thephantomchronicles

[thephantomchronicles]

like butterflies and glitter?

[thephantomchronicles]

Heeey! Have you watched the original pilot of The Thundermans? What do you think about it?

I have! I am probably a little biased but I'm glad we got the show we did😅 I don't know what the original idea was going to evolve into and it could have been good, but once again, the show for me is Phoebe and Max and when I watched that pilot I was like, something is missing here😂

If we're talking about more specific things, I think it was smart that they didn't make Phoebe so OP mainly because what super villain could stand against her then and have an actual chance of challenging her? Phoebe and Max already are kind of OP to the point where every villain has to have some specific thing that renders some of their powers useless (I think Kira was talking about it in an interview too) so giving Phoebe every single super power might have made everything too easy if that makes sense, when now they have to figure out more intricate plans to save the day.

I also didn't like that the older brother's story was pretty much separate from the rest of the kids, I feel like we didn't get to know how they all interact together while in the actual pilot you start to get an idea about their personalities and relationships. Also, I love Billy and Nora but I think they were too young compared to Phoebe for her to have someone to banter with the entire episode. She's trying to keep the secret from Cherry, but again it feels like there's something missing, like Phoebe doesn't have anyone to help her there (not to say that Max was actually helpful in the pilot😂).

I am guessing creating Max was what changed the story from Phoebe telling Cherry the truth to keeping it a secret too. She would need someone to banter with and get into silly shenanigans who knew she has powers and an older brother maybe wouldn't be around as easy? I don't remember how many years apart they were supposed to be to be honest, but I think they unlocked many potential storylines with making them twins.

I did like the idea of him not having powers and what that could mean. Will he get them later? Will he get them at all? Is there any animosity between him and Phoebe when she has too many powers? There could be many ideas there, but again we didn't really see them interact that much so I don't know what their relationship would even be like.

To be honest, I can't imagine the show being so different with Phoebe not caring about being a superhero and Max not being there at all, I think they made the right choice with changing things up.

Also the house. I'm just so glad they changed the house😅

[thephantomchronicles]

two ghosts :P

[thephantomchronicles]

JULIE MOLINA & LUKE PATTERSON Julie and the Phantoms 1.06

[thephantomchronicles]

How do you think Max is perceived by the rest of the cast? (Phoebe, his parents and siblings, Allison, his band mates...) I've always wondered how Nora, Billy and Chloe relate to him after Secret Revealed, for example.

Oooh I love this question!

Okay I’m gonna start from the end - I think his band never really changed opinions on him. They knew him as supervillain for literally five minutes and he quickly turned over to the hero side so I don’t think it changed much? It was established that the guys really care for Max and even that Max really cares for them so I don’t think they ever saw him as anything other than one of their best friends from beginning to end.

I’m gonna be honest, I really liked Max with Allison. I loved who Max was with Allison and the fact that she was always pretty straightforward about everything, not letting him get away with avoiding the difficult stuff. Sudden break up aside, I liked what they had and I liked that she always saw him for who he was and liked him for who he was and pushed him to actually try and be better.

Nora, Billy and Chloe I think can all go together since their reactions are pretty similar - I don’t think they ever took the whole super villain thing seriously but mostly in a 'they are very young' kind of way. I think it was always like, oh yes Max is a supervillain sure, without really realizing what that meant other than crazy inventions that were actually fun to play with and Max going up against Phoebe any chance he got and breaking the rules. 'Secret Revealed' was a big thing and if Max hadn't gone back to being a superhero we would be talking about something very different, but I don’t think the way they perceive him changes after that. It’s still fan gadgets and silly shenanigans for them.

Listen, I love Hank and Barb and I know things are played for laughs because it’s a kid's show, I do, however if we were ever to take it seriously, they are a very big part of the reason why Max and Phoebe have the insecurities they do. They love Max, one hundred percent, I am not arguing with that, and they keep saying that he’s going through a phase because this doesn’t make sense to them any other way. However they are also very quick to lose faith in him even though they say they don’t believe he is evil. It’s a weird balance between, yes of course he is a hero he is just acting out, but they also don’t really do anything to change that. They don’t think he is evil - and I could argue for days how he never really is - but they are also very quick to believe that he actually is in certain cases (and that goes for evil!Phoebe as well and how quick they were to say, well this is just how things are now)

And saved the best for last, Phoebe. So many things I could say, I will try to be brief.

Phoebe sees the good in everyone, and I love her for that, and she’s absolutely been seeing the good in Max from the beginning. They basically constantly clash with each other and he is a jerk to her multiple times, but she never does lose faith that he will help her out in the end or that he will somehow be on her side even when he pretends he is not. She helps him out even though she doesn’t have to and I don’t believe for a second that she ever thought he was genuinely evil. Also the fact that he tells her on 1x01 why he chose to become a supervillain and Phoebe brings it up again in season 3 makes me think she’s actually been thinking about it (because she also has her own insecurities and thoughts but that is a different discussion) and that maybe on a level she recognizes certain things about Max the rest of the family doesn’t. And in that way Max relies on her as well, because on some level he knows he’s got Phoebe on his side and every time he’s taken it a step too far he’s been quick to fix it because he doesn’t want to lose her support.

And I think that’s why 'Secret Revealed' hurts, because Phoebe never really saw her brother as a genuine supervillain and she suddenly has to face the fact that maybe he is? And what is she supposed to do? And yet in the end she still tries to appeal to the good in him because she knows it’s there, she’s seen it, she knows he doesn’t really want this and she succeeds!

Then they become partners and she starts seeing him as someone she can depend on more and more, they don’t clash as much and they learn how to work together and it all comes to a peak with Phoebe giving up her dream for him because she wanted him to have it.

Moving into movie/undercover era I just love that they are in sync even though they keep saying they aren’t. 'Oh Phoebe always follows the rules and Max doesn’t follow the rules' yeah sure, also they’re the most successful hero league task force, explain that😂

I do think there is a part of Phoebe that always worries Max is going to suddenly change his mind and become villain - if the summer episodes proved anything - but I’m also hoping we’ve finally put that behind us because it doesn’t make sense after everything they’ve been through, okay?😅

All this to say, I don’t doubt she finds Max irresponsible and selfish at times. She still trusts him with her life though and willingly moved into the same house with him - for who knows how long - so they could fight villains together. They will never convince me Phoebe would drop him as a partner.

[thephantomchronicles]

Working on any new Thundermans fics lately? Been anxiously waiting for some by you, I adore your love for angst!

I am!! I just started writing one last night :D I have almost no free time these days so it's been hard to sit down and write anything too long/complicated, but I definitely wanted to write a post 1x19 that's kind of like closure for Max and Phoebe after everything that happened in those six episodes - and especially 1x18. I hope to be able to finish it soon😅

[thephantomchronicles]

Do you have any headcanons for Phoebe and Max? (Not for their relationships as twins, but for them as individual characters)

Ooh, okay the more I thought about it a few things came to mind

I like the idea that they both use their telekinesis without really realizing it even when they shouldn't to the point where they've nearly blown their cover multiple times only for common sense to kick in last second and they actually move to grab something. They essentially spent their entire lives up until they were 14 living freely as super-powered beings with no need to hide and they can make things move with their minds, it would definitely take practice to get used to not using telekinesis in front of others.

I also feel on some level they're both insomniacs. Like Phoebe will pull an all-nighter to study for school or superhero practice and obsess over making sure everything is ready and fine and still somehow be fully rested and ready to take on the day next morning. Max would definitely spend entire nights finishing up crazy inventions and then sleep the entire next day and somehow get out of going to school. - Also side note, Phoebe definitely wakes everyone up in Undercover every morning so they can all get to school. She is definitely the kind of person that says it's 7:30 already when it's 7 because neither Max nor Chloe are cooperating.

On the angstier side - because I have to okay?😅 - Phoebe definitely gets panic attacks from trying to do everything. I can definitely imagine her in the og show freaking out about having to balance school and superhero stuff and keeping their powers a secret and then being protector of Hiddenville too and also trying to help everyone out on a regular basis, but not really realizing it until she's done for the day - was she ever done for the day? - and not telling anyone because she doesn't want people to think she can't handle it. I would say that mentality carries on to the movie but more like - oh wait, people don't think I'm the best anymore, I should do even more to prove I can still handle it - even though that's not really a viable option.

Max is the king of avoiding problems - pretty canon😅 - and acting like he doesn't care but I feel like he would be constantly overanalyzing everything. Not to say that the cool guy persona is all an act, but I definitely think a lot of things cut deeper and he always acts like they don't and I think that goes hand in hand with the fact that he forgives people easily. He would definitely play certain things in his head again and again - especially in his super villain days - and try to convince himself that he doesn't actually care and then never bring it up again and carry on as normal even if it kills him inside a little. There are so many throwaway lines that I feel could have been stuck in his head for days and feed into his insecurity about not being good enough but he never brought it up because he was afraid everyone would tell him he was right.

[thephantomchronicles]

Can we talk about the fact that while the evil chip was short-circuiting evil!Max called Phoebe and Captain Perfect losers, but when he went back to himself he was immediately like, "no I'm sorry, you're not losers, well maybe he is but he's trying"?

Something about still supervillain teenager Max who would have taken every chance to insult Phoebe to superhero adult Max all these years later who wanted to make it clear that he wouldn't call her a loser if he was in his right mind?

[thephantomchronicles]

Oh my god okay, I read the summary too and Phoebe is in the team that takes Chloe into hiding and Max is in the team looking for them?? HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? And they all end up fighting each other?? And we're supposed to wait until next year??

We are getting another movie next year???? I am so hyped, I've missed seeing the whole family together! I'm hoping that means Thundermans Undercover is doing well and also getting a season 2 as well🙏🙏

[thephantomchronicles]

We are getting another movie next year???? I am so hyped, I've missed seeing the whole family together! I'm hoping that means Thundermans Undercover is doing well and also getting a season 2 as well🙏🙏

[thephantomchronicles]

Hi! Saw your reply to my ask, and I wanted to thank you! It was very interesting to read, and I absolutely agree with the fact that Max and Phoebe's relationship is the core of this show: they are very different and very similar at the same time, this paired with the fact that they have, fundamentally, the same values and ambitions makes everything more complicated.

Also, I read essentially all your fics on Ao3? And the characterization is amazing and super accurate? I just love how you portray these two characters and the way they interact with each other!

If you feel like it, I would like to hear your opinion on The Secret Revealed episode! You said that you have problems with it, and I can totally see that: the way Max's character was handled at the end was a bit shallow!

Thank you so so much🥹🥹 I really wanted to keep them show accurate but also like what if it wasn't a kid's show and could actually go into further detail about certain things😅

Also, yes, oh my god I can talk all day about "Secret Revealed" but I'll try not to😅

I completely agree with what you said, the main issue for me is how they essentially handle Max's whole arc in that episode because while I once again really liked what it was building up to, the actual conclusion felt just a little bit flat for me.

I love that they wanted to take it to an extreme, like yes, Max has to actually face the fact that he wants to be a supervillain and that comes with him actually doing pretty evil things. The scene that kills me is when Phoebe takes his powers with the orb, not because I didn't like the actual scene, but mainly because it is never brought up again! Max is literally sitting there saying that he obviously can't take Phoebe's powers away - he realizes he can't really come back from that and no matter how much they clash with each other on everything, he doesn't hate her and he wants her on his side, that has been established throughout the entire season.

But then Phoebe comes out, misunderstands the whole thing, doesn't let him explain and it ends up with her taking his powers. To be fair to Phoebe, it was an accident and not what she was going for BUT she basically says it's better that way, pushes him back and leaves. Again, I completely understand the misunderstanding, Phoebe hears Dark Mayhem's plan, sees Max with the orb and puts two and two together, I get why she overreacted and honestly the scene was pretty good as is the fact that this is what pushes Max over the edge into supervillain territory. He is angry, everyone has pretty much turned against him and he is left alone - with Dark Mayhem as his mentor essentially - and so he does the worst thing he could. The fact that Phoebe still tries to change his mind in the end is a plus and I am glad it is there. He does realize what he is doing, they immediately go into working together to take the villains down and there is the reconciliation in the end.

The thing is that it still falls a little flat for me because the driveway scene IS NEVER BROUGHT UP AGAIN. They went through the trouble to actually have Max basically say that he doesn't want to hurt Phoebe even though that would give him everything he's been saying he wants and they never let Phoebe know in the end. Like the episode ends with Phoebe essentially thinking that Max was going to take her powers away to work with Dark Mayhem even though the show emphasized that that was never the case. Then Max apologizes - which yes, he has a lot of things to apologize for - but even the "everything you've ever done up to this point" feels a bit too much from Phoebe because it feels like saying that Max has never made any good choices up to then and she never says sorry back about taking his powers. But why would she, WHEN SHE DOESN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS NEVER GOING TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I feel like what I'm missing from the show sometimes is the final conversation. Max and Phoebe don't usually get vulnerable with each other unless they're about to die and then they never come back to it again. Sure, they apologize and they say they will do better at the moment, but there's no conversation later to just give them closure. Same thing happened with the prom and again after Phoebe was evil and in the movie - something really big happens that makes them admit things to each other and realize the error of their ways, they say they will change - and to their credit they actually do! - but I feel like I'm always missing that extra last piece in the end where we can get closure while the show usually counts the things said in the moment as enough.

The series finale for example had them "fight" (I don't know if I really count it as a fight? they were mostly separated with Max in the Z-Force) then they reconcile, say some nice things, save the day AND THEN they still talk to each other in the end and say, hey do you want to be partners? Not to mention one of my favorite reconciliation scenes from "floral support" ("smack the book out of my hand") and it's not even that much of a conversation, but it's still perfect closure! It doesn't have to be 10-minute scene, but just a bit of acknowledgement in the end wouldn't hurt, you know?

Bottom line is, they should have talked about the orb and I will be forever sad that they didn't😭

[thephantomchronicles]

Hello! Can I ask you what do you think about Phoebe and Max as characters? Do you think that their characterization in The Thundermans Undercover matches the character development and the personalities that were built during the original show? Also, also, do you have any unpopular opinion about the show? (Sorry! I am just hoping for this show to have a fandom again, hahah!)

Oh my god, please never ever apologize, I would love for the show to have a more energetic fandom as well! Also the way I immediately stopped everything I was doing when I saw this ask is insane, thank you😂

Okay, so many thoughts about everything😅

I have probably said it before, but I will definitely say it again - Max has always been my favorite. Love the character, love the inner struggle, love the arc one hundred percent. I've always liked Phoebe too, how dorky she is, her own struggle with perfectionism and being a superhero and how sometimes going against the rules might be the right thing to do and honestly I love how she's always so ready to do whatever it takes for the people she cares about - even outside of superhero duties - because she genuinely enjoys helping out people, but I think I've also always been a little disappointed with how they wrote some of her storylines. I think the main issue is that this is a kid's show and so many things will be played off for laughs or not really thought through because "it's not supposed to be this deep" but there have been certain lines here and there in a few arcs with Max or certain conversations that should have happened and never did that would have been so perfect to give them closure, but the show was usually like "haha, that's fine" or "it's all Max's fault, bye" (shout out to "Thunder in Paradise" for touching upon the fact that Phoebe's need to be in control of everything can turn against her).

I think the movie did a good job of going a bit further into that whole thing with both of them admitting that even though they are a team now and they work together, they still haven't moved past all the insecurities they have when it comes to one another - Max has always been intimidated by Phoebe to the point where he decided to be a supervillain just to not have to compete for the number one spot, but now he's like, maybe I can just be popular and that will be okay. And Phoebe who was used to being the best at everything her whole life suddenly had to face the fact that her brother is just as good as a superhero and that is throwing her off balance because what does she have left then? And sure, we will never go into too much angsty detail about all of that because it is supposed to be a light-hearted kid's show, but I think they did the best they could and I was pleasantly surprised with the portrayal. The characters still felt like the ones we know and they still have issues they need to overcome that feel real and they make sense because yes, their lives changed drastically, they are now adults, they're not magically okay with everything.

My number one reason I liked the original show has always been the brother - sister relationship between Max and Phoebe. The episodes that focus on them are usually really good, I think they did a great job with how they evolved and changed throughout the seasons and how they went from "I don't want to be associated with you" to "hey, do you want to be a superhero team from now on because I do" like yes, love everything about it. And I love love that they didn't really change their personalities in order to get there or the way they interact - Phoebe is still all about the rules and Max is still ignoring everything that has to do with rules and they clash on so many things but they also work together so great (which has been repeatedly proven) because the other always has their back (also loved that that was - usually - true even when Max was still a supervillain). They still bicker all the time in the new show ("we don't fight, we bicker. it's like arguing, but cuter" is probably my favorite line about them) and they make fun of each other and they prank each other but at the same time there is an obvious change in their dynamic when it comes to how they work as a team.

I was really excited for the new show, although I was definitely worried about how they were going to go about it, but I think so far I have not been disappointed. Again, I am here for the Max and Phoebe of it all and I like that they have not regressed them all the way back to how they were as teenagers. When you are an adult on a kid's show, you can't be fully serious, there needs to be a silliness about the characters, play a bit more into extremes - and I am not against it - but I was worried that they might take them all the way back to the beginning even after things changed in the og show finale and the movie conclusion. I think so far there's been a nice balance, I enjoy the bickering and I love how they keep showing them actually working together BECAUSE THEY WANT TO (I need to scream about the summer episodes so much, but I am patiently waiting until they are all out on Nickelodeon as well before I throw myself into fanfic writing so I don't accidentally spoil anything). Also special shout out to Undercover 1x09 for actually making them say that they do enjoy spending time with each other even if they won't necessarily admit it to themselves😅

Also, side note - I love how both Phoebe and Max are always the last ones standing when it comes to defending one another. There have been so many instances where everyone (the rest of their family included) has been ready to give up and Phoebe and Max have stepped up and be like, actually no. Although I do have issues with "Secret Revealed", Phoebe was still the one who stepped up in the end and talked to Max before he changed his mind. In "Thunder in Paradise" everyone was like, well, Phoebe is evil now, absolutely nothing we can do and Max never once took no for an answer and figured out a way to save her.

I don't really think I have any unpopular opinions about the show💀 Maybe things I didn't particularly agree with but they are mostly things I've seen other people talk about as well - mainly how Max sometimes gets to be the scapegoat about everything bad happening and not getting any credit for other stuff. That is one of my grievances with the show actually, that they gave him so much personality and back story and sometimes they don't carry it through. His insecurities when it comes to Phoebe and not being good enough, his obsession with being evil even though he chooses his family and friends every step of the way, him doing the evil thing (usually to Phoebe's expense) and then feeling so bad about it that he tries to make it up to her (also shout out to 3x08 "floral support" from the og show, I will forever love it), trying to make the right choice and still not being believed- There have been so many good setups but a lot of them have not been carried through (which is why I also have so many feelings about the new summer episodes, but again I am trying to not spoil anything, I am not sure how many people have actually seen the last two😅).

I was talking to my friend the other day about the show - she has never seen it, never will, she knows nothing about the characters, but I need someone to talk to about them😅 - and how the characters have so much potential for angsty storylines with the way they are written, but I doubt the show will ever actually fully see it through because once again, kid's show etc etc, and she asked me why don't I watch something else then if I know that won't happen? Like, a genuine question, she was curious to know. And I was trying to explain that yes, certain angsty storylines and trauma experienced by the characters will never be acknowledged more, sure, but the characters are still so good and their interactions are so good and there is something about the relationship between Max and Phoebe that is portrayed so well and I want to see more of them and you know what, sometimes they might delve a bit more into the serious stuff and sometimes we do get conversations and apologies and reconciliations and honestly, their evolution from Thundermans 1x01 to now has been really good in my opinion and I am here for any crumbs they want to give us - and then they end up giving us so much more than I expect and I don't know what to do with it, like honestly the last scene of Undercover 1x18 might be one of my favorite scenes between the two of them, I did not expect that - and honestly? In the end of the day, I enjoy writing fanfiction so I am totally here for writing the angst and character study myself if needed, for me and anyone else who might be interested😅

[thephantomchronicles]

10 People you'd like to know better

Tagged by @onlygenxhere (thank you🥰)

last song: Dream come true - Freya Skye, Malachi Barton (I am obsessed with this song, it's just too good)

last book: Careful of Books by Cassandra Clare

last movie: Zombies 4

favorite color: Purple

spicy, sweet, or savory: Sweet🥰 

last show: Just binged all the new eps of Thundermans Undercover and I'm desperately looking for some free time to write fanfiction😅  

current obsession: I rewatched the Zombies franchise because the new movie came out so music wise I've been mainly listening to the soundtracks😅

last search: I was double checking when Thundermans Undercover is set because they keep breaking their timeline when it comes to their ages and it's driving me crazy (spoiler alert, it doesn't make sense)😂

looking forward to: honestly? September😂 because I will finally have free time again😅

No pressure tagging: @superjaegerbros

[thephantomchronicles]

Rose Molina for @rosemolinas

Happy Birthday!!!

[thephantomchronicles]

SPOILERS FOR THUNDERMANS: UNDERCOVER SUPER SECRET SUMMER FINALE 1x18/1x19 - Cruel Summer/Endless Summer

Listen, I live for the angst and that last scene in 1x18 might be one of my favorites ever. It's not as often that they get to have a serious scene without any jokes cutting the tension and this one was just so good. Max really just seemed so desperate that Phoebe didn't believe him and his whole speech was just too good.

Like I know he pretended their partnership was over so he could infiltrate the villain's league but I do believe he one hundred percent meant everything and I am so glad it was addressed and that Phoebe realized she made a mistake and apologized.

"You're my partner and my sister. You should have trusted me." - what if I go write a million fanfics about that scene right now?

[thephantomchronicles]

WIP Game

Thank you for the tag @onlygenxhere☺️

Rules: You will be given a word. Share a snippet from a WIP for every letter in that word, then tag some friends and give them a new word.

My word: SOULMATE

My only current WIP is the last fic for the Phantom Chronicles series and it's at 1096 words so there's not a lot here, but I am gonna try😅

She needed to find a way to sneak out undetected.

“Okay,” she said. “It’s nice when your home is not being invaded.”

(No U, but I had a You😅) "You liked Los Angeles, right? You said you did.”

Luke was never going to forgive her.

Maybe she was just trying to memorize everything about him.

A nice little in between state where Luke loved her more than anything and refused to accept the facts for what they were.

The way he scrunched his face, the way he looked right after waking up, the way he opened his eyes, immediately finding hers.

(Nothing starting with E, but this one finishes with a word starting with E😅) She didn’t wake up one day and decided to go to Edom.

I have been insanely busy lately to read/write anything so I'm not sure who to tag😅 but I'm gonna leave a word here for anyone who might want to join in:

CHEMISTRY

[thephantomchronicles]

writing is so funny because i could write nonstop for 9hrs and then hit a block where im like "how do i transition between this moment and the next?" and then i just dont touch it for 6 months