#yes this is inspired by that scene in 2x02

[carelessflower]

magnus doesnt love alec as much as camille cause where is alec's fire-breathing snake or any magical dangerous pets for that matter

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

What did Sauron meant by “Not All of It” in 2x08?

Did Sauron deceive Galadriel all along, when he was pretending to be “just Halbrand”? Was he even pretending, to begin with? Did he seduced her on purpose and to manipulate her? Which part was true? And what was the deception?

To find the answer, we need to look at the visual clues, more specifically the color code of Sauron in “Rings of Power”:

Red

Red is a color that, in “Rings of Power”, has appeared in association with Sauron’s deceptions and treachery, over and over again.

On the negative side, the color red is, symbolically associated with danger, aggression, dominance, power and betrayal. In some cultures, red is associated with evil and death.

2x01: Sauron demands the Orcs’ allegiance (and he’s accused of straight-out lying, in this scene).

1x05: Galadriel’s vision on Palantír has a red stripe to foreshadow the “fall of Númenor” plot (triggered by Sauron).

1x05 and 1x06: Bits of red on Halbrand’s Númenórean armor = King of the Southlands’ deception.

1x07: Halbrand injury on the blast of Mount Doom, and creation of Mordor.

2x01: Adar and his tale of Sauron giving him red wine on *that* peak.

2x02: Celebrimbor falling prey to Sauron’s deception (he’s wearing red + red wine).

2x02: The background of Galadriel’s vision about Celebrimbor.

2x03: Ar-Pharazôn wears red to Míriel’s coronation to foreshadow the “fall of Númenor” plot (triggered by Sauron).

2x07: The missing ruby on Fëanor’s hammer (Sauron’s illusion on Celebrimbor).

2x07: Sauron displays the red blood on his wound (to instigate the guards to confine Celebrimbor in the forge tower for him to finish the Nine).

2x08: The arrows that Sauron shots at Celebrimbor (the ultimate betrayal).

Green

Then we have green, the complementary color to red (meaning they are in opposite sides of the color wheel). In Design, there is an unspoken rule that “red and green should not be seen together”. Hence its safe to admit that green, in Sauron’s color code in “Rings of Power”, also serves the opposite purpose of red.

Green is the color of health (healing), and is symbolically associated with hope, growth, rebirth, balance, fertility and prosperity.

1x02: Sauron first meets Galadriel (a new beginning, full of hope and potential).

1x02: The stone on Halbrand’s pouch (King of the Southlands heraldry) is green (the “new life” and “some place better” that Diarmid promises him in 2x01);

1x04: Halbrand garments on Númenor.

2x01: When Sauron “rebirths” as Halbrand form.

2x06: Celebrimbor starts to wear green once he begins to suspect Annatar’s intentions (the deception begins to crack).

In Season 2, this color becomes highly associated with Galadriel herself, as we see her wearing green dresses. This color is also used by Mirdania, at Eregion, a character that reminds Sauron of Galadriel (and he says so, himself), and the possibility of redemption he was denied.

To further solidify the idea of the colors green/red having opposite purposes/meaning in Sauron’s color code in “Rings of Power”; in 2x02, we see Celebrimbor wearing red, at Eregion; and Galadriel wearing green, in Lindon. This is meant to show to the audience that these two characters have different places in Sauron’s character arc.

It’s also worth mentioning that, in Season 2, both Mirdania and Celebrimbor were wearing green when Sauron killed them, symbolically marking the end of his redemption arc.

Blue

Halbrand/Sauron wears blue in 1x08, the episode where Halbrand is revealed to be Sauron. Blue is considered the ultimate “color of truth” and intuition.

Blue is symbolically associated with wisdom, imagination, loyalty, order and creation. In some cultures, blue is also associated with freedom, inspiration, sincerity and faith.

In 1x07, Halbrand/Sauron wears a blue cloak when he travels to Eregion with Galadriel, to be healed by the Elves. Throughout History, blue has been associated with royalty, yes, but this is a odd color for Sauron to wear, nonetheless.

In 1x08, while at Eregion, Halbrand/Sauron is also wearing blue, after his healing and while working at the forge (and “nerding out” with Celebrimbor).

Based on Tolkien lore, I would say that blue, in “Rings of Power”, is associated with Mairon (not Sauron), since it symbolizes the qualities he was designed to embody by Eru himself, before Morgoth’s corruption: goodness, trustworthy, creation, and order.

This could provide an explanation as to why Sauron didn’t “soiled” the Three Elven rings of power with evil, when he spent so much time at Eregion with Celebrimbor in 1x08, handling the mithril and testing different alloys, and the “eye of Sauron” even appears as the metals combine to make the Three.

What we, the audience, saw in 1x08 was a glimpse of the original Mairon (blue), after his healing process (redemption) was triggered by Galadriel’s light (green). At the beginning, Mairon was one of the most powerful Maiar, and the purest one, too. And these were the qualities that transferred onto the Three, in contrast with the cruelty, malice and deception of the Seven and Nine. More; this can also explain the healing properties of the Three (because Mairon, himself, was healing).

When Mairon is tortured by Waldreg and the Orcs, at Adar’s orders, in 2x01, he’s also wearing blue. This is a callback to the unspeakable tortures he endured under Morgoth, to bind him to darkness, and to power. Hence, the repentant Mairon begins to disappear, making way to Sauron.

What all of this means?

Red (the color associated with Sauron’s deception) only appeared on Halbrand/Sauron and Galadriel interactions, back on Season 1, on two occasions:

When he accepts to be “King of the Southlands”;

His injury due to eruption of Mount Doom (to bring him into Elven territory).

The use of the colors green and blue on Sauron’s arc in Season 1, can confirm that Sauron was, indeed, on his “repentant era”.

“Halbrand” was the original Mairon, and we see a lot of his primordial personality traits (before Morgoth’s corruption) on Halbrand’s character: good, loyal, generous, creative and highly intelligent. Charismatic but a bit withdrawn (he only opens up with Galadriel). Not outright antisocial but usually on the background, a follower and not a leader (the Maia in service of a Vala). And of course, his love and talent for smithing and craftsmanship (Maia of Aulë).

The “Halbrand” that Galadriel fell in love with, was, in fact, “Mairon the Admirable” seeking redemption.

Halbrand/Mairon wears green because he’s seeking redemption and a new beginning (rebirth);

Galadriel starts to be visually associated with this color because she’s the embodiment of the redemption Marion seeks;

Halbrand wears blue in 1x07 and 1x08 because “redeemed Mairon” is starting to come through.

Why was Halbrand/Mairon shamelessly flirting with Galadriel, then?

Because repentant Mairon was attracted to her, on a physical and spiritual level (they are both immortal spirits).

I’ll quote myself, here:

Mairon was created by Eru as a Maia of Aulë, the Vala (God) of smithing and handiwork, yes. He was among the most powerful Maiar. Eru created him to be good and trustworthy, but also to love several things: crafting, creation, beauty, order and perfection, and to dislike wastefulness.

And who better embodies the qualities of “beauty” and “perfection” than Galadriel herself? Her beauty is the stuff of legends, and everyone is at awe when they first meet her. Her very gold/silver hair inspired the most legendary jewels in existence: the Silmarils. The light of the Two Trees of Valinor shine on her hair and eyes. How could Sauron/Mairon not love her? That’s the question. She’s the materialization, the physical form, of everything he was designed to love.

The color code on Sauron’s arc in “Rings of Power” tells us, the audience, that the mutual attraction and connection Halbrand/Mairon and Galadriel shared was real. It wasn’t a deception on his part, nor did it had any hidden motive.

Mairon flirted with Galadriel because, like they say, he really wanted to “tap that”, “shake the sheets (or the forge table)”, “Netflix and chill” all night long, whatever you prefer. And she wanted the same, as confirmed by Charlotte Brändström.

In both 1x05 and 1x06, when Halbrand/Mairon shares intimate moments with Galadriel, the bits of red (deception) of his armor are hidden, either by a cloak, or by camera work (focus on his face). This artistic choice means there was no deception there. It was real.

And both Sauron’s deceptions with Galadriel, back in Season 1, had the purpose of keeping her close to him:

Accepting the “King of the Southland” role: Galadriel was leaving for Middle-earth, leaving him behind in Númenor;

Bringing him into Elven territory: Mairon didn’t know Galadriel would take him to Eregion to meet Celebrimbor (in show canon, she lives in Lindon, not Eregion).

Why? Because Mairon craved her light, and, like it has been established by the color code, Galadriel embodies the redemption he desperately seeks. Hence, he wants to be around her, and keeping her close. Galadriel represents his chance of redeeming himself after everything he has done under Morgoth.

And, in 1x08, when Galadriel denies his offer, it symbolizes the denial of his redemption:

Galadriel: You are a friend of Morgoth’s.

Sauron: When Morgoth was defeated, it was as if a great, clenched fist had released its grasp from my neck. And in the stillness of that first sunrise, at last, I felt the light of The One again. And I knew if ever I was to be forgiven… That I had to heal everything that I had helped ruin.

Galadriel: No penance could ever erase the evil you have done.

Mairon, then realizes, there will be no redemption for him. Redemption and Galadriel’s light have been denied to him. And, so, he falls back into his old ways under Morgoth, back into evil.

They say that Morgoth found the Silmarils so beautiful that after he’d stolen them, for weeks he could do nothing but stare into their depths. It was only after one of his tears fell upon the jewels and he was faced with the evil of his own reflection that the reverie was finally broken. From that moment, he looked upon their light no more. Fëanor's work nearly turned the heart of the Great Foe himself…”

Celebrimbor to Elrond, 1x01

It's not strength that overcomes darkness but light. For in its presence, all darkness must flee.

Celebrimbor to Galadriel, 2x07

In the vision Mairon shows Galadriel in 1x08, there is no red (deception), only blue and light. The spikes of his crown are, also, fading away, meant to symbolize his redemption, with Galadriel at his side. A lot of fans assume this is a vision of Dark!Galadriel, but they are wrong.

This means that Galadriel, indeed, could have helped Mairon achieve the redemption he was seeking.

We foresaw that if Galadriel’s search should have continued, she might have inadvertently kept alive the very evil she sought to defeat. For the same wind that seeks to blow out a fire may also cause its spread.

Gil-galad to Elrond, 1x01

The true meaning of this quote is: Galadriel didn’t f*cked up because she found Halbrand/Sauron and brought him back to Middle-earth. She screwed up because she denied Mairon his chance at redemption: not only by rejecting him, but, mostly, because she exposed him at Eregion and cause him to flee.

It was Galadriel’s pride that caused her to confront and expose Halbrand as Sauron. The pride that every single character has been warning her about, and the reason why she’s banished from Valinor, in the first place. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Celebrimbor and Elrond about Halbrand’s true identity because, yes, of her wounded pride. And she allows the Three rings of power to be made.

In “Rings of Power”, it was Galadriel’s pride that condemned Middle-earth to Sauron’s tyranny, and I hope the show explores this further.

In Season 2, Sauron still believes that he, truly, wants to heal Middle-earth. But this isn’t the case anymore, because his redemption was cut short. This is confirmed by Celebrimbor in 2x07, when he says to Sauron/Annatar: “you truly are the Great Deceiver. You can even deceive yourself.”

But that boat has sailed. There is no more redemption’s arc for Mairon. That was Season 1. In Season 2, he’s now embracing his arc as “shadow of Morgoth”. And so, green and blue won’t be present on his color code anymore, as red takes the spotlight, alongside black to embody his role as the new Dark Lord.

What now?

Sauron and Galadriel are now bound together, since he forced their bloods to unite using Morgoth’s crown, in 2x08. They now have a open line to each other’s soul, mind and everything else. And this will come into play in Season 3.

One of Galadriel’s inner conflicts in Season 2 was the idea that “Halbrand” was nothing more than one of Sauron’s illusions and that he deceived her, all along. In Season 3 and through being bound together with Sauron, she’ll probably realize this isn’t the case, and that Halbrand was very much real, and, in fact, Mairon in seek of redemption. How will this play out, I have no idea. But there’s a lot of potential here.

And in Season 2 we were told that Elven memories don’t dim. Meaning; the memory of Halbrand/Mairon and their love for each other and “what could have been”, will haunt Galadriel forever (yes, even after Celeborn returns).

[m323200]

2x02: Loss: Part 1

Takes like about 7 1/2 months after they broke up, and got back together a few days after. 

Luke is 17 and Isabella is 16, the month of this story is during April, last chapter/part took place during September. 

Warnings: SMUT, SEX: Luke and Isabella have sex in this story, it doesn't go on for the whole story, it's certain parts

-Inspired by season 7 episode 22 of Double Click-

p.s, since they are at the age where people at age 16 or older do sex, there might be some of some mentions in upcoming stories.

WARNING

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YOUR ENTERING STORY THAT HAS SMUT! 

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DONT SAY I DIDNT WARN YOU BC I DID

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The night draped the Dunphy household in an intimate cloak of darkness, punctuated only by the soft rustle of sheets and the hushed whispers of the wind outside. Restless, I shifted in bed, the weight of anticipation and nerves settling heavily in my stomach. Tonight felt different, charged with an electricity that crackled in the air, sending shivers down my spine.

Beside me, Luke's breathing was ragged, his fingers tracing patterns along my skin and touching my boobs. I felt like there was sparks flying through my veins. We had talked about this moment countless times, but now that it was here, the reality of it all seemed to loom over us like a shadow, both exhilarating and daunting in equal measure.

With a tentative touch, I reached out to brush my fingers against Luke's cheek, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched his eyes for reassurance. He met my gaze with a mixture of excitement and desire, his hand finding mine in a silent gesture of solidarity. Surprisingly his dick is more than 5 1/2 inches long. I felt very nervous and so did he as it's our first time having sex.

"We don't have to do this if you're not ready," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm against my nerves.

I shook my head, a determined glint in my eye as I squeezed his hand in return. "I want to," I whispered, my voice trembling with anticipation. "With you, I want it to be with you. Also you have a condom right?..."

"Yes" he said and his smile was tender, his touch gentle as he leaned in to press a kiss to my lips. "I love you," he whispered, his words a vow that echoed in the stillness of the night.

Luke kept doing it slowly so we don't make a noise. We probably did it fast and slow. I had both of my hand on his chest and i slowly put my hands on his abs. It felt like we were having the time of our life. But as we were caught in the moment, we made a noise. The headboard made a sound and we quickly stopped and I hid under the covers like you were sleeping. The sound of movement in the hallway jolted us from our reverie, sending a surge of panic coursing through my veins.

Luke froze beside me, his eyes widening in alarm as we both realized the gravity of the situation. We listened as Phil's footsteps drew closer, the anticipation of discovery hanging heavy in the air. 

When Phil's voice pierced the silence, a jolt of adrenaline surged through me, propelling me into action. We scrambled to compose ourselves, frantically pulling apart in a desperate attempt to conceal the truth of what had transpired, but as Phil's flashlight illuminated the room, casting harsh shadows against the walls, our facade crumbled under the weight of his scrutiny. His stunned expression mirrored my own sense of disbelief, the reality of our situation hitting me like a sledgehammer.

For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still as Phil's gaze locked with mine, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. I searched for words to explain, to justify our actions, but found myself speechless in the face of his unspoken condemnation.

"Claire", Phil whispers, and he kept saying it till she wakes up. "What's going on?" Claire's voice was laced with concern as she surveyed the scene before her. Phil struggled to find the right words, his explanation stumbling over the weight of the truth.

"There's a girl in Luke's bed," he blurted out, his words tinged with disbelief. Claire's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her gaze flickering between Phil and me as she processed the revelation.

"Where's Luke?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. Phil's response was a hesitant gesture towards the bed, his expression a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.

"In the bed with her," he explained, his voice barely above a whisper. Together, we approached Luke's bed, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on us like a heavy fog.

Before they head in, I hid in the closet and I made sure I had all my clothes because in the movies, they always leave something behind. And once they head in, Phil knew he wasn't imagining once I was gone. Phil said in a whisper-confident voice, "There was a girl in the bed with Luke!". "It was probably his Chewbacca doll that he slept with. And that's probably the only thing he'll be in bed with. Plus it's dark, and we shared an entire bottle of wine." Claire replied.

Once they left, I quietly left the closet and we, well me, decided to stop, I thought it was risky and we knew that there's a chance that us dating would get out...again. I climbed out the window and head back to Gloria and Jay's before someone I know sees me.

In the morning, I headed over to the Dunphy's house and as I watched Alex walk out, his departure leaving a void in the room, Luke's cheerful demeanor caught me off guard. His whistling filled the air, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere that lingered in the wake of Phil's discovery.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease, knowing that all eyes were now on Luke, his carefree attitude drawing attention like a beacon in the darkness. Andy's playful remark only added to the mounting tension, his words echoing the unspoken truth that hung heavy in the air.

"Someone woke up in a good mood," Andy observed, his tone laced with curiosity. "And there's only one reason a teenage boy is ever like that."

Before I could process Andy's implication, Phil interjected with a forced enthusiasm that bordered on desperation. "Yeah! Because it's family camp training day," he exclaimed, his words ringing hollow in the face of our shared secret.

I watched as Phil attempted to divert attention away from the elephant in the room, his efforts a futile attempt to mask the truth that lay just beneath the surface. "Luke and I are training for the big famcathalon," Phil continued, his voice strained with forced cheerfulness. "You're carb-ing good idea buddy!"

Andy's puzzled expression mirrored my own sense of bewilderment, his confusion palpable as he struggled to make sense of Phil's erratic behavior. But deep down, I knew the truth that Phil was desperately trying to deny, a truth that threatened to unravel the fragile facade of normalcy we had constructed.

As I made my entrance, Luke's presence beside me offered a small measure of comfort, his familiar warmth a reassuring anchor in the storm. But even as he sat down next to me, his plate piled high with food, I couldn't shake the gnawing sense of apprehension that gnawed at my insides.

Luke's voracious appetite drew a chuckle from Andy, his comment a fleeting distraction from the tension that pulsed through the room. "Hungry dude!" Andy remarked, his tone light but tinged with uncertainty.

Phil saw how close Isabella and Luke were and he notice what is one their necks, he thought it was a hickey or a bump, but he seized the opportunity to steer the conversation back towards safer waters, his insistence on family camp serving as a thinly veiled attempt to avoid the uncomfortable truth that lurked just beneath the surface. "HUNGRY FOR FAMILY CAMP!" Phil exclaimed, his voice bordering on manic as he attempted to rally enthusiasm for the upcoming event.

But despite Phil's best efforts, the truth remained unspoken, hanging in the air like a heavy fog. And as I exchanged a knowing glance with Luke, our shared secret weighing heavily on our hearts, I couldn't help but wonder how long we could keep up this up until it gets loose.

[raayllum]

How do you think Callum will discover Aaravos/finally be able to see through the mirror? (cause he will…right??) With all these Viren/Callum parallels in the first episode do you think Callum might have a similar scene to Viren’s rage in 2x02? (on one hand, yes, more angry callum please, but also, maybe his version is more angsty brooding, just him sitting in the dark like the emo teenager he is? cause that would be kinda funny ngl)

I’m curious as to 1) how exactly the mirror works since we’ve only ever seen Viren interact with it and it can’t just be “unlocked” by darkness right? Maybe like desperation, being completely alone, something more emotionally linked in general? then 2) How Callum is going to communicate with Aaravos because I am guessing he figures something out much faster than Viren did, and I honestly doubt Aaravos has more than one bug pal just chilling in his mouth at any given time- that, and I’ve always thought Aaravos could have been manipulating or playing with Viren the whole time and could hear and speak to him just fine but needed the blood ritual to have a deeper control over Viren and or the ability to channel magic through him, also cause he’s got the time and the patience.

So I do think that because Aaravos can seemingly see out of the mirror without much fuss, I think it's very purposeful he only chose to make contact with Viren in some ways once the man had revealed his curiosity and his vulnerability, if only in facial expressions.

Given that we see Aaravos can make the mirror go dark on his own in 2x09 (aka when he retreats from channelling his magic directly through to Viren) I think he probably has more control over how it operates than not, but who knows?

I honestly wonder if the cube is going to work almost like a communicative lightning rod for Callum in S4, being what unknowingly lets him access the mirror in ways Viren couldn't by proxy of not having it. Partially inspired by how the S2 novelization has the cube almost giving Callum visions of the past and future while he's holding it in the dark magic dreams before he throws it away

I'm curious if part of the reason Aaravos needed a blood ritual with Viren was to be able to channel magic through him, whereas Callum own't need to do so, because he has an arcanum connection already and he and Aaravos share the sky primal (or something like that). Although I certainly wouldn't be opposed to Callum doing a blood oath this season...

But yeah we're sure to learn a Lot more about Aaravos and the mirror this season, cube, prison - possibly the staff? - and I could not be more pumped tbh

[thestupidhelmet]

I always got the impression that during Zen breakups, Donna more sided with Hyde than Jackie. What do you think?

Donna is often seen through an undeserved negative lens by a portion of T7S fans. Contradictions in her characterization do exist, thanks to inconsistent writing. But when her behavior, dialogue, and choices are examined closely, her true character is revealed. I do this in the metas linked below.

In Defense of Donna (an essay in eight parts).

In Defense of Donna: Supplemental

In Defense of Donna (Yet Again) in Her Relationship with Eric

Was Donna Mean to Jackie from Throughout Their Relationship?

Analyzing the facts burns away the foundation on which the biases about and misinterpretations of Donna’s character are built. After the cut, I discuss in detail her reactions to Jackie and Hyde’s breakups. She’s a far better person, and friend to Jackie, than is often recognized.

Jackie and Hyde’s first breakup occurs in “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You” (5x14), after Jackie shouts, “Get off my boyfriend!” to Annette about Kelso in the previous episode. Below is Donna and Jackie’s first discussion about it.

Donna: So, have you talked to Hyde about the whole, “Get off my boyfriend,” disaster? Jackie: No! And why is everyone making such a big deal about it? It's like every time I walk into a room, people look at me funny. Donna, how do you deal with it? Donna: Jackie, the reason people are making a big deal about it is because it sounds like you still have feelings for Kelso. Jackie: Well, I don't. I think the only reason I said it was because I was having an allergic reaction to the Formans' cheap, generic soda.

Here, Donna is being supportive of both Hyde and Jackie. She cares about them and their relationship. Jackie, however, has a tendency toward denial and self-delusion, which Donna has experienced extensively. She wants Jackie to be honest with herself, face reality, and not put herself or Hyde through the pain she went through with Kelso during seasons 1-4.

The next time in the episode Donna talks about this situation is with Annette at The Hub.

Annette: Guys, I really think there's some unfinished business between Michael and Jackie. When they were together, did she make him happy? Donna: Well, she totally dominated him and made him feel bad about himself. Annette: I guess what I'm really asking is, was she ever fat or anything?

Donna’s assessment isn’t accurate and nowhere near complete. This is not the fault of Donna but the writers, whose take on Jackie and Kelso is made clear in “Everybody Loves Casey” (4x26). Despite the few concessions the writers make during Jackie and Kelso’s exchange that give Jackie some sympathy, the onus for the toxicity of their relationship is put on Jackie. New “facts” that are never mentioned or shown in the series before this episode are introduced so that Kelso can give Jackie the responsibility for his cheating and the audience will agree with him, at least in part.

Donna’s assessment of Jackie and Kelso’s relationship in “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You” reflects the point of view given in “Everybody Loves Casey”. What actually occurs during seasons 1-4 contradicts this assessment. Jackie encourages Kelso and bolsters his self-esteem (see “The Forgotten Son” [4x09] for one of many examples). She buys him so many presents that he owes her $8,265 in 1977 (see “Baby Fever” [3x07)], which is the equivalent to $35,525 today (due to inflation).

Yes, Jackie also berates him, but she most often does so when he mistreats her by lying, cheating, and generally disrespecting her. She also tries to control him in certain situations, like how many of her stuffed animals she’ll keep in his van or refusing to break up with him when he asks to in “Red’s Last Day” (2x02).

But the so-called total domination Donna claims Jackie had over Kelso is false. If it were true, Kelso never would’ve cheated on her with Pam Macy, Laurie, a girl from Sacred Heart. He wouldn’t have avoided her for a week after the first time they have sex or treat her like a servant once he gets in contact with her again. He wouldn’t have ignored her many nos about having sex until she’s exhausted by his relentlessness and given into what he wants. The list goes on.

The point, though, is that real!Donna would not have said Jackie “totally dominated [Kelso] and made him feel bad about himself.” Real!Donna -- who’d tried to get Jackie to break up with cheating Kelso then stay broken up with him -- would have said that Jackie and Kelso made each other miserable and that it wasn’t a healthy relationship for either of them. This assessment would have given Annette, a virtual stranger, enough information without betraying Jackie’s privacy.

Jackie enters The Hub soon after this conversation.

Jackie: Donna, Steven broke up with me. Donna: Oh, Jackie, I'm sorry.

Donna is sincere in her compassion. She doesn’t say, “You deserved it,” or, “What did you expect?” Her friend is hurting, and Donna feels for her.

This is the last interaction between Donna and Jackie before Jackie and Hyde reconcile in this episode. Donna’s empathy is obviously for Jackie. We get no scenes between Donna and Hyde or dialogue from Donna that shows she believes Hyde is in the right for breaking up with her. She just wants Jackie to recognize why Hyde might feel hurt by Jackie calling Kelso her boyfriend.

Jackie and Hyde’s next breakup happens in “Nobody’s Fault but Mine” (5x23). Kelso tells Donna about Hyde sleeping with the nurse.

Kelso: [Hyde] doesn’t know it but I saw him kissing this lady at the hotel. Donna: Oh, my God, that’s horrible. Kelso: I wanna do the right thing, right? So I’m thinking that I’ll just tell Jackie, and then she’ll feel really bad. Then I’ll console her, and -- presto! -- we’re making out topless! Donna: No, Kelso! The thing to do is to tell Hyde that you know and then give him a chance to tell Jackie.

Again, Donna is concerned for the well-being of both Jackie and Hyde and their relationship. She cares about both of them, but Hyde’s behavior / choice is likely incomprehensible to her at this point.

Once Jackie breaks up with Hyde and the full truth is out, Hyde calls Jackie at Donna’s. Donna wants Jackie to talk to him, but Jackie hangs up the phone, and Donna pleads Hyde’s case

Donna:  I think this whole thing was a misunderstanding. Hyde didn’t know what was going on. Jackie: I know, okay? But after Michael, I promised myself that I would never be with another boy who cheated on me. Donna: But Hyde’s so good for you. Since you started dating him you’ve completely stopped quoting Nancy Drew.

Donna’s point of view, again, reflects the writers’ -- that Hyde’s transgression is a “stupid, one-time thing.” If Hyde had actually been written as real!Hyde during this episode and arc (after sleeping with the nurse), he would’ve put Jackie’s pain and feelings ahead of his own, shown true and lasting contrition along with self-awareness, and not expect forgiveness.

Donna’s argument would be much stronger if Hyde hadn’t displayed similar behavior to Kelso’s in season 2 (e.g., acting entitled to Jackie’s forgiveness and growing hostile toward her when he doesn’t get it in his desired time frame). Hyde’s relationship with Jackie does inspire her to grow and change, but that doesn’t negate his betrayal of her -- or vice versa.

Donna needed to give Jackie empathy in this moment rather than try to fix what Hyde had broken, but she does so right after Jackie rejects Donna’s argument to give Hyde a chance. Jackie cries on her shoulder, and Donna holds her during it.

Before Jackie and Hyde reconcile in “Join Together” (6x02), Donna continues to point out the positive effect Jackie’s relationship with Hyde had on Jackie. She’s neither Team Jackie nor Team Hyde. She’s Team Jackie-and-Hyde. She’s supportive of and compassionate toward Jackie while also maintaining faith in Hyde’s innate goodness.

Donna believes that Hyde, at his core, isn’t a cheater. That he isn’t Kelso, but this doesn’t excuse Hyde’s transgression. What’s missing during this breakup arc is a scene where Donna confronts Hyde about what he did, why he chose to act out instead of talk to Jackie, and where she tells him he has to own his crap. This would have connected nicely story-wise (or grown out of) the lessons she should have learned with Eric in season 5 had the show not rushed into their engagement arc.

Donna could have brought up Hyde’s childhood, the source of his deep fear of abandonment, and how he allowed this fear to seep into his relationship with Jackie. Hyde, then, might have admitted he’d fallen for Jackie when she’d chased him back in season 3 and felt betrayed by her ultimately rejecting him for Kelso.

Hyde: I guess that crap came up again when she became my girlfriend. Part of me always believed she’d always go back to him.

Unfortunately, the writers didn’t make these story and character connections, and the characterization and story suffered because of it.

During Jackie and Hyde’s season 7 breakups, Donna behaves similarly as described above. She’s Team Jackie-and-Hyde. She supports both her friends and believes they’re happiest (and best) when together. She brings Jackie to her martial arts class to get out her rage at Hyde in a healthy way. She consistently teases Hyde about his love for Jackie so he won’t deny it to himself or quit fighting for it. She’s always got a hug for Jackie when she needs it, and she calls Hyde on his B.S. (finally) in season 7.

So, no, Donna doesn’t side more with Hyde over Jackie after their breakups. She an equal friend to both of them, despite the flaws in the writing.

[hoedameron]

hey y’all!! new gifset means a post of me blabbering about what happened behind the scenes <33

to start off, let’s talk about the above gifs. y’all, i had TWENTY EIGHT (28) CLIPS TO MAKE GIFS OF 😳 now, that is by far the MOST i have had for any show i’ve ever giffed (it’s the mint tall illness xx) so there was a lot to consider. i knew i wanted some key scenes to be made (edrisa drinking that four loko, fire consuming sarah, and the eyeball) so i worked myself around those. there are other scenes that i wanted to gif but just...couldn’t fit them all and may be used for future gifs (if i get inspired). these two above were made to be in the original gifset but ultimiately got cut because: 

the ainsley gif has very few frames and moved too fast for my liking despite it being at 5 speed like the rest of them. typically i don’t like really short gifs with less than 35 frames but sometimes i do make exceptions (like my gifset for 2x02) -was going to be a “warm” gif

 i LOVED this scene between malcolm and edrisa when she gets on the table because she is trying to come down from a caffeine high. when there is no brightwell content, i LOVE a good maldrisa scene <3 really wanted to include this one but i wasn’t too sure of the coloring :(( i felt that it was a bit too dark and i knew the other psd that i used (yes, i used two psds hehe) wouldn’t help much. so, ultimately, with a HEAVY heart, i had to drop it from the lineup -was going to be a “cool” gif

the blue and gold theme was by accident. i had gotten new psds to prepare for this week and one of the new ones amplified the blues of dark scenes (like the entirety of prodigal son) and really liked how it looked on the edrisa gif. then i started to see the pattern of the scenes i picked (cold, warm, cool, warm) and decided to run with it. like i said above, i did use two psds and the other psd is for warmer scenes that the main psd couldn’t really do them much justice. the three gifs with the other psd? you know my fave game :3c answer in the tags!

like i said before, there were a LOT of scenes i wanted to use. i spent like five hours on this set? that also includes small breaks like for lunch and bathroom breaks plus i had to give photoshop some downtime aka force quitting in task manager to give it some room to breathe because there was A LOT to go through. i didn’t want to do anything fancy so i went with my new favorite framing pero i added 1 px to the height (is that right? i forget). also, i am SOOO sorry for making it a long post but i think it was truly inevitable lol.

here are some scrapped scenes:

the crime scene of the dead former debutante. i promised y’all i wouldn’t gif these crime scenes and i almost broke that promise because the scene was soo interesting

malcolm on the tail of jt and the camera follows them as malcolm talks about candy. REALLY fun scene that i would’ve loved to gif but simply had no room on the roster :((

the gilessica scene <3 i wanted to put at least one of my fave pairings in there pero there were some other really good scenes i knew others would find more interesting

*there were other clips i saved that are self-indulgent and for me for future headers or sidebar gifs ;)

i wrote down four quotes, one spoken by gil and the rest were spoken by malcolm. i would’ve used the ainsley quote at the end about how she has a reason to be a bit reckless because it is a solid quote but i felt like it would be overused so i didn’t. i knew i should’ve bolded what sarah said to differentiate somebody else is talking pero like...this was my fourth? fifth reupload? because i kept messing up in the tags and wasn’t sure of the order plus there was a gif that didn’t look right so i had to go back and edit it again (i won’t tell u which one that is my secret shh). everything was kinda asjdksajkdlsa like it was getting closer to my deadline (ONCE AGAIN) so it was basically a mini crunch to get published and in the queue. 

PERO I AM SOO, SO, SOOOOO PROUD OF IT!! it’s really cool and has a lot of color to it!! i even went out of my comfort zone in terms of coloring. yes, warmth is my jam y’all know this but the other more intense blue coloring was a huge step. also, don’t look so closely at them because i know of at least one flaw and that particular gif looks better on mobile (surprisingly) pero desktop is like LOOK AT IT!! LOOK AT IT!!! anyways, every note is like a blessing, and i am always overwhelmed with joy and happiness whenever i read each tag !! :)

[mrslackles]

2X02 lookbook. Look 1: 8/10. so. much. car-wriggling. ugh! also, condom-less arm pocket! your fight club explanation would work for why no one seems to register the man climbing into & out of beth's van. also also, rio's dad HATES his straight up madonna-inspired catholic iconography as fashun. Look 2: 9.5/10. hands! hands! hands! and rio is totally judging kenny's outfit. do you even layer, bro? Look 3: 11/10. points added b/c whenever i see gifs or pics of this scene i hear the music.

Anon. The condomless arm pocket is really beginning to get to me because this show is obsessed with bomber jackets with these zippered pockets on the arms?!

I nearly screamed when I saw Stan in that jacket in the last episode. (Imagine that’s actually Rio’s one and they’ve been having a secret affair this whole time.) Also, Rio wears that same jacket in 3x01, so it’s officially even worse than his one pair of shoes for all of season 1.

Ok, your ratings:

8/10 for Look 1

The way he can’t just, like, seat himself is very obscene? He needs to sit, adjust, wriggle, readjust, bounce, rub backwards, bounce, snuggle, readjust. Especially in cars. He’s very serene in the pool scene by comparison. Definitely a potential fetish there 😂😂

And YES! His dad would give him all the shit for this. Wait till we get to the beanies.

9.5/10 for Look 2

Ugh. This is truly a good look. There’s something about it that makes it worth more than the sum of its parts. I think the blue lighting just suits him as well as blue shirts do.

“do you even layer, bro?” Took me OUT 🤣🤣🤣

11/10 for Look 3 -- You were doing so well with the fractions 😩😩 GASP!! I know what you’re doing! You’re trying to get Rio to come help you with math, aren’t you? You’re very sneaky, but Rio is fully booked with Kenny’s math and layering tutoring.

I’ll be honest, I was also very tempted to add points here because the scene itself is so fantastic. But then I realised he was not only wearing the same shirt from earlier, but also the exact same outfit from a previous episode and I had to mark him down. But then he got points back for the Cadillac. It’s a complicated system.

[bettycooperoutfitwatch]

2x02 Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks

Now that we have a critical mass of episodes and costumes to reflect on, the insights from costuming decisions are getting much more compelling. 

A Betty Cooper Ballet Bun, in daytime, in public? Wild. The striped-blue button-down is very evocative of what I have deemed Betty’s Blue-and-Gold uniform, and that’s appropriate—here she decides she’s going to take on saving Pop’s, much as before she (and Jug) took on solving Jason’s murder. 

This is terribly cute, and contains a lot of elements we saw on Betty in season one: the knit detail on the cuffs, the embellished collar, the keyhole at the neckline, the baby blue of the Converse, the baby pink of the skirt. All of the items are new to us, but they’re familiar to the Betty we’ve known so far—note that in these scenes, Betty’s trying to go about things the above-board way, the prescribed way. 

And when Betty and Jug head to Thistlehouse to beg clemency, she accessorizes with a dark wash denim jacket we first saw in 104 and later throughout season 1, and a bag we’ve also seen her use with great frequency in the latter half of that season. Again, she’s going about things the way they’ve worked previously.

Interstitial moment: Betty is a Vixen!! 

I...love Stone Cold Bitch Betty Cooper. The changes here are subtle, but they’re there. Note the details that are similar to the outfit she wore when she and Jug first asked Cheryl’s help at Thistlehouse—that was classic Betty Cooper. But that attempt was unsuccessful. So she makes some changes, and tries again, this time in an...underhanded, yet effective way. We’ve seen her in a-line skirts, with that gray bag, in baby pink, even in varsity stripes (in 201)—but they add up differently here, which fits her different tack. There’s a casual, almost sporting, vibe here that feels new. 

(This eyebrow could murder.) 

But she’s back into her Betty Cooper Drag in public. Keyhole neckline, baby pink, embellished collar, shoes with bows. The chevron of the knit, however, is new—something’s changed.

Retro Night at Pop’s! The Vixens are waitresses (that feels like a labor violation, paging the Labor Dept), and they utilize their practice uniform socks and white shoes (Keds for Betty)—although some are on roller skates. 

The uniform consists of these skin-tight, very tiny burgundy shorts, a skinny belt for Betty (not the one she wore in 113 fyi,) and a mustard yellow ringer tee featuring a classic 2-color Pop’s logo. This color scheme is very early 70s, which, for a dinner that Jug’s opening narration suggests has been around since Riverdale’s beginning, is an interesting period from which to draw their retro night inspiration. I’m surprised they didn’t go for something more obvious—like American Graffiti—but frankly, I like their choice; it’s unexpected. 

Summary: 6 looks

Key necklace appearances: No key necklace!

Is Betty a River Vixen??: YES

That backpack?: I believe Backpack can be seen on the bench next to Betty in the first scene.

The floggingink Memorial Peter Pan Collar Count: Eh, none, technically, even if all her statement collars here have soft edges. 

Best outfit: Stone Cold Bitch Betty Cooper!! But I do love that Pop’s uniform. 

There are so many kewt B Coops moments in this ep it was hard to pick one gif

But wait—deleted scene bonus round!!! 

Let’s pour one out for the retro throwback that we never fully got to experience, and its by-the-decade lewks:

Peep what I think is a petticoat sticking out from underneath Betty’s skirt? It might be an added trim, unclear.

Sigh. What might have been.

Additionally there’s this deleted scene, in which B & V don modern (lol) Pop’s uniforms and...volunteer to waitress for Pop. For...free. Which I know is illegal. But...this is Riverdale.