#but yeah the parallels between these two books is very interesting to me
Text
okay so in season 2 of good omens they bring up this book called the expert at the card table and i've posted about this book before because i am extremely not normal about it for a bunch of reasons i cannot hope to articulate here (if you wanna read it. for whatever reason. houdini donated a copy to the library of congress and so it's just freely available online for everyone). but like the person who wrote it was almost certainly a professional card cheater so obviously they didn't publish using their actual name. so there's this big mystery around it and there's a bunch of theories about who the author actually was including the possibility that it's e.s. andrews, aka s.w. erdnase backwards. and in the show, aziraphale says that his copy is signed by erdnase using his real name, and it's one of those things where like. i did lose my mind a little bit when this whole scene happened because it was literally written as a fun little reference for me, or at least people who have the exact same specific crossection of interests that i do so that's fun. HOWEVER i was a little pissed about the whole thing also because the mystery of who erdnase is sooooo central to the experience of the book itself. like the author's concealed identity is not a hidden fact, the author literally tells you he's lying to you, and it's so everything to me. and it has me thinking about the Real Book which is this collection of jazz sheet music that was compiled by a couple of students when they were in school and then illegally distributed for years among jazz musicians that it became a fundamental tool of jazz musicians all over the US. like to the point where if you were studying jazz in college or whatever you were instructed to go find some guy selling photocopies of the Real Book because you would need it for lessons. and the two students who compiled it remain anonymous to this day and it's very intentional. a reporter managed to get in touch with one of them a few years ago through encrypted emails and shit like that and the guy literally said that he would never reveal his identity because that's part of the Real Book's allure. like the mystery itself is part of the fun. and the expert at the card table is very much like that for me. the mystery is so much a part of the book that the idea of that mystery ever actually being solved is so unappealing. you gotta understand that when this book was first published, it fucking blew up the gambling world. nobody had ever published something so bold as instructions for literal actual card cheating techniques before. it's so iconic in the exact same way that the Real Book is, in their audacity and innovation. and in their mystery!! that's part of the fun
#wings.txt#iotdbf blogging#sorry this post is so. ughdndkfn i'm trying to stop myself from posting my crackpot s3 theory#also also you cant really use the expert at the card table to learn how to cheat anymore#for a lot of different reasons but like those techniques just aren't as effective for modern play#which is entirely erdnase's fault for publishing the damn thing#same with when thorp published beat the dealer in the 60s#when you teach people how to cheat people will now also know how to try to combat those techniques :/#the real book is similarily both a negative and positive tool for reasons that i'm not musically inclined enough to explain properly#but yeah the parallels between these two books is very interesting to me#this isn't really even about good omens so i didnt bother to tag it#it's about the inherent appeal of the unknown!!!
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
Chiastic Structure of S1
Here it is!
Yes, I deliberately made it detailed. You NEED to see the detail, it is, quite frankly, eye-opening in parts.
If the image I have posted is not clear, let me know, and I'll post a broken-down version in sections so you can read it. I'm just not sure how this is going to work.
I've got five footnotes for various sections where I want to make extra comments, so see them below.
If you don't know why some of us are looking into this - a chiastic structure or pattern a literary device where a sequence of events is presented then repeated in reverse order. For a complicated story like Good Omens this can and does gives us some interesting insights into the hidden stories we meta writers like to speculate on and discuss.
I have to admit it got a bit messy in places, so there still might be some tweaking to do in the middle parts.
The plain parallels still exist - I have a couple to mention in the footnotes. I'm also very excited about taking this challenge on because I've basically found proof that backs up my theory about the scene at Tadfield Manor telling part of the story of the Great War in Heaven, and also proof that the Flood may have been the time of their first "vavoom."
[1] M-pair: When Newt turns up to his new job there is an office meeting called and the upcoming "training initiative" is discussed. This then leads on to the paintball fight at Tadfield Manor. I discussed how the two scenes give us an insight into the past and the Great War in two metas, The Great War of Tadfield Manor, and The Newton/Crowley Mirror-Parallel in S1. The mirror-pair here is Dagon is rousing the troops with reminders of the "Glorious Revolution," providing us with a direct connection to the events of Tadfield Manor.
[2] Q-pair: This is a really interesting pair, as as it is still tied in with Tadfield Manor. Does it give us any insights into Crowley's role in the Great War and his Fall? I'll be looking more closely at this in the future!
[3] There is an interesting set of parallels around this area that didn't quite fit into the chiastic structure proper that I though was worth mentioning and I have already flagged for a meta before I had finished plotting this out. It's to do with Newt and Anathema and the prophecies in the book - oh, and the Velvet underground reference. Actually, I really need more space for that...you'll have to wait for the meta, sorry.
[4] Ohhh yeah. This one. The Vavoom moment. I wondered if the sex under the bed between Newt and Anathema would reveal anything. It certainly did! If you haven't read @vidavalor's meta about the first time they probably kissed, then you should. Stat! This pair backs it up - and maybe more.
[5] There is a parallel noted here that doesn't fit in the structure, that Crowley signs to start everything rolling, and Aziraphale signs to end it.
On to S2. Then I'll see if I can work a three-series structure together for some predictions.
Link to S2 Chiastic Structure Post.
@aprilodite @kayleefansposts @ineffable-endearments @sendarya
157 notes
·
View notes
Text
LET'S TALK GENSHIN AND REMURIA AND ARLECCHINO BEFORE I FORGET AND WE'RE ALREADY IN SECOND HALF OF THE PATCH WHY DOES TIME FLY WHEN YOU'RE AN ADULT
I'm gonna start the post with a few paragraphs I wrote just a few days after the patch went live:
So I finished the first Remuria world quest - it was beautiful. And really not as long as I first expected it to be. I probably could have finished it on the first day if I wouldn't have been as tired as I was
First of all the new map is beautiful. You'd think after 3? patches of map expansions where we already got underwater stuff it would feel repetetive but somehow it looks and feels different and refreshing. Maybe because majority of the map are caves where you can walk normally or they're ruins... idk.
I couldn't help but draw parallels between Remuria and HSR's Penacony tho, especially look-wise, the talk of a dreamscape and the theme of music. Especially now after finishing Penacony 2.2 I can't help but feel the two are very similar in certain aspects... the motive of Harmony and Song and Peace and saving a people and Gods? Also the way Remuria looks is so similar to certain things in Penacony? I already said rhis in my post on HSR, this is absolutely no hate whatsoever. I reckon there's only so much you can do with these motives? It's interesting how differently it looks in both games tho.
So yeah, Remuria is beautiful. The music is an out of body experience and encapsulates the whole thing perfectly. I haven't explored all of the map yet, but I like the new mechanisms a lot. The floating books look so cool and just generally the significance of music through it all... *sigh* it's so enjoyable.
So far for Remuria... i definitely missed a few things I wanted to say but it's been like 2 weeks since I played this and I definitely forgot something haha
AS FOR ARLECCHINO THO
First of all she's broken omg. It is kind lf annoying that it'll take weeks to max out her talents, rn for me she's sitting at crowned NA and skill and burst are level 7 each. But she still hits for like over 50k with each normal attack when she has a bond of life. Don't even get me started on her with Yelan MY GOD.
Okay with that out of the way let me talk about her story quest. First of all I find it very intriguing that hyv gave up on the usual pattern of having the second weekly boss for a nation be tied to the Archon and their respective second story quest (besides Mond ig)... i mean yeah Fontaine's archon situatipn is very peculiar but technically Neuvilette has taken over the role for now, right? Neither him nor Furina getting a second story quest makes me think Neuvi's probably gonna get his way later because it'll be HUGE. Again I wanna say that lore wise Neuvi is my fav character... HES JUST SO FNDNDBDN. And Furina is probably gonna get a pretty "random" one at one point kinda like Yoimiya did or Cyno... like its gonna be a good quest but it'a gonna be random. ANYWAY
I wonder how much different I would habe perceived the quest if I hadn't watched the Animated Short about Arlecchino that they put on Youtube... like it's her whole backstory? I could see where the quest was going right from the beginning because of it... that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, tho
Childe's little surprise cameo made me so happy c: MY BOY. He's alive snd well AND IN FONTAINE. Let me remind ypu we last officially saw him in the last Atchon quest gwtting yeeted into a black hole by Skirk. Then it was mentioned at the end that he was being treated and sent gome to Snezhnaya. Well...
The whole cryptic talk between Arle and Childe was quite interesting... so this project by the Fatui, right? (Forgot the name rn bc it's been a few days since I played the quest) Is it fonna be significant for Natlans story? What does it entail?? THE TEASE NNNNGNNGHH
I wonder if at some point in the game we're actually gonna see Lyney become the new head of House of the Hearth. Like... it's mentioned quite a lot in his story as well as in everything that has tp do with the House and Sröecchino herself... I wonder 🤔
Throughout the story I was reminded that one of the first things we heard about her (Childes voiceline that came out in like??? 3.0 or so???). It was that she would turn her back on and betray the Harbingers (AND THE TSARISTA) without second thought. She even says this herself in her voicelines. I just wonder what her ultimate goal is? To free herself from the curse? Which btw they tell us nothing about in the story. Story is all about the House and its inner workings and Arle's feelings about it and plans for the future (which I love btw but still not quite understand)... we also casually get told that Arle is not even that old??? Like the whole thing with Crucabena is so recent that Freminet remembers her???? Amd Arle was maybe a Teenager when she killed her so like??? She's only around 10 years older than the kids????
So how come she's a descendant from Khaenri'ah? I don't know if I read somewhere abput it or if its a rumor but not confirmed or if its said in her personal story which I haven't read yet but... she'a from the crimson moon dynasty? Or has some ties to it? And her curse is definitely related to it BUT WHAT IS HER CURSE EXACTLY. WHY DOES SHE HAVE IT. If she's only in maybe her late 20s she couldn't have been an actual Khaenriahn citizen (same as Kaeya and he still gives me the same headache thinking about this) so how does it all tie together in the end?? Does it have to do with the God of time maybe??? (Nevermind if this is talked about in her personal story in her profile I haven't read that yet)
So yeah... the fight woth her was so cool. The animation??? I saw people get upset about the fact that Traveler couldn't beat her but I actually love that?? Like... She'a #4 of the Harbingers and has some curse probably tied to Khaenriah and she KILLED A HARBINGER WHEN SHE WAS A TEENAGER??? Traveler nlt being this almighty MC makes them so much mlre likeable like yeah... they are obv far from having their actual power back? It took us ... how many times to fight Shuki No Kami before we could defeat it in the final try to learn all the patterns? The game wants to tell us that there's much more powerful enemies in Teyvat and rhis is only the beginning. Let me tell you yeah we beat Signora but it was Raiden who killed her... it was Zhongli who subdued Azhdaha. We only healed Apep with Nahidas help. Traveler has never been able to easily defeat these big enemies, they always had help. Yeah they have been getting stronger, they've been getting access to more elements but the bis enemies are just getting stronger and bigger too... I wonder where that will lead. Maybe the twins are only gonna get their true power bavk once they're united... ANYWAY
Her weekly boss fight is cool too. Using different mechanisms again, with the whole Bond of Life thing and all. She does this one attack in her second phase that I just... can't get behind tho. Someone always has to be the victim, THE SACRIFICE, to get me through haha. Idk how to dodge or avoid that attack. The one where she floats above the arena and then these bombs? Idk? Come down and basically crash down on the whole arena and I haven't found a spot where you can aboid getting hit and therefore killed immediately idk.
So yeah that's all for now. Very excited to play Cyno's second story quest. Heard only good things so far about it, which is good because I really didn't like his first one 💀 probably gonna get around to play it one of these days. Same as with the rest of Remuria exploration, gonna need mlre Clorinde funds :3
(Gonna add screenshots later, it's been so long that the ones I took aren't saved in the PS App anymore 💀)
#may plays#genshin impact#genshin#4.6 spoilers#genshin 4.6#genshin impact 4.6#remuria#arlecchino#the knave#fatui#fatui harbingers#genshin harbingers#peruere#cyno#genshin arlecchino#fontaine#genshin fontaine#furina#neuvilette#traveler#genshin traveler#genshin mc#aether#lumine#genshin lore#khaenri'ah
25 notes
·
View notes
Text
THE MAGNUS PROTOCOL 10 SPOILERS, ANALYSIS, and THEORIES.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod
First off, we start with that interview about Bonzo, the clown suit turned murder machine
Then we have Colin (who is ALIVE) hacking into the OIAR Computers and Celia drinking the SUS coffee
Then we get into the meat and potatoes of the episode
1. Gwen does a run to the house of Nigel, the guy who made Bonzo. He gets a letter FOR Bonzo, supposedly with an address that targets somebody for Bonzo to kill. (Interview mentioned 3 new murders, which Nigel denies any involvement with.)
2. ALICE AND SAM AT THE MAGNUS INSTITUTE RUINS
Sam finds a box with a key (we don't know what for yet.) He and Alice walk around and we get some very interesting details about the Institute ruins
-Worm tracks recognized by Alice (Jane Prentiss/Corruption was definately here.)
-Hole opens up underneath the ruins (Leading into tunnels?)
-Alice finds something labeled Archi (Presumably originally having read Archives or Archivist).
OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS
*WE HEAR THE CLICK OF A TAPE RECORDER*
One of the devices used to listen in on Sam and Alice is A Tape Recorder, presumably the SAME tape recorder that once was used by Jon, as it was found in the Archi Room
Another detailis that Sam is looking for something specific, but he isn't quite sure what it is. He has fragmented memories of his time at the Institute, and one of the things he wonders about specifically is *why he wasn't chosen for something.*
We also hear someone BREATHING as Alice and Sam leave the Institute, breathing that sounds suspiciously familiar...
THEORIES
-Sam is a FAILED AVATAR
It has been speculated that in this universe The Magnus Institute was trying to CREATE Avatars of this world's version of the Fears, evidence for this being shown by the reports mentioning them taking in "Subjects" and "Strange Artifacts"
In Episode 10, Sam mentions that They, presumably The Magnus Institute, didn't choose him for Something. I believe that this "Something" is the ability to become an Avatar. Something about Sam made him ineligible, unable to be an Avatar. I believe this will be explored later.
-The OIAR is The Magnus Institute
I believe that the OIAR is a recreation of the Magnus Institute, run by the same people with similar goals in mind. There are parallels between the two businesses that seem significant to say the least.
WHAT IS THE STORY/WHERE IS IT GOING?
The Two collect and organize Statements or Records of Supernatural incidents. What's especially interesting is that in The Magnus Archives, Gertrude mentions that organizing the Statements only helps the Institute work faster. It was their GOAL to organize Statments, and that is what the OIAR is doing.
This leads me to also believe that Lena is or was one of the most important people at The Institute, either working as an Archivist herself or perhaps even being Head of the Institute, similar to Elias in TMA
I believe that I have pieced together an Idea of what the Story of TMAGP is and where it is headed, given the evidence we have so far.
IMPORTANT EVENTS
-The Magnus Institute begins to collect "Gifted Kids" in order to experiment on them and try to create Avatars
-Nigel Dickerson airs on Channel 6 with his show "Nigel's SOS"
-Introduction of Mr. Bonzo
-Bonzoland (Never Finished)
-Murders by Bonzo
-The Magnus Institute Burns (Cover Up)
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Magnus Institute began a program for "Gifted Children." We know of two people who were involved in this program: Sam and Gerry Keay. The two of them (separately) leave the Institute, both of which being "Ineligible" for whatever experiments the Institute was preforming.
These experiments and/or attempts at creating new Avatars of the Fears left both Gerry and Sam with large gaps in their memory.
Gerry: "Yeah, I barely remember any of it."
Gerry: "Oh yeah, but I was pretty young. I remember filling in a bunch of forms and questionnaires, then some old men asking me questions about what books I liked to read, who did I look up to, that kind of thing. And then I left."
Sam: "I have… I have memories of weird stuff I saw here, but no context. I want to know what was happening, why they chose us… why they didn’t choose me. Maybe find the bit where everything started to go wrong.
But… it’s too late. And now… I’m the only one left who cares."
Sam: "I was on one of their gifted kids programs and – um – I got hold of a list of a few of the other kids, and thought it might be nice if we could get in contact, swap stories and that…"
These experiments were done so that possible candidates for New Avatars could be chosen. Both Gerry and Sam were rejected.
It is also revealed that The Magnus Institute burned down sometime after these experiments were stopped or shut down after discovery.
I believe that The Magnus Institute fire, which occurred in 1999, was done by the higher-ups of TMI in order to cover up whatever experiments they were doing.
At first, this might seem incredibly contrary to the known behavior of the Institute, which was built for the very purpose of Storing and Organizing Knowledge for the Eye. Wouldn't burning it and destroying all of the Statements stored there hurt the Eye?
It would. Except, the Statements weren't destroyed. They were moved.
This leads into my belief that the OIAR is the Magnus Institute, simply disguised as a new Business. It was created with the intention of moving the Statements and both organizing them and preserving them through the use of the Computers. This would prevent them from the risk of being destroyed by something like Fire, which was established to be a way to hurt the Eye in TMA.
However, there is still one thing preventing the OIAR from fully covering their tracks. And that is the Failed Avatars.
I think that the OIAR, specifically Lena, is killing the old Avatar experiments in order to prevent anyone from knowing about the Institute's actions in the first place. And she's using Bonzo to do it.
In episode 10, we see Gwen Bouchard, who has been newly appointed by Lena as some kind of "Inside Man," making a delivery to none other than Nigel Dickerson, the creator (and possible host) of Bonzo.
Bonzo the Clown is a living creature, one mentioned to "hate being stared at." This aligns him with the Stranger, who is directly opposed to the Ceaseless Watcher.
He is given an Address by Gwen, which supposedly leads to some kind of target for Bonzo to kill.
I believe this target will be one of the Failed Avatars, possibly even Gerard Keay himself, as well as Gertrude Robinson. They would be killed by the OIAR to prevent any leaks of information.
Another lose thread in the OIAR's plan is Colin, who seems to have discovered something about the Magnus Institute and is well aware of the OIAR's habit of "Silencing" those with information.
This is what leads him to spiral and believe that any device near him is "Watching" him. He's correct in this assumption, of course, but wrong about Who it is that's Watching. He believes it to be the OIAR, but in reality I have come to the conclusion that it's one of two possibilities.
One: The Eye, or more specifically, Jonathan Sims, Former Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute, London.
A very popular theory where everyone's favorite wet cat, Jonathan "I know what a meme is" Sims, has been trapped inside of the OIAR's computer system.
Evidence to support this is the use of his voice in the reading of Important Documents, named "Chester" by Alice.
This theory suggests that after the events of The Magnus Archives, Jon's death successfully caused the Fears to travel to another universe. Since he was so tightly connected with the Eye at that time, being "The Pupil" of it, he was also supposedly transported into the world of TMAGP.
If this were the case, then it begs the question as to why Jon and the Eye would be trapped in the Computers specifically. Not just computers, seemingly every electronic device, as we see the "Listeners" also use phones and even televisions to Watch/Listen into conversations.
Two: The Web, or Us, The Audience
It was established clearly in TMA that the characters were being recorded/listened to by Tape recorders controlled by Annebelle Cane, and subsequently the Web. As Audience members, we are also apart of the Web when we listen in to these conversations through these devices. It's possible that this is the same case in The Magnus Protocol.
These are all the theories I have and am able to support with evidence. If you have any input, responses, etc, let me know!
21 notes
·
View notes
Note
hello second theminecraftbee would you be amenable to discussing 'in deference to saint george' ?
if so, here are some questions I had after reading it! it was an excellent fic and you did a great job :D
1. reasoning for the title? how did you come to pick it? (also, just a note but: after a quick google of saint george, he appears to have some dragon symbolism attached to him, as well as having been in an army). (also I love all your fic titles. they're so tastey and I want to stick all of them into a blender and pour it into my morning cereal. carrows in particular tickles my brain).
2. any backstory to picking the names for the characters?
3. what gave you the idea for superball's powers? its a very unique and interesting powerset and application.
4. I'm seeing a parallel or two thematically between this fic and carrows. just an observation but yeah
5. as for worldbuilding, what exactly is an outsider? what exactly is the grey factor?
6. I like how you got into the politics of having 'villains' and 'other people' not a question but a nice comment
I probably had more questions but I can't remember and also this is quite a few already. again, excellent job on the fic.
I’D LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS you have no idea how much I have wanted to talk about this fic! so I will answer them in order!!!
FIRST! saint george as a symbol here is SPECIFICALLY in reference to the thing I, a person who grew up vaguely episcopalian and don’t know anything about saints, know him for: he slayed a dragon. it’s a famous legend about him! a town had a dragon nearby threatening them, and to protect the town, saint george slays that dragon, its in a lot of medieval art and such. so the title means something like “I am conceding to the prior example of a dragon slayer”, or symbolically, refers to the idea that the story is of a relationship that was always kind of doomed by nature; there is a dragon, and there is a hero, and there is one way that story has gone for a long time.
SECOND! no they mostly came to me in a vision, my main goal was “they sound like something you’d hear in a comic book” and also “the dragon’s name has to not sound particularly like any real-world name on account of him being an alien from another dimension”. and I just kind of liked que, so que it was! the rest were all meant to invoke like, you know, comic-book-y vibes, as well as the general texture of the city.
THIRD! I think I came up with the idea of a superhero named superball while I was initially brainstorming for the fic; i worked from there fore the specific power. the fic changed shapes A LOT (it was originally a lot more cynical before I went “actually fuck that” and entirely reworked my outline) but the idea of “bouncy superhero named superball” remained. the other powers were built from there; I knew I wanted the villain to be a dragon, and then I wanted to fill out the superhero team with a somewhat “typical” feeling early hero team roster, you know?
FOURTH! yeah, I can see that! I think the biggest difference in the two fics’ themes of self-sacrifice is that joe actively uses his support network while perhaps jack’s most notable and devastating character flaw is that he is incapable of seeing that he has one. difference in the finales between “will you hold my hand?” “always” and “I don’t want this either” “I know”, you know?
FIFTH! outsiders are people from other dimensions! they come in several camps—members of the grey army, fleeing criminals, and people fleeing the grey army or the destruction of their homeworlds. the grey army is a terrifying distant threat that the story of superball here is actually too early in its comics timeline to face! but que explains enough of THEIR motivations. as for grey factor: comic book wobbly explanation for why people have powers! outsiders normally have them, members of the grey army always have them, humans only very rarely have them as of the time of the fic’s plot. according to the grey army they originate from paradise, but not everyone actually believes this. in my head more and more humans would start to get them the longer more visitors come to earth. so… yeah!
SIXTH! so I was playing with a lot of my personal favorite tropes of people doing hero fics, both in playing it straight and subversion. and ONE OF THOSE is “what do people THINK of superheroes”. my twist is “what do people think of superheroes except this whole business is still rather new, only having appeared in the past few years”, so I was playing out the debates as though much of this was a new idea! I’m glad you liked it!
thank you SO MUCH for the questions I’m enjoying talking!
31 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mralisola recruitment post
(no spoilers beyong the basic setup)
What is Mralisola?
Mralisola is the ship name for Zeen Mrala and Lula Talisola, major characters in the first phase of the Star Wars: The High Republic publishing initiative – specifically the works of one of its story architects, Daniel José Older. These include especially the comic line The High Republic Adventures (2021), some of its one-shot issues, and the young adult novel Midnight Horizon, as well as appearances in the manga The Edge of Balance and the middle grade novel Race to Crashpoint Tower. Phase Three of THR is starting this Fall, with the first issue of the comic's 2023 run releasing in December.
Who are Zeen and Lula?
Two Force-sensitive teenage girls who have a huge impact on each other’s lives. Lula is one of a group of young Jedi who come to help Zeen’s community during a disaster. Zeen has been raised to shun and hide her Force-sensitivity but is forced (heh) to reveal it in a moment of crisis. Being outcast from the commune that raised her, she joins the Jedi kids and becomes their close friend and ally, though she doesn’t join the Order herself.
Where does the shipping come in?
The girls are strongly paralleled from their very introduction and click immediately upon meeting. While the Padawan squad are all good friends, Zeen and Lula are especially close and are almost always seen together. Their growing feelings for each other are hinted at many times throughout the comic and acknowledged in their inner monologues.
Will the ship become canon?
It will be the star wars queerbait if not. Seriously.
But canon gays? In my Star Wars?
It’s more likely than you think! Look at this excellent guide to canon wlw by @chipthekeeper or the lineup of the ongoing @queer-starwars-bracket, which featured both of our girls. The High Republic is probably the most queer-friendly part of the franchise.
Yeah but. Lula is a Jedi. How does that work?
Non-spoilery answer is that there is definitely precedent for her situation in THR media and it will be interesting to see the characters grapple with it. The High Republic has many things to say about the Jedi Order and its view on relationships, and I believe Zeen and Lula are a major part of that theme, whichever way their story resolves.
Gimme some more reasons to get invested.
Girl friends to girlfriends. Complementary blue/pink color palette. The conflict of love and duty. Battle couple. Meditation couple (is that a thing? it should be). The theme of living as your true self in a loving found family. Pining. Helping your gf deal with the demons of her past. Teen sapphics, in Star Wars.
Okay, you got me! What do I need to read?
Definitely The High Republic Adventures 2021 (13 comic issues). If you get really into the setting you will probably enjoy the whole High Republic series, which has plenty of reading orders but is perfectly safe in publication order, such as on wookieepedia here.
While there are many crossovers between storylines, Daniel José Older's characters are almost completely contained to his own works, so for a mralisola-only reading spree you can just go through the list of Phase I picking out his works. (The comic miniseries Trail of Shadows and the manga volumes are skippable in that case, though you'll miss a cameo in the second manga volume.)
Whatever books and comics you end up reading, don't skip the Midnight Horizon novel, and read Starlight Coda (contained in Free Comic Book Day 2023, and included in the Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures — The Complete Phase 1 trade paperback) at the very end.
29 notes
·
View notes
Note
Thanks for answering my ask....If you don't mind me asking (again), can I ask, what are your top 10 (or top 7) favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series)? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....
My top 7 favourite media in general actually ends up fluctuating a lot considering that I tend to hyperfixate on one thing and then kinda get a bit lazy and go and try and find something else to hyperfixate on.
It will be really hard to rank this so Iam just gonna tell you my top 10 in no particular order (again) sorry about that.
Currently Iam hyperfixating on Jujutsu kaisen I really love the premise of the story and how it's built in this way where the story just repeats itself in different ways. It kinda sends the message of history always repeats itself and if it doesn't it will rhyme in a twisted way. I also love the way gege handles the themes of the story. However, I do think the story has a lot of wasted potential especially centering around themes of misogyny and just female characters in general.
There is also MHA. I think it has a whole lot of wasted potential as seen when I talk about in my blog I have kinda became a hater on what the manga contains because I feel like it could of been better and we could of had so much more in general but we just don't it's a big let down for me but I love seeing peoples view on the manga and how people would rewrite the series or different aspects in general.
I also like attack on titan. Yes I do like the ending of attack on titan (controversial but yeah 🤷♀️) I think isayama made a great choice in ending the series the way he did. I think the seires follows the idea of history repeats itself especially if people forget history and I love the way he depicted erens character how Eren is both a selfish and selfless fool at the same time. The interactions between the younger and older generation of characters for example Armin and Erwin parallels/contrasts are really interesting. I also love how both Keith and magath were just two sides of the same coin fighting something bigger then them both and both dying together back in the ship felt like a decent conclusion to both their characters.
Violet evergarden is a great series where the main protagonist has to learn love, the different types of love and how to love. I loved how each episode had its own story that made it very unique and the animation style is flawless. I do have my own problems with the ending especially with violet and Gilbert's relationship (the way they met and the 9year age gap isn't doing it for me) I think the series should of simply ended with violet learning self love and acceptance.
Avatar the last airbender is a masterpiece of a kids show. The themes it tackles like survivors guilt, imperialism and genocide I think it handles them very well. However, I do have a problem with the way they handled aangs character in book 3 and how they tried and failed to handle the theme of sexaul assault. Katara's character was also done very dirty I wish she accepted bloodbending but understood how it can be helpful and dangerous at the same time. Considering I watched with my sister it does have a special place in my heart and I love the content the fandom creates.
Percy Jackson was like one of the first books that got me into reading and greek mythology. I love the series from what I remember reading I absolutely love the parallels the series has, how it actually battled certain issues, how it has a perfect balance with humour and seriousness in the books and so much more. I also love the irony that rick puts latter in the hero of Olympus books how every child of the big 3 ends up being scared of their own element is a great touch or the focus on fatal flaws is very interesting how one thing can be your downfall even if it's something good like loyalty. To be honest I always found annabeth and Luke's relationship in the books to be very weird especially with how Luke is 21 and annabeth was like 12 so Iam glad that rick chose to change it when it came to writing the live action.
Purple hyacinth. Oh if I had to recommend anyone to read a webtoon this is the one that I would recommend. I absolutely love all of the characters and the character development there is. The series concept is amazing ( I don't wanna spoil it so I won't say much) and I love how there is music that goes with the chapters you read, it's just amazing. I hope we get a new chapter soon considering that the author is still on hiatus due to some health issues.
#mha#MHA#purple hyacinth#attack on titan#avatar the last airbender#violet evergarden#Jujutsu kaisen#ask#anon ask#thank you for the ask#percy jacskon
10 notes
·
View notes
Note
I dont really see the shadowplay as a lie. Wukong was constantly leaving, contantly abadoning, his subjects and macaque for more power. It might have started out as protection for them, but he admits himself he lost sight of that. Macaque abandoned wukong too dont get me wrong, but wukong did it several times. In jttw alone he leaves ffm for years, decades at a time.
Macaque has no right to hurt mk, and his reaction is very bad, but if wukong never hurt or wronged him, then their possible reconciliation just tastes bitter to me. It only works if both monkeys were in the wrong
wukong had left about two or three times pre journey i believe? training with subodhi, then to work as heaven's stable boy, and maybe something else? i can't remember right now (and im falling asleep at my desk LOL....)
yeah, he does admit he lost sight of it! that's very true, and that's important to note that his goal grew to be unclear (as a narrative parallel to azure's conflict during the season and the special). i'm putting emphasis on the fact that wukong says to macaque twice (once directly to him and the other by proxy) that his intentions were overall good.
yes, in the original book he returns to ffm occasionally but then, imporantly, has to return to the journey. if wukong were truly free to make his choice, he could have very much stayed at ffm during the first time he left the journeying group, but he. couldn't do that. the celestial realm needed him to help retrieve/deliver(?) the scriptures and tripitaka still had him trapped with the circlet. and also important to note that in the original jttw, macaque and wukong didn't know eachother.
lego monkie kid is a sequel to the original journey to the west, but it also makes it very clear that lego monkie kid's version of journey to the west is very different from the one we know. claiming some things as canon because it was in the original books (like wukong being macaque's killer) doesn't track with the version of jttw that the show is presenting to us. (not saying this as a way to undermine your point, but more as like a general point that i feel i need to mention).
so, tldr for all that up there that i keyboard vomited is that yeah wukong did leave ffm occasionally but he always returned to ffm & macaque. in shadowplay, macaque's abandonment is portrayed as the time when wukong went off to work for heaven.
in this scene, wukong is dressed in his royal attire (the phoenix cap and armor) while turning around and smirking while joining the figures up in the clouds which is a representation of the celestial realm.
interestingly wukong's also wearing the circlet in this! so this scene can be taken as two things:
wukong leaving to work for the celestial realm as the stable boy (where he canonicaly comes back to macaque and macaque is fine, this is in season 4)
wukong joining the journeying group.
if the second point is what's happening, then macaque fundamentally misunderstands wukong's agency in the journey, since the circlet (aka his punishment/torture leash) took a lot of wukong's own choice out of the matter of if he should go on the journey or not. wukong even wanted to go back to his home when he was freed but had to stick with the journey!
macaque has always been a biased narrator, and that's really interesting to me because he's a trauma dumper too. he constantly tells his version of events without considering another side.
now, im not saying that wukong is an innocent person in their whole *gestures vaguely* situation either, but i am saying that shadowplay is macaque's biased narration that we as the audience can recognize because we know what's actually happening with wukong. the shadowplay is meant to put more doubt into MK and make the emotional rift between him and wukong larger because of wukong's lack of communication skills and MK's easy to influence personality. it's not factually correct, but it gives more insight and helps create more conflict for our characters to face.
i agree! the reconciliation wouldn't be as good imo if wukong had never wronged macaque either. i'm also just saying that objectively wukong has more... concrete? i think thats the word? reasons for doing what he does while macaque's motivations usually revolve around self preservation. its a cool character dynamic (that i am obsessed with)
26 notes
·
View notes
Note
Book 3 spoiler ask:
I absolutely love Nate, and his is my favourite route, but this book raises so many concerns and questions.
How do you feel about him asking us to run from the trappers? On the one hand I want to understand and do as he says because he is so terrified of losing MC, yet, this is MC's job and they need to feel like their partner sees them as a capable Detective and member of the team.
Also, do you want to talk about his thoughts towards the end? 👀
Hello friend! Thank you for the ask! Absolutely would love to talk about this.
The first question. From a trying-to-understand-n standpoint, I’ve always actually gotten where they’ve been coming from. Does that mean my gal Suri listens to Nate’s plea? No. Not at all. She’s been through Murphy and the Maa-alused, she’s saved UB multiple times. She wants to protect him as much as she thinks she wants to protect her, they’re in a partnership in every sense of the word (at least to her). And she proved it when she was able to distract the Trappers in time for Nate to take them down.
That being said - yes - they do need to trust the detective. Absolutely. It’s a two way trust system.
But really, this happened before we even got any insight to N. That came later when they had their introspective moment, and yeah, I get it. Then the backstory. Etc. I’ll talk about that in a little bit.
One thing I do want to point out is that with the N romance, there has actually been a lot more on the Patreon regarding these fears and how they worry about losing the detective, and how the detective would judge them/leave them for what they’ve done in their past. A few N POVs (book two and book three), a special Patreon write up, and Halloween/Christmas/Winter specials that really sort of round this storyline out.
Putting the rest behind a cut as I’ll delve into post-b3 demo
Okay! So! Yes, I do understand N. At least their POV. They’ve experienced tremendous loss with their father and their half-brother. They know the grief and pain of it. Now there is a human, a human they are in love with. That they have to protect not just out of duty, but out of their love for them and to see them flourish in this confusing world. With the question being - what lengths will they go to?
A human who has every supernatural interested in their blood. Rogues, Trappers, the Agency, themselves.
One thing I liked is that there are parallel scenes in the beginning and the end of the book. Regarding the exact same thing, N’s fear for the detective’s safety. I had Suri tell Nate (who she so gob-smacked in love with) that he has to trust her if this is going to work out between them. And I agree with her - they have to work together and come up with something, or their relationship will continue to be difficult.
I honestly thought they were going to break up. And maybe - as much as I hate to say it - maybe that should have been an option.
Now. THAT scene. Oh THAT scene. Actually completely knocked me off my feet. For reasons beyond the rest, that N purposely drinks half of their blood rations. They’re hungry. The detective’s blood is too enticing.
The thought of that sent them into a spiral in a way that frightened themselves. If you have the bff scene with A, they worry they’ll be the villain in the detective’s story. When they want to be prince/princess charming (not even the hero. A can be the hero).
So, I’ve sort of been all over the place since then. We have a whole book where N and the detective working on boundaries, openness, honesty, trust, and then we are hit with those two scenes.
It was a great time to bring in the BFF. To help calm them down, temper them. Help them realize what it is they need to do. And there is a resolve, a renewed promise in them.
Honestly, I love it. I’m excited to see what comes next. N is a very complex and complicated character. They are good natured, good hearted, incredibly kind and understanding, but there is a darkness in their past they must pass and reconcile within themselves, and there is the whole vampire within themselves. It’s a reminder that there is still so much to learn about them still.
The N route was absolutely wonderful. It made my heart full and happy. I’m curious to the angst that lurks beneath and what we will see when that mask finally comes off. And to then ride off into a happy ending that they and our detectives deserve.
Thank you for the ask! Love talking about my favorite vampire!! Oh now I need book four now!
36 notes
·
View notes
Note
I can't believe there's Ango hate ;(( He's just a little guy! He loves both his friends, wears silly little glasses, he actively helps Dazai, who did very much put him in a hospital. Chuuya of all people manages to bully-manipulate him in DA, because he knows Ango feels guilty about DHC, even if he couldn't have done anything (though he tried!) He gives Ango closure before his leap of faith and says "It wasn't your fault. You tried your best." These two, making my bsd brainrot worse 😌
I know!! I really don't get it. :(
And yeah he loves both his friends very much, and the story emphasizes how much he values human life! His introduction and establishing character moment is exactly this!
Yes, absolutely I liked the acknowledgement from Chuuya, that Ango tried to stop it but didn't have the status or influence to do anything. As someone who also recognizes the value of a life, that only makes sense. I do have to wonder what their history actually is. They're both very interesting, with their affiliations to an organization that aligns with their exterior selves and presentation but contradicts some of their inner values. I also have a theory that Ango did not join the Special Division by choice, which would heighten the parallels... that's more of a "what if" theory though than anything bounded by sole rationality.
It's odd though... despite not enjoying the fandom hate I've seen for Ango I actually enjoy (?) the continued animosity from Dazai. Let me explain. I've already gone over why hating Ango for what went down is kind of irrational, but it's precisely because it's not rational that makes it so interesting to me. Dazai remains furious at him, and it's not just because of Odasaku. His anger began with Ango's betrayal in the first place. I will never stop bringing up how Dazai was the one to approach Ango. Dazai found him interesting and liked him. Dazai invited him to join them at Bar Lupin. Dazai has taken the initiative to "just hang out" with no other character in the series.
Dazai is angry because he is hurt, plain and simple. It's not just a betrayal of the mafia, it's personal. It's an emotional response. And in a book (Dark Era) whose whole purpose was to draw a dividing line between the Demon Prodigy and Dazai - that is, that Dazai does not, in fact, make all perfectly logical choices and will prioritize emotion given the right impetus - the continuation of this theme throughout the manga is a good reminder when we don't get detailed descriptions of Dazai's countenance or others' impressions of him in the narration. Moreover, I think it's not just Ango that's an issue but also that he brings back painful memories Dazai would rather not dwell on - remember that Dazai was the one who brought Oda into the Mafia with a promise of relative safety from the people who were after him. I would say there's likely a projection of self-blame going on here too.
It just really sucks for poor Ango, who already blames himself and ends up being regularly bullied and guilt tripped into doing stuff for him. I really really hope that the story leads to some kind of closure for them and that they both stop with the blame, self-directed or otherwise... They need it badly.
Also also! He's very strict with his subordinates but also good with them! And I am certain he must've had to jump hoops in Gaiden to keep everyone alive oh my god.
Yeah. Little guy! :')
#bsd#bsd ango#i'm very tired after exams so i hope i actually made my points clear#storyrambles#bsd chuuya#bsd dazai#bsd odasaku
66 notes
·
View notes
Text
Notes on The Path of Daggers
Oh, Shienar leaders reunion! Does it mean we will at last get some Lan content? They don’t seem to be ready to support Rand though.
Verin is the very definition of a bad bitch. She perceives so much more than she lets on and I love that she clearly has her own agenda. Black Ajah? Spy? I have no idea what her deal is, but she seems to be on a level with Cadsuane and Moiraine when it comes to acting as a free agent.
Birgitte is smaller than Aviendha and Elayne? Lies! Lieeeeeeees!
"You can ask or demand anything of me, but never to let you die without trying to save you. The day you die, I die." I am in agony. The way this is both about Nynaeve and Moiraine, but in a different light, with the trust and love placed in Nynaeve and the acknowledgement of betrayal by Moiraine. Blood and ashes, this storyline is going to hurt.
Not liking Aviendha's thoughts on women and softness, all the more ridiculous that Birgitte is right here, with her love of dresses and feminity despite being very strong. I get this is Aviendha’s POV, but this is only the hundredth time we got such an angle and I am tired.
On one hand, I understand Nyn and Elayne not trusting the Aes Sedai with guarding the Black Ajah, because there has to be one or two BA sisters in their ranks. On the other, they don't have the best track records with decision-making and risk assessment, so I will be surprised if Ispan doesn't escape eventually, with casualties at that.
I am rooting for the Kin so hard. Please, let them be Aes Sedai and prove themselves, they are so cool. Like with the noblewomen and grandmothers being integrated into the Tower by Egwene later on, this storyline gives me so much joy.
Nynaeve ready to yell at the Aes Sedai despite them not doing anything for once is so funny. For all their flaws, Aes Sedai are no worse or better than other groups, especially with all the parallels to the Aiel. I’d say it was the most fun these chapters had been because the conflict between the four groups is getting repetitive.
I love Aviendha worrying about the gholam when we know for a fact Seanchan are invading at this very moment. She is a trouper though and I love her lion-heart.
Elayne and Aviendha giving strong "she is so smart and brave and beautiful" New Spring Siuan and Moiraine vibes. They legit have more chemistry together than either with Rand.
Yeah, still not a fan of Nyn and Elayne relying so much on their strength to intimidate or gain the upper hand on others. It's not something they picked up only from Aes Sedai either considering Verin's words at the beginning of The Dragon Reborn. It's just... You know the way people with power are terrified of weaker people enacting on them the same violence because they cannot conceive of a world without a power imbalance? Yeah that.
What I gather from all those new channelers being insanely powerful, even more than Nynaeve, is that as the Age comes to an end, more channelers in line with the Age of Legends will reveal themselves in different nations.
People with cloud dancing abilities and the Windmistresses are doing unaided what required ter'angreal in the AoL? Very interesting. As with the bonding weave, I love the nuance in picturing evolution as non-linear, with gains and losses, particularly in light of all the history and scientific advancement lost to time.
RJ's insistence that Aiel are tanned white people instead of the people of color they should have been will never stop being bizarre. I know they are fantasy Irish/Scottish people, but the fact they are uniformly described as tanned blond white Californians is throwing me off.
See, one of my issues with Elayne that is standing out this book is the way she often seems to me an Egwene stand-in: her arc about being Queen but having to prove it is too similar to Egwene’s at this point. They’re not the same obviously, but too closely related, especially considering how different the boys are from one another.
I am glad that Caire and the Sea folk took the helm with the Bowl of winds because otherwise, it would have been super White savioury of Elayne to lead. It will be such a bloody incredible scene on-screen, I cannot wait.
Alise in the long line of very competent working-class women without which whole institutions would crumble. Also described like an avalanche btw. Yes, I miss Moiraine.
The Seanchan attack and Elayne unraveling the gateway was so bloody epic. Elayne the mad scientist remains my favourite Elayne. I love the unease in the Seachan camp when they incorrectly conclude from this that their enemies have weapons of mass destruction (which they do, in the form of sa’-, ter’- and angreal, but this was an accident.)
Oh, Perrin is crossing paths with Morgase's party! I am digging this. This is going to be interesting, with Morgase hiding her identity and so many leaders traveling with Perrin, a rebel leader himself.
Here's the thing, if you send away Berelain and Anoura, gag Seonid and only use the Wise Ones as watchdogs, you're left with Perrin and Morgase and they just are not interesting enough by themselves to keep my attention.
Is Lini forcing Morgase to marry Tallanvor? Why are old women so creepy in these books?
I love Faile. I don't love that her presence prompts gender essentialism to worsen every time in Perrrin’s thoughts. I will never get used to it. I hate being yanked out of the story because of this.
Faile and her Cha Faile. Her being a shrewd politician and general, seeing the potential of eager and devoted young Cairhienins who are likely expert practitioners of Daes Dae’mar. She’s genuinely a good leader, like Berelain or Egwene, and I love her political acumen.
In an ideal Lubitschean Wot Universe, Faile and Perrin are married, Aram is Perrin’s boyfriend and Berelain is Faile’s girlfriend.
Oh boy, Tallanvor and Morgase is almost as bad as Siuan and Gareth. Stop forcing women in a vulnerable mental state to hook up with guys they depend on for survival.
The Aiel and indentured servitude… There’s a whole discussion to have about making prisoners apprentices in this way, as opposed to willingly like Aviendha and Egwene. The Aes Sedai are not Aiel, this is not ji’e’toh.
About Alliandre: just another powerful woman pledging to a man, nothing to see here.
That said, the discussion between Alliandre, Faile, Berelain and Annoura? So good. RJ writes bloody entertaining negotiating scenes, truly.
Ah yes, the four horsemen of the fantasy apocalypse :
Elayne - nepotism
Perrin - feudalism
Aviendha - indentured servitude
Rand - imperialism
Between the Cha Faile, the Rebels outside Cairhien with Darlin and Caraline, Mat's army, there is a strong recurring theme of Tear and Cairhien coming together under the Dragon's banner and it makes Siuan's association with Moiraine all the more thematically relevant, just saying.
Okay, maybe I should pay more attention to Moridin if he is Nae'blis. Who the heck is he? Also Cyndane? I love this game of whack-a-Forsaken.
I don’t say this enough, but the Forsaken are incredibly amusing in a Grand Guignol way.
Despite the initial Manicheism, the granularity of evil and good in these books is really fascinating: there are a million individuals on each side and in between, pursuing their own goal, or a common one but in a vastly different way.
Also, I can't bemoan the stupidity and lack of organization of the antagonists, particularly the Forsaken, without recognizing that most of the heroes are pretty incompetent themselves: they all have their own agenda and interest, their personality gets in the way all the time, they absolutely suck at communication and negotiation, and their plans rarely work as it should. The ta'veren factor does a lot of work here. Don't get me wrong, it is generally fun to read, on both sides, but yeah, sheer luck and lots of foolishness.
Aielman standing in the streets staring at the pouring rain and Cairhienin noblewoman laughing with her hood down under the rain, I send you paper kisses because that was charming.
A bit disappointed we did not get the first encounter between Sorilea and Cadsuane, but I really enjoyed their conversation. At least Sorilea is realizing the Aiel are as much help as the AS and that Rand needs a different kind of support than what they are providing.
Rand chapter finally!
And unfortunately it's one of those "group A disagrees with group B with the support of group C although group C hates group A while group D glares at group A sneering at C for agreeing with them, and B silently mocks group D for being so careless" chapters. It’s a lot of mannerisms and opposing POVs. It doesn’t really add much to the story beyond colouring and at this point in the conflicts, we don’t really need more colouring.
Adored the conversation with the Asha'man afterward though. They’ve gained a lot of individuality now that they’re away from Taim, which has to be intentional. Getting really worried about Rand’s symptoms and the possibility they are indeed starting to lose their mind.
I wonder if like healing stilling, healing the weather required both male and female channelers, and in their haste, the circle only fixed the weather partially because that’s a LOT of snow after a scorching summer. All the trees are going to die out of shock.
I love Egwene so bloody much. And Siuan. And Leane. I love their machinations, their mutual support, their chemistry, their strength, their flaws, their ridiculousness, their humanity, their everything.
Siuan knowing the history of the Tower by heart fills me with so much love. I feel so emotional about the contrast between the contempt some sisters hold her in for breaking the Tower and the devotion Siuan still has for the Tower, the love she has for who she is, an Aes Sedai. They get deserved crap for their stupid hierarchies, their arcane rules, their inflexibility and isolation, but the White Tower was created with laudable goals at first: preserving humanity and knowledge. They are not soldiers, they were meant to be custodians; seeing someone like Siuan, who embodied the Tower and broke it and herself in trying to push it in another direction… UGH. It reminds me of loving a country, a community, and hating it so much, hating what it taught me, what it broke in trying to preserve itself, and believing that maybe it would be easier to destroy it entirely, and still there is some good here and it deserves, perhaps, to remain and be changed.
Yeah, I love Siuan so much. Egwene is right: Siuan is so incredibly strong.
Shit, Aran'gar killed Selame? Sheriam is spying? For who? Shit shit shit. The Salidar lot is in so much danger.
I knew Elayne and Nynaeve's bargain with the Sea Folk was pretty much BS. They promised the moon knowing it was near impossible for Egwene to fulfill the bargain. Knowing Egwene, she will rise to the challenge.
I would die if Egwene puzzling out Siuan is in love with Gareth became in the show Egwene understanding Siuan is not merely mourning a co-conspirator in Moiraine but also a lover.
Talmanes feeling Mat needs him from hundreds of miles? Oh that's gay
Whatever possesses RJ to constantly interrupt charming bonding scenes or intense plotting schemes with the most childish romantic nonsense? Women and men alike lose braincells at the most inconvenient moment. It’s killing the vibe each time.
Everything about the way Egwene prepared and navigated the negotiations with the Andorans, and then the Aes Sedai? Phenomenal. I was on the edge of my seat.
I'm not gonna lie, going from blood-pumping Egwene chapters to mostly static Elayne and Rand chapters is underwhelming.
Still, there is an extremely uneasy and frantic energy to this particular fight around Ebou Dar. Perhaps it’s Rand’s extreme confidence in the Asha’man. Perhaps it’s the clear instability spreading through the male channelers. Perhaps it’s the grueling Guerilla approach to this battle. Perhaps it’s the oddness of the One Power in the mountains. I am really enjoying this tbh.
The Asha'man are much, much too eager to fight Aes Sedai and Taim has too great a hold on them. I don’t like that Rand’s distrust is caused mostly by LTT’s voice but he is right to suspect Taim’s influence on the Asha’man.
Are we ever going to find out what the deal is with the One Power for women and men near Ebou Dar? I love the concept of corrupted places where physics or magic doesn’t work as it should.
Liandrin?! In the hands of the Seanchan? What is going on?!?
Why is Lews Therin quoting that Prussian general? Is Prussia canon in the Wheel of Time univers?
THEY STOLE THE OATH ROAD And Pevara and Seaine discovered how to undo the Oaths? Oh, that is really interesting. REALLY interesting, particularly after Siuan’s discussion with Egwene.
Oh my god, if you order an Aes Sedai to lie under an oath, she can die choking?!?
OoooooooOooooooooOoooooh they are recruiting Salidar's spies to hunt the Black Ajah! This is so good. What an exciting development!
I got chills when the last Aes Sedai who discovered Seaine and Pevara refused to swear she was not a Darkfriend. I suspect it can’t be that easy though. Still really hyped for this storyline.
As I said, Asha’man = incel army. Of course, they would capture Aes Sedai and use compulsion to make them love them.
"Maybe Elayne had taught him." In a week while making out in Tear? Rather than Moiraine who spent months with him in the Waste cramming his head with 20 years' worth of experience as Blue Ajah? Or Bashere who has been working with him to handle no less than 4 different armies begrudgingly working together? Or the Aiel who are the fantasy Sparta culture? Come on, Min, I know you're trying very hard not to get jealous, but you're being foolish and as Rand’s primary advisor currently, you cannot afford to be foolish.
Cadsuane joking she expects the Asha'man to juggle made me cackle. She is the definition of the bigger bully.
Callandor requires men and women to work? Nice, I was hoping to get a sa’angreal like this soon. Seeing Rand navigate people he doesn’t trust while working with them is also particularly exciting.
Oh, they killed Adeleas... Vandene crying out loud for her sister after the others were sent away was actually heartbreaking. I do like that DF are still a serious threat; not a given with the number of actors now at play. Elayne and Nynaeve were faaaaar too trusting of the dozens of strangers they took up at the farm.
Rand and the Asha'man... Man, that was brutal. The madness was bound to catch up to them, but this, coming right after a near defeat, deaths caused by Rand and a betrayal, is absolutely harrowing. I love that we got Rand talking about consulting Nynaeve to cure the taint beforehand, giving them some hope, and then Rand invokes Nynaene to provide the only cure available for now to Fedwin. It’s so bleak, I love it.
Not liking one bit the idea that women like Nynaeve and Faile need to be dominated by their husbands to have a happy marriage. Not one bit.
We didn't get unnecessary female nudity in a while and now we get it for ALL our ladies. Amazing. At least, my gal Berelain escaped.
The finale was a little jarring in the sense that we needed to catch up with everybody suddenly and still got nothing on Mat and the Shienaran alliance, but before that I really enjoyed the bleakness on Rand’s side. Reminded me of New Spring. I do wish we spent more time on the aftermath of the attack Rand in the Sun Palace and the first mercy killing, but I suspect it will be explored next book.
Verdict: two books into the slog and I am cruising so far. My biggest complaint is the similarities in power struggles between Rand, Egwene and Elayne, the three big threads here: for several chapters, each is trying to handle groups at daggers drawn, with varied degrees of success. It’s obviously the unifying theme, but the story would have benefitted from a serious arc for Mat and Nynaeve for breathers, as both are generally entertaining wildcards. Nynaeve had practically NOTHING to do outside of her beef with Alise, which is frustrating because I’ve been unsatisfied with her arc for a few books now. Hopefully, she’ll get one with the research to clean saidin.
Yet, as much as I absolutely see the slackening in the narrative, with several chapters depicting characters riding and disagreeing and nothing else, I appreciate the depths added by Egwene’s moves, Rand losing his grip and the overcorrection of the weather. It’s not much, true, and this book will likely be merged with another for TV, but it certainly wasn’t as slow as certain parts of TEotW or LoC. I was deeply moved by certain parts (the Asha’man, Siuan and Egwene, Vandene and Adeleas), which makes this book automatically better than others in the series.
#the wheel of time#wot book spoilers#wot book review#wot book journey#the path of daggers#remblai#still having a good time honestly#I suspect the slog will start slogging next book#it's all that snow#Verin entering the characters top 10 in one chapter only woah#Wot review
16 notes
·
View notes
Text
Ahsoka Episode 4 Spoilers/Thoughts
This was...a big one, to say the least.
Also note to self do NOT open tumblr while in the middle of watching an episode or you will be spoiled for that epic ending *sobs* oh well...
SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT
2/2 Star Wars characters repairing ship wiring on their back...v nice
Sabine, you realize none of you would be in this position if you hadn't squirreled away with the map in your tower...jus sayin...
"Can I count on you?" Yeah I'm gonna say that's a no...
Sabine loading her blasters is super cool but also giving me flashbacks to trying to reload staple gun or nail gun cartridges and hoping you don't launch them into your face in the process
Natasha plays Sabine's nervous energy very well and Rosario is showing Ahsoka's own unease, reserve, but also very caring concern, extremely well. I really wish we could see the history between these two--animated in between series anyone??
I wonder why Dave doesn't bring up the fact that Ahsoka owes Ezra her life. It's only focused on what Ezra means to Sabine, but he means a lot to Ahsoka too.
Huyang's lil hands on hips...you can tell he's a full practical build here.
Speaking of...I REALLY want to know if the practical robot was used for this fight scene, or if they switched to someone in a costume/CGI. It seems like the HK droids are people/CGI but I could be wrong about that. Either way, go Huyang go!
It's always a treat to see Mandos and Jedi fighting styles together. And Sabine's Wonder Woman vambrace block was great.
Ahsoka's white lightsabers are so stunning in live action.
"May I make one request of you both?" LISTEN TO HUYANG. HE KNOWS WHAT'S UP. "Stay together." And WHAT ARE THEY NOT GONNA DO SMH
"Mom, how come I have to do what I'm told and you don't" lmao
Jacen is so spunky and I'm so glad Dave is having him be a full part of the series.
Carson Teva my man! And Brendan!
BUT WHERE ARE ZEB AND KALLUS. WHERE ARE OUR MARRIED BOIS
"Faith? I lost that a long time ago" Baylon's backstory pleaseeeee. Who was his master. How far did he get in training. Was he knighted? Did he have a padawan pre-order 66? Where was he during the war? Where was he during Order 66? When did he walk away, and what did he walk away to? What are his goals now? How did he find Shin/why did he want to train her? We desperately need a comic or a book here Lucasfilm
The graphics for the countdown clock (and the droids manning them) are super cool
Shin dear lord can you be any more dramatic
Sabine and Shin running off like rabid wolves while Ahsoka is just like, oh please, do I really have to deal with this right now
Ahsoka > any inquisitor, dead or alive, magic or real, anytime, any place, any age LOL
Ugh the parallels to Obi-Wan and Maul are impeccable.
So I totally knew Marrok would be a nobody/throwaway character but a nightsister necromancer ghost??? Did not see that coming at all. Eerie
Shin seems honestly disturbed by seeing Marrok fall. I wonder if the body that was used was someone she knew or had a connection to.
The lightsaber usage in this show is so interesting and such a unique blend of samurai techniques, OT trilogy techniques, and more realistic stabbing and swiping and slicing motions. I love the choreography and cinematography of Shin and Sabine going at it as well as how the trees and landscape are used in their fight.
Looks like Shin got her dramatics from her master. Sitting there with his hood up for effect lol
Definitely getting flashbacks to Ahsoka's sass in her fight with Maul in TCW.
Baylon's textured armor is so incredible. I want to see him leading a 13th century cavalcade
Can he read people's minds? Or does he do in depth research like Thrawn does so he knows the weak points of his opponents?
“One must destroy in order to create.” No. You are incorrect sir. One must die. One must morph, must change, in order to create. But that is different than destroying.
Again with the one saber. It's such an odd choice for Ahsoka to do that, and it honestly feels like an excuse for Baylon to be able to overpower her later. I don't quite like it.
It is very interesting how Baylon views Ahsoka, and tells her that her legacy is death and broken promises. What exactly does he think her legacy is? Because that is Anakin's legacy, not hers (at least through Rebels). What has happened since then?
He looks so sad, honestly.
There's way too much leaving oneself open to attack in this episode.
The fight scene definitely looks slowed down a little, and it's a little clunky, but man Baylon is brutal with his saber. Again why is Ahsoka not using both of hers to combat is strength??
Either there's a trailer shot that never made it into this fight, or Baylon and Ahsoka fight again. I'm missing where she kicks back against one of those tall rocks and flips over. That was such a cool shot.
I honestly can't believe Shin was able to block the whistling birds lol. That would be an intense hit to the face. Also I love how much of the shots and sparks in these shows are practical. It makes it feel so much more real.
The map burning Ahsoka is wild. It makes sense but very unfortunate.
Hot damn Ahsoka! She definitely was tapping into some anger there. In real life that hit to the back of the head should have seriously injured Shin. Filoni is really being gritty and brutal with the fights in this show, they're raw and dirty in ways that the trilogies were not.
Aaaaaand while I know Ahsoka isn't dead yet (there's no way Filoni would kill off the title character halfway through a first season) holy cow that was heartwrenching
Baylon is a master manipulator. He makes Maul look like a babbling teenager. And yet he doesn't seem to derive any twisted pleasure from it. He just is doing what he thinks he needs to do.
I'm sorry Ahsoka had WHAT to do with Sabine's family dying???? In the Purge??? Ugh geez that's awful.
Gah DAMN it Sabine!! C'mon girl!! Bad decision, bad decision!
WHAT IS THIS GREATER GOOD BAYLON
I would have loved to see Obi-Wan face off against Baylon. The quiet patience and calm strength...too much for one room
He is just not done digging at Ahsoka is he. Again, master manipulator, but why?
Huyang's little magnifying glass!
Dave definitely nailed the lighting in this show. Even if the volume is still apparent in some shots, the lighting is finally dialed in and soft and realistic and atmospheric. That shot of Baylon after decimating the map is epic.
Yeahhh, Hera, ya'll might want to skedaddle right quick before you get....oh, too late....
"Mom? I've got a bad feeling." Me too kid, me too.
"Lady Wren, Lady Tano" *sobbing* Hera make sure Huyang makes it back pls
This transition.
Oh boy
I know what's coming bc I got on tumblr too early but OH MAN
ahhhh it's so gorgeous
it's here, it's finally here and it's BEAUTIFUL (The World Between Worlds, who did you think I was talking about, Anakin? ;)
I'm KIDDING ANAKIN IS BEAUTIFUL TOO OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE MY EYES
"Hello Snips" I can't I truly can't
"I didn't expect to see you so soon" so is she dead? Dying? Disassociating while drowning? Dave if you kill Ahsoka off in this show I will never forgive you
She is in shock omg look at him she is reunited with her brother, her master, her friend!!
We think--DAVE WHAT DOES VADER THEME MEAN. DAVE, SIR, HOW DARE YOU KNOW HOW TO LEAVE US ON SUCH A CLIFFHANGER IT IS UNFAIR.
Welp I have no idea what to do with myself until next week and we find out what's going on here. I swear if that's not the real Anakin I will be beside myself.
Let's get ready for flashbacks folks. What an episode.
#ahsoka#ahsoka tano#ahsoka show#ahsoka series#ahsoka spoilers#ahsoka series spoilers#ahsoka show spoilers#huyang#sabine#sabine wren#baylon skoll#shin hati#morgan elsbeth#hera syndulla#jacen syndulla#carson teva#some light ramblings#somelightramblings
19 notes
·
View notes
Note
Fingon or Húrin for the ask game?
-@outofangband
Ask Game:
Thank you for the ask @outofangband! Finally getting around to do this. I’ll gladly do both, Fingon is under the cut.
Húrin
one aspect about them i love
This is cheating a bit because it’s not really a character aspect and more like… plot, but. The ending of CoH with him wrecked me on a level not many books have managed. Not going into detail here in case someone reads this who hasn’t finished the book yet, but I’m sure everyone else knows what I’m talking about. Idk why this touched me so deeply (after all the pain the rest of this book was I would expect to be inured to the tragedy) and it’s such a short scene but I was not expecting that ending and the dialogue and then the book is just over and you’re left alone with all the pain and feels for Húrin.
one aspect i wish more people understood about them
Nothing really comes to mind here, I don’t think/know enough about him to have an informed opinion on this. But I always, always love posts that define the parallels between Húrin, Huor and their children, and how interconnected they are. Had they never found Gondolin, Húrin’s whole story had not happened. But neither had Tuor’s and in turn, Eärendil’s, which would mess up the whole timeline of Middle Earth. Húrin and Huor (and in turn Túrin and Tuor) are like two sides of the same coin and I love reading takes on this by people who have deeper thoughts about this whole topic than myself.
one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character
This is only gut-feeling, but I’d imagine him as a rather quiet type of person. Not in a brooding kind of way, and he is also not afraid to speak his mind when necessary, but he’s the “few words but silent comfort” kind of quiet. The “smiles and meaningful looks” kind of quiet. The “I’ll go on a hike alone, see you in five hours” kind of quiet. He also likes to be around louder/more easily excited people as well as equally quiet ones – which is why he clicks so well with Morwen. They can spend hours either apart or in the same room but not talking and never feel like they’re losing touch.
one character i love seeing them interact with
This kind of slips into the territory of the next question already, but to be fair, there are not really any characters we see Húrin interact with much, so: Huor and also Fingon. Honestly, Húrin is not a character I have many thoughts about, but I am super intrigued by the posts about Fingon and Húrin’s friendship I see sometimes, and the dynamic with his brother, albeit also not very popular in the fandom, interests me also!
one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more
Morwen! His children!! The people he did not ever get to spend enough time with. This is not necessarily a “I wish they would interact more” and more a “I wish they would get the chance to interact at all after his capture”. I’d love to see how they would work as a family, even though that obviously takes away all the meaning from the story. But on a slightly more realistic note, I would love for him to get the chance to just once talk to his children, the children that he knows so well, whose lives he sees in all of their details, why they never really get to know him. I’d be so interested in what he would say to them, if he could.
one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character
Okay okay okay I just read parts of his wiki page to check something and was reminded that Húrin and Huor were only 16 and 13 when they came to Gondolin??? I had somehow wrongly remembered/assumed that they had been young adults, but THIS CHANGES THINGS. So yeah, give me absolutely overprotective big brother Húrin, please. I mean, they obviously have been raised in a very harsh environment, they knew how to fight before they came to Gondolin and Húrin completely trusts his brother even at that age to stand his ground and make smart choices – in the forest they grew up in. Not in a strange, gigantic city full of elves that are probably all extremely curious about them. Huor, if he is at least half as chill as his son, is probably very happy to be there, explore everything and taste all the good food. Meanwhile Húrin, who has been cast into the role of the lone adult, frantically tries to keep him from wandering off, drills him into saying please and thank you All The Time because he is terrified of accidentally offending a super important elf-lord or something, and meanwhile also tries to stumble through conversations with an actual King (!!!) without embarrassing himself, his House and his whole species. He has a stressful couple of weeks before he finally manages to relax and enjoy his time there a bit more.
Fingon
one aspect about them i love
His presence!! He seems like a person who enters a room and everyone knows he’s there. He’s pretty social, confident and also knows how to carry himself and together with the sort of roguish charm he radiates, he always leaves a strong impression on people. This, obviously, are in-universe personality headcanons, but honestly, the very same thing happens just by reading the book. He doesn’t have an extremely huge role in it but he just manages to break his way into the memory of the readers. This guy just has +100 charisma and is just unhinged enough to be insanely likeable (if a little intimidating sometimes) imo.
one aspect i wish more people understood about them
I have the feeling that everyone who analyses him on an even slightly deeper level will say this but: He’s not only a happy-go-lucky guy who wants everyone to be friends. He’s honestly doesn’t seem carefree to me at all (if rather reckless at times), at least not as his main character trait, and especially not in Beleriand. Yes, what I just wrote above is (supposedly) all true, BUT, as I said, that’s mostly charisma. He seems more impulsive and at the same time very persistent to me, which seems to drive almost all of his big decisions, rather than him being a cheerful foil to Maedhros’ gloom. He’s probably easy to like (as a leader, king and acquaintance alike), but surprisingly hard to be close friends with.
one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character
Very random, but he loves flying. Which is a shame because elves don’t actually get to fly a lot and it’s not like you can just catch one of the great eagles and make them your pet. If you could, Fingon would have been the first one to do it. After Thangorodrim, when they were flying and Fingon could take off 1% of his attention off making sure Maedhros doesn’t die for the first time, he fell in love with the feeling instantly and was honestly a little bit sad that he never got to do it again under less stressful circumstances. He dreams about it a lot, though.
one character i love seeing them interact with
I know this is the boring answer, but Maedhros. I don’t actively read much about them, but even then, they are present in a lot of fanwork and their dynamic is usually super powerful, no matter if they’re a couple or not. I love the thought that they chose each other as best friends in childhood/youth and always felt like they had such an “against all odds”-relationship because of their family and because they were so different in a lot of things. And then everything up to Angband happened and, well, all of that seemed so simple in retrospect. I love that they’re both a little fucked up but in a way that works for each other. I can absolutely see them not getting along and being furious with each other at times, I can also imagine that there was still always a bit of unspoken baggage between them that they just didn’t want to deal with. But no matter what, they always relied on each other, always trusted the other to be there when it was important. (And now I’m sad about the Nirnaeth again.)
Also, honorary mention: Maglor. Just because I love it when they don’t actually like each other a lot/never really got close again after Maedhros’ rescue, but still have an unspoken agreement to make sure that Maedhros is safe and also that, if it comes to it, at least one of them should probably make sure to stay alive because Maedhros would be lonely otherwise. It’s the peak dynamic for the two of them, honestly.
one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more
Angrod and Aegnor. Their friendship is pretty underrated if you ask me, and I would love to know more about what the dynamic was like back in Aman – and then all the Helcaraxe angst later. I do think that Angrod and Aegnor forgave him after a while, but also that they never quite got as close as before. Still, the Bragollach was basically a triple gut punch for Fingon, who was basically on his own afterwards, except for the Feanorians. There are so many interesting stages of their friendship and their feelings towards each other, and I always love seeing this depicted!
one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character
While Fingon had always been close to his father, the Helcaraxe made them almost inseparable for a while. Fingon really grew to be Fingolfin’s right hand man on there, supporting him in his leadership but also trying to take as much load as possible off his shoulders. He felt like he was one of the few ones who could really grasp what Feanor’s betrayal meant to his father (because he felt almost exactly the same way about Maedhros) and the depth of how it had hurt him.
He also purposefully tried to throw himself into as much work and exertion as possible because it was a good way for him to keep moving and not be weighed down too much by his decisions and the doom resting on all of them.
This dynamic loosened a bit after the Ice, but he remained one of the closest advisors and confidants of Fingolfin up until his death.
#honestly this made me want to research Húrin a bit more#new character obsession incoming#thank you so much for the ask sorry it took me a while!#silmarillion#hurin#huor#morwen#fingon#maedhros#fingolfin#ask game#asks#answered
12 notes
·
View notes
Note
can you talk about your thoughts on the Witch Trials podcast? I liked hearing JK’s interview but not much of the rest of it
short version is that it was way too both-sidesy about everything when the two sides did not warrant equal weight
like it kinda posed itself as a primer on “the debate” but it never really covered why the trans movement has a problem with jk rowling. you have contrapoints on saying things like “joanne’s words are very hurtful :c” without detailing what specifically he’s reacting to
and it felt like the producers didn’t really have a grasp of things going into the whole project. they started with a recap of how evangelicals lost their minds over harry potter in the 90s (which for the record i thought was really good reporting) and they had the correct takeaway message of “this group is not really reacting to the books but more leveraging their popularity to push their own agenda and interests”
and i figured they would obviously see the parallels between then and now but they don’t even make the connection, they just act like jk rowling was the center of two media kerfuffles by sheer coincidence
the parts where she actually got to talk were good, but megan phelps roper was kind of a softball interviewer. felt like someone with more journalistic experience would’ve gotten a better interview from her
when megan tried to tie in her own experiences was where the wheels really started to fall off. she doesn’t seem like she’s really grappled with or processed a lot of what happened to her, to the point where i don’t think she even realizes she was part of a cult. her framing of it was “i was raised in a religious family and they taught me hateful beliefs but i don’t agree with them anymore” which like, is ok if you’re a standard middle america christian kid, but you’ve got a bit more to go through if your grandpa is fred fucking phelps. i’m not blaming her for existing or anything, like i know everyone heals at their own rate, but maybe put the podcasting on hold until you get some perspective on cult dynamics
like her takeaway from the experience at this point seems to be “that group taught me to be mean to people, maybe i should be nice to everyone” which led her to give people like natalie wynn a bit more credit than they deserve here. the podcast briefly covers the forstater case and the june 2020 essay, but hardly gets into detail, especially against critics. megan takes everything they say at face value and never makes them explain or defend why they’re saying that jk rowling is a harmful bigot. like beyond whether or not you agree with the claim, it’s just basic journalism to get them to provide evidence
side note but the fact that she pretty much let contrapoints run the show and say whatever he wanted and portray himself as the victim and he still got eaten alive by pride flag pfp twitter users says way more than the podcast ever did
so yeah bottom line it felt like they didn’t really have a throughline for the whole podcast and they were just kinda figuring it out as they went. the recap of the 90s stuff was interesting bc i was like 8 when it all happened so i was kinda only peripherally aware of it and it was nice to have the hindsight perspective, but they just didn’t do anything to connect the dots
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
Ive been thinkin about Herbert a lot because I like him even though hes in like 1 and 1/2 scenes in total and most of his characterization comes from my own headcanons and godddddd his dynamic with his dad is so fucking weird and Im so mad theyre just never going to elaborate on it. I mean unless they wanted to do some Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies type shit but I dont think thats happening anytime soon
And to be clear, im talking about the musical bc in the movie its just like, Herbert has his little gay moment with Alfred when he kinda corners him against the wall when they first get to the castle and then he has his big gay moment with Alfred with the flirting advice book, and then later the count is talking to Abronsius on the roof like "we'll have eternity to spend together, just like little Alfred and my son >:)" and its like, okay if things had gone according to their plan we wouldve had regular yaoi (that is to say two twinks) and old man yaoi (that is to say two old men) happening parallel to each other in this fucked up castle, and also Sarah wouldve been around and Im sure she wouldve been in a really weird position between Alfred and Count Krolock, although tbh I feel like she wouldnt have stuck around for too long if she didnt have to, like her whole thing was she wanted to be free from her shitty dad who never let her go outside I think she wouldve started traveling the world at the first opportunity but whatever
But in the musical its like, Herbert and Krolock are both clearly interested in Alfred and theyre both clearly aware of each others interest where Krolock is like "hey boy Im interested in, go be boyfriends with my son youre exactly his type" and Herbert is like "oh, father is so begeistert by you" like oh yeah? Whats he begeistert by? his submissive breedableness? And once again, Sarah is also there as part of this weird love formation, except this time its like a little more requited on all sides because Krolock is interested in both Alfred and Sarah and Sarah is interested in both Krolock and Alfred and Alfred is interested in Sarah and hes like scared of Krolock bc hes a vampire but you can easily interpret that as him being scared of his own homosexuality if you want, really Herberts the only odd one out in that dynamic by virtue of being the only non-bisexual in that castle
Before I continue with the actual point of this post, I just wanted to say that it just occured to me that that mess is basically the only non-monogamous portrayal of vampires I can think of in fiction, which tells me that I either need to seek out better vampire media or that our society is so hetero- and amatonormative and obsessed with the idea of Only One True Love Forever to the detriment of actually telling interesting stories about immortals who would naturally have very different opinions on love, which iiiiiiiis a lil bit frustrating ngl
Anyway, the fact that they Herbert and his dad barely interact is insane to me, Krolock is just like "this guy here is my son, everyone say hello to my son" when they get to the castle and then they never speak again like bro youre a VAMPIRE if you have a son youre gonna need to explain that a little
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Back to this. I got sidetracked jumping around the spreadsheet and adding some random stuff, but hopefully I should hit the first Renee appearances tomorrow. I also have to track down a version of Death in the Family that has the foreword - it's by Tot and mentions Vic, and was mentioned in the letter column for 28, so it should fit somewhere in this chunk of issues on the spreadsheet.
Question #18
Here he is! I love Ollie and Vic's dynamic. They are so fascinating and so annoying.
You know you've fucked up when Ollie's calling you a dumbass.
I like how much breathing room this issue has. They get a lot of space to talk and highlight each other, which is a great foundation for the later GA crossovers.
Of the unsubtle 80s anti-gun GA stuff I've read (which isn't a lot but it's more than 0) this is one of the less interesting bits. At least it's short.
The panel composition on this issue is really well done. Making two guys talking in a truck into a pair of pages that make me pause to take them in is impressive.
#19
Vic choosing to get the doll fixed is a really strong moment.
Overall, the way Augie is treated is surprisingly good? It's definitely played for creepiness at first, but he's just a guy living a surprisingly decent life for Hub City, Vic tries to actually help him and doesn't judge him for being delusional, and he ends up totally fine.
The parallel between Vic's mask and Myra's makeup, and her choice to discard it, is just. Waugh. She's just as dedicated to trying to figure out the right thing as he is, but she's not hiding any of it!
Myra kissing Maurice is still a very weird moment.
Detective Comics - Fables part 1
Spectacularly terrible opening, 0/10.
It's so weird to see the Penguin after this long of a stretch without supervillains. Yeah Talia shows up first but she's way less gimmicky and the page is pretty calm. He's here in full force with the monocle and bird jokes.
Shiva <333
I don't believe for a fucking second that asking Vic is the best way Shiva can think of to find Batman. I really like it, don't get me wrong. Vic's hacker exposition about making a post on the internet is hilarious, calling Batman Pointy-Ears is hilarious, "Matins" is such a Catholicism Moment, it's good stuff. I just think this is way less likely to work than going to Gotham and punching cops until Batman shows up.
Oh my god this is such a stupid villain plot. What do you mean it doesn't affect people with high testosterone. What do you mean Bruce already knows what it is. Why does Ra's have that. Why would that be the effect you choose for this story.
I'm sure this Bruce and Talia plot is better when read in context but it's still some excellent drama. Love them.
...gender?
Green Arrow - Fables part 2
The overarching plot of Fables isn't good, the O-Sensei is a boring Orientalist stereotype, but all of the subplots are very strong examples of why I care about each series. Scrap the whole O-Sensei thing in the first two issues and just have it be Shiva picking fights and finding people to help someone she knows and it'd be better.
Dinahollie <3
I love getting to see Shiva doing her thing. She's so chill, it's fun to see her in her element :)
Dinahshiva <3
Shiva loves to put some weird little freak in a situation and see if it makes them better or worse, and it sucks she doesn't get to do that anymore.
Question - Fables part 3
All of these issues have great looks for Shiva. Style icon.
Hey, Vic's terrible secret identity came back to bite him!
"Van der Waal's equation" isn't complete technobabble - the Van der Waal's force is a decent explanation for a multi-use adhesive, at least by comic book standards, and would explain why the mask never seems "sticky" and why the chemistry on getting it to stay is so finicky.
It's interesting that Vic doesn't even try to get Shiva to not kill people. He might be self-sacrificing, but he's not that dumb.
Oh my god Bruce you are such a dramatic bitch.
I kinda see what they were going for with the O-Sensei here, at least. Still think it'd be better if he wasn't a ridiculous legendary fighter.
Drowning motif! Shiva's perspective is so interesting - she's able to do anything she puts the effort into, and she expects that to be true of everyone else.
#20
The cover layout is unique this issue, which is a neat touch.
I always like that characters get to say stuff that's sort of dumb. Vic no-selling Myra's joke about boomerang rocks is a nice reminder that they do really like and feel comfortable around each other, even when things are rough.
Honestly not a ton to say about this issue. It makes its point well, I like it.
In the letter pages: the return of Hair Discourse.
#21
This plotline's back!
He just like me fr (misreading signals on a date, resisting the urge to deck his high school classmates)
Seriously though, it's nice to get a look into Vic's very normal problems. Not everything wrong with him is related to being the Question.
This is one of my favourite single issues. I can't quite put words on why - everything about it just works, and there's nothing about it that I want to pick at.
#22
Election Day is the best arc in the run.
The opening spread is full of excellent expressions - Wesley's really lean into the more distorted and exaggerated end of Cowan's art, while Myra's are all subtle, exhausted frustration. I appreciate that she's consistently drawn with sunken cheeks and eye bags.
Maurice getting to be serious is a strong moment. He's been a good source of banter for Myra before this, so having him get invested and take the consequences seriously is a good way to ground the stakes, and to give Myra someone who's genuinely on her side without having to rely on Vic.
It's interesting that Shiva pays close enough attention to what Vic's up to on a regular basis that she'd know who to send. Even when she's not around, she still gets to drive the story.
#23
This issue got me the first time I read it. The history flashback is a weird choice, but it sets the tone perfectly, and the time constantly being shown is a throwback to the first issue that makes it feel super tense. So much of the series has long time skips, waiting to heal or get phone calls or for anything to happen, but now every minute counts. The news reports punctuating it work so well.
Vic dropping everything when he reads Tot's name is so...
Myra goes off, and she damn well deserves it. The difference in how her expressions feel between this and the opening of #22 is a testament to Cowan's work.
The quoting of a line from five pages ago is maybe a little unnecessary. These panels would stand perfectly well on their own.
#24
It's hard to make a deus ex machina feel "earned", but if anything does, it's this.
Kind of a dumb thing but who tells this story with a beaver? I'm not losing it, right, it's the Scorpion and the Frog?
The historical flashback turning out in Myra's favor is a fantastic bit of subversion. When I first read this, I was certain that Wesley was going to shoot Myra during the blackout, and Dinsmore dying and Myra talking about how bad winning felt made me lower my guard and think he might kill himself publicly instead. Funny how that works.
I didn't catch what he meant until the next issue on my first read (in my defence, I'm not American) but wow Wesley's not subtle about his assassination plans to anyone. I mean, I caught that much, but he's really not subtle.
Myra and Vic's relationship makes me want to explode. I just want them to be happy together! Aaaaa!
#25
Everything happens so much. The pace just does not let up.
Vic falls into bad habits, again, but he does a better job staying focused and not letting the anger take over - it's good development.
Wesley's death is everything the shitty racist cop issue fails to be. He's a sad, awful little man with a broken moral compass and a lot of enablers, and he dies refusing to recognize it.
The letters column: a woman wrote in a while back about how male comic fans are creeps and Vic still has some personal growth to do when it comes to being less sexist, and some men are being freaks about it. These fuckers haven't changed in thirty years.
#26
If I ignore the part of my brain that hates this as a Riddler story and pretend he's an OC, it's a fine breather issue. Unfortunately I am bad at doing that.
Some very caricature-y guest art this issue. It's a neat look in some panels, and sometimes it's more subtle, but a lot of it is scrungled enough that I can't take what's happening seriously.
this is Vic and Tot in the car, to me
Love that Tot takes stopping Vic from self-destructing into his own hands, and that Vic bitches but doesn't do anything stupid to try and stop him.
The idea of Vic chewing out the Riddler with more difficult questions is an interesting idea, but I don't love the effect of him monologuing about a bunch of pretty standard ~deep~ questions and well known koans, and the Riddler just going "yeah i'm afraid of those" is dumb.
I dunno - it feels like a bit of a waste for the one time Vic faces an established villain to be so meh. I like Sphinx, at least, and the reappearance of the drowning motif is cool.
#27
The weirdest issue, I think.
I really like all the Vic sections, and I'm not opposed to meta shit, but this is pretty jarring. Tot's weird cousin and his racist magic is not helping the tone of the Ditko callback.
I like that Tot has a weird cousin who was a bad comic artist. He has connections outside of Vic, they're just also weird as hell.
The Ditko callback is great. "You gotta pull me up." "Why?", and then the slow drop before Vic grabs him? Mwah. Perfect. I'm a sucker for this shit. Even when he's falling into bad habits, he's still a better person than he used to be!
#28
Shiva :)
Vic responding to Tot telling him not to lie to himself by suddenly gaining sunglasses kills the mood a bit, but it's also very good. What is wrong with him.
Myra wakes up from a coma, ditches the hospital, and immediately makes a very risky plan. Good for her.
Everyone's in top form this issue, it's great.
3 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
taylorism1312
Taylorism
nevadacreep
NevadaCreep
taylorism1312
Taylorism
akeru99-blog
Akeru99
jasapembuatantokoonlineku
Untitled