#zoe street review

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, September 20th

FRED: I've been trying to make an enchilada out of tree bark. ANGEL: Bark enchiladas. Huh. - How's that going? FRED: There is work to be done.

~~There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Anniversary Breakfast by veronyxk84 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

In the Dark (With You) by MadeInGold_AfterDark (MadeInGold) (Angel/Angelus, M)

ANDREWS ANTICS by KNZ1 (The Trio, E)

The Arrangement by Emerybird (Giles/Wesley, E)

For My Toy Love by girlpire (Angel/Spike/Drusilla, E)

Stealing Kisses by sapphistically (Buffy/reader, not rated)

I wanna teach you how forever feels by mcgnagallsarmy (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Horrorshow, Chapter 26 by vampbrat (Angel/Spike/Wesley, E)

Don't Swerve, Chapter 10 (complete!) by thisyearsgrrl (Buffy/Faith, E)

Supporting Loki (And Thor), Chapter 12 by SomeMeaninglessName (Willow & Buffy, Marvel crossover, M)

Soul Mate Magic, Chapter 5 by Emma_M_Black (Giles/OC, M)

Spies, High Stakes, and Secrets, Chapter 2 by Rippertish (Buffy/Giles, E)

CAT-SCRATCH FEVER, Chapter 3 (complete!) by KNZ1 (Buffy/Cordelia/Oz, E)

Maps, Chapter 2 by thisyearsgrrl (Buffy/Faith, E)

The Neighbor's Point of View, Chapter 132 by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Troubling Deaf Heaven, Chapters 3-4 by JuneCurry (Buffy/Spike, R)

What the Drabble? Vol. 2, Chapter 72 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Stickers: I made an Buffy/Angel Animated Sticker Pack for WhatsApp & Telegram by BabyBlueN7 (worksafe)

Gifs: iwry2023 most sexy fic by I Will Remember You Marathon (Buffy/Angel, worksafe)

Artwork: "We're lonely dancers" by o-cm-draw-o (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Artwork: Hot woman wow by peixe-art (Faith, Buffy/Faith, worksafe)

Fanvid: BTVS Intro Credits [Friends Style] v.1 by Aurora Edits

Fanvid: You're On Your Own Kid [Buffy Summers] by Aurora Edits

Fanvid: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Oh Yes They Both Reached for the Gun by TheSourCreamQueenEdits (Buffy/Angel & Buffy/Spike)

Fanvid: Buffy and Spike downright iconic by m

Fanvid: Buffy Summers - Infinitesimal by Faith Victoria

Fanvid: Buffy + Angel I wanna be with you by Ashley BurchettAJLeefanlove23love

Fanvid: Buffy + Angel Wild Horses by Ashley BurchettAJLeefanlove23love

Fanvid: Buffy + Angel You lead to The Light by Ashley BurchettAJLeefanlove23love

Fanvid: Angel Buffy Spike - Roddy by juliaroxs241

Fanvid: Buffy and Angel - One More Night by juliaroxs241 (vidder also uploaded multiple other vids)

Fanvid: You're On Your Own, Kid by True Hunter (Wesley)

Vidlet: Buffy and Spike - Only Love can hurt like this - By Paloma Faith by Naki-a Littlejohn

Vidlet: Buffy and Spike - Never forget you - Zara Larsson by Naki-a Littlejohn

Vidlet: Buffy & Faith Edit — Buffy The Vampire Slayer by zoe garden

Vidlet: Cordelia chase - California girl || Angel by Billy Grayson

Video: Buffy Best Comebacks // Buffy The Vampire Slayer Funniest Moments 😆 by Holistic Witch

Video: STREET FIGHTER 6 CREATIONS : BUFFY & SPIKE by DarkNemeZis666

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Revival Season 10 Episode 20: No Small Favour by Buffy the Vampire Slayer Chosen

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1x01 voiceover | Cordelia "The softer side of Sears" by A Pixie's Whisper

Parody: MadTV - Buffy the Umpire Slayer uploaded by The Golden Era

[Reviews & Recaps]

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer — The Series That Changed Supernatural TV Shows Forever by ThyGeekdom™

Video: Analyzing Buffy: Which Old Witch? | 1x03: Witch by The Bronze

Video: S4E05: Beer Bad by One Girl in All the World

Video: Buffy S03E01 "Anne" Spoiler Review by LGRN - Entertainment

Podcast: Introducing: Buffy-less by Vampires and Mermaids

Podcast: EPISODE 0 - Welcome to Definitely Doomed by Definitely Doomed - A Buffy Commentary Podcast

Slideshow: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Bir Nesli Şekillendiren Kült Efsane by Sinematik Dünyalar

Podcast: Buffy 2.17 - Passion by Once More: A Rewatch Podcast

[Search & Recs]

Fic search: LF a fic of the Buffyverse by KasumiKeiko

Fic rec: Restoration by circular_infinity (Buffy/Angel, M) recced by I Will Remember You Marathon

Fic recs: Wallflower and Way Beyond Chaos by Girlytek (Buffy/Spike) recced by flow

[Fandom Discussions]

why is jonathan hanging out with those dumb fucks by izzyspussy

So Angel season 3 has cordy become "part demon" by stormtide-leviathan

I watched Hush yesterday by agirlinsearchof

If you accept that Willow is a reflection of Giles, and Buffy is a reflection of Jenny by duckwnoeyes

Jordeclan and Coffy for the ask meme by romantichopelessly

Rewatch thoughts and questions [The Girl in Question - Not Fade Away] continued by multiple posters

I still miss Doyle by Top-Mention-9525

Angel vs buffy [in a fight] by Competitive_Image_51

You know what I love about this show? [That every vampire wakes up knowing karate.] by JeSuisLaCockamouse

*First Time Watcher* WHEW, just got past “HUSH” for the first time, and I’m ecstatic! by KENZOKHAOS

Does anyone care that I'm watching Buffy right now? by kominkie8

Who is the character you hate the most? by murder_drone_V_N_Usy

No Place Like Home (spoilers) by Tsole96

Buffy as a favorite character by sit_on_my_nail

least favorite episode? by Fair-Ad-9396

HOW MANY.... [Buffy-centric episodes?] by CoasterTrax

Best and Worst Xander episode? by The_Hungry_Martian

Faith’s Redemption by General_Fall_2206

The original plans for season 4… by captaingatorgirl

Video: 10 Times Supernatural Copied Buffy The Vampire Slayer by Ferdinand

Video: Buffy : things about 2nd season nobody talks about 🤨 by Crista Grym

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[livinginsideabookshelf]

February Wrap Up

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

Twenty-four-year-old British painter Cleo has escaped from England to New York and is still finding her place in the sleepless city when, a few months before her student visa ends, she meets Frank. Twenty years older and a self-made success, Frank's life is full of all the excesses Cleo's lacks.

3.5/5

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Convenience Store Woman is the heartwarming and surprising story of thirty-six-year-old Tokyo resident Keiko Furukura. Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when at the age of eighteen she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of “Smile Mart,” she finds peace and purpose in her life.

5/5

Little Birds by Anais Nin

Evocative and superbly erotic, Little Birds is a powerful journey into the mysterious world of sex and sensuality. From the beach towns of Normandy to the streets of New Orleans, these thirteen vignettes introduce us to a covetous French painter, a sleepless wanderer of the night, a guitar-playing gypsy, and a host of others who yearn for and dive into the turbulent depths of romantic experience.

3.75/5 (All stories)

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

A romance ghostwriter who's lost her motivation after a breakup is haunted by the spirit of her newly departed editor in this whimsical paranormal romance. Florence Day doesn't believe in love or happily-ever-afters any longer.

2/5 (DNF)

\/ My Full thoughts and reviews (SPOILERS) \/

Cleopatra and Frankenstein

I flip flop back and forth between whether or not I actually liked this book. A lot of people are saying that it's shallow, and I agree its very shallow, however, I quite like shallow characters. But it's hard to tell with this novel if the characters are shallow or if the narrative is.

I liked Cleo and Frank as main characters but both are hard to root for. Even towards the end when they get their 'happy ever after' I feel like neither really learnt anything. Which would be fine if the author wasn't trying so hard to make us believe they did.

The side characters - particularly Eleanor and Jesus (rip) - are the stars for me. Eleanor's chapters were funny and more poignant than the rest of the novel. It's also nice to see a POV that wasn't a tortured artist or the workaholic money bags. Zoe and Quentin are okay but they bring up topics and then drop them. Quentin, for example, is shown to struggle with body dysmorphia and it's suggested heavily that their trans. However, this is never brought up again and instead Quentin becomes about drug abuse. The characters often are 'topic characters' in that they are nothing but the topic the author wants to discuss.

Having said all this, am I going to keep reading Coco Mellors? Yes. I enjoyed this book regardless of the problems i have with it.

Convenience Store Woman

I read this in a day because I loved it so much.

This book will not be for everyone. The humour and characterisation are very odd - at least to a Western reader - and the concept is strange. However, I loved it.

I related so much to Keiko. I loved the atmosphere, the conflict was interesting, as Keiko doesn't really fight it intentionally but I just loved it. I am now reading everything that this author brings out, I'm currently reading her short story collection and so far it's a 5/5.

Little Birds

[Warning for i*cest, p*dophelia and SA]

Anais Nin is a conflicting figure. Little Birds has some really good stories in them. I particularly like, A Model and The Woman on the Dune. They're really good stories which look at women finding their sexuality and enjoying it, which often they are not depicted as such. It's wroth noting that this is erotica but written like a classic so the language is quite flowery.

However, there are some stories which are just outright gross. Little Birds is about a man and his fascination with young girls and ultimately flashes at them. Two Sisters starts with SA by the sisters father and then they do it with their brothers. It's weird, strange and very gross. At first, I would take this as ironic however Anais Nin odd and even herself had an affair with her own father, so it's begs with question whether or not she condones this or not.

Again, this is not for the faint of heart. I am going to read more of her work to try to understand her, as an author but so far she has an interesting way of writing but she is also very strange.

The Dead Romanctics

I DNF this at 29%, which is very early but instantly, I could feel this was going to put me in a reading slump.

The main character is annoying and the ghosts are secondary to everything, which is the only part I was actually excited for. The romance - for me - was not good. I think as a genre, I am just going to give up on booktok romance, it's just not my thing.

[sageandred]

In depth wtFOCK Season Three Thoughts (Part 2 Through the Seasons Review)

The other girl (Noor) storyline was questionable. (Having it take 3 episodes before Sander is introduced was a choice).

-and it's not like I'm closed off to changes, but I feel like they still could've introduced Sander in a different way without taking a 3rd of the season to do so (but I do like the little Where's Waldo of Sander in background scenes)

-I really thought there would be more significance/fallout to the Robbe-Noor graffiti. (I get it shows she's artistic like Sander, but) I thought that scene would contribute more to the entire storyline rather than just Robbe/Sander (first sighting).

I get the intended Robbe internalized homophobia. I don't hate it; should be interesting what changes it brings in the story. This is a much darker feel than the other evaks where "Isak" is concerned.

-the little things like the music he listens to as he walks up to his friends gives me the perception that he's always performing;

-and how his voice changes from when he's talking with the boys to when he answers a call from his mom

I'm a bit upset we didn't see more Robbe-Yasmina moments (he didn't leave the weed with her in this version, which is fine). [I know they spent some time during summer doing retakes, but I needed to see the friendship development or some bigger moments between them].

A change I like is that the season doesn't start off with "Isak" automatically living with "Eskild" (Milan).

Forgot to say this with the other seasons-this Skam might have the best cinematography and clear direction-but this season it's heightened

Love, love the apartment crew with Milan, Zoe, Senne, and Robbe!

Top tier first meet scene

-also grocery shopping was a nice change (plus music choices are great this version)

This "Isak" has some guilt immediately after during what would be the morning after the pool kiss scene; also it's kind of a change I like due to the obvious direction with the music suddenly coming to a halt as he blocks Sander.

Actually the use of Bowie in scenes is chilling (and RUDE-the Robbe-Noor sex scene); it's a good storytelling choice.

I like the changes, but the pacing and lack of a resolution with talking things out/really addressing things make them generally unimpactful so far [Robbe internalized homophobia (& projected homophobia)]

-I actually feel like Noor could've been used more strategically to display the intensified shutting out of his sexuality had they taken the time to properly flesh them out (it definitely showed), but again the pacing, because in some ways I think they needed deeper scenes to develop them, but I wouldn't want too much time dedicated to them that would ultimately take away from the actual love story of the season.

The reimagined convo with Milan worked, because their relationship is different here and it would've been unrealistic had they copied the og dialogue verbatim; also I'm glad they didn't have a copy and paste of "Isak" talking about how he couldn't be "gay" in the world while offending "Eskild"-the advice was a nice change and good the convo didn't end on a bad note.

-edit: I spoke too soon on the offending part. hurts (every time). [also: Milan's "maybe you should look at yourself" and then the clip ends with Robbe looking in the mirror. ok wtFOCK direction]

Glad Robbe broke up with Noor before things got even more complicated and it was actually a pretty well received exchange [up until her obvious shouting in the club scene] compared to other versions in which she gets immediately angry and the "Isaks" don't really break up with her properly face-to-face.

Again with the lack of resolution-srry, but there was no point to the attack in the street on Robbe & Sander. On one hand, it could be useful to be informative, having a purpose in the plot of the season, but it was barely talked about in the aftermath or hinted at being deeper addressed later. I kind of feel like they are just trying to tackle too much with this and there's just not enough time to really address it in an already storyline heavy season. The only good thing that came from it was how caring the apartment crew showed to be w/Zoe, Senne, & Milan (but that's not a shock).

(Skam season with the most trigger warnings award goes to).

I do think the coming out scene to Jens was cute. Very different version with the best friend having a non-reaction that just makes sense with him

May I shove Robbe's friends (minus Jens) into the pool that Robbe & Sander made out in. (God, they are painful to watch)

I like how Sander's manic episode was filmed. It was very pov heavy from Robbe's perspective with flashes of Sander and I feel like the characteristics were a bit different to what you normally see in tv all the time, even by Skam standards, which I found refreshing.

I really don't get why the change of Sander and his gf only dating 6 months if they were still going to have her overstep and be so controlling. It feels unbelievable that his mom and Robbe's friends (Zoe, Jana..) are so receptive to her knowledge on Sander and his illness. And I hate that they're all being so dramatic about Sander's abilities.

They actually resolved things pretty nicely in the last ep-his friends, Sander, Noor (and the additions with his dad the whole season were really sweet; minor note: his poor dad tho when Robbe suddenly left the restaurant with no explanation).

All in all: this season is great in terms of acting, chemistry, production, and direction. However the writing is pretty awful; aside from the obvious missteps, the season messes up when they make changes and fail to follow through (almost undoing the change in the first place) by rerouting back to the original and doing the same just at a different timestamp (It's frustrating to watch and I do really wish they would just commit to those choices, while handling topics with care; I think I would have a very different opinion on the overall season and how it fares next to other remakes in the long run). I suppose, overall that wtFOCK is fun, even with some wrong choices, though the story suffers with a lack of cohesiveness, development sometimes, or focus on what's important (that sounds like everything that matters, lol, but it was enjoyable).

[fearsmagazine]

AS WE KNOW IT - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Buffalo 8

SYNOPSIS: “Set in Los Angeles in the late 1990s, struggling writer James Bishop grapples with the emotional shrapnel of a recent breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Emily. As James holds up in his Hollywood Hills home with writer's block, his eccentric best friend Bruce shows up with bad news. The city has plunged into chaos by an unusual zombie outbreak, courtesy of tainted soy milk, wreaking havoc on James' semi-charmed kinda life. With the streets of Los Angeles swarming with the undead, James, Bruce, and Emily come together to barricade themselves in the house while reconciling their personal struggles. And occasionally, letting in the only food delivery service still operating, Abracadabra.” -Press Release

REVIEW: Josh Monkarsh’s film feels like a play as James’ home is the main setting and much of the story unfolds in the living room, kitchen and bedroom. The limited locations add to the feel of a 90’s sitcom, from “Seinfeld,” to “Friends” and the late 90’s “Freaks & Geeks.” Clearly these characters are in their mid to late 20’s but their lack of maturity make them seem much younger.

Monkarsh, DePaolo and Francis’s script is jam packed with 90’s references and bits and gags that rely on period as well. One of the jokes between James and Bruce is their love of “Waterworld,” which they watch on a laserdisc (yes, I still have a player and a collection of laserdiscs). It is clearly a love letter to that period of time when life was simpler and complicated in different ways before the advent of the smartphone, tablets and laptops. The absurdity of the zombie plague being caused by tainted soy milk takes a back seat to the relationship between the three characters, and Rory, the delivery person who happens to be an old acquaintance of Bruce, makes for a nice distraction.

The film has a rather dry pacing, and even Bruce’s chaotic moments come at a slower pace. There is an overall malaise that you would expect from the zombies. Somehow it all works and becomes engaging. Each actor brings elements to their performances that make for likable and sympathetic characters, even Bruce. It’s a great ensemble cast, but I have to say actor Danny Mondello creates this memorable character that could have easily been cliched but comes off fresh and memorable, like an early Joe Pesci performance. Actor Chris Parnell received a nice amount of screen time, with an additional scene during the credits, and it would have been nice to see a bit more of Pam Grier.

I enjoyed the cinematography, costumes and production designs that captured the period. The editing sustained my viewing engagement. The zombie make up and designs are simple and effective, as well as the special effects, with nothing too gorey. I liked Michl Britsch’s score. It enhanced the comedic tones of the film and added slightly more energy to the film.

AS WE KNOW IT is a relationship comedy set against the backdrop of a zombie outbreak taking place in Los Angeles. The film is kind of a 90’s American slacker reworking of “Shaun of the Dead,” with a tone similar to Jim Jarmusch’s “The Dead Don't Die,” but without some of the film’s more bizarre moments. A fun and mildly funny trip down memory lane with some likable characters who take center stage over the zombies. Monkarsh does a nice job with the material but given his film credits to date I’m not sure when and if will see Monkarsh venturing into the horror genre again soon.

CAST: Mike Castle, Oliver Cooper, Taylor Blackwell, Chris Parnell, Pam Grier, and Danny Mondello. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Producer - Josh Monkarsh; Screenplay - Brandon DePaolo & Christopher Francis; Producers - Daniel Cummings, K. Asher Levin & Joshua Fruehling; Cinematographer - Stephen St. Peter; Score - Michl Britsch; Editors - Yvonne Valdez & Rebecca Weigold; Production Designer - Lorus Allen; Costume Designer - Zoe Poledouris-Roche; Special Effects - John McConnell; VFX Supervisor - Kevin Vanhook. OFFICIAL: https://asweknowitmovie.com/ FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/-0U1pgXaygk?si=MqlxM792N7xDsdPX RELEASE DATE: Nov. 10th New York City, Chicago, Seattle; Nov. 15th Los Angeles; Nov. 17th Boston; Dec. 1st Calabasas.

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[barkercast]

466 : JS77 – C1E25 ‘Hell’s Event Part 1’

Welcome to the Clive Barker Podcast, and part 25 of our Dungeons and Dragons game, Jericho Squad 77, set in the capitol city of Yzordderrex in the second dominion. 

Hearing news about a mysterious race against the Hells with the leadership of squad 77 on the line, the team Investigates Beatrix and learns why this race is happening, and how it involves Chur ‘Do’Vir’s pact with the Gulfs. 

During the Break

Sponsor : Don Bertram’s Celebrate Imagination | Pinterest | ETSY Store

Take a look at “The Sun Watchers” and  “The Descendant“

Check Out his videos going over the original painting “The Bug Brothers” and his intro to the 35th Anniversary screening of Hellraiser.

Check Out the Art of Asya Yordanova and Bird Ninja Art (Shayla Sackinger)

Maps of the Reconciled Dominions and Yzordderrex by Marco Staines of @MarcStaineArt

Ben Warren Composer

Little Spark Films

Deathworld – https://igg.me/at/deathworldlivespostpro/x#/

For the Love of Grindhouse

The BarkerCast Interviews : Occupy Midian

The BarkerCast TeePublic Store

Eureka AirBnB

Patreon

The Cast

With Catalina Querida as Musette

Joe Manco as Ralph Merrye

Jose Leitao as Chur’ Do’ Vir

Lori Bische as Anastasia (Zoe) Mason

Matt Williams as Richard Smitty

And Ryan Danhauser as the DM

 With Technical Producer Rob Danhauser

Opening Theme by Ben Warren

In-Game Music by Tabletop Audio

Catalina Querida on Instagram

Little Spark Films

Patreon Members Shout-Out (Become a Patron)

David Anderson

Erik Van T’ Holt

Daniel Elven

Amanda Stewart

Returning Sponsor: Don Bertram’s Celebrate Imagination 

What’s New for our Patreon Subscribers

A Story With No Title, A Street with No Name

BarkerCast Recap: A Conversation With Editor and Author Stephen Jones

Patreon Special: Thank you for Being Here

The Process of Posting an Episode

Coming Soon: The Bookclub of Blood 

Coming Next

 Retro Review of 4K Rawhead Rex

More Boom Hellraiser comics discussion 

Hellraiser Quartet of Torment Coverage

And this podcast, having no beginning will have no end. 

web www.clivebarkercast.com

iOS App| Android App, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Stitcher, Spotify, Pandora, Libsyn, Tunein, iHeart Radio, Pocket Casts, Google Play, Radio.com, DoubleTwist and YouTube and Join the Occupy Midian group

Twitter: @BarkerCast| @OccupyMidian

Support the show, Buy a T-Shirt

All Links and show notes in their Entirety can be found at http://www.clivebarkercast.com

Music is by Ray Norrish

New episode of the Clive Barker Podcast

[mariacallous]

Reports that Keir Starmer has moved a portrait of Margaret Thatcher in Downing Street put me in two minds. On the one hand it could be nothing; on the other it could be the inciting incident for a major disaster drama. You know the sort of thing from TV – cold open on flashing scenes of unimaginable chaos, political besiegement and high-octane anguish, by which the viewer is provoked to think, “Stone me, how on earth did we get here?” Cue a black screen and the words: “SIX MONTHS EARLIER”. And then an immediate cut to a cheery aide going, “Morning, PM! Just had a classic silly season call about some Thatcher portrait story. Anything in it?”

In case you are not familiar with said portrait story, which after all only broke on Thursday evening while you may have been enjoying your God-given freedom to an August evening in a pub garden (more on that later), it runs as follows: a portrait of Margaret Thatcher was commissioned by Gordon Brown and unveiled in the presence of its subject in 2009, and since then has apparently hung above the mantelpiece in a Downing Street room unofficially known as the Thatcher Room. Then this week, Tom Baldwin, Starmer’s biographer, told a Glasgow book festival that he’d had a meeting with Starmer in the room shortly after he’d taken office, and remarked that it was “a bit unsettling” having “her” looking down. He says Starmer agreed, whereupon Baldwin asked him if he was going to get rid of it. The PM apparently nodded. “And,” concluded this Baldwin anecdote, “he has.”

Alas, that which delights the Scottish book festival circuit garners mixed reviews elsewhere. “OUTRAGE AS STARMER REMOVES MAGGIE’S PORTRAIT,” thunders today’s Daily Mail splash, resurrecting a rolling obsession with this sort of thing. Back in 2012, the erroneous claim that Barack Obama had got rid of a bust of Winston Churchill in the White House became a long-running cause célèbre, taken up at various times by Obama haters ranging from then-Apprentice host Donald Trump to then-London mayor Boris Johnson. There is a dedicated page in the National Archives of the Obama administration that addresses this “urban myth” in remorseless detail.

My gut (not on the political Zoe app) tells me that if Thatcher’s portrait is no longer in somewhere called the “Thatcher Room”, this could play out bigger than an interior decor story. Not that Downing Street interior decor stories can’t play out big, of course. Or that, by the time this one has run its course, Starmer mightn’t end up wishing that all he’d done was spaff two hundred grand of someone else’s money on some gold wallpaper and a £3,675 “Nureyev” drinks trolley. (Johnson’s Downing Street was very upstairs-downstairs – the staff wheeled their drinks in a suitcase; he and her ladyship preferred the Nureyev.)

Either way, a cautious Starmer Downing Street probably needs to nip this one in the bud. At this stage the PM has a number of things he could say, including:

1. Fine, I’ll put it back then.

2. Not to throw my biographer under the bus, but he’s totally wrong about this, so … bring on the bus.

3. I haven’t moved it; I’m just having it professionally cleaned.

4. I haven’t moved it; I’m just having it professionally cleaned by that Spanish lady who “restored” the fresco of Jesus in her local church. We think Monkey Thatcher looks better than the original.

5. I have had it moved – to our bedroom. Vic and I wanted it above our bed.

6. I have had it moved. Where better for the Iron Lady than the ironing cupboard?

7. There is no Thatcher Room. Literally doesn’t exist. Debate me.

8. There is a Thatcher Room but the Thatcher picture in it has weirdly completely vanished. We think it might have been swallowed into the upside-down version of Downing Street, like in Stranger Things.

9. The portrait has been replaced by a beautiful one of me. Which – and does this seem odd to you? – seems to develop a new wrinkle every time I appoint a donor to a civil service role.

10. Let’s face it, I’ll be moving that one too as my time in office wears on.

As for what, if true, the portrait story would tell us about our new prime minister, it certainly wouldn’t indicate that he lacks pettiness. Nor would it speak volumes about Starmer’s political foresight, in a week where he has seemed bent on doubling down on his long-term appearance of sympathy with the killjoy tendency. Maybe it was “winter is coming” week on the news grid. The PM began with a speech trailing budget misery that called to mind Enver Hoxha’s famous 1967 new year address, when the Albanian leader informed his people: “This year will be harder than last year. On the other hand, it will be easier than next year.” Then, in Berlin, Starmer poured cold water on the idea of free movement for the under-30s, before returning to confirm a leaked story suggesting he was pressing ahead with an outdoor smoking ban.

As opposition leader, Starmer always seemed most comfortable when telling off his opposite number. We can all agree that particular succession of prime ministers had much to be told off about – but he will have rather less success if the British public come to feel they are the ones being tutted at. Incidentally, while I have been typing this, I note Starmer’s spokesman has disdainfully declared he will not comment on the interior of No 10. We’ll see how long that one lasts. In the meantime, he has handily reminded himself that all prime ministers end up in the attic one way or another.

[greensparty]

Movie Reviews: The Greatest Hits / Civil War

This week I got to review two very different films:

The Greatest Hits

This week sees the Hulu release of the recent SXSW hit The Greatest Hits, a romantic drama fantasy. What got my attention was star Lucy Boynton, who has very quietly become a standout in multiple films notably the dream girl in Sing Street, which I named my #1 Movie of 2016. She is widely known for playing Freddie Mercury's fiance in Bohemian Rhapsody, an uneven music biopic, but no denying the lead performances. Here, she is the lead carrying the movie. No second billing 'cause she's a star now!

movie poster

Boynton plays Harriet, a woman who is still mourning the passing of her boyfriend Max. She is finding that certain songs can transport her back to a particular place and time - literally. Upon hearing a song on the radio or in a coffee shop, she goes back to a point and time in the relationship. This causes her to go through her entire record collection and note which albums do and don't have that effect. Then while at her support group, she meets David, who is dealing with loss of his own. They hit it off, but she's having trouble letting go of the past and pondering if she should change the past too.

Music geekdom in pop culture is usually male-driven, which is why the TV version of High Fidelity, where Zoe Kravitz took over the John Cusack role in the film, was so exciting. The idea of a female-driven music geek movie about a protagonist who browses record stores and organizes her record collection is something pop culture should catch up with. Why does it have to be male-driven movies about music geeks? I say this as a male music geek who frequents record stores and organizes my music collection! But in terms of this movie, I think I liked the idea of it better than the actuality. The movie itself had an interesting concept about the way that a song can take you back to another place and time, but then it just fell into romantic tear-jerker tropes. But the thing is I really wanted to like this, especially since Boynton deserves a star-vehicle of her own.

For info on The Greatest Hits

2.5 out of 5 stars

Civil War

British author / writer / director Alex Garland has had a mixed bag as a writer/director. His 1996 book The Beach was adapted by Danny Boyle in 2000, which had its moments but more or less became a star vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio. That lead to Garland's screenwriting with Boyle directing 28 Days Later and Sunshine. For the former, I dug the first two-thirds and then it fell apart in the last third. However I will say that there's an alternate ending on the DVD that they didn't film, but show the storyboards with voiceover and that would've been a much stronger ending and movie as a whole. The later I don't remember too well, but remember liking it when I saw it. Over the last decade, Garland has brought his dystopian bleak view of the world to the director's seat with mixed results. His best work IMHO was 2014's Ex Machina, which came out just as Siri and Alexa were becoming commonplace and had something to say about AI. If Stanley Kubrick was alive in the 2010s, that's exactly the kind of movie he would've made (NOTE: I said "kind of" not "exactly like"). Now Garland's back with another bleak future, this one about the Divided States of America in Civil War, which opens this week from A24.

movie poster

In a war-torn U.S., there's a civil war raging with some states resisting the current president (a wasted Nick Offerman, who is barely in it). In NYC, veteran war photographer Lee (Kirsten Dunst) is covering a protest and saves Jesse (Cailee Spaeny), a young photographer just starting out who is actually a fan of Lee's. The next day Lee and her journalist partner Joel (Wagner Moura) are getting ready to drive from NYC to D.C. in the midst of this chaos in hopes of scoring an interview with the president before the rebels get to the White House first. Along for the ride is Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), an older New York Times reporter, and to Lee's dismay, Jesse. Along the way, they see a lot in this dystopian horror-show. Lee and her team get up close for their coverage. As Lee says in the movie (not a spoiler) their job is not to ask questions, just to photograph and let others ask questions.

I had a lot of issues with this movie. First of all, it only scratched the surface. This movie brings up some hot button issues and it's being released in an election year and yet it doesn't really dive too deep only scratches the surface. The film gives no context as to how any of this happened. I don't need everything answered for me in a movie and I'm all for ambiguity when it works, but this just seemed like a missed opportunity. There could've been something to say about the left and the right and where that leaves the middle ground or something to say about Trump waging war on the press, but instead it said, well, not too much. Kirsten Dunst, who is always reliable, was easily the highlight of the film. She is among the greatest child actors who continued to deliver great performances as an adult. Between all of her collaborations with Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette, and The Beguiled), the excellent Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Melancholia (an uneven movie but truly elevated by Dunst), TV's Fargo, and her Oscar-nominated performance in The Power of the Dog, she has quite an impressive filmography. And did I mention she was excellent as MJ in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy! Here, she pulls off an internalized role of a hardened veteran. It's all in her eyes with this performance. But the biggest issue I have with Civil War is that is trying to be deep, profound and meaningful...and by the end it felt like - that's it?!?! Axl Rose singing "what's so civil about war anyways?" was more deep than this!

For info on Civil War

2 out of 5 stars

[zoehennesseystyle]

How to Find an Affordable Wardrobe Stylist in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is synonymous with glamour, fashion, and style. From the glitzy Hollywood red carpets to the trendy streets of Venice Beach, the city exudes an aura of fashionable sophistication. If you're looking to elevate your personal style, a wardrobe stylist can be your secret weapon. Zoe Hennessey, a notable name in the industry, offers a solution that combines expertise and affordability. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of finding an affordable wardrobe stylist in Los Angeles, using Zoe Hennessey as a prime example.

1. Research and Reputation When searching for an affordable wardrobe stylist, start by researching professionals with a strong reputation in the industry. Zoe Hennessey, for instance, is known for her versatile skills and extensive experience. A stylist's reputation often reflects their ability to deliver quality services at reasonable rates.

2. Customizable Services Affordability doesn't mean sacrificing personalized service. A skilled wardrobe stylist should offer customizable packages that cater to your specific needs and budget. Zoe Hennessey, renowned for her adaptable approach, provides clients with options that align with their requirements while maintaining affordability.

3. Portfolio Evaluation Review the portfolio of potential wardrobe stylists to assess their styling range and aesthetics. Zoe Hennessey's portfolio showcases a diverse array of styles, demonstrating her ability to work with different looks and preferences. Choosing a stylist with a varied portfolio ensures they can create a style that resonates with your individuality.

4. Testimonials and Client Feedback Client testimonials are invaluable resources when evaluating a wardrobe stylist's capabilities. Positive feedback from satisfied clients, like those of Zoe Hennessey, can provide insights into their professionalism and ability to understand and execute their clients' visions.

5. Consultation Process An affordable wardrobe stylist should offer a thorough consultation process that allows them to understand your goals and preferences. Zoe Hennessey's consultation approach ensures that clients' voices are heard, enabling her to provide tailored recommendations that suit both style aspirations and budget considerations.

6. Mix of High and Low Fashion Achieving a stylish look doesn't necessarily require a closet full of high-end designer pieces. Zoe Hennessey, and other skilled wardrobe stylists, know how to blend high and low fashion to create chic and budget-friendly ensembles. By integrating affordable and statement pieces, you can achieve a balanced and distinctive style without overspending.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Style with an Affordable Wardrobe Stylist Navigating the dynamic fashion scene of Los Angeles doesn't have to be financially burdensome. With the guidance of an affordable wardrobe stylist like Zoe Hennessey, you can unlock your style potential without breaking the bank. By researching reputations, evaluating portfolios, and considering client testimonials, you can identify a stylist who can cater to your individual needs while maintaining affordability.

Zoe Hennessey's expertise showcases that you don't need to compromise on quality to stay within your budget. Through customizable services, effective consultation, and a mix of high and low fashion, you can achieve a polished and refined look that aligns with your lifestyle and aspirations.

In a city where fashion is a way of life, enlisting the services of an affordable wardrobe stylist can be your ticket to feeling confident, stylish, and empowered. So, whether you're attending a Hollywood event or strolling along the iconic streets of LA, a skilled wardrobe stylist can help you put your best foot forward without straining your wallet. Let Zoe Hennessey and others like her guide you on a journey to unlocking your style potential while keeping your budget intact.

Source From: https://zoehennessey.wordpress.com/2023/10/04/how-to-find-an-affordable-wardrobe-stylist-in-los-angeles/

[handelplayssims]

Autumn woke up at 3:30 and pissed. She is hot-headed. She is a Good Sim, but also Hot-headed. So she wants to rile someone up. That someone dropped by as she was trying to set fire to some dirty leaves. After that, and kicking the trash can, she wants to volunteer. Let’s head on out then! Got a pop up of trying to return a lost wallet...which failed miserably as she instead got accused of stealing it. Welp. Freddie is awake and wanting to purchase a dishwasher. Man, this house has lots of trinkets and stuff. Bills are going to be expensive. Next is to dance to stereo music but that’s apart of his aspiration. Which is...introducing himself to others and having friends. ...to the neighbors Dang, Curtis Koeing is a notable newcomer so I can’t introduce myself to him. But I can at least talk to Supriya Delgato! ...okay I’m going to return home to try to repeal the We Wear Bags. Just a ridiculous NAP in general. The Delgato family pets all wore hats though, so I find that funny.

Bills arrived. OYE! 18 thousand! ...I’m going to cheat this household the money for these bills. They are rich! ...just not immediately so. (Yes this is me not wanting to move them out) Anyway, NAP repealing is going well! Plenty of signatures from around the food stall. And some folks around the home. Autumn returned home and exams went...not great. Alas. Well, we just moved in so eh. All repeal signatures got! Huzzah for active streets!

So onto Freddie’s aspiration, we’ve invited Mitchell Kalani to hang out. After a few more socials, we gained his friendship! Meanwhile, Autumn wants to beat someone in a game and I bought a video game console for her! Let’s go and win a party game against Freddie...and success! Time for her influncing job to start up. It’s time to...make a lifestyle review. With that you just need to click on an object around a home and make a review of it. Made one of the gym equipment. I should get the video editing thing from Get Famous. That’d pair well with this job. Autumn’s going to bed and Freddie is going to dance! ...and then go to bed. Nothing of note on Neighborhood Watch.

Now is the time to mention how strong Social Bunny is for making friends. Just by reacting to messages people post, I actually managed to get Zoe up to being a friend and getting Freddie past his first stage of his aspiration. That being said, I still want to befriend J Huntington for him. And he wants to chat about his stuff so I’ll invite him over. Autumn wants to rile someone up and then make someone happy. Conflicting wants there! Riled up and now we’ll head on over to our neighbors house to befriend Pierce. Easily done with a few socials and chatting a little. Friend made! Time to make another! We’ve got two guy friends so lets make a gal friend. Time to recall who I spotted at school… lets go for Olivia Kim-Lewis! Found out she’s a goofball and gained an adoring sentiment somehow with our chatter. Let’s see, that’s enough teen befriending for now. Let’s go home and check back in on Freddie.

Autumn got a text for prom prep but alas, I misclicked. Ah well. Freddie wants to buy an object worth a 1000 or have a drink at the club. To the club! (Also what the heck would I purchase? This house is too furnished!) School’s custodian Tai Lum is now a mixologist. Welp. And hey! The food stall dude I asked for a vote from is here! Ian Pearson. He’s squeemish, lazy and as I just found out since I flirted with him, unflirty. Welp. Ooh, and I chatted with Tai, since he’s also a snob and giving that snob buff. To the dance floor and- there’s more bros and snobs around! First being Belle Brandt, that lady with my first household on this blog! Second being the bro named Augustus Copur, a professor at Britechester. Oh evidently he’s unemployed now. Alas!

Got prom notification and eh, don’t feel like it. Let’s continue socalizing and befriending folks with Freddie! You had the morning Autumn, now let’s have Freddie have some fun. Whim now is to bro hug a bro and despite being surrounded by bros, he only knows of one. To the Roomies! To bro hug Mitchell! Which we have done so! And found out that he is Outgoing as well. Anyway, might as well offer a massage to someone since that’s his way of money making. J Huntington! You’ll do! Now let’s head home.

Hmm, Autumn still has the gain followers on social bunny and make someone happy. I think, it’s time to bust out the media production and video edit! Herbalism, Kids, Mixology and Dazed Vlogs are trending. So uh, let’s work on mixology shall we? Mixology video recorded, now time to check:

Neighborhood Watch!

Forgotten Hollow: The Iosua household recently moved out.

[awardswatcherik]

Bleecker Street acquires North American rights to Marc Turtletaub’s sci-fi comedy 'Jules' starring Ben Kingsley, Jane Curtin and Harriet Sansom Harris

Bleecker Street has acquired the North American rights to Jules from director Marc Turtletaub (Puzzle) and starring Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler’s List), Harriet Sansom Harris (Licorice Pizza),  Zoe Winters (HBO’s Succession), Jade Quon (Transformers: The Last Knight) and Jane Curtin (NBC’s 3rd Rock From the Sun). Written by Gavin Steckler (Review), Jules made its world…

[zhibenep]

Statement on Zhiben Certificate Misappropriation by Some Unscrupulous Companies

Recently, we have discovered that some unscrupulous merchants have stolen our company certificates to deceive global buyers, including OK Home Compost, BRC, LFGB, etc. Here we solemnly declare that in order to safeguard commercial laws, industry ethics, and customer rights, Zhiben reserves the right to resort to legal means. And warn all customers who are interested in the Zhiben and pulp industry, pay attention to check the authenticity of the certificate when communicating with the merchant, and confirm the consistency between the certificate number and the company. For customers who have been deceived, we express our deep sympathy, and we welcome all parties to review the company's qualifications, certificates, and welcome to visit. The following are the addresses of factories under the jurisdiction of Zhiben Group and the contact information of the headquarters. Please contact us. Zhiben Group Head Office: Rm.801, Bldg.1, Phoenix Bldg. No. 2008, Shennan Rd, Futian Dist. shenzhen, 518038 China Attn: Ms Zoe Wang Email: Zoe@ZhibenEP.com   Chongqing factory:  (Zhaojia Group, Puli New District) Qingqiao Community, Zhaojia Street, Kaizhou District, Chongqing, China Dongguan factory: No. 13, Xinyang Road, Lincun, Tangxia Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China 523711 Read the full article

[zoestreet]

Zoestreet is a well known studio that have more than 4 years experience of providing top quality streetwear, luxurious shoes and bags. He has professional customer service, strict quality check and shipping team. He ship to many countries in European, North America, and Australia. He have a very attractive album(zoestreet.x.yupoo.com) where you can find many top quality fashion stuff. The website is being updated almost every day about the latest street fashion wear, but it do not support placing order online, because its only a picture sharing website, not support ordering online. If you are instrested in the products, you need to contact his whatsapp for information about pricing, ordering and shipping. And if you need other stuff that are in the website, you can send pictures to him, he may find it for you. No matter you are teenager, youth or the middle-aged. Only if you are pursuer of high street fashion. Save his website to your bookmark. and become a part of ZoeStreet follower.

[fearsmagazine]

SAW THE MUSICAL: THE UNAUTHORIZED PARODY OF SAW - Review

DATES: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 to Jan 1st, 2024 COMPANY: Cooper Jordan Entertainment THEATER: AMT Theatre, 345 West 45th Street, new York, NY ACTORS: Bart Shatto, Adam Parbhoo, Jill Owen, and Donnell Johnson. CREW: Created by Cooper Jordan; Book Zoe Ann Jordan; Music & lyrics by Patrick Spencer & Anthony De Angelis; Directed by Stephanie Rosenberg; Music direction by Leigh Pomeranz; Sound Designer Ryan Gravett; Fight Director Dan Renkin; Production Manager Sarah Thurmond; Production Stage Manager Gabrielle P. Guagenti

SYNOPSIS: “SAW The Musical captures the events of the first movie, parodying the Saw that started it all. Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight find each other for the first time in the bathroom trap. Will they follow "the rules" as they discover each other's secrets? Will they escape the game in time and “saw” right through? A love story with fluidity (and lots more fluids), SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody pushes the boundary on sexuality and how to love.” -Press Release

REVIEW: Even though they are related, there's a fine line between comedy, parody and satire. A satire can be painful, and not necessarily in a good way. SAW THE MUSICAL: THE UNAUTHORIZED PARODY OF SAW, after a run in Philadelphia comes to New York Off-Broadway this Halloween season.

The plot follows that of James Wan & Leigh Whannell 2004 film and mixes in a healthy bunch of musical numbers and satire. One of the key driving forces of the satire is the quickly blossoming sexual tension between Adam and Dr. Gordon. Other characters from the film, Jigsaw, Amanda and Zep receive some coverage and you can’t have “Saw” without the puppet, even making an appearance on a tricycle. The sexual innuendos felt crafted more for shock value than to be witty, as they fell flat on this viewer’s ears and seemed more sophomoric than cleaver.

In contrast, several of the songs were funny and witty, several feeling also sophomoric. As a fan of Monty Python, I’m also a fan of their song book. They could be off-color and vulgar, but had sharp witted lyrics and you understood the satire. Songs like “Saw Right Through,” "I'm Your Heroine," “I Want to Play a Game,” and “Pig in a Wig” come close, while songs like “Filthy Things” felt like they were pounding home the joke at the audience’s expense. The musical tracks were played over a nice sound system. However, there were a few times where the singers were off key. Actress Jill Owen had some of the best musical numbers in the show, but alas she was off key a few times.

The trio of actors are put through their paces with numerous scene changes and custom swaps that leave them little time to catch their breath between songs. During the performance I attended the blackouts were rather long and one of them they rest the musical cue as the actors were not ready by the end of the first go round. The production felt a bit chaotic as the costumes and props constantly felt a tad out of place. At one point the puppet seemed to be falling apart.

I went into SAW THE MUSICAL: THE UNAUTHORIZED PARODY OF SAW with a clean slate, no expectations, hoping for a few good laughs. There were times I felt the play dragging, the energy levels dipping between musical numbers. I didn’t have a bad time, just not a good one. Granted it is an Off-Broadway production, staged in a black box theater, and there were some likable things about the production. The level of the performance I attended felt more like an off-off-off Broadway production and left me feeling less invigorated and feeling more like I needed a nap. It could have been an off night, as I saw the play a week prior to its opening night, but I still have a few issues with the writing that make for a lackluster recommendation.

SAW THE MUSICAL: THE UNAUTHORIZED PARODY OF SAW begins performances on September 16, 2023, at AMT Theater, located at 345 West 45th Street. It will play on Saturdays at 11 PM and Sundays at 5 PM (after 2pm & 8pm Broadway curtains come down), running 100 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are $41-$113 (incl. fees). Extremely limited “Super Saw VIP Front Row Seats” including The Bathroom Mirror Merch Box are available for every performance for $113 total ($110 + $3 fee), VIP Front Rows A-B at $98 ($95 + $3 fee), Premium at $78 ($75 + $3 fee), Orchestra at $61 ($58 + $ 3 fee) & Rear Orchestra / Mezz at $41 ($38 plus $3 fee) and are available by visiting SawtheMusical.com or at the AMT Theater Box Office in person or by calling 646-543-4385. All VIP Seats include “Pictures with Pigs in Wigs” on Stage following the performance.

Review By: Joseph B Mauceri

[newyorkthegoldenage]

The Algonquin Round Table Onstage

One hundred years ago today, on April 30, 1922, members of the Algonquin Round Table rented the 49th Street Theater for the evening and invited their friends to a satirical revue called No Siree. Its name was a takeoff on that of an immensely popular revue called La Chauve-Souris. Each performer chose his or her guests, ensuring an enthusiastic audience.

Heywood Broun was the MC. The first number was a parody of Eugene O’Neill’s plays Anna Christie and The Hairy Ape called The Greasy Hag (music by Arthur Samuels, played by Jascha Heifetz, no less). It featured an all-male chorus line of F.P.A. (Franklin P. Adams), Robert Benchley, Marc Connelly, George S. Kaufman, John Peter Toohey (a theatrical press agent), and Alexander Woollcott. The setting was up to the audience, multiple choice:

According to Connelly, the sketch included “a line so full of swear words that no one would quote it in mixed company” (the Twenties weren’t that far off from the Victorian Age).

The next number was He Who Gets Flapped, a not-so-subtle play on the title of a current drama called He Who Gets Slapped. It featured an original song by Dorothy Parker and Deems Taylor, “The Everlastin’ Ingenue Blues,” which included the lines

We are little flappers, never growing up, And we’ve all of us been flapping since Belasco was a pup. We’ve got the blues, we mean the blues, You’re the first to hear the devastating news. We’d like to take a crack at playing Lady Macbeth, But we’ll whisper girlish nothings with our dying breath. As far as we’re concerned, there is no sting in death We’ve got those everlasting ingénue blues.

It was sung by the 6’8” Robert Sherwood, in white flannels, blazer, and bowler, surrounded by petite chorus girls who included Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Ruth Gillmore, Lenore Ulric, and Mary Brandon (whom Sherwood married later that year).

Above: Dorothy Parker in 1924 and Robert Sherwood in 1928.

Robert Benchley delivered a monologue (which was left off the program, to surprise the audience) that he had thought up in the cab on the way to the theater: a rambling, disjointed report delivered by an ill-prepared company treasurer at a meeting of the board of directors. It was so big a hit that it was filmed six years later, thus beginning a new career for Benchley in Hollywood. It was included, in modified form, in the 1943 film The Sky’s the Limit:

Other highlights of the program included a spoof of popular playwrights Zoe Akins, called “Zowie, or the Curse of an Akins Heart,” and A.A. Milne, called “Mr. Whim Passes By.” After the show, cast and audience (i.e., their friends) went to a party at the home of Herbert Swope, the editor of the NY World (newspaper), who often played poker with members of the Round Table. It lasted till 4:00 a.m.

A review in the Times the next day called the show silly and amateurish, but a later critic theorized that it marked a turning point in the Vicious Circle, ending their apprenticeship phase and moving into more serious comedy.

Photos: Painting of the Algonquin Round Table by Milton Yarensky via the Great Neck Record;  Dorothy Parker by Vandamm via NYPL; Robert Sherwood by Vandamm via Wikipedia; program from Ashcroft & Moore Auctions

[spacejellyfish3]

Ms. Marvel Review

Episode 1: Generation Why

argduysghiosruigjiZARYSGXXGOSHJHDA

um…

I loved it? very sorry to my past self but this shit slaps.

this is my everything; though I have my fair share of grievances, Ms. Marvel nevertheless joyously encapsulates not only what made the original comic so incredible but especially what made it so important and impactful to me and countless Muslims and South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African people thanks to some very strong writing, beautiful direction and fantabulous visuals, and a truly stunning, shining, performance by Iman Vellani.

the show is vibrant in a way that’s completely alien to the bland unseasoned look of the broader MCU, free flowing and brightly spewing spirals of wonder in every scene. Kamala’s larger than life fantasies explode into manifested reality, fantastic drawings streaking off paper notebooks to glide across street corners and concrete walls, segueing scenes bringing life to imagined escapades.

unlike other MCU projects which strive to tie down the high flying stories of its comic book superheroics and ground them in a relatively strict version of our real world, Ms. Marvel operates under a completely opposite philosophy; presenting a real world from its titular heroine’s jubilantly quirky perspective—shamelessly embracing the odd, fantastical sensibilities of the superhero genre—finding intimacy and reality instead in the personal relationships and conversations of its central characters.

that is not to say that there aren’t issues with the show; there are quite a few, most evident with this episode is regarding the power change (which I’ve been getting more and more okay with as time passes but still leaves a bad taste in my mouth) and the prioritization of Kamala’s nerd fandom and interests—certainly important aspects of her character I'm ecstatic to see spotlighted—over her insecurities and struggles with internalized racism, undercutting key character and narrative points. this is best exemplified in bane of my existence location AvengersCon and the rescue of Zoe Zimmerman; where in the comic Kamala saving a drunk Zoe from drowning at the docks is grand and impactful for both characters and their development, the sequence at AvengersCon is shorter, much more contrived, and, though still somewhat resonant, feels a bit emotionally insignificant in comparison.

regardless, most of my worries and sadness have been alleviated and my happiness is impossible to articulate in its totality right now. despite its flaws, this undeniably the best thing the MCU has ever produced and I cannot wait for what’s to come.