#and she chose to be angry about that

[stromblessed]

Mizu was wrong to let Akemi be taken because they both deserve better

First, a confession. When I saw this for the first time:

I was relieved. I knew that was what Mizu was going to say and I felt like it's what I would have said in that situation too.

When Akemi does this:

I cringed, because if we know anything about Mizu, it's that she (1) isn't quick to make friends (though to be fair, even though Akemi did try to kill Mizu, so did Taigen - multiple times! - and look how that turned out lol), and (2) doesn't take orders.

So when Akemi and Ringo and later Taigen get angry at Mizu, are they being unfair?

Sure, Mizu isn't obligated to treat Akemi - or Taigen or Ringo or anybody else - nicely, or to serve them, or to be honorable, or be a hero to them, or whatever. No human being is obligated to any other human being. We all have the choice to do whatever we want to anybody else. But the point of flawed characters in storytelling is the tension between those characters and their potential. Their growth into someone who can choose the higher, harder path, who chooses to be obligated to others, who chooses kindness and compassion.

Because Mizu's problem isn't revenge. Nobody is preaching at Mizu that revenge isn't the answer. Her circumstances do suck, her life has been incredibly unfair, she is marginalized, and as far as we and Mizu know for most of the season, she is a child born of violence and no one is saying that that violence doesn't deserve to be repaid in kind.

Mizu's problem is isolation. And the fact that she thinks she has no responsibility toward her fellow human beings, because her hatred of her own circumstances and her having no life outside of her quest devours everything else. This is a problem because it turns Mizu into the worst version of herself. A version that hurts the people who like Mizu, the people who care about her.

Practically, Mizu has just taken on an entire army almost by herself. She's hurt. She's exhausted. If she were to defend Akemi now, it'd be yet ANOTHER fight, this time against horsed and armored samurai.

But that's not the reason Mizu gives Ringo. Mizu's ability or willingness to fight isn't even on her mind. All she says is, "She's better off."

"She's better off" is Mizu deciding what's best for Akemi. Akemi's entire story is about her being a caged bird longing to fly free.

One after the other, every man and woman in Akemi's life makes her decisions for her. She has to grovel and smile prettily and lie through her teeth just for the chance to be heard. Mizu judges Akemi for being a rich princess who isn't being more grateful for what she has, all without understanding Akemi's situation, and without any curiosity for why Akemi feels the way she does. From Akemi's perspective, Mizu is just one more person (one more man!) in a long lineup who ignores Akemi's wishes and (casually!) makes a decision for her that impacts Akemi's life greatly.

In the end, even Seki concludes that Akemi should get to decide what's best for Akemi. What others think that Akemi SHOULD want does not matter compared to what Akemi wants for her own life. As Madame Kaji said - Madame Kaji, who despite calling out the weirdness of Akemi's situation as well as the childishness of her decision to run away - is the only person Akemi meets who doesn't try to make decisions for Akemi, but instead only challenges Akemi to work for and be worthy of what she wants - she needs to decide what she wants for her own fucking self, and then take it.

Mizu being born female does not make her automatically wiser for letting Akemi be taken, and it does not preclude her from having a hand in giving Akemi back to her jailers. A patriarchy that Mizu knows full well would stop Mizu from achieving her own goals if she didn't present as male.

Mizu is still understandable here. She just had to kill Kinuyo, a disabled girl sold by her father into prostitution, a girl in a situation so far beyond Akemi's worst imaginings that I can practically feel Mizu's world being rocked just by comparing them in her mind the way she most likely is. That still doesn't make it right for Mizu to let Akemi be carried off to be sold into marriage by her father against her wishes. Those "good options" Mizu thinks Akemi has don't exist, no more than they ever existed for Mizu. Akemi and Mizu both have to get creative, make the best of their circumstances, take dangerous risks, and break rules in order to have any control over their own lives.

Even on my first watch, when at first I thought that Mizu had made the right decision and that Akemi was being unreasonable, Akemi screaming Mizu's name while being dragged, LITERALLY DRAGGED, back to her father was haunting as hell.

Mizu had the power to help Akemi, and simply chose not to.

Mizu lets Akemi be taken, Akemi who has just begun to trust Mizu. Mizu calls Ringo weak and quickly - seemingly easily - turns her back on him. Mizu values her quest over Taigen's life, after Taigen has endured days of torture to protect her, and she not only risks his life in the process, but doesn't tell him that Akemi is engaged to someone else, or that she came looking for Taigen, or that she is in danger.

Mizu's sword breaks because it is too brittle. Too pure. Too singleminded. Mizu only melts down the meteorite metal when she mixes the metal with objects from parts of her life that have nothing to do with her quest. Objects from the people she cares about, and who care about her.

All I'm saying is - Mizu doesn't have to be a hero. But she is the better version of herself when she reaches out to help and connect with others. When she's just a decent, kinder human being. And I think that's what this story is telling us that we should want for Mizu.

#blue eye samurai #mizu #akemi #bes #I have so many more thoughts about Mizus tangential relationship to honor and heroism but that is for another post #also reviewing these scenes made me realize that when Mizu calls Ringo weak she LOOKS POINTEDLY AT HIS (LACK OF) HANDS #she legit calls him weak for his disability after EVERYTHING THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH #like Ringo was def disappointed that his master chose not to behave like the (nonexistent) samurai ideal #but what made him ANGRY was the weakness comment and I did not clock that before #also to be explored more in another post #a third thing to explore in another post is how both mizu and taigen have wronged akemi on the basis of Edo period society being A Society #though Mizu starts to correct her own mistake by going back for Akemi - its Taigen whos on thin ice lolol

[martyrbat]

a female character isn't allowed to be a character that is also female. she isn't allowed her own agency and complex motives nor any deeper emotions without it being centered around the male cast around her or a child. even if she's not a mother, she remains one because she could always potentially become a mother or she is the ‘mom character’ to the men/children around her and her actions MUST reflect that. if they don't, she's labeled a selfish bitch. if she is an (actual) mother than that's all she is—she isnt allowed deeper characterization or discussion because thats all she'll ever be, that's all she was made to be. male characters are allowed to be fathers (lireral or in the sense of providing for the people around them) with deeper feelings but a mother? never a mother.

#← this is found in both fandom treatment and (oftenly) the writing of the source material too #anyways this related to last post and the one before that where i said i wrote tags that are just too sidetracked to the post lol #ransom note #cant wait for people to ummm actually me about good female characters while fully ignoring the point of this #like no shit its a broad statement dipshit its used to open discussion about female characters often being reduced down #to only having purpose in their ability to be a caretaker to the surrounding cast around them. #like the problem isnt that theres mom characters. it isnt women taking care of people or being healers #its that theyre not allowed the same emotional depth compared to many male characters #something i liked in atla if i recall correctly is that katara wasnt a passive character. she cared and cared deeply and messily #she chose forgiveness to her mother's killer for HER story and growth. not because she had to for his #she stole shit and got jealous and was angry but she was still caring and healed. she still looked after people. #instead of just. oh shes there to be a 24/7 doormat to the male cast around her and their goals instead #and the FANDOM is the one that reduces her down to a bitch or just immature or an emotional support lamp #or whatever they do to reduce her down usually so they can prop up the male characters they like more. #like do you see where im going with this. do you get the point of the post...

[lumiereandcogsworth]

come into the light…

#i could write a gotdamn essay on the perfection of this scene #the decision for the live action to have him refuse to step into the light #so belle has to be FEARLESS and STUBBORN and FORCE HIM INTO THE LIGHT #only to reveal his hideousness and have her be scared anyway #it’s so fucking good #and he looks at her so sternly. the next shot is him being very angry but i chose to exclude that for this post #just seeing the very first look at his face is really good #he’s like daring her to have a reaction #and when she does. then he gets angry #but i think he has a moment of hope where maybe she won’t react the way he assumes she will. maybe he doesn’t look as bad as he’s been #perceiving himself #but she DOES react. because even though she’s so brave and fearless. it’s still such a shock!!! #there’s just something so gorgeously human about this scene. from both of them #i just love it endlessly #i should’ve made a reblog post about that instead of just the tags but. oh well #lyd watches batb2017 #adam #belle #batb 2017 #beauty and the beast (2017) #beauty and the beast 2017 #op

[vampibrainrot]

How can Jason remember Lian if he never met her? The closest he ever got to know her was when he joined the Titans on a mission after Jade and still, he never met Lian or didn't even know her name, just that Roy had a daughter ( important to note that this happened when Jason was like 12 years old).

Roy couldn't have told him about Lian during their time with the outlaws, she didn't EXIST. (later was revealed that everyone was brainwashed by Dr. Manhattan and lost their memories of 5 years of their lives but she was still erased from canon and didn't exist). And till the last time they saw each other, Lian still didn't exist. This is the first time they meet since Roy (and Lian) came back. There's no way he could have known about Lian.

#i know im sounding like a chronology freak #but hear me out I AM a chronology freak #and dont let me start talking about how dumb this is #they chose to keep roy as a side character in TTA for ALMOST A YEAR #he was there just as a background character #when he could be looking for lian #they made roy stop looking for his DAUGHTER so they can make jason look for her too #all while Liam was playing sidekick of CATWOMAN #and having her relationship with her parents completely ignored bc guess what #SHE DON'T REMEMBER THEM TOO #and now they are making jade play the bad mother #abandoning her child in freaking GOTHAM CITY bc it was the most SAFE choice #yes im angry #how did you find out? #roy harper #arsenal #lian harper #dc #comics #arrowfam

[mcondance]

to anyone who needs to hear this: let that shit go

#yesterday at church they sermon was about forgiveness #the* #i’m not religious but. . yeah #and then today my friend was venting to me abt a situation where she just chose to let that shit go instead of letting it fuck her up #it’s shit in the past and now that i gotta let go and i’m starting to do exactly that #don’t force shit. let that shit go how it’s gonna go #say your peace and leave it alone #you don’t gotta forgive #cause i’m not forgiving #but i am letting go #up at night thinking why it won’t happen the way i won’t it to happen after i’ve said my leave #peace* #fuck thattt! #you can’t force things or people so let it all go #if it’s not gonna happen then it’s not gonna happen and stressing yourself isn’t doing anyone harm but you #and yeah that shit from the past hurts like a bitch #and it makes me so angry #but it’s affecting my mental and they don’t deserve to affect me anymore than they already have #let that shit go yall #if you made it this far ily #let it go ‘ fr.

[theworlds-stage]

Tbh I wish they had explained the reasons why King was willing to go on that arranged match in the series, though I'm guessing they are using it as a more powerful angst tool and according to my theory on the number of episodes it's going to be explained in episode 8. I'm pretty sure that at that point in the novel, King was already vocal about his main reasons, and it was simply Uea being filial that stopped him from understanding that King meant what he was saying.

Anyways spoilers in the tags if anyone is interested, because I need to talk about it 🤷‍♀️

#bed friend #kinguea #lets add something else in here so that no one gets spoiler what they dont want to know #also except for making ueas past even more awful they are staying very close to the novel.... also except for their first night #i will never not be angry about that first episode #anyways~ kings parents own a export company and they are successful #the mother is unfortunately very traditional and im afraid it is going to be added to the series as well #but she wants king to participate in running the family business #but hes avoiding that #he doesnt want to be like his brother who did everything their parents wanted and wants to live his own life #and love someone of his own chosing #but the mother is cunning #she goes to a matchmaker who incidentally choses a girl whos kust perfect for kingand who coincidentally is also the daughter #of an important business partner #so king cant outright say no #unless he wants to hurt his parents company #but he often assures everyone around him (hoping that uea would believe him) #that hes not interested in that girl #hes already also pretty open with uea about loving him #but uea is certain that king is just teasing him #so when king agrees to go on two dates #because hes making sure that the girl understands whats going on and that hes not interested #iirc that girl was also uninterested at had someone else at that point #unfortunately this all takes place when uea is stressed because of krit #and he pushes king away #and they clash because of uea going into krits office late in the night all alone (during ot) #and king does the biggest mistake - he decides to give uea time #there

[mobiues]

i have so many things to say about the confrontational pie scene but to surmise: while i may somewhat understand s1lvie's frustration over mobius' overall seemingly flippant attitude, i do not actually think mobius deserves to be framed as though he did not care abt the state of things simply because he chose not to seek how his life was like on the timeline. mobius' interest to not see how his life was like is well within his right, something he gave viable reason not to pursue, and, most importantly, will not have swayed him either way to fight for the life he has now and/or what the tva could stand for when the multiverse war is on its way. s1lvie's undermining his efforts was not okay when mobius opened season two with him wanting to safely monitor and defend new branches against strong, unsure voices like dox

#he has fought for tva's change the MOMENT he knew he was lied to #might i remind u he was PRUNED for it back in s1e4? #like! great for b15 for wanting to preserve lives on the timeline after she saw how her life could've been #it still does not negate mobius' effort to do the same just bc he chose not to open that pandora's box #thats what HE chose. and whether he struggled over it or not - thats still up to him #his involvement to free the timeline and make sure it STAYS without risk of collapsing or outright war is still 100% valid #and how he goes about it? is also up to him????? #i just. while my logical part of the brain appreciates that they narratively set up this way #like. with some of the tva agents desperately wanting lives or had aspired to do better bc they did have lives on the timelines #im glad they showed mobius who?? while didnt peek into what his life couldve been - STILL wanted to help it #doesnt that say a lot on its own? #he believed loki's words and this new much-needed regime for the tva bc he himself cracked the code that hes been lied to #and he wanted to right it / save what he couldnt. he doesnt NEED to be enchanted to believe in it. #that still counts #and if he wants some pie or a cracker jack here and there while everything he knew is crumbling on itself - why not. #but sure. its just another bad day at the office for him isn't it ? #( this is me trying not to sound angry. but mayhaps i did skjhdjsdf ) #gen: out of character.

[vespertine-legacy]

So what's canon for Tulia vs the in-game events is.... messy at best. But there are scenes that I really like for the angst (and development! but mostly angst) they offer her.

Tulia would have had Castellan restraints applied around the time that is "canon" (the confrontation with Jadus on the Dominator), but not activated until much later. When her restraints were activated by Acina (not all that long ago here, honestly, so the trauma of that whole experience is still probably a bit fresh), I think Acina would have enjoyed telling her just how long there's been a switch inside her brain that any member of the Dark Council could have flipped if they had wanted to, and that it had been placed on the Minister's approval.

Tulia has always had a bit of a weird relationship with the Watchers, with the pride that those of them from Project Cicerone have at being genetically engineered to be better than everyone else at Imperial Intelligence, while also knowing (per Watcher X) that they're also put through rigorous loyalty conditioning as a failsafe.

To Tulia, Shara's entire purpose is serving the Empire, and Shara was proud to do it. So what does it matter if she ever had a choice in the matter? Finding out just how differently the Minister sees her and Shara in terms of their autonomy and their inherent value is a little infuriating for her, mostly for her own sake, but at least a little bit for Shara's as well.

#swtor oc tulia #swtor shadow of revan #swtor minister of intelligence #i have way too many feelings about this mission that i can't articulate #and tulia should probably not be so upset that the minister is willing to wash his hands of her being his responsibility #but not of shara being his responsibility #yes they have been put through a lot of the same very shitty things #yes neither of them Chose to be put through those things #but tulia made some choices that made her a lot less easy to protect/defend #doesn't mean she can't still feel raw and angry about it #especially when she's been under acina's restraints for probably like a year now #and acina's a lot better at the thesh protocol for avoiding loopholes to keep someone under them

[moonlight-fawn]

Can’t wait to live in a house where I’m not getting constantly yelled at !

#like bro you are my father #why out of all days would you chose today to yell at me #everytime my dad gets mad at something not worth getting mad about #all I think about is #thoroughfare #Ethel cain #where she goes #and FoR the FiRST TiME SInCe I Was A CHiLd I cOUlD See A MaN ThaT WasNt AngrY #lmao #mad at me for getting my dog dental surgery as if she wasn’t years past due with literal gum disease #saying stuff like you better not have given them a window to do whatever they want with her #and if you think putting that old dog through surgery and have it benefit her well then I have nothing to say #like my good sir you do realize as soon as this dog goes I might check out too ? #she’s my lifeline #I’m gonna need you to stop insinuating she’s gonna die

[laireshi]

do you ever just cry about how much the venerate loved each other

#licanius #licanius trilogy #like oh my god #we know the most about caeden/tal obviously but he's such a painfully tragic example of that love #he betrayed them #he tortured meldier and isiliar and drove her mad #they think he's keeping cyr captive too #he created plains of decay and they all were/are still horrified at it #AND YET?? #isiliar could've easily killed him #but even mad and hurting she chose not to #meldier was (justifiably) SO ANGRY at him but it didn't seem like he ever hated him #he made him keep to the safe part of plains at night #alaris saved him from isiliar and promised to meet him again as friends in secret #and kept his word even after everything that happened there #they all want to forgive him so badly #they all want to be on the same side again #and can't and it hurts them all #they love each other so much it's ruining them (and me) #even opposing each other in every way that matters they never hated each other (this too ruins me)

[alienscumbag]

It's wild how fast doja cat caused her own demise... Like I'm sure she'll still be able to make money off her music but she'll probably never be looked at again with the same amount of respect :/

#personal #like a lot of ppl think its just about parasocial relationships is why shes acting this way #especially with the way she is victimizing herself #but this all started because she started dating a man who had victims come forward #about sa and grooming and instead of being mature #cause shes a huge artist with a platform #she rlly said fuck the victims im going to make this about me and #im gonna block anyone who brings up that my bf is a groomer #and now she not only lost respect from the sensible fans who stopped liking her cause of her dating a groomer #she also is losing her stans cause she keeps getting angry at them for supporting her #like the name thing is so strange the way she got mad at them for a name she chose 😭

[samuraisharkie]

tf when ur dad but then you indulge in an old childhood show and feel better

#i always forget how much I like teenage mutant ninja turtles until I get started again #I saw clips of the new movie from animators that worked on it on twitter and YouTube and it made me curious and god. #I remember I judged that show based on the designs and the way they drew master splinter but it’s actually pretty good?? #I actually really liked some of the changes they made #putting splinter’s character arc of learning to be at peace with his past in the show was surprisingly fulfilling #he’s not like the past iterations of splinter at all but there’s something compelling about what they chose to do with him #you just. have to get through the first few episodes where he’s at his lowest #also I kind of like what they did with Leo in the newest show #and moving Raphael away from the trope of ‘big angry brute’ but designing him like that was a surprising trope inversion #i just like the way they did the turtles’ personalities in this one. they’re goofy brothers that kick ass! #also the show instantly shot forward in respect from me #bc one of the show writers basically canonized that at the very least Donny and Mikey are on the spectrum #and unlike most shows w an autistic smart character they actually write Donny pretty well in that context #also instantly like it a ton bc April is a cool member of the gang again and not a damsel in distress or uncomfortable love plot device #also she’s a black girl now and it’s fucking awesome #I hate the amount of racists that pop up everytime she’s even referred to online though :/ #this April seems like the best one I’ve ever seen tbh she meshes with the rest of the main cast extremely well

[moonlayl]

For the sake of humour, they made Jennifer Walters ridiculously incompetent, even though she’s supposed to be a good lawyer both in the MCU and in the comics.  

#it's annoying tbh #and like...I thought the first episode wasn't bad #but it's just more and more ridiculous situations and her not really learning anything? #like she comes off as obnoxious and self-centered #and not in a 'she's supposed to be a flawed character so those are her flaws' way #more in a 'she's super strong and great and this is what a girl boss look like' #looks* #where's the struggle in being a superhero outside of it affecting her dating life? #they legitimately had her more upset about going against the guy making her her dress #than about defending the man who attempted to murder her cousin #like initially when people went berserk over her angry outburst in the first episode #I didn't agree with them because idk I felt they would actually expand on that? #like okay she can perfectly control the hulk. clearly she doesn't realise how difficult it would be like #I thought the next few episodes would show us her struggling with it after her initial 'everything is fine. I'm fine.' phase #but no....she was legitimately fine. with a big change like that. wtf? #like she says something along the lines of 'I work for THEM' but she chose to do it and didn't really fight it? #and don't even get me started on her using 'she-hulk' to try and find dates #that was just weird. #15 year old Peter Parker thought about it and recognised the ridiculousness in that #and he was only wanting to impress ONE girl who he KNEW was a fan of spiderman #and he STILL immediately talked himself out of it. He's 15. #'is there anything more depressing than dating in your 30s?' #yeah...how about a terrifying transformation that gives you new powers and changes your body and impacts every aspect of your life? -_- #anti mcu #jennifer walters #she hulk #anti she hulk #marvel meta #in the tags #layl.text

[crpingdeath]

..

#it’s so frustrating trying to talk about my ex with some people. like they don’t get the extent of what happened and it’s really unhelpful #to tell me that i need to take accountability for making the choice to trust him. like what else was i supposed to do #when he said the right things and then backed them up with actions. he pulled the rug out from under me and that was a major betrayal #and i’m allowed to feel angry. #anyway this is about me calling him a piece of shit to one of my friends a second ago and her telling me that’s too harsh #and she doesn’t agree with that. like…girl. he and i had clear conversations about what was going on in the relationship and he chose to do #something that hurt me to my core. i’m not to blame for that. #and i get that people deal with breakups differently and she chooses to focus on what she could’ve done differently but she really doesn’t #understand what happened with him.

[fairyzar]

the older i get the more confused i become in regards to my identity.

#z escribe #i have been aware that i was adopted from a young age. heck i knew before my mom told me because i watched the health channel #and i rmbr they showed a skin color chart and i pieced together...two white parents don't equal a brown kid #and i thought that the colorblind mindset was a proper one to be brought up with. obviously not as i experienced racism in elementary. #and was extremely confused why 'other' white kids didn't see me as white either...well no shit you're not white baby aza #and i went through a radical phase during middle school. hating all white people. but then my mom's white fragility deterred me from that #as any time i would voice my anger she would... quite literally in tears... try to reason with me and be like ''but i'm white people... #do you hate me?'' to which i would always have to soothe her. and honestly i have become comfortable in identifying with mixed. #it is a comfortable identity because i have grown up without any specific culture (outside of american. which. how does one even begin to #define the complexities of such an identity... the way that american as a nationality transcends as it becomes a civil religion.) #anyways. i have been thinking about a guy at a party and our conversations. and how we got to our identities and i instantly... #out of habit really. told him ''well i'm half mexican or indigenous too... but i mean it's not like i'm really latin.'' and he was like. #''no azaria. you are. don't diminish yourself and your ancestors just because you weren't able to grow up around that culture'' #his comment made me think about my identity once again after a long time of not wondering what it means to be Me. #and i recently submitted a paper for an internship. and god. i was reading it to my white mom. and after i read the concluding paragraph #she asked me to read it again. to which i did. and then after a pause she sighed and said i was being ''too angry'' #and when i asked her to elaborate she simply said ''well it makes it sound as if white people are evil'' #mind you. my application paper is about working at a museum for african american/black art preservation. like. art history is so deeply #saturated with colonialism and racism??? and she just chose to ignore that point of my paper and focus on me critiquing her fellow white #people. and to categorize me as the 'angry black person' are you Fucking kidding me. but then even with that she was like. #''i just don't get why you're so angry. you're not even black. i mean. you don't look black at all. you look mexican'' #she constantly wants my identity to be simple. to be watered down. to be digestible. #i am the product of a biracial mother and fully latin/indigenous father. that is the truth of my identity. i will NEVER be perceived as #white. #but after that i just felt so incredibly shitty and called my sister and she told me what our mom said to her that day too. and i said #something along the lines of ''sometimes i feel as if mom thinks we owe her for adopting us.'' and my sister agreed. #it broke me. it really did. to know that i am not being overdramatic in my thoughts. to know that i am not simply being ungrateful. #my sister says that she copes with it by reasoning that our parents are born in the 40s and times were a lot different then. but it is hard #for me to constantly excuse their racism and ignorance towards my identity. both regarding my queerness and ethnicity. #i am so tired. so so tired.

[fortes-fortuna-iogurtum]

well, I am officially on to season 2 of "Miss Scarlet and the Duke", and based on the first episode at least, the writing does seem to have improved a bit?? this may be a case of First Episode of the Season Syndrome (added nuance and subtlety to kick the season off but immediately dropping back down to mediocre levels until the finale), but I'm hopeful that many of my complaints about the first season won't be as present going forwards!

but also, oww. the end... that was... yikes. my heart hurts now. 😧

#the whole final scene of this episode was fantastically done tho #the acting direction pacing lighting... all of it was //great// and really compounded the emotions of that last bit #and the metaphor of the door between them... both walking towards it and wanting to step through to the other but neither quite able to #and then eventually both backing off and choosing to walk away in the end #it's a great visual symbol for their relationship at this point #and how what they ultimately need is to figure out a way to meet in the middle #but it's going to take both of them committing at the same time and to the same purpose for that to happen #and that is going to be /hard/ for these two to do #despite how much they want to be part of each other's lives #but also!! kudos to Eliza for being so open and honest about her feelings and boundaries!! that was really cool!! #and then leaving the ball in his court and not getting angry and starting an argument when he chose the course he did #(yet. I'm sure there's going to be lots of emotional fall-out to this over the course of the rest of the season.) #both of these people really need to learn some lessons about respect and loyalty and sacrifice for the people you care about tho lol #which I do think is the whole point. #William would see it as demeaning and belittling for her to override his authority or refuse to take orders from him. #Eliza Will Not be caged or dictated to and she wants to be allowed to make her own decisions and follow her own intuitions at whatever cost #she needs to be more careful to consider how her decisions will make him feel (if not how they will make him look) #and he needs to attempt to respect her and understand that her pushing back against him isn't to be taken as an attack #but that he should lean into it and allow her the space to make her own decisions. it's complicated because of the social situation #but yeah. respect is ultimately the thing here. and they both need to learn some more of it lol. #miss scarlet and the duke #gurt says stuff #oh also both of these people are FANTASTIC face actors and it's incredibly fun to watch until it's not anymore #and it's just making my heart hurt because of how much yearning they're both exuding but are both entirely unable to express openly #hhghsghhsghgshgsd