriloquist/child psychologist didn’t help me any. (Note: I don’t mean to belittle her work in children’s therapy, really.)

Dr. Susan Linn

Now that I’ve turned Christmas into something totally macabre, let’s go back to happy thoughts. I did finally get that Easy-Bake Oven as a 50th birthday gift from Bob. Thank you!

Maybe some day I’ll get that Lite-Brite.

My wishes this year are simple yet complicated: happiness, joy, kindness, peace…beautiful words, easier said than done. Going back to another childhood Christmas memory, I like to remind myself of the message of A Charlie Brown Christmas, about the spirit of the holiday not being in all of the things and wrappings and show, but in the love, peace, and care we take in ourselves, our loved ones, and the world around us.

I also reread the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol (1843) every year, following Ebenezer Scrooge as he opens his formerly greedy and cold heart to the world around him. If you don’t want to delve into Dickens, there’s always How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Same idea.

Albert Finney as Scrooge, reformed, playing Father Christmas for Tiny Tim, in the 1970 film version.

I’ve posted this video clip before, but it’s become a classic since it was first televised in 1977 and merits reposting. I remember watching it at the time (1977) on the yearly Bing Crosby Christmas special and finding it so beautiful. It still is. It’s not just in the voices, or the melding of two seemingly very different men, from different countries and different generations. It’s in the love and longing for peace.

You can’t go to the store and buy these things. You can’t wrap them up and put them under a tree. But we can give them to each other easily and freely, and we will all sleep better.

Peace, hugs, and have the happiest of holidays.

Be careful what you wish for (and have yourself a merry little Christmas) (Sensitive readers beware: fear factor ahead!) Christmas time is here...and I love the holidays. The carols, the decorations, the over-the-top store displays, the Hallmark Channel movies--I love all of it.

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wbwest · 8 years ago

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New Post has been published on WilliamBruceWest.com

New Post has been published on http://www.williambrucewest.com/2017/05/26/west-week-ever-pop-culture-review-52617/

West Week Ever: Pop Culture In Review - 5/26/17

Here we are, on the verge of a 3-day weekend, which means nobody’s gonna read this thing. Still, “the show must go on”…

Well, the week was filled with spider news, as last Friday Sony announced that Tom Hardy will star in a Venom film. If you’re not “in the know”, Venom is a Spider-Man villain comprised of an alien symbiote suit and Peter Parker’s professional rival, Eddie Brock. Sadly, the film’s not meant to cross over with Spider-Man: Homecoming or any bit of Tom Holland’s portrayal. I’m starting to think Sony’s deal with Marvel Studios is actually a bad thing, as it seems like Spidey’s addition to the MCU is to the detriment of his expanded universe to which Sony still owns the rights. I don’t really care about a Venom without a Spider-Man. To add to that, yesterday, Sony announced a film starring Spider-Man supporting cast members Silver Sable and Black Cat, to be directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball). I really don’t think there’s much to say about these characters without the possibility of a Spider-Man cameo. I get where Sony’s coming from; they have all these characters, so they might as well do something with them. That said, earlier talks made it sound like they were building their own Spider-Man-centric film universe, but since the MCU deal went through, Spider-Man no longer seems to be part of the equation.

Meanwhile, the Licensing Expo was this week, and we got our first look at the poster for the animated Spider-Man movie, starring Miles Morales. Apparently it was created by a child. Maybe a Make-A-Wish kid? Seriously, that thing is terrible.

youtube

It wasn’t all bad Spider News, however, as we got the third trailer for Spider-Man: Homecoming. They’re basically giving away the movie at this point, but I’m still a guaranteed butt in a seat. A lot of people are having issues with it, but I kinda like that this is basically Iron Man 4. I really didn’t need a new Spider-Man, so throwing Tony Stark in there is a good way to get me interested. I mean, I liked Tobey Maguire. I liked Andrew Garfield. I’m sure I’ll like Holland, but I’m kinda tired of the Spider-Man revolving door. Now that he’s tied into the MCU, I hope the Holland casting sticks. Then again, we’ve had three Hulks already, so…

This poster, however, is horrendous, but endearingly so. I mean, it’s really bad Photoshop, but I still kinda like it. It’s busier than Times Square at rush hour, but I love it in all its ugliness. It looks like it should be airbrushed on a denim jacket at the mall.

Across the aisle, things aren’t going so well for the DC movie slate, either. First up, Doug Liman has dropped out of directing the Justice League Dark film due to his commitment to Lionsgate’s adaptation of the young adult series Chaos Walking. In case you didn’t know, Justice League Dark would focus on the more mystical DC Comics characters, like John Constantine, Zatanna, Deadman and others, battling supernatural threats – ya know, like the kind the Suicide Squad had no business fighting. I’ve got no interest in this, but that’s ’cause I don’t really like magic. If they manage to get Swamp Thing into the movie, though, I think it’ll increase its appeal. Right now, though, they’re just a bunch of magical nobodies coasting on the Justice League name which might not even hold any power if that movie fails this Fall.

In sadder news, Zack Snyder bowed out of Justice League post-production work to spend time with his family as they grieve the loss of his daughter, Autumn, to suicide. It was revealed that Joss Whedon was brought in to finish the film, which now has fans cautiously optimistic. Just last week, there were reports that there had been so many reshoots that the film was basically a different movie from what was originally shot. It’s possible, however, that these reshoots were part of Whedon’s plan. It’s really unfortunate what the Snyder family is going through, and it’s deplorable that some folks are making jokes about the situation.

In other movie news, it was revealed that Tom Cruise’s upcoming film, The Mummy, will kick off a Universal Monsters cinematic universe called Dark Universe. I bet they stayed up real late to think of that one! Anyway, Russell Crowe will portray Dr. Jekyll (who also appears in The Mummy), Javier Bardem will play Frankenstein’s monster, and Johnny Depp will play The Invisible Man. The next film in the franchise will be The Bride of Frankenstein, to be released on Valentine’s Day of 2019. Ya know what’s funny? DC’s Justice League Dark film was also going to be called Dark Universe. Somebody’s gonna have to lawyer up!

In TV news, it was reported that Hamilton scribe and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, will voice Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera AKA Gizmoduck in the upcoming DuckTales reboot. Cabrera? Really? He’s even brown now to go along with the name change. I know some folks are gonna have an issue with this. Hell, I even kinda have an issue with it. But if they’re gonna inject some diversity into Duckburg, I guess I’d rather them do this than, say, Launchpad McQuack-Jenkins.

While we knew that Bobby Moynihan was leaving Saturday Night Live, just hours before the season finale it was revealed that Vanessa Bayer would also be leaving. Then, Monday morning, it was reported that Sasheer Zamata would also be leaving the show. I’m really gonna miss Vanessa, as she definitely grew on me. Her characters have this adorable aloofness to them that I’ve come to enjoy. She’s got a big future playing the best friend in romantic comedies ahead of her. Sasheer was simply underutilized. She was always in the background of sketches, or only had a line or two. I hear that she really shined in the writers room, coming up with sketches like Black Jeopardy. I feel like SNL will merely be a footnote on her resume, as she goes on to bigger things, like Noël Wells and Jenny Slate.

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining some of my favorite people on the Nerd Lunch podcast, where discussed some of the greatest pop culture deaths. Nobody was safe, from Santa Claus to Michael Knight! And I finally got to join my pal Vincent (@RobotsPJs) on a podcast, which has been years in the making. We had a great time, and I think you’ll have a great time listening to it, so check it out!

Song of the Week

youtube

This week, I’ve got “It Ain’t My Fault”, by Brothers Osborne. Not only are they local boys, but I love the fact that this song/video has layers. Read the title and then watch the video. They’re trying to tell us something – the same kind of thing that sank the Dixie Chicks all those years ago. My how times have changed!

Things You Might Have Missed This Week

Fresh off playing nurse Claire Temple in the Marvel Netflix shows, Rosario Dawson is in talks to play Dr. Cecilia Reyes in the X-Men spinoff film New Mutants. Just go to medical school already, Rosario!

Twin Peaks made its triumphant return for those of you who are fans. Based on the ratings, that’s not many of you…

The Get Down was canceled by Netflix after one season.

Chicago Justice was canceled by NBC after one season.

The Ben 10 reboot was renewed for a second season at Cartoon Network.

SpongeBob SquarePants was renewed for season 12 at Nickelodeon, taking it through its 20th anniversary.

Trial & Error was renewed for a second season at NBC.

The Black-ish spinoff, College-ish, received a 13-episode order on Freeform.

TruTV’s Impractical Jokers will enter national weekday strip syndication this Fall.

The bodies haven’t even gone cold and they’re already announcing a reboot of the Resident Evil franchise, this time produced by James Wan (Saw).

Tom Holland has been cast as young Nathan Drake in the film adaptation of the Uncharted video game.

In the realm of musical sequels that no one asked for, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! will be released July 20th, 2018.

Elizabeth Banks is producing a Charlie’s Angels reboot, scheduled to be released June 7th, 2019.

Tom Cruise announced that a Top Gun sequel is planned to begin filming next year. Fat Val Kilmer is waiting by the phone.

TJ Miller is leaving HBO’s Silicon Valley at the end of the season.

Surprising no one who’s been paying attention, Power Rangers continues the trend of just adding “Super” to the title of its latest incarnation’s second season with Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel

The Boss Baby 2 is a-coming, March 26th, 2021.

Sophia Bush is leaving Chicago P.D. after last night’s season finale

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In the UK, there’s an annual event called Red Nose Day, where they’ve been raising money to end child poverty for nearly 30 years. Launched by the nonprofit Comic Relief, the event has since raised over $1 billion globally. The event came to the US in 2015, where you can buy a red nose at Walgreens for a dollar, with the proceeds going to the charity. One of the co-founders of Comic Relief happens to be Richard Curtis – writer and director of one of my favorite movies, Love Actually. Now, a lot of people hate the film because it gave way to Garry Marshall imitations like Valentine’s Day and New Years Eve. You know, those schlocky romantic comedies with an ensemble cast where all the storylines converge at some point. I don’t care, ’cause I happened to like those movies, too, but I especially like Love Actually.

Well, to celebrate this year’s Red Nose Day, Curtis reunited most of the cast of Love Actually to give us a 15-minute sequel to the film, called Red Nose Day Actually. We get to catch up on the characters 13 years later, and I have to say that I was smiling the entire time. It was great seeing those characters again, from Bill Nighy’s Billy Mack to Hugh Grant’s Prime Minister. I could’ve done without Rowan Atkinson’s meticulous shopkeeper, but it was even sorta nice seeing him again, too. You feel old as shit, though, when you see little Sam, who’s now 26 years old. I think his segment made me the happiest of all. Or maybe it was seeing Jamie and Aurelia and their kids. Or maybe it was seeing Martine McCutcheon again (why doesn’t she get more work stateside?!). I don’t know. I loved the whole damn thing.

The special originally aired in the UK in March for their Red Nose Day, but they’ve gone to great pains to keep it off the internet. Yesterday was the US’s Red Nose Day, and a new version of the short aired last night on NBC. Ya know, they should really have everyone celebrate on the same day worldwide, but what do I know? Anyway, I actually missed the NBC version because of things, but I was intrepid enough to find the UK version online. This morning, however, NBC posted it on their website so I was able to compare and contrast. The only real difference is that the UK version cut out the Laura Linney update, with Patrick Dempsey as her husband. It was a nice aside, but I guess British audiences don’t know who Dempsey is, so they didn’t miss out on much. Anyway, I wish more movies would give us short reunion updates, maybe on anniversary edition Blu Rays or something. It was nice to get just a taste of what everyone’s been up to, without them being burdened by a full film that would be more than likely fall short of the original. If you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go watch this thing a few more times, but it’s safe to say that Red Nose Day Actually had the West Week Ever.

#Country #DC #Knight Rider #Marvel #Movies #Power Rangers #Race #Syndication #Television #Video Games #West Week Ever #X-Men

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