theromanticscrooge

[theromanticscrooge]

I've been a little demoralized with making videos lately, man. I appreciate that anyone watches my stuff period. I'm just owning that algorithm and number-chasing stuff can get to me.

[theromanticscrooge]

I'm now on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theromancescrooge.bsky.social

[theromanticscrooge]

Newest additions to my general analysis series on the cartoon O.K. K.O.!:

And here's a closer look at the thumbnail art:

[theromanticscrooge]

This is part of my trying to work through and process some things about recent developments…And its much more blatantly political than I usually get.

Stay safe out there guys.

[theromanticscrooge]

Just some reminders for my sweet swimming friends in the TS2 community:

1. Modern EA are the most talented disappointers I have ever come across. Expect little, be pleasantly surprised if there's a higher quality than that. I have been consistently let down by EA for the last 10 years and I doubt that's going to change any time soon. Hype is RARELY (dare I say never?) met 🤣

2. "Re-Release" is not the same as "Re-Master". "Optimised for Win10/11" may just mean we don't need to let Graphics Rules Maker update the GraphicsCards.sgr file with modern GPUs, maybe GRM won't have to unlock higher screen resolution, and maybe the Sim shadows won't be black boxes without DXVK or a mod. Woo 🎉

3. Let's all agree to either ignore the "Big UTuberz" playing TS2 very badly (i.e. no idea what a cheat code is) for "the nostalgia" and then promptly dropping it again, or go comment on the videos to point out the sheer stoopid 🤦🏼‍♀️

4. Sims 2 has been available to play for the last 20 years regardless of EA, and if they put it behind a paywall, it will no doubt still be available to play. (Same with TS1 for that matter) 🥸

5. Best case scenario in my head? If I "DARE to dream"? - Maybe we won't all need to continue switching to Linux to get rid of Pink Flashing. Lol. But I doubt it. 🙈

It is nice to see that Sims 1 and Sims 2 are actually being recognised for the 25th anniversary of this franchise. Better than the usual tactic of trying to pretend the games never existed. But let's all keep our heads screwed on straight here.

Now, back to building my new mega downloads folder of doom 😎

[theromanticscrooge]

personally I think it’s a shame how fandoms “died” too soon these days. I’m not talking in literal sense and I know there are people who stay passionate about their fandoms long after the hype is gone. I’m talking about the “popularity” and how people in general engage with a piece of media they like and how fast they let the hype die down? I don’t know if I’m making any sense, but what I’m trying to say is a fanfic or a fan art of a show that is recently released will get tons of likes, comments, reblogs which is great. but the engagement for fan made content about that same show usually drops drastically — and I mean drastically — once the show is no longer “recent”. and I’m not even talking about when the show is several years old. because you can see the significant drop of engagement a fanfic or fan art about that show receives once the show is like a month old or two. it’s discouraging how most people tend to lose interest and stop engaging with fanfic / fan art once its source material is no longer “new and shiny”.

especially when writing fanfics and creating fan art take time. writers and artists often receive less engagement / appreciation for their works if they take “too long” to create and the source material is no longer “new and shiny” and so people move on to something else that’s new and shiny. it’s heartbreaking to see.

obviously this is in no way to manipulate or guilt trip people into engaging with anything. because yeah you can do whatever you want. this isn’t to force, manipulate or guilt trip anyone into liking or reblogging a fan work or anything. this is just me hoping people will one day take things slower and enjoy things they’re passionate about longer like how we used to in the past.

[theromanticscrooge]

A character analysis on the wonderful 80's movie cut Cupid from O.K. K.O.!

[theromanticscrooge]

A Short Exploration on O.K. K.O.'s Cupid, the Eternal Icon Behind Romantic Love and Hopefully More

Most modern iconography around Cupid features a small, naked, and winged cherub with curly hair toting a bow and arrow. He's advertised as the god of romantic love. He's characterized as a mischievous, but otherwise innocent child that shoots unsuspecting persons with golden arrows to make them fall in love. If he feels especially obnoxious, he might shoot one target with his classic golden arrow and the other with a lead-tipped arrow that fills said target with hate and disgust rather than romantic love. Cupid's antics are supposed to be considered goofy and charming. One famous myth attributed to how unaware Cupid can be about his arrows: Cupid gets stung by bees and runs crying to his mother Venus. She tells him that how he feels now are how his targets feel when they've been shot by his arrows.

Other common associations with Cupid: He's usually a complement or counterpart to his mother Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. She's generally shown as a single parent. If there's a parent besides Venus, it's usually Mars, the god of war or Vulcan, the god of artisans. Cupid is the most well-known out of what siblings he has. There's anywhere from two other siblings that represent other aspects of love or a whole series of fellow winged love gods known as the Erotes.

Interestingly, the small and childlike depiction of Cupid has origins rooted more in Roman myths and Renaissance art than the original Greek myths. Before Cupid, there was Eros, the Greek god of love and sex. Where Cupid is associated more with desire or very specifically romantic love, Eros represented several different kinds of love from platonic to familial to physical lust and attraction. He embodied how complicated and varied love between persons can be. Eros was depicted as a very attractive, strong, lean, muscular and winged young man; someone that men and women alike lusted after. He's usually more of a narrative device or bit player, but he's a universally accepted force by gods and mortals alike. He can make anyone fall in love; almost no one is exempt from becoming a potential target except specific virginal gods: Artemis and Hestia are a strict exception from Eros' tomfoolery.

Some scholars suspect that the more childlike Cupid popularized by Roman myths stems from misogyny. Eros is considered formidable and powerful. If he's considered the son of Ares, it's a thematically potent mix of love and war; how love makes people feel powerful, overcomes obstacles, and celebrates very open, vulnerable emotions. Eros stands on even footing with an undeniably powerful and masculine god. Though even as Ares' son, he's still a secondary or complementary figure to Aphrodite. When Eros is transformed into Cupid, he's more palatable to a society that places strong emphasis on patriarchal values and indomitable masculinity. He's a child, he's small and seemingly helpless; it makes sense that he'd be under his mother's jurisdiction. More importantly, child Cupid minimizes what role or power Venus holds otherwise.

Enter O.K. K.O.'s take on Cupid. This Cupid is a big, boxy, and muscular character pulled from classic manly-man heroes in 1980's action movies. He's an adult man that physically appears to be somewhere in his mid to late 30's; a stark contrast to ancient Greece's prized, youngish men. Not only that, but he has a prominent forehead; very closely cropped and short brown hair vs the luscious curls both Eros and baby Cupid have. This Cupid's rough and rugged masculinity is further emphasized by his fairly aggressive attitude and ridiculous heart-shaped bazooka-adjacent blaster. Despite these hallmarks, he's wearing a short pink toga and has a prominent 'Luv' tattoo on his arm.

While said tattoo could easily be incorporated on another played-straight action hero character, that tattoo is usually a nod to the acceptable masculine soft spot that he loves his mom. Here, its a very brazen visual marker about Cupid's full devotion to romantic love. It's dubious if this version of Cupid carries the classic arrows. He barges in and causes property damage with his love bazooka, but there isn't a clear, on-screen followup of whether it causes targets to fall in love or its just an obnoxious accessory. Given how the episode plays out, I'm leaning more towards it being an obnoxious accessory.

Despite his entrance, Cupid places strong value on open, honest communication. After he forces Rad and Enid to relive their awkward first date as middle-schoolers, he criticizes Rad's tactless dude bro behavior. All of Rad's 'double down' and shows of machismo are framed or commented on as not the right call. It's another story tackling how much of Rad's character falls prey to the trappings of toxic masculinity, but its counterbalanced by the subversive, surprisingly positive masculine example Cupid portrays. While Mr. Gar is another positive male role model, Cupid has more obvious ties to 'feminine' interests. He's a manly man that happily associates with fluffy pink hearts and red roses as much as his ridiculous, oversized bazooka.

Even the first date wrestling match frames the match as more of a conversation than an actual fight. Since Rad and Enid refuse to address the issue directly, Cupid sets up a situation that creates lower stakes. Concerns are accentuated with a verbal jab, a feint, a hero move. Rad and Enid haven't learned how to communicate in an honest, vulnerable way. It requires kindness and patience that Enid feels like Rad doesn't deserve and that Rad feels conflicts with his macho-man persona. Talking things out isn't as approachable as fighting. So, re-framing the conversation as a friendly, themed sparring match makes things more approachable.

Presumably, Cupid helps romantic couples work out rough patches or ultimately getting together through a sparring match or fight that fits their respective style. He's interested in playing mediator. While fighting is involved, he wants an ultimately peaceful, respectful solution. At the end of the episode, he comments on learning the importance of platonic love. While Cupid respecting any and all forms of pair-bonding feels like a given, he is more known as the representation of or avatar for romantic love. He's responsible for romance. Its actually pretty powerful to have this Cupid comment on learning about platonic love. Its commentary on the higher premium placed on romantic relationships compared to any other kinds of dynamics or kinds of love. Its a nod towards the very real, organic shift some people have from an attempt at a romantic relationship to a better fit and stronger relationship as just friends.

While this Cupid has more traditionally masculine gender expression, he considers open, vulnerable expression important and is willing to learn, change, and grow. He's an example of a bridge between what's considered rugged, classic masculinity with a healthier, more confident vision of what a man can be like. In a nutshell, this is my favorite Americanized take on Cupid. He's a mix between what Eros originally represented with how watered down modern Cupid is and a figure that addresses some of the bigger cultural issues around masculinity.

End Note: I scrapped a section from this script because it felt like it messed with the overall flow of the topic. I have the full audio and first draft up on my Patreon for $1 patrons.

If you enjoy my work and are interested in (or able to do so) further supporting my efforts, please check out/support me on Patreon:

[theromanticscrooge]

Line-up of O.K. K.O. Related Videos!

I'm working on new additions at the moment. Thank you to everyone that's followed/read/watched my stuff thus far! I'm gonna try and push to make writing deep dives, character analyses, and general weirdness my legit day job sometime in 2025. :D

I'm hoping to keep the ball rolling on this project and it means so much to get feedback or input. If it's not too much to ask, please help me spread these further. If you think anyone would enjoy one of these analyses, send them a link!

Here's some of my existing character analyses/deep dive videos:

[theromanticscrooge]

Don't Let Him Win!

Ever since early November, I keep looping back to Boxman's spiel at the end of "Dark Plaza."

Heroes vs. villains can be portrayed as a very black and white concept; it's the good guys vs the bad guys. Thankfully, most stories playing with this concept introduce some shades of gray or nuance at some point. This is a tangent, but Villainous has shown a lot of potential for dabbling in this between the sympathetic Penumbra in the pilot episode and how quickly heroes tried to cover up how manipulative and totalitarian Miss Heed was in her corner of the world. Penumbra was campaigning for more rights and a louder voice as part of a marginalized group. Miss Heed was abusing a mix of something akin to a love potion and her social media influence to create an artificial crowd of ever-present admirers, paint a flattering and 'perfect' image of herself as a public figure, and maintain some level of soft power/influence in a vie for Goldheart's affections as well as fighting her painfully low self-esteem. One is a villain; Penumbra had to seek a faustian bargain for a civil rights issue. The other is a hero; Miss Heed is a reflection of how toxic celebrity culture is and how much she gets away with because of the social prestige and implicit trust around heroes. Cartoon Network: Greenlight more Villainous! These guys are cooking and its fucking brilliant!

In regards to O.K. K.O., the scale in different levels of evil between Boxman and Venomous is an entry point for shades of gray. Boxman is primarily a one-track-minded Saturday morning cartoon villain; he's focused on destroying the Plaza and he'll demoralize or torment his victims, but he has hard limits like he's not going to kill. Venomous is disturbingly nonchalant about tampering with local water supplies and creating sapient goo clones that can and will get killed for the express purpose of traumatizing a victim. Arguably, Boxman ups his threat level after he starts getting closer with Venomous. Trying to destroy the Plaza is amateur hour. When Boxmore sends Ernesto to infiltrate the local school and deliberately water down what kind of education and feedback the kids are getting, that's a long-term plan to neuter how much of a threat the next generation of heroes could be. This syncs up with Boxman's bigger ambitions of destroying POINT outright, but it doesn't match his track record of petty, small peanuts targets. Venomous is the big-picture guy. He definitely influenced some of Boxman's worse, higher threat schemes.

In a nutshell, Boxmore's villains are a small-scale look at what kinds of villains there are in Lakewood. Presumably, most of them are somewhere between Boxman and Venomous. There isn't enough on-screen evidence to make a definite call, but at the very least, the other villains have a wide enough variety of interests and projects that Boxman is a scoffed-at anomaly. They probably have one or two active hero rivals, black market wares, and their specific brand of evil calling card like Boxman's robots or Venomous' menagerie of biological horrors. That said, the villains are manageable as long as the heroes are a strong, collaborative front. Even with POINT as a strained and pulled-taut institution, heroes tow the line. They either uphold the status quo or keep quiet in service of the all-encompassing endgoal "stop the villains."

Foxtail and the over-reliance on Chip Damage run a wrecking ball through whatever illusion of solidarity the heroes had. Foxtail has no qualms about sending Carol in as a secret agent to spy on the Plaza rather than lay out her concerns to Mr. Gar. She doesn't trust Mr. Gar; she dismisses him and the Plaza at large as lesser heroes because they're self-trained, entry-level, or have no training whatsoever. She wants soldiers, not hobbyists, civilians, and part-timers. There's more emphasis on installing "bootstrap" mentality and strengthening highly individualistic responses to threats in POINT students vs teaching them to collaborate with or complement each other's strengths. Nobody talks to each other. Everyone has different opinions on how to address and stop villains. There's no room for compromise. Foxtail embodies the forceful, "my way or the highway" approach that ultimately splinters the hero side. She quashes her teammates with the same force and power she'd otherwise direct at a villain. Instead of heroes fighting villains, its heroes fighting heroes based on differences in personal philosophy, morals, and approach.

And as absurd as this comparison might be, I've been thinking about this allegory in relation to how much more polarized politics have become in the U.S. This allegory is applicable to a WIDE variety of opposing factions and circumstances. This is more my interpretation and interaction with this story. On the surface, American politics is majority Republicans vs Democrats. Its ridiculous that this system works like this and the public is so locked into this idea that its almost inconceivable to dismantle it, but that's a different discussion for someone way more knowledgeable than me. There's been more stereotyping and creating strawmen. All 'conservatives' are pearl-clutching, highly religious, puritanical bigots that wear MAGA hats and sing Trump's praises. All 'leftists' are atheistic, highly sensitive, everything goes, multi-colored hair, gender-blurring and ambiguous 'freaks.' I lean very far left. My dad isn't quite a MAGA conservative, but he's painted me as a boogeyman; a 'confused woman'-I'm a transmasc person-that prioritizes feelings and propaganda over biology. To be fair, I've painted him in a similar light: He's a tone-deaf bigot that relies on Fox News for a steady diet of Ben Shapiro bullshit and thinks he's read-up on biology just because he got a master's degree 20 years ago. Time is frozen for him.

When I'm in the heat of the moment, it's exceedingly easy to turn arguing with Dad into a Boomer vs Millennial spat or a milquetoast conservative vs a radical leftist. In the moment, he's the target. He's the enemy that needs to be addressed, rebutted, and taken down. Ideological differences do break down even further than the supposedly clear-cut red v blue. In a room of Democrats or anyone left-leaning, certain issues can and do turn the meeting into further splintering and cannibalizing each other. Voters who refused to support Kamala for whatever reason were lumped together with voters that chose third-party candidates or didn't vote whatsoever and blamed for the low voter turnout. In stark contrast, the Trump voters were able to pull together long enough to get voters to the polls. Trump voters are still a united front.

Yes, I'm going there: Instead of digging into people that didn't vote, its worth investigating what changes they want to see and what support they need. There's so much discussion about building community and becoming a stronger, more unified front. That means everyone even slightly left-leaning can and should learn how to listen more, how to talk to and collaborate with everyone that's anywhere close to our mutual goal of stop, challenge, and push back against Trump and his regime's bullshit. We don't have to like each other or unanimously agree on everything, but it's a start if the focus can stay long enough on 'compromise to reach 'x' goal.' Especially in smaller, local communities. There's more immediate benefit in getting to know our neighbors and working with them to build a robust community that can better withstand whatever is rolling down the pipeline next. Whether it's moral support, helping with chores, exchanging services or resources, whatever, learning how to collaborate with and lean on other people is more important right now than ever. Its possible to start this ripple effect on a small scale. I'm putting this out there in the hopes of raising my own morale and hope as much as anyone else's.

This goes beyond red v. blue too. Its more obvious than ever who the real threat is given increasing wealth disparity, how many big corporations thinly skirt trust-busting moral paniclaws, open discussions about oligarchs, and even the fact Elon Musk was sitting behind Trump on inauguration day. The more focus is redirected to moral panic around trans rights rather than how much political power billionaires have, the easier it is to pit all of us against each other. Despite what arguments I've had with my dad, we agree that people should be fairly compensated, treated kindly in the workplace, and have full access to health insurance. There's common ground. That's what I want to actively focus on and work towards.

When O.K. K.O. trotted Boxman out to announce that he benefits from heroes fighting each other, the entire point was to emphasize the importance of solidarity. The entirety of "Dark Plaza" and what leads up to it are an exploration on why and how solidarity can be such a difficult goal. There's so many different personalities at play. The wide variety of backgrounds, opinions, morals, goals, and what is considered a higher priority for one person vs another play a huge role in the complexities of community and society at large. While these can be difficult, its important to try and approach others with empathy, compassion, and patience. While its not a complex, in-depth exploration on this, there's still something really powerful in the conclusion being heroes coming together and promising to work towards mutual change.

Even Boxman's comeuppance involved K.O. getting a boost from Foxtail. Success relies on either giving a hand up or getting a boost. If we want solidarity, we have to believe we can get there and make it a reality.

[theromanticscrooge]

I think its time for more blatantly queer science fiction and fantasy. Don't let the capitalists claim single-handed, uncontested ownership of it! The endless possibilities, the things we still don't know about faraway stars, planets, galaxies, the way looking at the night sky has stirred humanity's curiosity and imagination for centuries. Space is for EVERYONE.

It doesn't matter what you look like, what your background is, ethnicity, orientation, whatever, that night sky belongs to you, me, and everyone. I want the Star Trek near-utopian future. I want to hear more scientists telling me about new bacteria on Europa, not that asshole Elon Musk's attempts at a bigoted, exclusive space colony.

I'll be damned if I let these assholes win on a stage bigger than me or any of them. Space is for curious scientists, gay space rocks, enthusiastic explorers, and ideas about a future greater than we think we can achieve. It's huge. Capitalists and fascists that want to shove everything and everybody into boxes and closets can fuck off.

[theromanticscrooge]

I'd love to quit my current job and make weird bullshit full time.

[theromanticscrooge]

January 15 was the one year anniversary of my script for the Lord Boxman, the Lonely Tyrant of Boxmore video!

To celebrate, I've stitched my Lord Boxman character analysis, Professor Venomous character analysis, and Voxman Shipping Corner. I originally intended these as a three-part thing, honestly.

[theromanticscrooge]

Thank you so much for these! All of these are absolutely fantastic and I'm absolutely adding this when I'm up for updating and/or revising my cowplant essay.

@theromanticscrooge, I saw your research on the Cowplant — it’s fantastic work!

I’d like to share some additional information about the Cowplant that could help expand your research.

1. Developer Chat

Here’s a transcript from a developer chat session dedicated to The Sims 2: University. In it, the developers answered the question about whose idea it was to create the Cowplant:

The person who answered the question MaxisDoctorVu is Thomas Vu, a designer and associate producer of The Sims 2 University and executive producer of the Arcane series.

2. Concept Art

There’s concept art showcasing the stages of creating the Cowplant model for the game. Its elements include:

Original Sketch:

Sketches showing the animation stages and behavior of the Cowplant, such as waiting, luring the victim, feeding, milking, and the full cycle. There’s also a version with an alternate form.

Photo Reference:

References included images of real cows, their udders, and carnivorous plants (e.g., Nepenthes) for inspiration when designing the model.

Final In-Game Model:

The finished 3D model of the Cowplant, combining the features of a cow and a carnivorous plant.

[theromanticscrooge]

Introducing Your Friendly Neighborhood Langanaphyllis simnovorii (Sims 2 Cowplant)

Venus flytraps have a 'sophisticated' snap trap system. Hair triggers, otherwise known as cilia, along the inside of the trap must be set off at least 5 times for successful trap activation. If a bug gets caught in the trap, there's a 30-second window of potential escape. If they only triggered two hairs, or they're small and fast, they're likely to be let go.

The more a bug struggles, the more hairs they brush against, and then they're locked in. This part of the trap is a failsafe. Despite their namesake, insects are more of a supplement to a flytrap's diet than a staple. Any insect they capture takes anywhere from days to weeks to fully digest. Flytraps glean the majority of their nutrients through sunlight and photosynthesis. The carnivorous diet they're famous for is a response to what nutrients they can't derive from stereotypical plant processes due to their very dry, sparse environment; beetles, ants, and spiders are their source of nitrogen and phosphorous specifically. Again, the name is deceptive. Flies are a very small, almost insignificant part of their diet!

While the reality of the plant pales in comparison to its sensationalist reputation, the flytrap and its carnivorous cousins capture someone's imagination regardless. Most plants are considered harmless and innocent; a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing part of the background. They're a highlight in poems and pretty things writers romantically draw comparisons to in hopes to impress their love interest or describe someone's beauty. They're at the bottom of the food chain. They're a readily available source of food or garnishes to meat-based dishes. Plants like the flytrap challenge the otherwise neat and tidy vision of the hierarchical food chain. A flytrap temporarily climbs up a step of this chain the second it successfully captures and digests an insect.

The idea that flytraps are such a weird exception to what plants 'should be' are part of what have inspired a long spate of stories featuring a carnivorous plant. Arguably, the most well-known flytrap in media is Audrey II from the theatrically released 1986 musical Little Shop of Horrors. The meticulously choreographed and beautifully built Audrey animatronics are the definitive imagery for who Audrey is and what he looks like. While no one can quite recreate that level of detail, even local stage plays try to feature as dynamic and beautiful an Audrey puppet as they can recreate on a small, humble budget. My introduction to Audrey II was a high school stage play. That team managed to build and operate an Audrey II that lives rent free in my mind and sparked my own fascination with sci-fi B movie horror plants to the point they're an active staple in my own art and projects.

One of my personal favorite Audrey-inspired horror plants is the cowplant from the Sims series. Or more specifically, the cowplant's introduction in The Sims 2. Without cheats, a Sim has to reach at least level 6 in the Natural Scientist career to unlock the cowplant as a career reward. The playful flavor text for the Laganaphyllis simnovorii reads:

This bizarre bovine vegetation is large enough to swallow your next-door neighbor whole. In fact, it WILL eat your neighbors. Your friends will be hard-pressed to resist the tantalizing vine-cake of the carnivorous Laganaphyllis Simnovorii. After it has consumed some prey, milk it for sweet, rejuvenating nectar of life. A swig of this liquid refreshment will add precious days to a Sim's life and wash away any regret they may have over their visitor's fate.

The cowplant sits adjacent to some of the goofier, more cartoonish elements of the Sims universe at large. While it isn't an explicitly playable option, superheroes and villains exist in-universe. For example, one of the seedier business deals a mayor can take in SimCity 2000 is striking a deal with a supervillain to let them build their evil lair somewhere in town for a hefty sum. In Sims 2, the top of the Law Enforcement career is 'Captain Hero.' Captain Hero flies to work and wears a skin-tight latex suit. The top of the Criminal career is Captain Hero's supervillain counterpart with the accompanying ridiculous outfit. There's also Mad Scientists with the appropriate labcoat and cybernetic hand. Mad Scientists are the classic cartoon supervillain variant with a very ambiguous tag on what kind of science they specialize in as well as an aptitude for inventing who-knows-what contraptions.

In contrast to a Mad Scientist, the Natural Science career features a specific kind of mad scientist: this Sim is interested in studying organic life and creating a large myriad of biological abominations. If there wasn't in-game hints about cow plants as a naturally occurring species that's existed for centuries, they were absolutely cross-bred and cultivated by a nutjob in this career track. When a Sim reaches the top of the Natural Science career as Ecological Guru, they cover their bits with Garden of Eden leaves and fly off for a day of dubious Captain Planet adventures. Perhaps, cowplants are restricted as a 'you worked hard' incentive for a natural scientist because they either grew it themselves or they can supposedly handle the responsibility and consequences involved with keeping one better than the general public. That said, later Sims games dropped the career climbing requirement and any average Sim can now buy one wholesale or grow one themselves. Regardless of the game mechanics, these plants exist and are readily available in some capacity.

The cowplant itself is a cow head with sharp teeth and a conspicuous pink udder dangling from its chin surrounded by a crown of leaves. The head is supported by a thin, thorny, vine-like stem that tapers down into a hilariously mundane terracotta flower pot. The base of the plant is surrounded by leaves that look similar to the trap rosettes on a Venus flytrap. A tail patterned like the cow head with a leaf on the end in place of thin hairs pokes out of the back of the pot. In a nutshell, the cowplant is a step further than just a rehash or direct satire of Audrey II. Before the cowplant, the original Sims features an ominous Venus flytrap adjacent plant. Its a decorative item with fun flavor text that Sims need to water every so often. There's also the mutant plant from The Sims Bustin' Out. According to the Wiki, a mutant plant will feed on and kill Sims if it isn't properly tended to.

In regards to the cowplant, they can be appeased with a 35 simoleon leg of lamb. They need to be fed once every 12 in-game hours to avoid deploying their vine-cake tongue. That said, a cowplant will keep its vine-cake out as long as it takes to be fed lamb or attract a Sim. When a Sim does go after the cake slice, the cowplant teases them a bit before dive-bombing the Sim, snapping the full length of its bovine head and jaws around them, and then swallowing them whole. The 'swallow' mechanics operate by cartoon logic: Somehow, the Sim liquefies, breaks down, or whatever else to fit through the ridiculously thin vine body. Within minutes, the plant has not only fully digested its victim but turned them into a life-extending milk. When another Sim milks the plant and drinks, their life is extended by 5 days followed by a disturbing memory hinting that this Sim not only enjoyed their beverage but is ready to find their next victim.

Not only is the cowplant partly inspired by Audrey II, it brings some of the moral and ethical dilemmas Seymour encountered after 'feeding the plant.' Where Audrey II was a botanist's straight-shot to fame and wealth because of his weird, exotic appearance, the cowplant is a means of attaining eternal youth and exterminating enemies with an immediate, satisfying, and horrible vengeance. Seymour had to strike deals with Audrey II and was placed at his mercy and discretion. While Seymour isn't innocent, he's contrasted against harsh circumstances and a nasty allegory about how all-consuming capitalism can be. He's a very direct horror story about what someone loses if they devote themselves and sacrifice everything to the illusion of 'the American dream.' The cowplant can be placed in a variety of storytelling roles and the resulting themes or symbolism depend on the Sims or story positioned around them.

In-game text describes the cake as 'tantalizing.' Part of this relies on Sims operating on the same kind of cartoon logic that helps conmen like Stan Pines fleece tourists with charisma and hot-glue-covered taxidermy. If Sims know that cowplants exist, there has to be some level of caution and skepticism around interacting with one. In the case of Audrey II, only Seymour is aware of Audrey's ability to speak and his man-eating tendencies for the majority of the story. He's successful because of the myth and mystery surrounding him. Its possible that cowplants are considered a myth too. Unless a Sim works in natural science, they may be more mystified and enchanted by a cowplant than scared.

Also, despite details like the sharp teeth, cowplants are cute and endearing in an unconventional way. Many players keep a plant around for the casual tail wag and the eager and almost puppy-like excitement cowplants portray at getting a treat. They're aware the plant is dangerous. Its similar to how some people react to bears, lions, or other predatory creatures in real life. In some light, they look so cute and play on the part of the brain that lights up around dogs, cats, or other critters. If there's some possibility, albeit slim, that this creature can be domesticated long enough to pet, it's worth the risk to some people. This element may be at play as much as the 'forbidden cake' element is.

The cowplant is a creature following instincts and trying to care for itself. Its not a deliberately evil and diabolical being from outer space like Audrey II. Whatever 'evil' and unethical strings are attached to the cowplant are more a byproduct of its potential owner and their ministrations.

Another interesting note about in-game mechanics is that Sims can roll the specific want to 'drink' another Sim. A player can project 'evil' intent through storytelling but this want adds a unique, fucked up level to gameplay. This Sim hates someone else so intensely that they want to contrive a situation where this specific someone gets eaten. Just as a framing device for this, one of the families featured in the soap operatic neighborhood Pleasantview are Daniel, Mary-Sue, and their twin daughters Angela and Lilith. Daniel and Mary Sue have a tepid, fracturing marriage; Daniel is cheating on his wife with the maid and Mary Sue is a workaholic that prioritizes her job over everything and everyone else. Angela is the golden child; she has straight As, she's the 'it' girl, and her parents lavish her with praise, gifts, attention, etc. Lilith is the black sheep and scapegoat. She and her sister were compared enough that they hate each other. Angela instigates fights with Lilith to blow off steam. Its acceptable for her to pick on and belittle her twin because her parents set that precedent.

Given this context, there's a chance Lilith will roll the drink Sim want for Angela. Depending on the player, they may lean towards separating the sisters to the degree they go no contact later in life or even try to have them talk things out and start making amends. If Lilith rolls this want, it cements just how deep and intense her hatred is. Its up for some interpretation, depending on how a player interprets Sim wants in general, but the implications are definitely there. Its one thing to set the cowplant as a tool in a Saturday morning cartoon villain's chase for eternal youth. There's dramatic and heartbreaking depths when a depressed and frustrated teen like Lilith seriously considers using a cowplant as a means to assuage her crappy home situation. The want description highlights the life-extending benefits of cowplant milk, but the stronger emphasis is absolutely what triggered the want. Its more about the cowplant as a nasty, specific revenge tool than the milk.

If a Sim wants eternal youth, they have two other, far more friendly options: Mortimer Goth's life-extending elixir or becoming a vampire. If a Sim has enough aspiration points and either high gold or white aspiration level, they can extend their life by 3 Sim days after drinking some. There's at least 3 portions in the convenient water cooler and there's no limit on how many a Sim can attain if their aspiration stays high. The caveat is that a Sim needs high aspiration for the most effective results. As for becoming a vampire, a Sim needs to befriend a grand vampire and be bitten. Once a Sim becomes a vampire, they live forever as long as they stay out of the sun. The other benefits are static needs while they sleep during the day and faster skill-building at night. Again, a deliberate want for the cowplant has sinister undertones because of the variety of choices a Sim has if they specifically want eternal life.

There's a layer of irony to the cowplant too. There are so many papers and explorations of The Sims as commentary on capitalism. The original game blatantly matched 50's shopping music and Americana sitcom elements with gameplay that forced an ever-increasing need for higher-value items and bigger, better, more for a happier Sim. Little Shop of Horrors sets an evil alien Venus flytrap as an allegory about the destructive, life-ruining force behind capitalism. Plugging an Audrey II adjacent entity next to a Sim presents the player with the make-their-own-Seymour-Krelbourne variant of a choose-your-own-adventure book. Will they adhere to the advice of 'don't feed the plants' or will the cowplant present a safe exploration of how much further this story can go when its a sandbox instead of a stage?

[theromanticscrooge]

An exploration of the weird, creepy, but still cute cowplant from the Sim 2!

[theromanticscrooge]

Introducing Your Friendly Neighborhood Langanaphyllis simnovorii (Sims 2 Cowplant)

Venus flytraps have a 'sophisticated' snap trap system. Hair triggers, otherwise known as cilia, along the inside of the trap must be set off at least 5 times for successful trap activation. If a bug gets caught in the trap, there's a 30-second window of potential escape. If they only triggered two hairs, or they're small and fast, they're likely to be let go.

The more a bug struggles, the more hairs they brush against, and then they're locked in. This part of the trap is a failsafe. Despite their namesake, insects are more of a supplement to a flytrap's diet than a staple. Any insect they capture takes anywhere from days to weeks to fully digest. Flytraps glean the majority of their nutrients through sunlight and photosynthesis. The carnivorous diet they're famous for is a response to what nutrients they can't derive from stereotypical plant processes due to their very dry, sparse environment; beetles, ants, and spiders are their source of nitrogen and phosphorous specifically. Again, the name is deceptive. Flies are a very small, almost insignificant part of their diet!

While the reality of the plant pales in comparison to its sensationalist reputation, the flytrap and its carnivorous cousins capture someone's imagination regardless. Most plants are considered harmless and innocent; a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing part of the background. They're a highlight in poems and pretty things writers romantically draw comparisons to in hopes to impress their love interest or describe someone's beauty. They're at the bottom of the food chain. They're a readily available source of food or garnishes to meat-based dishes. Plants like the flytrap challenge the otherwise neat and tidy vision of the hierarchical food chain. A flytrap temporarily climbs up a step of this chain the second it successfully captures and digests an insect.

The idea that flytraps are such a weird exception to what plants 'should be' are part of what have inspired a long spate of stories featuring a carnivorous plant. Arguably, the most well-known flytrap in media is Audrey II from the theatrically released 1986 musical Little Shop of Horrors. The meticulously choreographed and beautifully built Audrey animatronics are the definitive imagery for who Audrey is and what he looks like. While no one can quite recreate that level of detail, even local stage plays try to feature as dynamic and beautiful an Audrey puppet as they can recreate on a small, humble budget. My introduction to Audrey II was a high school stage play. That team managed to build and operate an Audrey II that lives rent free in my mind and sparked my own fascination with sci-fi B movie horror plants to the point they're an active staple in my own art and projects.

One of my personal favorite Audrey-inspired horror plants is the cowplant from the Sims series. Or more specifically, the cowplant's introduction in The Sims 2. Without cheats, a Sim has to reach at least level 6 in the Natural Scientist career to unlock the cowplant as a career reward. The playful flavor text for the Laganaphyllis simnovorii reads:

This bizarre bovine vegetation is large enough to swallow your next-door neighbor whole. In fact, it WILL eat your neighbors. Your friends will be hard-pressed to resist the tantalizing vine-cake of the carnivorous Laganaphyllis Simnovorii. After it has consumed some prey, milk it for sweet, rejuvenating nectar of life. A swig of this liquid refreshment will add precious days to a Sim's life and wash away any regret they may have over their visitor's fate.

The cowplant sits adjacent to some of the goofier, more cartoonish elements of the Sims universe at large. While it isn't an explicitly playable option, superheroes and villains exist in-universe. For example, one of the seedier business deals a mayor can take in SimCity 2000 is striking a deal with a supervillain to let them build their evil lair somewhere in town for a hefty sum. In Sims 2, the top of the Law Enforcement career is 'Captain Hero.' Captain Hero flies to work and wears a skin-tight latex suit. The top of the Criminal career is Captain Hero's supervillain counterpart with the accompanying ridiculous outfit. There's also Mad Scientists with the appropriate labcoat and cybernetic hand. Mad Scientists are the classic cartoon supervillain variant with a very ambiguous tag on what kind of science they specialize in as well as an aptitude for inventing who-knows-what contraptions.

In contrast to a Mad Scientist, the Natural Science career features a specific kind of mad scientist: this Sim is interested in studying organic life and creating a large myriad of biological abominations. If there wasn't in-game hints about cow plants as a naturally occurring species that's existed for centuries, they were absolutely cross-bred and cultivated by a nutjob in this career track. When a Sim reaches the top of the Natural Science career as Ecological Guru, they cover their bits with Garden of Eden leaves and fly off for a day of dubious Captain Planet adventures. Perhaps, cowplants are restricted as a 'you worked hard' incentive for a natural scientist because they either grew it themselves or they can supposedly handle the responsibility and consequences involved with keeping one better than the general public. That said, later Sims games dropped the career climbing requirement and any average Sim can now buy one wholesale or grow one themselves. Regardless of the game mechanics, these plants exist and are readily available in some capacity.

The cowplant itself is a cow head with sharp teeth and a conspicuous pink udder dangling from its chin surrounded by a crown of leaves. The head is supported by a thin, thorny, vine-like stem that tapers down into a hilariously mundane terracotta flower pot. The base of the plant is surrounded by leaves that look similar to the trap rosettes on a Venus flytrap. A tail patterned like the cow head with a leaf on the end in place of thin hairs pokes out of the back of the pot. In a nutshell, the cowplant is a step further than just a rehash or direct satire of Audrey II. Before the cowplant, the original Sims features an ominous Venus flytrap adjacent plant. Its a decorative item with fun flavor text that Sims need to water every so often. There's also the mutant plant from The Sims Bustin' Out. According to the Wiki, a mutant plant will feed on and kill Sims if it isn't properly tended to.

In regards to the cowplant, they can be appeased with a 35 simoleon leg of lamb. They need to be fed once every 12 in-game hours to avoid deploying their vine-cake tongue. That said, a cowplant will keep its vine-cake out as long as it takes to be fed lamb or attract a Sim. When a Sim does go after the cake slice, the cowplant teases them a bit before dive-bombing the Sim, snapping the full length of its bovine head and jaws around them, and then swallowing them whole. The 'swallow' mechanics operate by cartoon logic: Somehow, the Sim liquefies, breaks down, or whatever else to fit through the ridiculously thin vine body. Within minutes, the plant has not only fully digested its victim but turned them into a life-extending milk. When another Sim milks the plant and drinks, their life is extended by 5 days followed by a disturbing memory hinting that this Sim not only enjoyed their beverage but is ready to find their next victim.

Not only is the cowplant partly inspired by Audrey II, it brings some of the moral and ethical dilemmas Seymour encountered after 'feeding the plant.' Where Audrey II was a botanist's straight-shot to fame and wealth because of his weird, exotic appearance, the cowplant is a means of attaining eternal youth and exterminating enemies with an immediate, satisfying, and horrible vengeance. Seymour had to strike deals with Audrey II and was placed at his mercy and discretion. While Seymour isn't innocent, he's contrasted against harsh circumstances and a nasty allegory about how all-consuming capitalism can be. He's a very direct horror story about what someone loses if they devote themselves and sacrifice everything to the illusion of 'the American dream.' The cowplant can be placed in a variety of storytelling roles and the resulting themes or symbolism depend on the Sims or story positioned around them.

In-game text describes the cake as 'tantalizing.' Part of this relies on Sims operating on the same kind of cartoon logic that helps conmen like Stan Pines fleece tourists with charisma and hot-glue-covered taxidermy. If Sims know that cowplants exist, there has to be some level of caution and skepticism around interacting with one. In the case of Audrey II, only Seymour is aware of Audrey's ability to speak and his man-eating tendencies for the majority of the story. He's successful because of the myth and mystery surrounding him. Its possible that cowplants are considered a myth too. Unless a Sim works in natural science, they may be more mystified and enchanted by a cowplant than scared.

Also, despite details like the sharp teeth, cowplants are cute and endearing in an unconventional way. Many players keep a plant around for the casual tail wag and the eager and almost puppy-like excitement cowplants portray at getting a treat. They're aware the plant is dangerous. Its similar to how some people react to bears, lions, or other predatory creatures in real life. In some light, they look so cute and play on the part of the brain that lights up around dogs, cats, or other critters. If there's some possibility, albeit slim, that this creature can be domesticated long enough to pet, it's worth the risk to some people. This element may be at play as much as the 'forbidden cake' element is.

The cowplant is a creature following instincts and trying to care for itself. Its not a deliberately evil and diabolical being from outer space like Audrey II. Whatever 'evil' and unethical strings are attached to the cowplant are more a byproduct of its potential owner and their ministrations.

Another interesting note about in-game mechanics is that Sims can roll the specific want to 'drink' another Sim. A player can project 'evil' intent through storytelling but this want adds a unique, fucked up level to gameplay. This Sim hates someone else so intensely that they want to contrive a situation where this specific someone gets eaten. Just as a framing device for this, one of the families featured in the soap operatic neighborhood Pleasantview are Daniel, Mary-Sue, and their twin daughters Angela and Lilith. Daniel and Mary Sue have a tepid, fracturing marriage; Daniel is cheating on his wife with the maid and Mary Sue is a workaholic that prioritizes her job over everything and everyone else. Angela is the golden child; she has straight As, she's the 'it' girl, and her parents lavish her with praise, gifts, attention, etc. Lilith is the black sheep and scapegoat. She and her sister were compared enough that they hate each other. Angela instigates fights with Lilith to blow off steam. Its acceptable for her to pick on and belittle her twin because her parents set that precedent.

Given this context, there's a chance Lilith will roll the drink Sim want for Angela. Depending on the player, they may lean towards separating the sisters to the degree they go no contact later in life or even try to have them talk things out and start making amends. If Lilith rolls this want, it cements just how deep and intense her hatred is. Its up for some interpretation, depending on how a player interprets Sim wants in general, but the implications are definitely there. Its one thing to set the cowplant as a tool in a Saturday morning cartoon villain's chase for eternal youth. There's dramatic and heartbreaking depths when a depressed and frustrated teen like Lilith seriously considers using a cowplant as a means to assuage her crappy home situation. The want description highlights the life-extending benefits of cowplant milk, but the stronger emphasis is absolutely what triggered the want. Its more about the cowplant as a nasty, specific revenge tool than the milk.

If a Sim wants eternal youth, they have two other, far more friendly options: Mortimer Goth's life-extending elixir or becoming a vampire. If a Sim has enough aspiration points and either high gold or white aspiration level, they can extend their life by 3 Sim days after drinking some. There's at least 3 portions in the convenient water cooler and there's no limit on how many a Sim can attain if their aspiration stays high. The caveat is that a Sim needs high aspiration for the most effective results. As for becoming a vampire, a Sim needs to befriend a grand vampire and be bitten. Once a Sim becomes a vampire, they live forever as long as they stay out of the sun. The other benefits are static needs while they sleep during the day and faster skill-building at night. Again, a deliberate want for the cowplant has sinister undertones because of the variety of choices a Sim has if they specifically want eternal life.

There's a layer of irony to the cowplant too. There are so many papers and explorations of The Sims as commentary on capitalism. The original game blatantly matched 50's shopping music and Americana sitcom elements with gameplay that forced an ever-increasing need for higher-value items and bigger, better, more for a happier Sim. Little Shop of Horrors sets an evil alien Venus flytrap as an allegory about the destructive, life-ruining force behind capitalism. Plugging an Audrey II adjacent entity next to a Sim presents the player with the make-their-own-Seymour-Krelbourne variant of a choose-your-own-adventure book. Will they adhere to the advice of 'don't feed the plants' or will the cowplant present a safe exploration of how much further this story can go when its a sandbox instead of a stage?