#you miss one then you miss two then bam you’re a whole arc behind

[everlasting-elegy]

Fandom burnout do be a thing 😭😭

[sometimesrosy]

What elements make B/E such an obvious romantic obstacle to B/C, narratively, etc?

A lot really. I mean, first, with that time jump, we needed to see that Bellamy had grown and moved on from the trauma of earth. Who better to show that transformation than the grounder who represented betrayal and brutality and murder and war to him? The one who betrayed him and almost killed his sister and held him captive. To forgive HER means he’s over the s3 bizness where he treated all grounders as the enemy who deserved death just for existing in some cases. We SAW him learn the lessons, but with the time jump and B/E he now INHABITS it. He’s grown from it. 

There’s also the parallels between CL and B/E. first alliance, then betrayal, then kidnapping, then working together, then saving from sucide, then forgiveness, then love. I know some people consider CL to be endgame, but my theory here is based on CL being over, for important reasons within the narrative. So to parallel two relationships that are important and transformative, but not endgame, and to show the longer pace of B/E which shows that Bellamy was healthier than Clarke was, is a sign of character development.

Bellamy needed a relationship in order to move forward on the ship, so he wasn’t a wreck. He needed to be a whole person, who COULD live without Clarke, because the Bellarke relationship is a relationship of equals, and it’s NOT codependent. They don’t fill in the holes of the other person. They are not INCOMPLETE without each other, They needed to be shown as complete people on their own. So showing that he’d not been destroyed by her loss meant having him accept love, accept that he deserved love. Therefore, he needed a healthy relationship. 

OKAY. This turned out to be A TOTAL EPIC post. And it’s too long so after the jump. STay tuned.

IT COULD NOT BE RAVEN. Wanna know why? Because Raven has her own journey. And she CAN NOT be second choice, because of her problems with finn and clarke in s1. Raven needs someone to be head over heels over her, if she’s going to have anyone. And if Bellamy had been in a relationship with Raven, CLARKE would always be standing between them. And with Clarke’s resurrection, Bellamy’s SOULMATE, Raven would be cast into second place, thus ruining Raven’s character arc, and putting Clarke into the SAME narrative of being the other woman, without any development. This would be a failure of storytelling, lacking growth and transformation which is NECESSARY for this story. 

As long as Bellarke is endgame, Br/aven could NOT happen. If Bellarke is NOT endgame, Br/aven is actually the CLEAR AND OBVIOUS choice for Bellamy’s next relationship. They already love and respect and like each other. Raven is a major character. The audience loves and wants them both happy. If Bellarke were not endgame, then Br/aven would have been. If Bellarke were PLATONIC, for real? Then Br/aven should have been developing all this time. But since Bellarke is an endgame romance, Br/aven CAN NOT happen romantically. 

THUS they needed a character to be his romance, to show him moving on, but it couldn’t be a character who was TOO essential that we would replace Bellarke with that ship, as would have happened with br/aven. Although it also needed to be a character who was tied to the major issues we’ve been dealing with, someone who maybe reminds him a little of Clarke even. Enter Echo. betrayals, ruthless, sneaky, beautiful, cheated in the conclave, almost killed his sister, does whatever she has to to save her people, loyal. 

I’d also like to bring up Echo’s name. And I think her name DOES matter. At first I thought it was because she was an ECHO of CL and that betrayal for Bellamy.  The myth of Echo, as the nymph who pined after Narcissus didn’t make sense to me, as Bellamy wasn’t a narcissist in love with his own reflection... UNTIL someone made the point that the classical concept of soulmates was one soul split into two bodies, so a person and their reflection COULD be a metaphor for this soulmate concept. Which made Bellamy in love with his reflection/soullmate Clarke, which now ENTIRELY fit the Echo and Narcissus myth. Echo is in love with Bellamy who is obsessed with his soulmate Clarke (who in s6 was ‘behind the glass’ like a mirror image! huh. Who was it that posted that theory!? that sounds like a confirmation to me.) Now again, Clarke and Bellamy are separated by this distance, and Echo goes in to find him? I hope Echo doesn’t fade away like her namesake did, but it’s possible. But Narcissus also dies at the river, in love with his reflection, becoming flowers, right? This actually fits my spec that Bellarke will “die” but in reality just be separated from their family and live out their lives in pastoral happily ever after. Anyway. The myth of Echo and Narcissus, means Echo is NOT the soulmate.

Also. JR said Clarke and Bellamy were soulmates. And fine, I don’t use commentary in my analysis... but I do if it fits, and this fits. They are SHOWN as being soulmates from season 4 AT LEAST. “you center her.” “you got it backwards.” for an example. 

Okay, but now lets get to the narrative. What I told you before is more about storytelling and tropes and character development. Or HOW you tell a story. Now we’ll get to canon evidence. There’s still some storytelling in there. I’m gonna start with s5, because that’s when romantic b/e showed up.

This was the big sign to me of what was going on with Bellarke and B/E.

The first episode of s5 was almost ALL Clarke. We were focused on her survival in the wastes. We were given access to her feelings and thoughts and pov. We were given her monologue.  Which was not a monologue.

It was a conversation, one way, with Bellamy. The voiceover of 5.01 was Clarke making her 2199 radio calls. Which is a romantic trope. They were, essentially like a diary, or love letters, or even a prayer, in a way. For that little bit of the story, in fact, huh. We could almost think of that whole episode as being Clarke’s tales of survival, told to Bellamy as a kind of epistolary tale. What we see IS what she said to Bellamy. Hmm. That’s interesting.

ANYWAY. My point was. The audience is put square inside Clarke’s head, and her head is “why haven’t you come home,” and talking to Bellamy and missing him.

THEN we get the scene where Clarke is talking to Madi about them, and missing them and then the camera pan up through the stars to Bellamy looking down on them, unknowingly, at the valley.

THIS IS THE MOST POETIC THE MOST ROMANTIC SHOT IN THE WHOLE SHOW. MAYBE IN EVERY SHOW EVER. It is a poem. She yearns for him, across time, beyond the stars, and he’s looking down on her, thinking she is dead, and the INFERENCE is that he’s yearning for her too, past death.

A love that literally lasts past death time and space. ULTIMATE EPIC LOVE STORY. And they are finally going to be reunited. AH, resolution for their separation and their love.

AND THEN... dun dun dunnnn, the plot thickens. 

Out of nowhere, the reveal that Bellamy and Echo ARE LOVERS. 

BAM! OBSTACLE. more, ROMANTIC obstacle. 

Clarke’s yearning was romantic in nature. We don’t see inside Bellamy’s head, but making the obstacle to their reunion no longer tech, but instead an established romance, means that the narrative has set Bellarke on a romantic path. Because otherwise another romance would not be an obstacle. Heck, Echo is not against Clarke. Even when she was threatening her life she wasn’t really against Clarke. She gets her. As a leader and partner, she gets her. Echo is ONLY an obstacle if the goal is a romantic relationship between Clarke and Bellamy.

That it’s set up this way, as a shock, is part of the romantic narrative.

THIS is on purpose a slap in the face. Because the audience has been set up to want them to come home TO CLARKE, to want a Bellarke reunion and to FEEL that they belong together. 

THEN when Echo is sure things will change between them, and Bellamy assures her that nothing will change between them on the ground, this is what’s known as DRAMATIC IRONY. The audience knows that Clarke is alive, they know that the bellarke bond is epic, they know that Clarke is yearning in a romantic way, they know that when Bellamy finds out that Clarke is alive EVERYTHING will change with his relationship with E. 

But then, we get a misdirect, or rather, a plot obstacle to B/E. Octavia is not forgiving and she’s scarier than ever. 

B/E is set up from the VERY BEGINNING as a romantic obstacle.

Then to prove it, we get

Clarke’s VERY shocked and jealous face when B/E reunites and kiss. That the camera focuses on HER, shows her watching them, and not on THEM means the main emotional weight of the scene is not the lovely reunion between loving partners, (thank god you’re ok i was so worried i’m so glad to see you again love love love,) but rather on clarke. (omg bellamy is kissing someone. bellamy is not mine. heartbreak, jealousy, shock!) See the focus is NOT on the established relationship, the B/E leg of the love triangle, but on CLARKE, the pining one, the one whose love is unrequited. The soulmate.

IF B/E were endgame, the focus would have been on the relief of the reunited lovers. But we’ve just spent like two episodes on the reunited (non-romantic apparently) soulmates, and the CANON relationship can’t even get an infocus shot?

A close up of someone’s face means the narrative wants us to feel their EMOTIONS. We got lots of those when Clarke and Bellamy reunited, when they hugged, when they struggled to regain their connection. But with the B/E reunion. Their faces were obscured, not shown, blurred.

Ok. And YES, Bellamy then moves on to focus on Echo and B/E, and saving her from Octavia, and that is to show that B/E is real. Because no obstacle that is not made real is going to be enough to really scare the audience into worrying that it could stop our heroes from their goal. IT HAS to be real. But even while Bellamy is proving to O that he loves Echo, the focus is NOT really on B/E, but on the Blakes relationship.  And on Bellamy and Octavia. This is teaching us who they are now, after 6 years apart.

Then there’s a love scene between B/E, or half a love scene anyway. The beginning. It is cut off in the middle and cuts to CLARKE getting ready to leave.. Oddly, the music for the scene stays the same, which CONNECTS the two scenes. A LOVE SCENE cut with a LEAVING SCENE. An established romance confirmed, a pining soulmate leaving aka giving up. And in the next scene, we get this dynamic reinforced... however, there is a change. The romantic couple is confirmed again, while Clarke watches. HERE we are shown a closeup of her face, tears in her eyes, all about how she feels about their relationship, after the close up of their faces I think, and sadness and love yes. this is real. Then Clarke steps back, straighten her shoulders and accepts it. She won’t interfere. He’s not hers to love. HOWEVER, then Echo LEAVES. The established couple separates. And we turn to Clarke and Bellamy immediately he knew she was there somehow.  

While B/E are split up, Bellarke are brought back together, although at this point they are non romantic, with each member choosing Echo for him. And we spend many episodes with them rediscovering their soulmate bond and getting closer and more intimate as they do so. While Echo has her OWN narrative and it has nothing to do with Bellamy or b/E. 

This leads to Bellarke making pledges to each other, over her daughter, and he swears to take care of Madi when/if Clarke dies. Bellamy promises to parent his soulmates daughter while his canon girlfriend is off risking her life. They bond as, well, co parents. Making them a family unit, Mother, Father and Daughter, though no romantic or sexual relationship between the two? 

Not so fast.

“Another traitor who you love.” Octavia lays out the issue. Bellamy loves Echo. Bellamy loves Clarke. She is comparing Echo and Clarke in his love. This is a ROMANTIC love comparison. She’s goading him. He doesn’t take the bait. Because he has a plan. 

Bellamy sacrifices his sister for Clarke’s life. Poisoning her. His sister who has been established as the person who means more to him than anyone else in the world. When it was O or E? He chose O and let E go off on a suicide mission to win a place with wonkru. When it was O or C? He chose C and poisoned O. That is an equation. Bellamy loves these three women. C more than O. O more than E. C>O>E. When compared, Clarke wins over Echo. If Octavia made it clear that the love is romantic, then Bellamy made it clear that his love for Clarke is deeper than his love for Echo, even if he’s not ready to face that or deal with it.

AND THEN SHE LEAVES HIM TO THE PIT. He knew he’d betrayed Clarke, but it is confirmation to him that Clarke does not return his feelings. So, when that’s sorted out, he has a moment where he’s choosing between Clarke and Echo (the earth vs the sword, it’s a heavy handed bit of symbolism so we don’t miss it.) He chooses Echo. It’s the logical choice. Head over heart. 

MEANWHILE, Echo and Clarke are having their own life or death convo. In which we find out that Bellamy loves Echo, Echo loves Bellamy, Clarke always cared for Bellamy but thinks him dead at her hand. NOT SO FAST. Bellamy is alive, “oh now you care?” AND THEN, revelation from the past FlameLxa tells her love is not a weakness, she was wrong to betray Clarke (canon love) and Clarke should not do the same thing (betray her love bellamy.) Remember also CL and B/E are paralleled. Remember also all the same players were at MW the original betrayal. L walked away, Echo walked away, Bellamy was under the ground, and Clarke stayed to get to him. it’s just interesting. So in the end, Clarke betrayed ELigius, spares Echo and sends her daughter (another love equation. Clarke canon loved Lxa, but she tells Madi she loves her SO much more than Lxa. Now she risks her greatest love Madi to war in order to save Bellamy. Here’s the equation. Clarke loves Bellamy>Madi>Lxa. We have two equations using actions to prove a primacy in love. Clarke love Bellamy more than all of her other great loves. Bellamy loves Clarke more than all of her great loves.

HOWEVER B/E comes back together to fight. As a couple. It is a couple reunion, but not as romantic as their first reunion, or their goodbye. THEN, they are fighting together and it isn’t romantic. And from there to the end of the season, the B/E romance disappears. 

HOWEVER, Bellamy learns that Clarke cares for him so much that she called him every day for six years. That changes his perception of Clarke, and how Clarke feels for him, and when she urges him to come in, he says, broken, I can’t leave them behind. “Not again.” With the understanding that leaving HER behind was the trauma that he can’t do again. 

So where did B/E go? It doesn’t matter. It’s literally not important to the narrative. Echo literally goes to sleep. B/E is frozen. What is important. Bellarke’s intimacies of saying goodbye to their families and their connection that is still there. And THEN them waking up TOGETHER and facing the loss of Monty, the revelations, the new world AND the commitment to be better, to be the good guys, together.

Known: B/E is a canon relationship. Clarke loves Bellamy and has been pining for him for six years. Bellamy loves Clarke but has moved on though he cannot ignore his feelings for her. Bellamy CHOSES Echo, but Echo keeps disappearing from his story while he focuses on Clarke and their relationship.

HOW do I know Echo is the romantic obstacle and Bellarke is the endgame rather than Clarke being the romantic obstacle and B/E being endgame?

Because the story focuses on the deepening relationship fo Bellarke, while his attachment to Echo stops it from moving forward. It focuses on the FEELINGS of Clarke about B/E, but not the feelings of Echo about Bellarke. It is never even presented. Her feelings are absent, when if her ship was endgame it would be about her feeligns at least partly. Now we do seem BELLAMY’S feelings, but his feelings which start out as about Echo vs Octavia, who hates Echo, shift and become Clarke vs Echo... evenn though Clarke does NOT hate Echo and accepts her just fine. So what is the conflict?

The conflict is that he can’t have competing feelings fo Clarke if he loves Echo. That means his feelings are ROMANTIC.

YES. He does choose Echo near the end of s5. This is because Clarke leaves him to die. Not because his feelings for her are not as strong (remember C>O>E) but because HER feelings seem to show she doesn’t care about him. UNTIL Madi spills the beans, and then he shifts back to Clarke a bit, even though his choice is STILL Echo.

Bellamy loves Clarke but thinks Clarke doesn’t love him so he chooses Echo.

Clarke thinks Bellamy loves Echo and not her, so she refuses to show him or admit to him that she loves him and she attempts to move on and keep him as her “platonic” soulmate.

Echo loves Bellamy and Bellamy loves Echo but Echo has no idea Bellamy also loves Clarke or that he is deciding between Clarke and herself. She has no say in this narrative. It’s not about her. It’s about Clarke and Bellamy. She thought the problem was Octavia. And while that’s a problem, it doesn’t affect Bellamy’s feelings for her. 

Echo has done nothing to make him not love her. Their relationship has remained stable. The only change is that there is another love in the equation. That Clarke’s existence puts B/E into jeopardy means that the Bellarke love is AT LEAST as strong as the B/E love. Possibly more... the love equation says more, but we will get more proof of that in season 6.

When we actually see the love triangle thrown into comparison CONSTANTLY. S5 had Bellarke and B/E separated. We got very few shots of them all together, and when we do, it’s Clarke’s jealousy and dismay on display.

However in s6, right from the beginning, the shots have all three of them in view. With Echo between Bellarke or Clarke between B/E often. Oddly, we also see Echo supporting Clarke. Or not that oddly. They’re a lot alike. She’s not competitive with Clarke, though. Even though there IS a competition. She does’t know about it. We see Bellamy choosing B/E with Clarke on the outside in ep1, but by the time they get to Sanctum, we start to see Bellamy choosing Clarke, or Clarke AND Echo (come look at this echo) with his focus on Clarke not E. We see him REACHING OUT to Clarke. (commiserating about raising their adopted kids without school, then the radio calls conversation which she runs away from because she’s scared.) Even in the eclipse psychosis, he goes after Echo first, but then turns his attention to Clarke. Murphy gets in the way as he always does, but he ignores everyone else. 

As time goes on, though, we get a NEW dynamic. He’s starting to argue with Echo. It’s over Octavia mostly,  but Clarke and Bellamy use Octavia to speak about their feelings for one another, without admitting them, so is that happening here? He’s using the argument over Octavia to express his feelings of frustration and distance with Echo?

Look. I’ve been showing you the love triangle. It is a CANON love triangle, which means B/E is romantic and requited and Bellarke is romantic although it’s unrequited. 

I need to show the love triangle in order for B/E to be A ROMANTIC OBSTACLE.

But just showing the love triangle means it could be B/E that is the endgame and Bellarke that is the love triangle.

How do we know this isn’t the story? 

Well aside from the love equations. We see Bellarke get closer while we see B/E bickering constantly over tactics, over octavia, over feelings, in season 6a. Clarke talks to him about her regret over the pit. The making amends scene is actually pivotal in their relationship. In the C/B/E love triangle. 

He accepts Clarke’s amends, and her claim that he is so important to her. He didn’t want to talk about it. But she is open and they are intimate. Cut to Clarke being PHYSICALLY intimate with Cillian, and Bellamy looking on with all sorts of emotions in his face. Sorrow, happiness, pining, regret, jealousy, acceptance, longing, who knows? And we IMMEDIATELY get Echo coming up, trying to talk to him about Octavia, and him turning ViCIOUS on her, blaming her for not being human, not being emotional, not being open (which clarke just was and is.) He’s STILL watching Clarke.  B/E is falling apart, not because of anything that Echo did, but because of something that Clarke did, again. HER actions are the deciding factor, and HIS emotions are where the choice is coming in. Echo has no control over it. Her emotions don’t matter. Her actions don’t affect it. He is not a character who has agency over this storyline, over her own relationship. This scene leads to Clarke being betrayed at the same time that Bellamy apologizes to Echo and Echo, FINALLY, opens up to Bellamy about her past. 

For the first time, Echo has agency in how her relationship goes, and Bellamy admits he’s a dick and commits to Echo. NOW. If this story were ABOUT B/E as endgame, this would be the point where their relationship rises to new heights and becomes stronger.

Instead. Clarke dies. And Bellamy’s attention and emotions go to CLARKE. Even when she’s dead dead, all he can think about is not having Clarke, how it’s not living, Echo comforts him but it goes nowhere. Instead, we see him grieving ALONE. Echo is willing to destroy everyone, but Bellamy chooses what Clarke would do, and keeps everyone safe. 

Until he finds out Clarke is alive, and then all bets are off and it’s a race to bring her back, canon, “you only care about Clarke.”

Yeah.

True.

Another pivotal scene. Bellamy leaves Echo to take care of their people and goes with Josephine to save Clarke. Echo says “Go save Clarke,” which is a parallel to Clarke telling Echo to “go save him.” Echo let Bellamy go to Clarke the same way that Clarke let Echo go to Bellamy. 

We’ve now switched who the primary relationship is. It’s Bellarke, not B/E. Echo and Clarke made the choice to let the other woman “have him.” They gave up their claim.

Everything we see with Bellamy and Josephine acts as if Bellarke is romantic and the true love in his life. An epic love compared to Josephine and Gabriel DOZENS of times. And Bellamy’s last ditch save her from death scene is GLARINGLY romantic in the way that all the best fairytales are romantic. 

There was never anything to compare to this in the B/E story. 

The next morning, Bellarke talk about leaving Echo and spacekru behind to save Clarke, and Bellamy still isn’t willing for her to risk her life to save them, although she insists, and they agree to do it for Monty. SO MUCH INTIMACY. And Octavia witnessed it.

Their goodbye is more romantic and more intimate than Bellamy’s reunion with Echo, even though she was STATED as at risk and being in danger. She almost died. And all she got was a hug, much like he’d hugged Harper after the fighting pit. 

The hug when Bellarke is reunited, however, is cast in romantic buttery light, with emotional close ups of their faces, and a rather intimate discussion of feelings and pain, with a parallel to their OTHER hug outside Camp Jaha, which was one of the pivotal moments in their relationship. 

This in contrast to the pat on the back he gave Echo before this, and how Echo, who is standing right there, disappears from the scene.

The final scene after this Bellarke intimacy, has B/E back together. ExCEPT there is NO initmacy. He’s the leader, she’s the soldier. No feelings. Just defense and tactics.

From the beginning of season 6 to the end, Bellarke and B/E have switched placed. on the non-romantic/romantic scale. Comfort and intimacy goes to Bellarke. Team work goes to B/E. 

THE JOURNEY of the love triangle switches from the primary leg being B/E with a side order of Bellarke partnership, to Bellarke with a side order of B/E partnership.

Technically, because we’ve had no time to sort out all these emotional issues with B/E (although we kind of have with Bellarke) B/E is still the canon ship. 

But that’s just a matter of dealing with the plot point. Because the NARRATIVE is now about romantic Bellarke, and all that’s left to deal with in regards to the B/E romantic obstacle is how it ends. (And for Echo’s side, she has been focusing on Ash, and her own independence. They have set her up to have a self empowered storyline, which means she does not need and should not have a king anymore. Bellamy is her king, even now. And she needs to be her own person. Which means B/E is doomed even without Bellarke.)

Thus I have shown why C/B/E is a love triangle. Why Bellamy needed a relationship ANY WAY. I take for granted that Clarke was in love with Bellamy and he was her fantasy boyfriend over the time jump. That Bellarke is romantic as is B/E, that the show has created a love equation for both of them. How the love triangle is shown in s6. How B/E fades while Bellarke grows, and that B/E is the romantic obstacle while Bellarke is the soulmate endgame. 

I’m so tired now.

[talesofafangirlwithadvr]

AUGUST PICKS!

And we’re back with another month wrap up! August involved a lot of TV watching (as per usual), but I feel like I watched a lot of things I’ve already talked about before (ex: The 100, Violetta). So it was a little bit harder to feature some new titles. I felt accomplished this month because I finished quite a few series. So, without further ado...let’s do this!

Spoilers!! But you knew that already :) 

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So I know I’ve spoken about some of these shows A LOT recently, but I still had to include them in this wrap up because they were a good amount of the month. (Even if they feel like they were so long ago.) 

CURSED

This book to screen adaptation on Netflix following Nimue (AKA the Lady of the Lake) re-invents the King Arthur myth. It was an entertaining and enjoyable watch that makes me hope there’s a second season. There were certain parts that bothered me and I wish some characters had more time on screen, but as someone who likes King Arthur and fantasy TV I’d recommend it. 3/5 for me. 

For more on my thoughts regarding the show check out my earlier post: **Spoilers** Featuring Cursed

DC’S STARGIRL

A show that I’ve often been documenting my reviews/feelings after watching each episode. (That’s how you can tell IT’S THAT GOOD.) While it was a bit slow in the beginning (mainly because of it having the quality of being on a streaming service-ending on a cliffhanger for you to binge the next episode immediately kind of feel), it picked up and has easily become one of my favorites for the year. (YEAH...I KNOW. I SAID YEAR.) You can check out my page for more specific reactions in my posts, but here are some of the moments that stick out to me the most when I think about season 1.  

I can’t wait for season 2!!

AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER

June doesn’t feel like that long ago, but because I started season 1 two months ago (and because of the world of quarantine) it feels like a long time ago. Especially when this show is only 18-20 episodes that are each about 20/25 minutes. For me, I enjoyed season 1, but not as much as seasons 2 and 3. I definitely watched the first season slower because of this. Once the Ba Sing Se plot happened I was very invested. I enjoyed most of Book 2 in the Earth Kingdom before this, but Ba Sing Se was definitely the best. I was so impressed that they put that into a kid show. Then again, there’s so much in this show that is well done and brings up such relevant issues to a younger audience. I loved following Aang, Katara and Sakka and enjoyed Toph’s addition to Team Avatar. Overall I think Uncle Iroh is my favorite character in the show. I loved all the wisdom he had and how he saw the best in Zuko the entire time. Their team up was great and I am so happy he got his tea shop in the end. His escape from prison was amazing. I love a good redemption arc and from the start was excited to see Prince Zuko’s (it’s one of the ‘spoilers’ I knew going in). I think it was really well done and I liked how they showed him struggling with it. The last agni kai between Zuko and Azula was such a beautiful scene and the music score behind it was so chilling. I love how they chose a slow, instrumental song to play in the background. It’s not what I was expecting and it was such an awesome choice. Overall, I really liked the music and have added it to my writing playlist. I’m really glad I decided to watch Avatar the Last Airbender. 

From one binged show starting in June to another....

VIOLETTA SEASON 2

It’s crazy; you don’t think 80 episodes would go by that fast, but they do. Once you hit episode 50, I just zip by the rest in the season. So many of the plots get SO GOOD, you can’t help but watch so many episodes back to back (to back). For season 2, episode 75 was one of my favorites for the whole season. I love how some of the cast actually got to go to Madrid. (Even the intro music changed when they were there.) Diego really grew on me. I loved the added plot of discovering who his dad is! Feels very telenovela. Gregorio’s reaction was priceless-such great acting-and I loved how much it has changed his character so far. I’m excited to see where he is headed for season 3. 

Leonetta forever! The reason they weren’t together was a bit weak, but I get they needed the love triangle. Overall the Leon/Violetta/Diego love triangle was a lot stronger than season 1′s (in my opinion). It felt better developed. I enjoyed a lot of the couples this season. Frederico and Ludi are a pair I didn’t know I wanted till it happened. Olga and Ramallo actually got a kiss!!! I loved hearing Ramallo talk about how Olga is the only woman in his life. So rare to see such emotions from him. Fran and Leon’s friendship was adorable. I loved their moments in Madrid. She was their #1 shipper. I know in the beginning I said there wasn’t a lot of music and performances, but as the season progressed we definitely got a lot of new songs (which I cannot stop singing). I miss my time at the Studio and hope the third season will be streaming on Disney Plus soon. I heard it could be September 18th so fingers crossed!! 

THE INBESTIGATORS

Filling the void that was left by Little Lunch (and produced by the same studio) is the InBESTigators! A show that follows 4 elementary students who live in Australia and solve mysteries. One of the things I really loved about Little Lunch was how serious they made really trivial, kid-like things sound. I have often described it as an Office-like children’s show, where they talk about their problems directly to the camera and give several ‘Jim’ stares and glances to the camera. With the InBESTigators it’s a similar set up where our four sleuths, Ezra, Maudie, Ava and Kyle, relay a mystery they solved directly to us the viewer, while we watch in flashback. All of the mysteries are typical things that could happen in school or home; from overwatering a neighbor’s prize-winning flowers, packages getting stolen, a lost notebook or catching a cheater during a test. All of the kids are entertaining and funny. They each have a different dynamic that brings something to the team. Currently two of the seasons are on Netflix, and there will be a third season (but who knows when it will be filmed-I’m just happy it will eventually happen). 

If you’re looking for a fun/light-hearted watch look no further. You’ll have a good time. 

UNITED WE FALL

This ABC sitcom fits well on the network and like it would be on Friday nights, but has a stronger day in airing thanks to the pandemic. I hadn’t really heard much about the show and then BAM it was advertised. It felt like the network had it in its back pocket. Nevertheless, I am really enjoying it. The actors have a nice dynamic and it is very funny and relatable. I like how it represents a family with two different cultural backgrounds, but doesn’t make that the main focus of the show. Instead it is discussed naturally. Overall, I don’t know how many people know about it, so I wanted to share it as one of my picks for the month and suggest you watch it if you are looking for something both funny and optimistic. 

DOUBLING DOWN WITH THE DERRICOS

I LOVE this family! As TLC is a network with predictable choices in TV shows, one about a family with multiples does not seem shocking. However, this is not your average family with multiples. At the start of the show, Karen and Deon have a total of 11 children (with only two of them being what they called ‘singletons’). They have twins, quints, and another set of twins (that would have been triplets). Her last three pregnancies were multiples and then she becomes pregnant with triplets. AGAIN! This family is considered a miracle because she had no IVF or anything like that for her conceptions. I love watching them because they seem like a great group to be apart of. They are what the epitome of family should be like. There is so much love. I know when my family watches the show we are all so impressed by how well behaved all of the kids are. People with half the amount of kids often have trouble teaching them to behave. I highly suggest giving the Derricos a watch. New episodes are now airing on TLC. 

SOME LAST MINUTE ADDS....

I know Ben Platt’s concert has been available on Netflix for a while now, but I just got the chance to watch it this month. It was SOOO GOOD and I was upset when it was over. It felt so fast! I had already added a lot of his songs to my playlists, and after watching added the last few I had missed. Now I’ve been listening non-stop. I loved how his concert welcomed us so much into his personal life. The added stories in-between songs helped to see why he created that specific one. Watching the concert was a fun time and something you should consider if you are feeling down during quarantine. 

Every Saturday night we try to watch a movie while we eat dinner. It’s become a new tradition since quarantine began and we were unable to go out to eat or to the movies. This week Jojo Rabbit was the pick. Going into the film, I didn’t know much expect, but that it was a comedy and I assumed a satire. What I didn’t expect was how dark of a turn it would take. It’s amazing how a film can have you laughing uncontrollably at the start and then have you crying at the end. This is definitely a film I could see analyzing in a film studies class. There was so much foreshadowing and moments where so much more was going on then what was shown on the surface. I think it did a great job making the viewer think not only about the time in which it was supposed to take place, but also our current world. I know it’s a good movie when it still has me thinking about it days later. I even did some research into it after watching. Definitely can understand the hype about it and will watch it again in the future. 

When I was putting this list together I was just starting to watch Umbrella Academy. I know, I’m late to the party, but with the newest season coming out this summer I knew it was now or never. (I just had to finish some of the other stuff I was watching first.) Currently, I only have 1 episode left in the first season and am really enjoying it. I was pretty good about spoilers going into it, so a lot of it was new to me. I made some theories on who I thought would be the cause of the apocalypse and so far I am right. I am very interested to see how this season ends and get into the next one because I heard that the majority of people liked that one more. I’ll have a more detailed review in my September Picks, I’m sure of it!  

[itsclydebitches]

Can we have a prompt with hugs? After everything going down this volume I think Oz/Oscar need all the hugs!

Apparently I’m really bad at coming up with excuses for hugs so here, have some super classic fic cliches… 

(Updated prompt list is here!) 

“I officially hate you.”

Now, now. No need to get snippy just because we’re cold.

“You mean I’m cold.”

I assure you, Oscar, I am just as capable of sensation even while ‘riding backseat,’ as you so eloquently put it. You know that well enough by now.

“I don’t know anything because I can’t think because I’m cold!”

Up ahead Ruby and Blake exchanged glances. Oscar’s one-sided fight—going on ten minutes now—had done a lot to lift the group’s spirits. They hadn’t expected the grimm attack on the train, nor to crash land in Mistral’s wintery wilderness when a manticore’s blast had decoupled the luggage cars, half of their group still on top at the time. Though Ruby supposed things could be worse. Jaune, Nora, and Ren were still on their way to Argus, their last look at one another a silent, We’ll reconvene. No one had been injured thanks to Weiss’ quick thinking—even the relic had remained secure against Oscar’s hip. They’d found a path to follow. Beyond some general grumbling at the situation itself, there wasn’t too much to complain about.

Well, except the cold.

“We’re really not dressed for this weather,” Blake admitted, pulling her coat closed over her midriff. “I should have at least grabbed my other coat…”

Ruby shook her head. “You know there wasn’t time. Besides, it’s not like we thought we’d be out here any longer than the fight. Ugh. Fights keep me so nice and warm.”

Blake’s lips twitched. “Want to spar while we walk?”

“…Is that a thing people do?”

“It’s a thing we can do.”

With a blur of rose petals Ruby was suddenly launching a punch at Blake’s face, easily dodged with a quick turn of her heel. Ruby went ploughing into the snowy bank in front of Qrow (who neatly stepped over his niece, barely blinking) and shrieked something about being even colder now. She was up a second later though, the two of them flitting ahead as they tried to work out how to keep a sparring match moving forward.

Oscar watched with hands wrapped tightly around his elbows and his nose buried in the crook of his shoulder.

It seems Ms. Rose has improved her technique after all, Ozpin commented, both of them following the arc of Blake’s body as Ruby managed to sweep her feet out from under her. Already they were both a little rosier in the cheeks. Would you like to join them? Ms. Rose is not wrong to think that movement is one of the best ways to keep warm.

For a moment longer Oscar watched the flurry of semblances and long limbs. He grimaced. “Don’t think I can keep up with them.”

You sell yourself short. You’ve just gotta play a lil’ dirty, eh?

Oscar stumbled, thrown by the advice. It took him a moment to realize that Ozpin had only said the first half. The second had come from Yang at his shoulder. Voices got garbled like that sometimes.

He turned to find her grinning. She at least appeared warm enough while in the mood to tease. “No one ever said a good fight was a fair one,” she continued. “Ruby? Super ticklish. Go for anywhere along her side and you won’t even have to worry about landing a hit. Just touching her there will send her into a fit of giggles. Blake? I love her, but that long hair is a disaster waiting to happen. At least Weiss keeps hers tied up. Grab a decent handful and—bam! You’ve got her right where you want her.”

Oscar’s eyes strayed up to Yang’s own hair. “Then shouldn’t you…?”  

I would recommend you not complete that sentence.

Yang’s sharp smile said exactly the same.

“Never mind.”

“Keep walking,” and Yang gave him a thump on the back hard enough to nearly send Oscar into the snow.

“Is this what having sisters is like?” he muttered, low enough that the rest wouldn’t hear. Except Ozpin of course. It was always Ozpin, picking up on every stray, stupid, impulsive thought that flit through his head. Oscar had found it overwhelmingly invasive at first—who wouldn’t?—but now it was just…a thing. One more thing in his life with upsides and downsides. Right now at least, when Ozpin filled their consciousness with barely repressed amusement, the upside was an emotion so strong Oscar could almost pretend that he was warm.

Almost. His boots were meant for muddy fields and years long use, not insulation. Oscar wanted to say that his toes were numb, but if that was the case then why did they hurt? He grit his teeth and kept slogging forward, leaving a shambling trench behind him.

“You’re, like, a bajillion years old,” he said, teeth starting to chatter again. “Haven’t you learned anything useful in all that time? Like how to keep from becoming a human popsicle?”

Beyond conventional means we currently have no access to? I’m afraid not. I may be knowledgeable and long-lived, Oscar, but I am no god.

There was a tinge of self-reproach in those words, an emotion Oscar didn’t understand, but he knew better than to ask about it. Instead he just bent his head against the wind and closed stinging, running eyes.

A second later Oscar walked directly into Weiss.

“Watch it,” she hissed, pitching forward. Oscar instinctively made a grab for her arms and ended up chest-to-back as he worked to keep them both from losing their balance. In theory? Not a bad way to stop a cold, wet fall. In practice with a girl who had two inches on him, not counting the heels? Kinda awkward.

Yang was making a noise somewhere between a squeak and a car backfiring. “That’s one way to keep warm!”

And so was blushing. Oscar felt what little heat was left in his body rushing into his cheeks. “Um… sorry. Wasn’t looking.”

Weiss just rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. Besides, Yang might be an idiot—”

“Hey!”

“—but in this at least she’s right,” and to Oscar’s utter shock Weiss pulled him around to her left side, slotting him neatly against her hip. One arm wrapped down around his shoulder while her scarf—some sort of cashmere material that was softer than anything Oscar had ever owned—swayed against his cheek.

“Weiss?”

No need to call attention to a kind act. Especially one that benefits you both.

…Right. Weiss was shivering too, even more badly than Oscar, though she somehow hid it better behind a stony expression, squared shoulders, and a carefully lifted chin. Oscar had heard the group call her Ice Queen more than once. Seemed a little funny that an Ice Queen kept giving tiny, almost imperceptible sniffles from her red, runny nose.

“You two are disgusting,” Yang said, coming up on Oscar’s other side. She draped an arm around his shoulders, overlapping Weiss, like that was a thing they just did, normally, and beneath her skin thrummed a semblance hot as fire.

“You three,” Oscar corrected, missing the brief surprise that crossed Yang’s face, settling into something wary. She didn’t remove her arm though and Oscar was too busy trying to bury himself into the warmth. Weiss kept pressed to his other side as the four of them kept up an awkward, lumbering pace through the snow.

Yang opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by the sudden cloud of rose petals swarming around her shoulders. A second later they reformed into one little sister, clinging monkey-style to Yang’s back. She briefly staggered.

“Ruby!”

“Warm,” came the only answer, muffled as Ruby buried her nose against Yang’s neck. A very cold nose based on the shriek that tore from her throat. Ruby just hummed and reached over to wrap her free hand into the fabric of Oscar’s shirt, tugging them even closer.

Weiss let out a huff that clouded the air in front of them. “We’ll never reach… wherever it is we’re going at this rate.”

“Better than dying before we get there,” Blake said, finally catching up to her easily distracted partner. She did look warmer, red in the cheeks and panting even as she shivered. She immediately slotted herself next to Weiss and tried to adopt the hip-bumping walk they were all practicing.

As the smallest Oscar felt rather squished. But squished in a good way. Like when his aunt crushed his ribs during one of her infamous birthday hugs. Or when Morado two farms over had once let his dogs pile on Oscar and wouldn’t call them off no matter how much he claimed he couldn’t breathe.

Good squished, Ozpin echoed. Oscar thought he could feel the nod of their head, even though they hadn’t actually moved. Yes, I’m quite familiar with that feeling.

“You are?” There were a few curious glances at his whisper. 

I am indeed.

And Oscar had a…sense. What literally felt like a new sense, an alien smell or touch or sound that suddenly flooded through his being, the feeling of memories re-surfacing when they weren’t your memories at all. Oscar’s shoulders felt the press of hands he’d never seen, his chest was tight with emotions not his own. Someone’s fingers ran through his hair and brushed a tear from his cheek and straightened glasses he’d never worn. Oscar took a deep breath and felt his whole body engulfed in a hug that was everything and nothing like the ones his aunt gave him. It was lifetimes worth of them. All at once.

“The hell are you lot doing back there?” Qrow called. He had started walking backwards, surprisingly balanced as he watched the group huddle and scoot through the snow. His lips twitched, catching sight of Oscar’s astounded expression. Attributing it to Weiss’ arm now wrapped safely around his waist. Yang’s arm linked through his. Ruby’s face buried halfway between her sister’s shoulder and her friend’s hair. “Lil’ chilly?”

“Something like that,” Blake said, all but purring the words as Weiss tugged her closer. An exhausted, but otherwise happy chuckle spread through the group.

We’re getting there, Ozpin noted. It was for Oscar’s ears only, but it turned his chuckle into a laugh that the whole group got to enjoy. 

They bottled the sound up, drank it down, and let it warm them from the inside out. 

[makeste]

I 100% agree with your assessment on the Overhaul arc in bnha. Started series when that was the most recent arc and completely lost interest in the series halfway through. Trying to get started again, though. What would you change about the arc as a whole?

first off, anon, I hope I haven’t inadvertently spoiled anything! you said you’re trying to get back into it now, so just a heads up that this post is also going to contain spoilers for the end of the arc, though that’s probably obvious lol.

also, now that I’m a dozen chapters past it, I’m very happy to say things are moving along smoothly again and it reminds me of the “old” BnHA. all of the little things I missed so much are back. so it does get better! I’m really pushing to get fully caught up with the manga myself now.

so now! regarding this question, there are really two ways I could answer. because truthfully, the most honest answer I could give to “what would you change about this arc?” is “I wouldn’t have had it in the first place” lol. but that’s just me. even if I took out all of the stuff that annoyed me, even if it was more cleanly executed, this arc was just never going to be one of my favorites. it explores some themes that are important, but aren’t really connected to the things I enjoy the most about the series. the focus is too narrow at the expense of a lot of my faves who got excluded. and the tone is just too dark. which isn’t to say I don’t enjoy angst or when Shit Gets Real, but, how to put this… it has more of a DC vibe than a Marvel one to me. it’s more Dark Knight than Infinity War. and that’s just not quite my taste. so yeah, if we’re talking full control over the manga, I would probably have gutted the entire thing and chucked it completely and done something else. not sure what, but it would have been really different.

but since that answer is kind of a cop-out, here are some of the things I would change if I had to leave the main framework of the arc in place, but was allowed to make smaller changes here and there.

speed up/condense some of the stuff that happens after they encounter Eri and prior to the rescue op. it felt like it took way too long to get to the action. we met Eri in chapter 129 and they didn’t commence the rescue until 9 chapters later. some of the stuff that happens in between is important – especially the All Might stuff and the reveal about Nighteye’s premonition – but Kiri’s fight went on longer than necessary, and then there was no need for them all to meet up, start to plan Eri’s rescue, break off to gather more information, meet up again a few days later, and then finally start the raid. that was too much

I would put Kiri’s flashback in his first fight (the one against knifey stabby man). despite me having just said that the fight went on for too long, lol. but this would be a good way to break it up to make it more interesting. and then I could…

put Ochako and Tsuyu back in the arc and give one of them (or both of them – tag team) Kiri’s second fight instead. if their quirks don’t match up as well against Shield Monk and Chance the Rappa then just change those later two’s quirks to something more interesting. their original quirks were pretty boring anyway

put Ryuukyuu in the arc too bc obviously the girls should be accompanied by a grown-up just like the boys were. that part made sense

speed up Tamaki’s fight (like, don’t even bother trying to make it a challenge. just let Tamaki have his time to shine and kick their asses with no trouble), and have Fat Gum stay with him (just toss in an extra bad guy for him to fight) and speed up the Hot Gum reveal. and then just have the two of them get cut off from the others afterward

and I’m not sure what, but have Aizawa actually do something. as opposed to nothing. which is what he pretty much ended up doing

(ETA: I forgot to account for Kirishima during the raid! so now what I’m thinking is that he ends up making it to the final battle along with Aizawa, Nighteye, and Deku, but ends up being plot abducted along with Aizawa. because that’s a very interesting combination to me, and having to look out for his student might be a good way to nerf Aizawa a bit while still letting him actually fight. then maybe Kirishima gets injured much like what happened with him and Fat Gum. and then Aizawa steps back in to beat whoever it is they’re fighting. because it’s probably someone with a more cinematic quirk than Chrono tbh. anyway. so yeah, bonus Dadzawa feels. eventually he will come to realize that all of his kids are, in fact, problem children.)

actually, you know what, since most of my changes would just be little tweaks to the way things play out once the raid starts, I’ll just write up my version of a chapter-by-chapter outline instead

delete most of chapter 138 and have them get to the basement by the end of that chapter

139, Tamaki and FG stay behind to fight. Tamaki has his flashback and kicks some ass

140, we finish up the fight, with FG’s part of it. but the two of them find their forward progress blocked off by Irinaka. the chapter then ends with the ladies staring down another group of villains

141, a quick flashback shows how Irinaka separated Tsu, Ocha, and Ryuukyuu from the rest. Ryuu takes on the stronger villain (dragon time bitches) while the girls tag team a second bad guy. I have no idea how this would go, and it would take more time and effort and planning on my part than I currently am willing to devote since it’s a hypothetical scenario. but I have no doubt it could be very badass. we’ll give this fight two chapters, maybe, so we can have flashbacks and some more in-depth action. so that’s 141 and 142

143, we get League of Villains antics and flashbacks

144, the conclusion of that, and they take down Irinaka

145 and 146, Mirio vs Overhaul, with the others catching up at the end of 146

147, Aizawa (ETA: and Kirishima) get plot abducted and have their own little fight scene. Nighteye gets impaled trying to help the others escape. make that a bigger moment and show a bit more of his fighting beforehand, and make that the cliffhanger. since I’ve now added Kirishima to the mix, this may possibly take up an extra chapter

148, Deku turns back, activates 20% OFA, and fights Overhaul for a little bit but doesn’t do too well. Eri comes back and offers herself in exchange for the others’ safety. the ladies come barging in to turn the tide, having smashed their way through the labyrinth

149, Deku and Eri vs Overhaul part 1. first half of Overhaul’s flashback. establish his backstory and his plan and the boss’s objections. end with 100% OFA

150, Deku and Eri vs Overhaul part 2. second half of Overhaul’s flashback. show him using his quirk to fuck up the boss. (or at least, show enough to make it clear beyond a doubt that that’s what happened. you had no problem showing what happened to Eri and making that abundantly clear beyond what was necessary.) show him afterwards talking about the boss’s sudden decline in health, and how he’ll be taking charge until he’s healthy. show him monologuing about how this is all for the good of the family and one day the boss will be able to understand that too. “I’m grateful to you, old man. so until then, just sleep.” Deku and Eri take him out; chapter ends with the KO punch

151, the aftermath. basically what we got in 159

152, grand theft auto

153, Nighteye feels

bam. end of arc

so that’s more or less it. if we also speed up the pre-rescue stuff, I think this arc could easily be at least 10 chapters shorter. they can cut most of the villain flashbacks, too, since we don’t really need those. we got along just fine without villain flashbacks for the most part before this arc; only Tomura and Stain had them, and we managed perfectly well. also, give them more interesting designs, seriously. having them all try to stick to a theme/uniform with only slight variations was really dull, and there were moments when I genuinely lost track of who was who. none of the heroes look alike even though they’re all on the same team. it’s fine lol

anyways, so that’s my answer, I guess! thank you for the ask!

[willtasker]

Science Fiction Legend David Gerrold On Why Snowpiercer Is Bad

All right, so let's talk about SNOWPIERCER, a brilliantly produced movie that ultimately fails in the two most important ways a science fiction film can fail.

I'll take the easy one first -- the audience will suspend disbelief, they will not suspend common sense.

The idea here is that the Earth has frozen over. The only survivors are living on a train that circles the globe endlessly.

1) The Earth is frozen over because scientists have decided to put something called CW7 in the atmosphere to halt global warming. They do it with chem trails. It works too well. The planet gets too cold, everything freezes down so cold you'll freeze to death in minutes.

Now, look -- whatever that CW7 stuff is -- you're gonna have to put several million tons of it into the atmosphere to cools down the planet. That's a lot of chem trails. It's going to take a long time. Years. Decades perhaps. Even if you could retro-fit every jet plane in the world on its next scheduled maintenance, it would still take millions of miles. And you would think that as soon as the temperature gradients start falling too fast, not matching the projections, the scientists -- or whatever agency behind it -- would stop the process to evaluate the results. But no -- whatever this CW7 is ... bam, it freezes everything to a giant planet-sized popsicle.

2) Where did all that water come from? Even in this planet's worst ice ages, there wasn't enough H2o to make enough snow to cover every continent.

3) Now let's talk about that train. Supposedly there's a track that spans the entire globe -- we get a quick glimpse of the map. That train has been running for 17 years, non-stop. Who's maintaining the rails? Who's replacing the worn out bearings? Who's maintaining the bridges. What's it using for fuel? Any machine with moving parts wears out quickly. Even with the best materials available -- friction takes its toll. This train is made out of bolognium....

4) When there's an avalanche blocking the track -- does the train slow down and burn the ice away? No, it roars into it at high speed, cracking the ice like a bullet. Nothing derails. The engine doesn't even get dented.

5) The McGuffin is industrial waste that produces hallucinogenic effects, but can also be compiled to make a bomb. Uh ... really?

6) The people at the tail end of the train are have-nots who are fed protein derived from crushed cockroaches. They are living in a slum. The people in the front of the train are the 1%.

Okay -- why is there such a dichotomy? It's never really justified. Why are these people even allowed on the train if they're just there to be poor slobs?

7) The train is a completely closed eco-system. We see a farm, we see an aquarium car, but we don't really see enough to suggest an eco-system that can support all these people. And after 17 years, you'd think they'd have run out of steaks by now.

8) At the end, an Asian girl rescues a black boy, blows a hole in the side of the engine, which triggers an avalanche, which destroys the entire train. She and the boy are the only survivors. But it's all right -- they see a polar bear, so life is possible. Maybe -- but if that polar bear is hungry enough, their life is over too.

9) About that polar bear. Polar bears eat seals or whale blubber if they can find a dead whale. So if that polar bear is alive, seals must be alive. And if seals are alive, then fish are still alive. And if fish are still alive, then plankton is still alive, and that means the oceans aren't frozen over because plankton need sunlight to grow.

Should I continue?

Okay, now some of the above can be fixed. For instance, the people living at the tail end of the train are the maintenance crew and the servants for the one-percenters. Everything from grease-monkeys to sex-workers.

From time to time the train arrives at some kind of underground facility where parts, fuel, and supplies are stored. The train is the only mechanism for moving supplies from one station to the next. So there are some survivors maintaining the stations, but the train brings its own repair and maintenance crew, because life in the supply bunkers is probably pretty bad too.

There, now right there, we have a more believable world situation. The maintenance crew is also responsible for clearing the tracks ahead of the train, checking that the bridges are holding up, and melting or blowing up avalanches. So there's a luxury train and a crew train -- and you have the set up for the story you want to tell.

But that's not the movie that got made -- the movie that got made defies the laws of physics and a lot of the laws of common sense -- so it's not a science fiction movie based on science. It's an ... (wait for it) ... ALLEGORY. It's an allegory about a revolution by the have-nots against the haves.

Now, the acting in this is pretty good. And if you ignore the gaping plot holes, the directing is fast-paced and keeps us moving forward. The costumes, the sets, the details of this thing, all look pretty good -- almost enough to be convincing. And I like trains, so I'm aboard to see where they're going.

Unfortunately ... even as an ALLEGORY this thing doesn't work.

That's the second and much bigger failure.

So the have-nots fight their way forward to capture the engine and the emperor of the train who lives in the engine. He's played by Ed Harris who reveals that the entire revolution was scheduled to happen, because there are too many people on the train.

See, along the way, the rebels meet Tilda Swinton who talks to them about ecological balance, how life on the train can only exist because everything has to be balanced and everybody and everything has to stay in its appropriate place.

Ed Harris repeats this to our hero -- the leader and last survivor of the rebellion -- that there are too many people on the train for the train to support them all, so the rebellion was engineered so that the extras could be terminated. 74 of them have to die. Or is it 74%? Doesn't matter. It's a cold equation.

It's a very cold equation. The coldest possible. And it doesn't take too much of a leap to realize that the train is an allegory for the planet and there are too many people on the planet Earth -- and um ... we really shouldn't have this many people on the planet because the planet can't support us all and ... well, um, see, here's the thing ... Ed Harris is getting old and he's dying and he needs to find a successor, someone who can be ruthless, and gee, wouldn't it be really a good thing if the leader of the rebellion became the new emperor of the train? The engineer. But of course, you'll have to engineer future genocides.

Our hero, who has finally accepted his role as a moral man, never really gets a chance to say no, he will not do it.

And then -- the Asian girl blows up the train, killing the hero, the engineer, and everyone else aboard. And she and the black kid, the only survivors, see a polar bear, and we're supposed to see her as a heroine, mother to the civilization to come.

Oh, hell no.

As an allegory, this one sucks -- it says that even if the have-nots can fight their way to the front of the train and confront the haves, they're still part of the larger process of keeping the whole shitty system running smoothly. And if they don't accept, then the only responsible answer is to blow up the train, bring the whole system down, kill everybody, and maybe start over -- if the survivors don't get eaten by bears.

Okay, this part of the allegory is kinda fixable. What if ... when the hero is confronted with the choice to become the new engineer and live in luxury, what if he says, "Okay, I'll do it." And what if it's his intention to change things for the better, so everyone has a fair chance at a decent life -- and what if, to his horror, he discovers that's not really possible, that the system isn't designed for equality, that the system requires that some people have to be maintenance workers and some people have to be cleaners and some people have to be farmers and that all of this needs real management and ... the system can't be changed.

Then, like Orwell's Animal Farm, we see the real horror of this allegory -- that it doesn't matter what your intentions are, the system overrules your idealism.

But no -- these filmmakers just blow up the train. And the takeaway from this is that the only answer to inequality is to destroy the system that keeps everyone alive -- including your friends, your family, and all the innocent people who were just doing their best to make it from one day to the next. Fuck that. That's not a rebellion for justice -- that's nihilistic anarchy.

So ... as I said when I started, Snowpiercer fails twice. First, it ignores the laws of physics and the truth about how machines really work -- and second, the underlying allegory collapses like a bad souffle because instead of making a valid and poignant point, the filmmakers decided it was easier to just blow up the train and suggest that life was possible outside the train after all ....

No. Just no.

Part of writing science fiction is getting your science right. You have to do your research. A good writer takes the time to learn about ice ages, learn how trains work, and in this case learns how to create a self-sufficient society in a hostile environment. And then, a great writer thinks about the theme of his story.

If you're going to show people being heroic in search of justice, there has to be a victory. The moral arc of this story leads the audience to believe there will be a victory, or at least some kind of enlightenment waiting for us at the head of the train. Instead, no -- there is no victory. Yes, there is enlightenment -- the train is a balanced eco-system, but instead of dealing with that philosophical dead-end, they just give up and blow it all to bits.

But in its failure, by what isn't here, by allowing us to look at what's missing, the picture reveals something about what we expect/demand from a great story.

See, the thing about a science fiction story -- it has to have two endings. It has to have a satisfying resolution to the scientific puzzle or dilemma and it has to have a satisfying resolution to the hero's situation. This picture fails twice, but it's a useful failure.

More shortly.

[kestrelsansjesses]

First Date Disasters

[[Summary: In which Wren Ryder learns that perhaps taking Tiran Kandros to Havarl to search for the missing turian Ark is not the ideal first date, and I get to play with angst. I've been reading Andromeda:Uprising (the novelization) and there's some interesting tidbits about our new favorite turian in there. It’s recommended you read First Dates and Open Comms first, to see the babysteps their relationship is taking. And lord, are they babysteps. 

As always, thanks to @stormcallart , whose adorable art of Kandros makes me see his softer side.

Kandros x Ryder

AO3]]

It was a relief to be off the confines of the Tempest and beneath an actual atmosphere again, Havarl’s softly tinted sky stretched over Wren Ryder’s head in an endless, gentle arc. The air smelt fresh and organic, rather than the ship’s own recycled quality. Stretching her arms overhead, Ryder turned to look at her companions. “When was the last time you were off the Nexus, Kandros?”

“You forget what it’s like to have dirt beneath your feet and all the air you can breathe without feeling guilty.” There was a moment of comfortable silence where Tiran Kandros simply stood there and breathed, chest rising and falling, and Ryder found herself breathing in time with him, thinking that maybe this whole crazy idea was okay. Ask the head of Nexus security on a date to Havarl to look for the turian ark. Maybe it really would all be okay.

For now, it was time to keep going. “I’ll take point. Vetra, you’re left flank. Kandros, you’re on the right. Keep your eyes open.” The trio started to move, the scent of crushed greenery beneath them heavy. “When I first landed here,” Ryder continued, tone conversational, “I wondered if we could ever settle here, provided the angara agreed. Seemed like a nice enough place. A real golden world. Exactly what we’re looking for. Then I met the Roekaar. If we’re lucky, we can trace this signal and won’t find any, but if we do… They hate aliens. That means us.” And yet shooting them never got any easier. They were sentient but not wholly malevolent; if Ryder closed her eyes, she could see Jaal as one, or one as Jaal. It was too easy to see how one could become the other.

Guns out, they walked through the permanent twilight, passing the small angaran base and entering the realm of true wilderness. Ryder held her fist up for a moment, signalling silence and a pause in movement, before they pressed on. As far as first dates went, it wasn’t the most romantic setting, but it was beautiful enough to make up for it. When she looked at Kandros from the corner of his eye, she could see him smile every now and then, pause to stop and marvel at a plant she just walked by, having seen it so many times before. So much taken for granted; she got to stretch her legs, certain that for every tiresome day engaged in Nexus politics she would have three more on a new world in a new galaxy. Kandros had no such relief. “You like it?” she finally asked, disturbing the silence.

“This is what the turian golden world could have been. Should have been, if we had been able to see better.” He shook his head, bending down to pick up a small flower and hold it between two fingers before letting a gentle breeze blow it away. “Maybe there’s something out here after all. Thanks, Pathfinder.” They were back to her title again, but Ryder found she didn’t mind. This was her job. If she could forge a trail through the Scourge and give everyone just a bit more hope… It had to be enough. Maybe this is what Alec had lived for.

Another few minutes of silence, punctuated only by animal sounds. They were almost like birds, but not quite, foreign enough to not be easily identifiable. If this all died down… When this all died down, Ryder would like to join a proper science expedition just to see what was out there. “We’re reaching the navpoint now. Stay alert.” Her gun raised slightly, anticipation tightening every muscle. “I think I see something ahead.”

The staccato sound of gunfire ruined the near reverential silence and sent all three into a sprint. “Behind me. Vetra, any signs yet? Kandros, prep your gun.” Though she trusted him to be competent, it had been a while since he’d been in the field, and even longer since he’d had to follow the orders of anyone else. “Try and break through whatever fire we’re facing and get behind cover. Fortify yourself if needed, and watch out for any other turians.” With that, they were off.

Initially, all that was visible were the Roekaar, at least a dozen of them crowding some point ahead, a clearing backed into a cliff face. They were quick to notice the newcomers, half of them peeling off to take shots at Ryder and her companion, the other half pressing on towards what looked like remains of a ship, scattered crates and pieces of bent metal that must have once been girders and substructure. “Cover, now!” Ducking behind a rock, Ryder let out careful, measured shots, lacking the time to see if Vetra and Kandros were okay. A bullet hit her shields, dissolving in a burst of energy even as she tried to flick her eyes sideways. No time to be distracted.

When shooting, some part of her simply turned off. The Roekaar were no longer angara; they were simply an obstacle between Ryder and her goal. Their sprays of blue blood could almost be ignored, at least until the field was clean and she could stand up, at least until she stepped in a puddle that slid over her armored feet and seemed to stick there, leaving her feeling sick. The turians- both her own and the ones hanging around the crates- had handled themselves well, though Kandros looked even worse than she felt, kneeling to examine a member of the Roekaar, pushing the body onto its back and then stepping backwards in disgust. “Clear,” Ryder finally said, indicating that they could move forward safely.

“Appreciate the help back there.” The turian that seemed to be the leader of the group stepped forward, his face cold and set. “Names Avitus Rix. Sorry if my methods seem extreme. Civilian life is… trying.”

From somewhere behind Ryder’s back, Kandros muttered, “You’re telling me.”

“Wren Ryder. Human Pathfinder. You former military?” He knew his way around a gun, and knowing the turian lifestyle, it was a safe assumption to make. For a few minutes, introductions continued, but both were eager to get to the heart of the matter. “Then Natanus hit the Scourge and bam! Woke up here,” Avitus concluded.

“What happened? Where’s the ark?” From what Ryder could see, this was part of the Ark, or at least parts from it, but if the whole thing had gone down surely more would be visible.

“No idea. Had to break out of my own damn stasis pod.” As Avitus continued, she once again couldn’t resist looking back. Kandros looked troubled, something in him more disturbed than what she had even expected. Vetra was quiet, serious, but not nearly as alarmed as Kandros was. He looked almost afraid, if Ryder had to put a word to it.

“Most of the turian population is still missing- including Macen, our Pathfinder. SAM hasn’t transferred to me, so he’s alive. Just don’t know where.” It was a slim hope, but it was at least that much.

“Debris and stasis pods are scattered across the sector. Between the two of us, we should find something.” A plan, even if it was a slim one.

“You go left, I go right?” The joke was a bad one, but Avitus found something within himself to chuckle, and after they exchanged frequencies, there was another direction to take. He had coordinates marked down, but protecting his people left him vulnerable, unable to follow up. “Kandros, can you help?”

“There’s an APEX team nearby. I’ll redirect them right way, help you reinforce.” A few flicks of his omni-tool and it was done. The extra safety would take worries off everyone’s shoulders, though they both knew Avitus would stay no matter what.

“Take a breather. We move back to the Tempest in five.” Her shields needed to recharge, the area where a bullet had impacted her sore. It would be a pretty bruise tomorrow, but Ryder wasn’t overly concerned about herself. Vetra was fine too- they shared a look and Vetra nodded. All good. That only left Kandros, who had moved away to stare at a small crate, finally folding his body downward and simply staring forward, past the bodies of the Roekaar and past his own people, looking at some imagined past that wasn’t accessible to Ryder.

“Kandros… Tiran. You okay?” She moved close to him, sitting down near him but trying to give him at least a few feet of breathing room. “As first dates go, this is pretty shitty. I’m sorry.” What had she expected they would find? Anything but this. Something more positive, something other than destruction and death at the ends of their own guns. Gently, she rested her hand on his arm.

He shook her off roughly, shaking his head once. “No. I’m far from okay, Ryder.” Taking a deep breath, he continued on. “Too close to home. When I first woke up on the Nexus, I had no idea what’s going on, just like Avitus. We figured shit out. We thought we lost all the Arks, and then the humans appeared. It was enough to make us hopeful, and that was a stupid mistake.” He seemed to shrink even further inward, though he finally broke away from staring forward to look at her, almost seeming to wince. “Sorry. Not your problem. Mine.”

Once again, Ryder reached out to touch him gently, resting her hand for a moment. This time he didn’t pull away, scooting an inch closer to her, bringing his hand to her knee. “I want to help. We’re going to find the Ark, Tiran. It looks like there might be something on Elaaden.” Something besides blistering heat. It was the closest thing to hope she could offer.

“Then I’m going with you. Consider it our second date.” There was something that was almost humor in his voice, and Ryder smiled at him, hesitantly. He couldn’t return the gesture, but for a quiet moment they sat together, her hand on his arm, his hand on her knee, both looking outward and past the death, both seeing some hopeful, bright future where things could be okay. They had to be.

[nerdgasrnz]

part 2 of this post

“So... you haven’t actually fought Grimm for yourself before?” “Well... no. I’ve always seen them talked about- scary stories, pictures, descriptions... but Sanctum isn’t quite as.... hands on as Beacon is...” Pyrrha mutters, “The only thing I really know how to fight is people. And even then...”

Jaune chuckles, “That’s fine. We are kind of in a time of peace right now, it’s okay if you haven’t gotten in a fight with one. In fact, you should feel lucky,”

“I... hear that a lot.” She laughs nervously, “So... how do you fight these things, anyway? Like, what if we get surprise attacked?” “You’ll know when they’re nearby, trust me.”

(read more)

“How?”

Jaune gives Pyrrha the spiel about being able to sense Grimm. Etc.

They continue on their way, looking for the relics.

“Do you think this is it?” Pyrrha asks. Jaune glances at the cave markings on the side. But she seems set on going in anyway.

“Pyrrha, I don’t think this is it...” “Jaune, I went through the trouble of making a torch, we can at least investigate for another 5 feet.” “If you say so...”

You can imagine how the rest of this goes.

“JAUNE, IT’S NOT THE RELIC! IT’S NOT THE RELIC!!!” “Okay, Pyrrha listen to me, just stay calm! And whatever you do, don’t let-” “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” “...go.”

He glances at the giant Death Stalker before him. Smiles sheepishly and waves at it- then makes a break for it.

BAM.

Pyrrha slams into Ruby in midair, and they land in the tree.

“I’m sorry!” “No worries- oh, and um... hi! I’m Ruby,” “Pyrrha.” Pyrrha extends her hand. Ruby shakes it with an awkward smile, considering their situation (and Pyrrha’s weird position.)

Pyrrha when she gets onto the branch on her feet, she sees Weiss falling in midair. “Weiss!”

She springs into the air, catching Weiss in her arms. “Thank you!” “No problem!” Pyrrha says before glancing down, and remembering that gravity is a thing. “Oh God.”

BAM.

And to think, she was eager to be teamed up with this girl in the locker room not that long ago. “My hero...” “My back...!”

Between Jaune bringing a Deathstalker with him, and Ruby making the Nevermore mad, and Nora riding in on a now dead Ursa, a lot of confusing things are going on.

Jaune gets knocked onto his back, in front of the other 7 people present. “Great, the gang’s all here,” Yang says, “Now we can die together!”

And after Ruby’s show of bravado trying to take on the Death Stalker, and she and Weiss “making up,” Pyrrha makes note: “Um, everyone? That Nevermore’s circling back, what do we do?” “There’s no sense in dilly-dallying. Our objective is right in front of us.” “She's right. Our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the Cliffs. There's no point in fighting these things,” “Run and live?” Jaune smirks with relief, “That’s an idea I can get behind.”

And we sort of know how this next part goes. While Pyrrha is helping Ren and Blake fight off the Death Stalker, Pyrrha realizes as she fights that with the new abundance of aura she has, she’s having a better time fighting than what she’s used to- though she’s still having a bit of struggle.

“They need our help!” Jaune says, glancing down at the wide gap, “Can you get us over there?” he asks Nora.

This scene’s pretty much the same, except Jaune is better at landing. “You didn’t have to hit me, you know...” he mutters once they arrive.

When Pyrrha throws her javelin at the Death Stalkers eye, and manages to hit it, there’s a look of immense surprise on her face, as she glances at her hand, wondering where her newfound accuracy came from. But while she’s preoccupied in wonder, the Death Stalker nearly attacks her but Jaune blocks it’s claw with his shield.

When Ren’s knocked out from the fight, Jaune asks Pyrrha if she can hit the stinger, and Pyrrha hesitates slightly before doing a throw- again, she’s taken by surprise when she manages to accurately land a hit on the Death Stalker.

“Nora, nail it!” Jaune says as he moves into position. “Heads up!”

Jaune manages to steel himself well enough to boost Nora, with the stone flooring shattering under the force. Pyrrha stares in wonder at the maneuver, before being taken off guard by the stone foundation actually crumbling when she takes it down, and Jaune yells “Let’s move!” prompting them to hurry before they fall.

Jaune manages a roll, Nora lands on her bottom, and Pyrrha, though her landing seems unsteady, she actually manages to land on 3 points. And Ren of course, walks over, exhausted, and plops to the ground.

When they watch team RWBY take out the Nevermore, they are all in awe. “Wow.” Jaune says.

--

“Jaune Arc, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, Lie Ren. The four of you found the white rook pieces- from this day forward, you will be team JNPR: led by Jaune Arc.”

Jaune humbly bows his head, looking at his teammates with a smile. Pyrrha, impressed by the designation, gives Jaune a bump on the shoulder, but he’s taken off guard by her strength and knocked completely over. Pyrrha blushes not realizing how much power she put into it, but Jaune laughs as he gets back up, putting her at ease.

--

Now here’s where the ordering of things gets a little different.

Oobleck’s History class. Jaune is asleep. This scene goes practically the same.

“Binoculars... nice once Jaune,” Nora laughs. “Har har- look, ironically, History is not exactly my favorite subject.” “Ironically? What do you mean, Jaune?” Pyrrha asks. “Well because- eh, never mind, it’s really not important right now.” Jaune murmurs. “Well still, sorry you have to stay after class- you sure you don’t want any help? Especially with Cardin messing with you?” “Yeah, I’ll be fine!” Jaune replies. “What’s the worst that bird brain can do?” “Well, there was that time he knocked down all your books...” Ren said. “Psh...” “And that time he opened your shield in the doorway to class-” “So?” “And the time he shoved you in a locker and sent you flying-” “Ren- it’s fine! Besides, it’s not like I landed far from the school. I needed the jog! Look, don’t mind him, alright, his family has had beef with mine for like... well, for ever. I’m an Arc- and that means I can take it! Really.”

“I know what would solve this once and for all,” Nora said, “WE COULD BREAK HIS LEGS!” Nora says with sudden gusto, almost scaring Jaune and Pyrrha. Ren seems unfazed. 

"Listen, it’s better that he only messes with me than any of you. I don’t want him trying to hurt the rest of you. He might be a really horrible person, but he’s clever and he’s stronger than you think. Just be careful, okay?” “Jaune, I know that you’re our leader and all, but that kind stubbornness of yours will get the better of you one day,” Pyrrha said. “Look who’s talking,” Jaune stuck his tongue out at her, making her laugh. “Pretty bold of you to stand up to him like that, especially in front of the whole class- and I know he didn’t like that. You’ve got guts, Nikos!”

Pyrrha smiles and looks aside.

“If Cardin hassles you, send him to me, no questions as- ACK” Jaune doesn’t even get to finish his sentence before Cardin shoves him to the floor, angry that he has extra work to do.

Jaune stands up, takes a breath, raising a finger as if trying to collect himself- but he winds up tackling Cardin to the ground and punching him in the face, starting a fight between them.

“Alright, alright break it up you two!” Oobleck shoves them apart. “I know that your families have a long history of bad blood, but here at Beacon you’re comrades. Do you understand me?”

“Yes sir...” Jaune muttered, not minding the black eye he just got while it heals. “Pff, whatever.” Cardin also muttered, sporting a few bruises that go away quickly.

“Any more confrontations like that and I’ll see what Professor Ozpin would prefer to do about both of you. Now get going. Both of you owe me quite the essay that’s due tomorrow.” Oobleck says before he darts off at high speed, and Cardin walks off. Cardin thinks that he can get a free sucker punch, but Jaune, with a blank expression, has his white Aura shields him, reflecting the pain of the punch onto Cardin, making him yelp. Jaune smirks with satisfaction.

“I’ll get you one of these days, Arc.” “You say that every time. Later pigeonhead.” Jaune said as he walked off with his team.

Cardin stares angrily at Pyrrha- and Jaune was right, he didn’t like when she stood up to him.

Cue the lunch room, with Nora (and Ren) telling Yang the story about the recurring dream she had.

"Everything alright Pyrrha?” “Um, yeah! I just... someone stuffed my locker with pictures of me from the cereal boxes... they had pins and horrible writing with threats on them. It kind of took me off guard.” “Sounds like Cardin to me.” Jaune grumbled, looking at him and his team hassling Velvet. Yang looked on sullenly, commenting how hard it was being a Faunus, while Blake seemed to be seething with anger. Jaune began rolling up the sleeves of his hoodie. “Jaune, please, I don’t want you getting in trouble for my sake. It’s okay-” “It’s not, Pyrrha.” Ruby said in return, “He’s a bully, and if he has his sights set on you, we have your back.” “No, I don’t want any of you dealing with him. I mean yes, he’s atrocious and the worst kind of person, but we have to be better than him.” “And what other way to be better than him in a fight?” Jaune commented. “Tomorrow is a Vytal tournament pretest, and I wouldn’t mind bashing his face a second time on legal grounds tomorrow. All I have to do is volunteer, Goodwitch will let me pick my opponent, and I wipe the floor with him.” “I like your style, Jaune!” Yang grinned, “Show him who’s boss!”

Little did they know though, is that Cardin was looking on, overhearing their conversation.

“Do we have any Volunteers?” Glynda asks, scanning the auditorium. Jaune begins to politely raise his hand- “Yeah, I’ll do it!” Cardin shouts for her to hear, waving his arm casually. “Okay then, Mr. Winchester. Do you have an opponent in mind?” “Yeah, I do, actually,” He grins wickedly, as he stared at the ponytail redhead. “I’d like to take on Pyrrha,” “Alright then! Miss Nikos would you like to take the floor?” “M-me?!” Pyrrha was dumbfounded, glancing at her teammates- especially Jaune. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. “Well Miss Nikos, I’m sure that a 4-time tournament winner such as yourself would be a perfect volunteer for this exercise- unless I’m wro-” “N-n-no! I’m sorry, it’s fine! I um... it would be a pleasure.” She chuckled nervously, smiling half-heartedly. As soon as the attention was off of her, she sank. “Pyrrha are you sure about this?” “It’s fine... Someone has to stand up to him.” “Remember what I said yesterday? He’s not just a bully. He’s smarter than you think and he’s strong. Don’t underestimate him, okay?” “I remember...” She looked aside. “Look, I’m sure you’ll do fine. Weiss and Goodwitch said you’ve won a tournament for 4 years in a row. Knock ‘em dead!”

Even though Jaune’s words were comforting and made her feel better, she still walked towards the stage with reluctance. She looked at the ground on her way up.

“Fighters, ready,” Goodwitch announced as the lights of the auditorium dimmed, and the aura levels showed on the display above them. “Please place your scroll on your person so that you can see your aura levels, that’s what today’s exercise will be covering.”

Pyrrha placed her scroll on the inside of her forearm, where she usually held her shield. She took out her weapon, in its Xiphos form- she was used to how it behaved before- but after Jaune unlocked her aura, she had performed unusually well. Maybe she could actually do this.

Both of their auras were very close to the same level. Goodwitch observed Pyrrha’s fighting more than Cardin’s, and with higher scrutiny. Jaune made note as well, as he watched her fight. She was good: powerful and agile, that much was true. But her swordsmanship was a bit sloppy, and her defense with her shield was less than desirable. Every reflex Pyrrha had always seemed to be a bit late, either blocking only in the nick of time, or not in enough time and getting hit. She wasn’t anticipating far enough ahead- but she still held her own through what seemed to be tenacity and strength.

When Pyrrha appeared she was going to get the last hit for the win, Cardin surprised her, by grabbing her ankle, causing her to trip. He quickly got up, and by grabbing with both hands, he threw her on her back, into the ground with all he had. She was fortunate to have as much aura as she did, or else she’d be completely out of it, if not unconscious.

“Say your prayers, Nikos,” Cardin said. “Over my dead body,” She spat at him with venom in her voice, standing up and charging at him. She was too predictable with this maneuver though, and she took a forceful punch to her stomach from him, the wind getting knocked out of her, and she fell to the ground, wincing. Team RWBY and JNPR were all sad and shocked as they looked onto her heaving form on the floor, as Cardin seemed to be going in for one more blow with his mace-

“That’s enough,” Goodwitch intervened. “As you can see, Miss Nikos’s aura has fallen into the red. In an official tournament setting, she would receive a loss, and be removed from the fight. And on the actual battlefield, this would be a very important time to retreat.”

Pyrrha sat up- her pride was hurt more than anything, especially as she looked onto her friends, and at her scroll as well, confirming what Goodwitch said.

“Not all of your opponents will fight fair Pyrrha- even with tournament rules in place, it would serve you well to try and think 3 steps ahead of your opponents, and fight more defensively at times. After all, we wouldn’t want you getting mauled by a Beowulf.” She said- the last sentence seemed almost condescending, as she seemed to be less than impressed. Pyrrha’s head bowed low in defeat.

“Speak for yourself,” Cardin laughed as he exited the stage.

--

“Pyrrha, I want you to come with me,” Jaune said, grabbing her hand after he handed his paper to Oobleck for his earlier mishap.

“Wh? Jaune, where are we going?!” She asked with confusion.

Jaune extended his hand as if offering her the view as they stood on the roof of their dorms, close to the edge. She didn’t seem to notice, as she peered over the edge.

“Um, Jaune, I know my fight with Cardin today wasn’t the best, but I’m not that depressed... I can always give up on the Huntress thing and live on the Pumpkin Pete’s royalties, or something...” “Wh- NO!” He exclaimed, clamoring as he pulled her from the edge.

“Pyrrha, I’m trying to say that we can spar up here! Just the two of us- no audience, no teachers- we can have time to ourselves to brush up on our skills.” “You think I need help...?” “What- no, I mean-” “It sounds like you’re telling me that I need help.” “Pyrrha, even the best of us need a little support from time to time, you know? And we’re at Beacon- the best Hunter Academy on the face of Remnant? You earned your place here, and that means a whole lot. It’s a lot of pressure, but I want to help you.” “Ha... haha! You think that’s pressure?” “...Pyrrha?” “You, the guy with just a sword and a shield hand-me-down, think you know what pressure is?” She scoffed at him, digging her finger into his chest, “You know what it’s like to draft the blueprint of the weapon you want when you’re 8 years old, and suddenly everyone starts singing their praises about how brilliant and smart you are? Do you know what it’s like to just have fun with track and field one moment, and suddenly, your parents decide that you need to be a Huntress because anything else is a waste?”

“Pyrrha... I, I didn’t-”

“No, I’m not done!! You know what pressure is?! It’s getting signed up for contracts because you’re a little good at something you like- and suddenly being treated better than everyone else when you haven’t earned it! It’s having no friends because suddenly they think that you’re too good for them and don’t ever want to approach you! Pressure is winning tournaments on a FLUKE, just so that you don’t disappoint the thousands of people and your parents watching- and winning with a lucky hit even though you hate crowds and cameras and you just want it all to STOP!”

The last word with her voice rocked all the metal structures on the roof, and hit Jaune, almost knocking him off the building. He caught the edge before he flew too far, but didn’t want to press his luck when he was in just his school uniform. She gasped seeing what she had done, tears welling in her eyes as she ran away.

“Pyrrha!”

She covered her face in the hallway, crying as she tried to collect herself. She nearly just knocked Jaune off of a stories high roof, and she didn’t even know how or why it happened.

“Well well well, I didn’t know Miss Cereal Box was so sensitive!” Cardin said mockingly as he approached her. “Cardin!” “And on top of that... a polarity semblance? That’s quite the spectacle- and very handy. I’m sure that an investigation into a semblance that can manipulate metal wouldn’t bode well for someone who won a regional tournament four years straight,” “I- I don’t know what you’re talking about?!” She panicked. “You said it yourself- you won those tournaments on a fluke, even when it seemed like you didn’t deserve to. Maybe you’re right! And maybe Goodwitch wouldn’t appreciate information like this if she found out you cheated- she might even send you back home, and then you’ll have to explain to your family why you-” “No! No, no, no, please, no!! I’ll do anything, please just don’t tell Goodwitch! I can’t- my parents...” She choked through her tears. “Alright then- let’s start with you doing my paper for Oobleck for me, because I can’t be bothered- I have things to do, places to be- all that stuff.” He grabbed her head, under his arm- more forcefully than she was comfortable with. “Thanks, Nikos, you’re a real pal!”

[drink-n-watch]

Genre : Josei, Horror, Mystery, Psychological Thriller

Studio: J.C.Staff

Once again I get the sinking feeling that I’m doing Angels of Death a great disservice by attempting an episode by episode review. By now, it seems pretty clear that this is the type of story that has to be considered as a whole to be truly appreciated. Mind you that very statement is somewhat of a compliment. It means that I do see a promise of everything coming together into something greater than the sum of it’s parts. We still have to see if that promise will ever be fulfilled mind you.

wait…there’s expectations

This episode was split right down the middle in just about every way. It was split into two arc, it was split between the two main characters, between the present and the past. It made me split my theory into competing parallel ones and left me unsure about how I felt about the whole thing. Half and half at the moment…

In the first arc, Rachel continues her descent with the Padre to find medicine for Zack and retrieve his knife. It’s unclear whether Rachel is really unravelling under the pressure or whether we are just getting the chance to appreciate her true character for the first time. I’ve speculated more than once that Rachel is the most terrifying character in the series, and this episode seems to agree with me.

Rachel’s monotone indifference and casual cruelty could be taken two ways. Well they could probably be interpreted in a lot more than two ways but I’m seeing two possibilities. Either I stick with my notion of a fragile deeply broken girl whose fractured and receded within herself as a defense mechanism. We only get to see the plain reactionary Rachel, giving only the strict minimum of what’s needed to go forward. Or Rachel is in fact a capital B…um  rhymes with witch. Her lack of reaction is simply due to complete absence of empathy and engagement.  She’s just terribly bored with most things. Have you noticed how she often rudely interrupts people. This time she did it to the Padre just as he was getting passionate about his speech. That’s not being passive, it’s being uninterested and apathetic.

yawn… I hope this doesn’t ruin my shoes…

The episode did insist on crassly pointing out Rachel’s cruelty, so there may be some traction behind the second interpretation. Whatever the case, I suspect Ray’s unnervingly stoic delivery is going to have annoyed some viewers.

The narrative also really wanted us to know that the bodies of the previously murdered floor dwellers (Cathy, Eddie and Danny) where now missing. Since we have little concept of the laws that govern this universe I’m not sure what to make of this info. I fully expected them to be not quite mortal. (I’m still going on the theory that they might be not quite real). Rachel noted it with her usual nonchalance so that was no help in adjusting my own reaction.

The second half of the episode was yet more making of a young Zack murderer backstory. It was a decent watch. Little Zack is a pretty efficient character for keeping the audience in suspense. Just unpredictable enough that you’re always worried for the characters onscreen but not quite so out of control that you know how it’s going to turn out. I have to admit, seeing his path after the initial murder of the caretakers kept my attention pretty glued to the screen.

either run of hug him – I’m not sure which would be best

However, it also made me wonder why we are getting so much Zack backstory. We got a few details but nothing particularly relevant to the plot at hand. Moreover, we could have inferred some variable of his backstory from the information on hand. Why are we fleshing out this character so much. It seems unnecessary. At this point he’s the only one with any kind of past at all and we’re getting in in minute detail.

Of course this could simply be plain old filler. They needed 12 episodes of content and threw in more Zack flashbacks to meet the quota. Seeing as this is the simplest explanation it’s probably correct. It could also be that Zack tested well in market research. This is supposedly targeted to young women and Zack is the closest thing we have to a Bishonen. Also young women like children – Bam two in one. Some production studio guy’s idea of Josei fanservice… My autocorrect is very angry at me right now.

It did however make a crazy theory pop into my head. It’s really unlikely but I also like it a lot. Up to this point I’ve been assuming this was Rachel’s story. She’s the variable after all. The narrative starts with her and for the most part is told from her perspective. She’s the one that just appeared out of nowhere. The only one without a floor, the only one that wasn’t already familiar with the place and the people in it. She’s the one that seems to be defying the rules. But what if she’s the figment? Her arrival can still be the catalyst for the story, but she may not be the actual subject.

awww, so murdery, adorable!

What if this is Isaac’s story after all. And only Isaac’s story. He’s the broken and fracture soul stuck in purgatory. He was in the basement (starting at the very bottom). Maybe he’s been trapped there for years. The characters on the other floors stopping him from escaping. They know him because they’re his demons. And in this scenario, Rachel is a lifeline he’s conjured up for himself. A representation of hope or at least of a goal.

In many ways, Zack is also unusual. He chased Rachel to Danny’s floor of his own volition. So far, the Padre has been able to travel between floors but only accompanied by Rachel and he stays close to the elevator. Only Rachel and Zack move freely between floors on their own. Also, and most telling in my opinion, Zack is the only one who’s expressed any desire to leave this place. In fact, he’s desperate to do so. Even Rachel isn’t particularly concerned with finding a way out.

Finally, Rachel is exactly what Zack would dream up. Small, weak and dour. She’s the opposite of all that he loathes. If he was going to imagine an angel, surely Rachel would be it.

Like I said, this theory is very unlikely. I would be floored if any of it panned out. But I did really enjoy exploring the possibility as I was watching the episode. And really that’s the best part of Angels of Death. Coming up some type of explanation for what you’re seeing by yourself. Essentially, the myriad possibilities of what could be are currently way more interesting than what is. I am looking forward to finding out though.

well I think it’s interesting…

This is out of the ordinary, I didn’t like the screen caps much this week. It looked good as always but the scenes are similar looking.

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Angels of Death ep 8 – Losing the Plot Genre : Josei, Horror, Mystery, Psychological Thriller Studio: J.C.Staff Once again I get the sinking feeling that I'm doing Angels of Death a great disservice by attempting an episode by episode review.