wesley-apologist

[wesley-apologist]

The show got so much better when they realized Marco wasn’t actually the main character, it’s really just a bunch of powerful compelling Mongolian characters and their little pet white guy who follows them around looking sad

marco polo netflix season 1 was a terrible orientalist mess but i'm mad that the show got cancelled bc season 2 was genuinely far better in every way, starting with the fact that soulful white boy was far less proeminent and the khan's court politics became the center of the plot. still had some orientalist issues and was never historically accurate, but at least it became far more interesting in terms of writing and characters. also benedict wong was phenomenal as kublai khan and i'm so SO sad we'll never get more of it

[wesley-apologist]

Marcos puppy dog eyes are the plot. Everyone is going to kill him and then they look at his sad wimpy eyes and say ehhh I’ll let him live just this once

One of the reasons why the character of Marco Polo made such an impression on me was his eyes.

It seems that no matter what moment in the movie, Marco Polo's eyes still carry hidden pain but are filled with the pursuit of happiness.

[wesley-apologist]

The whole show is maximum daddy issues. Every character is competing for the I have the worst dad award. Somehow every conflict comes back to a bad dad. It’s what makes the show so beautiful

two episodes in; some first impressions

one. pretty damn impressed actually. the plot is no jade city but i'm enjoying the mix of action and political intrigue. wasn't quite expecting the politics; went in for the blood and action bc after the week i've had i was ready to watch some people kill each other, preferably up close and personal. good world-building is my achilles heel tho so i'm very much enjoying all the details in the set and the care taken to really immerse you in the setting.

two. shockingly hilarious at times??? idk if they're actually funny scenes or just funny to me but i've burst out laughing during these first two episodes more than once. also. the entire premise is just too fucking funny. it's been a while since i've come across a contender for Worst Dad Ever.

three. the cast is a lot more diverse than i was expecting! also a win. (i want to know who all of the actors are but i'm too scared to look them up in case i get spoiled on character fates so, after the show i guess lol). i love that kublai's court has advisors and constituents from all over asia and not just east asia. it's the mongol empire. of course there would be diverse representation.

four. i wanted blood and swords but the other main reason i picked this show up was bc of olivia cheng, and she does not disappoint. i wish she was in more things :/

five. really liking the characters! i like kublai's complexity as a ruler, brother, father, and husband, and obvs i'm head over heels in love with mei lin, olivia cheng's character. i hate sidao already (kudos to the actor for nailing the arrogant, smarmy attitude) and i'm excited to see what happens with jingim. he seems naive and impulsive which i guess he'll either grow out of or succumb to, we'll see. still figuring out how i feel about the titular character marco lmao. he's kinda just there rn. which i get since he's supposed to be the character through which we learn about the world so i guess he's gotta be bland for a bit but i hope he picks up a personality soon.

[wesley-apologist]

He is the original sad kicked puppy man. He is so wimpy it’s what makes the show so beautiful

After every episode, I see how serious Marco Polo's daddy issue is

[wesley-apologist]

No heterosexual explanation

[wesley-apologist]

Something about Jingim in this scene is so intensely appealing to me. The flyaway hairs. The sheen of tears. The resentful expression. “You kick Jingim? You kick his body like the football? Oh, jail for father. Jail for a thousand years!!!”

[wesley-apologist]

How could they for real

im distraught

[wesley-apologist]

james wesley is in love with wilson fisk how did i not see this sooner (watching daredevil for the first time)

”i don't like how he spoke to you” there's a word for your kind bro

[wesley-apologist]

Exactly, you can kill my boy but you’ll never escape him

TikTok bitches want to talk about haunting the narrative AND THEN NOT MENTION THIS QUEEN

[wesley-apologist]

That relationship is in a whole new genre

“I don’t like the way he speaks to you” GAYYYYYYYYY

[wesley-apologist]

Greatest fic of all time

The Bucket of Ice: a Meme Collection

inspired by @cha-melodius's Love is a Losing Game ch9, specifically this paragraph:

"Nikolai is so stunned by the scene in front of him that he doesn’t notice the ice bucket slipping out of his hands until it hits the ground with a crash, sending the sparkling ice cubes skittering across the carpeted hallway. Solo and Kuryakin leap apart, both whirling toward the sound with unmistakable, identical expressions of terror on their faces. A rush of shame at being caught spying on them floods through Nikolai, which is absurd, because he was not the one kissing another man, the American team captain, no less. Still, Kuryakin is his captain, and has a history of volatility, so Nikolai does the only thing he can think of doing in that moment: he runs."

more below the cut!

BONUS ‼️‼️

[wesley-apologist]

Yesssss sanders x Oleg, finally I am understood

"that ship is problematic"

okay? it's hot. arrest me

[wesley-apologist]

I’m so sorry you had to see my blog Charles, they should have never left you on my doorstep

🦔

This is Charles. He wants to go on a journey around tumblr. could you show him around?

[wesley-apologist]

I mean, what else could I do after seeing this delightful post?

Dedicating these to @too-young-to-fall-in-love, for how much you love our resident cowboy 🩵

(more edits)

[wesley-apologist]

You’re laughing. The Vampire Armand is losing everything he manipulated so hard for and you’re laughing.

[wesley-apologist]

penis

No :(

[wesley-apologist]

Illya stroking Napoleon’s hair: You’re so tiny and adorable.

Napoleon, half asleep: I could literally kick your ass right now.

Illya, looking at Napoleon with heart eyes: I know.